John Key: let me eat cake

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, April 8th, 2011 - 68 comments
Categories: class war, cost of living, election 2011, john key, labour, national - Tags: ,

As I move around the Wairarapa electorate people are telling me the same story. They are struggling just to make ends meet. It is something I am aware of personally. My Subaru costs me around $110 to fill the tank. Last year it cost only around $68. For a lot of people this is a struggle in itself. One woman told me that her grocery bill has now gone up by $60 more than it did before last years budget. Labour wants to help these families that’s why Labour undertakes to remove GST from fresh fruit and vegetables. Two weeks ago pensioner after pensioner told me the same thing. No matter how hard they try they cannot make ends meet.

National laughs at this – that is not surprising they are out of touch but who can blame them? The Prime Minister for example is a man of immense personal wealth. High earning people like him get the most from tax-cuts. The irony is that he obtained his wealth while working as a wheeler-dealer at Merrill Lynch, one of those business houses implicated in the global financial crisis. But he got out with $50 million before it hit the fan. At a time when a large number of Kiwis are struggling to put food on the table our leader thinks nothing of paying $14,000 for himself and his wife to enjoy a six-course dinner prepared by British chef Heston Blumenthal. Worth noting is that a pensioner’s annual income is only $14529 to $19425 before tax. This only serves to underscore the real separation between National and real people. John Key smiles and waves for the cameras in Christchurch then jumps on a plane to Cape Kidnappers to spend the equivalent of a pensioner’s yearly income on one-off novelty dining with his wife – you can’t get more different than that.

National’s plans for asset sales are dangerous. The private sector got us into the global financial crisis and to flog off wealth creating assets to the private sector who will have to rely on borrowing to purchase the assets is folly. To talk about the size of total debt, then to advocate a policy of privatization which will involve the incurring of more debt is nuts. Further if the offer to buy is for New Zealand investors only, they will be sold at a discount as the prospective market of purchasers will be artificially reduced. As I have said previously we just can’t trust National that only 49 percent of each asset will be flogged off, after all National promised they would not raise GST in the first term.

It is seductively easy to overstate the scale and imminence of economic threats and then exaggerate “shock doctrine” arguments for instant radical change. That’s where Think Big, Rogernomics, Ruthenasia and the current reversal of the Welfare State come from. The essence of this approach is to laud the existence and inherent wisdom of the market economy. Yet in reality it was this same unrestrained market that created the global financial crisis in the first place.

The upshot of all this borrowing is now whenever our economy looks like recovering, the benefits of any growth are to be shipped offshore as profits and dividends from now foreign-owned assets, and as interest payments on the debt incurred over the last decade. Last year, New Zealand paid $15.5 billion in profits and interest payments to foreign investors and creditors. Only $3.3 billion was reinvested. That is unsustainable. National has no plan for growth, they are divorced from the every day reality of New Zealanders. Labour put New Zealand in a sound position to weather the financial crisis and only Labour will provide a way out of the mire that National has created.

Michael Bott – Labour’s Candidate for Wairarapa

68 comments on “John Key: let me eat cake ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. higherstandard 1
    8 April 2011 at 12:13 pm

    http://wairarapalabour.org/

    Ye Gods a DPF doppelganger

  2. Daveski 2
    8 April 2011 at 12:28 pm

    He’d should have climbed African mountains because that’s what the working class do, eh comrades!

  3. Robb 3
    8 April 2011 at 12:38 pm

    Some valid points for sure, but a 61% increase in costs to fill his Subaru. I know fuels going up and it hurts but hell that can’t be right.

    • Lanthanide 3.1
      8 April 2011 at 1:06 pm

      Yeah, unless he was talking about the very start of last year or something. Petrol going from $1.70 to $2.18/l is an increase of 28%.

      • Colonial Viper 3.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 7:10 pm

        Petrol was hovering just over $1.40/L at the start of last year. Amazing huh. Started climbing fast and vicious soon after that. And yes it did sit through a lot of the year around $1.70.
         
        $1.40 to $2.20 that’s a more than 50% increase and almost matches the OP’s numbers.

