Government backs away from public service wage announcement

Written By: - Date published: 8:02 am, May 12th, 2021 - 34 comments
Categories: chris hipkins, grant robertson, Unions, wages, workers' rights - Tags:

Some good news from yesterday.  The Government has decided to walk back earlier comments suggesting a wage freeze for teachers and nurses.

Yesterday there was an attempt to discredit the media analysis that had been applied to the earlier announcement and a claim that what was announced was not actually a wage freeze.  With the greatest of respect to my Labour whanau I don’t think this argument can be sustained.

The overwhelming impression created was that public servants earning over $60,000 would not be receiving more pay, at least over and above traditional increases already built into contracts, for instance band payments for teachers.

Chris Hipkins in Parliament basically said this.  From question time on the fifth of May:

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: … The updated guidance will continue to mean that there should be no pay increases for those earning over $100,000 and senior leaders within the Public Service. Any increases should be targeted to those lower-paid public servants, largely those earning below $60,000 a year, who account for about 25 percent of the public sector. We want those on the lower wages to be the focus of any increases in pay.

Ginny Andersen: How would the Minister respond to concerns about this pay restraint raised by the Public Service Association?

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: This is ultimately about prioritising Government spending. I would say to the Public Service Association that we’ll continue to work closely with them on issues around gender and ethnic pay gaps, on issues of pay parity, and on issues around terms and conditions, as we have been doing over the last three years, where we’re making progress and we know more progress is required. I’d also say to them that the guidance is consistent with the decision last year by the Remuneration Authority that Ministers and MPs would not be getting any pay rises for the next three years because of COVID-19 and the decision by the Public Service Commissioner, who sets the pay of Public Service chief executives, who will also not be increasing any of their pay.

Hipkins was quoted as confirming that pay increases for those earning between $60,000 and $100,000 would only occur under exceptional circumstances.  If there was confusion about the language then the media should not be blamed.

Yesterday things changed as the Government worked to reinterpret the earlier announcements following meetings with the unions.  Henry Cooke at Stuff has these perceptive comments:

Senior ministers have been blaming the media for the anger from the public sector over the pay restraint announced last week, when they indicated that no public servant earning over $100,000 could expect a pay rise for the next three years, and those earning between $60,000 and $100,000 would only get them in special circumstances.

Hipkins and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern first disputed that the pay restraint was a “freeze” because those on collective agreements with increases already built-in would still see their salary increase. It was never suggested that the Government would not honour its existing contracts.

Following the meetings with the unions both sides told media that the restraint was not in fact a “freeze” but just an opening position for collective bargaining negotiations, which would be entered into in good faith.

Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said there was now room for cost-of-living increases in those discussions.

“It was also agreed that there is scope to discuss cost of living increases in negotiations for all union members covered by collectives, with higher increases for low paid workers and that there is no pay freeze,” Wagstaff said.

Hipkins confirmed this, but said this had always been the case.

“Cost of living increases are in scope to be discussed during negotiations, as they always were.”

This is despite Hipkins saying clearly last Wednesday that pay increases for those earning between $60,000 and $100,000 would only be considered under “special circumstances” – something Finance Minister Grant Roberston called an “exceptions regime.”

“Any pay increase over the next three years will be targeted to low-income public servants, that’s those earning less than $60,000 per year,” Hipkins said at the time.

“For those in between [$60,000 and $100,000,] pay adjustments will be considered in special circumstances, but they will need to work through the Public Service Commission.”

Hipkins was also asked directly about the cost of living going up over the three years of the policy, and responded by noting that public sector pay had outpaced private sector pay in recent years.

I am pleased to see the walk back of earlier comments.  But I am wondering why the ministers involved did not realise that the announcement would be so incendiary.

34 comments on “Government backs away from public service wage announcement ”

  1. Ad 1

    Good comedy, reasonable damage control.

    They'll get back on track with budget day.

  2. Incognito 2

    Sometimes, when I have a rare Machiavellian moment, I think this is a multi-dimensional game of political chess. One reason:

    ACT leader David Seymour has unveiled his 2021 alternative budget, promising $11.2 billion in savings, mainly coming from cuts to public services. Those cuts help to pay for big tax cuts and reduced debt.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300305224/acts-david-seymour-wields-the-axe-in-his-alternative-budget

  3. Nic the NZer 3

    Why didn't they expect the push back?

    Covid marked an important change in timing. Where previously Labour terms have started with strong economic terms, resulting in govt surpluses (and rising private debt) and National terms often started with a recession and deficit the timing of Covid knocked this pattern.

