Labour voters, if you could vote to keep the Greens in parliament would you?

Written By: - Date published: 9:13 am, September 10th, 2020 - 116 comments
Categories: election 2020, greens, labour - Tags: ,

Thought the Standardistas might want to have a crack at this. Vote on twitter if you have an account, and/or comment below. Play nice.

Labour voters, if you lived in Auckland Central which candidate would you vote for and why?

  • Chloe Swarbrick, in case the Greens fall below 5%
  • Helen White, don’t want the Greens in parliament
  • Helen White, don’t care one way or the other about the Greens

btw party vote undecideds/wavering, this is for you,

116 comments on “Labour voters, if you could vote to keep the Greens in parliament would you? ”

  1. Not only would, but will.

    Unfortunately, not in Auckland Central, but the Greens were always going to get my party vote.

  2. xanthe 2

    No Way!

  3. After Labour's massively timid tax policy release yesterday the Green's are the only progressive option.

    Labour

    39% on over $180k

    Greens

    37% on over $100k 42% on over $150k and $7.9 billion Wealth Tax to reduce poverty

    • Sabine 3.1

      and thanks to good loopholes and excellent accounts non of these taxes will ever be paid as they are currently not being paid. \

      there are many reasons to vote for the green, but these taxes are not.

      • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1

        Greens Tax Policy:

        We’ll close tax loopholes & minimise tax avoidance by taxing big digital giants such as Facebook and Amazon.

        Closing the loopholes that allow such massive tax fraud by the rich is the big one but not one that’s making headlines.

        • Sabine 3.1.1.1

          currently of no use to anyone tho.

          and that should have been Labours first thing to do, after increasing base benefits by 200 per week to all that are on a benefit.

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.1.1.1

            You complained about the lack of work on tax loopholes. I pointed out that the Greens had policy on that as well.

            Labour has the same, vague policy of loophole closing. This probably has something to do with having to find the loopholes first.

            As I’ve said before. They really just need to design the tax system from the ground up and then throw out the old system.

    • jimekus 3.2

      I was going to vote for National for the Tamaki seat, just to confuse them about support levels, and Labour for the party vote, but after Labour's timid tax policy I will send another message and change to Greens for both. This way hopefully should prevent Labour from having a majority government and allow Greens in coalition to uphold their tax priority. I also see National voters switching to Labour to defeat my logic. Does anyone else see this?

  4. Ad 4

    No.

    Stop whining and do better.

  5. Gosman 5

    How would this be any different to National voters voting for David Seymour in Epsom and would this generate the same sort of revulsion from members of the left?

    • weka 5.1

      the revulsion over Epsom people voting DS is because of ACT policies.

      • Ed1 5.1.1

        At least some of the revulsion is because of ACT policies, but some is because the manipulation of the electoral vote should not enable coat-tailing (although the 5% threshold should also be lower). I hope the new government reviews the election laws again.

    • Tiger Mountain 5.2

      Incels and gun lovers deserve political representation too–which ACT leader David Seymour seems personally pleased to provide–but that does not mean the rest of us have to approve of the weasel!

    • Draco T Bastard 5.3

      It wasn't National voters voting for ACT that was repulsive.

      It was National telling National voters in Epsom to electorate vote ACT.

    • Marcus Morris 5.4

      This would be an initiative taken by Labour supporters in Auckland Central. There is no indication of overt "instruction" as there has been by the National Party in Epsom. Let us not forget the infamous "tea and scones" stitch up between Banks and Key. To all intents and purposes Labour and the Greens are parties of principle although are times when I wish they would resort to such "tactics of convenience" – some might say "strategies".

  6. Visubversa 6

    Auckland Central voter – 2 ticks for Labour as usual. The Greens will get 5% this time, as they did last time. No need for Labour votes to throw them a lifeline, they don't need it and don't deserve it anyway. I dislike their lack of political discipline and their over abundance of political opportunism.

  7. Tiger Mountain 7

    Party Voting Green. Would vote Chlöe if lived in Central.

  8. Heather Grimwood 8

    I think the qualifier for Helen White, is too slanted. i.e. requiring a ‘not wanting Greens in Parliament’ attitude.
    This question to give clear result should be split, one as above, and one just ‘Helen White because………. ‘

    I do write as member of Labour Environmental sector and Dunedin North branch but am also pedantic about clarity when setting questions.
    May a Labour and Green Government result via this election.

    • weka 8.1

      the questions were deliberately chosen because they're about Labour voter attitudes to the Greens being in parliament. If I wanted to know who Labour voters would vote for generally if in Ak Central, I would have asked questions about that, but that's not what I wanted to know.

  9. Andre 9

    I'm really struggling with this one.

