Cuts! Cuts! Cuts!

Written By: - Date published: 12:42 pm, March 21st, 2011 - 42 comments
Categories: education, health, police, prisons, public services, same old national - Tags: ,

When John Key did his State of the Nation Speech and announced that he was cutting “new spending” to $800 million, I wrote a post on what that level of cut could mean for public services.

But now, in the wake of Christchurch, John Key says they will try to cut even that $800 million.

Rejecting the Green’s idea of a small levy which would raise over $1billion per year1, they plan to borrow $5billion and pay it back over time by slashing public services.  That would be $5 billion of borrowing that was, of course, previously impossible to do according to Bill English.

But what will those new levels of cuts mean?

John Key says there will still be “$600, $700, $800 million” extra for health and education.  This will still not be enough for any pay increases for Nurses, Doctors and Teachers.  It will not be enough to match the increased number of people wanting to use the health service as the population ages.  It will not even be enough to stand still.  But they will not bear the brunt.

Beyond Health and Education, the other big expenses are Superannuation and Benefits; but these don’t fit into public service spending budgets, and cannot be controlled in the same way.

So far worse is in store for the other departments.  They were facing cuts in excess of 10% – now they face cuts in excess of 20%.

Prison officers can’t hold out much hope of a pay increase this year, despite having to deal with ever more dangerous double-bunking; but the prison budget can’t really be cut with an ever-increasing prison population meaning that the department will soon be the government’s largest.

So even bigger cuts for the rest then.  What does a 25% cut to the police budget mean?  A 25% cut to social services, that Paula Bennett is already scape-goating for being too stretched to cope?  A 25% cut to bio-security which already let through a number of outbreaks last year (incl. the potentially crippling kiwifruit canker)?

Hopefully a big cut will be made to Transport in the areas of the Holiday Highway, Transmission Gully, and other Roads of NationalTM Significance that don’t make economic sense.  One gets the impression that Auckland’s Central Rail Loop won’t get funded, despite an astoundingly good return on investment (if Steven Joyce ever went on an Auckland commuter train he’d soon see why it’s so necessary).

But more than that will be needed to save other departments.  Justice?  Department of Labour?  Housing?  They’re coming after you….

1 Green’s proposal is for 1.5 per cent on income between $48,001 and $70,000 and a 3 per cent levy on income above $70,000, no change in corporate tax

42 comments on “Cuts! Cuts! Cuts! ”

  1. Lanthanide 1

    “A 25% cut to bio-security which already let through a number of outbreaks last year (incl. the potentially crippling kiwifruit canker)?”

    From what I’ve gleaned (since this is no longer in the MSM), it appears the kiwifruit disease has been in the country for at least 3 or 4 years, and maybe as long as 7+. So it isn’t recent cuts in funding that has allowed it through.

    “Roads of NationalTM Significance”
    I’ve come up with two nicknames; Roads of Notional Significance, or Roads of National Impotence.

    “Green’s proposal is for 1.5 per cent on income between $48,001 and $70,000 and a 3 per cent levy on income above $70,000, no change in corporate tax”
    Some political commentator or another was saying it’s only fair that the corporate tax rate be raised as well. It just so happens they’re getting their rate cut from 30% to 28% starting in April. If the government had moved fast enough, they could have easily scrubbed that, or cut it to just 29% instead.

    • Bunji 1.1

      Kiwifruit: It would appear that there are 2 strains – the less aggressive Japanese strain has been here for a while. The Italian strain that does so much damage is new and currently only in a handful of orchards at one end of Te Puke.

      I like your nicknames… and yes, a delay in the corporate tax drop was just about the first thing Bill English ruled out (in the sentence after “we’re not ruling anything in or out). National will continue to rule it out as not cutting would apparently pose a dangerous risk to the (non-existent) recovery; but of course putting civil servants on the dole and cutting the remaining one’s wages (in real terms), or cutting benefits (all the people that spend money), none of that will endanger the recovery at all…

  2. Zaphod Beeblebrox 2

    Sarah Palin eat your heart out. Tax cuts to the rich and wholesale dismantling of public housing, welfare support and public transport. We are about to get the IMF treatment without the IMF.

  3. just saying 3

    Yeah.

    It’s a pity Goff has announced that there will be no new spending if Labour becomes government, and that funding for any new initiatives (or increases to existing ones) will come from cuts to current services.

    So, austerity all round.

    (But it’s okay because those most affected (or outright devastated) usually don’t vote anyway.)

