Ihumātao: Today’s Nationwide Day of Action

Written By: - Date published: 12:59 am, August 6th, 2019 - 188 comments
Categories: activism, Maori Issues, police - Tags:

Yesterday evening police suddenly increased their numbers at Ihumātao and proceeded to block some of the land protectors in place and isolate them from others on the site. SOUL put out a call for people to come to the land and protect it, and they came. Numbers of people on the land increased over the evening and after several hours of tension and rumours flying, organisers negotiated for the police to de-escalate. The reason for the police escalation remains unclear.

The general feeling seems to be that despite the agreement for Fletchers to stop the build so everyone involved can kōrero, the protection needs to remain strong and consistent at the land and with support across the country.

For those that can make it there are a planned set of actions taking place across NZ today. Other ways we can support Protect Ihumātao are here.

Update: If you would like to know more about why SOUL are protecting Ihumātao and what they want, start here.

 

188 comments on “Ihumātao: Today’s Nationwide Day of Action ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    Outside a tiny echo chamber no one cares. The usual constitutional peasants will show up and tell us we are living in an autocracy.

    Most NZers simply regard this as a inter-Maori squabble with one side wrapping itself in the self-righteous sanctimony of the certain.

    No one is talking about it.

    • A 1.1

      Nobody except the news media, social media…

      • Rapunzel 1.1.1

        That's the problem, all the stirring, they will be loving it and that stands in the way of commonsense even having a chance or proper dialogue. Lots of issues that need to be aired are being sidelined while the media and the couch "experts" turn everything into a side-show.

      • James 1.1.2

        Jacinda isn’t talking about it. Heck her staff are threatening media if they even asked her about it.

        • Rapunzel 1.1.2.1

          Didn't you read the bit where I mentioned "commonsense"? No country should be held to ransom when it's led by media stirring, the most important thing is the outcome to NZ.

        • veutoviper 1.1.2.2

          Stop bullshitting, James. Yesterday afternoon at her post-Cabinet press conference, the Prime Minister took a number of questions about Ihumātao – "the possibility of her visiting the occupation, the presence of police guns at the site, and work towards a resolution" – as outlined in the Scoop link below which includes the full video of the press conference.

          http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1908/S00020/pms-post-cabinet-press-conference-5819-talks.htm

          I really like to read a range of views on blogs such as this including those from Right wingers, but you deserve the flack you get when you put up BS such as this without checking the facts. Also see 3.1 below.

          And FFS – I have just noticed that even Scoop cannot spell the current* name of the place correctly and has it as "Ihumāto". [Head meets desk.]

          * "Current" name is especially for you, Dukeofurl. LOL

          • Dukeofurl 1.1.2.2.1

            Spell checker updated.

            I was looking back at yesterdays post headline to see if had it correct and that was wrong as you made pains to point out.

            Even Geographic Board got it wrong yesterday when they added a macron to Ohakune to make an official new version.

            My 'Williams' Maori dictionary has multiple spellings of many words, different iwi having their own thing often.

            • veutoviper 1.1.2.2.1.1

              Cheers. In case you didn't see it, this morning I also popped a reply back to you re living place names etc on the earlier Arnhem etc post as per this link https://thestandard.org.nz/arnhem-land-and-ihumutao/#comment-1643519

            • weka 1.1.2.2.1.2

              Updating spellcheckers is a good idea. Did you do that for your browser? I had assumed TS/Wordpress was overriding my browser generally.

              Veutoviper, you can use Ihumaatao if you can't do macrons.

              • veutoviper

                True re the double a. I just prefer macrons, including the French one- LOL. Just kidding. I don't seem to be able to use my spell checker. Can't figure out whether it is me or my browser etc … But I rarely comment here these days and currently probably just passing through. Too many videos, off topic responses/comments, personal insults, sanctimonious lectures etc leading to OOS from scrolling past etc; plus departures of many people I enjoyed reading and interacting with, eg longtermers like Redlogix, TRP, skinny just to name a few.

              • lprent

                There is a spellchecker in the posts, but not (as far as I am aware) in the comment box. There might be a right click spell option, but generally the javascript editors just let the browser control when you’re typing..

                • xanthe

                  my mint (debian based) has a wonderful system wide spell check BUT does not work inside a TS comment box … perhaps something to do with a change to how right click is handled ? or rather misspellings do get the red underline but the dictionary is not available

                • weka

                  I noticed last night that post editor was using American spelling. Is that new?

        • weka 1.1.2.3

          James, pull your head in. If you tell lies like that again I will start moderating. It's been a while but you know me well enough to know that sort of shit stirring won't work under my posts.

    • michelle 1.2

      Bullhsit Sanctuary pakeha might not be talking about Ihumatao but this issue and the cyfs/OT issue along with recent research released has given our people a new lease of life and our people are thinking about our land, our health, our education, our tamariki and our future in our country that is nicer to foreigners. Our Maori people have had enough of being treated like shit and now is the time before the pending elections to take a stand and fight for everything.

      • marty mars 1.2.1

        So true – good words

      • Shadrach 1.2.2

        Which 'Maori' people are you speaking for?

        The Maori who legally sold the land to Fletchers? The Maori who will benefit from the affordable housing proposed for the site? The Maori who will benefit from the gift of a buffer zone to preserve some of the natural landscape?

        Or are you in fact actually speaking for yourself?

        • JohnP 1.2.2.1

          The family who sold the land to Fletchers weren't Maori bro.

          • Shadrach 1.2.2.1.1

            https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/rnz/ihumatao-land-battle-timeline

            [Please quote the bit that says that the Wallaces who owned the land sold to Fletchers are Māori. Don’t expect people to trawl a whole article to see what you meant. – weka]

            • weka 1.2.2.1.1.1

              moderation note for you above Shadrach.

            • Shadrach 1.2.2.1.1.2

              The article didn't say that, and I never claimed it did. In fact I never mentioned the Wallace family at all. The article states the following about ownership:

              1863: The land at Ihumātao was taken 'by proclamation' during the invasion of the Waikato, according to SOUL.

