How to put half a billion into working families’ pockets

Written By: - Date published: 6:18 am, March 9th, 2011 - 58 comments
Categories: wages - Tags: ,

I/S at No Right Turn has done more excellent work. He’s revealed the official advice Kate Wilkinson was given on the minimum wage. The advice says there is a trade-off between jobs and the minimum wage, but even an increase to $15 an hour would cause an increase wages for low-income earners well above the cost in jobs.

Here’s the summary of the what the official advice reckons the impact of different increases in the minimum wage would be, remember, Wilkinson and the rest of Key’s governemnt chose a below-inflation increase to $13 an hour:

So, an increase to $13.50 would put $76 million into the pockets of low income workers and their families. The downside would have been about 500 fewer jobs. In other words, there would be $136,000 more for low income families for every $27,000 a year job lost. A $15 an hour minimum wage would make the poorest working families half a billion a year better off by increasing the wages of over a quarter of a million workers. Yup, they reckon there would have been about 5,000 fewer jobs but the gain would have been over $100,000 per job.

The Department of Labour doesn’t reveal its calculations but it doesn’t look like they include the fact that people with higher wages can spend more and that employs more people. Put half a billion into the pockets of low income workers and they’re going to create thousands of jobs, more than enough to offset the jobs that wouldn’t be created due to the higher minimum wage.

Now, the righties, predictable as always, will be saying ‘well, why not increase the minimum wage to $100 an hour if it’s so great’. No-one’s arguing for that. It’s clear that the ‘extra income to jobs lost’ ratio falls the higher you put the minimum wage to the point where it doesn’t work. But $15 an hour, the same as Australia, is clearly viable. It would come at a relatively small cost for the benefit, which would be recycled back into the economy, more than eliminating at job losses.

National don’t do it because they are the short-sighted party of business and they want to make wages drop.

58 comments on “How to put half a billion into working families’ pockets ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Oleolebiscuitbarrell 1
    9 March 2011 at 8:34 am

    Socialism at work: put 5,710 more people on the scrap heap so I can earn $2 more an hour. Hardly solidarity forever, is it, now?

    • Marty G 1.1
      9 March 2011 at 8:38 am

      Actually, so 275,000 people can earn $2 more an hour bringing half a billion more a year into the economies of New Zealand’s poorest communities.

      Following your logic, there should be zero minimum wage and we could all be employed as slaves.

      • Lanthanide 1.1.1
        9 March 2011 at 9:18 am

        “Now, the righties, predictable as always, will be saying ‘well, why not increase the minimum wage to $100 an hour if it’s so great’. No-one’s arguing for that.”

        “Following your logic, there should be zero minimum wage and we could all be employed as slaves.”

        Pot, meet kettle.

      • neoleftie 1.1.2
        9 March 2011 at 9:43 pm

        we are slaves now me old mate

    • Marty G 1.2
      9 March 2011 at 8:45 am

      in the long-run, higher wages mean businesses choose more capital investment to get the most out of their employees. That means higher productivity, which means more wealth all round.

      Keeping wages low stagnates the economy.

    • Colonial Viper 1.3
      9 March 2011 at 8:45 am

      Hey biscuit, adding 5,710 more jobs to the economy isn’t that hard, it’s only hard if you keep neo-liberal free marketeers like Bill and John in power.

    • Deadly_NZ 1.4
      9 March 2011 at 1:30 pm

      Really but the people will spend the extra $$$ thus creating extra jobs which in turn let more people spend and then you can have a nice little circle going.. Unlike the NACTS vicious circle of Cut wages , No one spends , More jobs lost more wages cut and on and on ad infinitum… I know which circle I support but then again thats just me. So you will probably find that the impact on the jobless numbers will be minimal .

  2. Pete 2
    9 March 2011 at 8:37 am

    That half a billion has to come from somewhere – it will add to the cost of goods and services, and who will pay for that?

    It will probbaly add more than $0.5b to costs, because it will put pressure on the whole wage structure, for example those already on $15 per hour would want more becasue they presume their work is valued more than the minimum wage workers. And that will push up the line.

    More wage costs = more inflation = reduced spending power. Back to square one, except for the 5,000 or so who have been priced out of the market and have lost their jobs.