    There seems to be very little overlap between the interests and priorities of the people at the top of the current Greens list, and enthusiasm for the kinds of changes needed to move towards a science and evidence driven world that needs to accommodate 8 billion people (and still climbing fast), all wanting a better lifestyle, while also moving to a better environment for all.

    To me it looks very much like the people with the ability to thoughtfully balance a bunch of different views and drives have left, and we're back to the noughties where social activism, token gestures, and frankly, outright woo-woo, are at the top of the priority list.

    So personally, I'm kinda indifferent. I don't think a term out of parliament is necessarily the death of the Greens. It may cause some soul-searching and re-alignment, and they may come back stronger in 2023 with a better balanced suite of people and priorities. If Labour has sole responsibility for actions and outcomes for a term, they may also step up their game, rather than just leaving that stuff to the junior sorta-partner to be the sacrificial goat.

    • weka 9.1

      thanks for the honesty Andre.

      The risk is that in 2023 the Greens don't get back in and Labour loses the election because we're an MMP environment (despite the polling this year) and it can't sustain a majority govt.

    • weka 9.2

      I'm not seeing any woo from the GP MPs. I'm not sure about the conservation/social justice split in values amongst more conservative Labour voters. Much of what has happened with the GP is about the rise of JA, the fallout from Turei's speech (many NZers vote on perceptions of competency), and a term of Labour having adopted more green policies (thanks to JA and the Greens).

      The GP caucus has changed, but I'm not convinced the issue is about being less environmental than being more social justice, which is a clear climate action imperative but obviously not attractive to lefties who are more socially conservative or who aren't committed to solving poverty.

      • Heather Grimwood 9.2.1

        Weka, there has always been solid ‘green’ thinking permeating Labour. I belonged to Labour/Green group operating before rise of Green Party…probably in ’70’s…have put newsletters in Hocken to prove.
        It’s wonderful to see the real needs of the planet become major political issues through whatever avenue….hopefully all possible avenues i.e. consensus.

        • Draco T Bastard 9.2.1.1

          there has always been solid ‘green’ thinking permeating Labour.

          And yet they continually fail to do enough.

    • RedLogix 9.3

      Good answer, I think you nailed it there Andre.

      I gave the Greens my party vote in 4 of the past 5 elections, mainly because I really want representation for the interests of the environment in Parliament. And I think for the most part their social agenda is well-intentioned if prone to driving off into the political ditch.

      for the kinds of changes needed to move towards a science and evidence driven world that needs to accommodate 8 billion people (and still climbing fast), all wanting a better lifestyle, while also moving to a better environment for all.

      Actually in most developed nations endogenous population growth rates are declining, and all the projections show that we will peak out at less than 11b or so, but that's a minor quibble. The crucial point is that the so-called 'golden billion' in the developed world are going to be joined by at least another 10b people in this century. As someone put it a while back, we ain't going to get there by all growing organic kale and selling it at the local farmers market.

      Getting there is going to demand not only a 10-fold increase in energy supply, but in order to develop sustainable closed loop resource systems, maybe as much as 100-fold our current levels. This combined with continued developments on a whole range of technical, materials and process methods in a bewildering array of fields.

      It seems to me the Green Party of NZ thinking is woefully lagging in this respect.

      • Draco T Bastard 9.3.1

        It seems to me the Green Party of NZ thinking is woefully lagging in this respect.

        I tend to agree with you there and I'm a member of the Green Party.

        Unfortunately, the other parties are actually worse as they keep pushing the unsustainable growth necessary for capitalism.

  10. Sabine 10

    no – indifferent to Chloe Swarbrook

    no – cause i never even heard of the other person

    • weka 10.1

      the question isn't if you are indifferent to CS, but the Greens. And the question is about whether one wants the Greens in parliament or not.

      • Sabine 10.1.1

        If anything i agree with Andre above.

        As for your candidates i answered in regards to that.

        Indifferent to the one name i know, very indifferent to the name i don't know, absolutly indifferent to the current Party- regarding the non fight by the Green Party here in Rotorua.

        Its a bit like the Dems in the States, you either run a competend candidate everywhere in order to raise the profile of the party and maybe give people the idea of change and even the believe that you are in it for good, or you only run approved candidates in the two three electorates that you may win and people will just stop paying attention as clearly certain parts of the country are not good enough for the Party to consider.

        There are currently two sings for the Green Party in Rotorua, both next to the Labour sign. Heck Vision, Advance, Maori Party, New Conservatives have put more love behind their candidates then the Green Party.

        Support your local areas everywhere, put local candidates up every where – serious ones to boot, not just Auckland Central, and then maybe the well being of the Party would not just hinge on one or two people.