              It was confiscated under the New Zealand Settlements Act, thus breaching the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi agreement.

              Historically the land was believed to be occupied by Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Whatua, and groups connected to Waikato-Tainui (Ngāti Tamaoho, Te Ahiwaru, Ngāti Tai Tāmaki, Ngāti Te Ata, Te Ākitai Waiohua, and Te Kawerau ā Maki).

              1867: The land was acquired by Crown grant.

              then:

              February 2014: Te Kawerau ā Maki and the Crown signed a Deed of Settlement at Makaurau Marae in Māngere.

              "Te Kawerau a Maki are the tangata whenua (people of the land) of Waitakere City, who hold customary authority or manawhenua within the city. "

              http://tekawerau.iwi.nz/history

              • weka

                What did you mean when you said this above? (at 1.59pm).

                "The Maori who legally sold the land to Fletchers?"

                • Shadrach

                  February 2014: Te Kawerau ā Maki and the Crown signed a Deed of Settlement at Makaurau Marae in Māngere.

                  The full details of that settlement are available at https://www.govt.nz/treaty-settlement-documents/te-kawerau-a-maki/.

                  The Crown were found to have breached the Treaty principles. The apology, cultural and financial redress are set out in the document I have linked to above.

                  This Deed is the full and final settlement of all historic claims of the Iwi, including any claim over what is private land at Ihumatao.

                  On reflection, my comment about Maori having legally 'sold' the land to Fletchers was clumsy, which is why I linked to the ODT piece as my response to John. However, my point stands. The area of Ihumatao where Fletchers propose to build affordable housing is private land, and Fletchers purchased that land subject to having free title by way of the Iwi relinquishing any claim to it as part of their Treaty settlement, for which they received significant consideration/compensation. That is the law, pure and simple, and it applies to both Maori and non-Maori.

                  • weka

                    So you agree that Māori never sold the land?

                    This is important, because from what I understand TKAM fought against the development for a long time, and only did a deal with Fletchers because there was no other way to get any kind of protection for the land.

                    Also, afaik Iwi have no choice about privately owned land, it's off limits for Treaty settlements.

                    • Shadrach

                      Yes in addressing my objection to Michelle my use of the language of 'sold' was clumsy. However Maori (TKAM specifically) did cede any rights to the land by the Deed of Settlement, and in exchange received considerable recompense. I can't see what the protestors hope to achieve that maintains respect for private property rights (rights that the Treaty settlements seek to redress for Maori), unless they can do a deal to purchase the land back off Fletchers.

                    • weka

                      TKAM aren't the only Iwi with connections to that land. I personally don't believe that private property rights trump everything else. People are more important. Especially in this situation where the authorities fucked up by allowing the SHA.

                    • Shadrach

                      "People are more important."

                      The two are closely connected. Private property rights are held by people. They are part of what holds a civilised society together. For example, without such rights, one person or group can simply take over use/ownership of another's possessions, be they land, money, equipment, whatever. (And yes there is a deliberate angle in that comment that references the seizure of Maori land by the Crown). If these rights don't exist, then the land given to TKAM as part of the Treaty settlement is 'up for grabs', which would simply be injustice upon injustice.

                      "TKAM aren't the only Iwi with connections to that land."

                      That may be the case, but the ToW Tribunal and the Crown only recognise the claim of TKAM. You may disagree with that, but if these decisions are not made there will never be resolution if these matters.

                    • weka

                      Many societies have had different ways of sharing land that haven't involved private property rights. But I wasn't suggesting doing away with them. I was saying that even by Pākehā values, property rights don't have to override the wellbeing of people.

                    • Shadrach

                      "Many societies have had different ways of sharing land that haven't involved private property rights."

                      Yes, but likewise societies have also gone to war over disputed land.

                      "I was saying that even by Pākehā values, property rights don't have to override the wellbeing of people."

                      I agree. I'm not sure, however, how the wellbeing of any people is being over-ridden by the resolution at Ihumatao.

                    • weka

                      "Yes, but likewise societies have also gone to war over disputed land."

                      I don't think those things are connected in the way you may be implying. Societies with private ownership also go to war over land/resources.

                      Māori clearly are not going to war over Ihumātao, and have other tools in their kete.

                      "I'm not sure, however, how the wellbeing of any people is being over-ridden by the resolution at Ihumatao."

                      Quite a few Māori say it is. It's a values thing to my mind. The Crown unilaterally imposed a set of conditions over time and used their power in unfair ways, and that was based in a set of values not held by the Iwi affected. That the Crown still treats its Treaty partners in this way suggests that the Crown is not the best arbiter of what constitutes wellbeing. It's a fairly basic principle that people get to define what their wellbeing is.

                    • Shadrach

                      "It's a fairly basic principle that people get to define what their wellbeing is."

                      Isn't that precisely what Maori are achieving via Treaty settlements?

                    • weka

                      The Treaty process was created by the Crown, and suits the Crown agenda. Māori played a part in that, but they weren't equal partners in the process. How is that fair? How would that ever lead to good outcomes for Māori in terms of them defining what wellbeing is for themselves?

                    • Shadrach

                      "Māori played a part in that, but they weren't equal partners in the process."

                      I disagree. In fact I would argue that Maori are significantly advantaged by the process. For example, the ToWT hears claims with virtually no Crown representation. It is not a true 'Court' in the sense of both sides of history being aired. Another example is that compensation for grievances is substantial, and can be adjusted as other claims are settled. I'm unaware of any other such process in the world. And yet another – no account is taken for the benefits to Maori of colonisation.

                      "How would that ever lead to good outcomes for Māori in terms of them defining what wellbeing is for themselves?"

                      Maori are being 'given' substantial resources to determine their own future. The process allows Maori to set their own agenda for how those resources are used. The ball is in their court.

