National starts political year beneficiary bashing

Written By: - Date published: 11:14 am, January 22nd, 2019 - 70 comments
Categories: benefits, Carmel Sepuloni, national, paula bennett, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, welfare - Tags:

National started off the year doing what National does and launched into an attack on beneficiaries. Same old same old.

But at a time when unemployment is low and things are going well it was somewhat predictable. Not to mention cynical.

Simon Bridges kicked things off with this claim:

Good to be back at it kicking off the year this morning. Unemployment’s down, there are plenty of jobs out there, but there’s 11,000 more people on the Jobseeker benefit than this time last year. We predicted this would happen under this Government, because they’re not enforcing the penalties on the books for those who aren’t making a good faith effort to get into a job.

Paula Bennett backed it up and said this on Facebook:

It makes no sense that with unemployment so low and with jobs for the taking there’s literally over 10,000 more people on the Jobseeker benefit than this time last year. The Government’s gone soft. There’s absolutely no reason why we should give up on the expectation that people put serious effort into finding a job.

And clearly there was an attempt to make this the news story of the day.

Simon’s visit to the AM show was reported by Dan Satherley in this way:

Simon Bridges has blamed a rise in the number of Kiwis receiving Jobseeker Support on the Government’s easing of sanctions.

At the end of December there were 134,000 on what used to be called the unemployment benefit, up 11,000 on the year before – even as the official unemployment rate hit a decade-low of 3.9 percent.

“It’s an outrage,” the National Party leader told The AM Show on Monday. “I warned this would happen – it has.”

Last year the Government told Work and Income case managers to ease up on penalties and sanctions against its clients. In December 8500 sanctions were applied, down from 14,500 the year before, RNZ reported.

Bridges ended with an ominous comment that benefit sanctions would be enforced more rigorously if National regained power.

The reporter, Dad Satherley did something naughty and tried to understand what was actually happening and described the situation in some detail:

Unemployment did drop from a high of 6.7 percent in 2012 to 4.7 percent under National, but that obscures a rapid rise in unemployment in the early years of John Key’s Government, as the global financial crisis tore through the New Zealand economy. Unemployment hit a record low 3.3 percent in June 2008, before that year’s general election.

Since the Labour-New Zealand First coalition formed in mid-2017, the official unemployment rate has dropped further to below 4 percent.

The unemployment rate and Jobseeker Support numbers can appear to be heading in different directions because they’re measured differently, and at different times. The Jobseeker Support figure is from the end of December, and is a snapshot in time, while the unemployment rate is measured quarterly and was last updated in November.

“This timing difference is particularly important when there are substantial seasonal rises in unemployment, for example towards the end of December,” according to Statistics NZ.

Ministry of Social Development statistics show a rise in the number of people receiving Jobseeker Support every December, but the rise this most recent December was slightly higher than usual. But it’s fewer than 4000 people more than were receiving the benefit in December 2013, despite record population increases.

Basically there is no crisis, overall the situation has improved significantly since the change of Government, and the number of people on jobseeker always goes up in December. Most importantly there is absolutely no proof of any correlation between people receiving the jobseeker benefit and the less inhumane treatment of people on benefits that this Government is seeking to introduce.

Bridges and Bennett know this, or at least they should do.  But beneficiary bashing is one of their most potent weapon, for their base this is the equivalent to talking to lefties about climate change or discrimination.

And as Carmel Sepuloni has pointed out the overall change is minuscule, with the proportion of working age adults on a benefit being 9.9% compared to 9.8% in the December quarter last year.

Expect more of this to happen as National looks to shore up its support. Fear and loathing of beneficiaries is regrettably a potent weapon for right wing politicians.

70 comments on “National starts political year beneficiary bashing ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Morrissey 1
    22 January 2019 at 12:21 pm

    Here’s one bludger they might be interested in checking closely….

