Chilcot, Corbyn and the UK Labour Party caucus.

Written By: - Date published: 10:23 am, June 29th, 2016 - 62 comments
Categories: class war, Europe, International, iraq, Jeremy Corbyn, labour, Politics, uk politics - Tags: , , , , ,

The Chilcot report into the invasion of Iraq that could see charges laid against Tony Blair is out on the 6th of July.

Jeremy Corbyn has stated that if evidence in the report supports laying charges against Tony Blair, then Tony Blair should stand trial.

If he’s committed a war crime, yes. Everyone who’s committed a war crime should be. I think it was an illegal war, I’m confident about that, indeed [former UN secretary general] Kofi Annan confirmed it was an illegal war, and therefore he has to explain to that.

Many member of Labour’s caucus would probably rather not see their erstwhile glorious leader on trial.

Now, of course, all the resigning and the attempts to be rid of Corbyn (including being heckled by his own back benches in parliament) may well simply be down to the fact that he’s so rubbish that in three of the past four by-elections, the Labour vote went up – Oldham(+7.3%), Sheffield Brightside(+5.9%) and Tooting (+8.7%); that Labour Party membership has sky rocketed and that the apparent percentage of Labour voters voting to remain was merely on a par with the avowedly pro-EU and outward looking SNP.

Did I mention those illustrious stenographers for the establishment and its politics at The Guardian or their predictable hate/hate relationship with Corbyn? I’ve just noticed their headline of the no confidence vote in him. I’ll go read it now in the full expectation that the piece will be asking intelligent and pertinent questions about the motivations of those behind efforts to oust the party leader. I’m sure it’ll be informative.

Update It appears I’m not the only one thinking along ‘damage limitation’ lines. Here’s the take of former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan Rector of the University of Dundee, Craig Murray

62 comments on “Chilcot, Corbyn and the UK Labour Party caucus. ”

  1. RedLogix 1

    Well this makes a lot of PLP MP’s ‘accessories after the fact’ does it not?

    We already know the coup was plotted months ago and the Brexit result is nothing but a figleaf. A particularly withered one at that.

    Basically this is going to come down to the Party membership. One of Corbyn’s options is to stand aside, allow Eagles to take the Party leadership on the express condition that if she does not win the upcoming General Election then she and every MP who supports her will also resign from both the Party and Parliament. If they fail in this, he then simply triggers another leadership vote by calling out their inaction on the Chilcot Report.

    • Olwyn 1.1

      Another thing Corbyn could do is to hang on until a candidate emerges that meets his approval, and then step aside and campaign for that candidate among the members. In fact that is what I think he will do. But I do not think it will ease the tension. Establishment Labour has reached the point where it cannot countenance representing the working class any longer, but cannot openly admit that since it needs their votes, if only on a least-worst basis. But the tighter the noose gets, the less people are interested in the least-worst. It is probable that Blair’s potential situation plays a part, but I think the fear of offending “the market” by letting the working class off the leash plays a larger part.

    • Bill 1.2

      So, I’ve no real idea of who is who and which current Labour MPs could reasonably be said to have a degree of culpability in the Iraq fiasco. But I’m guessing there are a few. Certainly there are prominent ex MPs in the firing line.

      Can you imagine the parliamentary debate on Chilcot if Corbyn is leader of the opposition?

      Possibly, if Blair isn’t protected by the Labour Party poo-pooing any idea of him being held up for war crimes (assuming something’s in the report) and he does stand trial, then a fair few prominent Labour MPs are going to be shitting themselves. Blair won’t go down alone.

      In somewhat related news, Jack Straw is currently fighting off efforts to get him in court over renditions.

      • weka 1.2.1

        “Blair won’t go down alone.”

        Do you mean MPs will also be charged? Or that they will be examined in the media and public etc and brought down that way?

        • Bill 1.2.1.1

          If Blair goes down pointing fingers and laying blame, then who knows how it could play out. Would you want to be an MP or an ex MP sitting on damning knowledge that is (ostensibly)only known to you and Tony Blair if Tony Blair is in the dock?

    • Tony Blair post-Chilcot: the only time in history where Corbyn’s opponents *haven’t* been neck-breakingly eager to hand something important over to bureaucrats in Belgium.

  2. Anne 2

    On the basis of this gentleman, Craig Murray’s analysis, the “Labour Right” (more commonly known as the Blairites) would have moved against Corbyn at this time no matter if the vote had gone the other way? Given the relative closeness of the result it could easily have happened. The “damage limitation” theory comes across as totally plausible to me, but perhaps someone could enlighten me what ‘they’ would have done if the vote HAD gone the other way?

