Key missing the big picture

Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, September 22nd, 2011 - 58 comments
Categories: bill english, capitalism, Economy, john key - Tags: , ,

It’s a bit of a worry that the PM seems to be clueless about the complexity and interdependence of the world economy.  Only from a state of blissful ignorance could Key be claiming that she’ll be right:

PM not too worried by IMF’s alarm bells

Prime Minister John Key is apparently not too alarmed by the IMF’s declaration that the global economy has entered a dangerous new phase. …

“We have a vastly different position to Greece. I mean our Government debt is about 20% of GDP, their’s is well over a hundred percent,” he said.  “We’re much more conservative. We’ll be back in surplus in three years, they’ve got no chance of being back in surplus probably for 20 years.”

Yes indeed, we can all thank the last Labour government that we went in to the global recession with zero net debt.  That gave National plenty of room to run debt up again without reaching dangerous levels.  But to brush off the IMF’s warning (coming just days after the World Bank warning) displays a fundamental lack of understanding.  Perhaps Bill English could take John aside and explain it to him:

Bill English predicts hard times for the economy

Driving the government’s austerity is the fundamental goal of getting back into surplus by 2014/15 after running some of the biggest deficits in the country’s history following the global recession.

“At the moment we’re on track for that,” English says. “But there are any number of circumstances that would put pressure on that goal – potential disruption in European financial markets, a slowdown in developed economies, and maybe China.

English is plodding along with unimaginative and destructive policies, the wrong solution to the wrong problem, but at least he understands that the New Zealand economy is a tiny insignificant cork tossed on a turbulent global sea. He should take John Key aside and explain to him that we will not be immune to the rapidly approaching Recession II.

58 comments on “Key missing the big picture ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Carol 1
    22 September 2011 at 8:20 am

    Jon Key is a Used Economic/Financial Systems Salesman. He knows the economy is in a dodgey and dangerous state, but he’ll keep putting positive spin on it for the punters.

    • Craig Glen Eden 1.1
      22 September 2011 at 8:33 am

      Yup Key should have said thank God for Michael Cullen when all us idiots wanted tax cuts he paid back Government debt. The big picture for Key is selling what is left of our state assets so he dosnt want to scare the punters if he can get three more years he rape NZ for all its worth.

      • Enough is Enough 1.1.1
        22 September 2011 at 2:25 pm

        Yup Key should have said thank God for Michael Cullen who paid back Government debt from increased revenue that was the earned from us all going on a spending binge with borrowed money.

        Yup, the good old debt switch which is and will continue to hold back consumer spending while those loans and credit cards are paid off.

        Thank you Dr Cullen.

        • Puddleglum 1.1.1.1
          22 September 2011 at 7:34 pm

          “Michael Cullen who paid back Government debt from increased revenue that was the earned from us all going on a spending binge with borrowed money.”

          Can’t recall that law Labour passed that made it compulsory for everyone to take out bank loans on the house to (a) buy more houses; (b) renovate houses; (c) go on holidays; (d) buy the boat. Whatever happened to that old-fashioned right wing notion of ‘personal responsibility’ when you really need it???

          About all the then government could have done further to stop that credit binge on the back of property would have been to introduce a CGT – now, there’s a thought. 

  2. kriswgtn 2
    22 September 2011 at 8:39 am

    Key will be fin,e hes got his millions 🙂 and doesnt give a fuck about anyone else @ the end of the day

  3. mickysavage 3
    22 September 2011 at 8:40 am

    The scary thing is that Key’s “I’m relaxed about that” strikes a chord with the sector of voters that tend to decide elections.  They see a leader that makes them relax.  They do not realise that he is driving them in a bus at full speed towards the edge of a cliff but he allows them to not worry about the future.
     
    Blind ignorance is much more fun than looking to the future and realising that things are not going to be the same.
     

