FIFY: Bennett too embarrassed to visit marae

Written By: - Date published: 2:58 pm, June 9th, 2016 - 72 comments
Categories: housing, paula bennett, useless - Tags: , ,

bennett too busy

Let’s fix that headline: Bennett too embarrassed to visit marae .

She told reporters at Parliament that the Government was considering giving the marae more funding on top of $10,000 already donated by Te Puni Kokiri.

“I’ve discussed it with officials and we are just going through what that might mean. So I suppose the answer is possible,” she said.

“I’m not sure [how much could be given]. I’ve had some discussion with officials…the Maori Party raised it with me the other night, so I’ve said that I would have a look at it.”

The very least she could do.

“The minister does actually have a very full day tomorrow because it’s her only day in Auckland once a week so she packs a lot in.”

Pretty pathetic as excuses go. But don’t worry Paula, the homeless will still be there next week. And the week after that. And the week after that. And the week after that…

72 comments on “FIFY: Bennett too embarrassed to visit marae ”

  1. heather Tanguay 1

    Of course she is too busy, people will ask her questions, she is unable to answer.
    I hope she is not too busy to continue attending the Public Meeting in Glen Eden, to be held on Monday 13th of June at 6.30pm at the Baptist Church. I am sure there will be plenty of people that will be longing to ask her questions, they will not be accepting of a Yes or No answer.
    Again today in question time, she proved not to be on top of this crisis, her waffle and playing with the answers is not acceptable any more.
    It is winter, people are becoming sick, children are becoming sick, old people are becoming sick. Streets, sheds, vans, cars, garages are not suitable places to live.
    She should hand her head in shame, it is a disgraceful situation.

    • Here is a link to the U.N’s Articles on the Rights for a Child . There are a few that could possibly looked at in the way this govt is acting.

      http://www.unicef.org.au/Upload/UNICEF/Media/Our%20work/childfriendlycrc.pdf

      Article
      16 Children have the right to privacy. The law
      should protect them from attacks against their
      way of life, their good name, their family and
      their home.

      1) Is living in a van really a home, ? is it really ‘ private, secure ‘ ?

      Article
      23 Children who have any kind of disability
      should receive special care and support so that
      they can live a full and independent life.

      2) We see in the NZ Herald today that a 17 year old has developed a skin ailment ( though not technically a child ) a 9 suffers from epilepsy -suffering 2 more since the family became homeless.

      Article
      24 Children have the right to good quality health
      care, clean water, nutritious food and a clean
      environment so that they will stay healthy.
      Richer countries should help poorer countries
      achieve this.

      3) Living in a van is fine for weekend camping trips, attending rock concerts etc… but permanent family life of 5 plus members?… we are kidding ourselves that sanitary conditions are possible over long extended times. Let alone the stress levels induced by such cramped conditions.

      Article
      26 The Government should provide extra money
      for the children of families in need.

      4) The ad hoc, underfunded funding by a govt who has created these living conditions for so many in the first place demands close scrutiny by the media , public and opposition party’s – and if needs be – by external bodies as well.

      Article
      27 Children have the right to a standard of living
      that is good enough to meet their physical and
      mental needs. The government should help
      families who cannot afford to provide this.

      5) It is now obvious that this govt has abdicated its responsibility’s regarding the above by its conduct and by the policy’s it has pursued.

      Article
      28 Children have the right to an education.
      Discipline in schools should respect children’s
      human dignity. Primary education should be
      free. Wealthier countries should help poorer
      countries achieve this.

      6) We see graphic evidence of the disadvantage’s suffered by those forced to live in poverty – an example of which one child ( TA ) narrowly missed a scholarship by having to live in this unsettled manner. This has the potential to affect the rest of her adult potential .

      Article
      31 Children have the right to relax, play and to
      join in a wide range of leisure activities.

      7) While some may say when away from the living conditions they are under – that the children did pursue ‘ play / leisure activity’s ‘… but being forced to live like this is an abnormality – and does nothing for after school hours. The parents did everything they possibly could to ensure schooling, play , normality etc under the circumstances – whereas the govt did not.

      Article
      42
      Governments should make the Convention
      known to all parents and children.

