A taxing question or two

Written By: - Date published: 8:35 am, March 24th, 2017 - 46 comments
Categories: tax - Tags: ,

Apple pay no tax in NZ, on $4.2 billion of sales over the last decade.  $0.

They have several dozen employees here, to go with their lots of sales, but what little tax they do pay ($34 million over the decade – less than 1% of turnover), they pay to Australia in a parent company.  Intriguingly they pay 30% tax in Australia rather than the 28% they would here – so much for our marginally lower rates attracting business!

Judith is too busy to talk to the Herald or the Guardian, but does have something on the table that, if not watered down, might make some difference against internet firms.  But maybe not Apple, we’re not sure.

But Australia has brought in a much toothier law, and claim the Google and Facebook are now paying full tax.  Their Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law and profit-diverting tax is trying to make sure the big companies pay their share.

I look forward to Judith’s new law hitting the books, but can we do better?  That’s better health and education for us if Google/Facebook/Apple etc actually pay what they should.

And as we look at tax rates and ‘paying what they should’, there’s an intriguing poll from Britain where it turns out the public don’t want tax cuts – in fact 77% would back a return of the 50% top tax rate (on those earning >150,000).  Corporate tax there’s strong support for it to go from the 20 to 25% – the UK Conservative government are planning on cutting it to 17%.  Even increasing all rates of income tax by 1% only caused and even split, although increasing VAT (aka GST here) was very unpopular.

And that was without the framing of “to fund better health / education etc”, just a bald tax rise – tax is always more palatable when you’re told you’ll get something for it!

Might be worth a poll here?  How much do we want Bill’s “sugar shot”?

46 comments on “A taxing question or two ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. BM 1
    24 March 2017 at 8:56 am

    Why do you need a poll?

    If this is what the Labour/Greens believe to be the best option then campaign on it.

    Labour?Greens no tax cut

    National tax cut

    Let the voter decide, that’s what democracy is all about.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      24 March 2017 at 10:14 am

      Let the voter decide, that’s what democracy is all about.

      But you’re actively preventing the voters decide. Just like the voters decided that we didn’t want to sell off our assets but National sold them any way.

      Having a poll on it would actually tell us what the voters think on the idea of raising taxes. Rather than guessing and then following the failed ideology of National.

      • BM 1.1.2
        24 March 2017 at 10:22 am

        The election is the poll.

        Labour/Greens no tax cuts
        National tax cuts

        Don’t think it could be any more straight forward than that?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1
          24 March 2017 at 10:28 am

          The election is the poll.

          No it’s not.

          Don’t think it could be any more straight forward than that?

          It’s never that straight forward. Voters may like some Labour policies, some Green policies and some National policies. What you’re saying is that the voters shouldn’t have a say in which policies get enacted. Just which party gets into power and then that party does as it likes – just as National did when it sold off our assets against our will.

          And that is most definitely not democratic. In fact, it’s a dictatorship.

          • inspider 1.1.2.1.1
            24 March 2017 at 11:18 am

            Participation rates in citizen initiated referenda tells us the public are far less interested in direct involvement in specific issues. Less than 50% voted in the electricity ones.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1.1.1
              24 March 2017 at 12:18 pm

              Participation rates in citizen initiated referenda tells us the public are far less interested in direct involvement in specific issues.

              It doesn’t tell us that at all. It tells us that voting by mail is a bad idea.

              That said, I’m an advocate for compulsory voting.

              • inspider …
                24 March 2017 at 12:30 pm

                Ever the democrat eh Draco? I have visions of two apparatchiks accompanying every voter in DTBland, just to make sure they not only vote , but they vote the right way…

                If postal is a relatively bad option how do you explain the recent by election numbers in Mt Albert and Northland?

                • Incognito …
                  25 March 2017 at 12:03 am

                  It is fascinating that to some people any form of compulsion appears to create a perception of being undemocratic, potentially harmful to individuals and their rights and personal development, and thus unfair and unjust. In other words, any perceived or real curtailing of personal freedom is wrong by definition.

