Key comes clean on the ETS

Written By: - Date published: 3:00 pm, June 30th, 2010 - 28 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, ETS, john key - Tags: ,

In a moment of uncharacteristic political honesty, John Key has come clean on his ETS:

Households will bear more than their fair share of increased energy costs when the next phase of the emissions trading scheme takes effect on Thursday, Prime Minister John Key has acknowledged.

The Sustainability Council recently suggested households would bear half of the cost of the ETS during its first five years despite accounting for just 19 per cent of all emissions.

Yesterday, at the start of a week in which the transport and electricity sectors come under the ETS, the PM conceded that “a disproportionate amount” would be paid by households under the scheme.

Got that householders? You’re copping a “disproportionate amount” of the cost. As well as inflation, a rise in GST, and whatever associated gouging our captains of finance can piggyback on all of the above. Nice. But – why are households getting clobbered? What’s the excuse? Key explains:

“But that’s because if we are too heavy handed with businesses … on day one, that runs the risk of those very same households potentially losing their jobs. That’s just the balance here.”

No one wants to see jobs lost – but what is the real scope of that problem compared to the disproportionate costs being loaded on to every household? Where is the government leadership, creating new jobs, moving us to a green economy? As usual, it seems, capitalists only believe in capitalism when it suits them. In theory a business which is uneconomic should go under, and new, more efficient businesses spring up to take it’s place. In practice National’s scheme is all about keeping things sweet for their mates – muffling the price signal that an ETS is supposed to send by (as usual) socialising the costs. So, sorry householder, sucks to be you I guess.

28 comments on “Key comes clean on the ETS ”

  1. Adrian 1

    On Open Mike I outline a another new tax that I just found out about that comes in tomorrow to add to the ETS, 7% on life insurance premiums. WTF ? This is a whole new category of tax , because it’s not GST or excise just a levy on insurance. What pisses me off is there has not been a word from Labour about this or any of the other imposts happening tomorrow, silent as a graveyard the day before fucking taxes go thru the roof.

    • kriswgtn 1.1

      maybe Labours waiting for them to hang themselves

      I am perplexed as to figure out what their plan is- Wonder if Goff will seize the moment tomorrow?

      Prob not

      and this what Labour needs to get out there and demand to be heard by so called media in this country
      or maybe the hierarchy in the party are setting up Goff to fail so finally he can be replaced???

  2. Bunji 2

    Privatise the gains, socialise the costs, we see it over and over again. Vodafone with the ultra-fast broadband: “if the road transport companies get away with the public paying for their network, why shouldn’t we too?”, mining companies over having to pay royalties for getting to sell our mineral wealth, canterbury farmers with water, and polluters with the ETS.

    So true R0B that “capitalists only believe in capitalism when it suits them”…

  3. Andy 3

    The ETS will push up the cost of Electricity whether it comes from renewable sources or not, thereby giving windfall profits to energy companies.

    After 10 years, the government project that our emissions will be approximately the same as in 2010, having spent billions of dollars

    We could have spent this money on building a more sustainable future, e.g better insulation, double glazing, better energy transmission.

    Any savings in emissions after 10 years will be wiped out by the Chinese in a matter of hours (that’s a hockey stick graph I can show you)

    If we end up having to pay for carbon credits from the international market in 2020, to make up the shortfall, this will mean another massive bill.

    Complete and utter madness.

    • Lanthanide 3.1

      “The ETS will push up the cost of Electricity whether it comes from renewable sources or not, thereby giving windfall profits to energy companies.”
      Yes, and for companies that generate CO2 emitting power, the increased revenue will pay their carbon liability.

      For companies that generate power without emitting much CO2, the increased revenue will become profit, and allow for more reinvestment in more renewable energy.

      In the long-run this will mean more renewable energy generation being built and less CO2 emitting energy generation being built. Isn’t that the whole goal?

      In the short term it hurts and seems unfair, but in the long term this is exactly the point of the ETS.

      • Andy 3.1.1

        But why would they re-invest in renewables, when a fossil fuel component guarantees them extra profits?

