web analytics

Daily Review 27/07/2017

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, July 27th, 2017 - 56 comments
Categories: Daily review - Tags:

https://twitter.com/lyndonhood/status/890029332956983296

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 …

56 comments on “Daily Review 27/07/2017 ”

  1. Ed 1

    Brilliant article about Metiria….

    Raging at Metiria is not about the fraud; it’s that she sided with the lepers.

    Excerpts.

    ‘In case you missed it, at the Greens annual conference in mid-July, Metiria fronted the launch of an impressive welfare policy, Mending the Safety Net. During that launch, she used an anecdote from 25 years ago to personalise the policy; when she was solo mum she didn’t tell Work and Income that she had flatmates so that she could retain the accommodation supplement.

    It was a calculated risk, a chance to capture the news cycle, and if the last two weeks are anything to go by, it paid dividends. Every day there has been hand wringing and righteous anger from National and their proxies, sympathy from the Greens’ friends and the hashtags #IamMetiria and latterly #LeftwithEnough were an offensive defense of Metiria that dominated social media.

    The attacks have been inevitably led by white and wealthy men who have stated that it is the crime of benefit fraud and should be prosecuted forthwith. It’s been a pile-on really: Barry Soper‘s written a self-congratulatory series of masturbatory metaphors; Martin Van Beynen claimed to not want to judge but then did; John Armstrong writes like he is the id of the Baby Boomers generation; Patrick Gower‘s heart is bleeding so much for the NZ taxpayer I’m surprised he’s still breathing. The coverage has been overwhelmingly critical, not because of the crime, but because Metiria’s attitude is an attack on the comfortable narrative of the past quarter of a century.’

    Read the whole article here.
    It is brilliant. I would love to see a whole thread on it.

    https://firstwetakemanhattan.org/2017/07/26/raging-at-metiria-is-not-about-the-fraud-its-that-she-sided-with-the-lepers/

    • Ed 1.1

      This article by Steve Cowan is also superb reading on the Metiria witchhunt.

      Two excerpts.

      ‘Nearly a fortnight after she revealed she had fiddled the welfare some two decades ago in order to survive and look after her new baby, Metiria Turei continues to find herself the target of a sustained attack from the corporate media.

      They have continued a campaign to bury the Green’s progressive welfare policy under a mountain of criticism directed at the Green Party co-leader. Turei might want to have a national conversation on reforming the welfare system, but the corporate media don’t.

      Turei’s real crime, which she has rapidly found out, is that she has failed to uphold the political status quo of which she is deemed to be a representative. She has bitten the hand that feeds her and she must be made an example of.

      Helping to make an example of her have been various well-heeled members of The Commentariat, bravely standing up for the interests of the political establishment. These has included Tracy Watkins (Dominion), Larry Williams (Newstalk ZB), Duncan Garner (TV3), Mike Hosking (TVNZ and Newstalk ZB), Barry Soper (Newstalk ZB), John Armstrong (former NZ Herald columnist, now writing for TVNZ’s news website), Mark Richardson (TV3) Patrick Gower (TV3), Chris Lynch (Newstalk ZB) and Martin van Beynen (The Press).’

      Read the whole article here.

      http://nzagainstthecurrent.blogspot.co.nz/2017/07/media-attacks-on-metiria-turei-continue.html
      It is excellent.

      • Psych nurse 1.1.1

        Don’t you just hope the Greens are going to be sitting outside WINZ offices with enrollment forms!.

        • Ed 1.1.1.1

          You’ll read a lot more sense here than in the rancid words of Soper and the other cronies.

          https://twitter.com/hashtag/IAmMetiria?src=hash&lang=en

          And Gordon Campbell om Scoop…

          ‘The horror, the horror…

          Like the Kraken, the Great Metiria Benefit Scandal has woken from its 25 year slumber and is spreading panic and outrage across the nation. As I argued in this column yesterday, the main point of her personal revelation was to highlight
          (a) the inadequacy of the current benefit levels and
          (b) the counter-efficient nature of a punitive response by WINZ to minor infringements of its rules on benefit entitlement. None of which seems to have got much traction, with the media anyway. To the outraged, it doesn’t seem to matter that Turei wasn’t advocating people breaking the rules. She was advising against over-reacting if and when a few poor people bend the rules, to make ends meet.