  4. The Baron 4

    What sort of fantasy land are you in, Bunji? Is $250m a week in borrowing not enough?

    Yeah yeah, raise taxes, rich pricks, blah blah broken records etc.

    • Pascal's bookie 4.1

      How is plan austerity working in the UK?

      Yeah yeah tighten your belts, trickle down, supply side, blah blah, shrinking gdp while debt still soars, broken record.

      • Jim Nald 4.1.1

        Go on, go on, and raise taxes for the top 5% … and close the tax loopholes as well.
        The elite rich won’t feel it much. Just a teenie eenie weenie prick on their massively well-endowed assets.
        Go on and prick. Help it trickle down. Even better, make it piss down.
        They have a choice – take the prick or take on the guillotine.
        Go on. You know we want to.

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1

          And it could be done in a way which wouldn’t stop the wealthy from attending their $14,000 dinner parties.

    • Bored 4.2

      Actually Baron, its not a fantasy. Not too long ago books were being balanced and debt paid off by a government who taxed the “richer” amongst us by 3% more at the top rate. Along come the bribesters saying tax cuts are affordable, promptly drop the top rate, add to GST then borrow to make it affordable. Great maths, which bit of the sums dont you understand?.

      All we hear from RWNJs is drop tax, drop tax, fekkin broken records. No substance, just dull and boring. Makes me bored.

    • Bunji 4.3

      The country seemed pretty ready to have a temporary levy to pay for it. That way we could’ve done it without debt, unlike National’s plan. And it’s about $300mill/week borrowing now, incl 120mill/week from National’s tax cuts. So obviously Bill doesn’t think it’s enough borrowing.

      And PB’s comment about the UK’s austerity plan killing their recovery is very valid. Although of course National have already killed our recovery here.

      just saying: I believe Goff’s “no new spending” is beyond the Budget Operating Provision (which is what we’re talking about here). So maintain current levels of services, but not increase them. As opposed to National’s big cuts.

      • Lanthanide 4.3.1

        Labour needs to re-frame the budget process.

        Instead of “new spending” being “increase in spending for inflation + new initiatives” they need to break it out into 3 categories:
        1. Existing spending
        2. Increase in existing spending due to inflation and population growth
        3. New initiatives

        This would make it clearer that Labour isn’t touching #1 much (maybe a few trims around the edges), is increasing #2 at the required rate and is introducing #3 where they think it can make a real positive difference.

        It would then be much more difficult for a National government to come along and publish a budget that was 1 and (2+3) as everyone would say “why are you lumping 2 and 3 together?”. So they’d be forced to lay out 2 and 3 separately and we could clearly see that their spending on #2 isn’t sufficient.

        • handle 4.3.1.1

          If you are serious about reframing, how about:

          1. old spending
          2. keeping up this year (inflation, population changes)
          3. new spending

          • lefty 4.3.1.1.1

            Rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic is not enough. Until we get a government prepared to challenge the economic policy settings we have put in place over the last 30 years our economic decline is going to continue to gather pace.

            Get rid of the Reserve Bank Act. Take control of our currency. Run an economy geared to production either for export or import substitution. Build up KiwiBank and regulate the Aussie banks to the point they actually have to contribute something to our economy or bugger off.

            Put a national public transport strategy in place so we don’t have to spend as much on oil.

            Invest in research and development (set up a government agency to do this so we all benefit).

            Beef up bio security – people working in this area say they are so under resourced and poorly managed it is only a matter of time before we have a major disaster.

            Begin training programmes for the unemployed. Start building houses throughout the country.

            Start adding value to our primary products.

            Stop doing stupid free trade deals.

            Ignore the finacial sector and give incentives for productive activity.

            Lift wages and training so we develop and retain a skilled work force.

            Build a publicly funded media with an obligation to foster intelligent discussion and expose useless greedy capitalist bastards.

            The list is endless. There is so much that could be done but the political elite of all the parliamentary parties are in a state of learned helplessnes as a result of years of listening to economic bullshit, managerialist nonsense and focus group driven politicians.

            The working class needs leaders that dare to dream and an organisation dedicated to make those dreams come true. This needs to happen before too long, because there does come a point where all hope is extinguished through betrayal and half measures.

            And the real nightmare would then begin.

      • just saying 4.3.2

        National’s Budget Operating Provision?

        • Bunji 4.3.2.1

          Budget Operating Provision is (2) that Lanth & handle are talking about there. It already exists, it just has a dry technical economic name.

