Blowin’ in the wind

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, May 31st, 2023 - 36 comments
Categories: Maori Issues, maori party, national, racism, same old national - Tags:

I seem to have spent some time recently writing about National’s problems.  The reason is they are numerous and also I feel a deep sense of deja vu especially by their use of the racist dog whistle.

They tried the same tricks in 2005 and this really feels like a repeat.

Earlier this year they ruled out going into coalition with Te Pāti Māori and claimed they believed in “one person, one vote”.

As I said previously the dog whistle behind the “one person, one vote” message is that somehow Maori have preferential treatment because of the Maori electorate seats.  This is factually nonsense, in an MMP system the only vote that really matters is the party vote and Maori and Pakeha have the exact number of votes which is one.  Also in the MMP system it is actually “one person, two votes”.  Surely Luxon knows this.

But clearly this was not a one off event.

The latest episode of dog whistling occurred at a meeting at Birkenhead where Christopher Luxon was quizzed about all the “Maori nonsense” by a bunch of elderly North Shore residents.

From Te Ao Maori News:

National leader Christopher Luxon has revealed views on several Māori-related matters during question time at a public meeting on Auckland’s North Shore on Wednesday, a NZ Herald report says.

Luxon was speaking at the first in a nationwide series called “Get NZ Back on Track” at Birkenhead Bowling Club where about 250 people gathered to hear him deliver a half-hour speech on his three priorities – “fix the economy”, “restore law and order”, and “improve health and education outcomes”.

But most of the questions he received afterwards were expressed as complaints about other issues, especially race relations and the role of Māori in society, the NZ Herald says.

“Where do you stand on the fact that the Māori language is given priority?” asked a woman called Rita, who said she had emigrated from Britain 20 years ago. The audience applauded.

Luxon made it clear his party stood for “one person, one vote”. It would “scrap the Māori Health Authority” and say “no to co-governance and separate systems”.

“That is not to say you can’t have innovation within the system,” he added. He gave the example of charter schools, some of which had a clear Māori focus.

But on the language, the NZ Herald says, he told the largely elderly and overwhelmingly Pākehā audience: “I want to remind you that the average age in this country is 38. That means most of us came through school with some degree of familiarity with the use of te reo.”

However, with some Government agencies using Māori names, he said it could be “really difficult and really unfair when people don’t know who to contact”.

Then Simeon Brown leapt into the fray and displayed his inability to process up to four words at one time by complaining that Te Reo names on road signs would be too confusing.

Introducing te reo Māori to road signs will make them “more confusing” and they “should all be English”, says National’s transport spokesman.

Simeon Brown told a Bay of Plenty meeting about transport infrastructure that “we all speak English, they should all be English” when asked was asked his opinion on Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s proposal to introduce bilingual signs.

“My view is it will make signs more confusing,” he said, telling the transport agency to just “do your job”.

Last week the transport agency announced its He Tohu Huarahi Māori Bilingual Traffic Signs programme was going out for public consultation. If successful, it would result in destination signs, public and active transport signs, walking and cycling signs, general advisory and warning signs, plus motorway and expressway signs being replaced with bilingual versions.

“They should be spending their money filling potholes. Not coming up with new signage. How about not spending money on nice-to-haves, just do your job,” Brown said.

This caused some consternation in National’s ranks with Dr Shane Reti, Harete Hipango and Tama Potaka expressing varied levels of dismay.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi had the best response:

They assume the rest of New Zealand is as dumb as they are.”

So what was this all about?  Was National actually concerned about the implications for the pothole repair budget even though bi lingual signs would only be installed as part of the normal replacement process and the cost, essentially of a changed design, would be very small?

Nope this was National again dog whistling to its racist base.  It will take any chance to signpost its concern about woke nonsense such as preserving and enhancing Te Reo Māori.

Jo Moir has this very appropriate summary of the issue:

National is completely right to be holding the Government to account over its spending and its priorities.

The public rely on the Opposition and the media to do that.

But National’s falling into a habit of using race relations to make its point, often at public meetings where it’s easier to keep the audience on side than have a difficult exchange.

In an election year, choosing to take the easy path only further fractures society.

