It’s Our Future: Complete U-Turn by Labour and NZ First on TPP

Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, February 21st, 2018 - 131 comments
Categories: capitalism, democracy under attack, Economy, labour, nz first - Tags: , , , ,

Press release via Scoop:

__________________________________________________________________

Monday, 19 February 2018, 9:50 am

The government are planning to sign the re-branded Trans Pacific Partnership in Chile on March 8th. Then they will begin the ratification process.

The TPP might have been re-branded as the CPTPP but it’s still the same bad deal says Professor Jane Kelsey, New Zealand’s expert on international economic regulation.

“Calling it “Comprehensive and Progressive” doesn’t make it any better.
It still contains the discredited ISDS provisions which allow foreign investors to challenge the laws and policies of a New Zealand government in off-shore investor-state dispute settlement tribunals,” she says.

It actually contains the entire old agreement, simply suspending a few
clauses pending the day when the US will want to re-join. Local activists remain firmly opposed to the CPTPP. Our Children’s Future Christchurch spokesperson gen de spa says that the concerns about Treaty rights, environmental protection and affordable healthcare remain urgent issues for all New Zealanders.

“CPTPP is an old-fashioned agreement that privileges multinational
corporations over small, local businesses in exactly the same way as the old TPP”, she says, “And it is no substitute for a sustainable agreement that focusses on the future.”

Professor Kelsey will speak on the current situation with the TPP in Christchurch at a public meeting on Wednesday 21st February at 7pm in the Knox Church corner Bealey Ave & Victoria St.

Gen says everyone is welcome to come and hear Professor Kelsey clarify this complex issue and there will be an opportunity for questions afterwards.

Labour/NZ 1st U-Turns:

Claim 1: Meaningful market access gains for exporters

Those market access gains were disappointing in the original deal, and don’t reflect the overall economic impact of the TPPA. MFAT predicted gains of 0.9% of GDP by 2030, less than exchange rate fluctuations, if you believed the modelling. Labour didn’t, saying it ‘is not sufficient for us to be confident benefits proposed in the National Interest Analysis will eventuate. … Questions about whether the deal might secure just an additional nine jobs for the industry went without compelling answer from Government officials. … Labour joins calls made by submitters calling for further modelling of the TPPA’s impacts on employment and wage distribution. We also join submitters calling for a related public health analysis of the TPPA impact.’ Since the US has exited the deal the market access gains are even less – tariff reductions in the supply chain of $222m per year by 2034, of which overseas processors, importers and retailers will grab a significant share. But the government has ignored its own and others’ calls for a robust economic assessment of the net impacts, including for employment and distribution, before any deal is signed.

Claim 2: Preserving the right to regulate

The whole purpose of these agreements is to restrict the right of sovereign governments to regulate in the national interest as they see fit, on matters as diverse as banking, foreign investment, government procurement and platform operators like Uber and Amazon. The government relies on a side letter with Australia that promises not to apply investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) between the two countries. But that was in the original TPPA, and in previous agreements. The Minister says some other countries will sign similar letters, but won’t say who or release them until the TPPA-11 is signed. Foreign investors from the remaining TPPA-11 countries can still claim their rights have been breached and bring an investment dispute if, for example, the NZ government revokes licenses to bottle free water for export or imposes user charges, tightens licensing conditions for ISPs, or significantly strengthens environmental regulation on mining. A TPPA-11 with ISDS makes the government’s commitment to reject it in all new trade deals futile.

Claim 3: Allow restrictions on foreign purchases of residential property

Nothing has changed in the agreement on that. So Labour is rushing through an Overseas Investment Act amendment to allow it to ban foreign purchases of residential property, before the TPPA comes into force. Another law will redefine cutting rights to forestry as ‘sensitive land’ before the deadline. Once in force, a NZ government won’t be able to tighten restrictions on foreign ownership of other resources, such as water rights, farms and rural land, fishing quotas or tradeable carbon credits.

Claim 4: Protecting the Treaty of Waitangi

The Waitangi Tribunal in the TPPA claim advised the Crown to consult the claimants and other Maori on a stronger protection. It hasn’t and claims the Treaty exception does the job. The rushed consultations with Maori to redefine forestry cutting rights in the Overseas Investment Act suggest otherwise. The TPPA-11 still requires NZ to adopt the UPOV 1991 convention on plant varieties, which Cabinet and the Wai-262 claim on indigenous knowledge previously saw as non-compliant with the Treaty. It must adopt UPOV91 or pass an equivalent domestic law that is consistent with the Treaty within 3 years of TPPA’s entry into force. But MBIE predicts the consultations on reviewing the Act will take 5 years!

Claim 5: Protecting the Pharmac model

It turns out this meant that Pharmac continues to operate. The weapons the TPPA gave to Big Pharma to interfere in its processes and to get stronger monopoly rights on expensive new medicines have been mostly been suspended, but not removed, and they are still vulnerable to ISDS. The US will insist on even stronger rights if it re-engages with the TPPA.