      8) For obvious reason ( ie : political embarrassment ) this govt has tried to hide the tangible evidence of not only failure – but deliberate pursuing of policy’s that they knew would cause hardship to many New Zealanders – glibly assuming this is the price society must pay for true ‘ free market ‘ policy’s. The social aspects of these policy’s are now self evident and the onus is now on this govt to correct this situation in a timely manner or be stood down to enable proper governmental practices to be implemented.

  2. Sabine 2

    of course she is not going to visit the marae.

    that would be hard work, and she is not into hard work. She likes her job to be full of travel, perks, and sexy stuff, like selling state houses.
    Having to affront the victims of the National Parties negligence and ‘can’t be fucked’ attitude is not sexy.

    Mr. Scrooge

    “At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge, … it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.”
    “Are there no prisons?”
    “Plenty of prisons…”
    “And the Union workhouses.” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”
    “Both very busy, sir…”
    “Those who are badly off must go there.”
    “Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”
    “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

    • miravox 2.1

      She will visit the marae. When the photo op is organised, the people are compliant, they can interview a marae spokesperson who will say thank you nicely for the money and the rolling coverage ends with the most photogenic family collecting a set of house keys for a hastily spruced up state house that had previously been up for sale in a development block.

  3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

    This situation is a bit beyond any one minister to handle. At least she (Bennett) is admitting errors.

    • Sabine 3.1

      But I agree this situation has gone way past Ms. Bennett, Mr. Nick Smith, Mr. John Key, Mr. Bill English and the whole other lot of the the National Party do nothing Stooges that are currently running this government.

      Let me ask you a question. Is it time for the National Party to ‘let go’ of Ms. Bennett, maybe to spend some time with her Family in her well heated home, with the full fridge and all other nice things of the 21st century. Cause i would agree with you on that one. That women should have never been elevated to the position she is in, she is not even capable of making a decent cup of tea.

    • North 3.2

      Another excuse, AsleepWhileTalking ?

      She’s a gutless mongrel and a waste of space. And when she doesn’t front up…….well she’s not admitting errors or accepting responsibility.

    • Kiwiri 3.3

      No doubt she will be well rewarded for insulating John Key from the issues.

  4. shorts 4

    I’m sure Bennett isn’t embarrassed by anything

  5. fisiani 5

    40 houses were built today. More families will be housed in new homes this week than are temporarily at the marae.

    • b waghorn 5.1

      How many of those 40 homes will be in reach of a any one /couple on less than $100 k per annum??

      • Ben Clark 5.1.1

        In fact, as Mediawatch on RNZ noted at the weekend, it’s more like 38 houses were consented today. Which is likely to result in 37 houses being built.

        How many of those consented are affordable… well that’s likely to be a much smaller number…

        • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1

          And what are we calling “affordable” in Auckland nowadays? $600,000?

    • shorts 5.2

      no one said they were affordable houses

      • fisiani 5.2.1

        Let me take you through housing step by step and slowly. An expensive house is built. It is purchased by a family who can afford it. Their house is bought by another family. Their house is bought by another family and this process might have 17 more steps. House No 17 in the chain is thus vacant and affordable. Every house that is built thus ultimately frees up one affordable house. How hard is that to understand?

        • mauī 5.2.1.1

          This sounds like the trickle down theory… number 32 in the chain will free up their Mazda Bongo wagon for habitation. Yes, this is all what he hoped New Zealand could be!

        • Ben Clark 5.2.1.2

          or an expensive house is built. It is purchased by a family who can afford it. A speculator buys their house, and sits on it for a bit waiting for the price to go up. They eventually sell the house to an investor who rents it out and 1 more house is lost from home ownership…

          More houses are good, but more affordable houses are better than more McMansions…

    • Stuart Munro 5.3

      You say that a lot – but do you have any solid evidence that it is true? Or are you just quoting unreliable sources like Nick Smith? One clear indication of invention is round numbers 40 – not 37, not 41 – the same every day. When I was with MAF the ships with cooked books always had round numbers – too easy.

      • jcuknz 5.3.1

        When I was compiling stats for my supervisor in the public service I trusted round numbers more than fictitious looking non-round numbers coming from those who worked for me. I was also a working supervisor who entered required numbers for the stats.

        • Stuart Munro 5.3.1.1

          So – a baseless contradiction.

          The point about rounded numbers is that the real world is not so neat and tidy. 53 houses today – but none yesterday due to heavy rain. If there is no variation it is because human agency has massaged the figures – and massaged figures, like Joyce’s 3000 Whangarei jobs, are often blatant lies.

