Laissez-faire disaster management

Written By: - Date published: 9:25 am, October 9th, 2011 - 60 comments
Categories: disaster, transport - Tags: ,

National’s handling of the Rena oil spill is fitting into the same depressing pattern as Pike River and Christchurch – hands off, leave it to the private sector, ministers trotting out excuses rather than leading. We’re even getting the mandatory Key photo-op today, doubtless accompanied by a hollow promise.

60 comments on “Laissez-faire disaster management ”

  1. Jim Nald 1

    Looking forward to …
    voting Key again?
    Coming to your rescue …
    John Key – the lazy fairy’s laissez faire

  2. tc 2

    this needs to be framed around the open slather approach theyve taken with the petrobas exploration permits with no consideration around the brazilian giant cleaning up after itself…….NZ going once, going twice….sold to the smile n wave clown’s mates and backers.

  3. queenstfarmer 3

    What a ridiculous – yet entirely predictable – assertion. Yes, it’s being “left to the private sector”. Yes, Maritime NZ has no involvement whatsoever. Yes, no-one is worrying about getting experts and cargo-747s full of specialist equipment in from around the world. Yes, no-one has set up wildlife rescue stations. Yes, the Govt has been playing down the seriousness of the situation.

    Just like those who were blaming the Govt for not overruling the experts and ordering rescuers into the Pike mine, shortly before it exploded a second time.

    • Colonial Viper 3.1

      Just like those who were blaming the Govt for not overruling the experts and ordering rescuers into the Pike mine, shortly before it exploded a second time.

      You just made that up.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.2

      You seem to miss the point. We shouldn’t need to import the experts and equipment, we should have them here on standby. We don’t because we left it to the “market” and the “market” got rid of the equipment and skills in the name of “efficiency”.

    • “Yes, it’s being “left to the private sector”.
      I’m glad you agree with that because it is true. As Kate Wilkinson said many, many times when asked by the Greens in Question Time about safety at Pike River, the primary and the initial responsibility rests not with the government but with the private sector.
      The assumption is the business will never do anything that is not in it’s own interests and will therefore comply with all legislative requirements. Bullshit!
      History has shown that a business will consider it a matter of self-interest to take unacceptable risks and break the law if they think they can get away with it, they will be working for another company when the shit hits the fan, and the insurance and/or the tax payer will pay for the clean-up.
      see: Bhopal; the Ford Pinto car; Love Canal and other chemical dumping; dumping of e-waste in Africa; planned obsolescence; contaminated water from fracking; Enron; American Airlines deferred maintenance; Chiquita Brands financing terrorists; Dole Pineapple kicking people off their land to grow pineapple for Americans; bribery cases by Siemens, BAE systems, Lockheed Martin; Exxon overreporting oil reserves; Enron manipulation of power failures in California; Compass Group bribing UN for business; Arthur Andersen reporting failure on Enron; Credit agencies selling “good credit” reports; Bre-X manipulating stock prices by saying they had found gold; Halliburtin overcharging government contracts; Northern Rock subprime morgages (in fact the whole mortgage back securities mess); accouting scandals by Adelphia, Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Carrian Group, Citigroup, Bear Sterns, Credit Suisse First Boston; Duke Energy hiring “gun thugs” to intimidate workers
       
      The list could go on and on – stock manipulation, anti-trust, fraud, bad labour practices, environmental damages, public corruption, worker deaths, illegal disposal and transportation of hazardous wastes, poisoning, spying, illegally discharging pollutants, falsifying reports etc etc
       
      Given so much of the above, why would any sensible government assume that a laissez faire trust in business to always do the right things is an abrogation of its moral responsibility to protect its people and its environment.
      When time is of the essence a government cannot rely on business to do the right thing or to be timely. Not when so much is at stake.
      Imagine waiting for British Airways to organise an emergency response when one of its planes crashes at Auckland Airport! Poor passengers!
       
      While Wilkinson said it was up to business to deal with the shit they create, Hekia Parat went to great lengths to say we already had the equipment and could cope with an oil spill.

