Brand Key, a do nothing Government & the hidden agenda

Written By: - Date published: 9:37 am, February 14th, 2012 - 40 comments
Categories: brand key, national - Tags: ,

A number of terms are bandied about to describe both John Key and the John Key Government. Using such terms and trying to reconcile their seeming contradictions can prove confusing. Indeed, from time to time we have seen such confusion manifest itself on this blog amongst the right wing who argue how Key can indeed have a ‘hidden agenda’ whilst simultaneously being ‘smile and wave’ or ‘clueless’ and ‘doing nothing’.

Whilst trying to piece together this enigma myself I have settled on 3 variables that I think go some way toward explaining the DNA of the Key Government. The terms ‘Brand Key’, ‘clueless’ and ‘hidden agenda’ encapsulate fairly nicely the realities of each variable.

‘Brand Key’, ‘smile and wave’, a ‘Ronald McDonald type Prime Minister’, that ‘nice man’. All terms I have seen used to describe John Key himself. The popularity of the Government rests squarely on Key. He is the reason for their election and re-election. Damage Brand Key and damage his Government. It is possible to point to numerous examples of this. John Banks last election piggy backed on ‘Brand Key’. The 2008 had Bill English talking about that ‘nice man John Key getting me some more’ (tax cuts). Every national party billboard of the past 2 elections has had Key front and centre, even to the point of overshadowing the local candidate.

This Government is very brand aware, skilled at cultivating and maintaining brand Key. So the first variable is Brand Key – a deliberate managed public relations strategy. The Ronald McDonaldisation of the Prime Ministers image.

‘Clueless’ and ‘do nothing’ refers to the inability of the Key Government to deliver some of the necessary social-environmental-economic changes New Zealand needs. Write a long list of issues and write a short list of Key Government solutions. I will not attempt to develop a comprehensive list but will use one example to illustrate my point.

Having being elected in late 2008 the Key Government rammed through parliament a series of bills, some of very low value, and then went on holiday. One pressing issue of rising unemployment and a stalling economy was put to one side during this summer break. It took weeks of ongoing criticism to goad the Key Government into announcing its ‘Jobs Summit’ as a response. ‘Brand Key’ was threatened. From that summit we got the cycle way, a promise for a ‘unrelenting focus on jobs’ and a ‘rolling maul of initiatives’. Both the manner in which the Key Government initially reacted, i.e. they didn’t, and the flagging nature of job creation policies exemplify this ‘do nothingness’. When required to do something the country required, Key and his government were found wanting.

So, ‘do nothing’ refers to the inability of Key and his Government to take the policy prescriptions New Zealand actually needs.

The ‘hidden agenda’ is about the world view the Key Government holds, broadly. Neo-liberal. Despite whatever else it says or does, Key et al believe in neo-liberal policy prescriptions. The primacy of the market, rational economic man, trickle down (whereas the reality is trickle up), deregulation, small government etc. Irrespective of claims about being pragmatic, a neo-liberal philosophy taints the Key Governments responses to the world around it. A couple of examples will illustrate the point.

Election in 2008 saw the Key Government introduce National Standards in Primary schooling. Election 2011 saw the unveiling of charter schools. Neither policy is necessary, our education system will do very nicely without either. Both policies are standard neo-liberal fare overseas and should be of little surprise that they have arrived on our shores.

Asset sales are another policy that New Zealand does not need. The introduction of a capital gains tax will nicely cover the gap in our budget deficit should we wish to retain our state owned assets. Neo-liberal policy however is never to raise taxes and certainly not in the area of financial capital. It is however all about passing state assets into private ownership.

Asset sales, National Standards and charter schools are not necessary for our future development. Why are they being implemented? The ‘hidden agenda’ of the Key Government is neo-liberal. The DNA within compels it to follow this line. As we breathe without conscious effort to survive, key et al neo-liberalise without conscious effort to govern.

So, for me, utilising the variables of ‘Brand Key’, ‘doing nothing’ and a ‘hidden (neo-liberal) agenda’ to analyse the ongoing interactions of the Key Government go a long way toward helping me understand why things occur as they do.

George.com

40 comments on “Brand Key, a do nothing Government & the hidden agenda ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Nick K 1
    14 February 2012 at 9:44 am

    How does that ad go where the friends of the woman are complaining about her drinking?

    Oh yeah, the woman says “boring, boring, boring, boring”.

    • Bunji 1.1
      14 February 2012 at 9:54 am

      If it’s so dull you don’t have to read it Nick…

      And then you might not have to discuss how the government is failing to create jobs, raise wages, ‘grow the pie’ (as I’m sure it aims to do), protect the environment, look after our children…
      Or how asset sales is going to help with any of that.

    • bbfloys 1.2
      14 February 2012 at 8:39 pm

      nicky… i suggest next time you attempt to read a post such as this one, you scroll down to see how many paragraphs long it is…. that would help you to avoid information overload…

  2. Peter 2
    14 February 2012 at 9:57 am

    “Doing nothing” for a conservative party such as National is precisely what they intend. From their perspective Governments are at best a necessary evil incapable of addressing any issues be they economic or social. These things will look after themselves providing private enterprise is allowed to do what it wants. Policy and strategy are the enemy to “doing nothing”.

    • Mike 2.1
      16 February 2012 at 11:05 am

      What would make you call the current National government conservative? They’ve run up record levels of government borrowing for starters, that ain’t conservative.

  3. dave brownz 3
    14 February 2012 at 10:24 am

    Not only is this agenda not hidden, its not neoliberal either.
    Its just business as usual. The capitalists make their profits from expropriating workers’ labour.
    They don’t want to pay any of that profit out as a ‘social wage’ to maintain workers unless they are guaranteed a profit in return. Situation gets much worse when their profits fall because they can’t screw workers hard enough and system goes into crisis. To call this neoliberalism is to hide the agenda behind an act of will. When really to save themselves they have take our skins as well.
    Therefore, for the working class to survive, capitalism must die.
    Just use this template and save yourself nasty surprises.

