Budget commentary

Written By: - Date published: 12:23 pm, May 31st, 2019 - 65 comments
Categories: accountability, class, jacinda ardern, labour, national, Propaganda, quality of life, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags: ,

Clearly this week’s commentary on the budget can be divided on a partisan basis.

There was the frankly bizarre.  Like this effort from Maserati driver Mike Hosking.

His last few budget headlines have been:

  • Govt’s wellbeing budget a looming disaster
  • Grant Robertson’s Budget is full of massive fiscal risks
  • What’s in today’s Budget – plenty of waffle and not so much wellbeing
  • The BS ‘wellbeing Budget’ – this Government’s blown it already

No one should be surprised that dishing out large amounts of cash on welfare reform, upgrading rail and mental health support did not attract his support.  In fact the day that Mike is pleased about something the Government does is the day that us lefties should critically review our support.

Radio New Zealand has covered the budget and the events leading up to it extensively but it has this frustrating habit on spending as much time on opposition gocha lines and interviewing people to see what personal benefit they received as on the content of the budget itself.

Some complained.  But there were others who captured the essence perfectly.

Like this effort.

And this column by Bernard Hickey neatly summarised the social media turmoil that erupted this week and compared it to what was acutally important.

He compared what was happening on social media with what was happening in real life.  From the real life he said this:

Year 13 students Lu Faaui, Uili Tumanuvao, Sela Tukia, Francis Nimo and Efi Gaono … talked about what they wanted from the Budget. They had been forced to move out of state houses in Glen Innes (Tamaki Regeneration Company) to South Auckland and their parents were working multiple jobs to pay for private rentals.

They were paying $40 a week to travel across Auckland each day to Tamaki College.

“Just like Sela said, it’s forced us to move out of GI (Glen Innes) and yeah my family just decides to cope with it. It’s made my Dad work even more hours. My mum gets two jobs, my sister gets two jobs. I mean, money is money you know,” said Lu.

His conclusion about their desires was neatly captured in this sentence:

All those teenagers wanted was affordable and convenient housing and transport so they could easily go to school and their parents didn’t have to work so hard.

He then said that this is what the Government should have told those young people and their families:

Here’s what I would have said to those Tamaki College kids.

The Wellbeing Budget included lots more spending on primary mental health care, rail network maintenance and a welcome indexation of benefits to wages, rather than prices. It started to focus on things like child poverty numbers, carbon emissions and suicide rates, but did little to solve their problems with housing and transport in Auckland.

I’d tell them there was very little new spending on housing. KiwiBuild was barely mentioned. The new rail lines in Auckland are still just an aspiration. I’d tell them the Government could borrow enough to start re-engineering their city to be more affordable, liveable and carbon neutral, but wasn’t doing that because Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson made a promise two years ago not to borrow more than 20 percent of national income.

I’d say that’s a bit like their parents earning a joint income of $100,000 a year and having debt of $20,000. And that the bank wanted to lend them the extra $20,000 they needed to build a new home and have affordable and carbon-neutral transport. That would lift their net debt to income ratio to 40 percent. And that the interest cost would be 1.7 percent per year, which would mean the extra interest costs for their parents earning $100,000 a year to afford that house and rail system would be $340 a year.

But that politicians generally and the public were so worried about that extra $20,000 in debt and what the financial markets might say that they weren’t fixing Auckland’s housing and transport crisis. Sorry about that.

And his conclusion about the effect on social media on political discourse was this:

The best example of how this increased metabolic rate of politics has warped the public debate is to point to what has happened in America and Europe, where increasingly polarised politicians shout at each other from their own bubbles of supporters and nothing changes. Meanwhile, other forces keep screwing the scrum of democracy to further their own interests.

The end result is a disengaged public, policy paralysis, a lot of noise and not much light.

I understand how it happened and I’ve been living in it now for a decade. A political firmament driven by social media, sound bites, cheap shots and one-day-wonder stories is not going to solve the problems of South Auckland or Tamaki.

Everyone should take a chill pill, stop jumping to conclusions for a quick political hit and instead think beyond the beltway to the real world and long term concerns of citizens.

Jacinda Ardern clearly realises this.  And currently she is without match in New Zealand politics.  Long may it continue.

