Latest Newshub Reid Research poll – yet another rogue poll

Written By: - Date published: 6:12 pm, July 26th, 2020 - 144 comments
Categories: act, election 2020, greens, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, labour, national, nz first, uncategorized - Tags:

Tova O’Brien said that it would be a bombshell result and it was.

The results of tonight’s Newshub Reid Research poll results are:

Labour – 61% up 4.4

National – 25% down 5.5

Greens – 5.7% – up 0.2

NZ First – 2% – down 0.7

Act – 3.3% up 1.5%

Others – who cares.

This is unheard of at this stage of an election campaign.

Kiwis obviously prefer Aroha and compassion to belligerence.

144 comments on “Latest Newshub Reid Research poll – yet another rogue poll ”

  1. Incognito 1

    A nice birthday present 😀

  2. Anker 2

    Yah! Jacinda and labour deserve this

  3. weka 3

    Strange framing from TB, that Collins is the best leader for National to win. Surely no-one believes that National has any chance (short of some extraordinary event)? Collins becoming leader was about powermongering. National could have played the longer game, put in someone who could have rebuilt the party, but no, they went with this shit show led by Collins.

    • Gabby 3.1

      Maybe Collins' Chance is like Hobson's Choice.

    • Incognito 3.2

      Judith’s poll bounce bounced like a dead cat.

      • In Vino 3.2.1

        No – dead cats do actually bounce. Judith appears to have hit soft bog, and deservedly sunk into it. I wonder if she will be lucky enough to have found an old Kauri log..

    • Draco T Bastard 3.3

      National don't keep leaders who lose so maybe putting her in charge was a way to get rid of her once and for all.

      • Hanswurst 3.3.1

        That seems a bit too much like turkeys voting for Christmas. More likely, they thought that, if she arrested their decline and took a fighting chunk out of the government's vote, she was worth the discomfort of having her as leader, and if she didn't, they could tell her to shove off.

    • georgecom 3.4

      Luxon is not in Parliament yet so Collins is the seat warmer, like a fluffer in the adult movie industry, or a stand in for the pre-record light and sound settings in the movie business that involves actual acting skills

    • Stuart Munro 3.5

      I'm not really sure they have the depth – when Brownlee can be number two, how much talent can be left on the bench? Collins is the best they've got – probably was when Key was parachuted in too.

      Not that they have a ghost of a prayer – the invisible hand is acting to correct a glut of RW nutjobbery – it isn't worth what it used to be.

    • Grafton Gully 3.6

      The thing about Collins is she is a time tested true blue what you see is what you get National diehard. Smart, legal and business experience, not a smartarse "look at me" money flicker. I like her and think she represents National's values really well. Hope she keeps the faith. NZ needs a credible opposition.

  4. Gabby 4

    Clearly Judith Codger needs to get nastier and Winnie needs to get whinier. It's got to start paying off eventually.

  5. Andre 5

    Do the bookies have odds on whether JuDarth is still Nat leader on election day?

  6. Roy cartland 6

    And the next story was about how they are adopting some pretty green power policy. Could this be…?

  7. observer 7

    The roll call of "political and media commentators" who predicted exactly the opposite is too long to list. It's almost as if they just make stuff up, eh?

    Polling period: 16-24 July. So it included both Falloon and ILG stories. How did that little ploy work out for you, Judith?

    (Double down … predict AM Show tomorrow: "Did Labour MP smoke weed at student party in 1990's?" – anonymous source shock claim!)

  8. Chris T 8

    It isn't exactly rocket science that Labour would win the election after the Covid thing.

    Well to me any way.

  9. Peter 9

    Regardless of the numbers the poll is brilliant simply because it has David Farrar wetting his pants and, by and large, saying the results are impossible.

  10. Westykev 10

    While the Labour Party hierarchy will be pleased with this poll they will also be worried that that their supporters see the election result is assured and don’t get out and vote.

    • observer 10.1

      Fair comment, if this poll was a week before the election.

      But it's 8 weeks, so no, not really. I doubt Labour will be at 60% in many polls. 50% on election day would be champagne time.

      • Westykev 10.1.1

        I hear you however, even if the polls come closer to 50% complacency comes to the fore. Not only with the supporters but MPs as well and that can cost seats,

        • I Feel Love 10.1.1.1

          "MPs as well" that is a fear, yep.