 

131 comments on “It’s Our Future: Complete U-Turn by Labour and NZ First on TPP ”

  1. AsleepWhileWalking 1

    Petition link – please sign!

    https://dontdoit.nz

  2. weka 2

    No change to Green position on TPP

    James Shaw MP on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 – 11:06

    The Green Party’s position on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is unchanged, Co-leader James Shaw said today.

    “We recognise Trade Minister David Parker has made significant progress on some controversial provisions in the TPP, including investor-state dispute settlement, and we support those changes. However, we still don’t believe there are sufficient safeguards for people and the environment that would enable us to support the deal,” Mr Shaw said

    “Our position on trade and the TPP in particular has been well canvassed with Labour and there are no surprises here.

    “It is a sign of the strength of our relationship with Labour that we can respectfully disagree on an issue like the TPPA and still be able to get on with the business of government together.

    “New Zealand and the world need to move away from old fashioned trade deals like the TPP and develop new types of agreements that better support global action on things like climate change and inequality.

    “The EU has scrapped its version of the TPP, the TTIP, and is modernising its approach to trade agreements. New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region should too.

    “Kiwi exporters will benefit more from the new government’s commitments to add value to our exports and strengthen our international clean, green brand, than they will from the TPP,” Mr Shaw said.

    https://www.greens.org.nz/news/press-release/no-change-green-position-tpp

  3. adam 3

    So do I get an apology from the commentators here who had a go at me for saying economically the labour party are not left? I’m guessing when the labour party sign this so called trade deal – my point is proven in full.

    Just jokes, I’m not expecting any apologies, I get that muddy liberals don’t understand economics, especially economics which will improve working people’s lives.

    • Puckish Rogue 3.1

      You sounded right on the money to me

    • weka 3.2

      I think you are wrong adam. It’s not that they don’t understand economics, I think the centre left people here are actually ok with what Labour are doing and are also ok with Labour’s economic policies.

      The ones that interest me are the people that are against the TPPA but voted for Labour. What I don’t understand is how they reconcile those two things. Maybe they don’t think the TPPA is that big a deal? Or maybe they thought Labour would get a better deal.

      • BM 3.2.1

        They voted Ardern, not Labour.

      • savenz 3.2.2

        No offence Weka, but it’s that sort of thinking that kept Labour out of office for 9 years and has the Greens on 5%.

        Non Natz parties seem to have ZERO idea of what their voters want and are ‘surprised’ when they don’t win every election and actually seem to be going down.

        Surely everyone wants a capital gains tax?
        Surely everyone wants TPPA?
        Surely everyone wants immigration?

        Funny enough when they tentatively spoke aloud against those policies they actually limped into parliament. Instead of capitalising on that, nope they go back on their word while pretending they are not!

        Who ever their ‘experts’ advising them, seem to be working more for the Natz than the left parties interests!

        I’m sure they will be getting a lot of smooth talking pep talks to continue with TPPA but it’s their party warrant they are signing.

        Jacinda will be recorded into history as being the PM who signed this agreement and like Tony Blair and his ideological push to the Iraq war it will not go well, long term.

        Labour are signing their long term death warrant by signing this agreement.

        • savenz 3.2.2.1

          It must be a massive group think out there is political land, if somehow Labour campaign on NOT signing TPPA, then somehow becomes centre voters with no evidence to back up the claims, are ok with them signing????

        • weka 3.2.2.2

          “No offence Weka, but it’s that sort of thinking that kept Labour out of office for 9 years and has the Greens on 5%.”

          What sort of thinking? That if we had more Green MPs in parliament, we might have had a chance at stopping the TPPA?

          • savenz 3.2.2.2.1

            The bit where you say, “I think the centre left people here are actually ok with what Labour are doing and are also ok with Labour’s economic policies.”

            Centre left people might be ok with what Labour campaigned on, but signing TPPA ain’t part of what they campaigned on .

        • Loop 3.2.2.3

          Agree savenz. I was under the impression labour was against the tppa. Sad.

          • weka 3.2.2.3.1

            I’m curious why you had that impression?

            • KJT 3.2.2.3.1.1

              Labour MP’s, in demonstrations against the TPPA, probably had a bit to do with it.

              Along with the contradictory public positioning from Labour.

              Of course if you never want to enact any laws favouring local communities against foreign corporatism, TPPA makes sense. With those who believe in “the market” and “minimal regulation” of profit making (The freedom to find ever more creative ways of ripping off their fellows). Obviously Parliamentary Labour is still among them.

        • KJT 3.2.2.4

          80% did support a capital gains tax. I suspect the 80% that are not making money on houses.

          80% did NOT support the TPPA. Because of our experiences with job loses and other effects of TPPA.

          I suspect more than 80% do not support immigration at the levels of 70k new immigrants and 150k new temporary visa’s a year.

          Time for Democracy. Swiss style binding referenda.

          Politicians have not Governed in the best interests of most New Zealanders for decades, now!

      • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.2.3

        “The ones that interest me are the people that are against the TPPA but voted for Labour. What I don’t understand is how they reconcile those two things.”

