Matariki and Prime Minister Ardern

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, June 24th, 2022 - 73 comments
Categories: election 2023, jacinda ardern, labour, uncategorized, workers' rights - Tags:

Plenty of experts will tell you about what Matariki ‘means to us’. Here’s what it means to Ardern.

Prime Minister Ardern is the set piece queen. When there are highly concentrated media moments, she and her staff are the best I’ve seen here at commanding and delivering the media cycle. Arguably too good. Whether it be one of the multiple crises that have befallen this government, appearances on Colbert, or a speech at the United Nations, she is the best of the small state leaders in the world today. Matariki is now precisely one of those set pieces.

The state funding in advertising, events, and public education programmes is having a big impact this weekend. It has extended to all public departments and by extension to the massive companies that support them. Hundreds of thousands of business team briefings this week have had solid Matariki acknowledgement and education slots. Ardern has made a new ANZAC Day and the state machinery will by necessity profile her across dozens of shining occasions. Key didn’t get close to this. Matariki is Ardern as star.

For Ardern Matariki is a political inhale moment. She reshuffled her Cabinet last week. She is gearing up her team for major legislative contests in water and in resource management. Her future has the next election starting to light the horizon. Whether this translates to a reset in public attitude to Ardern, well, maybe not this year but it will build.

Matariki is a popular and populist delivery for Ardern’s powerful Maori caucus. While there will remain a rump Euro resentment of Maori culture, Matariki is a near-perfect elision of the Undead Queens’ Birthday with something local requiring ever-deeper local knowledge. It sets Maori understanding into state permanence. It matches in time and in emphasis the major shift in the history curriculum in New Zealand education. Matariki will make resistance to the water reforms just a little harder.

It does not matter that it is a day manufactured out of nearly nothing.

It matters that Matariki redefines for Ardern how she leads us.

73 comments on “Matariki and Prime Minister Ardern ”

  1. Patricia Bremner 1

    Him indoors watched the ceremony held in Wellington. He was impressed. He said it was great and the subtitles allowed him to feel part of it. He feels in time this will be our celebration of us as a unique place with unique values. He said the PM must have been cold as it was windy.

  2. Robert Guyton 2

    "Matariki is Ardern as star"

    He whetu ia i roto i te ao Maori.

    Her achievement in securing this day of celebration has not yet been recognised at the depth it will be in coming years.

    Key buggered-up his attempt.

    Ardern shone with hers.

    Legacy.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    Matariki will be a legacy indeed that grows more significant as the years pass.
    Hard to beat involving the Cosmos in a public holiday!

  4. aom 4

    "It does not matter that it is a day manufactured out of nearly nothing."

    What a sick puppy comment. Matariki hasn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere and it certainly wasn't created for political reasons. There are many cultures that celebrate Pleiades ( Matariki). Do you assume that out of political expediency, they all had a 'Jacinda bribe' moment before being recognised?

    There has been a history of advocacy for the recognition for Matariki in NZ covering at least two decades, various changes of Government and embracing more than just Maoridom. If it is offensive to have a holiday in observance, consider how offensive our other holidays may be for large sections of the community that 'suck it up' without 'sour grapes' comments like yours Advantage.

    • Robert Guyton 4.1

      "Matariki hasn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere…"

      That's true.

      The official public holiday though, did.

      I think Ad meant that.

      It's wonderful that the ancient celebration has attained the official and legal status of a public holiday.

      • Incognito 4.1.1

        laugh

        • aom 4.1.1.1

          Five months before a holiday so long in the making doesn't seem to be extraordinarily short notice. Do we have to consult every thing to death so the populace can complain about stuff not being done to create political noise?

  5. Koff 5

    Agree with much of this post. JA needs some wins on home ground, so hope Matariki is one of them. The new holiday won't do anything to improve the lot of working class Maori but is a measure of New Zealand growing up as a nation with its own unique identity as a Pacific nation. I hope that the Pacific context is appreciated. Mata(r)iki (little eyes) is an Eastern Polynesian phrase for the constellation that has been used as part of the annual calendar, together with other astronomical features used in navigation for hundreds of years. Years ago, I sailed from NZ up to Papua New Guinea, pre GPS, using a sextant and the stars, planets and moon for ocean navigation. In PNG I taught Science to PNG students which included an Astronomy unit which focused on traditional use of the stars by Trobriand Islanders, who are Polyneisan in origin, but more distantly related to Maori. They call the Pleiades cluster/ Matariki "Uluwa" and use it to time the yam harvest. It was magic having a telescope on the boarding school grounds looking up at the night sky with Trobe kids and a colleague who was a Trobe science teacher with a chance to combine traditional use of the night sky together with modern Astronomy.