        • weka 10.1.1.1

          "As for your candidates i answered in regards to that."

          You missed the purpose of the post/question.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.2

          Support your local areas everywhere, put local candidates up every where

          The Green Party doesn't have enough resources, yet, to run a candidate in every electorate. 70 electorates at, IIRC, $35000 each is a lot of money.

          I suspect that the other parties that you mention are doing the same but they think that Rotorua is winnable for them.

          • Sabine 10.1.1.2.1

            I doubt, to be honest, Tamaki might have a chance. Not sure about the others.

            But Rotorua is a decent sized semi – rural town and there is nothing.

            Btw, when i lived in West Auckland i met the candidate for Labour, the no mates party, NZfirst. You know whom i did not meet? The greens.

            That is my main beef with the current party, they are nigh on invisible but for a handful of people on top.

            And that handful of people is well 'less then inspiring' to fair weather Green voters like myself that usually place a vote depending on the situation.

            Last election i voted the Greens for Ms. Turei, this election i will wear a full body suit, bring a barge pole and will either vote for labour or the greens (or legalize Aotearoa – non of the non binding referdum waste of money shit) if Labour is safe and hope for nothing. And considering the times and the election promises coming from both camps and the last three years, nothing is seemingly best we can get.

            • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.2.1.1

              Btw, when i lived in West Auckland i met the candidate for Labour, the no mates party, NZfirst. You know whom i did not meet? The greens.

              And, in all my life, I've only had one candidate turn up on my doorstep (Labour when I was in the Epsom electorate). The reason is obvious when you think about it – it's physically impossible for any candidate to get around to every single house in an electorate.

              Electorates are, IIRC, between 30,000 and 40,000 people so there's about 10,000 homes in each electorate. Each candidate in each electorate will, maybe, get around to several hundred. That's several thousand that were missed. Even with volunteers there's going to be some houses that missed getting flyers.

              Again, you're demanding the impossible and, as a side note, this is another reason why I think we should be getting rid of electorates and taking our democracy online.

              • Sabine

                not doorstep, business.

                The candidate came to the businesses, to ask if we would have posters/flyers etc in the shop.

                NZfirst left a poster for a open meeting at the RSA.

                Labour – Twyford held his corner meetings at the block of shops.

                Ngaro came to speak to 'my' husband….lol, but the lady for the no mates party in council dropped in several times to leave collateral behind for voters.

                Greens? nope. nothing. and that is why the Greens have a hard time getting over 5%. At some stage they actually need to do something to increase their voter block.

                So no i don't demand the impossible, and if it is impossible for the greens to be publicly available to potential voters then maybe they do deserve to not get elected.

                And yeah, take your democracy online, and then you have no computer/phone, you have no money for data, you have no home to begin with, no electricity to charge your devices, libraries are closed cause covid…sure thing…..why not. What could go wrong.

                But we can not ask of the Green to put a bit more effort behind their want to be in parliament.

                And maybe a little less "we are so holy' attitude would also be going a long long way.

                • Draco T Bastard
                  • Not everybody has a business.
                  • Not every business is in the town square.
                  • Not everybody goes to the town square.
                  • Maybe you weren't there on the day that they were

                  I can assure you, as someone who's volunteered for the Greens, that they put a great deal of effort into being elected.

  11. I've heard Chloe speak a few times at local meetings here and I'm seriously impressed Was first put off by what seemed to be a "head girl..debating team "type persona, but that is the polar opposite of who she actually is

    No other party ticks my boxes ,policy wise ,like the Greens do , so I will party vote Green.

    Shaw's fast apology and reversal over the green school thing reassures me that he is responsive to Green membership, and overall Green policy

    Not a hope in hell of Steve Richards winning over a very popular Damien O'Connor..a true west coaster from old family, so I'll vote Damien

    Labour shouldn't be too cocky about an outright win ,and I would have thought the Greens would make better partners than NZ1st

    A vote for the Greens is a vote for a Labour led govt

  12. Tricledrown 12

    Gosman the more extreme policies that support/minor parties put forward the less support the right or left block will attract.

    MMP.

    Glossy ACT are only getting a temporary spike next year after the election National will eventually find a leader who won't scare the voters to Labour and ACT.

    Then ACT will return to its voter base of 0.5%.

    Reply button not working sorry.

  13. Bearded Git 13

    Reply button not working….agree with Francesca above….and more people need to realise that (as weka says) even if Labour doesn't need the greens this time, in 2023 they may be desperate for a support party and the greens will find it much harder to get back into parliament if they get voted out this time.

  14. Party vote Green: (a) to do what I can to get them back into Parliament, and (b) they're my true political "home" anyway.

    Local candidate (nowhere near Auckland): Labour. Might just have a show of taking the seat; the Greens definitely not.