65 comments on “Budget commentary ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Kat 1
    31 May 2019 at 12:55 pm

    Like the sounds of dregs going down the plug hole so are the cries from National and their poodles in the media.

    The widespread support for this budget will be evident in voter support. Simple really.

    Three terms at least for Jacinda Ardern. Hopefully Winston stays around as well to see the rail revival.

    • Bewildered 1.1
      31 May 2019 at 1:01 pm

      Not as bad a the whining left in getting their butts royally kicked in Au That was more like when you drop a teaspoon down your sink waste disposal or scratching your fingers across a black board

    • infused 1.2
      31 May 2019 at 1:53 pm

      there's not, actually. you're only listening in your bubble. there is dissatisfaction from all sides about this budget.

      I think this govt is going to have a massive issue with the economy next year and all this additional spending.

      The world economy is about to hit the breaks I believe.

  2. Bewildered 2
    31 May 2019 at 12:55 pm

    I think whale Oil contributor got it right

    “The talk all through the budget presentation was about ‘wellbeing’ but really this is a typical socialist budget. It ignores taxpayers and provides extra support to those who do nothing. There is nothing unusual and nothing special about it.

    Notably, there is no wellbeing for teachers or midwives, and no wellbeing for superannuitants either… not even free health funding for seniors, which is a promise that Winston made at the last election too.

    All in all, there is little or nothing in the ‘wellbeing’ budget for most New Zealanders.

    So the Wellbeing Budget is just another slogan. Like ‘9 years of neglect’ or “Let’s Do This’.”

    • Muttonbird 2.1
      31 May 2019 at 1:00 pm

      There is some wellbeing for teachers: 9.3% over three years. It's just that teachers have decided not to take it at this point.

    • mickysavage 2.2
      31 May 2019 at 1:03 pm

      So addressing need is a bad thing? There are plenty of wealthy superannuants around. There is a significant spend on mental health and on rail and benefit reform. The effects will trickle around and help us all.

      • bewildered 2.2.1
        31 May 2019 at 1:18 pm

        1b on rail is a drop in the ocean and simply throwing good money after bad into this never ending sink hole;

        Couple of new shiny jets, capital and infrastructures maintenance yawn

        mental health fair enough, benefit reform ( sell that to hard working, struggling kiwis)

        end of day nothing for productive sector, sugar coat budget with meaningless slogans ( cindy expertise) however it is more of the save and will not do one jot for nz long term position and prosperity More then likely simply stagnate economy or We go backwards with increasing debt as forecasted growth is not manifested

        • Kat 2.2.1.1
          31 May 2019 at 1:27 pm

          Why don't you push off to Oz then, sure you would be more happy there. The majority of us are happy here. Oh, and while you are in Oz watch out out for all the ‘anti sink hole’ trains they have operating.

          • bewildered 2.2.1.1.1
            31 May 2019 at 2:37 pm

            You just bath in your feelze good environment until reality hits you between the eyes their Katz

        • infused 2.2.1.2
          31 May 2019 at 1:54 pm

          spot on.

      • Grumpy 2.2.2
        31 May 2019 at 1:32 pm

        My God…..Mickey Savage on "trickle down" economics! I need a lie down.

        Hickey's article shows his increasingly leftie disconnect. I doubt the average struggler in South Auckland cares anything about "Carbon Neutral" transport. They are just trying to get on with their lives and, for their, trouble, are just about to be slammed with an increase in fuel tax!

        • Kat 2.2.2.1
          31 May 2019 at 1:38 pm

          Look again…"trickle around"………that has a more socially beneficial construct.

      • higherstandard 2.2.3
        31 May 2019 at 2:05 pm

        "The effects will trickle around and help us all."

        Ye Gods Greg quoting Roger Douglas…isn't that one of the horseman of the apocalypse.

      • Grafton Gully 2.2.4
        31 May 2019 at 9:10 pm

        The spend on mental health might increase the prevalence of mental illness in NZ as people who now suffer in silence are revealed and those who pretend to suffer take advantage. There has been disagreement about the definition of mental health https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26038353

        • Sacha 2.2.4.1
          31 May 2019 at 9:22 pm

          "those who pretend to suffer take advantage"

          Yep, those counselling sessions are primo on the black market.

