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…

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Controversial proposal could threaten coalition
    The University of Waikato has reworded an advertisement that begins the tender process for its new $300 million-plus medical school even though the Government still needs to approve it. However, even the reworded ad contains an architect’s visualisations of what the school might look like. ACT leader David Seymour told ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 hours ago

  • Of Rings of Power Annatar, Dramatic Irony, and Disguises
    As a follow-up to the Rings of Power trailer discussion, I thought I needed to add something. There has been some online mockery about the use of the same actor for both the Halbrand and Annatar incarnations of Sauron. The reasoning is that Halbrand with a shave and a new ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    9 hours ago

  • The future of Nick's Kōrero.
    This isn’t quite as dramatic as the title might suggest. I’m not going anywhere, but there is something I wanted to talk to you about.Let’s start with a typical day.Most days I send out a newsletter in the morning. If I’ve written a lot the previous evening it might be ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    13 hours ago

  • The PM promises tax relief in the Budget – but will it be enough to satisfy the Taxpayers’ Union...
    Buzz from the Beehive The promise of tax relief loomed large in his considerations when  the PM delivered a pre-Budget speech to the Auckland Business Chamber. The job back in Wellington is getting government spending back under control, he said, bandying figures which show that in per capita terms, the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago

  • Fucking useless
    Yesterday de facto Prime Minister David Seymour announced that his glove puppet government would be re-introducing charter schools, throwing $150 million at his pet quacks, donors and cronies and introducing an entire new government agency to oversee them (the existing Education Review Office, which actually knows how to review schools, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    16 hours ago

  • Setting things straight.
    Seeing that, in order to discredit the figures and achieve moral superiority while attempting to deflect attention away from the military assault on Rafa, Israel supporters in NZ have seized on reports that casualty numbers in Gaza may be inflated … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    17 hours ago

  • Far too light a sentence
    David Farrar writes – Newstalk ZB report: The man responsible for a horror hit and run in central Wellington last year was on a suspended licence and was so drunk he later asked police, “Did I kill someone?” Jason Tuitama injured two women when he ran a red ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Unwinding Labour’s Agenda
    Muriel Newman writes –  Former US President Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation.” The fight for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Sequel to “Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour”
    Why Courts should have said Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Karen Chhour Gary Judd writes – In the High Court, Justice Isacs declined to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal to compel Minister for Children, Karen Chhour, to appear before it to be ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • The Govt’s Fast-Track is being demolished by submissions to Parliament
    Bryce Edwards writes –  The number of voices raising concerns about the Government’s Fast-Track Approvals Bill is rapidly growing. This is especially apparent now that Parliament’s select committee is listening to submissions from the public to evaluate the proposed legislation. Twenty-seven thousand submissions have been made to Parliament ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    20 hours ago

  • A generation is leaving at a rate of one A320-load per day
    An average of 166 New Zealand citizens left the country every day during the March quarter, up 54% from a year ago.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy and housing market is sinking into a longer recession through the winter after a slump in business and consumer confidence in ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • NZUP RORS back to life
    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    23 hours ago

  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 day ago

  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    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
    2 days ago

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • The Gods Must Be Woke.
    Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • More road
    We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Seeing the Aurora Australis
    There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Welcome to the current welfare mess
    Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • A shovel-ready autopsy
    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-15T19:19:51+00:00