Federated Farmers – climate change “probably” exists

Written By: - Date published: 11:35 am, December 23rd, 2022 - 49 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, farming, science, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

I guess this is progress.

Yesterday on Morning Report Federated Farmer’s Andrew Hoggard was interviewed on the Government’s response to submissions received on the Farming Emissions Reduction Plan.

His mouth opened up and lots of words came out of it.  Basically Federated Farmers do not want to reduce emissions because then someone overseas will emit more.

He talked about the latest science on how methane contributes to warming.

He questioned the data and had a weird analogy about how people need to lose weight.  He claimed that New Zealand farmers were among the fittest in the world which is true but it means that they are poisoning the world more slowly than their overseas counterparts.

He also said that although there was a climate crisis there was also a food production crisis.  He did not appear to understand that you cannot grow food on a dead planet and the two issues were actually interlinked.

He actually said the presence of more carbon would improve farming conditions because grass would grow more.

He was then asked if he thought that climate change was real and is happening.

He said, and I kid you not, “probably” and conceded that ten or twenty years ago he would have said no.  He also thought we would have to wait for 50 to 100 years to know for sure.

And he is part of more mainstream thinking amongst the farming sector.

They do not understand that food security does not have to depend on meat or milk.  A more vegetarian diet would do wonders for the world’s climate.

And they do not appreciate that the world is gradually but inevitably changing for the worse.  Hesitation caused by mucking around negotiating with vested interests is the last thing that we need.

This Newsroom scene captures our situation perhaps in a too pessimistic fashion but you get the drift.

To be frank the Government’s response is timid.

I appreciate there are political imperatives at play and the need for a deal was important.

But negotiating with climate change deniers and hoping to come up with something that will work is not going to get us the scale of change that is required.

49 comments on “Federated Farmers – climate change “probably” exists ”

  1. The truth is confronting and scary. Thanks for posting anyway.crying

  2. tsmithfield 2

    I am not sure if part of the Green plan is population reduction through forced mass starvation. But some of the curbs on food production in New Zealand and worldwide it seems that way.

    For instance, in Norway it looks like huge numbers of farms will be forced out of business.

    In New Zealand farmers are being encouraged to plant trees with a likely drop in food production.

    If we are serious both about the environment and in keeping the world fed, then I think nations that are not capable of producing food efficiently and in an environmentally friendly manner should be reducing their food production.

    On the other hand, countries that are ideal for growing food, such as New Zealand, should be funding research that enables emissions from food production to be minimised as much as possible. And for the polluting aspects of farming to be cleaned up so that our environment is protected.

    This type of approach would require a co-ordinated world strategy. Otherwise, there will likely be pressure on food supplies world-wide.

    This pressure could result in the contradictory effect in that the political pressure resulting from this could cause governments to abandon emmission reduction from agriculture in order to keep their populations fed.

    We have already seen this scenario start to play out in Sri Lanka:

    https://www.dw.com/en/sri-lanka-on-brink-of-food-crisis-after-economic-meltdown/a-63139193

    From the article:

    “Agricultural economist Thibbotuwawa said the decision of former President Rajapaksa to ban chemical fertilizers in May 2021 also played a role in Sri Lanka’s economic downturn.”

    • mickysavage 2.1

      The solution is a more plant based diet. Conceptually it is not hard. More plants and less animals.

      • tsmithfield 2.1.1

        Sure. I don't fundamentally disagree with that. But it doesn't really take away from my point.

        New Zealand is ideal for food production whether that be vegetable, milk, or meat.

        Turning farm land into forests isn't going to help our food production whether it is meat or plants. And, we still need to find ways to produce our food in quantity, but also in an environmentally friendly way.

    • Robert Guyton 2.2

      "I am not sure if part of the Green plan is population reduction through forced mass starvation. But some of the curbs on food production in New Zealand and worldwide it seems that way."

      Please don't be a disingenuous idiot.

      • tsmithfield 2.2.1

        It might not be the plan. But it might be the effect. Look at what has happened in Sri Lanka for instance, as per the article I linked to.

