web analytics

Damien Grant thinks National is stuffed

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, February 26th, 2018 - 44 comments
Categories: Amy Adams, Judith Collins, national, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges - Tags:

Credit where credit is due.  In the past Damien Grant has received some rather negative opinions posted on this site about his articles.  For instance he was awarded the doofus of the week award for his weird views about tertiary education.  But his latest article deserves praise and consideration.  Because he effectively sums up National’s current problems.

The headline is that he believes the National Party is a relic and should be dismantled.

He says this:

The problem with the National Party it is a broad church, covering the socially conservative MP for Pakuranga Simeon Brown and the almost libertarian Paul Goldsmith. Between these two gentlemen is a wide variety of perspectives, with most MPs and members having no clear ideology at all.

National was organised in 1936 to combat the rising success of the Labour Party. The relatively progressive Liberal Party and the conservative Reform Party combined forces to forestall what they saw as the common enemy. National governments have included the de-regulating post-war administration of Sidney Holland and the interventionist Robert Muldoon.

National has never had an underlying belief system, even if a few of its members occasionally stumble across an economic text book. They are committed to keeping Labour out of power but never really sure what to do when they find themselves in office.

I too have struggled with defining National’s primary belief system although self interest features heavily.

Grant then gets stuck into the aspiring leaders.  On Amy Adams and Simon Bridges he says:

Amy Adams has proved a competent minister but has never exposed a clear ideology and Simon Bridges most significant achievement has been yelling at John Campbell.

That Bridges clip where he looses his cool completely is going to get some coverage if he becomes leader.

Judith Collins claims in a recent interview that you do not leave a meeting with her without knowing what she thinks, but I’ve struggled to find anything that indicates an ideology other than a firm belief in “strong leadership”.

Great.

Banning smoking in prisons and destroying the property of boy racers implies that Collins is an old-school conservative but we are reading the tea leaves rather than her manifesto.

She did bring in private prisons, which gets her a small tick from me, but it is small beer in what is an otherwise empty brewery.

And Grant thinks that National should split into a libertarian party and a conservative party.

Despite their recent high polling, National is a relic and it should divide into its constitute parts. A fractured centre-right collection of parties competing in the market place of ideas is what MMP demands and is the best way to combat the unrelenting ideology of an ever-expanding welfare state espoused by the current government.

 

This may reflect the thinking of some National MPs.  The next few months will show if the Borg like entity that is the National Party will continue or if the right has learned the lessons of MMP and the need for Governments to reflect a diverse array of views.

44 comments on “Damien Grant thinks National is stuffed ”

  1. Zorb6 1

    This -‘She did bring in private prisons, which gets her a small tick from me’,gets a big cross from me,and puts me off anything else he has to say.

  2. One Anonymous Bloke 2

    Grant thinks that National should split into a libertarian party and a conservative party.

    They already did, but some of the libertarians are just intelligent enough to notice that ACT get’s 0% support, and their lifestyle depends on being funded through taxation.

    So they lie about their values and policies instead.

  3. Ad 3

    If Labour’s polling is going to stay anywhere near 40%, the core rationale for National starting up in the first place still stands: you need an integrated beast to fight the other integrated beast.

    But Mickey your very last point is the telling one: the right never split into factions like Labour did in the early 1990s.

    The main reason for this sustained unity is precisely because National is ideologically unfocused. Labour had a really clear reforming programme in the late 1980s, and it split and nearly killed them at the first Bolger election.

    Beware ideological over-coherence.

    I’m still going for Collins. That would put them in the late 20s by the 2020 election. After that they can split apart and die, and I will be there to tramp the dirt down for that one.

    • greywarshark 3.1

      But JC sounded so compelling, so cool, thoughtful and wise on Radionz this morning! And she thinks that Jacinda is an opponent that has to be held to account, or something very similar.

      An ‘opponent’. That says it all. This isn’t about politics and making decisions and doing things for the nation, this is a tightly-followed sporting contest.

