Key: out of touch on tax cuts

Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, February 10th, 2011 - 65 comments
Categories: john key, tax - Tags: ,

Key proved himself bereft of ideas with his speech on Tuesday, and on Wednesday he showed himself to be out of touch. As you know, Key has voted himself $23,000 of tax cuts on his PM salary alone. Labour estimates another $60,000 on his investments – over $1000 a week. Key disputes Labour’s numbers, estimating his tax cut is ‘only’ $15,000.

Labour has been goading Key over his ‘thousand dollar a week tax cut’ since Parliament resumed. And yesterday, Key foolishly bit back saying:

“I am struggling with where the member gets a $1,000 a week tax cut from, because, without going into too fine a point, the last time I looked at the figure from the Remuneration Authority, I saw the Prime Minister of New Zealand earns $400,000 a year. The difference between the top personal tax rate, which was 38c in the dollar, and the new rate of 33c in the dollar is 5 percent, and 5 percent of $330,000 is about 15 grand.”

Oh poor Johnnie only gave himself a $15,000 a year tax cut, eh? Poor, poor Johnnie.

Hmm. Well, first that’s not very good maths for a money trader – 5% of $330,000 is $16,500. And Key hasn’t counted the first round of tax cuts he gave himself or the cuts on his income below $70,000. Add them in and the total tax cut that Key has voted for himself is $22,920 on his $400,500 a year PM salary.

Labour estimates that if he got just a 2% taxable return on his $50 million fortune (ie. another $1,000,000) then that’s a further $60,000 in tax cuts. A grand total $83,000 a year or $1,590 a week.

Oh and he pocketed a $7,500 pay rise this year. So, at least one person living it up on the public dime, I guess.

But, as with the Nats’ distorted net income figures (which count Labour’s tax cuts as their own, are based a skewed average, don’t count the GST hike, only count ordinary time pay for full-time workers, and don’t account for the unemployed), it’s not really the precise size of the tax cuts Key has given himself that matters. It’s certainly huge and unjustifiable.

The fact is that Key has voted for himself massive tax cuts that he did not need and he’s paying for it by cutting our services and selling our assets in a time when we’re back in recession and over a quarter of a million Kiwis are jobless. And now he adds salt to the wound by saying it’s a trivial amount, ‘only $15,000’

Talk about out of touch.

PS. If Key wants to make clear exactly how much of a tax cut he has given himself he could release his tax records like his good buddy Obama has to.

PPS. Oops. Some bad mental division – a 2% return on Key’s fortune is a million, making his tax cut $83,000 a year

65 comments on “Key: out of touch on tax cuts ”

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  1. Lanthanide 1
    10 February 2011 at 11:07 am

    I posted this in another thread, but I think MPs salaries should be indexed to the current tax rate.

    That is, if they reduce the tax rates, then their salaries should be reduced by the appropriate amount so they receive exactly the same after-tax income.

    The reverse should also apply, so if they increase the tax rate, their salary goes up by the appropriate amount so they receive exactly the same after-tax income, however this would be much less popular with the public as it would appear that the MPs are immune from tax rises that they force on the rest of the country.

    Anyway, a policy such as this would ensure there’s no conflict of interest with MPs cutting or raising taxes, and it’d make no difference to them either way – no benefit, and also no pain.

    • Bright Red 1.1
      10 February 2011 at 11:28 am

      agreed. And their base rate (not adjsuted for any subsequent tax changes) should be a factor of the median weekly income, just at benefit levels and the minimum wage should be.

      Does anyone seriously believe that any previous PM or future one would not want the job if the pay was ‘only’ $200,000 – half what it is now? And would we want the kind of person who is in it for the money to be our PM?

      • Colonial Viper 1.1.1
        10 February 2011 at 11:36 am

        For someone doing the job of PM properly I think $200K p.a. is a bit of a short change. And since they’ve probably been an MP for at least 6-12 years before hand how much should MPs get paid, relatively speaking? $80K-100K p.a.?

  2. Sanctuary 2
    10 February 2011 at 11:21 am

    “…I think MPs salaries should be indexed to the current tax rate…”

    I would prefer to index them to the minimum wage. The PM can get six times the minimum wage and then work back from there for the rest of them.

    that way, if they want a pay rise they’ll have to put the minimum wage up.

    It is called leadership, innit.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      10 February 2011 at 11:30 am

      and likewise, CEO’s pay should be limit indexed to a multiple of what their median full time employee gets. Maybe 15x. Median employee is on $50K p.a. CEO pay is capped at $750K p.a. etc

  3. Colonial Viper 3
    10 February 2011 at 11:26 am

    Wondered where that $1K p.w. figure LAB was tossing around came from.

