Cheap and nasty

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, August 17th, 2013 - 36 comments
Categories: economy, housing, national, schools - Tags: , , ,

So, the Nats finally work out what every project manager, and indeed most householders, already know. The “cheapest” tender is not necessarily the best tender (or the cheapest, in the long run). It is to weep:

Huge cost of rotten school alters Govt views on tenders

The horrendous cost of repairing a leaky Auckland school is changing the traditional Government view that the cheapest tender is the best tender.

The Ministry of Education has paid $19.5 million to repair Macleans College, which has had to remove 23 rotten buildings from its Bucklands Beach site. … More than 300 schools and 800 buildings nationwide have been affected at a total cost of at least $1.5 billion. …

The known cost of the entire leaky building saga is $11.2 billion, but the true cost is believed to be at least twice that figure

Lessons?

These costs had prompted the Government to review how it chooses tenders for taxpayer projects. “(Macleans) was the worst contract we’ve ever done and yet we got it for the cheapest price. ‘Cheapest price wins’ is a mentality that we’re changing,” he said.

Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce proposed new rules for Government procurement in April. He said the emphasis would shift from who can deliver the lowest costs to who can deliver the best value for money and other direct financial benefits over the life of a contract.

Imagine – just imagine – if the Nats had managed to work this out before trashing over 100 jobs at the Hillside Workshop when they went with a slightly cheaper Chinese rail tender.

Imagine – just imagine – if the Nats could consider the long terms cost and benefits over the whole range of policy portfolios. Most crucially the environment. Climate change is the leaky building fiasco on a global scale, and the Nats are still stuck with the cheapest tender.

36 comments on “Cheap and nasty ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. wyndham 1
    17 August 2013 at 9:14 am

    Do these structural failures not go back to the disastrous National govt. policy of removing ‘controls’ on the type of timber used? Which allowed the use of untreated pine in so many buildings and that has ended up costing taxpayers billions of dollars?
    It is amazing to me that when a massive (yes,massive) govt. cock-up on this scale occurs, there is just a shrug or two, nobody accepts blame, the minister of housing apportions cost of repairs to both individuals and taxpayers – – – and it’s all over. No responsibility. No sackings. It’s a strange system!

    • BM 1.1
      17 August 2013 at 9:34 am

      Pine in buildings has never really been treated

      It wasn’t the timber that was the issue it was the building designs and systems that failed.

      The only timber that wouldn’t have rotted would have been stuff H3 rated and upwards and that level of timber preserving has never been used in housing construction.

      If I remember correctly timber in houses was done to a H1 standard, which was mainly to stop borer not repel moisture and water.
      Kiln dried timber was supposed to achieve this level of protection without the need of applying treatment.
      By kiln drying the timber the ligin in the wood sets hard which makes the wood tough to eat for the borer.

      Timber used in the construction of houses was never ever designed to get wet.

      • wyndham 1.1.1
        17 August 2013 at 9:43 am

        Then why did the problem not arise prior to the removal of controls ?

        • BM 1.1.1.1
          17 August 2013 at 10:03 am

          Systems changed, new products were tried.

          Pretty much all houses that failed were of that monolithic look and had the exterior cladding directly attached to the timber framing.
          Unfortunately that was a popular architectural style which was the reason we had so many leaky buildings.

          There has been cases of houses with rot prior to the removal of controls, like those Tudor styled houses you used to see.
          I’ve heard of quite of few cases of people pulling off the cement board and finding rotten framing underneath or there was a style of cheap house back in the 80’s where the flooring panels failed because they got wet and turned to mush.

          • RedLogix 1.1.1.1.1
            17 August 2013 at 10:09 am

            But the point being that prior to the 1992 Reforms (based on the ideological idea that the industry and market would know how to deliver the best result) the kind of construction you describe was simply not permitted.

            While I agree that there was scope back in the day to carefully expand the range of prescribed methods, what they did instead was more or less throw out the old book and open the door to a flood of wild-west experimentation.

            Result = $30b fuck-up.

