Fear and loathing in cycleland

Written By: - Date published: 3:52 pm, June 15th, 2021 - 32 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, climate change, global warming, local government, science, supercity, transport, uncategorized - Tags:

I am pleased the right have moved on from overtly racist attacks on minorities.

But I am bemused by the current level of vitriol that has been thrown at a group who apart from wearing lycra is doing nothing wrong.  It seems that instead of attacking ethnic minorities the right is now keen to attack minorities who travel differently to the rest of us.

And local government is getting a bit of a hiding.

Out west we had a recent demonstration against the Henderson Massey Local Board’s attempt to make the centre of Henderson more human friendly.  Part of Great North Road and Rathgar Road have been pedestrianised as part of a trial.  Oddly enough recently the protestors chose to march on the very piece of road that had been liberated for human use thereby at the same time protesting it but displaying the virtue in making sure our town centres are accessible to everyone.

It has become particularly feisty after a local councillor declared that it was “time for the Local Board to listen and make a call on this one” and insulted them by implying that to date they have not been listening.  Her stunt reeks of cheap political opportunism, precisely the sort of political behaviour that we can no longer afford.

In my home turf we are also installing a cycleway as a trial.  The effect is that a few people some times will have to walk an extra 300 or so metres to get to the train station.  If it was me I would appreciate the extra exercise.

Some are not pleased and there are claims that making this part of Glen Eden slightly safer for cyclists is wrecking the township.  There is lots and lots of research that suggests that making areas more walking friendly and cycle friendly actually improves business conditions.

From the NZTA publication Benefits of investing in cycling in New Zealand communities;

Various studies have shown that cycling infrastructure can lead to an increase in retail
sales. People who cycle have been found to be more likely to stop and visit shops more often,
and to spend more money at those shops over time, than people who drive. Cycleways that
run past shop doors can be a very good thing for retailers.
• Four and a half years after the implementation of bike lanes in a retail area of San Francisco,
66 percent of merchants believed that the bike lanes had had a generally positive impact on
their business and/or sales.
• Similarly, when Salt Lake City removed a third of car parks from nine blocks of a main
shopping street and improved footpaths and added bike lanes, retail sales increased by 8.8
percent in the first six months.
• Retailers often overestimate the number of people who have driven to their stores. A
study from Wellington, New Zealand showed that only 6 percent of shoppers on Tory Street
were using the car parks along that street. Retailers also overestimate the contribution of car parks to their business. An Australian study found that switching one car park to six bike parking spaces could create an increase in retail spend related to that space, from $27 per  hour to $97.20 per hour.

The argument in favour of improving walking and cycling infrastructure I would have thought was overwhelming.  But talkback radio induced fear and loathing that is totally inappropriate is being broadcast and amplified.

Mediawatch at Radio New Zealand recently said this about the problem and quoted Stuff reporter Joel MacManus who covers the transport issues for Wellington’s Dominion Post:

“The reaction is always strong – and it’s getting increasingly strong on both sides with cycling. We saw a more aggressive ‘anti-cycleways’ push first  – but now there is there is equal frustration on the other side from cycling enthusiasts, as well as climate activists and urbanists who want to see change in their cities and towns and are getting frustrated that the change they want is not happening,“ he said.

“It’s tribal. People identify as a driver or a cyclist – and there aren’t that many cyclists in New Zealand. People often think of cyclists as enthusiasts doing it for sport and recreation,“ he said.

“And with every piece of climate reporting, some people feel like they’re being asked to change their ways – and people like driving because it’s convenient. But any transport network in a city needs to work with a number of options,” MacManus said.

While transport conflicts make headlines, the changing patterns of how we use transport do not.

That’s the big goal and an easy lever to pull for climate change. That’s the low-hanging fruit. If you can convert more of those small trips to cycling or e-bikes that’s a huge amount of transport emissions in this country,“ he said.

Joel MacManus said it is not well understood that transport is also a gender issue. While critics and media stereotype cyclists as male and older, there’s a reason.

