In praise of Michael Hudson

Written By: - Date published: 3:32 pm, November 3rd, 2022 - 39 comments
Categories: capitalism, China, debt / deficit, Diplomacy, Economy, Environment, Europe, Financial markets, Globalisation, history, jobs, monetary policy, Russia, socialism, Ukraine, us politics, war, welfare - Tags:

82-year old polymath Michael Hudson is my favourite economist. He currently lectures in China to million-strong audiences. His latest book is The Destiny of Civilisation: Finance Capitalism, Industrial Capitalism or Socialism. His latest article is well worth a read.

Titled Germany’s Position in America’s New World Order, it was originally published on the German e-site bravenewworld.com, and republished on the blogs Naked Capitalism and The Vineyard of the Saker. He previously identified the US objectives of the Ukraine war being to split Germany and the rest of Europe from the rising east. He outlines the stakes:

Germany has become an economic satellite of America’s New Cold War with Russia, China and the rest of Eurasia. Germany and other NATO countries have been told to impose trade and investment sanctions upon themselves that will outlast today’s proxy war in Ukraine. U.S. President Biden and his State Department spokesmen have explained that Ukraine is just the opening arena in a much broader dynamic that is splitting the world into two opposing sets of economic alliances. This global fracture promises to be a ten- or twenty-year struggle to determine whether the world economy will be a unipolar U.S.-centered dollarized economy, or a multipolar, multi-currency world centered on the Eurasian heartland with mixed public/private economies.

The whole article is well worth spending the time on. As stated, Hudson is a polymath: financial analyst, historian, political activist, economist. He explains the current geopolitical dynamic by reference to the medieval battles between the popes and the holy roman Empire for supremacy and tribute. He understands the destructive power of debt, and played akey role in the Jubilee 2000 campaign which resulted in massive debt relief for third-world countries.

A favourite book of mine is his …and forgive them their debts, where he traces the history of debt forgiveness jubilees in Mesopotamia. Its not an easy read, but his opinion that Jesus was delivered up for execution by the Scribes and Pharisees because of his preaching against the rabbi Hillel’s workaround against the prohibition of usury resonates with me. It certainly explains the relevance of the cleansing of the Temple account in the synoptic gospels.

A nice touch occurred in the comments on Naked Capitalism cited above when he was asked by a commenter using the pseudonym Gramsci to clarify a somewhat obscure sentence in the item. I was grateful to the questioner as I couldn’t parse it either. No trouble, Hudson is humble, and back came a better explanation:

In practice, U.S. rhetoric accuses China of being autocratic in regulating its economy to promote its own economic growth and living standards, above all by keeping finance and banking as public utilities to promote the tangible production-and-consumption economy.

We are currently debating the relationship between finance capital and living standards in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In terms of the split between economic alliances, whether we like it or not we are being drawn/pushed/forced into the unipolar U.S.-centered dollarized economy.

Hudson outlines what is at stake:

What basically is at issue is whether economies will be planned by banking centers to create financial wealth – by privatizing basic infrastructure, public utilities and social services such as health care into monopolies – or by raising living standards and prosperity by keeping banking and money creation, public health, education, transportation and communications in public hands.

Michael Hudson and I will quite likely not be here in ten years’ time. I think the future of our families in Aotearoa/New Zealand and the world will be much better if all are playing a full part in a multi-polar, multi-currency world, following the second option.

 

39 comments on “In praise of Michael Hudson ”

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  1. Woolly Mammoth 1
    3 November 2022 at 4:18 pm

    Well done, Mike Smith.

    Hudson is a brilliant analyst. Many a commenter here would do well to read his 'Saker' and 'Naked Capitalism' columns and then see if they still support the official western narratives around China and Russia.

    Would recommend 'J is for Junk Economics', an evisceration of neoliberalism as Orwellian doublethink.

  2. Ad 2
    3 November 2022 at 4:42 pm

    I would in turn recommend you read "Debt: The First 5000 Years" by David Graeber.

    This is the free PDF:

    graeber-debt_the_first_5000_years.pdf (warwick.ac.uk)

    Bit of a grind and nearly 400 pages but enlightening.

    New Zealand and Australia have done exceedingly well over three decades to balance and pivot between their interests in both China and the United States. Maybe Mr Hudson could pop down here to see how it's done.

    • satty 2.1
      3 November 2022 at 5:34 pm

      Agreed. Other David Graeber (R.I.P.) books worth reading:

      • Bullshit Jobs
      • The Utopia of Rules (On technology, stupidity and the secret joys of bureaucracy)
  3. Jenny are we there yet 3
    4 November 2022 at 9:59 am

    Where Michael Hudson goes off the rails, is when he refers to, "today’s proxy war in Ukraine".

