Ardern was right to hold back on Russia

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, April 7th, 2018 - 88 comments
Categories: Europe, International, Russia, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uk politics - Tags:

Remember a couple of weeks ago when the story de jour was about how Ardern’s failure to deal aggressively with the Russians following the poisoning of a former Russian spy was a miscalculation and a sign of weakness?  Mike Smith covered the issue here and here and warned that a rush to judgment was at best premature.

It did not help Ardern’s critics that MFAT could not find anyone who could be considered a possible spy.  According to the critics heads should have rolled.  If it was the janitor’s head then that would be sufficient according to the logic applied.  But it was really bizarre that Ardern’s rational reliance on the state’s intelligence gathering institutions should be considered to have been a sign of weakness.

Apart from Jacinda the only other politician of world standing who urged caution was Jeremy Corbyn.  He has received similar treatment by the media powers that be.

And it is not as if Jacinda did not go to the edge with her initial response.  She was quoted as saying:

“Outrage at the brazen and callous use of chemical weapons in a UK town is fully justified,” Ms Ardern said in a statement on Friday evening.

“This incident is a serious affront to accepted global rules and norms. The use of chemical weapons in any circumstances is totally repugnant, and New Zealand is deeply disturbed at any use of chemical substances banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention.

“New Zealand fully supports the sovereign right of the UK to take the action it considers appropriate in response to this violation of international law on its territory. We stand in solidarity with the UK alongside and its other partners.”

Ms Ardern said Russia’s response to the attack has been “cynical, sarcastic and inadequate”.

“There is  no plausible alternative explanation hitherto that this came from anywhere other than Russia and no doubt whatsoever that Russia has serious questions to answer.”

Well there have been further developments.  The conclusion has been reached that Boris Johnson told porkies to the public about the issue.  And the Foreign Office has deleted one of its tweets accusing Russia of being behind the poisoning.

From the Guardian:

Boris Johnson is facing embarrassing questions over his claims that Russia had produced the Salisbury nerve agent after it emerged that the Foreign Office had deleted a tweet blaming Moscow for the attack.

With the foreign secretary already under pressure over his remarks two weeks ago that a Porton Down scientist had been “absolutely categorical” that the novichok had originated in the country, Jeremy Corbyn accused Johnson of “completely exceeding the information he had been given” after the emergence of the deleted tweet.

But Johnson later hit back, accusing the Labour leader of “playing Russia’s game”.

The deletion, immediately seized on by the Russian embassy, has deepened the government’s difficulties after British scientists at the UK’s defence research laboratory announced on Tuesday that they had not established that the nerve agent used to poison Sergei and Yulia Skripal had been made in Russia.

The Russian Embassy in London took great delight in displaying the deleted tweet.  It is amazing how much International Relations is now conducted via Twitter.

The Home Office have claimed that the assessment was made on the basis of intelligence analysis as well as scientific scrutiny of the poison used.  They also claim the tweet misquoted the UK ambassador.  His speech on which the tweet was based said this:

The analysts at Porton Down, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in the UK, established and made clear that this was a military-grade chemical weapon. One of the novichok series; a nerve agent as I said produced in Russia.”

The speech says that the nerve agent was manufactured in Russia and not that the nerve agent used in the attack was manufactured in Russia as claimed by the tweet and by Johnson.  Only an idiot would confuse the two scenarios.  How this happened requires further explanation.

When you look at what Ardern said and what has subsequently transpired it seems her initial statement was perfectly weighted.  A rush to judgment was not justified.

Was it the Russians?  Quite possibly to probably.  Should New Zealand have kicked out a few Russians just in case they might have been spies and because the consensus in some countries is that the Russians must have done it?  Refusing to rush to judgment is the sort of thing that should be applauded, not condemned.

88 comments on “Ardern was right to hold back on Russia ”

  1. Ed 1

    A courageous and independent decision.
    Now we are in an excellent position to do and trade deal with Russia that will make us less dependent on China economically and The US politically.
    Kudos to our government.

    • SPC 1.1

      Sort of, will it depend on a Ukraine-Russia resolution to end sanctions., or will we conclude the work already done and sign a FTA but suspend implementation until then (end of sanctions).

      • dukeofurl 1.1.1

        Are we going to have sanctions on Turkey , even if it was 45 years too late (20 July 1974, but still ongoing) for them invading a commonwealth country Cyprus ?

        As History is often said to repeat, that like Ukraine was after a coup in Nicosia, but this one had ethnic cleansing to boot.

