Labour’s legacy: building a better New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 3:28 pm, November 29th, 2016 - 92 comments
Categories: Andrew Little, labour - Tags:

Andrew Little

From Labour’s website.

This weekend, I’ve been out knocking on doors in Mt Roskill, supporting Michael Wood, and talking to Kiwis about the issues that matter to them. As you go around and talk to people, the achievements of earlier Labour Governments are all around you.

Today is the 81st anniversary of the election of the First Labour Government and 17 years since the Fifth Labour Government won. The contributions they made to creating the New Zealand we know can be seen everywhere, as can the damage National is doing.

There’s the state houses, first built under Michael Joseph Savage, which have provided decent, affordable homes for generations of New Zealanders. Labour has always believed a good place to live is a basic human right and making sure people have it is one of a government’s first duties. It’s sad, then, to see so many state houses vacant, like the one in Kallu Cres that National has left sitting empty for six months in the middle of a housing crisis.

There’s Mt Roskill Grammar, opened soon after Peter Fraser made secondary school education free for everyone, but which now charges $180 a year in ‘donations’ because it’s so underfunded. You meet young people studying at the University who can only afford it because Labour took the interest off student loans, although it’s getting harder as Natural ramps up fees.

There’s Three Kings Medical Centre, a participant in the Very Low Cost Access scheme introduced under Helen Clark to keep GP fees down in low-income areas, itself building on the GP subsidies introduced by the First Labour Government. Because of that scheme, it charges nothing for kids and $18 for adults. But underfunding is forcing fees up at other clinics; half a million Kiwis couldn’t afford to go to the doctor last year.

You meet families who can make ends meet, or do that bit extra for the kids, because the Fifth Labour Government brought in Working for Families. And people looking forward to a break over Christmas thanks to the annual leave the First Labour Government introduced.

In many ways, Labour built this country as we know it. We built it on Kiwi values of a fair shot and a fair share for all.

As we mark the anniversaries of the First and Fifth Labour Governments, their legacy is the opportunity for people to live the Kiwi dream. It’s a legacy that eight years of National has eroded but it’s one that the Sixth Labour Government I lead will build upon, and take further than ever before.

We’ll give people a chance to own their own place by building 100,000 affordable homes for people to buy along with thousands more state houses. We’ll make three years of post-school education and training free, and subsidise apprenticeships. We’ll tackle school donations and boost funding. We’ll reverse National’s health cuts and improve services. We’ll support local jobs by buying Kiwi-made and give unemployed young people work improving the environment. We’ll make our communities safer with 1,000 more police. And we’ll have money left over to pay down Key’s record debt because we won’t resort to a desperate $3 billion election year tax bribe.

That’s how we can build a better New Zealand on the foundation laid by past Labour Governments.

92 comments on “Labour’s legacy: building a better New Zealand ”

  1. michelle 1

    That all sounds good what about reducing immigration and changing the work visas system granted for jobs kiwis can and will do in building, dairying, hospitality and
    aged care.
    We also need to reintroduce a type of second chance education and training to fill these gaps in these industries.
    This has been taken away under Johns government the above could be tailored to the job market shortages. We know we need more chefs and we should not be getting them from overseas these are missed opportunities for our Youth and others and this is what Gareth Morgan has been talking about. We have how many NEETS they can fill these gaps.

    • garibaldi 1.1

      Strange he didn’t mention Labour’s crass record on beneficiaries in Helen’s regime, nor their unabashed continuing support for neoliberalism to this day.

      • Jenny Kirk 1.1.1

        You haven’t been listening Garibaldi – Labour under Andrew Little has rejected neo-liberalism.

        • Planet Earth 1.1.1.1

          Link, reference or citation please?

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 1.1.1.1.1

            Yes, I’d like to see it also. At least Labour are using the word neo-liberalism now, but personally I see no sign they have rejected it yet.

          • Leftie 1.1.1.1.2

            ” The era of ‘trickle down economics’ is over.”

            < ahref="http://www.labour.org.nz/a_plan_for_the_future

          • Leftie 1.1.1.1.3

            Trickle down economics is over

            http://www.labour.org.nz/a_plan_for_the_future

            • Planet Earth 1.1.1.1.4.1

              No, that’s not it.

              • Leftie

                Yes, it is.