  4. sally 4
    10 February 2011 at 11:55 am

    The Prime Minister is paid $400,000 a year – I’m not so sure this one earned it.

    • pollywog 4.1
      10 February 2011 at 1:37 pm

      Apparently the belief is he doesn’t draw a salary as it all goes to charity…

      • the pink postman 4.1.1
        10 February 2011 at 3:49 pm

        Well that’s what the Nats say , but who would believe that lot of money grabbers ? Anyway since when was charity the best way to help the underpriviledged ? I prefer people to be paid decent wages and for the unfortunate to have decent benefits.I look around and see a number of people who live like Lords and do very little for it whilst others who have three or four jobs and are paid peanuts. On top of this these highly paid types pay little if any tax. Its time there was change over this infair system.

  5. Bill 5
    10 February 2011 at 12:32 pm

    …the gross unemployment benefit for a single adult will actually be cut by $5 a week to offset the tax cuts and keep the increase in the net benefit to just 2.02 per cent – up from $194.12 a week to $198.04.

    Gross benefit rates will also be cut to keep the net increase to 2.02 per cent for sickness, invalid and domestic purposes benefits and student allowances.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10646498

    $690 000 not being given to some 138 000 unemployed tax payers. And so the gap widens between the poorest in society and the rest. Meanwhile inflation has risen above that 2.02%, meaning that unemployed people are decidedly worse off this year than last year. Good, innit?

    Now, wouldn’t it be nice if politicians adjusted their gross income to ensure that they too were paid in line with last years inflation rate?

    • Lanthanide 5.1
      10 February 2011 at 1:35 pm

      I think the idea is that benefits always suffer from inflation, and this year most of the inflation was caused by the GST hike. They were compensated for the GST hike, but remain uncompensated for normal inflation.

      • Bill 5.1.1
        10 February 2011 at 2:07 pm

        Yeah. Inflation decreases the value of a benefit. That’s a reality, not an idea. And benefits are adjusted retrospectively, so that they ‘catch up’ with inflation before slipping in value until the next ‘catch up’. Meanwhile, the government decreases the actual dollar amount of a benefit whenever it cuts taxes ’cause, like it would be a bad thing to allow the poorest in society the merest whiff of a good thing.

  6. Bright Red 6
    10 February 2011 at 1:29 pm

    $23,000 a year. It’s a jaw-dropping amount. What did the median Kiwi get?

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      10 February 2011 at 3:02 pm

      A big unpolished tube up the nether regions.

      • Bright Red 6.1.1
        10 February 2011 at 3:10 pm

        $5 a week from two years of tax cuts, after the GST hike, by my count.

        That means Key’s tax cut of $83,000 is the same as that of 15,500 median income earners.

  7. randal 7
    10 February 2011 at 1:31 pm

    leae poor johhnboy alone.
    he gunna give his salary away doncha know.
    so 23,000 divided by two means 46 people will get 500 each or 96 poeple will get 250 each and thats not all.
    see when he runs out of dough then everybody else wil get nothing.
    howzatt?

  8. Kevin Welsh 8
    10 February 2011 at 1:55 pm

    I do not have a problem with how much they earn as I think it is about right.

    What I would do, though, is I would link MP’s pay rises to the minimum wage, so this time round they would have received the equivalent of 25c per hour increase. Much fairer, I think.

    What also seems to be forgotten when MP’s incomes are discussed is that what they are doing is Public Service, therefore the expectation that their remuneration should somehow reflect what could be earned in the Public or Provate Sector is wrong. IMHO of course.

    • Bright Red 8.1
      10 February 2011 at 2:21 pm

      even if you are happy with his wage, you’ve got to admit that the $23K tax cut he has given himself is extraordinary and unjustified given what other families are going through.

      His talking down the size of the cut to ‘just’ $15,000 is completely out of touch with reality.

      • Kevin Welsh 8.1.1
        10 February 2011 at 5:53 pm

        Yes, I agree BR. And his flippant remark that it was around “$15 grand”, just reinforced the fuckwits arrogance, to me.

  9. bobo 9
    10 February 2011 at 2:15 pm

    Talking about Mr Key being out of touch watch this performance from MRNEWSguerillamedia
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggG7osLea1U&feature=youtu.be&a squirming when asked about his shares in bank of america by Penny Bright.

  10. Cnr Joe 10
    10 February 2011 at 4:03 pm

    Hey Marty g – you write “Oh and he pocketed a $7,500 a week pay rise this year.”

    crikey

  11. Tanz 11
    10 February 2011 at 9:17 pm

    He does donate part of his salary though, so kudos for that. Yes, he makes it back with the interest on his funds in the bank etc, but never mind, at least someone else also benefits. He doesn’t have to donate a cent.

