Key Govt asset stripping state housing

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, April 25th, 2014 - 54 comments
Categories: assets, class war, cost of living, housing, labour, mana-party, phil twyford, poverty, Privatisation, Public Private Partnerships, same old national - Tags:

Simon Collins in today’s NZ Herald reports on some damning revelations that Phi Twyford exposed via an OIA (Official Information Act) request for documents.

National government state house sales Tamaki Housing Group

Some of the intent to use finance gained at the expense of the government’s run-down of state housing never eventuated.  However, there is evidence that the government is planning to continue running down state housing to the benefit of non- government entities, including some from overseas.

Housing New Zealand considered using an insurance payout for Christchurch earthquake damage to meet an unexpected demand to pay higher dividends to the Government in 2011, official letters disclose.

The heavily edited letters, provided to Labour housing spokesman Phil Twyford under the Official Information Act, show that the corporation also slowed down its repairs and maintenance to fund an unexpected $45 million jump in the dividend required that year – from $63 million agreed in the agency’s statement of intent to $108 million.

The documents also reveal that Housing NZ plans to raise $383 million in the three years to June 2016 by selling or leasing state houses to community and iwi groups and “the possible introduction of third party equity via possible overseas providers”.

This is the first time anyone has mentioned foreign companies being involved in planned state house sales, and Mr Twyford said it might point to possible public/private partnerships to redevelop state housing.

“They have reduced the net number of state houses by 700 in the last 12 months. They are using it as a cash cow in the middle of a housing shortage.”

This clearly shows the government approach to state housing: to run it down at a time when housing unafforability is hitting those on low incomes the hardest.  And the plan is to hand over more of the operations of “social” and other rental housing to non-government or private entities. This will increase the unaffordability of housing for those on low incomes.

I would like to see the Labour Party match the Mana and/or Green Partys’ policies of increasing state housing.  The Green Party policy states:

* Increase acquisition and building of state housing units by at least 3000 units a year for the next 3 years.

* Maintain an income related rental policy of 25% of income for Housing New Zealand Corporation tenants.

The Mana Party policy states:

* Build 20,000 more state houses within the next two years.  This will start to deal with the current crisis in housing availability for low income people, and will also create jobs and training opportunities.

* Maintain income related rents at no more than 25% of income for state, local government and community and iwi social housing.

Good work Mr Twyford on the OIA.  I’m still waiting to see a strong commitment from Labour to increase the state housing stock.

state housing

Micky Savage crowd

 

54 comments on “Key Govt asset stripping state housing ”

  1. Sacha 2

    Govt finding a way for global financiers to clip the ticket again at our expense. Charming.

  2. greywarbler 3

    A worthy subject for Anzac Day karol. The men and women who died or were wounded in the wars that we have fought were fighting for a NZ that was a good place to live in where people had rights and weren’t under the yoke of harsh oppressors. Unfortunately the actions of successive governments have resulted in their falling into this category, for many in NZ. And their first thought is not for the betterment of all NZs, including the absolute need for secure and warm housing.

    Housing that provides secure and comfortable living and amenities is a basic need, second only to food and water for people who are part of society. Without a place of their own, even a secure room with additional attractive amenities attached, people become outsiders.

    And about private interests. This happened in Britain and there were notable cases of corruption some years ago. Private landlords creaming off money and having neglected slums for poor and needy people. We know what will happen. And right wing governments don’t care to do a better job for their electors than the private rankrenters do for their customers.

    Labour – you have to start doing something immediately you get in about this. Not just promise 10,000 new houses a year. Work with the bad system and take out the pus.

    • the pigman 3.1

      The situation with ex-council housing in London is atrocious. I spent 2 years living in such a place owned by a witch, paying 1600 quid a month for a 2 bedroom place in Bethnal Green. She had picked up numerous other Council flats in the area/Hackney and took almost 2 months to send someone when the washing machine broke down. She would regularly threaten us with eviction for (very quietly) playing music after 8pm because it upset the mentally-disabled guy downstairs. Such a powerless and soul-corroding experience.

