Are the left really angry?

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, May 17th, 2015 - 52 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, journalism, labour, Left, making shit up, Media, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uk politics, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , , , , ,

still protesting this shit

The latest right wing meme is that angry left activists cost Labour the English Election as well as the last local election and if only they were more moderate and reasonable everything would have been fine.  This analysis of course ignores completely the result in Scotland where the feisty angry nationalists who opposed the wasting of money on the renewal of Trident and the imposition of austerity to further hurt the poor failed miserably in only winning 56 out of 59 seats.  And if they chose to look elsewhere then clearly Greece, where an upstart left party won power, or Spain where something similar may happen, provide evidence of ordinary people deciding to turn to the left.

The usual suspects have engaged in this schoolyard quality attack.  Matthew Hooton, Cameron Slater, David Farrar,  Bob Jones and Mike Hosking have all trotted out the argument that Labour’s activists are a hindrance and not an asset.

Hooton and Slater have based this conclusion on the basis of a single UK blog post where self proclaimed former Labour voter said he was changing over to UKIP because some Labour supporters are angry.  The Angry Andy meme that John Key is trying to create is not accidental.

The article trots out the usual attack lines.  Labour in the UK was described as not being sufficiently aspirational, of being more interested in gender quotas, championing feminism and trying their best to not offend the LBGT and Muslim communities.  As if all of these are bad things.

The writer, Martin Daubney,was for a long time the editor of Loaded Magazine, a formerly popular “lads” magazine.  In the past he has railed against feminists and immigrants and does not like paying tax.  In his fertile imagination Labour is not interested in whites, heterosexuals or men.  And all Labour supporters are bullies.  Obviously he has not heard of Dirty Politics.  It seems that he has moved away from Labour because it is not misoginist enough.

The rather strange aspect of his writing is that apart from dissing feminists and complaining about taxes and immigration policy is not discussed.  You really get the feeling his decision about his politics involves a mean spirited self reappraisal where his personal interests are paramount and his various dislikes have been converted into a decision about his political allegiance.

The sad thing about these attacks are that they represent nothing new.  The left have always thought that injustice has to be addressed.  The right have used a variety of techniques (communists! feminists!) to attack these ideas without ever addressing the actual merits of the argument or questioning where the status quo is actually appropriate.

And like it or not there are many things people should be angry about.  For instance why our world is doing precious little about climate change despite the science being clear and the remedies attainable.  Or why in a land of plenty a quarter of a million kiwi kids live in poverty.  Or why there is a never-ending flow of wealth from the poor to the rich.

To finish off I had a look through and found a couple of historical examples of “hate filled lefty speech” which “turned off average voters” and ensured conservative success at the polls although history has clearly shown that these stands and campaigns were actually right.

For instance this dude who was clearly angry and racism in America.

And these artists who were clearly angry at apartheid in South Africa.

52 comments on “Are the left really angry? ”

  1. jenny kirk 1

    Yep – anger can move mountains !

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1

      Yep. The problem isn’t that the Left aren’t angry – it’s that they’re not angry enough with the deprivation and exploitation that the authoritarians are forcing upon the peoples of the Earth.

      • Richard Christie 1.1.1

        And our neoliberal masters have very successfully fine-tuned the modern opiates of the people.

        Lotto, casinos, the mind dulling game and reality TV shows, cheap Chinese made consumables, purging intelligent public discourse from the airwaves control of print media etc etc etc

        • whateva next? 1.1.1.1

          Cheap available alcohol also…..Clearly articulated in the Masterclass, and Crosby/ Textor are Masters, I have to admit to that. Just wished they had a conscience too.
          http://gu.com/p/488t8/sbl

      • AmaKiwi 1.1.2

        +1

  2. adam 2

    Jeez, I would have said the opposite -that labour party activist are too nice.

    They put up with a parliamentary wing who are pretty self absorbed and prone to believing their own hyperbole.

