About the Greens…

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 15th, 2020 - 74 comments
Categories: benefits, climate change, election 2020, greens, Metiria Turei, welfare - Tags:

I wrote a post the other day, About that wealth tax, explaining how the Green Party’s proposed wealth tax would work. It’s worth reading if you still believe that the tax will hurt Grandma and Grandad savers (it won’t).

This week the heat has been turned up on the Greens, from both Labour and National. Jacinda Ardern is busy telling everyone that Labour won’t even talk with the Greens about the tax, and Judith Collins is saying that Labour are lying and they will implement it. Green co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw are both saying that income inequality is a high priority for the Greens and if they have the numbers they will be bringing the wealth tax to the negotiating table with Labour. Ball firmly in the voters’ court.

So the tax is getting a lot of air time. But here’s the thing that’s telling. Not many people (apart from the Greens) are talking about what the tax is meant to pay for (a number of things, including this awesome Guaranteed Minimum Income policy). Which is weird, because haven’t we been talking poverty for years now? Hasn’t this been a high priority for New Zealand, especially the left?

Meanwhile,

FYI, NZ’s house values have risen $75 billion to $1.3 trillion in the last 3 months. In the middle of the worst recession in living memory. With unemployment doubling. But the Reserve Bank is printing money to make the rich richer to boost the economy. Good for some. Not others.

That’s a tweet from business, economics and political journalist Bernard Hickey. There’s the argument that Labour want house prices to keep inflating, because this will support the economy and buffer the recession. That would certainly explain a few things. What it says to me is that New Zealand isn’t ready to eliminate poverty. Yet.

In the 2017 election campaign, Metiria Turei stood up and made this speech, introducing the Green Party’s radical welfare policy and talking about her own experience many years before being on welfare and what that meant in real terms.

All hell broke loose, resulting in the Greens dropping from 14 MPs to eight. I understand three things about Turei’s speech

  1. What she was talking about (and was written into policy) scared the political and business classes so much that she had to be destroyed.
  2. Nevertheless, the Greens pulled the poverty Overton Window leftward, and put a stake in the ground preventing it from sliding back. As I understand it, in that election campaign the Greens felt desperate that something had to be done and that time was running out. So they acted.
  3. She, and they, were right.

And it’s happening again. As Standardista Pat pointed out to me yesterday, “the worst thing that could happen for National would be the implementation and for the wider electorate to discover it doesn’t negatively impact them”. Hence Collins’ rabid attacks on Labour and the Greens aren’t about votes, but a last ditch attempt to wreck the chances of real change that would come from an effective wealth tax.

I’ve been a bit surprised about the Greens’ focus on the tax rather than say the GMI, but with Collins, Ardern and the MSM intent on it, I wonder if NZ just has to have it out. And if this is not only the conversation that has to happen before we get to the real conversation (ending poverty in NZ), but is also exactly the time to have it. It’s the time above all others when it cannot be ignored. If that is the case, then Go Greens I say.

Here’s the thing about the Greens. They want change. They want change more than they want power. I think that they fully understand that we are out of time on climate, poverty, the environment. That if someone doesn’t stand up for poor people now, we will cement in Labour’s deserving poor positioning for another generation.

Sure as shit when National get in next they will take the bits of Labour’s policies that serve them, tear them apart and use the remains to build a welfare system made out of barbed wire and car tyres. Just like they did last time. Only by the late 20s, we won’t have the chance to rebuild. We will be staring down the barrel of the climate and ecological crises, and quite possibly the spread of fascism internationally.

I’ve been asking for a long time how to tory-proof progressive legislation. I think this is how. If the Greens can change the culture in NZ around tax and ending poverty, get the country on board, then by the time National get in it will be much harder for them to do damage. This is triply so if we have more Green MPs in government, pulling Labour leftward and greenward and writing the legislation itself.

(for those thinking that the Greens should be solely or mostly focused on the environment, please read this piece from 2017 by Nandor Tanczos, then read the actual GP election policy on environmental issues, it’s all there).

It scares me that so many previous Green voters, and so many Labour voters are content with centre left BAU. Deep green politics fully understands the connections between climate and poverty, and between this wealth tax and our willingness to act or not on climate. It takes time to shift understanding of that. But I can’t ignore the storm clouds that have gathered outside, and the hour now is very very late.

I will be ticking Green twice when I vote and hoping that enough of us do to give the Green Party some choices post-election. I’m also mindful that most New Zealanders haven’t prioritised climate, the environment or ending poverty, and that whatever happens  on Saturday a strong extra-parliamentary activism is needed more urgently than ever.

74 comments on “About the Greens… ”

  1. weka 1

    the post was overly long, but there's this too,

    I am committed to ending poverty in this country.

