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Marketing Clown

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, November 27th, 2012 - 70 comments
Categories: Environment, john key - Tags: , ,

There are some similar things between McDonald’s and New Zealand – they’re both currently run by a clown at any rate – but I didn’t think cynical marketing was one of them.

Apparently Key is “lovin’ it” how our rivers and lakes are far from “100% Pure”.  At least he’s not “lovin’ it” all the time, you’ve got to take these things with a pinch of salt you understand.

Is this a new standard of information from the New Zealand Government?  When Key says he didn’t know Dotcom’s name before that day of the MegaRaidTM, he only means most of the time?  Should we take that with a pinch of salt?  What about when he says he’s forgotten most of the facts about Dotcom?  How ‘salty’ was it when he said he voted for the drinking age to stay at 20?  Or those promises to get the Pike River miners‘ bodies out?  Is this all just acceptable marketing, and people don’t expect the truth all the time?

Notably the New Zealand Association of Scientists don’t take their “facts” with a pinch of salt:

“The clear statement is that the potential damage to New Zealand’s reputation, and economic benefit of “big-spending American tourists” outweighs the need for truth in public debate. This is an issue that the association takes very seriously.”

Ah, truth, do we have to be brought back to that?

—

As one of many facts that Key dismisses because he “knows” otherwise, the unemployment rate couldn’t possibly be so high (7.3% – a record since Bill English was last Finance Minister…) because there weren’t enough people on the jobseekers benefit.

And now we have a good example of why: Winz telling eligible beneficiaries they can’t apply because they haven’t yet spent all their (union-negotiated) redundancy and then some…

“They said I have to wait for my redundancy [pay] to run out and then I have to wait another four to six weeks until I have actually gone broke,” she said.

When we won’t even give unemployed people desperately seeking work the unemployment benefit it may be less of a surprise why your stats don’t add up…

70 comments on “Marketing Clown ”

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  1. Descendant Of Smith 1
    27 November 2012 at 7:35 am

    Here’s an earlier post and links to WINZ policy around stand-downs.

    John Key: Business to blame?

    It’s sad that not only mis-information is floating around but that WINZ staff can’t get their own policies right.

    • Lanthanide 1.1
      27 November 2012 at 10:52 am

      Anyone know if these claims are back-datable?

      My dad got a very hefty redundancy payout from his last job in 2009 and was told by WINZ he wasn’t eligible for unemployment benefit because he had to use it up first. Any chance he could back-claim for that benefit?

      • Descendant Of Smith 1.1.1
        27 November 2012 at 2:24 pm

        It is possible the rules were different then. In the 80s redundancy pay was treated differently and I’m not sure of all the changes since then.

        The policy linked to is the current policy.

        A local advocacy group could find out the policy that applied at the time your father was made redundant. Check too how much of the redundancy was holiday pay retiring leave etc. those count as days still working.

        Also see what evidence exists in your fathers or their records e.g. Record of phone call.

        You generally have 3 months to review but can go outside of that for good reason.

        It is always better to apply and get a decision than simply take verbal advice. That’s the most important advice I ever gave as an advocate. Still holds true.

  2. robertguyton 2
    27 November 2012 at 8:12 am

    Equating ‘Loving it’ and ‘100% Pure’ is classic Key-think, the former being subjective and the latter quantitative, but that doesn’t matter to Key, he can find plenty of other experts who will say the opposite and anyway, a shrug heals all hurts and he’s not bothered.
    The sad thing is that people seem to swallow Key’s bullshit as it it was Farex.

  3. vto 3
    27 November 2012 at 8:30 am

    Yep this government is a total circus.

    Never more so than in Christchurch. Watch as the real people participants in the Christchurch rebuild are beginning to step back and say “lets just wait and let this bozo circus step up to the plate first”. Bozo Brownlee has created himself a millstone that everybody is beginning to notice. The heat is draining away from the blueprint. The people, sidelined, now watch from the sideline content with their hamper and picnic table. They are now used to the lack of a dining table. Less is beginning to happen. Christchurch is on the road to becoming New Zealands largest ever white elephant. It’s biggest donut.

    The bully boy bozos of this government and their contempt for the people of Christchurch and Canterbury are beginning to have an effect and it is not good. Such a shame.

  4. karol 4
    27 November 2012 at 8:38 am

    Good op ed piece from the Manwatu Standard yesterday on branding, marketing and the 100% pure issue.

    Most people understand that advertising is about creating and enhancing desire, pulling a heartstring or two and selling a concept.

    The collision with truth and integrity is where things can get interesting….

    Perfection is a high standard, so it is clever or fortunate that we stay vague about where exactly we’re free of contamination. Completely free, absolutely free – not even a minuscule detectable level of impurity, you understand….

    Well, I do not accept it is to our long-term advantage to promote nonsense, and – even if there is a compelling economic case – integrity is more important.It is also a bad look for any marketing person to lecture anyone else about motives behind messages….

    Talk of Dr Joy being a traitor is silly given that 12-year-old pupils in Palmerston North are capable of coming to the same conclusion he has – that environmental purity has not been achieved in this nation. Nor has it been achieved in any nation, but New Zealand set itself up for a fall by being loose with its language.

    Mr Unsworth was plainly upset Dr Joy dared embarrass the country by questioning a flawed message.
     
    But the negative publicity was inevitable. One way to reduce the chances of being hurt by negative publicity is not to say preposterous things in the first place.

    Grant Miller is the Manawatu Standard’s head of content and a politics junkie.

    • vto 4.1
      27 November 2012 at 8:54 am

      “Well, I do not accept it is to our long-term advantage to promote nonsense, and – even if there is a compelling economic case – integrity is more important.It is also a bad look for any marketing person to lecture anyone else about motives behind messages…. ”

      karol, this part of Grant Miller’s piece would seem to encapsulate the integrity (or lack of) of Unsworth, NZ Herald anonymous editorial, and Minister Tim Groser.

      Their modus operandi is on display for all to see. They cannot be believed again.

