Daily review 23/07/2020

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 23rd, 2020 - 49 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

Daily review is also your post.

This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Don’t forget to be kind to each other …

49 comments on “Daily review 23/07/2020 ”

  1. Anne 1

    Two news stories which caught my attention:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12350468

    Well what did they expect choosing to go for a ‘recreational jaunt’ in the South China seas?

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12350414

    Paranoia? Well those of us who have had personal experience of the twilight world of intrigue and spying (no matter where it might have come from) would say they are right to be concerned.

    • Chris 1.1

      If the ABC reports are accurate about where the ships were then China shouldn't be bothered, regardless of the purpose of the exercise.

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1

        China is claiming all of the SCS. 12nm means nothing – sooner or later there will be shots fired.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2

      Well, if the third one dies then I suggest we'd have circumstantial evidence that the paranoia was correct.

  2. observer 2

    TV1 lead story was the classic "both sides" cop-out on dirty politics, with vox pops.

    I'm still hopeful that the NZ public see through this. But it's a constant barrage of false equivalence, and eventually that takes its toll on truth.

    • ScottGN 2.1

      It’s probably too late to expect fair and balanced reportage from the fourth estate observer. What they want is conflict and drama and they know that an easy win for Ardern and Labour won’t provide that. So they are working overtime at the moment to even up the playing field.
      One good thing though, while Collins might have been able spread the muck around successfully and distract attention away from the dreadful behaviour of her MP, she’s unlikely to have garnered any extra votes out of this. It’s most likely her net negative rating will still be quite a bit larger than her net positive rating.

  3. Herodotus 3

    And another scandal raising its head ? Nice for some

    When can those of us that appreciate the environment get an invite? You always know when someone is under pressure and losing the argument, as you get something like "Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has defended sending two friends on a taxpayer-funded trip to Antarctica, calling it an "appalling, racist attack".

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=12350106

    "The women, who are dual Malaysian-New Zealand citizens, are connected to one of South East Asia's richest families." and from wikipedia "Any person holding Malaysian citizenship is also disallowed to hold any other country's citizenship. Malaysia does not allow dual citizenship." Is Winny playing us, AGAIN. I hope our PM doesn't just accept this under her watch.

    And does our Minister of Finance not know where Waitangi day falls? At least we can have a laugh at that 🤣

    Finance Minister Grant Robertson was initially meant to go on the February 7-10 trip at the start of February but had to pull out due to the timing of Waitangi Day and the first sitting week of Parliament.

    • Treetop 3.1

      What is Peter's trying to get exported to Malaysia snow and ice?

    • Cinny 3.2

      Did you watch Question Time today? Q3 contained more info about said subject than yesterdays herald article.

      Question 3 – Hon Gerry Brownlee to the Prime Minister

      Has she asked the Minister of Foreign Affairs whether he made it clear to Bee Lin Chew and Su Arn Kwek that he was facilitating their passage to Antarctica on the basis that sponsorship was being sought for the redevelopment of Scott Base; if so, have they provided sponsorship?

      Because it's a Thursday, the Deputies stand in for the Leaders, so gerry is asking Winnie the question.

      https://ondemand.parliament.nz/parliament-tv-on-demand/?itemId=214378

      • ianmac 3.2.1

        He did prove that there is a long history of MPs and fiends getting trips to Antarctica. Remember Key and 14 journalists getting a trip there about 2013.

        Who made an issue about that?

        • Herodotus 3.2.1.1

          fiends ???

          fiend. 1. A perversely bad, cruel, or wicked person: archfiend, beast, devil, ghoul, monster, ogre, tiger, vampire.
          Problem is that Peters is reported as expecting $$ in return in the form of a donation.

          • Graeme 3.2.1.1.1

            Typographic determinism

          • Sabine 3.2.1.1.2

            to himself or "hat he was facilitating their passage to Antarctica on the basis that sponsorship was being sought for the redevelopment of Scott Base; if so, have they provided sponsorship?" (from the post at 3.2)

            • Macro 3.2.1.1.2.1

              if so, have they provided sponsorship?" (from the post at 3.2)

              The short answer is "No".

              • Macro

                today he had an answer – he was hoping his friends might help contribute towards the $50 million of private money the government wants to help redevelop Scott Base.

                "That's what it is about, I've asked countless people from around the world to join this programme. Swiss ambassdor, other people as well, it's only part of that and I despise this racist attack on innocent people," Peters said.

                Despite that – the pair have not been asked for money.

                "They have not given any money at this point of time, no-one's asked for any money," Peters said.

                https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/winston-peters-says-taxpayer-funded-antarctica-trip-friends-aimed-raise-funds-scott-base

                • Draco T Bastard

                  Serious question:

                  Why does the government want private money to help develop Scott Base?