      Maritime New Zealand is responsible for ensuring New Zealand is prepared for, and able to respond to, marine oil spills. The Marine Pollution Response Service consists of internationally respected experts who manage and train a team of around 400 local government and Maritime New Zealand responders. New Zealand has equipment and other stores strategically located around New Zealand. In addition, the Marine Pollution Response Service assists regional councils with exercise and oil spill equipment. The plan is responsive and is regularly evaluated to ensure it meets changing risk profiles.
      Hansard – April 12 2011

      This is a Minister of the Crown telling the New Zealand people a lie!

      That in itself is reason for people in this forum to be pissed off!

    • Ianupnorth 3.4

      What cargo loads of 747’s, care to show me; last I heard it was an RNZAF C-130 going to Aussie for some gear,

      Yes the government have been having jolly helicopter rides and pictures of them with concerned faces talking to the pilots in the media.

  4. nice artwork

    National – it’s always someone else’s fault is a very good line and needs promoting loudly and often.

  5. deemac 5

    It is quite unbelievable that NZ has no contingency plan for an emergency like this. Every day that passes is a day lost. Leaving it to the ship owners is not good enough.
    BTW I do not remember anyone on the left calling on the govt to send rescuers into Pike River; that was the relatives, who had been made undeliverable promises by Key that encouraged their natural desire to get their loved ones back.

    • thejackal 5.1

      Some old miners said at the time they always went into a mine straight after an explosion if there were people to rescue. This is because the explosion uses up the combustible gasses. There was a window of opportunity of a couple of days I believe to enter Pike River mine before the second explosion, which ensured nobody else survived.

      The same missed opportunities are arising with the Rena disaster. A lack of proper equipment on call to clean up oil in the ocean being a major flaw in New Zealand’s response capabilities. Back in April this year, Heki Parata stated that oil clean up experts were in New Zealand and training some 400 people. So where are they now and why do we have to wait while experts fly in from overseas?

      Another question that needs to be asked is why has the STOLT VIOLET tanker ship not been employed to remove oil from the Rena. I believe the STOLT VIOLET was in Tauranga harbour when the Rena grounded, although websites are not currently displaying its recent port calls.

  6. KJT 6

    New Zealand will never have the money or resources to deal with a really serious oil spill. Even the USA could not cope.

    I got into trouble years ago for saying NZ’s oil spill response was laughable. It has not improved much since. Did get some capability transferred to Marsden point though. Instead of having to wait for all of it to get through Auckland traffic from Te Atatu to where it was needed.

    A 2 to 3000 ton spill of a shipwreck though is a predictable occurrence and should have have had plans in place to requisition the capability to sort it out ASAP.

    Especially as successive NZ Governments have been complicit in allowing ever increasing numbers of substandard shipping on our coast. Making accidents more likely.

    Shipping companies and shippers race for the bottom trying to use ever cheaper ships and crews does not make future accidents less likely.

    The flip side of pandering to farmers.

    The Jackal is not helping his credibility with hysteria about DG’s.
    DG’s packed properly in containers are a small proportion of the ships cargo and unlikely to be a risk. Even if the ship sinks we will have a long time to remove them before they start leaking.

    It was not a very edifying spectacle watching our dear leaders running around like headless chooks and wasting 4 days of calm weather. As a small NZ container ship with cranes 12 hours away at the time is now 3 days away. Large international ships are too deep draft to risk close.

    The Awanuia had to go back to Marsden point first to discharge her cargo, so it is unlikely she could have got there quickly.

    Containers vary from 24 tons for a 20′ to 30 tons for a 40′. Not many choppers can take that weight.

    • Draco T Bastard 6.1

      A 2 to 3000 ton spill of a shipwreck though is a predictable occurrence and should have have had plans in place to requisition the capability to sort it out ASAP.

      Shouldn’t have to requisition it. It should be sitting there ready to go.

    • thejackal 6.2

      My “hysteria” might be put to rest if they released the full inventory of what Rena is carrying KJT. I wonder why they aren’t doing that… Could it be that the authorities don’t want people to know what the dangerous goods are for some reason?

      You say we will have a long time to rescue the thousand plus possibly damaged shipping containers from the ocean… what do you define as a long time? A couple of days, a week or perhaps a few months? What is the depth of the ocean around Astrolabe I wonder?

