Key govt turn backs on police sex victims

Written By: - Date published: 5:38 am, August 11th, 2010 - 44 comments
Categories: crime, human rights, law and "order", national, scoundrels, sexism - Tags:

It just gets worse:

“The Government has rejected a secret forum’s recommendation that 10 women who alleged sexual misconduct by police officers get reparation.

A letter obtained by The Dominion Post reveals the forum chairwoman, Wellington lawyer Rachael Brown, recommended that the Government pay “financial redress” for alleged misconduct by police officers.”

So, the government appointed a forum to decide whether its agents had abused the powers it gave them and whether it should compensate the victims. The forum concluded they had and it should. And what did the Key government do?

“the Cabinet has ignored the recommendation… Attorney-General Chris Finlayson and the Cabinet had “seriously considered” reparation but decided against it because they believed it was not clear that it was the Government’s responsibility or duty,”

Odd that the Government would decide that given that the investigation that commissioned found “the effect of the alleged misconduct could not be underestimated” and recommended compensation.

The government’s forum decided that it had a moral duty to pay compensation because its agents had been allowed to breach the sacred trust that those women, that all of us, put in the Police. The payment was to be ex gratia – ie not out of legal responsibility for the damage caused, but a moral duty to put things right.

So where’s the government’s reasoning to overrule that, to say that there is no moral obligation?

Nowhere. It doesn’t exist.

Finlayson has resorted to legalistic talk, ignoring that this is an issue of the Crown’s moral responsibility to appoint good people as agents and adequately monitor and control them.

Sadly, I think this is just the Nats being cheap and unwilling to face their responsibilities. They don’t care about the victims of police abuse, they care about saving a few dollars to pay for tax cuts.

44 comments on “Key govt turn backs on police sex victims ”

  1. Carol 1

    Which government set up the forum? Was it the National government or the last Labour-led one?

    This report says the case has been going on for (at least) 2 and a half years:
    http://www.3news.co.nz/No-govt-compensation-for-women-raped-by-police/tabid/423/articleID/169949/Default.aspx

    It has been a lengthy struggle for the woman and nine others who have been in private negotiations with the Government over compensation.

    But after two and a half years, and a recommendation that financial redress be considered, the Government has said no.

    “We are absolutely devastated. It’s been a long time getting this forum together and

    this wasn’t the result we were wanting to get,’ the victim says.

    • Marty G 1.1

      Labour set it up after the Beazley report. I can’t imagine Labour ignoring its findings just to save a few dollars, while handing out hundreds of millions to the rich.

    • spot 1.2

      Bazley’s original report was released in March 07

    • bbfloyd 1.3

      carol… get a grip! this is not one of those times when partisan politics has any place in the debate!
      it is bad enough that our so called, “leaders” treat serious issues like this with the contempt. it is simply compounded when their apologists resort to party political point scoring to attempt to discredit the process. i can well imagine the partisan rhetoric that nact will resort to (reported as ordered by their faithful media poodles) in order to protect the police.
      some would say that this is the only option available seeing as they have been giving police the sorts of power only seen in dictatorial regimes( or the USA). not good pr to have people becoming afraid and mistrustful of the police just yet. …..

  2. Finlayson’s comment is disingenuous in the extreme. The forum recommended an “ex gratia” payment which is code for payment where there is a moral as opposed to a legal obligation to do so.

    Finlayson’s justification for not making redress is that there is no legal obligation to do so. He completely ignores the recommendation of the forum and bypasses commenting on whether or not there is a moral obligation to do so.

    I guess that “morality” is not in this Government’s vocabulary or understanding.

    • Tigger 2.1

      Funny to see him relying on legal obligation as a reason – didn’t he have a legal obligation to make correct disclosures about his trust interests? How did that work out Chris?

    • Ari 2.2

      We already knew that, micky- it was evident in their defense of their misbehaving ministers.

  3. felix 3

    Is anyone even slightly surprised at this?

    No-one who ever lived under a National govt before could be – it’s entirely within character.

  4. vto 4

    I would suggest that this sort of conduct is typical of most all governments. Governments do not hold themselves accountable.

    Other examples of governments getting things wrong and refusing all justice include compensation for agent orange, atomic testing, 245T, formaldehyde, asbestos, the list goes on and on and on and on….

    And here they are again recently expecting us to trust them on 1080 on the West Coast ………… sometimes I think those who occupy the offices of govt live in Cuckooland.

    (bit of a tangent there…)

    • felix 4.1

      ‘cept for Blinglish. He lives in Dipton.

