Child Support (Almost) Amendment Bill: Cunliffe speech

Written By: - Date published: 7:51 am, February 28th, 2013 - 34 comments
Categories: child welfare, class, david cunliffe, families, greens, labour, same old national - Tags:

I caught the end of another excellent Cunlife speech last night on my TV.  He was speaking to the Child Support Amendment Bill (Committee Stage Schedule 2). Cunliffe was on fire, with some very pertinent points, highlighting the government’s callous disregard of child poverty and single/separated (usually women) parents.

Cunliffe’s theme was that it was an “almost” Bill; a shambles that had taken 4 years for the government to develop.  The Bill will impact on 133,000 children dependent on child support following family break-ups.  These are “faultless,  vulnerable kids.”  Cunliffe pointed out that this situation especially impacts on women who usually have primary responsibility of child care.  Many will be less well off as a result of this Amendment Bill.

Cunliffe said:

We have worked hard in the select committee to bring the government to the point where it would include a legislative priority for their interests.

But National MPs voted against opposition party amendments.

Cunliffe encouraged people to look at the minority reports by Labour and Greens, in which they have set out their views on the Bill.

It is about poverty, but National MPs deny that. The payments will not be adequate for a large number of children.

The video of the speech is here.  For some reason, when I have the Cunliffe video showing on my computer, the link I add to the post brings up Moroney’s speech. Like this:

[would be grateful if an admin person can fix it – thanks: fixed it, h/t CV & ropata]

Along the way, Cunliffe makes some telling comments about Paula Bennett, Judith Collins and one or two other Nats.

34 comments on “Child Support (Almost) Amendment Bill: Cunliffe speech ”

  1. Craig Glen viper 1

    Another good speech and piece of work by Cunliffe. The thing about this guy is he is not just good sometimes he is consistently good. National hate him and if you listen to Mallard and Hipkins so do Labour, go figure. One person is doing his job holding National to account while the others are doing a shit job leaking to the media defaming Cunliffe and have the blood of a poorly run election campaign all over them. Having Mallard in the party is so destructive, Charles is right its time for many like Phil, Annette and Trevor to go.

  2. I also watched the speech by Cunliffe in Parliament, once again he was so impressive,that impressive that one national member yelled out ‘What a waste’, they can also see an
    outstanding member of the labour party who is denied being the leader by sharks inside
    caucus who feel they have total rights to the labour party and rule over it.
    For those who haven’t watched the video or seen Cunliffe in Parliament,watch it
    and weep, for what could have been,for what can be,for what was a winner so
    many months ago in a 9 out of 10 member meetings only to be struck out by a few
    self obsessed,self important caucus idiots,followed by a conference setup to discredit
    Cunliffe, any way they could.
    Members and those who feel that Cunliffe should be leader need to lobby Moria Coatsworth
    and express their concerns and worries that the Labour Party Caucus hasn’t acted in a
    democratic way after the Leadership meetings and their rights were stripped.
    I will NOT vote for Labour whilst Shearer is the leader.

    • AmaKiwi 2.1

      “I will NOT vote for Labour whilst Shearer is the leader.”

      or Grant Robertson.

    • Colonial Viper 2.2

      once again he was so impressive,that impressive that one national member yelled out ‘What a waste’,

      Yeah I know card carrying National party members who see in Cunliffe a very capable challenge which would finally force Key and English out of their cruise-mode control of the country.

      Ironic that even Nat supporters hate to see Labour struggling around in circles.

      • Saccharomyces 2.2.1

        Competition improves the breed, I don’t think anyone is enjoying seeing Labour in the state it’s in at the moment, except perhaps the Greens…

        • Colonial Viper 2.2.1.1

          Yes I agree with your analysis.

          • George D 2.2.1.1.1

            If Labour is hopeless and led by incompetent hacks rather than wise people of principle, the Greens will find government uncomfortable and difficult. It’s not what any of us hope for.

      • McFlock 2.2.2

        maybe.
        the nat mp could have just been stirring shit, of course. Help keep the fight alive, sort of thing.