        It isn’t complicated – not everyone voted on a single issue. For example, I despise the TPPA and am distressed by Labour’s betrayal of NZ sovereignty in this regard, but still think things overall will be better under Labour than NAct. Labour remains wedded to the lie that “growing the economy” will solve poverty and raise living standards etc – when poverty has little to do with economic growth (which accrues mostly to the already wealthy), and everything to do with inequality.

        Labour’s economic policies are just more TINA neoliberalism. Hopefully they will learn.

        • savenz 3.2.3.1

          @UncookedSelachimorpha

          Signing TPPA ain’t part of what Labour campaigned on. Didn’t they describe it as a Dog???

        • weka 3.2.3.2

          I wasn’t suggesting a choice between Labour and National, but Labour and the Greens. It’s a given that we are better off with Labour than National.

          What I don’t understand, given how important the TPPA is, why someone who was against the TPPA would vote Labour instead of Green. So it’s not a single issue, it’s that the TPPA will undermine so much that the progressive left values, including the good things Labour want to do like fix the housing crisis.

          Likewise climate change, which I also consider not a single issue, but something that underpins everything else we want.

          I suppose one way to understand it is that some people don’t think the TPPA or CC are going to be that bad.

          • KJT 3.2.3.2.1

            The information available to the public, from the pro TPPA camp, has been deliberately vague and misleading.

            One of the supporters of this type of agreement has even said. “They have to be secret, or the public will never agree to them”.
            Similar to Douglas. Probably paraphrasing a bit. “Hit them with change quickly before they have time to react”.

            The contempt for the public, and Democracy, is obvious.

            • weka 3.2.3.2.1.1

              +1

              They know best.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.3.2.1.2

              One of the supporters of this type of agreement has even said. “They have to be secret, or the public will never agree to them”.

              Then they’re an idiot. The reason for secrecy is to prevent other countries knowing your bottom lines, in much the same way as you keep your cards hidden in poker.

              It’s a direct consequence of the negotiation model.

              • KJT

                Bollocks. The negotiation has finished.

                It is still secret.

                • red-blooded

                  Actually, the text has now been released. It had to be translated into other languages so that it could be released in all countries at the same time. Here it is:

                  https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/cptpp/

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Care to revise that opinion in light of R-B’s rebuttal?

                  • weka

                    I took “They have to be secret, or the public will never agree to them” to mean that if Labour had been more transparent, they probably would have lost some votes to the Greens. i.e. if people had (a) known what was in the agreement, and (b) Labour has been up front about it, then there would be even more opposition to what they are doing.

                    Which doesn’t mean that the negotiation process isn’t driving secrecy.

                  • KJT

                    Oh, cmon. Much of the negotiating documents are going to be embargoed for years.

                    And. Other Governments, such as Canada, gave the public much more information.

                    As usual, we learn about our own Governments actions from information released overseas, but not here.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      …the negotiating documents are going to be embargoed for years.

                      Which ones? I can see ample reason to keep NZ’s bottom lines under wraps well after the negotiations are concluded..

                      Don’t take this as support for the agreement, by the way. Nor is it support for the negotiating model.

              • That’s called policy laundering, and it’s not okay because it means that they can’t be held accountable for their parts of the deal. Whether it protects their trade interests in other deals is irrelevant: it is a corrupt practice.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  Policy laundering is a fine-sounding term. The negotiation model (based, as it is, on mistrust) still provides incentives for negotiating parties to keep their bottom lines to themselves.

                  • KJT

                    If it is beneficial to ALL countries, and their people, involved, why does it need to be kept secret?

                    Short answer, there will be winners and losers.

                    The winners will be multinationals playing one country off against another. The losers will be Democracy, and the livelihood of millions. As usual.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke

                      If it is beneficial to ALL countries

                      That isn’t the premise of the negotiating model.

                      From Wikipedia:

                      Distributive negotiation is also sometimes called positional or hard-bargaining negotiation and attempts to distribute a “fixed pie” of benefits. Distributive negotiation operates under zero-sum conditions and implies that any gain one party makes is at the expense of the other and vice versa.

                      Like I said, I’m not a fan of this negotiating model. I just understand how it ‘works’.

                    • KJT

                      It is, however, the claim of supporters of, “Free trade”!

                      They seem unable to see the logical contradictions.

            • Draco T Bastard 3.2.3.2.1.3

              One of the supporters of this type of agreement has even said. “They have to be secret, or the public will never agree to them”.

              That’s what John Banks said about his policies and getting elected and yet people still voted for him.

              Out right lies from politicians seems to work fine in NZ and yet people still think that our political system is not corrupt.

          • Pat 3.2.3.2.2

            “…including the good things Labour want to do like fix the housing crisis.”

            That may be a little hopeful. It is increasingly looking too difficult for the Minister.

            “Minister of Housing Phil Twyford says the event will be going ahead “within the next couple of months”, but details are limited at this stage.”

            https://www.interest.co.nz/property/92190/housing-minister-phil-twyford-says-hes-planning-workshopping-event-representatives

            Failure to make significant progress here will completely overshadow the TTP contortions…and likely cost them the next election.

            • weka 3.2.3.2.2.1

              Yep.

              And what happens when we need to control land prices and have rent caps?