    Meanwhile, I suspect a significant number of ordinary MPs voted ‘no confidence’ out of fear of retribution if they had dared to do otherwise. Yes, it was a secret ballot but they would have been easy to identify by a process of elimination.

    • Bill 2.1

      If the vote had gone the other way, there would still have been talk of an early election anyway. And off the back of that talk, the same “We can’t win with Jeremy” brigade would have rolled out.

      Same shite either way.

      Think of how they rubbished the local election results although they were actually quite good. Or the anti-semitism nonsense that was used as a stick to beat up him and those who supported him. Throw in months and months of the press pumping out anti-Corbyn bullshit. Then there’s the whole thing of laying the blame for Scottish Labour’s demise at Corbyn’s door although it was the Blairites themselves who killed the Labour Party there.

      Remember how he was meant to increase the local election vote off a high? (ie – the vote was boosted last time around and was only ever going to drop) And how he was meant to resurrect the Scottish Labour Party with, I dunno, a wave of his hand?

      I’ll pick, that if he survives until after Chilcot and is still the active leader at the time of its release (one week away), then the rabid frenzies will abate – the ‘war’ will be considered lost.

  3. weka 3

    Anyone know what the mechanisms are for replacing a leader of the UKLP? A reference would be good too.

    • lprent 3.1

      Not sure exactly.

      However from some of the stuff I was reading this morning, I think that it simply requires 51 MPs to support a alternative candidate ton force a leadership election.

      Since there were 172 (?) who voted for no confidence, then I suspect that you should be able to find 51 who will support an alternative candidate.

      Ummm here we go – a BBC report.

      Anyone wishing to challenge Mr Corbyn needs the backing of 20% of Labour MPs and MEPs. Currently there are 229 Labour MPs and 20 Labour MEPs so any potential candidate needs the formal support of 50 of them.

      If a nominee secures this level of support they must then write to Labour’s general secretary Iain McNicol announcing their intention to run.

      No-one has come forward yet – although potential names said to be in the frame include former shadow business secretary Angela Eagle, former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper and backbencher Dan Jarvis.

      The wiki page on the 2015 election procedure says

      Following the Collins review, the electoral college was replaced by a pure “one member, one vote” (OMOV) system. Candidates will be elected by members and registered and affiliated supporters, who all receive a maximum of one vote and all votes will be weighted equally.[10] This meant that, for example, members of Labour-affiliated trade unions needed to register as Labour supporters to vote.

      To stand, candidates now needed to be nominated by at least 15% of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), i.e. 35 MPs, at that time. The vote, as in previous elections, was held under the alternative vote (instant-runoff) system. The deputy leadership election was held under the same rules.

      Since there were only 40 MPs opposing the no-confidence, I think that JC will be able to reach 35.

      The whole thing will be pretty messy because I suspect that the UK Labour party membership will hand out the same lesson to the MPs that the NZLP membership handed out to the our MPs. Whoever the right and careerist wings of of the party MPs puts up will get turfed out.

      The membership of the social democratic parties worldwide are not as interested in job prospects of legislators as the legislators themselves are. They’re working to elect them to do a task and whining about the task being set simply isn’t the way to do it. I don’t know the UKLP at all. But I suspect that there will be a short sharp and very painful lesson administered to the no-confidence MPs who haven’t done a lot of constituency work recently..

      • weka 3.1.1

        Ta. I found this too, from on of the MPs, which pretty much surmises that the past week was unnecessary. They could have just gone straight to an open leadership nomination and vote.

        Mr Allen said: “I will not be participating in today’s vote of no confidence. It has no standing in our party’s rules. I will not give it, or any faction, any legitimacy by voting today.

        “If MP’s wish to remove a leader there is clear provision in the party’s rules for 51 MPs to nominate a named alternative. If such a step is taken, you and I and every other party member will have the opportunity to assess the records of the candidates and make our decision.

        “It is important however that everyone should then accept the decision of our party and support the Leader whoever it is.

        “In the meantime we should follow due process and cease all the orchestrated activity which is destroying the possibility of our party coming to government in 2020.”

        https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/747718822547841025

        (original link was dropping me into spam, but it’s an easy enough find on google).

  4. dukeofurl 4

    The idea that charges could be laid on Blair is a fantasy. Yes it serves as a convenient whipping post but there is no UK law regarding war crimes ( other than the one for german soldiers only in WW2)
    The UN as well has no structure for those who gave a political direction to a war to be tried.

    • Bill 4.1

      Look up the International Criminal Court.