    • tc 3.1
      22 September 2011 at 9:54 am

      Yup MS talking to a long term umemployed person the other day who’s going to vote for them because ‘he’s a self made man’ …..turkeys, here comes christmas.

  4. Afewknowthetruth 4
    22 September 2011 at 9:32 am

    The Nazis worked out that Jews going to their deaths were a lot happier about it and put up less resistance if the station of their destination was nicely painted and had tubs of flowers etc., and had signs saying ‘hot showers this way’.

    Key and English are not ‘clueless’. They are working to a plan which has proven successful over and over again, a plan which includes them being richly rewarded for bringing feudal-style debt slavery and a much, much bigger gap between the rich and poor to NZ.

  5. AAMC 5
    22 September 2011 at 9:58 am

    Interesting his acknowledgment of our relayively low Government Debt

    “We have a vastly different position to Greece. I mean our Government debt is about 20% of GDP, their’s is well over a hundred percent,”

    when they’re Austerity meme has relied on emphasizing our debt problem.

    On another economic note…

    “Are economists ignoring Australia’s property bubble?”
    http://theconversation.edu.au/are-economists-ignoring-australias-property-bubble-3268

  6. dave brown 6
    22 September 2011 at 10:09 am

    Why would Key admit to global problems affecting NZ 8 weeks out from an election?
    Get real and tell us how Labour is going to rescue the NZ ‘cork’ in this maelstrom.
    I would say follow the course of action for Greece which is repudiate the debt as the bosses’ debt, nationalise all the key sectors of the economy including the Aussie banks and plan our way out of this mess.

  7. queenstfarmer 7
    22 September 2011 at 10:16 am

    we can all thank the last Labour government that we went in to the global recession with zero net debt

    That’s nothing to thank, because it’s no acheivement. Any big-spending Govt can immediately have zero debt via fiscal policy. The question is how much damage (or lost opportunity) is done to the economy in the meantime. And in Labour’s case, the cost was very bad.

    • r0b 7.1
      22 September 2011 at 10:23 am

      Any big-spending Govt can immediately have zero debt via fiscal policy.

      Can they indeed? Please send a memo to Greece, they will be very pleased to hear the news.

      Whereas Labour actually paid off debt and left things in good shape, as Bill English, the IMF,  Treasury, and the Governor of the Reserve Bank all agreed.

      And in Labour’s case, the cost was very bad.

      Not according to the actual facts, or to Reserve bank Governor Dr Allan Bollard in 2008:

      We have enjoyed a decade of growth, the longest period of economic growth since the post-World War 2 era. Inflation has been low, averaging 2.2 per cent since 1998.

    • Craig Glen Eden 7.2
      22 September 2011 at 11:08 am

      So a Government that increases Government debt has high inflation and is seeing real wages go backwards and has the economy performing poorly is good… because you voted for them one can only rationalize using the same logic you use for your dislike of Keith Lock.
      But a Government that reduces poverty grows the economy and pays back debt is no good because you didnt vote for them.I think the following slogan sums you up “good on ya maaate”

    • Colonial Viper 7.3
      22 September 2011 at 11:33 am

      Any big-spending Govt can immediately have zero debt via fiscal policy.

      Every man woman and child in Greece owes the equivalent of US$50K to foreign governments and foreign bankers.

      Tell me, what fiscal policy is going to pay that off?

      I can think of one policy, and its not a fiscal one.

      Strategic debt default. Greece has done it many times before, and it will do it again.

      • vto 7.3.1
        22 September 2011 at 11:40 am

        “Every man woman and child in Greece owes the equivalent of US$50K to foreign governments and foreign bankers.”

        You see though, that is not the case. Just like it is not us who owes the debt here in NZ. It is owed by the government. It aint nowt to do with me, except through the jackboots of the state forcing it from my wallet through threat of physical sanction, which goes by another name in some circles…

        Let the stupid lenders suffer. There is no rule which says that the world will end if a loan is not repaid. Every loan comes with a risk of non-repayment. Dumb-arse lenders for lending to a bad credit-risk.

