His work here is not yet done

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 1st, 2020 - 71 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, class, climate change, education, health, housing, john key, national, Privatisation, same old national, Simon Bridges, uncategorized - Tags:

Remember this guy?

He was the perfect National Party leader. When he was young he grew up for a while in a state house. He was superficially liberal and managed to get on the right side of some social issues. He was goofy and did some funny stuff. He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with. He had cut through with swinging voters.

As leader he managed to temper and divert the morally conservative tenndancy of the National Party and seduced them with power. Who cares if your world view is not being put into place as long as you are in power.

He sold off public assets and smashed our health and education institutions into the ground but slowly enough so that with a smile and a wave he could deny wanting to do anything evil.

He was the opposite to Ruth Richardson. Instead of shock and awe we had smile and wave. Instead of revolution we had the frog in a boiling pot gradual change so that only the most observant of us realised that the country was being wrecked.

And it took a decade for most of us to realise that under his rule our environment was being wrecked, poverty was soaring and our climate change response had been completely undermined.

Key has been making a bit of a publicity comeback recently. It is strange but a leadership vacuum causes that. Simon Bridges must be hating it.

Over the past week he has crashed into National’s leadership contest by publicly endorsing Chris Luxon. If Key has his way the leadership putsch will have to wait until after the election,

And his work as a director for Air New Zealand and ANZ Bank has suggested that his commitment to sustainability as well as ordinary battlers’ way of life may have been superficial.

His commitment to the ordinary bloke is exemplified by what he recenntly said to a Remuera Real Estate company. From Andrea Fox at the Herald:

Key believed companies would, after lockdown, operate with significantly fewer people – another looming issue for commercial landlords.

“Everyone is going to kick out 20 per cent of their people . . . even if the company is doing well . . . their worst performers. Never waste a crisis.

“I don’t want to be doom and gloom but property might take longer [to recover] – it just has to go lower over time.”

Get that? A big fuck you to one in five employees. But with a bit of care the property market may recover. Never waste a crisis. And lets sacrifice everything so that the landed gentry can recover their privilege over time.

It is funny but among the left when we talk about never wasting a crisis we are referring to a chance to do something meaningful about climate change, creating jobs for people building sustainable infrastructure. Or we are talking about a universal basic income, so that poverty can be eradicated.

Only someone with really stuffed up class ideals would think that you should not waste a crisis by sacking one in five people with jobs.

71 comments on “His work here is not yet done ”

  1. Tiger Mountain 1

    SirKey has always represented international Finance Capital first and foremost throughout his career before, during, and after politics. That is the context in which any of his utterances are made.

    He was responsible, along with his personal lawyer, for starting an ultimately short-lived offshore Trust “industry” in NZ. 10,000 plus of which melted away in the wake of the Panama Papers, and IRD requiring more than a perfunctory A4 sheet of info from these offshore parasites seeking to hide their loot.

    The NZ National Party exists to shovel socially produced wealth upstairs to 1%ers and their enablers–Mr Key hanging around is just a reminder of that.

  2. Unicus 2

    A timely post given the clear divisions in the NP

    Wheeling out political cadavers like Joyce English and this ghastly pratt is an established practice when the Tories are in deep trouble

    It's a fraught tactic given the popularity of the PM . The electorate is now given the opportunity to compare her with a shady obfuscating troup of has been's.

    Key pushing Luxtons boat will probably be the kiss of death just as it was for his last protégée the terribly unfortunate Simon Bridges

  3. Blazer 3

    Ex forex gambler and now active property pimp,ex P.M ,notorious pony tail puller John Key has put his Point Piper pad up for another profitable play.

    Not sure how many he has flipped so far.

    All part of his plan to ensure 'NZ'ers do not become tenants in their own country'.

    Quit because there was nothing left in the tank.

    Must have refuelled recently with Cashtrol Gtx.

  4. Tricledrown 4

    BT bankrupt,Elders finance bankrupt,Merrill Lynch bankrupt.Key Morally Bankrupt.

  5. pat 5

    I have no time for Key and there is much he can be criticised for but what about this statement is problematic?

    Key believed companies would, after lockdown, operate with significantly fewer people – another looming issue for commercial landlords.