      • muzza 4.1.1
        27 November 2012 at 9:15 am

        Their modus operandi is on display for all to see. They cannot be believed again.

        Oh but they will be, its just that “they” will have a different name, perhaps like Norman, Robertson, Parker , pick a name….people will believe/hope/beg for change!

        This country is run on corruption, (it could not be more clear these days), which propagates because these are people who can be controlled. They can be controlled because they have known actions in their pasts/present, which have/is/will be used against them.

        To think this is not happening is to believe in the tooth fairy!

        • vto 4.1.1.1
          27 November 2012 at 10:16 am

          Oh yes you have a point that the last labour lot also ran deception afetr deception to achieve their political ends. There is no doubt.

          But what I see in the current lot is a corruption, as you say, and a deceit that far outstrips the last lot. This National lot are liars and thieves to an extent I don’t think NZ has witnessed probably ever. That is my opinion.

  5. TightyRighty 5
    27 November 2012 at 9:03 am

    So it’s not ok to have a marketing campaign that claims that new zealand is 100% pure, but it is ok for labour to run an election campaign based on promises they can’t possibly fund as stated? “show me the money”

    Fun police, those in glass houses, he that is without sin etc

    • Colonial Viper 5.1
      27 November 2012 at 9:13 am

      Weird how the two are unrelated

      Also weird how Righties have to spread a lack of belief in NZers. This time, claiming that we can’t build a pathetic 10,000 houses per year.

      • Rob 5.1.1
        27 November 2012 at 9:23 am

        Its not the 10K houses pa, we are building 16K pa now. Its the belief that you can pick up 50,000 odd sections in Auckland for $50K a piece. This is the best bit of comedygold to go down in our smoko room for a long time. People in Akl are not idiots and they understand house prices and land costs.

      • TightyRighty 5.1.2
        27 November 2012 at 1:28 pm

        Wierd how marketing for the labour party to attract votes has no possible relationship to NZ trying to attract tourists using marketing? yeah I can see how you might think that. But any excuse to attack the government right? It’s so funny how the traditional labour in opposition attack meme’s just aren’t being used at all. It’s like somehow labour and it’s supporters somehow believe that NZer’s don’t care about education and housing, or is it tacit acceptance that national is doing a good job. Such a good job in fact the only attacks labour and it’s supporters can come up with are only slightly connected to the real issues. Like trying to attack a positive marketing campaign in the middle of a worldwide recession where every country is fighting for tourist dollars. Such a smart move.

        NZ can build 10K of houses in a year, the government can’t. look at the insulation and schools program in australia. also under a labour government.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.2.1
          27 November 2012 at 4:14 pm

          It’s like somehow labour and it’s supporters somehow believe that NZer’s don’t care about education and housing, or is it tacit acceptance that national is doing a good job.

          It could be that and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was that. Labour is, after all, a centre-right party that believes in the free-market almost as much as National and Act do. This is why we really need Labour to become a minor party.

          • TheContrarian 5.1.2.1.1
            27 November 2012 at 4:38 pm

            Labour is a centre-left party…I know, I know, you’ll produce that same graph again.

            I tell you what though, what don’t provide some evidence from a political scientist or a professor rather than a graph from peoples unknown?

          • TheContrarian 5.1.2.1.2
            27 November 2012 at 5:51 pm

            For a laff I did the test as I thought most closely resembled Labour’s policies and got well into the left.

    • redfred 5.2
      27 November 2012 at 9:23 am

      You can have any sort of marketing campaign you like, but the facts are NZ environment image is unraveling.

      Dam those reporters and scientist for telling the truth.

      We know Planet Key would have that beached whaleoil heading up the Truth Police and carrying out the promised punishments for breaching the official version of truth & reality.

      The Orwellian nature of Keys fudged reality and Unsworth attack on science should scare the hell out of all of us.

    • Tom Gould 5.3
      27 November 2012 at 9:23 am

      Or a campaign promising a brighter future then driving the economy into the ground and delivering 170,000 out of work? Is that what you mean, Tighty?

    • Ben Clark 5.4
      27 November 2012 at 11:04 am

      a) so your best response is “they did it too” – you admit it is wrong then?
      and
      b) your example is then wrong – labour’s policies were fully costed by independent economists and seen to add up – surplus 1 year later, pay off the debt in the same year.

      Next time, try some facts.

      • TightyRighty 5.4.1
        27 November 2012 at 3:24 pm

        No, my response is that it is marketing but if you are going to nitpick your own marketing should stand up to the same scrutiny.

        If labour’s policies were fully costed and were seen, through rose tinted spectacles, to add up how come Phil Goff couldn’t show us the money?

        • One Tāne Huna 5.4.1.1
          27 November 2012 at 3:30 pm

          I always thought Goff’s best response would have been simply to dump a ream of paper in front of the airhead shill and say: “here’s the money, fool.”

          Or were you taken in by the airhead shill pretending that a government budget can be explained in a soundbite?

        • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1.2
          27 November 2012 at 4:17 pm

          to add up how come Phil Goff couldn’t show us the money?

          He did – just not at the debate. You, being a RWNJ, would have forgotten that minor detail though as it goes against your beliefs.

          • TightyRighty 5.4.1.2.1
            27 November 2012 at 5:28 pm

            None of figures stacked up, no matter how much the fanbois wanted it to. no soundbites for you though, you haven’t passed economics. How much would the much vaunted CGT have raised by now? how many times over was that same amount spent on different things?

            • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1.2.1.1
              27 November 2012 at 8:10 pm

              You do realise that Labour’s CGT wasn’t the money earner don’t you? It was the 39% tax rate. The CGT would raise some income for government but it’s real job was to alter the incentives for investment.

    • Tracey 5.5
      27 November 2012 at 12:15 pm

      what a strange comment. If you really do get upset about campaign promises that can’t or won’t be kept you can’t have voted national for a very long time?

