Election narratives

Written By: - Date published: 11:11 am, May 27th, 2013 - 123 comments
Categories: election 2014, greens, labour, leadership, national - Tags:

National has set out its narrative for the 2014 election.

Election between centre right and far left – Key

National is facing the “notoriously difficult” task of winning a third term against an Opposition increasingly dragged to the “far left” by the Greens, Prime Minister John Key says.

Third terms are not “notoriously difficult” for National governments, every single one of them so far has run for three terms. If Key fails to secure a third term he will be the first National leader to do so.

So basically the strategy is fear mongering about the Greens.

“Normally elections are fought between the centre left and the centre right. That is not what’s going to take place next year. David Shearer has cut his cloth and it is wrapped around Russel Norman.

“But that now becomes an election between the centre right and the far left.”

With nothing positive to run on, the Nats will be campaigning on fear. Same as previous campaigns – remember “the hydra”? (Ironic from a government of National, ACT, Maori Party and Peter Dunne – no?)

So how should Labour and the Greens respond? Like most here I would like to see them “front foot” the issue. Both National and Labour have moved from the centre, and this election offers a choice between clearly right and clearly left alternatives (see Karol’s How far right is John Key’s “centre”?). A Labour / Green coalition will be a government of the Left (KiwiBuild, NZ Power, capital gains tax). This is necessary because the government of the Right (privatisation, pillage the environment, beneficiary bashing) has failed.

But the left also needs to get its own narrative out there. “This is an election between the 98% and 2%”. “This is an election between a fair go and the rich get richer”. “This is an election between building our future and selling it”. I’m sure that you can add your own suggestions…

123 comments on “Election narratives ”

  1. One Anonymous Knucklehead 1

    …between a living wage and a living hell.

    …between a river and a sewer.

    …between New Zealand and the National Party.

  2. shorts 2

    agree with front fronting it – also the Greens and Labour shouldn’t engage with any left vs right type talk – rather stick with the types of subjects mentioned already, that is frame it in language & terms everyone understands

  3. Monty 3

    If the election is between the 98% and the 2% then why are the Nats still solid at 48-49 %. Maybe it is because their economic policy is actually benefitting all New Zealanders?

    • Colonial Viper 3.2

      That’s a very important comment Monty. And you should keep bringing it up because it demonstrates an inability or short fall of the Left to demonstrate their cause and their philosophy to ordinary people.

      • Monty 3.2.1

        Maybe Viper the reality is that the extreme left policies of the greens are scaring off the moderates in Labour who are maintaining their support for National. Just think that for the past six or seven years the Nats have consistently polled in the late forties or early fifties. Nothing has shaken this extraordinary level of polling. This is the problem for Labour who instead of trying to control the centre ground, are sliding to the extreme left policies of the Greens. It is economic policy that controls at the end of the day. Everything else is pretty much a sideshow by comparison.

        The National policies are paying dividends as much as you hate to admit it. That is why Shearer is reluctant to talk about the recent positive economic results, and Parker saying Labour would have returned NZ to surplus in the same timeframe as National are on track to do is just lame. Reality check for the left. The people of NZ trust National more than they trust the greens and Labour.

        • Jackal 3.2.1.1

          When you can highlight at least one “extreme policy” of the Greens, then your comment might mean something.

          If it was economic policy that controls how people vote, then why is National polling so high? Their economic track record is atrocious! What recent positive economic results are you talking about?

          BTW, the 2 vs the 98 is a percentage taken from the population. National only gained 24% of the populations vote at the last election. Try not to get these things confused.

          Clearly right wing economic policy isn’t benefitting all New Zealanders. In fact wages in real terms have declined for 16 to 20 year old males. Take into account increases to the cost of living and most Kiwis are a lot worse off since National gained power.

          The problem is that the most adversely affected by Nationals policies don’t typically vote. That’s the real issue (like always) that the left faces… Getting enough people out to vote.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 3.2.1.2

          As Jackal said: name one Green policy you consider to be “far Left” and explain why. Put up or shut up.

          • Frank Macskasy 3.2.1.2.1

            … and a little girl waits.

            Muted silence from Monty.