          What is the basis of this 40 number? Is it an average? Is it forty every day or forty every working day? Is it permits issued or completions signed off? 40 a day as it stands is an unsupported assertion.

    • Sabine 5.4

      40 houses were build today?

      Where?
      By whom?
      How many are ‘affordable’?
      How many are ‘social’ housing?
      How many are ‘state housing’ in the right place.

      40 fucking houses. That is all you have got to show for? if that is all the private market can do then we are fucked. Really really badly fucked.

      • +1 Exactly!

        And the quote from PB and NS is “We are building 40 houses every working day in Auckland this year”. Vague. That’s not the same as saying 40 houses are built every working day. Yet they seem to be implying just that.

        For all we know, these 40 houses could take a year’s worth of working days to be built. They should front up with evidence.

    • mauī 5.5

      Meanwhile 40 vacant lots that were ex state houses are sold and redeveloped by private interests. I can take you round and show you the three different areas in my area as proof.

    • Anno1701 5.6

      no 40 houses were FINISHED today ( if thats true )

      they took quite some time to build, you Do know understand how house construction works ?

    • TC 5.7

      Houses on planet key dont count

    • Paul 5.8

      Defending the indefensible.
      Shameful

    • Draco T Bastard 5.9

      Pics or didn’t happen.

      Really, I want addresses and pictures of the 40 houses that were completed today.

    • North 5.10

      Absolutely gobsmacking Fishy Anus. Where’s your proof ? Regurgitating that edgy weirdo Nick Smith ain’t proof. And please talk in terms of affordable housing for low income first home buyers. Otherwise you’re talking utter shit. Repugnant thing you.

    • Billy fish 5.11

      Extra double plus good. And the chocolate ration has increased too

    • Rodel 5.12

      fizz
      “40 houses were built today.” Yeah right! Show me?
      Seriously though…..Please list them and the addresses.

    • reason 5.13

      Did someone say 40 more motel units rented at rip off price gouging rates ??

      Expensive band aid patches to maintain the Housing policy abuse of bad Bennett & and the nasty nats …………

      Making the victims of Nationals Housing policy abuse take on debts to pay for exploitative overcharged room rates on low grade motels and other dumps is a further abuse against the most vulnerable living in NZ….. it’s ‘misery money’ or a ‘Tolley tax’.

      Privatise the cost of Government failure onto the victims of the failure while solving nothing and in fact making their situations worse is the present national response ….

      In essence …… Subhuman leaders …..Substandard Governance ….. Sub prime misery money used to distort Government accts ……

    • Fisiani we look forward to your coming post on Thursday 16th June describing these joyful events that are about to take place.

  6. John 6

    Bennett to busy to explain to the people living in the marae that this is their brighter future under National. She has well and truly lifted up the ladder after her.

  7. Chris 7

    It’s fantastic that private charity can step up and address problems that have traditionally been the responsibility of government. Charities could start setting up homebanks where people without homes can turn up, say why HNZ can’t help them and presto – they get a home! Easy.

    • McFlock 7.1

      the trouble with private charity is that it tends to help the deserving and cute cases, while funding for the more difficult or gross cases tends to fall by the wayside.

      Oh, and it’s the responsibility of government to make sure the nation’s population is housed, fed, healthy, educated, and able to work.

      • Macro 7.1.1

        Oh, and it’s the fucking responsibility of government to make sure the nation’s population is housed, fed, healthy, educated, and able to work.

        Quoted for truth!

        • McFlock 7.1.1.1

          lol
          I took out the F-bomb just before the edit deadline because I’m trying to be slightly better behaved these days.

          • adam 7.1.1.1.1

            Does mean I’m reading your comments more McFlock, and enjoying reading your comments as well.

      • Chris 7.1.2

        The trouble with private charity is that there’s no guarantee basic needs will be met because the recipient is at the mercy of the provider.

    • Sabine 7.2

      oh yes. Maybe we could have some religious charities? Are you a catholic, protestant, pentecostal, Jehova Witness, Quiverfull, ATI? Ok maybe you get a house?
      Maybe we could have some charities that link to political parties? Not a socialist? sorry no house for you, voted Labour? no house for you, Member of the Green Party, no house for you?
      Maybe we have some charities that look after certain groups of people? Not caucasian? sorry no can do? Not asian? No need to apply?

