web analytics

Fair Pay Agreements – a no-brainer

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, June 8th, 2018 - 32 comments
Categories: business, Economy, wages, workers' rights - Tags: ,

CTU President Richard Wagstaff has a great opinion piece in the Dom Post this morning pointing out why Fair Pay Agreements are good for business as well as Kiwi workers:

Remember when you could pay a mortgage, keep the kitchen cupboard full, take the kids to the movies now and then, by working as a bus driver, a freezing worker, a journalist, or any number of other solid middle-Kiwi jobs? When a decent working life was a given?

Too far back to remember? Maybe you’ve noticed how just across the ditch our cousins with all kinds of everyday jobs seem to be that much better off than us?

The difference between then and now, and between Australia and New Zealand, is sector bargaining. This used to be called awards here. In Australia, sector bargaining is called modern awards; in other parts of the world it takes the shape of industry agreements or tripartite national bargaining. What it is in all of these places is a system to deliver minimum standards. Minimum standards agreed between employers in an industry and the people who work for them; sometimes the government is involved as well.

The advantage for working people is they don’t have their wages and conditions systematically driven down by businesses competing on how cheaply they can subcontract people’s work. Like we’ve seen in the forestry and service industries. And they don’t have their terms and conditions that they’ve negotiated in good faith over years contracted out from underneath them. Like we’ve seen in the transport and telecommunications industries.

The advantages for employers are that they can invest in skills and training, and plan to increase their productivity over the medium and long term. They’re not forced to compete with businesses running fly-by-night operations based on low wages and insecure jobs. And they can invest in new plant and machinery and innovation – things that take time to pay off – knowing they aren’t going to be undercut by low-tech outfits run on a cheap labour and low-investment model. Not to mention the fact that more Kiwis with better incomes have more money to spend at our Kiwi businesses.

The full piece is here

32 comments on “Fair Pay Agreements – a no-brainer ”

  1. Hear hear !

    The points raised above work towards a balanced , prosperous society whereby in real terms those same working people have more discretionary income therefore supporting local product and affording imported goods.

    But ! , … you try and tell that to the deliberately on purpose contrarian neo liberal and, … as Mark Twain put it… ‘Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience’.

    • patricia bremner 1.1

      What they also do is argue for less or smaller Government, and because as wages slide so do taxes.

      They then talk “tax cuts” which are really “public service cuts”.
      BUT…. come a crises caused by under funding and smaller Government spend, “Hello hello” they want the Government to pay from the tax “public purse”

      Have they saved 3 months worth of their tax cut to help with that?? Of course not!!
      But thee unemployed are meant to have 3 months saving from their miserable pay before they get anything from the Public Purse.

      I was pleased to see the Government asked the farmers to foot a third of the bovis problem. That is fair.

  2. Gosman 2

    Why is the Australian economy not doing as well as ours recently then?

    • Stuart Munro 2.1

      The long term ill effects of Turnbull’s misgovernance are starting to come through.

      • patricia bremner 2.1.1

        They have allowed under cutting to a lesser degree. Mining was the basket with all the eggs. It is picking up slowly.

        • Bewildered 2.1.1.1

          Mining and China demand for minerals is the reason wages are high, this sector has pushed the lucky country wages for labour sky high especially unskilled labour, hence au will lead the world in replacing low skilled labour with robotics and automation over the next few years Thunking that the sole reason wages are high is due to unions is naive and 19th century thinking

    • McFlock 2.2

      They’ve started trying to copy us.

    • You may be talking along the lines of the extreme macro economics speak economists are so fond of Gosman , however in real terms regarding peoples average wages there is no comparison in the take home pay and its purchasing power of an average Australian service industry worker and his / her NZ contemporary.

      Also , economy of scale is different . NZ struggles maintain and own a few frigates. Australia owns aircraft carriers.

      However , that said , NZ was ahead of the Australians in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s regards wealth per capita of population.