      This follows other sell-outs of our national interest by National. They want to link hands with international fighters to form a Super-Group. I think they have linked in to Ultimate Fighting without any let or hindrance from our sponge-like citizenry.

      Ultimate Fighting Championship – Wikipedia
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Fighting_Championship
      The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada, that is owned and operated by parent company WME–IMG. It is the largest MMA promotion in the world and features the top-ranked fighters of the sport.
      Founded‎: ‎November 1993; 24 years ago
      Parent‎: ‎William Morris Endeavor
      Founders‎: ‎Art Davie‎; ‎Bob Meyrowitz‎; ‎Campbell …
      Industry‎: ‎Mixed martial arts

      MMA is Mixed Martial Arts more fully explained below. Look for the exquisite typo which probably explains the genesis of a lot of aggression-directed sport these days!
      Most of the fighters of MMA are trained in wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, and kick boxing. … The MMA would not have got this wide popularity without UFC. Many people think that Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Marital Arts are different. But the real fact is that they stand for the same thing.Dec 25, 2010

      • Ad 3.1.1

        I have a very occasional very bad liking for MMA.

        Remember, MMA has supplanted both WWE and Boxing in under three years.
        There is highly popular visceral appeal in Collins’ combative style. Trump doesn’t do Beta males: he eats them, and his combative version of politics is far and away the dominant mode in the developed world.

        Combat in politics is on the rise. Collins understands her base is male, and the National vote has a huge male and older male preference. Red meat and just punch the fuck out of them – it has tremendous appeal.

        We are one of the very last exceptions against this style of politics.

        Collins v Ardern is like MMA v Darts.

        Get head smashed in v make interesting points.

        • BM 3.1.1.1

          Younger women(under 30) are a hell of a lot more aggressive and confident then what women used to be, no shrinking violets here.

          I see a Judith Collins type person appealing more to them than a sickly sweet Jacinda Ardern,

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.1.1.1

            😆

            Labour is well ahead of National — particularly among women and those aged under 55.

            Newsroom.

            Go Judith! Should be good for at least ten percent. Minus ten percent that is.

            • BM 3.1.1.1.1.1

              Men vote National, Women vote Labour.

              Want more woman voting National get a woman as leader, there’s your extra 10% right there for National

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                😆

                Keep telling yourself that BM. It’s a pity that Judith has no chance whatsoever of becoming the leader of the National Party, but we can live in hope, eh.

                • BM

                  I agree she hasn’t got a chance, they’re going to go for Amy Adams.

                  Personally, I’d prefer Judith but’s it’s not going to happen the steady as she goes approach seems to be what National prefers.

                  • One Anonymous Bloke

                    Amy’s probably good for about minus five or six percent. She has zero accomplishments and too many conflicts of interest.

                    • BM

                      Maybe the thinking is that she can be the new Ardern while Peters is playing PM?

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      Maybe the “thinking” is a load of witless projection? That wouldn’t surprise me.

                    • patricia bremner

                      Amy is for the farming lobby, and if she takes Bridges as DP he will be for the Oil and Gas lobby, meanwhile Steven will cook the books?

                      Mitchell will be kept on the back burner, as Key was with Brash.

                      Their beliefs. 1. We are right (literally)
                      2. We are for Capital.
                      3. We are for the top 28% of NZ.
                      ( Don’t tell the other 16% of our supporters.)
                      4. We are for the world top 1% and tax havens.
                      5. We are against Unions of any kind except,
                      Federated Farmers, Taxpayers Union, et al.
                      6. We are for anything which makes us money.
                      7. We like to privatise property and make the public
                      pay any debt.

                      Did I miss anything? LOL.
                      Collins has her Orivida albatross.

              • SpaceMonkey

                I had no idea… all this time John Key was in drag.

              • mac1

                Bugger, BM. Just when I thought I’d got my gender identity sorted then you write this! “Men vote National, Women vote Labour.”

                And me a Labour voter.

                I mean, I stopped laughing years ago when Sir Bob Jones pronounced that no left winger had a sense of humour. And now this!

              • Incognito

                Men vote National, Women vote Labour, Humans vote Green.

