National’s brave new world of MOAR ROADS!

Written By: - Date published: 11:35 am, December 27th, 2018 - 132 comments
Categories: climate change, cycleway, Economy, Environment, global warming, national, public transport, same old national, Simon Bridges, sustainability, transport - Tags:

National frustrates me.  For a collective of supposedly bright people who have been born to rule us they come up with some really dumb campaign ideas.

Like their recent MOAR ROADS campaign.  In a direct steal of the concept behind the film Three Billboards outside Epping, Missouri they have shamelessly plagiarised the idea behind the movie to complain that Labour has cancelled four different road projects.  There are a couple of not too small problems with the claim, Labour has not cancelled the projects and they were never actual projects, just a gleam in Simon Bridges’ eye once all the other horrendous roads of national significance had been built and the ongoing maintenance cost sorted out.

There was this announcement just before the last election where National promised ten new roads of National TM significance at a cost of just over $10 billion dollars.  But there was no money for them.  The National Land Transport Fund was already struggling with the maintenance bills of the existing dinosaur projects.

And some of them had shockingly bad business cases.  That bad that Simon Bridges’ office asked for one of them, the one for the road between Te Hana and Whangarei, to be removed from NZTA’s website.  And then denied having done so.

Greater Auckland has a far better proposal, that we invest this huge amount of money into public transport.  Of National’s proposal it said this:

As we pointed out at the time, these appear to be a great lesson in diminishing returns, with some of the state highways due to be supersized having fewer than 10,000 vehicles per day use them. That’s far less than even many local roads in Auckland. As such, this represents a massive opportunity cost. It is money that could otherwise go towards creating a world-class public transport system in our major cities or making significant improvements to road safety across a much greater part of the country.

At the same time, over the years and during this election cycle the government have been talked extensively about the need for robust business cases and their economic prowess. However, the low volumes of many of these roads suggests that quite a few are likely to have poor business cases.

More roads mean more driving and more greenhouse gas production.  If we are going to become carbon neutral we need to pour money into cycleways and walkways and public transport.  Simon Bridges talking about how National recognises the importance to New Zealanders  of addressing climate change, and playing our part in the global response is just a bunch of hollow words.

And it is cheap politics not to mention a lie.  There was no concrete plan to build these roads.  They relied on space in the National Land Transport Fund that just did not exist.  Criticising the Government for not doing something there was never a plan to achieve is a downright lie.

 

132 comments on “National’s brave new world of MOAR ROADS! ”

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  1. Sacha 1
    27 December 2018 at 11:57 am

    Sheer duncery, their notion that the only way to make a road safe is to increase it to 4 lanes.

    • Janet 1.1
      27 December 2018 at 10:19 pm

      I much prefer the windy, windy two lane roads – as long as they are not over crowded. Then I stay awake and DRIVE. I like driving,

      • James 1.1.1
        29 December 2018 at 9:19 am

        Agree when drivingnfor enjoyment. But for the daily commute you can’t beat a free flowing motorway.

        • Sacha 1.1.1.1
          29 December 2018 at 9:28 am

          A free-flowing separated public transit system – busway or rail – includes being able to relax while someone else drives you to and from work.

          A free-flowing motorway at peak time would have to be massively overbuilt for the rest of the day, or priced beyond the reach of most people.

  2. bwaghorn 2
    27 December 2018 at 12:59 pm

    It must be bordering on electioneering?
    They have these new one and others up all over the place all the time . Isnt there rules around how long before an election they can start.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.1
      27 December 2018 at 1:19 pm

      No. There are rules saying when its electioneering and when it isn’t. This is so that the financial limits can be applied. The electioneering period starts some six weeks before the election.

      So, this isn’t electioneering even though it is.

      You’ll note that the last Labour led government extended the amount of time that was considered electioneering and that National subsequently repealed that.

      In reality, electioneering happens all the time and we need to make the laws reflect that and limit it.

    • Grant Insley 2.2
      27 December 2018 at 2:31 pm

      Electioneering it may not be BUT the location and size, so close to a ‘national’ highway could be deemed to be distracting and thus dangerous. NZTA have the say on the signs. Shades of Joyce being pretty legal?

      • Graeme 2.2.1
        27 December 2018 at 2:45 pm

        Not to mention local council signage rules. Outside the election period the exemptions to signage rules don’t apply.

        There’s also any copyright or trademark that may apply to the Labour Party’s signage style and device.

  3. Sabine 3
    27 December 2018 at 1:27 pm

    maybe with new blood will come new ideas, as for now the No Mates Party is stuck in the muck of no ideas, no mates, no love.

  4. Kat 4
    27 December 2018 at 1:47 pm

    These signs are nothing more than political party electioneering hoardings and should be removed. In fact these cluster of signs could be classified as a distraction for drivers and a potential cause for road accidents. The people who put these signs up along with the people that authorised them are a public menace.

    However on the flipside these signs stand to represent a defunct National party with a born to rule attitude that allows them to visually pollute the road side with smart arse political garbage. People will notice and vote accordingly.

    • peterlepaysan 4.1
      27 December 2018 at 9:24 pm

      Funnily, NZTA already have distracting roadsigns urging us not be distracted.

      Clive Matthew Wilson would be having a chortle over this.

    • the other pat 4.2
      28 December 2018 at 11:18 am

      agree with what you say but…” In fact these cluster of signs could be classified as a distraction for drivers and a potential cause for road accidents”…..everywhere one looks are huge signage for this and that and govt and local bodies want the money and give permission…i don’t think a distraciont would gain traction!

    • Patricia Boston 4.3
      29 December 2018 at 2:31 pm

      The trouble is this: National party voters are so dumb, that they will notice the signs, believe them and still vote National.

  5. Andre 5
    27 December 2018 at 2:55 pm

    Those signs are in Northland, just south of Whangarei, no?

    I’ve driven back and forth between Kaikohe and Auckland a lot lately. Yes, roading improvements between Warkworth and Whangarei would be a really good thing. There are a lot of problem areas.

