Fixing the tax haven – what’s the downside?

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, May 13th, 2016 - 75 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, john key, tax - Tags: , , ,

Second in a series of obvious questions, why doesn’t Key just commit to fixing our tax haven loopholes? What’s the downside? A few lawyers lose an easy few million, but that isn’t worth the damage to the country. So why not act?

Toby Manhire puts it best:

Key like a cat on a hot tin roof

Amid the white noise of the yes-we-are-no-we’re-not squabbling, the truth of course is somewhere in the middle: New Zealand has become attractive as a location for offshore trusts or look-through companies, but these are neither integral to our economy nor a defining characteristic.

Nor would it be that hard to fix – amp up the disclosure rules, so to flush out or at least dissuade anyone who might be evading tax or laundering money, or otherwise involved in nefarious activity from sticking their cash under our mattress. As tax expert Deborah Russell puts it, it is simply a matter of following the Australian example and “collecting names of settlors and beneficiaries, and proactively disclosing them to authorities elsewhere”.

So why doesn’t the government do that? There is a distinct sense that the Prime Minister does see the sense in such a path. He was dismissive at the outset four weeks ago, but has since appointed John Shewan to review the offshore trust tax regime and of late started to use, a lot, the word “learnings” – a noun that should itself incur a hefty levy.

But at the same time, some of Key’s reaction has been puzzling – enough to prompt Winston Peters to suggest he appeared “like a boy who’s had a widdle behind the couch and he’s denying it to mum”. …

I still find it hard to believe, but combined with an unwillingness to take action on foreign ownership, it really does look as if this government cares more about the interests of the international rich than the local Kiwi.

75 comments on “Fixing the tax haven – what’s the downside? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Steve Reeves 1
    13 May 2016 at 10:44 am

    Given that NZ has joined in with the anti-corruption movement (launched in London), will we also be doing this, as the UK is?

    “any foreign company buying UK property [must] join public register of beneficial ownership”

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/12/super-rich-may-sell-london-homes-under-anti-corruption-rules

    And for trusts too????

    Or is Judith Collins’ copious use of words like “consider” the usual code for “kick into the long grass”?

  2. save nz 2
    13 May 2016 at 10:44 am

    Fixing the tax haven – what’s the downside?

    Where are Key and his fellow Kleptocrats going to hide their money?

  3. Richardrawshark 3
    13 May 2016 at 10:48 am

    He’s waiting till the Sherwin report. Instead of running around like headless chickens I suppose we will have to wait till then.

    To say he’s not doing anything is wrong. He ordered a narrow enquiry that technically is doing something about it.

    Your last sentence.. it really looks like..

    This is exactly what he’s doing and why, to protect a tax haven status. He wants it, he thinks it’s good for NZ banks
    if they hold funds here. To him it’s always been a win idea. He will resist.

    Either he takes it too the country or he shuts it down should be his ultimatum.
    What you should say IMHO is that what he’s doing is not enough.. and abc this is why..

    Lets play smarter people.

    • save nz 3.1
      13 May 2016 at 11:02 am

      We all know the Sherwin report will be a whitewash – the guy supports tax havens and sets them up!

  4. Richard Christie 4
    13 May 2016 at 10:49 am

    Why doesn’t the opposition simply ask the same question at question time?

  5. whateva next? 5
    13 May 2016 at 10:58 am

    As Rob Salmond’s tweet reminds us of a Fran O Sullivan’s 2010 NZH piece:
    “Key itching for quick action on financial hub”

    “Prime Minister John Key has slammed bureaucratic pin-pricking over the proposed New Zealand financial services hub as “absolute rubbish” and stepped in to put the project on the fast-track.

    Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has been ordered to produce an urgent paper covering a zero tax rating for the relevant foreign funds which Key wants incorporated in the November taxation bill and passed by April 1 next year.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10691438

    • Richard Christie 5.1
      13 May 2016 at 11:20 am

      “Key is confident New Zealand will be able to attract financial funds to place their back office administration here saying a chief executive of one of the world’s most powerful banks had told him: “If you are prepared to zero-rate foreign funds that are not invested in NZ, we’re going to move $2.5 billion of funds here in two years because you’re 50 per cent cheaper than Australia.”” – NZH Dec2 2010

      Back office?, Why can’t banksters learn how to spell orifice?