      • TightyRighty 5.5.1
        27 November 2012 at 3:27 pm

        What’s strange about it? I know your intellectual inconsistency, AKA doublethink, allows you to believe that only the national party in government and a marketing campaign thought up by tourism new zealand should be so perfect and correct while the labour party lies it way through an election with a dubious marketing campaign. I at least am being consistent in my criticism of this criticism, as I am with most things.

        • Tracey 5.5.1.1
          27 November 2012 at 3:30 pm

          Are you saying you didn’t vote for National in 2008 and 2011? If so then you are correct to state you are being consistent.

          I didn’t vote for labour or National and do not condone lying by either. That seems to have rather put a fly in the ointment of your knowledge of my intellectual inconsistency. So, simple question, did you vote for National in 2008 and/or 2011 TR?

          • TightyRighty 5.5.1.1.1
            27 November 2012 at 4:10 pm

            I Don’t see how voting National is being inconsistent with my statements today? I accept changes have to be made due to circumstance and not everything promised will be as such. That’s why I can quite rightly critique this criticism. Because it’s bullshit. a cheap and irrelevant attack by individuals and groups grasping at straws. I don’t demand perfection from the opposition, i demand an opposition that has intellectual integrity, I won’t get it till National lose however.

            sanctimony reigns supreme on your posts doesn’t it? Right on

            • Draco T Bastard 5.5.1.1.1.1
              27 November 2012 at 4:21 pm

              I Don’t see how voting National is being inconsistent with my statements today?

              Because by voting National you show that you’re fine with their lying and not keeping of promises.

              i demand an opposition that has intellectual integrity, I won’t get it till National lose however.

              That’s the bit you don’t get and never will because you’re incapable of believing anything negative about your leaders. I’ll spell it out simply for you:

              National have no integrity at all.

              How do you tell if a National MP is lying? Their mouths are moving.

              • TightyRighty …
                27 November 2012 at 5:31 pm

                I am not demanding perfection of every utterance and every campaign from national. I see DPF posted the herald editorial that makes the point that this “academic” totally undoes there academic argument by indulging in hyperbole. which has been my point consistently. Don’t throw stones in glass houses. Trust lefty, right on, fucktards like DTB to not see the orwellian doublethink they are indulging in.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  27 November 2012 at 8:13 pm

                  I am not demanding perfection of every utterance and every campaign from national.

                  You’re not even demanding mild standards like not lying.

                  Trust lefty, right on, fucktards like DTB to not see the orwellian doublethink they are indulging in.

                  What doublethink?

    • mike e 5.6
      27 November 2012 at 10:37 pm

      !00% pure BS from the Right!Most of it comes from national voting farmers and ends up in our streams rivers lakes and aqua firs!
      $1billion + on AMI bail out!
      $1billion+ on SCF!

  6. Blue 6
    27 November 2012 at 9:36 am

    John Key knows a lot about bullshit marketing. Anyone remember ‘Building a Brighter Future’ or ‘Ambitious for New Zealand?’

    How about ‘Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones’?

    Best taken with an entire salt mine I think.

  7. BM 7
    27 November 2012 at 9:38 am

    All it looks like to the average man/woman in the streets is that once again the left are purposely trying to throw spanners into the works in an attempt to make National look bad.

    Who gives a fuck about the amount of money that will get wasted, the lost job opportunities and creation of wealth that’s badly needed in NZ., if political points can be scored against the evil tories.

    I can tell you who do give a fuck though, the NZ voter.

    • vto 7.1
      27 November 2012 at 9:50 am

      Fuck the money.

      I would like to swim in and drink from our rivers. How many rivers and creeks are safe to swim in or to drink from in the developed parts of the North Island?

      Fucking gross man – money money money ….. while living in shit. What would be the point BM?

      • BM 7.1.1
        27 November 2012 at 9:56 am

        You haven’t been able to safely drink water from a NZ stream for a long long time.

        Tourists washing out their water filters put an end to that.

        • freedom 7.1.1.1
          27 November 2012 at 10:07 am

          i guess the millions of tonnes of toxic crap that agricultural/industrial sectors have dumped into our environment over the last fifty years is just a coincidinky then?

        • vto 7.1.1.2
          27 November 2012 at 10:14 am

          “You haven’t been able to safely drink water from a NZ stream for a long long time.”

          Exactly BM. Because people have been dumping the shit from their homes and their businesses into the public estate for far too long. This is now apparent. It is easily fixed but it is not being fixed – especially with the lard arses in this government. It seems you, like them, have no plan to clean up the house.

          So I repeat my question to you “Fucking gross man – money money money ….. while living in shit. What would be the point BM?”

        • Tracey 7.1.1.3
          27 November 2012 at 12:17 pm

          Where DO you get your information? Are you on hallucinogenics?

    • fisiani 7.2
      27 November 2012 at 11:30 am

      Quite right. The NZ voter cannot stand the Hobbit Haters of Labour who will brazenly walk the red carpet as total hypocrites. Grant (…) Robertson will smile and wave and self promote then head for the buffet table and the free wine.
      National is about onwards and progress. Labour is stuck in backwards and nay saying.
      I cannot understand the Labour strategy of constantly bagging every step of New Zealand progress to somehow bring down John Key. It is a spectacular own goal. It is one of the many reasons that the National party vote rose in 2011 from the result in 2008 despite the worst economic circumstances in living memory.
      100% pure is just advertising speak. No one ever dreamed it would be taken literally. The people who did so are perhaps best described as the clowns.

      • Lanthanide 7.2.1
        27 November 2012 at 12:18 pm

        “National is about onwards and progress. Labour is stuck in backwards and nay saying.”

        I see that you really sucked up that silly ad National ran before the last election with the ‘stop’ and ‘go’ road signs.

        • fisiani 7.2.1.1
          27 November 2012 at 12:45 pm

          Mining National GO Labour STOP
          Fishing National GO Labour STOP
          Forestry National GO Labour STOP
          Hobbit National GO Labour STOP
          Tourism National GO Labour STOP
          Reform National GO Labour STOP
          Education National GO Labour STOP

          And you call it a silly ad…… it has turned out to be prophetic.