            The known cost of the entire leaky building saga is $11.2 billion, but the true cost is believed to be at least twice that figure

            That was just the figure in the private and commercial sector, thought to be actually closer to $22b It was estimated that there was at least another $8-11b of risk in the public sector as well. Hence my very rough $30b)

            • BM 1.1.1.1.1.1
              17 August 2013 at 10:18 am

              Thought this was quite interesting. good brief summary for people who may be interested in the leaky homes disaster

              http://www.consumerbuild.org.nz/publish/leaky/leaky-background.php

              Thought it was quite interesting that it was 1998 when kiln dried untreated timber was first used always thought it was a lot earlier.

              • ghostwhowalksnz …
                17 August 2013 at 2:44 pm

                The stucco look came in earlier than that, along with parapets, removal of overhang and balcony’s clad with monolithic.
                Another factor was the introduction of ‘competition’ in the issuing of building consents, all of which dissapeared once the chickens cam home to roost leaving councils ( and ratepayers) as the only ones who couldnt run away

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1.1.2
              17 August 2013 at 10:20 am

              But the point being that prior to the 1992 Reforms (based on the ideological idea that the industry and market would know how to deliver the best result) the kind of construction you describe was simply not permitted.

              The fact is that markets are useless for governing indirect relationships between multiple parties, particularly in the instance where counter-party risk is essentially hidden for a time or effectively traded on to an indirect party. The typical result: the private sector profits then walks away, the consumer loses, and the public sector has to pick up the pieces.

          • One Anonymous Knucklehead 1.1.1.1.2
            17 August 2013 at 10:18 am

            “Systems changed…”

            Or, as Wikipedia puts it “The Building Act 1991, which came into effect about 1994, changed buildings controls from a prescriptive system to a more self-regulated regime. In addition, the Government dropped the apprentice training system for builders and the related building trades.”

            So, they deregulated, with the inevitable consequences that opponents of the bill predicted, and its supporters are still in complete denial about, and still determined to infect everything and everybody with this delusional brain disease called the “high trust” regulatory model.

            • BM 1.1.1.1.2.1
              17 August 2013 at 10:22 am

              Did a lot of damage the fourth Labour government, shame Lange was such a hopeless PM and let Douglas and the rest of the Act members do whatever they wanted.

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                17 August 2013 at 10:26 am

                Shame the incoming National government went even further than them too.

                And shame on you for supporting them.

                • BM …
                  17 August 2013 at 10:32 am

                  Did lead to MMP though, you’ve got to be happy about that .
                  Without National running rough shod over the peoples wishes, MMP would have never happened.

                  • Colonial Viper …
                    17 August 2013 at 10:40 am

                    yeah this nation is damn lucky with the MMP thing. Its going to prevent a lot of the very bad problems we see with UK and US politics, although its hardly a bed of roses itself.

                    I think the party vote threshold needs to be dropped to 3.5% however. But usual story, I do not expect either of the major parties – or even the Greens – to support such a move nowadays.

                    • BM …
                      17 August 2013 at 10:47 am

                      Yeah I voted MMP at the time because I was pissed at the arrogance shown by National and Labour.
                      The big “Fuck you plebs” mentality shown by the major parties of the time had to change.

                      My only complaint is having wankers like Dunne and Peters holding the balance of power and the major parties having to bow and scrape to these insignificant little turds.

              • ghostwhowalksnz …
                17 August 2013 at 4:31 pm

                What part of who was in government in 1991 dont you understand

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2
          17 August 2013 at 11:10 am

          Six months in a leaky house

          That addresses the history of treated timber in houses in NZ.

  2. RedLogix 2
    17 August 2013 at 9:59 am

    Contracting in this country is a dog-eat-dog, shit-fight. For the most part.

    Before the contract is signed the client looks to screw the most out of the contractor for the lowest price. After the contract is signed the contractor looks to screw as much as possible out of the client. If it all turns to custard they both look to dump as much risk as possible on the subbies.

    All founded in some idiotic belief that the invisible hand of the free-market magically delivers the best engineering. In fact in my experience the lowest price invariably delivers the lowest value, highest risk outcome.

