Imagine if National had not sold the shares in our companies

Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, September 9th, 2014 - 70 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags:

Companies in which National sold off shares have all recently reported their financial performance for the past 12 months and the amount of the final dividend they are paying.  I thought that I would have a back of the envelope stab at the amount of money that New Zealand Inc is missing out on to highlight the stupidity of the sell off of these shares.  I am presuming that all dividend payments were made under the new ownership regime, that is to private owners.  Campaign pressures prevent me from digging into the figures too far and working out if some of the dividends were nevertheless paid to the Crown.  I believe this approach is valid because it gives us an idea of what sort of yearly dividend stream the policy has diverted from public to private interests.

It is interesting to see the change in directors in the power companies.  Meridian’s directors are all the same.  MRP has two new appointments out of eight.  Genesis has two new out of nine.  The directors are predominately those appointed by the Government.  The suggestion that private ownership would bring increased fiscal discipline is a fallacy unless of course private shareholders were scrutinising the companies’ performance more than Bill English and the Treasury were.  A failure on the part of English and Treasury should never justify the sale of profitable Crown assets however.

As to the companies’ performances:

  • Meridian’s net profit after tax was $229.8 million and a total dividend of 13.01c per share is to be paid.  This includes a special divided of 2c per share from the sale of surplus land. The Government has lost us $163.4 million in dividend payments alone.
  • Mighty River Power announced a net profit of $212 million up on the IPO forecast of $160 million. It paid a dividend of 13.5c per share.  Dividend loss to us, $91.2 million.
  • Genesis Energy announced a net profit after tax of $49.2 million and paid a dividend of 13c per share.  Dividend loss to us, $61.9 million.  There is something unusual about the accounts which I have not yet got my head around.
  • And Air New Zealand had a good year announcing a net profit after tax of $262 million and total dividends of 0.20c per share.  Dividend loss to us, $44.3 million.

So all up in lost dividend alone in the past 12 months we may have missed out on $360.7 million.  Sure we have saved some money in interest savings but given the increase in the values of the companies and their performances it is clear that New Zealand inc has done very poorly.

All the companies have given a return which is greater than the government’s cost of borrowing.  And these figures do not include any allowance for bonus schemes or the cost of actually selling the shares.

If we had retained ownership we could have done such things as increased spending on health and education or reduced taxes.  These could have been the real justifiable here are the figures type tax cuts, not the hypothetical hypocritical cuts we are being promised by National.

New Zealand you have been had.

70 comments on “Imagine if National had not sold the shares in our companies ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Enough is Enough 1
    9 September 2014 at 3:54 pm

    Make sure you all think of this when you head into that voting booth.

    Which parties will repurchase these assets if they have control. Those parties need your vote.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1
      9 September 2014 at 4:00 pm

      Repossess, not repurchase. Take them back with extreme prejudice: now we know the extent of this government’s corruption they must be seen as the proceeds of crime.

      • Enough is Enough 1.1.1
        9 September 2014 at 4:04 pm

        good point

        no wishy washy bullshit about if the economic conditions permit us.

        Just take back what was stolen from us.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1
          9 September 2014 at 4:13 pm

          A ratfucking government is an illegitimate government. All their decisions must be treated as crime scenes.

          • TheContrarian 1.1.1.1.1
            9 September 2014 at 4:32 pm

            Not liking the government or what they are doing does not make them illegitimate.

            Come back when they lose an election yet remain in power – then they’ll become illegitimate

            • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1.1.1
              9 September 2014 at 4:44 pm

              Is that what I said? That I don’t like them therefore they’re illegitimate? Why no, it isn’t.

              I was very specific, in fact. I said a ratfucking government is illegitimate, and its decisions are crime scenes.

              It’s an emotive term, ratfucking. In my own defence I use it since it was coined and given currency by its perpetrators.

              Want to argue the substance of my remark, Conty? Or something else?

              • TheContrarian …
                9 September 2014 at 6:09 pm

                I was arguing with the substance as the government isnt illegitimate. Given you only gave “ratfucking” as a reason I assumed it was because you didn’t like to current govt as a reason as opposed to them actually fucking rats.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  9 September 2014 at 6:38 pm

                  Are you really going to advance your pretended ignorance of the term where a substantive argument belongs?