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/2910957/Bill-English-buckles-over-housing-allowance

  3. One Two 3
    22 January 2019 at 12:34 pm

    11…10…

    Bridges has fallen into the outrage trap

    Those who willingly give in to emotion through moral outrage…are on thin ice when calling others out…

  4. Cinny 4
    22 January 2019 at 12:35 pm

    How long was the summer break for simon & co?

    No new ideas then?

    Say’s it all really.

    • patricia bremner 4.1
      22 January 2019 at 1:30 pm

      Cinny they pretend that Bennett and her cohorts in the previous Government did not concern themselves too much with homelessness, and many had no address to supply Winz, they then could not get ‘Job seeker allowance’,
      A larger number now qualify as the current government removes gnats mean mealy mouthed rules, bit by bit. Yes their mantra was ‘We”re rich you”re poor.”

  5. Ross 5
    22 January 2019 at 12:36 pm

    An increase in employment is not inconsistent with an increase in unemployment. The working age population goes up, some find work and some don’t. That the Tories could be so ignorant of this shouldn’t come as a surprise. But I suspect they aren’t that thick, they’re simply trying to appeal to voters who maybe don’t know any better.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      22 January 2019 at 2:44 pm

      There’s a reason why National and other RWNJs always use absolute figures rather than proportional ones. It allows them to say that things are more or less without getting into the complexities of other changes that also apply.

      Unemployment has gone up by 11,000 under this government has a much different connotation than Unemployment has decreased from 4.7% under the previous government to less than 4% now.

      Both statements are true but the first gives the wrong impression.

      In other words, it allows them to lie.

  6. rata 6
    22 January 2019 at 12:38 pm

    By 1975 I believed there were not enough jobs.
    My solution then and still is to share the work out.
    Under all Govt’s unemployment has risen continuously.
    Half the superann’s would work if there were jobs. So add 300k.
    Kids staying at school longer. Add 50k.
    Tertiary students. 150k.
    Sickness. Add 40k.
    Those with working partners. 30k
    Part time counted as working. Add 30k
    Add 650k to the 100k = 700k.
    So true unemplyment is at least 700,000.
    The answer is to share the work out.
    Work as much as you need.
    Every one gets what they need.
    So Simple.

    • Brutus Iscariot 6.1
      22 January 2019 at 12:45 pm

      What you’ve just proposed is a perfect example of the “lump of labour” fallacy.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1
        22 January 2019 at 3:00 pm

        Personally, I think the Lump of Labour Fallacy is also a fallacy.

        Consider, NZers average 43.3 hours per week. If we limited it so that people could only work 40 hours then either some of that work that is presently done won’t be or more people would be employed. I know people who do 60 hour weeks while being paid a 40 salary. That’s actually enough hours to warrant having two people doing those jobs and doing that would decrease stress on those people, improve their living standard while also resulting in having the jobs done better.

        The Lump of Labour Fallacy becomes a fallacy when its used to ignore all the work that’s done by too few people.

      • rata 6.1.2
        23 January 2019 at 10:19 am

        No its sound common sense because what I said is true.
        Where are your answers?

  7. Ross 7
    22 January 2019 at 12:46 pm

    National should stop talking and start listening.

    “an OECD report published last year says 29,000 New Zealanders reported being laid off, made redundant, or dismissed from their previous job”.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/in-depth/365540/why-being-made-redundant-in-nz-is-so-tough

  8. WeTheBleeple 8
    22 January 2019 at 1:01 pm

    Bludgers everywhere. The ones in suits are the worst.

    Hows the ones in suits pointing their fingers at others in suits hoping to stop pesky R&D and innovation, and to bring it down to who’s got the biggest pile.

    https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/no_more_corporate_welfare

    How’s that for some insidious shit. The layers of dishonesty are staggering.

  9. Tamati Tautuhi 9
    22 January 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Problem is most of the jobs are in Rural Areas where there is a population shortage, I am picking most of the unemployment is in our major cities ?