For the most part, New Zealanders have moved on from that kind of politics – even Luxon’s deputy Nicola Willis says she’s excited her children have ready access to te reo through what they see around them, saying most New Zealanders agree that’s a good thing.

With just over four months until the election, now would be a good time for some politicians to wake up to the real challenges facing New Zealanders – taking issue with our indigenous culture and language ain’t it.

This is lazy cynical politics.  And it is so negative and feeds into anger and resentment and fear.  I hope that National is punished for this at this year’s election.

36 comments on “Blowin’ in the wind ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Corey 1
    31 May 2023 at 9:35 am

    Yep it's lazy but it's effective, let's not forget National nearly won 2005 and that Labour looked dead in the water until Helen Clark started bashing Maori too! Clark in 2004/2005 was to the right of where National is today in Maori issues. The shit she was saying you'd only hear from Peters today.

    National could have governed in 2005 if Brash could have got over himself and called NZ first, ironically the Maori party was willing to support National in 05. Can you imagine that…..we dodged a bullet by not having Brash as pm.

    While this politics is gross and lazy, the fact is many, many kiwis who would normally vote Labour are freaked out about what's going on with race in NZ ATM, whether theres enough of them to put National/ACT in the treasury benches remains to be seen, the main comment I hear is that the Maori translation for Govt agencies and signage is always first and larger than the English translation.

    Honestly, I wish the anger and passion the left shows whenever the right make dumb comments like this about signs or govt names or gender was shown to things that actually matter like the amount of New Zealanders living on the streets, in cars or in motels or on couches but whenever materiel hardship is brought up the left are either quiet, send good vibes or just defend the governments appalling laziness and devotion to neoliberalism on housing.

  2. Ngungukai 2
    31 May 2023 at 9:35 am

    Evidently Winston has got his knickers in a twist about it as well ?

    • Jack 2.1
      31 May 2023 at 9:41 am

      Has he? Wouldn’t surprise me.

      Only thing where I’ve seen his name mentioned in the past while is in relation to being the last person to face the privileges committee … with the Minister of Education being the most recent.

  3. Ngungukai 3
    31 May 2023 at 9:39 am

    Obviously Simeon has issues with his Surname ?

    • newsense 3.1
      31 May 2023 at 2:44 pm

      I already made the point that it’s his first name that is confusing- it’s Greek or Hebrew or Russian.

      Correctly anglicised it should be Simon, though I would take great delight in any journalists who wanted to call him Himiona as this is the correct transliteration of one of the official languages of New Zealand, and as established everything else is just confusing.

  4. Grey Area 4
    31 May 2023 at 10:03 am

    Brown normally uses the spray and walk away approach on his Facebook page so I don't know if he's reading feedback on his dog whistling in this case. But he's getting a lot more blowback than he normally does.

    Waka Kotahi are consulting until 30 June about the proposed changes and you can feed back here:

    https://www.nzta.govt.nz/about-us/consultations/he-tohu-huarahi-maori-bilingual-traffic-signs-consultation/consultation-materials-english/

    I fully support the new signs. I am making my way through some of the background material partly because I have some reservations about the language order. A quick read of an NZTA research note on the NZTA website Bilingual traffic signage – a research note International experiences and outcomes October 2021 seems to indicate to me that design elements are being used to mitigate potential safety issues (increased comprehension time mainly) from te reo having language primacy.

  5. Anne 5
    31 May 2023 at 10:14 am

    "National again dog whistling to its racist base."

    Their Focus teams have told them racism is on the rise in NZ and it certainly seems to be true. I put it down to a hard few years for everyone, and the desire by many to want to blame 'others'. The 'others' are Maori and Pacific Islanders of course.

    It's a sad indictment on this country when political parties bow to pressure and subject the populace to racist sentiments knowing that it is only going to fan the flames and make things worse.

    When the 'others' respond with violence and criminal behaviour, they then blame the Labour government for being soft on crime when in reality they are responsible for much of it by playing the racist game in the first place.

  6. LawfulN 6
    31 May 2023 at 10:55 am

    Maori have preferential treatment because of the Maori electorate seats.

    They do.

    Since the Māori seats always elect Māori representatives, it sets a lower limit for the number of Māori in the house depending on how many Māori choose the Māori roll. No other ethnicity has this (minor) advantage.

