Lessons for Labour?

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 am, October 16th, 2010 - 53 comments
Categories: election 2011, labour, len brown, local body elections, phil goff - Tags:

As the dust settles on the local body elections, what are the lessons for Labour?

Especially, of course, “the big one” in Auckland. Len Brown, a “Labour Mayor from South Auckland”, beat Key’s anointed candidate for the right. What lessons can Labour take away? How does this shape the 2011 election campaign?

53 comments on “Lessons for Labour? ”

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  1. just saying 1
    16 October 2010 at 9:22 am

    Promote Young Blood

  2. ianmac 2
    16 October 2010 at 9:40 am

    Bt getting organised on the ground helped a lot. Unfortunately Nact will also learn the same lesson and Act accordingly.

    • toad 2.1
      16 October 2010 at 9:43 am

      National, yes, but I don’t think ACT could organise a piss-up in a brewery before the next election – they’re too busy fighting each other.

      • Armchair Critic 2.1.1
        16 October 2010 at 9:52 am

        True. They would never get past Step 1 – “Agree which brewery to hold the piss-up at”.

  3. salsy 3
    16 October 2010 at 9:42 am

    They need to hoover up votes where they can – not fiddle around with contentious issues like this Time to talk republic, says Labour president

    • prism 3.1
      16 October 2010 at 9:48 am

      Yes a move to a republic and the controversy and the media coverage endlessly on would detract from Labour appearing to have anything to offer in real, useful policies. It would seem as if Labour had put the idea forward to create a side show, and it would.

      We have to concentrate on MMP and what is going to happen about that. For goodness sake Labour stay on task. Now you are actually talking about having policies get on and develop and study them well and then sell the advantages to the public not fart about with your favourite hobby horse – even if republicanism was introduced I cannot see that it would solve any of our problems, but increase them in different ways.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1
        16 October 2010 at 10:24 am

        And being relentlessly on message, so the voters assume you are a robot and the media assume even worse, and say it,has worked where ?

    • Robert Atack 3.2
      16 October 2010 at 11:08 am

      We are fast heading for a republic, but a very small ones, electorate size at best. Walking foraging communities will be the norm, ‘international’ will be a word lost from the lexicon.

      Another poem from Murray

      Well all my life I’ve waited and waited patiently
      for an honest politician or two or three maybe
      someone to spur my faith in men and women who might lead
      some bright and honest leader not consumed by power and greed

      I’ve waited nearly 50 years and watched you all go by
      from left and right and center I’ve seen you have a try
      I’ve heard you all, your ways and means, I’ve even followed polls
      I’ve sometimes even had a vote and joined electoral rolls

      but mostly I’ve grown sick and tired of waiting for my vote
      there’s never seemed to be a point and so this poem I wrote
      it’s written to you leaders, you lot who seek to lead
      who take our hard earned money and let the country bleed

      you think you have a mandate to choose the way we go
      you even think you have the right to judge what we should know
      you all assume you’re smarter and know the ins and outs
      the ropes of legislation – cause we’re all dumb-ass louts

      and so with little more at all than just ideals and whim
      we’re very soon committed – and all must sink or swim
      you’re led around by snout and ear by lobbyists with cash
      and wined and dined like royalty and dressed to cut a dash

      you stand in pomp and circumstance delivering address
      while all your social policy becomes a stinking mess
      I’ve met so many leaders and members prom-in-ent
      and listened to them speak their case, considered their intent

      but not a one, not ever, has piqued my confidence
      nor even ever made me think that they are ought but dense
      how many of you have a clue as much as even me?
      I know that I am better schooled than you will ever be

      and yet you think to lead us, to be our heart and soul
      but none of you have any clue what should be now our goal
      the peak in productivity of oil and gas has come
      and very soon a world of shit is what it will become

      I used to think the Greens maybe would lead us through the mess
      but no, Jeanette Fitzsimmons even seems to not care less
      for other things important are playing on her mind
      and winning seats in parliament is all her work you’ll find

      and that’s the crux, the problem of our democracy
      it’s geared to periods too short or so it seems to me
      before you’ve had a chance to forge some hope that we might win
      again the time as come to vote and change the shit we’re in

      but that is all you ever do you leaders at the top
      and I forever wonder when this mess will ever stop
      I watch my kids and grandkids grow and all the time I think
      that maybe they will perish soon in all your mess and stink

