Labour raise the minimum wage

Written By: - Date published: 7:05 am, December 19th, 2019 - 32 comments
Categories: labour, minimum wage, wages - Tags:

No Right Turn reports,

Last year the government gave us the biggest ever increase in the minimum wage, from $15.50 to $17.70 an hour. This year, they’re doing it again:

New Zealand’s minimum wage will rise to $18.90 an hour from April 1, the Government has confirmed.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said it would mean a quarter of a million workers were better off next year.

“The new $18.90 rate will mean an extra $48 per week before tax for Kiwis who work for 40 hours on the current minimum wage,” he said.


Which means they’re on track for another increase to $20 an hour in April 2021, as promised in their confidence and supply agreement with the Greens. Which will mean that they will have increased the minimum wage by 20% in their first term – which should deliver a significant benefit to workers, both directly for those on the minimum wage, and indirectly by ratcheting up other wages in response.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Press Release from Minister for Workplace Relations, Iain Lees-Galloway.

The Government is making sure we share the prosperity of our strong economy fairly with those on the minimum wage by lifting it to $18.90 per hour on 1 April 2020 – the next step in the Government’s plan for a $20 minimum wage by 2021, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says.

“Around a quarter of million workers will be better off next year, thanks to another $1.20 an hour increase to the minimum wage, the biggest equal lift ever,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

An estimated 242,000 workers will benefit by a lift in their income, which includes people working on $17.70 and between $17.70 and $18.90 an hour.

“The new $18.90 rate will mean an extra $48 per week before tax for Kiwis who work for 40 hours on the current minimum wage.

“New Zealand’s economy currently has a solid footing. Our unemployment rate is low at 4.2 per cent, our economy is predicted to add 43,600 jobs in 2020, and our GDP is growing at a faster rate than other OECD nations, including Australia, Canada, the USA and European countries.

“With our economy doing well, we want to make sure that our lowest paid workers also benefit. The rise in minimum wage is estimated to boost wages by $306 million a year across the economy. That’s a good investment in local economies where workers spend their wages.

Iain Lees-Galloway says today’s announcement reconfirms the rates signalled in 2018 and the Government’s plan for a $20 minimum wage in 2021.

“We’re implementing a balanced approach to the minimum wage increases and have provided certainty to businesses who told us they wanted to know how much the minimum wage will increase and when the changes were going to happen,” says Iain Lees-Galloway.

“Last year, we signalled minimum wages of $18.90 for 2020 and $20 in 2021.  By re-confirming these rates we offer certainty the businesses need for planning and forecasting.”

The starting out and training wages will also see a boost, with a rise to $15.12 per hour from 1 April 2020, remaining at 80% of the adult minimum wage.  

32 comments on “Labour raise the minimum wage ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. michelle 1
    19 December 2019 at 9:01 am

    Based on this policy alone NZers need to see through national pretending to care for all NZers because they expect people to live of a pittance at a time when housing cost is at an all time high so they don't really care its all an act,

    • Sabine 1.1
      19 December 2019 at 9:41 am

      actually the min wage increased by 1.20$ + 8 % holiday pay + 3 % kiwisaver.

      as for this :
      “Last year, we signalled minimum wages of $18.90 for 2020 and $20 in 2021. By re-confirming these rates we offer certainty the businesses need for planning and forecasting.”

      yep, not hiring that third person. Thanks Ian.

        • Sabine 1.1.1.1
          19 December 2019 at 10:00 am

          oh i can afford my two current staff that i had for several years now working for me.

          And my business can also afford myself – on min wage 🙂 ) ,but then maybe you think that it would be better if we all went on the dole or something.

          Fact is, dear Phil, that for many micro businesses – and i am a micro business – our income has not gone that much up to make up for

          1. increases in compliance costs

          2. increases in leases – commercial leases are through the roof as evidenced by empty down towns the country over

          3. increases in costs for all of the products that i use, butter just to name one.

          4. increases in ACC

          5. increases in insurance – liability, stock, premises

          6. increases in Rates – rates are 100% rolled over to he tenants of any premise – residential or commercial

          7. last, but certainly not least increases in Min wages.

          and as i said above, to tout 1.20$ is bollocks as the actually increase is, current min wage + 1.20 + 8% holiday pay + 3% Kiwi saver. And then suddenly yes you are looking at revenue after costs, tax, and such and then the math says that considering the upcoming shitstorm of loss of tourism revenue (global politics do not let me to believe that really tourism is up n coming) that the prudent business person will hold of on hiring people.