  15. KJT 15

    Party vote Green.

    And electorate for Labour to keep Reti and NZF, Out.

    And get the rather good Labour candidate in. Who appears to have more of a social conscience than current Labour MP's.

  16. Te Aro Resident 16

    I'm in Wellington Central, and last election was two ticks Labour. May have to revise that if Greens under 5% next month. If I was in Auckland Central, however, I would definitely vote for Chloe (but party vote Labour).

  17. Geoff Lye 17

    Voted Yes to Chloe.
    We desperately need the Greens remodel of acc to reform our Healthcare welfare funding. Also to fold pharmac into acc if I as a green party member can convince them of why it is needed.

  18. Riff.s 18

    If I was in Auckland central I would vote chloe and party vote labour. Nothing to lose and potentialy a plan b in 2023. Although I think Shaw in wgtn central is a better option. The left majority is overwhelming there.

    • greywarshark 18.1

      I think that Riff.s is how I'd go.
      Chloe is good, but seems as if she can't win going on lprent summary so Labour for party vote.

      I definitely would like to see Greens have an electorate and if Wellington Central and Shaw fit, then Labour could well step back. He has stamina and brains, and sees the whole picture. He seems to have drawn some ire as Peter Jackson has, but he saw the whole picture too and has given anothr string to our bow in NZ enterprise.

  19. Stuart Munro 19

    I'm in two minds at present – really not happy with Green performance in relation to what I see as the task, and very annoyed with Labour.

    Not with the timidity of the tax increase, but the arrogance of taking further changes off the table – that was unnecessary, and therefore an impropriety.

  20. lprent 20

    I live right next to Auckland central and have been in that electorate for most of my time in Auckland after uni – ie about 30 years. That was why I mostly worked in my 'home' electorate of Mt Albert (I grew up there) and never bothered with Auckland Central much even when I was in the electorate.

    The factional politics in Auckland central has always been completely stupid. Inside Labour, the Alliance and the Greens. One of the main reasons that National was able to grab the electorate vote was because Auckland Central ‘natives’ got sick of it long ago. The other reason is the strong demographic shifts to an older, more affluent and more conservative bent.

    I'd vote for Helen White simply because I don't think that there is a shit show in hell that Chloe Swarbick could carry the electoral vote. Which would make my fantasy electorate vote for a Auckland Central Green candidate a complete waste of time. Just look at the electorate vote numbers in this electorate over the last couple of decades. It has increasingly leaned right.

    This simply isn't the electorate it was when the Alliance carried it in the 1990s. The Greens don't have the kind of electorate organisation that is required to carry and to continue carrying an electorate.

    Sure, the popular Nikki Kay was carrying soft National vote. That is likely to flee from the new National candidate. However that is likely to go to Helen White – it is really unlikely to go to Chloe Swarbick.

    But I can't see that enough Helen White vote going to a new Green candidate. At best I think that Chloe Swarbick will come in third, and the real question is if a Labour or National candidate got the largest vote.

    So far I haven't seen ANY green information that detracts from my analysis. In fact I suspect that the only real information would come from looking at the results after the election and a couple more – if Chloe Swarbick is capable of taking a long enough view to entrench herself into the electorate.

    She has to figure out how to appeal to older demographics who actually turn up at the polling booth. So far I can't see her trying to do that.

    What I see is a pile of dimwits discussing might-be fantasy politics rather than anything I can recognise as being actually achievable at a real electorate level.

    The new Green candidate in Auckland Central is unlikely to be anything apart from a spoiler giving a electorate back to National.

    BTW: on the other hand, if I thought that the Greens weren't likely to party vote get the threshold – then I'd happily give them a party vote.

    • greywarshark 20.1

      Reading Lprent's reasoned, knowledgable thoughts about his electorate is good. Could this be the first in an ongoing and building electorate discussion as to strength of parties and trends in the electorate. We could cover the whole of NZ. But though, whether putting such info out there and into the hands of the grubs behind the scenes of the conservatives who hold the money and the media, might cancel this idea out as worthy. Everything must be done with thoughts of unintended consequences.

  21. McFlock 21

    I think it's important to keep the Greens in parliament. I think that Labour's practicality moderates Green reflexiveness (e.g. the green school), but the Greens push Labour to find the limits of that practicality (Labour tend to lack imagination).

    So party vote if they're close to threshold, definitely.

    Electorate vote for a Green candidate with a chance of winning and coattailing other Green MPs in? Maybe. Depends if they're a dick.

    But Labour having a cup of tea and throwing that campaign? Nope. That takes the choice away from the voters. The Green candidate might be a dick, if not now then when the practise becomes routine.