            *tumbleweed rolls through*

          • aerobubble 3.2.1.2.2

            The Mighty River prospectus declared that there were regulatory risks, and everyone knows that only the far left would dare rationally speak to this risk using the free market ideal that mainstream home owners don’t have the opportunity to collect their bargaining power like big companies do and so should also be able to level the free market playing field. This is so wrong, Key was livid, only the far left would use the free market against him, the evil bastards.

  4. ghostrider888 4

    David Shearer, “(Labour) are a centre-left party…we’re a broad church…covering (people) from the far-left to the right.” -on Todays mid-day news, which also repeated the Labour / Greens “closing the gap on National”.

    Closing The Gap.Capital Gains Tax.Growing True Community.Taking Green Choices.

    • gobsmacked 4.1

      Did he actually say “right”? Which news bulletin was it?

      • ghostrider888 4.1.1

        apologies gs, he definitely stated “right”; it is just that, as with all tasks, I alternate programmes, so, for now, I cannot recall, yet you have my word.

  5. Huginn 5

    . . . between tech savvy, digital independence and serfdom

    Key’s left/right story overlooks the Blue Greens who left National after listening to Parliament debate the 3strikes legislation.

  6. vto 6

    The personal.
    Expose Key’s lies. Call him a liar – someone (then slug it out).

    Attack him personally. Get stuck into thim personally. After all, his policies and lies have a completely direct effect on our personal lives, so return the favour.

    • Monty 6.1

      The Labour Party has been doing this for seven years. Has not worked yet. Why do you think it will work going forward?

      On the right we laugh at this failed tactic and call it Key Derangement Syndrome or KDS for short. How about doing what John Key did to Clark. He got good policy in place and essentially ignored Clark. He was positive, and was credible. The left have failed to be positive and seem to be anti every progressive policy and therefore are deemed to have no credibility.

      • McFlock 6.1.1

        the nat campaign against clark didn’t get personal? Surely you can’t be serious…

        • lprent 6.1.1.1

          “Monty” knows that. He has been around in one guise or another for a very long time and frequently attacked politicians at a personal level. Now I’m sure that he’d argue it was all policy, however that is a rather moth-eaten figleaf bearing in mind some of his comments over the years.

          • Monty 6.1.1.1.1

            Lynn, I have only ever commented under the name Monty. Never ever under any other name. I have avoided the standard for a long time as well. I find it something akin to a whole bunch of lefties locked in a sound proof room all shouting what a wanker John Key is and all righties are evil. Problem is that the audience is also very limited and no one has been convinced

            • felix 6.1.1.1.1.1

              lolz

            • lprent 6.1.1.1.1.2

              I was looking at email addresses. The earliest Monty comments used a different email.

              Noone ever convinces anyone on the nets. They always have a spontaneous shift of opinion on a different subject a few years later. The net is for disagreeing.

              If you are seeing a concerted opinion here then you must have interesting problems with your grip on reality. You do read sort of like the followers of Small Gods in the desert… But that is a bit of a starvation diet.

              Seeing what is actually there is usually more fulfilling. But you’d have to resist your usual technique of painting a shoot me target on your forehead to be able to see past the hail of lead you draw on yourself. Trying to “win points” is a fools game. It is more interesting looking at the diversity of opinion for pinchable ideas….

      • vto 6.1.2

        yes i am well aware of all of that and rob’s blackadder scene below … he he.

        but it don’t matter, from this angle it is a version of vengeance for the havoc wrought to date and to follow due to key’s deceiving ways and bad policies. Personal effects deserve personal response.

        best listen to someone who knows how to win elections…

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.3

        He got good policy in place

        Bullet points are not policy.
        “The broad similarity to many of the Labour-led government’s main policies has seen National dubbed “Labour-lite”.

        and essentially ignored Clark.

        And that’s outright BS – exactly as what I’ve come to expect from the right. They lie and rewrite history to suit their delusions. It wasn’t a direct attack but it was an attack nonetheless.

    • Rob 6.2

      Reminiscent of the at great scene from Black Adder 4 , where the new plan to engage the enemy at the trenches was revealed as being exactly the same as the last 19 plans that preceded it. The defence of this “new” approach is that enemy wouldn’t think that they would be dumb enough to keep repeating it and therefore gaining an element of surprise.