    • Marty G 2.1
      9 March 2011 at 8:43 am

      The half billion would initially come from businesses’ bottom lines. They would attempt to pass some on to consumers if they could. The DoL thinks it would add 0.25% to inflation. Barely enough to register and significantly less of a reduction in the real value of total employee compensation ($200 million of the $80 billion compensation pool) than the $500 million increase.

      So, Higher wages = slightly higher inflation = higher real wage income for Kiwi families.

      But good to see the Right is true to form and opposing wage increases for working New Zealanders.

      • Pete 2.1.1
        9 March 2011 at 8:54 am

        I’m not “the Right” and I’m not opposed to wage increases for working New Zealanders – if they are warranted.

        It’s naive to think that the half billion will come from “businesses’ bottom lines”.

        How much do you think it will push $15+ wages up? What are the calculations on that?

        Have other flow-on effects been considered? How would it impact on the many businesses struggling in Christchurch right now?

        • Marty G 2.1.1.1
          9 March 2011 at 9:02 am

          DoL takes the ‘halo’ effect of minimum wage changes into account in the numbers I’ve provided.

          I think putting half a billion more into the budgets of low income working families is great for Christchurch and the rest of the country. Like I say in the post, all that extra spending would create far more than 5,000 jobs

        • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.2
          9 March 2011 at 9:04 am

          All NZ wages should be pushed up.

          The fact that 50% of full time working NZ’ers are on less than $41K p.a. is disgusting.

          No wonder a quarter of our young graduates have pissed off overseas, as have roughly a million NZ born Kiwi’s, roughly 700,000 of them to Australia.

          You want to see what this short term wage suppression does to NZ?

          Wait 6 months. Wait until you hear the screams from Christchurch projects unable to secure skilled labour, halting the progress of reconstruction.

          NZ is fraking its future by driving its home grown talent away to countries willing to pay decent wages.

          • Pete 2.1.1.2.1
            9 March 2011 at 9:14 am

            And if Australia see it work so miraculously here and they follow suit and put their minimum wage to some magical arbitrary figure what then?

            How many countries have bumped up their minimum wage by 15% and it has worked fine with no significant adverse affects?

            • Lanthanide 2.1.1.2.1.1
              9 March 2011 at 9:22 am

              Australia’s minimum wage is already higher than ours, so how exactly would they be following suit?

              • Pete …
                9 March 2011 at 9:32 am

                If we bump ours up by 15%, so follow suit and bump theirs up by 15%, or maybe round that up to $18.

                I’m curious as to why Labour have chosen $15 as some magical mininum. Why not $14.75? Or $15.10?

                • felix …
                  9 March 2011 at 11:37 am

                  And what fucking difference would it make to your objections if they had?

                  So why do you ask?

                  • Pete …
                    9 March 2011 at 11:58 am

                    Because I’d like to know if it is a carefully calculated amount that Labour thinks gets the balance about right, or if it is some tidy round figure chosen for it’s perceived marketability.

                    In other words can a very good argument be made for $15 as the best amount? The examples in the post are $13.00, $13.50 and $15.00 – would $14.25 be a less risky and fairer amount? The justification in this post for $15 sounds reverse engineered.

                    $15 sounds suspiciously like election bullshit.

                    • felix …
                      9 March 2011 at 12:10 pm

                      You didn’t answer the first question. What difference would it make to your objections it it were $15.324799?

                      So far your objections are that 5000 lose their jobs (which others have already refuted above), that it will affect people on higher wages too (already accounted for thanks), that $15 is unaffordable (says you) and that catching up with the Aussies is a stupid goal because they might be able to run a bit faster too and so what anyway (which is a lucid observation and I hope you don’t forget it).

                      So again, why do you care if it’s $15, $15.11655, or $16.24367788963?

                    • Pete …
                      9 March 2011 at 1:00 pm

                      Those amounts wouldn’t change my thinking because they are more than $15 and aren’t being proposed (at this stage).

                      What could change my thinking is somewhere between the just tweaked $13 and $15. It shouldn’t be hard to make a strongish case for $13.50, a push to $14 give ot take a bit wouldn’t be that tall an order, but a jump to a round $15 just sounds like it’s an election idea that is trying now to be justified.

