Is This The New State We Want?

Written By: - Date published: 12:02 pm, November 19th, 2021 - 24 comments
Categories: Economy, kiwisaver, Privatisation, social democracy, Social issues, superannuation, uncategorized - Tags:

The New Zealand state is gaining power again, but is it what we want?

Some, just a few, may still remember a grey old time when central government was simple and huge. It provided you with electricity and gas, insurance, postal and banking services, local-focused tourist hotels and holidays, all the television and almost all the radio, highly subsidised if simple housing, a solid but uninspiring job, in a great singular circular economy of high taxes and a rosy optimism. It did everything but brush your teeth for you.

A few more will recall most of that being corporatized and sold off by Labour and National in the 1980s and 1990s, into a narrow, poorer, and bitter little country.

Then deeper still in the late 1990s, government forced the corporatisation and sale of local bus fleets, regionally-owned banks, and much more besides. New Zealand went from being a high-tax, high public ownership, low-inequality country to one where the entire public sector owned very little. What it retained in the public register was controlled by corporate boards. Easton and Jesson wrote on this extensively.

This is the kind of state most New Zealanders 50 years and younger will understand now, insofar as they register the state as a thing.

But growing and accelerating in the new millennium, the state generated new public entities to do specific things.

There was Kiwibank, an outgrowth of NZPost.

There was Crown Fibre Holdings, which has now expanded into Crown Infrastructure Partners.

There was the NZSuperFund (and others), now a behemoth of public capital and helping other Crown entities build huge infrastructure, as well as keeping future oldies supplied with Chocolate Wheatens.

There were all the entities formed to rebuild Christchurch, guided by specific legislation that empowered them, and tightly coordinated by central government.

There were entities that evolved to generate innovative spinoff companies, like NZVIF and Callaghan Innovation.

There was Hobsonville Land Company, merged into HLC, then expanded inside Kainga Ora.

Then still more state entities in the form of alliances such as the Supporting Growth Alliance and City Rail Link.

That’s just a small sample of the unexpected expansion of state agencies and state power across our country since the early 2000s, many of them having a decade or two to evolve. Some like the irrigation one had a term or two then died. But they represent billions upon billions of dollars, many thousands of workers, and not a whole bunch of accountability.

Then we get to the 2017 Labour government, and the state really starts taking the steroids by the cupful.

They merge all of New Zealand’s polytechs into one, by legislation.

They are now well on the way to merging all the District Health Boards into one.

The Three Waters policy programme that had rumbled along under DIA for several terms is now preparing to strip management power of all water away from local government and put it in the hands of just a handful of new entities.

And now, under COVID, there’s a huge story to be told about the massive interventions into the economy that the government has made over the last 18 months. Particularly the integration of Health, Police, Customs, Immigration, NZDF, and Education into an integrated state command. There’s not often the call for lots of entities to ‘stand up’ together, outside of Commonwealth Games or Rugby World Cup event.

The formation of the new Crown entities over the last 20 years had no particularly strong common ideology to them: it was often just the state reacting to exigency, and at other times the state realising it didn’t have an existing agency with enough focus or expertise to roll out the policy it needed. You can guarantee serious agency redesign out of this latest crisis.

And no, there’s no secret intergenerational cabal of deep-state warriors who play poker and figure the perpetual expansion and redesign of state governance and instrumentality.

Oftentimes agency reintegration is, borne within crisis, pretty useful for a time. That’s where commercial alliances between corporates and state agencies help. Also, practically, small states dominated by no more than a dozen oligopolies can’t afford to annoy too many corporates at once. New Zealand’s government is still really a weak regulator and a small presence in our country, other than in extreme moments.

But there is a pattern to the recent centralised reaggregation of power all the same: locals lose out, customers lose out, human rights lose out, central government absorbs the remaining agency of local government instead of really hitting specific market dominators hard, and no timetable in which any of the powers that the citizen has lost will ever be given back. Also, no ideological shape to any of it to make any collective sense let alone collective benefit to them all.

Sure, the state is back and with scale and speed.

But is this what we want?

24 comments on “Is This The New State We Want? ”

  1. Better a Leviathan State serving the public good, than huge unaccountable corporations running rampant in the name of Capital.

    • Ad 1.1

      False binary.

      Ours is hardly a Leviathan State.

      Such state as we now have now primarily consists of (public) corporations and massive NGO contracts.

  2. Blazer 2

    When state assets are privatised for pennies on the dollar as occurred in the 80's-90's …locals and customers sure lost out.