            • The Chairman 1.1.2.1.1.2
              25 March 2017 at 2:13 pm

              @ inspider

              As referendum outcomes are generally non-binding, one could argue participation rates in citizen initiated referenda indicates the public are far less interested in direct involvement in specific issues when they know the results are non-binding.  

    • Ben Clark 1.2
      24 March 2017 at 10:18 am

      An election doesn’t answer every question, just “who would you like to govern?”
      cf 2011 & asset sales. The sales were clearly unpopular with a large majority of the public, but that didn’t stop them voting National in.
      Polls can overturn prevailing “wisdom” on particular issues – hence would be good to know the answer to this one.

      But the real reason you don’t want a poll, is because it’ll probably turn out you’d have to admit your position is a minority one…

      • BM 1.2.1
        24 March 2017 at 10:29 am

        How about Labour or the Greens create a bill that allows people to easily forfeit any tax cuts they may receive.

        Run it through inland revenue where you log on tick a box and then you get a list of options where you can choose where you want your tax cut to go, eg: back into government funds or some charitable organisation.

        That way people who need that tax cut get to keep it, those who don’t need it can choose to give it up.

        • Molly 1.2.1.1
          24 March 2017 at 10:52 am

          Because the most generous are often those that have the least.

          Those who have seen loved ones and friends suffer from underfunded health, support services and badly maintained infrastructure will see the necessity of increasing funding.

          Those who have practiced tax minimisation will be habituated into dropping their tax further. As I expect you would choose, given the facetious nature of your suggestion.

          • BM 1.2.1.1.1
            24 March 2017 at 10:59 am

            So you’re saying the close to 900,000 people who voted Labour?Greens at the last election wouldn’t give up a tax cut if offered?

            I wasn’t been facetious either there should be an option within inland revenue where you can decide how much extra tax you want to pay.

            The Americans do it, be a good idea to give New Zealanders that option.

            • Molly 1.2.1.1.1.1
              24 March 2017 at 10:29 pm

              “Americans do it, be a good idea to give New Zealanders that option.
              America is a very inequal country, with a vast amount of taxes going in support of lobbyists and companies rather than the people.

              Not a system that merits copying – surely?

        • Matthew Whitehead 1.2.1.2
          25 March 2017 at 2:33 pm

          Because people want tax raises when they know everyone’s paying them, they don’t want to opt in for extra taxes. If we want to give extra money ourselves we usually do it through NGOs, and kiwis aren’t terrible at giving to charity.

          If some people actually need a tax cut, we should target spending to the reasons why they need a tax cut, because for most taxpayers that’s more effective than simply refunding the money. And where there isn’t any spending left that’s less effective than a targetted tax cut, then yes, we should do a targetted one, which usually means it goes to people on low incomes, which National hate.

          If people just voted on tax policy, National would never win.

    • inspider 1.3
      24 March 2017 at 11:08 am

      I bought a $500 iPad recently, direct from Apple NZ. It came by mail direct from Sydney. I suspect Apple Sales NZ – and the name says it all about how the company operates in NZ – probably paid $400-$450 to “Apple Somewhere else” for that iPad to sell to me (retailers have next to no room to move on apple pricing – usually 5%). They may have paid the postage too. That means ASNZ income could be as low $50 on that sale. Which is alot different than $500.

      Mickeysavage is an author here who runs his own business. He might be able to advise if he pays tax based on his billings to clients or on what’s left over after costs.

      So the real question is, what is an reasonable appropriate import price for the technology and IP and brand value (none of which is sourced or created in NZ) that fits within the iPad box?

      I suspect no one here has any real idea than a finger in the wind guess. Apple’s brand value alone is huge compared to its competitors – that’s why it can charge $1000 for a phone that others can only charge $750 for. Why should nz gain tax on income earned from a brand owned and built offshore? Our contribution to that brand would be tiny.

      In comparison How much income tax do nzgameshop (based in London) and amazon (based in us) pay in tax here on internet purchases I make? I suspect none, yet the transaction is fundamentally the same as my iPad one; At least gst is collected on that.