    But it's a separate question as to whether this is unfair. There are all sorts of good reasons to think it isn't, although it's not completely unreasonable to object to it.

  7. fender 7
    31 May 2023 at 12:34 pm

    "Get NZ Back on Track"

    Bit too close to MAGA for my liking, but no doubt their base will love the 'coincidence '.

  8. AB 8
    31 May 2023 at 12:38 pm

    To call it a racist dog whistle misses some nuance I suspect. Most NZers think of racism as an aspect of personal behaviour. If I am fair and decent to individual Maori people I'm not a racist. But if I regard their language and culture as primitive relics that don't really count for much and are not worthy of my attention, I'm not a racist. The latter was the underlying justification of colonial appropriation, so it's not surprising that it's still with us despite how non-racist personal behaviour is relatively settled and agreed. The invention of race as a definitive category when it really isn't one, is largely to do with the need to create justifications of the colonial-capitalist project.

  9. That_guy 9
    31 May 2023 at 1:24 pm

    I'm not normally one to defend the Nats but the research that NZTA has done (or rather the review of other people's research) is actually quite alarming.

    https://www.nzta.govt.nz/assets/resources/research/research-notes/005/005-bilingual-traffic-signage.pdf

    Table 2.2 is an eye-opener: there is at least some evidence that bilingual signs are negatively associated with signage comprehension time, following distance, driving acceleration and driving speed.

    And I think the authors of this piece make an important point:

    Proponents of bilingual signage can proactively address these safety implications as an effective strategy for addressing legitimate fears among road users for whom cultural factors are not so acute.

    I honestly cannot believe I am saying this, but safety is a factor and giving Simeon Brown shit for saying so is the opposite of "proactively address these safety implications".

    My brief read of this piece suggest that a good strategy for safety is to simply put the English names at the top.

    Whatever the eventual strategy, screaming "racist" at people with legitimate and evidence-based safety concerns is a shit strategy, especially when many of those people are probably like me: we want Te Reo signs, but done right.

    • Alan 9.1
      31 May 2023 at 2:57 pm

      well said

    • tWiggle 9.2
      31 May 2023 at 3:57 pm

      Or put one name in a second colour, as seen on mock signs illustrated.

      • That_guy 9.2.1
        31 May 2023 at 4:38 pm

        Yeah, I'm fine with the concept, I just hope it's done well.

        I just think it's a silly strategy to paint Simeon Brown as a racist, especially when it's so much more effective to paint him as a lazy incompetent who doesn't do his homework.

        I mean, I did about 10 minutes of research and came up with some pertinent facts from NZTA's own work that Simeon could have quoted, instead he just sprays ill-informed reckons in all directions.

        This is why the left needs to be able to critically evaluate our own policies. The right doesn't seem to be able to.

        • Incognito 9.2.1.1
          31 May 2023 at 4:54 pm

          The right doesn’t seem to be able to.

          The Right claims the right to be right, even when wrong. Luxon is the epitome of the unthinking Right who cannot think on their feet because they’re always stuck between the teeth.

          BTW, being [a] lazy incompetent doesn’t exclude other trademarks.

        • Mike the Lefty 9.2.1.2
          1 June 2023 at 7:52 am

          Simeon Brown is not a racist, but he is an opportunist that will play the race card for votes, and he isn't the only one in National, or other parties for that matter.

          The whole argument about bi-lingual signs is just a pathetic little National Party attempt to make non-Maori worried – the Maoris are going to take over NZ, you white people will become their servants…….. that is what they are actually saying underneath the carefully worded veneer of concern for road carnage.

          Bi-lingual road signs are not going to cause more accidents, bad driving causes accidents. It is rubbish, they know its rubbish but they are gambling that there are enough conspiracy theory wankers and plain dumbasses to believe it, and therefore get votes.

          Are National's and ACT's core policies so weak that they have to pander to petrol heads and speed freaks to get votes?

