Labour’s new water infrastructure policy

Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, April 13th, 2023 - 42 comments
Categories: labour, water - Tags:

Press release


Major shakeup will see affordable water reforms led and delivered regionally

Hon Kieran McAnulty - 2022 headshot
HON KIERAN MCANULTY
  • 10 new regionally owned and led public water entities to be established
  • New approach avoids a rates blow out and delivers savings to households between $2,770-$5,400 per year by 2054
  • Entities will be owned by local councils on behalf of the public, and entity borders to be based on existing regional areas
  • Each entity to be run by a professional board, with members appointed on competency and skill
  • Strategic oversight and direction to be provided by local representative groups with every local council in the country, as well as mana whenua, getting a seat at the table

The Government has listened to feedback from local government and is announcing major changes to New Zealand’s affordable water reforms by agreeing to establish 10 new regionally led entities, which will still deliver big cost savings to New Zealand households says Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty.

“These reforms are absolutely essential. Leaving things as they are will mean unaffordable rate bills,” Kieran McAnulty said.

“Over the last few months I’ve been working closely with Local Government leaders and relevant stakeholders on how to progress New Zealand’s long overdue water infrastructure reforms.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly clear that our water infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed now if we’re to save households from ballooning bills that will make water unaffordable. But also that the reform programme must be led at a regional level – we have listened closely and absolutely agree.

“The cost of meeting the upgrades needed for our water systems is projected to be up to $185 billion over the next 30 years. Local councils cannot afford this on their own, and households in some areas could see rates rise up to $9,730 per year by 2054 if we do nothing.

“The projected costs have been peer reviewed by both Farrierswier Consulting (an expert Australian regulatory economic specialists) and Beca (a leading international engineering firm) and make for pretty grim reading. Leaving councils to deal with this themselves will lead to unaffordable rate rises. It would be setting councils up to fail and I can’t in good conscience do that.

“Under our proposal to establish 10 entities New Zealand households will still make big savings, projected at $2,770 – $5,400 a year by 2054 on average within each region.

“By extending the number of publicly owned water entities to 10, every district council in the country will have a say and representation over their local water services entities through regional representative groups, forming a partnership between council representatives and iwi/Māori that will provide strategic oversight and direction to the entities.

“These groups will continue to sit below the governance board, in which each member will be appointed on merit and qualification, but by increasing the number of entities we will be able to ensure the needs of every community, especially small rural towns, are heard and met.

“Our reform proposals will respond to long-running problems that have resulted in rapidly rising rates, poor health and environmental outcomes for many communities, deteriorating infrastructure due to sustained underinvestment, and wide variation in service quality.

“The need for investment is only getting greater. The recent flooding and cyclone is a taste of the extreme weather events to come, and our water infrastructure needs to be ready.

“I have seen first-hand the impact of the devastating floods and extreme weather events. These events have highlighted the criticality of waters services, especially stormwater, for community adaptation and resilience. They have also shown the fragility of critical water infrastructure in some areas,” Kieran McAnulty said.

The water services entities will start delivering water services from 1 July 2026 at the latest. Entities are able to proceed before this if ready.

“These are once in a generation reforms, and it’s important that we get it right, we landed on this by working with councils and will continue to do so to ensure a smooth transition,” Kieran McAnulty said.

______________________________________________

42 comments on “Labour’s new water infrastructure policy ”

  1. weka 1

    smart move by Labour. A big part of the opposition to 3 waters in some places was taking control away from local communities.

  2. ianmac 2

    All will be well (Ha ha!) because Luxon has declared that National will repeal the new look Waters plan. (Note that the Herald publishes Luxon's denial on video before the plan explained.)

    I watched the PM and Kieran delivery and it seemed to be a reasonable solution to a problem that most know needs fixing. The Government is waiting for the costing for the National plan to be explained before the Election.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    Worth a crack from the Govt. to change the framing. To do nothing is still not an option for those that have cognitive ability and experienced the recent storms. Beyond increasing Climate Disaster events, there is still crumbling infrastructure and people making do with questionable water quality.

    There are a number of people in the Far North that have “Stop Three Waters!” signage on rural land, who have rain water tanks, septic tanks/composting toilets, damns, streams and have arranged their own drainage for storms and other purposes. N.B. this means they will not be sodding well affected by 3 Waters Reform. So it has become highly political due to the right grabbing the narrative on this.