        • lprent 2.2.1.1

          The only people who are deliberately trying to destroy world food production are idiots like the NZ farmers. Their extreme methane production for luxury products exports extreme weather and climate change into the efficient food production regions of the world.

          Kiwi farmers are directly responsible for droughts, floods, snowstorms, fire in the places in the world where the bulk of the worlds food is grown.

          Queue the usual tsmithfield avoidance patterns…

          • RedLogix 2.2.1.1.1

            A decade out of date but the broad numbers will still be correct:

            For gross emissions in 2013:

            • Globally, most GHG emissions are from energy production (78 percent, of which 43 percent is for electricity/heat). This was followed by agriculture (11 percent).
            • Carbon dioxide (from fossil fuels and cement, and land-use change and forestry) made up 76 percent of all global emissions, followed by methane (16 percent) and nitrous oxide (6 percent).
            • China produced 26 percent of global GHG emissions, nearly twice as much as the next- highest producer, the United States. New Zealand contributed 0.17 percent. The top 12 emitting countries produced nearly double the amount of GHGs produced by all other countries.

            Now the interesting aspect is that:

            New Zealand sells 95% of its dairy products abroad, which is a greater proportion than any other country. However, only 3–4% of the world’s dairy products come from New Zealand. Most other countries produce their dairy products largely for domestic consumers.

            So if NZ shut down it's entire dairy industry, we would reduce total global emissions by maybe 0.1% and leave 96% or more of methane produced by other countries from dairy production largely untouched. (In all likelihood production would increase somewhere else to make up for the shortfall we have created.)

            Which suggests that if NZ is going to act in this manner, we should also be asking every other dairy producing nation to shut down their local production as well. Any signs of such a negotiation being discussed?

            • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.1.1.1

              "So if NZ shut down it's entire dairy industry, we would reduce total global emissions by maybe 0.1% "

              Sure, but we would reduce our emissions by something like 50%

              Good effort, NZ!

              • RedLogix

                Probably more than 50% locally – but absent any effort to eliminate ruminant agriculture world-wide a rather meaningless one in a global context.

                Methane molecules not having a 'country of origin' label on them.

          • tsmithfield 2.2.1.1.2

            Iprent, I would agree that is the net effect of food production world wide.

            Which is why food should be grown where it can be produced most sustainably and efficiently and not where it can't. If we do that, the net effect should be an overall reduction in emissions, and we will actually be doing something about solving the problem.

            For instance, a recent Agresearch study shows we are the most efficient in the world in terms of our carbon footprint with respect to dairy production.

            What is needed is further research into mitigating the environmental effects. That could involve the likes of increased bio-fuel production, effective methods of dealing with waste from farming.

            • tsmithfield 2.2.1.1.2.1

              Furthermore, the Agresearch study linked to above makes my point.

              If world milk production is moved progressively from highest emission countries (e.g. Peru) to lowest emission countries, then, net emissions for dairy production will drop world-wide (assuming a direct transfer of the volume of production).

              That would of course result in other challenges, such as dealing with agricultural waste and pollution. So, any such move would need to be accompanied with effective mitigation strategies that keep water-ways clean etc.

              Something else I think we should be doing is to focus our food production on supplying regions close to us, such as Asia, India, and Australia. That would reduce the emissions associated with shipping. Also, there is a very large population base, meaning a ready market for our food production.

            • Incognito 2.2.1.1.2.2

              One commissioned study showed something that supports a desired narrative and it becomes a ‘fact’ and the ‘truth’. Not everyone is gullible and malleable.

              But the claim that New Zealand’s farmers are the most emissions-efficient in the world was made often, usually to make the point that if New Zealand's production falls under the HWEN plan, other countries filling the gap would actually push up global emissions – a scenario that is considered in the HWEN workings.

              The most often quoted evidence is a 2021 report by AgResearch(PDF), which was commissioned by the lobby group Dairy NZ.

              This concluded that dairy milk production here had a lower carbon footprint than in 17 other countries – and far lower than in most of them.