    • greywarshark 21.1

      Good thinking McFlock. But still a trace of 20th century thinking. We are short of time, the practise may never get a chance to become routine, and lefties winning at each stage that we can NOW, is essential. Just think of the difference that Corbyn could have made, not everything okay, but a definite pause and good changes achieved. But he was knifed in the back by Labour officials FGS.

      There are other infections out there besides Covid-19, and they affect the brain and clear thinking especially the part where morals and ideals arise in the synapses. Who knows when this type of brain rot will spread and result in a total transformation in another generation (20 years) of the human downwards that rivals the upward trend to the smart apes we are today. So smart that we cut ourselves, and that is literal not figurative. Seize the moment, or likely, cease the moment.

      • McFlock 21.1.1

        Yeah, nah.

        The cup of tea is basically political corruption. Not good corruption, like people joing parties to compromise on policies in exchange for actual electoral leverage. It's the respective party HQs horse-trading to subvert an electoral outcome.

        • greywarshark 21.1.1.1

          Actually they are choosing to set aside their MMP options and with one major contender withdrawing, letting the voters decide between the other two important contenders. It says to their supporters, it is important to give this Party a chance to get into Parliament in their own right, they can't force the voters to give their votes to that Party's candidate, but they indicate the person stands with their blessing. People who don't like the candidate or the decision, can then vote for the other major Party's candidate. There is always some horse trading when choosing candidates and the support they get.

          • McFlock 21.1.1.1.1

            If they need another party's candidate to withdraw (or step back), they're not getting in in their own right.

            By cutting a deal the party HQs are denying the voters the opportunity to have the most popular candidate. What about the voters who don't support party B?

            If a party can't get into parliament in its own right, it desrves to go into time out for a few years.

            • greywarshark 21.1.1.1.1.1

              Isn't that applying equality rather than equity. For a party like the Greens, they don't qualify for that sort of rigid response. They have something to say and do that a large number of mostly wealthy NZs aren't prepared to step up to until forced by fate. We are trying to have a hand in choosing our fate from dwindling alternatives. I say fuck that custom, show flexibility in this time of emergency and let's get going before it is too late.

              • McFlock

                That would be along the lines of the "it can't be us, the electorate must be stupid" excuses.

                "We" includes voters who don't want the Greens anywhere near parliament. For better or ill, they too are part of a democratic system.

                It has nothing to do with equity and equality, unless we also decide that the variety of minute fascist-adjacent parties running for election this year also deserve to be giften an electorate seat. I for one do not want my local MP to be a "New Conservative".

                • greywarshark

                  Rigid response. We all have to put up with what we are offered and we all want something different. How do we get anything done that satisfies? Not well as a rule, though there are exceptions. But quoting the Political Bible with the zeal of an evangelical is unlikely to help us; can someone walk on water?

                  • McFlock

                    The question isn't whether parties walk on water to get electoral support, but how deeply they swim in shit.

                    If the Greens drop below 5% this election, they will not be disbanded. I think they're more established than that.

                    There is also the possibility that three years out of parliament will make them a better and more electorally responsive party than three years as a supplicant. The Epsom sinecure has done ACT no favours in becoming more attractive to voters.

                    But my primary distaste for the idea remains the same: electorate MPs should not be horse-traded by party HQs. They should be elected by democratic means. In a democracy, voters select their representatives, not party functionaries in back rooms.

  22. Robert Guyton 22

    Here's what a dyed-in-the-wool greenie plans to do; vote for the Labour candidate, Party vote Green. If I can do that to support Labour, you Labourites could just as well support The Greens. smiley

    • Cinny 22.1

      I'm doing the same Robert 🙂

      And if I was in Auckland Central I'd definitely vote for Chloe, she has proven herself to be a massive asset in our Parliament.

    • mac1 22.2

      That's what a d-i-t-w Greenie can afford to do, as of course you vote for the party of your choice.

      The electorate vote, however, and this for me is the strength of MMP, allows us to select the best local candidate to vote for.

      Is the best candidate a candidate who might win a place in a coalition with my first choice's party under the coat-tailing MMP provision?

      If the Green were a better candidate I'd certainly look at them, but I'd prefer to see the coat-tailing provision go, and drop the threshold to a lower level than 5%, say 3%. That should do away with the shenanigans of Epsomandering, tactical voting and second-guessing a fickle electorate.

  23. Mika 23

    I considered giving my party vote for the greens when they looked close to going under the 5% threshold in 2017. I was door-knocking for Labour at the same time as mulling on this.

    But now I could not contemplate voting for their attempts to enshrine gender identity ideology in law (a woo-woo, anti-science, stereotype-fixated, faith & superstition based neoliberal belief system).