“You can look at the split of people cycling and it tells you a lot about how safe it is. You have a certain small group of people who will bike regardless – and it is heavily male. In cities that have safe paths you see it’s much closer to a 50-50 split.”

He cited a 2014 survey in Wellington showing a group of highly active cyclists prepared to ride no matter what – and it was overwhelmingly male.

“The people who said they would cycle if it was safer are exactly the people who aren’t cycling now,“ MacManus said.

The fear/hate combination this issue is provoking is a potent one.  We are now or should be at the stage where climate change is that urgent a problem and that clear a threat that people should be afraid.  If not of the weather consequences then at least of the dramatic change that has to occur.

But people need to understand that there are no plans to make it compulsory to become lycra clad bikers.  But the more we can persuade to do this the better.

Maybe this is the problem.  Dealing with the fear of change that climate change demands is going to require a lot of political skill.

32 comments on “Fear and loathing in cycleland ”

  1. Ad 1

    +100 Hang in there Henderson Local Board.

    Don't fold like Onehunga did.

  2. People identify as a driver or a cyclist

    Bollocks. The overwhelming majority of cyclists are also drivers. Any tribalism is from drivers who never ride a bike.

  3. barry 3

    Cyclists are frustrated at nearly dying every time we go out in traffic.

    A small number of people (car drivers) are scared of changes to their lifestyle for a variety of reasons.

    Retailers are scared of losing any custom and their current patrons are often telling them stories of difficulty getting to them because of congestion and lack of parking.

    Most people are happy to share the roads with cyclists, pedestrians and the ones making the noise are a minority.

    A lot more people would use public transport or cycle if it was safe, affordable and convenient.

  4. RedBaronCV 4

    There seems to be an awful lot being invested in "mode" change for speculative outcomes (no one seem willing to commit to any hard numbers here) and cycling seems to have overwhelmingly grabbed the space which also includes walking and public transport and small electric non bike vehicles (think golf carts).

    The total to date over Auckland , Wellington and Christchurch and I'm sure it's not all is over $1.3 billion so I do think there has to be some discussion even if cyclists don't want it.

    If the cycling is for leisure and hobby (no matter how good the exercise) the community doesn't need to fund it on a super scale above other pursuits to the tune of $1.3 billion. Gardening vegetables is doubtless a greener exercise.

    If it is to support business ( as above- but cycling and walking are pretty much conflated) then which businesses are we subsidising to the tune of $1.3billion and why.

    If it is to support greening transport the numbers are tiny and even if they treble are still tiny – 60 cyclists fit on one bus. And as I have said before there is nothing green about the cyclist going up Adelaide Road yesterday holding up the bus using the lane. I held back to let the bus overtake as I should. But at $1.3billon shoring up other green options looks a far better bet. But a lot of Wellington arterial routes cannot be double laned like this so the bus waits on one selfish individual.

    And finally I have seen some of the young people I know around Wellington in tears because this is putting up the rates and rents when we need to concentrate on the pipes and a good number of them walk to work. So why should they have their dreams and finances shattered because a group of determined middle age males want their dream of bowling unobstructed down a beautifully formed sealed route devoid of any other user for a leisure cycle realised.

    Bear in mind I'd rather see the money go to public transport and if our current arterial routes can't provide sufficient space to have all cars cycles etc pushed off for the hours in the day that public transport needs to run fast and efficiently

    The more the cycling group talks then I’m afraid the more I see them as pretty selfish. Why don’t they catch the bus like everyone else – no need to defy death then. And don’t tar all car owners with negativity- many use the bus as well realise road use rationing in busy centre’s is the way to go.

    • RedBaronCV 4.1

      And it does nobody any service when those who want a debate about effective transport spending are trolled as being motivated by "fear/hate" that's a distraction to stymie discussion.

    • Pierre 4.2

      The problem you describe is not so much too many cyclists in the bus lane as too many cars in the car lane. The obvious answer to this is that road space reclaimed from cars benefits everyone (even motorists). Whether you invest in buses or bicycles, the long-term positive outcome is that people will eventually stop using cars so much. There are probably cheaper ways to do the infrastructure, but the overall idea is sound.