    “Everyone is going to kick out 20 per cent of their people . . . even if the company is doing well . . . their worst performers. Never waste a crisis.

    “I don’t want to be doom and gloom but property might take longer [to recover] – it just has to go lower over time.”

    They are statements of opinion about what is likely to occur, not instructions….and recognising real estate prices need to fall has been a call on this site for years.

    Strange times indeed.

  6. Dennis Frank 6

    I agree with the critique, but the guy is merely recycling his traditionalist perspective. Leftists are eternally reluctant to learn from history, but they would acquire a more sophisticated view of things if they were to get over that aversion. There are damn good reasons why the capitalist system evolved over the centuries to constitute the basis of our social reality today. Marx merely took a bite out of that cherry.

    Knee-jerk distaste is understandable, but I can read Key's stance from the rightist side of things too: businesses will now trend towards online operation even more than before. As he suggests, a 20% average staff reduction could be the outcome of their reconfiguration. It may not end up that high: people will still be employed to perform functions that online design cannot.

    I disagree most with Key on his fundamental stance, which seems to be that people should serve the system as per tradition. I reckon a social system that serves the people works better. Design for the future, not the past.

    • Isn't he "merely recycling" his views as a nasty heartless money-obsessed capitalist where the 20% staff he sees the opportunity to chuck out are seen as a resource rather human beings?

      Your craven acceptance of the inviolability of the capitalist system speaks volumes Mr. Frank. There are other, much better ways to run the country.

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.1

        Yes. You've misread me, apparently. I don't accept that the system is inviolate – never have. I've always pointed to various ways it ought to be transformed. Financial transaction tax, for instance. Adoption of the steady-state economy as operational paradigm. Worker profit sharing. UBI. I could probably extend the list to a dozen or so components, given time to recall them.

        I first advocated this mix as a member of the Greens' Economic Policy Working Group (1991, convenor Jeanette Fitzsimons).

        • Bearded Git 6.1.1.1

          Fair enough I agree with most of that, especially FTT. (I very much like land tax as an option that shifts wealth from rich to poor).

          But I still take issue with your passionless acceptance of Key as he is-passion has its place in debate.

  7. tc 7

    Good salespeople always get work, no govt part owner board role now so onto the granny soapbox.

    Reckon theres probably several pieces ready to go to fire up the machine as this is what national do so well.

  8. RosieLee 8

    There's something deeply dodgy and fishy about this man's return and meddling in NZ politics. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

    • Muttonbird 8.1

      Curia will be polling this right now. If the results are positive, Surge-on will be back.

    • Cinny 8.2

      There's something deeply dodgy and fishy about this man's return and meddling in NZ politics.

      Strongly agree with you RosieLee, well said. yes

      • Chris T 8.2.1

        I missed people saying this about Clark and her 2nd in charge, who is still there.

      • patricia 8.2.2

        Cinny and RosieLee, he is like a shark that can smell the opportunity of "blood in the water."

        He has huge hide that is for sure No shame at all. Next thing he will be having a cup of tea with Act again.

        It appears he knew the score a few days ago?

    • Janet 8.3

      Been having the same feelings for the last couple of weeks…..

    • mary_a 8.4

      You are dead right there RosieLee (8). I'm feeling uncomfortable that the smiling assassin slime is being rolled out on a daily basis by msm at this time giving his opinion, a few months before a general election. Something dark and evil waiting in the wings planning to spring and attack.

  9. Muttonbird 9

    Rocketman, Peter Beck, uses the same language:

    Never waste a good crisis.

    Seems an unfortunate choice of words. I'm not sure in what way one in one hundred year pandemic, Covid-19, is "good".

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/money/2020/04/rocket-lab-founder-encourages-kiwis-to-think-big-in-rebuilding-economy-after-covid-19-crisis.html

  10. Wensleydale 10

    Nice to see Key hasn't changed. Still a smirking bag of poison with a condescending and dismissive attitude toward the suffering of the peasantry. I wonder if Goodfellow and friends have had a quiet word with him about propping up the ailing fortunes of National Inc. during Simon's less than stellar reign (of destruction). We all know how much he loves being the centre of attention.

  11. ianmac 11

    Whenever I read a transcript of Key's speeches I could find very little of substance. And he usually had a bob both ways then claimed the way that eventuated. "Told you so. See my speech?"