    In the UK over the last decade a number of alternative and more intelligent contract forms have become more popular, eg http://www.ice.org.uk/ICE_Web_Portal/media/northeast/NEC_13-03-12.pdf or http://www.neccontract.com/about/index.asp

    The NEC system is based on the idea that sound Project Management principles have to be the core of the contract, not legal or commercial ones. If the project is conceived and managed correctly …then the execution, delivery and commercial outcome will be correct.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      17 August 2013 at 10:22 am

      Oh wow, project and operations management is actually important for real delivery of real value, who would have thought.

  3. pollywog 3
    17 August 2013 at 10:23 am

    And now central govt is looking to play fast and loose with cutting local body development levies.

    Councils will have no choice but raise rates or sell more assets. It’s a lose lose all round for the citizenry and win win for developers and govt looking to prop them up while hoping to fix their hands tighter on council levers.

    • Greywarbler 3.1
      17 August 2013 at 11:48 am

      Interesting that ACT was behind the local government reorganisation. This outfit is a subversive entity being enabled to undermine our whole system of public control of government and maintaining reliable and fair procedures and standards. They have found an entry point to capture and control our democracy and our commons. Douglas started in Labour, was part of a subversion gang, started ACT and continued under the system of elected people’s choice political parties. Suckers you can always find when you’ve got money and speak confidently.

      Actually ACT is a terrorist group working under the umbrella of a democratic system but they are like borer beetles, a hole here and there eating away behind the walls and carpets till the place sags and falls when given a good kick. That’s their intention, they just assume a mask of concern like the French secret service operatives.

  4. BrucetheMoose 4
    17 August 2013 at 10:33 am

    When the National led government started on to downwards path of a deregulated building industry in the early 1990’s, they were clearly warned by certain industry experts and advisors, that there would be eminent risk to building standards , not only in relation to buildings, but across the construction industry as a whole. They completely ignored this advice. I personally remember one expert predicting major problems arising in ten years time. That was in 1991. Fast forward to 2001 -the Leaky Buildings disaster finally comes to the forefront of public attention.
    The Labour government spent most of it’s term trying to remedy the situation. Starting with major review of the entire building industry to determine what the fundamental problems effecting the industry were. The Building Industry Authority, the supposed regulator of the industry, was found to be inefficient and under resourced. This was disbanded and the governance brought under the new Dept. Building and Housing. The NZ Building Act and Building Code were deemed out of date and were strengthened. Under these Acts, Local Building Consent Authorities were brought into line, requiring them to be more rigorous in the quality of auditing applications for building works and in the subsequent inspection process.
    The Labour government introduced the Modern Apprenticeships Programme, an attempt to raise skills and overall attitudes, but with nearly a decade of neglect to training levels behind the industry and training institutions, this was never going to be a quick fix.
    There were many other aspects effecting the building industry that were, or needed to be addressed, the whole tendering process being one of them. This has been one of hardest to deal with, as the lowest sum generally rules. However, this was one of the key issues identified in the early stages when analysing the underlying problems effecting the building industry. More than twenty years later the government finally starts to get it – maybe.

  5. cricklewood 5
    17 August 2013 at 11:26 am

    It all comes back to that old adage that you get what you pay for. If you get a collection of quotes and ones is cheaper by a big margin they either made an error or they Will plan to come back for more. Its hard to have sympathy for people who work on lowest price.

    • RedLogix 5.1
      17 August 2013 at 11:41 am

      I could produce a book full of examples cricklewood.

      I can produce a two real examples that killed people. Despite explicit written warnings.

      In both cases dumrse management destroyed their own businesses. But as usual, white collars fuckup, blue collars get fucked. (Yes that is meant to be as bitter as it sounds.)

  6. jaymam 6
    17 August 2013 at 11:37 am

    Macleans College was opened about 1980, so would have had borer-resistant framing timber. Obviously there was something wrong with the cladding or flashings for the timber to rot.
    Remuera Intermediate School was built around 1953 and much of the untreated framing was riddled with borer, but not rot that I could see.
    Around 1992 my architect was scathing about the new cladding designs that other architects were starting to use.
    Of course it is not necessary to have rot-proof timber in the framing. If the framing gets wet there are other major problems.

    • BM 6.1
      17 August 2013 at 11:45 am

      This, if the timber has got wet obviously something has gone drastically wrong.