      I beg you now to stand up tall and start to make a change
      to fight for true democracy that seems to you so strange
      democracy is not at all a case of win and rule
      democracy means citizens – a massive voting pool

      where every single law you make is argued by us all
      not argued just between you dolts then forced upon us all
      come greens and Limbaugh lovers come independents too
      come lefties too I beg you there’s much for you to do

      start looking out beyond just now and educate us all
      and seek to make this country one where we can all stand tall
      try looking now at Sweden where they all know what comes
      and guide us with a loving heart and please stop being bums

      the future will be horrible we educated know
      and now we want our leaders too to know the way to go
      try speaking out more bravely, try speaking out at all
      try giving up your party goals and save us from the fall

      for Olduvai is coming (go google that and read)
      the peak of oil will cause a crash so bad that we will need
      a nation geared to live it through a people bold and brave
      and so my good and noble readers here I end my rave

  4. Armchair Critic 4
    16 October 2010 at 9:50 am

    1. Admit your mistakes
    2. Articulate your vision
    3. Don’t try to be National-lite

  5. marsman 5
    16 October 2010 at 10:28 am

    Soundbites,soundbites,soundbites.

  6. marsman 6
    16 October 2010 at 10:30 am

    They need to use soundbites.

  7. burt 7
    16 October 2010 at 10:34 am

    Never again sell the country and the party out to further the best interests of the self serving leader.

  8. r0b 8
    16 October 2010 at 10:54 am

    Here’s a couple of mine.

    Simple and practical: hire Conor Roberts.

    Big picture: run a positive, inclusive campaign. Brown’s “A mayor for all of Auckland” worked well. How about “A government for all of New Zealand”? Or build on the “many not the few” idea. Offer a vision. Offer thorough, realistic, effective policy. Offer a clear alternative.

    It should all start this weekend at conference. I’m not there, but I’ll be interested to see what comes out if it…

    • Draco T Bastard 8.2
      16 October 2010 at 3:32 pm

      Here you go rob.

      • Bill 8.2.1
        16 October 2010 at 10:04 pm

        Or then again. Lets have a pile of CERRA type initiatives ’cause all that consultation and participation…fuck, it’s messy.

        And what’s with the Blogstorm? That meant to be stealing potential fire from the Greens was it? Blogstormin Norman and his…well, flag.

        • Draco T Bastard 8.2.1.1
          16 October 2010 at 10:27 pm

          Labour has had quite a bit of consultation going on over the last few months. Still pissed with the CERRA though – that should have gone through unanimously.

    • Anne 8.3
      16 October 2010 at 5:16 pm

      It’s started r0b.

      Saw Chris Trotter dancing a jig with excitement! No, I tell a lie but you get the gist…

      • Jim MacDonald 8.3.1
        16 October 2010 at 9:47 pm

        You around too? I am attending as an observer. For you, Anne, I’d lift my anonymity.
        Would like to meet if … hmm … there is a way to achieve that.

        • Anne 8.3.1.1
          17 October 2010 at 9:30 pm

          @ Jim MacDonald.
          Sorry Jim. Didn’t see your message until late today – well after conference was over. Sure you’ll agree it was a very good one. I was impressed with the John Hattie and Bernard Hickey work-shops. Still the detail to go, but I think both will be more than happy to hear the future Labour policy directions outlined by Annette King and Phil Goff in their speeches.

  9. ianmac 9
    16 October 2010 at 10:55 am

    When Phil does get a chance to appear on MSM he must be more concise. Soundbites not long winded explanations. His response to questions about Chris Carter should have been “Chris Carter is no longer a member of the Labour Party so he is now irrelevant. ” No need to explain.

  10. Anthony C 10
    16 October 2010 at 11:03 am

    South Auckland is parochial and generally likes it Mayors (as opposed to just tolerating them like central Auckland). The lesson that they could learn is while everyone else seems to think South Auckland is all crime and abject poverty, for a lot of residents it is home and they are staunchly pro-South Auckland, there are very strong communities there.

    Don’t rely on this vote necessarily being ‘Left’, Manukau Mayors have always been really visible in the community and it is appreciated, same with MP’s like George Hawkins – they do the leg work.

  11. gobsmacked 11
    16 October 2010 at 12:16 pm

    Pretty much everybody outside the Labour caucus has been telling them what to do for months: focus on core policies, affecting people’s real lives:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4240073/Increase-in-GST-a-rip-off/

    Finally, the Labour MPs may have started to understand. Some (Mallard, Hodgson) are addicted to insider politics, and are probably a lost cause, but let’s hope the campaign leaders have a better grasp of what the voters are interested in.

    The single biggest problem is that if Labour lose, but still retain 30% plus, all the Labour MPs keep their jobs. That’s why they are so bloody half-hearted about winning the election. Labour supporters need them to win, but Labour MPs really don’t.