        • SPC 1.1.1.1

          It’s different when NATO member countries do it … (Turkey currently operating in Syria).

          • dukeofurl 1.1.1.1.1

            Doubled down , itsw different when Saudia Arabia does it too in Yemen

    • Sanctuary 1.2

      I wouldn’t characterise our foreign policy as courageous, unless you define courageous as:

      “…a mealy mouthed speaking out of both sides of mouth mumble aimed at keeping our allies, with whom we would most likely fight in any war, and our trading partners, who are mostly our potential enemies, happy alike before slinking off and hoping no one will notice us down here at the bottom of the world…”

      The thing is, this foreign policy – a private absolute guarantee to the USA we are a 100% ally whilst publicly also being China’s number FTA partner and also playing the role of all round nuclear free international nice guy has largely worked for the last thirty odd years, so why knock it?

      • Ed 1.2.1

        I don’t think our overall foreign policy is brave.
        I think this action is.

        A brave foreign and trade policy would have meant not signing the amended TPP deal.
        It would have meant pulling out of Five Eyes.

      • Keepcalmcarryon 1.2.2

        Yes, considering the hypocrisy of expulsion for some bad things but not others depending on what deal you did with who, I think we should start expelling Chinese spies.
        Would have the added benefit of a reduction in National Mps.
        Win/win

      • Delia 1.2.3

        After two world wars I would say that is the more rational decision, unless you want to decimate our population of men all over again. Wars are economic and we do not depend on trade with UK as we used to.

      • locus 1.2.4

        good quote Sanctuary… where is it from?

    • Wayne 1.3

      A Russia deal won’t happen, at least not for some years. FTA’s with the UK and the EU are way more important and are the current priority.

      • Ed 1.3.1

        This government is cowardly.
        It tinkers.
        It does not act.

        On an issue you certainly know a lot more than the rest of us here, what is your view on the recent resignation of Keating?

      • cleangreen 1.3.2

        Wayne Mapp; says; –
        “A Russia deal won’t happen, at least not for some years.”

        Is that when National may be trusted to be let back to run the country dry and broke again; – after we pay back all the $90 Billion that national borrowed and hid somewhere in their overseas “tax sheltered “accounts?

    • cleangreen 1.4

      100% Ed; -words better than I could say.

      Thanks for seeing “common sense” here.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.5

      An independent decision?

      Ardern and Peters made it clear that 5-eyes partners were consulted and involved throughout.

      So much for “independence”.

    • Chuck 1.6

      “A courageous and independent decision.”

      That’s not what Ardern told the country, Ed.

      There will be no trade deal with Russia for the foreseeable future. The Kremlin may interest Winston, however, NZ has bigger (and more reliable) fish to fry on the trade front.

    • D'Esterre 1.7

      Ed: “A courageous and independent decision.”

      I’d have preferred that she made no substantive comment until the evidence was in, and certainly that she’d made no decisions on any action until we saw said evidence. I wrote to her and Winston Peters, saying as much.

      I suspect that we have Peters to thank for how the government’s reacted thus far. He’s very experienced; moreover, such comments as he’s made suggest that he sees right through the sustained anti-Russian propaganda of the last few years. Thank heavens at least one of our pollies has the wit to do so.

      “Now we are in an excellent position to do and trade deal with Russia…”

      Yup. The sooner the better. We have, after all, been trading with that part of the world for pretty much all of my reasonably long life.

  2. Anne 2

    Thanks a million mickysavage.

    No time to comment on the substance but I’m grateful to Jacinda Ardern and her government for listening to the right people and making the right initial decision.

    Helen Clark also listened to the right people and kept us out of Iraq.

    There’s something about Labour women PMs. They’re very good for NZ.

  3. Nick 3

    Which NZ news media journalists accused Ardern of a misstep?

  4. Ad 4

    Prime Minister Ardern was adamant and strident in her response, but that amounted to words not deeds in the eyes of our traditional allies. She can’t have it both ways. It may look wise to a domestic audience, but weak from all governments looking at us (including the Russians).

    I’m suspending any stronger judgement on all of this until there is clearer evidence one way or the other.

    • Bill 4.1

      When running a murder investigation, is the idea to eliminate suspects (and then focus on the one who can’t be eliminated) or shoe-horn a preferred one into a position of presumed guilt?

      The UK government ran with prejudice and slipped on its own shit.

      Ardern may or may not have been adamant and strident (I didn’t pay attention), or it just might be the case that there’s bugger all in the way of a Russian presence in NZ.

