Bye bye Local Government

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, June 25th, 2012 - 42 comments
Categories: accountability, community democracy, democracy under attack, local government, national, privatisation - Tags: ,

National’s record on local government is horrific: the lack of consultation as they rammed through the Supercity; the canning of ECAN, and continued suspension of democracy in Canterbury; the pushing of asset sales on an unwilling Christchurch.

And their latest attack – the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill – will do significant damage to local democracy.

The Bill has been created out of an invented crisis, as is Nick Smith’s way.  He produced “figures” to show significant costs have arisen from changes which required Councils to take account of the social, economic, cultural and environmental wellbeing of their communities.  The figures then had to be hastily removed from the “Better Local Government” document online a few days after its release – and replaced by a comment from Department of Internal Affairs saying “There are issues with the data both in terms of accuracy and in terms of the picture that was being given for some Councils.”

In fact proper statistics show the problem to not be as National suggest at all.  Rates growth was cited as the biggest increase in inflation in recent times; in reality it is behind gas, petrol, real estate agent fees and building insurance among others.  And gas and petrol being high  on the list is significant – a major cost for councils is the bitumen of our roads, which like all oils has massively increased in price over the last 10 years (91%).

Rates generally have increased along with household spending – staying at 2.25% of household spending for quite some time now.  Hardly out of control.  Indeed New Zealand has the lowest gathering of funds at a regional level in the entire OECD.  And any attempt to alter that in the form of regional petrol taxes, congestion charges etc has been vetoed by National: keen to keep local government on a short leash, dependent on central government – not local opinion – for major projects.

Nick Smith has of course been moved on due to the ACC scandal, and this is now David Carter’s Bill.  But their other big bogey was local council debt.

Once again, the statistics don’t match the rhetoric.

In fact only a very few councils have a debt problem.  While citing the likes of Kaipara District Council serves National’s agenda, they are isolated cases.  The international standard across the OECD is that local governments should have <10% of expenditure on debt servicing.  The New Zealand average? 4.53%

Even most of those councils who have had big increases in debt in recent years have had good reason too.  They are high population growth areas, rapidly building large amounts of infrastructure to prepare for their increased size, as they should.  The higher population in coming years will pay the rates needed to pay back the debt on the infrastructure they are then using.

I’ll write more about National’s plans for Local Government and the problems they cause, removing local control of local decisions, tomorrow.  In the meantime you may wish to take in the view of Christine Cheyne, Massey Assoc Prof of Planning, or Rod Oram, or the CEO of Palmerston North City Council.

The Local Government Bill – like so much controversial National legislation – is now being rushed through parliament; trying to get passed without sufficient scrutiny and attention, lest it have time to breed unpopularity and become another policy millstone.  If you’d like to submit on the bill, Labour have created an easy website for you to have your say: http://www.labour.org.nz/localgovernment

42 comments on “Bye bye Local Government ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. MrSmith 1
    25 June 2012 at 8:21 am

    And don’t forget Nationals so called Environmental Protection Authority which can already over ride your district plan with no right of appeal. Big Government coming to a town near you. 

  2. vto 2
    25 June 2012 at 8:45 am

    In my opinion this National government is the most untrustworthy ever.

    They are a bunch of wide-boys and snake-oil salesmen. It is impossible to believe anything they say. They are like the sleaziest secondhand car salesman you can find. You always wonder what the true motive is behind their claims. You always wonder how much actual truth stands under each and every statement.

    They are liars.

    Deceptive.

    Untrustworthy.

    At least Clark et al did not have this characteristic. This lot are total sleazeballs.

    • Carol 2.1
      25 June 2012 at 9:00 am

      +1

      Charlatans all, who don’t give a fig for democracy, or anyone but the most affluent Kiwis and international corporates.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.2
      25 June 2012 at 2:41 pm

      In my opinion this National government is the most untrustworthy ever.

      I think they’re perfectly trustworthy – they can always be trusted to work in the favour of themselves and their rich mates and against the welfare of NZ.

      They don’t tell us that of course as that would require them telling the truth and they know that they’d never get voted in to work that theft/fraud/malfeasance if they did that.