      • KJT 6.2.1

        Depths around Astrolobe reef vary from 13m to 60m.

        It doesn’t matter what the DG’s are. If they are packed in containers according to the rules for international carriage of DG’s, there is very little danger.

  7. tsmithfield 7

    Nice to see contributors to the standard are experts in salvage management.

    • Zaphod Beeblebrox 7.1

      Ha ha… what was it Dirty Harry said about opinions….’ everybody has one’.

      A bit like after Pike River. Then again this likely a direct result of the total vacuum of information coming from official authorities who seem to have absoluely no idea what the plan is going to be.

    • Colonial Viper 7.2

      Don’t need to be an ‘expert’ to recognise ‘fucking around for the first 24 hours’.

      • tsmithfield 7.2.1

        Perhaps you should be over there giving them your sage advice then.

        • Colonial Viper 7.2.1.1

          my chargeout rate is a reasonable $600 + GST/hr plus disbursements.

          • Tigger 7.2.1.1.1

            Wow CV that is reasonable compared to half those contractors the govt hired through Treasury in the last year!

          • tsmithfield 7.2.1.1.2

            Off you go then. I want the problem sorted by tomorrow please.

            • KJT 7.2.1.1.2.1

              Could have got the fuel off in the first 3 days. With resources already in Tauranga/Auckland.

              Mind you, as a specialist I charge $120/hour.

              However, there was already a competent person on the scene, with the legal powers required. She was probably not given the chance as the white hard hats arrived from Wellington and took over.

              • Colonial Viper

                Could have got the fuel off in the first 3 days. With resources already in Tauranga/Auckland.

                Now that fact is very very annoying.

          • mik e 7.2.1.1.3

            CV at that rate you would probably doe a better job the higher the pay the bigger the mess these consultants make

    • mik e 7.3

      Nice to see RWNJs bloggers Trying to shift the blame again

  8. hellonearthis 8

    Isn’t it part of National job creation program, look at all the low skilled jobs that would be created in cleaning up a decent oil spill and the bill goes to the shipping company. It’s a winner!

    • That was Marilyn Waring’s contention. These man-made environmental disasters push money around and can be accounted for as economic benefits – but there is no accounting value for the intrinsic value of the environment. So damage to the environment is not recorded as a countering cost against the recorded economic benefit.

  9. JAS 9

    “Jim” speaks again

    Might have to go enjoy some time on a clean beach this afternoon, if Jim’s right it might be the last time we can do it for a while…..

  10. Cloaca 10

    The ship’s Insurance Company finally pick up ALL the tabs for this disaster. In the first instance the Owner must do everything in its power to mitigate and try and contain as much of the loss as it can – hence first priority unload the oil and watch, and try and contain any spills. Thence unload the cargo.

    Jas – the beaches are fine – I was there an hour ago – great coffee also.

    • Colonial Viper 10.1

      The ship’s Insurance Company finally pick up ALL the tabs for this disaster.

      Including Mother Nature’s tab?

      Jas – the beaches are fine – I was there an hour ago – great coffee also.

      ? A reminder that the beaches were also fine after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Briefly fine.

  11. KJT 11

    I think we are all missing the real point anyway.

    Which is the reduction in safety standards both at sea and for offshore drilling because of the Neo-Liberal obsession with “competition” and “globalisation”.

    I.e. The cheapest in monetary terms, beats those with higher standards, to get the work..

    The best way of avioding the consequences of an oil spill, like a fire, is not to have one in the first place.

    [lprent: Might pay to disconnect and reconnect again to pick up a new dynamic IP. It looks to me like Akismet thinks that IP is the home of a spammer. I’ve had to rescue your comments out of spam several times today. ]

  12. fender 12

    Yeah come on shonkey pull out the throat slitting gesture again

  13. randal 13

    Well jerkey will get his picture in the paper flying around in a helicopter. again!