    • Tiger Mountain 3.1
      14 February 2012 at 10:44 am

      “the tendency for the rate of profit to fall” (with attendant problems) continues, despite what bourgeois economists have tried arguing to the contrary over many years. The capitalists have tried various methods, technical and ideological, to change this long observed phenomenon.

      • speed ups/dependent contracting/precarious employment
      • anti unionism
      • moving offshore to lower wage locations/leveraged buy outs (they can run but can’t hide for ever)
      • authoritarian repression of workers via state forces
      • ideological control via neo liberal individualism-atomisation/religion/msm
      • permanent unemployment “lumpen” degraded status for significant numbers
      • divide and rule tactics-e.g. racism to split communities
      • excessive use of finance capital sector, which lead to the ’08 meltdown (and worker bailouts for the fleas)

      Need I go on? Ultimately these negative and unpleasant tactics gain only temporary if any, relief for todays capitalist bastards. “Castro is a colour redder than red” attitudes are making a deserved comeback. Also Occupy/99%ers provide a simple outline of a class analysis without having to know who marx was or belong to any particluar social group. A lot more people now know exploitation when they see it and who is responsible.

    • Georgecom 3.2
      14 February 2012 at 7:51 pm

      Dave, the Nats approach is neo-liberal. I agree with your short summation of capitalism. That however does not nagate the fact that there are varying ‘flavours’ of capitalism, as there are with socialism. The variety of capitalism in ascendancy during the postwar long boom is different from the neo-liberal project. Both capitalisms but with seriously different inflections.

      The neo-liberal variant of capitalism has been the ‘orthodox’ for over 30 years internationally, a bit under that for NZ.

      Without even doing the analysis I would wager that the Nats neo-liberalism pretty much lines up alongside the international neo-liberal blueprint.

      What replaces it is an open question. There are other types of capitalism just as there are variants of socialism that could come to the fore. The economic-social-environmental condition we leave our planet and societies in for our grand children will be determined by the the answer.

  4. her 4
    14 February 2012 at 11:06 am

    I thought it was obvious. He is being useless as it suits.

    Borrowing 40 billion and acheiving no growth.
    Who does he borrow it off?
    What industry is he in?

    Paying the ANZ 100 million to advise on the selling the power station billions is just the cream.

  5. ianmac 5
    14 February 2012 at 12:54 pm

    Watched a video of the 17 minute speech given to a Teacher Conference in January, by Hekia Parata Min Ed. A breathtaking wonderful speech without notes delivered with flare and flourish. A pity she is on the other side but as a future top politician watch out! She hinted that not only would National Standards continue but mentioned that “Competition between teachers would be introduced.”
    If you are interested in her ability/style try watching part of the clip especially after the first 5 minutes of intro.
    Where Key is sneaky and vague and enigmatic as George says in his post above, the opposite can be said of Hekia!

  6. George D 6
    14 February 2012 at 12:59 pm

    I’ve always said that describing this government as ‘do nothing’ or ‘smile and wave’ is rather dangerous. They are doing things, quite dramatic things. It’s not worth the confusion these terms engender.

  7. Maggie May 7
    14 February 2012 at 1:00 pm

    The anti christ has finally been unvieled, his name is John Key.

  8. james 111 8
    14 February 2012 at 1:33 pm

    Another day another shot at John Key who is Labours greatest stumbling block. Lets look at hidden agendas
    1) Homosexual Law reform
    2)Privy Council
    3)Anti smacking bill none of these were even out in the electorates prior to the elections. So its a bit rich for the left to be talking so called hidden agendas.

    Now lets look objectively the biggest problem for Labour its called The buy in Theory can be found in books by John Maxwell

    1) First the People buy into the Leader
    2) Secondly the people buy into the vision

    Looks pretty simple to me Labour hasnt even got past first base, and your rantings on here to the converted doesnt change the wider public perception at all.

    • Te Reo Putake 8.1
      14 February 2012 at 1:52 pm

      Listen up, you homophobic, racist tool, none of the above examples were hidden in any way shape or form. Homosexual Law reform was the result of petitions, a series of private members bills in the decade prior and thousands of Kiwis marching up the main streets of NZ cities. It was no surprise at all and was supported by the majority of Kiwis then and now.
       
      Changes to the Privy council role were flagged well before they came up as legislation and, again, enjoyed wide support, though not so much with Maori, who were rightly concerned about the effect on the treaty and their rights to go to London for redress.
       
      The bill to stop legalised violence against children was not a Labour initiative, but again, it was widely supported, even by the National Party, who, to their credit, could see that we cannot end violence in the family home if it is regarded as a parent’s right.
       
      3 strikes. You’re out.

      • Warren 8.1.1
        14 February 2012 at 2:08 pm

        +1
        Nailed it.

      • james 111 8.1.2
        14 February 2012 at 2:28 pm

        Te Reo
        You have a short memeory my friend none of these were campaigned on prior to the election because she knew she would lose support. Some chose to forget face the facts man

        • Blighty 8.1.2.1
          14 February 2012 at 2:35 pm

          who is ‘she’?

          Homosexual Law Reform passed in 1986, as a Private Members’ Bill. It wasn’t any party’s policy, so how could they have campaigned on it?

          Replacing the Privy Council was actually first raised by a National Bill in 1996. In 1999, Labour put out a discussion paper. In 2002, it was Labour policy to replace the right to go to the Privy Council with the Supreme Court. They passed the law in 2003.

          The anti-smacking Bill was a Private Members’ Bill. It wasn’t any party’s policy, so how could they have campaigned on it?

          This is all on wikipedia. I think your memory might be faulty.

          • ianmac 8.1.2.1.1
            14 February 2012 at 2:50 pm

            Good one Blighty.

            • Te Reo Putake 8.1.2.1.1.1
              14 February 2012 at 3:23 pm

              Cheers, Blighty. Almost feel sorry for our own whining Jim Jim.*
               
              *Lou Reed’s term for the con artists and street hustlers who would badger people into buying worthless goods, adulterated drugs etc. to feed their own pathetic addictions.