      Also, if you believe cycling is mainly a leisure pursuit, it shouldn't be. I know a good cycling network when I see crowds of children cycling to school, old people trundling slowly to the local shop. If all you see are sporty types on flashy racing bikes, you're missing out on the vast potential for cycling as a fairly normal and convenient mode of transport.

      • Hi Pierre,

        There is a war going on between public transport and private transport. Cars and bicycles vs. Buses and trains.

        Rather than being enemies public transport and cyclists need to become allies.
        Cycling does have potential. But it also has its draw backs. Weather for one. If there is no public transport how do cyclists get to work on rainy or blustery days.
        Cycling is also not practical for the very old or very young, or the infirm, or people with babies and children. A whole demographic that has just as much right to get around as anyone.

        Some time ago I was reading about transport in Cuba during the fiercest period of the sanctions. All vehicle imports were stopped and fuel was hard to get. To get around virtually everyone who could ride a bike did so. As the sanctions eased and with fuel imports from Russia the government were able to convert trucks to carry trailers with passenger seats. Known as Camels for their strange humped shape connection to the truck beds, this form of public transportation became wildly popular. and the most common way to commute to work and to go shopping and do business. Cycling dropped to the sort of levels we see here in NZ. As the sanctions eased more the Cuban government were able to import second hand buses from the US, Weirdly many of the iconic yellow American school buses are being used all over Cuba. The Camels were mostly able to be retired.

        To get private cars off the road. To address climate change, and pollution. To address the waste in resources that private cars represent. To save on the cost of expanding and building more and bigger motorways .And yes make room on the carriageway to create safe and segregated bike and pedestrian paths, public transport must be greatly expanded.

        Cycling ans walking cannot prosper and expand in our modern cities unless public transport is also expanded and made safer and more convenient and available.

        If we are talking about climate change and pollution, buses lend themselves to electrification better than private cars. Already the Auckland city council has committed to electrifying the whole Auckland bus fleet.

        Public transport, like public health, like public education, is best and most efficiently and equitably delivered by single payer.

        The concept is simple; Fare Free Public transport has the ability to transport tens of thousands of former car drivers in comfort and safety in all weathers. To cater to bikes and to give bike riders more range I think there should be provision for dedicated cycle stowage on buses and trains.

        It is my honestly held opinion that a fare free busway across the Auckland Habour Bridge will free up the space for a dedicated cycleway.
        Negating the need for a hugely expensive bike bridge, the purpose of which is to retain the full eight lanes of the existing bridge to continue channeling tens of thousands of private vehicles into the city,to continue endangering cyclists and pedestrians and the environment and climate.

        I really can’t understand the hostility to this concept

        [Deleted a spurious “1” from user name]

        • Incognito 4.2.1.1

          Cycling is also not practical for the very old or very young, or the infirm, or people with babies and children. A whole demographic that has just as much right to get around as anyone.

          What a load of disingenuous bollocks! Most people are able to use a pushbike, including old and young, as the Dutch can attest. Nice try though.

          https://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/cycling-with-a-baby/

          Something about Cuban Camels, which I couldn’t parse.

          Something about cyclists needing and relying on PT, which I could not logically follow.

          Something about you not understanding, which made perfect sense to me.

      • Incognito 4.2.2

        It can be summed up like this:

        Don’t build it, because it ain’t there.

        Or

        Don’t go there, because we’re here.

        Or

        How not to get there, because there ain’t nothing there.

        What do these have in common? Answer: lack of imagination, forward thinking, and boldness.

      • RedBaronCV 4.2.3

        The cars do the same speed as the bus. The 5k per hour cuclist holds up traffic where there is not overtaking even in a relatively lightly traveled space.

      • Foreign waka 4.2.4

        And we assume (lets review that word…ass u me) that trades people, delivery trucks and vans, small enterprises vehicles, emergency services, professionals etc. are now switching to bikes and buses? And I can see us biking into a deep recession….

