It’s about principle

Written By: - Date published: 9:09 am, August 8th, 2008 - 54 comments
Categories: national - Tags:

The clamour for ‘policy’ from National is actually a slight misnomer. What Kiwis want to know is the principles that National stands for as much as specific policies.

We know what the Greens stand for, we know what the Maori Party stands for, we know what Labour, NZF, UnitedFuture, and ACT stand for. But we haven’t known what principles National stands for.

And that’s because National keeps on changing what it tells us it stands for – from the extremism of the 1990s to Bill English’s supposed moderate stance (actually he campaigned on reversing all Labour’s first-term achievements), to Brash’s money first/people second agenda, and now what Key tells us is an ‘ambitious’ agenda (ambitious for what we don’t know). Kiwis have naturally suspected that National’s ‘trust me, I’m harmless’ face has been a marketing ploy (indeed, English himself has called Key a great marketer and Key calls his years in a state house a ‘great marketing tool’).

Now, we have the proof. Now, we know that National’s principles are what they always were and that they are prepared to deceive the public to get into power so they can put that secret agenda into place. That’s the real significance of the recordings – they show, incontrovertibly, that senior Nats are consciously hiding their true agenda, their unpopular, anti-social spending, pro-privatisation agenda, behind Key’s smile.

54 comments on “It’s about principle ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Bill 1
    8 August 2008 at 9:22 am

    And we know what Nat do not want discussed according to Lockwood Smith. So those things should be getting hammered and brought into the public discussion arena.

    I have no interest in who taped Nat. That has been nothing but a diversion and I hope I’ve heard the last of it.

    I do hope though, that there are indeed more revelations to come as intimated by TV3 (best TV this year!:0)…hopefully after the Olympics are done and people’s focus has returned.

  2. Lew 2
    8 August 2008 at 9:25 am

    Steve, do you mean `clamour’?

    L

  3. higherstandard 3
    8 August 2008 at 9:26 am

    Actually I don’t think people do know what the parties stand for they probably have some vague notion but that’s about it.

  5. the sprout 5
    8 August 2008 at 9:30 am

    as Dad once said, it’s all about paua.

  6. sdm 6
    8 August 2008 at 9:35 am

    Should Labour have told us that they intended to Abolish the privy council (or sort a mandate to do it)?

  7. Scribe 7
    8 August 2008 at 9:40 am

    hs,

    Actually I don’t think people do know what the parties stand for they probably have some vague notion but that’s about it.

    I agree. Take UnitedFuture, for example. It has changed markedly since the 2002 election, but most people probably wouldn’t know that.

  8. Lew 8
    8 August 2008 at 9:45 am

    Pshaw, everyone know UF believes in blending half the kittens!

    http://www.idrewthis.org/d/20070815.html

    (Yes, I’m aware I’ve done this one before 🙂 )

    L

  9. the sprout 9
    8 August 2008 at 9:51 am

    ps. can we get that footage of Goff in the House yesterday with the pictures of the suspects in the Key electorate office rubbish raid? that was priceless.

  10. Daveski 10
    8 August 2008 at 9:55 am

    A new tactic from the left.

    First demand policies. Complain when there aren’t policies.

    When policies are announced, move on to “principles”- we all know that only the left have these 😉

    We know what Labour wants in the same general brush we now what National wants. In no way has Labour spelt out all its policies prior to elections nor has it kept to all its principles all the time.

    And as plenty of people have pointed out, all Labour’s principles hasn’t meant it has reversed the decisions you blame on the right.

    Captcha – land insane … The Standard??

  11. bill brown 11
    8 August 2008 at 10:04 am

    I agree Daveski, we are obviously setting the bar too high. I mean policies and principles?

    What ever will we want next?

    Perhaps we should base or decisions on who has the nicest smile?

  12. Steve Pierson 12
    8 August 2008 at 10:06 am

    sdm. pretty sure it was the manifesto

  13. Steve Pierson 13
    8 August 2008 at 10:08 am

    Daveski. they haven’t announced policies… they’ve given uncosted bullet points..

  14. sdm 14
    8 August 2008 at 10:17 am

    Are you sure Steve?

  15. Draco TB 15
    8 August 2008 at 10:19 am

    When policies are announced, move on to “principles’

    National haven’t released any policies – they’ve released bullet points but they have, inadvertently, shown their their complete lack of principles.