                • Gosman

                  You think Neo-Liberalism is defined as ‘Trickle down economics’ do you?

                  The left has been rejecting this term for as long back as it was created by them as a strawman to attack the right. I’m pretty sure the last Labour led government also claimed they were against it.

                  • Leftie

                    No Gosman, and the link is an example of the direction Labour is heading, and it’s moving away from neoliberalism, and the current Labour party is not the same as the last Labour led government.

                    • Gosman

                      I don’t think you know what neoliberalism means. If you did you will have realised that Labour is not offering much in the way of difference beyond mere words stating they are anti-neoliberal now.

                    • Gosman

                      Let’s look at the important elements of what the left generally define as neoliberalism and see if the NZ Labour party has truly rejected it.

                      The private sector being the main driver for growth in the economy – Check

                      An open economy allowing free exhange of goods, services and ideas between nations – Check

                      A regime that encourages immigration – Check

                      Making it easier for the private sector to do business – Check

                      An independent Reserve bank given the task of maintaining low inflation – Check

                      The role of government to be focused on improving the environment for individuals to succeed on their own and to provide extra support for those in need – Check

                      Keeping taxes as a proportion of the economy to a manageable level – Check

                      Reduce the size of the deficit and pay back government debt – Check

                    • Clump_AKA Sam

                      Let’s not

                    • Leftie

                      You would say that because you can’t see past John key’s nose. You think National is going to rein forever. All you are doing is making assumptions, and more often than not, assumptions turn out to be wrong. The current Labour party is untested, lets sack National and find out. Nothing could be worse than the last 8 years we have had with John key and his National government of corruption, lies and sell outs.

      • wellfedweta 1.1.2

        ..or the fact that school ‘donations’ have been around for decades, including through the full term of the last Labour government.

    • Jenny Kirk 1.2

      Michelle – this is exactly what Andrew Little has been saying …. and when he said publicly he didn’t think we needed to import any more Asian chefs, he was shot down from all directions. Don’t you remember? Gareth Morgan has obviously copied his comments.

      By the way, Labour has continually announced new policies – but they don’t get much of an airing in the media (unlike the Nat’s tax cuts) – so here’s a link to them :
      http://www.labour.org.nz/announced_policies

    • Leftie 1.3

      Labour have talked about turning the tap down on immigration and putting the brakes on non resident foreign property speculators.

    • Leftie 1.4

      Labour have been talking about turning the tap down on immigration and putting the breaks on non resident foreign speculators.

  2. Siobhan 2

    Talk about cherry picking on the legacy of Labour Party Policies…wonder if he used a Pacific RSE worker.

    • Jenny Kirk 2.1

      What’s cherry-picking about the basis of New Zealand’s much-vaunted social welfare system – which has been systematically unpicked by ShonKey’s policies.

      • Leftie 2.1.1

        +1 Jenny.

        National have nothing to crow about in it’s history.

      • Chris 2.1.2

        Yes, Key’s government has done that. And so did the Bolger/Shipley government. Everyone knows that. But what nobody wants to accept is the huge amount of damage Clark’s government did to our much-vaunted social welfare system”. In many ways Labour’s handy work was much much worse because of how vital cornerstones were fucked with – things no National government had ever tried tampering with before. What’s interesting about this is how so many Labour supporters simply aren’t prepared to accept that this is what happened. Some even try to justify it.

    • Leftie 2.2

      Gee, that’s not funny, it’s nasty Siobhan.

      • Siobhan 2.2.1

        No not nasty. Pertinent.
        It concerns me that my local Labour Party person, Anna Lorke is on record claiming that the RSE scheme has improved employment outcomes and wages for people in the Hawkes Bay.
        Having locals compete with temporary labour from, to use the old phrase, underdeveloped countries, is not beneficial to our local or National economy.
        If those workers were made NZ residents (which would be fine with me) and therefore had to live on their wages for the whole year, in our developed, first world economy, they would be demanding better wages and conditions.

        Imported labor like this is pure neo liberalism, free market nonsense, and it is something I desperately wish Labour would put behind them.

        • Leftie 2.2.1.1

          Maybe that context is what you should have posted in the first place, as your initial comment did sound nasty. Thanks for clarifying.

  3. The Chairman 3

    Something to ponder.