    A large proportion of NZ's rich list reaped the benefits.

    There is no evidence to support the much vaunted efficiency of private business.

    The 'going rate for talent',is a load of b/s.

    All vital utilities should be run for the benefit of a country's citizens, not to enrich a few born to rule capitalists that get first use of credit creation.

    Politicians are virtually bought and paid for by corporate interests these days.

    I like Trotters recent article about the downfall of the Whitlam Govt when it threatened the status quo….that magic show ,the hamsters in the wheel are meant to…embrace.

    • millsy 2.1

      The biggest irony is that Whitlam's goverment was already starting to soften its stances prior to its overthrow. The radicals in his cabinet (ie Jim Cairns, etc) had been thrown out and replaced by more moderate figures and a more restrained budget had been drawn up.

  3. Visubversa 3

    I don't want the State favouring and promoting an ideology. We separated Church and State decades ago after centuries of abuse. However, we have increasingly seen this government being prepared to use the levers of the State to promote gender ideology.

  4. Tricledrown 4

    Being a western first World Democracy requires a protection racket of the Economic Elite global corporations.

    Our economy is just a drop in the bucket if we stray off the path of neoliberalist economics plus modern day calvinism, we will be treated like Allendes Chile.

    Throw the peasants a few crumbs off the table a bit of tinkering around the edges.is the best we can hope for.

  5. Tiger Mountain 5

    “We” want? what about we need. With 50% of the population owning just 2% of the wealth, and people locked into renting overpriced dumps for life, and living rough, the children of Roger’n’Ruth and their descendants certainly do need a stronger state. Just not a neo liberal corporatist one such as we have had for almost 40 years. With fifth columnist senior public service officials putting the spanner in and leaking.

    Asset sales of public infrastructure are gifts to the capitalist class–theft some would say. Electricity generation and supply is case number one for full public ownership to be restored and there are many others. Sadistic WINZ/MSD needs to be retired forthwith and a basic income instituted for all citizens paid via IRD.

    There are around a dozen devolved Govt. agencies with responsibility one way or another for food safety. Got a nasty touch of Campylobacter after that COVID level change dinner–who would you call? SirKey’s term saw increased powers granted to the State Security and surveillance agencies–warrantless activity, life time immunity for operatives, powers extended to Govt.Ministries and contracting out okayed. Be nice to have the Kiwitea St lot eat that.

    So yes Ad, there is ample room for increased state activity. But it will not happen in a class left way until there is community organisation and direct action demanding it. This is quite possible with new gen voters in the ascendency.

    • Kiwijoker 5.1

      Got it in spades TM!

    • Gezza 5.2

      “Sadistic WINZ/MSD needs to be retired forthwith”

      Yep, a monolithic organisation that behaves like an unfeeling behemoth that Sepulono seems almost captured by, tho.

      She was on tv 1 the other night on an item pointing out how MSD penalising those who don’t turn up for their scheduled Court appearances – by cutting their benefits – just inceases the already existing financial stress on them, their whanau & especially their tamariki.

      Sepuloni was basically pleading that work is already going on in MSD to do something about it, but it all unfortunately takes a lot of time to make any changes. Very vague.

      “and a basic income instituted for all citizens paid via IRD.”

      I’m not convinced / not sold on the UBI idea. I think too much risk of creating a large number of freeloaders other working taxpayers will come to strongly resent. A UBI will be a frequent target for Opposition parties & will likely be dumped if introduced by the next change of government.

      “So yes Ad, there is ample room for increased state activity. But it will not happen in a class left way until there is community organisation and direct action demanding it. This is quite possible with new gen voters in the ascendency.”

      Maybe. I was part of the hippy/Woodstock/stop the Vietnam War/No nukes generation that rejected many of the money-accumulating values of business & corporations & wasteful consumerism. We thought we were going to change the world. What we actually did was let neoliberalism in the door & it frackin took over Western Society completely.

      New gen voters are encouraged by a thousand social media means to be self-absorbed & selfish BUT to THINK they are acting in accordance with higher values than their parents or the generation born the decade before them. They might turn out to be as ineffective as my generation was at changing the world for the better. But I agree it’s the STRIVING for a better world that we cannot & should not do without.

      • Tiger Mountain 5.2.1

        My take is Carmel Sepuloni has been well captured by senior officials at MSD.

        With precarious employment for so many, would other taxpayers really care given that Basic Income recipients would also be able to work and pay tax?