          • james 111 8.1.2.1.2
            14 February 2012 at 3:12 pm

            You telling me that Helen Clark didnt know what Chris Carter was proposing she would have married him instead of Peter if she had met him first.,
            So why did she make her MPs block vote on the Bradford child beating bill. Which incedently has done nothing to reduce beating As those that were beating their kids in the firat place still do there behaviour hasnt changed one iota

            [lprent: That really does make you the biggest winner of the month so far.

            Literally everything in the comment was inaccurate. I pretty much define comments that are that inaccurate as either indicating a troll trying to start a flame or someone determined to be the dumbest and laziest commentator. Either way you are rewarded with a time off to do some historical research.

            Banned for a week…. ]

            • Blighty 8.1.2.1.2.1
              14 February 2012 at 3:19 pm

              The Homosexual Law Reform Bill was Fran Wilde’s private member’s bill. Chris Carter didn’t enter Parliament until 7 years later.

              National voted for Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking law too.

              Moron.

            • Ordinary_Bloke 8.1.2.1.2.2
              14 February 2012 at 3:27 pm

              Leave personalities out of it. Focus on the argument. We all start somewhere ..

              [lprent: That badly? That has to be deliberate. Non-one could be that ignorant surely? ]

            • Lanthanide 8.1.2.1.2.3
              14 February 2012 at 3:56 pm

              IMO that deserves a 2 week ban.

              [lprent: You just want some peace and quiet. But I’ve never had to give him a ban before. In fact I can’t recall warning him. So a week is the usual educational and gentle first time reminder not to cause the moderators to notice you. ]

            • Draco T Bastard 8.1.2.1.2.4
              14 February 2012 at 4:01 pm

              Which incedently has done nothing to reduce beating

              Fuck, you’re moron. That’s a societal change and it’s going to be an entire generation or more before we could tell if it’s had an effect or not. My bet is that it will.

              Of course, this does show the short term thinking that is endemic of RWNJs. I their minds if something doesn’t make an immediate change then that something isn’t working.

            • Warren 8.1.2.1.2.5
              14 February 2012 at 4:46 pm

              A great deal of mythology and hysteria is rampant about the media-labelled “anti-smacking” bill. While an anti-smacking bill is what Sue Bradford wanted (the Green Party proposer of this private members bill – it was not in any way a Labour bill), she didn’t get everything she wanted. The bill as passed by National – yes NATIONAL and Labour and the Greens does nothing more than disallow the use of a “reasonable force” defence by those being prosecuted for child abuse involving whips and jug cords – NOT simple smacking – which was seeing child abusers get off lightly.
              If only the opponents of the bill would make some rudimentary effort to find out what the bill ACTUALLY does, as opposed to what they imagine it does, then there would be no opposition.

            • mik e 8.1.2.1.2.6
              14 February 2012 at 10:53 pm

              J turd labour are loud and proud of their gay MPs
              Nationals gay MPs are mostly firmly closeted because they know they would loose all the red necks like you!

            • Mike 8.1.2.1.2.7
              16 February 2012 at 11:12 am

              FFS James111, you really don’t know when to stay down do ya…

          • mik e 8.1.2.1.3
            14 February 2012 at 10:48 pm

            even shonkey voted for it j turd

    • Georgecom 8.2
      14 February 2012 at 8:04 pm

      James. If you read it properly, its an analysis of the Nat Government. If you think the criticism amounts to a ‘shot at Key’ then I guess you understand the failing of his Government that are referred to along the way to illustrate various points.

      If you read it properly you will also note its not about the Labour Party. “Labour this, Labour that” doesn’t really apply to the subject in hand. You may want to try writing a similar analysis of the Labour party and submit that for posting.

      Finally, if you read it properly you will see it is a start toward trying to understand the (seeming contradiction) of the John Key Government. How it can at once be ‘Brand Key/Ronald McDonald’, ‘clueless’ and have a ‘hidden agenda’. The Key Govt isn’t linear and one dimensional. I’ve been interested in contemplating the dimensions of ‘smile and wave’, ‘do nothing’, the ‘hidden agenda’ and how they clip together.

  9. vto 9
    14 February 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Hidden agendas have been proved with the Wyatt Creech report on Ecan, the subsequent removal of elected representatives and replacement with commissioners, and the further subsequent stated intention to use $400million from the sale of assets to support irrigation, in particular Central Plains Water.

    Sometimes a blatant lie to the face is easier to get away with, it seems.

  10. Willie Maley 10
    14 February 2012 at 4:11 pm

    According to Fisi over on Open Mike National have a 120 point plan to grow the economy, reduce poverty etc.

    • bbfloys 10.1
      14 February 2012 at 8:46 pm

      which proves that they don’t have a plan at all…

      • Nick K 10.1.1
        14 February 2012 at 10:15 pm

        They don’t have a plan because Governments don’t grow economies and create jobs. The economy to be grown is owned by entreprenuers, businesses, tradesman, accountants, exporters etc. They are the economy. Not the government.

        • Colonial Viper 10.1.1.1
          14 February 2012 at 10:26 pm

          They don’t have a plan because Governments don’t grow economies and create jobs.

          Shame it seems you don’t know about Germany, Singapore, Japan and South Korea where government and the private sector worked hand in hand to create high value jobs and protect local firms until they were ready to compete on a world stage.

          They are the economy. Not the government.

          Wow I guess all those entrepreneurs, businesses, tradesmen, accountants and exporters don’t benefit from and accept government business and support eh?

          Wow especially your exporters comment. That’s just dumb. Remember the NZ dairy board mate?

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.2
          15 February 2012 at 3:58 am

          No they’re not, they’re merely part of the economy. The government is the management of the economy without which those parts that you mentioned wouldn’t be able to work.

  11. Deborah Kean 11
    14 February 2012 at 6:11 pm

    If only the opponents of the bill would make some rudimentary effort to find out what the bill ACTUALLY does, as opposed to what they imagine it does, then there would be no opposition.

    Seconded!
     