                  Surely it'd be simpler, and better, just to develop it with government funding and then charge the private sector for use of the knowledge that comes out of it through a licensing system.

                  And the private sector should be fully in support of it as it would be user pays.

                  • Macro

                    Totally agree draco. I was merely replying to the query by Sabine above as to whether the junket flight to Antarctica had produced the underlying purpose of private sponsorship.

              • Sabine

                i raised the question in regards to this comment

                'Problem is that Peters is reported as expecting $$ in return in the form of a donation.'

                is he expecting the dollars for himself or a form of sponsorship for the base? Cause the way its posted it lets one to believe that he asked for money to himself. What is the answer to that? or are we on the 'left' now just flinging about shit and see what lands? Seriously?

                on the other side, never mind. 🙂 its all just a load of bullshit anyways, on the left, on the right and in the middle, ain't no one clean, and no one good.

                • Cinny

                  Can we lose NZ First and keep Tracy Martin please? I'd love that.

                  • mary_a

                    Agree 100% with you Cinny. She is a very good MP and about the only one from NZF who is worth keeping.

            • Treetop 3.2.1.1.2.2

              And here was me thinking that Peter's took the ladies to Antarctica to ask their opinion if they thought that Scott Base would be suitable for isolation were there a need for it.

              Nice and quiet, spacious for social distancing and as for escaping you would need an aeroplane and a pilot.

              Sking fishing and sky gazing is available.

    • greywarshark 4.1

      Two USA 1 South African, no-one in NZ? No women? It looks like a version of neolib which came from the USA via other countries. Let's make up our own fairy tales of how we want to run our country and when everyone gets their day in Parliament eh!

  4. ianmac 6

    "No dirty tricks in our Party," declares Judith as she climbs into the car. "But I hope you notice that Jacinda is checking that Iain has not been spending Taxpayers money for his disgusting liason. Of course she must know something to be worth looking."
    ( She did say that as she got in the car in the Wairarapa today but not exactly those words.)

    • I Feel Love 6.1

      "Disgusting liaison" was she clutching her pearls as she said this? She's just looking silly now, puritanical, holier than thou, untruthful.

      • Graeme 6.1.1

        There'll be a few, maybe quite a few, National MP's shitting themselves right now waiting for the little secrets to fall out.

        • weka 6.1.1.1

          good, for the hypocrisy. And being hoisted on their own petard.

        • mary_a 6.1.1.2

          @ Graeme (6.1.1) … and when their little secrets are exposed and outed, it will be time to stock up on the popcorn.

  5. PaddyOT 7

    Will journalists write an article analysing themselves and the deviant way, they are now more dishonest than pollies ? That journalists are eroding society and democracy by deliberately engineering a false, narrow and skewed view? An article perhaps that exposes their dirty ways of having ' conflicts of interest ', being two faced with their false mock horror 1 minute trite gossip, in the pockets of pollies, or about journalists being self- serving (not acting impartially for public good and deliberately censoring or blocking a 'real' view), increasingly pushing their own or their organisations agenda for self fame and to line their own pockets.
    The gall to then ask for public funding or donations !

    Today the news began and was dominated by which political party had the dirtiest dick! …

    Meanwhile 125 Community Connectors across New Zealand to support recovery were launched for multiple sources of help to suffering NZers.

    There was a "Clean energy boost as Ara Ake launched to support Taranaki economy"

    Parliament passed a Bill to reform public service.

    Legislation to transform our urban areas was also passed today.

    Lowest ever Public Service Gender Pay Gap reported today under the recent legislation's impacts.

    Grand plans were finally funded for Yarrow Stadium as Govt invests in Taranaki infrastructure

    Trade for All and the state of international trade reports and Joint Ministerial Statement: New Zealand-Australia trade talks also released.

    Toi Māori legacy preserved for Aotearoa passed in legislation today providing some long awaited protection for future Iwi needs.

    Along with the the biggest unheard news of yesterday because it was overshadowed by some dicks, ‘Biggest education changes in decades’ returns to Parliament.

    • Sabine 7.1

      reading through the list of non dick measuring, maybe dick measuring is more fun.

      1. community connectors were launched? Where were they launched and were did they land ?

      2 a bill to reform public service…..Lol

      3. transform urban areas? denser housing with lower ceilings and no carparks?

      4. celebrating the lowest gender pay gap in public service? so even the government can't pay its women workers the same wage as it pays its male workers for the same job? Nothing to celebrate then.

      5. Another stadium, this time in Taranaki. How many stadiums does NZ need? also is it for rugby?

      6. NZ/OZ trade talks, blah blah blah Covid….Bla blah blah Covid …..

      i guess why some over educated but emotionally dumb as fuck journalists would rather talk about dick measuring is simply that non of the above is anything to really crow about or be proud about. Dirty dicks sell.

