Fishing Industry Pushes For Self-regulation

Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, May 24th, 2010 - 41 comments
Categories: Conservation, food, privatisation - Tags:

In a move that can only be described as the fox guarding the hen house, the fishing industry has released plans for self-regulation. At this years Seafood Industry Council (NZSIC) conference the new plan is being called “Managing Our Own Ship“.

A “conservative estimate” from NZSIC said the strategy could increase the quota value of the industry by $2.5 billion. We all know how much the National government loves the old money carrot on the stick approach but hopefully they have enough sense not to welcome this new plan with open arms. Going by National’s ideology driven approach though I don’t have a lot of hope. Let’s repeat the National mantra: “What’s good for the economy is good for New Zealand. What’s good for the economy is good for New Zealand. What’s good for the economy is good for New Zealand” ad infinitum.

The “Managing Our Own Ship” plan includes proposals to harvest species and fishing areas in line with when world markets will give the best price, such as when there are shortages in supply from other countries or national holidays when a lot of seafood is consumed. The odd thing however, is that the seafood industry has been doing this for at least the last 20 years, so what is “Managing Our Own Ship” really all about?

Further into the plan we see proposals such as the industry taking control of research into whether quotas are sustainable and regulating the impact the industry has on seabirds. The official word from NZSIC is “Industry can do it more efficiently and we want to look after our own business. We want the benefits and we should be the ones to put in the investment to get the benefits and rewards.”

But should we trust the New Zealand fishing industry to manage itself? The NZSIC run website ‘The Greatest Meal on Earth‘ states that “New Zealand is an area where eco-systems have never been overfished and are effectively managed for ecological sustainability”. However the Ministry of Fisheries (MoF) website sings a slightly different tune: it talks about how orange roughy stocks effectively collapsed in the late 80s. And orange roughy stocks are currently estimated to be between 13-30% of their original biomass, an amazing statistic for a species that has “never been overfished“. As well as this the Challenger (ORH7A) orange roughy fishery has been effectively closed since 2000 and the MoF website states, “Of our 11 roughy stocks, scientists think six are probably near or above the government’s target level.”

NZSIC also says that Hoki “is not and has never been over-fished“. This is despite the fact that the total allowable catch was slashed by MoF from a high of 250,000 tonnes in 2000 to 90,000 tonnes in 2007 Those are huge cuts for a fishery that has never been overfished.

Another point against self-regulation is a 2009 paper released in the journal Marine Policy that found “unobserved vessels’ reported catches were significantly different to observed vessels’ catches. There was clear evidence of misreporting in the hoki fishery”. I imagine if the fishing industry was self-regulated information like this would never even come to light.

It is clear that the fishing industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself anymore than any other business sector. There is little doubt that self-regulation will be more profitable in economic terms for the businesses involved but it will be at a huge cost to the ecosystems that they derive their income from. National would be making a huge mistake to hand over more power to the fishing industry and in the end it would be the people who would have to deal with the consequences.

41 comments on “Fishing Industry Pushes For Self-regulation ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    24 May 2010 at 11:37 am

    I wonder if there will an equivalent proposal to fish marine reserves in the same way that the Government wish to mine the conservation estate.

    After all I am sure the industry would argue that a bit of “surgical” fishing would not hurt, it will only be a “post card” sized change and modern fishing practices are so much better.

    And self regulation? We have essentially this happening in the financial markets and look at what has happened there.

  2. Bored 2
    24 May 2010 at 11:41 am

    Oh dear, what a fiasco this will be, asking the bank robbers to guard the safe. If anything more were needed to persuade us of the larcenous relationship between the backers of the National party and a government giving access to the public domain and this will be it.

    Peak oil we have, climate charge we have, peak soil we have, and now peak bloody fish. Anybody for a slice of crumbed NZSIC, or perhaps deep-fried Brownlee? Didn’t think so, pretty unappetising or sickening.

  3. Lew 3
    24 May 2010 at 12:02 pm

    fox guarding the hen house

    … or you might say, “taniwha guarding the hÄ«naki” 😉

    L

  4. vto 4
    24 May 2010 at 12:38 pm

    This proposal imo is of far greater risk to the environment than any schedule 4 mining proposals. But it seems to be sneaking through quietly.

    Q. Can the fishing industry be trusted?????????

    A. No. (and it aint to do with the nature of fishermen it is do with the nature of men)

    This is just like the buildilng industry when the rules and regs were changed in the early 90’s and look where that led.