    • Grumpy 2.3
      31 May 2019 at 1:35 pm

      To be fair, Labour are struggling to remain relevant to their traditional working class supporters while promoting the various high income voter concerns around Climate Change. The cost of the latter will soon lead to the loss of support from the former – as we have seen in the US and Australia.

    • Sacha 2.4
      31 May 2019 at 5:50 pm

      "no wellbeing for superannuitants "

      Our universal pension programme should help – and is heading for over half of welfare spending in coming years, without the slightest sniff of reduced eligibility. Don't worry, younger people will cover it.

    • Pat 2.5
      31 May 2019 at 8:04 pm

      Lol…doncha love it when those supporters of the previous administration suddenly discover their consciences and begin advocating for improved pay and conditions for the very groups they delighted in screwing down during their tenure

    • Hamish Stevenson 2.6
      31 May 2019 at 10:53 pm

      Of course it is a typical socialist budget. You point this out as if it is a bad thing. Its a great thing. You really are bewildered.

    • Lucy 2.7
      1 June 2019 at 11:13 am

      "It ignores taxpayers and provides extra support to those who do nothing. " Having been a high paying tax payer, a job seeker, and a person with a chronic disease I know which I prefer to be. Which is why I always made sure that I paid my full complement of tax because I felt that the rest of NZ would be doing the same if I ever needed support. How wrong I was! When Sir John, Sir Bill, most farmers and top business people can pay less tax than a beneficiary then we have a broken system. Not just that, when we have the top tier feeling like they shouldn't have to pay as "anyone can pull themselves out of poverty, I did" then you have a society that is unsustainable.

  3. adam 3
    31 May 2019 at 1:38 pm

    Important question mickeysavage, and yes the partisan crap has got worse. I wrote somthing yesterday being critical of all polies,

    https://thestandard.org.nz/the-treasury-website-hack-that-wasnt/#comment-1622746

    and what happens, some hack comes back with "As if Labour would have if they had been in opposition." missing the point entirely. Big ups to I FEEL LOVE for their reaction.

    Yesterday was also littered with commentarors not handling any criticism from the left about the budget either. The response from those commentators was filthy and pathetic at times, at others just rude and juvenile. Truly partisan hack displays.

    My personal opinion on the budget is it is stupid to talk about change, when you cling desperately to an economic ideology which does not work. As I said before the election, NZLP's commitment to hard right economics, has only one out come – hard right wing outcomes.

    Was the budget better than 9 years of the last shit government, without a doubt. But national set the bar so low, and this economic model is so restricting, I and many others are finding it hard why people love this budget. It is so underwhelming, and anyone with half a brain would have seen that it was coming.

    My final though is why are so many of the partisan hacks from both sides bothering? You are basically arguing over the crumbs from the table, pointless. Either work together, or work for system change – both will make our society better.

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1
      31 May 2019 at 2:29 pm

      Well said.

    • bewildered 3.2
      31 May 2019 at 4:27 pm

      “9 years of shit”

      in substance how is this wellbeing budget much different than national 2014 budget ( random selection ) beyond the slogans One could argues the 2014 budget has greater well-being to middle nz and kiwi families than its 2019 cousin
      NZ herald May 2014

      1.A $372 million surplus in the coming year – the first since 2008 – and forecast to reach $3.5 billion in 2018.

      Bill English has delivered an election year Budget which includes a bigger than forecast surplus, free doctors' visits for 400,000 more children, big cuts to ACC levies and dangles the prospect of tax cuts in front of voters. Finance Minister Mr English said the Government's much vaunted return to surplus would be $372 million, still slender but well ahead of the wafer thin $86 million forecast six months ago thanks to a rosier economic outlook.

      2.Treasury forecasting economic growth to average 2.8 per cent over the next four years, peaking at 4 per cent next year.

      3. Free doctors visits' and prescriptions extended from children under six to those under 13.

      4. Paid parental leave extended from 14 to 18 weeks – and eligibility to be expanded to cover seasonal workers and those who have recently changed jobs.

      5. Parental tax credit raised from $150 a week to $220 – and the payment period extended from first eight weeks of baby's life to ten weeks.

      6. ACC on track for more cuts in levies,

      7. Interest-free loan of $375 million for New Zealand Transport Agency to accelerate Auckland transport projects.

      8. 5 cent duty on cheques abolished.

      9. Import duties on plasterboard, reinforcing steel and nails suspended to cut the cost of building a new home by an estimated $3500.