              • Pat

                what does happen?

                • weka

                  I have no idea, but Labour have only (partially) protected their five things, so I think it’s reasonable to assume we’ve lost some sovereignty in other areas. The land one is very interesting, because what they said was house sales only. Their position on rural land and the TPPA is unclear to me.

                  • Pat

                    As I understand it the problems arise when offshore investors are treated differently from resident investors…no differentiation, no grounds for dispute.

                    As to controlling land prices, that problem already exists and Twyford has ruled out rent controls…. those two specific issues would be considerably lessened if the promised state and affordable housing programmes were successfully implemented….and that is looking more like an inverted duck everyday that passes.

                    • weka

                      “As I understand it the problems arise when offshore investors are treated differently from resident investors…no differentiation, no grounds for dispute.”

                      For instance if the NZ govt wanted to restrict land sales to NZ residents.

                    • KJT

                      Or. Government provision of State housing reduced the rent that a foreign company could get on their houses.

                      Or. A local council decides to use a local company, to keep the money in the community, instead of Armour-guard, for dog control and parking.

                      Or. A right to mine gold is removed because it is polluting the local water supply.

                      Or. A State bank undercuts foreign banks with Government subsidised loans.

                      Or. The minimum wage is raised. Cutting an offshore companies profits.

                      Or. We decided to re-nationalise private prison.

                      Or. We start a non-profit co-operative power company.

                      All of these are similar to ISDS cases already taken overseas.

                    • Pat

                      land sales are part of the legislation that is to be passed prior to ratifying TPP11 for that very reason…however im not attempting to defend the latest iteration of TPPA, there are many concerns with it, though less than the original ….the point being made was that a back down on solving the housing crisis will make the backdown over TPP pale into insignificance….Labour can survive its actions re TPP but I doubt it will survive not delivering on housing

                    • Pat

                      @ KJT
                      You are aware we already have ISDS clauses in existing trade agreements?…and we are yet to see what other side letters we have.

                    • KJT

                      Yes. I know.

                      Stupid idea in them also.

                      Only reason we havn’t had any cases, is that our government has done little to affect corporates taking money from the community.

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 3.2.3.2.3

            I agree – personally I can’t see why anyone would vote Labour instead of Green on almost every issue. I voted Green myself, while hoping for a Labour-Green government, because that was the best realistic outcome. In my ideal world it would be a Green government!!

      • Korero Pono 3.2.4

        “It’s not that they don’t understand economics, I think the centre left people here are actually ok with what Labour are doing and are also ok with Labour’s economic policies”

        I think it is an oxymoron that anyone on the left, whether that is centre left, left left or any kind of left thinking person would think they can call themselves left and still support any form of neoliberalism, it doesn’t make any sense.

    • KJT 3.3

      Some of us agreed with you.

      We were just hoping the pre election rhetoric meant something.

      The TPPA, now gives the neo -liberals in Labour an excuse for BAU.

      That PR is in support of the TPPA, shows it is still a crock of shit.

      • Puckish Rogue 3.3.1

        I have to admit that not even I thought Labour would pull something like this. I mean this is as big a FU to it’s supporters as I can remember, all the protests with labour MPs in attendance.

        • Colonial Viper 3.3.1.1

          David Cunliffe did a lot of work in that caucus to try and reconcile the pro and anti-TPP factions. The pro-MPs won, the anti-MPs lost, and Cunliffe got the shaft for his efforts.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.3.1.1.1

            I was at one of Little’s speaking events. There was a TPPA protest outside demanding that Labour themselves clear upon the TPPA. Cunliffe actually asked what about Labour’s position wasn’t clear.

            Well, now he knows – Labour weren’t clear about their total support for the TPPA.

        • KJT 3.3.1.2

          Why I voted for the Greens.

          Given up expecting much from Labour years ago.

          Mind you expect even less from the bunch of corporate stooges in National.

          Gentleman Jack will be turning in his grave, to see what they have stooped to.

        • adam 3.3.1.3

          I’m not a supporter of labour, and your line of argument stinks of ideological hogwash you usually spout.

        • red-blooded 3.3.1.4

          I’m a Labour supporter and don’t feel shafted. Labour were open about what they opposed in the TPPA – they identified 5 key issues and said they’d need to be able to change these before they could sign. They’ve managed to address these with a combination of some changes and some work-arounds like changes to the overseas investment rules.

          Anyone who’s saying Labour has somehow mislead them wasn’t paying attention to what was actually being said during and before the election campaign.

          • weka 3.3.1.4.1

            I disagree. The detail about those five issues was vague, and various activists and TPP experts are saying that despite what Labour are claiming, they haven’t renegotiated what they said they would. So either Labour are signing away a bunch of stuff they always intended to, or they haven’t done what they said they would. Either way, it’s a mess, and it’s a problem for NZ.

            One of the issues here is that Labour were unclear over quite a long period of time. Their early framing was very much “we won’t sign unless”, and then it changed to silence, and then once Ardern was on board it became “we’re confident we will be able to renegotiate”. That people are now confused about what Labour said makes sense to me having followed enough to have seen both the changes and the confusion. Most people don’t follow politics that closely.