    Whereas Len Brown and his team knew it was a stark choice: victory or unemployment. That was the difference. That gives you energy and focus.

    So the lesson for Labour is: cut all the MPs salaries in half, until they hit 40% in the polls. That’ll wake them up.

    • Red Rosa 11.1
      16 October 2010 at 12:59 pm

      Too true.

      Mind you, they could actually start to act like an Opposition, and ask the questions the Coastal Coalition are asking on the F&S Act. Serious money, and serious constitutional issues, at stake.

      Someone is getting double crossed on this one. It may be the Maori Party, or it could be the rest of NZ. The average voter can only guess. Labour should just stick with its own legislation, and run these questions until they get some straight answers.

      http://www.nzcpr.com/CoastalCoalition.htm

      • millsy 11.1.1
        16 October 2010 at 1:20 pm

        Yes. Its a sad day when a bunch of ACT members and their supporters have to promote what should be a core Left/Labour issue: universal access to the outdoor receration estate ie beaches regardless of class, creed, colour or whatever, whether it be for a DPB mother or a filthy rich childless lawyer.

      • gobsmacked 11.1.2
        16 October 2010 at 1:20 pm

        Coastal Coalition? No thanks. Let ACT play with this one.

  12. BLiP 12
    16 October 2010 at 12:27 pm

    Labour should learn *all* its lessons going back to the 1984 “experiment”. And, if 20,000 people take to the streets asking for GE food to be labeled, the just bloody do it, would ya?

  13. Brokenback 13
    16 October 2010 at 12:39 pm

    Expel Annette King .

    • millsy 13.1
      16 October 2010 at 12:45 pm

      Speaking of which:

      Labour Focuses on Children

      The devil will defintely be in the details here. Probably should start with a huge overhaul of ECE, perhaps nationalising it, (but having a Tomorrow’s Schools style governance structure with BOT’s, etc), and running it along the lines of kindergartens (I was a kindy kid, and apart from the skinned knees, it was pretty good, day care centers look too much like baby farms to me).

      I probably would also look at altering the school hours too to reflect the fact that a lot of parents work now. One lady at my workplace who is contantly making after school arrangements for her children, would proabably have a lot less pressure off her if her kids school was given the resources to stay open so her kids could stay an extra few hours until she could come to pick them up.

  14. Thomas Forrow 14
    16 October 2010 at 1:56 pm

    It seems Labour has already conceded 2011. but is looking great for 2014 when all the old crusties are put out to pasture and the new fresh faces take over. We only have to look at place like Sweden and the UK where it is strongly shown that people won’t vote for all those tired old faces, and the left has suffered accordingly.
    But this has left the Greens in a really strong position ,The Greens are almost through this regeneration process and there are some amazing candidates putting themselves forward for the 2011 pool and are well placed to to make significant inroads in to Labours and Nationals Support. . The Greens challenge is to look like an independent third Party that could work with anyone. without compromising their principles. The Party is obviously very energised and positive following the Celia victory in Wellington. and this is being reflected from the feedback we are hearing on the ground in Mana
    BTW If any one want to donate to the campaign in Mana this would be a good place

    • BLiP 14.1
      16 October 2010 at 4:39 pm

      The Greens challenge is to look like an independent third Party that could work with anyone. without compromising their principles.

      Alas, we have recently learned that as far as the parliamentary wing is concerned, “principles” come down to “what will the media think?”. As for working with any party, I see that John Key recently said he works well with the Greens but, seriously, are the environmental predations of this government’s actions to date really something the Greens want to share responsibility for? Is lending the good name of the Greens to National Ltd™ not just a greenwash?

      This idea that the Greens are neither left nor right but somehow above it all is naive and alien to the party’s social policies. If its going to be *only* about the environment then, sure, snuggle up to National Ltd™ in the vain hope of some crumbs but be honest about it. Unless, of course, the Greens are happy to also be associated with National Ltd™’s ideas about social justice?

      • Thomas Forrow 14.1.1
        17 October 2010 at 12:27 am

        I have no problems with the Greens working with National on some specifics.
        I do have a problem with Labour automatically assuming that we would be their coalition partner and also get the aforementioned crumbs.
        I am no fan of National but if they were to offer a couple of juicy Ministries it would be plain wrong for the Greens not to talk to them. particularly as we pride ourselves on consensus politics
        I think we would be naive not to explore all possibilities to be honest.