          • observer 10.1.1.1.1

            Yes. Need to maintain discipline (that's you, Greg O'Connor).

            Premature triumphalism is pretty harmless on blog comments but dangerous from MPs.

        • McFlock 10.1.1.2

          Yes, but if Labour looks well ahead and the greens are looking on the edge still, I for one will be going Green, rather than staying home.

    • Rapunzel 10.2

      How different is that to National Party voters seeing the result as a foregone conclusion & not bothering either – there are less of the older core traditional voters now & some of them may well simply agree with the govt covid response but may choose not to vote at all

      • Westykev 10.2.1

        They will still vote Blue. They will definitely believe this is a rogue poll, and the next and the next poll too. I was once involved in the Party and those over sixty are hard core supporters. Judith was the overwhelming favourite of the Party members who were surprised and disappointed with Bridges accession to the leadership.

        • Rapunzel 10.2.1.1

          Being "once involved" is something you should compare with what applies now, it's quite different in the overall view most people have now

      • George 10.2.2

        The covid situation is completely new and there is no rulebook for anybody. First point was to protect the community. Labour did that. National wanted to protect the economy…like Australia. The turnout and vote from the public could well be decided by what is happening in Victoria rather than the politics here. There may have been some issues at the border around covid but it's still under control and we aren't looking at 10 daily deaths and 400+ new cases. National are very focused on other things …that they no longer realize what is important to the public. And yup it’s too late to backtrack on this and pretend they said something else.

        • Rapunzel 10.2.2.1

          I agree the people I know have an overall view that looks outside NZ & they have an eye on the future they don't need any or much persuasion the NZ govt has & is giving them the best option & they're onboard the battle through the currently uncertain future

  11. Pat 11

    "National Party leadership contender Judith Collins has set herself a performance threshold of 35 per cent in the polls if she wins the leadership."

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11994559

    Au revoir

    • Andre 11.1

      Aww, c'mon. She hasn't even had the job for two weeks yet and she's got them more than two thirds of the way there! If that isn't stunningly successful leadership, what is?

  12. Byd0nz 12

    Westykev. I know it has been a problem in the past, but I think the Covid thing will compel them to vote. Also I think that young first time voters will come out strong for Jacinda, that from what I have heard from my young ones' and their friends.

    • Westykev 12.1

      Absolute right, Jacinda has the younger adult support but this still needs to translate to votes on the day.

    • George 12.2

      Yes agreed. And remember also that Judith laughing at the 16 year climate change protestors a while back. These are her constituents! She rubbishes them at her peril. They are voting in this election now. And there will be 13 and 14 year olds voting in the next. Waky wakey

  13. Chris T 13

    Would imagine (And I in no way know) Collins would have taken the job on the proviso she doesn't get turfed after the election loss.

    Either that or given an extremely high profile good portfolio and standing down

    • Rapunzel 13.1

      A good portfolio in Opposition for another 3 years? I see

      • Chris T 13.1.1

        It would have been the only way anyone would have taken on the job this close to the election tbf.

        Ardern probably did the same thing when given it so close in 2017.

        Just worked out better for her

        • Rapunzel 13.1.1.1

          Maybe , I just think that Collins couldn't resist it when they had few other options & doing it for that reason is why she doesn't resonate

          • Chris T 13.1.1.1.1

            I think Collins is many things. A lot not that great, but one isn't stupid.

            • Rapunzel 13.1.1.1.1.1

              You may think that, I don't for the simple reason she seems to have applied a nano-second to the Lee-Galloway "reveal" & I believe it's a failure that is costing her & National. You, & she, I think underestimate what voters want right now & that's a way of life that makes sense when they look outside NZ

              • Chris T

                Thank you for pretending to be able to read my thoughts and match them in your head to a politician I couldn't give a rats about.

                Much appreciated

            • Draco T Bastard 13.1.1.1.1.2

              She's in that National Party – that pretty much ensures that she is, as a matter of fact, stupid. Comes with all the other National Party characteristics – the arrogance, selfishness, self-righteousness, self-aggrandizing, greed and corruption.