  12. Fortran 12
    15 February 2012 at 2:14 pm

    When can we expect to hear some positive policy steps towards the next Labour Government coalition in 2014.
    All there appears to be is personal attacks on Key – which proved negative last election. It turns voter’s off.

    • Mike 12.1
      16 February 2012 at 11:25 am

      It’s only the first few weeks of parliament after an election, not the time to start announcing major policy directions. attacking John Key is attacking National, which is the oppositions job. There is nobody else to attack, John Key is National. It seems to be slowly working too, he’s definitely slowly starting to look like losing his rag on more than one occasion which would never have happened a couple of years ago.

      IMHO the question could be will Key remain as PM and National party leader right through to the next election? Unless something hugely unexpected happens over the next 3 years National won’t get a third term and I don’t think Key’s ego could handle defeat in an election..

CommentsOpinions

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

FeedsPartyGovtMedia

  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies, Excerpt Five.

    Military politics as a distinct “partial regime.” Notwithstanding their peripheral status, national defense offers the raison d’être of the combat function, which their relative vulnerability makes apparent, so military forces in small peripheral democracies must be very conscious of events … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    13 hours ago
  • Leadership for Dummies

    If you’re going somewhere, do you maybe take a bit of an interest in the place? Read up a bit on the history, current events, places to see - that sort of thing? Presumably, if you’re taking a trip somewhere, it’s for a reason. But what if you’re going somewhere ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    15 hours ago
  • Home again

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    19 hours ago
  • Dead even tie for hottest August ever

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The month of August was 1.49˚C warmer than pre-industrial levels, tying with 2023 for the warmest August ever, according ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 hours ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 7

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the debate about how to responde to climate disinformation; and special guest ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    19 hours ago
  • Have We an Infrastructure Deficit?

    An Infrastructure New Zealand report says we are keeping up with infrastructure better than we might have thought from the grumbling. But the challenge of providing for the future remains.I was astonished to learn that the quantity of our infrastructure has been keeping up with economic growth. Your paper almost ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago
  • Councils reject racism

    Last month, National passed a racist law requiring local councils to remove their Māori wards, or hold a referendum on them at the 2025 local body election. The final councils voted today, and the verdict is in: an overwhelming rejection. Only two councils out of 45 supported National's racist agenda ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Homage to Simeon Brown

    Open to all - happy weekend ahead, friends.Today I just want to be petty. It’s the way I imagine this chap is -Not only as a political persona. But his real-deal inner personality, in all its glory - appears to be pure pettiness & populist driven.Sometimes I wonder if Simeon ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 day ago
  • Government of deceit

    When National cut health spending and imposed a commissioner on Te Whatu Ora, they claimed that it was necessary because the organisation was bloated and inefficient, with "14 layers of management between the CEO and the patient". But it turns out they were simply lying: Health Minister Shane Reti’s ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • The professionals actually think and act like our Government has no fiscal crisis at all

    Treasury staff at work: The demand for a new 12-year Government bond was so strong, Treasury decided to double the amount of bonds it sold. Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, September ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 6-September-2024

    Welcome to another Friday and another roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. As always, this and every post is brought to you by the Greater Auckland crew. If you like our work and you’d like to see more of it, we invite you to join our regular ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies; Excerpt Four.

    Internal versus external security. Regardless of who rules, large countries can afford to separate external and internal security functions (even if internal control functions predominate under authoritarian regimes). In fact, given the logic of power concentration and institutional centralization of … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • A Hole In The River

    There's a hole in the river where her memory liesFrom the land of the living to the air and skyShe was coming to see him, but something changed her mindDrove her down to the riverThere is no returnSongwriters: Neil Finn/Eddie RaynerThe king is dead; long live the queen!Yesterday was a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bright Blue His Jacket Ain’t But I Love This Fellow: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power E...

    My conclusion last week was that The Rings of Power season two represented a major improvement in the series. The writing’s just so much better, and honestly, its major problems are less the result of the current episodes and more creatures arising from season one plot-holes. I found episode three ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago
  • Who should we thank for the defeat of the Nazis

    As a child in the 1950s, I thought the British had won the Second World War because that’s what all our comics said. Later on, the films and comics told me that the Americans won the war. In my late teens, I found out that the Soviet Union ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #36 2024

    Open access notables Diurnal Temperature Range Trends Differ Below and Above the Melting Point, Pithan & Schatt, Geophysical Research Letters: The globally averaged diurnal temperature range (DTR) has shrunk since the mid-20th century, and climate models project further shrinking. Observations indicate a slowdown or reversal of this trend in recent decades. ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Media Link: Discussing the NZSIS Security Threat Report.

    I was interviewed by Mike Hosking at NewstalkZB and a few other media outlets about the NZSIS Security Threat Report released recently. I have long advocated for more transparency, accountability and oversight of the NZ Intelligence Community, and although the … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • How do I make this better for people who drive Ford Rangers?

    Home, home again to a long warm embrace. Plenty of reasons to be glad to be back.But also, reasons for dejection.You, yes you, Simeon Brown, you odious little oik, you bible thumping petrol-pandering ratfucker weasel. You would be Reason Number One. Well, maybe first among equals with Seymour and Of-Seymour ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • A missed opportunity

    The government introduced a pretty big piece of constitutional legislation today: the Parliament Bill. But rather than the contentious constitutional change (four year terms) pushed by Labour, this merely consolidates the existing legislation covering Parliament - currently scattered across four different Acts - into one piece of legislation. While I ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • Nicola Willis Seeks New Sidekick To Help Fix NZ’s Economy

    Synopsis:Nicola Willis is seeking a new Treasury Boss after Dr Caralee McLiesh’s tenure ends this month. She didn’t listen to McLiesh. Will she listen to the new one?And why is Atlas Network’s Taxpayers Union chiming in?Please consider subscribing or supporting my work. Thanks, Tui.About CaraleeAt the beginning of July, Newsroom ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Inflation alive and kicking in our land of the long white monopolies

    The golden days of profit continue for the the Foodstuffs (Pak’n’Save and New World) and Woolworths supermarket duopoly. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, September 5:The Groceries Commissioner has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • The thermodynamics of electric vs. internal combustion cars

    This is a re-post from The Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler I love thermodynamics. Thermodynamics is like your mom: it may not tell you what you can do, but it damn well tells you what you can’t do. I’ve written a few previous posts that include thermodynamics, like one on air capture of ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Three.