      • joe90 6.1.1
        17 August 2013 at 12:25 pm

        This, if the timber has got wet obviously something has gone drastically wrong.

        Timbers have always been getting wet, remove any window from an old weatherboard bungalow and you’ll find sound but water damaged jack-studs, lintels and bottom trimmers, but the building methods and exterior cladding of the day allowed enough ventilation to dry the framing.

        Modern design and methods – monolithic with little or no eaves, poorly thought out balustrade solutions, a reliance on compound seals rather than physical barriers and plain old piss poor skills all allowed excess moisture ingress.

        Once things got wet modern materials and their hermetically sealed finishings ensured that the moisture would never escape which in turn allowed the likes of non-traditional enemies like stachybotrys to thrive on kiln dried timbers which were never treated for infestation.

        (the reason for not treating was that kiln drying made timbers too hard for the traditional enemies to sink a tooth)

        And again, because of the well sealed systems used, moisture was able to sit for long enough to actually rot timbers which were never supposed to stay wet.

        (kiln dried timbers were always expected to be able to withstand reasonable cycles of wetting and drying)

    • ropata 6.2
      17 August 2013 at 12:18 pm

      An old tradesman will tell you that all houses leak, moisture always finds a way to creep in. It’s a matter of how much, and the crucial part is allowing the moisture to exit. As he put it, allowing houses to “breathe”. Sealing every corner with silicone is not a substitute for proper joinery.

    • alwyn 6.3
      17 August 2013 at 1:53 pm

      The original college did open about 1980, as you say.
      However there were new houses, or whanau opened in 1997, 2001 and 2003.
      Does anyone happen to know which of the Whanau at the school are affected?
      If it was the most recent two it would have been under a non-National Government of course.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.4
      17 August 2013 at 4:03 pm

      There’s a difference between borer an rot. Rot is caused by fungus which H1 standard is not proof against although it does help somewhat.

  7. Ed 7
    17 August 2013 at 11:51 am

    “He said the emphasis would shift from who can deliver the lowest costs to who can deliver the best value for money and other direct financial benefits over the life of a contract.”

    Of course one way to be able to assess costs over the life of a building, is to make sure the contract covers that period, by for example making the contract into something like a PPP, so that the builder is responsible for fixing mistakes. That works well for ensuring an ongoing income to the preferred winner of a tender, who can of course always fold and start again under a new name if the maintenance costs get out of hand – it seems every statement of National has to be read from a perspective of seeing how private companies can be gifted money from public funds . . .

  8. Greywarbler 8
    17 August 2013 at 11:58 am

    Nick Smith took on this untreated framing problem. Can it be that he has some creds from this?

  9. Molly 9
    18 August 2013 at 9:57 am

    I understood that Carter Holt Harvey made a concerted ( and successful) lobby to get the standards changed. Even remember a conversation at the time with a builder predicting dire outcomes from the change.

    Link to documentary article: http://www.theaucklander.co.nz/news/blasted-rotters/1060709/

  10. srylands 10
    18 August 2013 at 10:27 am

    “Imagine – just imagine – if the Nats had managed to work this out before trashing over 100 jobs at the Hillside Workshop when they went with a slightly cheaper Chinese rail tender.”

    It wasn’t a “bit cheaper”. On the locomotive tender Hillside came 6th. Across all the products with hillside there were problems with the necessary confidence in quality and delivery times.

    The only way Hillside would have worked would have been via subsidies – i.e the “corporate welfare” that is decried here.

    The idea that New Zealand can produce trains competitively is even more ridiculous than the idea that we can produce motor vehicles.

    Back to the main post – government agencies do not (and never have) simply chosen the cheapest tender. Sometimes the most expensive bid is chosen because it wins on the other metrics (quality/timeliness).

    The leaky buildings fiasco was a regulatory failure around building standards. It was not a problem with tendering processes.

  11. tracey 11
    18 August 2013 at 3:10 pm

    Mcleans college had advice that the problem coukd be dealt with for much lesz but the property manager was told by higher up to notvtalk about it cos this way they could get new buildings.

    bm

    given all buildings leak having closed systems with utkd made no sense and wouldnt have got past an apprentice raised eyebrow in 1998.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-30T18:51:13+00:00