    • Hanswurst 13.2

      Either that or given an extremely high profile good portfolio and standing down

      She's in no position to negotiate that, though. She doesn't know for certain who will be left after the election, what will have transpired or who will become leader. Whoever has the numbers then has a free hand to do what they like with her ranking and portfolios.

      • McFlock 13.2.1

        I suspect she did some basic questioning:

        at ~30%, is the nat vote likely to go up or down?

        if it goes up and she's not leader, between Luxon and the inevitable pool of new mps after the 2020 election, she's basically hit her parliamentary career height. She doesn't have dirt on too many mps just entering parliament.

        if it goes down and she's not leader, it'll just be rinse and repeat for a derelict party, and the new leader will get more votes in 2023 so look comparatively successful.

        If she becomes leader and it goes up, she might have enough weight to fend off a leadership challenge from Luxon long enough to knife him.

        If she becomes leader and it goes down, she gets "leader of the opposition" on her CV in the way Blinglish is a former PM. Good for those internationasl business trips. And who knows, she might recover enough in 2023 to form a govt in 2026 (but I doubt it).

  14. Treetop 14

    You give out good you get good back. You give out bad you get bad back.

    What goes around comes around.

  15. yet another rogue poll

    Agreed. No way national can be polling that high 😆

  16. Incognito 16

    National Party Caucus meeting: “Next!!”.

    • observer 17.1

      Those numbers illustrate National's problem well.

      In 2017 there was a big pool of potential Labour votes to be gained from NZF and the Greens. There was enough evidence that National could lose the election – it was a question of how the non-Nat votes were distributed.

      In 2020 the well is almost dry, for National. NZF and ACT could get zero and it wouldn't help much.

  17. New Zealanders look around the world and thank Jacinda and the team.

    This is a vote for positive affirmation kindness steady improvements and science.

    We all know the pandemic is raging out of control elsewhere, but here we can continue to think and plan for our future while coping with returnees and visitors.

    Many many Happy Returns Jacinda and Labour/Greens.

  18. RedBaronCV 19

    Doesn't seem to be a lot of "don't knows" .My impression is that people have pretty much made up their minds already- apart from some minor tactical switching Lab/greens and ACT/Nat- and the campaign isn't going to change much of anything.

    With one reservation – another Falloon sized scandal around Nat might convince a few more of their supporters to stay home. Collins may yet beat the Billy English target

    • weka 19.1

      going to be so interesting to see what National do next. Does Collins only have the one gear?

      • Sacha 19.1.1

        The desperate operators around her probably have many buckets of filth to fling.

      • The Al1en 19.1.2

        Maybe, just maybe, they'll have to change tack. The danger for them is they go even dirtier and nastier, and as attacking the most popular pm ever clearly isn't working out too well for them, they could try and push some policy or get in step with the majority of people in NZ.

        • Anne 19.1.2.1

          There’s a new dirty story doing the rounds about Clarke Gayford. Remember about two years ago a dirty tale was spread about him in an attempt to embarrass Jacinda? It looks like it has happened again.

          • Sacha 19.1.2.1.1

            A classy operator like Gerry probably has a dirt file on her toddler already.

          • ScottGN 19.1.2.1.2

            Yeah Anne. I went out for a drink tonight and a couple of people passed on this story about Clarke. I was to able to tell them that I had seen the PM and Clarke quite happily together at a Labour Party debate in Mt Albert the week before.

          • Incognito 19.1.2.1.3

            That’s just one of the many thing Moderators keep an eye on. There have been attempts …

          • anker 19.1.2.1.4

            Saw a comment on the National Party FB feed, which comes through to me. Thought is was scum and not credible

          • I Feel Love 19.1.2.1.5

            Let them spread it, it's so ludicrous, it will only damage those spreading it.

          • Chris T 19.1.2.1.6

            Putting aside the latest Ardern thing, as I think her partner isn't that dim.

            Parliament is a big place and there have always been people shagging each other, like any work place.

            In the end that is all it is. A work place

            And it doesn't matter which side.

            There is no oath they sign up to saying this Nat MP must not shag Deb's from that Labour office dept, or the other way round

            • Anne 19.1.2.1.6.1

              Yes, I made the same point here last week. Its been going on since time immemorial. I think the heightened atmosphere of the Beehive enclave and the power cliques that exist around parliament make it worse than your average workplace. And yes, it has gone on in all political parties.