                  Political sabotage or dirty tricks.

                  There, now you can’t pretend ignorance any more.

                  Corrupt methods yield corrupt decisions and corrupt results. Your denial is indistinguishable from complicity. Are you one of these scum?

                  • TheContrarian …
                    9 September 2014 at 6:51 pm

                    I’m just trying to figure out in what way this is an illegitimate government because the only reason given so far is “because ratfuckers”

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 September 2014 at 6:54 am

                      Really, is that my argument? Or did I lay it out in more detail in a charitable attempt to ignore your deceitful pretence that you don’t understand the term?

                      If you can’t figure out how a deliberate scheme to undermine democracy (eg: the plan to lower turnout) affects the legitimacy of a government, that’s probably because your prejudice requires that you don’t figure it out, you poor sad follower.

                    • Bazar …
                      10 September 2014 at 10:13 am

                      To claim that the government isn’t legitimate “because ratfuckers”, goes to show how much contempt you have for democracy.

                      Each vote at the last election counted. To disregard the results and claim a crime “because ratfuckers” is as hilarious as it is delusional.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 September 2014 at 12:54 pm

                      It’s a good thing my argument isn’t “because ratfuckers” then, eh.

                      Probably a good thing I didn’t challenge the validity of the votes cast either.

                      The sad thing is that right wing gimps can’t even address the issue without lying about my argument. It’s a consequence of their low intelligence if you ask me.

                  • TheContrarian …
                    9 September 2014 at 6:54 pm

                    I’m just trying to figure in what way the govt is illegitimate given the only reason forwarded so far is “because ratfuckers”

                    (apologies if this is a duplicate post – something weird happened during the submit process)

                    • Rich …
                      9 September 2014 at 9:37 pm

                      I agree with One Anon. I also agree with you quite a lot but on this one I’m with one anon. He or she is saying what we all think.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      10 September 2014 at 7:47 am

                      Thanks Rich.

                      Hager is hammering the message home in his speeches. The people who have the most information are feeling cowed and silenced, and it’s deliberate.

                      It’s a direct consequence of the SOE model, and the ratfuckers’ willingness to exploit commercial values to enforce compliance.

          • dave 1.1.1.1.2
            10 September 2014 at 3:34 am

            the incoming government needs to set up a royal commission into the John key government corruption i say use power nz policy to confiscate there profits then buy them back at half the value but i think with universal kiwi saver these assets should be vested in perpetuity in the Cullen fund and kiwi saver because there a target for thieving nacts and I worry about the Cullen fund these nacts will loot that to given a chance.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 1.1.1.1.2.1
              10 September 2014 at 7:28 am

              I don’t think subterfuge is a good plan at all: the Royal Commission must have an open brief and the power to compel witnesses. No doubt John Key is a flight risk.

              The Commission will hear evidence of illegal activity in government. If proven, I suggest judicial review is the appropriate avenue to revisit any Ministerial decisions tainted by the ratfuckers.

              Our international standing has been seriously damaged by Key et al, we have to follow an open legal process to address the issue or they win.

  2. Rodel 2
    9 September 2014 at 4:06 pm

    How does this get widely publicized? Not through our timid journalists I’ll bet.

  3. wyndham 3
    9 September 2014 at 4:18 pm

    On top of that little lot is the investment interest foregone on the NZ Superannuation fund brought about by Nats cutting the contributions.
    Don’t know the amount but it’s considerable. I seem to remember you Micky, running a post on it not too long ago.

  4. StarSpangledBallet 4
    9 September 2014 at 4:23 pm

    The New Zealand public received approximately $4.7B in cash from the partial sale, which included the present value of expected future cashflows to equity holders i.e. dividends. Ergo your contention that New Zealanders have forgone $360M is erroneous.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      9 September 2014 at 4:37 pm

      You seem financially literate. Tell me, whose long term financial interests was it in to gift our nation’s strategic assets with a massive 8.5% ROI, to the private sector?

      • Rich 4.1.1
        9 September 2014 at 10:50 pm

        The present value of that dividend stream with the asset worth 12.25b (a 5% year on year increase) at the end of a 20 year period is 6.98 billion dollars. (assuming a 7% annual return but with assets like this that’s probably quite high, in other words this is a conservative estimate).