        The new voters may vote in patterns similar to other generations is the standard right wing response. I am not so sure given the numbers paying off thumping great student loans and extortionate rents for dumps.

  6. McFlock 6

    I'm ok with it.

    Conflation of covid responses with things like kiwibank and Callaghan Innovation is a bit misleading, imo.

    Infection control measures always need to be somewhat draconian, because some people have a tendency to be morons. This doesn't go back to youtube, or even the 1918 pandemic, but even to the black death. For every village of Eyam, where everyone took conscious steps to avoid spreading the literal plague, there are thousands of refugees or quarantine-relaxers for the sake of commerce (today known as "plan B" aficionados).

    But these measures tend to pass as the emergency passes. Sometimes too quickly, as in the current unpleasantness.

  7. Patricia Bremner 7

    I am happy Education is not a commodity being sold to overseas students ahead of our own. My relatives in Australia also say their children have attained courses usually crowded with overseas paying students.

    The State may be " a drop in the ocean" but if it is working for our wellbeing, good.

    Ok, last time the State let Corporates run things after the Christchurch Earthquakes, we had shoddy builders doing repairs willy nilly. The take up of water rights given to huge factory type dairy farms for irrigation has been a huge mistake. That was done to generate wealth, and people who wanted wellbeing were gradually shut down. MBIE grew out of that. Four Ministries amalgamated. That did not improve housing, innovation or employment, but did benefit business.

    No ideological shape? I disagree.

    We have the perception of Safety and Wellbeing as drivers. A Collective goal of covid conduct and vaccinations to regain as many of the old freedoms as is possible in a Pandemic.

    Climate change may also impinge on freedoms to a greater or lesser degree in the near future. So yes I am happy for the State to have a larger role in the Governance of the three waters, as Councils have largely failed to provide for the necessary Capital Expenditure, have few ways to raise it so have been ignoring the many signals of failure, broken pipes sewerage in rivers and on beaches.

    A coordinated approach to Health has exposed a few cranks in its midst who were counterproductive. Those not practicing from a sound basis are not what is needed.

    There are fundamentals in Health and Education that begin with equity for our Treaty Partner. This is so accepted now, no one is querying the extra funding needed to achieve this. We are growing up.

    A State that is effective working beside business to achieve better lives for all. If that means better oversite of rules regulations and taxes, yes. We all have a stake in this.

  8. DS 8

    Sure, the state is back and with scale and speed.

    But is this what we want?

    Yes?

  9. Stuart Munro 9

    It's a pertinent question, and I think that the left inevitably desires a little more state than the right might prefer. That would be because only a state is equipped to deter or pursue plutocratic excesses like slave ship operators or wage thieves, or dairy intensification taken to poisonous extremes.

    Laissez faire being one of the descriptors of letting business do whatsoever it choses, the existence of at least equally powerful regulatory forces is a public interest necessity. Unhappily it is far from clear that any increases in state power under neoliberalism have been directed towards that end. Too often they provide cosy sinecures, dubious bonuses, or unprofessional excesses like the helicopter time bill NZMA ran up over the wreck of the Rena, or the obstructiveness of Callahan Innovation that drives folk unfortunate enough to have to deal with them to ranting.

    It is in the nature of the human species that we do not stand still. We evolve or decline – there is no point of inflection. Human societies must aspire and strive if they are to prosper, and the increasingly unequal rewards of work as people are casualised and rack-rented do not cultivate a culture that rewards productivity, only a cynical group that exploit vulnerable labour.

    There is great scope then for an enlightened and diligent civil service – but little or no sign of such values in contemporary practice.

  10. James 2 10

    Holy smoke. Something I might agree with.

    Because surely, the state never did wrong in the name of good? No state in the 20th century did horrendous things under good intentions.

    Locking up Muslims because they just could be terrorists is of course completely different to wanting to lock up and exclude anyone anti-vaccine or even against vaccine mandates and passports. Public Health as a concept has of course never been abused by 'experts', such as supporting compulsory sterilisation.

    Oh…wait…

    The state is power, often monopolistic power. It can and does do good, but often very bad.

    What we have now is ideological hegemony combined with massive expanded state power. That is bad, and especially for democracy in a heavily unitary and centralised system.

    Add on the fact our cultural and government institutions speak from a massively homogeneous view on social matters and the media has a mass injection of Government funding and unprecedented advertising dollars.

    And then Covid hit. Human Rights are now selfish. Government controlling everywhere I go, and what I can do, is just normal. If I speak against it, I'm just a raving selfish neo-liberal because health. Nuance is lost.