    • halfcrown 2.3

      Now you know why the likes of Hoonton are so supportive of Shearer and will do his utmost to denigrate Cunliffe. He knows (Hoonton) along with other prats from the right that Cunliffe will take it to them in any debate and will chew them up in little pieces and spit them out. I will always remember the debate on Q&A between Cunliffe and that other right wing fuckwit Brash, where Cunliffe blasted Brash out of the water. After Brash regurgitated (AGAIN) some right wing crap theorem that has not worked Cunliffe departing shot was, that he would be happy to debate economics with him at any place at any time. The right cannot handle that type of in your face factual discussions, they sooner feed us bullshit and keep us in the dark.

  3. I caught Moroney’s speech and have to say she was found off chasing a wrong ‘un.

    From what I could tell, she was venting at dads who were lucky (unfortunate) to have two nights shared care, and would benefit by reduced child support payments.
    Her argument is this takes funds from the mother (she willfuly changes carer to mother). She claims these dads who would make less payments, and therefore their genuine claims of guardianship and fatherhood must be financially motivated.
    Seriously Sue, that’s a twat attitude if ever I heard one.
    Talk about tarring all with the same broad brush stroke.

    No thought is given to men in low paid employ who actually do take to their responsibilities.
    Over three nights a week dads can rightly claim a proportional cut of WFF tax credits, under three and you’re boned by the state, yet they still pay child support at full rate, they still feed, clothe and entertain their kids. Sue needs to explain why she has not only smear their good name in parliament, but also why she and Labour seek to penalise these fathers.

    Oh, and it’s all about the kids.

  4. just saying 4

    I watched the speech. Just procrastinating really. And the more I listened the sadder I became.

    This is a Labour speech – you forget what they sound like.

    This is not a Crosby-Textor wanna-be speech in which the style dictates the substance and the form, (and it seems that over time, Crosby-Textor takes over the minds of its speakers until they are no longer able to remember anything of the point at all).

    It’s not that it’s particularly brilliant, but if you listen to it side by side with the sly, disingenous, crap the party churns out day after day, its very clear why Cunliffe and the rest of the social dmocratic wing of the party, had to be silenced.

    • emergency mike 4.1

      “This is not a Crosby-Textor wanna-be speech in which the style dictates the substance and the form,”

      This. It’s like he’s articulately trying to appeal to the intelligence of the listener rather than mechanically trying to appeal to the nearest Crosby-Textor focus group.

  5. Colonial Viper 5

    A know a hell lot of traditional Labour supporters in my town. Not Labour members mind you, not people who are actively involved in the branches and LECs.

    This week a good chunk of them have been saying that they cannot hear in Shearer anything which relates to their interests. A few of them are looking to vote Green for the first time in their lives, next year. The rest will probably stay at home.

  6. Matthew 6

    Why oh why is this man not the leader. SERIOUSLY. My votes will be Green until it happens. Sorry bout dat Mr Shearer.

  7. tracey 7

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10868210

    Some scary stuff which has taken a long time to address. One thing overlooked is that the inflexible penalty system was brought in as a meager attempt to chase already ballooning non payment.

    The Allen – I agree that broad-brush statements do no credit to anyone. The best outcome for children is two parents living reasonably close together so children can move easily between two homes without disruption to schooling.

    I shudder that the cost of unpaid child support is way in excess of the benefit fraud this country is fixated upon.

    That people (mothers or fathers) will use loopholes and legal trickery to deprive their own children is more than sad. I am glad to see some effort (albeit not until 2015) to reign in some of the mis-use of trusts etc to avoid responsibility… the irony is that many of the 800 referred to by the Herald will vote ACT or Nat because they are sick of people not taking responsibility for their own actions.

  8. Colonial Viper 8

    Cunliffe’s speech

  9. “The Allen – I agree that broad-brush statements do no credit to anyone. The best outcome for children is two parents living reasonably close together so children can move easily between two homes without disruption to schooling.”

    Both so true.

  10. Ad 10

    Any Parliamentary speech by Cunliffe should now be called on this site:

    The Labour Party (Almost) Real Leadership Amendment, Reading 1 (and the next installment is 2)

    The one thing about Cunliffe’s politics I am always confident of: in any decision he knows how many will be affected, and how the greatest should benefit from the few who have the resources to do it.

    Not sure if that makes him a socialist or just good at policy.

    • Matthew 10.1

      “Not sure if that makes him a socialist or just good at policy.”

      both good reasons to have him back, at least on the front bench…

    • Dr Terry 10.2

      Ad – he is just a good, clever, and compassionate human being which is such a rarity among today’s National/Labour politicians (I do not include the Greens). Avoid the labels. I know that you mean well and I appreciate your comments in general.