    Voters are aware of this, yet no traction. Clearly Labour will have to come up with more if they want to win.

    • Ad 3.1

      Labour always makes you eat your veggies first before you get your pudding.

    • Jenny Kirk 3.2

      This is just the start. Why blow all your trumpets with one breath !

      • The Chairman 3.2.1

        One hopes they can deliver a tune that widely resonates, Jenny.

        • Leftie 3.2.1.1

          Not if National, their supporters and msm can help it.

          • The Chairman 3.2.1.1.1

            It’s all part of the challenge Labour face.

            To overcome this and win, Labour require to up their game – i.e. better policy and delivery.

            • Leftie 3.2.1.1.1.1

              At least Labour have policy, National sure don’t. All National has to do is rely on a complicit msm to spread it’s lies, no questions asked.

              • The Chairman

                While Labour seem to have a handle on the problems the country is facing, their solutions/policies are largely lacking. Highlighting policy formulating deficits within.

                Moreover, their delivery is atrocious.

                • Leftie

                  At least Labour do have solutions and policies to the mess National is making. National is just fortunate to have a lying, complicit msm on side.

      • Leftie 3.2.2

        Jenny. Exactly.

    • BM 3.3

      No ones believes them or trust them, Labours credibility is shot to pieces.

      That’s the problem for the left, you guys need quality sale people to win back and gain the publics confidence.

      Without people to sell the message, the polices, create enthusiasm, the left is going nowhere.

      That’s why Trump won and Key wins and will win again easily next year.

      • mosa 3.3.1

        Christ another 3 years of Key and his cohorts.

        My xmas wish is down the drain then.

      • Leftie 3.3.2

        Does anyone trust dishonest liar John key?

        • The Chairman 3.3.2.1

          Seeing as he polls higher than Little, one would assume that is an indication voters trust him more than Little. Which highlights how much more work Labour require to do to regain voter trust.

          • Leftie 3.3.2.1.1

            Not sure that is a show of trust. No one can say John key tells the truth can they? Incumbents always poll higher. John key has lost a lot of support since the last election. Andrew Little has not been in politics as long as John key has. Didn’t Helen Clark poll 2% prior to becoming PM?

            • The Chairman 3.3.2.1.1.1

              It’s illogical to assume voters would prefer a PM they don’t trust to some extent.

              I’m not saying it’s an indication they trust everything Key says, but it’s a good indication that they trust Key over Little.

              Helen worked hard to build up her trust. And was far better in her delivery.

              • Leftie

                How would you know they trust key over Little? Little hasn’t gone through an election yet.

                The point is, is that she was polling at 2%, and was in politics longer than Little.

                • The Chairman

                  I was going off the numerous preferred PM polls.

                  Helen was initially polling low largely due to the damage and distrust caused from Labour’s shift to the right.

                  • Leftie

                    Whatever you may like to think, the point is she was polling at 2% prior to becoming PM, and was in politics longer than Little.

              • Leftie

                How would you know they trust key over Little? Little hasn’t gone through an election yet.

                The point is, is that she was polling at 2%, and was in politics longer than Little

              • Leftie

                3rd time lucky to get this posted.

                How would you know they trust key over Little? Little hasn’t gone through an election yet.

                The point is, is that she was polling at 2%, and was in politics longer than Little.

                • lprent

                  Just be patient. Eventually I clear them.

                  There are a number of people getting this for some reason that I can’t identify at present. Problem is that because of worklaod at the paid job, I don’t have the free time to figure it out. So they get cleared out when I have time.

                  But I head out for a few weeks work in Italy shortly. That should give me some evenings free (ie NZ mornings) to add some debugging in. No TV (unless I want to watch news programs), cooking nor partner – I have no idea what else to use all of that free time for.

            • Bob 3.3.2.1.1.2

              “Incumbents always poll higher”
              Nope, 18 months out from the 2008 election (we are about 11 or 12 months out from the next election) John Key was polling higher than Helen Clark in the preferred PM stakes:
              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_2008

              Just shows how poorly Little has been performing!

              • Leftie

                Generally incumbents do poll higher, even John key is trending down substantially in the pop/preferred polls in his 3rd term. Andrew Little is relatively new to politics, unlike Helen Clark, when she polled at 2% prior to becoming PM.