                    • weka

                      I wasn't referring to the processes now used, I was talking about who set up the process. Afaik, Māori weren't equal partners in that. I think the Crown also mandated the legal structures that Iwi had to use. Later the full and final thing was imposed by government. The processes we have were set up by the colonial government, not by Māori.

                    • Shadrach

                      "I wasn't referring to the processes now used, I was talking about who set up the process. Afaik, Māori weren't equal partners in that. I think the Crown also mandated the legal structures that Iwi had to use. Later the full and final thing was imposed by government. The processes we have were set up by the colonial government, not by Māori."

                      Of course the process was established by the Crown, there is no other way it could have happened. The Treaty partner of Maori was the Crown. It is only the Crown who is able to make recompense for past injustices. But from the outset Maori were heavily involved in the composition and processes of the Tribunal. The person credited for establishing the Tribunal was Mat Rata. The Tribunal is funded by Government, as are the claimants legal fees (AFAIK). The chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal is Chief Judge Wilson Isaac of the Māori Land Court. The deputy chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal is Deputy Judge Patrick Savage of the Māori Land Court. Around half of the members of the Tribunal are Maori (https://waitangitribunal.govt.nz/about-waitangi-tribunal/members-of-the-waitangi-tribunal/).

                      I really challenge you to point to a fairer, more just system deployed anywhere else in the world to manage what are often complex claims.

                    • weka

                      Why couldn't Māori and the Crown have set up the processes?

                      I don't know if there are better examples worldwide, but that doesn't mean we can't be the first.

                    • Shadrach

                      "Why couldn't Māori and the Crown have set up the processes?"

                      Because the Crown (as represented in the form of the NZ Government) is the ruling authority in NZ. For the process to have it's own authority and standing, the Crown had to be seen to take a lead.

                      But Maori were actively and intimately involved. The process was never going to be perfect, in part because Maori cannot always agree among themselves on things (witness Ihumatao). But I'm yet to see anyone make a reasonable suggestion of how we could have significantly improved the process.

        • michelle 1.2.2.2

          divide and conquer doesn't work on me

          • Shadrach 1.2.2.2.1

            Your comment above reeks of division.

            • marty mars 1.2.2.2.1.1

              bullshit – you are just too myopic to see anything other than your own dismal brilliance – try opening the other eye bubby

              • Shadrach

                Do you think that a single person assuming to speak for all Maori, and making comments such as "Our Maori people have had enough of being treated like shit…" do not reek of division? Or trying to make the OT issue a Maori issue?

                • marty mars

                  who are you speaking for?

                  what you fail to get is that a Māori voice is a Māori voice and that is that

                  your types always divide because you are so weak and useless – not going to work nobby

                  • Shadrach

                    A single Maori voice does not speak for all Maori. There are a variety of Maori opinions about the two issue, Ihumatao and OT. For any one commentator to claim to speak for 'Maori' as 'our people' is the height of arrogance.

                    • marty mars

                      "…pakeha might not be talking about Ihumatao but this issue and the cyfs/OT issue along with recent research released has given our people a new lease of life and our people are thinking about our land, our health, our education, our tamariki and our future in our country that is nicer to foreigners. Our Maori people have had enough of being treated like shit and now is the time before the pending elections to take a stand and fight for everything."

                      That is the full quote and it is correct imo – oh look that is two Māori that agree and if we went to the front lines there would be thousands of others who agree and around the country even more thousands that would agree. It is actually a pretty mainstream Māori view where I come from so you really are just talking rubbish as usual.Sharpen up tool.

                    • Shadrach

                      "It is actually a pretty mainstream Māori view…"

                      Not amongst Maori I know and connect with. Michelle is perfectly entitled to speak for herself, but when she uses expressions such as 'our people' she goes beyond that and pretends to speak for Maori generally.

                    • marty mars

                      yeah nah – you are being a deliberate idiot

                    • Shadrach

                      "yeah nah – you are being a deliberate idiot"

                      Are you seriously suggesting that all Maori back the protestors at Ihumatao? That all Maori are opposed to OT removing children from dangerous situations?

                    • weka

                      Come on Shadrach. Everyone knows that when people make generalised statements they're not being literal. No-one here thinks that Michelle believes she knows what every single Māori person thinks. Give it a rest, you've made your point.

  2. A 2

    Who was it in the National Party that signed off on this as a special housing area??

    I’d like to think that things can be peacefully resolved but I’m guessing that sabotage of equipment, burning of houses etc might be the way it goes. Even if I didn’t think Maori should have the land back – it was stolen after all, no way in hell I’d buy there.

  3. JohnP 4

    Pania Newton is made of some good strong stuff, and it's a credit to her leadership and mana that last night did not get out of hand.

  4. Dukeofurl 5

    What happened to the Ihumateo- Arnhem post from yesterday. Its it usual for something to disappear later in the day like that ?

    • lprent 5.1

      Its it usual for something to disappear later in the day like that ?

      Nope. Got caught (somehow) in a cron sweep cleaning out old RSS posts, while the RSS plugin was being updated. The plugin as you can see on the feeds on the right isn't working properly. Working with the author to get it back to normal.

      After MS texted me, I looked in the logs found what had happened and when I next had some time, eventually recovered both the post and comments from a backup.

      Lost up to 15 minutes of comments in that post. I will be checking this morning if there were any actually lost.

      • veutoviper 5.1.1

        IIRC Wayne had put up a comment on it just before the whole post etc disappeared. That one seems to have disappeared completely and there may be more. Wayne's comment caught my interest because he (politely) queried what point(s) Ad was trying to make in the post.

        • lprent 5.1.1.1

          I just finished looking at that 15 minutes. Unfortunately I didn't have the binary log turned on because I'm not replicating the db anymore – no point since it has a viable hourly backup.

          So that 15 minutes is toast unless someone took a image.

          • veutoviper 5.1.1.1.1

            Thanks lprent – I really was not meaning that I thought it was important to recover those comments, but just though I would mention what I recalled. Probably better lost as things were getting a bit heated, LOL and I think Wayne has basically repeated his comment etc here today. But again thanks.