        In the short term, we are unlikely to achieve 100% renewable, especially as geothermal comes under the ETS

        • insider 3.1.1.1

          Because if they can build and generate renewables for less than the cost of fossil fuels they will earn higher profits than FF generators. Most would want to invest where the margins are greatest. You may only just be getting by with your FF returns even if the price is higher, due to fuel costs and cost of capital (that’s assuming you are not running much)

          Of course on the other hand it could encourage companies to continue to invest in some FF generation to bid them in to make them the marginal generator and lift the prices for their renewable stuff. That’s a bit risky though. YOu make money by running a lot or running more rarely but at really high prices. If you run rarely and don’t get the prices then you are going to be a loss maker

  4. kriswgtn 4

    ETS is revenue gathering.

  5. gingercrush 5

    It’d also be nice if you mentioned that with National’s ETS, planned increases of power prices and petrol costs was cut from the ETS that had Labour and Greens support. Labour/Greens ETS loaded direct costs that was more problematic for both households and businesses. National’s ETS is indirect.

    Though of course Labour/Greens don’t mention this. Labour also ignore that under their watch power prices jumped through the roof and many regions in New Zealand would have seen severe petrol costs rising. Not to mention every year they loaded costs on to New Zealanders and didn’t cut taxes whatsoever.

    • pollywog 5.1

      So whats your solution GC ?

      Fire up the De Lorean, time travel back to the Labour years and have a quiet word in Helen’s ear about where her madness will lead ?

      I’m more concerned with what Key, English and Smith have done in loading me up with debt and higher costs i know won’t make one bit of difference to global warming but will damn sure put some extra dosh in them and their business interests pockets.

  6. Santi 6

    the ETS is a crock of shit of monumental proportions concocted by Smith & Key.

  7. Carol 7

    Key was on Campbell Live tonight, answering some pretty tame questions on it. Key gave examples of how much it would mean a week for a person on an “average wage” of $50,000. Well that sounds pretty high to me. But maybe a mean/median wage would be a truer indication, being that 50% of the population earned less than that.

    What percentage of the population earns less than $50,000?

    • Bill 7.1

      Possibly reading too much into it, but….

      The point about stating the average wage to be $48 000 ( or $50 000 if nice round figures are preferred) is that it sends out a message to those on the median average wage ($25 000 or whatever) that things will get better.

      Most people imagine that the median average is what is being quoted. And most people would aspire to be at least average in terms of earning capacity. So we have enormous numbers of people reasoning that although things are a bit of a struggle at the moment on $25 000, that’s okay because there is the realistic possibility nay, the probability, that things will gravitate towards the average… that sits at twice the present wage level.

      So head down, bum up and give it time. Just work a bit harder and the just desserts will surely come. And if not, then they themselves are at fault as it was they who failed to aspire to being merely average…

      The whole scenario sits in opposition to people facing the rest of their working life understanding that there is very little or no prospect of things improving at all. It shields wealthy elites from facing the rightful anger of a majority of people who, instead of feeling angry and pissed off, internalise a deliberately foisted misperception of failure and beat themselves up rather than the bastards who actually deserve the kicking.

      • Herodotus 7.1.1

        There has been a common basis that with the likes of WFF and other govt assistance that this boosts families to around $50k which is about the same as the average expenditure from house hold survey.
        What gets me is how pensioners are suppose to survive on their $18k p.a. in the hand for a single person or $24k (??) for a couple. At least those at the beginning of their earning have some hope of a better world, how do we look after those at the other end of the scale.
        Statistics depersonalises real peoples experiences just like watching the news and the suffering that we all see on the screen, we the viewer are removed from reality.

        • Bill 7.1.1.1

          Boosting a family income ( ie household income) to $50k has got nothing to do with average wage levels.

          Two people on $20 odd thousand with no kids have a combined income more or less equivalent to the repeatedly quoted average wage of $50k.

          But so what?

          And you’re contention that those at the beginning of their earning have some hope of a better world, by which I take you mean higher comparative wage levels, just isn’t reflective of the reality whereby wage levels have stagnated and decreased since (roughly) the 70s and each ensuing generation has less financial wealth (comparatively speaking) than the one that preceded it.

          Anyway, putting aside the intergenerational downward drift of earning capacity, most people right now, no matter how many years they have been working, earn somewhere around $25 or $30k. There really isn’t much in the way of upward mobility for an individual during a working life and that’s a fact that has to be masked. People must be led to believe or allowed to believe that things will get better…a $50k average.

          And definitely discouraged from ever pointing an accusatory finger at the main beneficiaries of all this stuff and nonsense that sees most compelled to struggle to merely stand still.