              “There is still potential to improve and achieve lower emissions, as other countries also advance their dairy sectors,” the report’s co-author Andre Mazzetto told Rural News.

              But in the fine print, the report noted Uruguay, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden and Canada were not far behind – and that “country-specific” emissions measurement factors used by New Zealand might give New Zealand an advantage which could vanish once other countries fine-tune theirs.

              https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018862546/heated-emissions-from-media-on-gas-charging-plan

              • RedLogix

                Nonetheless – the only way for these methane emissions to be set to zero is to eliminate ruminant agriculture world wide – regardless of how efficient they may be.

                Seems to be the plan.

                The impact of this disruption on industrial animal farming will be profound. By 2030, the number of cows in the U.S. will have fallen by 50% and the cattle farming industry will be all but bankrupt. All other livestock industries will suffer a similar fate, while the knock-on effects for crop farmers and businesses throughout the value chain will be severe.

                This is the result of rapid advances in precision biology that have allowed us to make huge strides in precision fermentation, a process that allows us to program microorganisms to produce almost any complex organic molecule.

                These advances are now being combined with an entirely new model of production we call Food-as-Software, in which individual molecules engineered by scientists are uploaded to databases – molecular cookbooks that food engineers anywhere in the world can use to design products in the same way that software developers design apps.

        • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.2

          Your "Sri Lanka" example is tosh. I've heard it so many times from conventional farmers. Please try to parse the real situation, before tossing it into the debate!

          • tsmithfield 2.2.1.2.1

            At least I provided a link to an article. Perhaps you could link to something to refute that suggestion.

            BTW we employ a guy who has recently arrived from Sri Lanka. He said government corruption also had a lot to do with the situation. But the prohibition on fertilizers definitely played a par.

            • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.2.1.1

              Did he mention why the Sri Lankan government put a "prohibition on fertilizers"?

              You might believe they were adopting a pro-organic ideology…but they weren't.

        • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.3

          "Might not"?

          Don't be a disingenuous idiot!

    • lprent 2.3

      I am not sure if part of the National/Fed Farmers plan is world population reduction through forced mass starvation.

      Climate change causes extreme weather and massive rapid shifts in climate patterns. We are already seeing those. Anyone with a science background is aware of how much regional climate shifts have been happening in recent decades. This is especially the case in continental areas.

      Effectively the methane production producing luxury food exports in NZ has a direct effect in reducing the average efficiency of food production world wide by accentuating short term climate change from methane and nitrous oxides. This directly impacts the far more important plant food production in continental areas that are actually far more efficient than kiwi farmers at turning sunlight and soil into food.

      If we are serious both about the environment and in keeping the world fed, then I think that nations who are capable of reducing their climate change gases should do so sooner rather than later. This is especially the case for short-term climate change gases like methand.

      This will allow the worlds efficient farmers (ie not animal protien farmers) to produce food without being subject to rapid shifts into drought, flooding, extreme storms, abnormal snow storms, fire risks, the invasion of farming pests, etc due to climate changes and an increased frequency of extreme weather events.

      On the other hand, countries that are ideal for growing food, such as New Zealand, should be funding research that enables emissions from food production to be minimised as much as possible. And for the polluting aspects of farming to be cleaned up so that our environment is protected.

      Yes – that was proposed in 2003. Unfortunately some fuckwit farmers and politicians screwed that up then. Remember this – the "Fart tax" was specifically targeted toward doing the type of research you're suggesting.

      So for the last 19 years, kiwi farmers have been freeloading on the ETS system by causing taxpayers to have to pay more and become liable for more.

      And of course there are some basic issues with your understanding about food production efficiencies as well. For instance just shifting to not farming animal protein and farming plant protein is way more efficient in every possible way. So if NZ farmers wanted higher efficiency then they should just do that.

      NZ's bulk agriculture of the type supported by Fed Farmers almost entirely produces luxury products like meat, butter, milk proteins, and wool. It sells almost entirely to export – we export more than 60 times of our own goods that we consume locally. But is has no impact on any world hunger issues. It is sold as a luxury to the affluent who are already swamped with food choices. Because it is exported, it carries a very high climate gas cost.