    But what really bunches my undies is that a gold-plated 4 lane motorway is just not needed, and I really struggle to see one being needed in the foreseeable future. So instead of a brand-new motorway from Puhoi to Warkworth, we could have tackled the specific problem areas (a bypass around Warkworth, double-up on the Pohuehue viaduct, tunnels or cuttings at Schedewy’s hill) and got almost all the benefits of the Holiday Highway for a third the cost. That would have freed up resources to tackle problem areas further north much earlier, such as Dome Valley, Wellsford bypass, Brynderwyns.

    Then there’s the flow-on stupid projects from the stupid RONS – such as the Matakana link road for the Omaha holidayers which is the first road funded by Auckland’s regional fuel tax. That one really makes my blood boil, since the ‘problem’ it ‘solves’ will largely go away as soon as the Holiday Highway is completed to Warkworth.

    So whenever I see those signs, my only reaction is a burst of anger at how fkn badly Nat incompetents have mismanaged transport resource allocation.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1
      27 December 2018 at 9:42 pm

      So whenever I see those signs, my only reaction is a burst of anger at how fkn badly Nat incompetents have mismanaged transport resource allocation.

      National sees their funders getting profits from government spending and thus assume that it’s all good.

      If we still had a MoW and there was no profit involved in building these things they probably wouldn’t do it.

    • Sacha 5.2
      27 December 2018 at 9:51 pm

      The expensive extra Matakana road links directly from where the holiday highway rejoins the current SH1. It just confirms the purpose of the $800m project all along has been to whisk the wealthy to their Omaha baches and the workers to more lucratively-subdivided sprawl.

      • Andre 5.2.1
        28 December 2018 at 8:14 am

        Yeah. I used to refrain from calling it the Holiday Highway to give it the benefit of doubt, up until the link road was announced.

        Ironically, if we allow for the extra time needed for the extra distance needed to take the Holiday Highway to Omaha and compare that to what the travel time would have been with just the three upgrades, there will be bugger-all actual time savings. Especially if they put a new toll booth at the northern end and incorporate point-to-point speed measurement and enforcement.

        • KJT 5.2.1.1
          28 December 2018 at 11:24 am

          Could just charge trucking firms the full costs of their road use, and upgrade rail.

          Half the reading modifications wouldn’t be needed

          • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.1.1
            28 December 2018 at 12:27 pm

            Could just charge trucking firms the full costs of their road use, and upgrade rail.

            Yep, one of the times where I agree with user-pays.

    • Dennis Frank 5.3
      28 December 2018 at 12:10 pm

      Think I saw that sign while driving from Tauranga to Thames the other day. It reminded me that the long-due upgrade of that road had been deferred. Or, at least, I think I heard that on the news a while back.

      Even if fake news, such signs placed on problem roads will be effective propaganda. Most voters ignore reality, so manipulating their perceptions is good politics.

  6. SARAH 6
    27 December 2018 at 5:11 pm

    The Kapiti 4 lane Expressway has been in operation for over a year now so I’d like to see a cost/benefit/time saved analysis done on it now to test whether it’s been a success. I believe it would blow the costs sky high, which should include the amount spent on repairing it so far. It seems to have created a worse holiday bottleneck to the north and a worse workday bottleneck to the south.

    • dV 6.1
      27 December 2018 at 5:39 pm

      Not only THEY have had to reseal i already!!!!

    • Draco T Bastard 6.2
      27 December 2018 at 9:46 pm

      I’d like to see that as well.

      In fact, such reviews should be part of building any infrastructure. A BCR to determine if its possibly worth it and after that yearly reviews to check the actual figures against the expected figures of the BCR.

  7. greywarshark 7
    27 December 2018 at 5:40 pm

    I hear Ashburton thinks it is missing out on some Roads of National’s Kind (RONK). Ashburton starts with an A so is near the top of any list, and important people and things have come from Ashburton, so it gets elevated to the top.

    It’s totally unreasonable that ASHBURTON should not be up there getting their pick of the lollies Before They Are Thrown For The Scramble.

  8. Whacked 8
    27 December 2018 at 6:07 pm

    How politicised are the NZTA? Was this Fergus ‘who’ Gammie’s last act? What other NZTA regulatory deficiencies are going to be found with the current review underway?

  9. mickysavage 9
    27 December 2018 at 7:25 pm

    Sorry everyone the second sentence of the second paragraph is not very coherent …

    Holiday brain is clearly in action …

  10. Cricklewood 10
    27 December 2018 at 8:05 pm

    Reality is the car is going to be the primary method of transport for a long time. It seems ridiculous that major cities are serviced by only 2 lanes.
    I dont like that desicions and opinions on roads have become ideological. Forgetting cost for a minute, 4 lanes and a barrier will significantly lower the road toll frustration leads to rash decisions and deaths thay could be avoided.

    • mickysavage 10.1
      27 December 2018 at 8:17 pm

      Here is a radical idea. Imagine if each day you could travel no more than 10 km. What would you do?

      • DJ Ward 10.1.1
        27 December 2018 at 9:36 pm

        It would be a 4 day trip to get my groceries. My kids ice creams would melt.
        I would have to send Christmas cards to the UK about 7 years in advance.
        Donald is stuck mid flight.
        Ring my boss, I’m going to be late in.
        Marathon runners have halted mid run to let everyone catch up. Expected sprint finish.
        Cops gave up the chase.
        Damn that shops 5.1km away, I can’t get there today and get home.
        How fars the school. Damn. Is boarding schools for 5 year olds healthy.
        What! Nanas only got 2 weeks to live. But she’s 250km away, I’ll never make it to say my good buys.
        General Putin has announced a slow creep blitzkrieg doctrine to combat NATO.
        Scientists have announced the limiting travel to 10km a day is irresponsible. Planet Earth intends to ignor the new travel restrictions. Conspiracy theorist cliam the going backward to the direction of earths spin at the same rate results in motionless movement at about mach 1.

        • mickysavage 10.1.1.1
          27 December 2018 at 10:03 pm

          Time to rethink then. Your kids’ futures are more important than their ice creams.

