Amy Adams has some explaining to do

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, March 12th, 2014 - 33 comments
Categories: Conservation, national, same old national, water - Tags:

If Judith Collins’ difficulties with endorsing promoting while overseas on a Ministerial Trip the products of a firm of which her husband is a director and which has given significant amounts of money to the National Party was bad enough there is breaking news which will have John Key reach for the emergency phone line to Crosby Textor.

James Dann of the Rebuilding Christchurch blogsite has posted information of what looks like a significant conflict of interest for Amy Adams and questions on how it was handled have to be asked.

From the post:

Adams owns a number of properties, but the ones of most interest are in two blocks. The first is in 9 titles, at Charing Cross. It totals 1,992,440m2, and has a rateable value of $4,700,000. The second is at Darfield, is in one title of 502,154m2, and has a rateable value of $1,050,000. What is interesting about these two blocks is that they are both within the area to be covered by the Central Plains Water (CPW) scheme. This is a controversial project that will take water from the Rakaia River and use it to irrigate an area of the Canterbury Plains between the Rakaia and Hororata Rivers.

Government action in Canterbury over the past few years has caused major concern.  Elected representatives to ECAN were dismissed and replaced by Commissioners.  Instead of there being recent elections the term of the commissioners was extended to 2016 and Adams had a direct role in this decision as Minister for the Enviroment.  The intention appears to be to bed in the irrigation proposals.  And part of the fast forward fund, representing some of the sale proceeds of our company shares, has been tagged to be spent on irrigation in Canterbury.

It appears that Adams was directly involved in changing the environmental protection status for the Rakaia River, one of the rivers involved.  Again from Dann:

… when the bill went to parliament to replace the ECan council with commissioners, it also made it much easier for the Minister to amend a Water Conservation Order (WCO) in Canterbury. A WCO is often compared to a “national park” for a water way – it recognises the environmental, cultural and recreational significance of the body of water, and makes it more difficult for it to be exploited. WCOs are the domain of the Ministry of the Environment – not the regional council; by tacking this clause onto the bill which was nominally designed to resolve the “dysfunction” at ECan, the government showed what they were really trying to do. A WCO was placed on the Rakaia River in 1988 – the river which CPW needed to draw from to ensure the viability of their scheme. This was lifted in 2013.

Where difficulties may arise is that it appears that Adams’ land will benefit from the proposes irrigation scheme and improve in value.  And she is a part owner of AMDON Farms Limited which owns shares in Central Plains Irrigation Limited which is involved in the project.

Rob Salmond sums up the situation as follows:

This raises very serious questions about Amy Adams’ conduct as Minister for the Environment. It is possible, of course, that there is a perfectly innocent expanation for these unlikely coincidences. But before believing that, I think the public needs to know:

  1. Does Amy Adams stand to benefit, either through increased land value for her farms or from increased share value in her firms, from the government-funded irrigation work in the Canterbury Plains?
  2. Did Amy Adams recuse herself from all cabinet and caucus discussions that were related to ECan and the Central Plains Water scheme?
  3. Did Amy Adams delegate authority to another Minister to make all decisions in the environment portfolio that relate to ECan, the current government-appointed commissioners, or the Central Plains Water scheme?

If the answer to (1) is “yes,” and the answer to either of the other questions is anything other than “100% yes,” then Amy Adams has been taking part in government decision-making that directly benefits her and her family.

If she has taken part in those decisions, and stands to benefit from them, then she has to resign.

Update.  Amy Adams’ Press Secretary Nathan Beaumont has responded below.  Good to see that the Beehive reads the Standard!

33 comments on “Amy Adams has some explaining to do ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Sanctuary 1
    12 March 2014 at 12:21 pm

    get rid of democracy and crony capitalism and corruption follows as night follows day. Such as it always has, so it always shall be.

  2. McFlock 2
    12 March 2014 at 12:22 pm

    but but but … changetheFLAG!

  3. tricledrown 3
    12 March 2014 at 12:40 pm

    Amy Adams and Nick Smith and his brother are guilty of corruption and insider trading this should Go to the commerce commission and the fraud office.
    Penny Bright Mc Cready where the hell are you.

  4. Naturesong 4
    12 March 2014 at 12:50 pm

    There is no corruption in New Zealand;
    there are no cows on our farms,
    There is no corruption in New Zealand;
    we can all keep perfectly calm.