          • Korero Pono 3.3.1.4.2

            “’m a Labour supporter and don’t feel shafted. Labour were open about what they opposed in the TPPA – they identified 5 key issues and said they’d need to be able to change these before they could sign. They’ve managed to address these with a combination of some changes and some work-arounds like changes to the overseas investment rules.

            Anyone who’s saying Labour has somehow mislead them wasn’t paying attention to what was actually being said during and before the election campaign”

            What utter rubbish Labour were duplicitous pre-election and now they’re running a spin campaign to sell their BS…much prefer the opinion of Prof. Jane Kelsey and it is clear that the so called bottom lines have not been met http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=107061, so stop propagating Labour’s lies!

        • Richard Christie 3.3.1.5

          I have to admit that not even I thought Labour would pull something like this.

          well, more the fool you (smile).

          It was f*ing obvious this was going to happen, all the clues were there pre-election, torrent of weasel words every time Labour addressed the issue.

          It’s not as if it wasn’t overtly predicted, pre election, by plenty of readers (icluding me) both here and on Bradbury’s site.

          Sadly, wishful thinking blinded those in the tribal left to labour’s intent.

    • Colonial Viper 3.4

      adam, you were spot on and did the right thing by speaking your mind. Once more, doing good is its own reward.

      (And many can see that NZ Labour will not rock the very same neoliberal boat that they first help cast off!)

    • Ed 3.5

      Like you I describe the Labour neoliberal.
      The traitors Douglas and Prebble came from its ranks. And

    • mikes 3.6

      Trade deals and free trade (so called) don’t belong to the right wing, they are part of the globalist agenda. This TPP deal is simply the first step towards a Trans Pacific Union, just as how the European Union started out in life. In the not too distant future it will ‘make sense’ for the TPP countries to have a single currency to make ‘trade easier’ and then will come laws which supersede sovereign countries laws and so on and so on…

      • Colonial Viper 3.6.1

        +1

        Globalists have decade long perspectives and they have been doing this for the last several decades.

      • Ed 3.6.2

        Completely agree.
        This is not left vs right.
        It’s transnational corporations vs states and their citizens.

        Brexit ( right wing ) was a rebellion against globalisation.

  4. Puckish Rogue 4

    I’m feeling a lot more confident about this government, nice to see they’re doing the right thing 🤣

  5. The Chairman 5

    The full text of the new-look TPP will be released today.

  6. Puckish Rogue 6

    TPP – Lets do this! Sorry I shouldn’t be so mean but you’ll have to admit it’s pretty funny, like considering all the protests and everything but I guess it’s ok because…babies!

  7. The Chairman 7

    CPTPP gains downgraded

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/101631527/cptpp-gains-downgraded-after-us-withdrawal

    David Parker made the point that New Zealand had estimated lower tariff gains before signing its Free Trade Agreement with China, which ended up producing much more economic uplift.

    Can we take Parker’s comment to mean Labour thinks it’s all good?

    • KJT 7.1

      Which China has also provided to the rest of the world. Including many countries they do not have “free trade” agreements with.

    • KJT 7.2

      It must stick in the craw of “capitalists” in the “free world” that the “Communists”, have saved them from their economic idiocy.

      A victory for “re-distributive policies”. Though killing all the rich was probably a bit drastic, it worked for China!

    • cleangreen 7.3

      Yes Chairman

      I heard this morning on RNZ that a trade negotiator said the deal will net very little if anything at all without USA. ‘Insignificant’ was how we explained the rewards for NZ. .

  8. Ad 8

    Sure, parrot Professor Kelsey as usual.

    Failing that, read the text yourself and make your own mind up:

    https://www.mfat.govt.nz/assets/CPTPP/Comprehensive-and-Progressive-Agreement-for-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-CPTPP-English.pdf

    ANd here’s the full National Interest Analysis for youall to read, rather that having verses pulled out by one activist:

    https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/cptpp/

    Here’s the NZHerald covering the release of the text itself:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11998946

    The deal itself won’t solve that much of real core benefit to New Zealand. It’s got some good stuff, as I’ve posted about before. But then, neither did signing up for the UN in 1945.

    We remain a small boat on a very big sea.
    We just got pulled onto a raft big enough to stabilise the sea somewhat.
    It’s not as good as a full and binding world trade regime.
    It’s far better than a string of bilateral deals in which we are perpetually the tiniest and weakest player, who gets played.
    It’s far, far better than being alone.

    I could easily see Australia “reframing” CER like Britain “reframed” our relationship in the 1960s; they could do a massive deal with China, or Indonesia, and actively sideline us.

    The people I would be kicking about the the lack of clear trade advantages is not this or the previous government, but Fonterra for failing to crack open either Canada or the US.

  9. Sanctuary 9

    There is an elite consensus on the CPTPP. Labour got enough concessions to draw the teeth of mainstream opposition. Since the establishment media is part of the elite consensus, the political cost to Labour will be zero. Remember, Labour has no electoral mandate to upset the elite consensus on anything, let alone such a cornerstone of establishment principle like the CPTPP. Time to pick another fight, I am afraid.