          Commerical leases + charges and staff costs are the biggest costs in most micro bsuinesses. But then as you said, maybe i should just close shop and kick out my current workers and myself and go on the dole.

          You are a genius Phil.

          • weka 1.1.1.1.1
            19 December 2019 at 10:05 am

            what would be the purpose of hiring a third worker?

            • Sabine 1.1.1.1.1.1
              19 December 2019 at 10:26 am

              its not gonna happen.

              The purpose was to take a chance and grow the business and maybe maybe find some extra revenue. As it always is.

              At some stage one realises that one only has two hands, two legs, one head and on heart and that all of these spare parts are dog tired after 365 days of work years on end.

              Currently i look at all the increases i have absorbed this year alone and am now at the point of saying i stay the size i am and if business stays the way i am i might even get away with less hours for my staff. And i am not the only one. An example all the new staff that the hair dresser next to my shop hired last year are contractors. Non of them receive a wage, they get paid a cut per cut and that is it. Great solution if you can, and yeah, it undermines the min wage by a lot.

              Unless the coalition government actually tries to do more then just roll the cost of rent over to the hiring businesses of NZ nothing is gonna change.

              They could increase the min wage by 50$ an hour, and it would still not be enough to satisfy the landlord class in NZ – as evidenced by increases to the housing allowance.

              • Sacha …
                19 December 2019 at 1:32 pm

                Or you could raise your prices. It's how higher-wage economies work.

                • Sabine …
                  19 December 2019 at 2:15 pm

                  we are still the same low wage economy we were three years ago.

                  as for increasing prices…..yeah, right Tui.

                  Good grief. Have a good look at the businesses that 'do well'…..Mc.Do, KFC, Warehouse, K-mart, 2 dollar shops etc etc etc

                  if we were a 'high wage' economy, with regulated rent controlled housing, stable electricity prices, gasoline prices etc etc etc you might have a point, but sadly we are as removed from that type of economy as we were when John effn Key promised us wage parity with OZ and houses for unhoused Kiwis – lest we become tenants in our own country.

          • Nic the NZer 1.1.1.1.2
            19 December 2019 at 6:05 pm

            I don't understand why you feel pressure to hire more (full time) staff in response to a minimum wage increase. I would have expected a small business to be looking to hire due to an influx of work.

      • pat 1.1.2
        19 December 2019 at 9:54 am

        "yep, not hiring that third person. Thanks Ian."

        Is that entirely down to increase (and projected) in minimum wage?

        • Sabine 1.1.2.1
          19 December 2019 at 10:19 am

          see above,

          but yes, there comes a point where true mom and pop businesses are having to do a simple math.

          a. hire another person and 18.90*40 hour comes to 756$ (not including holiday pay and kiwi saver – these are add ons).

          to pay out 756 $ net to a person fulltime i would have to make at the very least three times that to cover production costs etc. So we are talking about rought an extra 2000$ per week that will have to come from somewhere.

          Now the very naive thinking would be "Oh they have more money to spend", but that is not the way it works ,when the increase will be wholesale eaten up by raising rent costs, transport costs, heating costs, food costs etc etc etc.

          Personally me i would have favored making the first 25.000$ income tax free. My threshold sits there as 25.000$ is the average cost of a rental pretty much anywhere in the country. This would have brought a bit more money into the pockets of people then 1.20 +hol pay + kiwisaver.

          As it is atm the Labour government has choosen to roll the cost of housing people in this country over to the business sector and while some can afford to pay that increase, most micro businesses will have to do the hard math.

          And for me, the question is can i raise that money of my current customer base or am i better of to not expand and just do what i do now and leave it at that.

          • McFlock 1.1.2.1.1
            19 December 2019 at 10:57 pm

            Just to be clear:

            at $708/w you can hire the third person, but at $756/w you cannot, because you would have to recoup $2000/w to cover all the other costs?

            Seems to me the problem you have is with the 7 in front, not the 56 to the right.

      • Lucy 1.1.3
        19 December 2019 at 10:13 am

        So Sabine to keep your business going you need to pay 2 people 18.23 per hour, wow maybe you need to rethink your business model. If your cost of doing business is so high that the productivity gain made by increasing your labour force by a third at the cost of $37,920 per annum then I would suggest the problem is at management level!