          • That_guy 9.2.1.2.1
            1 June 2023 at 9:47 am

            It's not "rubbish" to say that there are safety implications. There are perfectly legitimate reasons to think that bilingual road signs will absolutely cause more accidents if they are done wrong, according to NZTA's own research which I linked to above. And there are also ways to do it right, according to NZTA's own research which I linked to above. Saying that they definitely won't cause more accidents in any use-case is just as incorrect as saying that they definitely will cause more accidents. Nuance, please. This isn't a cheerleading squad or an echo chamber.

            The Nats aren't capable of critically analysing left-wing thought because they are lazy incompetents who shoot from the lip and don't do their homework. That doesn't mean we can't.

            I agree that they aren't really interested in road safety, and I agree that it's a dog whistle.

            • Grey Area 9.2.1.2.1.1
              1 June 2023 at 2:51 pm

              I also linked to the NZTA background material earlier. My reservation is about the primacy of te reo on the signs.

              The NZTA material indicates there are safety issues related to language primacy on bilingual signs.

              From what I've read the safest approach would be for English words to have primacy rather than Maori as proposed.

              I wonder if "someone" in NZTA has decided or been told that te reo is to have primacy on the signs (for reasons I can only guess at because they don't say) and so design elements will have to be used to mitigate the extra risk this clearly introduces.

              • That_guy …
                1 June 2023 at 3:28 pm

                From what I've read the safest approach would be for English words to have primacy rather than Maori as proposed.

                I came to the same conclusions. I want Te Reo on signs but I'm not going to ignore the research for ideological purposes.

                Thanks for the link BTW.

  10. That_guy 10
    31 May 2023 at 1:49 pm

    Further to this: IMHO the correct strategy isn't to call Simeon Brown "stupid" but to say:

    "Hasn't Simeon done well today? He's put on his big-boy pants and tried his best to talk about an important issue: safety and bilingual signs. We've been aware of this issue for some time and have done the mahi. We believe that bilingual road signs are safe if done right, and here is our research and evidence that underpins our belief."

  11. Ad 11
    31 May 2023 at 2:30 pm

    Every year they try it there's a decreasing sine curve of public affirmation and poll bump.

    Sure they get Whangaparoa again.

    But they always will.

    Labour trusts the people.

  12. tWiggle 12
    31 May 2023 at 3:55 pm

    The signs are to be changed 'as they come up for usual replacement'. Apart from a slight size increase, the cost to Waka Kotahi's budget will not be at the expense of pothole money.

  13. Mike the Lefty 13
    31 May 2023 at 6:56 pm

    I'm not surprised that Simeon Brown mentioned pot holes- I get (unwanted) feeds on Facebook from him all the time and just about always he is pictured in or near some fuel guzzling ute or sports car. Wouldn’t want any potholes denying him the right to travel at 120 km/hr plus whenever it suits, would we?

  14. Tiger Mountain 14
    1 June 2023 at 10:09 am

    Scary, two language signs…we will all get lost…on State Highway 30 there is a classic sign–“71km Tauranga–Rotorua 9km–77km Whakatane–Taupo 88km” hang your heads Natzos.

    Bilingualism is here already–there are many crossover Māori terms already in regular daily use by Pākehā, perhaps 50–100 at least and rising …

    https://www.maorilanguage.net/maori-words-phrases/50-maori-words-every-new-zealander-know/

    https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/maori-language-week/100-maori-words

    • lebleaux 14.1
      1 June 2023 at 1:19 pm

      Yes your right but …… The English language is simply doing what it has done from the start, it is absorbing words from other languages and making them part of English. Just as I can ask for a slice of gateaux – but I am not speaking French – or order a Pizza – but I am not speaking Italian, I can describe someone as having great Mana, but no one would think I was speaking Maori.

      The word Pizza appears in the Oxford English Dictionary as is referenced as a 'borrowing' from Italian. Mana also appears as an entry. Putting Maori words on signs, or scattering them about in written English text wont preserve the language (if that is the goal), but it may well hasten the absorption of useful words into English.

      Up to you if you think this is a good thing or not.

      And for the record – I have no issue with road signs being deployed with both languages. however, I do believe that the predominate language – English – should be emphasised and at the top … it just feels safer that way.

    • Ad 14.2
      1 June 2023 at 1:40 pm

      Simeon will be hard placed looking for the sign to Pembroke, since it preferred the name Wanaka since 1940.