      10. A further $198 million injection into Kiwirail to make its freight operations commercially viable, taking the cost of bailing out the state company to more than $1 billion.

      • adam 3.2.1
        31 May 2019 at 4:40 pm

        Really, the freeze on police wages, the cuts to boarder security (fruit-fly ringing any bells for you?) the cuts to health and the overall not keeping abreast of inflation budget of 2014 – yeah I remember it.

        I also remember saying it was crumbs from the table then, which gets back to the main point of mickysavage's great post – partisan crap means we are getting nowhere. But if that your stitch go for it.

  4. veutoviper 4
    31 May 2019 at 2:26 pm

    mickysavage, I agree that Bernard Hickey's Newsroom article which you linked to in your post was very much on the point. However, did you listen to Morning Report this morning and in particular the segment on the Budget with the panel comprising Bernard Hickey, Morgan Godfery, Fran O'Sullivan and Sue Bradford?

    As discussed in the thread @ 2 on today's Open Mike, I agree with Sanctuary, Macro and others (including Wayne) that it would be nice to get a few fresher people on such panels (and that RNZ National is a bit 'meh' at present); but did you actually hear the ratings each member of that panel gave the Budget? Morgan gave it 6 out of 10, Fran then gave it 7 but Bernard then gave it only 5, with Sue agreeing with that rating.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018697577/budget-2019-where-s-the-money-going-panel-discussion

    I was a little disappointed in those ratings and understand why many people are disappointed that more 'instant' fixes were not included in this round. I also have some disappointments in some areas I would have liked to see more action – eg more support in the areas of disabilities etc.

    OTOH, I also understand the restraints on, and risks of, charging ahead with change at a breakneck rate. (Think Kiwibuild … but I degress.)

    If you did not listen to Nine To Noon on RNZ National this morning, I really recommend the first two interviews which were also on the Budget, the first being with two profs from the Victoria University Institute on Governance and Policy Studies which set the scene for an indepth half hour interview with Grant Robertson himself.

    I commented in more detail on these two interviews @ 9 on today's Open Mike with links to the two interviews.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-31-05-2019/#comment-1623246

    I highly recommend these two interviews as they both gave good insight into the restraints etc on charging forward with full throttle 'transformation', but more importantly, the thinking and changes in approach that took place in drawing up this Budget as a first step towards longer term transformation.

    I also recommend noting the very valid comment made by Macro at 9.1 which I intend replying to shortly. As Macro points out these are first steps only to move away from using GDP as the prime metric for measuring a country's wellbeing etc.

    • Rosemary McDonald 4.1
      31 May 2019 at 3:24 pm

      I also have some disappointments in some areas I would have liked to see more action – eg more support in the areas of disabilities etc.

      People with disabilities(non ACC), including those with chronic mental health issues have been doing it very, very hard for the past twenty years.

      There are government agencies charged with providing support for these people… be it via Health, HNZ or MSD, yet all of them have been corrupted by successive governments that have been quite content to allow these bureaucracies to ration supports and terrorize eligible citizens.

      Successive governments have allowed these bureaucracies to indulge themselves in endless policy work resulting in yet another 'Strategy' or 'Action Plan'… which sound really really good but in actuality make it even harder to get the support needed. And of course the budget gets even tighter and the rationing increases because the funding is being consumed by the bureaucracy.

      Successive governments have allowed these Ministries to contract out much or all of their work to the private/"charity" sector and have thereby created an insatiable monster that sees those in need of services as potential income rather than human beings eligible and /or entitled to reliable, high quality supports.

      The successful legal challenge to this iniquitous system brought by family carers of non ACC disabled with high/very high and complex care needs resulted in one of the worst responses in New Zealand's legislative history. The current government promised to repeal that legislation…but I believe now that was just another lie.

      Why? Because repealing that piece of legislation and allowing the disabled person to pay whoever they choose to provide the vital supports they have been assessed by the NASCs as needing would have been an easy piece of work, would have increased 'wellbeing' for this particular group enormously and very probably been surprisingly cost effective as using Individualised Funding would be cheaper than the hourly rate charged by the private/"charity" sector. So why not do this? It'd be a great headline, garner much needed goodwill…??