    We are the party that aims to end poverty. Frankly everybody else is interested in tinkering around the edges. We’re the only party that’s drawn a line in the sand and said we know what it takes to lift 212,000 children above the poverty line.

    James Shaw in 2017 around the GP election relaunch.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/the-greens-solidarity-and-resistance/

    None of this is a surprise (well the centre lefties still seem surprised, and it’s weird that left lefties still think Shaw is a neolib mole).

    • Macro 1.1

      An excellent post weka, and thank you for your tireless work on this front.

      As Nandor explains, you cannot save the environment if you don't save the people first. Humans are part of the environment, and if they suffer, then the environment suffers as well.

      • bwaghorn 1.1.1

        I doubt that .

        I bet you anything you want that the more money someone has directly equals how big their personal carbon footprint is .

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.1

          Actually, its more like an exponential increase:

          Research by anti-poverty charity Oxfam and the Stockholm Environment Institute reveals carbon dioxide emissions rose by 60 percent from 1990 to 2015. The report blames the wealthiest one percent for 15 percent of those emissions.

          That is more than twice as much carbon dioxide as emitted by the poorer half of the world.

          We actually need to save the environment to save the people but a large part of that is simply making sure that the people have enough to live on in a sustainable manner which, quite simply, means ensuring that nobody is rich because we can't afford them.

        • Macro 1.1.1.2

          I bet you anything you want that the more money someone has directly equals how big their personal carbon footprint is .

          In a rich country that might be true in some instances but it is not necessarily true. A wealthy person may be able to afford a smart electric car, whereas a poor person is reduced to an old inefficient petrol guzzler. The wealthy can install PV, and solar hot water, heat pumps and double glazing, and fully insulate their home to cut their power bills. Not available to the poor, who may rely on an old radiator or coal fired range, if they can afford it.

          In poorer countries the poor need to rely on producing more children to ensure their survival. Not so long ago, it was not uncommon for families to have 10 or more children. Today in rich countries, such sized families are the exception rather than the rule, whereas in poor countries such as in Africa and parts of Asia they are the rule. But large families mean a drain on resources, and the environment as more demands are placed upon it.

          Protecting the environment is not just about reducing ones carbon foot print.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2.1

            There was actually research done a few years ago that showed that the well off can actually live cheaper than the poor. They can afford to buy in bulk, buy stuff that's more expensive to buy but cheaper to run and maintain. Turns out that Sam Vimes was correct:

            "Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

            But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet."

            • bwaghorn 1.1.1.2.1.1

              Yes but mr $50 boots will be taking the latest carbon spewing contraption on an annual trip to the other side of the hub to see if the can catch a glimpse of the great turtle or some such thing.

              Something soggy toed vimes will only ever dream of.

  2. froggleblocks 2

    but a last ditch attempt to wreck the chances of real change that would come from an effective wealth tax.

    Which is NOT a policy the Greens are offering.

    Their wealth tax has got so many holes and implementation problems in it that it's a complete non-starter.

    Taxing business shares is an incentive not to create productive businesses in this country – the opposite of what we need.

    Applying the tax to all assets worth $50k or more is going to result in a huge amount of paperwork for valuation purposes, and people are going to do whatever they can to avoid paying this tax.

    A land tax or TOP's property tax are far better – will raise almost as much money as this wealth tax, while being far easier to administer and harder to evade.

    • weka 2.1

      as I understand it, the GP position is to take any legislation through a public consultation process, so there would be plenty of time to improve the policy. Or, maybe between the Greens and Labour they come up with something else.

      So the reactions against the policy seem largely about resisting the shift I am talking about in the post. TOP have some good ideas, but they are economists, not poverty activists, and there are big holes in their policies from a welfare/poverty eradication perspective. They would also support a Nat government, giving National power and allowing National to adapt their policies to the car tyre and barbed wire ethos.

      • froggleblocks 2.1.1

        as I understand it, the GP position is to take any legislation through a public consultation process

        Except that's not what any of them have been saying. Chloe repeatedly says it's 1% above $1M, 2% above $2M, and only the top 6% of people would be affected.

        She hasn't said "this is just a starting point, to start a discussion".

        They would also support a Nat government, giving National power and allowing National to adapt their policies to the car tyre and barbed wire ethos.

        Actually they’ve said they’d support any other parties that support their policies, which is no different than what the Greens say.

        So the question is really would National support TOP policies. Given how close TOP comes out to Labour on the political compass, this seems unlikely.

        • solkta 2.1.1.1

          Of course they campaign on what the policy actually says, none of them are named Cunliffe. But all draft legislation goes through the Select Committee process.

        • weka 2.1.1.2

          I didn't say it was a starting point for discussion. It's a fully costed policy, because that's what the Greens do. It's not a Bill in final form. There will be opportunity for public input.

          "Actually they’ve said they’d support any other parties that support their policies, which is no different than what the Greens say."