    Labour had previously taken the timing of recessions as validation of their sound economic management. So they had thought that they had broad public support for the regular practice of public debt paydowns.

    But at this time the economics profession is busy recognising the value of public spending and that the response to the GFC initiated austerity way too early, so the ideology and discussion was not backing them up here (no professors have released a spreadsheet full of errors at this time).

    On some decisions its important to understand which practices are best practice due to science and which are best practice due to ideology.

    • Sabine 3.1

      I think they run these announcement as trial balloons to see how much they can get away with. OR else they really drank a huge jug of 'majority syndrome' and truly believe their own ideas of reforming and think that they were elected to reform rather then just don't rock the boat and start rolling out the covid vaccinations and be nice and gentle.

      I also don't think that pretending it is journalists fault for using the word 'freeze' and then changing it to 'hold' did help them a lot.

      Just another storm in a tea cup.

      Never mind the problems that really ail us as a civil society and country, housing – buying or renting both unaffordable for most, education – schools falling apart, hungry kids, hungry toddlers, and kids not going to school at all, health care – overall, and mental health in particular to name just a few.

      Trial balloons, never mind the damage done.

      • Nic the NZer 3.1.1

        I don't for a moment doubt their sincerity. The well of ideology from which they drink is very deep and revisions are only very recently forming at a surface level.

  4. barry 4

    It was unbelievably hamfisted. How to piss off your base for no obvious benefit.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1

      Teachers, nurses and PSA arent affiliated with labour party as unions. Nor do they provide any money.

      They are professional classes and are just as likely to support National or ACT

      • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.1

        Data on annual NZ public service :

        In 2020, the average (mean) annual salary was $84,500, an increase of 3.9% from the previous year. Private sector average earnings increased at a lower rate (2.5%) over the same period

        https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-work/workforce-data/annual-salary-in-the-public-service

        [image resized]

        • Infused 4.1.1.1

          Were losing people to government who ate paying 30k more and allowing 4 days a week to work from home. It's insane. These guys are all 80k+

        • Craig Hall 4.1.1.2

          There have been a lot of pay equity settlements, adoption of the living wage (whether formally or informally) and the reintroduction of pay scales with guaranteed progression in the core public service as major sources of increases (education and health never lost their scales, but a lot of core government departments scrapped them for performance matrices and other discretionary systems).

          Not to say that other public servants have done poorly, but the increases aren’t especially evenly distributed which is obviously not something that comes out in the averages.

      • Byd0nz 4.1.2

        Well noted. They never seem to kick off under a Nat Gvt.

      • Gabby 4.1.3

        I very much doubt that teachers are as likely to support Nat or At.

        • Gabby 4.1.3.1

          Maybe principals.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.3.1.1

            They are . Thats why they have no affiliation with Labour party

            Reminder here the top point of full time teachers grade is $90,000- which is really minimum for those who have been teaching for 10 years or more.

  5. Adrian 5

    They don't know how lucky they are. Those threatening to "go to the private sector "may well be in for a surprise. There are bugger all jobs paying over 80k in the private sector that aren't already snaffled up by the serial troughers, leaving nursing or teaching or just sitting on your arse in an office in the expectation that riches await is dreaming, not to mention the lack of protections that PS jobs generally provide.
    And BTW, there is no mention in Hipkins annoucement of May 5th of the word “freeze “, just a vague “should not “. Freeze was entirely a media construction.

    • Enough is Enough 5.1

      If you you do not get a payrise this year, your pay is not frozen, it is cut. $1 buys less than than it did 12 months ago. It will buy progressivley less over the next 3 years.

      If your salary is not keeping up with inflation you are going backwards.

      I never thought I would ever see a Labour government propose something so daft.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 5.1.1

        So we should have monthly pay rises then, because its a 'cut' otherwise to wait till a year has passed.

        Historically wages have risen faster than inflation – the household index one.

        Ive never thought Id see those on very good salarys like the $90,000 for teachers top of band ( thus no 'step raise') expecting to do better as a matter of course than those below $60,000

        • Enough is Enough 5.1.1.1

          No – we should have annual pay rises.

          I don't know why people are framing this as an us v them kind of thing. All workers, regardless of what their income is, should be entitled to see their salaries at the very least keep pace with the increase in the cost of living.

          Yes certainly, increases can be weighted to those at the bottom end of the scale, but to tell people you are not getting an extra cent for three years is demoralising. The uproar from the unions shows how public servants feel about this.

          Austerity comes from the Tory playbook. It never works and it won't achieve anything here.