    • save nz 5.2
      13 May 2016 at 11:39 am

      Key itching for quick action on financial hub

      Fran forgot to add the words “tax haven”

  6. shorts 6
    13 May 2016 at 11:09 am

    I don’t find Key’s reaction puzzling at all – he is all about protecting those with money & power… its about all he stands for, protecting those he feels are better than him (those richer and more powerful)

    • whateva next? 6.1
      13 May 2016 at 11:31 am

      Indeed I am more puzzled by the blank, scared, frozen look in his Minister’s eyes, as they stand behind him when press questioning him, and in Parliament…. looking “programmed”.
      Does the public actually believe he has a cabinet of intelligent, thoughtful people capable of making the big decisions? (Which is what we are paying them for) or a group of automatons who may short circuit if put under any stress.

  7. Pat 7
    13 May 2016 at 11:10 am

    “why doesn’t Key just commit to fixing our tax haven loopholes? What’s the downside? A few lawyers lose an easy few million, but that isn’t worth the damage to the country. So why not act?”

    capital flight…..we are using the dodgy money to prop up our poor savings record and negative balance of trade.

    • Pat 7.1
      13 May 2016 at 11:37 am

      “In recent years, we have saved considerably less than we have invested. Foreigners have filled the gap by lending us money, attracted by our relatively high interest rates, or by investing here. When a
      New Zealander takes out a mortgage or a business loan, much of that money is likely to have come from overseas. And that’s okay, as long as it continues. But there are various scenarios under which foreign lenders and investors may change their minds and stop dealing with us or raise the cost considerably:”

      http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/reviews-consultation/savingsworkinggroup/finalreport/swg-report-jan11.pdf

      “15. The risks associated with New Zealand’s international tax obligations have been considered carefully when developing the proposal for taxing foreign-sourced income derived by a non-resident through a PIE at zero percent. For example, an option which has only non- residents and foreign-sourced income is unlikely to be consistent with New Zealand’s international tax obligations – this is because it may be considered to be a harmful tax practice as it precludes residents from investment.”

      http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/informationreleases/ris/pdfs/ris-ird-tarm-apr11.pdf

      http://investmentnews.co.nz/investment-news/government-coffers-boosted-with-pie-filling/

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1
        13 May 2016 at 2:32 pm

        Pretty much. I wonder how painful our current account would look without these foreign hot money inflows.

        • Pat 7.1.1.1
          13 May 2016 at 2:46 pm

          Just prior to the arrival of KiwiSaver and PIE, total retail funds under management (FUM) in New Zealand languished under $20 billion and falling. According to a Morningstar NZ market share report, as at December last year of the roughly $53 billion retail it measured, over $50 billion was invested via PIEs, split between KiwiSaver ($24.8 billion) and non-KiwiSaver ($28.5 billion) products.

          A recent Plan for Life survey, put the March 31, 2015 NZ retail FUM at $62.6 billion with KiwiSaver accounting for $28.5 billion of the total.)

          only question is how much of it belongs to entities who wish to remain anonymous….my guess given the parallel growth in FTs and PIE investment not an insignificant amount…..and should those funds decide they want a new home….

          “Furthermore, a lot of the foreign debt in New Zealand is short-term. If a majority of the foreigners investing here decide to pull their money out the next time their loans roll over, we could see an abrupt drop in funds available for mortgages and other loans and investments. This would lead to a long list of economic woes, including: rising interest rates; a shrinking economy; large job losses; falling values of property, shares and other assets; and reduced government spending on such things as benefits, pensions, health services and public sector wages – which would probably be driven down along with other wages.”

          20-40 million to Keys dodgy mates is just palm greasing

  8. Enough is Enough 8
    13 May 2016 at 11:24 am

    I agree 100% r0b.

    The question is “what is the fix?”

    Key has no intention of changing anything. We need to be articulating what must change. But to date I haven’t really seen the answer yet.

      • Bearded Git 8.1.1
        13 May 2016 at 12:36 pm

        Little can do no right in Trotter’s eyes.

        In fact Labour is very much on the right side of the overseas trust argument even if Little’s “ban them all” response may be a little over the top. Key’s response on the other hand has been pathetic.

        Trotter is in thrall to Key. I think his idea in the article that Key would accept a deal with Labour to regulate the trusts is fanciful, even stupid. After Shewan’s whitewash Key will change the trust rules fractionally, claim the whole thing is sorted, and the MSM will lap it up.