  5. Chris T 6

    Forgive my ignorance, but what do the SOUL people actually want as an outcome?

    Is it turning it into a park or something, which means Iwi don't get their land back to build some houses for their young people?

    • Sanctuary 6.1

      The end game here is an attempt by Maori radicals to completely upend the basis of the Pakeha-Maori accord that underpins the entire treaty process by demanding private land now be put on the table for treaty settlements.

      This is an attack on the entire economic foundations of the NZ state – there is simply no way the vast majority of New Zealanders (let alone the capitalist ruling class) will countenance an attack on the sanctity of private property.

      Remember, treaty settlements we sold to Pakeha as being be full and final. If private land is now suddenly supposed to be on the table then EVERY treaty settlement since the first one is back on the table. It would be like ripping a bandage of a healing wound, and the backlash will make Don Brash's Orewa speech look like a kindergarden cake fight.

      The consequences of Maori activists trying to follow thorough on such ridiculous (ridiculous because they are utterly fantasy) and unrealistic demands will be catastrophic for New Zealand as a whole should it gain any credence.

      • Sacha 6.1.1

        I doubt that applies to SOUL themselves, though it is certainly a larger picture driving the situation on all sides.

      • Pat 6.1.2

        and is probably about the only thing that could cost the Gov the next election

        • Dennis Frank 6.1.2.1

          Which would be why Nat-leaning cops in the police hierarchy found a pretext to escalate hostilities last night…

          • Pat 6.1.2.1.1

            Doubt that…think the given explanation likely the accurate one in this instance….however whether this is by design or an unfortunate untimely event matters not really but we can be sure it will be exploited.

      • JohnP 6.1.3

        Hell yeah this rules.

      • vto 6.1.4

        Yep and that is exactly what those who are watching quietly from the wings have their eyes on…

        such would indeed be catastrophic I agree

      • Jenny - How to Get there? 6.1.5

        Hi Sanctuary, Couldn't help but see the glaring contradiction in your statement.

        ridiculous…. fantasy…. unrealistic….. followed by, …..should it gain any credence.

        If their claims were ridiculous, fantasy, or unrealistic, as you claim, they wouldn't gain any credence.

        That their claims are 'ridiculous', 'fantasy' and 'unrealistic' sounds more like wishful thinking on your part.

        To label their claims as ridiculous and fantasy is a subjective assessment.

        As for their demands being unrealistic, the demand by protesters to return of Bastion Point to Ngati Whatua ownership was once considered "unrealistic".

        The facts on the ground decided otherwise.

        Just as they will this time.

        No matter how much Fletcher might want it, this is not Hong Kong, the police and the government are not about to launch a massive violent attack to remove the protesters. Fletchers will never build on this land. It is time that Fletchers accepted this fact and tried to get the best deal they can to extricate themselves from this dispute.

    • michelle 6.2

      stop shit stirring chris

      • Chris T 6.2.1

        I'm not

        The actual lawfully recognised Iwi leaders want the 40 houses opportunity, and have agreed to the 25% gift of the bit of land which is actually important back to the Iwi.

        This Soul lot don't seem to say wtf they want done with it.

        It doesn't look like the govt are going to buy it back for them as it would be political suicide.

    • Anne 6.3

      That was a good question from Chris T. He's not the only one having trouble trying to understand the rationale behind the protest.

      And Sanctuary's answer is interesting. I'll wait a little longer before passing judgement.

  6. JohnP 7

    Ardern on TV urging the protesters to remain peaceful, like that hasn't been the kaupapa from the beginning. The PM is absolutely ham-handing this one, and it's going to come back round at the election.

    • James 7.1

      its just one of so many things that will come back to haunt her at election time

      She might be a bit busy for too much time on this today however.

      • Dukeofurl 7.1.1

        Labour has its maori Mps , including deputy leader working with the various parties directly.

        Why would she want this all done in public to satisfy some 'whataboutism' and concern trolling

        • Rapunzel 7.1.1.1

          Exactly, why? After Sept 2017 when Winston was considering his thoughts they all stayed away from the media and funnily the media to a degree kept their distance, it appeared to work well. I wouild have left it like that and kept them at arms length instead of being pushed for answers that were not yet fully formed.

          • JohnP 7.1.1.1.1

            In fairness Labour and National weren't being surrounded by the cops while Winston decided what to do, although that could work.

            • Rapunzel 7.1.1.1.1.1

              In fairness? Yeah right. By any name, I get it now.

              • Dukeofurl

                The cops are there because the land owner Fletcher AND Te Kawerau a maki asked them to. Was it because the 'occupiers' prevented surveyors or something from starting work ?

                • Rapunzel

                  Was it? It was reported that all work had stopped. I imagined that conditions and time passing was playing on people moods and nerves, it would mine.

                  • weka

                    Afaik there is no work being done by Fletchers on the land.

                    My guess is that the police were trying to scare the protectors off part of the land they occupied on the weekend. I also think that while Fletchers have said wait on the building for now, the police will be under instruction to not let the occupation spread and to keep the pressure on so that if an eventual eviction happens the police will have already established themselves as a force there.

                    People who support SOUL need to be aware that the intention of the police is to remove them (the eviction notice is still in place) and they will be planning and acting accordingly. That's my reading. If Ardern, or the police, thought the negotiations were going to mean a lessening of protection, last night taught them otherwise. Those of us outside offering support need to keep our energy engaged at that level and not get complacent that the negotiations are going to make the whole thing go away.

                    • Rapunzel

                      Well good luck, some of us are not informed enough to say other than hopefully it is resolved – I am so ill-informed that I would not even know "which side to take" and there will be some like that and some that only wish "ill" of this for their own purposes. It is a protest, I have seen plenty in my time and discomfort both physical and mental is part of that.

                      It won;t help resolve any issue if media and those with ill intent and vested interests are allowed to agitate this in a way that stops any possible resolution, that's my concern.

                    • weka

                      Sorry, who is agitating?