  4. The borrowing for infrastructure will be at arms length and ring fenced for purpose.

    Councils rabbiting about "our assets" are wind bags. Their key objection is loss of power over water, and a narrow view of co-governance.

    "The old boys club' has been put on notice.

    Those who wish to continue wasteful use with no accountability, are 'Spraying'

    The rest of us homeowners feel some relief. Clean tap water tick, clean rivers and lakes tick and waste dealt to and cleaned tick. Infrastructure planned and done well tick. Contingency plans tick. Insurance tick.

    The upshot. All water should be clean. That simple.

  5. pat 5

    Early indications are they are making the same mistakes again.

    The devil will be in the detail and the announcement lacks detail enabling opposition to provide their own.

    One wonders (again) whether it is because they don't have it or because they don't trust the public with it….either way it doesn't instil any confidence.

    • Hunter Thompson II 5.1

      The litmus test will be what the relevant legislation actually says about the water administration structures and where the real power over New Zealand's water is going to lie.

      I suspect Labour will try to alter the Water Services Entities Act 2022 rather than scrap the whole thing and rewrite the law from scratch. After all, they’ve blown all that taxpayer money on consultants.

  6. pdm 6

    3/5/all Waters remains a rort after these Clayton's changes. It is still privatization of Water Infrastructure Assets to Iwi.

    • SPC 6.1

      Total nonsense.

      It simply requires at least 3 councils to realise balance sheet separation – this prevents any one council having a majority vote.

      Balance sheet separation is what gives confidence to lenders to provide finance at a lower cost. A council having voting control is a restraint on business independence.

      Having independent of council reps involved, such as iwi (ensures a semblance of co-governance required for water after the the sale of power companies – see Waitangi Tribunal) or external exertise also reassures the foreign lenders, that local politics will not interfere with business management.

  7. Liberty Belle 7

    A dog with a new name is still a dog.

    • Barfly 7.1

      A RWNJ with a new slogan is still a RWNJ

      • Liberty Belle 7.1.1

        Maybe, but then it's the government whose trying to sell a pup.smiley

        • Tricledrown 7.1.1.1

          Puppies are nice National are like dogs barking at the hub caps.while pushing an very similar policy .National are dead in the water 3 months out from the elections .The recent floods have made people realize you can,t do nothing.

    • ianmac 7.2

      Liberty and Barfly Did you watch the summary put up by Weka?

      No 12 below.

      • Liberty Belle 7.2.1

        Yes, thanks for the link.

        In the first part he is quite right – ongoing investment is required, and Council's under current funding restrictions can't fund it.

        In the second part, he is justifying a separate set of entities on the basis that they will be able to borrow and fund the investment. But that is (along with all the newly minted accountants here discussing 'balance sheet separation') essentially smoke and mirrors. Ultimately this is all public debt, so the government could directly fund water infrastructure without the cumbersome intermediary organisations.

        In the parts the video didn't cover:

        1. There is a complex bureaucracy being established to run 3Waters. This is a cost imposition that has little proven value to consumers. TSimthfield makes this point well below.

        2. The Te Mana o te Wai edicts hand huge power to one group on the basis of race and race alone. As Graham Adams points out, these have an operational impact that go far beyond what the government wants to talk about.

        3. The alternatives to the government model have not been adequately considered for a project of this size. it is clear that from the outset the government had a pre-determined outcome, involving a degree of co-governance, and nothing else was seriously considered.

        There are many complexities to this debate, and the government has done a poor job at articulating its position (something Hipkins seems to have acknowledged). But the proposed model is not robust, is not cost effective, and is not democratic.

        • Hunter Thompson II 7.2.1.1

          Point (2) in your comments explains why Labour's critics have called the water reforms a disguised treaty settlement.

          It's what Hipkins is not telling voters that is important.

  8. Ad 8

    I saw Eugene Sage's statement largely opposing it, but nothing yet from the Maori Party.

    Maori Party need to figure what they stand for, not just against, with 7 months to election

    If they vote against it and National get in, water management goes straight to the private irrigators and power generators, as it did under National last time.

    Parlamentary neutrality fron Maori Party or Greens is a leftie gift to Labour.

  9. Mike the Lefty 9

    Since the new boards correspond roughly with regional council boundaries couldn't Labour have put them into the existing RC structure and saved some money?