    These days it is a hell of a lot easier to just shut up and smile.

    • peter sim 10.1

      Diddumssmiley

    • DS 10.2

      Nature abhors a vacuum, mate. Without a strong state… you get the space filled by other entities. Corporations, and so forth.

      The Neoliberal Right have spent half a century (and billions of dollars) trying to spread the notion that the State is counterproductive at best, and a villain at worst. No need to do their work for them.

    • McFlock 10.3

      The state should have a monopoly of some types of power.

      Proactive use of force to gain compliance, for example. The ability to levy taxes and fines without consent. The ability to restrict freedoms where the expression of those freedoms would clash with the public good. The determination of property rights.

      I sure wouldn't want my employer or supermarket to be able to exercise those powers, even if sometimes they might be necessary for the protection and orderly operation of society.

    • KJT 10.4

      The "anti state power advocates" are the first to call the police when "their property rights" are threatened.

      They sat silently while State overreach such as National's Search and survaillance bill was enacted.

      At present also loudly calling for more state money.

      It is not State control they are against. Masseys Cassocks assaulting workers was fine. It is Democratic control that is good for ordinary people, not the Oligarchy.

      The State, in a Democracy, is us!

      The solution to State overreach, is more citizen control. Democracy.

      • Hunter Thompson II 10.4.1

        Your first comment is bang on. A good definition of a liberal is a conservative who has just been arrested.

        Same applies to tax dodgers – once they are injured in a car crash, they expect instant (and free) treatment in a public hospital.

  11. Castro 11

    Your use of the word citizen underscores the damage done to No Zealand under neo-liberalism, and highlights the damaging, and ultimately failed-state-inducing aspects that you neglect to mention. Foreign residents have both voting and property rights in No Zealand. Oh, they're 'citizens' too? Madness. No Zealand is a (not so) slow motion runaway train of a failed state waiting to happen.