        • NZJester 8.1.1.1
          13 May 2016 at 1:14 pm

          After Shewan’s whitewash Key will change the trust rules fractionally, claim the whole thing is sorted, and the MSM will lap it up.

          If it is like most of his fixes, it will actually be plugging up one hole but secretly opening up a few other bigger ones to replace it.
          A smoke and mirrors fix to hide the fact he is doing the exact opposite.
          He will just make it harder for the public to see those trusts so they appear to be gone. He will be able to say their are no overseas trusts here as he will most likely have them renamed to something that does not include the name trust so he will be able to claim that when asked. You just watch!

      • Chuck 8.1.2
        13 May 2016 at 12:51 pm

        A lot of common sense by Chris Trotter in his piece.

        I wounder why Andrew Little was not given this type of advice by his “strategy team”.? Maybe they did…but decided to roll the dice (to attack) in the hope the data base turned up some kind of a link to Key or senior National person / donor etc.

        • ankerawshark 8.1.2.1
          13 May 2016 at 11:11 pm

          I have to disagre Enough is Enough about Trotter’s article………….Trotter is spinning for the Nats. Making it Labour’s fault again. If only Labour had have taken a different approach this this problem would be all tidied up by now.

          F Trotter. The second article in one week criticizing Labour and the Left and praising JK on 5th estate. I suspect he is now on Hooten’ payroll and after this article Hooten tweeted see I was right, I said Labour would be losers over the Panama papers…….

          I am afraid I only have one word for Mr Trotter at the moment SCAB

          • Bearded Git 8.1.2.1.1
            14 May 2016 at 12:24 am

            Agreed Ank-Trotter seems to have a phobia about Little and for some reason sees Key as untouchable/can do no wrong. Weird.

            In simple terms Little has it right on the overseas trusts-Key has it wrong. If Trotter can’t see this he has lost it.

      • Colonial Viper 8.1.3
        13 May 2016 at 2:25 pm

        Trotter’s main thesis is that Labour under Little is not gaining traction with the public with respect to the Panama Papers.

        Polling over the next 1-2 months will make it obvious if Trotter is right.

        If Labour had kept to their strong stance on a CGT – tax free capital gains on property being NZ’s major tax dodging rort – they would be in a much stronger moral and policy position on this issue.

        • Enough is Enough 8.1.3.1
          13 May 2016 at 2:34 pm

          I know Little hinted at dropping the CGT (notwithstanding r0b still using it as an example of bold Labour Party policy).

          Is it still part of their policy platform? I can’t find it.

      • ankerawshark 8.1.4
        13 May 2016 at 11:10 pm

        I have to disagre Enough is Enough about Trotter’s article………….Trotter is spinning for the Nats. Making it Labour’s fault again. If only Labour had have taken a different approach this this problem would be all tidied up by now.

        F Trotter. The second article in one week criticizing Labour and the Left and praising JK on 5th estate. I suspect he is now on Hooten’ payroll and after this article Hooten tweeted see I was right, I said Labour would be losers over the Panama papers…….

        I am afraid I only have one word for Mr Trotter at the moment SCAB

        • Bearded Git 8.1.4.1
          14 May 2016 at 10:05 am

          Agreed +100. Trotter choosing Nats over Labour/Green. Weird.

          • ankerawshark 8.1.4.2.1
            14 May 2016 at 12:32 pm

            Thanks for the article Pat. But I don’t really think this explains Trotter.

            If it did we would see it becoming more global in his opinion pieces. So he is quite happy to berate neo-liberalism and declare concern for victims of climate change who have a low carbon footprint, he target’s Labour in the same way that the likes of Hooten, Trevitt, Goweret al. Minimize Nationals mistakes, take aim at Labour and their strategies/policies and then praise Key’s skill in managing “the game”…….Key is skillful like many psychopaths/conmen, but rather than admiring it we should be unmasking it and what is behind it.

            • Pat 8.1.4.2.1.1
              14 May 2016 at 12:40 pm

              it was an alternative proposition…..have read Chris Trotter for a while now and am still unable to determine his position on many subjects….he often writes conflicting/contradictory pieces , i assume at times for effect or to play devils advocate…but am often left wondering if he’s undetermined himself.

    • Psycho Milt 8.2
      13 May 2016 at 1:07 pm

      The question is “what is the fix?”