                    • Rapunzel

                      Who's agitating? The media and those who see some advantage in trouble instead of hoping for an outcome acceptable to those closest to the issue and who know more than the average person about what is happneing and what is at stake. That's who from my admittedly limited perspective.

            • michelle 7.1.1.1.1.2

              To be fair i didn't see any cops arresting the Taranaki farmers when they drove their tractor up parliament stairs oh! thats right they only carry guns to Maori protests our farmers can do what they like they are the privileged ones.

  7. Paul Campbell 8

    Weka: we discussed possible police cell phone jamming on twitter … what was the actual evidence?

    • Dukeofurl 8.1

      Likely just a local overload due the the numbers of people making simultaneous calls. ( video would impact that too) The area is a bit out of high usage coverage like the airport would have

      A check of Sparks coverage area shows its 'limited' coverage

      https://www.spark.co.nz/coverage

    • weka 8.2

      Hi Paul, I don't know. What I saw last night was people at Ihumātao speculating online that it was happening because of the sudden change in something with various tech. Then people on social media from outside also started commenting (the main SOUL livestream was good for ages then got really choppy). Then the discussions on twitter about what might be happening.

      I think it's likely it was cell tower overload and maybe issues with FB livestreaming (didn't see the IG ones). But given what the police were doing and its general similarity with overseas police actions I can understand why people wondered if it was cause by the police.

      I hope police PR/comms learn from this, but in a good way not in a how can we use this against SOUL way. Afaik we don't know why the escalation happened (my guess is they were trying to push protectors back from land gained over the weekend), but these kinds of operations especially without any real communication from police to the public are going to generate a lot of activity on social media, including speculation, and of course bring people to the site. Last night broke trust of the police and a lot of people were watching.

      I appreciated the tech convos. I think we need to get that one clear. What does jamming look like on the ground and on social media? That way people can be more clear about what they need to do. As Pania Newton said this morning, the way police escalated created a bit of fear and panic. Having good information at such times will help.

  8. Gosman 9

    What exactly are the protesters wanting to happen? Do they want the land returned to the local Iwi (the one that was involved in the development) or do they want either the Government or the Local council to purchase the land and make it a reserve (in which case it become public land and becomes even less productive than when it was farmland)?

    • Dukeofurl 9.1

      That the whenua is returned to mana whenua to be held for the benefit of all the people of Aotearoa to enjoy as an open, green, historic reserve. We want to see this whenua included in the Ōtuataua Stonefields Historic Reserve.

      https://www.protectihumatao.com/

      • Gosman 9.1.1

        If it is returned to the Mana Whenua then doesn't that become part of the Settlement that was signed with the Iwi?

        • weka 9.1.1.1

          Is the only way Māori can ever have title on their land via Treaty settlements? Is the only way mana whenua can be reunited with their land via direct Crown defined ownership by Iwi?

          • Enough is Enough 9.1.1.1.1

            For so long as we live under the current political system, then the answer to that question is a clear yes.

            We need to be moving towards a power sharing system between the Crown and Maori.

            The Northern Ireland power sharing model is far from perfect, but is an example of a system where two peoples govern together. It took a bloody armed struggle to get to that point, but shows what can happen.

            • Gosman 9.1.1.1.1.1

              In the Northern Ireland example the populations are close to being evenly split. That is not the case in NZ.

          • Gosman 9.1.1.1.2

            I believe that is the case yes.

  9. michelle 10

    Its all about production to you aye goooseman

    • Gosman 10.1

      Not particularly. If you want to turn it in to a reserve then the Council should have purchased it when it was for sale and then turned it in to a reserve. They could still do that if they decided to buy it from the developers.

      • Dukeofurl 10.1.1

        It seemed to be part of the background in 2000 when Manukau City Council bought the mountain and stonefields for a reserve. I think there was legal action which the Council lost over the current site designation.

  10. Adrian Thornton 11

    And let this be a lesson to the Left, the pigs will always and every time come down on the side of the state..which is why I could never understand there was even a debate about them being allowed to wear their uniforms in the Pride Parade, even if the pig is transgender, gay or whatever, you can be sure they will crack heads with the rest of them.

  11. weka 12

    For the people still confused about what SOUL want, I updated the post. I trust you are reading the post before commenting.

    • Adrian Thornton 12.1

      If that was meant for me ( and I am not saying it was) what I am just saying is in cases of civil disobedience no matter how just your position or how unjust the position of the state is…the police will always side with the state..something worth remembering.

      • weka 12.1.1

        It wasn't directed at you Adrian 🙂 It was for the RWers in this thread asking to be educated about what SOUL want.

    • Dukeofurl 12.2

      It seems to be more 'links' from Organise Aotearoa-Liberation and Socialism

      Pity SOUL hasnt heard of Twitter ?

      I seemed to be the first to mention https://www.protectihumatao.com/

      • weka 12.2.1

        The update is clearly a link to SOUL's website. The original post had a single link in it that wasn't about today's action, and that link was to SOUL's website. SOUL official have a twitter account and were tweeting last night about what was going down, as were other of the core protectors. You know me well enough to know how little I like having to waste my time doing corrections like this.

  12. Sacha 13

    Labour MP Peeni Henare acknowledges some of the larger tensions: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12255915

    But in answering a question from the floor, he also revealed frustration at what he described as the "murky" way that the controversial Ihumātao deal had come about between tribal elders and corporate interests.
    "This is a wakeup call to leadership in this country – both Maori and otherwise. Our people won't tolerate this anymore… Backroom deals have to stop," he said. "More deals are done in the Koru Lounge than on the Marae."

    Young Māori have found a voice through Ihumātao, Henare said.

    And on the question of whether the government would consider buying back the land, Henare said, "We already had conversations with other tribes who said if you do that, we will re-litigate our Treaty settlements," Henare said.

    • weka 13.1

      Good for him and it's a relief to see someone in the government getting it.

      Does the fear of re-litigating Treaty Settlments apply if the Crown buys the land and makes it part of the existing reserve?