                CIFY

                I couldn’t let that one go 😉

            • alwyn 3.1.1.1.1.2

              Very selective poll you have picked isn’t it?
              That poll was SIX months ago. Before the election in fact.
              Nothing more up to date? Or have the numbers gone down the tibes?

              • One Anonymous Bloke

                None of the above: I just don’t put that much effort into countering BM’s derply held conceits.

            • cleangreen 3.1.1.1.1.3

              Ha ha 100% there OAB,.

              Collins is a very large red pimple on the rump of the national party rump just as Joyce is.

              S Joyce is a cousin to Barnaby (failed) joyce also therefore S Joyce is definitely is a very large pimple “The Scarlet Pimpernel” no less.

              He will destroy the ‘old national party’ for sure.

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Pimpernel

          • paul andersen 3.1.1.1.2

            stop stalking young women and start talking to young women.

          • Andrea 3.1.1.1.3

            “Younger women(under 30) are a hell of a lot more aggressive and confident then what women used to be, ”

            You must have missed the Suffragettes, the ambo’s in WWI, the women doing the news in Ghouta today, the women taking action on FGM.

            I wish you would be precise about what exactly which sort of young woman under 30 would find charm and appeal about Ms Collins that they could count on to be there into the future.

        • greywarshark 3.1.1.2

          Ad thanks for that meaty summation!

  4. ianmac 4

    Mark Mitchell. Wasn’t he as a very Right wing candidate, planted to become a leader of a breakaway Religious/Conservative Party?
    At least with our current Government we can fairly easily see its various parts whereas in National we can only guess at its wide-ranging amorphous parts.

  5. Carolyn_Nth 5

    Methinks the libertarian, randian hero wannabes want a bigger party, with more clout in government.

    Be careful what you wish for.

  6. tc 6

    “The next few months will show if the Borg like entity that is the National Party will continue…”

    This assume the backers have given up and left them to it. IMO they’ll do no such thing as they bought and paid for it so they’ll continue to drive it with the MSM puppets cheering the ride.

  7. AB 7

    Sorry – did a little puke over the floor on reading “competing in the marketplace of ideas” and have only just recovered.

  8. Phil 8

    Christ on a bike, this is pretty fucking stupid.

    It wasn’t long ago that media commentators and some of the far left were calling for the death of the Labour Party, because they didn’t know what they stood for, and were just National-lite, so on and so forth.

    Before that, after the 2002 defeat, National was supposedly dead in the water then, too. But Ad’s point in post #3 “you need an integrated beast to fight the other integrated beast.” is still the core factor why we’re stuck with two parties for the foreseeable future.

  9. Michelle 9

    We know the gnats stand for sell everything and everyman for himself not the kind of NZ many want.

  10. Chris 10

    The left shouldn’t be giving the right advice on how to become the government, on what’s “best” for the right.

  11. Cemetery Jones 11

    I can’t stand National, but this is some sloppy logic from the OP:

    “The next few months will show if the Borg like entity that is the National Party will continue or if the right has learned the lessons of MMP and the need for Governments to reflect a diverse array of views.”

    So an article which highlights how National is ideologically all over the park is evidence that National is a ‘Borg like entity’? I feel like you really phoned this one in.

  12. Stuart Munro 12

    Meh – National should split into several parts.

    The state misappropriation profiteers should be incarcerated – there’s simply no excuse for them.

    Then you have the hard right wonks – fanbois of Hayeck or Rand, they should be in ACT, but they want seats so they lie. Lying erodes the validity of the parliamentary model and should not be tolerated. Hopefully Curran’s media reforms will shine a bit of UV on this type.

    There’s a large bunch of ant-social Gnats with no particular policy position except anti-Green or anti-left. These are the salauds, typified by the whale, though of course he is not fit to lead them.

    And then there are moderate social conservatives who may or may not have been duped by media rhetoric about Bill English’s financial competence. They are not intrinsically bad and regret the association with the salauds and the wonks. For National to prosper this is the group they must pretend to be until their vote recovers.