      The fix is mentioned in the quote from Toby Manhire in the post:

      As tax expert Deborah Russell puts it, it is simply a matter of following the Australian example and “collecting names of settlors and beneficiaries, and proactively disclosing them to authorities elsewhere”.

      You can’t engage in tax dodging or money-laundering if the authorities can see it’s you doing it. The above is the sum total of what we need to do to stop being a tax haven, but it would apparently wreck the foreign trust industry (funny that, given it’s so squeaky clean according to Key), which is why he won’t do it.

      • Enough is Enough 8.2.1
        13 May 2016 at 2:30 pm

        Exactly PM

        Can some one in Labour’s office just pass this onto Andrew Little so that he can articulate a simple yet sensible policy.

        National has driven holes through his current idiotic policy. He needs to express this simple alternative and get it into the MSM as a Labour Party policy.

  9. Dave 9
    13 May 2016 at 11:33 am

    The prime minister argues there are legitimate reasons to have a foreign trust, for example to protect one’s assets in an unstable country, or in the case of Mexico with its unpredictable inheritance laws, to ensure family wealth stays within the family. Sorry John, that is not a legitimate reason. That Mexican businessman made his money in Mexico under Mexican Law. And if Mexican Law says he should pay an inheritance tax then he bloody well should pay it. There are a lot of people in Mexico who would appreciate the healthcare and education that tax would provide. And if that Mexican businessman doesn’t like the law, or thinks there is too much corruption then he should go to work on those issues in his own country and not exacerbate the problem by hiding his money offshore (NZ). Or put it like this: If you think someone who disagrees with the way a tax is implemented shouldn’t have to pay it, then I need to talk to you about my tax bill in NZ Sorry JK, that statement just shows how screwed up your values are.

  10. NZJester 10
    13 May 2016 at 1:03 pm

    You forgetting who else looses money if he closes NZ tax haven loopholes.
    Just look at all those so called anonymous National Party donations. You think that most NZ business alone could afford to give them that huge pile of anonymous donations funneled to them through lots of anonymous donation loopholes?
    Those in National have no idea (Wink Wink) who gives them any of those anonymous donations I’m sure.

    • gsays 10.1
      13 May 2016 at 1:10 pm

      thats right, nzj. i can think of 24 million reasons dear leader will not close this industry down.

      • Richardrawshark 10.1.1
        13 May 2016 at 1:41 pm

        Oh He will, when the polls slump and he absolutely has his back against the wall and has delayed it as long as he possibly can. unless the polls hurt. the polls always the pollllllllls my preciousssss

        But what if the polls go up! will he then say I new the country was full of dodge pots like me. whoopie!

  11. Henry Filth 11
    13 May 2016 at 1:40 pm

    Trusts. A searchable public register. Settlors, beneficiaries, trustees all recorded.

    Why not?

  12. Nick 12
    13 May 2016 at 1:43 pm

    Here is the reason.
    As Prime Minister, John Key only ever had two ideas.
    First there was the idea of building a cycle track the length of the country. (He claims to have done some back-of-an-envelope calculations and found that it would cost $35,000,000 to build, employ 5000 people and produced profits in the billions. (Check the actual figures). That is why this financial genius became Minister of Tourism rather than Finance, Revenue or Arithmetic).

    The second idea was to create a financial hub (Right here in River City!). When the notion was poopooed by Treasury, Brownlee, yes, Mr Grump himself, was put on the case. If it hadn’t been for Gaia’s intervention, he might still be battling to build that.

    Instead, all that was left of the idea was to use the trust laws to enable a grubby, petty dodgeball trust regime. It is John’s legacy.

    Actually, the idea probably first came from his “lawyer”.

    I wonder who thought of the cycle-way…..Max?

  13. The Real Matthew 13
    13 May 2016 at 1:58 pm

    Thus far not one foreign trust in NZ has been identified as achieving tax haven status here.

    But hey why let the facts get in the way of a good story?

    • framu 13.1
      13 May 2016 at 3:05 pm

      that doesnt even make logical sense

      the issue is the entire system for foreign trusts registered in NZ allows the source and destination of money and the trusts bennies to stay secret (unless you also happen to know the name of a particualr trust i think)

    • Johan 13.2
      13 May 2016 at 4:44 pm

      To: TRM
      Still trolling???;-)))

  14. TopHat 14
    13 May 2016 at 1:59 pm

    This is what the pillock is afraid of…
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/12/super-rich-may-sell-london-homes-under-anti-corruption-rules

    It’s all about house prices again?