                    • felix …
                      9 March 2011 at 9:51 pm

                      You don’t see the irony at all, do you PG?

                      You’re accusing others of pulling numbers out of their arses and to make your case you pull some out of your own and say “THESE numbers might be better for no given reason”

                      Regardless, all of your objections have been addressed above by others and your entire argument boils down to one thing: You don’t want employers to have to pay more for labour.

                      Why don’t you just admit it?

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      9 March 2011 at 10:17 pm

                      Yet another blue blood plant.

                    • Pete …
                      10 March 2011 at 6:57 am

                      You’re the one that obviously doesn’t get it Felix. I’m not suggesting other numbers, I’m asking what is the number that gives the best balance – I haven’t seen anyone able or willing to justify $15 as that.

                      CV – a curious trait across the spectrum is to accuse someone of being from the opposite side if they question anything. I’m just not a one way worshiper. Labour are clearly not doing things very well, their tactics should be questioned to work out what they’re doing wrong. I want to see a stronger Labour presence in parliament.

                    • felix …
                      10 March 2011 at 10:38 pm

                      Pete you said:

                      “It shouldn’t be hard to make a strongish case for $13.50, a push to $14 give ot take a bit wouldn’t be that tall an order…”

                      You’re claiming those numbers are probably more justifiable than $15 and you’re either too thick to realise that in doing so you’ve totally contradicted your flimsy pretence of an objection (see above) or you think everyone else is too thick to notice.

                      If you’re going to bullshit at least have the decency to do it a thread or two away from your contradictory statements. It’s just embarrassing this way.

                      Or you could just fuck off back to kiwiblog where you’re considered a bit of a fancy thinker.

        • fatty 2.1.1.3
          9 March 2011 at 9:21 am

          “Have other flow-on effects been considered? How would it impact on the many businesses struggling in Christchurch right now?”

          The earthquake excuse….I’ll be using it for late assignments at uni this year…I’ll be using it when I cycle up a one-way street in town…I’ll be using it to avoid social events that I can’t be bothered attending…I’ll be using it for a lot of things, but I won’t be using it to protect the rich and perpetuate poverty.

    • Colonial Viper 2.2
      9 March 2011 at 8:44 am

      Half a billion has to come somewhere?

      Well if you consider just the top 100 people on the NZ rich list control about $55B between them, its not like the money is not there.

  3. Colonial Viper 3
    9 March 2011 at 8:42 am

    Labour need to rethink its position of raising the minimum wage to $15/hr by the end of its first term in office i.e. by the end of 2014.

    It could (and should) be done sooner.

  4. pmofnz 4
    9 March 2011 at 8:46 am

    The title of the post should surely be “How to buy a quarter of a million votes”?

    • Marty G 4.1
      9 March 2011 at 8:57 am

      Have you got an actual excuse for opposing a half a billion wage increase for the quarter million lowest paid workers?

    • Colonial Viper 4.2
      9 March 2011 at 9:01 am

      Raising the minimum wage to $15/hr would be an extraordinarily effective economic stimulus.

      If Key and English and Wilkinson had any brains they would do that themselves, ASAP.

      It would cost the Government next to nothing, and generate additional income tax and GST receipts for the Government.

      Haha but they are so ideologically gridlocked they won’t do what’s right for NZ workers even if it will help get themselves re-elected.

      Dumb.

      • Oleolebiscuitbarrell 4.2.1
        9 March 2011 at 9:28 am

        Raising the minimum wage to $15/hr would be an extraordinarily effective economic stimulus.

        Not for the 5,710 people who are unemployed as a result. Fuck ’em, I say.

        • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1
          9 March 2011 at 10:40 am

          Hey biscuit, the Government can directly employ those 5710 people, helping to rebuild Christchurch.

          Problem solved.

          • Oleolebiscuitbarrel 4.2.1.1.1
            9 March 2011 at 12:17 pm

            Suppose I should have known the answer was for the gummint to fix it.

            • Colonial Viper 4.2.1.1.1.1
              9 March 2011 at 11:25 pm

              Yeah well the fraking private sector isn’t, so who is left, brainiac?

              If we had some decent corporate and business leadership in this country why the frak do we still have 160,000 unemployed when there is so much social, productive and reconstruction work to do?