      Solving these issues is really hard and stamping and pouting isn’t going to do it.

    • Incognito 1.4
      25 March 2017 at 12:10 am

      Are you suggesting that once every three years we decide on who might get (to form a coalition) to represent us but that in between we have no say in how we are represented? That’s not representative democracy in my books.

  2. Ad 2
    24 March 2017 at 8:57 am

    +100 Ben.
    Would be far better if we just adopted that Australian law, and gave this kind of corporation a real kick. That would make a proper Australasian jurisdiction instead of us being the weaker, easier island target for huge corporations.

    • Johan 2.1
      24 March 2017 at 9:14 am

      Ad: We, as a country appear to be very weak, as shown under our previous prime minister Shonkey. The ponytail pulling pervert out of Helensville, should go down as, our most popular do-nothing prime minister while at the same time gutting New Zealand’s infrastructure. Will the double -dipper Bill English follow in Shonkey’s mold or will he be pushed further to the right by his Tory financiers?

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1
        24 March 2017 at 10:25 am

        Will the double -dipper Bill English follow in Shonkey’s mold or will he be pushed further to the right by his Tory financiers?

        He won’t be pushed – he’ll be leading them. And the only reason why Jonkey needed to be pushed was that he realised, just like John Banks did, that National’s policies would actually prevent them from being voted in – ever.

  3. Antoine 3
    24 March 2017 at 9:23 am

    We just had a post on the Apple thing.

    On the tax rate, my guess is that any change that would actually result in substantially more tax being collected would be very unpopular, but hey, go ahead and do the polling…

    A.

    • Ben Clark 3.1
      24 March 2017 at 10:25 am

      we’re a collective – we’ll each post about the issues we want to, separately, and with our own take (and when we get the chance – so many missed issues…). Sometimes there’ll be some crossover between posts. You’ll live.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2
      24 March 2017 at 10:30 am

      Polling would be a good way to actually find out what the people want but I think it would need to be a 10,000 person poll rather than the 800 that we normally get and which indicate a high level of rogue results. A referendum would be better.

  4. Adrian Thornton 4
    24 March 2017 at 9:34 am

    Why on earth would a average working person and regular tax payer feel ok about paying more tax, when we all know that any person, business or corporation in NZ who has the inclination and the money for the right lawyer don’t pay their fair share as it stands today…if anything at all in some cases.

    This was the most disappointing thing in the Little speech I watched a couple of weeks back, when asked about the massive inequity mushrooming out of control, and what Labour was going to do about it, his answer was pathetic.

    Not once did he talk about extra taxes on the wealthy…no instead he actually said that we need to push up wages from below (or something like that) and look at productivity!

    WTF! when I got to have a chat afterwards I asked Little what the fuck he meant “look at productivity” ? because (as I explained) he knows as well as anyone Labour productivity is NOT the problem in income inequality…it has of course been increasing every year for 25 years…
    http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/snapshots-of-nz/nz-progress-indicators/Home/Economic/labour-productivity.aspx
    But like all good politicians he ( like a really good boxer) put in some lightening fast blocks…slipped to the side, and I was left with no answer, though I hope my attempered left body shot might have at least grazed him, I doubt it.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 4.1
      24 March 2017 at 10:06 am

      +1

      Yep, neither labour or nacts seem willing to do anything significant about inequality (and of course we don’t expect nact to care). Sadly labour remains locked to neoliberal TINA in this respect, leaving them only to tinker at the edges

      Focus on worker productivity etc is part of the lie that is crushing the poor in this country. We are a very wealthy country already – that isn’t the problem.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      24 March 2017 at 10:36 am

      Not once did he talk about extra taxes on the wealthy…no instead he actually said that we need to push up wages from below (or something like that) and look at productivity!

      That sounds like someone who doesn’t understand economics. Increased productivity results in lower wages – unless the higher productivity results in higher diversification in the economy and not just making more of the same stuff.