    Might take a while.

  13. Simon Louisson 13

    National as a political entity is bereft of a coherent ideology.
    Statements by the contenders for the party leadership show the only thing they and their party stand for is to grab power so they can enact policies that assist the wealthy – cut taxes, deregulate and pave the way for businesses and privileged individuals to make more money.
    In their nine years in office National damaged a myriad of things including rivers and lakes, the RMA, our public and mental health systems etc etc etc but it is difficult to point to one thing that John Key and National could point to as an achievement.
    The leadership contenders show equally vapid policies — none espouse any clear view of what the party stands for and what policies it should promote. Their statements are telling.
    Simon Bridges says his priority would be to “grow the pie” – as classic a ‘motherhood and apple pie is good’ statement as you can get.
    In the DomPost’s article about who will be the next leader, he makes a series of totally meaningless platitudes, as do all the other contenders.
    • We’ve got a strong economic direction (but nothing is identified)
    • I’ve got a clear sense of plan – it will involve a reshuffle
    Similarly with Amy Adams. Her first priority is to “make New Zealanders know they have a government that is competent and capable”.
    • I think our economic settings and policies are a core part of who we are – sensible fiscal and economic management
    • National will care about people’s futures and opportunities
    • National will be careful about how it spends money
    Steven Joyce is even more nebulous despite saying there should be a “laser-like” focus on what New Zealanders are looking for from their government.
    • National will give individuals and families a chance to get ahead
    • My first priority is to “get the team together and allocate responsibilities”.
    Judith Collins says she “likes to hope that voters like a lot about National”.
    She says it is very important when National is back in government “that we are very, very clear on our policies”. Only problem is she gives no hint of what the policies are except to “we are too far to the Left from our base”.
    Her first priority as PM: “We have a fabulous caucus, 56 of us, very committed, many of whom have a taste of government and are wondering when can we get there again.”
    Isn’t great the voters will be so well informed.

  14. soddenleaf 14

    Power and influence are a lot easier to manage when there’s an ideological vacuum.

    Add in press censorship and an ideology that produces said malaise; neolib leave it to the market; the National party have cornered the niche.

  15. patricia bremner 15

    Wasn’t about the voters was it??

  16. I will note that I have agreed with Damien’s assessment that this is the logical move for National in the past, (one of my earliest posts as a contributor included that opinion, although I generally referred to the resulting factions as a Liberal Party and a Conservative Party, given that socially liberal nats aren’t really libertarians per se, and do believe in having more regulation than ACT does) but I can’t see it happening in the immediate future for a few reasons:

    1) The conservatives feel like they have more influence being part of a coalition party, and that they can string right-wing liberals along when their faction of the party is in ascendance to get more done.

    2) Conservatives are by nature deferential to authority they agree with to some degree and would need a pretty big betrayal to stab the liberals in the back.

    3) The liberal faction of National isn’t ready to field leadership contenders at this point, and you can’t split without a good enough leader to take you into the next election.

    4) The liberal faction of National won’t want to risk their chance at winning as a coalition party in 2020, as they still (erroneously) think they were robbed.

    Now, if the leader they’re about to elect does as disastrously in 2020 as we all hope, and the conservatives manage to annoy the liberals enough while they’re in charge, a split will become a real possibility, especially if it’s Collins who wins the leadership selection.

    • McFlock 16.1

      interesting counterpoints.

      I’d add:

      5) the inflated egos they get from being the “largest party” in parliament, regardless of whetherthat translates to government. Adds to their sense of entitlement. If they split 50/50, they might be small that Labour (shock horror)

  17. Tanz 17

    Dream on.

  18. Tamati Tautuhi 18

    I can see the National Party turning to Cactus in the near future ?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart Nash
    This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to Auckland
    The Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses
    $25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home
    80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASA
    The Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in Australia
    The Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Health and safety action plan for ports
    The health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBT
    Bikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with Fiji
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New legislation to streamline Cyclone recovery
    The Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi families
    Approximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living
    $1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-03-22T09:56:40+00:00