      • PaddyOT 7.1.1

        Don’t let me stand in the way of your freedoms or how you source them.

        For one, you could then answer your own questions direct from Parliamentary sources or scroll porn sites for your vote choices this year.

        Or two, in your need for dick being more fun, let's save money and change all the Election 2020 billboards out there to dick pics.

        Job done !

        • Sabine 7.1.1.1

          well you could have also linked to them.

          Mind, dick picks would be more fun then the signs of the Bishops wife, the New Conservatives , the todd who signs, and the photoshopped labour dudes/ettes with Jacinda. All so very uninspired in uninspired times. Lets keep moving, somewhere, to nowhere who knows, we don't even know who is still standing come election times.

          yeah, dick picks with measurements seem more fun and informative. Also, no links needed to help people understand what one is about. .

          • PaddyOT 7.1.1.1.1

            Stated was the source. Posted were some examples of other " news" that could have met the needs of a diverse public wanting to be informed perhaps around issues that may affect their lives or their voting choices.

            Your rights to the menu of information you'd prefer is not impinged by me posting my voice.

            If demeaning and censoring other people's choices and voices is your style, you go for it. Kudos to you Sabine , you at least gave your opinion on the news of the day.

        • McFlock 7.1.1.2

          Except we might find the parliamentary services link, when you were talking pornhub.

          It's not difficult to put in a link, is it?

          • PaddyOT 7.1.1.2.1

            https://www.beehive.govt.nz/

            You already knew it so is that a reason to demean and nullify a voice ?

            • McFlock 7.1.1.2.1.1

              Ok, so you do know how to link.

              Why didn't you use that ability in your initial comment? And rather than referencing a full website, if you want people to know what you're referring to, linking to the actual page your preferred content appears on is nice.

              For instance, with your "Parliament passed a Bill to reform public service", would you recommend one reads the entire bill (from the legislation website), a summary or hansard (from the parliament website), or a media relase or speech from the beehive website (I never even thought of looking at the last one)? And each of those websites might have a variety of versions and updates on the variety of content types they hold.

              With links, we have a digest of things that happened today, some of which a simple click shows to be interesting.

              Without links, we just have a list of stuff that I can't be bothered hunting down.

              There might actually be a place for the former on TS, as long as it doesn't just become an advertorial on what party supporters want everyone to know. But if it's reasonably evenhanded, it might be an interesting public service digest.

              • PaddyOT

                Thanks for the lecture, the peasantsplaining detail, McFlock. Yes, I do understand the rules. Before you are further condescending towards me, I actually DID copy the hyperlinks from direct source when pasting each item. They had obviously failed to become hotlinks when submitting the whole post.

                The link then provided at your insistence to then validate my view is now your issue to dismiss me?

                So big ups to you , we've now made a massive step forward in a high functioning and equitable democracy.

                • PaddyOT

                  Sorry forgot to reference my stance, try the second chapter
                  " Information Equality versus Information Equity"
                  From.
                  Imagining Fairness: Equality and Equity of Access in Search of Democracy ", By Jorge Reina Schement . American Library Association

                • McFlock

                  You could have said that three hours ago.

                  • PaddyOT

                    No , thats the reference for the immediate post to you re- "high functioning and equitable democracy" so that you don't dismiss another person's voice.

                    • McFlock

                      Sorry, I'll be more clear. This is what you could have written at (for example) 7.1.1.1.1:

                      I actually DID copy the hyperlinks from direct source when pasting each item. They had obviously failed to become hotlinks when submitting the whole post.

                      Would have saved some typing on the importance of links, and maybe we might have bothered helping you figure out what the malfunction was betwixt pasting and posting.

                    • Incognito []

                      FYI, there appears to be a strange text string at the bottom of PaddyOT’s comment @ 7 that looks like an incomplete link to an SDOC file extension. It is still there in the Editor but not converted to readable text in the comment.

  6. Draco T Bastard 8

    A Chinese Empire Reborn

    China’s rise is a blunt counterpoint. From 2009 onward, Chinese power in domestic and international realms has become synonymous with brute strength, bribery and browbeating — and the Communist Party’s empire is getting stronger.

    As the first Western nation to sign an FTA with China, what do we do now that their mask is slipping?

    • PaddyOT 8.1

      This " hard power" of China's parallels with your " Ted" video, one is overt brutal enforcement of power to elicit obedience by silencing others, the other system is spreading covertly the pseudo bs# science of neoliberalism to have the masses behave. Both systems are 'evil' per say and have the same end result of misery for the majority.

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    4 days ago
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
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    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.
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    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
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    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
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    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
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    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
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    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’
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    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
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    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
    4 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
    6 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
    20 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
    1 day 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
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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, ...
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    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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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,” ...
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  • 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. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
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    1 week ago

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