    Proxy means acting for someone else.

    https://thewordcounter.com/meaning-of-proxy/

    The fact is Russia is the aggressor and invader, in a war of choice.

    Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression.

    It's hard to be a proxy for someone else, when you are defending yourself.

    • mikesh 3.1
      4 November 2022 at 10:39 am

      Correction: It's hard to think of yourself as a proxy if you are defending yourself. Nevertheless America seems to have its grubby paws in a lot of pies around the world, including the Ukranian one. Could this war have continued without the continued supply of American military hardware. But as long as the Ukrainian "heroes" are fighting Russia, America will "nobly" back them all the way.

      I feel sorry for the Ukrainian people, who have been sucked into this horrible predicament through international political manipulations, and by the grandiose ambitions of their nationalist army.

      • Jenny are we there yet 3.1.1
        4 November 2022 at 11:53 am

        Jenny are we there yet

        …..It's hard to be a proxy for someone else, when you are defending yourself.

        Reply

        • mikesh

          Correction: It's hard to think of yourself as a proxy if you are defending yourself…..

        Good to see that you accept that Ukraine are defending themselves,, mikesh. There is hope for you yet.

        The point being mikesh, if someone attacks you, you have no choice but to defend yourself either that or submit and risk being beaten to a pulp, (or worse). And if your attacker is bigger and stronger than you, you also have no choice but to ask others for help.

        • mikesh 3.1.1.1
          4 November 2022 at 10:32 pm

          Good to see that you accept that Ukraine are defending themselves,, mikesh. There is hope for you yet.

          I never doubted it. But they are merely pawns in the USA vs Russia chess game. One might defend a pawn in a chess game, but it is only a small part of the game. In this case it is the proxy battle that really matters.

          It’s good that they are defending themselves but their country is being destroyed in the process. they would be better off seeking peace.

          • Scud 3.1.1.1.1
            5 November 2022 at 9:24 pm

            The Ukrainians would rather die fighting against Tsar Poot's Russia than seek Peace.

            The Ukrainian's remember Holodomor after it's 1st independence, also post WW2 under Stalin & even more recently Chernobyl.

            In there 2nd independence from Russia they voluntary gave up its Strategic Wpns under the Lisbon Protocol & Budapest Memorandum in return for Russian guarantees to respect Ukraine's Sovereignty and it's rights to make its own decisions IRT it's security & economic well-being. Which Tsar Poot's rip up when he sent his little green when his lackey got the boot.

            There is no way in hell & even if hell freezes over would Ukraine negotiate with Russia would be no!

            Because Ukraine has been burnt twice by Russia & this time they would go down fighting bastards than surrender nor negotiate with bastards!!

            All the expat Ukrainian's that I've met since this stupid war started by Tsar Poot's. Both young & old, have all said Ukrainian's would rather eat grass, starve & live in burnt out buildings than surrender or negotiate with those bastards from Russia.

            • mikesh 3.1.1.1.1.1
              6 November 2022 at 12:12 am

              Because Ukraine has been burnt twice by Russia & this time they would go down fighting bastards than surrender nor negotiate with bastards!!

              Which of course is music to Uncle Sam's ears!

              • Scud …
                6 November 2022 at 1:50 pm

                Because Russian guarantees are like Herr Hitler's guarantees not worth the paper they are written on.

                Which has left Ukraine, with no option but to go down swinging. Because they don't want to live under Russia Yoke/Rule again or are you in denial of Russian/ USSR treatment of Ukraine & it's people over the centuries?

                Yes the West isn't actually saints either, but Imperial Russia & later USSR Russia went to a whole different level.

                • mikesh …
                  7 November 2022 at 8:54 am

                  You are saying, in other words, that the Ukranians are Xenophobic. Holding grudges over centuries is stupid. I doubt there would even be many in Ukraine with direct experience of Holodomir. And in any case the Russians are not the only nation to have ruled Ukraine. At different times they have been ruled by Poles, Lithuanians and, I think, Hungarians.

                  • Scud …
                    7 November 2022 at 5:12 pm

                    Do you actually read & or understand Eastern European History outside of your Anti Western/ US bubble?

                    Holodomor happened between the 20's & until the start of WW2. So most Ukrainian's these days would either a direct or indirect link to Stalin's famine.

                    Which Stalin's USSR made dammed sure to destroyed Ukrainian's written & oral History during Holodomor.