  3. mickysavage 3
    25 June 2012 at 9:01 am

    They always talk about events as a major driver of rates increases but as Ben correctly identifies the major cost increases are in the provision and maintenance of infrastructure.

    If this legislation is passed events out west like the Christmas Festival in the park will be no more.  This is a very modestly priced enjoyable occasion made possible by a group of dedicated individuals.  It attracts thousands and the cost per westie is probably in the vicinity of 20c per year.

    If you stop these sorts of events from being held then our community will be much the poorer for this. 

    • Carol 3.1
      25 June 2012 at 9:14 am

      Indeed. Such provisions are part of the heart of a community and its social glue. They should be easily available to all.

      But I guess, NAct would rather have them taken over by private business so they can make money off them (more than 20c for all per year), thus exclude those that can’t afford them.

    • tc 3.2
      25 June 2012 at 9:16 am

      yes but communities can be pesky annoying bodies that try and hold elected individuals to account, another calculated measure to undermine and fracture them is classic NACT tactics.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.2.1
        25 June 2012 at 2:44 pm

        +1

        Strong communities are always a threat to dictatorships.

        • TheContrarian 3.2.1.1
          25 June 2012 at 2:46 pm

          Still on that “New Zealand is a dictatorship” line despite being unable to provide any evidence of it outside of “because I think so” are you Draco?

          • ad 3.2.1.1.1
            25 June 2012 at 4:07 pm

            It’s hard to gauge how weak or strong your democracy is until you try and stop something those in power have decided to do. Have you had any experience in that area?

            • TheContrarian 3.2.1.1.1.1
              25 June 2012 at 4:11 pm

              “It’s hard to gauge how weak or strong your democracy is until you try and stop something those in power have decided to do.”

              education reform back down
              The recent mining is schedule 4 lands back down

              2 recent examples. 

              • ad …
                25 June 2012 at 4:17 pm

                They are both spectacular recent wins for activism.

                I wonder if Draco is proposing not that there is a dictatorship operating in New Zealand, but rather that the local government reform proposed weakens the capacity to oppose the state?

                I guess my experience about local government is that on the ground it has immense power, but when it comes to opposing central government its powers have been awkward at best and are getting weaker.

              • Colonial Viper …
                25 June 2012 at 4:39 pm

                Lets make more examples out of this hard headed slow learning National Govt.

    • higherstandard 3.3
      25 June 2012 at 9:41 am

      “It attracts thousands and the cost per westie is probably in the vicinity of 20c per year.”

      Why don’t you make it pay for itself then in terms of donations from those who attend or the option of paying additional funds with rates ?

      I’m not saying such events are bad things but they are not core council responsibility much as the council owned recreation centres around town they should be self funding from entrance fees and memberships rather than a rates expense.

      • millsy 3.3.1
        25 June 2012 at 10:15 am

        what about parks and libraries?

        • higherstandard 3.3.1.1
          25 June 2012 at 11:01 am

          Publicly owned parks and libraries can be used on a continual basis by the community (within reason) so provide an excellent service. I do note however that soccer, rugby, league and cricket clubs who use public parks all pay not insignificant fees to council to do so.

      • Carol 3.3.2
        25 June 2012 at 10:34 am

        Because such things are a community good. i.e. they add to the sum value of the whole society for the benefit of all in that society, and is not just of benefit to those who directly access the event/service. That is partly due to the way such things operate to develop community spirit and social cohesion.

        User-pays/donates also invites exclusions, deserving/undeserving poor etc., and indicates a very narrow, short-term view of social/cultural provisions.

        • higherstandard 3.3.2.1
          25 June 2012 at 11:06 am

          Carol they are no different from the concerts in the park and the parades up and down Queen Street and fireworks at New Years if you want to use that kind of justification we’d be having community funded parades and get togethers every second day along with the attendant department full of bureaucrats at the council.

          • Kotahi Tane Huna 3.3.2.1.1
            25 June 2012 at 11:13 am

            No, we wouldn’t.

          • Carol 3.3.2.1.2
            25 June 2012 at 2:50 pm

            Parades etc are usually once a year. I also had in mind rec centres, libraries, parks etc….. all contribute to social cohesion. User-pays for such services is based on an inaccurate idea of the worth of such things.