      Because this government is exactly the same as it's predecessors….they simply don't understand the long term effects insecurity has on a person with health and disability needs. When you literally can not rely on the supports or treatments you might have today being available and/or funded tomorrow…life becomes almost untenable. It is a precarious edge- of- the -cliff existence, which if mental illness is not already a feature it will not be far off.

      It will not be this Government that decides to end the iniquitous inequality between those fortunate enough to be under ACC and those 'incurables' under MOH.

      But I'll bet they'll celebrate the EOLC Bill when passes.

      (It is great to see you back veutoviper.)

      • Sacha 4.1.1
        31 May 2019 at 5:56 pm

        It occurred to me yesterday that this govt are likely to be treading water until Heather Simpson's big health review suggests changes to disability support arrangements.

        Why they can't communicate that is beyond me. Muppets.

        • McFlock 4.1.1.1
          31 May 2019 at 6:13 pm

          It'd get a bit like "mother of dragons". Seven bloody years of everyone saying "dragon" in hushed tones before we finally saw why everyone thought dragons were the dog's bollocks.

          • Sacha 4.1.1.1.1
            31 May 2019 at 7:55 pm

            They'd probably wheel out a tuatara and hope we would buy that instead.

    • patricia bremner 4.2
      31 May 2019 at 8:52 pm

      Dear Veutoviper, welcome back, and thank you for your insightful comments and attachments. I was so pleased to see your contributions.

  6. SPC 6
    31 May 2019 at 4:42 pm

    The interesting thing is really the allocation of new spending in the years ahead. Because that will determine what the government can afford to do next year and the following term as well.

    For example teachers, their deal is one for 4 years 2017-April 2021. Will government negotiate that on time, or will it delay to put it beyond the 2022-23 year to defer this cost it to new spending allocation beyond that time? A really smart union would negotiate on that point now. Even agree to the government pay offer, on the condition the next pay deal gets negotiated now and comes in asap after 1 April 2021? And have the talks include a wide range of related issues (that could be funded in the 2020 budget or second term budgets).

  7. Jackel 7
    31 May 2019 at 6:17 pm

    Yes, the usual hyperbole, hysteria, half truths and good old fashioned vitriol from those on the right. You do have to wonder what if anything is going on in their heads. It will take the psychologists a while to cure them of this tory disorder.

  8. Cinny 8
    31 May 2019 at 8:31 pm
    • A new frontline service for mental health with a $455m programme providing access for 325,000 people by 2023/24
    • Suicide prevention services get a $40m boost
    • Specialist services as part of a $320m package to address family and sexual violence.

    But hey… maybe some people like to think more about ME and less about WE.

    And who are the grown ups?

    What about that little child who is living surrounded by violence. Are their circumstances their fault. Who will help them? That child doesn't want a ghost chips tax cut.

    Young people are so unhappy they are killing themselves in droves. But hey I guess that don't pay any taxes so who cares about them?

    Personally I'm finding some of the media narrative surrounding the release of this budget freakin obscenely selfish and bordering on macabre.

    I must say that twitter commentary on simons twitter is beyond hilarious, 5 star entertainment plus, it's beautiful to read. Well done NZ.

    https://twitter.com/simonjbridges/status/1133949110027837440

    • Peter 8.1
      31 May 2019 at 9:31 pm

      I tried to turn over to the next page of that Bridges message to see the stats of how many new jobs were created over 9 years in Whanganui, Northland and the East Coast. All in the spirit of wanting every NZer to get ahead and the best way out of poverty being getting a job.

    • greywarshark 8.2
      31 May 2019 at 10:35 pm

      That's a great old standard from Simple Simon. Isn't he just begging for a pie in the face? Have to be a cream pie, done in piped shaving cream for style, smoothness and hygiene, anything else probably would be condemned by Health and Safety.

      Another:

      Mary had a little lamb.

    • Wensleydale 8.3
      31 May 2019 at 10:54 pm

      People at Farmers and KFC are really feeling the love from their employers. I'm sure they're over the moon with how effortless it is to "get ahead" given they all have jobs. You can be in full-time employment and still be in poverty. It's not grinding Third World level poverty where you spend your days beating your undies on a rock to get them clean, or drinking from a well full of bat guano and body parts, but it's not what you'd call "living the dream". Simon would likely know more about the plight of the working poor if he weren't so busy projectile-vomiting pompous drivel onto the national airwaves.