    I did have more time for Swarbrick earlier on, but watching her in parliament during the debate about the Statistics NZ proposal to discontinue census data collection on sex in favious of gender identity was quite an eye-opener. She sat behind Shaw pulling faces as Sarah Dowie and Tracey Martin asked Shaw questions on the potential impact on the proposed change. It was so immature and disrespectful. And sad, as I do think she’s smart enough to know better.

  24. Kay 24

    In Rongotai, supposedly up there for Green Party vote, and extremely safe Labour. I do think that with Annette King's retirement that could've been a great opportunity for a Green electoral push here but we've got Paul Eagle instead. Name recognition from his council days probably helped there too.

    I'll party vote Green as always, but might for the first time pass on the electoral vote. Still considering it. I just can't bring myself to support Labour in any size, shape or form right now and Green's don't stand a chance. Would love the option to vote for CS.

  25. mary_a 25

    Yes absolutely.

    Left Auckland three years ago for beautiful Cromwell. So I will electorate vote Labour, party vote Greens.

  26. Alan 26

    James rattling the sabre now – to the delight of the 2% hard left but scaring the Range Rover mums right into the arms of Labour – top move Greens!

    • Robert Guyton 26.1

      You're such a sincere Green supporter, Alan, never faltering, never losing the faith; I thank you most sincerely!

  27. ScottGN 27

    So the Greens are dangling a threat to decamp to the crossbenches if Labour won’t come to the party on their wealth tax?

    Maybe the party leadership thinks that the party base need a bit of a rark up after the Green school debacle? But it’s hard to see how throwing a tanty with this will do anything other than strengthen Labour’s position with voters.

    • weka 27.1

      "So the Greens are dangling a threat to decamp to the crossbenches if Labour won’t come to the party on their wealth tax?"

      Where did they say that? A link please.

    • solkta 27.2

      Well Labour is going to have to do better than its pathetic tax policy so far that is for sure. Green members will not ratify a deal if there is nothing in it.

    • Andre 27.3

      Threatening to go hardline on a policy that was already quite likely to be contributing to a chunk of their former supporters drifting away sure doesn't seem a smart strategy.

      • solkta 27.3.1

        If you are talking about yourself, you weren't going to vote for them anyway.

        • Andre 27.3.1.1

          I'm very confident I'm not alone in the wealth tax contributing to me likely becoming a former Greens supporter for this election. The question is merely how large the group is.

          • weka 27.3.1.1.1

            GP wealth tax document said "The net wealth tax will be set at a level where only around 6% of wealthiest New Zealanders will pay the tax"

            Not sure if that's 6% of NZers, (who are wealthy), or 6% of thewealthy NZers. Probably the former, but still a small proportion and I would guess not a huge number of GP voters that would be put off (as compared to the wealthy GP voters who are happy to pay more tax).

            This assumes that there is clear communication about the policy and who it affects, which given NZ election campaigns and the MSM isn't a given.

            Otoh, the left wing voters who want Labour to do more are going to be pleased.

            • Andre 27.3.1.1.1.1

              I kinda feel like none of the Green supporters here have actually paid any attention whatsoever to what I've said about why the wealth tax is a crap proposal, let alone taken it on board. It appears that all are completely stuck in the extremely simplistic mindset of "oh they're rich, it won't hurt them to take a bit off them" and nothing penetrates that bubble. It feels like I've been talking to stones about why a capital gains tax is by far the better solution.

              But I can assure you, I'm not the only person that's broadly supportive of Greens and would be affected by the wealth tax, and is fine with paying more tax in principle, but is nevertheless very aware of how different tax structures affect lives and decisions. And don't want a bit of the wealth tax, because of the damaging effects of when it is levied and the message sent by how it is structured.

              • weka

                Admittedly I didn't follow the nuance in how you would be personally affected, but I did get that an important part of the issue is psychological.

                My own position is that it's an imperfect policy that would improve in being worked through with a coalition partner. So it's more about the basic principle and the messaging for me, the details of who pays what when can be changed.

                I don't see a CGT as being an equivalent, probably because it was originally a Labour policy with a different intent. Was it going to raise similar amounts to the wealth tax?

                I remain unconvinced it's a primary key in the housing crisis solutions but am open to changing my mind on this.

                • Andre

                  The keys to making real improvements in the housing problem lie much more in the government choosing to pull on some of the many levers they have available to simply get more homes built. Neither a wealth tax nor capital gains tax nor estate tax will do much to damp down the housing problems when all the other settings remain fucked up.

                  It's a fool's errand trying to use tax structures to solve housing problems. Taxes won't and can't do that.