          • Lanthanide 7.2.1.1.1
            27 November 2012 at 2:53 pm

            🙄

          • thatguynz 7.2.1.1.2
            27 November 2012 at 4:12 pm

            You could write Nationals advertising hoardings for the next election Fisiani.  They wouldn’t actually be factual and would appeal solely to the “reality tv” generation but that would be ok right?

          • mike e 7.2.1.1.3
            27 November 2012 at 10:50 pm

            Mining national 29 dead no new jobs !
            Fishing slaving national not doing anything till 2014!
            Forestry carbon offsets dead in the water!
            hobbit national caved in and paid more than necessary just to break unions!
            Reform means more poverty for more people!
            Education National fuck up education again no benefit for reforms only higher cost to taxpayer!

      • Tracey 7.2.2
        27 November 2012 at 12:18 pm

        “despite the worst economic circumstances in living memory.” Many people are alive who remember the great depression… Or do you not value the elderly?

      • Draco T Bastard 7.2.3
        27 November 2012 at 4:24 pm

        National is about onwards and progress.

        Nope, National is about destroying the environment and society for their own personal gain.

      • mike e 7.2.4
        27 November 2012 at 10:43 pm

        Fishy fool manufacturing the productive sector tourism farming are all down spending is up !
        Housing speculation and shares are heading towards a cliff!

    • Tracey 7.3
      27 November 2012 at 12:16 pm

      There he goes again, speaking on behalf of the people in the streets. Do you work for a living BM, or maybe you are a busker???

  8. redfred 8
    27 November 2012 at 10:14 am

    BM – left right ? political points, what the fuck.

    You mean big business trying to have their cake and eat it too? Then getting nasty when the obvious truth gets pointed out.

    How about safely swimming in the water then? Our lowland rivers are full of fecal matter and other toxic shit directly related to dairy intensification. It is about as far away from PURE as you can get.

    Jobs and a fucked environment don’t need go hand in hand, if the spin was a true and accurate picture of what NZ is about then we would be having this discussion.

    I would like us to measure up to the spin; if we worked towards it that would create jobs and wealth that would be sustainable for generations to come.

    • BM 8.1
      27 November 2012 at 10:59 am

      We never can, think off hand there’s only 5% of native forest left.
      The rest has been cleared for farming(Colonists), hunting Moa, planting Kumera crops(Maori).

      The 100% clean and green has always been BS, but it provides jobs and money for the country.

      • locus 8.1.1
        27 November 2012 at 11:19 am

        unbelievable that supposed ‘marketing’ gurus think it’s okay to say 100% pure and then not give a damn about the environmental degradation going on around them killing their goose. No more golden eggs for NZ tourism.

        Spending a fotune to get here and then finding out your kids get sick if they paddle in the streams, and that you can’t fill your canteen on a bushwalk is news that soon gets around.

        Mind you who gives a damn about tourism if you can increase your profits by not treating the milking shed effluent you’re quietly discharging into the local river.

      • Tracey 8.1.2
        27 November 2012 at 12:21 pm

        You are wrong. There is a river in Marlborough (Wakamarina) which in 2005 was one of 5% of NZ rivers you could drink from according to WHO standards. What you don’t know (which apparently isn’t much) you make up!

      • William 8.1.3
        27 November 2012 at 1:40 pm

        You’re also very wrong on your recollection of 5% native forest cover.

        Ministry for Environment place native land cover as 43.7%.

        That page gives the area in various types of native land cover, native forest itself is about 24%, as stated by this DoC page.

      • fender 8.1.4
        27 November 2012 at 8:54 pm

        You sure have a cheek coming on here making up shit you have no knowledge about B(loody) M(oron).
        So how much land was cleared by the early Maori as they lay in waiting for Moa on the tracks that the huge bird had itself made through the forest?

        I guess this acting the clown was the brighter future we have been patiently waiting for.

  9. BLiP 9
    27 November 2012 at 2:10 pm

    .

    So, where did we get to, John?

    I’m Jewish/Christian/Agnostic
    1981
    Tranzrail shares
    Lord Ashcroft
    National Ltd™ would have sent troops into Iraq
    Standard & Poors
    “I didn’t say I want wages to drop”
    “I won’t raise GST:
    Capping, not cutting the public service,
    “tax cuts north of $50 a week”
    Privatisation won’t significantly help the economy
    Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones
    “I never offered Brash a diplomatic job in London”
    National Ltd™ won’t touch Kiwisaver
    National Ltd™ is not going to radically reorganise the structure of the public sector
    Tax cuts won’t require additional borrowing
    National Ltd™ will tender out the government banking contract
    “We [NZ] have grown for eight of the last nine quarters”
    “…we will be back in surplus by 2014-15…”
    “…unemployment is starting to fall…”
    “…we have created 45,000 jobs…”
    “…we are likely to create 170,000 jobs in the next 4 years…”
    “I don’t own a vineyard”
    The Isreali spy killed in the Christchurch quake had “only one” passport
    The Police will not need to make savings by losing jobs
    GCSB x 3 (that we know about)
    “I voted to keep the drinking age at 20″
    New Zealand is 100% pure””

    . . . thanks, dude, I’m lovin’ it.

    • Tracey 9.1
      27 November 2012 at 3:32 pm

      If you took what Fisiani and BM take you would be happy, at least…

    • rosy 9.2
      27 November 2012 at 10:39 pm

      Great list, and it’s not like he doesn’t know what lying is

      Lying is that you knowingly and deceitfully mislead people… I don’t lie about anything. I don’t always give you the answer you might want to hear because that’s prudent. But I don’t lie about things.

      Seems to me there’s a sneaky little transition from ‘lying’ to ‘marketing’ in there as well. I’m lovin’ it too.

  10. unicus 10
    28 November 2012 at 12:58 pm

    Ronald Mc Donald – How apt for a Prime Minister who’s grinning visage screens the activities of the most damaging government since Muldoon’s . Not unlike the real (sic) Ronald smiling and dancing while his corporation destroys the health of children .

  11. gobsmacked 11
    28 November 2012 at 7:52 pm

    MPs don’t read blogs.