      WTF! when I got to have a chat afterwards I asked Little what the fuck he meant “look at productivity” ? because (as I explained) he knows as well as anyone Labour productivity is NOT the problem in income inequality…it has of course been increasing every year for 25 years…

      Yep, the problem is that we’ve now got policies designed to make rich people richer at everyone else’s expense.

      • Adrian Thornton 4.2.1
        24 March 2017 at 11:56 am

        The sad thing is Little does understand economics, so one can, unfortunately, only come to the conclusion that Labour as it stands today, is happy to further entrench an economic system that is openly conducting class war against workers and the poor.
        But I guess the most depressing thing for me, is that Little came across as a pretty sincere and genuine person, but it would seem he lacks the courage, or the fight, to face down the neo liberal element within Labour NZ ( which is, as we can all plainly see, destroying it)

    • One Two 4.3
      24 March 2017 at 10:39 am

      Little, like all politicians is part of the system for which its owners are killing to protect

      Impotent scared and less so, ignorant politicians are the enemy of humanity

      It’s as simple as that…

  5. One Two 5
    24 March 2017 at 10:29 am

    The continued attempts to control monetary and fiscal narritives are a tedious mockery from a by gone era

    The debt system is a decaying corpse which is still poisoning increasingly large chunks of liviving systems and spieces

    How about addressing a root cause instead of the symptom for a change

    Ben, perhaps ask Andrew why he won’t speak about it..

    Or do you already understand the ‘constraints’ ?

  6. saveNZ 6
    24 March 2017 at 1:24 pm

    It is appalling that Apple and many other corporations can legitimately not pay tax here. That worked before globalism but now NZ and other countries need to change their laws to make sure that tax is fair and you can earn enough taxes to run the country by charging local taxes on local profits.

    It’s about time that we taxed on local profits independent on where the company or individual choses to domicile and reside. At the same time end false losses by payments to other linked companies for IP, ‘extra payments’ or what have you.

    Otherwise it means those locally here have to pick up the slack, while at the same time make it harder for companies who do pay tax in NZ with massive global non tax paying competition.

    No 2, I think the left will never get a majority with the idea of increasing income taxes for local tax payers.

    Firstly because no body trusts politicians to use the money wisely. We have Scenic hotels, Clinton foundation, Sky City, Saudi business men, offshore water companies and so forth all receiving public money… previously Labour being for Rogernomics and free trade which was anything but free, so I’m not sure middle NZ wants to pay more unless all the corporate welfare is stopped first and then there is the trust issue….

    Secondly we have massive immigration here, with elderly migrant parents able to get benefits after a few years of residency… migrants on very low wages being pushed in as fast as possible and non resident property investors, so the government policy is actively making massive holes in the tax take for future generations… then asking for more money from local tax payers to pay for the folly – funny enough I don’t think it will be popular.

    Profits are now NZ biggest exports. Think about that. More than Dairy and Forestry combined, is profits going off shore!

    It’s disgusting!

    In short I don’t think the left has a hope in hell of selling more taxes to more than 50% of the population of NZ and winning the election , their only hope is that people hate National so much they will vote for someone else to change the government.

    In the UK, Corbyn could win, if he thought a bit more about his conflicting messages. One thing is the left is not winning with the bland Conservative Lite and pro war, pro free trade, Pro neoliberalism, pro immigration, messages.

    There’s a place for all, but not the way it’s been played out.

  7. Barfly 7
    24 March 2017 at 5:19 pm

    Apple pay no tax here? How about Samsung? If Samsung plays fair with the New Zealand system how about a 20% surcharge on all Apple products sold here.

    Big message easily sent – screw with our tax system and your actions give your competitors an enormous advantage.

    • saveNZ 7.1
      24 March 2017 at 8:41 pm

      Bet ya Samsung is paying no taxes here either…

      Now under Nationals war on locals, profits are now one of our biggest exports – apparently the banks are a large part of it the profits being taken offshore, the obvious solution is a financial transaction tax…

      There are so many ways that NZ should be taxing for the 21st century – but nope – all we hear from politicians are ways to tinker with PAYE or capital gains which again big money and multi domiciled people can just avoid if they even declare it.