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      22 January 2019 at 3:11 pm

      Problem is most of the jobs are in Rural Areas where there is a population shortage

      ahhahahahahahahahahaha

      deep breath

      hahahahahahahahahahaha

      The amount of work in the rural sector continues to decline as productivity increases. The rural sector used to employ 25% of the population. Now it doesn’t even employ 7%.

      So, how many jobs need filling in agriculture compared to how many unemployed?
      And WTH aren’t farmers increasing wages so as to encourage people to move to the rural sector as the free-market demands that they do?

      • Robert Glennie 9.1.1
        22 January 2019 at 4:49 pm

        Most are probably fairly decent, but as with any sector there will be employers who will refuse to be decent.

        Hypocritical because that refusal of common decency results in the current attrition rates experienced across the farming sector.

  10. Tamati Tautuhi 10
    22 January 2019 at 1:23 pm

    Simon is trying to blame the current Coalition for something which is not actually a problem, he must have been a little whinger as a kid, as he hasn’t changed and has carried these behavioural patterns through into adulthood IMHO

  11. BWK 11
    22 January 2019 at 1:26 pm

    Probaly a fair percentage of those number are people that got browbeaten out of applying for a benefit with the mean punitve regime where you had to reapply for a benefit every year. And making it much harder for people with permanent severe disabilioty to apply for the Supported Living Payment because Winz made the final decision instead of a medical professional and they make people reapply every two years.

  12. NZJester 12
    22 January 2019 at 1:33 pm

    I bet 10 to 1 that the new portfolio of drug reform National created and put Paula Bennett in charge of is just going to be another front for benefit bashing and not for

    Bridges said he had created the new drug reform portfolio because New Zealand needed a well-thought through and evidence-based approach to drug reform that balanced public safety with the need to help vulnerable people.

    as they are saying in the media.

    Remember all those random drug tests as National said a lot of beneficiaries apparently could not get jobs as they were on drugs that statistics showed to be a lie?

    • Psycho Milt 12.1
      22 January 2019 at 2:16 pm

      Bridges says: …New Zealand needed a well-thought through and evidence-based approach to drug reform that balanced public safety with the need to help vulnerable people.

      Well, yes. But National is the party least-suited to offer that approach, by both history and temperament. I assume this will be like their approach to climate change, ie find ways to pay lip service to evidence-based approaches while quietly working hard to ensure that as little as possible actually changes, to avoid upsetting their constituency.

    • patricia bremner 12.2
      22 January 2019 at 3:17 pm

      The ‘contamination’ hysteria which was false and made people homeless.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 12.3
      22 January 2019 at 3:39 pm

      Like legalizing synthetic cannabis ?

  13. Sabine 13
    22 January 2019 at 1:42 pm

    the raise of increase in unemployment numbers in december is in large part due to temps/part time worker being on forced unpaid vacation while many businesses close for he summer holiday, and considering that they receive no pay they are fully entitled to apply for unemployment benefits. After all they fund that service via their tax contribution. Maybe someone should teach civics to the leader of the no mates party.

    As for the bene bashing, i believe that is all the no mates party has got.

    • WeTheBleeple 13.1
      22 January 2019 at 1:52 pm

      There’s also students going in and out of the dole via ‘student hardship allowance’ over this time. The reporting and intent is blatantly dishonest.

      • Sabine 13.1.1
        22 January 2019 at 2:07 pm

        agree, the reporting is to whitewash numbers and not to give an accurate reflection of what is happening in the job market.

        anyways, my friend who is on a benefit is happy she can now go to the doctor (it appears that fees have been cut for people on the benefit), in saying that she still has no chance of finding a job where she is with her age and her health issues (it does not get better with aga :))

        and that is the matter of the crux, we are not creating jobs. we are not growing decent jobs. And so far Labour has done little to nothing – from where i can see it – that would grow jobs outside of Auckland.