  12. pat 12

    The sad reality is neither the private sector (in NZ) nor the state having the required capability or capacity for that required….nor do we have the time to redevelop it.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Equal gender representation on public sector boards for third year in a row
    Representation for women on public sector boards and committees is the highest it’s ever been with wāhine now making up 53.1 percent of public board and committee members,” Minister for Women Jan Tinetti said. Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women’s 2022 stocktake of public sector boards and committees shows for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 mins ago
  • New law passes on child support to sole parents
    A new law enabling sole parents on a benefit to receive child support payments for their tamariki was passed in Parliament today. “This change is estimated to lift as many as 14,000 children out of poverty and give families a median of $20 extra a week,” said Social Development and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • New moves to curb youth vaping
    Crack down on disposable vapes   No new vape shops near schools or marae Restricted descriptions for product flavours The Government is taking action to reduce the number of young people taking up vaping, Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has announced. “Too many young people are vaping, which is why we’re ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago
  • Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka to visit New Zealand
    Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will visit New Zealand this week, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. “Prime Minister Rabuka officially visited New Zealand in 1998, over 25 years ago, and we look forward to welcoming him here once again,” Chris Hipkins said.  “New Zealand and Fiji have a long ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Sports stars and administrators honoured
    The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023 includes sporting stars and administrators who reflect the best of New Zealand’s sporting community. Sir Wayne Smith has been knighted for services to rugby. Sir Wayne was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kapa Haka rangatira amongst those honoured on King’s Birthday
    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa taki tini ‘My success is not mine alone, but that of the people” The King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list 2023 celebrates Māori from all walks of life, reflecting the achievements of those who have made a significant contribution to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • King’s Birthday Honours recognise strength of service to NZ
    The strength and diversity of service in New Zealand is a standout feature of today’s King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours list, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. “Each of today’s 182 recipients has contributed individually to our country. Viewed collectively, their efforts reflect an overwhelming commitment to service.” Chris Hipkins said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Closer defence cooperation between New Zealand and Japan
    The Defence Ministers of New Zealand and Japan have signed a statement of intent for closer defence cooperation between the two Pacific regional partners. Andrew Little and H. E. Yasukazu Hamada met to sign the ‘Statement of Intent on Defence Cooperation in Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • SPEECH: To the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue 2023 by the Honourable Andrew Little MP, New Zealand Ministe...
    New Zealand’s most recent defence assessment identified climate change and geostrategic competition as the two greatest security challenges to our place in the South Pacific. To the first issue, partners engaging and re-engaging with Pacific Island Countries are finding that climate change is a security and existential threat in our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Govt supporting more rangatahi into training and employment opportunities
    The government is continuing to support rangatahi in providing more funding into Maori Trades training and new He Poutama Rangatahi programmes across Aotearoa. “We’re backing 30 new by Māori for Māori Kaupapa employment and training programmes, which will help iwi into sustainable employment or progress within their chosen careers” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Energy self-sufficient marae reopens with support of Government investment
    Murihiku Marae was officially reopened today, setting a gold standard in sustainable building practices as well as social outcomes for the people of Waihōpai Invercargill, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says. “The marae has been a central hub for this community since the 1980’s. With the support of $9.65 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • First major Whangārei public housing project in a generation complete
    The first major public housing development in Whangārei for decades has reached completion, with 37 new homes opened in the suburb of Maunu today. The project on Tapatahi Crescent and Puriri Park Road, consists of 15 one-bedroom, 4 two-bedroom, 7 three-bedroom, 8 four-bedroom and 3 five-bedroom homes, as well as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Trade Minister to represent New Zealand trade interests abroad
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damen O’Connor will depart tomorrow for London to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and then to Paris to vice-chair the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. “My travel to the United Kingdom is well-timed, with the United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (UK FTA) ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Bill to boost national fuel resiliency introduced
    The Fuel Industry (Improving Fuel Resilience) Amendment Bill would: boost New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience and economic security enable the minimum stockholding obligation regulations to be adapted as the energy and transport environment evolves. “Last November, I announced a six-point plan to improve the resiliency of our fuel supply from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Faster ACC payment top-ups and fairer system
    The Government is making sure those on low incomes will no longer have to wait five weeks to get the minimum weekly rate of ACC, and improving the data collected to make the system fairer, Minister for ACC Peeni Henare said today.  The Accident Compensation (Access Reporting and Other Matters) ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Compulsory code of conduct for school boards introduced
    A compulsory code of conduct will ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour, Minister of Education Jan Tinetti said. It’s the first time a compulsory code of conduct has been published for state and state-integrated school boards and comes into effect on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen annual conference.
    Tena koutou katoa and thank you, Mayor Nadine Taylor, for your welcome to Marlborough. Thanks also Doug Saunders-Loder and all of you for inviting me to your annual conference. As you might know, I’m quite new to this job – and I’m particularly pleased that the first organisation I’m giving a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Govt to support councils with buyout and better protection of cyclone and flood affected properties
    The Government will enter into a funding arrangement with councils in cyclone and flood affected regions to support them to offer a voluntary buyout for owners of Category 3 designated residential properties. It will also co-fund work needed to protect Category 2 designated properties. “From the beginning of this process ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivers changes to reduce pokies harm
    The Government has announced changes to strengthen requirements in venues with pokie (gambling) machines will come into effect from 15 June. “Pokies are one of the most harmful forms of gambling. They can have a detrimental impact on individuals, their friends, whānau and communities,” Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivers 1800 additional frontline Police
    The total Police workforce is now the largest it has ever been. Police constabulary stands at 10,700 officers – an increase of 21% since 2017 Māori officers have increased 40%, Pasifika 83%, Asian 157%, Women 61% Every district has got more Police under this Government The Government has delivered on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister Mahuta talks Pacific ambitions at the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ summit