          Afaik, TOP are happy to give C/S to National, or be in coalition with them. The Greens have explicitly ruled both those out. Yes, both parties will work with any other party on shared policy, but that's a different thing than supporting formation of govt.

          "So the question is really would National support TOP policies. Given how close TOP comes out to Labour on the political compass, this seems unlikely."

          The other scenario is the mirror of the situation that L/G are in now. A coalition or a minority govt. Nat could have the right to form govt and choose to have TOP support that. TOP won't say no.

          • froggleblocks 2.1.1.2.1

            I didn't say it was a starting point for discussion. It's a fully costed policy, because that's what the Greens do. It's not a Bill in final form. There will be opportunity for public input.

            Except they've already used all the potential money from this policy for their UMI policy. Any substantive changes to the tax policy would then fail to fund their UMI (and other changes).

            The Greens have explicitly ruled both those out.

            Because National doesn't agree with their policies, not because they don't like the name National or their leader or any other esoteric reason as you're trying to suggest. It's because of policy differences, nothing else.

            If National didn't agree with TOP's policies, then TOP wouldn't go into coalition with them, just like Greens won't go into coalition with them because they won't agree with Greens policies.

            TOP won't say no.

            Citation needed.

            • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1.2.1.1

              Except they've already used all the potential money from this policy for their UMI policy.

              1. So? The minimum income policy can also be changed
              2. The government doesn't actually need the income to pay for policies

              Because National doesn't agree with their policies, not because they don't like the name National or their leader or any other esoteric reason as you're trying to suggest. It's because of policy differences, nothing else.

              And the reason why the Greens don't like National is because of their policies.

    • Pat 2.2

      The TOP proposed property tax is no more simple than the Greens Wealth tax and has a number of administrative nightmares/ exclusions included in its make up but more importantly TOP are not going to be in a position to promote their tax policy into reality anytime soon

      • RedLogix 2.2.1

        TOP's CCT was just part of a more comprehensive package of reforms designed explicitly to address the inequity issues that our tax system has developed. It has both horizontal and vertical equity built in.

        Horizontal equity treats similar cases types in the same fashion. So for example the CCT treated all asset classes, real estate, shares, art works, etc identically. It treated the 'family' home the same as an investment.

        Vertical equity means that within the same class of tax, whether large or small the treatment is the same. In other words you avoid thresholds or dramatic step changes in rates.

        Our current system is riddled with these distortions, and they keep a whole industry of tax minimising professionals in business. A well designed tax system heads in the other direction, with a broad tax base that is either hard or barely worth avoiding.

        While the motive behind the Green's asset tax is reasonable, it's implementation lacks both types of equity that I described above. It's not a smart tax.

        • Pat 2.2.1.1

          Have no idea what you are referring to when you say CCT…there is nothing resembling that in TOPs manifesto that I can find…there is a small amount of detail re their property tax however and it is anything but simple as claimed and contains a number of exclusions and has areas apparently completely unconsidered.

          • RedLogix 2.2.1.1.1

            CCT was the term originally used for their "Comprehensive Capital Tax". More recent material may use a different term.

      • froggleblocks 2.2.2

        The TOP proposed property tax is no more simple than the Greens Wealth tax

        Yes, it is. It sounds to me like you're talking about their 2017 policy, which is no longer their policy.

        Their 2020 policy is to tax property (houses, land) and use council valuations to do so.

        Far simpler than Greens' wealth tax.

        • Pat 2.2.2.1

          This…updated Sept 2020

          https://www.top.org.nz/property_tax

          have a look at the (so called) detail and FAQs

          • froggleblocks 2.2.2.1.1

            Right, so how is that "just as complicated" as the Greens wealth tax, which requires look-through ownership for trusts, an unspecified way to tax offshore / international wealth, and requiring valuations of all assets over $50k?

            • Pat 2.2.2.1.1.1

              are council ratings valuations contestable?

              what are the revenue implications of offsetting farm income against land value?

              how is commercial/industrial property captured or is it not?

              how is a discrepancy of value on disposal dealt with?

              what are lifestyle blocks that registered for GST classed as?

              why target those entering the housing market at the same level as those who have already benefited from decades of untaxed appreciation?

              It is better than nothing but it has many of the same difficulties that any attempt to tax assets has …and a few extras that are unnecessarily complex for political expediency and captures a much narrower band of assets than the Greens proposal at at a much lower level….it does little to impact inequality and I suspect it will generate considerably less in revenue.

              • froggleblocks

                are council ratings valuations contestable?

                This issue applies to the Greens policy.

                what are the revenue implications of offsetting farm income against land value?

                This issue applies to the Greens policy.

                how is commercial/industrial property captured or is it not?

                It's property so it's captured. This issue applies to the Greens policy.

                how is a discrepancy of value on disposal dealt with?