          Call me irresponsible, but it is a bit galling that some people feel OK about chastising Turei even while they hold their hands out for tax cuts that will benefit them more, proportionately, than the people that Turei is trying to defend. It seems New Zealanders must be more morally pure than I’d suspected. Plainly no-one, but no-one in living memory has ever done work and taken payment under the table without paying tax on it. Because that’s the working poor version of what Turei did long ago, and it’s comforting to know that no-one has ever worked in the black economy, which evidently doesn’t exist. Oh, and its also great to know that no business in this country has ever arranged its finances to ensure that its taxable earnings top out just below the point at which the highest tax rate kicks in. Because that’s the corporate version of the heinous sin that Turei committed. Good to know that sort of thing also never happens, right?

          Apparently, Turei is now to be investigated about what she did back in the early 1990s. Of course, rules are rules. That’s the same mentality that used to condone hanging people for stealing a loaf of bread.’

          http://werewolf.co.nz/2017/07/gordon-campbell-on-act-the-centre-rights-perennial-ugly-duckling/

          • Loop 1.1.1.1.1

            “it doesn’t seem to matter that Turei wasn’t advocating people breaking the rules.”
            Maybe the original intent is as you say. She has since advocated breaking the law (rules) by defending a person she knows for defrauding the system.

            • Ed 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Nelson Mandela advocated breaking the law.
              Mahatma Gandhi advocated breaking the law.

              In history bad laws great broken.

              The alternative is the 14th July.

              And, as you appear to be another ready to cast stones, I do hope you are without sin.
              Ever paid for a cash job?

              • Red

                Paying cash is not a crime eddy, the trader not declaring income to IRD is, if caught by what ever means including declaring you are a fraudster you will be dealt with, this line you run ie he with out sin throw the first stone is so fkn lame and intellectually weak, basically giving every one a pass card for anything, you need To do better than this sunshine, hit the web I am sure you can find a YouTube link somewhere to educate us all with

        • billmurray 1.1.1.2

          Psych nurse.
          Not hoping for what you express but the ” Vote for Labour is a vote for the Greens” will strengthen and further diminish the Labour party vote.
          Labour seems helpless to the Green’s onslaught.
          MoU togetherness my arse.

        • alwyn 1.1.1.3

          “Greens are going to be sitting outside WINZ offices with enrollment forms!.”
          The Green Party’s current lot of MPs will probably be doing precisely that on 25 September.
          With the kickback from the public against MT the party vote could easily drop below the 5% figure and they will all be out of a job. I’m quite sure that the Greens will retain the votes of the people who approve of her sense of entitlement. They may not like the fact that it is not a very large number.
          They are probably going to lose the bulk of their vote which comes from people who actually thought they were a party that was interested in conservation though.

    • Ad 1.2

      Wake the hell up Ed.

      There’s a post on precisely this site, on precisely this article, with over 200 comments.

    • Grafton Gully 1.3

      [deleted]

      [4 month ban for misogyny and class bigotry. It would have been less but there’s no point in having people with no respect and intent on harm coming back close to the election. It’s not a free for all here. Here’s what the Policy says,

      We encourage robust debate and we’re tolerant of dissenting views. But this site run for reasonably rational debate between dissenting viewpoints and we intend to keep it operating that way.

      What we’re not prepared to accept are pointless personal attacks, or tone or language that has the effect of excluding others. We are intolerant of people starting or continuing flamewars where there is little discussion or debate. – weka]

    • billmurray 1.4

      Ed, 6.27pm
      Grow up, Metiria and the Greens are striking at Labour, no one else.

  2. weka 2

    I’ll have a read of Steve Cowan’s post shortly, but I’ve been thinking of doing a post of the positive coverage. If you have examples, especially from the MSM, please put in a comment below.

  3. Nic the NZer 3

    http://bilbo.economicoutlook.net/blog/?p=36534

    Promoter of progressive economics arrives in NZ. Talk on Friday in Wellington.