      Smart think Vto, keep that sh*t going!

    • georgecom 6.3

      I don’t endorse getting stuck into Key personally.

      But, the framing of his Government and the alternative will paint him in poor terms. Building NZ future vs selling NZ future is a good one. NZ for the many vs NZ for the few. The shonky deals and pocket lining practises of this Government can be brought to focus with framing of a Government for the 5% vs a Government for the rest of us. Paint them as being out of touch, yesterdays thinkers who only really care about their mates.

      That “nice man John Key” may be ok to have a beer with but he isn’t doing the things that lay a foundation for you and your kids future. You may sort oflike him but he’s a light weight when it comes to knowing what needs to be done for your future. Yup, you’ll have a beer with your mate but do you want him dating your sister?

  7. Yes 7

    Clark lost the election because everyone saw through the election giveaways. Also the need to get involved in everything NZ ers were doing. Personal freedoms were being watered down..hence the nanny state comments. The general public will all fight when personal freedoms are closed down. Let’s be honest David Parker is so absent and david shearer trust rusty more than david

  8. karol 8

    The general public will all fight when personal freedoms are closed down.

    Yep they are out on the streets in ever growing numbers protesting against the current government’s anti-democratic policies and processes.

    • Yes 8.1

      Protesting is a mechanism of the left…there was one big protest at the general election. That is the only protest that has stood the test of time. These marches achieve nothing under either government.

      • karol 8.1.1

        OK, then we can expect a massive swing away from Key’s government as they protest at the way it’s gradually closing down a lot of democratic freedoms.

      • Lanthanide 8.1.2

        “These marches achieve nothing under either government.”

        Seems like National backed down over mining national parks. For a while, anyway.

        • marty mars 8.1.2.1

          The gnats are like a homing torpedo on that one, they pretended to change direction but never took their eyes off the target, not even slightly.

          But in terms of marches – their value imo is in showing marchers that they are not alone and that others agree with them thus building momentum for whatever they want changed. I think of the Anti-tour protests – they changed our society and helped people (at that time) realise that they weren’t alone in their concerns and rage, that others were with them and that they didn’t have to just sit there and take it.

  9. Enough is Enough 9

    “This is an election between the 98% and 2%”

    Really? That one is a bit silly and just falls flat because evidently a very large proportion of that 98% vote for National.

    Rather than attacking those voters who are part of the 98% but still vote National, why don’t we engage with them and find out why the fuck they support Key?

    They haven’t all been conned. They have legitimate reasons for not wantng Labour. So rather than throwing meaningless slogans about, why don’t we engage with the enemy and find out why they prefer National’s corrupt policies over the Green’s (and to an extent Labour’s) progressive policy platform.

    I am not talking about the super rich here either. I mean Joe Average with 2.4 kinds a massive mortgage, two jobs, National Voter.

  10. Tigger 10

    The collapse of the right into National falsely buoys their numbers. I never count Act out and those who ignore the Conservatives will regret it. But Key remains lucky that neither is currently hoovering up his vote. This will change though. National will splinter. It’s not if, it’s when.

  11. unpcnzcougar 11

    One of the biggest things for me is a CGT. I don’t want to have worked all my life paying off a mortgage with after tax money to have it stolen from my children in a CGT. Now being clear about this if I leave my house to my children it is not subject to CGT. However, if they decide to sell as they would to pay down their own mortgages then it is subject to CGT. That is my understanding of how the CGT will work. If I am wrong then feel free to correct me.

      • Colonial Viper 11.1.1

        If that house is left to them in an estate, and is not the childrens primary home but instead could be considered an invetment property, a CGT might very well apply to it using a baseline value starting from when it was no longer a primary home.

        The response to unpc is basically this: if you make a financial gain on a capital asset, you should expect to be taxed on it, just like you would if you made a financial gain from doing work.

        • unpcnzcougar 11.1.1.1

          Thank you. It is as I thought.

          • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1.1

            Well, no, you had no idea. Also, the CGT applicable would be zero when your family home first enters the estate because the baseline value of the home would not have changed.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.2

      The CGT doesn’t apply to the family home.

      One question: how did you come to the false belief that it did? Did you make it up yourself or has someone made a fool of you? Liar, or dupe?

      Now you’ve been brought up to speed you’ll know not to repeat the lie, I’m sure.

      • unpcnzcougar 11.2.1

        Yes it does say no CGT on family home. What happens if the children (which they will) sell that family home? This is a legitimate question. I can’t find anything that says it is not taxable if they sell to pay down their own mortgages.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.2.1.1

          As opposed to making it their family home do you mean? The policy is pretty straightforward, do you need it spelled out for you?

          • unpcnzcougar 11.2.1.1.1

            Actually yes. But preferably without the undertone of rudeness.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.2.1.1.1.1

              You post a comment conflating taxation and theft and expect not to get treated with contempt?

              Grow a thicker skin and don’t be so PC.

              The CGT will only apply to gains made after the law is passed.

              • unpcnzcougar

                Dude, my assumption was correct. It is not a lie. The question was posed as to how to get former Labour party voters back from the Nats. I answered with a legitimate concern that lots of people have.
                I am not being PC – simply asking for politeness. This is a problem as people view Labour and supporters as being quite nasty. So maybe you – yes you – could start by unhardening your attitude towards someone who was a Labour voter who simply asked a question.

                • Colonial Viper

                  Simply put, people don’t trust the motives for your question, Miss Sweetness and Light.

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                  So, what was it that stopped you from using Google to find the policy and read it for yourself? What was it that stopped you from doing that to gain your “understanding of how the GCT will work” ?

                  If you didn’t bother looking at the policy, where did your “understanding” come from, and why are you rude enough to think people should do your Google searches for you? Oh, and, if you’re so un-PC, why are you whining about rudeness?

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                  Oh, so you want people to be polite to you? What exactly do you think political correctness is?

                  When you say “people” view Labour as “nasty”, those are called “weasel words”, a particularly nasty way to tell lies.

                  This is a problem as many people think that calling yourself a cougar is a sign of ugliness, desperation, or both, but haha don’t be so politically correct, where’s your sense of humour?

                  • weka

                    Actually, leaving aside content in this thread, I can’t see a good reason for the rudeness either, except as a way of getting people to shut up. Sometimes the debate culture here is very poor, other times it’s tedious.

                    There are people who don’t post here because of the rudeness and the outright attacks and even bullying. To an extent I like the rough and tumble of the place, but I also think we would have more fun if we engaged the issues more rather than being mean to people who say stupid things, or weasel words, or whatever.

                    I also think it’s completely acceptable for people to ask for explanations for things rather than having to go look everything up on google. We are a community of people, and most of us come here for human engagement.

                    • weka

                      Having reread cougar’s comments, I find their questions completely valid. That they can’t ask them here and get straight answers without ridicule is bullshit. For god’s sake, how many people do you think get put of ts by this kind of shit?

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      Yeah, it was a straight question, which by some amazing coincidence exactly mimicked wingnut spin, asked by someone who says taxation is theft.

                      What charming naivety.

                    • weka

                      I wasn’t talking about their behaviour, I was talking about yours.

                      oh, and btw, not everyone fits into your notions of political boxes.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      I wasn’t talking about their naivety. I was talking about yours.

                    • infused

                      I love when OAK posts. A true reflection of why people don’t vote for labour.

                    • weka

                      “I wasn’t talking about their naivety. I was talking about yours.”

                      Obviously. But what is your point? That you think it’s ok to be rude to anyone you judge as rightwing? The original question was valid, there were things about CGT I didn’t understand and could have learned from, I’m sure that is true for other readers, and all you did was practice your ‘I’m so cool at rudeness’ spiel. It’s getting boring, having ts be such an in club.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      The answers you and my poor disingenuous* victim are looking for have been provided.