  6. TightyRighty 6

    After years away from commenting, this was just too much.

    If this is how Adern is going to be remembered, as opposed to all the grand promises she made to get elected, it won’t be remembered the way you’d like it to be.

    It’ll be remembered as a do-nothing prime minister leading a do-nothing government giving everyone a day off to do nothing.

    • Ad 6.1

      "

      • New data shows New Zealand is failing on every social and economic human rights metric
      • The country is not delivering adequate rights to education, health, housing and work, based on what it could be achieving with the money available
      • When it comes to the right to food, New Zealand’s record is steadily declining
      • Māori, people with disabilities, and those from low socioeconomic backgrounds are most likely to experience human rights violations"

      Human Rights Commissioner: NZ's quality of life record 'alarming' | Stuff.co.nz

      Worth checking the full report from the Human Rights Commission.

      • aom 6.1.1

        What has this got to do with Matariki?

        Did it end up being misplaced? If so, could a moderator move it????

        • Incognito 6.1.1.1

          Ad is the moderator of/under his own Post!?

        • Ad 6.1.1.2

          No I was agreeing with the core of TR's point.

          • aom 6.1.1.2.1

            Why does this sound disingenuous?

            • SPC 6.1.1.2.1.1

              There is subtle difference between doing nothing and not doing enough …

              Someone claimed the government did nothing, the response was to cite a source saying the government was not doing enough.

              It’s called polishing a turd – the claim was untrue, but not without some merit.

            • roblogic 6.1.1.2.1.2

              Ad might as well blame Labour for CC, inflation, and the All Blacks losing the world cup.

              Labour has done a fuckton more than any government in ages to turn things around. Like Ad (presumably) I wish they had the balls to do more fundamental reforms. But they aren't doing nothing.

              • Corey Humm

                Jesus Christ the All blacks lost?!?!?

                Well that'd really be the end of the government if that happens next year lol.

                Kidding

        • higherstandard 6.1.1.3

          Ad has a knack for thought provoking posts which are more than what they seem on first glance.

          This time he had to add a bit of spice in the comments section to allow things to 'kick off' as it took a while for anyone to take the bait.

      • Muttonbird 6.1.2

        There's a graph in that article called;

        Declining scorecard on the right to food

        NZ's record on providing the right to adequate nutrition has been steadily declining

        But it clearly shows, in 2017, arrest of steep decline, in fact an accelerating decline. As of 2019 the right to food was not declining at all. This shows the Ardern government has reversed the trend of the previous National government with resect to the right to food.

        • Belladonna 6.1.2.1

          Yes, I agree the figures look flat for 2018-19. However, the graph (and presumably the data behind it) don't cover 2020-22.
          I don't think anyone would be in doubt that the steep rise in food prices has severely impacted on food supply for marginalized groups and on groups who were previously OK so far as food security goes.

          Certainly the food banks are reporting both unprecedented levels of demand, and that additional demand is now coming from families with full-time employment.

          https://www.countdown.co.nz/news-and-media-releases/2020/june/kiwis-encouraged-to-help-meet-demand-for-foodbanks-this-winter-and-countdown-will-match-you

          "This winter, The Salvation Army is expecting to need to help more than 50,000 New Zealanders, a significant proportion of whom are experiencing food insecurity for the first time in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Winter demand for food support expected to grow by at least 60 per cent from last year."

          [This link is from the Countdown website – but the data comes from the Sallies – so shouldn't be disbelieved on that account]

          • Muttonbird 6.1.2.1.1

            Ad asked us to look at the data which, in the form of that graph, is exactly what I did. It's not my fault the data stops at 2019, but up to 2019 there is a clear indication Ardern arrested the decline in food access created by the Key government. Look at the graph, ffs.

            I don't know why you would admit Labour achieved something in this space in their first term of government only to then attack Ardern with anecdotes because there is no further data available from the Human Rights Commission.

            No doubt food prices are up the wazoo right now but we're negotiating our way out of the 1 in 100 year pandemic. Weirdly that doesn't stop you framing this as the fault of one Jacinda Ardern!

            I suspect you do this because you are a right wing Tory shill masquerading as a centrist. I always get very suspicious when people declare themselves centrists while constantly posting anti-left material.

            I suspect they are comfortably smug about their social conscience, but in serious denial about the same.