        • petulantpacifist 14.1.1.1
          17 October 2010 at 7:50 pm

          I agree, Thomas. At the moment, Labour seems only willing to allow the Greens to have policy gains in areas Labour agrees with, whereas National seem willing to compromise with an MOU, where National committed to Green policy National don’t usually agree with (I.e. Green New Deal). That, along with what we’ve seen between National and the Maori party, where National have supported policies that really benefit Maori, suggests that the Greens should go with National if their priority is making real policy gains.

  15. green jobs for climate justice 15
    16 October 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Create new climate, environment and conservation policy – this is one very weak area for national – as the anti mining march down queen street showed.

    Brownlee is a weak point with National, find other weak points and exploit them.

    • Lazy Susan 15.1
      16 October 2010 at 11:25 pm

      English is another weak point. Cunliffe can wipe the floor with double dip and the economy\’s going to be a big issue in 2011.

      • Lats 15.1.1
        16 October 2010 at 11:32 pm

        And even though Mallard can be a bit agricultural at times, I’d still expect Tolley to be no match for him. She doesn’t seem to be handling education all that well.

  16. tea 16
    16 October 2010 at 3:14 pm

    Get someone sincere, passionate, resolute, qualified and not too up themselves and put them front and centre, and tell everyone else to fuck off.

    That seems like the lesson from this one…

  17. tea 17
    16 October 2010 at 3:16 pm

    I think the National campaign against labour showed you don’t go for the weak points, you go for the strong points and twist how the public views them.

    IE Clarks hardwork and command of her job becomes: nanny state, Helengrad and ssssh! (she’s childless!)

    Len Brown didn’t really need to do that though…

  18. M 18
    16 October 2010 at 4:06 pm

    Perhaps Labour needs to look at Scandinavian nations for some new (old Labour) ideas like unemployment being regarded as a national scourge. I had a friend who emigrated to Sweden and she told me that if a person were out of work the government would find that person a job with the proviso that said person relocated if necessary.

    I think Labour needs to gird its loins and say they support:

    *Full employment with attention to apprenticeships

    *Increase the public housing stock to rid society of rapacious landlords who charge exorbitant rents because they know they are being subsidised by the accommodation supplement and retain the 25% cap of a person’s income as rent being due for public housing

    *Free basic health and dental care for all not just school-aged children

    *Free education to secondary level – sorry but there’s not enough money for every bin man or telco people to be quoting Shakespeare. Anyway with peak oil all the soft degrees like economics, political science, arts degrees and the like will fall by the wayside pretty quickly. Economists are really the modern day equivalent of Roman chicken entrails inspectors.

    *Progressive taxation as the wealthier generally consume more resources than the rest of society – that’s why there are so many white collar dudes that are soft, overweight puddings with hypertension, diabetes and morbid obesity. If they didn’t have so much money to overindulge they wouldn’t be so sick in the first place. And no, I don’t hate overweight and out of shape people – be fat if you want to be but don’t expect the tax payer to pick up the tab when you don’t pay your fair share in tax.

    *Massive subsidization of public transport and the rule that everything that can go by sea or rail promulgated – unemployed, environment destroying truck drivers can be redeployed on the rail or sea network. People need to be shown that owning a car is an unnecessary and indeed crazy.

    *Peak oil to be put on the table immediately and an inculcation of a wartime mentality about energy use throughout the domestic, industrial and retail sectors. All children in schools to be educated about the hard futures they will experience and why energy conservation will be so important

    *Get rid of waste in the health sector – instead of massive amounts of waste being generated everyday from disposable supplies thrown out mandate that autoclaving come back and that hypodermic needles are re-used after being soaked in alcohol baths etc

    *Humane population reduction. Some areas for consideration being not prolonging a person’s life with ridiculous intervention – at both ends of the life cycle, for example a pacemaker being fitted to a 95 year old will not be considered and if a child is born at 23 weeks with massive problems then it may be that nature will have to take its course as there won’t be any fat in the system for all the extra treatment or therapy this person will need.
    With the economy only likely to get ever worse people may only have one child or none at all.

    *Short selling and naked short selling on the stock market outlawed as it is in China – you try that kind of stuff there and you eat a bullet. Government to beef up fraud investigation into this area as well as insider trading with real prison time for offenders as they aren’t really any better than murderers. People in the finance/stock market area have been allowed to rook people for everything they own and have got away with financial murder.

    Just a few ideas.