    Here’s what happened in Parliament today (from Claire Trevett, Herald):

    Labour’s Annette King managed to get the last word a bit later – reminding Parliament about the Prime Minister’s recent comparison of the 100 per cent Pure campaign to McDonald’s advertisements.

    “That may be true,” Mrs King mused. “Because the thing New Zealand and McDonald’s have in common is that they are both run by clowns.”

    So, MPs don’t read blogs.

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    Evaluating the recent crashes of Silicon Valley Bank in the US and Credit Suisse in Switzerland plus two other banks (perhaps more by the time you read this) needs to begin with a review of the inevitable instability in the financial sector. The financial sector is inherently unstable, like military ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 day ago

  • The week in review
    1. We see here new police minister Ginny Andersen. Which larger than life NZ political figure was her great-uncle?a. Rob Muldoonb. Bill Andersenc. Richard John Seddond. Norman Kirk2. We see here archival footage of Ginny Andersen coming out of her electorate office to ask ex-tobacco lobbyist Chris Bishop if he ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Nash splashes out with a $900,000 investment in the blue economy (or is it more corporate welfare?)
    Buzz from the Beehive Stuart Nash, speaking as Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, one of his remaining portfolios after he was dropped down the Hipkins Government batting order, has drawn attention to the blue economy and its potential. Nash says the government is investing in the blue economy, or – ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to March 24
    Photo by Josh Mills on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for the next hour, including:The runs on Silicon Valley Bank and First Republic Bank on the west coast of the United States that forced the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 24-March-2023
    Roundup is back! We skipped last week’s Friday post due to a shortage of person-power – did you notice? Lots going on out there… Our header image this week shows a green street that just happens to be Queen St, by @chamfy from Twitter. This week (and last) in ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Keen-Minshull visit
    After threatening Prime Minister Chris Hipkins of consequences if he dared to bar her entry, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull has been given her visa, regardless. This will enable her to hold rallies in Auckland and Wellington this weekend, and spread her messages of hostility against an already marginalised trans community. Neo-Nazis may, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nucl...
    * Bryce Edwards writes – The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Wayne Brown's #Auxit moment
    Boomers voted him in, but Brown’s Trumpish moments might spook Aucklanders worried about what a change to National nationally might mean. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has become our version of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, except without any of the insatiable appetite for media appearances. He ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: NZ needs to distance itself from Australia’s anti-China nuclear submarines
    The New Zealand Government has been silent about Australia’s decision to commit up to $400bn acquiring nuclear submarines, even though this is a significant threat to peace and stability in the Asia Pacific. The deal was struck by the Albanese Labor Government as part of its Aukus pact with the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Posie Parker vs Transgender Rights.
    Recently you might have heard of a person called Posie Parker and her visit to Aotearoa. Perhaps you’re not quite sure what it’s all about. So let’s start with who this person is, why their visit is controversial, and what on earth a TERF is.Posie Parker is the super villain ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Select Committee told slow down; you’re moving too fast
    The chair of Parliament’s Select Committee looking at the Government’s resource management legislation wants the bills sent back for more public consultation. The proposal would effectively kill any chance of the bills making it into law before the election. Green MP, Eugenie Sage, stressing that she was speaking as ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2023
    Open access notables  The United States experienced some historical low temperature records during the just-concluded winter. It's a reminder that climate and weather are quite noisy; with regard to our warming climate,, as with a road ascending a mountain range we may steadily change our conditions but with lots of ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • What becomes of the broken hearted? Nanny State will step in to comfort them
    Buzz from the Beehive The Nanny State has scored some wins (or claimed them) in the past day or two but it faltered when it came to protecting Kiwi citizens from being savaged by one woman armed with a sharp tongue. The wins are recorded by triumphant ministers on the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Acceptance, decency, road food.
    Sometimes you see your friends making the case so well on social media you think: just copy and share.On acceptance and decency, from Michèle A’CourtA notable thing about anti-trans people is they way they talk about transgender women and men as though they are strangers “over there” when in fact ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: More Labour sabotage
    Not that long ago, things were looking pretty good for climate change policy in Aotearoa. We finally had an ETS, and while it was full of pork and subsidies, it was delivering high and ever-rising carbon prices, sending a clear message to polluters to clean up or shut down. And ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Is bundling restricting electricity competition?
    Comparing (and switching) electricity providers has become easier, but bundling power up with broadband and/or gas makes it more challenging. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā TL;DR: The new Consumer Advocacy Council set up as a result of the Labour Government’s Electricity Price Review in 2019 has called on either ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Westland Milk puts heat on competitors as global dairy demand  remains softer for longer
    Hokitika-based Westland Milk Products  has  put the heat on dairy giant Fonterra with  a $120m profit turnaround in 2022, driven by record sales. Westland paid its suppliers a 10c premium above the forecast Fonterra price per kilo, contributing $535m to the West Coast and Canterbury economies. The dairy ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS’ Political Roundup:  The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    * Bryce Edwards writes – New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Beehive’s revolving door and corporate mateship
    New Zealanders are uncomfortable with the high level of influence corporate lobbyists have in New Zealand politics, and demands are growing for greater regulation. A recent poll shows 62 per cent of the public support having a two-year cooling off period between ministers leaving public office and becoming lobbyists and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • A miracle pill for our transport ills
    This is a guest post by accessibility and sustainable transport advocate Tim Adriaansen It originally appeared here.   A friend calls you and asks for your help. They tell you that while out and about nearby, they slipped over and landed arms-first. Now their wrist is swollen, hurting like ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • The Surprising Power of Floating Wind Turbines
    Floating offshore wind turbines offer incredible opportunities to capture powerful winds far out at sea. By unlocking this wind energy potential, they could be a key weapon in our arsenal in the fight against climate change. But how developed are these climate fighting clean energy giants? And why do I ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • The next Maori challenge
    Over the past two or three weeks, a procession of Maori iwi and hapu in a series of little-noticed appearances before two Select Committees have been asking for more say for Maori over resource management decisions along the co-governance lines of Three Waters. Their submissions and appearances run counter ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Secret “war-crime” warrants by International Criminal Court is mischief-making
    The decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue war crimes arrest warrants for the Russian President and the Russia Children Ombudsman may have been welcomed by the ideologically committed but otherwise seems to have been greeted with widespread cynicism (see Situation in Ukraine: ICC judges issue arrest warrants ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    3 days ago