          • Infused 10.1.1.1.1
            28 December 2018 at 10:09 am

            Why are you so thick? Cars are not going anywhere. Electric plus AI and ride sharing are the future.

            Ride sharing specifically is a far better form of public transport.

            Guess what Micky. Councils are in secret talks with uber to implement Express pool here. Govt dosent wsnt it cause it will kill public transport

            • millsy 10.1.1.1.1.1
              28 December 2018 at 10:15 am

              Personally I think we would have electric tuk tuks in our cities, like Asia. At least it would provide employment to people.

            • mauī 10.1.1.1.1.2
              28 December 2018 at 11:11 am

              Why are you convinced cars are not going anywhere? Just a few years ago it would scarcely be believable that 91 would be over $2 a litre.

            • Draco T Bastard 10.1.1.1.1.3
              28 December 2018 at 12:33 pm

              Ride sharing specifically is a far better form of public transport.

              No its not. It’s more expensive and less efficient than buses.

              Guess what Micky. Councils are in secret talks with uber to implement Express pool here.

              Then we need to get rid of the present councils because we don’t want Uber here.

              • JohnSelway …
                28 December 2018 at 12:55 pm

                “…we don’t want Uber here.”

                [citation needed]

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  28 December 2018 at 1:29 pm

                  Continuously breaking the law seems a good reason not to have them here.

                  But, yeah, bit too much of an exaggeration.

                  • JohnSelway …
                    28 December 2018 at 1:41 pm

                    Given that law has been since changed (drivers now need a P endorsement) you basically just made it up from the whole cloth.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      28 December 2018 at 2:34 pm

                      Ah, no – Uber has been breaking the law around the world as it goes into a country. As they’ve been doing so so consistently it must be assumed to be a major policy of the company.

                      Then company then turns around and blames the regulations for keeping jobs from people. Regulations that are there to protect the people of the country.

                    • JohnSelway …
                      28 December 2018 at 5:41 pm

                      Well you said “we don’t want Uber here” without any source for that information then linked to an article well out of date in reference to Uber breaking laws we didn’t have at that time.

                      So… you’re just bullshitting

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      28 December 2018 at 10:21 pm

                      linked to an article well out of date in reference to Uber breaking laws we didn’t have at that time.

                      People don’t get prosecuted for laws that we don’t have.

                      Really, you’re making no sense.

                    • Draco T Bastard …
                      28 December 2018 at 10:46 pm

                      And then there’s the fact that the majority of NZers have always been against foreign owned businesses in NZ.

                      Remember the Auckland airport fiasco and the last Labour led government quickly legislating that strategic assets could not be sold offshore?
                      Or how about homes? The CoL quickly banned selling foreign ownership and then caved in to the rich both here and offshore and weakened it.
                      Remember John Key telling us that we’re likely to be tenants in own land? That resonated around the country. Of course he then made sure that we would become tenants in our own land but he did have a point – he just didn’t care about it the way that NZers do.

                      We have never wanted foreign ownership. That’s all down to the politicians following delusional ideology and ignoring the will of the people.

                    • JohnSelway …
                      28 December 2018 at 11:12 pm

                      “We don’t want Uber here”

                      [citation still needed]

                      Uber drivers now have to have P endorsements meaning they operate under the same rules as taxis. The article you linked to was before that law change. Find a new article because you’re not comparing the same things.

                      Also… [citation still needed]
                      (You didn’t seem to catch it the first time so though I’d remind you again)

                • James …
                  29 December 2018 at 9:26 am

                  You might thing you speak for all. But you don’t.

                  I love Uber and recommend it to all.

              • Infused …
                28 December 2018 at 6:06 pm

                Ubers here numb nuts.

                Ride sharing is far better. Throughout the us and EU its huge. I used it everywhere I went recently.

                An Express share took me 15km for $3 in 20 mins. From my location. Public transport cant beat that

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  28 December 2018 at 10:26 pm

                  Ride sharing is far better.

                  No it’s not.

                  Or, to be more precise, we should start saying when each has its strengths and weaknesses.

                  PT will win hands down going to and from work. Cheaper, faster and avoids congestion.

                  During the day when there’s a few people about ride sharing here and there will probably be better. It’s more flexible.

                  At night when there’s few people about then it’s PT again simply because there won’t be anybody to share with.

                • Sacha …
                  28 December 2018 at 10:36 pm

                  The value of public transit is not all in the individual ticket price. Single-occupant vehicles (whether they are petrol, electric or self-driving) take up way more space per person transported than a bus, tram or train.

                  We all have an interest in urban design that uses space and connectedness wisely – hence ‘public’.

                • millsy …
                  30 December 2018 at 12:25 pm

                  Uber might be good for passengers, but not for drivers. I looked into driving for Uber, and it turns out drivers need a car less than 10 years old, no exemptions.

      • Janet 10.1.2
        27 December 2018 at 10:27 pm

        You obviously live in Auckland – or some such – and are not in touch with the world of real New Zealand.

        • mickysavage 10.1.2.1
          28 December 2018 at 6:32 am

          Yep and I should differentiate between urban and rural areas. But in an urban area with improving PT and walking and cycling you should be able to rethink things and these changes should be possible.

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2.2
          28 December 2018 at 2:39 pm

          The majority of people live in the cities. This means that you, who obviously live in some unknown backwater and thinking the sun shines out of your arse, are out of touch with the reality of the majority of NZers.

          • gsays 10.1.2.2.1
            29 December 2018 at 9:04 am

            Steady on there draco.

            I assume, by your comment, you are a city dweller.
            When the power stops, the quake happens, the dollar implodes or mother nature tries to shake us fleas from her back, what are you going to do?

            Start a garden with some apartment dwellers?
            Put micro hydro in a few storm water drains?

            I would have thought city life is only sustainable so long as a version close to the status quo remains.

            • Sacha 10.1.2.2.1.1
              29 December 2018 at 9:36 am

              That has nothing to do with claiming that “real” NZ is only outside our cities.

            • Draco T Bastard 10.1.2.2.1.2
              29 December 2018 at 11:45 am

              You mean like this?

              I am fully supportive of the Venus Project and the need to make the rural areas wild again so as to help nature re-balance.