    • Bill 4.1
      24 May 2010 at 2:11 pm

      “No. (and it aint to do with the nature of fishermen it is do with the nature of men)”

      I’d beg to differ and suggest that it’s to do with the nature of the market and the behaviours it’s demands impose on men and women.

      When there has been self regulation without over arching market demands twisting everything out of shape ( as in many pre colonial societies), mis management wasn’t a given, although it did happen. Deliberate and cynical mis management of the type encouraged and rewarded by market mechanisms definitely wasn’t prevalent. But in society after society we see that destructive cynicism sneak in and establish itself as the norm when the market comes to town. eg logging operations in the Pacific.

      So, yeah. No. It ain’t human nature. It’s human behaviour being shaped and moulded by the nature of the market.

  5. Bunji 5
    24 May 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Phil cHeatley, back from his gardening leave after his credit card “mistakes” is all for this:
    “We’re interested in outcomes, what you do out on the water on your boats is your business”

    Personally I’m very interested in what they do out on the water – I want there to be fish for my children’s supper, not just mine…

    Does anyone remember when the last National government let an industry set its own standards? Something about leaky homes…

    The fishing industry may not just allow themselves a bit more unreported by-catch that ends up collapsing fishing stocks, they’ll also definitely use this to screw more out of the (probably foreign) workers. More and more fish is being processed out on the boats by minimum wage foreign workers. The fishing industry is asking to be allowed to pay them below minimum wage as well – something they think they’ll be able to get away with as they’re not in New Zealand proper.

    All this costs NZ workers jobs – witness the hundreds who’ve been laid off in Nelson, and there’ll be a lot more to come. Which is why the SFWU have a petition organised, calling for a fishing industry inquiry.

    I’m not sure how getting more kiwis on the dole is meant to solve the wage gap with Australia, but that seems to be National’s plan.

    • Croc 5.1
      24 May 2010 at 1:31 pm

      Thanks for the article Bunji.

      This potentially has very serious consequences for the legitimacy of the observer programme…

    • prism 5.2
      24 May 2010 at 1:57 pm

      And what about making sure that boats don’t paint toxic anti fouling on their keels. It is so showing a lack of political desire to run best practice systems or whatever the current jargon is. No, just let them get on with it they know what they are doing but remember that being so great means never having to say you’re sorry.

  6. Bill 6
    24 May 2010 at 1:28 pm

    Notice how self management…a tenet of democracy… becomes a poison under the auspices of market mechanisms that demand everything be turned into financial profit?

    edit before the jump up and down squad arrive, I’m aware that it’s not really self management that the fisheries are proposing insofar as the companies are everything but democratic. But my point stands nevertheless.

  7. prism 7
    24 May 2010 at 1:49 pm

    I seem to remember the news in pre-quota years that some NZ fishing company boats were taking guns along to protect catch from other companies’ boats. And I think they cut nets. These are not the people to be in charge of this valuable resource.

    As it is, as soon as the quota system came in, small boat owners with a little quota were encouraged to sell it, and the big boys amalgamated them to make a large holding. Now those that are left say they are finding it hard to make a living.

    Allowing for a bit of talking up of difficulties, or personal inefficiency, there is no call to let sector leaders control their own bit of country pie. That’s for the country to do. That’s how it should, and must be, or we will suffer from the greed and game playing that these captains of industry and their people indulge in.

    • Croc 7.1
      24 May 2010 at 1:58 pm

      The guns were sometime for protection, but mostly for shooting birds/seals and sea lions in an effort to cull “competition species.”

      The industry has changed a lot for the better since those days, but they still should NEVER be self regulated.

      • prism 7.1.1
        24 May 2010 at 3:00 pm

        Thanks Croc for that. Though I thought that protection of nets and catch was also a factor with the guns. I think there was some deliberate fouling of net lines etc. But I just read about it, don’t know anything personally.

        I see you don’t think the fishing interests should be self regulating. We can’t place too much credence on their scientific advisors either. The cod fishery quota in the Northern hemisphere was allocated one year when stocks were low, because things looked better than previous year/s but it wasn’t sustainable and soon the whole fishery collapsed.

        The smart, knowledgable, confident men who knew the industry thoroughly were shown to be fools, ready to risk the fish stock probably because of unaffordable over-investment, and that makes a fool a dangerous one.

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    24 May 2010 at 1:55 pm

    If the fishing industry was self-regulated we would, very rapidly, have no fish. Self-regulation doesn’t work as some people have a tendency to lie for their own benefit.