  3. tc 4

    Another willing destruction of public assets for a few sheckles to try and plug the hole they punched in crown revenue with the fiscally negative tax cuts.

    Any dividend should be ploughed straight back into hew housing stock so they’ve done this knowing it will impact the state of our already low public housing numbers, so it’s cynical and focused on areas that don’t vote for them.

    Good work Mr Twyford now how about getting this fact out and about to wake the sheeple up to the nats

  4. James 5

    Ah the good old 10000 houses a year that they still have not costed or given sale prices, or proved that they can be built for x unless it’s miles away from the cities (where the jobs are). Yeah the thinking public really believe that is going to happen (esp in Auckland where it is most needed). Is laughable

    • Plan B 5.1

      you could build them in Devonport, plenty of government land available. close to the city.

  5. Karen 6

    Labour really do need to announce some policy that supports an increase in the number of State houses if it is serious about getting children out of poverty. Children need to grow up in decent, stable housing as a basic need, and without it their health will suffer and they will do badly at school. State housing should be available in every suburb – not just in deprived areas. Rents need to be based on income. I was brought up in a state house in a suburb that had a very wide range of housing with state houses scattered throughout. It was a brilliant scheme that meant the local schools didn’t just have really poor kids with all the problems that can accompany poverty.

    Of course I’d prefer to get rid of poverty but that will take much longer. In the meantime, let’s make sure there is decent hosing for all.

    • Descendant Of Sssmith 6.1

      Labour have no interest in it’s old socialist principles.

      8 hour working day
      40 hour working week
      Right to strike
      progressive taxation
      plentiful state housing for life
      regional development
      decent benefit rates
      free secular education
      free childcare

      “In the meantime, let’s make sure there is decent hosing for all.”

      Both national and Labour do that to the poor.

      • Mary 6.1.1

        It’s time we abandoned Labour. Cunliffe was full of it when he talked about all this wonderful change. They’ve had almost three terms in opposition to get its welfare and housing policy sorted out and despite pressure from the Left have done nothing. We can only take from that that Labour will do nothing again. I’m sick to death of them. It’s time the Left gave Labour the boot and put energy into the Greens and Mana even if it means another three years of the nactoids in the meantime. Labour’s so stuffed that if that’s the price we have to pay then so be it. When will the Left reaslise that Labour no longer cares about the poor? We’ve been such suckers to keep hanging on thinking that one day they’ll change. Labour won’t change and it’s time to cut them loose.

      • greywarbler 6.1.2

        Decent hosing! We are already suffering a regular dousing from both God and the NACTs always at inappropriate times and places.

      • mikesh 6.1.3

        “In the meantime, let’s make sure there is decent hosing for all.”

        Soak the poor, ya reckon?

  6. captain hook 7

    so whats new? its the policy of all National Governments to reap where they have not sowed.

  7. Paul 8

    Savage’s dream being ripped to pieces by the puppet of international capital.

  8. Will@Welly 9

    Savage, Lee and all those who lived through the depression era knew the value of decent housing. That’s why state housing was introduced. The by-product was jobs and training. After the second world war, would New Zealand’s economy really have coped without state housing?
    The answer is no. The reason for that is as we can see today, as that department has been run down by successive governments, New Zealand now faces a housing crisis.
    As for overseas entities coming in to take over “social housing” what a joke!! New Zealand pioneered so much, now under the most corrupt Government the country has seen, our sovereignty, our way of life, our culture, our very being, is being sold off to any one for whatever as long as it benefits the Tory oligarchy.

  9. Descendant Of Sssmith 10

    And wtf is with a government who wants profit, let alone an increased profit, out of a government department who runs housing at a time there is a housing shortage.

    So they are taking an extra $45 million dollars out of housing.

    At the same time they are reviewing 800 tenants who are near market rent to kick some of them out. As they will be the higher paying tenants this will further reduce their revenue streams ( logically they will be replaced by lower earning tenants) so where will this money come from.

    At the same time they are going to start subsidising private landlords (through social housing ) which will take further money off HNZ. As if private landlords don’t already get enough subsidsation through accommodation supplement and the tax system.

    So three actions designed to destroy state housing.