  15. Graeme 15
    13 May 2016 at 2:46 pm

    Well it looks like the Trust industry is moving pretty quickly to get out of the way of any changes. MSI Global reported in Stuff http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/79944701/accounting-alliance-warns-foreign-trusts-they-can-expect-tighter-rules

    Some of the language is galling “As New Zealand approaches an election in 2017 the National government is likely to want to be seen to be policing foreign investment more strictly to appeal to the populist element in the New Zealand electorate”

    Also seems there was an OECD meeting in Beijing yesterday regarding tax evasion,
    “The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said New Zealand, along with 38 other nations, ratified an agreement relating to the automatic transfer of tax information at a signing ceremony in Beijing overnight.

    The primary purpose of the “Multilateral Competent Authority agreement for the automatic exchange of Country-by-Country reports” was to help crack down on tax avoidance by multinationals.”

    More interesting was this at the bottom of the Stuff article
    “Baucher Consulting said in a blog post in March that United States entities would not be bound by the reporting arrangements because the US government had negotiated its own unilateral rights to obtain tax information from overseas.

    The lack of symmetry meant funds had been moving out of “traditional tax havens” into the US which had now in effect become “the biggest tax haven in the world”, the blog said”

    Intriguing about the US becoming a tax haven.

    • Murray Simmonds 15.1
      13 May 2016 at 3:19 pm

      The USA is always “Outside” of what any other half-decent democracy is trying to legislate against, Graeme.

      • Graeme 15.1.1
        13 May 2016 at 3:31 pm

        Looks like they will be “outside” of most of the world the way they are going….

        And makes the machinations around the Panama “hack”, Cameron’s little gathering and this OECD meeting all the more intriguing. This is a little larger than our tiny patch.

  16. Pat 16
    13 May 2016 at 2:59 pm

    “As New Zealand approaches an election in 2017 the National government is likely to want to be seen to be policing foreign investment more strictly to appeal to the populist element in the New Zealand electorate”

    shouldn’t that read “start policing.full stop”?

  17. Murray Simmonds 17
    13 May 2016 at 3:00 pm

    At the risk of sounding like a “conspiracy theorist” (which is an approach that I sometimes find attractive, and sometimes most definitely do not), one has to ask:

    1. What is all this shmuck about “One Bank” and “The New World Order” that is so widely broached on sites like Youtube? (Try “Googling” either of those two terms).

    2. Did key, or did he not attend a Bilderberg Group meeting soon after becoming PM of NZ?

    (Just asking).

    • Graeme 17.1
      13 May 2016 at 3:42 pm

      Don’t worry, the way gone right will be going all conspiracy theorist about “One World Government” right now too…

      But maybe where this is going is a more open and harmonised global financial regulatory environment. Globalised business has been several steps ahead of the regulators for a while and there seems to be an international effort underway to sort things out.

      • whispering kate 17.1.1
        13 May 2016 at 4:42 pm

        He also belongs to the International Democrat Union which consists of seventy members from fifty six countries who are of the centre right. He chaired the meeting there in Marrakesh in October thereabouts 2015, on the tax payers purse, it certainly was not on his official timetable – he tucked it in while he was away on his”official” business as PM.

        Now everybody thinks he is of the centre left but its a load of hogwash. He panders to the centre left as it keeps him in power. He is an ultra right winger through and through and is only obeying his masters in far away places – he has an agenda and its definitely not for NZ. I don’t think this is a conspiracy, its logged on the Internet that he attended this meeting.

      • whispering kate 17.1.2
        13 May 2016 at 4:43 pm

        He also belongs to the International Democrat Union which consists of seventy members from fifty six countries who are of the centre right. He chaired the meeting there in Marrakesh in October thereabouts 2015, on the tax payers purse, it certainly was not on his official timetable – he tucked it in while he was away on his”official” business as PM.

        Now everybody thinks he is of the centre left but its a load of hogwash. He panders to the centre left as it keeps him in power. He is an ultra right winger through and through and is only obeying his masters in far away places – he has an agenda and its definitely not for NZ. This is not a conspiracy, its logged on the Internet that he attended this meeting.