  16. coge 16
    8 August 2008 at 10:44 am

    Good morning Steve. Yes, principle must be practised in politics.
    It affords one to be seen to hold the moral high ground. It enables those that possess principle to answer questions honestly & provide frank admission, even if it may seem unpalatable.

    Your recent opinion pieces based of taped private conversations indicate to me your approval of such methods. This may indeed conform to your principles, & I don’t have any problem with that. But can you please answer these two questions. Remember if it falls within your principles, you will have my respect for giving me frank & tuthful answers.

    Do you know the person that did the taping?

    Did you have prior knowledge of it?

    Thanks, Dave

  17. coge 17
    8 August 2008 at 10:47 am

    I meant “truthful answers” dammit!

  18. Chuck 18
    8 August 2008 at 10:54 am

    What are Labour’s policies?

    I’m interested, because so far, they appear only to have released a partial education policy:

    http://www.labour.org.nz/policy.html

    captcha: gayly per-national

  19. Quoth the Raven 19
    8 August 2008 at 12:55 pm

    What is this stuff about methods coge? I don’t get it. This wasn’t some covert operation it was a taping of a converstaion with a member who holds public office in a very public setting a cocktail party. He wasn’t bugged. We’re not talking James Bond, cold war spy stuff. So what if the questions were leading, don’t journalists ask leading questions? I just can’t get my head around these complaints about the method. If National wasn’t attempting to deceive the public there would be no problem anyway.

  20. the sprout 20
    8 August 2008 at 1:05 pm

    yeah pretty shonky method getting senior National politicians to speak frankly about what they actually think AND record them in case they deny any subsequent quoting.

    the source should have trusted their honesty and openness, and relied on them to corroborate that that’s what they’d said.

    no hang on, isn’t this all about a lack of honesty about what’s being thought and said? silly me.

  21. coge 21
    8 August 2008 at 1:49 pm

    QTR, I can see where your coming from. What I’m looking for is consistancy from that position. If there is absolutely (in you view & that of others on this blog) nothing wrong with someone A/misrepresenting themselves to get into a party conference, B/ entering the venue with secreted recording equipmemny & C/ Recording MP’s frank & private discussions, without the MP’s consent or knowledge, D/ furnishing edited excerpts to TV3, well why is the identity of the person being protected? Was there prior outside knowledge that this was to occur at the conference? If there is nothing wrong with this activity, why all the secrecy?
    Why no admission, like “Hey I did it, I’m proud of my actions,
    I have nothing to hide?”

    Still waiting to here from Steve, (who I understand is a busy man)

  22. Scribe 22
    8 August 2008 at 2:14 pm

    Sprout (apparently the most loved man on The Standard),

    yeah pretty shonky method getting senior National politicians to speak frankly about what they actually think AND record them in case they deny any subsequent quoting.

    That would be one thing. These tapes were released before the contents of them were denied.

    BTW, did anyone else find it ironic that yesterday’s editorial in The New Zealand Herald gave two reasons to legitimately publish covertly recorded material, yet neither of those reasons was evident and they were still running the stories?

    Discreet recording is done but not commonly published by ethical news organisations for two reasons.

    First, it is not fair to release a reporter’s tape or transcript unless the subject denies something plainly said or the recording could serve a public interest somewhat more compelling than partisan politics. Second, the publication would damage the gathering of further information. Once bitten, a public figure is twice shy.

  23. sdm 23
    8 August 2008 at 2:25 pm

    Question:

    If it emerged that the Ninth floor was behind the secret recordings, with reference to your call for ‘principles’ would you at the standard then demand the immediate resignation of Helen Clark.

    Yes or No.

  24. r0b 24
    8 August 2008 at 2:31 pm

    sdm, you first:

    If it emerged that the National Party was behind the secret recordings of Mike Williams, with reference to Bill English’s call for ‘principles’ would you sdm then demand the immediate resignation of John Key?

    Yes or No.

  25. forgetaboutthelastone 25
    8 August 2008 at 2:35 pm

    JK said on Monday that the Bill English recording was a “fair cop”. What do you think changed his mind?