      Is there an embassy or such like? Or is NZ “serviced” from Australia?

      edit – A whopping 8 people in Wellington.
      http://www.newzealand.mid.ru/diplomatic-list.htm

      • Ad 4.1.1

        The “strident” description was in relation to the extensive quote from her in Mickey’s post.

        She made the right noises, but kept her options open by doing nothing, which is on balance about as principled as dancing on the end of a pin.

        • francesca 4.1.1.1

          So whats diplomacy about?
          What are the aims?
          Is it a means of signalling which club you align yourself with?No matter what
          As takes place in the UN to its detriment, where votes are definitely bloc oriented(Samantha Power used to glare around the room at vote time like a malevolent harpy)
          This definition has been used to criticise Ardern for not rustling up a few Russian spies, even a chauffeur’s wife would have done
          Or is it the means to keep conversations going, to not exclude the possibility of further relations and friendship , to keep things civil and open ended until some sort of definitive evidence is produced
          Dancing on a pin in these circumstances is neither a snub to the UK, or the RF’ and probably the only way to go

          • Tracey 4.1.1.1.1

            Imagine, waiting for actual evidence before making big statements… apparently it is weakness.

        • Tracey 4.1.1.2

          I thought principles aka values were irrelevant in the game of politics and only for idealogues and naive

        • cleangreen 4.1.1.3

          That’s politics for you eh?

          We just had nine years of this double speak.
          We are all familiar to this by now eh?

        • AB 4.1.1.4

          Exactly the sort of elaborate dancing that a small, principled country might have to do if it is tied into relationships with much larger and less principled partners?
          These really are our only choices – dancing on pinheads or sycophantic braying. National (Sir Keith Holyoake honourably excepted over Vietnam) have always gone for the latter.
          And compromise – Clark kept us out of Iraq but had to offer something on Afghanistan so long as it could be spun domestically as ‘reconstruction’.

        • reason 4.1.1.5

          AD …. your about as principled as a man walking into a room full of children with a hammer in your hand … which you bury in their little skulls … for that is the wickedness of what warmongers advocate.

          But you don’t have the guts …. it’s ok with you as long as you don’t have to do it … or see the results … and bombs are even messier than hammers.

          Wayne Mapp is another … his hand prints are on the hammer blow a cute little innocent girl took to the head .

          You’d hope her image would keep him awake at night …. but he probably sleeps like a baby and dreams of trade deals

          https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58bcc6ac893fc04255abbbcc/t/58cfb45a37c5819ccd2bfd50/1490014002150/?format=500w

      • mikes 4.1.2

        “When running a murder investigation, is the idea to eliminate suspects (and then focus on the one who can’t be eliminated) or shoe-horn a preferred one into a position of presumed guilt?”

        Neither. The idea is to gather enough clear and undeniable evidence which points you to a prime suspect. The focus should always be on the evidence before it is on any suspects.

        With crimes such as this though, it seems that it always helps to look closely at ‘who benefits?’

        • cleangreen 4.1.2.1

          To much ‘supisition’ in your offered piece Mikes.

          Courts need solid facts not who is most suited to be just a “prime suspect” but rather who is 100% guilty as charged under 100% factual evidence.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.2.1.1

            No, courts don’t use “100%” as the standard.

            That’s why they say “beyond a reasonable doubt”. If the justice system insisted on 100%, no-one would ever be convicted of anything.

            For diplomacy, the threshold is considerably lower, as we’ve seen.

            • Incognito 4.1.2.1.1.1

              For politics, the threshold is considerably lower again, as we’ve seen.

            • dukeofurl 4.1.2.1.1.2

              Beyond Reasonable doubt – it all ways needs more than one piece of evidence.

      • xanthe 4.1.3

        “When running a murder investigation, is the idea to eliminate suspects (and then focus on the one who can’t be eliminated) or shoe-horn a preferred one into a position of presumed guilt?”

        thats the way (the second option) we do it in NZ.

    • Gabby 4.2

      Strident? That’s pretty shrill talk addy.

      • Ad 4.2.1

        “Outrage at the brazen and callous use of chemical weapons in a UK town is fully justified,” Ms Ardern said in a statement on Friday evening.

        “This incident is a serious affront to accepted global rules and norms. The use of chemical weapons in any circumstances is totally repugnant, and New Zealand is deeply disturbed at any use of chemical substances banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention..

        Cal l that whatever you like, but that’s the New Zealand position.