        If we look at Wellington, a city with very windy, hilly, almost one lane roads it is not really an option for biking. There is a bit of a motorway between the north entry, Petone/Hutt and the Ferry Terminal that merges to an every so decreasing space towards the main artery to the airport. May I repeat: to the airport. This is the place were visitors and tourist land and they certainly do not want to bike to town. Public transport is virtually not available.

        I wish every NZ lander would have seen modern cities and how they operate. The solution is NOT having toddler to old people on bikes. It is a lazy planning approach that promises a solution but actually does not offer any. It could be supplementary in some areas where it is safe to do so.

        Smaller electric people movers/buses seating 20 or so would be a very reasonable solution. With a more frequent timetable and destinations were people actually need to go would make more sense and is feasible for everybody. Planning the service with a network that basically would branch out like a spiders web should provide a good result. If started with one section, perhaps Airport/Miramar as this is the difficult one, it can be extended over time without having to fork out billions (My mind wanders to those 16 we have paid the rich..)

        And the service should be owed by the people of the city, managed by the council and liability towards to taxpayer taken seriously. We all see what happens if a contract company does not even know what country they are serving but are more concerned about the shareholder return. Meanwhile we pay through the nose and get nothing. Strictly speaking a case for assessing whether the consumer guaranties act has been breached towards those who pay – the taxpayer.

      • RedBaronCV 4.2.5

        Pierre No there weren't that many cars in the car lane and had the cyclist been in the lane I was in then I would have followed him at the 5k uphill he was doing.

        But I am prepared to put the buses welfare first but the cyclist was not ? And his private usage comes before public usage and before any other private usage like mine. So he gets priority over me and my dodgy knee for what reason exactly?

        Also do cyclists envisage sharing a cycle lane with other low speed users like skateboards or scooters powered or otherwise?

        I do wonder if bikes are so great though – why they did not survive the introduction of cars. Then we would all be living in these lovely little flat biking communities that keep being raised as utopian pictures.

    • mikesh 4.4

      Many of Wellington's problems stem from kerbside parking. This interferes with the free flow of traffic even where there are no cycle lanes. In the Berhampore/Island Bay area, if they removed kerbside parking along Adelaide Road and the Parade there would be more than sufficient space for cycle lanes.

      • RedBaronCV 4.4.1

        Some of the less able bodied depend on being able to get out of a car that has pulled over to let them out. But able bodied cyclists need to come first?

  5. DukeEll 5

    <i>"But I am bemused by the current level of vitriol that has been thrown at a group who apart from wearing lycra is doing nothing wrong."</i>

    This is the problem with both sides of the debate.<sarc> It's not my side causing problems, i'm doing nothing wrong ipso facto i'm doing right. </sarc>

    My only concern about bike lanes / bridges is that they are the new car motorways. nothing else should encroach.

    I agree that for too long it's been to much about cars. but balance is needed moving forward. not for the car people, but for all vehicle people however motorised.

    The suggestion in the herald this morning about a second bridge was a good one. build one to free up two lanes of the existing for bikes and pedestrians.

    Too much of the discourse is wrapped up in "my way of getting to work is better than yours no matter the circumstances." whether your wear lycra or high vis.

    I live above work as i hate traffic, so actually i'm better than everyone

  6. coreyjhumm 6

    It's not just "the right" , a majority of the hatred I see comes from working class people like me who have no issue with cycle lanes (when they are designed well and not insanely complicating and sometimes destroying roads to the point we have to make two illegal u turns just to get to our house on the side street the planners have destroyed) it's the time it takes to build the things that infuriates people the most. Ripping up main arterial roads for in some cases over a year or several years and day in day out seeing noone working on the things.

    Small business owners who have their business basically invisible and inaccessible to the public due to being surrounded by iron fences and ripped up roads and signs and cones and a lot of times they are designed like they are in chch CBD , to force people out of their cars so people walk or bus or cycle to town when most people say bugger that I'll go to a local mall where I can park , the chch CBD inner city road rebuild should be the text book what not to do if you want to get businesses and people in the cbd, because as much as we want people out of their cars, cars aren't going anywhere soon and NZ's public transport is woeful and pretty much ends nationwide at 11.30 every night.