        Default!

    • Lanthanide 7.4
      22 September 2011 at 12:18 pm

      Here you come again with your sophistry about how easy it is to run a surplus. No one’s really interested in your boring word games, qsf.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.5
      22 September 2011 at 12:25 pm

      Well, it looks like QSF has joined burt and big bruv in the Ministry of Truth.

    • bbfloyd 7.6
      22 September 2011 at 2:07 pm

      queeny….. forgive me… i had no idea that your surname was canutte….

      • kriswgtn 7.6.1
        22 September 2011 at 3:13 pm

        lol

      • Ianupnorth 7.6.2
        22 September 2011 at 3:24 pm

        Here’s a defence of QSF, at least he has the balls to front – where are the always absent Chris73, HS and Big Bruv on these threads
        Answer Missing in action; he (QSF) at least has an opinion, even if we all realise he is quite wrong; it is a shame the other Key fanatics cannot comment on here for fear of ridicule.

        • higherstandard 7.6.2.1
          22 September 2011 at 4:10 pm

          There’s two possibilities Ian

          1 – The rest of us from the VRWC had an RDO off from baiting on the left blogs.
          2 – We actually have a life outside of this blog.

        • Bazar 7.6.2.2
          22 September 2011 at 7:41 pm

          “it is a shame the other Key fanatics cannot comment on here for fear of ridicule.”

          I used to post more, but got tired of the shear stupidity and total lack of respect on this forum, there’s only so much stupidity and insults i can deal with before i burn out and leave people to play in their ignorant filth.

          This isn’t a site which is happy to hear opposing points of view either, with rebuffs generally comprising of insults, because apparently if you can’t articulate your point of view, or read up on what the actual debate is about, responding with name calling and ridicule is equally acceptable.

          Case and point, the replies to this.

          I’ll add, there are a few good commentators on this site i can respect, even if i disagree with them. Genreally i feel i’m just wasting my time replying here.

        • KJT 7.6.2.3
          22 September 2011 at 8:18 pm

          Happy to have the other RWNJ Key fanatics stay in their alternative universe at the sewer.

          Their minds are too closed for anything based on evidence to have an effect. The endless repetition, of the same memes, gets tedious.

  8. vto 8
    22 September 2011 at 10:18 am

    Yes well Key’s deception in not admitting to the true state of things is yet another example of why the politicians should apply the rules they make for the rest of us to themselves….namely, the Fair Trading Act.

    Call it The Fair Trading in Politics Act whereby it is illegal and subject to incarceration to engage in misleading and deceptive conduct in politics.

    If it is good enough for the goose it is good enough for the gander. No?

  10. Brett 10
    22 September 2011 at 11:38 am

    Who would think a guy who teaches introductory java would know more about economics and finance than the PM who spent most of his career immersed within the money markets and who know mingles with the world leaders on a regular basis.
    Crazy stuff.

    • vto 10.1
      22 September 2011 at 11:45 am

      Who would think, in this day of financial meltdown, that some people would still trust a guy who has spent his career immersed in selling dodgy financial gimmicks and who mingles with the world’s politicians.
      Crazy stuff.

    • McFlock 10.2
      22 September 2011 at 11:54 am

      Who would have thought a fuck-knuckle tory would take that long to google a non-tory commentator, just for the purposes of badmouthing them?
        
      Keep it up, Anthony – logic might be pearls before tory swine, but without it they pretend that white is black, black is grey and grey “is not a good look, so I’ll pay some of the money back”.

      • Brett 10.2.1
        22 September 2011 at 12:25 pm

        Who would have thought a fuck-knuckle tory would take that long to google a non-tory commentator, just for the purposes of badmouthing them?

        I am not badmouthing the guy, just making an observation.
        Out of curiosity, what is the definition of a tory, is it just someone who supports the National party or does it have some other meaning?