    • Ari 4.2

      Yep, ideally when they think the constituency they’re offending is small enough and they can fly under the radar about it, they won’t do much. This is why parties with strong sub-factions are important, as is a media with a keen eye for minority interests- neither of which are currently in power. D:

  5. just saying 5

    Don’t think this decsision is primarily about money.

    There’s a funny kind of denial regarding these kinds of abuses of power. 1, The accused are completely innocent, 2, if anything happened it wasn’t that serious and/or the “vicitim” was culpable too, or provoked the situation, 3. there probably was some wrong doing, but the harm to society in rectifying the situation, outweighs any fleeting benefit to a handful of people, 4, yeah it happened but who cares? stop bleating and get a life.

    All very familiar, but I believe that in their hearts, authoritarian types manage to believe all the above at the same time, (even though they might only voice one or a blend of two (very seldom number 4). And they do it without any apparent cognitive dissonance.

    Seems to me it’s a bit like that Coen song “everybody knows”.

    And everyone knows, even if they can’t admit it, that the sort of hierarchical, authoritarian society we live in requires that we turn a blind eye, and attack the victims and others that speak out about what’s going on. Cos it’s going on all around us – those with power wantonly preying on those with less. Legally and illegally, casually and brutally, pillars of the community, and Jo ordinaries.

    This kind of action makes a clear statement. Money is a secondary consideration IMO.

    • felix 5.1

      Well put.

      If we start seriously questioning the legitimacy of power where will it all end?

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1

        Hopefully in a revolution against this corrupt government system (capitalism) and laws that have been used to maintain it.

    • Lanthanide 5.2

      Actually Finlayson was interviewed this morning on National Radio and it seems quite clear that money was the primary cause.

      When asked if they didn’t want to pay out because that would open the government to many more claims, Finlayson did not say “yes” but said instead that it becomes an issue of a “floodgate”, which in other words means if they pay money to these people, they have an unknown number of other potential claimants that they would also have to pay.

      • Marty G 5.2.1

        floodgate arguments are bollocks:

        ‘if we have to give justice to these people, imagine all the other people we’ll have to give justice to’

        everyone deserves justice. end of story.

        • Rex Widerstrom 5.2.1.1

          “Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere” – Martin Luther King

          Personally, I’m also guided by another quote that sums up everyting I’m working for at present: “Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just” (Blaise Pascal).

        • Ari 5.2.1.2

          That’s even assuming that payouts are justice. I’d much rather see accountability and reform to make sure this doesn’t happen again than the victims getting cash, because frankly a payout doesn’t mitigate the crime in any way, even if it is nicer than nothing.

      • toad 5.2.2

        So, just how many police rapists and victims of police rape are there, Mr Finlayson?

        Asked on Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report whether the Government declined to pay the victims on the basis of legal advice that more victims might also want money, Mr Finlayson said the floodgates argument, or the consequences, must always be considered.

        “We looked at the law, we looked at the notion of an ex-gratia payment and all the circumstances and a decision was made accordingly.’

        It’s extremely worrying that he is using the “floodgates” argument.

        • the pinkpostman 5.2.2.1

          Good point Toad.Just how many are there? By his underhanded answer on Morning Report one is left wondering if creepy Finayson has undisclosed information.Are there more cases to answer.
          Its all a bit scary and unsavoury.It should be of the utmost concern to not only the public but the many decent courageous police among us.

        • Ari 5.2.2.2

          If it encouraged undiscovered victims who can establish good cases to come forward, that would be a good thing in the sense that it would reveal more of the true extent of the problem.

          You can’t be pro-justice without being anti-rape, and National wants so desperately to be seen as pro-justice that this ought to be a story waiting to happen. >:(

    • coolas 5.3

      … just saying you are spot on …

      Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
      Everybody knows that the captain lied
      Everybody got this broken feeling
      Like their father or their dog just died

    • Rex Widerstrom 5.4

      You are absolutely right, just saying.

      Once again this issue isn’t peculiar to the National Party or to New Zealand. Show me one jurisdiction where undoubted malfeasance by a public officer against an ordinary citizen attracst anything other than (at best) the possibility of an ex gratia payment.

      For instance most people, regardless of their political leanings, would agree that if you are wrongly accused of a crime, you should be compensated for your costs and the damage done to your life and reputation (though they may argue over the quantum). Yet there is a distinct lack of laws on the books mandating that this be done, even in jurisdictions which collect vast amounts of money directly from people who are convicted (“proeeds of crime” and “unexplained wealth seizure” laws etc).

      If you are harmed or assaulted by a public officer, then likewise. Even if you’re just disadvantaged you surely deserve something, as you would under tort law.