        • cleangreen 4.2.1.1

          “Cal l that whatever you like, but that’s the New Zealand position.”

          No its not mine and I am a sixth generation KIwi!!!!!

    • SPC 4.3

      I doubt that going along with instructions would make us appear strong to the Russians, or anyone else. Just be the same as a government of a Warsaw Pact nation voting the same way as the Kremlin in the UN, vote after vote.

      We have no security alliance with any of them. And we have no free trade deal with the UK (we queue amongst other nations days at their airports and have limited work residency rights) or EU. Nor USA, only Oz (CER) who are tough on Kiwis in Oz and of NATO only Canada (newly so) of the united front.

      And let’s not forget where they stood when the French got the all clear to bomb a ship in one of our harbours.

      • dukeofurl 4.3.1

        Yes the rainbow warrior bombing was a chorus of condemnation SFA from the UK.

    • “I’m suspending any stronger judgement on all of this until there is clearer evidence one way or the other.”

      Quite right, Ad. Ah, if only ALL the other participants in the drama (except perhaps the Skripals) had suspended judgment until there was clear evidence!

    • Sanctuary 4.5

      “…. She can’t have it both ways…”

      But she is, and she has.

      • Ad 4.5.1

        Not from any mainstream media outside of New Zealand. that bothered to care what our position was.

        • Wayne 4.5.1.1

          The Economist commented on the New Zealand position in a wry sort of way. Major international publications have noted where we have stood on this, seeing it as sort of in and sort of out.

          • Ed 4.5.1.1.1

            Well it would take that position…..

            The publication belongs to the Economist Group. It is 50% owned by the English branch of the Rothschild family and by the Agnelli family through its holding company Exor.

            The Economist takes an editorial stance of classical and economic liberalism that supports free trade, globalisation, free immigration

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

          • AB 4.5.1.1.2

            “sort of in and sort of out”
            Which is the best place to be and we have a tradition of it – Holyoake’s token contribution in Vietnam, Clark staying out of Iraq but having to cough up something for Afghanistan.
            This is what small, principled players tied into relationships with less principled, jingoistic behemoths do.

        • cleangreen 4.5.1.2

          ” media outside of New Zealand. that bothered to care what our position was.”

          No-one outside nz carries a damn who we think jhere as we are such an insignificant country I have lived most of my life in EU, USA Canada, Africa, Australia and my mother country NZ, and know overseas they dont give a damn what goes on here. ,

  5. Stuart Munro 5

    Expelling embassy staff really applies more to the old cold war version of the Russian state – it probably isn’t applicable to the new model in the same way.

    The embassy is no longer necessarily the centre of any Russian intelligence activity here, there are numerous oligarchs like Alexander Abramov https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/home-property/84872148/Russian-billionaire-Alexander-Abramovs-Helena-Bay-resort-is-now-taking-bookings whose operations could readily support the kind of temporary faux commercial enterprise that serves as a cover, and it is unlikely that SIS or GCSB are monitoring them effectively – their resources are focused more on the likes of Kim Dotcom or the Greens.

    In the absence of evidence of wrongdoing throwing people out isn’t brilliant, though the OPCW conclusions on the Salisbury attack may amount to evidence of wrongdoing, and if that comes up any sanctions are best directed at the state, of which the embassy is an appendage.

    The claim that NZ had no active Russian spies was not particularly reassuring, but neither was it much of a misstep. Better phrasing “There is no-one we wish to be rid of at this time” might have saved us a storm of foolish Gnat blather.

    Probably not however, they’re pretty foolish, and love the sound of their own voices.

  6. Arderns name being in the same sentence as Corbyn…there was a time, and not that long ago, that the Labour Party would have sent you a cease and desist letter for such blasphemy….in fact I imagine Robertson squirms at the thought of anything Corbyn Esque gaining too much momentum* over here…

    It would be an understatement to say that I would be quite amazed to see Ardern take a stand on an issue and be willing to take the same heat as Corbyn…his stand had the press crowing about his imminent demise, the New Labour contingent of the Party where sharpening their weapons, yet over here I didn’t see one single headline that implied Ardern was siding with Russia, she danced on the head of that pin with utmost care.

    • mikes 6.1

      “..his stand had the press crowing about his imminent demise..”

      There’s nobody that the press in the UK actually really hates apart from Corbyn. The reason they hate him is that they are terrified of him.

      If you look back at where he has stood on various issues around foreign affairs over the years (such as Iraq, Libya, Bosnia, etc,etc), He has always been completely clear on his position and as far as I can tell, his position has always turned out to be the correct one.