        Effectively they have received at least a 52% discount on the value of the asset.

        • Rich 4.1.1.1
          9 September 2014 at 11:54 pm

          Or in other words they’re getting an 11% return on their investment in interest alone, one that as reliable as this should be only getting someone maybe 4.5%. Add in the probable capital appreciation and they’re looking at maybe a 14-15% return. Their alternative in this sort of market (i.e as safe as houses) would have been US bonds at 3.24% (current 30 year rate). Ripping off New Zealand is a good investment decision.

    • mickysavage 4.2
      9 September 2014 at 4:44 pm

      Dividend income is only one measurement of the worth of a company. It’s underlying value is also important and if this goes up and you have sold the shares then you miss out.

      I would also be interested in the net amount received for the sale which takes into account the cost of selling and bonus shares etc.

      The bottom line is that even on dividend flow it was a silly decision to make. An increase in share value only makes the decision worse.

      • mickysavage 4.2.1
        9 September 2014 at 4:52 pm

        In fact if you do another quick back of the envelope calculation on the change in value of the companies based on their share prices then the value of the shares sold based on today’s share price have changed as follows:

        Meridian – $251m increase
        MRP – $47m decrease
        Genesis – $157m increase
        Air NZ – $124m increase

        Collectively the shares that we sold are now worth $485 million more than what they were based on the price we sold them for. And we have lost out on the dividend income.

        • indiana 4.2.1.1
          9 September 2014 at 5:14 pm

          “back of the envelope calculation”

          That’s been the downfall of all Labour’s policies…you really shouldn’t entice people to cast a vote based on this method of analysis.

          • mickysavage 4.2.1.1.1
            9 September 2014 at 5:19 pm

            More of a spreadsheet calculation but feel free to state if my figures are not correct.

            • indiana 4.2.1.1.1.1
              9 September 2014 at 5:55 pm

              I’m not going to state that your figures are incorrect – but I will suggest that these figures have been massaged by you to try and get a message across that it was all a bad decision to sell. When you state that the shares sold are worth $485M and we have lost dividends you haven’t also stated under state ownership what the growth trend of that share were or the dividend paid out to make a fair comparison. I really do question that under state ownership the proportion of shares sold would have reached $485M.

              • mickysavage …
                9 September 2014 at 6:05 pm

                Not at all. The figures are the figures. If the assets had been retained in public ownership the dividends paid may have been smaller but the value of the companies would have gone up by a larger amount.

          • Tracey 4.2.1.1.2
            9 September 2014 at 5:45 pm

            Without a touch of irony… Nats clayton tax cuts anyone

  5. Colonial Viper 5
    9 September 2014 at 4:24 pm

    Well, technically that $360M hasn’t been “lost”, instead it’s gone to better, wealthier households.

  6. Ad 6
    9 September 2014 at 4:56 pm

    Mickey It’s too late for counterfactuals.

    Labour isn’t proposing getting them back. Or their dividends. They have no answer.

    Maybe in a post-victory policy cabinet they could amalgamate the governance of ACC, EQC and NZSuperfund and re-weight for local utilities…

    …in a post-victory world …

    • mickysavage 6.1
      9 September 2014 at 4:58 pm

      Yep “told you so” is one of the most unsatisfying phrases in the English Language.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1
        9 September 2014 at 5:11 pm

        Quite easy to get them back when the decision to sell them was a crime, perpetrated by criminals. Investigate the links between the National Party and the biggest beneficiaries of the sale, or accept that gang members like Ede and Key and Lusk are going to rule the country.

        Your call.

      • Ergo Robertina 6.1.2
        9 September 2014 at 9:26 pm

        “The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so.”
        – gore vidal.
        that National hasn’t been crucified for this mess is what’s ‘unsatisfying’.

  7. johnm 7
    9 September 2014 at 5:02 pm

    Smirking Chimp has done it. He loots NZ and now a tax bribe while debt soars and child poverty doesn’t exist, the triumph of filthy greed and NZers are culpable stooges. The man is sickening puppet of the U$ hollow nothing as well.