        • prism 7.1.1.2

          Herodotus –
          Mr Key tells me that the retired are now getting fortnightly –
          Single on own $636.24 (after 1/10/10 $667.50 – $17555 p.a.)
          and
          Married-d/f couple ea. $489.42 (1/10/10 $511.06 – for two $26,575 p.a.)

          Added to that may be Accommodation Supplement up to $100 per week I think. Then there is small amount of tax taken off – the financials are handled by the IR Dept which watches over beneficiaries’ incomes and adjusts taxes for extra earnings.)

          Mr Key explains that changes will ‘make the tax system fairer and encourage people to save’.
          And ‘The National-led Government is careful to spend money wisely and we are on track to rein in growing debt. The largest amounts of new spending in the Budget are going into education and health, to increase spending in schools and early childhood education, and to boost elective surgery.’ (Joke – elective laughter! Want to lose 10 ugly lbs? Cut off your head.)

  8. Herodotus 8

    So the entire population will pay something in the order of $150/family (as per JK’s est.) and there is still massive uncertainity as to where this windfall for the govt is going. Lab had a ETS with similar issues of transpareny as to where the money was destined to go.
    But we can mine coal ship this off to China they burn and emite, CO2 increases and China contributes nothing to compensate the planet, and yet we are unable to utilise this coal as the cost to NZ is prohibitive. Where is the logic here and how are NZ households to survive, this is a continuation of the death by 1000 cuts of the family. At least we like USSR have cheap alcohol to dull the pain, and an informed media to keep policy makers honest.
    NZ is crying out for some leader to lead, refer Q&A on Sunday with 2 impressive examples of what we require.

    • Carol 8.1

      On Campbell Live Key said the ETS money would be ring-fenced for tree planting & research into lower carbon tecnhlogies. But would that account for where it all goes? And how much research could NZ usefully do in this area?

  9. Hilary 10

    Carol – From memory about 75% earn less than the average wage of around $48,000, and the median is just under $30,000. The most common amount for individuals to receive is around $15,000. Somebody will know the correct numbers and terminology. But an earner on $50,000 is already doing better than most.

      • Carol 10.1.1

        Thanks, Hilary and Herodotus. That confirs what I thought. And for those of us working people living alone, talking about the average household income, just makes us seem pretty poor.

        So Campbell should have pulled Key up in the use of the average wage, because it makes it sound like most people won’t feel that much financial impact from the ETS (and GTS etc). Whereas, for the large numbers of people on lower incomes, it may not be such an easy change/s to live with.

        • just saying 10.1.1.1

          Don’t want to deviate too far from the actual topic, but I do want to say that the majority of New Zealanders are almost invisible in the media, and this is playing into the hands of the rich elites. Poverty and hardship are increasingly considered a matter of personal failure and shame despite being the experience of most of us. I suspect a lot of household debt is being entered into to temporarily create the appearance of relative prosperity, despite creating greater hardship further down the road. A kind of sad and self-defeating ‘fake it till you make it’ (or win lotto).

          ‘Middle new Zealand’ is already largely a thing of the past.

          People will get angry when they stop feeling ashamed – it’s only a matter of time.

          • pollywog 10.1.1.1.1

            Yeah…and what with Pasifikans being bottom of the heap, you don’t want to make us angry ! you wouldn’t like us when we’re angry…

            …at least they’re building us flash new prisons so we got a nice comfortable place to go for time out when we get too angry.

            Such caring and forethought. It’s positively heartwarming

  10. Draco T Bastard 11

    As usual, it seems, capitalists only believe in capitalism when it suits them.

    That should be Dictatorial Capitalists only believe in personal responsibility when they can push their own responsibility on to everyone else.

  11. Rosa 12

    Just Saying, your comment is spot on. How arrogant of Key, with his fortune safely tucked away, to be heavily taxing ordinary and poor Kiwis (especially after saying pre-election that National was about slashing taxes, such lies!) basically just so NZ and the PM, looks great on the dishonest world stage. Shame on National for this, I hear that many heartland National voters are deserting Key in droves. So should we all. Key is an opportunist and a true Leftist, pretending to be Conservative! Time for a tea party perhaps?

  12. Andy 13

    Well, we make it onto WUWT today

    http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/06/30/new-zealand-begins-emissions-trading-scheme-meanwhile-the-gorepachauri-chicago-climate-exchange-is-flatlining/

    Interesting that the CCX has carbon trading at 10c a tonne when we are paying $12.50.