    • Ad 9.1

      More likely it's a step to merging the regional councils.

      • Tricledrown 9.1.1

        Remember Ecan Nationals answer takeaway democracy set up a dictatorship run National Party hacks .Up shoot all Canterbury river polluted with cow dung. Cryptosporidium unfettered dairy farms on free draining land and Nick Smiths brothers excused from prosecution for illegal pollution by his business.

    • Res Publica 9.2

      Nah because then you'd have exactly the same issues, just with regional as opposed to district/city councils.

      In fact RC's are probably in an even worse position vis a vis their balance sheets since they don't tend to own a lot of real assets to borrow against. No pipes. No roads. No parks. Not much land.

      I think we need to remember the problem here is that quite a few councils looked at the finances required to actually maintain their infrastructure, said "nah mate" and chose to trumpet their "fiscal responsibility" in keeping rates rises low. Eventually, someone has to pay the piper.

      TLDR: Councils had the chance to exercise local democracy over these assets for close to 100 years. A lot of them made shit choices in the name of political expediency. And when they came crying to central government for a bailout they were firmly told they couldn't be trusted to not repeat the same exercise again.

      All this palaver about asset theft and co-governance is just the extended temper tantum by a bunch of mainly old white guys who were used to running their communities for them and their mates who finally, for once, are being held to account.

  10. Psycho Milt 10

    I'd appreciate it if media wouldn't publish any blather from NACT about Labour's proposals without a statement that they'd asked what alternative NACT were proposing and either here it is or "Reader, alternative proposal was there none."

  11. tsmithfield 11

    Several other things that concern me about three waters, or whatever iteration of it, is that it should be tested against some competing models to assess whether there is a better way to deal with the problem.

    Secondly, the whole co-governance thing adds unnecessary complexity and churn into the system. Thus, it seems that the 3 waters/affodable waters or whatever, can't be the most efficient structure for managing water assets.

    • Ad 11.1

      Most useful comparison is against the existing model, and the rejected model.

      Co-goverance has been established in our national parks and in water, for decades of precedent. I've posted on it before.

      • tsmithfield 11.1.1

        Most useful comparison is against the existing model, and the rejected model.

        But there are other models proposed as well. So, I guess that is what elections are for. But, it seems to me that the government has been very closed minded to alternatives that could be better.

        Co-goverance has been established in our national parks and in water, for decades of precedent. I've posted on it before.

        Sure, I understand that. But it isn't really the point. As I understand it, the reason for these reforms is to provide a much more efficient and economical way of managing water services and resources. But, it is almost a tautology that more complex management structures will make the system less efficient. And, if the structure results in competing objectives, then we are sort of getting back to the problems at the heart of the council management issues.

        All that, along with the fact that there will be reduced economies due to the multiplication of entities, then we may well end up with something that isn't significantly better to what we already have IMO.

        • SPC 11.1.1.1

          The intent is to realise a lower borrowing cost.

          That is achieved by having as many as three councils areas within the entity zone – that is enough to realise the balance sheet separation required to obtain the cheaper loans.

          This is not about amalgamation to realise bureaucracy cost savings …

          • Belladonna 11.1.1.1.1

            If the only intent is to realize a lower borrowing cost – then co-governance is an unnecessary complication. Partnership with Maori will have zero impact on the bottom line of borrowing. But will increase the complexity of governance very significantly.

            • SPC 11.1.1.1.1.1

              For the lenders the risk is local body politics as to interference in the business activity of the entity. Thus the separation would lower the borrowing cost.

              Yes co-governance has no impact on the cost of borrowing.

              • Belladonna

                Does that then follow that the 'risk' of local body interference is greater with 10 entities, than it was with 4?

                I would have thought that the over-riding authority of any Te Mana o Wai statement issued by iwi – would have a very chilling effect on lenders. AFAICS – there are no limits on this power.

                Why do you think that lenders would be more concerned over democratically elected public bodies, than over appointed (and entirely unaccountable) iwi representatives?

  12. Anker 13

    Look I don't know and havent had time to try and figure out what the changes mean.

    But what a hell of a u turn having passed the Three Waters legislation under urgency before xmas. Now they are making at least one fundamental change i.e. 10 boards rather than four. WTF? It makes them look bloody incompetent or disengenious or both.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T07:45:31+00:00