    • Lanthanide 11.1
      10 February 2011 at 10:17 pm

      Yeah, but he doesn’t say to whom, or how much. It could be $5,000 to the Young Nats for all we know.

    • Marty G 11.2
      10 February 2011 at 10:19 pm

      There’s no proof he donates any of his money to charity. Just his word – like when he said he didn’t own those Tranzrail shares.

      And it doesn’t change the fact he has given himself $23,000 a year in tax cuts (at least, probably more like $83,000) and got a $7,500 payrise.

    • lprent 11.3
      11 February 2011 at 7:26 am

      It is like everything else about Key. Sounds good, but no substance. He said a long time ago that he was donating to charity. To date it has never been shown that he does.

      I haven’t heard of any charities congratulating the PM. Have you? It would seem like PR win-win for both sides. And yet it hasn’ happened. I suspect that if he is donating, then we will find the bulk of it in the donation returns for the National party.

      • orange whip? 11.3.1
        11 February 2011 at 9:21 am

        He said a long time ago that he was donating to charity.

        It’s even less concrete than that actually – he said he was going to.

        And I think we all know how firm that is, coming from Key.

  12. NX 12
    10 February 2011 at 9:59 pm

    AT $400k, John Key pays around $140,000 tax.

    So compared to his total income & total tax, Key’s tax cut of $15-20k is comparatively small.

    What’s important is what JK does with that money – whether he invests it, or saves it, or whatever. Even if he buys share overseas it still helps NZ i.e. foreigners buy our exports!

    • Lanthanide 12.1
      10 February 2011 at 10:18 pm

      I would rather the $23,920 from his tax cut went to the government and was used to fund ECE, rather than buy shares from foreigners.

    • Marty G 12.2
      10 February 2011 at 10:21 pm

      Why does it matter what his tax bill is? The point is he gave himself a $23,000 tax cut on his PM salary alone, maybe another $60K on this investment returns.

      He didn’t have to do that, and every dollar of it means we have to borrow another dollar from overseas in government debt or cut spending, or keep someone else’s taxes higher, someone who would benefit more from the money than Key.

      • NX 12.2.1
        10 February 2011 at 10:44 pm

        @Marty – if Key can’t be trusted to know what to do with a $400,000 income (minus $140,000 tax), then cut his pay (John Minto has suggeted a total pay of $120,000).

        @Lanthanide – $20K invested = business growth = more employment = more tax for the govt = more spending on health and education.

        • Marty G 12.2.1.1
          10 February 2011 at 10:49 pm

          this isn’t about his pay packet. It’s about him choosing to give himself a $23,000 pay cut.

          It seems to me you’re just trying to avoid the fact that he chose to structure the tax cuts in such a way that he got this huge pile of cash (a tax-free bracket, for instance, would have given him the same cut as everyone else)

          • Crashcart 12.2.1.1.1
            10 February 2011 at 11:04 pm

            You can’t argue with those who believe in trickle down. They forget that that tax cut would have partly gone to over seas holidays or a nice new car. They love to make you think it all goes intot hte economy which it just doesn’t.

          • NX 12.2.1.1.2
            10 February 2011 at 11:08 pm

            Of course it’s related to pay packet.

            I’ve just crunched some rough numbers. The % of tax you pay on the following incomes.
            $26k = ~15% (excluding WFF)
            $42K= ~18%
            $400k= ~35%

            You want higher earners because they pay more tax. If just one higher earner stays in NZ because of the lower rate, that pays for Key’s ‘bonus’ x10 over.

            Also, with a lower more simplified tax rate higher earners are less inclined to restructure finances to hide income = more tax for the govt.

            • Marty G 12.2.1.1.2.1
              10 February 2011 at 11:15 pm

              John Key did not have to give himself a $23000+ tax cut.

            • Crashcart 12.2.1.1.2.2
              10 February 2011 at 11:18 pm

              higher earners were not leaving NZ because of tax. Simple. They were restructuring so they didn’t have to pay. The loop holes weren’t fixed so they will still be doing that. The fact remains that since the tax cuts the governments tax take has reduced. Where are all these extra taxes we are getting from the extra earners?

              • NX …
                10 February 2011 at 11:23 pm

                @Marty – “If just one higher earner stays in NZ because of the lower rate, that pays for Key’s ‘bonus’ x10 over. ”

                @Crashcart – National has actually changed the trust laws to stop sheltering of income. You’d know this if you read the news (why Labour never changed this is beyound me).
                Lower tax = less tax avoidance. Ask Phil Goff – he has voted for it.