    Align that to the separation of assessment of need from the delivery and the maintenance of the houses themselves, look back at the 80’s and 90’s and you would reach a logical conclusion that if National gets in next term the whole housing stock will be up for sale. – cause you know there’s no f’n alternative.

    Completing what Labour started – the complete destruction of the state except for politicians, policing and imprisonment.

    Remember part of the strategy will be to make it too expensive (in theory) to get the housing sold off back or to rebuild. Just like Labour bulldozed the hospital wards or the railway workshops as quickly as they could once they closed them.

    These pricks know how to destroy.

  10. RRM 11

    People complain that old state houses are damp and cold.

    So the Govt sells the old state houses to fund the construction of new better state houses.

    And what message does the left take from that?

    “ZOMFG John Key is SELLING STATE HOUSES!”

    For goodness’ sake…

    • Descendant Of Sssmith 11.1

      The housing are being sold to pay an increased dividend to the government.

      Along the way some new houses are being built.

      The total state housing stock continues to decline.

      You don’t need to sell a house to make it warm or to rebuild it.

      Most state houses aren’t cold or damp and they have done people very well for generations.

      The state housing stock should have increased in line with population growth but has not.

    • TeWhareWhero 11.2

      Ah, so the government is selling damp, cold State houses to poor people or to landlords who will rent them to poor people. That’s as sensible as it is humane.

      “….to fund the construction of new better state houses” – you clearly know something I don’t.

      The sale of social housing is another one of those monetarist practical jokes.

      So that poor people can get onto the housing ladder, the State sells them something that they already part own. The poor people borrow money from private banks thus making themselves perpetual debtors and paying a fortune in interest and opportunity costs, and hostage to interest rates. Unless they can make a significant capital gain on selling the house (unlikely unless they have been able to improve it and the neighbourhood in which it’s located) they are worse off than they would have been in social housing – or even in a good quality private rental.

      A lot of social housing is sold on a ‘buy to rent’ basis, and all those reality TV programmes that talk up the buy to rent boom as a great thing are careful to avoid giving any air time to the slum landlords and those who have made squillions from buying social housing in prime locations. Their function is to perpeutate the notion that it’s all about empowering the ‘Mum and Dad’ investor – another one of those chimeras.

      • miravox 11.2.1

        “So that poor people can get onto the housing ladder, the State sells them something that they already part own.”

        They can’t even get a chance to buy the houses they already part own. Even if the poor could get the mortgage they needed for their first home the property vultures snap houses up far too quickly.

    • Jackal 11.3

      There’s a few paragraphs you missed out there RRM.

      People complain that old state houses are damp and cold.

      But instead of making those houses watertight and liveable again for the thousands of eligible New Zealander’s needing assistance, National decides to have a fire sale. They also cut the amount of state houses being built and spin this socially destructive policy with their usual propaganda that is happily promoted by a compliant and biased media. The forced evictions see very little coverage and because they predominantly affect people who wouldn’t normally vote for the Natz anyway, they simply don’t care.

      So the Govt sells the old state houses to fund the construction of new better state houses.

      However the government only manages to sell a few state houses to their rich mates that are in prime locations leaving many thousands of houses empty after their forced evictions. Some of these get vandalized making them even less desirable for investors and house hunters. Many of these former homes are then demolished and not replaced by any type of new build. That’s why the overall amount of state houses is in decline under this right wing government.

      Between 2008 and 2011 the overall state houses available declined by 171. National also managed to increase the amount of vacant state houses by a whopping 471 in the same time period. 256 houses were demolished.

      But don’t let these facts get in the way of your blind devotion to John Key RRM…egg!

      • RRM 11.3.1

        “However the government only manages to sell a few state houses to their rich mates that are in prime locations leaving many thousands of houses empty after their forced evictions.”

        State houses should not be in prime locations. They should be in cheap locations, so that the available funds can stretch to as many state houses as possible. The goal of state housing is to provide roofs over needy heads, not to provide a swish lifestyle to those who can’t afford to pay for it.

        “But don’t let these facts get in the way of your blind devotion to John Key RRM…egg!”