    • The Chairman 3.1

      I see there is going to be a live streaming of the event.
      https://vstream.victoria.ac.nz/ess/echo/presentation/6dc7bf0a-fa14-47b5-8bc9-3798fe6cd280

    • Bill 3.2

      Might have to alert people to that stream tomorrow. From a piece linked to from the main linked piece (that I’m still reading)…

      A 1994 HNZ report showed that state tenants had seen an increase of 54 percent in total rents in one year alone, while social welfare statistics for the same year revealed a ten-fold increase in those receiving the accommodation supplement. Again in 1994, the Ministry of Housing found between 20,000 and 30,000 households in “serious” housing need, with half of this total living in either inadequate conditions or paying more than half the household income in rent.

      I recall (but cannot find the the source at the moment) that as the rents started rising, people were forced to abandon their housing and share houses on the Porirua estate. Richardson apparently observed the increasing rate of unoccupied public housing as being indicative of the people finding better commercially-available accommodation as a result of forcing market rates onto the public housing. It was an incredible observation in the true sense of the word.

      • The Chairman 3.2.1

        It wasn’t a bad lecture Bill. You may want to consider doing a post on it.

        It’s available on demand.
        https://vstream.victoria.ac.nz/ess/echo/presentation/6dc7bf0a-fa14-47b5-8bc9-3798fe6cd280

        • Bill 3.2.1.1

          Cheers.

          Long story – but I missed it. I’ve just jumped and flicked trough it quickly on ‘replay’ and he seems to fairly accessible. From the snippets I’ve watched, it sounds like he’s essentially promoting a Keynesian view of economics.

          Anyway. I’ll spend some time on it and see if I can nut it down to a post that’s easily understood.

          • The Chairman 3.2.1.1.1

            Keynesianism holds some valid fiscal points, hence could serve us well again going forward.

            I see Jim Bolger attended the event.

            “Anyway. I’ll spend some time on it and see if I can nut it down to a post that’s easily understood”

            Sounds good, Bill. Looking forward to it.

  4. Ed posted this link up post a bit but what I want to address is OT for that thread. Specifically, I want to address this bit:

    Very occasionally, the policy persistence bears fruit. Charter schools may be a shameless taxpayer rort that can’t be justified by their educational outcomes here, or anywhere else in the world. Yet during this past week, Labour has capitulated to endorsing them – mainly to keep Kelvin Davis and Willie Jackson on board – provided there is some cosmetic change to the name, and so long as the new cosmetic name (special character schools) is different from the old cosmetic name (partnership schools) that National has already given them. Heroically, only Act continues to call them what they are: charter schools.

    And that’s why Labour keep losing. They keep endorsing the failed policies of neo-liberalism.

    If you really, really, want to change government this election, vote Green. Nothing less will do.

    • Anne 4.1

      Go ahead. You won’t be missed. Not here anyway. 😎

    • Bill 4.2

      Taking Campbell’s piece as being accurate enough…that’s one stone cold corpse hoping to be getting votes from any notional left.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 4.3

      I think you are judging Labour unfairly, Draco.

      1. Special character schools already exist in NZ. These are included in Integrated Schools.

      State-integrated schools are former private schools that have become integrated into the state system. The Ministry provides funding to integrated schools to build new property and maintain existing integrated property.

      https://education.govt.nz/school/property/integrated-schools/

      2.,

      A state integrated school establishes a partnership with the Crown by way of a Deed of Integration in which the special character of the school is clearly defined and articulated.  The articulation of special character will shape the school’s curriculum, enrolments, staffing processes and culture.

      Types of special character include – Seventh-day Adventist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jewish, Muslim, Steiner, Montessori and non denominational Christian.

      http://www.aisnz.org.nz/special-character

      If these schools are actually doing ok, then it wouldn’t be too difficult to change them into State-integrated schools, under the existing rules for state-integrated schools and allowing them to retain their Special Character.

      3. The other option is for them to be entirely run by the State but allowed to retain
      a special character.

      Becoming a section 156 designated character school
      A designated character school is established under section 156 of the Education Act 1989 (the Act). It is a state school that has a particular character which sets it apart from ordinary state schools and kura kaupapa Māori. The only students who may enrol at a designated character school are those whose parents accept the particular character of the school.
      A designated character school may be established as a new school or it may change from being a mainstream school or a section 155 kura kaupapa Māori, to being one with a designated special character.