                • Crashcart …
                  10 February 2011 at 11:31 pm

                  Why was it nessisary to lower the tax rate then? The excuse that Key and English both trotted out was that it wasn’t being paid so if they lowered it then it would be.

                  Oh we just forget that because they want people to forget they wanted to reward tax evaision.

                  you also haven’t explained why the tax take has gone down?

                • Marty G …
                  10 February 2011 at 11:40 pm

                  If that high earner went to Australia or nearly any other developed country, their tax would be higher on the same income even without the Key tax cuts. people were not and are not going overseas because of tax, it’s pay rates

                  which is why it’s actually mostly low-income people who are going to Aussie (a labourer in Brisbane will get twice what they do here – check out this adhttp://www.seek.com.au/Job/general-labourer-brisbane-metro/in/brisbane/18973540 , $21.52 for general labouring! You get minimum wage, $12.75, here )

                  • NX …
                    10 February 2011 at 11:53 pm

                    @Marty – it’s not just trades people, it’s IT, medicine – you name it.
                    There are many reasons why people choose to live in NZ, but if John’s tax cuts can convience even a small percentage of people to stay in NZ, particuarly high earners, then they pay for themselves!!

                    Plus, it’s not just about balancing the books. Higher earns general business which creates wealth & more taxs.

                    @Crashcart, have you been living under a rock – GEC

                    • NX …
                      11 February 2011 at 12:21 am

                      Okay, look at it this way – why didn’t Cullen introduce a 45% tax rate which kicks in at $120,000 – you know, the mega rich pricks. Why hasn’t Goff proposed it…?

                      Even your leftie leaders know why – tax avoidance goes up, it’s scares off big business, & it’s an economic impediment. End result = less tax take than you started with. The only people who end up paying it is you’re average GP who has a student loan to pay off.

                    • Crashcart …
                      11 February 2011 at 12:23 am

                      See this is the problem I have. These tax cuts are supposed to help us recover from the GEC. They were suppose to stimulate investment in NZ and help us “Agressivly come out of ressesion” just like other countries allready have. At the same time they were supposed to be Tax neutral due to the increase in GST.

                      Even the national party aren’t trying ot push that it was tax neutral any more. We have not seen recovery yet. Unemployment is sky rocketing so I guess buisness owners are not investing their tax cuts in employing new people. Probably machinery to increase their workers productivity whilst still paying them the same (very few middle to low income earners got pay rises in the last year). All of which is designed to increase their own wealth at the cost of workers.

                      It amazes me when people claim that buisness owners are the only ones who can generate wealth in an economy. Without workers to make the buisness go they have nothing. Don’t get me wrong. We need inovators to come up with smart ways to grow NZ. I just understand that we also need skilled workers to allow those inovators to achieve success. This goverment only wants to help one half of the equation.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      11 February 2011 at 12:27 am

                      Even your leftie leaders know why – tax avoidance goes up, it’s scares off big business, & it’s an economic impediment.

                      Tax avoidance is reduced by closing down loop holes. Also by increasing the tax base. In NZ this would be to include capital gains, land and estate taxes.

                      Countries should not be afraid if a big business leaves, its competitors will happily take its place. Room will be created for small innovators to take charge instead of being crowded out by big multinationals.

                      Further we should remember that big business has the well being of its shareholders at heart, not the ordinary citizens of NZ.

                      We can keep kowtowing to capitalist investors and big corporate business but just look around you at the results in this country. A hollowed out job market and offshored jobs. 50% of NZ’ers earning less than $28K p.a.

                      Time for some big changes.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      11 February 2011 at 12:37 am

                      Higher earners need to pay more tax.

                      And it doesn’t matter if you get an extra 1000 “high earners” to stay in the country because you will still have 2,000,000 poorly paid people. Those who kowtow to celebrity and money hardly spare a thought for how to raise the incomes of that part of the population.

                      That warm pitter patter trickle down on to the forehead of ordinary workers and beneficiaries is not the equitable sharing of money from the rich getting richer. We all know that by now.

                      Every thing the Right does it does to favour the top 5% of income earners and wealth holders.

                      Once a just few more people recognise this, the game for Key and English is up.

                    • NX …
                      11 February 2011 at 4:43 am

                      @Viper – how does it feel to be on the hard left of Michael Cullen? He never did half the shit you’re harping on about for the very reasons I talk about above.