      That all changed post 1984 with the treacherous introduction of neo liberalism. Since then it has become progressively worse for many NZ’ers family’s and their children.

      Whole generations have grown up in poverty because of it. There are now over 650,000 ex pat New Zealanders that now more or less call Australia home as a direct result of the destruction of Trade Unions and the award rates and conditions . They voted with their feet. And still nothings changed in this country of any honest description.

      I get sick and tired of having to constantly repeat these facts and the historical reasons for poverty in this country to you Gosman , and reading your bloated lies. And as Mark Twain so aptly put it , …

      … ‘Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience ’ …

      You Sir , are an idiot.

      • Cricklewood 2.3.1

        Yet there you are arguing…. it reminds me of a similar anecdote.

        What do you have if you argue with a fool?

        Two Fools.

      • edgil 2.3.2

        Wild Katipo. Thanks.

        • OnceWasTim 2.3.2.1

          Goz is either scared or really arrogant – probably the latter.
          It’ll jump up and bite him in the bum one day, whereupon we’ll all be expected to acknowledge his being a victim and ‘deserving’ of sympathy and compensation for the ‘personal responsibilty’ he took in making his ‘life’s choices’ (of course, going forward).
          I’m truly in awe of his wisdom. Gee, I wish I’d done the same thing (/sarc)

      • Draco T Bastard 2.3.3

        Also , economy of scale is different . NZ struggles maintain and own a few frigates. Australia owns aircraft carriers.

        You do understand that we could easily build our own aircraft carriers right? We have all the resources and skills to do so.

        However , that said , NZ was ahead of the Australians in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s regards wealth per capita of population.

        That all changed post 1984 with the treacherous introduction of neo liberalism. Since then it has become progressively worse for many NZ’ers family’s and their children.

        Well, actually, that started to change back in the late 1960s early 70s as capitalism once again failed. Britain stopping the guaranteed import of our exports pretty much brought us to our knees. The oil price shocks were the death knell.

        Neo-liberalism was the result despite the fact that it hadn’t worked in the 19th century either. It was the government acting to protect rich people from reality.

      • alwyn 2.3.4

        “Australia owns aircraft carriers.”.
        What current aircraft carriers does Australia own?
        They owned a few in the past but as far as I know they have none in commission and none in reserve at the moment.

        There are, I think, only 8 countries that actually have operational carriers at the moment and more than half the world’s carriers are owned by the US.
        Nobody else can afford the real thing of a nuclear powered carrier task force.

        I have vague memories of an estimate that a carrier task force on the US scale would cost about $25 billion to build and about $2.5 billion a year to operate. I have no idea whether these numbers are accurate though.

    • Nick 2.4

      But ! , … you try and tell that to the deliberately on purpose contrarian neo liberal and, … as Mark Twain put it… ‘Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience’.

  3. RuralGuy 3

    I’m not sure a self interest piece written by a union staff offical should carry any weight.

    We are an export nation, our competitors are not domestic. Increasing fixed costs (not just labour costs as you’ll note that the employer advantages also increase cost) relative to international competitors reduces sector wide profitably as the exported produce is no more valuable. Like it or not, we’re in a global economy.

    We have existing labour laws that deal with the laggards, and the ability to legislate for a national minimum wage. These are the tools to deal with employers doing the wrong thing domestically.

    If this is the best and compelling reason for sector wide agreements, then it is a concept doomed for failure as even “blind eddy” would be able to see that this is a short cut to increased unemployment in an export dependant economy.

    • SPC 3.1

      And yet … the major cost for farming is the mortgage, yet land owners want foreign investors in the market to bid up the price and this cost to farming – presumably to subsequently obtain their major return from their work as untaxed CG on farm sale.

      Labour costs are rather secondary to debt finance cost as a constraint on land ownership based export industry profits (and in the case of dairy, automated milking is the future in any case).