            • higherstandard 3.3.2.1.2.1
              25 June 2012 at 3:31 pm

              I’ve got no issue with parks and libraries and recreation centres/rooms Carol these are core council services and responsibilities as I said above to some extent outside of libraries these are user pays with sports clubs and members paying fees.

              • ad …
                25 June 2012 at 4:19 pm

                Do you have a list of things that Local Government should do?

                • higherstandard …
                  25 June 2012 at 4:23 pm

                  No, do you ?

                  • ad …
                    25 June 2012 at 4:33 pm

                    I guess that’s the point I thought you’d get to, pretty quickly. Harder to move from the instinctive certainty to the more apparently marginal spends.

                    National also tried a couple of years ago to define the core public service, and failed. It also failed to define its core values, although it gave it a good go.

                    In Auckland’s Local Government reforms, they tried to define what Local Boards would do. They did a terrible job of it that it has generated a little industry of its own.

                    It’s always slippery on the margins to decide what to spend money on, which for all its faults is the democratic opportunity provided by the Long Term Plan and Regional Land Transport Plan. Council is required, unlike central Government, to make every single major spending line open to public submissions before the budget is struck.

                    Central government currently refuses to recognise that this small state and its entire social and capitalist order is utterly intertwined with the public sector, both central and local. Undo that, and undo the economy.

        • prism 3.3.2.2
          25 June 2012 at 5:16 pm

          It’s so dispiriting to see all the amenities that one expects in a vital, modern, educated open society being pared back. I thought growing up that these were public goods that would go on being provided because we had become an advanced, thinking, forward-thinking society.

          This talk of closing down libraries etc. is the sort of thing that money-mad and the wealthy do. They are too busy getting money, trying to both spend and keep it and making more on top to read except for ideas on how to make money and perhaps cook some new dish with exotic ingredients. That seems to be the thing now. But fiction bah and non-fiction – okay if you have time.

          No wonder that in Readers Digest poll the most trusted people are sportspeople rugby and netball I think. The most important thing in NZ – sport, it’s tops now and people racing round a track or court are cutting out the popularity of horse racing in NZ. Bring back the beautiful horses and train people to focus on how we can keep NZ a good place with lots of business, workable ideas, and jobs for the future not returning to the pre-industrial and industrial age and the mining, extractive types.

    • lostinsuburbia 3.4
      25 June 2012 at 12:43 pm

      The other reason that debt is going up so much is that conservative Councils, like those in Auckland, have been defering the replacement of expensive infrastructure. And now time is running out to do the replacements.

      Also, its rare for developers to pay the full cost of servicing their own developments (e.g. paying for new roads, pipes etc), leaving the rest of us to subsidise their profits. And woe any Council that tries to change that – the NACTS don’t want their buddies to be out of pocket.

      Also Council’s are given limited abilities to raise the funds to do their functions – and again the Government tries to stifle debate if any local authorities try and bring up other possible sources of revenue e.g. regional fuel taxes.

      • tc 3.4.1
        25 June 2012 at 1:37 pm

        Like all the infrastructure work going on around Ellerslie racecourse paid for by Ratepayers that’s of course in no way connected to the re-development for housing removing the steple chase track, lollipops/montesorri school etc and lining akl racing club’s pockets.

        Water/waste that can now have can alot of extra residences connected at no cost from the developer….funny that.

        • Herodotus 3.4.1.1
          25 June 2012 at 6:33 pm

          5 years ago a water connection cost $500 and the water supply contribution was a few $000 per hectare, now watercare charge $7k. So cost have increased 1000% I agree someone is not paying their way but be careful who you point the finger at.

      • prism 3.4.2
        25 June 2012 at 5:20 pm

        Also Council’s are given limited abilities to raise the funds to do their functions
        How come Dunedin managed to push though their expensive stadium against opposition that was reasonable not just the usual moans of people who don’t want any rate rise?

        • mike e 3.4.2.1
          25 June 2012 at 8:35 pm

          Prism Dunedin’s apathy less than 50% of voters turned out .
          the only mayoral candidate who was against the stadium was not very popular because he is a former ACT candidate.
          He made a lot of faux pas i.e. Dunedinites should vote national.