                    The most successful peace the UkR has ever had was during the Polish Lithuania Ukranian Commonwealth before Imperial Russia dismembered the Polish Lithuania Ukranian Commonwealth.

                    Eastern Europe is always going to be an enigma for people like you & yes their oral History is always going to be strong. Because when you have countries like Russia, who want to wipe any traces of written, Cultural & physical History so they won't/ can't ever rise up again to threaten Russia.

                    It's a shame you are not here in Adelaide atm? As I would take U to both the Ukrainian Catholic Church & the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for an Education in Ukrainian History!

                    If you think Ukraine bad for holding a grudge against Russia? Wait until the Poles, Baltic States & Finland rise up against Russia!

                    Especially the Poles & the Baltic States as they don't trust Russia's guarantees! Thence they asked to join NATO & the EU when they got the opportunity to do so.

                    • mikesh …
                      8 November 2022 at 9:45 am

                      Stalin died 70 years go, and his successor, Nikita Kruschev, was in fact Ukrainian. I still think it stupid to hold a grudge because of what Stalin did. You can present me with as much history as you like, but I will still think them stupid to hold a grudge because of someone who died 70 years ago.

                    • Scud []
                      8 November 2022 at 1:11 pm

                      Well you are going to have a hard time convincing them that they are stupid for holding a grudge against Russia. Oh btw do you do the same for Maori with ToW?

                      Eastern Europe (I'll throw the Greeks & Turks in as will because they like a fight as well) is always going to be a riddle/ enigma for people like you? Unless you are not prepared to understand it's History & it's culture.

                      Just like the arrogant Yanks in the Sandpit & that Muppet Blair who destroyed/ disbanded FCO Arabian Dept as well. Who failed to understand the History & Cultural/ Religious History of the Sandpit

                      Even most countries with Asia Pacific Region are wary of China's true intentions for the Region given centuries conflict by China & they are just as wary as the Japanese & US the intentions as well. But They also know that the US & Japan are Democracies & are less likely to rage war than authoritarian regimes like China, Russia & Nth Korea as these countries hold a grudge against the West & there fellow Asiatic Nations. Just like the Eastern European Countries have against Russia, as authoritarian are more likely to go to war than a democratic country expect for the Stupid Yanks.

                      There well be no peace in Eastern Europe until Tsar Poot's is removed from office, because he is a arrogant Slavic Male that thinks the world owns him a place in the world. Until then every Eastern European Countries would be looking East, because Russia is still the same Authoritarian Imperialist backwards looking country that has a bigger grudge than everyone else.

                      Which Russia will always be a that Eastern Europe riddle & enigma in Europe or words to that effect IRT one of Churchill quotes.

                    • mikesh …
                      10 November 2022 at 8:50 am

                      I may well have difficulty persuading the Ukrainians of their foolishness. So what.

                    • Scud []
                      10 November 2022 at 4:32 pm

                      Because you are a arrogant twat, who's thinks only that stupid Yanks & the Western imperialists goes round Invading other countries or understand what the late USSR & its Lackeys did in Eastern post WW2 until the end of the CW.

                      Well hello Russia & China are just as bad as the West. When they are given the opportunity too do the same a well.

          • Stuart Munro 3.1.1.1.2
            6 November 2022 at 5:08 am

            They are seeking peace – there is no security to be had from agreements with Russia however, so they are obliged to win it the hard way.

            It is Russia that needs to seek peace – while they still have a younger generation.

  4. Jenny are we there yet 4
    4 November 2022 at 10:03 am

    As a theorist and economist, Michael Hudson is absolutely right, debt is a tool of neo-imperialist subjugation and oppression of smaller nations by bigger ones. (Russia and China are as guilty of this practice as much as any Western neo-imperialist powers)

    But as a commentator on current events, Michael Hudson gets it wrong, when he refers to, "today’s proxy war in Ukraine".

    Proxy means acting for someone else.

    https://thewordcounter.com/meaning-of-proxy/

    The fact is Russia is the aggressor and invader, in a war of choice.

    Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression.

    It's hard to be a proxy for someone else, when you are defending yourself.

    • Tricledrown 4.1
      4 November 2022 at 10:24 am

      Hudson wouldn't be able to lecture in China if he had told the truth about China and Russia imperial ambitions

    • mikesh 4.2
      4 November 2022 at 11:07 am

      “(Russia and China are as guilty of this practice as much as any Western neo-imperialist powers)”

      What Hudson is talking about is the use of finance and debt as economic weapons. I don't think the Russians are guilty of this, preferring instead to employ good, honest warfare to achieve their ends – just like that "evil" chap, Abraham Lincoln, did in 1860. China, on the other hand, is more subtle, preferring to employ diplomacy.