      Can you see why at some stage Government took over ‘social’ or state housing to make sure that people irrespective of gender, martial status, ethnicity, religion or political party affiliation would be able to find a liveable, heatable, and other wise safe, healthy home.

      The Marae is doing what the government refuses to do. Namely look after the citizens of this country.

      Maybe the guys running the marae should also take over government. Cause clearly this National Party led government is not worth their pay and should be send packing.

      • Chris 7.2.1

        Yeah, but you’d have to have rules so that homeless people don’t abuse the good nature of the charities, like only one home per family, and you’re only allowed to ask for a home three times in a year otherwise you get banned from all homebanks. And no hopping from homebank to homebank because that just makes all homeless people look like scroungers. Homebank hopping should cop a longer ban because that’s really serious as it takes homes away from other homeless people.

        • North 7.2.1.1

          Yeah these people who are homeless are just bastards aren’t they ? Always trying to fuck over the good folk.
          I’ll bet that little girl TA living at Te Puea right now would be a fair dinkum little cow if she wasn’t closely watched.

          If I wasn’t pretty much assured you’re being sarc’ Chris I’d say “Get a life areshole !”

          • Chris 7.2.1.1.1

            Only pretty much assured? Not completely certain? Guess I should feel lucky you didn’t call me an arsehole.

            • North 7.2.1.1.1.1

              Well done Chris……the best sarc’ should always leave the door just very slightly open. If it’s too obvious it loses pungency. Sheepishly I admit that my last paragraph was more an afterthought than it was a first thought.

    • mauī 7.3

      So pretty much put the responsibility and costs on the people who do care, who invest far too much of their own time and money that they dont have very much of. While the people who earn the most and generally don’t care can carry on not giving a shit, yeah great.

  8. jcuknz 8

    No thanks Sabine just because they do one good thing doesn’t mean they can do everything well … sorry.

  9. Just Me 9

    Really there is no point in Paula Bennett being an MP when she cannot front up to things. Her lack of appearance and yet eagerness to resort to blame games shows how shallow she truly is as a so-called ‘representative of the people(of NZ)’.
    After almost 8 years in government the best the Key crowd can do is behave like village idiots blaming others for their pure arrogance and stupidity.
    Not too long ago someone I know saw Paula Bennett walking through a Newmarket shopping centre as she headed to a high market fashion shop. And so her actions back and now show she has become totally corrupted in her job.
    In the 90s she showed disdain towards the National government of the time. Here in 2016 she(as a National MP)shows disdain for the citizens of New Zealand.
    Is this woman the sort of person we want as a representative of us or are we being fools to let her and her ilk back in after election 2017?
    Not too many months ago John Key, when asked about the housing crisis in Auckland, grinned like the idiot that he permanently comes across as being and quipped ‘What housing crisis? I don’t see a housing crisis….” His response and the attitude problem of Paula Bennett shows a government completely out of touch with reality.
    In other words arrogance has become concrete within the Key government.

    • TC 9.1

      Arrogance has always been there, its just more obvious now that they dont give a F.

      Bennett is expendible unlike others who have access to the skeleton closet.

    • Chris 9.2

      It’d be a gift from the National party if Bennett ever became leader.

  10. Paul 10

    Heading has now been changed.
    ‘Social Housing Minister considers helping Te Puea Marae’

    Considers helping?
    Housing NZ’s most citizens is her job.
    Not the Marae’s.

    She should be ashmed they are doing what her government should be doing.

    • Chris 10.1

      “Social Housing Minister considers helping Te Puea Marae”

      Yeah, like funding fucking food banks. Plays right into the agenda of shifting responsibility for welfare on to the community, like Clinton’s HR4 Bill in 1996. Community groups are already handing out benefits for young people. Government’s going to say it’s such a success we’re rolling it out for everyone. Pushing housing out will be a doddle. IHC will be licking its filthy right wing lips.

  11. Karen 11

    Paula Bennett isn’t embarrassed – she just doesn’t want to actually have to talk to homeless people. So she has arranged a meeting at a Mt Eden cafe – less than 10 kms from Te Puea Marae. Too busy because she has only one day in Auckland? She lives in Auckland FFS, and represents an Auckland electorate. Or does she not work weekends?