        • Sabine 1.1.3.1
          19 December 2019 at 10:21 am

          hi dear Lucy,

          two min wages for my Micro business at that cost per week amount to

          1512$ per week not including 8% holiday pay, not including 3% kiwi saver, not including rent, comliance, increasing costs for products, insurance, health and safety, pest control etc etc etc.

          But yeah, dear Lucy, like dear Phil above, i thank you for suggesting that i fire my two current staff and myself and live of the dole – thanks to tax payers like yourself.

        • lprent 1.1.3.2
          19 December 2019 at 12:45 pm

          Lucy, for the type of business that Sabine is describing, the largest variable costs are usually labour and premises rental (or mortgage if they share ownership with the bank).

          So for any employee being added, you usually multiply by about three times their gross wages as being the target for the increased revenue required to justify the outlay. Effectively the overhead plus anticipated 'profit' (actually usually the capital acculmulation for the next growth spurt).

          The alternate is to figure out how to grow the business by increased productivity. There are also usually pretty strong constraints on bringing in capital to increase productivity. The cost of training people to use it (including the mom and pop owners) often being more expensive than any capital outlays.

          Or alternatively to figure out how to grow the enterprise by more effective marketing. Again costly and risky.

          Or just not plan to expand – which is what Sabine is talking about.

          The nett effect is that raising wages makes other alternatives look more viable.

          //———–

          Personally my view is that growing minimum wages is justified simply on the basis that it tends to force the increased business focus on productivity.

        • greywarshark 1.1.3.3
          19 December 2019 at 12:56 pm

          Lucy – don't be so quick to 'eave 'alf a brick.

          It is hard to run a micro business as you apparently know as you seem so confident that you have all the expertise needed. As stats show many tiny businesses after just three years of striving are out of the original business, for good, for the time being, have morphed into something else, have amalgamated with someone else, owner got sick, ran out of capital, couldn't manage a steady cash flow etc etc.

          It is hard, it is hard, and not something to be lightly or heavily mocking about. The strivers in business aren't mucking about, so don't put them down you tall poppy culler, or killer!

  2. Siobhan 2
    19 December 2019 at 9:49 am

    As someone who rented for 35 years can I personally acknowledge all the landlords out there who will chanell this money- in some cases exactly, down to the last cent- directly into their bank accounts.

    • Kevin 2.1
      19 December 2019 at 9:52 am

      Yep, time for serious legislation on rent control.

      • Sabine 2.1.1
        19 December 2019 at 9:54 am

        that is in the too hard basket.

        it is easier to just roll this cost over to business people in the form of

        'min wage increases'.

        its a load of bullshit, but hey, they get to feel good about themselves.

  3. John Clover 3
    19 December 2019 at 10:05 am

    The problem with such increases in the minimum wage and related increases to those already above the current minimum is that the cost to business goes up yet once again, and most are hardly better off. True as the beneficiary of numerous wage increases in my working life I found a greater ability to determine what I spent my money on.

    Really the need is to provide housing at a cost that people can afford and which doesn't inhibit their participation in.the community. Having owned my own home now for much of my life, and at no time being working for a bank to any great extent, in retrospect I can appeeiate what a good life I have been fortunate to have.by not renting in the private sector. With only rates and maintenance to pay for.

    My dream in this respect is for all to havehousing provided by govt. at rents reasonable to their wages. Basic housing with the opportunity to move intot The orivate sector aas owners if they wish.

    • pat 3.1
      19 December 2019 at 10:12 am

      so no private landlords?

      • Sabine 3.1.1
        19 December 2019 at 10:32 am

        a mix of private, social, co-opoerative housing with limitations as to what can be charged depending on square meterage, yard, back yard, storage space, access to schools, hospitals, kindies, shops, sports ground etc etc etc.

        at the moment tenants are forced to pay the full cost of a mortgage and a boat and nothing much is done about it. And no matter how many times the min. wage goes up, businesses should not be made responsible for the greed of the landlord class.

  4. John Clover 4
    19 December 2019 at 11:29 am

    Pat … I have nothing against private landlords as they are trying to run a business wtth govts. blue and red, loading more and more costs onto them because as they sit with their great salaries coming in every two weeks they have little appreciation of what somebody in business has to try and cover as Sabine outlined for us above.