              And, as Sacha says, neither is the ‘real’ NZ – they’re both part of it.

      • Cricklewood 10.1.3
        27 December 2018 at 11:30 pm

        Id be without a job for a start…

      • millsy 10.1.4
        28 December 2018 at 10:10 am

        It was common about 100 years ago for people to be born, live and die without travelling more than about 10-15k from where they lived. I don’t think I want to go back to those days. Living like the Amish seems to be a common theme among those committed to fighting climate change. And the whaling industry, that provided all the things that we took for granted before plastic, was even dirtier than the fossil fuel industry.

        • Pat 10.1.4.1
          28 December 2018 at 12:59 pm

          ” And the whaling industry, that provided all the things that we took for granted before plastic, was even dirtier than the fossil fuel industry.”

          WTF?

        • Draco T Bastard 10.1.4.2
          28 December 2018 at 2:42 pm

          Living like the Amish seems to be a common theme among those committed to fighting climate change.

          Nope. That would be the scaremongering of the RWNJs as they get scared about losing their cars and so having to rub shoulders with the Great Unwashed.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.2
      27 December 2018 at 9:51 pm

      Reality is the car is going to be the primary method of transport for a long time.

      No it’s not as we simply can’t afford them.

      Can’t afford the GHG emissions of the fossil fuelled variety.
      Can’t afford the congestion or the power generation of the electric variety.

      I dont like that desicions and opinions on roads have become ideological.

      Your first sentence was ideological claptrap.

      Forgetting cost for a minute

      Economics and reality requires that we take into account the costs. You purposefully setting aside those costs as if they don’t count is what makes whatever you say ideological claptrap.

      • Infused 10.2.1
        28 December 2018 at 10:11 am

        We have plenty of power. Stop being stupid

        • Draco T Bastard 10.2.1.1
          28 December 2018 at 12:03 pm

          Do we?

          I’m pretty sure that all available power generation is presently being used and we need to drop and replace the fossil fuelled variety ASAP with renewables.

          Then we’d need to build up enough to supply to power the vehicle fleet. Trains and trucks first. Trains need to be electrified now.

          To get reliable power supply from renewables we’re going to have to look at multiple generation and storage technologies.

          No, I don’t see us being able to support an electric powered vehicle fleet to the same degree as we have fossil fuelled vehicles for several years and maybe even decades. In the interim we could have bicycles and electricity powered public transport and hopefully people will get used to the idea that having private cars is rather stupid and uneconomic.

    • Sacha 10.3
      27 December 2018 at 10:41 pm

      “desicions and opinions on roads have become ideological. Forgetting cost for a minute”

      Ignoring the costs is an ideological approach.

      It was also standard professional engineering and economics that the whole RONS programme deliberately undermined – for political reasons, nothing more.

      That ideology has been applied in one direction for the last decade. Now you are seeing some rebalancing (and probably not enough) towards our carbon-constrained future. That is a hard reality, not an ideological matter.

  11. Timeforacupoftea 11
    27 December 2018 at 8:16 pm

    Build as many roads as possible please.
    In near future they will be useful for bikes, scooters and horses.

    Build build build ! while we have a means of collecting tax’s of the dreaded motor vehicle.

    • mickysavage 11.1
      27 December 2018 at 8:18 pm

      Bike lanes are better if they are not also used by cars …

      • gsays 11.1.1
        29 December 2018 at 9:11 am

        Round these parts we have a proposed road to replace the Manawatu gorge road.
        There is a vocal crowd wanting to have cycle lanes added to it.

        Neither the Saddle Road nor Pahiatua Track are roads to be cycling on.

        As an aside, the locals are concerned with the powers that be and their fencing off the entry to the gorge.
        There is a lot of road without debris and it is ideal to take a mountain bike through.

        One of the most beautiful stretches of road.

    • Sacha 11.2
      27 December 2018 at 10:43 pm

      Better still, build the infrastructure for cycling, walking and scootering right now – will cost way less than roads designed to carry heavy cars and trucks. Big catch-up to do.

  12. Jum 12
    27 December 2018 at 9:14 pm

    For goodness sake, use the billboards to advertise what’s really important: cost, benefit, analysis: that’s what we were told when we suggested a decent public transport system in Akld. Obviously, that was not important when it came to ppp’s on ROADING in 2010!!!!

    • Draco T Bastard 12.1
      27 December 2018 at 9:56 pm

      National only demands economic due diligence from Labour.

      They simply know what they’re talking about and don’t have to do the figures.

      It’s either that or they know damn well that the figures don’t back them up.

      I figure that it’s the latter.

  13. Ross 13
    28 December 2018 at 6:47 am

    It’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

    • greywarshark 13.1
      28 December 2018 at 12:46 pm

      USA where National gets most of its ideas. Watch what the National Party put up and take a small step towards becoming a Trumpian paradise. National wants to
      keep its name to the fore hence billboards bringing controversy. Anything, but be a good political party serving and running the country for its and all the peoples’ betterment.

      Three Billboards:
      https://www.vox.com/2018/1/19/16878018/three-billboards-controversy-racist-sam-rockwell-redemption-flannery-oconnor

      The controversy around Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – Vox
      https://www.vox.com/…/three-billboards-controversy-racist-sam-rockwell-redemption…
      Feb 22, 2018 – How Three Billboards went from film fest darling to awards-season controversy. Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell at the premiere of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2017. Frances McDormand in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

  14. Rapunzel 14
    28 December 2018 at 6:54 am

    I live in Tauranga, we have these signs here now apparently so the local paper tells us, in the comments to editor section the locals say it is the drivers not the roads – one recent death at least came after several calls to poiice to report erratic, dangerous driving. As I drive to Auck from Tga about twice a month from necessity if I see the signs I know one thing it will do is make my blood boil.
    It seems National is h*ll bent on “delivering” it’s “message” on a daily basis and with fewer media options over the holidays came up with this which will do nothing to save anyone – not a “drive carefully” in the signage at all it seems.
    The National Party care nothing about NZ or NZers – they think it is OK to offer these ½ baked distractions and a self-obsorbed leader, as if that is enough they have no solutions and no intention of changing themselves in any way I find that a bit terrifying in a way, it is to the US’s similar totally selfish regime that the world is seeing.