    She should have visited Te Puea last week as a priority, and gone back again this week. She is a disgrace. Callous, nasty, vindictive and incompetent.

    • Chris 11.1

      And incredibly thick.

    • North 11.2

      When the guy living between Kaikohe and Okaihau laboriously spun the wheels of his wheelchair about 8 kilometres over mostly rural road to the Kaikohe WINZ office to smash one its large front windows with a hammer early one morning 2-3 years ago, the baggage was right up here within a day or so for a private meeting with him. Because it was capable of being ‘dealt with’ in that way. He’d been foully treated two days before – “So you want a food grant……go away ’til you’ve seen the budgeter, again. Three week waiting list for the budgeter ? So what, go away !”

      The baggage won’t go near Te Puea because it’s simply not possible to keep it under wraps anymore. There’s too much risk of the baggage being publicly upbraided. So it’s all about Paula Paula Paula. And that gutless thing with the effete giggle, ‘Macho’ John Key AB (Ret).

    • dave 11.3

      shes an utter cow that bitich should be ran out of dodge as the Americans say.
      shes to busy to meet the victims but plenty time to go to the young nats ball. these people like key benett should not be anywhere near government or tax payer money

  12. McFlock 12

    shizzle – missed reply
    ah – no. comment replying to disappeared

  13. Trevor Wilson 13

    40 houses a day 200 new imigrants

  14. M. Gray 14

    Maybe when the Labour party start their election campaign they can show National and there mates in a car-like waka sinking

  15. ron horne 15

    Its because of the Maori party being national puppets this is happening in the first place. Now they ask there mate bennett to help them now people are homeless why didnt he ask BEFORE people became homeless, Oh hes useless I figured that out. Just didnt want to admit it being an ex maori party voter now see them as the national maori party instead no protests no arguing just being puppets and letting seymour the rich cunt tell people in parliament people are homeless because there homes are being renovated, WHAT A WANKER that wanker is.

  16. M. Gray 16

    Yeah the Maori party are propping them up but don’t forget the other two parties that got buggar all of the party vote yet under MMP have the deciding vote in much of the damaging legislation. Don’t worry about the Maori party there days are numbered.
    I was an ex- Maori party voter but haven’t been for 2 elections I’m looking for somewhere to put my vote I haven’t decided yet but I would never vote for the Wayne Kerr party I am sure you know who I mean. I saw the damage they did last time and I don’t trust them.

  17. Keith 17

    From Key down National ministers wiil NOT front if they can’t be guaranteed a patsy Hosking /Henry/Williams/Gower interview.

    This is the problem for our manipulative stage managed little flowers posing as Crown Ministers!

  18. Just Me 18

    In the past few days we have heard that this government intends to spend $20billion on upgrading/updating the military. And within 24 hours of that announcement we hear the MSD offered to the marae ONLY $10,000. That shows the so-called misplaced priorities this government has i.e $20billion on warfare equipment and $10,000 on people(of NZ).Wow….. Key wanted to leave a legacy and what an excellent(speaking facetiously here)legacy he will leave us NZ taxpayers to pay for!
    I am sure in due course we will find out how much in total the flag referendum has cost the NZ taxpayers. And yet to date does anyone know how much the 34 ‘talking’ Beemers that Key recently purchased has cost us taxpayers?
    I am also sure that very soon Key will charge the NZ taxpayers with the expense of 2 leased Pandas whose offspring(if they are up to that job)will be shunted off back to China. The initial cost of these pandas could be in the $50million range. But it’s not Keys’ own money involved in the project and therefore not his concern.
    He will continue spending OUR money on HIS vanity projects until the cows(NZ owned cows that is)come home. He will then quibble that something that is in the best interest for NZers like medicines for cancer treatments is too expensive.
    Lets just say I would much rather see that $20billion going to improving NZers lives than into the bank accounts of some overseas banks and military organisations. The military hardware will have ‘Used by dates/Best before dates’ but the Key government fails abysmally to respect NZers except where votes are concerned.
    We have been ‘promised’ by Key of tax cuts next year. How convenient as it would be so perfectly timed for before the election. But we must all now know a Key promise is a definite broken promise onces the votes have been counted. Lets just say this government has a legacy of lying in their wake. Everything they say nowadays is looked upon as a pack of lies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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