    Note the link through to the advisory board of CCX:

    Somehow, one gets the feeling we are being scammed, and the rest of the world are laughing at us

    A sad end to a promising economy.

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    Sorry to say, the government’s official website is still out of action. When Point of Order paid its daily visit, the message was the same as it has been for the past week: Site under maintenance Beehive.govt.nz is currently under maintenance. We will be back shortly. Thank you for your ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Hysterical bullshit
    Radio NZ reports: Te Pāti Māori’s co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer has accused the new government of “deliberate .. systemic genocide” over its policies to roll back the smokefree policy and the Māori Health Authority. The left love hysterical language. If you oppose racial quotas in laws, you are a racist. And now if you sack ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #48 2023
    Open access notables From this week's government/NGO section, longitudinal data is gold and Leisorowitz, Maibachi et al. continue to mine ore from the US public with Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2023: Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, the authors describe how registered ...
    5 days ago
  • ELE LUDEMANN: It wasn’t just $55 million
    Ele Ludemann writes –  Winston Peters reckons media outlets were bribed by the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. He is not the first to make such an accusation. Last year, the Platform outlined conditions media signed up to in return for funds from the PJIF: . . . ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 1-December-2023
    Wow, it’s December already, and it’s a Friday. So here are few things that caught our attention recently. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt covered the new government’s coalition agreements and what they mean for transport. On Tuesday Matt looked at AT’s plans for fare increases ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • Shane MacGowan Is Gone.
    Late 1996, The Dogs Bollix, Tamaki Makaurau.I’m at the front of the bar yelling my order to the bartender, jostling with other thirsty punters on a Friday night, keen to piss their wages up against a wall letting loose. The black stuff, long luscious pints of creamy goodness. Back down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to Dec 1
    Nicola Willis, Chris Bishop and other National, ACT and NZ First MPs applaud the signing of the coalition agreements, which included the reversal of anti-smoking measures while accelerating tax cuts for landlords. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2023 More Reading: November (+ Writing Update)
    Completed reads for November: A Modern Utopia, by H.G. Wells The Vampire (poem), by Heinrich August Ossenfelder The Corpus Hermeticum The Corpus Hermeticum is Mead’s translation. Now, this is indeed a very quiet month for reading. But there is a reason for that… You see, ...
    6 days ago
  • Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies.The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. They also describe the processes of the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Questions a nine year old might ask the new Prime Minister
    First QuestionYou’re going to crack down on people ram-raiding dairies, because you say hard-working dairy owners shouldn’t have to worry about getting ram-raided.But once the chemist shops have pseudoephedrine in them again, they're going to get ram-raided all the time. Do chemists not work as hard as dairy owners?Second QuestionYou ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Finally
    Henry Kissinger is finally dead. Good fucking riddance. While Americans loved him, he was a war criminal, responsible for most of the atrocities of the final quarter of the twentieth century. Cambodia. Bangladesh. Chile. East Timor. All Kissinger. Because of these crimes, Americans revere him as a "statesman" (which says ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Government in a hurry – Luxon lists 49 priorities in 100-day plan while Peters pledges to strength...
    Buzz from the Beehive Yes, ministers in the new government are delivering speeches and releasing press statements. But the message on the government’s official website was the same as it has been for the past several days, when Point of Order went looking for news from the Beehive that had ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • DAVID FARRAR: Luxon is absolutely right
    David Farrar writes  –  1 News reports: Christopher Luxon says he was told by some Kiwis on the campaign trail they “didn’t know” the difference between Waka Kotahi, Te Pūkenga and Te Whatu Ora. Speaking to Breakfast, the incoming prime minister said having English first on government agencies will “make sure” ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 at 10 am for Thursday, Nov 30
    There are fears that mooted changes to building consent liability could end up driving the building industry into an uninsured hole. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Thursday, November 30, including:The new Government’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on how climate change threatens cricket‘s future
    Well that didn’t last long, did it? Mere days after taking on what he called the “awesome responsibility” of being Prime Minister, M Christopher Luxon has started blaming everyone else, and complaining that he has inherited “economic vandalism on an unprecedented scale” – which is how most of us are ...
    6 days ago
  • We need to talk about Tory.
    The first I knew of the news about Tory Whanau was when a tweet came up in my feed.The sort of tweet that makes you question humanity, or at least why you bother with Twitter. Which is increasingly a cesspit of vile inhabitants who lurk spreading negativity, hate, and every ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Dangling Transport Solutions
    Cable Cars, Gondolas, Ropeways and Aerial Trams are all names for essentially the same technology and the world’s biggest maker of them are here to sell them as an public transport solution. Stuff reports: Austrian cable car company Doppelmayr has launched its case for adding aerial cable cars to New ...