        • patricia bremner 13.1.1.1
          22 January 2019 at 3:21 pm

          Whoa Sabine, apparently the regions are doing better than Auckland at present

          • Sabine 13.1.1.1.1
            22 January 2019 at 4:42 pm

            as i said, my friend (who does not live in AKL) is happy to the reduced doctor fares as it actually allows her to go regularly and thus she can control her thyroid issues (she had throat cancer) better. But jobs for her? Nope. Her son, part time in sales, studying but again, unless he moves to AKL later for further studies or maybe a job ………..:)

            Here in Rotorua the seasonal jobs have finally been picking up. And they will dry up in about 2.5 – 3 month. Then it is back to casual for all the hotel cleaners, waitresses, line cooks etc etc etc.

            Same for Taupo, Turangi, Tokoroa, Whakamaru, Mangakino etc etc etc. These places have only full time jobs for maybe 50% of the working population living there if that, the rest lives of various forms of wellfare and casual/temp/seasonal jobbies.

            So if the regions to better, please let me know where, cause it ain’t here.

            Also don’t try to find a rental in Taupo, Turangi, Mangakino, Tokoroa if you are a min wage worker or a single income family. You can’t compete with those that have bought up cheap to put the house on the Batch Rental market from the 25/12 – 28/02. the rest of the year these houses are empty cause it beats having to deal with actual tenants. And besides you can fetch up to a grand for a week on summer tourists. and i hear its not taxed as income.

            I thought Auckland was bad, but believe me the regions are as bad. And i don’t see government here. I don’t hear about government here. But yeah, i am pleased for my friend. She can finally afford to go see her doctor for her prescriptions.

  14. Peter 14
    22 January 2019 at 1:42 pm

    They are going to go full ‘fear factor’ this year to embed elements they can rekindle and get burning next year.

    Of course they mightn’t get very far into the programme this year before we all fall down the $20 zigillion hole Steven Joyce found or the world ends as promised by the losers when the coalition came about.

  15. Ad 15
    22 January 2019 at 1:46 pm

    With the National bench reshuffle announced today, Paula Bennett will be focussing more on drugs and drug legalisation than social welfare.

    This is smart to go for those who oppose drug liberalisation, many of whom will be older and can tilt towards National anyway. A natural 2020 platform that should impale Labour on the fence of democracy, similar to Corbyn over Brexit.

    Her portfolio of tertiary education, skills and employment has been assigned by leader Simon Bridges to Shane Reti, a large increase in responsibility for the 40th ranked MP for Whangarei. Reti is as far as I can see the most Labour-leaning of National’s caucus, but surely he would have been better in health. He’s a qualified doctor with certs in obstetrics and dermatology.

    Bridges has also made finance spokeswoman Amy Adams the shadow attorney-general, with the retirement from politics of Chris Finlayson. Just in case this government needed effectively no opposition in either Finance or Justice, National has delivered for the government once again.

    Nick Smith becomes spokesman for Crown-Maori relations, and Mark Mitchell becomes spokesman for Pike River Re-entry.

    Go for it Nick.
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12194251

    • Michelle 15.1
      22 January 2019 at 2:17 pm

      This will be a ding dong argument cant wait old versus old and young versus old conservatives the latter has had its way for far too long

    • Tamati Tautuhi 15.2
      22 January 2019 at 3:43 pm

      Te tangata whenua and iwi’s around New Zealand should get some entertainment out of Dr Nicholas Smith.

      • Michelle 15.2.1
        23 January 2019 at 10:11 am

        just shows how much the gnats care about Maori issues when they have him in charge, they don’t.

    • Sabine 15.3
      22 January 2019 at 5:48 pm

      oh i can’t wait for Nick Smith running around on his knees cause he’s got his feet in his mouth.

      and will Mrs. Benefit receive a whip to go with her new job? Cause the no mates party is not known for health care so i can only see her whip people into submission rather then help them get of the sauce.

  16. AB 16
    22 January 2019 at 1:51 pm

    Seems strange – National love the idea of people getting money for doing nothing. Think of all their supporters gorging on capital gain from residential property speculation – all un-taxed too, unlike earning money from actually working.
    Managing to be both authoritarian scum and hypocrites at the same time takes a special kind of ethical deficit.
    Or, to channel Once Was Tim – it takes “persnill ikslince, going forward”.