        I have a small framed photo of Dr Cullen in the living room of our house, because without Kiwisaver we would never have got our deposit together in the time we did, and we’d still be renting right now.

        We also have a coarse mat outside the front door, where visitors can wipe their prejudices off their boots before they com inside. Egg.

        • RedLogix 11.3.1.1

          State houses should not be in prime locations. They should be in cheap locations, so that the available funds can stretch to as many state houses as possible.

          Which indeed they originally were as a rule.

        • Te Reo Putake 11.3.1.2

          Jeez, learn some history, why doncha. The first wave of state houses were built in areas that were, at the time, far from being prime locations. Many still are in lower socio economic areas, but, as our cities have grown, some state house areas have become prime real estate indirectly and unintentionally (cf Orakei). If this Government was into selling the now desirable houses in order to build many more, I’d be Ok with it. But they ain’t. They despise the poor, something you probably have in common with them.

        • Jackal 11.3.1.3

          Segregation based on income isn’t very forward thinking RRM.

  11. RRM 12

    “The poor people borrow money from private banks thus making themselves perpetual debtors and paying a fortune in interest and opportunity costs, and hostage to interest rates.”

    Oh, I see, you’re a child. It all makes sense now.

    Houses cost what they cost. If you can’t afford to pay cash for one, (and who can?) there is a competitive market of banks who will loan you a hell of a lot of money, if they like the look of you, and the interest rates on this have NEVER been lower.

    If you don’t want to be a part of that, then don’t. Some of the most astute young guys I know are renting as cheaply as they can, staying out of debt, and putting their savings into shares or managed funds or other things rather than paying off a mortgage just because that’s what other people do. Do you know WHY you want to buy into this owning the roof over your head lark? Are you sure?

    Don’t be a victim, don’t pretend your woes are all due to some malign big bastard pulling the strings, that belief will get you nowhere.

    • RedLogix 12.1

      Well I remember that my parents purchased a very nice house in a very good part of Epsom about 40 years ago for $18,000. (And when I mean nice I mean that I my paper boy run cut through Government House.)

      Now if I apply the CPI over those 40 years General Inflation has increased about 10 times, wages about 13 times and the value of that house about 110 times. Where do you think all that extra money came from RRM?

      And here is the fascinating thing. That house originally cost about 1300 Pounds to build some 70 years ago. The section would have been a few hundred quid. Yet in the intervening years the banks have taken in a total mortgage interest on that property in the order of many, many millions of dollars.

      A very peculiar system really.

      • joe90 12.1.1

        Same, in 1981 earning $157 a week and a first home at $23,000 was three years nett income. The same house is on the market today at $265,000 – eight years nett income according to the inflation calculator.

        • dave 12.1.1.1

          you got it Joe house should cost no more that 3x income that is affordable debt can be serviced
          us housing market collapsed at 5 x income Auckland is at 10 x income jesse columbo has got it right kaboom is coming!

    • TeWhareWhero 12.2

      “Oh, I see, you’re a child. It all makes sense now.”

      Out of the mouths of babes and all that.

      The rest of your post doesn’t make much more sense.

    • blue leopard 12.3

      RRM,

      There is a social issue involved with high house prices and decreasing ownership.

      Those that rent are more likely to fall under the poverty threshold.
      Those who are using mortgages to buy when house prices are high – have less disposable income – are putting their money into banks (banks profit) – this means less custom for businesses.

      The Poverty Measurement Project discovered that if you are retired and don’t own a house you are more likely to be under the poverty threshold. Therefore this issues feeds into the whole issue of the financial cost of ensuring retired people are well catered for.

      i.e. This issue of increasing house prices, speculating on houses so that an individual (or one family) profits, and decreasing home ownership is at the expense of many and the county’s economy as a whole – it is leading to greater levels of poverty and increasing inequality.

  12. Marius 13

    Marcus Lush asked John Key in an interview a couple of days out from last Christmas if it is a busy time of year for the Key family. ‘Yes’ replied the pm – ‘Bronnie’s putting up the Christmas tree which is always a busy time – but that’s ok, a couple of guys from the store are delivering it and will help her set it up’. Waaaahhh the stress.