                  What taxes are about is sharing the costs of building and maintaining the society we all benefit from, plus a certain amount of sending messages about what activities are and aren't helpful to society. So the tax argument is about how to share those costs among different people, and a certain amount of argument over whether trying to influence decisions is even a legitimate goal of taxation.

                  When it comes to amounts raised, that's mostly a matter of rates and thresholds. With the caveat that amounts raised in NZ will likely be very small immediately after introduction, rising as more and more people start realising the capital gains they've made over longer and longer periods. I can't be arsed checking up right now, but IIRC at times in the US, capital gains taxes have accounted for almost 20% of the federal tax take. That's quite a lot higher than what the Greens think they'll get from their proposal.

                • solkta

                  probably because it was originally a Labour policy

                  I think you will find that CGT was Green policy for many years before Labour picked it up and fumbled it so badly.

              • RedBaronCV

                I too think the Greens wealth tax is to put it politely "naive" and I suspect designed by people who have littler experience of the workings of the tax system at upper levels. Is it part of party capture by a young Auckland base who also prioritise other activist issues? I've also noticed other Green MP's off topic -Golriz- was trying to extend 16000 of the work travel visa's that would normally go home. Now that is not even a local constituency and in a limited work environment probably not smart.

                Still in terms of direction of travel Greens on sustainability and attempting to improve the lot of the economic bottom is in a different class to the other parties.

                And to all the people wondering why the greens/labour do or don’t do things then another option is to join the party and have a say in policy and electoral organisation. These parties aren’t “other” they are us

          • solkta 27.3.1.1.2

            but there is also the group who are looking at the Labour tax policy and thinking WTF. So much talk from Labour but no delivery.

            • Andre 27.3.1.1.2.1

              There are indeed voters that feel that way. But there aren't any in my circles that I'm aware of for whom it will make a difference to their vote, the Greens aren't an option for them for other reasons. Shaw's made quite a gamble that going hard line will pull more in than it will tip over the edge and out.

    • Robert Guyton 27.4

      "Co-leader James Shaw made the comments on Thursday, saying the only post-election deal that was off the table completely was one which would give National power. "

      The only post-election deal that was off the table…

      I see…

  28. ScottGN 28

    I’m in the Mt Albert electorate so no prizes for guessing where my candidate vote will be going. My party vote will be going to Labour. A Labour majority government would be great but failing that (and it’s a huge ask) then I want Ardern to have the strongest minority possible. I hope the Greens get over the threshold.

  29. ScottGN 29

    Shaw said as much in the news item on Radio NZ weka. No link yet but I’ll stick it up when it appears.

    I understand that the Greens have often have the raw end of the coalition’s negotiations over the term of the government but this sort of posturing is probable not a great idea at this time and from a party that could well not make it back into parliament.

  30. xanthe 30

    whats our plan for 2020?… hey i know. lets target labour voters.

    isn't that what we always do?… yes! got a better idea ?

  31. ScottGN 31

    That about sums it up xanthe.

  32. ScottGN 32

    @solka 27.2

    Putting aside the merits or otherwise of the various policies on offer. My comment was more oriented to the wisdom of James Shaw making this statement at this time.

    Clearly his comments are intended for the party faithful with whom he has found himself seriously offside in the last few weeks. The rest of us, however, just see empty rhetoric.

    • solkta 32.1

      No, if you look back at the dynamics of previous elections you will see that this is exactly the time when minor parties make these statements – what would be the point of voting for the Greens and their policy platform if they will not be negotiating hard for that platform after the election?

  33. ScottGN 33

    @solka 30.1

    Of course all parties are competing for voters in the electoral marketplace. But it’s a pretty damning indictment on a party whose electoral appeal is so low or erratic that every three years they are reduced to begging for support from their potential coalition partner’s voter base just to survive.

    • Robert Guyton 33.1

      Could you be any more down on The Greens, ScottGN? Perhaps if you really tried you could squeeze some more blood out of your little greenstone!

  34. Shaky 34

    I want better labour laws for blue collar workers (specifically Fair Pay Agreements) and I'm also concerned about climate change.
    I usually vote Labour (honest) – I'm very proud that Jacinda is our Prime Minister.
    I live in Nelson and my priority is to rid the region of Nick Smith.

    This election, I will be giving my party vote to the Greens and voting for Rachel Boyack (Labour) as my local MP.
    I’m sure I’m not the only Labour voter who is ‘left’ of Labour – we must make sure that the Greens get over 5%

  35. ScottGN 35

    @solka 32.1

    That’s rubbish frankly. If you look back at previous elections you’re most likely going to hear party leaders saying that they aren’t about to negotiate the C & S in the media before the voters have had their say. And that’s what James Shaw should have done today.

    • solkta 35.1

      Unlike Winston First the Greens are always clear about what policies they will push for in negotiations.