            • Belladonna 6.1.2.1.1.1

              I didn't frame anything. I didn't even mention Ardern!

              Looks as though you're desperately reaching, here. And imagining comments which I've never made.

              The article (not me) is deeply critical of the current government's achievements here. I didn't even share the article, or make the initial post. I simply called you on your inaccurate framing.

              You seized on a single data point which (you hoped) supported your arguments. I provided additional information (from the Salvation Army – who are actually doing the work in the community here), to indicate that the current situation is significantly worse. Not anecdotes. Data.

              If you have additional (current from 2020-2022) data (or even anecdotes) supporting your contention that there is no 'human-rights crisis here, move right along' – then how about sharing it.

              I don't disagree that Covid shutdowns and currently inflation have had a very significant impact on the health and wellbeing of many Kiwis. Far from it.

              However, denying there is a problem, makes it impossible to work towards a solution.

              If you want to make the point that I'm right wing – then please do so with quotes and evidence.

              Your perception of all Centrists as closet Tories, says more about you, than it does about me.

              I have no interest in participating in a Flame war with you. Please address the comments I make, rather than flinging accusations about. Play the ball not the (wo)man.

              • Muttonbird

                Another sign of a closet RWNJ is using the term, "says more about you, than it does about me". Used when their argument has ran out and they have been exposed.

                You criticised me for, "seizing on a single data point", but it's not a single data point, it's a graph showing a trend which you dismissed because it didn't cover the pandemic period.

                You then created a strawman by asking me prove, "there is no human rights crisis here, move along".

                My answer to that is, get fucked no thanks.

                [Chill – Incognito]

                • Incognito

                  Mod note

                  • Muttonbird

                    Copy that. I just think it's important to challenge the duplicity of the shy right wing.

                    • Incognito

                      I 100% agree with challenging others, be they Left, Right or Centre (or non-disclosed). I observed a robust discussion between 2 engaging commenters, which is great and what TS is there for, so please don’t spoil a good thing and keep your temper & language in-check.

    • weka 6.2

      This IP address was last used repeatedly in May by a regular commenter. If that's you, please revert to that name on your next comment (we require people to use consistenc handles).

    • weka 6.3

      the previous handle using this IP is permabanned. Your handle today also was permabanned in 2014. Adding you back in again. If you think this is unfair, email using the main TS email address.

    • Descendant Of Smith 6.4

      You must have really hated John Key then.

      Don Brash: Empty promises – Why I don't rate John Key's legacy.

      On a recent TV programme, I was provoked into quoting a recent assessment of the Key/English Government by Kerry McDonald, a former director of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, and chief executive or chairman of a number of major companies. He had rated that Government at zero out of 10. On the TV programme, I said I agree with that assessment.

      He promised to close the large gap in incomes between New Zealand and Australia, and established the 2025 Taskforce to provide advice on how best to do that. He appointed me to chair that taskforce, and appointed four others to it. And then totally ignored our recommendations. The gap between New Zealand incomes and those in Australia is as big now as it was in 2008.

      Key spoke about the need to increase the export orientation of the economy, and set a target for exports of goods and services of 40 per cent of GDP, up from 30 per cent when he came to office. Today, exports are just 27 per cent of GDP, despite continued buoyancy in world markets.

      et al

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/don-brash-empty-promises-why-i-dont-rate-john-keys-legacy/O7C3QIA6KUBNR6X3H4EMA2ZU7I/

    • aom 6.5

      So this Government and the Prime Minister haven't done or changed anything since being elected apart from turning a long celebrated event into a meaningful holiday?

      Just noticed that your dishonesty has been outed by weka! Interesting.

    • Mike the Lefty 6.6

      Well TightyRighty you are certainly making a big todo about nothing.

  7. Mac1 7

    As a matter of interest, the visibility of the Pleiades was used as a indicator of rain and crop management in South America as it predicted El Nino conditions.

    Here's a paper that concerns this.

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10638752/

  8. Stephen D 8

    It’s incredibly rare for me to agree with anything Peter Dunn writes. But this is well said.

    https://www.newsroom.co.nz/matariki-day-is-a-welcome-step-on-the-road-to-our-nationhood

    ”Every nation needs symbols of its nationhood. In New Zealand we presently have few of these. We lack a defined national day, opting instead for Waitangi Day because of the significance of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. We commemorate our service personnel on Anzac Day, the advent of the 40-hour working week on Labour Day, and we still retain the forelock-tugging, anachronistic holiday to mark the British Sovereign’s birthday. Of all of them, Matariki Day is the only national day we have that is free from any political or other undertone – and we must ensure it stays that way.