    Contrast that with Jacinda's words. Clear. Consistent. And unequivocal. Love her or hate her you cannot misunderstand her.

    • Carolyn_Nth 11.1

      Yep. I'm not a great Ardern fan. But, it has been noticeable in her Covid-19 1pm updates. It's such a relief after FJK's slurring and sloshing about with obfuscations and (attempted) jokes.

      It's very noticeable that Ardern is very knowledgeable about the details of the C-19 developments (locally and internationally) and policies across all ministries. Must be working long hours staying informed. No pissing off to Hawai'i when the going gets tough.

      • Bg 11.1.1

        Nice sarcasm

      • Adrian 11.1.2

        Through a friend of the one senior advisors who has told them said that as a group they are seriously impressed with Ardern''s intelligence and overview of the highly technical details of the many disciplines involved and her ability to put in clear terms what has to be done.

        But then thats what a good PMs job is really . We are very lucky, like the old saying, cometh the hour, cometh the woman.

        • patricia 11.1.2.1

          Adrian when I had the good fortune to meet her and speak with her two + years ago, I was impressed and reassured by her incisive intelligence , her grasp of the facts and her genuine interest in people.

          I remember telling people early on that she was exceptional and Labour was lucky to have her Leadership. Far from being a "Show Pony" as someone said in the early days, she is "the real deal"

          I do believe she is genuine and that we are so fortunate to have such a Leader.

  12. RedLogix 12

    Key is a sick man; it's not only a wicked perspective, it's wrong on the facts.

    I used to work for a company in an inherently cyclic business, and in it's 20 year history it had already been through 3 cycles of boom and bust. The owner hated it, but worst of all he told me that each time he was forced to start letting people go it was never the simple process an outsider would imagine it to be … as Key is glibly putting it.

    What actually happens is that you start losing your promising 'next generation' staff, anyone who can sniff a better opportunity elsewhere suddenly up and move pre-emptively before you have time to complete any formal review and redundancy process. And then because you can only cut the company so far before you lose capacity and start overburdening the remaining staff … you wind up having to keep on at least some staff who actually wanted to take redundancy, or you might have preferred to go as your 'worst performers'.

    And then those left all feel unsettled and betrayed anyway, and productivity plummets for a good year or so.

    Even on purely utilitarian grounds the notion is a bad one, because it turns out organisations are more complex than Key's reductionist and idiotic ideas.

    • AB 12.1

      Well said – and his comments assume that you know who your 'worst performers' are. Frequently you don't really. So you rely on hunches – or if too uncomfortable with doing that, then resort to something even worse, using metrics that are a gross over-simplification anyway.

    • pat 12.2

      "Even on purely utilitarian grounds the notion is a bad one, because it turns out organisations are more complex than Key's reductionist and idiotic ideas."

      Key may have reductionist tendencies but what about his comment is inaccurate?

      The economy is going to shrink and therefore revenues will shrink leading to rationalisations….its a fact, not a position. Wishing otherwise isnt going to change it.

      Like your example shows difficult decisions will be made, often not achieving the desired outcome….and all on a bigger scale than a typical business cycle.

      When Key starts advocating policy direction there may be something to complain about….but even then he has the right to express his views…we just need to remember what and who he represents should he do so.

      • Poission 12.2.1

        The economy is going to shrink and therefore revenues will shrink leading to rationalisations….its a fact, not a position. Wishing otherwise isnt going to change it.

        It is more the redistribution in the economy,that has Key et al concerned.

        At the end of March we (nz) has never had so much cash in the Bank.Overall an increase of around 13billion in one month.

        Households 4.5 billion in one month,as they forgo spending,and get out of risk such as shares (managed by idiots with KPI's and powerpoint presentations)

        https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/s40-banks-liabilities-deposits-by-sector

        • pat 12.2.1.1

          And what is the purpose of that cash?

          Of more concern is what further 'stimulus' is applied to…I see no position indicated by Key in the piece posted re that…and even if he had done theres no reason why he shouldnt…last time I looked we were a democracy

          Key's concerns I would suggest are quite obvious but his statement was simply one of fact

          • Poission 12.2.1.1.1

            Key wants stimulus into the non productive economy,(needs to read adam smith on the waste of capital on property),the growth of the productive sector will be resilient,the conference centres and hotels will be the relics of days gone past.