    I’d also say, that whilst a broad church approach may be what labour is after, having such a strong faction tethered to economic orthodoxy – does make it look like national light/ middle class liberal party.

    This collection, Matthew Hooton, Cameron Slater, David Farrar, Bob Jones and Mike Hosking all see the writing on the wall for this national government. They just want to make sure a weak left is in – for the changing of the guard at the next election.

    As it stands – it looks like they are getting their way.

    • Colonial Rawshark 2.1

      Don’t write off a fourth NAT term yet. Labour has no road to forming a majority government without cobbling together a coalition of the Greens and of NZF. And if it is not a strong and principled coalition with a significant majority at the outset, it will likely only last one term.

      The NATs are still working out their strategies and collecting their data. Initiatives like this “angry” meme are nothing more than light probes to determine the state of the ground as part of this ongoing data collection.

      • sirpat 2.1.1

        so true…..im an angry lefty……angry cos the left has its head so far up its arse its blind to what is in front of it.

  3. One Anonymous Bloke 3

    When the Left is angry we get universal education and healthcare.

    When the Right is angry we get private prisons and war.

    So there’s that.

  4. As the old saying goes, if you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.

  5. The Murphey 5

    People should be angry and need to get angry

    That so many are not instinctively responding as such to defend their right to exist speaks to the deep psychological trauma which has been inflicted

    (Ironic it is deemed appropriate to inflict this onto public sector staff)

    Anger can take a forceful peaceful path however the connotations used seek to paint a different picture through word association

    Anger when used positively is the most powerful of human emotions

    • Anne 5.1

      I attended the Auckland Regional Conference of the Labour Party yesterday and I didn’t see or hear anything “angry”. I can recall the name “John Key” mentioned only once. Various senior Labour Party people spoke (including Andrew Little) and the only thing they were interested in was… continuing to grow the party, building trust and empathy with the electorate at large, discussing policy directions and how best to present them and what Labour’s priorities should be for the future of this country. All of it was positive stuff delivered in a friendly, amicable atmosphere punctuated with humour and general good will.

      Not an “angry” word was spoke…

      As TM says above: Anger when used positively is the most powerful of human emotions. I think the way it was used at this conference was indeed positive.

    • Stuart Munro 5.2

      “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.”

  6. Colonial Rawshark 6

    The latest right wing meme is that angry left activists cost Labour the English Election

    All the right wing are doing now are spinning into a gap left by UK Labour (and NZ Labour) not having clear answers as to why they lost. Normal PR tactic – there is a messaging gap, so fill it with your own message. Very standard.

    What did cost UK Labour the election?

    IMO UK Labour doesn’t even understand itself why they lost the English (and of course the Scottish) components of their recent general election. I’m sure they’ll hold a big inquiry into it, and decide that the answer is to go back to the Third Way Blairite Labour.

  7. Colonial Rawshark 7

    The right wing establishment wins in the UK – as usual

    Neil Clark explains the well known process of the Left being left out in the cold yet again.

    http://rt.com/op-edge/257349-uk-general-election-tories/

  8. Clean_power 8

    At this pace there will be another election cycle before the Left wins an election in NZ. 2020 is the realistic target.

  9. Anne 9

    I attended the Auckland Regional Conference of the Labour Party yesterday and I didn’t see or hear anything “angry”. I can recall the name “John Key” mentioned only once. Various senior Labour Party people spoke (including Andrew Little) and the only thing they were interested in was… continuing to grow the party, building trust and empathy with the electorate at large, discussing policy directions and how best to present them and what Labour’s priorities should be for the future of this country. All of it was positive stuff delivered in a friendly, amicable atmosphere punctuated with humour and general good will.

    Not an “angry” word was spoke….

    • Anne 9.1

      Oops: above supposed to be deleted.

      • dukeofurl 9.1.1

        of course, the ‘angry’ meme is a witched brew being stirred up on the right.