    Alot of poor communities and struggling home owners see their areas degraded and run down and then see the costs of the cycle lanes and rage and rant about it.

    I have moved several times to avoid road works and they just follow me, they are once again ripping up my road after ripping it up for two years building a bus lane, to build a cycle lane and I just don't understand why they didn't do it all at once

    I'll also never understand why key infrastructure and main arterial roads take months and months and years and year to be built in this country. Why rip roads up if you're not gonna be able to do it all at once because the workforce is too spread out, why not do one project at a time , quickly before starting the next one instead of drawing fifty projects at once out for years.

    I don't drive so I don't care about cars but this is not a left v right issue. It's an OMG HURRY THE F UP AND BUILD THE THING AND BUILD IT RIGHT thing for me.

    • mickysavage 6.1

      I hear you. I marvel at China's ability to pump out huge infrastructure quickly and wonder why we can't do the same. But I do understand the reasons …

    • Ad 6.2

      Sydney and Melbourne people just accept perpetual disruption.

      Auckland is now a similar city: perpetual network disruption from works.

      And it's going to get worse.

  7. woodart 7

    the attacks have very little to do with cycling, or cyclists . bullies always need a target, preferably one that doesnt fight back. thats why the environment has been such a good target . its kind of fun to watch the nats pretend to care about farmers in the electric V dino juice farm vehicle argument. they dont care, theres not enough votes out in the sticks nowdays. not many votes but you can still get plenty of dog whistles….

  8. RedBaronCV 8

    Dear Mickey,

    One thing you mentioned above worried me greatly- felt like a huge red flag-I assume that you are discussing the cycleway out west- it was this phrase.

    In my home turf we are also installing a cycleway as a trial. The effect is that a few people some times will have to walk an extra 300 or so metres to get to the train station. If it was me I would appreciate the extra exercise.

    Now cyclists by definition are usually pretty able bodied and 300 metres is not too long a walk for someone like you.

    But not everybody is able bodied and 300 metres is a very long way for some of the elderly, anyone who is injured, has a stroller and a couple of small children, in lousy weather, carrying a significant load. For some it would make the difference between being able to access the train or not. So I really think the question that needs to be asked is "whose life does this make worse, who is going to be disadvantaged by these changes" and why is this a good idea because after all they are public transport users if they are going to the train. The cycling lobby should be asked outright who they are disadvantaging as well because I struggle with the idea that the able bodied make the lives of the less able worse. Might also be a good idea to go to the station at various times just to have a look and see who is using this that doesn't fit the norms.

    And bear in mind some of these people don't have the ability to lobby on their own behalf, may be embarrassed to disclose physical shortcomings or be reluctant to face a cycling lobby that is vocal middle aged males for fear of ridicule.

    Local government needs to look after the parts of the community that are not so good at looking after themselves. It is also good of you to be on one of these boards, it can't be easy and you have my admiration.

    Sincerely

    RBCV

  9. Adrian Thornton 9

    Not all of us wear lycra Micky…some are still I am pleased to say concerned with aesthetics as well as progress, they are not mutually exclusive.

    209 meilleures images du tableau Velo | Cyclisme, Bicyclettes et Bicyclette

    • Jimmy 9.1

      What year was that photo taken? Looks like the 70's? or 80's?

      • Adrian Thornton 9.1.1

        Those two men are Louison Bobet and Jacques Anquetil, two of the greatest (and stylish) riders in cycle racing history, the photo was taken somewhere about 1958-61.

  10. Cyclists (and I am one) need to grow up and realise that they are intruding on motorist space that was never designed for cyclists (or paid for by them).

    What is so bad about getting off the bicycle at an intersection and walking the bike across?

    Respect for other road users is a two way thing.

