National leaks again

Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, October 6th, 2020 - 62 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, election 2020, Judith Collins, national, supercity, uncategorized - Tags:

This is a post I have written many times in the past three years with slight variations.  But this one, in the middle of an election campaign and suggesting considerable dissent in National’s ranks, is even more significant than most.

An internal caucus email from Maungakiekie MP Denise Lee has been leaked to Newshub.

From Jenna Lynch at Newshub:

Newshub has been leaked an email showing National MP Denise Lee criticising leader Judith Collins’ plan to review Auckland Council as a “highly problematic idea”.

Collins announced on Monday a review of Auckland Council to the surprise of her Auckland Council spokesperson Lee.

Lee described it as a “highly problematic idea” in an email to her caucus colleagues. She also panned it as “another working group” and said it would be “a nightmare”.

In the email, Lee says bypassing her altogether was “incredibly poor form and displays a shockingly bad example of poor culture”.

Collins sighed when asked if the policy had been made on the hoof, and said it had been planned for weeks, despite Lee knowing nothing about it.

“Actually Jenna, it’s been prepared for a couple of weeks,” she said.

Collins spoke about the policy during an interview with Newstalk ZB on Monday morning, and cited it as the reason why Lee was not aware of it.

“Because I was doing the radio show,” she told Newshub.

The incentive for the Lee email was Collins announcing remarkably vague policy over Auckland City.  From National’s press release:

Auckland Council is not delivering for Aucklanders, and change is overdue to achieve better performance, which National will do,” National Party Leader Judith Collins says.

“Everywhere I go in Auckland, there is frustration and dismay at the council. Its own polling shows only one-in-four Aucklanders were satisfied with its performance over the past 12 months.

National’s review will recommend options to dramatically improve the performance of Auckland Council and Council-Controlled Organisations (CCOs) such as Watercare and Auckland Transport.

Terms of reference and reviewers will be put in place within National’s first 100 days in Government. The review will be completed by September 1, 2021.

“This is a firm deadline, not a moving aspiration, as has been the practice under Labour,” Ms Collins says.

I can understand how annoyed Lee is.  After all …

This is really weird.  After all National set the super city up.  And against the recommendations of the Royal Commission gave Auckland Transport huge power over all of Auckland’s transport infrastructure.  It was originally recommended that local Councils aka local boards have jurisdiction over local roads.  Joyce and National made sure that AT had the lot.

And Collins has no idea that Auckland Council has recently gone through a significant review of Council Controlled Organisations and is implementing some reasonably radical proposals.

She could have found out.  If she had, for instance talked to her spokesperson in charge of Auckland Council issues who also used to be an Auckland Councillor she could have fashioned something semi coherent.  Or she could have talked to Desley Simpson, partner of National President Peter Goodfellow who has a very good idea of what is happening with Auckland Council.  Instead she has come out with a pile of prejudiced mess that clearly was written on the hoof.

No wonder the leaks have happened again,

Unless a miracle happens and National do reasonably well Collins is toast after the election.  Lee is part of the christian conservative faction of the party that appears to be in the ascendancy.

Update:  the leaks continue.  Surely it is time for an inquiry.  From Jessica Mutch-McKay at TV One:

A National MP has told 1 NEWS the party hasn’t had a caucus call or poll result for weeks and says there is a culture issue in the party.

The MP told 1 NEWS Judith Collins has “bullied” MP Denise Lee and hasn’t brought the caucus together.

It comes after an email leaked to Newshub showed National’s Auckland Council spokesperson Denise Lee criticising a National policy to review Auckland Council.

Lee called it a “highly problematic idea”, a “nightmare” and “another working group”, and said bypassing her was “incredibly poor form and displays a shockingly bad example of poor culture”, while another National Party member said Collins was consistently “making up policy on the hoof” and creating division.

The MP who alleges the bullying told 1 NEWS that Denise Lee is in full campaign mode and was “forcibly expressing her disappointment” over not being in the loop about the policy. The MP says decisions need to be made quickly on the campaign trail.

The MP also said releasing policy on the fly was an ongoing pattern under Collins’ leadership.