  19. grumpy 19
    16 October 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Be like Len Brown, at every opportunity deny any links with Labour and keep on saying” “I’m not Labour – I’m an Independent”

  20. green jobs for climate justice 20
    16 October 2010 at 4:55 pm

    re Upcoming shadow cabinet reshuffle,
    Get David Parker doing some work on climate change or conservation again, (decide who is conservation minister, labour only has an acting one at the moment) have an associate Climate minister (greens have several climate spokespeople, and national has two), and do some work on energy re 90% renewable energy target – link that into Labour’s climate strategy, set 2020 and 2050 emissions cuts targets, and involve trade unions on climate policy. Bring peak oil into the energy strategy, which would likely mean promoting and funding public transport and working more on domestic biofuels.

    Also re reshuffle put more new people into portfolios. Have talks with maori party and greens to see where policy is similar, and identify main areas of difference. Once policy work is done, its campaign time.

    I think the green wellington and new auckland mayor’s partially won on their transport policies. What do you want Labour’s main messages to be next year? Work on messaging.

  21. Zaphod Beeblebrox 21
    16 October 2010 at 11:15 pm

    Get rid of Mallard, King, Cosgrove, Horomia and Hodgson. They are too interested in petty point scoring and they reek of Wellington insider smugness. Voters hate that. Lets see more of Ardern, Sepuloni, Twyford, Curran and Andrew Little.

    If they don’t they will lose a whole generation of voters to the Greens. Have a look at what happened in the Aussie election. Its no good waiting until after 2014 if they all get back in.

    • Carol 21.1
      17 October 2010 at 6:48 am

      Yes, I think Little should be front and centre articulating some key Labour messages from now on. He came across really well in the snippets of him on the news last night. He can’t be PM for a while, but he is clear, concise and comes across as decisive, likeable and is a stirring speaker.

      I’m not a great Goff fan, but not sure who could replace him now. King, Cosgrove and Mallard, are still good politicians, make some good points and are streaks ahead of most of the Nats. Labour needs to balance the experienced MPs with the fresh new faces. Maybe others should be promoted more rather than focusing totally on Goff and King. Promote Labour as a team with a lot of new blood and fresh thinking.

      • The Voice of Reason 21.1.1
        17 October 2010 at 7:52 am

        I certainly wouldn’t right off Mallard and Cosgrove either. Both have a constituency of sorts and Clayton holds a seat that should really be Tory heartland. However, I think a shadow cabinet re-shuffle next year to bring forward the likes of Ardern, Hipkins and Hughes would be a useful step.

        But, it’s policies that will win the next election. Let’s promote them first and foremost.

  22. jarbury 22
    16 October 2010 at 11:18 pm

    Pretty simple:

    Say you’ll fund Len Brown’s rail projects.

    • felix 22.1
      17 October 2010 at 1:45 pm

      Yep, and Celia Wade-Brown’s. The voters have sent a clear message about transport in Ak and Wgtn and Labour would be bloody stupid to ignore it.

  23. green jobs for climate justice 23
    17 October 2010 at 10:55 am

    Make funding trains a union and job issue too, people in Dunedin want their city making trains. Trains are also a climate issue, and link it into peak oil. So make it part of central policy.

    I agree re bringing forward Ardern, Hipkins and Hughes and also the suggestion of leading roles for Ardern, Sepuloni, Twyford, Curran and Andrew Little. Tho I would also add Chavel and Parker and one or two others. Everyone knows that Cuniliff is there if its time for Goff to go, which would likely mean a new co leader too, perhaps Parker?.

    • Steve 23.1
      27 October 2010 at 1:36 am

      Petrol is $1.84 / litre despite the NZ$ being high…and has gone up several times in the past few weeks. Last time it went over $2 / litre, the public transport system in Auckland came under serious strain…..and National is building roads. They are a blind party voted for by blind people.

  24. Steve 24
    27 October 2010 at 1:31 am

    The BIG lesson from the Auckland local body elections was that most people wasted their time bothering to vote and First Past the Post is to blame. Of all votes returns in wider Auckland 62.5% elected no one. The twenty people on the new Auckland council – collectively -received 37.5% of the total vote. Almost two thirds of all voters didn’t vote for ANY of them. 15 of the 20 Councilors were elected with less than 40% of the vote. 13 of the 20 Councilors were elected with less than 30% of vote. In Albany Ward, 80.85% of all votes cast elected no one: Michael Goudie was elected with 9.9% and Wayne Walker was elected in with 9.2%. In North Shore Ward, 69.7% of votes elected no one. George Wood got just under 16% of the vote and Ann Hartley just under 14.5% of the vote. Almost 70% of voters in North Shore ward didn’t vote for either of them.

    This is horrendous. The case for STV for local body election in Auckland could not be more compelling……

    First Past the Post won the election to the Auckland Council…and voters lost.

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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

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