    • prism 8.1
      24 May 2010 at 2:01 pm

      DtB There was an interesting discussion about the industry by some knowledgable fishing person fairly recently. Probably heard it on RadioNz – did you hear it?

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        24 May 2010 at 7:27 pm

        Nope. What did he say?

        • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1
          24 May 2010 at 7:36 pm

          Un;ess you were talking about this one:
          The Great New Zealand Fishing Scandal
          A film by Guye Henderson.

          • Croc 8.1.1.1.1
            25 May 2010 at 11:47 am

            I’ve only seen parts of this documentary but the parts I have seen were terrible.

            A lot of the ‘facts’ presented are ten years out of date or simply untrue. Not to mention that Peter Talley funded a big portion of it which makes you ask questions about the angle it was taking.

            • Pepeketua 8.1.1.1.1.1
              25 May 2010 at 12:22 pm

              Ah yes, Peter Talley – that bastion of marine stewardship…
              This after he gave a talk to Motueka high school in 2007.

              “Talley’s Fisheries managing director Peter Talley says he is pro-whaling, pro-genetic engineering, anti-animal rights, anti-MMP and sceptical about global warming.

              Talley made his controversial views known in a speech to 200 high school students at a leadership forum organised by Motueka High School and held at Seifried Estate.

              Answering questions from the students, Talley said the Japanese should be allowed to hunt whales because they were doing it sustainably.

              He also said seals should not be protected because they catch more fish than inshore fishermen, in particular hoki and cod.Humans should have more rights than seals which were a “very destructive animal”.

              When a student asked why humans had more rights to fish than seals, Talley answered: “I don’t believe in animal rights.I want to kill and eat them.”

              Talley said money could be made from seals as each one was worth $600 for the omega-3 oils in them.He did not suggest they should be hunted commercially.

              Talley’s views have been dismissed as laughable by environmentalists.
              …
              Greenpeace campaign manager Carmen Gravatt added: “Mr Talley forgot to mention that pigs can fly and the earth is flat.”
              …
              Talley said New Zealand had a fantastic and sustainable fisheries management system.The country’s isolation and exclusive access to waters was benefiting it, he said.

              “Fishing is New Zealand’s fourth largest industry but greenies don’t want it.”

              Talley said the animal rights movement was urban-based and unfairly targeted farmers and meat producers.Graffiti artists were no longer tagging “Ban the bomb” but “Meat is murder”, he said.

              Talley told the students the organic food movement was riddled with fraud.British supermarket Tesco had removed all its organic produce from its shelves for a period because so much of was not actually organic.He said 70 per cent of beef had growth hormones in it and every time people ate chicken they were getting an overdose of antibiotics.

              He was pro-genetic engineering for this reason and because it cut the need to use pesticides, growth hormones and antibiotics. “

  9. pepeketua 9
    24 May 2010 at 3:03 pm

    agreed that this is possibly the highest risk to our biodiversity after the schedule four proposals… (or even perhaps higher – since there appears to be a huge opportunity for public input in those at least).

    Let me just say that with the benefit of having worked with the fishing industry, as well as the Ministry in charge of these guys, i can tell you that the ‘self management’ principles would be a disaster.

    Already many NZ fishermen ‘highgrade’ their own catch. (whereby you might pull in ten tonnes of fish, two of which are of suitable size for market, so you dump the rest, usually dead, until you catch up to your ten tonnes of fish). An outgoing Fisheries minister once remarked that he found it astounding that the only boats bringing back fish of different sizes on board were those with observers on board (which is usually less than 3% of all boats, depending on the fishery).

    No bycatch of dolphins/seals/sea lions/penguins/albatross etc are reported in the 97% of boats not observed, yet somehow, remarkably, in observed fisheries bycatch occurs. then the government does its best to hide it… see http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/3705208/Netted-dolphin-raises-concern

    The Fishing industry (SEAFIC) are extremely litigious and will sue any challenges they see to getting to ‘their’ fish. As such MFish are scared of them, and DOC are scared of Mfish.

    This suggestion by the fishing industry is appalling, and pressure must be put on Phil Heatley (phil.heatley@parliament.govt.nz) to stop it from going ahead.

    although watching what the govt are doing re: ECAN, Mackenzie Basin, Mining, Aquaculture, and now fisheries…. i’m not sure i’d hold my breath.

    Happy international year of biodiversity NZ – home of the world’s most endangered dolphin, sea lion and penguin. excellent stuff.