    Kirk’s original dream of a day each year when all New Zealanders – Māori, Pasifika, Asian or other – could come together to promote “with pride and confidence the unique gift we all possess by virtue of being New Zealanders” may yet come to fruition through Matariki Day. That would be one more welcome step on the road to our nationhood.

    “Ngā mihi o Matariki, te tau hou Māori!”

  9. Jenny how to get there 9

    Matariki; Returning Maori culture and traditions to their rightful place.

    The Himalayas has mountains, Yellowstone has geysers, the Amazon basin has rivers.

    New Zealand's rivers and mountains, and geothermal wonders, and dramatic scenery

    As beautiful and precious as they are, they are not unique. The overlay of Maori civilisation and culture over these natural wonders is what gives them their uniqueness.

    If that unique heritage was lost it would be a loss to the whole world.

    All ups to the Ardern administration for marking Maori civilisation science, astronomy and culture with a national holiday.

    • Grafton Gully 9.1

      The Maoris started off at river mouth moa hunter camps and then harvested the seashore, rivers and forests for food, stone, wood and fibre. It's the late C19 romantic tourist department stuff that your talking about with the mountains and scenery, not the kumara fields and aruhe. Fine until a southerly blows up, the tinder is out and kiore have dealt to the kumara pits. Nicely managed project though and a masterclass in media management and propaganda. Now for the hard stuff.

      • Ad 9.1.1

        One could reasonably say worse standing on the wasted vastness of the Somme, waving a little flag for ANZAC Day.

  10. Incognito 10

    Good Post!

    Key didn’t get close to this. Matariki is Ardern as star.

    Heh! Key got pretty close with his symbol legacy.

    Ardern’s Matariki speech is the familiar textbook example with the touching anecdotes. Key never managed the personal touch like Ardern because he was not authentic, IMO.

    https://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/prime-minister%E2%80%99s-matariki-speech-2022

    • Patricia Bremner 10.1

      Thank you Incognito.

    • Ross 10.2

      Key never managed the personal touch like Ardern because he was not authentic

      Too funny. The PM does for authenticity what the Boston Strangler did for door to door salesmen.

      Meanwhile, Chris Hipkins "has been forced to publicly apologise over a stoush with pregnant journalist Charlotte Bellis…I understand it's taken 3 months of legal battles to get this apology made public".

      Of course, an authentic Prime Minister would have sacked Hipkins. Instead, Jacinda Ardern recently promoted him to the position of Police Minister.

      I recall the then-PM John Key saying the conduct of one of his Ministers (Dr Richard Worth) “does not befit a minister and I will not have him in my Cabinet”. If only the current PM was that principled.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbilyjuW6KY

      https://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/worth-will-not-be-charged

      • Patricia Bremner 10.2.1

        Ross read Dirty Politics. Key principled Wow !! What a laugh.

      • Incognito 10.2.2

        Comparing Hipkins with Worth is false equivalence of the highest order and a foolish fail.

        Conflating authenticity and principled is another flagrant fail. You may want to throw in integrity too, for good measure.

  11. Heather Grimwood 11

    Matariki was certainly not manufactured out of nothing! At least fifty years ago teaching in a southern city school, I had pupils whose Maori parents took them fishing for Matariki, asking for homework so that children didn't miss out. The story was published in the school journal too, and was a well-known in schools in my experience in Auckland area as well.

  12. Mike the Lefty 12

    We have to remember that the public holiday of Matariki would not have been achieved without the Labour government. It would never have happened if National/ACT had been in power.

    National didn't even reward their wealthy Chinese backers with promises of making Chinese New Year a public holiday – cheapskates!

  13. Robert Guyton 13

    Hasn't today's discussion flowed well, without the needling and inflammatory insertion of the un-generous thoughts of what's-his-handle 🙂

  14. Stuart Munro 14

    This celebration may be a farsighted move by the PM and her Maori caucus. Although it has vastly improved in the last few years, Waitangi had ceased to be the day that brought NZ together. Now there is a uniquely NZ day once again, and this one is not ruined by the legacy of land thefts and broken promises. The stain that is the toxic legacy of Douglas and Richardson may be starting to come out, and NZ returning to its best iteration, a place where goodwill reigns – the place that moved Popper to write The Open Society and its Enemies.

  15. RedLogix 15

    On the whole a fine thing. And not a recent idea either.

    The crucial factor will be whether it becomes a unifying event for all kiwis.