              Hopefully there will be a culture change with the Speaker's new code of conduct which he has made clear he is going to enforce.

              Not a moment too soon.

              • Grafton Gully

                The more frantic feel ups leers and quick fucks on site (if poss) the better in my book – it's a high energy, go for it place – sure beats a solo wank with or without the the Speakers new code of conduct.

      • Treetop 19.1.3

        The gear was in reverse and Collins thought she was in first gear.

  19. Ken 20

    Looks like when confronted with a choice between nasty and nice, people choose nice.

    • observer 20.1

      They may do, but above all they choose competent.

      Collins vastly over-rates her own competence. Ardern's critics under-rate hers.

      • ScottGN 20.1.1

        Absolutely right observer. The number of Collins boosters in the media who thought she only had to show up for Question Time and would go on to monster Ardern was ridiculous.

  20. mauī 21

    The wonderful, wonderful Reid Research.. what an amazing polling company.

  21. PaddyOT 22

    So is that a low from Bridge's low in May?

    Years have passed and I keep thinking
    What a fool I've been
    I look back into the past and ( wrote a book)
    Think of way back then
    I know that I lost everything I thought I that could win
    I guess I should have listened to my friends ( ummmm)

    All the burning bridges that have fallen after me
    All the lonely feelings and the burning memories
    Everyone I left behind each time I closed the door
    Burning bridges lost (lasts) forevermore

  22. Andre 23

    On behalf of absent regulars, I'd like to put the contrarian view out for consideration:

    This appallingly dismal poll result proves the general public has seen through the Labour Party to the hollow husks of bought neo-liberal corporate shills they truly are. Turn Labour left!

    • weka 23.1

      haha.

      I think this demonstrates that NZ is comfortable with neoliberalism. Not sure how lefties will reconcile that with a continuing housing crisis, no relief for welfare, and climate action fails, but we will see I guess 🙂

      • weka 23.1.1

        More seriously, I am curious about the missing 5%, who voted Green in 2014 but Labour in 2017. What's up with that?

        I wish we had polls like this,

        • Andre 23.1.1.1

          Isn't that kind of info usually derived from exit polls? I've never been exit polled here nor do I remember hearing about any here. Maybe I've just been paying attention to other stuff election day.

          • Sacha 23.1.1.1.1

            We get the one post-election analysis each time, as far as I know: http://www.nzes.org/

            • Andre 23.1.1.1.1.1

              Thanks.

              Looks like they ask all the questions needed, but don't work out the split weka's looking for. You'd need the individual questionnaires for that.

              3000-odd results also strikes me as a smallish sample size for meaningful results for the smaller parties.

          • observer 23.1.1.1.2

            Exit polls are illegal in NZ. Part of our ban on political activity on the day.

        • Andre 23.1.1.2

          As to half the Greens vote from 2014 apparently shifting to Labour, I'm sure you can find convincing arguments for whatever hypothesis you favour and against whichever ideas you disfavour, such as:

          The Greens are popular when Labour looks like a mess, when Labour gets its shit together those voters go back.

          With the loss of Graham and Clendon, it looks like the Greens' focus on environment has been lost in favour of social issues, so those voters really focused on environmental issues don't feel Greens really speak for them any more (or alternatively actively disagree with the social justice positions).

          I'm sure there's more but I'm out of energy for trying to think them up and articulate them.

          • Sacha 23.1.1.2.1

            When Labour's vote looked in desperate straits, left support swung that way. This time the reverse ought to apply.

    • mickysavage 23.2

      Heh Andre. It is complex …

    • mauī 23.3

      Just a hangover from the socialist dictatorship that started a couple of months ago…

  23. observer 24

    The party vote numbers always get the headlines, but often there's more revealing data in the other, less noticed numbers.

    83% approve of Ardern's performance. That number has been consistently high for months. It hasn't really changed, all through the game of Blue Musical Chairs. (Note: approval. Not preferred PM, a different measure).

    It's not really about Bridges/Muller/Collins/Whoever. If a PM is very popular, they get re-elected. Labour never beat Key.

    • ScottGN 24.1

      Yep. We’ve pretty much made our minds up who we want to lead the country through the aftermath of Covid. Whether I would wish that on the shoulders of that amazing young woman is another thing.