      It does this in such a way that it produces large revenues, and very very little profit to the nation. It doesn't employ many people in farming and processing. Most of the profit is taken out of the industry as property interest payments to overseas banks and pension schemes.

      It isn't particularly hard to argue that the NZ economy and taxpayers would be way better off with dumping our bulk commodity agricultural exports and concentrating on other ways of earning a living.

      • Robert Guyton 2.3.1

        Yes.

      • bwaghorn 2.3.2

        "It isn't particularly hard to argue that the NZ economy and taxpayers would be way better off with dumping our bulk commodity agricultural exports and concentrating on other ways of earning a living.

        i would love to see your plan .outlined ,,with firm ideas on how you do it with out killing rural nz off ,and crashimg the economy.

        • Robert Guyton 2.3.2.1

          "firm ideas on how you do it with out killing rural nz off"

          You mean, "rural NZ" as it is right now, not how it could be under better management?

          Is "rural NZ" really such a splendid thing that it must be protected at any cost???

          • bwaghorn 2.3.2.1.1

            I love ot out here, it's hollowed alot from when I was a kid, due to farms getting bigger, but wouldn't want to be urban ,and being suburban would be the death of me I sure,

        • lprent 2.3.2.2

          "It isn't particularly hard to argue that the NZ economy and taxpayers would be way better off with dumping our bulk commodity agricultural exports and concentrating on other ways of earning a living."

          i would love to see your plan .outlined ,,with firm ideas on how you do it with out killing rural nz off ,and crashimg the economy.

          It is already happening. Not so much in rural. But you'd notice that I wasn't claiming that the rural sector was having a problem with farming – just that the whole of NZ is. That is especially while the NZ taxpayers are all paying directly and indirectly for climate change gas emissions, while farmers who emit 48% of NZ's emissions are still trying to avoid pay in the future, let along catch up on the 20 years deficit. Lazy freeloaders.

          The biggest problem with rural NZ is that they have a lot of deeply conservative farmer organisations and their members who waste their efforts trying to stop an in-rolling tide (at least for as long as current members are running their current farms). This isn't exactly an unusual or recent attitude.

          Back in 1977, I did a year working on farms to decide if that was where I wanted to build career. I worked on a town supply on the outskirts of Auckland, and then at Kinloch station in Taupo. I did that because both of my parents grew up in rural of semi-rural areas, and had brought at 88 acre block up by Puhio to indulge in weekend farming in my teens. I liked farming.

          But at age 17, working on farms, you could just see the lack of vision that they lived in a world rather than just inside their farms, communities, and NZ. That was why we had the corrosion of Supplementary Minimum Payments that were designed to hold over farming until prices rose.

          They didn't and wouldn't, so all that SMPs were was a massive welfare program for the support of farming and rural towns and hamlets that prevented the farmers from adjusting to a changing world. They basically were put in to keep a National government in power. So were the infrastructural projects of paving country roads and a multitude of other programs over the decades since.

          In essence property speculation and capital, plus the margins made offshore in transport marketing by distribution export most of the profit offshore. And farming has a ever decreasing level of employment for poor wages.

          In my view, about the only rural infrastructure that have provided any real support for rural economies since has been the slow roll out of faster data to smaller towns, and the expansion of courier routes into some rural areas. That at least gives the potential for being able to live in the country while working in the world economy. In time that should shift the rural economy.

          But since there is active resistance by the many rural conservatives to any kind of changes. Plus a economic incentive towards farming aggregation that just destroys the kind of rural communities that could support remote workers from other sectors.

          The tech sector that I finally selected to work in has burgeoned massively in the last 30 years. These days it employs 5% of the workforce in well paid jobs. A fair chunk of it is remote – especially now after covid. It is 8% of GDP, and it has double percentage digits in its usual growth rate. But more importantly it has a high export profit margin being realised in NZ because it isn't just exporting barely processed commodity products.

          If you want to revitalise rural economies, then that is exactly the kind of sector you need.