      (By the way, I am opposed to Charter Schools.)

      • In Vino 4.3.1

        Yeah, but those integrated schools are all cheating. When they were first integrated, it was on the terms that they had to conform with state schools regarding staffing ratios. For a while that held. But then during the late 90s integrated schools were allowed a little more ‘freedom’ in how they spent their state money combined with the high fees they charged the parents.
        State school staffing ratios are no longer enforced upon integrated schools, and these integrated schools now benefit from smaller class sizes.
        I know – I taught in an integrated school in the early 2000s, and saw the discrepancy in class sizes compared to the state school I had been in.
        This stinks, and I am pleased to see that you oppose Charter Schools, but please don’t set up integrated schools as any kind of ideal. They are not.

      • Jenny Kirk 4.3.2

        Totally agree with you, Tautoko – including the bit about being opposed to Charter Schools. But there’s no getting around the fact that NZ has had special character schools for decades, and Labour said – right from the beginning when these charter schools were set up that (a) Labour doesn’t agree with them but (b) if they still exist when Labour comes into government, then they could be converted to special character schools.
        Its just that this is the first time the media has actually picked up on something Labour said ages ago. And now people are making a big fuss about it.

        • adam 4.3.2.1

          Maybe, and well I know it’s a long shot at this late date. But maybe if labour didn’t have a cupboard full of ideological hogwash. Then the media wouldn’t have anything to pick up on?

          Just a suggestion, but maybe labour might give the voting public credit, and realize people don’t like the radical liberalism bullshit sandwich that labour are offering them.

    • JanM 4.4

      I think there is more to this than meets the eye – ask yourselves seriously why Maori have embraced this policy. Is it all about neo-liberalism or is there another, more fundamental reason why charter schools are seen as a positive by te ao Maori. It is just possible that Labour are genuinely listening. Think Tino Rangatiratanga

  5. halfcrown 5

    Did anybody see that big self-seeking turd called Dung on the TV this morning telling Garner why he would not go with labour as they have no policies?

    I have a question for that self-seeking large bit of shit called Dung, what are your policies apart from self-aggrandisement

  6. Anne 6

    From todays Herald:

    Gutsy woman
    Metiria Turei has spoken for every mother struggling in adverse circumstances, every father who, for reasons of ill health or redundancy, has found himself out of work, every actor, musician and artist trying to survive between jobs, every worker and professional who, when they have needed the support of the state, has had to endure the humiliation of demeaning courses on budgeting and CV writing, assertions that their profession isn’t “real work”, and the accusations, insults, suspicion, snobbery and self-righteous rudeness that is the trademark of Winz officers whenever National are in government.

    She has stood up to smug media moralists, the condemnations of millionaire ministers of the crown, the ugly mean spiritedness which has become part of the New Zealand character and a system that has much greater theft built into it by way of low wages, widespread job insecurity and the ability of the rich to get even richer without lifting a finger for it, off the backs of the rest of us.

    She is one gutsy women so, for the first time in my near 60 years, come September I have decided to vote Green.

    A gutsy letter from Bill Walker of Whangarei.

  7. Christchurch’s pure drinking water could be contaminated due to farming

    Aquifers supplying Christchurch’s pure drinking water may become contaminated with nitrates from intensive agriculture, research suggests.

    The concerns have emerged from recent scientific work by Environment Canterbury (ECan), which shows deep groundwater from the Waimakariri district could be flowing towards Christchurch.

    It is the first time ECan’s modelling has showed that is a possibility.

    Now, who saw that coming?

    Oh, that’s right, all of us. We just have a government in denial of the damage that farming does.

    • ianmac 7.1

      No doubt ECan will pass the problem over to the CCCouncil.
      And what is so wrong is that it was predictable and non reversible.

    • Richard Christie 7.2

      Now, who saw that coming?

      QFT

  8. adam 8

    I find myself completely agreeing with Chris Trotter for a change.

    I think he is right, a section of the NZ middle white class are going use their vote as a ‘lash’.