    • Tiger Mountain 9.1

      it was vital to find a circuit breaker that would retire National from govt., and the new govt.’s reforms in various areas will be justly welcomed, but, there has never been any illusions that Labour were into breaking the “neo liberal consensus” with National on the Reserve Bank Act, SOEs, free in and outflow of capital and other long standing structural elements of Rogernomics and Ruthanasia–let alone the TPP

      though ditching “Tomorrows Schools” could provide some opportunities, TS being originally intended to be implemented in a more ACT manner, kick it out indeed after 30 years that have produced a divided education landscape of haves and have not schools and kids

      to me the political priority of the next few years, is developing support for breaking that rotten consensus, so Labour can go to the public with a credible Corbyn type programme backed up with a populist left movement again–the renters, the precariat etc.

  10. Ken 11

    I’m no fan, but I wouldn’t call it a complete U-turn.
    Labour did initiate the TPPA after all.

    • weka 11.1

      True, but they did say they wouldn’t sign unless certain conditions were met. If those conditions haven’t been met and they sign, that’s going back on what they said.

      There was a lot of discussion last year about what their intentions were and what they actually met, so technically one could argue that because they were so vague they had no clear direction from which to do a U turn. On the other hand, their messaging was about protecting NZ, and they appear to be failing to do that.

      So either they’ve mislead voters or they’ve done a U-turn. Either way it sucks.

      • red-blooded 11.1.1

        Their messaging was certainly not vague – they identified 5 bottom lines. Here’s what’s on the website, and first appeared there in 2015: Labour supports free trade. However, we will not support the TPP if it undermines New Zealand’s sovereignty.

        We have five key principles which will be non-negotiable bottom lines to protect New Zealand’s interests when the agreement finally makes it to Parliament.

        – Pharmac must be protected
        – Corporations cannot successfully sue the Government for regulating in the public interest
        – New Zealand maintains the right to restrict sales of farm land and housing to non-resident foreign buyers
        – The Treaty of Waitangi must be upheld
        – Meaningful gains are made for our farmers in tariff reductions and market access.

        Pharmac – tick.
        ISDS – not fully achieved, but agreement with Australia mutually exempting each other from this clause and more coming up
        Restricting land and housing sales – tick (work around via overseas investment office)
        Te Tiriti – tick
        Tariff gains – improved

        Parker (a policy wonk and a straight shooter) gives them a 4 1/2 out of 5. I’m not wildly in love with the deal, but neither am I wildly opposed to it. My biggest concerns were always Pharmac and Te Tiriti. I don’t like ISDS and wish they were totally out of the picture, but given that there was so little opportunity to make changes (and that we have these provisions in other treaties) I understand why they’re having to limit this in other ways rather than being able to completely opt out of it.

        • weka 11.1.1.1

          What happens when the US wants back in?

          You think the gains around those five things are satisfactory. Others don’t. /shrug.

          • weka 11.1.1.1.1

            Also, from your link,

            “and we will not support the TPP unless it protects New Zealand’s sovereignty and is in the best interests of New Zealanders.”

            That’s what’s up for debate at present. Labour obviously feel ok about what they’re doing. Others don’t and those criticisms warrant consideration.

            • red-blooded 11.1.1.1.1.1

              Fine – no-one’s saying that the concerns don’t warrant consideration. Plenty have been saying things that showed that they didn’t listen to what Labour actually said about the TPPA, though, and it doesn’t hurt a discussion to have a counter view put forward.

              As for the “what happens when…” discussion re the USA, the fact is that the agreement is not the same as it was when negotiated with the US. If they decide to opt back in, there’ll have to be negotiations. When the original deal was struck, the US was the big kid in the room and got to make plenty of demands. If they opted back in, they’d be negotiating with a block, not with individual countries, each of which with their own priorities, which was the situation last time.

        • Carolyn_Nth 11.1.1.2

          Pharmac has not been protected that much. It can continue to operate, but the model can be undermined.

          ISDS will be back on the table once the US re-joins…. and big pharma’s demand, etc.

          Treaty provisions are very poor within the TPP – according to Kelsey and others.

          etc.

          Parker is a neo-liberal. I wouldn’t trust his judgment.

          However, I always did think Labour were leaving themselves some loopholes or wriggle room and any opposition they expressed to the TPPA was a bit weak.

          I do think they managed to convince lot of anti-TPPA protesters that they were on board with their opposition to the TPPA.

          Robertson and Parker will never lead a break with the neoliberal consensus – just soften it’s impacts a bit.

  11. mosa 12

    If ever there was a powerful reason why we should not sign up to this cruddy deal it is this.

    As a country we cannot enforce a charge on those who are taking water out of the ground to sell overseas at a profit because it contravenes a free trade deal we signed some time ago.

    Anything that takes away a countries right to legislate in its own interests and that of its citizens is paramount to subversion.

    Of course Labour was going to support free trade and anyone thinking otherwise is an idiot.

    It is the Key effect except the messenger is more attractive.

    If only the Greens had more influence but Shaw will take the hit on the chin and stay silent.