  24. AB 25

    Let's hope that this denotes a permanent shift in public consciousness. Also, in a hyper-individualized culture, it looks like leadership, or the perception of leaders, is the single biggest determinant of electoral outcomes. Scary, and to my mind, odd. But it means that labour needs to put some serious effort into talent management and succession planning for Ardern.

  25. Peter 26

    Damn the poll coming out on a Sunday night. Now Mike Hosking will have to do a rewrite of Monday's Moan. I wonder what angle he'll take.

    The words 'momentum' and 'traction' might get a mention which will be ironic since Collins' recent big announcement about big roading projects with no idea of costs was literally and metaphorically movement, momentum and traction. I'll be amazed if he doesn't get 'hypocrisy' in there somewhere.

  26. barry 27

    With ACT polling 3.3% National can't afford not to gift them Epsom as that would make a 3-4 seat difference to the overall margin.

    Does that mean that Goldsmith misses out?

    Does it mean that the gun lobby gets their MP? Who is 4th on the ACT list (Chris Baillie)? Is he as crazy as some of the other coat-tailers have been in the past?

    • ScottGN 27.1

      Does Goldsmith even get in on National’s list on these numbers? If the people of Epsom want him they might just have to vote for him.

  27. Scud 28

    Tell crusher she is dreaming if she can still win from here, and tell her she would have more chance at winning next Saturday’s Lotto draw either the dogs or the trots at Addington than this yrs election.

  28. Treetop 29

    I’d go light on the alcohol tonight were I a Collin’s supporter as I just might regret it in the morning.

  29. observer 30

    I think we should all agree that this is, in fact, a rogue poll. smiley

    So in the spirit of fairness, I've knocked a generous 10% off Labour's support, and transferred it directly to National, up 10%. (All other parties unchanged).

    New result: Labour 65, Greens 7. National 44, ACT 4.

    I hope Gerry is happy now.

  30. Tricledrown 31

    Crusher was going to Crush cars she managed a paltry 2 Cars a good insight to her all bark and no bite. Barking mad with voters she's barking up the wrong tree .

    • nzlemming 31.1

      People keep saying this but it's wrong. Despite overseeing the passage of the legislation, Collins crushed zero cars. Only two cars were crushed, true, but that was under Tolley.

      • Sacha 31.1.1

        Amazing how few remember that the reputation is totally confected – including the press gallery. Low standards.

  31. millsy 32

    Don't get too carried away.

    The time for celebration will be at about 9-10pm on September 19.

    Not a moment before.

  32. Muttonbird 33

    Dear Media, please savage Judith Collins tomorrow about how she has led the National Party to their lowest polling in 20 years.

    • Treetop 33.1

      If a 3.1 % increase for Collins as the preferred PM is all she can manage, she may as well not have bothered.

  33. Tricledrown 34

    a 10% swing against the National Party Since Crushless Took over now she can't do any better than Muller or Bridges.

    Desperation has done huge damage to National the Strong team dwindles a long with their popularity.

    JLR has another round of Dirt to dump on the Dirty Politics Party.

    Goldsmith is way ou t of his depth as Finance Minister suggesting we take a chainsaw to public spending.$80 billion over 10 years .

    Look across the Tasman to the Liberal Party Australias version of the Nactional Party are spending more per Capita in $NZ value.

    So the Liberal Party know what they are doing but Goldsmith is happy to under finance the economy in the deepest recession since 1929.

    That's why NZ had a much longer recession /depression because the Conservatives were more interested in balancing the budget than keeping the economy afloat.

  34. froggleblocks 35

    Interesting thing about this result is that it gives Labour 77 MPs. Their list only has 81 people on it. If their vote were to be a little higher than this, such that it entitled them to 82 or more MPs, they'd actually create an *underhang* and shrink Parliament.

    • Treetop 35.1

      Brownlee has it sussed a rogue poll but he did not put it like you have put it.

    • froggleblocks 35.2

      The other funny potential result is that National currently have 38 electorate MPs and this result would give them 32 MPs. Of course there'd be a general swing towards Labour and they'd lose electorates, but it puts them in the position of potentially getting 0 list MPs (which is important for Goldsmith in Epsom) *and* creating an overhang.