    I think a large section of the middle class, as proven by many of the hard right commentators here, are ideological purist who can not handle being challenged. A collection who can’t face the fact, that their words, and their deeds, do not mesh up.

    This is not a society that gives people a fair go – almost the exact opposite.

    http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2017/07/the-majestic-equality-of-law-and-its.html

  9. Sanctuary 9

    So, if the Greens get – say – a 4-5% boost out of this and become a true left alternative, WTF will be the point of the Labour party?

  10. Costly basics hitting beneficiaries harder – Stats NZ

    Rising prices for housing, electricity and food have hit beneficiaries particularly hard, the latest Statistics New Zealand data shows.

    Nope, not surprised. Welfare payments haven’t been keeping up with inflation since 1990 or perhaps further back.

    EDIT:

    Statistics New Zealand said costs for beneficiaries rose 0.3 percent in that period, while they fell 0.1 percent for the highest earners.

    An interesting point.

  11. Loop 11

    I have to ask all the political commentators on this site What makes you think voting Green is going to stop a 4th term of national?

    • Red 11.1

      You know the answer it won’t, it just moving the deck chairs between green and labour and ensuring no new deck chairs from the Center, in contrast more will move to national led coalition as seen as the only center government choice, oh wait the missing million.and Verity ( sarcasm)