      • Sacha 13.1.1

        Guess we will see.

      • Dukeofurl 13.1.2

        "TKAK view

        Fletchers agreed to protect the view of our maunga and reduce the housing development from 520 to 480 homes and enable our people to own 40 of them via a shared equity scheme – better than anything we have ever achieved from Housing New Zealand or the Crown.

        “In addition, the company has returned some of our precious land.”

        Mr Taua said the land was traditionally used to grow crops and is described as wahi tapu because it was con-fiscated. It is not a burial site, as protestors have claimed.

        “We will not allow outsiders to rewrite history for their own purposes

        http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1907/S00320/mana-whenua-sets-the-record-straight.htm

        So Auckland gets open space and outsiders like Pania Newton get to rewrite history

        • weka 13.1.2.1

          Afaik TKAM didn't want the development to happen at all and were part of the fight to prevent it.

          • Dukeofurl 13.1.2.1.1

            Yes.

            And they compromised and achieved a range of things like:

            "company has returned some of our precious land."

            • weka 13.1.2.1.1.1

              Yes. None of that answers the question about relitigating Treaty settlements.

              • Wayne

                My understanding is that buying the land and vesting it in the iwi as a reserve will open up existing Treaty of Waitangi settlements. And also make the Ngapuhi settlement difficult. All of which will be well known to Peeni Henare.

                If on the other hand the land was owned by Auckland City (funded by the Crown) with iwi co-governace (like the maunga) then the risk will be less.

                Winston also has a say on this. He may want to see Fletchers retain some of the land for general housing, as well as iwi housing. So more of a tripartite solution.

                • weka

                  What's it got to do with Peters?

                  People keep saying this about the settlements, but why does this *have to be a Treaty settlement issue?

                  • Wayne

                    If the government is going to buy some or all of the land from Fletchers, that will be a Cabinet decision. So Peters has a say.

                    • weka

                      right, I thought you meant he had some other right to be involved.

                    • SPC

                      For mine – let Peters claim credit for some of the land being bought up still being used for housing – both council and state housing.

                      The real problem might be what Fletchers offered the iwi – 40 shared equity houses and some of the land. Can the government match that without being seen to act outside the the existing process

                      1. impact on other iwi settlements.

                      2. transfer of private land to iwi.

                      Yet somehow it is OK for private developers to offer these deals to get iwi buy in (when surely they set the same precedent for future developments on other sites).

                      This speaks to the influence of iwi and Labour's Maori caucus.

                  • Dukeofurl

                    "but why does this *have to be a Treaty settlement issue?"

                    Because the land was claimed under the Tribunal hearing process AND a full and final settlement was reached. Because the land wasnt returned at the time doesnt change the original situation.

                    To have the government 'solve an old treaty claim' using a different process sets a new precedence that every iwi who didnt have all their ambitions fulfilled during their full and final settlement will take intense interest in.

                    Good luck with the Government buying the land via the Council and trying to say its not doing so to settle a land claim.

                    • SPC

                      And if private developers get iwi consent to develop the land in return for a bit of land and shared equity arrangments for 40 houses – why cannot government own the land and do the same?

                      There is still the issue of whether public reserve land is of any "economic" or compensatory settlement.

                    • Wayne []

                      I can’t imagine Winston agreeing to a deal where the state buys the land from Fletchers and then does a housing development. That would bee too big a breach of private property rights, by that I mean the precedent effect. It is one thing to buy land for a reserve, quite another to displace legitimate private activity.

                      While that might appeal to the left, it won’t appeal to Winston. And I suspect it wouldn’t appeal to the PM. Despite her commitment to social causes, from what I see of her she doesn’t seem to think the government is better than the private sector in general economic activity.

                    • weka

                      "Because the land was claimed under the Tribunal hearing process AND a full and final settlement was reached."

                      Do you mean that TKAM named the current Fletchers owned sight as part of their settlement? I thought land in private ownership was automatically excluded.

                      What about other Iwi and Hapū if they haven't gone to full and final yet?

                • SPC

                  Would having land added to the existing reserve be regarded as an economic settlement to iwi?

                • Pat

                  Winston (First) is in full electioneering mode…he can be relied upon to take any position he thinks will gain him the threshold …laughable really considering hes managed to waste a 3 billion dollar electoral bribe

  13. JohnP 14

    Police say they upped the numbers and cut off the front line from the atea due to a protector telling them they intended to reoccupy the land.

    1) at prayer time? at 7 at night? in the cold and the dark? without the knowledge of the mana whenua guiding it. Mine's a Tui.

    2) what are the odds some cop has had a chat with a kaitiaki who's said 'well, you know we're going to get back on the whenua eventually' and reported it up the chain to someone who's panicked because they already ceded 50 metres of the road yesterday

    They're also denying they shoved Pania Newton over, despite there being video of it.

    • Sacha 14.1

      Police say they upped the numbers and cut off the front line from the atea due to a protector telling them they intended to reoccupy the land.

      Interesting. Can you link to that please.

      • JohnP 14.1.1

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/114775353/ihumtao-ardern-says-still-no-plans-to-visit-site

        On Tuesday Superintendent Jill Rogers, Counties Manukau District Commander, said police increased their presence at the site after being told by protesters they intended to reoccupy the land.

        "Despite repeated warnings from police, a large group of protesters attempted to bypass the police cordon," Rogers said.

        "Police attempted to stop those trespassing, but protesters pushed their way past our staff.

        "The protesters eventually vacated the private land and no arrests were made."

        She rejected allegations a protester had been pushed over.

        • Sacha 14.1.1.1

          Thank you. Why couldn't they say that last night?

          • weka 14.1.1.1.1

            they needed time to get their story straight? Comms team had clocked off for the night?

            • Robert Guyton 14.1.1.1.1.1

              It sounded reasonable to me. Otherwise, we'd have to accept that the police were being provocative. I reckon they'd been told of a plan and correctly moved to stop it. Watching and listening from a distance though, I can only hope for some accuracy in my reckons.