  8. blue leopard 8
    9 September 2014 at 5:21 pm

    Every child in poverty could have been given $1000 this year for that amount. The families in poverty probably would have been able to solve a lot of issues for that amount.
    Instead the money was given to people who already had plenty.

    Jolly good.

    Vote left.

  9. Weepus beard 9
    9 September 2014 at 5:21 pm

    At $360 million per annum we would have accounted for the $4.7 billion in 12-15 years.

    Hardly a lifetime away yet the selling of those shares was a once in a multiple generation event.

  10. Black Lemming 10
    9 September 2014 at 5:26 pm

    If smirky chimp was growing up in a state house in Aranui now he would never go on to be a flash banker or the PM of NZ .

    Why ?

    Because , he would become the victim of his own child poverty .There would be no food in the fridge , he’d be too weak to concentrate in class and would end up as a dopesmoking temp worker on a council rubbish truck.

    • Murray Olsen 10.1
      10 September 2014 at 1:52 am

      Then he’d get drug tested and lose his job, plus any prospects of further employment. Then, as he tries to get help from WINZ, the fun really starts.

  11. Jepenseque 11
    9 September 2014 at 5:33 pm

    Going by the arguments here the govt should own all assets that return above its cost of borrowing. That would be almost everything..

    • Zorr 11.1
      9 September 2014 at 6:20 pm

      Why, yes Jepenseque.

      Don’t know about you, but if I was wanting to make an ongoing profit, that is *exactly* what I would be doing.

      EDIT: Ah, see what you were driving at there now thanks to “reason” below. The NZ government should not be selling our assets full stop. They rule this country for the people, not for *some* people.

  12. JanMeyer 12
    9 September 2014 at 5:52 pm

    Just imagine … if ants were called elephants and elephants ants, I’d be able to squash an elephant!

  13. reason 13
    9 September 2014 at 6:02 pm

    No jepenseque………. just holding onto the ones built and paid for by past generations of taxpayers and already owned by all New Zealanders is what we had wanted.

    The old ‘electricity department ‘ had a brief to provide reliable power at the cheapest possible price for the benefit of our country.

    Private companies have the motivation to make the most profit for themselves ……… spot the difference which is as small as enron

    • tc 13.1
      9 September 2014 at 7:40 pm

      Would the old NZED have taken over 15years to resolve diversity of supply to akl CBD only recently resolved by transpower and vector after the 90’s blackout.

      Our power system is top heavy with self and shareholder interests now and nowhere near as efficient at as it was under the NZED and a classic example of why essential infrastructure needs to stay in public hands.

    • distubed 13.2
      9 September 2014 at 10:38 pm

      100% I worked for two power schemes Manpouri and Turangi.

      They in 1966 said we would have cheap always available power.

      I’m afraid those days are gone my friend.
      Hollow men hollowing out our country to the rich foreigners.

  14. BM 14
    9 September 2014 at 6:04 pm

    I don’t see the issue

    If there’s a problem, just tax the sheeple some other way. eg: up the ACC levy, no one ever looks that one on the pay slip.

    • Lanthanide 14.1
      10 September 2014 at 9:12 am

      “If there’s a problem, just tax the sheeple some other way. eg: up the ACC levy, no one ever looks that one on the pay slip.”

      That explains why National put it up to 2.04% under their watch, from the 1.3% it was under Labour. Thanks!

      Also explains why it’s now 1.45% coming up to the election, and Key has made some ephemeral statements that it’ll be reduced in the years ahead.

  15. reason 15
    9 September 2014 at 6:05 pm

    btw …. By old I’m referring back to ministry of work and MED days .

  16. tc 16
    9 September 2014 at 6:24 pm

    What about the loss on sale as I thought even the 49% flogged was for billions less then the ‘valuation’.

    Not that any valuation would be able to capture the amount having cheap reliable power for business and residential consumers is objectively.

    It’s not only a necessity of life but a fundamental economic driver that is now majority not in the public hands as contact went last innings from the Nats.

    Also didn’t Blinglish slip a one off divvy out the back door of meridian after herr brownless shonkey power station swap loaded genesis with more debt in order to cough up to meridian.

