Greens announce plan to turn trash into cash

Written By: - Date published: 11:17 am, August 27th, 2017 - 22 comments
Categories: business, Environment, jobs, sustainability - Tags: , , , ,

Press release from greens.org.nz

______________________________________________________________________

Greens announce plan to turn trash into cash

James Shaw MP on Sunday, August 27, 2017 – 10:03

The Green Party today announced a progressive plan to protect our oceans and the places we love with a ban on plastic bags, refunds on drink containers, a phase-out of plastic packaging, and a commitment to sending zero waste to landfill by 2050.

The Green Party’s plan will:

  • Enable “cash for containers” drinking container refund programmes nationwide.
  • Put in place an immediate 20 cent charge on single use plastic bags, with 15 cents going to community groups for environmental clean-ups and 5 cents for research and development into alternatives.
  • Phase out single-use plastic bags by the end of our first term in Government.
  • Reduce plastic packaging and products through mandatory product stewardship schemes.
  • Commit to a zero waste New Zealand by 2050 goal.

“We love our beaches and our oceans, our plan will protect the places we love from pollution and generate community jobs,” said Green Party leader James Shaw.

“Plastic pollution is a major problem along our coastlines and the time has come for bold action to clean the coastlines up and keep them clean.

“We will ban single use plastic bags by 2020. In the meantime, a 20 cent levy will fund investment in community-led environmental clean-ups and research and development into plastic alternatives.

“A refund programme for recycling drinking containers has been estimated by Envision to double recycling rates, create 2,400 jobs, generate revenue for community groups, and save councils $26-40 million each year.

“Cash for trash refund programmes work with kerbside recycling to give people options and help keep recyclable waste out of landfills.

“90 percent of local councils endorsed the idea because they’ve seen that it’s worked in Australia where South Australia, a state with a container deposit scheme, has the lowest rate of litter.

“It’s time to embrace sustainable alternatives such as bamboo and move away from the overuse of plastics in packaging and utensils.

“Declaring plastic cups, plates, utensils and packaging priority products under the product stewardship scheme will allow the cost of disposal to be built in, enable targets to be made for reduction and price-in the cost of disposal – opening a new market for sustainable alternatives.

“Re-committing to a zero waste New Zealand, along with our Trash to Cash plan shows, that we are the only party committed to real leadership on the environment,” said Mr Shaw.
______________________________________________________________________________

 

22 comments on “Greens announce plan to turn trash into cash ”

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  1. Bearded Git 1
    27 August 2017 at 12:15 pm

    Brilliant. The Greens ahead of the pack as always.

    The Nats have been completely useless re plastic bag levies. (It must be a company owned by of one of their mates that make them)

    Wait for pale green Labour to copy these real Green policies next week.

  2. Roy 2
    27 August 2017 at 12:39 pm

    Solid policy. No excuse now for Hooton and the Blowhards to criticise them now. Even English praised them for having green policy.

  3. Bill 3
    27 August 2017 at 1:29 pm

    The phase out of plastic packaging is going to be…interesting.

    Turn a mind to all the supposed “security”features built into various product packaging these days where the “security” is plastic based. (The shrink wrap, the plastic seals, the ‘impossible to bloody well open’ wrapping on gizmos, gadgets and consumables that supposedly ‘authenticates’ and ‘protects’ the contents of the package…).

    Think of all the thousands upon thousands of pallets that are shrink wrapped at warehouse locations in gawd knows how many kms of plastic each and every day in to afford them a degree of stability for transport.

    What about the potential for sliced bread in the supermarket to become just a memory? (No bad thing).

    And the millions of daft wee plastic bags at the loose produce isle and the vegetable isle ….all gone? (I’m all for it).

    I’d expect at least some industry to be “on board” to some greater or lesser extent – right up to the point where they have to invest dollars in re-configuring production and packaging techniques as well as methods of distribution.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1
      27 August 2017 at 1:49 pm

      Cellulose-based packaging.

    • Macro 3.2
      27 August 2017 at 1:59 pm

      You know it is possible, even today ,to buy most of your goods without plastic. I carry my own shopping bag and my own reused paper bags to put those vegetables in. Our local Bin Inn sells organic potatoes in paper bags since our home grown ones have run out. I don’t buy food in plastic containers but choose the food that is in glass containers instead. I buy our meat in usable cartons which I supply to the local butcher. As for bread – we are fortunate to have the most amazing local baker in the country and the sour dough light Rye he produces every day is placed in a paper bag, as we have a chat. Rubbish – what little we end up with – is placed in paper bags.
      I echo what you say about the impossible to bloody open plastic around gizmos! why the F**k do we need that! On buying stuff like that my wife demands the shop remove it and dispose of the stuff themselves! If we all did this they might begin to tell the suppliers about thinking differently as to how they presented their wares.

  4. Stuart Munro 4
    27 August 2017 at 1:43 pm

    Great move by the Greens phasing out the supermarket bag – the plastic bag tax should never be more than transitional – it’s supposed to change the way things are done.

    Left to itself industry seems to turn incrementally browner, there needs to be a conscious effort to do things more sustainably.

  5. marty mars 5
    27 August 2017 at 1:47 pm

    Good policy – I’d start with some banning initially to set the tone and offer no illusions. I’d also price out via whatever mechanism the excessive packaging used for so many things including veges. Yep we may not have available every goddam fruit and vege from everywhere – im okay with that.