        • McFlock 10.2.1.1
          22 September 2011 at 5:06 pm

          Slightly wider than that – anyone who defends the rule of a few folk who are in power by “virtue” of luck, criminality (or what should be criminal) or heredity.
           
          OED has many different uses, but in this case I prefer the Urban Dictionary.
          Also look up the terms “tory lies” and “tory ball-licker”, which the OED don’t seem to have encountered…

          • joe90 10.2.1.1.1
            22 September 2011 at 5:20 pm

            I prefer the National Archive definition: Tory

            Originally an Irish term suggesting a papist outlaw. It was applied to those who supported the hereditary right of James despite his Roman Catholic faith. By the 18th century it denoted politicians who favoured royal authority, the established church and who sought to preserve the traditional political structure and opposed parliamentary reform.

    • Colonial Viper 10.3
      22 September 2011 at 12:48 pm

      Who would have thought that people are still ignorant enough to believe that ‘the markets’ and ‘Wall St’ have anything to do with the real economy that 95% of people have to live and work in.

      Wall St is relevant to wealthy high net worth individuals with plenty of capital, full stop.

      • Brett 10.3.1
        22 September 2011 at 12:50 pm

        What about 401k’s

        • Vicky32 10.3.1.1
          22 September 2011 at 5:22 pm

          What about 401k’s

          What about them? How are they relevant to New Zealand? (Plus – again, plurals don’t take apostrophes. Please note that fact!)

          • Brett 10.3.1.1.1
            22 September 2011 at 5:56 pm

            What about them? How are they relevant to New Zealand? (Plus – again, plurals don’t take apostrophes. Please note that fact!)

            What a shame all those smarts are wasted on a bene.

            • Vicky32 10.3.1.1.1.1
              22 September 2011 at 6:16 pm

              What a shame all those smarts are wasted on a bene.

              What a pity that so much stupidity belongs to someone who has a job! Don’t you get that people are not “benes” for life? Or by choice? By choice, I am an English teacher – but it doesn’t take ‘smarts’ (sic) to avoid the grocer’s apostrophe…

    • lprent 10.4
      22 September 2011 at 4:55 pm

      I note that you carefully didn’t mention his research interests or other courses.

      But he probably does know more than Key does and more importantly spends time thinking about it. Running around chasing money after doing a basic commercial degree doesn’t exactly induce a high degree of understanding. Having seen Key in action over the last few years what has been noticeable is that he clearly does not understand very much outside of his confined wee box of currency trading and investment strategies.

      Compared to Helen who I had the good fortune to spend quite a lot of time with over the last 20years, I’d rate Key as inept noob.

      • Brett 10.4.1
        22 September 2011 at 5:40 pm

        I note that you carefully didn’t mention his research interests or other courses.

        Had another read of his credentials, pretty impressive stuff, probably selling the man a bit short by only mentioning the intro to java aspect of his cv.

        As for Key and currency trading, very few have had a successful career in it and in all honesty the man deserves respect for that.
        I gave it a go a few years back, I certainly didn’t have what it took and a doubt very few would.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.4.1.1
          22 September 2011 at 6:18 pm

          As for Key and currency trading, very few have had a successful career in it and in all honesty the man deserves respect for that.

          Respect for thieving? Not bloody likely.

  11. Bored 11
    22 September 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Key is missing nothing here: he is fully aware of the state of the worlds economy. What we are not addressing is where Keys allegiances are, what is in his interest?

    You will note that first and foremost Key is a bankster. These are the worlds most powerful gang of neo feudalists. The outcome they want is our subservience and permanent indentured labour and servitude. To achieve this they commit larceny against the citizenry on a massive scale.

    Its not at the fore front of Keys mind, it is just part of his world view towards which he and his cronies drive us. There is no conspiracy or conspiracy theory here, it is as organic a kleptocracy as emerged in the former USSR, or prior in Fascist Italy. We need to wake up, our sleep walking enables these criminals to operate.