  • How to answer Drunk Uncle Kevin's Climate Crisis reckons
    Let’s say you’re clasping your drink at a wedding, or a 40th, or a King’s Birthday Weekend family reunion and Drunk Uncle Kevin has just got going.He’s in an expansive frame of mind because we’re finally rid of that silly girl. But he wants to ask an honest question about ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • National’s Luxon may be glum about his poll ratings but has he found a winner in promising to rai...
    National Party leader Christopher Luxon may  be feeling glum about his poll ratings, but  he could be tapping  into  a rich political vein in  describing the current state of education as “alarming”. Luxon said educational achievement has been declining,  with a recent NCEA pilot exposing just how far it has ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: More Labour foot-dragging
    Yesterday the IPCC released the final part of its Sixth Assessment Report, warning us that we have very little time left in which to act to prevent catastrophic climate change, but pointing out that it is a problem that we can solve, with existing technology, and that anything we do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Te Pāti Māori Are Revolutionaries – Not Reformists.
    Way Beyond Reform: Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer have no more interest in remaining permanent members of “New Zealand’s” House of Representatives than did Lenin and Trotsky in remaining permanent members of Tsar Nicolas II’s “democratically-elected” Duma. Like the Bolsheviks, Te Pāti Māori is a party of revolutionaries – not reformists.THE CROWN ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • When does history become “ancient”, on Tinetti’s watch as Minister of Education – and what o...
    Buzz from the Beehive Auckland was wiped off the map, when Education Minister Jan Tinetti delivered her speech of welcome as host of the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers “here in Tāmaki Makaurau”. But – fair to say – a reference was made later in the speech to a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Climate Catastrophe, but first rugby.
    Morning mate, how you going?Well, I was watching the news last night and they announced this scientific report on Climate Change. But before they got to it they had a story about the new All Blacks coach.Sounds like important news. It’s a bit of a worry really.Yeah, they were talking ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What the US and European bank rescues mean for us
    Always a bailout: US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the Government would fully guarantee all savers in all smaller US banks if needed. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: No wonder an entire generation of investors are used to ‘buying the dip’ and ‘holding on for dear life’. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Who will drain Wellington’s lobbying swamp?
    Wealthy vested interests have an oversized influence on political decisions in New Zealand. Partly that’s due to their use of corporate lobbyists. Fortunately, the influence lobbyists can have on decisions made by politicians is currently under scrutiny in Guyon Espiner’s in-depth series published by RNZ. Two of Espiner’s research exposés ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • It’s Raining Congestion
    Yesterday afternoon it rained and traffic around the region ground to a halt, once again highlighting why it is so important that our city gets on with improving the alternatives to driving. For additional irony, this happened on the same day the IPCC synthesis report landed, putting the focus on ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Checking The Left: The Dreadful Logic Of Fascism.
    The Beginning: Anti-Co-Governance agitator, Julian Batchelor, addresses the Dargaville stop of his travelling roadshow across New Zealand . Fascism almost always starts small. Sadly, it doesn’t always stay that way. Especially when the Left helps it to grow.THERE IS A DREADFUL LOGIC to the growth of fascism. To begin with, it ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • Good Friends and Terrible Food
    Hi,From an incredibly rainy day in Los Angeles, I just wanted to check in. I guess this is the day Trump may or may not end up in cuffs? I’m attempting a somewhat slower, less frenzied week. I’ve had Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s new record on non-stop, and it’s been a ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – What evidence is there for the hockey stick?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Carry right on up there, Corporal Espiner
    RNZ has been shining their torch into corners where lobbyists lurk and asking such questions as: Do we like the look of this?and Is this as democratic as it could be?These are most certainly questions worth asking, and every bit as valid as, say:Are we shortchanged democratically by the way ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • This smells
    RNZ has continued its look at the role of lobbyists by taking a closer look at the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Andrew Kirton. He used to work for liquor companies, opposing (among other things) a container refund scheme which would have required them to take responsibility for their own ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Major issues on the table in Mahuta’s  talks in Beijing with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has left for Beijing for the first ministerial visit to China since 2019. Mahuta is  to  meet China’s new foreign minister Qin Gang  where she  might have to call on all the  diplomatic skills  at  her  command. Almost certainly she  will  face  questions  on what  role ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • Inside TOP's Teal Card and political strategy
    TL;DR: The Opportunities Party’s Leader Raf Manji is hopeful the party’s new Teal Card, a type of Gold card for under 30s, will be popular with students, and not just in his Ilam electorate where students make up more than a quarter of the voters and where Manji is confident ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Make Your Empties Go Another Round.
    When I was a kid New Zealand was actually pretty green. We didn’t really have plastic. The fruit and veges came in a cardboard box, the meat was wrapped in paper, milk came in a glass bottle, and even rubbish sacks were made of paper. Today if you sit down ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how similar Vladimir Putin is to George W. Bush
    Looking back through the names of our Police Ministers down the years, the job has either been done by once or future party Bigfoots – Syd Holland, Richard Prebble, Juduth Collins, Chris Hipkins – or by far lesser lights like Keith Allen, Frank Gill, Ben Couch, Allen McCready, Clem Simich, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  Te Pāti Māori’s uncompromising threat to the status quo
    Chris Trotter writes – The Crown is a fickle friend. Any political movement deemed to be colourful but inconsequential is generally permitted to go about its business unmolested. The Crown’s media, RNZ and TVNZ, may even “celebrate” its existence (presumably as proof of Democracy’s broad-minded acceptance of diversity). ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Shining a bright light on lobbyists in politics
    Four out of the five people who have held the top role of Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff since 2017 have been lobbyists. That’s a fact that should worry anyone who believes vested interests shouldn’t have a place at the centre of decision making. Chris Hipkins’ newly appointed Chief of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Auckland Council Draft Budget – an unnecessary backwards step
    Feedback on Auckland Council’s draft 2023/24 budget closes on March 28th. You can read the consultation document here, and provide feedback here. Auckland Council is currently consulting on what is one of its most important ever Annual Plans – the ‘budget’ of what it will spend money on between July ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Talking’ Posey Parker Blues
    by Molten Moira from Motueka If you want to be a woman let me tell you what to do Get a piece of paper and a biro tooWrite down your new identification And boom! You’re now a woman of this nationSpelled W O M A Na real trans woman that isAs opposed ...
    RedlineBy Admin
    5 days ago