  9. Stuart Munro. 9
    1 June 2019 at 1:42 am

    Well I don't see much for me in this budget, but never the less I feel it's a good show. If one like this had been produced under Clark she might've lasted a little longer.

    Many things have deteriorated since then, so there is still plenty left to do. But they have demonstrated an ability to recognize priorities and make changes, which the writhing mass of bumbling corruption that is the Gnats can scarcely imagine.

    Shades of the old Ashleigh Brilliant line: By accepting you as you are I do not altogether abandon hope of you improving.

    • greywarshark 9.1
      1 June 2019 at 10:20 am

      That's good Stuart – "the writhing mass of bumbling corruption that is the Gnats…"

      +100 on everything you said.

  10. Mary-Ann de Kort 10
    1 June 2019 at 10:06 am

    Hi Mickey

    Thanks for this and many insightful articles . Just one thing though. Can we please have positive things at the start of the articles as many only read part and it would change the discourse of what they read.

    About the budget. I've chosen to think is it as the first budget I've seen for a long time which will change our future. There is so much to be fixed but the Nats left so little. By enabling our kids through better education, addressing mental health, building real to get our country moving, spending on r&d and start up business, planting trees and regional development we are looking to a future for all NZers. Yes, the here and now is important but I firmly believe that the above are only a few of the policies which will lead to better incomes and thriving local communities and economies.

  11. Observer Tokoroa 11
    1 June 2019 at 6:45 pm

    The Obliging Simon

    Following the Prime Minister and supposedly Speaking to the "WellBeing Budget", Mr Bridges surprised me. He is returning to his childhood.

    He Promised that as soon as he got into Power next Election, he would put Oil on the Table.

    Now not many people eat or drink oil . Fewer and fewer people are wanting that great Carcinogen – Diesel. It is Lethal. As is Petroleum.

    But Simon is stuck in his boy hood, and will not move towards Electric Energy. Electric Energy is faster. It is Cheaper by far. It is safer. But Simon hates it. Why? Because when he talks he screeches and forgets his words. He also forgets that the world is rapidly turning away from Lethal Oil – to heavenly Sun!

    National is way way behind the rest of the World. In every aspect of Life! It does not even believe in building safe, gunge free, Clean Hospitals. Sir John key told him not to build proper Hospitals. So did Billy English.

    Simon also is not going to remove Pollution. Neither is his friend Donald Trump. The whole of National and possibly Kathryn Ryan, see no point in removing Pollution. They like Filth. Because it is Toxin and belongs to our precious Farmers.

    Simon and probably Kathtyn, although I have no certainty on this, are going to go through the Nation establishing which women have what DNA so they can keep an index of their sexual intercourses. National want more money from laid women. I kid you not ! In order to reduce the Cost of Beneficiaries. They will hunt down the men during the cricket season in Australia.

    Amy and Mrs Bennett are full of Admiration for National. In particular they admire Mr Bridges. Hardly anybody else does.

    • Jenny - How to Get there? 11.1
      3 June 2019 at 7:35 pm

      …..Simon also is not going to remove Pollution. Neither is his friend Donald Trump. The whole of National and possibly Kathryn Ryan, see no point in removing Pollution. They like Filth. Because it is Toxin and belongs to our precious Farmers.

      Observer Tokoroa

      And this is the Party that James Shaw has wasted so much time and political capital trying to get consensus with on the Zero Carbon Act?

      Probably why the Zero Carbon Act contains zero action on climate change.

      • solkta 11.1.1
        3 June 2019 at 7:42 pm

        And this is the Party that James Shaw has wasted so much time trying to get consensus with on the Zero Carbon Act?

        Ummm, no not really. It was Winston First who was the big stumbling block. Big cause ummm, there vote was needed to pass anything. You really are dim.

  12. Jenny - How to Get there? 12
    3 June 2019 at 3:35 pm

    The Warbeing Budget

    While health and education are being starved of funds there is no shortage of money for warfare.

    https://www.facebook.com/notes/peace-movement-aotearoa/wellbeing-budget-shocking-rise-in-military-spending/2230103127037044/

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    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    13 hours ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    16 hours ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections 
 it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston
 well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    23 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    2 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said 
.. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KƍreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te PĆ«kenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
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