      Cases for war crimes can be referred there by individual states. That caveat, that a state must make the referral, is what was putting the brakes on the group of individual MPs having Blair tried for war crimes if the Chilcot report provides sufficient grounds for trial.

      Now think it all through in terms of Corbyn as leader of the Opposition as opposed to a lackey being leader of the Opposition.

      I’ll be back this evening. That should give even you enough time to grind those wee brain gears of yours.

  5. Tory 5

    “Dirty Politics”, Labour Party style

    • lprent 5.1

      You mean clear and in the open?

      As opposed to (say) the Shipley method. Wait until your leader is offshore and then organise a coup.

      Or the Slater method. Make shit up about MPs and party officials you and your financial sponsors don’t like, and astroturf it across blogs to try to frame it onto the media.

      That upright behaviour that we expect of the right – how to be unprincipled arseholes.

  6. James 6

    As someone who is not a fan of labour in the UK (Having lived there many years under the labour government of the time), I find this very amusing.

    Corbyn I believe is unelectable – and have said so when he was standing originally.

    He believes he has the mandate of the members – which he does. So I agree he shouldn’t stand down. He is the leader that labour members want, voted for and deserve.

    The fact that I think he will be the death of the labour party as we know it in the UK is just a side benefit.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1

      Corbyn I believe is unelectable – and have said so when he was standing originally.

      Labour’s by-election performance under Corbyn’s leadership has been outstanding.

      • James 6.1.1

        Quite different to a general election.

        Hey – Im happy if he goes thru to the next general election. And Ill admit that I was wrong (so very very wrong) if he won.

        But Im pretty comfortable that he wont.

  7. Kevin 7

    “The problem is not his unelectability, the problem is we might elect him – and centrists from both parties will do anything to avoid a socialist PM.”

    Comment from The Guardian this morning.

    • Olwyn 7.1

      Bang on! Yesterday I made a comment on another thread about Obama lacking hunger or urgency, which can be generalised to include much of the current parliamentary left in the English-speaking countries. But that lack of urgency only applies to the plight of their constituents – if anyone breaks ranks and starts taking the constituents seriously watch them run.

    • AB 7.2

      Yes. Corbyn’s problem has never been unelectability. It’s his electability. His rather moderate ideas on the role of the social democratic state are shared by a fair chunk of the general population. But he will not be tolerated by the business, financial, media and political elites- not to mention the deep state and the military. Interesting times. Most likely he will be removed one way or another.

  8. fisiani 8

    Corbyn is a dyed in the wool Socialist. Some might say Marxist. This is a discredited 20th century political movement which briefly showed some promise but has universally been discredited given that it has never worked anywhere it has been tried. Corbyn has the cheek to turn up to work knowing that he is reviled by his colleagues and not wanted. An honourable person would have walked the plank. I predict he will remain the leader of what remains of the unelectable Labour Party.

    • adam 8.1

      Again woolly think from you fisiani. Do you understand the difference between socialism and Marxism? Or indeed the similarities?

      Because fisiani, socialism worked in NZ for a very long time. A Socialised medical model is the only model that works – with the added bonus that it expands the knowledge base. Socialised housing means that people can reach their potential. And socialised work force means that people can concentrate on what is important to them. This lays a half decent platform so a meritocracy can operate.

      Instead we get your approach to politics which means ever man is for himself. The medical system slowly falls over, and no new research is done for researches sake. Only what is assumed will make money (never a good approach, because addictive drugs become the obvious choice at this point) . Speculative housing means we have empty houses whilst people sleep in cars and under bridges. And shall we talk about waste, and the narrowness of thinking. Actually here you are a shining star of that lack of intellectual growth under a free market.

      This is system is so far removed from a meritocracy that I hear so many right wingers say you are in favour of – it’s a sick joke. You’re approach to politics produces nepotism, woolly thinking, corruption and a decline of democracy. But sure have a go socialism or Marxism or what ever it is you are having a go at because again – you seem a product of this system of Lich.

    • crashcart 8.2

      Going straight to Fox news lines now Fisi “Some might say” with no links to anyone other than your self saying.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 8.3

      I suppose to you Fisi, “dyed in the wool Socialist” has negative connotations. Not to me. Where’s the evidence that socialism doesn’t work? We need a lot more of it, in my opinion. Communism as per Soviet Russia etc is a completely other story, but not many are advocating that.

      I haven’t noticed neoliberalism working that super-well lately (or ever).