    • Wayne 14.1
      28 December 2018 at 10:20 am

      Just because you don’t like National, it hardly means they “care nothing about NZ or NZers.” But they offer different solutions to those that appeal to you.

      In any event National knows that Labour is obsessed with the Dominion Rd tramway, and is totally opposed to any 4 lanes roads anywhere. The signs point this out, and as has been said are about campaigning.

      Labour’s roading solutions will not include a single 4 lane road, even though it is the best solution in many cases. For instance, 4 lanning to Wellsford to eliminate the Dome valley issue is far and away the best solution. Similarly Katikati to Tauranga. But with Labour, never.

      It will take the next National government to do these.

      As I have said in previous posts, maybe there is a yin yang in all of this. Labour does public transport, National does roads (though John Key did start the CRL). Together they make a coherent package.

      • Muttonbird 14.1.1
        28 December 2018 at 10:29 am

        I’m glad you stopped short of claiming Waterview.

      • KJT 14.1.2
        28 December 2018 at 11:32 am

        Yes. National probably will, now.

        They had no short term plans or funding for most of them before.

        Which makes the billboards, lies! Spin in National doublespeak.

        However National’s putting freight on subsidised, trucks, instead of rail, is the real issue.

        Four laning will help congestion, briefly, until the traffic expands to fill it. Like the NW motorway. Now worse than it was 20 years ago, with twice the lanes.

        If National cared about New Zealanders futures, they would have supported ending oil exploration. And expanded electrified rail.

        The only difference between National, and Trump, is that National give the illusion of being sensible.

      • Draco T Bastard 14.1.3
        28 December 2018 at 12:08 pm

        But they offer different solutions to those that appeal to you.

        National doesn’t offer solutions – only more problems. That’s inevitable with them still having a 15th century mindset.

        Labour’s roading solutions will not include a single 4 lane road, even though it is the best solution in many cases.

        Do you have comparable BCRs to back up that assertion?

        It will take the next National government to do these.

        It is guaranteed that the next National government will fuck things up again – as they always do.

        As I have said in previous posts, maybe there is a yin yang in all of this.

        There isn’t.

        There is simply reality that National is ignoring while they follow their delusional ideology.

        • Wayne 14.1.3.1
          28 December 2018 at 12:13 pm

          When Labour approved Waterview it was 2 lanes each way for the tunnel. National expanded that to 3. And since you obviously use it, you presumably would accept that was the right decision.

          • Draco T Bastard 14.1.3.1.1
            28 December 2018 at 12:21 pm

            I think I’ve been through it three times since it was built.

            No, I don’t think it was the right decision. I don’t Labour’s was either. Better public transport and rail would have been a better decision. But neither Labour nor National would go there despite all the evidence showing us that we had to.

        • Wayne 14.1.3.2
          28 December 2018 at 12:15 pm

          Draco,

          Stop being so one eyed. It is not Labour (or the left, since you do criticise Labour for not being left enough), correct in every decision, National wrong in every decision. The world is more complicated than that.

          • Draco T Bastard 14.1.3.2.1
            28 December 2018 at 12:24 pm

            National canning the nano-beads was one of their correct decisions.

            I can’t think of any other off-hand.

            It’s not about being Left or Right – but about being realistic and National’s entire ideology is based upon ignoring reality. Labour does somewhat better but they’re still capitalists and believe in infinite growth upon a finite planet.

        • greywarshark 14.1.3.3
          28 December 2018 at 12:37 pm

          National Party = primitive capitalists with an overlay of sophistication (all
          sophistry).

      • Rapunzel 14.1.4
        28 December 2018 at 12:14 pm

        I used the term “care nothing about NZ or NZers.” because precisely in my opinion the National Party are primarily interested in “being” the govt first and foremost and so their priority is to what “appearance” will suit. So the two parties have different views on “roading” what other overall policy other than taxes are they offering? If it is the same as their last terms it was not sound enough and saw services run down and the issues with strikes from the likes of teachers, nurses, police etc to most people those quests for increases were just.
        Even National Party voters are not very keen on the “leader” but for some reason that is what NZ is offered by the Opposition once again for no sound reason I can see but in an effort to simply save face and not appear divided, so one again “in my opinion” they need to go away and find something more sound, longterm and with the interests of NZ to the forefront of everything they do.

      • peterlepaysan 14.1.5
        28 December 2018 at 8:39 pm

        National only cares for business interests, profits, share returns, managemenr bonuses and perks.

        New Zealanders do not exist unless they make tax free profits to fund the National Party Mafia.

        New Zealanders are homeless foodless bludgers.

        The only thing that matters in politics is greed.

        Just ask English, Key , or Treasury.

      • OnceWasTim 14.1.6
        28 December 2018 at 10:15 pm

        Well maybe @Wayne, your mates should have prioritised Katikati to Tauranga improvements over that ridiculous tolled thing that is utterly under-utilised between Paengaroa and the Papamoa.

        • Sacha 14.1.6.1
          28 December 2018 at 10:38 pm

          Yes, that choice shows their priority was never safety.

        • Rapunzel 14.1.6.2
          29 December 2018 at 7:18 am

          So you’ve been on that road too? I live in Tauranga and have maybe had reason to use it a times over the years. I felt like an extra in the movie “The Quiet Earth” though I have not seen it I imagine it had a similar feel. Most time I was the only vehicle in sight and one day it was me and a truck. With our port it would be a great thing to get the trucks out of the traffic into Tauranga but the Katikati-Tauranga-Auckland roads can be driven safely I do it a couple of times every 4-5 weeks. Most locals know it is the drivers more than the road that’s the problem but we have a “vocal” group either politically motivated or unfit to be driving who insist on shifting the “blame” away from the facts.

      • Sacha 14.1.7
        28 December 2018 at 10:41 pm

        Wayne, you seem to be confusing 4 lanes with actual safety measures like median barriers.