      “Ex gratia” equates to “think yourself lucky, we’re doing you a favour”, and often comes attached to a gag agreement.

      It’s not about the money (though “it’d open the floodgates” is a cunning appeal to people’s increasing meanness and unwillingness to help others). It’s about the power.

  6. M 6

    The floodgate argument on Morning report made me feel sick. If the Govt thinks there may be many more women that have been victimised by our police force then they all deserve recognition and the Govt has a moral obligation to compensate them. For him to justify refusing compensation (he even used ‘allegations’ in relation to the claimants and then corrected himself because at least one of the cases saw 3 men convicted) to these victims because there may be more victims is just awful.

    Also did any one else think he sounded like a total bumbling fool? He couldn’t get a sentence out properly and Plunket nailed him pretty well, I thought.

  7. Lats 7

    With all due respoect, if the officers involved have acted inappropriately why aren’t they standing in front of a judge being sentenced? Clearly misconduct of this type, if proven, is against the law. To pay reparations based solely on an alleged act doesn\’t seem right.

  8. albatross 8

    Oh yes let’s make the government pay compensation to the victims plus the three hundred others included in bazley’s report plus the agent orange victims plus everybody who’s ever had a legitimate grievance with individuals in government anywhere.

    If government was held accountable for the actions of rogue people within it then government would be much more careful and much smaller as a result. Actually I like that idea.

    • The Voice of Reason 8.1

      It’s rare to see the inner workings of a conflicted mind laid out so clearly. Well done, Albie, terrific to see you fighting so valiantly against yourself. Sadly, I think both of your minds have lost this particular argument.

      1. Compensation is normal in a capitalist society to resolve all sorts of grievances, particularly when government agencies go wrong. Ask Rodney King or Arthur Thomas.

      2. There is no corelation between ‘careful’ government and ‘smaller’ government. In fact, I would have thought that in order to ensure that ‘care’, more people would have to be hired to weed out the rogues and oversee the rest.

  9. Sarge 9

    “The Government has rejected a secret forum’s recommendation that 10 women who alleged sexual misconduct by police officers get reparation.”

    Alleged?? As in, untested and unexamined claims?? If something is alleged, and hasn’t been tested in court, you get nothing. I’m sorry, but why should the tax payer give a cent to people who aren’t prepared to have their claims tested.

    • The Voice of Reason 9.1

      Some of them have been tested in court and at least one rapist rozzer is in the pokey as we speak.The claims have been thoroughly examined, time and time again, actually. What is broadly accepted is that there was a culture of violence towards women in the Police, even if the evidence able to be provided is not sufficient to succesfully take a criminal case against all the abusers.

      The abuse happened, Sarge. That much at least is not being denied by this pathetic government, even if compensation is.

      • Sarge 9.1.1

        And many were found innocent. How many cops have been found guilty of raping Nicholas, for example. Why use the word “alleged” if it’s been proven?

        But this is a private matter between the inidividual officers, and the accusers. Why should the tax payer foot the bill?? Or, to put it the other way, when accusations fail to hold up in court, and innocent officers lose both public respect and future prospects (ie. It was no secret that this affair cost Rickards his promotion), then should he have been able to claim compensation for lost earnings/loss of standing? If not, why not? Exact same principle.

        • bbfloyd 9.1.1.1

          sarge… dissembling is not an argument. rickard may have got off the rape charge(where did he get the hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay his large legal team?), but what did come out was that his, and his fellow officers behaviour was, at best immoral.
          there were more than enough questionmarks left hanging over them to justify his treatment by administrations of any ilk.
          you seem not to understand that law enforcement becomes more difficult the less respect society has for the police in general. to be respected, you need to live in a respectable manner.
          this is patently not the case with the above.

        • The Voice of Reason 9.1.1.2

          Rickards did get compo, you wally. He was paid off because even the police couldn’t stand to have him around. He was on over $300k a year and presumably got a payout of that much or more. Not bad dosh, if you don’t mind not being able to look your kids in the eye.

          So why shouldn’t his victims get something for all he, and a lot of his colleagues, did? Remember he admitted doing bad shit while in uniform, on police time and actually used police equipment as part of the abuse.

      • Lats 9.1.2

        Firstly, let me state that I am no friend of the Nats, I’ve voted on the left my entire life.