  • More Māori words make it into the OED, and polytech boss (with rules on words like “students”) ...
    Buzz from the Beehive   New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti is hosting the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers for three days from today, welcoming Education Ministers and senior officials from 18 Pacific Island countries and territories, and from Australia. Here’s hoping they have brought translators with them – or ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Social intercourse with haters and Nazis: an etiquette guide
    Let’s say you’ve come all the way from His Majesty’s United Kingdom to share with the folk of Australia and New Zealand your antipathy towards certain other human beings. And let’s say you call yourself a women’s rights activist.And let’s say 99 out of 100 people who listen to you ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • The Greens, Labour, and coalition enforcement
    James Shaw gave the Green party's annual "state of the planet" address over the weekend, in which he expressed frustration with Labour for not doing enough on climate change. His solution is to elect more Green MPs, so they have more power within any government arrangement, and can hold Labour ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • This sounds familiar…
    RNZ this morning has the first story another investigative series by Guyon Espiner, this time into political lobbying. The first story focuses on lobbying by government agencies, specifically transpower, Pharmac, and assorted universities, and how they use lobbyists to manipulate public opinion and gather intelligence on the Ministers who oversee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Letter to the NZ Herald: NCEA pseudoscience – “Mauri is present in all matter”
    Nick Matzke writes –   Dear NZ Herald, I am a Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. I teach evolutionary biology, but I also have long experience in science education and (especially) political attempts to insert pseudoscience into science curricula in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • So what would be the point of a Green vote again?
    James Shaw has again said the Greens would be better ‘in the tent’ with Labour than out, despite Labour’s policy bonfire last week torching much of what the Government was doing to reduce emissions. File Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Green Party has never been more popular than in some ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Gas stoves pose health risks. Are gas furnaces and other appliances safe to use?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Sarah Wesseler Poor air quality is a long-standing problem in Los Angeles, where the first major outbreak of smog during World War II was so intense that some residents thought the city had been attacked by chemical weapons. Cars were eventually discovered ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Genetic Heritage and Co Governance
    Yesterday I was reading an excellent newsletter from David Slack, and I started writing a comment “Sounds like some excellent genetic heritage…” and then I stopped.There was something about the phrase genetic heritage that stopped me in tracks. Is that a phrase I want to be saying? It’s kind of ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Radical Uncertainty
    Brian Easton writes – Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s Middle East strategy, 20 years after the Iraq War
    This week marks the twentieth anniversary of the Iraq War. While it strongly opposed the US-led invasion, New Zealand’s then Labour-led government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark did deploy military engineers to try to help rebuild Iraq in mid-2003. With violence soaring, their 12-month deployment ended without being renewed ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago

  • The motorways are finished
    After seventy years, Auckland’s motorway network is finally finished. In July 1953 the first section of motorway in Auckland was opened between Ellerslie-Panmure Highway and Mt Wellington Highway. The final stage opens to traffic this week with the completion of the motorway part of the Northern Corridor Improvements project. Aucklanders ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Kicking National’s tyres
    National’s appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious choice, but he does have a record as a political scrapper. The party needs that because sources say it has been shedding farming votes ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • As long as there is cricket, the world is somehow okay.
    Rays of white light come flooding into my lounge, into my face from over the top of my neighbour’s hedge. I have to look away as the window of the conservatory is awash in light, as if you were driving towards the sun after a rain shower and suddenly blinded. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • So much of what was there remains
    The columnists in Private Eye take pen names, so I have not the least idea who any of them are. But I greatly appreciate their expert insight, especially MD, who writes the medical column, offering informed and often damning critique of the UK health system and the politicians who keep ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Mar 12, 2023 thru Sat, Mar 18, 2023. Story of the Week Guest post: What 13,500 citations reveal about the IPCC’s climate science report   IPCC WG1 AR6 SPM Report Cover - Changing ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Financial capability services are being bucked up, but Stuart Nash shouldn’t have to see if they c...
    Buzz from the Beehive  The building of financial capability was brought into our considerations when Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni announced she had dipped into the government’s coffers for $3 million for “providers” to help people and families access community-based Building Financial Capability services. That wording suggests some ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago

  • Things that make you go Hmmmm.
    Do you ever come across something that makes you go Hmmmm?You mean like the song?No, I wasn’t thinking of the song, but I am now - thanks for that. I was thinking of things you read or hear that make you stop and go Hmmmm.Yeah, I know what you mean, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • The hoon for the week that was to March 19
    By the end of the week, the dramas over Stuart Nash overshadowed Hipkins’ policy bonfire. File photo: Lynn GrieveasonTLDR: This week’s news in geopolitics and the political economy covered on The Kākā included:PM Chris Hipkins’ announcement of the rest of a policy bonfire to save a combined $1.7 billion, but ...
    The KakaBy Peter Bale
    1 week ago

  • Saving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
    When word went out that Prime Minister Chris Hipkins would be making an announcement about Stuart Nash on the tiles at parliament at 2:45pm yesterday, the assumption was that it was over. That we had reached tipping point for Nash’s time as minister. But by 3pm - when, coincidentally, the ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    1 week ago