      Asked if the Greens wealth tax plan was a "bottom line," Shaw said that it was a "top priority".

  36. ScottGN 36

    @Robert Guyton 33.1

    You know whenever I do those Vote Compass type thingies I always come out aligned with the Greens. I WANT them to be in a coalition government with Labour.

    But governing the country is tough and the day-to-day politics are brutal – just look at Ardern and what she’s had to deal with. If the Greens want to be part of the next government, I’m all for it, but you guys will need to get real and put on the long pants.

    You’ve potentially destroyed yourselves over a measly grant to a school. You don’t approve of private schools, I get that, I don’t either. But the apparent lack of any political acumen from anyone in the party in dealing with the problem is extraordinary and doesn’t bode well for a so-called mature political party and their prospects in a coalition government. Frankly if the PM was smart she’d take one look at the funk the Greens are in and go, “bugger this, I’ll be better off trying for an improbable majority.”

  37. RedBaronCV 37

    I do wonder if the Greens should go for a two tick campaign in Rongotai and Wellington Central though.

  38. ScottGN 38

    @solka 35.1

    And then went on to say that the Greens might go to the cross benches if they don’t get what they want…fine, whatever, but don’t puff your chest out and try to wave a big stick when you haven’t got one. You just look silly.

    • solkta 38.1

      That is just the reality. The membership won't ratify an agreement that is empty. Why would they?

  39. ScottGN 39

    @solka 38.1

    Why would they indeed? Maybe we should just wait and see who’s left standing on Oct 18? But I’m getting the vibe that Labour won’t be too unhappy if the Māori Party claim back a seat or two.

  40. Corey Humm 40

    The Greens don't seem to realize two things 1. We voted strategically last election and the greens wouldn't be here today if Labour voters didn't save them in 2017.

    2. The greens lost 4% TOP got atleast half of that 4%. There used to be so many straight male green voters now they are a dying breed.

    Almost every top voter I've ever met is a former green voter who wanted radical reforms and marijuana but felt alienated and attacked by the greens who seem to blame every ill in this world on "cis het normative, patriarchal facist male scum" and being against freedom of speech. Post election greens doubled down on this, there are a lot of damn good straight blokes in this country who would be voting the greens if the greens stopped telling them how privledged they are when they are probably struggling like hell, I will be party voting green but in the long term the greens need to win back straight men noones saying ditch social justice but honestly if I was straight id never vote Green. Six years ago every straight Young make Lefty I knew was pretty much a greeny. Fix it.

    • Dennis Frank 40.1

      Yeah, you got it. The problem with the Greens is unacknowledged bias. They were established to advance the common good. You no longer hear that from their spokespeople.

      I've always been keen on social justice too, but when politicos use that as the basis for pushing a sectarian view they always alienate those who aren't in their sect.

  41. infused 41

    Having them gone would be the best outcome of this election. Even more so than NZF

  42. mosa 42

    The very real prospect of the Greens not making it back is a real concern which is why all of us that want a progressive influence on the left in a future Labour led government must party vote Green and if you are in Auckland central Chloe would be an outstanding representative for the electorate.

    Without the Greens we maybe looking at a Lab – Maori coalition after the election which will mean with Tamihere who in the past was always on the right of Labour will mean any prospect of a progressive influence will be absent.

    A majority for Labour may embolden some in the party to flex their muscles but they would face an uphill battle as like Key Adern has total control and will not want dissenting voices from the membership.

    If anyone is in doubt about a vote for the Greens they should take a little time to read their vision for the decades ahead.

    https://www.greens.org.nz/ourgreenvisionforaotearoa

    • weka 42.1

      snort, that would teach the left, a Labour/Mp coalition. The Māori Party's female co-leader looks interesting though, and some of their policy has been awesome.

      Which seat/s are the Mp likely to get? I haven't been following.

  43. Jane Smith 43

    Not a chance I that I will vote Green this time.

    The Greens now define a woman as anyone who says they are a women. But they haven’t told their voters who are happily unaware of what this actually means.

    So any male rapist or violent abuser can just say he is a woman and get sent to womens prisons to rape and abuse again. They don’t need psychiatrists or doctors approval to do this. If they say they are a women, they are even if they have male genitals and are sexually attracted to women. That’s what the “ self definition” that the Greens are peddling means. No safe spaces for women. None.

    Likewise Paedophiles, sexual abusers, voyeurs, stalkers can now access their victims in womens and children’s changing rooms, womens refuges etc. A grown man can stick on a dress call himself a woman and display his penis to a child in a changing room get away with it. And they have done the changes sneakily behind the scenes, including changing the definitions of a woman on the census which James Shaw if leading.

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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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