                This issue applies to the Greens policy.

                what are lifestyle blocks that registered for GST classed as?

                Presumably they’d be treated like a farm. Not that difficult really.

                why target those entering the housing market at the same level as those who have already benefited from decades of untaxed appreciation?

                Those entering the housing market will have a large mortgage, low equity, and therefore minimal tax under TOP's policy. Everyone also gets a $13k UBI, unlike the Greens' policy. By treating all property equally, it doesn't create loopholes like Greens' policy does.

                • Pat

                  'this issue applies to the Greens policy' is the point and you claimed it was simpler…it isnt, and the Greens policy will capture a wider class of assets but again as originally stated the Greens policy has far more chance of being on the table than TOPs as they are barely registering in the polls

                  • froggleblocks

                    is the point and you claimed it was simpler

                    Er, no.

                    If the Greens policy has a complexity and loophole score of 100, TOP's policy might have a complexity and loophole score of 60, and the status quo is 40.

                    60 is still less than 100. Even if TOP’s policy shares some of the complexities of Greens policy, it’s still far simpler overall.

                    again as originally stated the Greens policy has far more chance of being on the table than TOPs as they are barely registering in the polls

                    Jacinda has categorically ruled out the Greens wealth tax. She hasn't ruled out TOP's tax policy.

                    Also championing a policy that's really outrageously crap because it has a higher chance of being implemented than a policy that's a lot better, when all you have is 1 vote to spend on either policy, is a stupid way of choosing who to vote for.

                    • Pat

                      "If the Greens policy has a complexity and loophole score of 100, TOP's policy might have a complexity and loophole score of 60, and the status quo is 40."

                      That is where we differ then because from the information available you can redo those ratings for effectiveness to TOP 40, Green 80 , status quo about 10….AND the Green policy has vastly more possibility of being implemented (low though it may be)

                    • Drowsy M. Kram

                      "Jacinda has categorically ruled out the Greens wealth tax. She hasn't ruled out TOP's tax policy."

                      Ruled out the Tax Working Group's CGT recommendation, and now the Green's wealth tax. Two reasons not to vote Labour right there.

                    • Pat

                      not to mention that the TOP tax targets way down the asset class to the benefit of those holding substantial assets…wonder why that might be?…in fact I think I'll change my rating of TOPs land tax. downwards..the more I look at it the bigger dog it becomes

    • Brigid 2.3

      "Their wealth tax has got so many holes and implementation problems in it that it's a complete non-starter." Could you be specific?

      Also, knowing damn all about the machinations of the share market and it's relationship to business productivity, could you explain how the value of business shares necessarily reflects the value of investment in the business itself? As far as I'm aware if I (and many others) buy shares the result is an increase in the value of those shares, not an increase, necessarily, in investment in the actual company.

      Except in the case where the shares are a new issue. That I can see is an investment in the company.

      • Pat 2.3.1

        you are quite correct re shares….and there are few holes in the wealth tax proposed, I suspect thats why its railed against so much

    • Draco T Bastard 2.4

      Taxing business shares is an incentive not to create productive businesses in this country

      The bludging that comes with ownership of shares is the problem.

      Applying the tax to all assets worth $50k or more is going to result in a huge amount of paperwork for valuation purposes, and people are going to do whatever they can to avoid paying this tax.

      Yes, more bludging by the unscrupulous. The idea there isn't to reward them by continuing to allow their bludging but so that they simply can't dodge the taxes.

      A land tax or TOP's property tax are far better

      They're very similar so, no, not far better.

      And, yes, going through the parliamentary policy process would result in the bill being made better. So, that is not a valid argument against the policy.

      Your comment sounds like whinging I'd expect from the unscrupulous bludgers.

  3. UncookedSelachimorpha 3

    Excellent post. You are absolutely right that there has been incredibly little discussion on the benefits the Greens are proposing, which will flow on from the Wealth Tax (GMI etc).

    • weka 3.1

      Cheers US. I'm really looking forward to seeing where the debate goes in the coming year. It's a potent time with covid and the recession, but I think Labour's inability to address the housing crisis is going to be a big deal in term 2.

      • sumsuch 3.1.1

        The housing crisis here in Gisborne is hell. The neediest are being ground between two vices. While up there in the clouds the middle class dispute with no real knowledge. Despise it.

  4. Well said weka.

    I'm reminded of an old quip – from prohibition era Chicago I think – 'vote early and vote often.'

    I regret I have only one party vote to give to the Green party.

    By the 2026 election it may well be too late to stem the tide of catastrophes threatening to overwhelm human life on this planet.

  5. RedLogix 5

    I like the Green's motivations; but sadly I find too many of their solutions feel like they were lifted direct from the pages of The Whole Earth Catalog. Nothing really wrong with them, except insufficient for a planet of 10b humans.