  11. Hami Shearlie 11

    As soon as David Cunliffe manages to get a chance to speak in public, the lack in Shearer’s leadership ability stands out by a country mile. David Cunliffe can speak eloquently and knowledgeably on just about any subject. Mallard and Robertson’s appalling management of the last election campaign should be FRONT AND CENTRE as Charles Chauvel said! THEY cost Labour the election, so it’s about time they shuffled off!! Grant Robertson CAME THIRD in the party vote BEHIND THE GREENS in his electorate!!! And the caucus think he’d be a charismatic leader – What a bunch of idiots – very, very small-minded and selfish people, that’s the Labour Party ABC faction!!! Losing the last election has cost all New Zealanders our assets too!! Thanks Trev and Grant – We owe you so much!! And hopefully we’ll be able to give it to you both very very soon!!!

    • tracey 11.1

      Hear Hear!

      Thank God for the greens, otherwise the only place for labour voters to go on election day would be… the park?

  12. tc 12

    I wandered across this last night (it was up against the Stones doco on Skime) found the heckling from the Nat’s quite disgusting but DC handles it like the pro that DS is not.

  13. BM 13

    The only way you’ll ever see Cunliffe in any major role is if Shearer loses the next election.
    Shearer wins and I’d say Cunliffe will leave politics and I doubt he’d be back.

    If Shearer loses,he’ll be rolled and I’d put money on it that Cunliffe would replace him.

    Tough decisions for the left.

    • saarbo 13.1

      Cunliffe and Helen Kelly leading Labour…it may have a hope of rebuilding into something special.

      Under the current leadership its f%$ked.

  14. Tanz 14

    things are much tougher under National, especiall income support issues, and be careful what jobs you apply for, or what courses you try to study. All from a side who went to uni for free, etc!!

  15. Tanz 15

    that is, especially. Single parents are frowned upon for undertaking arts courses, I reckon there’s going to be more to come.

  16. RedBaronCV 16

    Yep Nact sticks it to women and kids and young people again.
    DC also makes the very good point that the IRD will struggle to calculate that formula. Even paying parents who will be paying less, $41 million less which the taxpayer now has to front, should be very very afraid.
    Anyway if the NActs stuck to the personal responsibily that they espouse, then the paying parent should be paying the lot.

    Lastly, given the violence stats in this country, stuff like they should live close and pay voluntarily is
    little more than a distraction. virtually trolling.

  17. xtasy 17

    Although Cunliffe may have to learn a bit more sensitivity and team spirit, what about a supposed “leader” showing some humility and dignity, to allow into the core fold one of, if not the best, politicians that Labour have left?

    I simply can only interpret the ABC stubbornness or paranoia as an example of the Kiwi “tall poppy syndrome” gone wild.

    Come on, if a man or woman have talent, skills and knowledge, only idiots can block the input from such contributing players.

    Maybe though, this is in part also the struggle NZ continues to have, to develope further, rather than stay put – and stumble across the lines all the times.

    In all honesty, a country gifted with natural and human capital as this should and must do a hell of a lot better than it is doing at present. The present government and “leader” do not really want to change the status quo, so they rather have a dumbed down, disempowered lot, that is easy to manipulate, to keep the elite in control, who largely are the lazy lot themselves, being appallingly poor managers in government and business.

    Hell, if countries like Finland, Sweden and Norway can do better, even Denmark, why the hell is this country being allowed to be run down to near third world status?

    Wakey, wakey people, voters and readers, maybe do a reality check and learn how things can be done better?!

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    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Police say they won’t respond to bomb threats anymore as ‘it’s never anything’

    Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says that New Zealand’s police force will no longer respond to bomb threats, in an attempt to cut costs and redirect police resources to less boring activities. Coster said that threat response and bomb disposal was a “fairly obvious” area for downsizing, as bomb threats are ...
    The CivilianBy Ben Uffindell
    5 days ago
  • A dysfunctional watchdog

    The reality of any right depends on how well it is enforced. But as The Post points out this morning, our right to official information isn't being enforced very well at all: More than a quarter of complaints about access to official information languish for more than a year, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change: The threat of a good example