          Of course the real problem even with that is that the best candidates are the massive number of people that have exported themselves from NZ rural to urban. My partner grew up on a Southland farm, went to Invercargill after SMPs died, university in Dunedin and Auckland, now really doesn't want to leave urban. Which means that I don't either.

          Coming to think of it, all of the actual rural remote engineers that I know of are immigrants from the UK or South Africa or Australia with a smattering of kiwi urbanites like me who would do it. I keep looking at the West Coast.

      • georgecom 2.3.3

        2003 a levy proposed on climate bases that would be used to fund research into mitigation of the gases. many farmers and the national party howled in protest and ran around like headless chickens. what has changed much in 20 years? the climate has warmed, weather patterns are nore unstable. Whats changed with the farming voices and the national party voices? little I would say. Times up farming lobby groups, you had a free ride for 20 years, time to play your part

    • Tony Veitch 2.4

      This type of approach would require a co-ordinated world strategy.

      And therein lies the problem in a nutshell.

      How to tell Putin to stop his pointless war because we have a planet to save etc.

    • The Government in the state of Sikkim in Northern India began its program to go fully organic in 2003. It started by reducing government subsidies on synthetic inputs by 10% each year, coupled with major public funding, education and investment in transitioning its 66,000 farmers to certified organic. By 2014 it achieved this transition. All farmers are now certified organic, and the import, sale and use of synthetic fertiliser and pesticides are completely prohibited. Since the transition began, there has been a marked increase in water quality, which has, in turn, led to a significant rise in tourism, as the state now successfully markets itself as a health destination. https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/the-state-that-proved-its-possible-to-go-100-organic/

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    “probably” Bwahahahahahaha!!

    Mr Hoggard looks the type that scarfs down double bacon sandwiches for breakfast, a pile of fried lamb chops for lunch with no nasty salad, and a New York cut steak swimming in cheese sauce for dinner…but hey, I don’t know him he could be vegan…

    But what is apparent are Federated Farmers stated policies and their deep love for the Natzos. There is reluctance and a swingeing attitude through their approach to change.
    https://www.fedfarm.org.nz

    NZ and the planet needs a shift to predominantly plant based farming/horticulture including a Cannabis industry.

  4. Binders full of Women 4

    I do wish the Greens would get over GMO. It can increase food production and reduce CC and the 'science is settled'.But it's a bogeyman and the Greens selectively choose which 'science is settled' they're gonna support.

    • Robert Guyton 4.1

      "It can increase food production"

      So can seizing prime growing land from indigenous peoples, drenching it with synthetic hydrocarbon-based fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides and growing a strictly limited range of crops – all good!

  5. Powerman 5

    Farmers, really agribusiness people are in denial– ever seen a happy one? Mr Hoggard have you ever looked out of your window? Your vision is clouded by dollar signs.

    [I fixed tiny error in e-mail address and removed URL from your comment – Incognito]

  6. woodart 6

    fed farmers are more of a union than taxpayers union, and are just as blue eyed. fed farmers do NOT speak for all farmers(you have to pay union fees), and are mostly re-active, not pro-active . fed farmers as a group do no active research, and asking their leader complicated questions is a waste of time. nearly as stupid as groundswill .

    • Graeme 6.1

      I started my working life on 1970's construction sites where the unions thought they ruled the place and solidarity was pretty staunch.

      I'm ending my working life doing doing development work on a large farm.

      Farmers, their leadership and politics are so similar to 70's union environment it's not funny. Solidarity is just as staunch in the Farmers Union, they'll die in the ditch to try and save the worst performers and then kneecap the best. And generally they aren't the brightest specimens, although I've met a few that do have something holding their ears apart.

      Groundswell is for the ones that find the Aotearoa Farmers Union a bit too liberal.

      • bwaghorn 6.1.1

        Yip ,and they can almost smell out ones like me who are a little different, the hatred of all things Ardern is growing out here, .

        • PsyclingLeft.Always 6.1.1.1

          I respect you for your views….and for still trying…. As I said I do know a few of the Farmers who want a World for their own (and others ) children, to not be burning….