    6 days ago
  • November AMA
    Hi,It’s been awhile since I’ve done an Ask-Me-Anything on here, so today’s the day. Ask anything you like in the comments section, and I’ll be checking in today and tomorrow to answer.Leave a commentNext week I’ll be giving away a bunch of these Mister Organ blu-rays for readers in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • National’s early moves adding to cost of living pressure
    The cost of living grind continues, and the economic and inflation honeymoon is over before it began. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: PM Christopher Luxon unveiled his 100 day plan yesterday with an avowed focus of reducing cost-of-living pressures, but his Government’s initial moves and promises are actually elevating ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Backwards to the future
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that it will be back to the future on planning legislation. This will be just one of a number of moves which will see the new government go backwards as it repeals and cost-cuts its way into power. They will completely repeal one ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • New initiatives in science and technology could point the way ahead for Luxon government
    As the new government settles into the Beehive, expectations are high that it can sort out some  of  the  economic issues  confronting  New Zealand. It may take time for some new  ministers to get to grips with the range of their portfolio work and responsibilities before they can launch the  changes that  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    7 days ago
  • Treaty pledge to secure funding is contentious – but is Peters being pursued by a lynch mob after ...
    TV3 political editor Jenna Lynch was among the corps of political reporters who bridled, when Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters told them what he thinks of them (which is not much). She was unabashed about letting her audience know she had bridled. More usefully, she drew attention to something which ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago
  • How long does this last?
    I have a clear memory of every election since 1969 in this plucky little nation of ours. I swear I cannot recall a single one where the question being asked repeatedly in the first week of the new government was: how long do you reckon they’ll last? And that includes all ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago
  • National’s giveaway politics
    We already know that national plans to boost smoking rates to collect more tobacco tax so they can give huge tax-cuts to mega-landlords. But this morning that policy got even more obscene - because it turns out that the tax cut is retrospective: Residential landlords will be able to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: Who’s driving the right-wing bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In 2023, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS:  Media knives flashing for Luxon’s government
    The fear and loathing among legacy journalists is astonishing Graham Adams writes – No one is going to die wondering how some of the nation’s most influential journalists personally view the new National-led government. It has become abundantly clear within a few days of the coalition agreements ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    1 week ago
  • Top 10 news links for Wednesday, Nov 29
    TL;DR: Here’s my pick of top 10 news links elsewhere for Wednesday November 29, including:The early return of interest deductibility for landlords could see rebates paid on previous taxes and the cost increase to $3 billion from National’s initial estimate of $2.1 billion, CTU Economist Craig Renney estimated here last ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Smokefree Fallout and a High Profile Resignation.
    The day after being sworn in the new cabinet met yesterday, to enjoy their honeymoon phase. You remember, that period after a new government takes power where the country, and the media, are optimistic about them, because they haven’t had a chance to stuff anything about yet.Sadly the nuptials complete ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • As Cabinet revs up, building plans go on hold
    Wellington Council hoardings proclaim its preparations for population growth, but around the country councils are putting things on hold in the absence of clear funding pathways for infrastructure, and despite exploding migrant numbers. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Cabinet meets in earnest today to consider the new Government’s 100-day ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • National takes over infrastructure
    Though New Zealand First may have had ambitions to run the infrastructure portfolios, National would seem to have ended up firmly in control of them.  POLITIK has obtained a private memo to members of Infrastructure NZ yesterday, which shows that the peak organisation for infrastructure sees  National MPs Chris ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago
  • At a glance – Evidence for global warming
    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 ...
    1 week ago
  • Who’s Driving The Right-Wing Bus?
    Who’s At The Wheel? The electorate’s message, as aggregated in the polling booths on 14 October, turned out to be a conservative political agenda stronger than anything New Zealand has seen in five decades. In 1975, Bill Rowling was run over by just one bus, with Rob Muldoon at the wheel. In ...
    1 week ago

  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Further humanitarian support for Gaza, the West Bank and Israel
    The Government is contributing a further $5 million to support the response to urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, bringing New Zealand’s total contribution to the humanitarian response so far to $10 million. “New Zealand is deeply saddened by the loss of civilian life and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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