      If you have a tax, at least make it fair so that everyone has to pay it. Not big business is exempt, non resident businesses are exempt and the super rich taxable earnings are nil which is great when you make that capital gain!! If only normal people had hoards of lawyers and accountants to make sure that they not only do they not pay a dime but they somehow often qualify for corporate welfare because our government and councils are so desperate to keep them here! Pleeeze…

    • saveNZ 8.1
      25 March 2017 at 11:18 am

      I’m sure they will. But that is what has to change. If government’s want globalism to work – it has to be fair.

      It’s not fair.

      • The Chairman 8.1.1
        25 March 2017 at 1:00 pm

        Indeed. Regardless of whether or not avoidance or tax minimisation is taking place, the first thing that needs correcting in this regard is our tax treaty with Australia, which apparently prevents a company being taxed in both jurisdictions.

        • saveNZ 8.1.1.1
          25 March 2017 at 1:20 pm

          I think the docile jurisdictions need to be looked at world wide. It’s happening around the world as companies and individuals clammer to be taxed at their most convenient point and can legally pay not taxes on massive turnovers.

          Maybe this taxation choice, used to work before globalism and individuals working all around the world. Now it’s turning out that there are more loop holes than swiss cheese, companies including US companies are all flocking to low tax havens and western governments are not getting the taxes they should. Many politicians don’t seem to mind as generous ‘donations’ seem to be there to keep the generous loopholes going.

          Would also work for the UK post EU, because the UK businesses might just leave and change their head offices to the EU so a lot of taxes lost. Likewise EU would benefit because a lot of their countries have high taxation that companies and individuals want to avoid.

          Around the world the system needs to switch to local taxation rules. You have to now pay where you profit and maybe a minimum tax take on turn over. That would rule out companies that turn over 100million but pay nothing in taxes such as many tech companies and global services companies that seem to exist only to lower wages and conditions.

          aka Almost 600 major corporations did not pay tax in 2013-14 financial year, Australian Taxation Office says

          http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-17/almost-600-companies-did-not-pay-tax-in-2013-14/7036324

          • The Chairman 8.1.1.1.1
            25 March 2017 at 2:01 pm

            What’s interesting in this case is the tax rate Apple are paying in Australia is apparently higher. But I agree companies and individuals seeking lower tax jurisdictions is a global problem when it comes to collecting tax.

            I also agree with the need to address tax loopholes. However, I disagree with the notion of taxing turnover. Taxing when income hasn’t necessarily been made is unfair. Which would result in forcing some into debt or out of business.

            The Government shouldn’t have to act immorally to correct or counter loopholes that allow avoiders too. But they are required to act.

            • saveNZ 8.1.1.1.1.1
              25 March 2017 at 2:26 pm

              If someone earns 4 billion but somehow fails to make a profit – it’s a rout! Nope they need to start taxing turnover if it is over a certain amount such as over 10 million turnover.

              If you turn over 10 million and somehow ‘fail’ to make a profit, something is wrong there…

              In NZ 10m + turnover probably takes out most small and medium businesses who are paying local taxes!

              And Apple is not even paying 1% tax in Australia on turnover..

              “Technology giant Apple had total income of about $6.1 billion, but only $247 million of that was taxable income.

              The company’s tax payment was the largest of the multinational tech giants at just over $74 million, but that only equates to around 1 per cent of its total income in the 2013-14 financial year.

              How much tax major corporations pay in Australia in 2013 -14

              “The ATO has identified the major firms that paid no income tax in the 2013-14 financial year. See who’s paying what.
              Apple’s competitor Microsoft had taxable income close to $104 million, less than a fifth of its total revenue of $568 million. Its tax bill was about $31 million — just 5 per cent of its income.

              Google’s total income was about $358 million, but only a quarter of that was taxable. Google’s tax bill was $9 million.

              All three gave evidence to a Senate Inquiry about their tax affairs earlier this year.