          National are planning at having it at $0, instead of the needed couple of billion.

          • Lanthanide 4.3.2.1.1

            Ok, so it might already exist, but National are talking about an increase of $600-800 in “new spending” for Health and Education. What they’re actually talking about is #2, but they’re dressing it up as if it is #3. Meanwhile everything else will get negative #1 and zero #2 and #3.

            Then, when Labour come out and say they’re providing the minimum required increases into health and education of $1.2B, they’re really talking about $1.2B directly into #2, but National portray it as actually being ‘wasteful’, ‘unnecessary’ and ‘bloated’ #3.

            • handle 4.3.2.1.1.1

              The opposition and allies need to firmly and consistently make the case that slashing (2) below break-even means not even keeping up with inflation. It is a cut in services per person in real terms. Less to go around; not enough to get by on.

              Make it tangible by talking about waiting longer for hip operations because of not enough doctors and nurses, class sizes of 35 due to not enough teachers employed – whatever resonates with the public. Tie it to stretching your household budget when food, transport and schoolclothes for your children are all costing more and your income is not going up.

              The left had sure better not talk like detached economists or worse, sit back and say nothing while the Nats spin this as a generosity or fairly-shared sacrifice in the name of Christchurch.

          • just saying 4.3.2.1.2

            Thanks for the clarificiation.

  5. mcflock 5

    Step 1: cut taxes to the rich, raise them for the poor, the middle break even, so the majority of people will cut their spending.

    Step 2: reinforce the outcome of step 1 by putting retirement and healthcare support from the state in doubt, and increasing education costs. This will scare those few people with remaining disposable income into accruing modest individual savings or paying down debt, rather than injecting money back through business outlets.

    Step 3: make biggest spender of money in the economy cut its real expenditure. Also known as cash injections into the wider economy.

    Step 4: wait for recovery.

    Step 5: repeat step 4
    Step 6: repeat step 4
    Step 7: repeat step 4
    Step 8: repeat step 4
    Step 9: repeat step 4

    Best case: that’s their plan if they’re being honest about working for NZ as a nation, rather than setting it up for them and their rich mates to loot us.

    • Lanthanide 5.1

      “Step 1: cut taxes to the rich, raise them for the poor, the middle break even, so the majority of people will cut their spending.”

      Sorry, but what? The only people’s spending you’re cutting is “the poor” because they have less money. The middle class people still have to pay to feed, clothe and house themselves. You haven’t somehow made it easier for them to save. At the same time you’ve made it easier for “the rich” to increase their spending because they have more money.

      Your foundations don’t make any logical sense and are flawed before you even get started, so I won’t bother addressing 2 to 4+.

      • mcflock 5.1.1

        Even if people might be “breaking even” from the tax give&take the uncertainty would encourage reductions in discretionary spending. In favour of things like health insurance. Which is essentially a tax hike by another name, because a decent health system that’s taxpayer funded costs less than private insurance, and the money from private insurance goes overseas rather than being recirculated by the govt.

        Additionally, the “increased spending” by the rich is not the same as increased spending by the general population because it becomes isolated into self-circulating geographical-economic eddies, rather than percolating throughout the econom in the traditional sense, from the productive rural sectors into urban service sectors through to financial hubs and back again. Think of the high dollar boom a few years back, where small towns to cities were doing well – a lot of that eas export led from products made across NZ, rather than occasional fashion house here and vineyard there. It wasn’t perfect by any means (I’m no clarkist), but it was better than what we got from tax cuts in the 90s and recently.

        • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1

          “Even if people might be “breaking even” from the tax give&take the uncertainty would encourage reductions in discretionary spending.”

          Citation needed. As far as I can tell, you just made that up and don’t have any basis for it except for ‘gut feeling’. A gut feeling which sounds like utter nonsense to me.

          You might as well just say the government should announce that 1,000 houses somewhere in the country are going to be demolished and the occupants kicked onto the street, so everyone better save money up in case it happens to them. That creates uncertainty that would “encourage reductions in discretionary spending”.

          Nevermind that to achieve your magical “savings-compelling” uncertainty you’re actually punishing those you deem as “poor” for no reason whatsoever. Why can’t you just increase the money that poor and middle income people have so that they can ACTUALLY save the excess, if that’s what you’re so desperate to achieve? If you can’t trust them to actually save the money, make kiwisaver accounts compulsory and put the money in there instead.