            The cash may be used to repay debt,which is always troublesome to bankers,as we see with the repayment in march of half a billion in interest bearing credit card debt.

            • pat 12.2.1.1.1.1

              the initial cash was to avoid cascading defaults during lockdown…its worth noting it covers a 12 week period, which we are only halfway through….that is more troublesome to bank security (and social cohesion) than minor debt repayments.

              The growth of the productive sector MAY in some instances be resilient…but in aggregate it will decline, for how long and how much is still uncertain but the direction of travel isnt.

              The waste of capital (and the disconnect from the real economy) in property is the key consideration in any further stimulus…we must avoid perpetuating that disconnect as much as possible….and thats where the debate lies.

              The owners of capital want the stimulus to flow towards them and we must work diligently to ensure it does not (as much as practical) but rather to employment and (useful) production.

              Think we all know which team Key bats for.

  13. He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with.

    This claim always felt like a stinging indictment of New Zealanders, that for many of them someone of Key's cultivated and unrelenting blandness was the kind of company they'd enjoy.

    • Carolyn_Nth 13.1

      And a very traditionally masculine perspective.

    • Cinder 13.2

      He always struck me as the sort of person that if you had arranged to "have a beer" with him, he would have shown up late.

      Not asked once how you are or how you are doing.

      Taken off to talk with the attractive woman / famous person at the bar and left you sitting alone for ages.

      And then went home the moment it was his round.

      We all know "friends" like that.

    • Barfly 13.3

      He was the sort of guy most kiwis would like to have a beer with

      Not this kiwi I wouldn't piss on that arsehole if he was on fire

  14. Peter 14

    Over the past couple of years I've become used to reactions to things Helen Clark has said. Reactions often not so much to what she's said but the fact she was even being quoted.

    Clark made her voice heard in her community about the use of Eden Park. As you might expect from those living locally. It became "Fuck off, you're yesterday's woman."

    She's 'had her turn' and should not be heard of apparently. 4 million plus can use social media but she shouldn't. Media shouldn't pick up what she says. She's wielding power she shouldn't have. The attack dogs invariably go in.

    Key turns up and it's "Welcome back Uncle John." I happily admit to being no better that those who attack Clark every time she gets a mention.

    Fuck off Key, you're allowed to be dog vomit but don't come back up expecting us to feed on it like your moronic supporters.

  15. But yeah, the main point is that Key is the only National Party figure being honest about what he'd like to see: never waste a crisis, take the opportunity to get rid of a fifth of your staff. Stuffed shirt Goldsmith will be thinking the same but wouldn't have the bollocks to say so – mind you, neither would Key when he was PM.

  16. Key is such a shallow, conceited arrogant human being .

    Also he is a blatant lier.

    I reckon I have worked out why he left in such a hurry.

    He was desperate to get a knighthood as he new it would open doors in his after political life.

    But he couldn't really give himself that knighthood could he.

    So by getting out before the last election in time for his double dipper mate to take over, he was assured of that knighthood, even English said Key asked often enough.

    So today he prancis around the world as Sir JK.

    Even on one site he still calls himself the RT Hon Sir John P Key.

    He has no shame.

    • Ffloyd 16.1

      He should call himself SirPlus. Nobody wants him. He obviously couldn't cut it in the big world. Mr Irrelevant looking for a village to be an idiot in.

  17. bill 17

    So John Key's an arsewipe. Fine. We get that.

    But if everyone goes back to work and carries on as before…what happens next? (Hint: we crash and burn in the not too distant.)

    • Adrian Thornton 17.2

      Of course this also exposes the Liberals centrist main problem..ie they stand for pretty much nothing and have absolutely no long term political or structural vision, which is not really surprising as, and let's face facts here, they have really just been cut from the same cloth as Key, so why wouldn't their short termist, free market, ideologies often overlap?

      We all know these so called centrist moderates have more in common with Key's ideologies than they do with any kind real Left wing progressive ideology..so imo they should just shut the fuck up.

      • bill 17.2.1

        Radical centrists (centrist moderates) aren't ever going to "shut the fuck up" unless and until power is wrenched from them.