    • tiger mountain 8.4

      fizzy anus doing what he does best…

      it might be news to millions in Scandinavia and the post WWII West that democratic socialism did not work, it is in fact monetarism–Thatcherism–Reaganism–Rogernomics and World Bank/IMF*/EU neo liberal austerity, that has blighted much of the world for the last 35 years
      * the WB and IMF have admitted latterly that meaningful “trickledown” failed to eventuate

    • ropata 8.5

      Key is a dyed in the silk Capitalist. Some might say Fascist. This is a discredited 20th century political movement which briefly showed some promise but has universally been discredited given that it has never worked anywhere it has been tried, and leads to financial crises and economic disaster. Key has the cheek to turn up to work knowing that he is reviled by his colleagues and completely untrustworthy. An honourable person would have walked the plank. I predict his hubris and reliance on spin will continue to work on fools like Fisiani but his policies have failed NZ and his party’s incompetence and greed will end in nationwide revulsion and eventual oblivion.

      Gee this is fun, give me another one 😛

  9. Siobhan 9

    Why should a Party, and its Leader only exist if they are electable? Surely a Party and it’s Leader need to have beliefs and a clear policy vision, and (hell, why not) a moral position.
    If that is not what the electorate wants, well so be it.
    The Left and Labour, UK and NZ, have been chasing votes for a long time now and have transformed themselves into nothing more than a very slightly nicer’ version of National and the Tories.
    Time for a break up, Corbyn and his supporters as Labour, the others can form a new Party, maybe called ‘The Third Way’.

  10. The lost sheep 10

    Some couples grow together, some grow apart.
    It’s blinding clear isn’t it?
    The Center Left and Left Left can barely stand being in the same room any longer, let alone lie happily in bed.
    The marriage is over in all but deed, and divorce is the only option.

    The breakdown may be more advanced in some places than others, but this is generally true of the Left throughout the Western world, incl. Aotearoa.
    But as often happens in a dysfunctional relationship, the only people who can’t see the writing on the wall are the unhappy couple themselves.
    And as is also common, the denial is often connected with an awareness of the immediate trauma and high cost of divorce, and the long period of recovery that is often involved in getting back to a healthy situation.

    But if the love is gone, staying together will always produce the worst outcomes for everyone.
    So please – just get on with it.

  11. fisiani 11

    Grant Robertson entered Parliament in 2008 and has warmed the Opposition bench for the last 8 years of his life. He has never spent a day in Government and knows that he never will. Labour has lost its modus vivendi. Children no longer go up chimneys and we have a 40 hour week. Unemployment at 5.2% is the lowest since 2009 and more people are employed than ever before. This capitalist economy is going gangbusters growing about 3% a year, higher than forecast by Treasury. Socialism was a failed experiment of the 20th century. It’s a historical relic. Our growing economy enables us to provide free health care to kids and give a massive rise in benefits for those unable to find employment. Take off your cloth cap and join the 21st century.

    • adam 11.1

      Unemployment through the late half or socialist part of the 20th century was lower than your figure. The child labour laws were introduced in the 19th century. Socialism is only a failure in your head, because you are a woolly thinker, and can’t accept facts.

      Free heath care to kids is socialism. What massive rise? The 25 dollars – which most landlords gobbled. Oh you compassionate conservative slum lord lover. And BFW because it was your lot that put the disabled, and the out of work in the finical gutter in the first place. You don’t get to crow, when you offer them crumbs after taking away the loaf.

    • mac1 11.2

      “modus vivendi”, fisiani?

      Don’t you mean “raison d’être”? Or, “ratio vivendi” if my rusty Latin still works.

      Get better script writers. Misuse of terms which you should know the meaning of rather destroys your credibility, such as still remains here.

      • In Vino 11.2.1

        Quite right mac1. Fisiani has a faulty modus cogitandi… I recommend urgent surgery.

        • mac1 11.2.1.1

          Surgery for me, or him? I’d recommend radiation- 12 million volts of photons sheds a lot of light on a problem. 🙂

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 11.3

      Where is this utopia you speak of?! Sounds like a Brighter Future, no less!

      Well DONE JK and his rich mates, they did it all for the rest of us!! The people sleeping in their cars, with only 10 hours work/week for minimum wage, killed at Talley’s, under a mountain of student debt, in a cold and mouldy home, starving hungry at primary school….etc…must be absolutely thrilled!!!

      (barf)

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 11.4

      Fisi’s nonsense contrasts with some of George Monbiot’s words on the Grauniad today:

      “So here is where we find ourselves. The economic system is not working, except for the likes of Philip Green. Neoliberalism has not delivered the meritocratic nirvana its theorists promised, but a rentiers’ paradise, offering staggering returns to whoever grabs the castle first while leaving productive workers on the wrong side of the moat.