  12. Stuart Munro 13

    Faux technocracy.

    This is Labour’s way of saying “We’re just like Theo Spierings really – big time international hotel dwellers.” It means they don’t have a clue wtf they are doing, but they’re going to do it anyway to demonstrate their contempt for public opinion and their responsibilities as elected representatives.

    We’ve seen plenty of this over the years. As Sun Tzu says, we just need a proper system of punishments and rewards. They can get away with this as things stand, and because they can, they mean to.

  13. Tanz 14

    oh, dear, how sad. More backtracking and backflips. Gotta love this govt tho..

    • KJT 14.1

      Like Keys “no more asset sales” you mean.

    • cleangreen 14.2

      Tanz,

      Just ask why Canada is the most sued country today?

      Because they got into every ‘free trade deal’ they could find, so that is where we are headed to now.

      Being bankrupted by expensive court chananges all the time, just wait and see this happen.

  14. Whispering Kate 15

    Since the 1980’s I have never trusted Labour, wouldn’t at the last election either. There is very little difference between them and National – if there is a difference. Two-faced hypocrites. Our Jacinda is just another glossy people-orientated charmer – no real guts to make a stand on what matters. Too many reports, meetings, watering down of their promises – no action. And where is Shane with his thousands of trees he is meant to be planting. This planet is suffering right in front of our eyes and its a terrible thing to contemplate, she will kill us all off and do it with no qualms whatsoever and reinvent herself as only a good woman can and will carry on with other life forms. We have deserved this punishment and make no mistake its going to happen. Not in my lifetime but soon.

    All the babies being born this year will have to suffer from our stupidity. This is serious stuff that is going down on this home we call Earth – we have exploited our host’s generosity and are unwanted visitors and have outworn our stay.

    I voted for the Greens but they are impotent as Labour doesn’t care about them and Winnie doesn’t care for them – they are a lone voice and the only party which has the vision to see what is ahead. No wonder there are so many people on anti-depressants – who wouldn’t want to be on them.

    • weka 15.1

      I find the fact that so many LW people voted Labour and not the Greens to be a huge concern. But then I’ve spend years arguing with far left wing people who wouldn’t vote Green either, so the problem runs deep.

      The saving grace is that while the Greens don’t have a lot of overt power, they have put themselves into positions of effecting change. Anyone who is disappointed with Labour could start supporting the Greens now and encouraging them to keep on with doing the right things.

      • red-blooded 15.1.1

        Let’s remember that the Greens only have any influence because Labour got enough support to put together a coalition. Labour is only able to do this because they are what people on this site disparage as “soft left” – leaning to the left but also able to garner votes from the centre, swing voters. If NZers wanted a hard left government, we’d see a much higher percentage of them voting Green. We don’t.

        Labour has been pretty damn fair about giving significant positions to the Greens (and to NZF). In particular, the Climate and Transport folios are great positions for the ministers that hold them, really playing to their strengths and allowing them to action big shifts in policy and practice. Plus, Shaw has an associate Finance portfolio. I’d certainly call that overt power.

        • weka 15.1.1.1

          I’m not making a partisan argument there. Had the election given more Green MPs and less Labour ones, we’d still have a Labour-led government. But with more Green influence we’d be getting different outcomes.

          “If NZers wanted a hard left government, we’d see a much higher percentage of them voting Green. We don’t.”

          Quite. NZ is getting the government it deserves. Which is why we will probably end up with a loss of sovereignty via a shitty pseudo-trade deal, and it’s why we won’t move as fast and as far as we need to on other critical issues like climate, water, land use.

          I haven’t criticised Labour in its divvying up portfolios, so I’m not sure what your second paragraph is about. I said the Greens have some overt power, not a lot.

        • KJT 15.1.1.2

          Labour, and National, both pretended to be more left wing than they are, before the election. Both got more votes when they did so.

          So the idea that being “far left” is a vote loser, is an obvious falsity!

          Though, The idea that Greens, who are somewhat towards the market side of Muldoon, are “far left” is actually, laughable. And shows how much NACTIOD’s have swung the centre in Parliament.

          It gives the Neo-liberals in Labour their justification.

          There are many reasons why people do not vote Green, but Labour and National being less than honest, pre election, about their “welfare and child poverty” policies, is one of them.

          ACT, who are at least honest about their right wing agenda, only get enough real ACT voters to fill a telephone booth.

      • mikes 15.1.2

        “I find the fact that so many LW people voted Labour and not the Greens to be a huge concern. But then I’ve spend years arguing with far left wing people who wouldn’t vote Green either, so the problem runs deep. ”

        It’s not a “problem” as you’ve called it. Well not to everyone I guess. The fact is that the working class, who were essentially what the Labour party was created for, are pretty conservative, both in economic and cultural values. Hence the working class don’t support the greens. They only really have Labour on the ‘left’ to vote for.

        • KJT 15.1.2.1

          I agree it is lack of choice rather than any commitment to Labour, these days.

        • weka 15.1.2.2

          Lots of working class people vote National and NZF, so I’m not sure that follows. Of the ones that vote Labour, sure, they vote how they want. That’s the problem. Left wing NZers still think Labour is a viable option.