        The dirty politics from the 9th floor of the beehive is back. No sign of Jason Ede at the business he was supposed to working for at a high level.

  10. felix 10

    The right always say this shit.

    If Labour would just drop all that workers rights stuff and promise not to change anything, we’d let them have a turn at governing.

    If the Greens would just embrace right-wing corporate dogma, we’d give them a tree.

    It’s bullshit and it’s time the left stopped listening to it.

  11. Bill 11

    I noticed that on immigration, the Tories want nothing to do with refugees, Labour were silent and the SNP went on national news programme and stated that the UK ought to take the 60 000 earmarked by Europe and threw out the line that anyone saying anything else was insulting the general attitude held by ordinary people. Kicking against the memes with a ‘don’t give a fuck’ attitude.

    On gender, seeing as how the post brings it up, I’ll just leave this link here and note that the Scottish government is vocal on gender balancing, has a balanced cabinet and no-one jumps up and down about it.

    http://www.swbg.org.uk/

  12. Stuart Munro 12

    The right begin to respect the left when it becomes clear that they will be punished if they don’t – punitive taxation, nationalisation of public property acquired by graft, expulsion of Serco, Sky City and charter schools. Appeasement is not much of a strategy.

  13. hoom 13

    OMG OMG OMG I’m going to actually get to hear the ‘I have a dream speech’.

  14. Atiawa 14

    The problem for labour is that it no longer has a coherent industrial voice. It’s political arm has also become it’s industrial – 1999 – 2008 enacted 4 weeks annual leave, 5 days sick leave, working for families etc etc -. These changes & other improvements to working life should have been won at the bargaining table.
    WFF a fine and noble redistribution of wealth would not have been necessary if unions were strong and able to win pay increases that kept up with productivity increases and inflation and gave workers a greater share of the wealth pie. A labour government would have been able to give support, both financial and social to those who for what ever reason, have found themselves out of work or unemployable rather than propping-up low paying employers/jobs.
    Of course the left is angry. I’m fucking angry. I don’t want Grant or Andrew, Phil, Annette, Ian or other Labour pollies leading the industrial charge for workers. That is the role of Helen, Bill, John and other union leaders. But they need the help of political Labour who believe that workers have been short changed since 1991 and the demolition of organised labour.
    The Council of Trade Union’s (CTU) must campaign for a return to compulsory unionism. Where else are working people able to do anything collectively about their anger?

    • Ben 14.1

      “The Council of Trade Union’s (CTU) must campaign for a return to compulsory unionism.”

      Do you seriously believe that compulsory unionism is in any way going to help Labour get back into power? It wasn’t just the employers that rejected such policy, but the majority of employees – hench the very low union memberships numbers at present.

      • Colonial Rawshark 14.1.1

        Its a wonder that all the left can ever dream about is going backwards to old fashioned solutions from 40 years ago. Well, the unions failed miserably to stop Rogernomics and Ruthanasia, how is a re-run in the age of peak resources and climate change going to be any different?

      • Atiawa 14.1.2

        Labour’s very existence is because working people & their unions realised that they required a political voice in the corridors of power. Whether a policy to again make unionism compulsory would win Labour the treasury benches is debateable and in all probability unlikely given the millions of $ the right would pour into defeating the notion. However the world is a completely different place now compared to 1991 and although the issues of housing, health, education and a fair go at work remain as relevant to us all today as they were prior to the 1990’s there is now an added array of issues never previously considered 25 years ago affecting present day workers and their families.
        A healthy, well resourced, robust and democratic union movement is exactly what is required today. Grant & Bill don’t have the financial solutions to the problems confronting working people and their families and I don’t know of any other mass movement in the world today who has the best interests of workers at the front left & centre of their being, other than the union movement and it’s members.
        Please let me know when you think of an alternative.

  15. Rather ironic considering that Screechy McHooton seems to exist in a permanent state of hysteria.

    The middle class are indeed, as Gordon McLaughlan put it, a passionless people, confused and embarrassed by passion. We should never be apologetic for it, we should be proud of it. The only thing to be ashamed of is disorganisation and unfortunately, those are the endemic problems of the Labour Party.