      America's aims seem to be based on a theory advanced by one, Halford McKinder, who believed that whichever country controls the "heartland" would control the world. The heartland seems to be the area around the Black Sea.

      • Jenny are we there yet 4.2.1
        4 November 2022 at 2:14 pm

        All imperial powers use 'Soft Power. But violence and war are always their fallback position. When Soft Power is not enough to get the sort of submission the imperial power practicing it wants from the subject nation, then the use of Hard Power, is the next logical step for a bigger country to impose their will on a smaller one.
        Often Soft Power and Hard Power are wielded together.

        China uses Soft Power to gain access to resources and port facilities in Pacific Island countries and then shores this up with warship visits as a warning to rival powers like the US not to intervene.
        This is how Soft Power Rivalry can turn into Hard Power clashes.

        So far the US and Australia have responded to Chinese expansion in the South Pacific, with diplomatic pressure and greater investment to counter Chinese Soft Power.

        A global recession, will heighten the tension and raise the stakes. China will not want to relinquish their gains. The US and Australia will not want to them keep them.

        War between them is inevitable.

        • mikesh 4.2.1.1
          4 November 2022 at 10:45 pm

          War between them is inevitable.

          Just so. The Ukrainian war is just a preliminary skirmish.

          • Scud 4.2.1.1.1
            5 November 2022 at 9:40 pm

            The Ukrainian War is only the beginning of the end or the opening prelude to Wagner's ring cycle & we all know how that ends?

          • Jenny are we there yet 4.2.1.1.2
            6 November 2022 at 8:35 am

            A skirmish can be prevented from turning into a full scale war, if it can be thoroughly repulsed.

            Slava Ukraine

        • Scud 4.2.1.2
          5 November 2022 at 9:34 pm

          Nicely put Jerry, as I've said countless times here we are slowly sleep walking towards war weather we want it or not & eventually NZ would have to pick a side as Neutrality is not an option given the rundown state of the NZDF since the 90's.

          As I don't think the average punter in NZ, would to see a massive increase in funding & rebuilding lost NZDF Capabilities of last 3-4 decades without more funding in Health, Education, social security & Rail etc etc.

  5. Jenny are we there yet 5
    4 November 2022 at 10:33 am

    Classic imperialism.

    Calling himself a 'Marxist' Michael Hudson is right in identifying the mechanisms of modern imperialism., I think where he falls down is in ascribing these practices to the big Western capitalist powers of Europe the US Britain etc. and ignores the reality that every country with a capitalist economy predicated on endless growth, either need to expand their influence and control or suffer contraction and recession. Big countries will prey on smaller countries. Smaller countries will resist.

    Neo-imperialism

    …..Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Tsinghua University law professor, Xu Zhangrun, asked some pertinent questions:

    “Why is China, a country with over 100 million people who are still living below the poverty line, playing at being the flashy big-spender? How can such wanton generosity be allowed?”

    ….according to economic analysts, China’s neverending loans could lead Africa down a slippery slope of unpayable debt. In the last 18 years, China has pumped more than $124 billion into Africa, while the International Monetary Fund has warned of increasing debt distress in 15 African countries.

    China’s new ‘Silk Road’ has run into problems surrounding mounting debt and cries of neo-colonialism.

    ……In August of this year, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, abruptly cancelled China-funded projects, stating:

    “We do not want a situation where there is a new version of colonialism happening because poor countries are unable to compete with rich countries.”

    Unfortunately, poorer countries are often too eager to get their hands on the money. Take Sri Lanka for example; the nation snapped up a Chinese loan which has now resulted in debt exceeding $13 billion.

    Unable to settle its ever-growing debt, thanks to burgeoning inflation rates, the small island nation was, in effect, forced to sell Hambantota port to the Chinese.

    The port, which was constructed by the Chinese, with the use of Chinese funds and labour, is now a Chinese-controlled naval base on foreign soil…..

    https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/debt-colonialism-china-africa-resources/

  6. mikesh 6
    4 November 2022 at 10:23 pm

    As you say, the Sri Lankan port was built with Chinese labour and money, so I doubt whether exploitation was actually the original objective. China seems to be endeavoring to to match the US's array of bases around the world.