        I have no issue with appropriate compensation being paid when it is clear that the state, either directly or through an agent, acts in a manner which deliberately or negligently leads to harm. But I feel a bit uneasy about decisions like this being made by “a secret forum”, and I don’t really care which government set it up. The acid test for guilt and/or accountability must be to have those accused stand before a court of law. If needs be, for the security of the victim, these court sessions can be private and have the public and press barred. But if the “evidence able to be provided is not sufficient to successfully take a criminal case against all the abusers” then by our legal system the “abusers” must be found not guilty. To do otherwise is to assume guilt without evidence, something I would expect from a dictatorship or fascist regime. If the abuse is as endemic as is claimed (and I’m not saying it isn’t) then rather than pointing the finger at an individual officer, perhaps the case should be taken against the police organisation as a whole. But to award compensation for alleged claims without trying the case in a court of law is simply wrong.

        • mcflock 9.1.2.1

          not quite – the govt paying compensation to apparent victims of apparently corrupt police in no way punishes a particular police officer.

          Whether alleged rapists are able to question the sexual history or truthfulness of their alleged victim is another issue entirely – not touching that with a bargepole, even if I felt confident about an opinion one way or another (wasn’t there a case a couple of years back where the defendant defended himself and put one of his victims on the stand for several days, reliving the event in precise detail?).

          But for an organisation to sit down and say “it looks like that even if there is no proof beyond reasonable doubt that person X did Y to you, it looks probable that we, as an organisation, owe you an apology and here is some compensation as a token of our remorse”.

          If more organisations did that, rather than covering up and protecting their members from accusation and justice, the world would be a happier place.

          • Lats 9.1.2.1.1

            That sounds a great deal like hush money to me. If someone in the Nats suggested the Police should pay to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct commentators from the left would all over them, and vice versa.

            Would you like some fries with that hypocrisy sir? 😉

            • mcflock 9.1.2.1.1.1

              no. Hush money is conditional on (or at least to encourage) the recipient remaining silent, hence the word “hush”.

              What I’m talking about is, particularly after the criminal cases are done and dusted, whether the organisation recognises itself as being to some degree morally culpable for the probable actions of individuals.

              Of course, there would be no apparent moral culpability if the organisation had clearly worked to identify and prevent wrongdoing by its members, and supported complainants through the process in the first place.

  10. bobo 10

    Not sure out of Finlayson or Hide which one I detest more with their arrogance. How much will legal fees be costing in defending this dragging on for years as apposed to paying out now to the claimants who cases have been proven in court ?

    • jcuknz 10.1

      I understand that only one of the eight has had her case proved in court, the other seven were dismissed …I’m sure that is what she said on NatRad yesterday morning. I’m a little suspicious of the Labour Minister of Police commenting because it looks as if she put off doing anything until ‘after the election’ and as we know Labour lost. Not that I disagree with her. Surely this is something that can be handled through ACC. I’m sure in the past they have helped with cases of mental distress or whatever you want to call it.

  11. johnbrash 11

    That Mr Key is raping New Zealand just like those policemen raped those women.

    • Ari 11.1

      That is completely disgusting and inappropriate. There is no analogy between someone optimistically (or perhaps just blindly or ignorantly) pursuing failing policies and rape. None at all.

    • felix 11.2

      Yeah that’s a pretty insensitive turn of phrase, to put it mildly.

  12. Treetop 12

    “Cops do not up hold the law by breaking it.”

    David Trappitt’s NZ police guidelines not being followed is why Dewar spent time in a prison cell.

    I have taken a different approach to my problems with police management which spans over 30 years as I was not sexually assaulted by the police, but due to being summoned to CIB in 1979 and silenced and bullied the CIB inquisition triggered the impact of being sexually abused when age 7 which resulted in being afflicted by PTSD in 1979 and due to the police not investigating what a police officer boy friend told me (when age 16) about a politician who was forced to resign from parliament, the PTSD has been intensified and prolonged. By the time I am finished with my ACC claim, which a psychiatrist expects me to single handedly prove the incompetence of the police, (I will expose many people) and it is my hope that the public see how dishonest police management is.

    Unfortunately I have crossed paths with Clint Rickards in 2002. Three current police superintendents have reiterated a defamatory statement initially made by C.R Rickards to the last three ministers of police, and other defamatory statements have been added on by the three superintendents. (I want to see the secret deal for compensation as the government do not fully understand that the police sexual assault complainants have been retraumatised by authority). ACC have paid out undercover cops for years, rightly so as their employer, the police played with their emotions and psychological reasoning.

    I have approached a number of people in the last five years, because my case is so complex, I do not have the financial resources and the terms of reference in Dame Bazley’s inquiry excluded me, I have been denied justice. I consider going through the IPCA as being a waste of time.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T16:37:57+00:00