    The notion of geopolitical  “periphery.” The concept of periphery used here refers strictly to what can be called the geopolitical periphery. Being on the geopolitical periphery is an analytic virtue because it makes for more visible policy reform in response … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    3 days ago
  • Venus Hum

    Fill me up with soundThe world sings with me a million smiles an hourI can see me dancing on my radioI can hear you singing in the blades of grassYellow dandelions on my way to schoolBig Beautiful Sky!Song: Venus Hum.Good morning, all you lovely people, and welcome to the 700th ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • I Went to a Creed Concert

    Note: The audio attached to this Webworm compliments today’s newsletter. I collected it as I met people attending a Creed concert. Their opinions may differ to mine. Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago
  • Government migration policy backfires; thousands of unemployed nurses

    The country has imported literally thousands of nurses over the past few months yet whether they are being employed as nurses is another matter. Just what is going on with HealthNZ and it nurses is, at best, opaque, in that it will not release anything but broad general statistics and ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A Time For Unity.

    Emotional Response: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses mourners at the tangi of King Tuheitia on Turangawaewae Marae on Saturday, 31 August 2024.THE DEATH OF KING TUHEITIA could hardly have come at a worse time for Maoridom. The power of the Kingitanga to unify te iwi Māori was demonstrated powerfully at January’s ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Failed again

    National's tax cut policies relied on stealing revenue from the ETS (previously used to fund emissions reduction) to fund tax cuts to landlords. So how's that going? Badly. Today's auction failed again, with zero units (of a possible 7.6 million) sold. Which means they have a $456 million hole in ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt Two.

    A question of size. Small size generally means large vulnerability. The perception of threat is broader and often more immediate for small countries. The feeling of comparative weakness, of exposure to risk, and of potential intimidation by larger powers often … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Nicola Willis’s Very Unserious Bungling of the Kiwirail Interislander Cancellation

    Open to all with kind thanks to all subscribers and supporters.Today, RNZ revealed that despite MFAT advice to Nicola Willis to be very “careful and deliberate” in her communications with the South Korean government, prior to any public announcement on cancelling Kiwirail’s i-Rex, Willis instead told South Korea 26 minutes ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Satisfying the Minister’s Speed Obsession

    The Minister of Transport’s speed obsession has this week resulted in two new consultations for 110km/h speed limits, one in Auckland and one in Christchurch. There has also been final approval of the Kapiti Expressway to move to 110km/h following an earlier consultation. While the changes will almost certainly see ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago
  • What if we freed up our streets, again?

    This guest post is by Tommy de Silva, a local rangatahi and freelance writer who is passionate about making the urban fabric of Tāmaki Makaurau-Auckland more people-focused and sustainable. New Zealand’s March-April 2020 Level 4 Covid response (aka “lockdown”) was somehow both the best and worst six weeks of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago
  • No Alarms And No Surprises

    A heart that's full up like a landfillA job that slowly kills youBruises that won't healYou look so tired, unhappyBring down the governmentThey don't, they don't speak for usI'll take a quiet lifeA handshake of carbon monoxideAnd no alarms and no surprisesThe fabulous English comedian Stewart Lee once wrote a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Five ingenious ways people could beat the heat without cranking the AC

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Daisy Simmons Every summer brings a new spate of headlines about record-breaking heat – for good reason: 2023 was the hottest year on record, in keeping with the upward trend scientists have been clocking for decades. With climate forecasts suggesting that heat waves ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • No new funding for cycling & walking

    Studies show each $1 of spending on walking and cycling infrastructure produces $13 to $35 of economic benefits from higher productivity, lower healthcare costs, less congestion, lower emissions and lower fossil fuel import costs. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • 99

    Dad turned 99 today.Hell of a lot of candles, eh?He won't be alone for his birthday. He will have the warm attention of my brother, and my sister, and everyone at the rest home, the most thoughtful attentive and considerate people you could ever know. On Saturday there will be ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Open Government: National reneges on beneficial ownership

    One of the achievements of the New Zealand’s Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan was a formal commitment from the government to establish a public beneficial ownership register. Such a register would allow the ultimate owners of companies to be identified - a vital measure in preventing corruption, money ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Excerpt One.

    This project analyzes security politics in three peripheral democracies (Chile, New Zealand, Portugal) during the 30 years after the end of the Cold War. It argues that changes in the geopolitical landscape and geo-strategic context are interpreted differently by small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Tea and Toast

    When the skies are looking bad my dearAnd your heart's lost all its hopeAfter dawn there will be sunshineAnd all the dust will goThe skies will clear my darlingNow it's time for you to let goOur girl will wake you up in the mornin'With some tea and toastLyrics: Lucy Spraggan.Good ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • NLTP 2024 released – destroying pipeline of shovel ready local projects

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Waka Kotahi yesterday released the latest National Land Transport Plan (NLTP) for 2024-27. The NLTP sets out what transport projects will be funded for the next three years, including both central and local government projects. As expected given the government’s extremely ideological transport policy, it’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago
  • Can Brown deliver his roads

    The Government’s unveiling of its road-building programme yesterday was ambitious and, many would say, long overdue. But the question will be whether it is too ambitious, whether it is affordable, and, if not, what might be dropped. The big ticket items will be the 17 so-called Roads of National Significance. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • New paper about detecting climate misinformation on Twitter/X

    Together with Cristian Rojas, Frank Algra-Maschio, Mark Andrejevic, Travis Coan, and Yuan-Fang Li, I just published a paper in Nature Communications Earth & Environment where we use the Computer Assisted Recognition of Denial and Skepticism (CARDS) machine learning model to detect climate misinformation in 5 million climate tweets. We find over half ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago
  • Excerpting “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies.”