        • Wayne 14.1.7.1
          29 December 2018 at 9:01 am

          OnceWasTim

          Fair point. It is an amazing road, intended to bypass Te Puke, but I agree the traffic on the northern side of Tauranga is heavier.

          I have biked the section from Katikati to Tauranga many times (last in Jan 2018). It has got a lot worse in the last five years. Large trucks always are a bit intimidating to cyclists on an open highway. And that road has a lot of them. It seems especially perilous when going over the narrow bridges (there are two in particular). It feels like you are going to be sucked into the trucks.

          Improvements for Katikati to Tauranga are not due for another five years, it being in the second lot following the Waikato. It seem like Katikati to Tauranga will definitely have to wait till National is the government. I would put it on par with bypassing Dome Valley in terms of priority of safety.

          • OnceWasTim 14.1.7.1.1
            29 December 2018 at 9:00 pm

            @ Wayne
            I’m glad for your reply, but it does raise a number of questions – especially if your ‘mates’ (you know who they are, and what I mean by that) are now lobbying for 4 lanes to Heaven by road.

            Who’s bright idea was that?
            Was it intended as some sort of prototype for a PPP or whatever?
            What was the final cost?, and what would an estimate have been for simply providing a 2 lane option for a Te Puke bypass with a median strip?
            Who did a CBA and what were their findings?

            Given that Tauranga to Katikati was already a problem at the time of this magnificent edifice was being constructed, who was responsible for prioritising this monument to stupidity over doing something useful?

            I’ll concede a Te Puke bypass was and is useful given the number of log-laden trucks and others that STILL go through there, and that many don’t use it because they can’t be fooked with all the apparatus that goes with paying a toll – especially as a one-off.
            “intended to bypass TePuke” – except it still isn’t really doing that and probably won’t EVER until the toll is removed or the bullshit that goes with enforcing it.

            And then of course there are still all those little things that could have been considered. Like an under-utilised railway line that goes all the way to Murupara and damn near Whakatane.

            You’d have to agree that the decision for this stupidity was more political that it was anything to do with road safety or Joe/Jane Bloggs trying to go about his of her business

        • Wayne 14.1.7.2
          29 December 2018 at 9:06 am

          Sacha,

          It is beyond any doubt that fully engineered four lane roads are safer than median barriers on existing two lane roads. The median barriers always are put on the most dangerous sections which are inevitably twisty and difficult.

          Obviously a median barrier is better than nothing, but the volumes of traffic in Dome Valley or Katikati to Tauranga justify the better (but more expensive) solution of 4 lanning.

          • Sacha 14.1.7.2.1
            29 December 2018 at 9:15 am

            The various design features that make 4-lane expressways safer are not a function of having 4 lanes – median barriers, grade-separated interchanges, etc.

            As a compromise, we may end up with some 3-lane roads soon, including safety features.

          • Gabby 14.1.7.2.2
            29 December 2018 at 9:23 am

            You’ve looked into this then wayney? How much safer? Don’t be coy.

  15. David Mac 15
    28 December 2018 at 7:37 am

    The signs have little to do with roads and everything to do with winning the next election.

    Crawling through Wellsford in the sweltering heat with a couple of kids squabbling in the backseat and a future of 50 more weeks at the coalface before escaping back up North…it’s a great time to be suggesting ‘You could of been sailing through this town but you chose Labour and your Holiday Gridlock’.

    It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. It’s timely and impactful. Well played National.

    Calls to remove the signs are reactive and weak. Lets get proactive and do something stronger.

    • KJT 15.1
      28 December 2018 at 11:43 am

      Lies in politics are “well played”?

      • David Mac 15.1.1
        28 December 2018 at 1:33 pm

        I think those billboards will have an emotional impact on those they’re targeted at. Those that surmise ‘Utter lies’ are unlikely to ever vote right.

        Politics from all parties revolve around the creative interpretation of the truth. One man’s horse poo is another man’s plant super food.

  16. riffer 16
    28 December 2018 at 8:33 am

    On Monday my son and I travelled to Auckland to pick up a classic car and drive it back on Tuesday.

    Overall I didn’t think the roads were too bad, SH4 (Paraparas – National Park to Whanganui) notwithstanding – yeah, I know, should turned the other way at Taumarunui but it was a nice drive. I did, however, notice quite a few billboards in the Horowhenua touting “under National – a 4 lane highway. Under Labour, a 2 lane road”. And these were strategically placed from Levin – Otaki.

    So there’s definitely a campaign going on there to turn the locals away from Labour, and push the vote towards National on a self-interest level. I guess the locals aren’t too happy about having a fatal a week there.

    It’s most likely the quality of the driving but we won’t go there. Anyone who’s traveled the country recently can attest to the quality of our driving. All I will say is that it’s interesting and challenging driving the country in a vehicle that isn’t powerful enough to cruise comfortably at 140km/hr. You get passed a lot. In the strangest of places.

  17. Ad 17
    28 December 2018 at 9:00 am

    If there were Yellow Jacket-scale political capital to be had from transportation and fuel tax changes they would have seen it by now.

    It isn’t there.

    At best it solidifies National’s own rural vote, nothing more.

    • Graeme 17.1
      29 December 2018 at 8:53 am

      ” At best it solidifies National’s own rural vote, nothing more ”

      And probably only within a km or so around the signs. “Holiday Highways” look pretty hollow to the truckie driving Invercargill – Queenstown or Christchurch – Queenstown daily having to dodge the effects of National’s aspirational economy.

  18. Infused 18
    28 December 2018 at 10:06 am

    The watering down of the otaki road is fucking stupid.

    If labour had their way transmission gully would be canned

    • mauī 18.1
      28 December 2018 at 11:06 am

      The only thing Transmission Gully provides is the reduction of traffic going through the coastal villages of Paekak, Pukerua and Plimerton – nice for the folk who live there. In all likelihood with more car users attracted by the gully route, rush hour traffic will be worse, and the whole point of spending $1 billion was to ease congestion. Oh well, National voters might get some brains at some point.