  4. the sprout 4
    8 April 2011 at 12:45 pm

    [Key] paying $14,000 for himself and his wife to enjoy a six-course dinner prepared by British chef Heston Blumenthal…. a pensioner’s annual income is only $14,529

    disgusting isn’t it. yep, that dinner is going to cost Key a lot of votes

    • fizzleplug 4.1
      8 April 2011 at 12:58 pm

      I can’t see why it should. It’s his money, he can spend it how he wants. Or does it not work like that?

      • Bright Red 4.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 1:04 pm

        gee. do you have the same attitude to poor people drinking and smoking?
        And, remember, Key voted himself at least $23,000 of tax cuts so far. All borrowed money. So, whose money was he really spending?

        • the sprout 4.1.1.1
          8 April 2011 at 1:17 pm

          I can’t see why it should

          i’m sure you can’t. i’m sure Key can’t either.
          but there are many thousands of voters who can

          • fizzleplug 4.1.1.1.1
            8 April 2011 at 5:29 pm

            So now we should approve what everyone spends their (private) money on? Because it’s certainly sounding like you are advocating for that.
             
            Had he charged it to his ministerial credit card, then yes, justifiable anger. But his own money? Envy.
             
            And to Bright Red – if poor people want to drink and smoke, it’s up to them. But if they do, they shouldn’t complain when they have no money to eat every night. And the “voted himself tax cuts” refrain gets rather tiresome. He voted every other member of Parliament, and a number of people outside Parliament, tax cuts as well. But I don’t actually think there’s any point trying to make you think outside your narrow world view – and it is a narrow world view. So go fuck yourselves, the lot of you.

            • Tangled up in blue 4.1.1.1.1.1
              8 April 2011 at 6:24 pm

              I’m against tax cuts for the rich, but yes, people should be able to spend their own money as they see fit. (On things legal of course)

            • RobC 4.1.1.1.1.2
              8 April 2011 at 6:39 pm

              No need to go and fuck myself when the Govt is taking care of my needs in that area.

              ASW: lay 😀

            • Galeandra 4.1.1.1.1.3
              8 April 2011 at 7:05 pm

              But his own money? Envy.

              No, fizzleplug, not envy but legitimate anger in my case. The rich are easily able to manipulate the game in order  to protect and to further increase their wealth- the RW think tanks and phony institutes in the States give clear examples of how. The wealth gap everywhere  has widened enormously and conspicuously excessive  consumption is not reasonable or ethical when there are others in the community who are materially far to the wrong side of poverty lines.
              The invitation to ‘go fuck yourselves’ shows why any response to your complacent willful ignorance is without point except that 
              what  you unintentionally  offer  is to illustrate the kind of mindset that infects the me-at-any-cost greed of NZ’s petit bourgeoisie. So hang around and troll some more.

            • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1.4
              8 April 2011 at 7:12 pm

              Had he charged it to his ministerial credit card, then yes, justifiable anger. But his own money? Envy.

              Envy? Fuck off mate its anger quite a different thing. Anger at the inequality in this society and anger at how our leaders are so comfortable in the lap of luxury even as their subjects are cold and hungry.

              Ah I love it, rule for the rich by the rich. If you have money good on you, do what you like no matter how indecent or outrageous, the paupers can eat cake.
               
              I think that was the point of the post, no?

              • PeteG …
                8 April 2011 at 7:24 pm

                If money is so important to you you should channel that anger into earning and saving more. It does need a bit of determination though.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  8 April 2011 at 8:18 pm

                  Better distribution of the wealth would be far better. John Key really isn’t worth $50m. He’s not produced any wealth at ever in his life.

                • Mac1 …
                  8 April 2011 at 8:32 pm

                  Justifiable anger drives political change. It is the channelling of this liberated energy which drives me into political action. That needs determination. PeteG, beyond a certain necessary amount, some people don’t get that interested in the process of making money. Most of what I do in the community is free/gratis- including the politics. Screw the money. It is people, it is people, it is people. And people need money to do the necessary things. When they are denied, short-changed, screwed; then that is anger-making.

                  This anger and political action is partly for me. To do nothing would be personally shameful. I don’t want to live in a world where I don’t give a stuff, care and do something to help my fellow. And injustice fuels anger, as does waste. Having too much while others starve is unjust.

                  Envy is another emotion. I have no envy for a rich man. There is a lifetime of difference between envy and anger.