              • JohnP

                It makes absolutely no sense that the kaitiaki, after nearly two weeks of peaceful protest, at a time when their numbers were under 100, would decide to make a push past the police lines at evening prayer time.

                If they were going to go all in, it would surely have been Sunday – when police let their line fall back to the new front line and there were hundreds of people on the whenua. Or the weekend before when there were a thousand people there.

              • weka

                I haven't seen an official police press release, but what's come out via the MSM doesn't look totally right to me. I think it's true the police action was over occupation but not in the way they are portraying. The protectors gained some new ground on the weekend I think or maybe Monday morning? I don't know what happened last night. I know that the protectors said they were surprised by the sudden increase in police presence, and were about to settle in for the evening's whakamoemiti, so it doesn't make sense to me that they told the police they were about to take possession of more land.

                The police rhetoric last night was the action was about safety and protection. The story changed overnight I think.

              • Sacha

                I reckon they'd been told of a plan

                Or intercepted electronic comms from somebody and made an interpretation? Big risk to any protest movement is those who glom on with their own agendas.

              • Pat

                It was reported on RNZ yesterday (?) a spokesperson (?) had announced the intention to move into an area that was previously agreed wasnt going to be occupied….so tallies with this mornings statement

                • Sacha

                  You are the only person I've seen so far who had heard that.

                  • Pat

                    well my imagination aint that good, my hearing aint that bad and RNZ is the only station I listen to as a rule….of course I could be going mad.

                    • Sacha

                      Not doubting you, just wishing someone had heard that last night on the twitters when things were clear as mud.

                  • weka

                    JohnP just linked to the police PR above, which makes things clearer but leaves some things unanswered.

                    • Dukeofurl

                      Police would likely have intel amoung the protestors plus they could be using the Stingray cell phone intercept equipment – is there a police van on site most of the time ?- which because of the location would grab users cellphone data defeating encryption, best to use higher level encrypted messaging and forget ISP ttxting

                    • weka

                      Probably best to assume all tech is compromised.

                      It raises legal and operational issues about why they would be doing that over an eviction notice.

                      SOUL talked on Monday day about their intentions regarding spreading out on the land but also just accessing the land eg going to the maunga. So it doesn't quite match with what the police are saying.

                    • weka

                      Have you seen that bluetooth usage by the Hong Kong activists? I think the idea there is that it doesn't matter what the police hear. But different kete of ika, given they are trying to work around the Chinese government hacking the internet services they use to organise.

  14. SPC 15

    A lot of confusing signals.

    1. Fletchers offered iwi 40 houses (shared equity) and some of the confiscated iwi land – but this is not undermining Treaty settlements and the related ethos of no return of privately owned land, yet if the government bought the land and did this for some reason that would be different.

    Fletchers have said they are willing to sell the land. This is why SOUl is occupying the land to prevent development – and thus allow government or council to buy the land.

    2. There is nothing to negotiate between them and SOUL, or between the iwi and SOUL. The iwi will support the deal while Fletchers own the land. SOUL need someone else (council or government) to buy it.

    So who does Ardern think she is fooling in asking for others to talk it through? Or is she just playing for time until polls/public opinion (and or her coalitioon partner) allow her government to act.

    It is not as if Labour is not up to speed with the issue they supported SOUL back in 2016 when in opposition – but now seem to be beholden to the iwi leadership's subesequent deal with Fletchers.

    For mine. This requires

    1. government buy up of land

    2. addition of land to the historic reserve

    3. the shared equity (40 houses) and land deal with iwi continues

    4. some council and some state housing.

    • Sacha 15.1

      With respect, there has already been a lot of discussion about the various interests in the process beyond those you mention. Please do some reading.

    • Wayne 15.2

      Did Labour actually support SOUL in 2016 (as opposed to just visiting them)?

    • Dukeofurl 15.3

      "3. the shared equity (40 houses) and land deal with iwi continues"

      Without the site development by Fletchers thats a dead duck.

      To create those building sites ( before building the houses ) will cost $6 mill plus. Then theres the house building on those sites, another $12-13 mill.

      Whos funding that – the iwi ? The government ? The Council ? Fairy Godmother?

      • SPC 15.3.1

        The government.

        While they would be privately owned – shared equity reduces the cost to government – they have less capital cost than extra state houses (a private partner).

        We do need more houses.

        Rent to buy and shared equity are amongst options recommened to government for increased supply.

        • weka 15.3.1.1

          I was thinking that the Greens' rent to buy scheme as well as papakainga schemes tie in neatly here.

          Biggest impediment there is Labour’s fear of its voters, and NZF. But why not do similar for another community that is predominantly Pākehā?

      • weka 15.3.2

        How did you get to $6m for site development for 40 houses?

        • Dukeofurl 15.3.2.1

          $150k each. It would be a greenfield site, less if they used higher density in Ihumatao village. Its just a starting figure as I dont know the existing services.

          • mauī 15.3.2.1.1

            No wonder many of the iwi don't want a bar of Fletcher, last thing they need is to be extorted by a developer to live in a house on their land.

          • weka 15.3.2.1.2

            Why $150,000 each? That seems seriously excessive.

  15. Robert Guyton 16

    Nandor has his say on this:

    "Ihumātao, as far as I understand, is about protecting a unique and important site from development. It was stolen a while ago and went into private Pakeha ownership. A previous National Govt ruled that privately owned land could not be part of any treaty settlement. A later National Govt fast-tracked the consent process to use it for housing. Jacinda is trying to figure out a way through the mess."

    https://nandor.net.nz/2019/08/06/ihumatao/

  16. greywarshark 18

    Bowalley Road has a scenario re Ihumatao that is a possibility, and there is another too.

    https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2019/08/endgame-will-winston-peters-blow-up.html

    The final note refers to Shane Jones getting mouthy. Did anyone hear that?

    Shane Jones appeared on TVNZ’s Q+A programme. His comments regarding the land occupation were nothing short of inflammatory.