62 comments on “National leaks again ”

  1. tc 1

    Lee probably thinks she is part of the new look National so takes the opportunity presented by Collins's own lack of discipline to stick the knife in.

    Was an email necessary ? Words in ears normally enough at this level IMO so is nationals hireachy tuning out to the punch n judy show till post 17/10.

    JC's praying stunt also could have upset many of a religious persuasion based on the strength of their faith as her use of that church wouldn't sit well.

    • mickysavage 1.1

      Yep emails are things you write if you are prepared to see them on the front page of the Herald …

  2. George 2

    As all Christian faith based people know….the lord moves in mysterious ways and Judith just gave her a very public nudge, quite possibly in a direction she didn't quite anticipate?

    • JO 2.1

      Maybe She answered by suggesting that the devout lady might take a little care with what she was wishing for, but the media percussion section seems to have drowned out Her still small voice.

  3. Peter 3

    Lee is just a bit player, irrelevant in the Collins' plan. Dog tucker. Lackey.

    You get that in a team. You get that when you have a Leader building and harnessing a team to do what needs to be done.

    You boot the underlings in the face in front of everyone telling them they should be in the kitchen making muffins and tea for the real people.

    Judith Collins showing they have a team, they are a team and demonstrating the leadership skills people accused, sorry, credited her with having.

  4. Adrian 4

    Something other than the cute hands thing about that image of Collins "praying " has bothered me since I first saw it, then it clicked, she claims to be Anglican but I was of the opinion that Anglicans don't kneel in church. I do know that since my First Communion 65 years ago I don't think I have ever seen anyone pray with their hands together under their chin like that in a Catholic church either.

    So that little portmanteau of cynical religious symbolism is really only missing an east-facing prayer mat.

    • Bruce Ellis 4.1

      Not sure what Anglican Church you last went to, but they do kneel. However, there would be very few you would see holding their hands together like that.

      I'm still flabergasted (but shouldn't be really I suppose) at the sheer cynicism of her act in front of the media.

      • Adrian 4.1.1

        Thanks for clearing that up Bruce, I've been to weddings and funerals and don't recall kneeling. My father ostensibly an Anglican , well, he knew where the church was, I remember complaining on his very rare forays to Mums Catholic church with us about the practice of the interminable kneeling ,standing and a bit of sitting or as he described it as "Up and down like a whore's drawers on pay night ". I never got the inference until quite a bit older.

        Couldn't agree more about the cynicism and I think it may have alienated a lot more than it has persuaded.

        She is our Trump , a fool who only takes their own advice and long ( well 2 weeks anyway ) may that continue.

        • Anne 4.1.1.1

          I never got the inference until quite a bit older.

          You thought he meant she went up and down the stairs shifting a chest of drawers didn't you. Well, you were right. She did. cheeky

        • Dennis Frank 4.1.1.2

          I was made to attend an Anglican church & sunday school from mid-1950s until March 1963 when I told my parents I wasn't going any more. I can confirm that both kneeling and hands folded as JC did were the norm during that era. In fact I saw no deviation from that norm, ever! Maybe they lost the plot after that??

          • tc 4.1.1.2.1

            "were the norm during that era.." which is why it looks odd in 2020 Dennis.

            She could've courted the christian vote without this stunt however it's so ‘on brand’ for crusher which's what she's about in this campaign.

        • Stuart Munro 4.1.1.3

          I don't think she's a Trump, but not from want of trying. If she were, she'd be pulling in the fruitbats presently gravitating to Billy TK. They think she's irrelevant, not iconoclastic.

    • Georgecom 4.2

      There are actually kneeling pews in older Anglican buildings

      padded rails along base of pews for that very thing

      so its not that unusual that Pius Collins I might kneel to pay

      One difference to be aware of between Anglican’s and Catholics. Catholics cross themselves making sign of cross, anglicans make cross in front of them on the air

  5. Incognito 5

    Strong Team.

    Yeah, right!

    • Hunter Thompson II 5.1

      Most NZers thought the All Blacks were a "strong team" at the last World Cup until England stomped them like rats in a closet.