                  • Carol …
                    8 April 2011 at 9:06 pm

                    Well said, Mac1.  I’ve never understood why some people seem to want so much money. There’s far more important things to do, than focusing on gaining excesssive money.  I’ve pretty much always felt I’ve had enough, and am happy with a modest income, while also having done and achieved some things that are important to me, and some that I have felt have been an attempt to make a contribution to society, or to helping others.  But, it’s a real indictment on our society that many people are struggling just to survive.

                    • M …
                      8 April 2011 at 11:56 pm

                      Carol

                      On the same page with you regarding having loads of money – why? Content with my small house and a bit of land my one desire would be to have a bit put by to cover my funeral expenses and something on hand for a rainy day. Increasing food prices mean that a little more income would be welcomed.

                      I tend to be quite wary of those with loads of money because often it is used as an unfair leverage against others. I have female friends who dream of meeting some rich guy whereas I’m the complete opposite and would be concerned with the potential for control and abuse that money seems to inculcate in some men. I’m a listening ear to a friend at the moment whose guy is controlling her with money as she’s out of work and of course can’t tell her what to do but just say to her that I’d be outta there in a heartbeat.

                      If you dare voice that you’re mostly content with your lot people tend to look at you funny and ask why you don’t want to be wealthy as though it’s a character flaw.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  8 April 2011 at 9:19 pm

                  If money is so important to you you should channel that anger into earning and saving more. It does need a bit of determination though.

                  Uh Pete, in case you haven’t heard, I married into significant wealth.
                  I get a decent (although not stupendous) monthly allowance from the in-laws, and anything else I happen to come across during the week is just a bonus to be blown on a fancy Michelin chef cooked meal.

            • The Economic Illiteracy Support Group 4.1.1.1.1.5
              8 April 2011 at 7:27 pm

              That continual tugging of the forelock to your betters must be getting pretty painful, fizzleplug, ‘cos you’ve had to do a heck of a lot of it since Key was elected.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.1.1.1.6
              8 April 2011 at 8:12 pm

              Had he charged it to his ministerial credit card, then yes, justifiable anger. But his own money? Envy.

              No, not envy, disgust that anyone would waste so much on something so little.

            • Gina 4.1.1.1.1.7
              9 April 2011 at 3:13 pm

              Key can do whatever he likes with his money true but some voters will be repelled and do whatever they like with their votes simple. He hasn’t done anything illegal but struggling kiwis won’t like hearing about this sort of grossly wasteful indulgence escpecially when the Nats preach belt tightening to the rest of us.

      • Deadly_NZ 4.1.2
        8 April 2011 at 7:05 pm

        It’s not the money (as far as most of us are concerned he can spend his money any way he likes.)  It’s the hipocracy Here he, and Blinglish are spouting all the platitudes about belt tightening YADA YADA YADA.  Also the fact that he rips off the taxpayer of NZ for thousands with the great tax switch.  So it goes Tax Switch, Platitudes, Excessive spending.  And now it seems that it’s not just his personal hipocracy it’s the whole NACTS Hipocracy Preach belt tightening whilst bailing out yet another company thats backed its self into a corner.

    • the pink postman 4.2
      8 April 2011 at 3:58 pm

      well I certainly hope so Sprout ,but how get this out to the voters.
      The Daily papers will not have a word about this . It should be front page news, so tell me how do we educate the mainstream votes on such titbits.

  5. todd 5
    8 April 2011 at 12:52 pm

    $120 to fill my Subaru, same time last year it was $80 for a better octane… So the calculation isn’t far off for me.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      8 April 2011 at 2:47 pm

      Yes, but why are you running a Subaru? They’re one of the least economic cars on the market.

      • todd 5.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 6:46 pm

        I run three vehicles. I got the Subaru for safety reasons, the comparison to that vehicle seemed most relevant. If anybody feels like giving me enough money to replace it with a hybrid, I would be happy to accept.

  6. infused 6
    8 April 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Downsize then. Time to get a better car eh? National are not increasing the price of food. It is increasing world wide. GST hasn’t gone up %15, it’s gone up %2.5 That doesn’t add $60 to your food bill.

    So much shit talk here. There are other facts at play rather than national. Dropping GST on fruit and veg will cost more. It’s a nightmare in aussie and will be here.