  12. Georgecom 12
    22 September 2011 at 1:20 pm

    John Key absolutely is a used economic systems salesman. When you have spent your life engaged in what amounts to little more than financial gambling why would we expect anything more. NZ however needs a little bit better than that.

    Interesting to see all the Nat party “Choose a brighter future” billboards going up.

    A ‘brighter future’ when exactly?

    Certainly not in the last 3 years of smiling and waving and doing nothing. There is little indication that 3 more years of smiling and waving and doing nothing is going to deliver a different result.

    Be interesting in voting punters start to put the ‘brighter future’ rhetoric alongside their reality and wise up.

    • Puddleglum 12.1
      22 September 2011 at 7:51 pm

      I think it’s a bit odd (maybe even a strategic error) for National to re-use the campaign slogan from last time (Brighter Future).

      It immediately raises the question of why we have to vote for it again? Presumably, the only answer is that we haven’t got one – a failure to deliver first time round. Certainly, the stats can be pushed back at National to confirm that failure – as Guyon Espiner did in that pre-conference interview with the constant refrain to Key of “That’s a failure, isn’t it?”

      I suppose you could subscribe to the plainly stupid argument that we now have a ‘brighter future’ and this time we’re voting for an absolutely ‘dazzling’ one – but then why not have ‘Vote for a dazzling future’ this time? Or, how about ‘Vote for a new, improved, whiter than white future!!’

      It reminds me of that Persil (?) ad years ago that featured ‘unmarked Pakuranga housewives’, or something like that …

  13. Herodotus 13
    22 September 2011 at 6:43 pm

    that we went in to the global recession with zero net debt- r0b perhaps that is because we “value” items like student debt $10b as an asset, funds such as EQCD as an asset that we have unfortunately only recently leart is there fior a reason and cannot be banked upon as general govt funds, the same can be said for Nat Super Fund or ACC
    Yet under Labour our govts foreign debt increased, and pity NZ inc debt has increased from 97 to 130% of GDP- and take into consideration such contigent issues as leaky buildings $10-$20b and NZ was not left in as strong a position as manythink- pity we have weakened further !!! One day this debt will start to kill us as NZ$ depreciates and then we will see the influence of tradables into our inflation data and the subsequent reduction in our standard of living more so than present.
    http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/extfin/e3/download.html

    • Colonial Viper 13.1
      22 September 2011 at 6:50 pm

      Fuck it if it comes to that you just default. And by the way are you ignorant? A depreciating NZ dollar is GOOD for NZ industry.

      Yet under Labour our govts foreign debt increased

      This is a lie.

      Cullen paid back a huge % of our public debt. What the fuck are you on.

      • Herodotus 13.1.1
        22 September 2011 at 7:09 pm

        refer to my link Foreign debt Mar 1999 = $17.384b, or Mar 2000 = 16.368b,Dec 2008 = $18.86b. Funny how the figures/facts do not follow your emotional outburst !!! So how is it a lie or is there some issue you have with RBNZ stats???
        Inflation has been relatively low due to NZ high eexchange rate allowing the tradable portion that inflation is calculated (e.g. plasma TV) to come down in price offsetting a high non-tradeable portion of inflation. When NZ$ falls the tradeable portion of our inflation calc will increase dramatically e.g. price of petrol, imported goods. Low NZ$ does little for inflation it could for exports, but as we have seen the likes of dairy/milk we pay based on international prices.

        • Colonial Viper 13.1.1.1
          22 September 2011 at 7:25 pm

          Cheap TV’s meh. Herodotus we have been importing deflation from China and exporting manufacturing jobs out of KiwiLand. That’s what you are describing.

          Its a bad fucking deal.

          As for NZ’s govt debt. I admit I’m surprised by the figures. However as a proportion of NZs economy GDP declined significantly.