      • greywarshark 18.1.1
        28 December 2018 at 12:34 pm

        Wasn’t there some other side of Transmission Gully thinking about coastal closures from problems or disasters, and the Gully would give access to Wellington, otherwise cut off?

        • mauī 18.1.1.1
          28 December 2018 at 1:21 pm

          There will be something like 20 bridges constructed along the gully route which gives some idea of the fragility of that route, I think it would be foolish to think that these will be all fine after a big quake.

          • greywarshark 18.1.1.1.1
            28 December 2018 at 1:51 pm

            A point to keep considering is the one of Wellington being likely to be cut off from the rest of NI and the Strait being impossible to sail across, and the airport being closed. I have read that Wellington people are vulnerable like this. That would be important to consider for any major NZ city but of course Wellington is the capital and I, as do many, want to keep it there.
            Central is good, and not having everything going into Auckland’s sucky-motor.

            So perhaps Transmission Gully may still be very useful even if bridges are down if there is suitable bridge infrastructure at each side of the various gullies which can be utilised by strong temporary bridges that army engineers would know how to build and which would be held in ‘lego’ pieces at some suitably close civil defence post. The technology has been around for a long time. It might not be sufficient for the behemoths of truck transport but careful transport from suitable trucks (a weigh-station or two on the outskirts and away from known fault lines would be practical). We don’t live in an easy country but we are clever and practical when we put our minds to it.
            Favourite cliche’: We haven’t much money, so we’ll have to think. (Rutherford)

          • Sacha 18.1.1.1.2
            28 December 2018 at 10:10 pm

            Very good point, thanks.

  19. the other pat 19
    28 December 2018 at 11:35 am

    Well i would rather see another Rakaia Bridge than this before it falls down…..the upper one lane bridge is a long detour….last accident it took 5.5 hrs to get from chch to sth side of the river….then 75 kms to the township itself….the road from Ashvegas to chch does need work…..temporary pothole fixes fall apart in 6 weeks.
    The bridge is N.Z ‘s longest at 1.8km and was built in 1937 and if it goes we are in the shit big time…..bailey bridges will not cut the mustard!
    Happy new year to you all.

  20. KJT 20
    28 December 2018 at 11:36 am

    Should be canned.

    Just adds to the bottlenecks in Wellington.

    Encouraging industry and offices out to the regions is cheaper and cuts emissions.
    Something where National are still in a Trumpian, fantasy world

  21. Pete 21
    28 December 2018 at 12:19 pm

    In Northland an elected member of a local authority in a lead Transport role in the time of Key/English moderated criticism of anything to do with roads. Defended them and their plans and was a mouthpiece.

    Now the same person still in the job is hellbent on bad-mouthing anything the Government wants to do. It’s not enough, and it’s not the right solution, etc, etc. After years of neglect he is the big noise about enough not being done.

    In the past fortnight a letter from the person to the local rag with the usual criticism, had the name, not the official position being occupied, not any indication of party affiliation. A private person having a personal bitch?

    Peters winning the by election a couple of years back has changed the mindset of quite a few in Northland. The way the road debate happens now, the way it is being desperately used by scumbags for political reasons is different.

    The piss off is that those responsible for not putting pressure on National Governments for years, or were treated like shit by headquarters for years and not taken seriously, are all uppity now there’s another Government. They suddenly expect resources to not be allocated to other regions but instead be put into the North. How come they didn’ create the public fuss back when? Arseholes.

  22. JustMe 22
    28 December 2018 at 12:30 pm

    Are these signs legal?

  23. cleangreen 23
    28 December 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Good subject here Micky

    We need Phil Twyford to now step forward and show leadership in spending big on rail freight not more four lane roads for truck freight.

    All our regions now need real aggressive rail restoration around the whole of NZ.

    Not just the occasional Shane Jones money bag coming around like another father Xmas to some regions and not others!!!!

    Our NZ rail network needs to be completed fully to connect together as a feeder route from the remotest regions to the main line.

    I was told at a meeting last week that Fonterra now are requesting for Government/Kiwirail to re-open the Rotorua line to Tauranga to move their export freight by rail and also to restore other regions rail also!!!

    Good for you Fonterra – good move there..

    So common “Minister fo Transport/rail” Phil Twyford ‘get your feet down and ass up’ and get NZ rail going again before it’s to late.

    Trucks are costing us to much now in road repairs as they cannot carry the heaver truck freight now.

    Have you seen how the trucks are now causing most of our regional roads to crumble?

    https://www.lrrb.org/pdf/201432.pdf

    https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/heavy_vehicle_safety_and_productivity.aspx

    So spend money on rail instead!!!

    Come up from Napier to Tauranga and see the ‘shoulders of highway two and others all crumbling before your eyes as 63 tonne (H) (HPMV) trucks simply have now unlimited access at travelling on our light rural “soft roads” and as they cannot ‘weight bear’ those loads!

    These (HPMV) with the yellow H sign on them are destroying our roads and making them very dangerous to drive on now.

    • David Mac 23.1
      28 December 2018 at 7:32 pm

      If you had the rights to import Panasonic microwave ovens into NZ you’d be wasting your time and money to use rail distribution. It can work for moving 500 tonnes of goods from a plant beside a railway line to a port, trees, beef and milk powder. Getting secateurs, Fitbits or Marmite around the country it’s a logistical nightmare.

      You see rail usage through your eyes cleangreen, you don’t distribute bulk products around NZ. You’re so focused on just one bit of Gisborne rail I think you’re fed up with having to dust your baby grand twice a day.

      If I have 20 pallets to be dropped at 20 electrical retailers down the country I’d be loading one truck and providing the driver with one list. I wouldn’t be arranging for 20 trucks to pick up consignments from 20 rail warehouses. Labour is expensive, I’d be having my goods handled twice, not 6 times.

      Lobbying Twyford won’t ignite a resurgence in rail usage. If keen for a resurgence we need to make using it a 1 phone call and trustworthy process for goods distributors. At the moment, for good reason, the people that could use rail are saying ‘No thanks, I can’t afford the, time, money, insurance premiums and I’ve just got 24 hours in my day.’