    I was self employed myself until I managed to get a govt job so have some inkling of the problems Sabine faces…. but that was years agosmiley

    Pat … I have nothing agin private landlords as they try to cover costs and get a return on their money which is in a house rather than a bank etc. Just glad I managed to end my tenanting days by my part-time efforts building on a small legacy. But looking at an advert in the paper for an ancient two bedroom cottage for 295G I was lucky to do it when I did… almost imposible these days to buy a run down old place and replace it with a new house.

    Livinge in the old dump while building 🙂
    Sabine ….

    The trouble with regulations on rents etc is the inflexibility of any system of interference … however well intentioned.

    ;

    Sosrry for duplication but I thought the first had got lost ;

    ;

    ;

    • pat 4.1
      19 December 2019 at 11:40 am

      Fair enough, was curious to know as there is a large chunk of people who do indeed seek to secure their future through property rather than equities or bank deposits, personally the few occasions when it may have been an option for me Ive decided against it due to the problems Ive seen of those who have….property investment is not always a licence to print money though it can be. The costs however. be they ownership or renting. are certainly at the foundation of many of our problems.

    • Sabine 4.2
      19 December 2019 at 12:07 pm

      The trouble with regulations on rents etc is the inflexibility of any system of interference … however well intentioned.

      well i might just quit, go on the dole, tell the women working for me to go on the dole, cause i am slowly but surly priced out of business and then that works better for all, cause getting some restriction on what one can charge on a two bedder with nothing much is in the too hard basket for our over priced, over educated and otherwise spineless and gutless suits/suitettes in parliament. I get it.

      We are so fucked. Like so fucking fucked.

      The question i have, when are we just gonna line up surplus people(either to shoot them, or deport them, or send them to mars or something) when we have not only not got enough houses for them but no jobs for htem either, with that no tax base and no benefits?

      Do people actually think?

      • adam 4.2.1
        19 December 2019 at 12:32 pm

        What a sad series of posts from you today, Sabine. I now understand why you poo poo anyone who brings up an economic definition of the left.

        One the plus side, you have provided a clear representation of why liberals (as in the exponents of liberalism as an ideology) are not left wing. It's all economics, and liberal economics is not left wing.

        Social democrats, socialist, communist and anarchist – left wing economics.

        Liberalism – not left in this lifetime – well maybe for the foolish and politically naive.

      • David Mac 4.2.2
        19 December 2019 at 8:03 pm

        I hear you Sabine. Sack your workers, take your recipes and methodology to a commercial Chinese slave kitchen. Have them take your product to near finished, snap freeze and ship to you. Squirt some cream or place a sprig of parsley on top and call them NZ MADE. (some imported ingredients.)

        I wrestled with the demons you are Sabine, over and over. Most small business operators do. Things improved for me when I started with business model criteria that required me to legitimately work from home and room to grow with just the one employee, me. I exclusively use contractors. The good ones I lavish with goodness, the average ones, I don't ask them back. I think my business model is crappy re: a prospering NZ but like you Sabine, I feel I've been pushed there.

        I don't think being left means a default position of: "What is somebody else going to do for me?" It also has to encompass those wishing to have serious go, take 'All-in' risks, make a contribution to our society and be rewarded accordingly. A thriving small business is not the devil. The key is in the sharing.

        There is a joy in sharing that we all savour. We need to get better at hooking into that type of satisfaction. My new phone: about a 6 on my joy scale, surprising my kid with one, a 9.

  5. greywarshark 5
    19 December 2019 at 12:29 pm

    If government was working effectively workers would be on living wage once the had learned a new job, after 60 days perhaps??

    Part of the problem is the contracting out I think.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/405830/government-departments-consultant-spending-increases

    At that time, the total spend across all 30-plus public sector bodies was just over $550m.

    However, annual reviews show spending on contractors and consultants at 13 of the largest departments increased a total 14 percent in a single year to $720m.

    Driving while talking on a cellphone is hazardous, not allowed. Driving a country with politicians having as much hands-on effect to the moving contractor, as a cellphone user in a moving vehicle, can lead to big mishaps.

  6. Siobhan 6
    19 December 2019 at 12:35 pm

    I suspect this has appeared before..but heck..the hilarity of minimum wage never fades..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gerNVgJW5M&list=RDrSwIpya4BjY&index=14

    looking forward to some conversations about maximum wages, ..but not exactly holding my breath

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    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • 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
    4 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days 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
    4 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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