  6. Dennis Frank 6

    The moral case for the wealth tax is unassailable: we need a design solution to the inequality problem. My issue has always been it's utility as a political strategy – plus an emerging liability in the marketing of it.

    That's due to leftist ideology, of course. The sectarian mind-set is unable to encompass consensus politics because the self-imposed ideological blinkers always screen it out.

    However if the Greens do enter into govt with Labour post-election then pragmatism will kick in. I'm confident it will defeat ideology during the negotiations.

    What I'm waiting for is the numbers. I have been predicting that those the tax is intended to help most will refrain from voting for it. The poll tonight will provide preliminary evidence of the GP marketing failure, I expect.

    • weka 6.1

      how is it a failure? If NZ doesn't want the tax, then the Greens will take a hit from this. But if they shift the overton window, again, then it's a win. That's what the post was about.

      Talking about ending poverty is a useful political strategy. I would say at this point it's impossible to end poverty, or even reduce it, if we don't talk about the problems in a way that makes everyone take notice.

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.1

        how is it a failure?

        Politics is a numbers game. You don't win without getting the numbers onside. I agree that it is necessary to shift the overton window. However I believe those who would benefit most from the shifting ought to be the ones that force the shift!

        Until they become proactive, others trying to do it for them are vulnerable to the accusation of paternalism. The working class did actually self-organise in the 19th century. The historical record shows that they drove political changes through to their benefit. The current equivalent ought to be able to do that too.

        • solkta 6.1.1.1

          Yes, and there are very few obese people in the Greens (it true) so they shouldn't be trying to fix that problem either. frown

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.2

          However I believe those who would benefit most from the shifting ought to be the ones that force the shift!

          And how are they going to do that?

          As much as poverty is increasing those in poverty are still a minority and, as you say, politics is a numbers game.

          The working class did actually self-organise in the 19th century.

          The working class were, and still are, a majority. It even includes most of those in poverty. But the majority of workers don't seem to be inclined to support those in poverty. Perhaps because of our government's policy of maintaining high unemployment to keep wages down.

          The historical record shows that they drove political changes through to their benefit.

          At a time when there was a depression on and everyone could see that the old system wasn't working as the economists said.

        • Macro 6.1.1.3

          Luke 18: 24 -25

        • Incognito 6.1.1.4

          Politics is a numbers game. You don’t win without getting the numbers onside. I agree that it is necessary to shift the overton window. However I believe those who would benefit most from the shifting ought to be the ones that force the shift!

          Your lack of political nous is astounding! The shifting of the Overton window rests with the politicians.

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overton_window

          It appears that Ardern/Labour will be getting the numbers onside but what will they do with this mandate and political capital?

          “What I’ve consistently said is you’ve seen significant issues we’ve worked to form a consensus on, so that’s how you create lasting change,” Ardern told media.

          Ardern insists that being a consensus politician doesn’t mean she’s a centrist politician.

          “I am a progressive. I do seek change for the better but I will try and bring people with me,” she says.

          If the Greens do get to negotiate a deal they’re not giving up on a wealth tax, despite Labour ruling it out. Increasing benefits is also a top priority.

          Refusing to talk about stuff outright seems to contradict the consensus approach. Ardern/Labour come across as fair-weather progressives, which is not actually progressive; when it gets too hard or inconvenient, put it in the too-hard drawer and refuse to talk about it – Overton window nailed shut.

    • Dennis-the Greens were shouting about climate change decades ago. Now almost everyone has realised they were right.

      The same will happen with poverty/wealth redistribution….or there will be blood in the streets one day.

  7. Matiri 7

    Excellent post

  8. Drowsy M. Kram 8

    Timely post – poverty in NZ must be addressed, preferably by transitioning from placing ambulances at the bottom of the 'poverty cliff' to decreasing the height of the cliff.

    "Years of research show the social gradient of death is not a poverty cliff-edge but that it runs in a straight line from bottom to top: on the graph people get gradually healthier as they get richer. The grim reaper may wave a coronavirus scythe at the Prince of Wales, the prime minister or Tom Hanks, but death prefers the more fertile territory of Newham, Birmingham and Liverpool."
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/05/poverty-kills-people-coronavirus-life-expectancy-britain

    And it needs to happen while NZ is a relatively wealthy country – ameliorating wealth inequality would build societal resilience in the near future. Poverty in NZ is a much easier problem to tackle than climate change, but the wider electorate's response to Turei's honesty about her historical (poverty-related) dishonesty doesn't give me a lot of hope.

    In her essay below, Liang describes poverty as a “heritable condition” that perpetuates and amplifies through generations: “It is also not hard to see how individual poverty flows into communities and society, with downstream effects on economics, crime and health, as well as many other systems. Loosen one strand and everything else unravels.