  14. hoom 14

    http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/ seems to be doing a reasonable job from what I see here.
    It takes time to get big equipment around though it seems like they may have been a bit slow on getting the fuel barge moving.
    Most recent update says they have 3 navy ships, international salvage experts, naval architects & a bunch of manpower/equipment in place.
    ———
    Since the Astrolabe Reef is by all accounts well charted, with no major obstacles around it & the ship has obviously hit at high speed in good weather, that makes it pretty likely that grounding was caused by negligence on the part of the crew.
    I doubt insurance includes coverage for that.
    Expect the shell company that leases the ship off the shell company which owns the ship & the shell company that pays the crew to have no tangible assets.

    • Colonial Viper 14.1

      http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/ seems to be doing a reasonable job from what I see here.
      It takes time to get big equipment around though it seems like they may have been a bit slow on getting the fuel barge moving.

      First 2 days of press release updates from Maritime NZ say absolutely zip about getting cargo and oil off the ship. They do talk about managing and assessing some already spilt oil, saving some wildlife, and issuing legal notices against the owner of the vessel.

      It looks to me like the first 24-36 hours of good weather was a wasted opportunity focusing on the wrong things.

    • Draco T Bastard 14.2

      seems to be doing a reasonable job from what I see here.

      If they were/are doing so well then why wasn’t the ships fuel-oil taken off in the first day?

      It takes time to get big equipment around…

      Yes it does but why wasn’t there adequate emergency equipment at the port?
      When emergencies happen you need to respond immediately, not sometime next week.

      Most recent update says they have 3 navy ships, international salvage experts, naval architects & a bunch of manpower/equipment in place.

      The navy ships and personal I can understand but WTF do we need to import international salvage experts?
      We have a huge oceanic area that has a lot of ships operating within it all the time. These things are going to happen and so we need to be able to respond and that means we should have our own experts and gear.

      • insider 14.2.1

        “If they were/are doing so well then why wasn’t the ships fuel-oil taken off in the first day?”

        If it’s that easy, tell me what equipment and crew would be needed to do this and how you’d organise it? I bet there are not many people familiar with ship to ship transfers, especially in an emergency. I suspect the navy has the most open sea experience and then maybe the barge operators in Auckland (but that business is not really comparable). Te Kaha is off in Singapore on exercises so Endeavour may be with her so that expertise may not be on tap, let alone the vessel. The barge may not be suitable for open water operations.

        There is a compromise that has to be faced up to. We can’t afford to have a dozen or so ports around NZ stacked with equipment and personnel to deal with the full range of emergencies just in case. The focus in NZ is on mobilising people and equipment for protection of shorelines and rivers. So we have skimmers, booms, absorbant pads, storage containers, gumboots, shovels that kind of thing, plus dispersant chemicals and sprayers.

        We need international salvage experts and specialist equipment for those rarer and more specialised events. That’s why we are part of regional response organisations who can mobilise much bigger volumes of gear and expertise. I’d much rather have some guy from Singapore who does this for a living and has practical experience running this, than be distracted by false nationalism and leave it to a part timer from Maritime NZ or the local council, who balances doing spill response with other functions like issuing compliance certificates – and that is not a reflection on their dedication or talent.

        But no equipment anywhere is ever going to stop oil spreading if nature is against you. If the weather goes bad, it’s going to be a case of cleaning up not preventing. Doing that effectively is about planning not rushing in.

        • KJT 14.2.1.1

          Firstly. Accidents like this should be minimised by high standards of crew training, ship operations, ship maintenance, equipment and professionalism. Backed up by National regulators who take their responsibilities seriously. Instead of carpeting their butts with paper, secure in the knowledge they can always blame the mugs on the ships for their own lack of care.

          All of which has been abandoned in the race to allow the cheapest possible ships with the cheapest possible crews.

          After several years of decreasing ship accidents the rate is rising again as skilled ships officers become rare. Why take all the risks of arrest, piracy and fingure pointing when there are more comfortable and better paid jobs ashore. Not to mention working with people with dodgy or insufficient skills.
          Owners just want enough certificates to satisfy port State. They do not care where or how they are obtained.

          Even reputable companies have lowered standards to get costs down. They have to. To compete with the rest.

          Undermanned ships with barely skilled crews are common.