    • Draco T Bastard 16.1
      22 January 2019 at 5:51 pm

      National love the idea of people getting money for doing nothing.

      Of course they do but they also realise that for all the people that get money for nothing there needs to be a lot more people actually working for nothing. Adam Smith said that there needed to 500 workers for every rich person.

    • OnceWasTim 16.2
      22 January 2019 at 11:15 pm

      Yep, sorry about that.
      It’s just that I sometimes need a bloody interpreter to understand some of them. Key, Bridges, Bennett and Mitchell in ptikyala. And Bennett could be set to music at times when she goes off on a spin.

  17. johnm 17
    22 January 2019 at 2:41 pm

    Simple Simon, can’t go wrong here. Ask him anything remotely challenging and he throws his toys out of the pram.

  18. patricia bremner 18
    22 January 2019 at 3:35 pm

    The big beneficiaries are farmers. 870 million for an industry caused disease.

  19. Kay 19
    22 January 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Time for another media blackout for a while then. Doesn’t even matter they’re in opposition, just sick to death of being reduced to an ongoing political point scorer 🙁

  20. rachael 20
    22 January 2019 at 5:15 pm

    There is also no sickness benefit now, there is only job seekers, so people previously on sickness are now on job seekers, with the increase in mental health issues alone, many from stress over the lack of housing etc, it’s really not accurate anyway. And it’s all well and good for pb to talk about people going and picking apples, but is there housing there? How does a person uproot their whole family to go and pick apples for a few weeks / months? Then what? There is no easy transition back onto job seekers at the end of it, there is a stand down period, what are families to do? If people are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads right now, they’re not going to jeopardise it or their family’s well being to chase anything temporary.

    • Descendant Of Smith 20.1
      22 January 2019 at 7:48 pm

      And no widows benefit many of whom are now on Job Seeker Benefit and all those sole parents who are now on Job Seeker Benefit because either their youngest child is 14 or they have given birth while on a benefit.

      Duncan Garner was particularly fatuous in talking about the Job Seeker numbers as if they were the same as the old unemployment numbers.

      What Labour should do as a starting point is put all the sole parents back on a sole parent benefit and start giving some clarity to who is actually on benefit.

      Still if in 9 years the media researchers were so useless that they couldn’t call the national party on its claims that sole parent numbers were the lowest they have ever been by pointing out that many of them were just on a different benefit now its a bit much to expect them to understand it now.

      Fools like Duncan Garner would have sole parents with 3 month old babies planting trees.

      Also in the latest WINZ sheets there seems to be quite a regional variation – increases seem to be Canterbury as the rebuild work reduces down and Auckland for whatever ungodly reason Auckland would be going up – construction down-turn, internal migration?

      Of course labours researchers are just as crap as the medias cause they can’t coherently explain anything either.

      It’s time the government released the data daily in real time and let researchers with a clue such as Alan Johnson is the Salvation Army do the analysis for them. The media if they had any brains would demand this instead of this quarterly controlled release bullshit that’s too late to consider what is happening now.

  21. WILD KATIPO 21
    22 January 2019 at 8:54 pm

    [ Basically there is no crisis, overall the situation has improved significantly since the change of Government, and the number of people on jobseeker always goes up in December. Most importantly there is absolutely no proof of any correlation between people receiving the jobseeker benefit and the less inhumane treatment of people on benefits that this Government is seeking to introduce. ]

    Well said, MICKEYSAVAGE.

    ———————————-

    The far right wing ChiNational party at it again with lies and bullshit.

    Over 100 years ago we fought these kind of bastards , and again a few decades later…

    Lest we forget…

    John McCormack – It’s A Long Way To Tipperary – YouTube

    • ropata 21.1
      22 January 2019 at 10:02 pm

      To say the Nats are “right wing” would imply that they have some kind of principles. No they are simply a PR machine for foreign business interests seeking to pillage NZ, and privatise (steal) as much of our taonga as they can before anyone notices.