    In the late 2000s-early 2010s I was researching and writing a book titled “Security Politics in Peripheral Democracies: Chile, New Zealand and Portugal.” The book was a cross-regional Small-N qualitative comparison of the security strategies and postures of three small … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Hating for the Wrong Reasons: Of Rings of Power, Orcs and Evil

    A few months ago, my fellow countryman, HelloFutureMe, put out a giant YouTube video, dissecting what went wrong with the first season of Rings of Power (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ6FRUO0ui0&t=8376s). It’s an exceptionally good video, and though it spans some two and a half hours, it is well worth your time. But ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: “Least cost” to who?

    On Friday the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment released their submission on National's second Emissions Reduction Plan, ripping the shit out of it as a massive gamble based on wishful thinking. One of the specific issues he focused on was National's idea of "least cost" emissions reduction, pointing out that ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Israeli Lives Matter

    There is no monopoly on common senseOn either side of the political fenceWe share the same biology, regardless of ideologyBelieve me when I say to youI hope the Russians love their children tooLyrics: Sting. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Luxon Cries

    Over the weekend, I found myself rather irritably reading up about the Treaty of Waitangi. “Do I need to do this?” It’s not my jurisdiction. In any other world, would this be something I choose to do?My answer - no.The Waitangi Tribunal, headed by some of our best legal minds, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • Just one Wellington home being consented for every 10 in Auckland

    A decade of under-building is coming home to roost in Wellington. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday September 2:Wellington’s leaders are wringing their hands over an exodus of skilled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Container trucks on local streets: why take the risk?

    This is a guest post by Charmaine Vaughan, who came to transport advocacy via her local Residents Association and a comms role at Bike Auckland. Her enthusiasm to make local streets safer for all is shared by her son Dylan Vaughan, a budding “urban nerd” who provided much of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #35

    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, August 25, 2024 thru Sat, August 31, 2024. Story of the week After another crammed week of climate news including updates on climate tipping points, increasing threats from rising ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • An Uncanny Valley of Improvement: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power, Episodes 1-3 (Season ...

    And thus we come to the second instalment of Amazon’s Rings of Power. The first season, in 2022, was underwhelming, even for someone like myself, who is by nature inclined to approach Tolkien adaptations with charity. The writing was poor, the plot made no sense on its own terms, and ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago
  • Alcohol debris and Crocodile Tears

    I write to you this morning from scenes of carnage. Around the floor lie young men who only hours earlier were full of life, and cocktails, and now lie silent. Read more ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • When Do We Look Away?

    Hi,The first time I saw something that made me recoil on the internet was a visit to Rotten.com. The clue was in the name — but the internet was a new thing to me in the 90s, and no-one really knew what the hell was going on. But somehow I ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago
  • The decades just fly by

    You turn your back for a moment and a city can completely transform itself. It was, oh, just the other day I was tripping up to Kuala Lumpur every few months to teach workshops and luxuriate in the tropical warmth and fill my face with Char Kway Teow.It has to ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Reading Summary: August

    Completed reads for August: Aesop’s Fables (collection), by Aesop Berserk: Volume XXV (manga), by Kentaro Miura Benighted, by J.B. Priestly Berserk: Volume XXVI (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXVIII (manga), by Kentaro Miura Berserk: Volume XXIX (manga), by Kentaro Miura ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Is recent global warming part of a natural cycle?

    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 from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is recent global warming part ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • White Noise

    Now here we standWith our hearts in our handsSqueezing out the liesAll that I hearIs a message, unclearWhat else is there to decide?All that I'm hearing from youIs White NoiseLyrics: Christopher John CheneyIs the tide turning?Have we reached the high point of the racist hate and lies from Hobson’s Pledge, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The Death Of “Big Norm” – Exactly 50 Years Ago Today.

    Norman KirkPrime Minister of New Zealand 1972-1974Born: 6 January 1923 - Died: 31 August 1974Of the working-class, by the working-class, for the working-class.Video courtesy of YouTubeThese elements were posted on Bowalley Road on Saturday, 31 August 2024. ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Claims and Counter-Claims.

    Whose Foreshore? Whose Seabed? When the Marine and Coastal Area Act was originally passed back in 2011, fears about the coastline becoming off-limits to Pakeha were routinely allayed by National Party politicians pointing out that the tests imposed were so stringent  that only a modest percentage of claims (the then treaty ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Honours Maori King ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • The Principles of the Treaty

    Hardly anyone says what are ‘the principles of the treaty’. The courts’ interpretation restrain the New Zealand Government. While they about protecting a particular community, those restraints apply equally to all community in a liberal democracy – including a single person.Treaty principles were introduced into the governance of New Zealand ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Only Other Reliable Vehicle.

    An Elite Leader Awaiting Rotation? Hipkins’ give-National-nothing-to-aim-at strategy will only succeed if the Coalition becomes as unpopular in three years as the British Tories became in fourteen.THE SHAPE OF CHRIS HIPKINS’ THINKING on Labour’s optimum pathway to re-election is emerging steadily. At the core of his strategy is Hipkins’ view ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • A Big F U to this Right Wing Government

    Open to all - deep thanks to those who support and subscribe.One of the things that has got me interested recently is updates about Māori wards.In April, Stuff’s Karanama Ruru reported that ~ 2/3 of our 78 councils had adopted Māori wards in NZ.That meant that under the Coalition repeal ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: James Shaw’s legacy keeps paying off

    One of the central planks of the previous Labour-Green government's emissions reduction policy was GIDI (Government Investment in Decarbonising Industry). This was basically using ETS revenue to pay polluters to clean up production, reducing emissions while protecting jobs. Corporate welfare, but it got the job done, and was often a ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Gravity

    Oh twice as much ain't twice as goodAnd can't sustain like one half couldIt's wanting moreThat's gonna send me to my kneesSong: John MayerSome ups and downs from the last week of August ‘24. The good and bad, happy and sad, funny and mad, heroes and cads. The week that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Ditch the climate double speak and get real

    Long stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer:The Government announced changes to the Fast-Track Approvals Bill on Sunday, backing off from the contentious proposal to give ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to August 30

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest science of changing sea temperatures and which emissions policies actually work; on the latest from Ukraine, Gaza and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • This Govt’s infrastructure strategy depends on capital gains taxes & new road taxes

    Billions of dollars in value uplift was identified around the Transmission Gully project, but that was captured 100% by landowners and not shared to pay for the project. Now National is saying value capture should be used for similar projects. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/ Getty ImagesMōrena. Long stories short; here’s my ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 30-August-2024

    Kia ora and welcome to the end of another week. Here’s our regular Friday roundup of things that caught our eye, in the realm of cities and transport. If you enjoy these roundups, feel free to join our growing ranks of supporters by making a recurring donation to keep the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Table Talk: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.