          • prism 3.4.2.1.1
            26 June 2012 at 8:38 pm

            mik e
            Politics is sure complicated? Once again I get that certainty that we need to learn problem solving, starting in primary.. Otherwise trying to get through all the conflicting hidden elements involved when trying for good political decisions as opposed to self-enrichment and power can never be understood much less overcome.

        • darkhorse 3.4.2.2
          26 June 2012 at 7:57 pm

          Because a whole lot of people lied about the costs and the funding sources including council staff, because Bill English (The Loser) topped it up by $15Million but couldn’t find a cent to help Hillside build our rail fleet and gave the work to China instead and because Audit NZ is a toothless tiger and won’t do anything about anyone in local government or elsewhere acting with blatant impunity for breaches of proper process.

      • Herodotus 3.4.3
        25 June 2012 at 6:27 pm

        Not sure were you are comming from as developers develop new roads waste water, pay for streetlighting parks and are now constructing and paying for motorway off ramps, new roads and development contributions So why does. Counc get from a developer brand spanking new infrastructure maintaince of this for a year and an increased rating base.

    • prism 3.5
      25 June 2012 at 5:37 pm

      ms
      the community will be much the poorer and sadder than it is now. We can’t all go to Hawaii or even the Cook Islands. Some people don’t have holidays as such, but if they can get to a concert for a reasonable price, that’s great. It allows them to feel part of society able to enjoy a few things that others have lots of. Don’t stop concerts, buskers, sports where people go to have fun (and don’t take to opposing team families leaving someone with a knife sticking in them as happened this weekend.)

      The one thing I think we should save money on is to stop having fireworks just because there is some ordinary happening like a date that we happen to think is propitious. Like, oh its the 1st January, the first day in the Year of the Weasel. If we want to celebrate with fireworks let some off when we have done some useful mind stuff and celebrate this new breakthrough or when we have hatched the ten thousandth kiwi or such.

  4. millsy 4
    25 June 2012 at 10:23 am

    This bill is nothing less than a transfer of wealth to wealthy home and business owners.

    Faced with pressure to keep rates down, councils will cut the parks, libaries and sportsgrounds (not the flash rugby stadiums, but the grounds used by the local soccer club), facilities that are incidentally used largely by those on low incomes.

  5. Bored 5
    25 June 2012 at 10:24 am

    Indonesia, Indonesia, Indonesia….wonderful place, woefully few public parks, libraries, public services etc, wonderful example of leaving it all to free enterprise and the market. And just so some sectors of our community can have an extra few percentage banked in their accounts we would be like that. And the scumbags already have money they cant spend. But hey, whats an extra few grand a rich man cant spend when it means the prols out there cant have it either?.

    • mike e 5.1
      25 June 2012 at 8:43 pm

      Economics 101
      nactionauf a complete failure’
      Clark and Cullen recognized that how to you grow your economy is to start at a local level.
      National are killing off local councils ability to invest at a local level.
      Dumb and Dumber
      conmankey and dipstick

  6. darkhorse 6
    26 June 2012 at 7:45 pm

    You will find the real issue with rates rises is that they reflect the real rate of inflation that is occurring within the NZ economy. Very little of the spending is in the truly gratuitous (stadiums and such like) category. Rate increases are driven by materials increases. Most councils spend much of their rate take on energy for running public buildings, building and maintaining roads and water and sewer. There is little frivolity in most councils budgets. Other things such as government driven increases in the standards for drinking water (which is based on a blatant falsehood regarding how allegedly unsafe our public water supplies are) Sewer system upgrades and a large backlog of maintenance on the networks also come into it.

    The real problem is not that your rates are going up but that this government is making you poorer.

    The Consumer Price Index is a fiction. You only need to go to the super market to see that for yourself.

    You local council is just a convenient bogeyman for this government to distract you with. Most councils do a better job of owning and maintaining assets on your behalf than this government could ever do.

    • prism 6.1
      26 June 2012 at 8:57 pm

      the CPI is a fiction. Is that because it doesn’t relate to house prices? And that it’s an average of the things tested so it may not be relevant to some sectors of society that aren’t involved in some trading?

      The unemployment figures are a fiction too as I understand them. They make a statement of percentages in work, which the average public expect would relate to reality, but they count everybody who works for one hour or more. Is that right?

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T07:18:35+00:00