    OBTW wear something easily visible and have active visible lights on and working. paying road taxes would be helpful.

    Breaking police cordons is not justified for personal pleasure. I am not at all startled at the Bezant thing.

    The arrogance should chime wonderfully with hipango and jc

    • Pierre 10.1

      Cyclists (and pedestrians) have as much a right to use the road as cars do, where is this idea that motorists have priority? It's not too much to ask cars to slow down and drive responsibly, especially on urban roads.

      • Foreign Waka 10.1.1

        Pierre, the concept might be alien to you – the one who paid owns the show. So get off you bike and pay up if you want to use the road.

        • Incognito 10.1.1.1

          All pedestrians get off the pavement and back into your SUVs and utes if you want to use the pavement until you pay up your Pavement Tax. Thou will not cross at a pedestrian crossing unless thou pay toll; jaywalkers will be tolled extra as will people with prams & small children, guide dogs, walking sticks, and wheelchairs. In fact, people should stop existing until they pay their Existence Tax and the higher the burden on society, the more tax you shall pay. The concept might be alien to you, but it is known as Utilitarianism. We need more of it, much, much more.

    • lprent 10.2

      … intruding on motorist space that was never designed for cyclists (or paid for by them)

      Clearly you’re willing to believe complete bullshit and to not engage your brain.

      Motorist related expenses like vehicle licence fees, fuel taxes, road user charges, public transport passenger fares, registration, and WOF costs don’t pay for more than about half of the roading costs, upkeep, or services like police and have never done so. Not at the national level nor at the local level.

      Many of the costs are directed at other areas or the costs of transport. For instance vehicle licences are

      The majority of the money paid for a motor vehicle licence goes to Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) to help pay for personal injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents

      From what I have gleaned, taxpayers and ratepayers carry about half of build and maintenance costs for our road network directly and indirectly through their taxes and rates. For instance when you look at the accounts it appears that taxpayers largely pick up the downstream finance costs after the builds and as the roading is transported into the government assets in the balance sheet.

      The NTLF from things like fuel taxes is effectively mainly used for new transport developments as seed capital and for state highway maintenance to repair damage that is almost entirely attributable to high weight axles loads – ie trucks. In any case, most of the money for the NLTF is used for state highways and the public transport subsidies. Both are generally unimportant for urban commuter cyclists – who are probably the majority users of cycling kilometres.

      Urban cyclists don’t do a lot of riding down motorways and many of other the state highways inside the city are too congested by cars at higher speeds to actually ride on. They have limited (ie nearly non-existent) space on public transport.

      So to imply that the road user charges and fuel taxes fund cyclists is just stupid and ridiculous.

      Incidentally, the problem in Auckland is a state highway issue in that there is currently no access over the harbour without doing a 30-40km trip to get from the St Marys bay to Birkenhead or taking Ferry if there is room for bikes on it (seldom). There are no ‘intersections’ to walk across. There literally no useful routes to get over the harbour for cyclists or pedestrians. Basically the Ministry of Transport has completely prioritised motorist and shipping access despite having a mandate to provide transport for both pedestrians and cyclists and the taxpayer funding over decades to do it.

      So where are the urban roads funded ?

      The maintenance of urban roads are largely directly funded by ratepayers and largely subsidised by taxpayers for some new development. The proportion of NTLF funds directed at council and regional roads from fuel taxes etc won’t even cover the cost of urban road damage by truck axles.

      So the people paying for urban roads (mostly ratepayers and some from taxpayers) includes pedestrians and cyclists. However until recently the car and truck owners, retail shop owners, and the others seem to be prioritised by our current and previous local policies. However they don’t pay (possibly with the exception of the regional fuel tax in Auckland) any more than pedestrians and cyclists to for the roads and pathways that cyclists and pedestrians use.

      Something that you clearly don’t understand or are simply too lazy to look up.

      Based on solely on your ignorant and quite stupid comments. I suspect that you don’t ride regularly. Otherwise you wouldn’t be this damn lazy.

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    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    13 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    14 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    16 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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