    • … ‘ Increasing fixed costs (not just labour costs as you’ll note that the employer advantages also increase cost) relative to international competitors reduces sector wide profitably as the exported produce is no more valuable ‘…

      ———————————————-

      Yes I’m sure competing with sweat shop labour is difficult. So also is not protecting our own industry’s with certain tariffs. Hence the penchant of the neo liberal to always use that tactic to offer minimum wages and shitty conditions to remain’competitive’.

      Tell me,… there were many millionaires in NZ prior to Roger Douglas and his treason’s, – and workers had a good standard of living, as well as first rate health and education, .. so what changed ?

      Could someone of seen an angle for the exploitation of the public wealth and expropriating into their bank accounts instead? Greed perhaps?

      I think so.

      ———————————————————

      … ‘ We have existing labour laws that deal with the laggards, and the ability to legislate for a national minimum wage. These are the tools to deal with employers doing the wrong thing domestically ‘ …

      ———————————————————

      ‘ Laggards’ … interesting.

      Bill English and John Key seemed to have the same opinion of many NZ workers calling them ‘ lazy , drug addled’ … which of course justified them importing cheap labour from overseas by the truckload by an irresponsible open slather immigration policy…

      This at a time of relatively high unemployment figures for New Zealand born citizens ,… those same ones who wont work for the pathetic excuses for wages that many skiving employers had on offer… and conditions enabled by successive neo liberal govts… again, motive ?

      Greed and exploitation.

      And speaking of which,… just WHY were there so many , many prolific reports of skulduggery and worker abuse and exploitation during the Key years ( and even now ) if there are ‘ tools to deal with employers doing the wrong thing domestically’?…

      ———————————————————

      … ‘ If this is the best and compelling reason for sector wide agreements, then it is a concept doomed for failure as even “blind eddy” would be able to see that this is a short cut to increased unemployment in an export dependant economy ‘…

      ———————————————————-

      And so now this seems like the classic neo liberal scare tactics of ‘ increasing wages causes unemployment ‘,… which is complete and utter tosh. The mere fact many employers are touting negotiating with unions / award rates / minimum standards as a good thing completely rubbishes those clapped out tired old diatribes that have been rammed down peoples throats for three decades.

    • saveNZ 3.3

      What SPC said…

      and also our other economy boom seems to be in construction which is not an export and based on disasters and immigration Ponzi….

      It is very pricy to build in NZ, because we export many of our materials making little profits for NZ and seem to buy them back at high prices… while subsidising cheap imported labour and materials which go wrong aka leaky building, while subsidising all the infrastructure and health/education/WFF/AS/ new workers need and the welfare bills of for the workers without proper work or training that are left.

      We call ourselves an export nation, but are we really? An exporter of highly skilled people for importing in cheap low skilled ones perhaps…. sadly NZ has got so dysfunctional after Rogernomics that rather than having doctors and nurses as our essential skills and trying to keep our best and brightest here in NZ, some of the highest skills for people migrating here under the Natz was chefs, Restaurant managers, level 5 IT, truck drivers and so forth. All low wage workers… meanwhile driving out Kiwis born who have to work to pay off student loans while they hope for a job in their field to come up…

      Somehow locals have become so discriminated in their own country. From state houses to making Kiwis historically paying massive student loans. Rather than choosing to wipe out student loans to citizens that live here, our government is giving one year of free study to new residents to get that ‘chef’ degree or whatever they want, whose families often have never paid a cent of tax in this country.

      Something is wrong with how our government discriminates against it’s own citizens born here and seems to be all milk and honey (literally) to those who have just arrived and of course have a lot more money, not being saddled down with student loans and massive interest rates, from the 1990’s in particular…

    • Draco T Bastard 3.4

      Increasing fixed costs…

      The costs exist. They’re actually physical.

      What you’re actually demanding here is for those costs to be ignored so a few people can make a higher profit. This, of course, increases poverty.

      We have existing labour laws that deal with the laggards, and the ability to legislate for a national minimum wage.

      And they’re not working as the increasing amount of poverty over the last 30 years proves.