    Since taking office, the climate-denier National government has gutted agricultural emissions pricing, ended the clean car discount, repealed water quality standards which would have reduced agricultural emissions, gutted the clean car standard, killed the GIDI scheme, and reversed efforts to reduce pollution subsidies in the ETS - basically every significant ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vegas Baby

    Good morning, lovely people. Don’t worry. This isn’t really a newsletter, just a quick note. I’m sitting in our lounge, looking out over a gloomy sky. Although being Rotorua, the view is periodically interrupted by steam bursting from pipes and dispersing—like an Eastern European industrial hellscape during the Cold War.Drinking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Why Entrust Needs New Leadership

    I am part of a new team running in the Entrust election in October. Entrust is a community electricity trust representing a significant part of Auckland, set up to serve the community. It is governed by five trustees are elected every three years in an election the trust itself oversees. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • London Bridge is falling down

    In the UK, London is the latest of council groups to signal potential bankruptcy.That’s after Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city, went bankrupt in June, resulting in reduced sanitation services, libraries cut, and dimmed streetlights.Some in the city described things as “Dickens” like.Please, Sir, Can I have some more?For families with ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Govt may kick elderly out of hospitals

    The Government is considering how to shunt elderly people out of hospitals, and also how to cut their access to other support. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Getting the nephs off the couch

    The so-called “Prince of the Provinces”, Shane Jones, went home last Friday. Perhaps not quite literally home, more like 20 kilometres down the road from his house on the outskirts of Kerikeri. With its airport, its rapidly growing (mostly retired) population, and a commercial centre with all the big retail ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • De moralibus orcorum: Sargon of Akkad, Rings of Power, Evil, and George R.R. Martin

    I have noted before that The Rings of Power has attracted its unfortunate share of culture war obsessives. Essentially, for a certain type of individual, railing on about the Wokery of Modern Media is a means of making themselves a online livelihood. Clicks and views and advertising revenue, and all ...
    6 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #37

    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 8, 2024 thru Sat, September 14, 2024. Story of the week From time to time we like to make our Story of the Week all about us— and ...
    6 days ago
  • Salvation For Us All

    Yesterday, I ruminated about the effects of being a political follower.And, within politics, David Seymour was smart enough on Friday to divert attention from “race blind” policies [what about gender blind I thought - thinking of maternity wards] and cutting school lunches by throwing meat to the media. Teachers were ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A warm embrace

    Far, far away from here lives our King. Some of his subjects can be quite the forelock tuggers, but plenty of us are not like that, and why don't I wheel out my favourite old story once more about Kiwi soldiers in the North African desert?Field Marshal Montgomery takes offence ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Literal clowns are running the place, we must put a timeout on this stupidity… right Aotearoa?

    These people are inept on every level. They’re inept to the detriment of our internal politics, cohesion and increasingly our international reputation. And they are reveling in the fact they are getting away with it. We cannot even have “respectful debate” with a government that clearly rejects the very ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago
  • Fact brief – Does manmade CO2 have any detectable fingerprint?

    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park from the Gigafact team in collaboration with John Mason. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Does manmade CO2 have any ...
    7 days ago
  • Judge Not.

    Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY men and women professing the Christian faith would appear to have imperilled their immortal souls. ...
    7 days ago
  • Managed Democracy: Letting The People Decide, But Only When They Can Be Relied Upon To Give the Righ...

    Uh-uh! Not So Fast, Citizens! The power to initiate systemic change remains where it has always been in New Zealand’s representative democracy – in Parliament. To order a binding referendum, the House of Representatives must first to be persuaded that, on the question proposed, sharing its decision-making power with the people ...
    7 days ago
  • Looking For Labour’s Vital Signs.

    Flatlining: With no evidence of a genuine policy disruptor at work in Labour’s ranks, New Zealand’s wealthiest citizens can sleep easy.PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN has walked a picket-line. Presidential candidate Kamala Harris has threatened “price-gauging” grocery retailers with price control. The Democratic Party’s 2024 platform situates it well to the left of Sir ...
    7 days ago
  • Forty Years Of Remembering To Forget.

    The Beginning of the End: Rogernomics became the short-hand descriptor for all the radical changes that swept away New Zealand’s social-democratic economy and society between 1984 and 1990. In the bitterest of ironies, those changes were introduced by the very same party which had entrenched New Zealand social-democracy 50 years earlier. ...
    7 days ago
  • Kōrero Mai – Speak to Me.