    • Puddleglum 16.1
      9 September 2014 at 9:38 pm

      National/Treasury were hoping for between 5 and 7 billion for the sold assets. They received below that ($4.7bn).

      At the time many business and economics commentators were pointing out that the sales seemed to be ideologically/politically driven rather than commercially driven as it was not a good time to sell.

  17. SPC 17
    9 September 2014 at 6:30 pm

    Borrow a few billion and buy the shares back at the price that the shareholder paid for them.

    At 5% public debt (it’s lower at the moment), the cost is c $230M pa – $130Mpa less than the dividend return.

    Why did Labour not run on this policy?

    PS – the market impact of offering to buy back shares at the price people paid for them – is those sitting on unrealised gains trying to take them and driving down the price on the market back to issue levels.

    As Winnie might be well aware.

  18. philj 18
    9 September 2014 at 8:26 pm

    ‘NZ Inc.’ is a term coined? by neo lib radicals to frame our society using corporate terminology. I don’t think this terminology is approximate in
    a left leading blog post. Otherwise, great work MS.

    • the pigman 18.1
      9 September 2014 at 10:04 pm

      I think MS might be doing so facetiously, you know um, colonise and appropriate the language of the Right to turn it back on them in a rueful/sarcastic manner?

      The Right are masters of this (cf. “Taxpayers Union”, the chameleon name for a bunch of arch-righties who want nothing more but to smash unions).

      It will be crappy if the Left lose this election, but just think of all the fun we’ll have talking about “NZ being on the cusp of something magical” and the “brighter future” over the next 3 years.

  19. Nic the NZer 19
    9 September 2014 at 10:28 pm

    Mike this whole narrative is simply playing into the neoliberal narrative that the country can go broke (it can’t). The government has exactly the same spending capacity with or without these dividends or the sale value.

    The reason for the sale was just so National can engage in political point scoring by getting a small surplus (which is a meaningless achievement). And because they are ideologically attached to privatisation.

    The reason to keep control of these assets was so the government could influence the price of power to New Zealand. However since National have been in office they have been cranking every cent of profit possible out of their SOEs (also meaningless for a government to ‘profit’).

    Dont give the Meanies any excuse for insufficient social spending, including we are broke (we are not).

  20. infused 20
    9 September 2014 at 10:35 pm

    So fuck all then?

  21. distubed 21
    9 September 2014 at 10:40 pm

    Nationalise with printed money? everyone else does even China?

  22. paul scott 22
    10 September 2014 at 4:18 am

    NZ Nat Govt, 45%, backed up by NZF 8% and UF and ACT.
    Try to get real

  23. Gosman 23
    10 September 2014 at 6:43 am

    This is entirely consistent with what you would expect with private shareholdings as the companies in question have more pressure to keep profitability high and return funds to shareholders.

    • Lanthanide 23.1
      10 September 2014 at 9:16 am

      Because Bill English and Tony Ryall weren’t actually doing their job? So somehow the answer is to sell the assets to someone who can do the job properly, not change ministers?

      Also, the government were so desperate for money from these SOEs that they forced Meridian to sell two of their dams to Genesis so they could suck the money out as a special dividend, so quite clearly the government was capable of some forms of pressure… just not the ones to keep profitability high? They claimed that this sale would (somehow) make the electricity generation system more efficient, despite all electricity market commentators and the companies themselves disagreeing.

      Ironically the part that actually proves your assertion, while also damning the government, is that now that Genesis and Meridian have both been partially privatised, the new owners are looking to reverse the government’s bone-head decision because it’s far more efficient for Meridian to own all of the dams on the river, rather than having it split between them and Genesis.

      So, we’ve proven that National ministers are incompetent and money-grubbing. Those a synonyms for “ideologically driven”, btw.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
    The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
    The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti Expressway
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announced
    Two New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Attendance action plan to lift student attendance rates
    The Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.   New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – Peters
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.    “Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s military actions,” Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th session
    Mr President,   The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe.   New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately.   At the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government woolshed roadshow kicks off
    Today the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. “South East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister launches Government Targets
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. “Our Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders – to rebuild the economy, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglement
    Natural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government responds to unsustainable net migration
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand on stage at global Space Symposium
    Space Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealand’s rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. “As one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-16T08:38:38+00:00