    • prism 9.1
      24 May 2010 at 3:35 pm

      pepeketua
      You are saying much of what I remember from the doco on fishing that I heard.
      It bothered me more than somewhat to hear what is happening. Also I remember the fuss about the shrimps or linguini or something where there appeared to be bias in the way that Fisheries administered the regs and allocated the quota.

      It seems that there is too much of what economists call moral hazard, the desire to rort the system if the opportunity is available. And from the way the story went on the doco, some fishermen are so disadvantaged by the regns that they have to manipulate the declared catch because of rigid, impractical catch type demands, with large fines on other species. Mad I thought.

      Dreamed up by a theoretical boffin who has never laid his mortgaged house on the line to go out commercial fishing I thought?

    • ak 9.2
      24 May 2010 at 4:48 pm

      Spot on Pepe, they wouldn’t have a clue on half of what goes on at sea – and through the back doors of restaurants and hotels. For the minister to say “what you do out on the water on your boats is your business’ has got to be the irresponsible statement of the century. (heh, love “surgical fishing” Micky “hand me a scampi nurse”)

  10. jimmy 10
    24 May 2010 at 3:31 pm

    Goodbye fish pie

  11. tc 11
    24 May 2010 at 6:21 pm

    Be afraid people as already said the foxes want care of the chicken coop.
    The better run fishing companies do OK (tough when the Xchg rates high and constant competition from asian fish farms and countries who plunder their seas) as they catch what sells into niche markets they carefully develop and cultivate constantly tweaking and altering their species mix with an eye on quota restrictions.
    Then there’s the big fishing interests…… no clear strategy of maximum return for actual fishermen with livelihoods and capital invested so go out and catch anything in sight and process it or let the russians drag the seafloor with their floating factories on your behalf…..those job losses in nelson are the result….no vision/plan/strategy and a way too unreactive and complex a business model.

    I bet the big boys are behind this (AFL/sanfords and surprise surprise talleys), the niche players are agile and understand the customers and their evolving markets…..we are at the bottom end of the world, it’s a highly perishable product and yet another natural resource we must protect.

    Quota’s far from perfect and quite subjective but at least it’s an attempt to sustain fish stocks and those struggling are the big boys who are as agile as an oil tanker…..boo hoo.

    • Croc 11.1
      25 May 2010 at 12:09 pm

      TC, unfortunately it sounds like you are repeating something you heard in the pub, ie some of what you are saying is half true but there is little understanding of what actually happened.

      go out and catch anything in sight and process it or let the russians drag the seafloor with their floating factories on your behalf ..those job losses in nelson are the result .no vision/plan/strategy and a way too unreactive and complex a business model.

      This really shows you have little idea of what you are talking about. The majority of fish processed by Sealords in the Nelson factory were Hoki caught in the Cook Strait by the kiwi vessel Taimania, as well as smaller amounts of hoki, squid and jack mackerel caught by Russian JV vessels.

      It was decided that it would be cheaper to buy a factory vessel and process at sea than bring fish back to Nelson to process as factory vessels produce a much higher grade of product because fish are processed almost immediately after being caught, rather than sitting in ice for a couple of days. Hoki is especially bad for this as it has such a soft flesh.

      Many of those who lost their jobs in the Nelson factory and by the decommissioning of Taimania were offered positions on the new factory vessel Independent 1, although many people still lost their jobs. The Russian JV vessels are still catching the same jack mackerel and squid which as far as I understand is still being processed in the Sealords Nelson factory, so those Russian boats are actually responsible for a few jobs being kept.

      Pretty much every fishing vessel above 30m has a factory on board and processes at sea, that go’s for Kiwi boats as well as foreign vessels.

      I bet the big boys are behind this

      No need to state the obvious. Of course the big boys are behind this, the ‘Managing Our Own Ship” was from the recent NZSIC conference, an organisation that represents commercial fishers.

      I think you’ll find that those fishers struggling are the small companies and self employed fishers who have no option but to sell their fish at the prices the big companies set.

      [lprent: Must have a look to see why you always wind up in spam. ]

  12. Pepeketua 12
    25 May 2010 at 3:03 pm

    For some great stuff from Steve Logan, at least trying to choose sustainable fish for his business, and why that’s important to him – see here

    http://www.foodie.co.nz/Blogs/Steve-Logan—The-man-behind-the-eponomous-Logan-B/Choosing-a-Good-Fish.aspx (also see spin from Lauraine Jacobs on NZ’s ‘sustainable’ fishery).

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-27T02:54:36+00:00