              Cleaning company Spotless Group, which has been accused of underpaying its staff working at department store Myer, made about $2.2 billion, but paid no tax.”

              • saveNZ …
                25 March 2017 at 2:37 pm

                If you have a look at a company like Spotless which I think has just won some contracts in NZ hospitals and God knows where else.

                Their business model is to cut staff and pay minimum wages. The extra profits go offshore somewhere else. They didn’t pay any taxes in Australia in 2013 on their earnings of 2.2 billion.

                So governments are better off from a tax point of view, in just hiring the workers themselves and paying them more and having the money circulating in our own economy… instead taxpayers subsidise firms like Spotless, we subsidies the workers who stay with them as they don’t earn enough to live on, we subsidies those unemployed that lost their jobs when Spotless got the contract, we subsidise the sick that don’t get better because the food is so bad.

                And believe me, I tasted spotless food first hand at Perth zoo a few years ago. If you can call microwaved fried rice with a shelf life of 100 years, a hot chocolate with powered tasting milk and 1/2 teaspoon cocoa all run on a converter belt style empty cafe with 1 pimpled 15 year old staff member. It was an unreal experience of the worst food I have ever tasted in my life. Wrecked the zoo experience having such a disgusting cafe plying their shoddy offerings at normal cafe prices of course.

                And that’s probably Spotless luxury food…

              • The Chairman …
                25 March 2017 at 2:52 pm

                If someone makes a massive amount of money in turnover it doesn’t necessarily mean they made a massive amount in income from that turnover.

                Nevertheless, sure, in some cases they may have minimised their tax obligation. However, that highlights it’s the minimisation process that needs addressing, hence it’s not an excuse for an underhanded attack on total returns.

                • saveNZ …
                  25 March 2017 at 3:08 pm

                  Disagree, if you are handling multi millions in turnover – they need to pay their share of tax. They clearly are not – because if you look at the figures the tax take of multinationals as a percentage is pathetic. It’s getting worse.

                  They spend more on avoiding taxes than paying it!

                  Workers have to pay taxes, they can’t claim expenses to ‘make a 100% loss each year’.
                  Ratepayers have to pay taxes even if they earn zero income.
                  People who pay GST have to pay taxes even if they are poor.

                  Now companies with massive turnovers need to start paying minimum tax amounts to governments to justify why they should be allowed to trade here.

                  Pay up or ship out and good riddance to corporations that are parasites off the countries they trade in.

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 March 2017 at 3:27 pm

                    A number of businesses have a large turnover but make little income due to overheads. Yet, if they are able to show this, you still want to hit their total turnover with a new tax? That’s clearly unfair, thus not something I can support.

                    Businesses also have to pay rates when they make little or no return, so what’s your point?

                    Workers generally have very little expenses, thus I have no problem allowing them to legitimately claim back on them.

                    • saveNZ …
                      25 March 2017 at 4:49 pm

                      I doubt the businesses you are talking about are turning over multi millions… many of the IYI class seem happy to have the wool pulled over their eyes on this issue.. and funny enough the lefties seem keen to tax the middle class on PAYE further to make up for the loss of taxes… then they seem surprised when no body votes for them… and they drop in the polls..

                  • The Chairman …
                    25 March 2017 at 5:35 pm

                    Regardless, it would be unfair on any business.

                    Look, I hear and largely agree with your sentiments, but it’s unfair to tax unearned income no matter the turnover. What we need to do is tighten up and address international treaties, loopholes and the minimisation process that allows avoidance.

  9. saveNZ 9
    25 March 2017 at 1:35 pm

    Tax schemes cost NZ $700m a year – study

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11824675

    That also does not put into account the businesses that did not start/ did not prosper in NZ because they were not able to compete with companies that pays zero taxes….. and workers that did not get jobs or higher wages because of this…

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    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
    24 hours 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago

  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • 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.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago

  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago

  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 week ago

  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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
    1 week ago

  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week 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
    16 hours 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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

  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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