    • Robert Guyton 15.1

      Everybody I've seen today seems really happy!

      Why wouldn't they be?

      • RedLogix 15.1.1

        It will be all good if it remains a positive event that everyone feels welcome to engage with.

        • Robert Guyton 15.1.1.1

          I think it will.

          The Marae at Bluff – Te Rau Aroha, illuminated the beautiful structures they have built there (Cliff Whiting lead that work some years ago), then invited everyone to come and enjoy the spectacle. Here are some photographs:

          https://www.facebook.com/photo/

          Who wouldn't feel encouraged and … proud!

  16. joe90 17

    Trawling Papers Past for references to Matariki. The earliest refer to a race horse named Matariki and a little later steamers, and rugby and matches involving clubs named Matariki.

    And then this gem.

    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19140123.2.69?end_date=31-12-1925&items_per_page=10&page=5&query=Matariki&snippet=true&start_date=01-01-1900

    • Molly 17.1

      Thanks for that Joe90. Another story to add to the collection.

      (I love Papers Past. Because of my family's unusual surname spelling, I can find multiple articles for family members I have direct connections to, or clear childhood memories of. A couple of great-relatives are noted for drunken behaviour, one very pious uncle was in the paper for punching his boss on the railways after a 'heated exchange' in his youth)

      • joe90 17.1.1

        I found the family junkie. A story of addiction told in court appearances, beginning shortly after a return from the Boer war through to shortly before his death in the early 60s. His court appearances were for the crime of substance abuse and dependence that we see today, theft, vagrancy, sleeping rough in enclosed spaces etc.

        Notably, the frequent references to long term substitution, doctors script for x number of grains of morphine etc, and remands for inpatient treatment at various institutions made it clear the law was treating him as a victim of his addictions.

        And then we succumbed to moral panic and ended up with the misuse of drugs act 1975.

        https://twitter.com/nzdrug/status/1540827980267540480

        • Molly 17.1.1.1

          It is interesting to read the family stories through the lens of the press.

          Found reports of my grandparent's wedding – complete with full fashion descriptions – providing a colour palette to the familiar black and white photos of that occasion.

          One of the ones that I found which I had no previous family knowledge of and strangely aligned with current conversations, is the prosecution of a great-great aunt and her daughter being prosecuted for performing abortions for un-wed women.

  17. DS 18

    I think Matariki is an excellent initiative. Not because of any culture-war considerations, but simply because the middle of winter needs something celebratory to spice it up, and this particular spice is something quintessentially New Zealand. We previously had nothing between Queens Birthday and Labour Day – that's a long time to go without a holiday.

    • Maurice 18.1

      Wiccans celebrate the Winter Solstice based upon pagan religion from thousands of years ago. The solstice is just reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

      • Blade 18.1.1

        True- thanks to Gerald Gardner. And while based on pagan religions, many Wiccans would have you believe their religion in its present form has a unbroken lineage going back centuries. Not true.

        The same with Matariki with it's present overbearing modern take( in my opinion).

        Pity the holiday wasn't in late July; early August. That would truly have broken the year up with a good spread of holidays.

        • Robert Guyton 18.1.1.1

          No one cares what you think 🙂

          • weka 18.1.1.1.1

            please don't. If people didn't care there wouldn't be a problem would there. If you poke the bear it's the mods that have to sort out the resulting mess.

  18. Ross 19

    My son and I stand beneath the great night sky
    And gaze up in wonder
    I tell him the tale of Apollo And he says
    "Why did they ever go?"
    It may look like some empty gesture
    To go all that way just to come back
    But don't offer me a place out in cyberspace
    'Cause where in the hell's that at?

    Now that the space race is over
    It's been and it's gone and I'll never get out of my room
    Because the space race is over
    And I can't help but feel we're all just going nowhere

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPRci2BFTMc

  19. Hunter Thompson II 20

    Setting Matariki as a public holiday is better than an expensive (and ultimately fruitless) debate on a new national flag. So I give the PM points for that.

    Now if she can ensure NZ rivers flow freely and cleanly it will be an enduring legacy of inestimable value. I doubt if the planned Three Waters scheme, with its creation of more bureaucrats, will achieve her pre-election promise.

  20. Molly 21

    The Herald has a series of five short videos on the some of the stories around Matariki.

    Worth the small amount of time to view for those interested:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/matariki-2022-tuhuratia-nga-mata-o-te-ariki-story-of-the-stars-chapter-1-matariki/IF3LWL2Y4DS76SYQEJDSANPJFM/

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    14 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
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    5 days ago
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