          “Additionally, the “increased spending” by the rich is not the same as increased spending by the general population because it becomes isolated into self-circulating geographical-economic eddies”
          You mean it goes overseas to places like Australia and Hawaii when they go on their annual winter holiday?

          • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1.1

            “Even if people might be “breaking even” from the tax give&take the uncertainty would encourage reductions in discretionary spending.”

            Citation needed.

            Why is a citation needed?

            We can see it happening in front of our eyes.

            Apart from the ultra rich who can afford $14000 dinner-outs, every one else is acting far more cautiously.

            Remember, although you may be well off, it still hurts plenty when your $1M freehold house gets revalued to $910,000 when you receive that piece of paper.

            so everyone better save money up in case it happens to them. That creates uncertainty that would “encourage reductions in discretionary spending”.

            People don’t have to be told Lanth. They can see the uncertainty and volatility of the current age.

            And they are adding to their reserves and their resilience right now, instead of spending and increasing leverage.

            • Lanthanide 5.1.1.1.1.1

              “They can see the uncertainty and volatility of the current age.”

              Of course. But mcflock is specifically talking about a policy where you raise tax rates on the poor and drop tax rates on the rich, as if this, everything else being equal, is somehow going to make people in the middle save more money. I think people in the middle would just think the government were fuckwits.

              It simply doesn’t make sense.

              If you want people in the middle to save money, how about you make an actual policy that directly addresses that, instead of making other changes that you then justify on the basis of what is effectively a side effect of your policy. If you want C to happen, then implement a policy for C, don’t implement policy A that has outcomes B with the justification that C (what you really wanted all along) will also be a side effect of B.

              • Jim Nald

                Good news. John English and Bill Key have suddenly seen the light.
                They confess to their own systematic rorting of the system all this time and are claiming they have reformed.
                They are reversing the GST hikes. They can see that GST is regressive and they are so regretful of their recent lousy decision that they are now announcing they will drop GST to 10%.
                This is truly an epiphanic moment.

              • McFlock

                Actually, I’m “specifically talking about” said policy being applied in the current New Zealand situation. It has already been implemented to a limited degree, and when you take into account the pillaging of skilled staff from government departments (e.g. the ministry of health, where few people should feel safe in their jobs at the moment) and the fact that this means that equivalent staff in the private sector face greater competition from the ex-govt workers. . . well, I’m beginning to save my ass off, andI know I’m not the only one. And I’m not as poor as most.

                As I say, best case scenario that’s the NACT plan. Personally I think it’s an almighty cockup, mrs haversham obsessing over a trickle-down recovery that will never appear (although in this case I’m not aware that it ever existed).

                It’s the best case scenario because the alternative is that they are perfectly happy to drive a hefty chunk of the population into below-subsistence credit-laden minimal living standards, with concomitant effects on health (especially child health) and crime.

                • handle

                  “equivalent staff in the private sector face greater competition from the ex-govt workers”

                  You mean ‘crowding out’?
                  Quick, someone tell Key and English

                  • McFlock

                    Not sure about the terminology – all I know is that lots of places need data analysts, managers and people with a bit of legal or policy training, but there’s a glut on the market.

                    Must just be the unemployment rate. affecting everyone.

                • Lanthanide

                  Ok, it looks like I’ve read your original post in completely the wrong way.

                  I thought your original post was a list of suggestions as to how things should be done to increase growth. So I was disagreeing with you that that prescription would achieve anything.

                  It turns out you are actually describing what National have been doing. In which case I agree with you.

  6. Bored 6

    Hmmm, I smell the rancid reek of “justification” for asset sales, benefit cuts and “smaller government”. Never mind, salvation comes hot on its heels, the market will deliver (fekk all).

  7. todd 7

    I’m moving to Australia.

    • Jim Nald 7.1

      This Government is hollowing out the country’s economy.
      As someone had written: under Nats, we’re better off. In Australia.

    • higherstandard 7.2

      Yay

      [Either come back sober, or lift your game. …RL]

  8. tc 8

    well todd you’ll be joining alot of kiwis who voted for that brighter future under sideshow john and that gap they had a ‘plan’ to close…..LOL talk about classic banker deception the electorate fell for.

    The number of skilled workers leaving the NACT’s big businesss day out (show starts late 2008 and is still going folks) is simply scary and any attempts to mitigate with migrattion will not work as they’ll choose oz first, where unions protect their working conditions.

    Not that they’re trying to do anything except bumble about and fawn over prince willie.

  9. RobC 9

    Bunji, are you sure you haven’t left out an ‘N’ (thrice) in the title post?

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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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