              When the private sector is too gutless and self interested to make the difference, then the Government will.

          • Lanthanide 4.2.1.1.2
            9 March 2011 at 12:34 pm

            The point of raising the minimum wage is that it doesn’t directly cost the government anything. If they are going to turn around and employ these people to “rebuild CHCH”, then it is somewhat defeating the point. Never mind that a lot of these newly unemployed people aren’t even going to live in CHCH or the south island. Are they supposed to telecommute to rebuild CHCH? Or go live in tents in Hagley Park?

            Also, what are they going to do? We’ve had this discussion before – apart from digging silt and immediate fix-up work that is all completed within 1-2 months, what large-scale low-skill jobs remain available to employ 5000+ people to do?

            So no, problem not solved, at all. Problem skirted with an unrealistic slogan.

            • The Voice of Reason 4.2.1.1.2.1
              9 March 2011 at 12:45 pm

              Train ’em up to build wooden houses. That’s how we built our way out of the depression. BTW, wouldn’t the Government do OK out of a $2 per hour wage rise? The tax take would be about 30 cents per worker per hour nationally, which could help fund the rebuild.

              • Lanthanide …
                9 March 2011 at 1:22 pm

                I’d suggest that a lot of the 5000 people losing their jobs due to minimum wage rise aren’t going to be the sort of people who could work in the building industry, or they probably already would be (since it pays better than minimum wage).

                I can envision lots of cleaners and kitchen workers making up that figure.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  9 March 2011 at 11:28 pm

                  going to be the sort of people who could work in the building industry, or they probably already would be (since it pays better than minimum wage).

                  The building industry has been a sick child over the last 12 months. Sovereign went into voluntary receivership today.

        • KJT 4.2.1.2
          9 March 2011 at 10:47 pm

          More spending power for beneficiaries/waged people. They spend directly into the local economy = more business = more jobs.

          Tax cuts for millionaires/corporates = money spent offshore in luxury goods or the money markets casino.= less money in NZ. Local business goes bust = less employment..

          Anyone who doubts this should have observed businesses in Kaitaia during Ruthenasia.

    • Lanthanide 4.3
      9 March 2011 at 9:24 am

      Surely National should have done it then, if they wanted a second term.

      • Colonial Viper 4.3.1
        9 March 2011 at 9:29 am

        Like I said, ideological blinkers.

        They won’t be able to do it now because it would be seen as sheer panicky election bribery. Total short termism on their part. They simply gave the absolute minimum they thought they could get away with – but have not factored in how fast prices will be rising this year.

        This is gonna hurt them.

        • Pete 4.3.1.1
          9 March 2011 at 9:35 am

          …it would be seen as sheer panicky election bribery.

          That’s how many will see Labour promoting this.

          • Colonial Viper 4.3.1.1.1
            9 March 2011 at 10:05 am

            Labour’s been promoting this position for several months now AFAIK (i.e. before election year rolled in), and of course Unite had a big campaign on it last year.

            • Pete 4.3.1.1.1.1
              9 March 2011 at 10:27 am

              And Labour seem to still be desperately hoping to ride to victory on Winston Peters, so this policy doesn’t seem to be doing it for them. I’m sure some will vote for more money for themselves, but many will be suspicious of grand ideological handouts of other people’s money.

              • Colonial Viper …
                9 March 2011 at 10:39 am

                grand ideological handouts of other people’s money.

                Finance companies got gifted $2B by Bill English. That’s ideological.

                Making sure that our poorest working families can afford milk and butter. That’s social democracy.

                And by the way, if the Government requires taxes from you, that money is no longer your money.

  5. MKL 5
    9 March 2011 at 9:32 am

    Neither red or blue have a clue how to grow an economy. Both are “ideologically gridlocked”. Reactive minimum wage argument is like squabling over who gets the final piece of pie. Have fun voting for yet another selection of hopeless gobblers this year.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      9 March 2011 at 12:08 pm

      And, like most people, haven’t realised that we don’t want to grow the economy because doing so is unsustainable. All we really need is better distribution of the wealth that we already have and to ensure that the resources that we use fits within the Renewable Resource Base.

  6. Afewknowthetruth 6
    9 March 2011 at 9:42 am

    It’s all pie in the sky.