  26. Quoth the Raven 26
    8 August 2008 at 2:35 pm

    The only part that is slightly and I mean slightly dodgy is misrepresenting himself. The frankness of the converstaion doesn’t matter. As I’ve stated above I don’t think it was all that private a discussion. I wouldn’t know who did the editing it might well have been TV3. The editing doesn’t matter what we’ve heard is damning, whatever else he was talking about might be interesting but what is it actually going to show us? Why is the identity of the person being protected? That’s TV3’s decision if the person wants to remain anonymous then TV3 has to abide by that. Who was deepthroat? It’s like saying that Watergate was wrong, which it was, but that Deepthroat keeping his anonymity for all that time was also wrong, which it wasn’t. Was there prior outside knowledge that this was to occur at the conference? I think your trying to say did Labour know this was going to happen? I don’t know, probably not. This guy has said he doesn’t belong to any politcal party. TV3, well Duncan Garner anyway know who this guy is and I’m sure there are plenty of others also. Why does he remain anonymous? Come on I’m sure you can answer that one yourself. One question to you are you not at all concerned about the content of these tapes? Like I’ve said before there would be nothing to talk about on these tapes if National had been open and honest with the public of New Zealand. It’s an issue because National has been caught out trying to deceive us. This questions about the method are only misdirection.

  27. the sprout 27
    8 August 2008 at 2:35 pm

    scribe – i am not a man, i am a legume with delusions of grandeur stemming from my rare vegability to type.

    “These tapes were released before the contents of them were denied”

    true. that was the one flaw in an otherwise very professionally executed piece of damage maximization.

    coge
    i’m not sure i can fully agree with the ethics of taping in such circumstances.
    but let’s face it – being precious about such practices, practices indulged by msm every day of the week, is not going to cut it in any attempt to draw heat away from the far greater ethical lapse of senior National party politicians being exposed as two-faced liars, now is it?
    the NZ public ain’t buying it and someone should tell National to put down the spade because in their attempts to bury it they’re only digging themselves in deeper.

  28. the sprout 28
    8 August 2008 at 2:44 pm

    “If it emerged that the National Party was behind the secret recordings of Mike Williams”

    i wouldn’t be entirely surprised if the National Party, or factions therein, were behind these recordings too. there are winners and losers from all this within National after all. and then of course there’s Winston’s remarkable prescience last week about how this week National would get what’s coming to them…

    “questions about the method are only misdirection”

    exactly. sadly for National that’s all they seem to have in their toolbox.

  29. Scribe 29
    8 August 2008 at 2:48 pm

    Not-so-random thought: I wonder what the thief might find on David Cunliffe’s hard drive/flash disk.

    The plot might thicken then…

  30. r0b 30
    8 August 2008 at 2:50 pm

    i wouldn’t be entirely surprised if the National Party, or factions therein, were behind these recordings too.

    That is still an outside shot of course. It is consistent with The Hollow Men leakers within National. After all, what else would there be for an honest Nat to do these days?

  31. Steve Pierson 31
    8 August 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Scribe. What do you think would be found?

    Do you think we might get Cunliffe promising to sell off Kiwibank ‘not yet, but eventually?’ or saying ‘you have to swallow some dead fish, gain the people’s confidence and then dothings you want to do once in power?’, or confirming they use Crosby/Textor?

  32. Phil 32
    8 August 2008 at 3:19 pm

    QTR,

    “This guy has said he doesn’t belong to any politcal party.”

    I simply don’t buy that as being even remotely plausible. The idea that some ‘concerned citizen’ would, entirely of their own accord, go to the conference and secretly record conversations with senior MP’s is too far fetched to be credible. If someone was genuinely that motivated, they must have close ties to a party. If not membership, then in some other capacity.

    Sprout,

    “i’m not sure i can fully agree with the ethics of taping in such circumstances. but let’s face it – being precious about such practices, practices indulged by msm every day of the week,”

    That’s rather disingenuous of you. There is a big difference between a dictation machine sitting on the table between you and the interviewee, and a dictation machine hidden away in your pocket with the interviewee unawares.

  33. Steve Pierson 33
    8 August 2008 at 3:22 pm

    Phil. would that difference be that when English knows he is being recorded he says he won’t privatise Kiwibank etc, and when he thinks nobody is listening but allies he reveals his secret agenda to sell off such assets?

    captcha: dis- ambitious = Key’s 10 point plan?

  34. coge 34
    8 August 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Steve. Back O/T. Principles. Please explain how somebody misrepresenting themselves to trespass a political conference is a principled act? Also, do you know the person in question?

  35. Pascal's bookie 35
    8 August 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Scribe, re the Herald quote:

    First, it is not fair to release a reporter’s tape or transcript unless the subject denies something plainly said or the recording could serve a public interest somewhat more compelling than partisan politics. Second, the publication would damage the gathering of further information. Once bitten, a public figure is twice shy.