  6. eco Maori/kiwi 6
    27 August 2017 at 2:19 pm

    Yes we will go back to paper bags and all natural products to replace Plastic.
    This policy will help grow our forest create closed loop system for paper and provide more employment for New Zealanders. And help clean up our environment. The Policy will help limited the influence the OIL BARONS have on our economy

    • CoroDale 6.1
      28 August 2017 at 8:02 am

      Oh shit, I actually agree with the Bot. Sorry Greens, but this is such small shit. Really turns my stomach at local political gatherings to hear people talk about plastic bags while Quantitative Easing prints money to bail out the insolvent private banks who are buying our houses on 1% interest rates, while we sleep in cars. (Anyone who has ever lived in a car should know how good plastic bags are.)

      But if it wins votes in Hobbiton, go for it!

      Hey, in Amsterdam the metro runs from the electricity produced by burning mixed plastic.

      And here in Germany we (well, I do, perhaps they don’t) busy our minds with all the refuges walking the streets.

      Anyway, there are probably facts about dolphin deaths or something that I don’t know.

      Oh, I love plastic bags, and reuse them till they are too dirty. From a young age my Mum had taught me to wash them and hang them out on the washing line…

      Sorry guys, I’ll vote Green all the same.

  7. xanthe 7
    27 August 2017 at 2:25 pm

    unbelievable ! the greens are going green! The only plausible explanation is the deposing of met and her close crew.

    I will watch this space carefully and would love to vote for them in 2020.

    • alwyn 7.1
      27 August 2017 at 5:45 pm

      “unbelievable ! the greens are going green”

      It is a rather unlikely situation. Unfortunately the Metiria mob managed to take the most useful of their MPs over the side with her.
      I think that the dumping of the principled Kennedy Graham will turn out to be the final nail in it’s coffin for this lot.
      Perhaps we can get a genuine environmental party next time around, who can co-operate with either of the major parties, rather than a hard left bunch of anarchists.

      If you are a Labour supporter you will greatly prefer the collapse and removal of the Green Party from Parliament. Winston Peters can easily work with either National or Labour. He would never have played third fiddle to the Greens.
      Their vanishing from the scene greatly increases the chances of a Labour led Government I think.

      Just give Winston, and a couple of his mates, the baubles of office and promise him a knighthood at the same level as John Key and he will be putty in Godfather Grant Robertson’s hands.

      • Carolyn_nth 7.1.1
        27 August 2017 at 5:58 pm

        Green politics does not translate to environment-only politics, much as some on the right would like it to be. And keeping beating that drum, doesn’t make it so.

        Marama Davidson, second on the GP list, is very much commited to combating poverty and other social justice is – as part of a politics that incorporates environmental issues.

        Wikipedia on Green Politics:

        Green politics (also known as ecopolitics[1]) is a political ideology that aims to create an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice, and grassroots democracy.[2]

        • CoroDale 7.1.1.1
          28 August 2017 at 8:55 am

          Lets all keep cool, I think Lwyn is simply hyper-sensitive to the fluoride in her town supply.

          (Other than her, it’s only Greens, Bots and Trolls reading this tread right?)

          This whole left/right conflict also does my stomach in. When they ask at a meeting. Are we left or are we center (“er” their grammar, not mine)?

          Well, I’ve read the economic policy forwards and backwards. (Obviously voters don’t understands, and it’s okay to say in front of the bots, they probably wrote half the policy anyway) But we really do fall slightly to the right. Oh, labour also, I assume I’m not deluded.

          Weren’t the remaining True Lefties exterminated back in the 70’s? Surely the leftovers where knocked off by the end of the 90’s. Isn’t it only the neo-Bolsheviks who are permitted to continue this modern neo-left movement?

          With the orthodox neo-liberal schooling complete across the whole population, they now enjoy letting the Greens float around 15% just to make things look kinda democratic.

          (sorry, that honesty was just half a bottle of wine)

          • alwyn 7.1.1.1.1
            28 August 2017 at 3:35 pm

            Only HALF a bottle of wine?
            I suspect it was probably a Nebuchadnezzar.
            “in her town”.
            And “she” is a “he” by the way.

      • AB 7.1.2
        27 August 2017 at 6:22 pm

        I’m sure we’re all noticing how the hatred of the Greens goes incandescent and stratospheric whenever there’s a possibility of them getting near power. Perhaps they are the most credible threat to the status quo – hence the reaction? I’m considering switching to them – thanks for the unintended guidance.

        • Incognito 7.1.2.1
          27 August 2017 at 7:01 pm

          Perhaps they are the most credible threat to the status quo – hence the reaction?

          They are the only credible threat to the status quo – hence the reaction!

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.3
        28 August 2017 at 3:09 am

        RWNJ trying to give advice to the Left on how to crash and burn – again.

      • CoroDale 7.1.4
        28 August 2017 at 8:11 am

        Hey, that Knighthood was the Queen’s way of saying, “We liberally let you destroy a country, now be good, or we destroy you.”

  8. Siobhan 8
    27 August 2017 at 6:59 pm

    I hate to side track the conversation about a brilliant set of green Party policies, but I’m curious about the 13 year old tesco bag for life claim from Mana Green.
    As far as I can see the ‘Bag for Life’ is a new thing, being rolled out now after a limited 10 week trial. It would be interesting to know about the bags from 13 years ago that are still going strong.

    https://www.tescoplc.com/news/news-releases/2017/tesco-replaces-single-use-carrier-bags-with-bag-for-life/

  9. mosa 9
    28 August 2017 at 12:09 am

    FANGREENTASTIC !!!!

  10. Sparky 10
    28 August 2017 at 8:54 am

    Good stuff. Plastic has become a real menace and whilst it bio degrades some of it also emits nasty chemicals that poison the ocean.

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    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes – The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    1 week ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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