                      *”BM you are bang on. I would never consider a vote for Labour with Shearer as leader. However, what is more frightening to me are the potential coalition partners. The Greens and Mana would demand too much that I don’t think a lot of people could stomach, and the potential for chaos is huge. ”

                      “Shearer’s income from the UN was tax free. He also received free accommodation and meals, transport etc. Which begs the question – how much do you think it is possible to save over 10 years with no tax and living expenses. I think that is why he won’t disclose how much is in that US bank account.”

                      ” It can get tiresome for european middle class males here in the Women’s Republic Of New Zealand.”

                      “As a parent I want to know how my child compares with the rest of the country. If he was doing badly then I would want to help get him back up to standards. Having standards gives a benchmark and something to aim for. Without them it is simply a race to the bottom.”

                      PS: Infused, why would a rude Green voter put someone off ticking the Labour box?

                    • weka

                      “The answers you and my poor disingenuous* victim are looking for have been provided.”

                      Eventually, after much rudeness and dismissiveness, and not by you.

                      You do realise that I understand the politics of the person asking the question. I’m not debating that*. I’m saying that there is nothing wrong with the questions themselves and telling people to go google the answers themselves, as well as being mean to them, is anti-social.

                      *I also don’t see them as a poor victim, you are the one bandying around the pejorative labels here, because, IMO, it suits your predilection for meanness and your need to display your wit. I’m just saying that while sometimes that is entertaining, other times it gets in the way of useful and meaningful conversation.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      I answered it in my very first response, and repeatedly thereafter.

                      But sure, I get it, you think my tone was inappropriate on this occasion. Must do better.

                    • ghostrider888

                      you are ‘in’ that ‘club’ weka.

                    • weka

                      I don’t think you did answer in your first response. You gave an answer for sure, but it didn’t tell me what I needed to know and was wondering from the original question (how CGT worked with inheritance). It probably seems all very obvious to you, but it wasn’t to me.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      The short answer is weka that the legislation and associated regulations would still have to be discussed, formulated and finalised before you know for sure.

        • Ed 11.2.1.2

          If it is sold within a reasonably short time of the death of the parents their would be no capital gains tax paid – it is only from that time on that CGT wold accrue on increases in value after the date the ownership changes. If the beneficiaries of teh will ask for it to be sold the trustewes would pass on cash proceeds without payment of CGT. Clear now?

          • weka 11.2.1.2.1

            Ok, so if that is true, then surely the period of time is defined…

            • Colonial Viper 11.2.1.2.1.1

              Does it really matter if that time is 0.1s after the parents are buried?

              The valuation of the house is not going to move appreciably in the two or three months between the funeral and them selling the property so CGT would be negligible to zero.

              But I agree with you weka, this stuff should be clarified, and probably would be clarified by the IRD in regulation.

              Nevertheless, I feel that this is pretty much an edge case which would affect only a few percent of residential sales (the ones which were estate liquidations).

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                How would the market value be calculated? Obviously, by the sale price, but the amount of CGT paid would be reliant (say) on the value at the time the property passed to the deceased’s estate.

                I think there might be some issues there.

    • Draco T Bastard 11.3

      Taxes aren’t theft no matter how much you like to think they are.

      • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.3.1

        Yeah, good point Draco.

        Has anyone else had a gutsful of cry-baby wingnuts whining about having to pay their taxes?

        • unpcnzcougar 11.3.1.1

          So answer the question. If the kids sell the family home, is it subject to CGT?

          • Colonial Viper 11.3.1.1.1

            The only capital gains which apply will be those which occur from the day you passed the house into your estate.

        • scotty 11.3.1.2

          Its as if Rightoids go into business assuming they won’t have to pay tax.
          Then get all righteous, when the IRD steals ‘their’ money.

      • unpcnzcougar 11.3.2

        Actually they are theft if you’ve already paid them. ie paid a mortgage with after tax money. I don’t have a problem paying tax – I pay more than most and am happy to. I am worried about double tax which is what I see if the family home is then sold by the children so they can pay down their mortgages.

        • Colonial Viper 11.3.2.1

          Now you’re being deliberately disingenuous.

          The CGT only affects brand new capital gains on an investment asset, there is no “double tax”.

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.3.2.2

          The. Capital. Gains. Tax. Will. Not. Apply. To. The. Family. Home. And. Will. Only. Apply. To. Capital. Gains. Made. After. The. Law. Is. Passed.