    Firstly I’d say the fact that senior National Party front benchers were implying to their partisan followers that they had a secret agenda is in the public interest.

    Secondly it wasn’t strictly a journalist’s tape or transcript was it?

    And anyway, I don’t get that point. Is it somehow more ethical to pretend you don’t have it on tape, relay the conversation and only after a denial play the ‘hah gotcha’ card? Seems a bit silly to me, I say put all the evidence out there and let them respond.

    The herald’s second point isn’t an ethical one in my view. To me the ethics around this for the journo’s lie around the questions:

    Is there a public interest? Yes.
    Are the tapes accurate? Presumably.
    Do the subjects have any reason, beyond not being made to look foolish, to have the tapes kept secret? None that I can see.

    All this talk about ‘bugging’ ‘private’ conversations is nonsense. A party to the conversation is the leaker. It was his conversation as much as theirs.

  36. CMR 36
    8 August 2008 at 5:50 pm

    Principles? National? Yeah right!

    Principles? The Clark filth? Yeah right!

  37. dad4justice 37
    8 August 2008 at 6:08 pm

    There isn’t a principled politician inhabiting that seething cess pit of maggots they call the Beehive. All bullshit and jellybeans!!~!

    [Dad, I get numerous complaints about your comments every day, they’re never substantive and usually abusive. I’m starting to think things are better when you’re not around wrecking our threads. 2 months ago you wrote to us begging to be let back on, promising to not just be a pain in the arse. Last chance ever. SP]

  38. Draco TB 38
    8 August 2008 at 6:17 pm

    Please explain how somebody misrepresenting themselves to trespass a political conference is a principled act?

    Dunno why your still asking – it’s obvious that you’re not going to believe any of the rational explanations provided.

  39. coge 39
    8 August 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Lies, trespass & deception, these are not principles.

  40. RedLogix 40
    8 August 2008 at 7:10 pm

    Coge,

    Actually it’s not technically trespass until AFTER you are asked to leave the premises.

    Basic Trespass Info

  41. Anita 41
    8 August 2008 at 7:10 pm

    coge,

    You say “private conversations” again. What makes a conversation with a complete stranger in a crowded room where many strangers could overhear “private”?

  42. coge 42
    8 August 2008 at 7:38 pm

    Good link there Redlogix. But surely you are not comfortable
    with the methods used by this person? I notice you have been pretty quiet on this one.

  43. RedLogix 43
    8 August 2008 at 7:53 pm

    I notice you have been pretty quiet on this one.

    No just busy professionally. But most of what needs to be said has already been said.

    We can parse down the meanings and angles all we like, but the ghost of John Tamihere and Mike William’s little entanglements with tape recorders haunts this one; and any voter paying attention knows it.

  44. dad4justice 44
    8 August 2008 at 8:42 pm

    Clinton, please don’t twist the truth. I have never “begged” to anybody in my 48 year life span and I am NOT about too start.I have SOLID principles.
    Last chance mate, never let a chance go by, said the 10 foot Hells Angel.

  45. the sprout 45
    8 August 2008 at 8:43 pm

    the more they harp the more damage they do themselves.
    National seems to have a Marsala complex.

  46. dad4justice 46
    8 August 2008 at 8:46 pm

    But sprout the polls indicate the damage is in Nationals favour.

  47. the sprout 47
    8 August 2008 at 8:50 pm

    you’ve studied stats under Deborah Coddington haven’t you Dad.

  48. dad4justice 48
    8 August 2008 at 8:53 pm

    Yes I did sprout until I got lost in her legs. As a principled man I walked away.

  49. Steve Pierson 49
    8 August 2008 at 8:53 pm

    there haven’t been any polls since the tapes, dad.

  50. dad4justice 50
    8 August 2008 at 8:58 pm

    Yes SP, the tapeworm may turn a few stomachs but then again maybe not?

  51. illuminatedtiger 51
    8 August 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Dad4justice commenting on a post about principals? Has the world gone mad?

  52. dad4justice 52
    8 August 2008 at 9:12 pm

    Hi tiger tea,didn’t you know that a sound sense of judgment is just madness put to good use by the eccentric through blog opinion.
    My principal taught me that through use of the cane. Ouch.

    Edit – my Bat picture has gone? How sad.

  53. Lew 53
    8 August 2008 at 9:14 pm

    Totally performance art. Like, woah.

    L

  54. the sprout 54
    8 August 2008 at 10:17 pm

    shame he passes out so early really.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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

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

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T03:48:45+00:00