  13. Mike 13
    10 February 2011 at 10:28 pm

    More douchebaggery from the PM at the Halberg awards tonight:
    Susan Devoy to John Key – “Don’t worry you’re amongst friends here”
    John Key – “That’s what Tony Veitch said”

  14. Rosy 14
    10 February 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Always the comedian…

  15. burt 15
    11 February 2011 at 7:24 am

    policies of envy alive and well in standard land.

    • Craig Glen Eden 15.1
      11 February 2011 at 7:51 am

      Get a grip burt or is that your problem to much gripping? The countries back in recession your lot has caused it through its stupid lack of economic management. How about you start engaging in genuine debate about how this country could do better because Burt this lot in National have no idea!

      If you want to be smile and waves apologist fine but people are really starting to realize smile and wave promises lots delivers nothing.

      • burt 15.1.1
        11 February 2011 at 7:18 pm

        Oh I get it, when we have a National govt and we go into recession it’s the gummits fault but when we have a Labour govt and we go into recession it’s drought, oil prices and the prudent economic management of the tax and spend popularity at any price gummit get called prudent.

        That’s to be expected from dim-bulb lefties I guess… but can you answer me this – do Labour govt’s who pretend to be left leaning while being nothing more than popularist always get your support (IE: Is it a colour of the logo thing) or do you actually think about their policies and their consequences every now and then ?

    • RedLogix 15.2
      11 February 2011 at 8:09 am

      Or it’s the politics of brain-dead sloganeering in burtland. (You’re short a few coffees aren’t you? Even you can do better than this.)

  16. Jum 16
    11 February 2011 at 8:09 pm

    Who has that link showing Key’s parliamentary disclosure as having loaned $1million to the Bank of America.

    It seems to have disappeared and now just shows ‘banking’ with Bank of America. They took over part of Merrill Lynch (his old firm) didn’t they?

    • Marty G 16.1
      11 February 2011 at 8:45 pm

      that’s right. in the vid he, modestly, says that when he was at merril lynch it was well-run but it went downhill after he left and had to be bought out by BoA, which is how he got the shares.

      • Colonial Viper 16.1.1
        11 February 2011 at 8:49 pm

        Merril Lynch well run while he was there?

        That’s BS of course. Merril Lynch lost big time in the derivatives and proprietary trading casino 2007/2008, but while Key was there they were already laying their bets down on the roulette table. The same bets which eventually led his firm to implode.

        • burt 16.1.1.1
          11 February 2011 at 10:07 pm

          And the current state of the NZ economy is his fault too… Hell he’s more powerful than god isn’t he.

          • lprent 16.1.1.1.1
            11 February 2011 at 10:13 pm

            You might think that – I couldn’t possibly comment (on your obsessions)

            • burt 16.1.1.1.1.1
              11 February 2011 at 11:57 pm

              Year right lprent, I’m not even a National voter but try telling the lovers of big govt, high taxes and vote buying welfare that you think such polices are short term power grabbing and they seem to think you vote National. Then the dim-bulbs go and blame National for the consequences of their beloved power at any price party consequences. I don’t expect much more from the lovers of a failed ideology but I though you were smart enough to know when I was taking the piss.

            • Colonial Viper 16.1.1.1.1.2
              12 February 2011 at 12:07 am

              The size of Government is irrelevant burt. The role it plays in helping to create a civil, sustainable, working society for citizens is not.

              And believe it or not, to do that job, it needs taxes and it needs people getting things done.

              You cut Government down too small, and all you will do is force a breakdown in service delivery while enriching private for profit consultants and contractors who are not interested in much else except their own shareholders interests. Certainly not the interests of ordinary people.

              Oh whoops thats whats happening right now under National, how co-incidental.

              As for vote buying welfare, I’m sure there are a lot of rural south island investors who just loved getting bailed out of SCf by Key and English. Another happy coincidence eh.

              • burt …
                12 February 2011 at 11:08 am

                CV

                Remind me again who passed the law that enabled the failed finance companies to be bailed out using our money !

                • Colonial Viper …
                  12 February 2011 at 11:16 am

                  burt, small investors needed to be satisfied that their deposits in banks were secure. However, there is no way that large speculative investors and foreign investors should have got 100c in the dollar back courtesy of the NZ tax payer.

                  And who extended SCF’s coverage? Bill English.

                  And who paid out over the SCF collapse? Bill English.

                  Funny, for a Government which cries poor when it comes to ECE or community services, whistling $2B up out of thin air to bail out those finance companies happened awfully quick, didn’t it?

                  • orange whip? …
                    12 February 2011 at 12:08 pm

                    100 cents on the dollar, CV?

                    Oh it was more than that. Billy Boy (us, really) paid them fucking interest on their bad investments too!

                    How’s that for retrospective risk assessment burtie?

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

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