          Do we need to start looking through the dictionary to help you understand any of these terms?

          • unpcnzcougar 11.3.2.2.1

            It. Does. If. The. Family. Home. Is. Sold. By. The. Children.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.3.2.2.1.1

              Cognition isn’t your strong point is it?

              It doesn’t if the children use the family home as a family home, and it won’t apply to any property bought before the policy comes into effect.

              Please try and keep up.

            • Colonial Viper 11.3.2.2.1.2

              Why would the children want to sell the family home? Where will they live?

            • karol 11.3.2.2.1.3

              If the home was passed to the children, I would have assumed the usual rules would apply – GST on any home other than the family home. So, once the children/child took ownership of the home it’d depend on whether that became their family home, or was a second home for them.

              If the children jointly owned the home, and wanted to sell it for the money to split between them, I’d have thought CGT would apply at the time of sale.

              • Colonial Viper

                Another important factor is what/when the baseline price of the house is calculated from, and therefore what the capital gain (if any) at the time of sale is.

                • unpcnzcougar

                  They want to sell because they have left home and bought houses of their own. So I would want them to sell and take the money to pay off their own mortgages.

                  • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                    So, you’d sell your family home – exempt from CGT – then hand out the cash to the offspring. Where would you live?

            • Ed 11.3.2.2.1.4

              But only on the increase in value since the date they took ownership – if they sell immediately that amount would be zero.

        • Pascal's bookie 11.3.2.3

          Is GST theft too?

          What about taxes on interest and dividends?

          Work hard, save some capital, start a business and what they do? Turn around and tax you on the profit! Outrage, when you alreafy paid income tax when you were saving that capital. Egads!

          • unpcnzcougar 11.3.2.3.1

            Pascal, that is a bit of a simplistic point of view for you. My question was solely on tax paid if kids sold the family home after I died.
            As stated I don’t have problems paying tax on anything – I do have problems with tax already paid being retaxed.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 11.3.2.3.1.1

              “The only capital gains which apply will be those which occur from the day you passed the house into your estate.”

              “Now you’re being deliberately disingenuous.The CGT only affects brand new capital gains on an investment asset, there is no “double tax”.”

              CV.

              Ignoring the answers to your questions is another example of your rudeness and mendacity, you piece of trash. Haha where’s your sense of humour don’t be so PC.

            • karol 11.3.2.3.1.2

              This is what happens in the UK where there is no CGT on the first home, but on any others.

              They also have an inheritance tax, which I believe we don’t have here right now. In the UK how much CGT a person pays depends on the value/profit gained by selling the home:

              Being given a home

              Your parents may want you eventually to have their home. If they leave their home to you in their wills, you inherit the property at its market value at the time of death. There is no capital gains tax payable on death, but the value will be included in the estate, and inheritance tax may be payable instead.

              If you sell the property without having made it your own home, there could be CGT to pay, and this will be based on the increase in value between the date of death and the date when you sell.

              Your parents might give you the home during their lifetime but carry on living there. For inheritance tax purposes, this counts as a gift with reservation so the home will still count as part of your parents’ estates when they die.

              You may have to pay CGT when you eventually sell the home, and this will be based on the increase in value between the date they gave you the property and the date you sell. This is the case even though there may be inheritance tax to pay on the home at the time of your parents’ deaths.

              Home example

              For example, you inherit your father’s home when he died in August 2012.

              At the date of death, it was worth £200,000.
              You sell it six months later for £205,000 and can deduct selling costs of £3,000.
              You have made a gain of £205,000 – £200,000 – £3,000 = £2,000 which falls comfortably within your annual allowance, so no CGT is due.

              Imagine instead your father gave you the home 10 years earlier while he was still alive and continuing to live there.

              At the date of the gift, the home was worth £140,000.
              Again you sell six months after his death. In this case, you have made a gain of £205,000 – £140,000 – £3,000 = £62,000.

              After deducting your annual allowance of £10,900, you have a taxable gain of £51,100. If you are already a higher rate taxpayer, the tax bill on this would be 28% x £51,100 = £14,308. If you are a standard rate taxpayer, you would pay CGT at 18% on the amount of gain that takes you to the higher-rate threshold and 28% on the rest.