        I'm just fucked off at myself for vesting any hope in compromises like Sanders or Corbyn – seems incontrovertible that capitulists versus capitalists = we's fucked.

  18. Great post Micky. So many people were taken in by Key.

  19. JanM 19

    It actually gives me the creeps to have him circling around like a jackal seeking the weak ones to prey on again. It's like a scene from a horror movie

  20. Wayne 20

    This set of comments has the same level of KDS as there is JDS on the part of many Kiwiblog commenters.

    • Barfly 20.1

      Well he is an evil piece of filth – but then he is your evil piece of filth -so he's ok by you

    • left_forward 20.2

      Keep telling yourself that its all nicely balanced and equivalent then.

      But it is not so is it?

      Jacinda has qualities that can be greatly admired no matter what your political background – and if not, then one ought to have a close check of what is truly of value in your life. This will be the difference in the kinds of delusion you are referring to.

    • Enough is Enough 20.3

      Have to agree with you there Wayne. I am at the polar end of the political spectrum from Key, but I am gobsmacked at the way he gets such a deranged reaction from some people. Just a small selection from some very odd people:

      this ghastly pratt

      Ex forex gambler and now active property pimp

      smirking bag of poison

      Key is a sick man

      cultivated and unrelenting blandness

      I wouldn't piss on that arsehole if he was on fire

      Fuck off Key, you're allowed to be dog vomit

      Key is such a shallow, conceited arrogant human being

      He should call himself SirPlus. Nobody wants him. He obviously couldn't cut it in the big world. Mr Irrelevant looking for a village to be an idiot in

      he is an evil piece of filth

    • Chris 20.4

      What's your point?

    • bill 20.5

      Yup.

      Pathetic tribalism.

      Something you'd know a thing or three about there Wayne, aye?

    • Incognito 20.6

      It is disconcerting on both levels.

    • RedLogix 20.7

      Wayne,

      Normally I'm not all that fussed by Key, but his blatant advocacy of exploiting this tragedy for such a base gain, is not just useless business advice, but ethically it's sick to the core.

      I'll go back to not wasting mental energy on him.

    • Tricledrown 20.8

      Wayne Key is Vulture Capitalist .Look at Merril Lynch's History.The Panama Papers.

      You can't tell me Key wasn't deeply involved as the head of currency trading where the money is laundered and the $38 lent for every$1 on deposit is exchanged and sold to unlucky customers Ireland being one.PonzKey wanted to do the same to NZ.

      Until his lawyer was exposed in the Panama Papers .He Denied and lied his way out of that one.The money from Drug Cartels corrupt world leaders defrauding their countries Sir John was happy to help hide and profit yet when sunlight was put on it Sir John new nothing.

      Merrill Lynch giant ponzi scheme that cost US taxpayers $100 billion. KEY

  21. Ffloyd 21

    I agree JanM. You can guarantee he has an agenda and it won't be in the best interests of NZ. He still looks very unappealing and as sincere as……. well nothing really. Bet the Herald will be ramping him up. Nothing good happens when he is slithering around.

  22. RedBaronCV 22

    " Everyone is going to kick out 20% of their people" . Is this a prediction for the National party? Or is he being used to reassure the Nact overseas backers? Remember that dreadful remark of Bridges? Hold up the wall in case something comes out of the various court cases?

    What I am more of a loss about is why NZME keeps on pushing this and same with Stuff. Both of them are in poor shape financially(NZME's market capitalisation is around $39m- petty cash really) so it must have dawned on them that the RW that they support so avidly is not going to put their money into supporting & keeping them going so what would the journalists have to lose by pivoting and writing some of the better articles that they are capable of ? I'd be happy to "tip" the better articles providing the journo's got the money and pass on the pot stirring items.

  23. JustMe 23

    Sir Lies-alot(John Key) has always cared and loved money more than anything and anyone else in the world.

    He has never cared about New Zilland or New Zillanders(as he called us and the country). He cared more for playing golf with Barak Obama or pulling ponytails of low income workers.

    He comes across as a very shallow person who has always jumped ship from his jobs before he was booted/fired from the job(s).

    Look at the mess he left in Ireland and his lies when it came to his fellow work colleagues in America that they wouldn't lose their jobs. I recall he told the American work colleagues that at morning tea but by lunchtime they were out of a job.