    A Kete Half Empty

    Poverty is your problem, it is everyone’s problem, not just those who are in poverty. – Rebecca, a child from Te Puru

  9. Nicely put Weka. People telling to the Greens to STFU need only read your excellent post to understand why this is never going to happen.

    I have already party voted for the Greens but gave Labour the candidate vote because if anyone can beat Jackie Dean in Waitaki it will be Labour. (and voted YES-YES of course)

    I have also helped re-erect both Green and Labour billboards on numerous occasions with a mate-the wreckers have been in good form at this election.

  10. left_forward 10

    Excellent Weka – entirely agree with your well-articulated thoughts.

  11. Draco T Bastard 11

    Not many people (apart from the Greens) are talking about what the tax is meant to pay for

    I’ve been a bit surprised about the Greens’ focus on the tax rather than say the GMI, but with Collins, Ardern and the MSM intent on it, I wonder if NZ just has to have it out.

    I'd prefer to have the conversation about how the government doesn't need tax to pay for things. That tax is for other purposes than income for the government.

    A discussion about how the rich and business don't pay for anything. That it is, as a matter of fact, government spending that pays for everything including the profits of the rich.

    I think that this discussion is essential if we want to eliminate poverty and inequality.

    There’s the argument that Labour want house prices to keep inflating, because this will support the economy and buffer the recession.

    The present house price hyper-inflation allows the private banks to create more money which then gets spent into the economy thus adding to GDP. This looks good to the government and so they support it despite the fact that it increases poverty and leads to unsupportable private debt. The same debt that caused the GFC.

    What it says to me is that New Zealand isn’t ready to eliminate poverty.

    The average NZer wants to eliminate poverty but they also want to be rich and so they support the policies that would allow them to be not seeing the connection between those policies and the poverty that they create.

    We will be staring down the barrel of the climate and ecological crises, and quite possibly the spread of fascism internationally.

    We already are which is why I'm so pissed about the Greens still wanting to neuter the defence forces completely contrary to their published policy.

    I will be ticking Green twice when I vote

    Is that actually going to help?

    Will it elect a Green electorate MP?

    Or just help in a National MP?

    It is, in our present system, better to electorate vote Labour and party vote Green.

  12. Herodotus 12

    Thanks for this, and this may surprise any who read my comments, out of 3 voters in the family 66.7% have gone Green 😱. Thought that this would be the only major party that I would never vote for. But sometimes you have to vote against what would have a negative financial consequence for the greater good (I so hope so)

    No Green candidate here and a choice of 5. So many parties are invisible out here that had previously some identity.

  13. Tiger Mountain 13

    Good post. There has been a surfeit of Labour triumphalism from certain posters at The Standard the last several weeks. Lets see where the ticks land on Sat. night.

    I party voted Green, and so did my partner to my surprise who previously was “two ticks Labour”, I only stated my reasons once, but she had been thinking about it for several weeks regardless and told me she decided the Greens need to be in Govt. to ensure a Labour Govt both happens, and is not stand alone, and to represent on Climate Action.

    As for housing, a massive state house/apartment build over a decade would naturally rearrange the speculative property and rental exploitation markets by share force of supply.

  14. Matthew Whitehead 14

    I actually think there's a really sound strategy to keeping the noise on the wealth tax now that Labour’s not on our side on this subject too, rather than the GMI. I want both, but if we have to sacrifice one in talks, let's sacrifice the tax, and pay for welfare reforms some other way- perhaps by adding additional high-earners brackets to income tax, or a land tax, or something that lets Labour dodge their defensiveness on this issue. Hell, I'd even take not offsetting the cost if they insist on opposing all our revenue proposals. I'm perfectly happy to come in after the election and take over MSD and ACC for the Greens and let Labour have their "win" on tax if that's what's needed to do a realistic deal.

    I expect news of our GMI policy has already reached the people it needs to reach. We don't need to fight the right about it if that's the case. 🙂

    • weka 14.1

      I feel similarly. It's a good opportunity to talk about wealth, but the Greens haven't said it's a bottom line and I'm also fine if it doesn't happen but they get some of the welfare policy through. Pragmatics. People are freaking out over it despite this, which I find interesting.

  15. Anne 15

    … she decided the Greens need to be in Govt. to ensure a Labour Govt both happens, and is not stand alone, and to represent on Climate Action.

    And that is precisely why I will probably give my party vote to the Greens – assuming there is no major turnaround in this week's polls.

    Mankind along with the rest of nature is facing extinction in a horrifyingly short space of time. That is why it is so essential the Greens remain in parliament.

  16. Climaction 16

    This is all bullshit. The wealth tax is an inefficient response to Jacinda cravenly ruling out the Capital Gains Tax at the behest of NZ1. Which gives lie to the claim the greens don't care about power. they were in government when this happened and will support Jacinda / Labour into the next government, perpetuating the problem.