    Good morning all you lovely people. 🙂I woke up this morning, and it felt a bit like the last day of school. You might recall from earlier in the week that I’m heading home to Rotorua to see an old friend who doesn’t have much time. A sad journey, but ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Winning ways

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Street architecture adjustment, KolkataShare Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • 48 seconds on a plan that would reverberate for a million years

    Despite fears that Trump presidency would be disastrous for progress on climate change, the topic barely rated a mention in the Presidential debate. Photo: Getty ImagesLong stories short, here’s the top six news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Using blunt instruments and magical thinking to ignore evidence of harm

    The abrupt cancellations and suspensions of Government spending also caused private sector hiring, spending, and investment to freeze up for the first six months of the year. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāThis week we learned:The new National/ACT/NZ First Coalition Government ignored advice from Treasury that it didn’t have to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Is This A Dagger Which I See Before Me: A Review and Analysis of The Rings of Power Episode 5 (Seaso...

    Another week of The Rings of Power, season two, and another confirmation that things are definitely coming together for the show. The fifth Episode of season one represented the nadir of the series. Now? Amid the firmer footing of 2024, Episode Five represents further a further step towards excellent Tolkien ...
    1 week ago
  • In Open Seas; A Book

    The background to In Open Seas: How the New Zealand Labour Government Went Wrong:2017-2023Not in Narrow Seas: The Economic History of Aotearoa New Zealand, published in 2020, proved more successful than either I or the publisher (VUP, now Te Herenga Waka University Press) expected. I had expected that it would ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 13

    The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts and talking about the week’s news with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on the latest climate science on rising temperatures and the climate implications of the US Presidential elections; and special guests Janet ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Do or do not. There is no try

    1. Upon receiving evidence that school lunches were doing a marvellous job of improving outcomes for students, David Seymour did what?a. Declared we need much more of this sort of good news and poured extra resources and funding into them b. Emailed Atlas network to ask what to do next c. Cut ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Dangerous ground

    The Waitangi Tribunal has reported back on National's proposed changes to gut the Marine and Coastal Area Act and steal the foreshore and seabed for its greedy fishing-industry donors, and declared it to be another huge violation of ti Tiriti: The Waitangi Tribunal has found government changes to the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: National wants to cheat on Paris

    In 2016, the then-National government signed the Paris Agreement, committing Aotearoa to a 30 (later 50) percent reduction in emissions by 2030. When questioned about how they intended to meet that target with their complete absence of effective climate policy, they made a lot of noise about how it was ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Treasury warned Govt lower debt limits meant less ‘productivity-enhancing investment’

    Treasury’s advice to Cabinet was that the new Government could actually prudently carry net core Crown debt of up to 50% of GDP. But Luxon and Willis instead chose to portray the Government’s finances as in such a mess they had no choice but to carve 6.5% to 7.5% off ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Tourism on the table for Pacific Ministers’ meet-up

    Tourism and Hospitality Minister Matt Doocey will meet with Trade and Tourism Minister of Australia Don Farrell and Fiji Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica in Rotorua this weekend for a trilateral tourism discussion. “Like in New Zealand, tourism plays a significant role in Australia and Fiji’s economy, contributing massively to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Young people report on family and sexual violence

    The Te Puna Aonui Expert Advisory Group for Children and Young People has presented its report today on improving family and sexual violence outcomes for young people, to the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour.  The presentation at the Auckland event was an opportunity for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • $18 million being invested in the victims of crime

    The Government is putting more than $18 million towards improving the experience of the criminal justice system for victims, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say. “No one should experience crime, but for those who through no fault of their own become victims, they need to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Landmark phonics check in te reo Māori

    For the first time, schools can use a purpose-built tool to check how a child is progressing in reading through te reo Māori. “Around 45 schools are trialling a New Zealand first te reo Māori phonics check, known as Hihira Weteoro. It will help kaiako (teachers) focus on what ākonga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • New sea walls safeguard Ōpōtiki’s transformation

    Two new breakwater walls at Pākihikura (Ōpōtiki) Harbour will provide boats with safe harbour access to support the continued growth of aquaculture in Bay of Plenty, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones say. The Ministers and leaders from Tē Tāwharau o Te Whakatōhea and other ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kitmap to improve access to science infrastructure