    “That’s the sort of constitutional reform he favours: conceived in secret; revolutionary in intent; implemented incrementally without fanfare; and under no circumstances to be placed before the electorate for democratic ratification.”TO SAY IT WAS RAINING would have understated seriously the meteorological conditions. Simply put, it was pissing down. One of ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • Big Norm and Chris Hipkins

    It’s 50 years ago today that “Big Norm” Kirk died of a heart attack in Wellington’s Home of Compassion. Home of Compassion. Although he was Prime Minister for only 623 days, he has an iconic place in New Zealand history, particularly Labour history. When Labour leaders like Jacinda Ardern recite ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #35 2024

    Open access notables Arctic glacier snowline altitudes rise 150 m over the last 4 decades, Larocca et al., The Cryosphere: We mapped the snowline (SL) on a subset of 269 land-terminating glaciers above 60° N latitude in the latest available summer, clear-sky Landsat satellite image between 1984 and 2022. The mean SLA was extracted ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago
  • Unravelling the String of State: New Zealand Sovereignty and the Treaty of Waitangi

    Oh dear. Sometimes people just need to prod the sleeping dog. We currently have a parliamentary dispute over the nature of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi, as signed between the British Crown and New Zealand Maori: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/526451/sovereignty-debate-split-on-party-lines Specifically, the National Government takes the traditional view that Maori ceded sovereignty ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • Rigour, PLEASE

    You may have noticed I have been taking my time getting home. You may have wondered if that might have anything to do with our brave little nation being constitutionally and morally abused by this woeful excuse for a government. It does. I have enjoyed being able to turn the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Making A Difference.

    The Jacinda and Ashley Show: Before the neoliberals could come up with a plausible reason for letting thousands of their fellow citizens perish, the Ardern-led government, backed by the almost forgotten power of an unapologetically interventionist state, was producing changes in the real world – changes that were, very obviously, saving ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Government progresses response to Abuse in Care recommendations

    A Crown Response Office is being established within the Public Service Commission to drive the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care. “The creation of an Office within a central Government agency was a key recommendation by the Royal Commission’s final report.  “It will have the mandate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passport wait times back on-track

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says passport processing has returned to normal, and the Department of Internal Affairs [Department] is now advising customers to allow up to two weeks to receive their passport. “I am pleased that passport processing is back at target service levels and the Department ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New appointments to the FMA board

    Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has today announced three new appointments and one reappointment to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) board. Tracey Berry, Nicholas Hegan and Mariette van Ryn have been appointed for a five-year term ending in August 2029, while Chris Swasbrook, who has served as a board member ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • District Court judges appointed

    Attorney-General Hon Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new District Court judges. The appointees, who will take up their roles at the Manukau Court and the Auckland Court in the Accident Compensation Appeal Jurisdiction, are: Jacqui Clark Judge Clark was admitted to the bar in 1988 after graduating ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government makes it faster and easier to invest in New Zealand

    Associate Minister of Finance David Seymour is encouraged by significant improvements to overseas investment decision timeframes, and the enhanced interest from investors as the Government continues to reform overseas investment. “There were about as many foreign direct investment applications in July and August as there was across the six months ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand to join Operation Olympic Defender

    New Zealand has accepted an invitation to join US-led multi-national space initiative Operation Olympic Defender, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. Operation Olympic Defender is designed to coordinate the space capabilities of member nations, enhance the resilience of space-based systems, deter hostile actions in space and reduce the spread of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government commits to ‘stamping out’ foot and mouth disease

    Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says that a new economic impact analysis report reinforces this government’s commitment to ‘stamp out’ any New Zealand foot and mouth disease incursion. “The new analysis, produced by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, shows an incursion of the disease in New Zealand would have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Improving access to finance for Kiwis

    5 September 2024  The Government is progressing further reforms to financial services to make it easier for Kiwis to access finance when they need it, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “Financial services are foundational for economic success and are woven throughout our lives. Without access to finance our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister pays tribute to Kiingi Tuheitia

    As Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII is laid to rest today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to a leader whose commitment to Kotahitanga will have a lasting impact on our country. “Kiingi Tuheitia was a humble leader who served his people with wisdom, mana and an unwavering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Resource Management reform to make forestry rules clearer

    Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced proposals to reform the resource management system that will provide greater certainty for the forestry sector and help them meet environmental obligations.   “The Government has committed to restoring confidence and certainty across the sector by removing unworkable regulatory burden created by the previous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More choice and competition in building products

    A major shake-up of building products which will make it easier and more affordable to build is on the way, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Today we have introduced legislation that will improve access to a wider variety of quality building products from overseas, giving Kiwis more choice and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Joint Statement between the Republic of Korea and New Zealand 4 September 2024, Seoul

    On the occasion of the official visit by the Right Honourable Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to the Republic of Korea from 4 to 5 September 2024, a summit meeting was held between His Excellency President Yoon Suk Yeol of the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Comprehensive Strategic Partnership the goal for New Zealand and Korea

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol. “Korea and New Zealand are likeminded democracies and natural partners in the Indo Pacific. As such, we have decided to advance discussions on elevating the bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • International tourism continuing to bounce back

    Results released today from the International Visitor Survey (IVS) confirm international tourism is continuing to bounce back, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey says. The IVS results show that in the June quarter, international tourism contributed $2.6 billion to New Zealand’s economy, an increase of 17 per cent on last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government confirms RMA reforms to drive primary sector efficiency