  18. Murray Simmonds 18
    13 May 2016 at 3:15 pm

    P.S. If you are searching “One Bank” Do it from WITHIN Youtube. There really is a legit organization called “One Bank” and they are nothing to do with the stuff that appears under that name on Youtube.

    (Just mentioning this in case they try to sue me for my back teeth – of which, alas,
    I happen to have none).

    And incidentally, The Wikipedia entry on “New World Order” is well-worth a read.

  19. Murray Simmonds 19
    13 May 2016 at 3:57 pm

    ” . . . and there seems to be an international effort underway to sort things out.”

    Sorry, Graeme, I have to disagree. “. . . there seems to be an international effort TO APPEAR to be trying to sort things out.”

    Well OK, that just might be the “paranoid” (aka “Skeptic”) side in me coming out. But do have a bit of a look at the “Doomsday Scenario” and “One World Order” stuff on sites like Zero Hedge and Youtube.

    Yeah, I know, a lot of it is just plumb crazy. but if you take a healthy skeptical approach, the stuff published there does raise an occasional question of interest that one would do well to keep at the back of one’s mind.

    OK just my opinion.

  20. Observer (Tokoroa) 20
    13 May 2016 at 5:37 pm

    . The value of Andrew Little is his honesty.

    ……It contrasts enormously doesn’t it.

    Andrew Little is dedicated to bringing a fair deal and a fair go to the New Zealand population. Not just to the rich.

    He has also drawn the Opposition together on a number of issues in a coherent and effective way.

    I think that neither the self aware genius of Trotter, or the dazzling ambiguity of the Viper has much to offer.

    However they are set on destroying Andrew Little so as to crown King John Philip Key.

    • Colonial Viper 20.1
      13 May 2016 at 11:26 pm

      Labour 25% +/-3% in 2017, and Little replaced by Grant Robertson shortly thereafter.

      BTW that poor result will be due to the political incompetence and cultural irrelevance of the Labour leadership, not due to me or Trotter.

  21. Reddelusion 21
    13 May 2016 at 5:42 pm

    John key is s lizard man and tinfoil hats in his presence is recommended

    • Draco T Bastard 21.1
      14 May 2016 at 12:00 am

      I think it’s a bit late for you – you’re brains already fried.

  22. ianmac 22
    13 May 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Haven’t caught up with all the above but liked Winston’s bit.
    “But at the same time, some of Key’s reaction has been puzzling – enough to prompt Winston Peters to suggest he appeared “like a boy who’s had a widdle behind the couch and he’s denying it to mum”. … and Winston added that “if he did do it he would help to clean it up.”

  23. Huginn 23
    13 May 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Is any of this money exchanged into $NZ?
    And if so, is there enough of it to distort the exchange rate?

    • Pat 23.1
      13 May 2016 at 6:24 pm

      Is any of this money exchanged into NZ dollars?Yes,if any of it is invested here(and i believe it is) …is there enough to impact the exchange rate?….because no one appears able to measure it we can’t say…..the whole point of FTs is anonymity and secrecy.

    • Draco T Bastard 23.2
      13 May 2016 at 11:58 pm

      the NZ$ is the 10the most traded currency in the world according to Wikipedia. 8th equal with Australia according to Investopedia. According to Investopedia they’re both great for the carry trade:

      A currency carry trade is a strategy in which an investor sells a certain currency with a relatively low interest rate and uses the funds to purchase a different currency yielding a higher interest rate. A trader using this strategy attempts to capture the difference between the rates, which can often be substantial, depending on the amount of leverage used.

      Doing nothing of any value and getting rich.

  24. Brian Turner 24
    13 May 2016 at 6:27 pm

    Collins on corruption,wot a joke.

  25. Incognito 25
    13 May 2016 at 10:31 pm

    like a boy who’s had a widdle behind the couch and he’s denying it to mum

    John Key likes to play with the boys in the sandpit.

  26. UncookedSelachimorpha 26
    13 May 2016 at 10:46 pm

    Labour or the Greens (or Winston?) should use this situation to go after Key on his own wealth and tax contribution situation – this information would starkly illuminate Key’s actual values I suspect.

    Unfortunately I fear many MP’s won’t, because their own arrangements are less than commendable.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    14 hours ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    14 hours ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    15 hours ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    18 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    22 hours ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    24 hours ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    2 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    3 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    4 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    1 week ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
    Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-09-29T17:00:09+00:00