    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins today announced an online platform to optimise the use of New Zealand’s science and technology research infrastructure and to link the public and private sector. “This country is home to world-class science, technology, and engineering expertise. Kitmap is set to empower Kiwi innovators, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Driving the uptake of low emission heavy vehicles

    The Government has launched the Low Emissions Heavy Vehicle Fund (LEHVF) to promote innovation and offset the cost of hundreds of heavy vehicles powered by clean technologies, Energy Minister Simeon Brown and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts say. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech on replacing the Resource Management Act

    Replacing the RMA Hon Chris Bishop: Good morning, it is great to be with you. Can I first acknowledge the Resource Management Law Association for hosting us here today. Can I also acknowledge my Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Simon Court, who is on stage with me. He has assisted me in establishing the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Replacement for the Resource Management Act takes shape

    Two new laws will be developed to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), with the enjoyment of property rights as their guiding principle, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court say. “The RMA was passed with good intentions in 1991 but has proved a failure in practice. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tough laws pass to make gang life uncomfortable

    Legislation passed through Parliament today will provide police and the courts with additional tools to crack down on gangs that peddle misery and intimidation throughout New Zealand, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “From November 21, gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New levy rates set to ensure continued funding of FENZ

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government has agreed to the rates for the redesigned levy that will fund Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) from July 2026.  “Earlier this year FENZ consulted publicly on a 5.2 percent increase to the levy. I was not convinced that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Police allocate Officers to Beat and Gang Units

    The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement today to deploy more police on the beat and staff to Gang Disruption Units.  An additional 70 officers will be allocated to Community Beat Teams across towns and regional centres.  This builds on the deployment of beat officers in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch CBDs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Consultation begins on significant updates to the biosecurity system

    Proposals to strengthen the country’s vital biosecurity system, including higher fines for passengers bringing in undeclared high-risk goods, greater flexibility around importing requirements, and fairer cost sharing for biosecurity responses have been released today for public consultation. Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard says “The future is about resilience and the 30-year-old ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Wānaka community to benefit from new overnight health service

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says an Overnight Acute Care Service opening in October will provide people in Wānaka and the surrounding area with the assurance of quality overnight care closer to home.  “When I was in Wānaka earlier this year, I announced funding for an overnight health service – ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Preventing potholes with data-driven technology

    The Government is rolling out data collection vans across the country to better understand the condition of our road network to prevent potholes from forming in the first place, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key priority for the Government and increasing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • GDP data shows effect of high interest rates

    Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for the quarter to June 2024 reinforces how an extended period of high interest rates has meant tough times for families, businesses, and communities, but recent indications show the economy is starting to bounce back, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ data released today ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ to host first Fiji, Australia trilateral trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will host Fijian Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica and Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for trilateral trade talks in Rotorua this weekend. “Fiji is one of the largest economies in the Pacific and is a respected partner for Australia and New Zealand,” Mr McClay says. Australia and New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ hosts Annual CER Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua

    Trade Minister Todd McClay will meet with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell for the annual Closer Economic Relations (CER) Trade Ministers’ meeting in Rotorua this weekend.  “CER is our most comprehensive agreement covering trade, labour mobility, harmonisation of standards and political cooperation. It underpins an important trading relationship worth $32 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government proposing changes to jury trials

    The Government is seeking the public’s feedback on two major changes to jury trials in order to improve court timeliness, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “The first proposal would increase the offence threshold at which a defendant can decide to have their case heard by a jury. “The second is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Business key to regional economic dialogue

    Local businesses and industries need to be front and centre in conversations about how regions plan to grow their economies, Regional Development Shane Jones says. The nationwide series of summits aims to facilitate conversations about regional economic growth and opportunities to drive productivity, prosperity and resilience through the Coalition Government’s Regional ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • More funding for Growing Up in New Zealand study

    The Government is investing $16.8 million over the next four years to extend the Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) Longitudinal Study. GUiNZ is New Zealand’s largest longitudinal study of child health and wellbeing and has followed the lives of more than 6000 children born in 2009 and 2010, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tough targets for charter schools will raise achievement

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that Charter Schools will face a combination of minimum performance thresholds and stretch targets for achievement, attendance and financial sustainability. “Charter schools will be given greater freedom to respond to diverse student needs in innovative ways, but they will be held to a much ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • NZ votes for Middle East resolution at UN