      So totally nutso potential results:

      1. Labour creates an underhang of a couple of seats

      2. National creates an overhang of a couple of seats

      3. Act gets knocked out increasing the 'wasted vote' which is redistributed back to the other parties, giving the Greens 1 or 2 more MPs than might be expected.

      • Treetop 35.2.1

        Are you for real or are you joking?

        If for real so interesting what you have raised.

      • DS 35.2.2

        61%-25% means the Nats get down to a dozen electorates (assuming that there's some vote splitting to save Nat electorate MPs – otherwise we're looking at a situation where Labour basically sweeps the country*).

        Of that dozen, most of them would be in Auckland, with only two (Southland and Selwyn) south of Taranaki-King Country.

        *Note that Clutha-Southland went for the Nat candidate by 39% in 2017. That's about 32% more Nat than the country. If Labour's winning the country by 36%, Clutha-Southland falls on a straight swing. And since other seats would be easily maxxed out, in terms of Labour vote… the swing in Southland might actually be greater than a straight swing.

  35. Incognito 36

    With Labour apparently safely ahead some people may decide to vote for the Greens to ensure they stay safely above 5%. To hedge their bets on Swarbrick winning Auckland Central seems a risky strategy.

    • millsy 36.1

      Taking the seat of National matters more than who wins it.

      Labour lost a lot of electorates in the 2005 and 2008 votes and I think the Greens need to stand aside in more than a few to help get them back.

      I dont think we will see much left wing policy from Labour this time, but if National get in, we are going to have an austerity program that is unprecedented, to the point that it will sweep away what is left of the Savage/Kirk welfare state.

      We need to get out and vote Labour. Just as the USA-ians need to vote Biden.

  36. swordfish 37

    .
    Newshub Reid Research:
    Polls conducted at same point before 2011 / 2020 Elections (end of 1st term of New Govt seeking re-election):

    [Fieldwork 2 months out from Election]:

    2011 / 2020

    Lab … 26.6 .. / … 60.9

    Green 9.8 … / … 5.7

    NZF … 1.9 … / … 2.0

    Nat … 57.4 .. / .. 25.1

    ACT … 1.6 … / … 3.3

    • Craig H 37.1

      Not surprisingly, some parallels with 2011 after the earthquakes.

      • swordfish 37.1.1

        Yeah, although poll movement after the 2 earthquakes was relatively minor … nowhere near the major re-alignment that happened during the COVID-19 Lockdown.

    • swordfish 37.2

      .
      Preferred PM

      2011 / 2020:

      PM (Key: Nat) 54.5% / (Ardern: Lab) 62.0%

      Oppo Ldr (Goff: Lab) 6.2% / (Collins: Nat) 14.6

      .

      Leader Performance

      2011 / 2020

      PM

      (2011 Key: Nat) .. Well 76.2% … Poorly 11.5% … Net + 64.7

      (2020 Ardern: Lab) .. Well 85.3% … Poorly 8.2% … Net + 77.1

      Oppo Ldr

      (2011 Goff: Lab) .. Well 26.8% … Poorly 49.1% … Net – 22.3

      (2020 Collins: Nat) .. Well 39.5% … Poorly 30.8% … Net + 8.7

  37. Peter 38

    Am I first to dub this poll the 'Michelle Boag Memorial Poll'? smiley

  38. mosa 39

    " PM (Key: Nat) 54.5% / (Ardern: Lab) 62.0%

    Finally a PM that can claim the mantle of the most " popular Prime minister ever !!!!!

    Glad that corpse can be finally buried.

  39. ScottGN 40

    Luke Malpass (who for a recent arrival from Australia seems to have established strong connections to National rather quickly) is reporting in Stuff this morning that Brownlee has told him that their internals have them 10 points higher and Labour 10 lower than last nights RR poll. That still puts Labour on or over 50% even if it’s true. I guess if that’s right we’ll soon see National’s numbers leaked to bolster their position?

    • mango 40.1

      This result does seem a little bit out to me but probably by 5% between the major parties rather than 10%

    • Sacha 40.2

      Malpass worked for the NZ Institute ‘thinktank’ after their equivalent in Aus. Totally right-wing.

  40. Hooch 41

    Rogue poll? More like rouge poll

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    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    9 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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
    5 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
    5 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
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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