          • Herodotus 13.1.1.1.1
            22 September 2011 at 7:39 pm

            CV – we all have less good days, and the reduction of govt debt is just follows on – if you tell a lie enough times it is accepted as the truth !!!!
            I know importing deflation is crap, but with trade deals with China, India etc it will not improve. We have been sold a dog, and Lab/Nat following the same economic blueprint will not change our direction – We need a substantial shift in our thinking, and not become servants or international bankers/IMF/World Bank. Always thought we had 2 competive advantages – cheep renewable power and we grow grass. Pity the power stations and the farms we (could be) selling off = tennants in our own country and exporting the competive advantage offshore as profits

          • mik e 13.1.1.1.2
            23 September 2011 at 5:56 pm

            herodotus Labour got the economy to grow by 28% by volume something national can only dream of, in five years National have had less than 1% growth but debt
            is going to be $76 billion.

    • Puddleglum 13.2
      22 September 2011 at 8:09 pm

      “So how is it a lie or is there some issue you have with RBNZ stats???”

      Herodotus, I don’t know about CV, but I think the problem with your initial comment was that, presumably, you were talking about raw dollar amounts (ignoring both inflation and the proportion of the govts foreign debt as a percentage of GDP).

      From the table you linked to: 

      March 2000 Govt Foreign Debt = $16,368m or 14.7% of GDP 
      December 2008 Govt Foreign Debt = $18,860m or 10.2% of GDP

      As a percentage of GDP it reduced by almost a third during Labour’s three terms. In raw dollar terms it increased by $2.5b, or about one eighth.

      For comparison, the raw dollar amount of debt, from the same table, for Dec 1995 was $22,419m and 24.1% of GDP at the time.

      I just don’t get these complaints about Cullen’s stewardship. I have some, but they’re not those. 

      • Herodotus 13.2.1
        22 September 2011 at 8:42 pm

        There is this idea of debt being paid off (most people IMO think of debt reduction as the $ amount decreases), people associate all those massive operating surpluses as extra cash. The surpluses in most were not in the form of cash, But I get the strong impression that you know all this and the mirrors and widow accounting treatment that goes on.
        But I do have an issue in isolating the indexing the debt to GDP. Much of our GDP arose from the unique economic conditions of the time, with little of this growth going towards ongoing productivity
        But after the misconception of debt reduction is that lack of comment or understanding in general terms of Balance of Payments & Terms of trade and it is the build up of many of these indicators that tell me NZ is a sick patient, and one day we will experience the consequences of this. And having ivy league post-grads/Bankers running govt will not change anything.

      • mik e 13.2.2
        23 September 2011 at 6:03 pm

        Labour didn’t take the treasury benches till November 99.And the debt under National was higher at times through out the ninetees they only managed 8.7% volume of growth during that time . -.8% under the final 2years when borrowing bill english was in charge.

  14. Barry 14
    22 September 2011 at 6:59 pm

    We have the best terms of trade in a generation and should be bouncing back after a disaster and still we have practically zero growth.

    • marsman 14.1
      22 September 2011 at 8:12 pm

      That’s because we have an inept Minister of Finance and an ‘inept noob’* as Prime Minister. (* thanks lprent)

      • Georgecom 14.1.1
        22 September 2011 at 9:08 pm

        Marsman, agreed that the ineptitude and noobieness of the FM & PM is being exposed by the current economic malaise. However if this was a normal downturn the no nothing approach by this government would eventually be hidden by normal resumption of economic growth. Post 2008 the world has changed in a number of ways however and the FM and PM are simply not equipped to understand it, never mind plan our way through it. They still appear to believe that ‘business as usual’ will soon return and all they have to offer is ‘she’ll be right’.

        The past 3 years of failure to deliver a ‘brighter future’ should be enough time for capable leaders to wake up to that. All we are offered though is more ‘choose a brighter future’ rhetoric and a continued do nothing attitude. If we do actually want a ‘brighter future’ we need a brighter FM and PM, transport minister etc etc.