      • WILD KATIPO 21.1.1
        22 January 2019 at 10:52 pm

        Hence the play on words , the ‘ Chi – National ‘ party.

        They are neither ‘nationalists’ who believe in a nations sovereignty , – whether that be of either the Left or Right persuasion. They observe no political standing or ideology barring self enrichment and a global world govt.

        They are , in fact , nothing more than opportunistic ‘globalists’ .

        As were the pirates of old in the 17th century who cared not what govt was in power as long as they enriched themselves. Basically , anarchists at heart. Without the latter day political sanitizing of the definition.

        Who play on the fact that as society has progressed , they can rest easily in the fact that there will be no penalty of death at all for their subversion’s when they are called out for who they are.

        Gibbet – YouTube

  22. Tricledrown 22
    23 January 2019 at 12:25 am

    They treat their own no better Jamie Lee Ross has laid a complaint against a National MP. Who texted “go kill yourself” which is a very serious offence.
    Then the serial Dirty politician who posted to Lprent”hurry up and die” Toxic behaviour has come home to roost and it explains National’s pathetic distraction attempts knowing the spotlight is going to be on their daliances’s

    • Ross 22.1
      23 January 2019 at 6:02 am

      I don’t believe the MP said go kill yourself to JLR. The MP’s text is quoted as saying “you deserve to die” which is quite different to the spin JLR is putting on it. And of course we don’t have any context for the MP’s text. JLR could provide the context but hasn’t.

      “The woman sent him messages asking if he was okay and had support but when no contact could be made, the police were called to help search for him.”

      If she was asking him if he had support, it appears she was concerned for him. Indeed she may have called police such was her concern. I have no idea why JLR would go to police if he is trying to put this matter behind him.

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12194471

  23. Jackel 23
    23 January 2019 at 1:44 am

    Simon Bridges and Pulla Benefit looking down on the unemployed again. Life must be very tedious on the opposition benches when you’re the unemployed party formerly known as the john’s party.

  24. Al 24
    23 January 2019 at 7:16 am

    If the Gnats want to chase those not meeting their obligation to society why not all their mates who find all sorts of ways of avoiding paying tax – e.g. land banking due to nil CGT. Their attacks on the most vulnerable are nothing to do with obligation to work (similar to the failed drug testing) rather their own open hatred of a selection of their fellow man.

  25. Nic the NZer 25
    23 January 2019 at 8:12 am

    Totally agree with Si and Paula. Its too many people looking for work and unable to actually find it. The government should introduce a job guarantee and instead of signing them up for jobseekers, sign them up for a job guarantee role immediately and until they find other employment.
    (They should also reintroduce invalids and solo parents benefits). Probably the Green party has some low skill, low carbon ideas for how to employ these people towards greening the economy (though other public interests could be persued).

    The optimum time to set this up politically is when unemployment is low.

  26. woodart 26
    23 January 2019 at 3:36 pm

    now that slater is just another bludging beneficiary, hopefully his former friends give him a kicking as well, on the way up the ladder.

  27. Chris 27
    23 January 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Bridges and Bennett need to think about the number of people wrongly sanctioned by MSD because of how ridiculously complex the sanctions rules are. MSD stop a benefit at the drop of a hat, if a person misses a meeting, for example. Whether a sanction’s been imposed “correctly” is very seldom investigated. The number of wrongly imposed sanctions is bound to very large indeed.

    Perhaps MSD’s been forced to comply a little more than usual by this decision? Not very often these sorts of cases get the attention of the High Court.

    https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/pdf/jdo/9c/alfresco/service/api/node/content/workspace/SpacesStore/76cf873c-8bc5-4562-aaec-7a2267563cd3/76cf873c-8bc5-4562-aaec-7a2267563cd3.pdf

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    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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