  7. Andre 7

    Andrew Geddis’ analysis seems a bit closer to the mark: rather than avoiding a rush to judgement, it was simply that none of the Russian embassy staff here were the right pay grade to be kicked out. If we had then gone on to randomly pick someone to kick out, just because, then our response would have been significantly and inappropriately stronger than other countries.

    https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/my-spy-boy-told-your-spy-boy-im-gonna-set-you-flag-on-fi-yo

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      This. Geddis’ remarks didn’t suit the Kremlin’s official stenographers, nor Whitehall’s.

  8. francesca 8

    Any legal whizz prepared to comment on this?

    http://johnhelmer.net/

    Looks like a kangaroo court to me.

    • cleangreen 8.1

      “However, she (Julia) cannot do so. (talk on the phone) Salisbury Hospital officials, who have confirmed her capacity to listen and speak by telephone, will not say why.”

      Looks like a gaging of witnesses there by the Salisbury Hospital firstly as well as a kangaroo court to me.

  9. CHCOff 9

    Issues like this are generally beyond the limits of bread and circus democracy.

  10. RedLogix 10

    So last night I was drinking with a bunch of Russian divers. (These are the kind of madmen who use a very new technology which literally breaks down water into hydrogen and oxygen to create a torch that cuts through a 400mm diameter steel shackle in about 2 minutes. I really would not have believed it if they hadn’t showed me the video they took earlier in the day. The diver is working 20m down, using a lance about 2m long and the brilliant ball of white is larger than his own body …. I’ve never seen anything like it.

    Like I said … madmen. And they did describe Putin as a pansy, lefty liberal … 🙂 Their view is that Russia is a European country and the entire debacle of the Cold War and subsequent nonsense has been contrived by the USA mainly to ensure a divided Europe (ie one without Russia) would never grow strong enough to challenge the American hegemony.

    And while this strategy has succeeded it is now destabilised by two things, China and Islam. The Americans cannot contain Europe, China and Islam all at the same time … something will give.

    Well we were drinking Stolichnaya straight … and no I didn’t get a lot of work done today.

  11. logie97 11

    It is well to remember that pride often precedes a fall.
    Why gloat about the government’s (probable) correct analysis and stance on this
    issue. Just chalk it up as a positive and be happy in the knowledge that we appear to have level headedness in the Beehive.
    The Right have a nasty habit through their propaganda machine, of twisting these stories.

    I would have thought it wiser to just let the story fade away… or at least enjoy the likes of Boris being further discredited by their own.

  12. Carolyn_Nth 12

    A recent development in this case, gives new meaning to both

    a dead cat bounce

    and a dead cat strategy

    It’s good to hear that the Skripals are recovering.

    Whatever the truth about the poisonings, I think the UK government are using the incident to ramp up popular opinion against Russia, and to divert from their Brexit woes.

    There’s also an element of “either you’re with us or you’re against us.”

    • Anne 12.1

      I think the UK government are using the incident to ramp up popular opinion against Russia, and to divert from their Brexit woes.

      Oh yes – especially the latter woes!

      I guess they’re working on the assumption that:

      if you can fool people some of the time then you can fool them all of the time.

      As for “either you’re with us or you’re against us.”

      That’s a meme which destroyed the lives of many thousands of innocent people throughout the Western world during the Cold War years. They’re trying to resurrect it again.

  13. savenz 13

    A good call by Jacinda and Labour.

  14. mikesh 14

    There is an interesting story in today’s Herald (apparently sourced from the Daily Mail)
    concerning a large sum of money belonging to Yulia’s late brother, which he had received as a divorce settlement, and deposited in a Russian bank. It seems that, a few days prior to the Salisbury incident, Yulia had received a power of attorney over the money from her father. The latter is presumably unable to return to Russia so it looks as though he has arranged for her to claim the money on his behalf as she is free to move between Britain and Russia. It is rather suspicious that a fews days later an attempt was made on the pair’s lives.

    Perhaps instead blindly blaming the Russian government for the attempted murders, the British investigaters should be “following the money”.

  15. Mark 15

    I am sad to read about what is happening to my beloved country with this mob running the shop.

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    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    17 hours ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    18 hours ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    18 hours ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    18 hours ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    18 hours ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    18 hours ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    18 hours ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    19 hours ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    20 hours ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    21 hours ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    21 hours ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    21 hours ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    21 hours ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    21 hours ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    22 hours ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 day ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    1 day ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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 ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
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