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 6.1.2

        Farmers, their leadership and politics are so similar to 70's union environment it's not funny.

        Exactly. And so Ironic that for all their hating ON Modern Unions (who have been gutted/slashed ever since the rogernomic era) …they themselves are one of THE most Militant/strident and virulent. FedFarmers and particularly "groundswell". I personally do know a few reasonable Farmers, who do get that things must change for our Earth and all our Futures….And as hard as it is for we observers…must be way hard for them.

        • Graeme 6.1.2.1

          It's weird that farmers, and rural people generally see their world through a rather left wing lens of 'we' rather than the normal Nat / right view of everything's me me me. This is why they are so staunchly collective in their politics, it's about us, the farmers. It comes from a reliance on everyone around them, rural communities are very collective and co-operative, people help each other out and the strongly individual don't quite fit. Most of agriculture's larger, and not so large businesses are co-ops, and that's very much the preferred business model / structure.

          They then align themselves politically with the with a party that's all about the individual and intense completion between those individuals, and are so staunch in their faith in that party that they can't see the conflict in their allegiance. At heart farmers are actually very conservative lefties, they just haven't realised that yet. Probably explains why they tend to be grumpy fuckers and as an industry have a shocking suicide rate.

          It will be interesting to see where the Groundswell movement goes to. It's as much a protest against the farming establishment as the against the Government. It's also been hijacked by a lot of outside actors from all over the spectrum. I hope that it evolves into an alternative authoritative rural voice, or even several voices / organisations so that farmers can actually hear and debate differing views of their situation. At present there's not really a lot of alternative views, or acceptance that can even be an alternative view.

  7. Mike the Lefty 7

    What needs to be remembered is that Federated Farmers, despite what they may think, do not speak for all NZ farmers. There are plenty of farmers, many organic, who believe what science says and are prepared to work positively to reduce their carbon footprints. But unfortunately they are the type who tend to get on with the job quietly rather than publicly whinge and moan so it is the diehard FF who get asked the questions.

  8. tsmithfield 8

    Somewhere that definitely shouldn't be growing food from an environmental perspective is China. Not only do they use four times more fertilizer due to their poor soil quality, this fertilizer has to be shipped to them, causing more global emissions.

    Not only that, soon they may not be able to grow food due to climate change anyway.

    China is already in the midst of a crippling drought that is impacting its ability to grow food with staggering implications for the world.

    At the same time, we are trying to restrict our farmer's ability to produce food, as are other countries, as I pointed out in my first post. So, New Zealand, a food producer, is trying to reduce its food production while a major population centre is losing the ability to produce it.

    Seems like madness to me.

    If China were to substantially reduce its capacity to produce food due to climate change, and more efficient food producing nations pick up the slack, the environment will be net much better off.

  9. remo.rogermorris 9

    It 'probably' does. Exist.

    But the 'reality' of whatever 'it' is; so corrupted by political agenda –

    confused by the agnotologists of the 'DAVOS' set'

    and their slippery technocrat elite;

    to war;

    that it's impossible to figure the truth of the matter.

    Easy to blame the farmer.

  10. Maurice 10

    Thought Cows and Sheep were eating plant based diets?

    We must not forget that Livestock Farmers slaughter and eat those pant based diet beasties ….

    • tsmithfield 10.1

      Yes, I consider myself an indirect vegetarian. I eat things that eat plants.

    • Peter B 10.2

      I do wonder what a pants based diet is. I'm going to take a stab its more a Pornhub thing than a Country Calendar thing.

      All of my herd are 100% vegan, right down to their leather jackets.

      • joe90 10.2.1

        I do wonder what a pants based diet is.

        Because what goes on in the rearing shed stays in the rearing shed….eh…

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    17 hours ago
  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    18 hours ago
  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    1 day ago
  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    1 day ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    2 days ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    3 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    3 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    3 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    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:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    5 days ago
  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    6 days ago
  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    6 days ago
  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    6 days ago
  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago
  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago
  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago
  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    7 days ago
  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    1 week ago
  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    1 week ago
  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
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