    etc …

  5. Tracey 5
    12 March 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Keep knighthoods but change the flag.

    Helengrad

    The democratic republic of Key

  6. Nathan Beaumont 6
    12 March 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Minister Adams and her husband own Amdon Farms Ltd, which operates their farm. Amdon Farms owns shares in Central Plains Water Ltd, the company that will run the Central Plains Water irrigation scheme. Therefore, Minister Adams has declared that she has a pecuniary interest in the Central Plains Water scheme.
    Accordingly, to avoid any actual or perceived conflicts of interest, Minister Adams has transferred her responsibilities as Environment Minister to Minister Brownlee. This was done after she became Environment Minister in April 2012.
    Minister Adams transferred to Minister Brownlee, under section 7 of the Constitution Act 1986, her responsibilities as Minister for the Environment for making decisions affecting the Central Plains Water scheme. Environment officials report directly to Minister Brownlee on matters concerning the Central Plains Water scheme.
    I understand there has only been one Cabinet decision made regarding the Central Plains Water Scheme. On this occasion, Minister Brownlee took the paper to the relevant Cabinet committee. When this issue was discussed, Minister Adams excused herself from the Cabinet committee where it was discussed, and took no part in the discussions.
    Here is a press release from Minister Brownlee that relates to that Cabinet decision – http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/ecan-rakaia-river-recommendation-accepted

    Thanks
    Nathan Beaumont
    Press Secretary
    Hon Amy Adams

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      12 March 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Thanks for posting, Nathan.

    • lprent 6.2
      12 March 2014 at 1:49 pm

      Thanks for the prompt clarification…

      If you read the post and the articles that it derived from, you’ll see that it wasn’t just the the ministerial issues that were of interest.

      Simply owning land within those irrigation areas and being part of the cabinet and government that dumped ECan because it was getting between farmers and the water they wanted is a questionable conflict of interest. As the quote from Rob Salmond said

      Does Amy Adams stand to benefit, either through increased land value for her farms or from increased share value in her firms, from the government-funded irrigation work in the Canterbury Plains?

      Bearing in mind the massive subsidy given to dirty farming for this irrigation project, I’d say that the answer would have to be yes.

      • Tracey 6.2.1
        12 March 2014 at 2:12 pm

        That wld be the brownlee that svhmoozed up at the pike river opening but passed over the job of resigning to wilkinson? Yup he’s sure shown his neutrality where the environment is concerned.

    • blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 6.3
      12 March 2014 at 2:11 pm

      @ Nathan Beaumont
      Press Secretary for Hon Amy Adams

      Amy Adams has been promoting ‘streamlining’ in the RMA, shifting the balance of economic considerations vs environmental considerations in the RMA toward economic considerations, she has been promoting the irrigation schemes:

      “I will also talk briefly about water, because water is very, very important to the economy in Canterbury and particularly to the region of Selwyn. I for one am not an apologist for the fact that New Zealand should make the most of its natural advantages if we do so well and sustainably. The $35 million that the Government has set aside for the investigation of irrigation projects is to be commended, but there is a rider that we have to do it well. That is why it is important that we have also set aside a further $15 million for the Fresh Start for Fresh Water Clean-up fund, taking that fund to well over $260 million. That is going into the clean-up of fresh water.

      I am very excited about the future for Canterbury, I am very excited by the fact that this National-led Government is standing behind it, and we have a very, very bright future ahead of us while we have the Minister of Finance, the Hon Bill English, in charge. He has taken this economy from the cot-case that it was when we inherited it in 2008 and has put it back on a projection where we have 4 percent growth forecast for next year, and, in fact, that is conservative. The Reserve Bank—Amy Adams, on 21 June 2011

      From: http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/debates/debates/speeches/49HansS_20110621_00000734/adams-amy-supplementary-estimates-%E2%80%94-imprest-supply-debate

      …and appears to have continued to be involved with the irrigation issues in Canterbury:

      “Canterbury’s elected leaders recently met Environment Minister Amy Adams to discuss the Crown’s ECan review this year and several have confirmed they want an ECan made up of both elected and appointed members.” [by Glenn Conway, last updated 1.1.2014]

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/9567909/Mayors-not-keen-for-fully-elected-ECan

      [emphasis added]

      All the above-mentioned issues she stands to benefit from personally.

      It appears that your communication with the Standard readers is not ‘clarification’ it is simply more obfuscation of the issues that we have come to expect from this National Government.

    • shorts 6.4
      12 March 2014 at 4:34 pm

      Well played Nathan

      More of this from MPs and Parties please (within reason)

  7. RT 7
    12 March 2014 at 1:27 pm

    Thanks Nathan – talk about a non-story.

    [lprent: Because the comments are threaded your response is going to wind up well away from Nathan’s comment. You’ll find that using a reply button and responding directly to the comment you’re referring to makes your comment more relevant. ]

    • Ross 7.1
      12 March 2014 at 1:51 pm

      That’s what the Nats said about Judith Collins’ having a glass of milk. I’m not sure why she would apologise over a “non-story”.

    • framu 7.2
      12 March 2014 at 1:54 pm

      nathan only partially answers points 2 and 3

      ”
      1 Does Amy Adams stand to benefit, either through increased land value for her farms or from increased share value in her firms, from the government-funded irrigation work in the Canterbury Plains?
      2 Did Amy Adams recuse herself from all cabinet and caucus discussions that were related to ECan and the Central Plains Water scheme?
      3 Did Amy Adams delegate authority to another Minister to make all decisions in the environment portfolio that relate to ECan, the current government-appointed commissioners, or the Central Plains Water scheme?