  • Radical Uncertainty
    Two senior economists challenge some of the foundations of current economics. It is easy to criticise economic science by misrepresenting it, by selective quotations, and by ignoring that it progresses, like all sciences, by improving and abandoning old theories. The critics may go on to attack physics by citing Newton.So ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • Jump onto the weekly hoon on Riverside at 5pm
    Photo by Walker Fenton on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week again when and I co-host our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kaka for an hour at 5 pm. Jump on this link on Riverside (we’ve moved from Zoom) for our chat about the week’s news with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The Dream of Florian Neame: Accepted
    In a nice bit of news, my 2550-word deindustrial science-fiction piece, The Dream of Florian Neame, has been accepted for publication at New Maps Magazine (https://www.new-maps.com/). I have published there before, of course, with Of Tin and Tintagel coming out last year. While I still await the ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua
    Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little has delivered the Crown apology to Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua for its historic breaches of Te Tiriti of Waitangi today. The ceremony was held at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton, hosted by Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tāmaki nui-a-Rua, with several hundred ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Minister of Foreign Affairs meets with Chinese counterpart
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has concluded her visit to China, the first by a New Zealand Foreign Minister since 2018. The Minister met her counterpart, newly appointed State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, who also hosted a working dinner. This was the first engagement between the two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Government delivering world-class satellite positioning services
    World-class satellite positioning services that will support much safer search and rescue, boost precision farming, and help safety on construction sites through greater accuracy are a significant step closer today, says Land Information Minister Damien O’Connor. Damien O’Connor marked the start of construction on New Zealand’s first uplink centre for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • District Court Judges appointed
    Attorney-General David Parker has announced the appointment of Christopher John Dellabarca of Wellington, Dr Katie Jane Elkin of Wellington, Caroline Mary Hickman of Napier, Ngaroma Tahana of Rotorua, Tania Rose Williams Blyth of Hamilton and Nicola Jan Wills of Wellington as District Court Judges.  Chris Dellabarca Mr Dellabarca commenced his ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New project set to supercharge ocean economy in Nelson Tasman
    A new Government-backed project will help ocean-related businesses in the Nelson Tasman region to accelerate their growth and boost jobs. “The Nelson Tasman region is home to more than 400 blue economy businesses, accounting for more than 30 percent of New Zealand’s economic activity in fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • National’s education policy: where’s the funding?
    After three years of COVID-19 disruptions schools are finally settling down and National want to throw that all in the air with major disruption to learning and underinvestment.  “National’s education policy lacks the very thing teachers, parents and students need after a tough couple of years, certainty and stability,” Education ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Free programme to help older entrepreneurs and inventors
    People aged over 50 with innovative business ideas will now be able to receive support to advance their ideas to the next stage of development, Minister for Seniors Ginny Andersen said today. “Seniors have some great entrepreneurial ideas, and this programme will give them the support to take that next ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government target increased to keep powering up the Māori economy
    A cross government target for relevant government procurement contracts for goods and services to be awarded to Māori businesses annually will increase to 8%, after the initial 5% target was exceeded. The progressive procurement policy was introduced in 2020 to increase supplier diversity, starting with Māori businesses, for the estimated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Continued progress on reducing poverty in challenging times
    77,000 fewer children living in low income households on the after-housing-costs primary measure since Labour took office Eight of the nine child poverty measures have seen a statistically significant reduction since 2018. All nine have reduced 28,700 fewer children experiencing material hardship since 2018 Measures taken by the Government during ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech at Fiji Investment and Trade Business Forum
    Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica; distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tēnā koutou katoa, ni sa bula vinaka saka, namaste. Deputy Prime Minister, a very warm welcome to Aotearoa. I trust you have been enjoying your time here and thank you for joining us here today. To all delegates who have travelled to be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government investments boost and diversify local economies in lower South Island
    $2.9 million convertible loan for Scapegrace Distillery to meet growing national and international demand $4.5m underwrite to support Silverlight Studios’ project to establish a film studio in Wanaka Gore’s James Cumming Community Centre and Library to be official opened tomorrow with support of $3m from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government future-proofs EV charging
    Transport Minister Michael Wood has today launched the first national EV (electric vehicle) charging strategy, Charging Our Future, which includes plans to provide EV charging stations in almost every town in New Zealand. “Our vision is for Aotearoa New Zealand to have world-class EV charging infrastructure that is accessible, affordable, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • World-leading family harm prevention campaign supports young NZers
    Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment Priyanca Radhakrishnan has today launched the Love Better campaign in a world-leading approach to family harm prevention. Love Better will initially support young people through their experience of break-ups, developing positive and life-long attitudes to dealing with hurt. “Over 1,200 young kiwis told ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • First Chief Clinical Advisor welcomed into Coroners Court
    Hon Rino Tirikatene, Minister for Courts, welcomes the Ministry of Justice’s appointment of Dr Garry Clearwater as New Zealand’s first Chief Clinical Advisor working with the Coroners Court. “This appointment is significant for the Coroners Court and New Zealand’s wider coronial system.” Minister Tirikatene said. Through Budget 2022, the Government ...
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    4 days ago

  • Next steps for affected properties post Cyclone and floods
    The Government via the Cyclone Taskforce is working with local government and insurance companies to build a picture of high-risk areas following Cyclone Gabrielle and January floods. “The Taskforce, led by Sir Brian Roche, has been working with insurance companies to undertake an assessment of high-risk areas so we can ...
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    4 days ago

  • New appointment to Māori Land Court bench
    E te huia kaimanawa, ko Ngāpuhi e whakahari ana i tau aupikinga ki te tihi o te maunga. Ko te Ao Māori hoki e whakanui ana i a koe te whakaihu waka o te reo Māori i roto i te Ao Ture. (To the prized treasure, it is Ngāpuhi who ...
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    4 days ago

  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
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    4 days ago

  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
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    4 days ago

  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
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    5 days ago

  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
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    5 days ago

  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
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    5 days ago

  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
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    5 days ago

  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
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    5 days ago

  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
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    5 days ago

  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
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    6 days ago

  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
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    1 week ago

  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
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    1 week ago

  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
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    1 week ago

  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
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    1 week ago

  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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