    What is left of manufacturing is competing with China, where wages are of the order of $2 an hour.

    IT is competing with India ,where the same job can be done for 1/3 the cost.

    Tourism will go into terminal decline as Peak Oil impacts harder and harder.

    The service sector is dependent on everyone else having jobs, money, and affordable fuel and food: -so that will continue its inexorable decline.

    Primary industries are 100% dependent on oil, most of which is imported, so either their costs are going to continue rising or demand for their products is going to plummet. Six months ago Brent oil was around $70; it is now over $110. If the global economy thrives, demand will push the price of oil up and add to costs; if the global economy plunges, lack of demand will push the price of oil down and the plunging global economy will clobber exporters.

    The economic system -of a globalised consumer society based on consumption of oil and other non-renewable resources paid for with money that does not exist- has the makings of it own catstrophic falure build into it. No amount of tweeking the system will prevent business as usual collapsing fairly soon.

    One thing is very clear: they”ll just keep doing it till they can’t. (Keep attempting to prop up BAU.)

    • Lanthanide 6.1
      9 March 2011 at 12:41 pm

      “IT is competing with India ,where the same job can be done for 1/3 the cost.”

      Often (not always, or mostly, but often) outsourcing IT projects to India ends up costing more in the long run, when things aren’t implemented properly or are done in a shallow way that appears to meet the requirements on paper but actually is inadequate when it is put into real production use. A large part of the problem is Indian companies that see money and will never say ‘no’ to a project, even if it’s something they realistically can’t handle. Likewise the people making the decisions in the western companies see a huge $ saving up front without actually understanding all of the issues around IT projects (particularly maintenance and code quality issues) and so throw better judgement to the wind and go for it.

      • Deadly_NZ 6.1.1
        9 March 2011 at 1:42 pm

        And if you have ever tried to deal with a call centre that has been relocated overseas, you will know what I mean, what a disaster trying to deal with complex issues with someone who speaks English as a second or third language is hopeless.

        • M 6.1.1.1
          10 March 2011 at 12:09 am

          The two problems I’ve had with call centres being located overseas are:

          1 It has taken a job away from a NZer as well as the local knowledge and vernacular

          2 The person generally does not have the authority to give you a ‘yes’.

          I couldn’t give a stuff about accented English because I reckon as with anyone’s voice you need to get used to the rhythm and cadence of their speech. Having worked with people from the Ukraine, India, Sri Lanka, China, North America, Europe and the ME it’s been their work that has mattered, not their accent. If I were in any of their countries I’d hope they give me a fair go with regard to speaking their mother tongue with an English overlay but then that’s the arrogance of English speakers, they always expect others to learn their language but won’t make the effort to go and learn someone else’s language.

          At college I studied two languages apart from English and think it rounded out my education and enhanced my own native language skills even more.

  7. frizaxojx 7
    9 March 2011 at 6:51 pm

    Okay so I\’m getting old and maybe my memory is going, but I could swear John Key said something in the 2008 election about wanting to get the minimum wage up to $15 to be level with Oz. Never heard another word about it – was it all my imagination? Anyone got a quote?

    • Jim Nald 7.1
      9 March 2011 at 7:50 pm

      The spoutings of that year and of that period should be written off as Key saying whatever it takes to get into power.
      Everytime when being reminded that GST is 15%, I recall Key saying GST would not increase.

  8. neoleftie 8
    9 March 2011 at 9:50 pm

    what happens to the gloabl economy when after some time, wages for the same job under the same conditions are the same…NZ is just further on the system continium than china or india etc..resources and infrastructure will be the key determinants of this century

  9. Sylvia 9
    10 March 2011 at 10:09 pm

    interesting that DOL acknowledged that option two $13.00 per hour would have no effect on employment because it doesn\’t represent a real increase in wages..

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    50 mins ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 hour ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 hours ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: 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. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    9 hours ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    10 hours ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    13 hours ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    20 hours ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • 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 ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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, ...
    Bowalley Road
    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 FeildingBy 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 fieldingBy 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 ...
    Bowalley Road
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Skeptical Science
    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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    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

  • 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
    6 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
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    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. ...
    Skeptical Science
    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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    40 mins ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours 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
    1 day 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-02T04:40:25+00:00