    CGT captures the value increase in wealth and taxes it's transfer. A wealth tax will largely penalise homeowners in Auckland who've stayed put for twenty years.

    • weka 16.1

      "A wealth tax will largely penalise homeowners in Auckland who've stayed put for twenty years."

      A small number of long term Auckland homeowners, most of whom will be wealthy if they have more than $2m assets in the clear.

      How many people do you know that fit the actual criteria in the policy?

      • Climaction 16.1.1

        I know a number of people who aren't wealthy, worked hard, paid their mortgate off and through no fault of their own are now in possession of 1.5m and up homes, staring down the barrel of retirement. And if this tax goes ahead it will rob them of $15k+ of their retirement income if they stay put in the community they've lived in for so long. the community they know.

        And it will get worse each year if house prices continue to increase in auckland as they are. $15k becomes 16.5k plus the valuers report.

        This is ill thought through.

        I notice you've ignored the CGT and the craven way this government and all entities within it have handled it.

        At least with a CGT, those people who have worked hard, sacrificed and made their way quietly will only be taxed on a gain, and only when they sell it. If the greens want a real bottom line they should put a CGT back on the table as a real bottom line now that NZ1 have gone.

        [There’s been way too much misinformation on this policy, some ignorance, some deliberate. If you misrepresent Green Party policy like this again, I will ban you. You’ve had ample opportunity to get up to speed with what the policy actually says, and now myself and Incognito have corrected you. . Making a note in the back end – weka]

        [update. Just seen the last note in the back end re this https://thestandard.org.nz/kia-kaha-greens/#comment-1746316 Pattern of behaviour, you’ve been warned before. 6 month ban – weka]

        • Incognito 16.1.1.1

          Your irresponsible ignorance is irascible.

          A couple can have a net wealth of up to $2 million without having to pay a cent in WT.

          Please educate yourself on matters that you comment on, thanks.

        • weka 16.1.1.2

          "This is ill thought through."

          Well your comment certainly is.

          Assuming we're talking a single person (as Incog points out, for couples the threshold is $2m), then they have a house that is worth $1.5m, freehold, and no other assets, savings etc.

          They get taxed 1% on the $500,000 = $5,000 in the first year. They can't afford that, so they defer payment.

          For sake of simplicity, let's say that they sell the house 15 years later to move into a smaller house, and have 15 years of deferred payments.

          They pay $75,000 in tax and they get to keep $1,425,000.

          In effect, this is a capital gains tax.

          What are the chances that they can't buy another house for that where they live? Yes, you can argue that prices have gone, but so then has the value of their house.

          What you appear to be arguing, despite the rhetoric about CGT, is that someone in that situation shouldn't pay tax on capital gains.

        • weka 16.1.1.3

          mod note.

  17. Grafton Gully 17

    https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-14/a-just-in-case-world-is-rushing-to-hoard-food-as-prices-rally

    Greens wealth tax a smug and unrealistic distraction from the real issues – a pandemic out of control internationally, tanking employment here and across the Tasman and threatened food security.

  18. sumsuch 19

    Only 3 of my FB friends, out of 14 odd to be truthful, responded to my post saying everything is about climate change and vote Left, which can't include Labour.

  19. sumsuch 20

    The personnel of the Greens make me puke green. Spoze at least we don't buy into hero figures.

  20. sumsuch 21

    The heart of the Left is expressed in the policies of the Greens, Maori and TOP. Labour are people who are scared of their shadows.

    Like them many of us oldies have been burnt. That's how confronting power is. Labour doesn't understand, like middle class me and my brothers didn't. My borderer working class egotist g.grandfather did. If he'd waited in Britain he'd have been made a lord, here he didn't even make the Legislative Council. A sure sign of the demise of our social democracy.

  21. PaddyOT 23

    I would support a wealth tax but for reasons explored not a broad asset targetted tax but closer to a more targetted CGT type tax in our NZ setting where wealth is harboured now in an unacceptable, predatory housing grab- a major cause of poor wellbeing and poverty explained later.

    With the proposed Green's WT, even if the practical and legal issues were surmountable ( with a growth in IRD jobs to administer and gain compliance with the complexities of a WT) , much research commentary about wealth tax points to implementing a broad WT as being the cause of anti-growth amounting to " lower investments in human capital and the creation of new businesses.” and a larger disincentive to saving.

    The wealth tax has failed in most other countries. In 1990, 12 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development had wealth taxes. By 2017, that number had fallen to just four. One reason other than the complexity of gathering the WT was wealth taxes were levied on households with little cash but substantial illiquid wealth due to too LOW exemption thresholds. These households would also include in NZ the accidental wealthy whereby an out of control property market makes an appearance of being wealthy when caught up in a broad horizontal tax application. The true super wealthy have means to hide assets and evade wealth tax( legal responses by taxpayers to reduce their tax exposure as well as illegal evasion), where as this group of one single- home ownership cannot hide the house.