        • greywarshark 5.1.1.2

          That's silly Ghostww So we should have monthly pay rises then, because its a 'cut' otherwise to wait till a year has passed.

          Why don't you attempt reasoned discussion of your ideas?

          • ghostwhowalksnz 5.1.1.2.1

            It was to show the silliness of a claim that no increase is a 'pay cut'

            Both are pointless claims when in general wages rise higher than inflation 'index'

            look up how the cost of living for households is calculated and it doenst mean say a $65,000 salary with no increase is a reduction at all.

            • Enough is Enough 5.1.1.2.1.1

              It is an effective paycut.

              You might think that is a silly way to describe it, but is that is the outcome of freezing wages over a three year period.

              • ghostwhowalksnz

                The only people having a freeze over 3 years are those on $100,000 plus.

                Plus many public servants are on pay steps which go up regardless of the 'general increase'

                Plus a pay rise of say 2% on $75,000 is $1500 pa when there is not really direct connection to rising costs of $1500pa
                Those on under $50k will certainly need a real increase as those costs will be as much as the 2%

                • Enough is Enough

                  Yep – none of that has anything to do with my post at 5.1.

                  Read again – I was expressly reffering to workers who are not getting a pay rise, so I’m not sure why you are talking about workers who are getting a pay rise.

        • Nic the NZer 5.1.1.3

          You do have a point here. Even a slightly above inflation raise administered anually, can represent a fall of income as that inflation occurred continuously across the whole previous year.

    • Craig Hall 5.2

      There are certainly a lot of jobs in the public sector that are not really replicated elsewhere in NZ, so comparisons can be difficult.

      That said, as someone who works for a union and sees pay data regularly as part of bargaining information, the data we see shows that similar roles are usually paid less in the core government (government departments mainly) than the wider public sector (which includes education and health, among other things), which in turn pays less than the private sector. That doesn't come out clearly in the Stats NZ average and median earnings data because those include the retail and hospitality sectors which are mostly poorly-paid generally, and rare in the public sector.

  6. Margaritte 6

    I am inclined to the view that the media rather overinflated this. Personally I did not have a problem with constraining wage growth of the higher echelons of the public service.

    • Jimmy 6.1

      The media did nothing of the sort. Labour brought this upon themselves. They have quickly gone in to damage control. Richard Wagstaff must be laughing thinking, that was the easiest meeting ever!

    • GreenBus 6.2

      Me neither Margaritte, A 100K is simply unachievable for most and many are highly skilled, but they have no award rates or anything but the employers generosity (ha ha) to set your pay rate. The CPI needs to include housing which would send it into the stratosphere and we would all have better pay. Ha Ha again.

    • Craig Hall 6.3

      If the Pay Guidance itself was clearer, maybe, but to quote it for earners between $60K and $100K, "The default position is that there are to be no increases to bands for lower to middle earners".

      Another quote (principle 4): "Universal across the board pay increases are not consistent with this guidance".

      I think the media calling it a pay freeze was probably a bit hyperbolic, but it was still worded as major restraint.

    • Anne 6.4

      I did not have a problem with constraining wage growth of the higher echelons of the public service.

      yes

      And still don't.

  7. Tricledrown 7

    Labour and National play hardball in pay deals with the public sector.

    Given the economy is tracking well there should be room to move.

    More staff in govt depts not surprisingly especially the health ministry where staff had been cut to bone and the health ministry had only become an advisory service. While DHB's compete and have huge bureaucracies delivering patchy poorly coordinated healthcare.

    Covid 19 showed hospitals and healthcare was in dire straights most hospitals had only a few days of PPE gear in stock and the reserves were mostly expired.Had covid got into our community we would be in a worse position than any other developed country as we had the lowest number of Intensive care beds in the OECD.

    Education another area which has been poorly managed by individual school boards using up resources for advertising while schools rot because of leaky buildings.tommorrows schools has been a disaster.

  8. Sacha 8

    Spinoff's Justin Giovanetti is concise on this: https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-05-2021/ardern-and-robertson-say-public-sector-wage-freeze-is-misreporting-but-is-it/

    “For those in between, pay adjustments will be considered in special circumstances, but they will need to work through the Public Service Commission. This is ultimately about prioritising spending. The policy will help us protect jobs and take pressure off the public sector wage bill,” Hipkins concluded.

    That last point from the minister, uttered in the same breath as his guidance for most public workers, made it clear that the intent is to reduce spending on wages by only allowing adjustments in special circumstances.

    That sounds a lot like a freeze. To suggest that the use of such a word constitutes misreporting is dancing on the head of a pin.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T15:26:20+00:00