  6. Byd0nz 6

    Well, you can't have a sinking ship without leaks, and as it sinks the toxic bubbles pop to the surface. Lets hope when it hits bottom the sand will suck it down further.

  7. Dennis Frank 7

    When I heard that on the news it struck me as weird. As if to dramatise that democratic process within National is mere sham, and that their local govt spokesperson is irrelevant to policy formulation. So I suspect you could be right, and JC presumes her leader status allows her to do what she wants.

    How much factionalising is produced by such an apparent lack of political nous remains to be seen. When alternative leaders aren't noticeably present, the disaffected must play a longer game – however if the election outcome doesn't prove JC sufficiently competent, a challenger will have to be ready. That means any contenders need to get onto contingency planning for their bid immediately!

    • Incognito 7.1

      "Once things start getting under 35 per cent people start saying 'can we win?' And I know I am putting a mark up there which at some stage in the future, if I am successful this time, that people will say 'well, you set that mark.

      "Yep, let me set that mark."

      Judith Collins sets her own sacking point: 35 per cent in the polls

      Since JC is such a principled person with high moral values and personal integrity I fully expect her to stand down without the need for a challenge.

      • Dennis Frank 7.1.1

        smiley Which gets to the point of my quote here for her prayer photo. Seymour has subtracted 6/7 points from her – she'd be rating 37/38 if that Nat strategic shift hadn't happened. If no shift back tonight – not even partially – it'll look ominous.

      • Graeme Tyree 7.1.2

        Regarding the need to poll at least 35%, I see Judith Collins being hoist by her own petard, come October 17.

    • lprent 7.2

      How much factionalising is produced by such an apparent lack of political nous remains to be seen.

      So far I have never seen Judith Collins displaying any useful levels of political nous, nor any noticeable competence in her portfolios, nor apparently with her ability to formulate coherent policy. And I have been watching her for decades now.

      What she is good at is self-promotion amongst the dimwit fringe who inhabit talk back radio. The ones who think that slogans are thought out policy platforms. Dimwits like Mike Hosking and his fans.

      I'm really irritated by this particular 'policy' being made on the run. Auckland needs a review like it needs a hole in head. We've only just managed in the last few years to get over Act/National's stupid and hasty super-shitty plan.

      It took years just to merge the data systems because Rodney Hide and John Keys were apparently too thick to understand how much of project that would be.

      It also took years to get a plan about how to grow Auckland, and on the way through delayed the required infrastructure. All the while the National fuckwit MPs were stupidly sugaring the economy by pouring immigration into Auckland – while they fritterred away infrastructure money in their semi-rural electorates.

      Sure – AT need a kick up the arse on some things – but most of the infrastructure that people get wound up about is actually the responsibility of NZTA. But mostly AT just need to higher degree of transparency and scrutiny from the public and to concentrate on basics like getting parking concentrations (ie multi-story parking buildings) at transport nodes. Try finding a place to lock up a bike or to park a car station at most important nodes and it is a daily exercise in futility. Feeder buses are a good theoretical idea. But the reality is that they just add to the commute times.

      But having a reorganisation because JC wants a headline? She must be insane or desperate.

    • woodart 7.3

      dennis, would you want to take over the titanic ? better to let the wreckage sink , then pick up the flotsam and jetsam.

  8. Adrian 8

    Paora is already doing the numbers.

  9. Patricia Bremner 9

    Judith thinks if she beats people down her profile will grow. Now she is promising miracles with no mention of "Upstairs".

  10. observer 10

    Policy on the fly – Herald

    This refers to Collins' sudden promise to pass a law reclaiming the wage subsidy. The problem is that it worked. Not the proposed law (it wouldn't work at all, as everyone has pointed out). But as a line in the TV debate.

    As pointed out last week, the debates matter because what the leaders say then becomes an election promise, and then government policy if elected. Now, I don't think Collins will be in government, and nor does her party. So she can "win" with a line that sounds good, completely divorced from reality.

    It's a perfect example of the idiocy of debate commentary. Claiming a leader "wins" because of spontaneous one-liners … that cost billions of dollars. The fact-check? That comes much later, and gets far less attention.