  16. Reddelusion 16

    If Greece and Scotland are your answer, what’s the ?

    • mac1 16.1

      Can you name two small mountainous countries which have been well to the fore in mathematics, science, political and social thought, and engineering? 🙂

  17. Charles 17

    The problem with anger is that it feels more powerful than it is actually influencial. Anger’s a cycle of outrage and venting, with no gauranteed moment of learning or development past the stalled position, and the venting is where the power seeps out. Venting often results in the kind of brain chemistry that fools a person into being more satisfied that the pressure is vented than with the problem being solved.
    Telling people they have to be angry all day everyday for the rest of their lives isn’t healthy or admirable. Recently I heard a poverty action spokesperson tell me poor people aren’t happy, can’t ever be happy and shouldn’t be happy. Works for her career I guess, but no good for the people she claims to represent.

    No one starts constructive negotiations by marching into an employer’s office, pushing over the desk, calling the employer whatever flavour of the day they like, and screeching about change. Doesn’t work like that. We hear “angry” unionists being angry after the fact. Pop over to The Daily Blog and read a very general outline of what “angry” unionists do to win a collective negotiation. They think, they reason, they plan, they consider strategy, they present options, they meet people, they build confidence and they report developments. Not much time for hysterics in that lot, not if they want to win. Without strategy, the apparent gains of anger are hard to hold onto.

    Anger tells us what’s wrong and that we’ve waited too long to fix it. Outside of that it’s a waste of energy and an unreliable and unstable motivator. It does not follow that anyone is obliged to apologise for anger, because no one can avoid it and frustrations will always build faster than desired improvements will materialise.

    • Atiawa 17.1

      What makes unions angry – private sector union’s anyway – is bargaining for a better deal, and to be told by the boss that the business down the road will have a competitive advantage if he/she were to agree to his employees claims because the business competitor down the road isn’t unionised and they won’t be getting anything.
      So instead of winning a 5% pay increase they accept a 2% deal. It’s been going on since 1991 and the introduction of the scumbag Employment Contracts Act.
      Now you might say, “why doesn’t the union recruit the workers down the road?”
      A fair and reasonable question.
      Well, workplaces develop their own culture. The foreman might be a bully or the boss rewards his/her workplace leaders sufficiently enough to keep them onside. Some employees may have had a previous bad experience with the union. It could be that they are just plain fearful of the boss or god forbid, pleased to have a job. And in some cases the boss is a good bastard because on a Friday he puts on a bar-b-que and buys a few beers. Oh yeah and the smart boss employs workers who qualify for WFF.
      Call me cynical if you wish, but I’ve seen it.

    • just saying 17.2

      Telling people they have to be angry all day everyday for the rest of their lives isn’t healthy or admirable.
      Who has said this?
      Straw man.
      Recently I heard a poverty action spokesperson tell me poor people aren’t happy, can’t ever be happy and shouldn’t be happy.
      Who said this and when?
      I don’t believe these words were ever spoken.

      I have a suspicion your life is pretty comfy and it would be to your disadvantage if the nation’s power and resources were distributed more equally.

      I agree it’s better to respond to anger than to just react to it, but that’s not all you were saying.

      For you:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7JSic1DtM

  18. RedBaronCV 18

    I think I’d change the heading of this article to “are the left really angry ? no but the right are really scared”
    One rightie told me recently that Scotland & Northland votes were “aberations” .
    Self delusional?

  19. Wayne 19

    Your examples , (Greece, Spain and Scotland) essentially prove the point. New Zealand and most other western nations are simply not in their situation. And trying to show that New Zealand is in the same situation requires extremely hyperbolic statements which are easily perceived as angry or deranged, (or more simply just disconnected from reality).