  13. Jim47 14

    First of all I want to say that I saw D.C on tele this morning at the ANZAC service so that should encourage him that he was not left out .(poor we thing).
    Second when you report on news paper articles you should report on the whole article and not be shifty like your leader .
    When referring to diverdents the article pointed out that under labour they were higher than under national.
    Also it said that the selling of the houses to build better ones ,that money was not part of the diverdent nor was the insurance money from the earthquake .
    As far as Micky savage and co was in the thirties they would not have bar of what the Labour Party is today as a matter of fact they would be rolling in their graves.
    My grandfather was an original member of the Labour Party and what he and my grandmother told me as I grew up is nothing like you are presenting now.
    Any way to harp back to the thirties in the hope that you will get some votes isn’t going to work.
    I started voting labour but never again.
    This country needs an effective opposition and we have not got one.
    The worry is that it is going to be the greens soon and that is more concern than what we have now.

    [lprent: Perhaps you should read the post. It was written by karol who isn’t a member of any party and generally couldn’t be regarded as a Labour party supporter. So trying to suggest that she regards David Cunliffe as her “leader” would have to be one of the more pig-ignorant statements by a concern troll that I have seen recently.

    Looking through the rest of the waffle in your comment. It shows the same care and attention to detail. For instance it was talking about some letters in 2011.

    Basically I’d say you are simply lying through the whole thing – just as you have in the past under other names.

    We really do need to encourage a better informed level of trolling ]

    • greywarbler 14.1

      Jim47
      You’re a twit – why don;’t you go out and dig the garden like your wise old parents taught you to knowing that you would never be one to make it relying on your mental acumen.
      My grandfather was an original member of the Labour Party and what he and my grandmother told me as I grew up is nothing like you are presenting now.
      Any way to harp back to the thirties in the hope that you will get some votes isn’t going to work.
      I started voting labour but never again.

      Yet so many commenters here are harping back to what their wise old grandfathers and mothers and fathers et al told them and Labour don’t know what they are saying or doing and the Greens might overwhelm us and oh dear i don’t know how we had the strength and bravery as a country to fight in two world wars because we are so scared of people like the greens who would like to save our environment and our country from being a waste land and us all becoming unemployed and barefoot as so many did during the Depression. That needed a World War to get through to our drongoes of right wing politicians. The cure is as bad as the disease. Wouldn’t it be good if we could do things better now Jim47?

      Here is a song about this sort of thing, not to play with the gypsies in the wood! If you are too slow to pick up the analogy, the gypsies are in this case like your attitude to the Greens.

  14. greywarbler 15

    The religious fellow was talking about housing at the memorial service I went to! It would be ‘naice’ to hear some real negative emotion about war and approved killing at these ritual remembrances, and also about a happy future to aim for, caring for each other in a practical way by organising jobs and housing as was done for the returned servicemen.

    John 14.2
    New International Version
    My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

    (Did others hear the interview about the background to the book The Land Girls about the wonderful young women, facing dislike, suspicion, prejudice at times, who went and learned to do the hard jobs helping to grow the food so desperately needed?)

  15. Awww 16

    Here is an interested TM discussion regarding commercial lending rates for residential landlords. Sounds like people owning more than 5 properties have already found ways around this so that it hasn’t actually discouraged people from owning multiple properties (and therefore pushing the price up due to demand) after all.

    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Community/MessageBoard/Messages.aspx?id=1418559&topic=21

  16. greywarbler 17

    Red Logix may like to comment on this from Awwwv at 16.

  17. RedBaronCV 18

    What’s with this government and leaving large amounts of state housing empty? Generally they seeem to be saying it is not up to earthquake standard, and I’m sure they are not up to the new earthquake standards, along with needing insulation and yes they may be houses nearing the end of their life. But if chimmnys are taken down, as they a major earthquake worry, then surely these houses are still better and safer than a garage, the back of a car, staying on in a refuge, another overcrowded house etc.etc amd would provide a better and surely cheaper roof over people’s heads than many of them now have?

    For goodness sake private owners and landlords are not clearing themselves or tenants out of houses for earthquake standards.
    Looks like NACT excuses not a real reason.