  7. roblogic 7
    5 November 2022 at 6:04 am

    I wish the churches would highlight the economic part of Jesus' message a lot more. This is intriguing:

    Jesus was delivered up for execution by the Scribes and Pharisees because of his preaching against the rabbi Hillel’s workaround against the prohibition of usury

    but it lines up with JC's other teachings about Money (aka Mammon). He talked about the love of money quite a lot, as we mortals are inordinately fond of the stuff.

    But as Chris Hedges has pointed out in the past, the American churches have led the way in excising the idea of economic justice from the Gospel, instead establishing a disgusting money grubbing cult that is totally in thrall to corporate America

    • Jenny are we there yet 7.1
      5 November 2022 at 10:21 am

      Chris Hedges is a worthy commentator. Like Abby Martin, Chris Hedges is one of those principled RT hosts who broke with the Russian Government news channel over the Russian Federation invasion and war against Ukraine.

  8. aj 8
    5 November 2022 at 10:29 am

    I don't think he 'broke', that's an unusual term to use when his show was a victim of censorship.

    YouTube has deleted the entire archive of “On Contact,” an Emmy-nominated television show by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges which was hosted on the Russian government-funded news channel RT America. We speak with Hedges, who connects the YouTube censorship of his show to a growing crackdown on dissenting voices in American media. “There’s less and less space for those who are willing to seriously challenge and question entrenched power,” says Hedges, who says “opaque entities” like YouTube shouldn’t have the power to take down outlets like RT America, despite the channel’s source of funding. “Are we better off not hearing what Russia has to say?” asks Hedges.

    https://www.democracynow.org/2022/4/1/on_contact_chris_hedges_youtube_russia

    • Jenny are we there yet 8.1
      5 November 2022 at 1:06 pm

      Hedges said he "might have paid with" his job for making negative comments about the war in Ukraine, "but at least for those six days", after the invasion, he remained in post.[63]….

      In a March 2022 piece for the Salon website, Hedges wrote that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was "a criminal war of aggression",….

      ….Hedges called for an immediate ceasefire and "a moratorium on arms shipments to Ukraine and the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country."[88] …

      In his 2022 book The Greatest Evil is War, Hedges writes:

      Preemptive war, whether in Iraq or Ukraine, is a war crime.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hedges

      Preemptive war, is a war crime. Chapter VII Article 39 of the UN charter.

      Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression

      Article 39

      The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression and shall make recommendations, or decide what measures shall be taken in accordance with Articles 41 and 42, to maintain or restore international peace and security.

      • mikesh 8.1.1
        5 November 2022 at 6:48 pm

        Preemptive war, whether in Iraq or Ukraine, is a war crime.

        He's wrong of course. He cannot generalise like that. There would surely have to be exceptions. He is trying to prove Russia is committing a war crime using faulty logic i.e.:

        All preemptive attacks are war crimes. Russia has launched a preemptive attack. Therefor Russia is a war criminal.

        It doesn't work because the first premise is invalid.

  10. aj 10
    5 November 2022 at 11:57 am

    Incognito: yes, taken aboard, sorry.

    Chris Hedges is a worthy commentator.

    Who articulates his views very well, and a person whose views on both sides of the current conflict are shared, I think, with a number of commentators here that you spar with. I certainly agree with his take.

    He also believes it is a proxy war:

    I have covered enough wars to know that once you open that Pandora’s box, the many evils that pour out are beyond anyone’s control. War accelerates the whirlwind of industrial killing. The longer any war continues, the closer and closer each side comes to self-annihilation. Unless it is stopped, the proxy war between Russia and the U.S. in Ukraine all but guarantees direct confrontation with Russia and, with it, the very real possibility of nuclear war.

    https://consortiumnews.com/2022/10/25/chris-hedges-stop-worrying-love-the-bomb/

  11. roblogic 11
    5 November 2022 at 12:33 pm

    The comments under this post exemplify the problem faced by Michael Hudson & fellow critics of the Capitalist Death Cult.

    Kleptocratic governments (East and West) commonly use great power geopolitics, crisis narratives, and disinfo tactics to keep the masses confused and distracted.

    Any time that class consciousness begins to break out, witness the character assassinations (Assange, Corbyn) or actual assassinations of inconvenient witnesses (Epstein). War (or warlike rhetoric) is a reliable way to keep the workers compliant and scared. Hence we have the red herrings in this comment section.

    I suspect that Elon Musk (a great pal of Peter Thiel) has parachuted in to Twitter to stop real democracy or class solidarity from taking place in America.

    Power to the people.

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  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    6 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    6 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    7 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

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

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

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

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
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