    • Pascal's bookie 6.1
      8 April 2011 at 1:10 pm

      hahahaha. Sucks being in government huh. Resign.

    • Kaplan 6.2
      8 April 2011 at 1:19 pm

      The Titanic struck an iceberg and sunk but the proximate cause of most of the deaths was too much faith in a badly designed ship and a lack of life boats.

      Do you see the similarities between that and the economic situation we are in? 

      In short, National actually need to do something about our problems, not just sit back and blame everything on them.

      • Bright Red 6.2.1
        8 April 2011 at 2:41 pm

        actually the iceberg was the proximate (direct, immeidate) cause but the fundamental cause “was too much faith in a badly designed ship and a lack of life boats”

    • todd 6.3
      8 April 2011 at 3:45 pm

      Unfortunately most shops used the rise in GST to also increase their prices. It is not as simple as changing vehicles. My Subaru is already economical to run, in relative terms. I have no problem with changing my lifestyle to use less but this comes at a cost, a cost that is unaffordable while the cost of living inhibits people from saving to make a change to lower usage vehicles etc.
       
      Thinking that the price of our food should be relative to what overseas markets pay when there are less transportation costs involved seems rather silly. We’re paying in more than one way as it is our environment that is being polluted by these industries. National has increased the price of food along with nearly everything else.
       
      Subsidizing good foods like fruit and vegetables will do more than just making them affordable so people wont need to go to food banks. Whether this is through taking GST off or imposing measures to remove market dominance is irrelevant to the fact that people will eat more food that is good for them. This will reduce our obesity epidemic and many other associated diseases.
       
      The only shit talk here is yours infused and your blame the victim meme that pervades right wing thinking.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.3.1
        8 April 2011 at 4:35 pm

        Subsidizing good foods…

        Doesn’t need to be subsidised – just a ban on selling the first x amount produced here overseas. This would force prices down to cost price on the local market but farmers would still be able to sell the excess overseas for the global price.

      • Vicky32 6.3.2
        8 April 2011 at 6:02 pm

        Unfortunately most shops used the rise in GST to also increase their prices

        That’s certainly true. Everything’s gone up by much more than 2.5%..

  7. ianmac 7
    8 April 2011 at 1:56 pm

    “National made the promise that things would be better with National. John Key you promised. Well we are worse off than ever! I don’t want excuses. Unemployment. Petrol. Food. milk. Democracy. John Key has let us down!”
    That’s what I hear anyway.”

    • PeteG 7.1
      8 April 2011 at 2:12 pm

      Yeah, damned right. Key secretly used Ken Ring predictions and timed his run at PM to coincide with likely earthquakes. He set in place the 2008 crash while he was working in NY. He revs his car at the lights and has run the world short of petrol. He leaves food on his plate while Africans (and some Kiwis) starve. He’s let us all down. Bastard!

      • Bright Red 7.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 2:42 pm

        don’t make promises you can’t keep.
        The earthquakes didn’t put us in this hole, unsustainable tax cuts did. The earthquakes just made it deeper.

        • PeteG 7.1.1.1
          8 April 2011 at 2:54 pm

          Ah, so Labour are to blame too. What did Key have to do with that, did he make Cullen do it?

          • Lanthanide 7.1.1.1.1
            8 April 2011 at 3:27 pm

            Labour’s tax cuts were unwise, yes, but National’s are far worse. Labour’s were spread pretty equally across all income earners whereas National’s were skewed heavily towards the top end income earners.
             
            Of course you know all this and you’re just trolling.

          • mickysavage 7.1.1.1.2
            8 April 2011 at 4:08 pm

            The word for today is unsustainable.
             
            The country’s current experiences really vindicate actions taken by Michael Cullen as Minister of Finance.
             
            Don’t you miss him PeteG?
             

            • PeteG 7.1.1.1.2.1
              8 April 2011 at 4:23 pm

              If you think combined tax cuts were not affordable and should be rolled back should consideration be given to rolling back some of WFF?
               
              Or is that an ideological no go zone?

              • Draco T Bastard …
                8 April 2011 at 4:38 pm

                I’d be more than happy to drop WfF as it’s a subsidy to businesses that don’t pay enough in wages. We’d have to make sure, after dropping WfF, that people are paid enough. I would suggest a Universal Income.