  18. Ad 19

    Top work Twyford.

    If a new progressive govt spent much of its political capital tilting NZ real estate capitalism through Capital Gains Tax, foreign owner restriction, house building policy, and reforming HNZ, that would be a fair terms’ work (would have to be root and branch and HNZ).

    All power to you Phil.

  19. Thanks for posting on this Karol. Just had a chance to catch up with it. Some responses to various points made above:

    The important thing here is that since it came to office National have made a net withdrawal of $216m from Housing NZ, and are budgeting to take out another $252m over the next three years. They are asset stripping Housing NZ in the middle of a housing crisis.
    Nick Smith’s defence that Labour took out a big dividend in one year ($176m in 2002) is pathetic. During its years in office the 5th Labour Government made a net injection of $430m.
    The OIA documents show Housing NZ intended to fund the dividends Ministers were demanding by using money from the Canterbury earthquake payout, cutting front line staff shutting offices and making tenants use an 0800 number to contact the organisation, and delaying repairs and maintenance of state houses.
    National have also reduced the total number of state houses by 700 over the past year. Waiting lists have blown out to 5000, and there are about 3000 state houses lying empty.
    They are taking away security, perhaps the most important aspect of state housing – rolling out tenancy reviews for all state house tenants including pensioners, the sick and disabled, and families with young children.
    Under National, Housing NZ have undertaken a series of “redevelopment” projects in Glen Innes, Maraenui and Pomare where tenants have been evicted with no commitment that they will be able to return to their community.
    We need more state and social housing. Labour will announce policy on this in the next few months.
    We will also:

    * implement a Capital Gains Tax excluding the family home
    * restrict purchase of residential property to NZ citizens and residents
    * build 100,000 affordable homes for first home buyers
    * legislate minimum standards for heating and insulation for all rental properties.

    • miravox 20.1

      <a href=”http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9980030/Priority-family-living-in-tent>Meantime, a brighter future

      Great to see Phil commenting and I applaud the policies that will improve housing affordability. However, Murray Olsen (below) is right, imo. A concerted effort to provide better social housing is urgent. I’m saying this from a position to compare the 60% social housing in the city, rent controls, long-term leases and proactive housing research and State-led development for future housing needs in Vienna with the free-for-all developers and landlords and decline in social housing in New Zealand.

      Any housing policy that can’t urgently address the housing needs of the Houia family is unconscionably lacking. Just appalling. I cannot believe that people will vote for a government that will not address the basic need of people for affordable, safe housing. Basic, basic stuff.

    • karol 20.2

      Thanks for the added information and clarification, Phil.

      I am pleased to hear that Labour will be announcing something about the need for more state and social housing. I am hoping it will include a substantial state housing building programme.

      Good work on the OIA.

  20. Murray Olsen 21

    The housing problem is urgent and I can’t see any way out of it other than a large state house building program. This would also have payoffs in terms of health, employment, and education. There is no downside. Programs helping young professionals into ownership of $300k or $400k just don’t cut the mustard and may actually do a lot of harm by pushing minimum prices up. Capital gains tax is also just playing around the edges, as is cutting back on foreign speculators. Even without them, prices are already so high because of the perverted distribution of wealth in Aotearoa that many people will still be locked out.

    In the meantime, an IRD actually interested in catching tax evaders could maybe read Trademe and arrange for the people boasting about their trickiness to have a chat with the Serious Fraud Office. A few confiscations of the proceeds of crime, including digging into trusts, would soon see these creeps on their best behaviour. However, taking money off beneficiaries who’ve dared to accept an air ticket seems to be much more of a priority.

  21. Treetop 22

    As an interim measure the accommodation supplement needs to be increased, (those who are really struggling would benefit the most).

    The housing stock (both public/private and single/family) needs to be increased without further delay. Single accommodation targets those with complex health needs and an aging population. Family accommodation keeps children at school, away from the GP/hospital and carers of children can reduce their stress due to reduced accommodation costs.

    In every aspect of housing the government has not delivered and they will continue to go backwards due to their USELESS housing policies.

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    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

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