    Expect more tonight. She has nothing to lose. But we all do.

  11. Chris 11

    Surely the view that collins was put in to finally end her pathetic desire to be PM is the correct one. You could see it on the faces of the idiot nat MPs standing behind her when she became leader. They also needed someone to give them time to groom the next key and she was the obvious choice because they had nobody else of substance so this was their opportunity to deal to her, “and maybe she can save us a few jobs to boot!” Three for the price of one. It’s all playing out now. She's wholly narcissistic so her behaviour cannot change. The nats know this because they've seen her up close for years. Some voters do too, now, but unfortunately too many still don't see it. The only question now is how many nat jobs can she destroy between now and election day.

  12. Maurice 12

    Are we being played?

    These "leaks" may be a terrible right wing plan to simply distract us from the more important things like moving forward to a living wage …….

  13. Draco T Bastard 13

    She could have found out. If she had, for instance talked to her spokesperson in charge of Auckland Council issues who also used to be an Auckland Councillor she could have fashioned something semi coherent.

    Chances are that she spoke to some high-falutin business people who were upset that they hadn't been able to buy up Auckland after National's last restructuring of Auckland City.

  14. AB 14

    Several months ago my partner responded to a Curia (Farrar) phone poll. One of the questions was whether Auckland Council should be replaced by appointed commissioners. I thought it an odd question at the time and commented on it here. Would be fascinating to know if the numbers Farrar got from that question are behind Judith's latest move.

  15. greywarshark 15

    A thought from a favourite now dead Scottish author Josephine Tey is good description of Collins et al and Trump also.

    It is the utterly destructive quality. When you say vanity, you are thinking of the kind that admires itself in mirrors and buys things to deck itself out in. But that is merely personal conceit. Real vanity is something quite different. A matter not of person but of personality. Vanity says, "I must have this because I am me." It is a frightening thing because it is incurable.

    Josephine Tey https://www.azquotes.com/author/18908-Josephine_Tey

  16. Brian Tregaskin 16

    Judith is a lightweight and will be exposed as one (if not by her own MPs! if they have started leaking )

    The snowflake has zero chance of becoming a PM –my favourite reasons

    https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/20-07-2020/nicky-hager-five-reasons-why-judith-collins-wont-be-prime-minister/

    Its a shame as the Nats have some good people that would have done much better.

    • Wensleydale 16.1

      It's a shame these "good people" are content to be members of a party whose modus operandi over the past two decades seems to be dishonesty, chicanery, making excuses for appalling behaviour, and a distinct lack of empathy for anyone not like them.

      It's like saying, "Sure, I'm a member of the Mafia, but I'm not like those other guys. I'm a good person." If the leaks and recordings of internal National Party antics have taught us anything, it's that they're all well aware of what goes on. They may not participate in it. They may not condone it. But they know it's part and parcel of how the party operates, and they remain. I reckon that makes them complicit. Technically legal doesn't equal ethical or honourable.

      If you sincerely disavowed dirty politics and genuinely believed "there's no place for that sort of behaviour in New Zealand", you'd resign. Or jump ship. But we all know those safe seats and fat salaries are so dreadfully tempting.

  17. Incognito 17

    JC has it all under control and there’s no reason to panic. It was an emotional MP who accidentally hit the Send button and Denise Lee was “obviously wrong”. JC called it “the leader's call”, by which she meant that she makes up policy on the hoof.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122994165/election-2020-judith-collins-denies-fractures-in-caucus-says-mp-has-apologised-after-leak

  18. nzsage 18

    It may be due to my ambivalence to religion but I've always struggled to understand how right-wing ideology reconciles with many Christian values.

    • AB 18.1

      There's a whole literature on the symbiosis of Calvinism and Capitalism. The notion of an 'elect' is a common thread.

    • Gabby 18.2

      It's more about protestant values than christian ones.

    • Graeme Tyree 18.3

      Right wing ideology exists upon the fallacy that its believers are mini gods "made in the image of" the Higher Power. It stinks to high Heaven, 'wherever that is'. With apologies to HRH Charles Windsor.