    • Dukeofurl 18.1

      read the intro- its really about someone else.

      Sean Plunket has been reporting and analysing New Zealand politics for a long time, and he thinks that Winston might be getting ready to do just that

      The most useless and blob of uninformed opinion in NZ and Trotter gives him credence.

      Who 'has to clear the site' ? The site and its dairy cows have been patiently waiting since the SHA was signed off around 2012 and SOUL put up their flags in 2015.

      It will be left for some years yet

    • Dukeofurl 18.2

      "His comments regarding the land occupation were nothing short of inflammatory."

      Watched it

      Absurd – he was just saying what the local iwi leader was saying – the land – ( the part owned by Fletcher and not to be returned to iwi)- isnt waahi tapu.

      Hes right too about the european era stone walls, the historically significant stone gardens and the tupuna maunga are already in the reserve.

  17. Michael 19

    Who authorised the big increase in police numbers at Ihumatao last night and why? Who authorised the police to display their firearms in public (I don't believe, for a second, that Police were simply "moving" their weapons away from the site)? Did Police attempt to jam mobile phone channels last night and, if so, why? Did the Police use physical force against anyone at Ihumatao last night or were they subjected to physical force themselves? Finally, does the Labour-led government have control over its Police force? I think we should be told.

    • greywarshark 19.1

      I don't think that there is any control over the Police on an everyday basis by government. The idea is that they should see to law and order and not be at the beck and call of government. They are very quick to take over such as at Pike River mine – they wouldn't go in because of their safety concerns and were controlling about others who knew the conditions and would have offered as in a search and rescue mission. The Tuhoe faid, that was largely their own doing I think. The chasing stolen cars and scaring the young drivers to death also them.

    • Dukeofurl 19.2

      "does the Labour-led government have control over its Police force?"

      The answer to that is The Police Commissioner has complete operational independence that is written into law.

      Williamson, as a national minister was sacked because he even spoke directly to an officer in charge about a 'party donors arrest'. The reality should have the mans lawyer talked to the cops about the situation.

      NO NZ government can direct them in the way you suggest. BTW are you not from NZ as its aquite a bizarre thing to say.

    • weka 19.3

      I'm guessing, but following live on twitter last night and doing a bit of reading, my reckons are:

      "Who authorised the big increase in police numbers at Ihumatao last night and why?"

      The local police commander, because the eviction notice is still in place and the protectors had signalled earlier in the day their intention to expand the occupation. Police said this today (their story changed from last night).

      "Who authorised the police to display their firearms in public (I don't believe, for a second, that Police were simply "moving" their weapons away from the site)?"

      This was bad. There shouldn't be firearms even in the car boots at that site. I've also seen a picture of a police carrying a firearm purportedly at the site, but you couldn't tell from the photo that it was Ihumātao. I think lots of potential for misinformation from a variety of sources and for various reasons. Fact checking seems paramount now.

      "Did Police attempt to jam mobile phone channels last night and, if so, why?"

      I don't think so. People were worried last night that this was happening, but it now seems unlikely.

      "Did the Police use physical force against anyone at Ihumatao last night or were they subjected to physical force themselves?"

      Pania Newton got knocked over while police were trying to close a gate to stop protectors. I don't know if police were subjected to force by the protectors or others, but I think things did get physical.

      "Finally, does the Labour-led government have control over its Police force? I think we should be told."

      No they don't, not directly. See this twitter thread for an explanation of why it would be bad if they did. https://twitter.com/LewSOS/status/1158497031058415621

  18. Ad 21

    If they just built a fence around all those the protesters and put a couple of standing taps in, the government could say they've built 300 homes just like that. Then they can all live there in one great big organic garden.

    • marty mars 21.1

      they are interested in so much that is too far beyond your puny little mind to comprehend

    • JohnP 21.2

      You realise exactly what you're proposing here, right? Concentrating all the kaitiaki in an enclosed camp.

  19. veutoviper 22

    For weka and anyone else interested in further background on the Ihumaatao* land and its confiscation, gifting to the Wallace family, and 150 years later, its sale to Fletchers, I found two very interesting articles last night. These give further details (much thanks to Vincent O'Malley it seems) about these factors- and also details about the attempts by the Wallace family to have the land rezoned for business purposes and the various Council decisions etc in relation to this, prior to the eventual sale to Fletchers.

    I actually put these links etc up arlier in a reply to Muttonbird @ 5.1.2 on today's Open Mike re Kris Finlayson, but thought it was worth repeating the links and the relevant bits of my comment here rather than just a link back to Open Mike to keep the info close to the other background etc on Ihumaatao.

    (Sorry for the repetition but have other commitments etc so don't have time for further refinement, summarising etc.)

    "… I also found two more articles on the background to Ihumaatao yesterday which are well worth reading for detail of the earlier Treaty settlement and the complicated dealings, Council decisions etc in relation to the sale of the land to Fletchers by the Wallace family.

    This Spinoff one a week or so ago

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/27-07-2019/our-trail-of-tears-the-story-of-how-ihumatao-was-stolen/

    And this 2016 Listener article which is again very relevant:

    https://www.noted.co.nz/planet/ihumatao-and-the-otuataua-stonefields-a-very-special-area/

    Vincent O'Malley was a source of information for both articles; and the Listener article details that the confiscated land was given to a “Gavin Wallace” and owned by the Wallace family for 150 years until sold to Fletchers by the family through Gavin H Wallace Ltd. (Obviously not the same Gavin Wallace unless he defied all usual human age limits!)

    This registered company is still in existence but now based in Dargaville and is listed as a Fish breeding /farming (onshore) company.

    https://www.bizdb.co.nz/company/9429040668253/

    * using a double a in place of macron, as suggested by weka. "

    I really found these two articles worth reading for the detail and context, so hope you also do.

    Naughty me is almost tempted to contact the Wallace family through the Bizdb addresses etc and ask whether they are Maori … LOL. I am sure I would get a well deserved FO in terms of Privacy Act etc!

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    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    2 days ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    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:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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