    Another observation is John Key has always preferred America. He is on record as saying that he loves America and there is no other country in the world he loves more. Which really has put New Zealand into a poor light. He used NZ and NZers for HIS OWN intent and purposes. He will continue using people as long as he can make money out of the transaction for himself or his cronies.

    He is not trustworthy let alone credible. I most certainly hope Karmic Payback hits him hard in the very near future. He well deserves it.

    • @Just Me

      He does love America, but he al.so loves China, maybe even more so.

      This is now becoming a problem for the National Party, Bridge soaking up the hospitality of the Spy apparatus up in Beijing, and large donations etc.

      While China is very financially important to this country, we do need to be very weary in what they get up to here.

  24. Anker 24

    Maybe at some point in the article John said “and of course this would not be good for NZ if companies doing well get rid of 20% of their workforce. These companies need to think of the greater good of preserving jobs in NZ right now, knowing if they are doing well right now they are lucky. After all we are all in this together“.

    while I am not a gambler, I would bet money they Key didn’t say that. I am sorry the man is an arsehole

    • pat 24.1

      you're probably right he never said such…but then how does a business retain all its current staff when their turnover has dropped through the floor…and in many cases isnt coming back?

      He may be an arsehole, but that aint the reason.

  25. Anker 25

    I have complete sympathy for business whose trade has drop through the floor and many will have to do this just to survive. Key was saying even those who are doing well will get rid of some staff. It shows to me how key operates “never waste a good crisis” in other words if your business is doing well, let some staff go cause then your business will do even better ie make more money. What a psychopathic way (ie without conscience) of operating…………he is a complete arsehole and the comments he made absolutely demonstrate this…..

  26. David Mac 26

    Key is highlighting a reality, a fact. The $10,000 that used to come into the till each week is now $5000. Rather than chanting Ponytail Puller, can we please forget the prick and get on with the $10k – $5k situation.

  27. Obtrectator 27

    This man's relentless accumulation of money, titles and honours (and regular flaunting of the same) smacks of the sort of behaviour you associate with the early careers of tinpot dictators. In some countries, by now, he'd have been putting up statues to himself – idealised ones of course, not displaying the dumpy, poor-postured figure to be seen in the well-known photos of him playing golf with Barack Obama.

    Hawaii is his spiritual home, and a highly appropriate one to anybody with even a smattering of those islands' history. An independent monarchy, internationally recognised, was overthrown in 1893 by a cabal of American landowners, backed by rifle-toting ruffians. A republic was then proclaimed, complete with tame president. Outright annexation followed a few years later. What price the likes of Peter Thiel and others of his kidney, allowed by the last government to set up shop here on easy terms, trying on something of the kind?

    The contempt for genuine democracy, should it happen to conflict with his own notions, was never better illustrated than by the ECan affair, one of the most disgraceful episodes in NZ political history. A regional council was fired, basically for doing its job responsibly in the best sense of that word.

    Finally, let's recall the case of Argentina in 1973. "Cámpora al gobierno, Perón al poder" (Cámpora in government, Perón in power). Luxon as Campora, Key as Peron?

  28. Does John still publicly endorse Orange Panda now he thinks we should drink bleach while looking directally at the sun?

    • Sacha 28.1

      He will take any advantage he can get on the golf course – to better convey the depth of his supplication when he loses.

  29. Heather 29

    I too have had a very nervous feeling about the public return of this poisonous toad. Is he going to rescue the National Party and stand again to save NZ? It is too early for Luxton, he has no experience at all, came across as another disgusting toad.

    He is a sactimonous, self opinionated, rich prick who cares about no one but himself,and how many people that can be screwed making more money. He does not understand democracy, never has and never will.

    Rust Never Sleeps.

  30. mary_a 30

    John Key hideous master of the dark arts, arises from his place of darkness, spitting his vile venom once more!

  31. millsy 31

    Paul Henry, John Key, with Cameron Slater recovered and blogging again.

    We are now partying like its 2010.

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  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    2 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – 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 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER:  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.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection 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 ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection 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 ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago
  • 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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 ...
    3 days 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 ...
    4 days 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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. ...
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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

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