    The Government is moving to review and update national level policy directives that impact the primary sector, as part of its work to get Wellington out of farming. “The primary sector has been weighed down by unworkable and costly regulation for too long,” Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.  “That is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Weak grocery competition underscores importance of cutting red tape

    The first annual grocery report underscores the need for reforms to cut red tape and promote competition, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “The report paints a concerning picture of the $25 billion grocery sector and reinforces the need for stronger regulatory action, coupled with an ambitious, economy-wide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government moves to lessen burden of reliever costs on ECE services

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says the Government has listened to the early childhood education sector’s calls to simplify paying ECE relief teachers. Today two simple changes that will reduce red tape for ECEs are being announced, in the run-up to larger changes that will come in time from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Over 2,320 people engage with first sector regulatory review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says there has been a strong response to the Ministry for Regulation’s public consultation on the early childhood education regulatory review, affirming the need for action in reducing regulatory burden. “Over 2,320 submissions have been received from parents, teachers, centre owners, child advocacy groups, unions, research ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government backs women in horticulture

    “The Government is empowering women in the horticulture industry by funding an initiative that will support networking and career progression,” Associate Minister of Agriculture, Nicola Grigg says.  “Women currently make up around half of the horticulture workforce, but only 20 per cent of leadership roles which is why initiatives like this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government to pause freshwater farm plan rollout

    The Government will pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans until system improvements are finalised, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard announced today. “Improving the freshwater farm plan system to make it more cost-effective and practical for farmers is a priority for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Milestone reached for fixing the Holidays Act 2003

    Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden says yesterday Cabinet reached another milestone on fixing the Holidays Act with approval of the consultation exposure draft of the Bill ready for release next week to participants.  “This Government will improve the Holidays Act with the help of businesses, workers, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New priorities to protect future of conservation

    Toitū te marae a Tāne Mahuta me Hineahuone, toitū te marae a Tangaroa me Hinemoana, toitū te taiao, toitū te tangata. The Government has introduced clear priorities to modernise Te Papa Atawhai - The Department of Conservation’s protection of our natural taonga. “Te Papa Atawhai manages nearly a third of our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Faster 110km/h speed limit to accelerate Kāpiti

    A new 110km/h speed limit for the Kāpiti Expressway Road of National Significance (RoNS) has been approved to reduce travel times for Kiwis travelling in and out of Wellington, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • IVL increase to ensure visitors contribute more to New Zealand

    The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) will be raised to $100 to ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand, Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Matt Doocey and Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka say. “The Government is serious about enabling the tourism sector ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Delivering priority connections for the West Coast

    A record $255 million for transport investment on the West Coast through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s road and rail links to keep people connected and support the region’s economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Government is committed to making sure that every ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Road and rail reliability a focus for Wellington

    A record $3.3 billion of transport investment in Greater Wellington through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will increase productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. We're focused on delivering transport projects ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Record investment to boost economic and housing growth in the Waikato

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Waikato through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more efficient, safe, and resilient roading network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With almost a third of the country’s freight travelling into, out ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Building reliable and efficient roading for Taranaki

    A record $808 million for transport investment in Taranaki through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Taranaki’s roads carry a high volume of freight from primary industries and it’s critical we maintain efficient connections across the region to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Supporting growth and resilience in Otago and Southland

    A record $1.4 billion for transport investment in Otago and Southland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more resilient and efficient network that supports economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in Otago ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Delivering connected and resilient roading for Northland

    A record $991 million for transport investment in Northland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s connections and support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “We are committed to making sure that every transport dollar is spent wisely on the projects and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Top of the South to benefit from reliable transport infrastructure

    A record $479 million for transport investment across the top of the South Island through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will build a stronger road network that supports primary industries and grows the economy, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We’re committed to making sure that every dollar is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering reliable roads for Manawatū-Whanganui

    A record $1.6 billion for transport investment in Manawatū-Whanganui through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will strengthen the region’s importance as a strategic freight hub that boosts economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Delivering infrastructure to increase productivity and economic growth is a priority for our Government. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Restoring connections in Hawke’s Bay

    A record $657 million for transport investment in the Hawke’s Bay through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support recovery from cyclone damage and build greater resilience into the network to support economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “We are committed to making sure that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Transport resilience a priority for Gisborne

    A record $255 million for transport investment in Gisborne through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will support economic growth and restore the cyclone-damaged network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “With $255 million of investment over the next three years, we are committed to making sure that every transport ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Prioritising growth and reduced travel times in Canterbury

    A record $1.8 billion for transport investment Canterbury through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and productivity and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Christchurch is the economic powerhouse of the South Island, and transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Supporting growth and freight in the Bay of Plenty

    A record $1.9 billion for transport investment in the Bay of Plenty through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will boost economic growth and unlock land for thousands of houses, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Transport is a critical enabler for economic growth and productivity in the Bay of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Getting transport back on track in Auckland

    A record $8.4 billion for transport investment in Auckland through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will deliver the infrastructure our rapidly growing region needs to support economic growth and reduce travel times, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Aucklanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, phantoms projects, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Record investment to get transport back on track

    A record $32.9 billion investment in New Zealand’s transport network through the 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) will create a more reliable and efficient transport network that boosts economic growth and productivity, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “New Zealanders rejected the previous government’s transport policies which resulted in non-delivery, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Consultation is open on gambling harm strategy

    Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed the start of Gambling Harm Awareness Week by encouraging New Zealanders to have their say on the next three-year strategy to prevent and minimise gambling harm.  “While many New Zealanders enjoy gambling as a pastime without issue, the statistics are clear that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • JOINT STATEMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER CHRISTOPHER LUXON

    1.    Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim hosted Prime Minister Rt. Hon Christopher Luxon on an Official Visit to Malaysia from 1 to 3 September 2024. Both leaders expressed appreciation for enduring and warm bilateral ties over 67 years of diplomatic relations. The Malaysia – New Zealand Strategic Partnership 2.    The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-09-07T13:33:15+00:00