    If the left want to win, they have to have a programme and theme that is relevant to most peoples lives. For instance saying that most people are worse off now than 7 years ago and that drastic surgery is required sounds rather at odds with most peoples lives (mostly because such a statement is factually untrue and demonstrably so).

    To be fair Andrew Little by and large does not portray angriness (though Meteria does). It is generally the activists. And Labour was damaged by its association with Kim Dotcom – actually virtually nil, but his antics required a major slap down by Labour if the point was to be made.

    • Stuart Munro 19.1

      Most people are worse off now than 7 years ago.

      That’s why Winston won Northland.

  20. saveNZ 20

    I’m angry because I don’t want the Nats to get in next election and continue their regime of terror. The problem is that on some of the Nats worst policies, Labour are either silent or just a lighter version. If the left are to succeed then Labour need to sort themselves out. The Nats have lost the plot (think Northland) but they have massive help from dirty politics and dirty donations to keep winning elections.

    In Northland by opposition parties collaborating and putting in the best candidate based on what the electorate wanted and not splitting the votes they defeated the Nats.

    The Nats are so far right now, they are Act.

    Labour has gone right and is now the old Nats.

    The trick should be to be should be a jump back to the middle and to stop pandering to outside interests (surveillance, war, TPP) and instead concentrate on Local needs ( health, education, housing, jobs, growing the economy and having more diversification in the sector (not just relying on selling off the country to the rich and migrants and overseas investors, to keep us afloat).

    To win, the opposition parties need to collaborate and stay on top of dirty politics, watch each other’s backs, as well as taking a hard look at policy. Otherwise dirty politics will raise it’s head and wipe out individuals one by one so that the public are so confused they don’t vote, the opposition parties split each other’s vote and the Nats sail in again.

  21. Wayne 21

    saveNZ,

    “regime of terror”, the clue is probably in those words as whether people may be inclined to think that the left is a bit hysterical.

    Presumably by “dirty donations” you are mostly troubled by the $3 million donations from National Party members. Given there are several tens of thousands of members, the donations add up.

    The SNP got 100,000 members in the last six months. However in New Zealand presumably the “regime of terror” has so intimidated the left that people do not join for fear of the consequences.

    • Brutus Iscariot 21.1

      Bang on.

      Precisely the example of the “LWNJ” phenomenon.

      “As far right as Act”
      “Regime of Terror”

      Extreme language that turns off anyone with a decent grip on reality.

  22. Dont worry be happy 22

    On a personal level, having moved from a left wing city (no prizes for working out which one) to the country I now find myself surrounded by really nice people with the most horrible set of bigoted and ignorant views. National voters to a man.

    It is like that nightmare where suddenly no one is as they seem.

    What to do with my ‘anger’?

    I will not be the first or last in this situation. Any ideas anyone?

    • lprent 22.1

      I suggest that you use The Standard to vent. Then go and do what needs to be done without too much anger.

      Over the years it has been apparent that TS acts a emergency relief valve, especially in rural and provincial NZ.

      • mac1 22.1.1

        Rural venting? They’ll want to tax that next.

        And that’s taking the less suggestive meaning of ’emergency relief’.

        ‘rural’, ‘provincial’, ‘pagan’- they’re all pejorative, aren’t they?

        This provincial townsman does appreciate TS anyway.

        Think I’ll go and play my banjo now. “da da da di da.”

        • lprent 22.1.1.1

          One of the most common things that shows up in my mailbox from readers is from readers outside the urban hellholes, saying that being able to talk to like minded activists is why they like TS.

          It is sometimes a very long way between progressive activists in rural NZ. I spent a number of years in both rural and provincial NZ when I was younger.

  23. PeteKeating 23

    An interesting UK take on why Labour lost. https://youtu.be/30bsFxL68UY

  24. Gosman 24

    Yeah those artists really made a huge difference to ending Apartheid. It had nothing to do with the end of the threat of Communism as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Empire/sarc

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T11:19:58+00:00