    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon Nanaia Mahuta met with Korea President Yoon, as well as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna, during her recent visit to Korea.  “It was an honour to represent Aotearoa New Zealand at the first Korea – Pacific Leaders’ Summit. We discussed Pacific ambitions under the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government drives $2 billion of business research and development
    The Government’s Research and Development Tax Incentive has supported more than $2 billion of New Zealand business innovation – an increase of around $1 billion in less than nine months. "Research and innovation are essential in helping us meet the biggest challenges and seize opportunities facing New Zealand. It’s fantastic ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Achieving lift off: National Space Policy launched
    The next ‘giant leap’ in New Zealand’s space journey has been taken today with the launch of the National Space Policy, Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds announced. “Our space sector is growing rapidly. Each year New Zealand is becoming a more and more attractive place for launches, manufacturing space-related technology ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • New science and creative technologies wharekura announced
    A new Year 7-13 designated character wharekura will be built in Pāpāmoa, Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis has announced. The wharekura will focus on science, mathematics and creative technologies while connecting ākonga to the whakapapa of the area. The decision follows an application by the Ngā Pōtiki ā Tamapahore ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Freedom Camping changes a win for the environment
    Protecting the environment by establishing a stronger, more consistent system for freedom camping Supporting councils to better manage freedom camping in their region and reduce the financial and social impacts on communities Ensuring that self-contained vehicle owners have time to prepare for the new system   The Self-Contained Motor Vehicle ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speeding up the family court, reducing stress on families
    A new law passed last night could see up to 25 percent of Family Court judges’ workload freed up in order to reduce delays, Minister of Justice Kiri Allan said. The Family Court (Family Court Associates) Legislation Bill will establish a new role known as the Family Court Associate. The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • UK FTA delivers benefits from today
    New Zealand businesses will begin reaping the rewards of our gold-standard free trade agreement with the United Kingdom (UK FTA) from today.  “The New Zealand UK FTA enters into force from today, and is one of the seven new or upgraded Free Trade Agreements negotiated by Labour to date,” Prime ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Next steps to reform outdated surrogacy law
    The Government will reform outdated surrogacy laws to improve the experiences of children, surrogates, and the growing number of families formed through surrogacy, by adopting Labour MP Tāmati Coffey’s Member’s Bill as a Government Bill, Minister Kiri Allan has announced. “Surrogacy has become an established method of forming a family ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Defence Minister to attend Shangri-La Dialogue
    Defence Minister Andrew Little departs for Singapore tomorrow to attend the 20th annual Shangri-La Dialogue for Defence Ministers from the Indo-Pacific region. “Shangri-La brings together many countries to speak frankly and express views about defence issues that could affect us all,” Andrew Little said. “New Zealand is a long-standing participant ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand–China science relationship affirmed
    Research, Science and Innovation Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall and the Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wang Zhigang met in Wellington today and affirmed the two countries’ long-standing science relationship. Minister Wang was in New Zealand for the 6th New Zealand-China Joint Commission Meeting on Science and Technology Cooperation. Following ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Supporting a strong future for screen sector
    5 percent uplift clearer and simpler to navigate  Domestic productions can access more funding sources 20 percent rebate confirmed for post-production, digital and visual effects Qualifying expenditure for post-production, digital and visual effects rebate dropped to $250,000 to encourage more smaller productions The Government is making it easier for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister Sepuloni to attend 61st Anniversary of Samoa’s Independence
    Deputy Prime Minister and Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region) Carmel Sepuloni will represent New Zealand at Samoa’s 61st Anniversary of Independence commemorations in Apia. “Aotearoa New Zealand is pleased to share in this significant occasion, alongside other invited Pacific leaders, and congratulates Samoa on the milestone of 61 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt backs retailers with expansion of fog cannon programme
    The Government is continuing to support retailers with additional funding for the highly popular Fog Cannon Subsidy Scheme, Police and Small Business Minister Ginny Andersen announced today.  “The Government is committed to improving retailers’ safety,” Ginny Andersen said.  “I’ve seen first-hand the difference fog cannons are making. Not only do ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government will consider recommendations of Intelligence and Security Act review
    The Government has received the first independent review of the Intelligence and Security Act 2017, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says. The review, considered by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee, was presented to the House of Representatives today.  “Ensuring the safety and security of New Zealanders is of the utmost ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Sui’ilikutapu
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt expresses condolences on the passing of HRH Princess Siu’ilikutapu
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has expressed condolences on behalf of New Zealand to the Kingdom of Tonga following the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili. “New Zealand sends it’s heartfelt condolences to the people of Tonga, and to His Majesty King Tupou VI at this time ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Security support to Solomon Islands extended
    Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have today announced the extension of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) deployment to Solomon Islands, as part of the regionally-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). “Aotearoa New Zealand has a long history of working alongside the Royal Solomon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister Mahuta to attend the first Korea-Pacific Leaders’ Summit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will travel to the Republic of Korea today to attend the Korea–Pacific Leaders’ Summit in Seoul and Busan. “Korea is an important partner for Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific region. I am eager for the opportunity to meet and discuss issues that matter to our ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Agreement between Indo-Pacific partners for supply chain resilience
    Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor joined ministerial representatives at a meeting in Detroit, USA today to announce substantial conclusion of negotiations of a new regional supply chains agreement among 14 Indo-Pacific countries. The Supply Chains agreement is one of four pillars being negotiated within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating Samoa Language Week 2023
    Our most spoken Pacific language is taking centre stage this week with Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa – Samoa Language Week kicking off around the country. “Understanding and using the Samoan language across our nation is vital to its survival,” Barbara Edmonds said. “The Samoan population in New Zealand are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-06-06T05:23:49+00:00