      The age of enterprise has become the age of unearned income, the age of the market the age of market failure, the age of opportunity a steel cage of zero-hours contracts, precarity and surveillance.”

      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/28/brexit-disaster-crisis-changes-left

    • mikes 11.5

      Fisiani, we live in a social democracy….(notice the word ‘social’)

      Just as a point of interest for you, the person named New Zealander of the 20th century was a social democrat.

      “provide free health care to kids and give a massive rise in benefits for those unable to find employment. …” – Yep, that’s socialism for ya.

  12. Adrian 12

    Good to finally see the battle lines drawn, about time for the neo liberal left to go and form their own party, hopefully the remains of that same disastrous crew will leave our Labour party some time soon as well.

  13. Puckish Rogue 13

    Jeffery Archer is probably going to sell another best seller or two out of this

  14. Mrs Brillo 14

    I’d like to draw some attention to a very thoughtful piece by LitLov (a Cambridge academic) in her blog Tales from the Reading Room, which addresses Brexit and Corbyn and unwelcome changes to British character, policies and priorities.

    Excerpt:
    “What makes me despair is this: the years since the Second World War have been some of the most peaceful and prosperous in UK history. And what have we done with them? We have worsened climate change and destroyed the environment, we have put house buying out of reach of our children, who are now leaving university with massive debts (when we had our education for free!), and we have voted to shut them out of Europe, out of 27 countries where they could have lived and worked. And we have just voted to set back scientific research for the foreseeable future – there’s a reason why 105 university Vice-Chancellors wrote jointly in favour of Remain, pointing out how dependent their research was on European collaboration and funding. We have not made a better world for our children. We haven’t even preserved the one we had. And now we’re reducing their opportunities to find solutions and improvements. We are what we do (being complicit is an act) and we have been selfish, profligate and greedy.”

    It has a lot of light to shed on similar changes in this country:
    https://litlove.wordpress.com/

    • RedLogix 14.1

      It breaks my heart that Jeremy Corbyn, who appears to be a genuinely principled and decent man, is unreadable in our current culture.

      This.

      • Colonial Viper 14.1.1

        No one who is “genuinely principled and decent” has a chance against these people.

    • ropata 14.2

      +1 well said, thanks for the link & quote

  15. Richardrawshark 15

    No WMD’s found. But holy cow, the fallout’s horrendous isn’t it /sarc

  16. Sanctuary 16

    Let’s join some more dots!

    http://www.thecanary.co/2016/06/28/truth-behind-labour-coup-really-began-manufactured-exclusive/

    The PR firm orchestrating the anti-Corbyn coup is full of Blairites. This battle is really all about a fight for the soul of UK Labour.

    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      Firms like this do not do this kind of work without serious $$$ in fees. Who is bankrolling this campaign is the next question. Blair himself? Blair through intermediaries?

  17. stunned mullet 17

    What crime do you have to commit to be appointed the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan.

  18. the pigman 18

    Essential reading on the PR machine active against Corbyn within Labour: https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/

    • Adrian Thornton 18.1

      Thanks pigman, good link there, typical amoral PR to be expected from a political ideology that has run out of ideas as of to how to legitimize their actual existence in any half decent society.

  19. Gosman 19

    Do you realise that by casting the vast majority of the Labour MP’s as being in thrall to Blair and trying to stop him being sent to trial as a War criminal you cast aspersions on the democratic process that the Labour party undertakes to select their candidates in elections. Despite you disagreeing with them these people still came through a democratic selection process AND then won their seats in Parliament. You can’t simply get rid of them because you think they are part of some sort of conspiracy to protect a former PM.

  20. Gosman 20

    Do you realise that by casting the vast majority of the Labour MP’s as being in thrall to Blair and trying to stop him being sent to trial as a War criminal you cast aspersions on the democratic process that the Labour party undertakes to select their candidates in elections? Despite you disagreeing with them these people still came through a democratic selection process AND then won their seats in Parliament. You can’t simply get rid of them because you think they are part of some sort of conspiracy to protect a former PM.

  21. save nz 21

    Great post. The Uk public were led astray by fake allegations of WMD to justify the war in Iraq. Apparently it was decided a year earlier with Bush on a handshake and Blair just made the case for war on that, not for Britain.

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    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
    3 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 KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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 ...
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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 KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    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
  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    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 KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    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. ...
    6 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 ...
    6 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 KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 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
    6 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
    6 days 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
    6 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    7 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week 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
    12 hours 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
    19 hours 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 ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū 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
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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