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Flu vaccine to protect Kiwis this winter
    From today, 1.8 million flu vaccines are available to help protect New Zealanders from winter illness, Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Vaccination against flu is safe and will be a first line of defence against severe illness this winter,” Dr Verrall said. “We can all play a part ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Congratulations to Professor Rangi Mātāmua – New Zealander of the Year
    Associate Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Willow-Jean Prime has congratulated Professor Rangi Mātāmua (Ngāi Tūhoe) who was last night named the prestigious Te Pou Whakarae o Aotearoa New Zealander of the Year. Professor Mātāmua, who is the government's Chief Adviser Mātauranga Matariki, was the winner of the New Zealander ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Further sanctions on Russian and Belarusian political and military figures
    The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has announced further sanctions on political and military figures from Russia and Belarus as part of the ongoing response to the war in Ukraine. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Alekseevna Lvova-Belova ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ambitious new housing development for Whangārei
    A new public housing development planned for Whangārei will provide 95 warm and dry, modern homes for people in need, Housing Minister Megan Woods says. The Kauika Road development will replace a motel complex in the Avenues with 89 three-level walk up apartments, alongside six homes. “Whangārei has a rapidly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • CPTPP bolstered by decision on UK accession
    New Zealand welcomes the substantial conclusion of negotiations on the United Kingdom’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. “Continuing to grow our export returns is a priority for the Government and part of our plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed (rua reo)
    Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown initial Taranaki Maunga collective redress deed Ngā Iwi o Taranaki and the Crown have today initialled the Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Deed, named Te Ruruku Pūtakerongo, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Andrew Little says. “I am pleased to be here for this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Dates announced for 2023 Pacific language weeks
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Barbara Edmonds has announced the 2023 Pacific Language week series, highlighting the need to revitalise and sustain languages for future generations. “Pacific languages are a cornerstone of our health, wellbeing and identity as Pacific peoples. When our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated, our communities thrive,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Over a quarter of New Zealanders to get cost of living relief from tomorrow
    880,000 pensioners to get a boost to Super, including 5000 veterans 52,000 students to see a bump in allowance or loan living costs Approximately 223,000 workers to receive a wage rise as a result of the minimum wage increasing to $22.70 8,000 community nurses to receive pay increase of up ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thousands of community nurses getting April pay boost
    Over 8000 community nurses will start receiving well-deserved pay rises of up to 15 percent over the next month as a Government initiative worth $200 million a year kicks in, says Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall. “The Government is committed to ensuring nurses are paid fairly and will receive ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Speech to Taranaki Chamber of Commerce and TOI Foundation breakfast
    Tākiri mai ana te ata Ki runga o ngākau mārohirohi Kōrihi ana te manu kaupapa Ka ao, ka ao, ka awatea Tihei mauri ora Let the dawn break On the hearts and minds of those who stand resolute As the bird of action sings, it welcomes the dawn of a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government takes next step to lift artists’ incomes
    The Government is introducing a scheme which will lift incomes for artists, support them beyond the current spike in cost of living and ensure they are properly recognised for their contribution to New Zealand’s economy and culture.    “In line with New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the UK, last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ stands with Vanuatu on climate at UN
    New Zealand is welcoming a decision by the United Nations General Assembly to ask the International Court of Justice to consider countries’ international legal obligations on climate change. The United Nations has voted unanimously to adopt a resolution led by Vanuatu to ask the ICJ for an advisory opinion on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • More Police deployed to the frontline
    More Police officers are being deployed to the frontline with the graduation of 59 new constables from the Royal New Zealand Police College today. “The graduation for recruit wing 364 was my first since becoming Police Minister last week,” Ginny Andersen said. “It was a real honour. I want to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Aotearoa New Zealand committed to an enduring partnership with Vanuatu
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met with Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat in Port Vila, today, signing a new Statement of Partnership — Aotearoa New Zealand’s first with Vanuatu. “The Mauri Statement of Partnership is a joint expression of the values, priorities and principles that will guide the Aotearoa New Zealand–Vanuatu relationship into ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government delivers levy change to support Fire and Emergency
    The Government has passed new legislation amending the Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) levy regime, ensuring the best balance between a fair and cost effective funding model. The Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Levy) Amendment Bill makes changes to the existing law to: charge the levy on contracts of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Next steps for New Zealand’s organic regulations
    The Government has passed the Organic Products and Production Bill through its third reading today in Parliament helping New Zealand’s organic sector to grow and lift export revenue. “The Organic Products and Production Bill will introduce robust and practical regulation to give businesses the certainty they need to continue to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Govt helps to protect New Zealanders digital identities
    The Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill, which will make it easier for New Zealanders to safely prove who they are digitally has passed its third and final reading today. “We know New Zealanders want control over their identity information and how it’s used by the companies and services they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Cyclone Taskforce focused on locally-led recovery
    The full Cyclone Gabrielle Recovery Taskforce has met formally for the first time as work continues to help the regions recover and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle. The Taskforce, which includes representatives from business, local government, iwi and unions, covers all regions affected by the January and February floods and cyclone. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Law changed to protect subcontractors
    Changes have been made to legislation to give subcontractors the confidence they will be paid the retention money they are owed should the head contractor’s business fail, Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods announced today. “These changes passed in the Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act safeguard subcontractors who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New congestion busting harbour crossing options unveiled
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has unveiled five scenarios for one of the most significant city-shaping projects for Tāmaki Makaurau in coming decades, the additional Waitematā Harbour crossing. “Aucklanders and businesses have made it clear that the biggest barriers to the success of Auckland is persistent congestion and after years of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New law enhances safety and security in the aviation sector