    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2019/09/05/estimating-the-economic-impact-of-a-wealth-tax/

    A look at the 4 European nations that still collect WT also shows a significantly low capture of monies overall into government coffers.

    • "European wealth taxes generally brought in around 0.2% of GDP in revenues…
    • Its never been a substantial generator of tax money for the Spanish government. Data from the OECD shows that a net wealth tax on individuals made up 0.55 per cent of all tax revenues in 2017.
    • The amount of revenue generated has largely been the same over the last two decades. The OECD reported the wealth tax constituted 1.1% of all Norwegian tax revenue in 2017.

    • the Swiss wealth tax has generated consistent revenue so far in the 21st century and it brought the largest share. OECD data shows that wealth taxes made up 3.6% of all Swiss tax revenue in 2017, and it’s been above 3% since 2000.

    https://www.businessinsider.com.au/4-european-countries-wealth-tax-spain-norway-switzerland-belgium-2019-11?r=US&IR=T

    Other references on the European scene showed a negative impact when thousands of pissed off wealthy citizens departed their country taking wealth with them.

    An OECD review concluded that administrative difficulties, modest revenues, and failure to adequately address wealth inequality are among the main reasons why most member countries have abandoned wealth taxes.

    OECD (2018), The Role and Design of Net Wealth Taxes in the OECD, OECD Tax Policy Studies, No. 26, OECD Publishing, Paris. doi: 10.1787/9789264290303-en

    Of concern too was where the wealth tax take is transferred to, whether anti-poverty policies were enacted into actual poverty reduction or whether wealth tax take was instead being utilised mainly for overall fiscal debt reduction.

    What can be targetted in NZ rather than a broad asset WT is addressing a major area of concern which is the poverty enforced on households because rent takes an unacceptable proportion of income and or home buying is now off the table for many.

    In the NZ scenario much wealth is locked up in housing as a very profitable investment and tax free on its gain once liquidated.

    Lack of political action to disincentivise is one significant reason for poverty and homelessness. Labour also complicit over time in creating this crisis shame.
    History now shows home ownership as no longer being seen by government as a 'social good or necessity' for the poorer citizen but instead housing treated by government as a market good.

    A wealth tax in NZ may give material relief or more support services for the poor but will not make houses affordable for low income families nor thought to slow house prices down. Young people in NZ now make up a high proportion of our overall homelessness statistics. Overall wellbeing is poorer in NZ because of lack of house security.

    A very recent, more thorough examination of NZ's out of control predatory housing grab and measures to abate this wealth hiding haven is explored on the Policy Commons. The Green’s goals of poverty reduction is discussed and has much in common with outcomes of the PC piece

    " Allowing the crisis to continue unabated will do lasting damage to health, inequality, levels of debt, and the hopes of a generation. To take action to prevent this from happening we need to understand how we got here (Part II). We need to be clear about what kind of society we want to move towards and how housing fits into that vision (Part III). And we need to set out the steps that can be taken to move towards that broader vision (Part IV)."

    What needs to happen-:

    " Decentring home-ownership

    Decolonising housing policy

    Democratising housing policy-making

    Decommodifying housing

    Proposed is ten policy ideas for greater consideration, arising out of this new paradigm:

    A Ministry of Public Works

    A Green Investment Bank

    A State Lending Agency

    Transferring Regulation of Mortgage Lending to Parliament

    Enabling Public Sector Leadership for Housing Policy

    Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga in Housing Policy

    Fair Taxation of Housing

    Expanding State and Community Housing

    Enhancing the Rights of Renters

    Tackling Homelessness "

    https://www.policycommons.ac.nz/2020/10/06/transformative-housing-policy-for-aotearoa-new-zealand/

    Wealth tax can be applied in different forms to address poverty. One of the meritous recommendations of direct benefit to reduce "The rise of the unbridled market" particularly in the NZ scene to disincentivise house grabbing and to generate bigger tax revenue dollars from housing wealth was

    " modifying the bright-line test so that it applies to all second or third homes bought and sold, with NO set time frame. Applying the bright-line test to all second homes may catch some baches; third homes are likely to be a very reliable proxy for properties that are investment assets."

    Outside of housing as a tax haven, as stated in an earlier post and by others was that greater tax revenue needs to be generated by further stringent cracking down on tax compliance; closing holes for corporate and of super- wealthy individuals using tax shelters; through implementing mandatory independent auditing, say every two years, for the ever increasing discretionary family trusts ( in line with how Charitable Trusts must comply); and more rigorous tax collecting of monetary transfers of NZ made dollars to offshore.

    Increasing corporate tax revenue seems more palatable if not more just than taxing the average accidental cash poor yet wealthy house owner.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T23:15:35+00:00