              In addition, the value at the date of your father’s death (£200,000) will be included in his estate for inheritance tax purposes, rather than the value at the date he gave it to you (£140,000).

            • georgecom 11.3.2.3.1.3

              So the “family home” ceases to be a family home, it is now an asset that your children will sell. So, the nature of the asset has changed eh. That point cleared up.

              You paid your mortgage from your income. You owned the house not for capital gain but as something different, to raise a family, a point of security, a place to be etc etc. Whilst the house remains that, no CGT.

              BUT, when the house becomes an asset for sale a CGT will apply. This isn’t ‘theft’ or any other silly such name. It is tax on a capital gain, the CAPITAL GAIN will be taxed. The value (tangible and intangible) gains you got from having the house as a family home remains untaxed. BUT, when becoming an asset that makes a winfall profit, a CGT will apply. Nothing like theft or such silliness. A dollar earnt is a dollar earnt and tax accordingly.

        • Draco T Bastard 11.3.2.4

          You wouldn’t be paying double tax as you’d only be paying on the income of the sale of the house, i.e, the difference between the purchase price and and the sale price is income.

      • unpcnzcougar 11.3.3

        Fine. Carry on.

        • scotty 11.3.3.1

          Unpcnzcougar.
          Your kids will benefit from the tax free ‘capital gain’ you had during the ownership of your house.

          If they sold up immediately upon your death ,there would be no capital gains tax due .

          If they however kept your house for say 3 years (as an investment property) then sold up ,they would pay tax on the CG they enjoyed ,over the 3 years it was held as an ‘ investment’ property.

          Just to be clear ,the tax is a portion of the capital gains, not the whole lot.

          Not sure what the CG tax rate will be .(15% ?)

          I stand to be corrected tho.

    • georgecom 11.4

      A CGT won’t apply on YOUR family home. If the home passes to someone else who already owns their OWN family home then the original home, your family home, ceases to be the family home. It may be a rental or a home sold on the market for a windfall profit.

  12. BLiP 12

    The “Spirit Level” should be compulsory reading for all Labour candidates in the next election. The data is there, it doesn’t lie and its got pictures. Also, even the very rich do better under a more equal society. The right need saving from themselves as well.

  13. Blue 13

    For the average voter, the election will be a choice between John Key and David Shearer.

    If Key doesn’t get a third term it will be a miracle.

  14. weka 14

    btw, I read all the questions and answers and still don’t quite fully understand the CGT issue raised here. I vote Green. Are you going to give me shit now too? Or am I exempt because I have the right politics?

    • Arfamo 14.1

      I don’t know. I’ve been looking on Red Alert and the Labour Party website to see if I can find anything on the question of what capital gains tax except on the family home means but haven’t had any luck finding the answer. My assumption was always that Labour means anyone who buys their own home and lives in it themselves (their family’s home) won’t have to pay CGT on it if & when they sell it (eg to buy another home if still working, or to retire into a retirement village).

      My assumption was that if someone dies and leaves their home to their adult children, who are living elsewhere in their own homes, the children would, if they sell their deceased parents’ home inherited in the will, probably have to pay CGT on it.

  15. Ad 15

    Personally I’m waiting for a stunning economic development policy from Labour.

    One that can reconcile the fishing interests of Shane Jones and the fishing policy of David Cunliffe.
    And reconcile every one of those Pure Advantage players in the NZHerald this morning, with the West Coasters’ need for jobs as they reacted to the Dennison Plateau open cast coal mine.
    …With any concerete policy results out of the manufacturing inquiry that was held recently.

    Basincally something that says there will be good jobs, with escalating careers to be had, in durable and sustainable industries that require our savings to build in our sharemarket and our young people to build a life here.

    Labour needs to be the jobs party. And show us how.

  16. Yes 16

    Guys this capital tax discussion doesn’t make sense. You want to build 100,000 homes then tax them when they sell making it more expensive for the next generation. So completely defeats the purpose. This policy doesn’t make sense.