    New Zealand has voted for a United Nations resolution on Israel’s presence in occupied Palestinian Territory with some caveats, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand’s yes vote is fundamentally a signal of our strong support for international law and the need for a two-state solution,” Mr Peters says.    “The Israel-Palestine ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Honouring the legacy of New Zealand’s suffragists

    Suffrage Day is an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand’s commitment to ensuring we continue to be a world leader in gender equality, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg says. “On 19 September, 131 years ago, New Zealand became the first nation in the world where women gained the right to vote. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister to travel to New York, French Polynesia

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is travelling to New York next week to attend the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, followed by a visit to French Polynesia. “In the context of the myriad regional and global crises, our engagements in New York will demonstrate New Zealand’s strong support for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thanking social workers on their national day

    “Today, on Aotearoa New Zealand Social Workers’ Day, I would like to recognise the tremendous effort social workers make not just today, but every day,” Children’s Minister and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour says. “I thank all those working on the front line for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister of State for Trade heads to Laos for ASEAN meetings

    Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg will travel to Laos this week to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ Meetings in Vientiane.   “The Government is committed to strengthening our relationship with ASEAN,” Ms Grigg says. “With next year marking 50 years since New Zealand became ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Members appointed to retail crime MAG

    The Government has appointed four members to the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “I am delighted to appoint Michael Hill’s national retail manager Michael Bell to the group, as well as Waikato community advocate and business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation AGM and Conference 2024

    It’s my pleasure to be here to join the opening of the NZNO AGM and Conference for 2024.  First, I’d like to thank NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku, NZNO President, Anne Daniels, and Chief Execuitve Paul Gaulter for inviting me to speak today.  Thank you also to all the NZNO members ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Improvements for New Zealand authors

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says changes to the Public Lending Right [PLR] scheme will help benefit both the National Library and authors who have books available in New Zealand libraries. “I am amending the regulations so that eligible authors will no longer have to reapply every year ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister commends Police for gang operation

    Police Minister Mark Mitchell congratulates Police for the outstanding result of their most recent operation, targeting the Comancheros. “That Police have been able to round up the majority of the Comancheros leadership, and many of their patched members and prospects, shows not only the capability of Police, but also shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New appointments to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.   The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.  “I would ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Enabling rural recovery works in Hawke’s Bay

    Cabinet has approved an Order in Council to enable severe weather recovery works to continue in the Hawke’s Bay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery Mark Mitchell say. “Cyclone Gabrielle and the other severe weather events in early 2023 caused significant loss and damage to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • FamilyBoost childcare payment registrations open

    From today, low-to-middle-income families with young children can register for the new FamilyBoost payment, to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government’s tax relief plan to help Kiwis who are doing it tough. “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Prioritising victims with tougher sentences

    The Government has today agreed to introduce sentencing reforms to Parliament this week that will ensure criminals face real consequences for crime and victims are prioritised, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. "In recent years, there has been a concerning trend where the courts have imposed fewer and shorter prison sentences ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Targets data confirms rise in violent crime

    The first quarterly report on progress against the nine public service targets show promising results in some areas and the scale of the challenge in others, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Our Government reinstated targets to focus our public sector on driving better results for New Zealanders in health, education, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Asia Foundation Board appointments announced

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced the appointments of Hone McGregor, Professor David Capie, and John Boswell to the Board of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.  Bede Corry, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade, has also been appointed as an ex-officio member. The new trustees join Dame Fran Wilde (Chair), ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Endeavour Fund projects for economic growth

    New Zealand’s largest contestable science fund is investing in 72 new projects to address challenges, develop new technology and support communities, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins says. “This Endeavour Fund round being funded is focused on economic growth and commercial outputs,” Ms Collins says. “It involves funding of more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Social Services Providers Whakamanawa National Conference 16 September 2024

    Thank you for the introduction and the invitation to speak to you here today. I am honoured to be here in my capacity as Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, and Minister for Children. Thank you for creating a space where we can all listen and learn, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Parihaka infrastructure upgrades funded

    The Government will provide a $5.8 million grant to improve water infrastructure at Parihaka in Taranaki, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka say. “This grant from the Regional Infrastructure Fund will have a multitude of benefits for this hugely significant cultural site, including keeping local ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

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