  15. Carolyn_Nth 16

    James Shaw was on checkpoint tonight. He made the point that is reported in this RNZ article.

    “There is the continued existence of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms for some countries and that allows large multi-national companies to what we call ‘jursidiction shop’ and simply locate where they still have that possibility.”

    Mr Shaw also said if the United States wanted to return to the agreement, some of the suspended provisions which worried the Greens would be activated again.

    • weka 16.1

      which countries? NZ?

      • Carolyn_Nth 16.1.1

        No. That would refer to countries in the TPP who still allow ISDS. NZ has a side letter barring them with Australia, and is looking to get such side letters with other countries. But it is not fully known what is in the d=side letters.

        Stuff article on this.

        New Zealand and Australia have signed a “side letter” which will stop investors from both countries suing under ISDS.

        New Zealand negotiators have also secured exceptions to allow them to freely regulate medicines and tobacco.

        “The CPTPP’s safeguards, reservations and exception ensure New Zealand retains the ability to regulate for public health, the environment, and other regulatory objectives,” the analysts write.

        New Zealand has included ISDS provisions in other agreements but a claim has never been made against the country.

        Parker said New Zealand was negotiating more “side letters” to remove ISDS clauses with other nations but these could not be revealed before the agreement was signed.

        Kelsey said details of these side letters were needed before signing.

        ‘Without that information, claims that New Zealand is effectively protected from ISDS disputes are nonsense. Are Japan…and Canada… prepared to exclude ISDS, or are we only talking about countries like Vietnam, Brunei and Peru?”

        “Equally, the government needs to explain whether New Zealand could – and would – require a side-letter excluding ISDS as a precondition of other countries joining, such as the United Kingdom post-Brexit.”

        • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1

          New Zealand and Australia have signed a “side letter” which will stop investors from both countries suing under ISDS.

          This looks like worthless flim-flam to me. Written to reassure the gullible.

          Almost every Australian corporation of note has major Wall St shareholders which will not be covered by this provision.

          Take the example of Westpac in the link below.

          Remember, the corporate lawyers who constructed the highly complex, multi-layered TPP document know exactly what they are doing.

          http://www.gwb.com.au/gwb/news/banking/wpac97.html

          • Pat 16.1.1.1.1

            that was also the case before TPP….we are already at risk of jurisdiction movement via other agreements.

            • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1.1.1

              +1

              Kiwi bureaucrats and political leaders have been determined to let the wolves in the door.

              I also note that a major point of the TPP has not changed: it remains an economic weapon to exclude and isolate China.

        • KJT 16.1.1.2

          “but a claim has never been made against the country”.

          Well. Companies haven’t made claims, because since ISDS has been in agreements we have not seen any new Government legislation which cuts corporate profits. Funny that.

  16. CHCOff 17

    It’s because society lacks trading/business guilds of old & those approaches to reciprocal business standards.

    Downward spiral competition, black markets, political red tape, crime syndicates etc only benefits an exclusive few increasingly, and the more that grows, the more the current positions of privilege and influence will disappear away in society.

    That’s the trend that i see the TPP as being about if not with careful oversight.

    The alternative coalition govt was formed, particularly compared to the prior one, in the interests of it’s voting public support blocks, but it didn’t form the environment which it is to govern in.

  17. Incognito 18

    What’s worse is that they need to rely on National to get it over the line. I believe they will create a Trojan WMD and wheel it in themselves. National will play as dirty as possible (i.e. BAU), particularly after the inevitable shake-up of the party once the leadership contest is over. They are not masochists, they are unbelievably stubborn that they think they can somehow triangulate this. They will regret this for a long time; it’s 1984 all over again.

  18. Jackel 19

    So to be clear, would you give the captains of two rugby teams the rights to red or yellow card the ref. Trade is a good thing. It ceases to be so when big corporates can meddle politically.

  19. thechangeling 20

    It just does my head in that Labour are signing up to this insane agreement. Questions is: who are they beholden to (who has lobbied them the most?) that causes them to sign it? I think i can guess.
    The silence from within the Party is deafening. The LEC’s were screaming blue murder when Willie Jackson? spat something out on radio last year but when a serious issue comes out like this we hear nothing at all (so far).

  20. Sparky 21

    Yes its just a re branding exercise on the original ugly deal. I think a better question to be asked at this time is why is Labour who condemned the whole thing in opposition so keen to sign now they are in government? If there are any investigative journalists left I would have thought this would be a good story to sink their teeth into?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 hour ago
  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 hours ago
  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    4 hours ago
  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: 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. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 hours ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    10 hours ago
  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    13 hours ago
  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    21 hours ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    1 day ago
  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    2 days ago
  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    2 days ago
  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    2 days ago
  • 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
    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 fieldingBy David Slack
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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 ...
    3 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 ...
    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 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
  • 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
  • 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 ...
    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
    4 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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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 ...
    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. ...
    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 ...
    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
    6 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
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    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
    1 hour 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
    4 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
    5 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
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-02T05:18:15+00:00