    • Colonial Viper 16.1

      What doesn’t make sense is your idiocy/carefully constructed lies.

      Do you even understand what a tax on capital gains is?

      It is a tax which dissuades people from trying to speculate on property and prevents them from making tax free capital gains out of house price increases.

      A CGT is one preliminary measure which can help suppress the flow of hot money into housing price bubbles.

      • Te Reo Putake 16.1.1

        Jebus, CV, I admire your patience. I’d have just pointed out that a 15% CGT is peanuts compared to the tax rate that should apply to the profits of houses owned as an income generating business. Most rental property owners don’t pay any significant tax on the rental income, and they get the capital gain untaxed when they sell. That’s what’s stuffing the future of the next generation and squeezing the current crop of young adults out of home ownership.

        • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1

          Yes, what you said too 🙂

          • Te Reo Putake 16.1.1.1.1

            I find it weird that righties think capital gains is so totes different from a profit generated on any other form of speculative enterprise. If all property is theft, capital gains is the bag the robbers hide the loot in.

            • kiwicommie 16.1.1.1.1.1

              They claim ‘taxation is theft’, but when times are tough on their corporate mates, they are all too enthusiastic to give them hand outs at taxpayers expense.

              • Yes

                Does the heavy burden on student loans interest free non repayments not a hand out

                • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                  Yes, but the point is that you whinge and whine about handouts unless they go to businesses, when suddenly, your objections miraculously vanish. In other words, you’re a hypocrite, aka National Party supporter.

                  • Yes

                    But businesses provide tax by corporate tax and employee tax. Governments spend it. GST is a freedom of choice tax ..if you want something then you pay.

                    Capital gain tax will burden the next generation of home buyers.

                    • One Anonymous Knucklehead

                      What part of “family home” are you having trouble with, you mendacious wretch?

                      Keep whining, cry-baby.

                • Nowhere near the cost of the corporate handouts so far mate. 😛

  17. Yes 17

    Thanks knucklehead…my question is what is the impact of capital gains tax on homes for the next generation when it is only going to increase the affordability price. It might be ok this time but in 40 years time when the new owners want to sell.

    Why do people on here abuse people.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.1

      The policy will not apply to “homes”.

      pol·i·cy 1 (pl-s)
      n. pl. pol·i·cies
      1. A plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence and determine decisions, actions, and other matters:

      ap·ply (-pl)
      v. ap·plied, ap·ply·ing, ap·plies
      1. To be pertinent or relevant

      home (hm)
      n.
      1. A place where one lives; a residence.

      Further explanation will require pictures.

      • Yes 17.1.1

        yes it will – if a family cant buy a house and has to rent then that rental will be subject to capital gains tax. Rent goes up!

        Why do people quote the dictionary – it is a stupid old school debating technique

        • One Anonymous Knucklehead 17.1.1.1

          Rental increases are one projected feature of a CGT. They are also expected to increase home ownership rates, increase the stock of smaller house, etc.

          It’s fairly easy to predict these things though, because so many countries (on which the sky has not fallen) have a CGT of some sort.

  18. peterlepaysan 18

    Ahem!

    Labours problems are based in the the “no shows” at the last two elections.

    No show.

    No vote.

    No power.

    Political campaigns require rather lots of money.

    Business interests have rather lots of money.

    Joe and Joanna six pack have trouble finding spare cash for a six pack a week between them.

    Guess where political parties go to for money for campaigns?

    Guess who political parties do not offend?

    A broke underclass cannot afford to buy the goodies that business touts.

    Shonkey gives away billions in tax cuts to the wealthy and then runs a ‘slash and burn” operation on government expenditure.

    There is a Hollywood epic yet to arrive portraying Shonkey as Gordon Gecko saving little old new zealand as a county of Hawaii of which he is Governor. Something he once told bronnie what he wanted to do.

    • Olwyn 18.1

      A better way is to galvanise the troops, so that your rising popularity poses a threat. Then businesses will part with money to stop you from going too far. Doing it the other way round; kowtowing to business and hoping that the troops will just get in behind despite their lack of representation, is the road to irrelevancy.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    18 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    23 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-27T00:05:11+00:00