          Knowing that lower standards in shipping mean accidents like this are more likely, NZ Governments still gave into industry pressure to keep the oil levies down. (Oil levies on shipping pay for antipollution equipment).

          I agree that keeping enough gear for a large tanker spill could be unrealistic, but enough for a normal medium ships bunkers is not.

          As far as equipment goes presently.

          Awanuia does ship transfers all the time. They bunker ships in Auckland.

          Given some decisiveness, she could have been there in the time it takes to go back to Marsden point, discharge, pick up salvage pumps and get to Astrolobe.

          Failing that a bit of lateral thinking would have got tugs and barges there. I think at least one was heading for Portland with an empty cement barge.

          The last week has been calm.

          In NZ a calm for more than a week is unusual.

          Which should have told the powers that be, to get a wriggle on.

    • KJT 14.3

      Marine insurance does cover crew negligence or mistakes. Just like your car insurance.

      Probably find, like most accidents, it is a whole combination of things.

    • mik e 14.4

      The RENA has a history of not meeting safety requirements

  15. Smile and Wave

    John Key went to Tauranga today for yet another photo opportunity. He was talking tough while doing nothing to avert an escalation of what is already a major environmental disaster in the Bay of Plenty…

  16. Cloaca 16

    hoom –
    you are wrong – Insurance will pay for all the damage. Also they are very reputable owners MSC – the second largest shipping company in the world.

  17. thatguynz 17

    I’m rather surprised that no mention has been made of the use of Corexit 9500 as one of the first “solutions” attempted to clean up the spill… Notwithstanding the fact that it clearly didn’t work, it is also nasty nasty work. Some time spent reading about the purported Corexit effects from both the Exxon Valdez and Deepwater Horizon oil spills would suggest that we shouldn’t have this stuff anywhere near our waters/coastline..

    • hellonearthis 17.1

      I posted on the Greens blog about the use of Corexit and how it is band in the UK.
      The radioNZ interview I posted earlier here mentions the use of Corexit but it seemed like there only concern is if the oil reaches the beaches and no caring about the us this ultra toxic chemical in the marine environment.

      Like the USA oil spill as long as it looks ok it’s sweet as.

    • insider 17.2

      The fact it has been used for more than 20 years perhaps shows it is a useful tool in oil spills. It’s a balancing act – oil is toxic too and accumulates on shorelines so what is the least worst option? As Kerry says, the best option is to avoid in the first place but we aer beyond that now.

      • hellonearthis 17.2.1

        Yeah, but in the last 20 years there are less toxic alternatives developed that could be used.

        • insider 17.2.1.1

          It’s horses for courses. You are right there are a range of dispersants available of differing toxicity but they may not be as effective on this type of oil in these conditions. Like I said, it’s a balancing act and kneejerk bans may mean you have a worse environmental impact because you are left with a less effective response.

      • Colonial Viper 17.2.2

        Read the articles on the effects of the dispersant on the poil after the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Definitely 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

        At least with oil in huge tacky gobs you can actually collect it up and get it off the beach and out of the sea, instead of floating in massive toxic volumes under the surface.

  18. numeric 18

    It is interesting to watch Joyce wrestle with the roles of politician (“disappointed with the opposition not asking me [about RENA]” on ONE’s Close Up today), running a thorough and dispassionate investigation which may involve liability by organisations for which he takes responsibility, and managing a real – and potentially political – disaster.

    Welcome to the real world ..

  19. Jenny 19

    May Day, May Day, May Day

    A message from the Rena this morning, as high seas pound the ship, saw the navy mounting what they call a multiple extraction (of personal).

  20. Jenny 20

    The the oil extraction barge has been damaged in the high seas, preventing any more oil being discharged.

    This all has the sad air of inevitability.

    It was good to see Phil Goff firing on all cylinders on the breakfast show this morning. Demanding to know why there was no action for (at least) 24 hours.

  21. Asshole of the Week Award – John Pfahlert

    It has been sad to see National MP’s trying to deflect any responsibility for the MV Rena disaster by blaming it solely on the Filipino crew. Although they hold some responsibility, many things have led up to this avoidable accident, insurance job or act of terrorism…

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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    7 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 2024-03-29T12:26:49+00:00