      If the answer to (1) is “yes,” and the answer to either of the other questions is anything other than “100% yes,” then Amy Adams has been taking part in government decision-making that directly benefits her and her family.”

      so still a story

  8. Ross 8
    12 March 2014 at 2:05 pm

    But let’s say Amy Adams is beyond reproach and has recused herself from all discussions re the water scheme. How is it that a junior minister can spot a conflict of interest a mile off but a senior minister (Collins) cannot?

    Would Nathan consider working for Judith Collins? 🙂

  9. Skinny 9
    12 March 2014 at 2:34 pm

    This looks very sketchy indeed. A Minister of the Environment, her large land holdings and an irrigation scheme. But hold on let’s stifle democracy by first sacking the eyes and ears, not have a election etc.. and on it goes. 

    How many more perks of the job are going to be exposed? Anything Gerry ‘pork pie’ Brownlee is involved with usually turns up trumps for his own team regards of rights and wrongs.

    I bet Key wanted to go to the polls earlier. It will be a snap election or thrown out of office.. for you guess what!     

  10. One Anonymous Bloke 10
    12 March 2014 at 5:46 pm

    When she’s gone from parliament, she can still benefit from the personal interests her corruption has enriched. Confiscate them.

  11. MrSmith 11
    12 March 2014 at 7:31 pm

    She is a nasty piece of work isn’t she, the Nats give a farmers Daughter the job of gutting our RMA and also lets not forget her trying to override the Commerce Commerce ruling (which proposed a 25% cut in Chorus wholesale copper line pricing) http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/outrageous-adams-planning-private-sit-down-chorus-go-through-numbers-coalition-ck-p-148189 last year, and now it looks like she being found out, great.

    But hang on Amy is now shouting out for our new Environmental champions!

    “Environment Minister Amy Adams has today announced that entries are open for the Government’s premier environmental awards, which honour those dedicated to protecting and improving our environment.” http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1402/S00181/environmental-champions-sought.htm

    She makes me sick!

  12. Kahukowhai 12
    12 March 2014 at 8:19 pm

    Same thing for David Carter when he was a minister in charge of sacking Ecan and he owns land in an area to be developed – North Canterbury

  13. Descendant Of Sssmith 13
    12 March 2014 at 8:51 pm

    Yeah well it’s too hard for the bastards to steal directly from Maori now – that leaves the rest of us to steal from.

  14. JK 14
    12 March 2014 at 9:09 pm

    Does this story on Stuff News today have any connection with Amy Adams as outlined above ?

    Chinese company to buy public land
    MARTIN VAN BEYNEN
    Stuff News 12/03/2014

    A Chinese-owned dairy company wanting to buy Synlait has received Government approval to buy public land Synlait occupied “informally”.

    The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) has approved an application by SFL Holdings Ltd to buy or lease a stewardship area, a Crown-owned part of the bed of the Rakaia River and a paper road vested in the Selwyn District Council.

    SFL Holdings, 74 per cent owned by Shanghai Pengxin, the company which bought the Crafar farms in the North Island, has made a takeover offer for all the shares in Synlait Farms Ltd.

    The OIO said the takeover application revealed Synlait Farms was “informally occupying certain areas of Crown and territorial authority owned land”.

    “The applicant has therefore sought consent to regularise the occupation of these areas.”

    It ruled SFL had satisfied criteria under the Overseas Investment Act regarding creation of jobs, increased export receipts, greater productivity, additional investment for development purposes, increased processing and indigenous vegetation.

    Synlait Farms chief executive Juliet Maclean said the area involved was about 10 hectares in the Rakaia/Dunsandel area and not regarded as significant.

    The paper road had been farmed by the company, which was not unusual for paper roads in the area. The stewardship area was in the middle of one of the farms and just “green grass”.

    The part of the bed of the Rakaia River in issue was a block to which the boundary pegs had been lost or misplaced.

    The takeover has received 90 per cent Synlait Farms shareholder approval and New Zealand’s Overseas Investment Office approval but awaits approval from several Chinese authorities.

    © Fairfax NZ News

  15. mickysavage 15
    12 March 2014 at 9:56 pm

    My wood for the trees response is that Adams may have handled the conflict perfectly but why is her Government making decisions that will make her even wealthier?

  16. millsy 16
    12 March 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Of course, what is really needed is for irrigation schemes to be owned by the Crown.

    Like they were before 1990.

    This whole private ownership of everything is really getting to be a drag…

  17. tc 17
    13 March 2014 at 7:04 am

    Wow those higher standards are so lofty I can’t make them out, oh hang on I was looking up not down there they are next to their performance on the economy, unemployment, child poverty, closing ghe gap and the environment.

  18. captain hook 18
    13 March 2014 at 2:10 pm

    she should explain why she thinks that money grubbing is a substitute for being ugly.

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    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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
    5 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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