                • todd …
                  8 April 2011 at 5:22 pm

                  What gets me is all this talk of us being broke and having to cut all these things that help our poor and society in general and then National come up with billions of dollars to bail out their rich mates.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.2
        8 April 2011 at 2:50 pm

        He set in place the 2008 crash while he was working in NY.

        Yes, that’s right, he did. He was in charge of overseeing the toxic assets that caused the GFC for one bank.

  8. Bill 8
    8 April 2011 at 4:20 pm

    National has no plan for growth, they are divorced from the every day reality of New Zealanders.

    The essence of this approach is to laud the existence and inherent wisdom of the market economy

    Labour put New Zealand in a sound position to weather the financial crisis

    The essence of this approach is to laud the existence and inherent wisdom of the market economy

    Sorry. That’s a slightly dishonest cut and paste. But only slightly.
    Yes, Rogernomics and Think Big and all the rest of it is essentially lauding the existence of the market economy. But all governments essentially laud the existence of the market economy.
    And all political parties are out of touch because all political parties have a central focus of managing a market economy. If all political parties had a central focus on…oh, I don’t know…developing software programmes, then they would be no more or less out of touch than at present.
    Government has become a preserve of rather elite economic managers and might as well be the preserve of rather elite geeks as far as all those strange ‘others’ (whose stories aid the privilaged and out of touch to gain an intellectual understanding of struggle) are concerned.

  9. lefty 9
    8 April 2011 at 5:03 pm

    OK. We get the point about National. But what is Labour going to do?
    How are they going to reduce the price of oil or food?
    What are they going to do to stop profits being shipped offshore?
    How will they create more jobs?
    Will they encourage and support workers to strike for decent pay instead of giving WFF subsidies to employers?
    Will they repudiate free trade deals and refuse to sign anymore?
    Will they get rid of the Reserve Bank Act and take control of our currency?
    Will they start taking climate change seriously instead of pissing around with emissions trading or carbon taxes?
    Ah! So many questions.

    • mickysavage 9.1
      8 April 2011 at 7:29 pm

      Good questions Lefty.  IMHO:

      1.  They will not reduce the price of oil.  They will hopefully put policies in place so that good quality food will be supplied but this may take more than the invisible hand of the market.
      2.  By preventing the further sale of strategic assets overseas they will accomplish this.  And the Cullen fund could have stemmed the tide.
      3.  They will create jobs in the same way they have been in the past.  By being active.
      4.  Yes.  WFF was a stop gap measure.
      5.  Not sure.
      6.  They will change the Reserve Bank Act.  There will no longer be a preoccupation with inflation.
      7.  Yes, as far as their coalition partners will allow.

      • PeteG 9.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 7:49 pm

        3.  They will create jobs in the same way they have been in the past.

        50% extra jobs in the public service again?

  10. Peter Bains 10
    8 April 2011 at 5:07 pm

    I have done well since 2008, my salary has gone from $83K to $96 now. I also enjoy my tax cuts and my mortgage will be paid off by October. So I know where I will be voting.

    The economy was always going to be rough from 2008 because of the GFC. However, it will get better from 2012, not because Labour will be in, that is when National will do what they should have done in 2008, stayed with ACT and revive the economy.

    Come 2014 we will be in a better position with a growing economy and jobs better due to Chch plus other exports such as mined products. (This will increase wages as well).

    On Key’s dinner, it was his money, not yours or mine. Something the left do not seem to get at all.

    • LynW 10.1
      8 April 2011 at 5:26 pm

      Could I quote logie97?

      ‘might just come down to how much the voter has become more selfless or selfish in his/her approach to the world – traditional left/right ne ce pas.’

      anti-spam word   revealing!

    • Draco T Bastard 10.2
      8 April 2011 at 6:30 pm

      You obviously didn’t notice that we’ve gone back into recession (if we ever actually left it) due to NACTs bad fiscal management. If NACT get back in they’ll make it even worse.

    • Galeandra 10.3
      8 April 2011 at 7:13 pm

      Something the left do not seem to get at all.

      Something like 96K a year and a paid off mortgage.