  15. randal 15
    23 September 2011 at 11:36 am

    He just wants three more years of power to re-distribute the states assets into his own and his cronies pockets. meanwhile appeal to the ‘crackers’ and rednecks that he is doing something. Key and his ruinous gang of inepts and pelferers must go.

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  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    21 hours ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    1 day ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    2 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    2 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    3 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    4 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    7 days ago

  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • JERRY COYNE: A good summary of the mess that is science education in New Zealand
    JERRY COYNE writes –  If you want to see what the government of New Zealand is up to with respect to science education, you can’t do better than listening to this video/slideshow by two exponents of the “we-need-two-knowledge-systems” view. I’ve gotten a lot of scary stuff from Kiwi ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Good news on the GDP front is accompanied by news of a $5m govt boost for Supercars (but what about ...
    Buzz from the Beehive First, we were treated to the news (from Finance Minister Grant Robertson) that the economy has turned a corner and New Zealand never was in recession.  This was triggered by statistics which showed the economy expanded 0.9 per cent in the June quarter, twice as much as ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • The Scafetta Saga
    It has taken 17 months to get a comment published pointing out the obvious errors in the Scafetta (2022) paper in GRL. Back in March 2022, Nicola Scafetta published a short paper in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) purporting to show through ‘advanced’ means that ‘all models with ECS > ...
    Real ClimateBy Gavin
    7 days ago

  • Friday's Chorus: Penny wise and pound foolish
    TL;DR: In the middle of a climate emergency and in a city prone to earthquakes, Victoria University of Wellington announced yesterday it would stop teaching geophysics, geographic information science and physical geography to save $22 million a year and repay debt. Climate change damage in Aotearoa this year is already ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER: Calling the big dog’s bluff
      For nearly thirty years the pundits have been telling the minor parties that they must be good little puppies and let the big dogs decide. The parties with a plurality of the votes cast must be allowed to govern – even if that means ignoring the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
     Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV company polls had Labour's poll percentage starting with a three, so the limbo question is now being asked: how low can you go?It seems such an unlikely question because this doesn't feel like the kind ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    7 days ago

  • A Womance, and a Nomance.
    After the trench warfare of Tuesday night, when the two major parties went head to head, last night was the turn of the minor parties. Hosts Newshub termed it “the Powerbrokers' Debate”.Based on the latest polls the four parties taking part - ACT, the Greens, New Zealand First, and Te ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • When The Internet Rushes To Your Defense
    Hi,You can’t make this stuff up.People involved with Sound of Freedom, the QAnon-infused movie about anti-child trafficker Tim Ballard, are dropping like flies. I won’t ruin your day by describing it here, but Vice reports that footage has emerged of executive producer Paul Hutchinson being inappropriate with a 16-year-old trafficking ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Doubts about Robertson’s good news day
    The trading banks yesterday concluded that though GDP figures released yesterday show the economy is not in recession, it may well soon be. Nevertheless, the fact that GDP has gone up 0.8 per cent in the latest quarter and that StatsNZ revised the previous quarter’s figure to show a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • The Votes That Media Dare Not Speak Its Name
    .Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work..A recent political opinion poll (20 September) on TV1 presented what could only be called bleak news for the Left Bloc:National: 37%, down two points equating to 46 seatsLabour: 27%, down one point (34 ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    1 week ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #38 2023
    Open access notables At our roots Skeptical Science is about cognition of the results of climate science research in the minds of the entire human population. Ideally we'd be perfectly communicating understanding of Earth's climate, and perfectly understood. We can only approximate that, but hopefully converging closer to perfection. With ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Failing To Hold Back The Flood: The Edgy Politics of the Twenty-First Century.
    Coming Over The Top: Rory Stewart's memoir, Politics On The Edge, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western World's current political model.VERY FEW NEW ZEALANDERS will have heard of Rory Stewart. Those with a keen eye for the absurdities of politics may recognise the name as that of the ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
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