      Simeon might also want to check the number of place names that National has turned to dual names under all their Treaty settlements, over three decades.

      An enterprising staffer in the PM's office could prepare the list in reply to a Parliamentary question.

      Simeon has now made Matariki Day and Waitangi Day a very difficult place for Luxon.

  15. Hunter Thompson II 15
    1 June 2023 at 2:35 pm

    Keep the signs we already have, and put up separate signs in Maori for those who want them. Take the funds to do this from the Maori Affairs vote in the annual budget.

    Problem solved.

  16. That_guy 16
    1 June 2023 at 6:43 pm

    My major problem with Te Reo is that it seems to be going the way of Latin. Not a living language, just a set of phrases that upper-class people trot out to assert membership in a particular economic and social class.

    And that would be a tragedy.

      • That_guy 16.1.1
        1 June 2023 at 7:29 pm

        That is comforting, a bit, but statements like this:

        In the latest data, almost a quarter (23 percent) of Māori said they spoke te reo Māori as one of their first languages

        There is so much wiggle room in this statement that anyone who understands stats or how question phrasing can influence responses is going to be skeptical. They “say” they speak Māori? People say all sorts of things, especially when there is societal pressure to do so. “One” of your first languages? Do you speak it 95% of the time, 50% of the time, or 5% of the time?

        Thanks for the link though. I can’t help having an uneasy feeling that it’s closer to an ad than a study.

        • Incognito 16.1.1.1
          1 June 2023 at 8:23 pm

          You seem to be going out of your way of downplaying & doubting the info!? Does it not fit with your narrative?

          I can’t help having an uneasy feeling that it’s closer to an ad than a study.

          Maybe it is something you’ve eaten? The General Social Survey (GSS), formerly NZGSS, has been going since 2008 and Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa is New Zealand's official data agency and hardly into publishing ‘ads’. It measures a lot of things, not just te reo Māori proficiency.

        • Belladonna 16.1.1.2
          2 June 2023 at 8:49 am

          It's also in direct conflict with the data in the report that 7.9% speak te reo proficiently. A big gap to the 23% who claim it as a first language.

          The proportion of people able to speak te reo Māori at least fairly well also increased, from 6.1 percent in 2018 to 7.9 percent in 2021

          Tt seems …. unlikely … that someone who has a 'first language' of Te reo would be unable to speak it fairly proficiently.

          • Incognito 16.1.1.2.1
            2 June 2023 at 9:44 am

            That would indeed be a big gap if those stats figures referred to the same categories of people, which they don’t.

            The proportion of people able to speak te reo Māori at least fairly well also increased, from 6.1 percent in 2018 to 7.9 percent in 2021 […]

            […]

            In the latest data, almost a quarter (23 percent) of Māori said they spoke te reo Māori as one of their first languages, up from 17 percent in 2018. Māori were also significantly more likely than other ethnicities to speak te reo Māori well, with 34 percent able to speak te reo Māori at least fairly well, compared with 7.9 percent for the total population. [my italics]

            • Muttonbird 16.1.1.2.1.1
              2 June 2023 at 9:52 am

              Looks like Belladonna's natural assumption was that only Maori speak Te Reo.

              Interesting.

              • Belladonna …
                2 June 2023 at 10:02 am

                Apart from the odd outlier – that is almost certainly to be true. Fluent te reo is almost entirely within the Maori population.

                The problem in New Zealand, the researchers said, is too few people speak Māori, compared to Welsh – and the vast majority of them are Māori, with little chance for non-Māori to pick up the language outside of formalised education.

                https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/01/m-ori-language-likely-doomed-despite-recent-uptick-in-speakers-study.html

                • Incognito …
                  2 June 2023 at 10:18 am

                  Many (most, if not all?) stats were moving upwards in 2021-GSS for te reo Māori proficiency, so it’s not a static situation at all.

                  Secondly, assuming that Māori comprise 16% of the total population, they make up about 5.4% of the 7.9% of the total population in NZ able to speak te reo Māori at least fairly well. In other words, of 79 people, approx. 54 would be Māori and approx. 25 would be non-Māori.

                  Thirdly, what is the ‘odd outlier’?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week 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 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-28T17:37:47+00:00