  19. Peter 19

    There is an Auckland National MP Denise Lee. She was elected as member for Maungakiekie with a majority of about 2000.

    She has been an Auckland City councillor.

    Today Judith Collins has doubled down on putting the boot into Lee. Collins today has basically said that what happens in Auckland has nothing to do with Lee. It is not of her concern and she doesn't need to be talked to about Auckland issues or have issues referred to her. What Collins wants to happen in Auckland has nothing to do with Lee.

    Lee apparently should just buzz off, be a good little girl, get lots of votes to win the electorate and go back to Wellington and kowtow to the leader. Not say anything, because what she thinks doesn't matter. Judith will let her know when she's needed and tell her what to do.

    In most times in our political history that would be staggering. Given the minute by minute explosions, dissipation, explosion, dissipation modes of our world and political events the event is not significant.

    At times in some places it would see a duel at dawn. Lee is a professional politician. She will likely go with the flow, suck it up and accept being a doormat. In some places at some time anyone finding themselves in that situation would have packed their bag, saying, "I'm out of here. I will not be treated like shit."

    It would be so nice if Melissa Lee had the balls to ring party HQ today, the real HQ not the one in Collins' head, and say, "As of today you do not have a candidate in the electorate."

    In those circumstances I would vote for Melissa Lee.

    • Incognito 19.1

      Denise Lee

      • Uncle Scrim 19.1.1

        Yeah too many Lees in National. Melissa has been quiet lately though. Not unusual, what's amazed me is how few Nat MPs have featured in the mainstream media coverage (while presumably busy in their own electorates). Keeping their heads down?

        • Dennis Frank 19.1.1.1

          Now we have a couple featuring – anonymously!

          Collins has been accused by at least two of her MPs of making up policy on the spot, with one National MP telling Stuff there had been “zero” communication or polling shared by Collins with MPs for more than a month. They said party spokespeople were concerned about announcements being made without warning.

          "The strategy is whatever pops into Judith's head at the time,” the MP, who spoke to the condition of anonymity, said. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122994165/election-2020-judith-collins-denies-fractures-in-caucus-after-scathing-internal-email-leaked

          After Muller staffer and right-wing commentator Matthew Hooton tweeted on Tuesday that Muller had inherited a party with terrible polling and no proper campaign plan, Bennett replied this was “bulls—” and said “you don’t get to try and deflect from your utter disaster”.

          At the press conference, National economic development spokesman Todd McClay said the party wasn’t making up policy “on the hoof”, and that he had confidence in Collins.

          “I’m not making a policy on the hoof. Leaders do make decisions, that’s part of leadership. During campaigns, you know, sometimes the leader has to go out and make that announcement. And that’s the way it works,” Collin said. “I call it the leader’s call”.

        • Gabby 19.1.1.2

          No Todd Lee which, given the number of Todds and the number of Lees, is astonishing.

        • Incognito 19.1.1.3

          Yup:

          Jami-Lee
          Denise Lee
          Melissa Lee
          Brownlee

          Nat MPs are keeping their heads down because of the lack of a campaign strategy, which is odd because I thought National had been campaigning since October 2017.

    • tc 19.2

      Could they lose this seat ? 2000 doesn't seem a lot and it was a labour seat till carol Beaumont arrived and underwhelmed everyone.

  20. ScottGN 20

    Hooten and Paula Bennett are scrapping on Twitter as Hooten tries to get a head start on framing the impending disaster.

  21. Muttonbird 21

    Heather Duplicity-Allan was spitting venom at Denise Lee this afternoon. Said she didn’t deserve to be in the National Party. Her father husband, Barry Soper, just tried to laugh the whole thing off.

  22. observer 22

    I think as of today they can no longer be called leaks. Floods. Whirlpools. Dam has burst.

  23. Jackel 23

    Kiwis aren't gullible. So they won't elect some privileged woman like JC who just makes stuff up to get her own way or win an argument. Americans however…

  24. Georgecom 24

    I laughed at Collins comment in the second referenced article that ‘as leader she can makes decisions’

    yes but she won’t be leader for too long, it will be Luxon making those decisions in a few months

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    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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 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 ...
    6 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    12 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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