      Don’t look too hard in the mirror. Maybe your ethical skin will be thickening at the same rate as your waistline. Guess you could always help out at a local food bank to find out how the other 80% lives.

      • Peter Bains 10.3.1
        8 April 2011 at 9:31 pm

        I have a 7 year old Autistic son to help look after so people at the food bank are better off as most of them have a fully functioning brain. Whether they use these functions or not is another issue………….. Hence I need to be selfish and think of my sons future once I am gone. Anyone fancy to swap my position?

        • McFlock 10.3.1.1
          8 April 2011 at 11:19 pm

          “Anyone fancy to swap my position?”
          Someone who has an autistic son but isn’t on $96k a year?

    • Carol 10.4
      8 April 2011 at 7:31 pm

      Something the right don’t seem to get is that people don’t always get paid what they deserve, and some people get money they don’t deserve, through swindling, paying their workers wages that are too low etc.  How did Key get rich?  Not by producing anything useful, but by gaming the system, at NZ’s expense.  Is it all really HIS money?
       
      Workers have tended to work harder than ever over the last 30 years, and yet the rich have got richer and the poor have got poorer.  So where did all that excessive money come from that is now in the hands of the wealthy?

    • Colonial Viper 10.5
      8 April 2011 at 9:22 pm

      On Key’s dinner, it was his money, not yours or mine. Something the left do not seem to get at all.

      His money? So you are saying that he can just waste it or use it to shit all over the poor and hungry in this country, just to show us that he can?
      Nice to know.

      • Peter Bains 10.5.1
        8 April 2011 at 9:26 pm

        Yes he can CV. Just like you can spend your money on anything you like.

  11. Samuel Hill 11
    8 April 2011 at 5:31 pm

    Mass protests during World Cup has got to be the go.

  12. Vicky32 12
    8 April 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Ironically, from what I have seen on his TV show, Heston Blumenthal’s food is rubbish! (Every time I see his programme, it makes me further determined to move from semi-veg to vegetarian…)
    Yes, the inequality is simply appalling.
    Vicky

  13. Tanz 13
    8 April 2011 at 6:40 pm

    Cat food anyone? While Key dines like a king, many people are survivng on noodles, soup, or worse.

    It is his money yes, but what decadance to spend so much on one dinner while his country men/women and children look on. Bad taste in the extreme? I hope it does cost him many votes.

    Finally, it’s only money and he can’t take it with him. Éye of the Needle…

    • todd 13.1
      8 April 2011 at 6:56 pm

      I hope he chokes.

      • Mac1 13.1.1
        8 April 2011 at 11:02 pm

        I  don’t. I want him to see the repudiation of his ethics and philosophy, such as it is, on November 26.  And the people on noodles, soup or worse have to be energised to see that happen; as do we who are better off lest we become like John Key- bereft, barren and to be pitied.

    • rosy 13.2
      8 April 2011 at 7:22 pm

      I see the Brit PM has the message that he needs to pretend we’re all in this together…  appearances count At least we can get a laugh out of knowing that all that money can’t be used when you’re preaching austerity to others.

  14. red rhebelghirly 14
    8 April 2011 at 10:08 pm

    The point I would say is the hypocrisy of Key and his flamboyant spending whilst pensioners and others are barely surviving..
    The Government tax cuts which only benefit those on higher Income.The increasing costs.. (subaru or no subaru) that are hitting the lower income earners..
    The selling off of our countries private assets.. to Large overseas capitalist Corporations.. which as Mr Bott pointed out is indicative of keys background.
    The fact that keys said gst would not go up and that he would not be selling off N.Z assets.. shows keys and his government for who they really are….
    Nice hat Mr Bott
     

  15. BevanJS 15
    9 April 2011 at 5:45 pm

    “One woman told me that her grocery bill has now gone up by $60 more than it did before last years budget. Labour wants to help these families that’s why Labour undertakes to remove GST from fresh fruit and vegetables.”

    I wonder if she spends more than $30 per week on fresh fruit and veg? My wife and I don’t usually and we’re vegetarians.
    0.15 * 30 = Go Labour, build a system at what expense to give her $5 back?  I believe she said she was missing $60.
    Oh that’s right, it’d create completely non-productive public service jobs – wonder who that sector typically votes for?

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-16T22:10:28+00:00