                • Bob

                  Helen Clark polled at 2% in 1993 and won the election in 1999, are you happy to give Andrew Little 6 years to do the same?
                  Also, John Key had been in politics for about the same length of time as Andrew Little has now when he took the lead (as leader of the opposition) in the Preferred PM role.

                  • Leftie

                    Actually Helen Clark polled @ 2% after 1993 and the Labour party went as low as 14%. My point still stands.

                    John key is now polling his lowest since 2008. Quite a remarkable drop from those 50+ 60+ % days.

      • The Chairman 3.3.3

        Indeed, BM.

        • Leftie 3.3.3.1

          You trust John key, a known liar and deceiver?

          • The Chairman 3.3.3.1.1

            No, I don’t trust John key.

            But nor do I trust this current Labour lot.

            • Leftie 3.3.3.1.1.1

              Of course you don’t and no one would trust John key, and it blows your opinion that “It’s illogical to assume voters would prefer a PM they don’t trust to some extent.” doesn’t it? People still voted for key knowing he is liar and that he couldn’t be trusted.

              • The Chairman

                It doesn’t blow my opinion away. Key is not my preferred PM.

                Voters voted for Key/National because they preferred (and no doubt trusted) him/them over the opposition.

                • Leftie

                  Didn’t realize we were discussing you in particular. But yeah, it does blow your opinion out the window. People knew what they were voting for in John key and National and it had nothing to do with trust.

            • Leftie 3.3.3.1.1.2

              Third time lucky to get this posted…Of course you don’t and no one would trust John key, and it blows your opinion that “It’s illogical to assume voters would prefer a PM they don’t trust to some extent.” doesn’t it? People still voted for key knowing he is liar and that he couldn’t be trusted.

  4. Andrea 4

    “We’ll support local jobs by buying Kiwi-made ”

    Good luck with that. Years out of date, in fact. Unless he’s talking pies, sammies, and lattes?

    Totally agree with Michelle on the second-chance training.

    Add to that some direction from the government about how it will position NZ. Where we have edge and advantage in more than farming, movies, or a minor variety of football. Contributions that involve much larger numbers of the population for all working ages. Something that provides businesses and enterprises enough peace of mind to start out, keep growing, and start trading and hiring (if we’re still in the wage slave model.)

    “give unemployed young people work improving the environment” Not again! Clear fell Kaingaroa and let them start over? Plant pingao? Come on, already!!! Where’s the NEXT step for these ‘unemployed young people’? Where are the hope, possibilities, and training? The creation and retention of expertise, creativity, and some major breakthroughs in conservation of more than the old-fashioned ‘natural’ environment?

    Oh, well, no? Just another popular feel-good mouth-puff?

    And ‘improving the environment’ – hey, Labour! It was YOU who crammed together a bunch of government departments to make DoC – then slashed its budget to the marrow year on year. Killed the nurseries and land protection measures. Pensioned off the expertise and corporate knowing.

    What will you do differently-better this time round, Labour?

    • Naki man 4.1

      “We’ll support local jobs by buying Kiwi-made

      Good luck with that. Years out of date, in fact. Unless he’s talking pies, sammies, and lattes?”

      Yes that worked really well in Australia ripping off the tax payers to prop up the lazy over paid motor vehicle industry.

  5. Red Hand 5

    Looks like he has to keep juggling and no end to it. Like Sisyphus maybe.
    What’s in it for me or should I think of others ? Think of others or look after number one ? I’m alright Jack or my brother’s keeper? If Labour made up it’s mind to favour the general well being over individuals getting ahead in today’s NZ it risks losing votes. Big problem !!!!

  6. Leftie 6

    What’s National got? So I guess everyone would rather John key and his National government stay in power then.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7

    “We’ll support local jobs by buying Kiwi-made ”

    Andrea you obviously haven’t actually heard or read anywhere Andrew Little repeatedly saying that govt tenders will have a procurement clause in it which will help local tenderers be on an equal footing with overseas tenderers.
    This is a major step in the direction of (a) retaining jobs for NZers aka Hillside workshops and (b) building a new lot of local expertise in a number of different trades/IT etc.
    This is just one of the many policies Labour has developed to get NZers working again.

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours 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
    15 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
    17 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
    17 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
    1 day 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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