  4. Tamati Tautuhi 4

    Nationals tax cuts covered by the GST increase hammered the lower socio economic groups.

    • edgil 4.1

      NZ was the test ground.
      Listen to “The American System” podcast by Webster G. Tarpley.
      It is all being rolled out stateside now.

  5. patricia bremner 5

    Richard, We can only hope this will reverse the death spiral of under cutting wages.

  6. Herodotus 6

    With Teachers we already have sector bargaining with “strong dominate” unions. Yet we have teachers with the same experience same skill base doing the same job teaching “mirror” classes yet there can be over $16k difference in pay. One has a masters degree the other a diploma.
    https://www.education.govt.nz/school/working-in-a-school/teachers/primary-teachers/
    If the teachers unions cannot have equal pay for the same job, then how on earth are we to have “Fair Pay Agreements” ?

  7. Dazzer 7

    It is a tad ironic to say the least for anyone on the left to want to compare with Australia.

    Australia has made its relative fortune in large part through exploiting natural resources.

    There is nothing like the left wanting Australian wages on the one hand yet arguing (ok, implementing directives without any advice) on policy that prevents NZ from earning the income you want.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 7.1

      The increased productivity since the Douglas/Richardson vandalism could easily be shared more equitably, and you are incapable of understanding that, because you can’t think for yourself.

      Polly wanna cracker?

    • Stuart Munro 7.2

      “Australia has made its relative fortune in large part through exploiting natural resources.”

      Nope.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 7.2.1

        It’s kind of comforting, the way these dupes swallow and then belch up the talking points they’ve been spoonfed.

        Hodson & Busseri redux.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.3

      Selling our resources offshore simply makes us poorer and will leave us unable to support ourselves in the medium to long term. There’s already a very real example of such stupidity.

      We need sustainability and digging up our resources and exporting them doesn’t give us that. Even farm exporting cuts into that needed sustainability by exporting necessary resources.

      As the economists say: You can’t have your cake and eat it too.

      And we’re busy scoffing it down.

      On the other hand, R&D will. R&D gives us an export that doesn’t use up our resources while also allowing us to produce what we need from our own resources.

      All of this is called: Living within our means. Which National is noted for saying but always ignores as they eat the cake.

  8. Jackel 8

    The trend in this country for the past 30 odd years has been to attack workers and their pay and conditions as a way to increase profits, rather than looking at ways to improve what a business does. So as a way to change this trend fair pay agreements are a good idea.

    As for the natural resources argument, am I assuming too much to say you have a brain? Japan for instance.

  9. millsy 9

    Australia can probably afford to dig stuff up. Most of its resources are in places which aren’t value to anyone.It also helps that the benefits of the extraction industry are shared throughout the Australian economy. It’s probably easier to get a job in the morning industry over there than it is here. Plus the profits don’t get hoovered by by US and Canada and companies like they do here.

    • Observer Tokoroa 9.1

      Australia is a very wealthy Nation. Gifted with untold valuable resources and a hard working, skilled population.

      It can afford Several Sovreign States.

      Unlike Australia, New Zealand workers are NOT protected from various forms of slavery introduced by Capitalist Governments within the past thirty years.

      Using various mechanisms, New Zealand Capitalists proportionately pay far less Income Tax than NZ Workers. Farmers pay next nothing of Income tax. Because Farmers vote Capitalist.

      But the Capitalists have over- played their Greed. Not even 60% of Kiwis can afford to buy a house. They will never own one.

      Even more Kiwis will struggle to pay their exorbitant rents.
      Homeless – is the new zealand of now.

      It is no wonder that nearly one Million Kiwis prefer to work in Australia. Where they are not treated like Slaves of the stinking filthy Capitalists that screw the once fine people of
      NZ.

      It is unlikely that NZ Capitalists will be able to sustain their Crimes against Humanity for much longer. For they will never break their accord with GREED.

      .

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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    11 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
    15 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
    3 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 2023-03-22T08:46:34+00:00