    The Government has passed new legislation that ensures New Zealand’s civil aviation rules are fit for purpose in the 21st century, Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan says. The Civil Aviation Bill repeals and replaces the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and the Airport Authorities Act 1966 with a single modern law ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Coroners Amendment Bill passes third reading
    A Bill aimed at helping to reduce delays in the coronial jurisdiction passed its third reading today. The Coroners Amendment Bill, amongst other things, will establish new coronial positions, known as Associate Coroners, who will be able to perform most of the functions, powers, and duties of Coroners. The new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Review into Stuart Nash’s communications with donors
    The Prime Minister has asked the Cabinet Secretary to conduct a review into communications between Stuart Nash and his donors. The review will take place over the next two months.  The review will look at whether there have been any other breaches of cabinet collective responsibility or confidentiality, or whether ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • 600 more workers to support recovery
    The new Recovery Visa to help bring in additional migrant workers to support cyclone and flooding recovery has attracted over 600 successful applicants within its first month. “The Government is moving quickly to support businesses bring in the workers needed to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland floods,” Michael ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Bills to vet school boards, contractors pass first reading
    Bills to ensure non-teaching employees and contractors at schools, and unlicensed childcare services like mall crèches are vetted by police, and provide safeguards for school board appointments have passed their first reading today. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No. 3) and the Regulatory Systems (Education) Amendment Bill have now ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Bill recognises unique role and contribution of Wānanga and Kura Kaupapa Māori
    Wānanga will gain increased flexibility and autonomy that recognises the unique role they fill in the tertiary education sector, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The Education and Training Amendment Bill (No.3), that had its first reading today, proposes a new Wānanga enabling framework for the three current ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Foreign Affairs Minister talks to the Vanuatu Government on Pacific issues
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to Vanuatu today, announcing that Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further relief and recovery assistance there, following the recent destruction caused by Cyclones Judy and Kevin. While in Vanuatu, Minister Mahuta will meet with Vanuatu Acting Prime Minister Sato Kilman, Foreign Minister Jotham ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Major investment to support the safety of frontline Police and communities
    The Government is backing Police and making communities safer with the roll-out of state-of-the-art tools and training to frontline staff, Police Minister Ginny Andersen said today. “Frontline staff face high-risk situations daily as they increasingly respond to sophisticated organised crime, gang-violence and the availability of illegal firearms,” Ginny Andersen said.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Further laws passed to keep communities safe from gang offending
    The Government has provided Police with more tools to crack down on gang offending with the passing of new legislation today which will further improve public safety, Justice Minister Kiri Allan says. The Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Bill amends existing law to: create new targeted warrant and additional search powers ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Standard kerbside recycling part of new era for waste system
    The Government today announced far-reaching changes to the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of waste, ushering in a new era for New Zealand’s waste system. The changes will ensure that where waste is recycled, for instance by households at the kerbside, it is less likely to be contaminated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New laws will crack down on gang profits and criminal assets
    New legislation passed by the Government today will make it harder for gangs and their leaders to benefit financially from crime that causes considerable harm in our communities, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan says. Since the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 came into effect police have been highly successful in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Stuart Nash dismissed from Cabinet
    This evening I have advised the Governor-General to dismiss Stuart Nash from all his ministerial portfolios. Late this afternoon I was made aware by a news outlet of an email Stuart Nash sent in March 2020 to two contacts regarding a commercial rent relief package that Cabinet had considered. In ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Tax incentive to boost housing passes third reading
    Legislation to enable more build-to-rent developments has passed its third reading in Parliament, so this type of rental will be able to claim interest deductibility in perpetuity where it meets the requirements. Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods, says the changes will help unlock the potential of the build-to-rent sector and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Law levels playing field for low-emissions commuting
    A law passed by Parliament today exempts employers from paying fringe benefit tax on certain low emission commuting options they provide or subsidise for their staff.  “Many employers already subsidise the commuting costs of their staff, for instance by providing car parks,” Environment Minister David Parker said.  “This move supports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • 40 years of Closer Economic Relations with Australia
    Today marks the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), our gold standard free trade agreement between New Zealand and Australia. “CER was a world-leading agreement in 1983, is still world-renowned today and is emblematic of both our countries’ commitment to free trade. The WTO has called it the world’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Amendments to mass arrivals legislation
    The Government is making procedural changes to the Immigration Act to ensure that 2013 amendments operate as Parliament intended.   The Government is also introducing a new community management approach for asylum seekers. “While it’s unlikely we’ll experience a mass arrival due to our remote positioning, there is no doubt New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Progress on public service pay adjustment
    The Government welcomes progress on public sector pay adjustment (PSPA) agreements, and the release of the updated public service pay guidance by the Public Service Commission today, Minister for the Public Service Andrew Little says. “More than a dozen collective agreements are now settled in the public service, Crown Agents, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Further legislation introduced to support cyclone recovery
    The Government has introduced the Severe Weather Emergency Recovery Legislation Bill to further support the recovery and rebuild from the recent severe weather events in the North Island. “We know from our experiences following the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes that it will take some time before we completely understand the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Duty relief for cyclone-affected businesses
    Further assistance is now available to businesses impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle, with Customs able to offer payment plans and to remit late-payments, Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri has announced. “This is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to assist economic recovery in the regions,” Meka Whaitiri said. “Cabinet has approved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Thousands of sole parents to be better off after child support changes
    More than 41,000 sole parent families will be better off with a median gain of $20 a week Law change estimated to help lift up to 14,000 children out of poverty Child support payments will be passed on directly to people receiving a sole parent rate of main benefit, making ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-04-01T19:20:19+00:00