      I think rail is a charming 300 year old dinosaur and within the next 50 years we’ll be using unmanned GPS guided solar sucking electric road haulers that load and unload themselves.

      • outofbed 23.1.1
        29 December 2018 at 7:30 am

        Coastal shipping coastal shipping coastal shipping

        https://treasury.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/tfr-csmfc-23oct09.pdf

        Alternate transport modes of roil and coastal shipping are better able to compete with road far
        longer distance movements where the speed of delivery is not paramount and cost advantages
        can outweigh quality of service disadvantages. If delivery requires an inter-island movement,
        this substantially impacts the total duration and cost of the service road is able to offer, and
        therefore improves the relative competitive positioning of coastal shipping

      • Graeme 23.1.2
        29 December 2018 at 8:43 am

        Efficiency and conveniency are not necessarily the same thing. Rail may be more efficient with regard to energy and resources, and at a societal level, but road may be more convenient at an individual level.

        Automation is much more likely to be viable in a rail environment than road due to the separation that is, and will be, required between automation and humans. Rail has this separation now due to the size factor with rail, roads are multi shared spaces that the rigid logic of automation finds too complex. The liability issues around this shared space complexity will make road automation very difficult unless the legal and moral environment changes. Ultimately someone programmed the autonomous vehicle to decide who to kil.

        So I see a future of smarter containerisation, probably down to local distribution level by road, with linehaul by rail with automated loading and unloading and probably the whole train is automated or with human supervision rather than operation.

        I see AVs as some kind or magical thinking to maintain the status quo while ignoring the realities of human society and environment. It all looks good from inside the spreadsheet because it eliminates the financial cost of humans, but the costs both financial and social are ignored.

        • David Mac 23.1.2.1
          29 December 2018 at 3:54 pm

          The critics of trucks that offer alternatives are not moving products around the country. These distributors are the people that need to be offered a viable alternative.

          If I have the rights to wholesale Panasonic microwaves around NZ my needs look like this:

          2 sea containers full of them delivered to my warehouse in Albany. Then I need 2 pallets delivered to Noel Leeming at Manakau, another pallet to Hamilton, 1 to Cambridge, another to Matamata, 2 to Tauranga, 1 to Taupo, 3 to Wellington etc etc.

          Trains and ships can get my pallets to within 100kms of where I need them, then after multiple superfluous handling operations, I need 20 different trucks to deliver my pallets to their ultimate destinations.

        • greywarshark 23.1.2.2
          29 December 2018 at 5:10 pm

          Let’s not leave climate change, resource competition etc out of the rosy calculations for trucks over rail.

      • mauī 23.1.3
        29 December 2018 at 9:21 am

        The Auckland CRL and big investment in Kiwirail. Not bad for a 300 year old dinosaur.

        The size and weight of battery required for an electric semi-trailer truck is totally ridiculous and impractical, hence why we haven’t and won’t see a trucking revolution.

        • Andre 23.1.3.1
          29 December 2018 at 9:59 am

          I s’pose the impracticalities of electric trucking are why existing big truck makers like Volvo, Daimler and others are doing a lot of development and making big noises around upcoming electric trucks. Let alone all the startups like Tesla, Thor, Nikola and a bunch of others.

          https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/06/28/this-electric-semi-is-trucking-right-past-teslas.aspx

          https://electrek.co/2018/09/13/volvo-all-electric-autonomous-truck-without-a-cab/

        • David Mac 23.1.3.2
          29 December 2018 at 4:09 pm

          Would you like to own Kiwirail? Please make out your 1.8 billion dollar cheque to NZ Inc. We had a wee loss last year.

          Semi trailers don’t need to be behemoth road wrecking road hogs if they are unmanned freight haulers and as Andre says, Volvo, Daimler, MAN et al can’t afford to piss money up against the wall like the NZ taxpayers can. They’re not tipping in billions of R and D dollars to pursue an impossible dream.

          • KJT 23.1.3.2.1
            29 December 2018 at 4:54 pm

            How much did making roads safe for truck, cost us, last year again?
            In other words, you wouldn’t find those trucks so convenient, if they paid all their own costs, and passed them directly to you, instead of passing them on to car drivers and rate payers.
            Imagine if roads were expected to make 12% of the opportunity cost of the land they use, like ports?

            The value of rail, and shipping, is the cost of not having it.

            • David Mac 23.1.3.2.1.1
              29 December 2018 at 5:12 pm

              Yeah yeah I hear you.

              Now, I’ve got 30 pallets to be dropped at 20 locations stretching right down the North Island. What would you do?

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    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s moves this week to take farming out of the ETS and encourage more mining and oil and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Climate policy axed in broad daylight, while taxpayer liabilities grow in the dark
    In 2019, Shane Jones addressed the “50 Shades of Green” protest at Parliament: Now he is part of a government giving those farmers a pass on becoming part of the ETS, as well as threatening to lock in offshore oil exploration and mining for decades. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Rage Bait!
    Hi,Today’s newsletter is all about how easy it is to get sucked into “rage bait” online, and how easy it is to get played.But first I wanted to share something that elicited the exact opposite of rage in me — something that made me feel incredibly proud, whilst also making ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Friday, June 14
    Seymour said lower speed limits “drained the joy from life as people were forced to follow rules they knew made no sense.” File Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Friday, June 14 were:The National/ACT/NZ First ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Friendly but frank talks with China Premier
    It sounded like the best word to describe yesterday’s talks between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his heavyweight delegation of Ministers and officials and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and New Zealand Ministers and officials was “frank.” But it was the kind of frankness that friends can indulge in. It ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #24 2024
    Open access notables Wildfire smoke impacts lake ecosystems, Farruggia et al., Global Change Biology: We introduce the concept of the lake smoke-day, or the number of days any given lake is exposed to smoke in any given fire season, and quantify the total lake smoke-day exposure in North America from 2019 ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Geoffrey Miller: China’s message to New Zealand – don’t put it all at risk
    Don’t put it all at risk. That’s likely to be the take-home message for New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in his meetings with Li Qiang, the Chinese Premier. Li’s visit to Wellington this week is the highest-ranking visit by a Chinese official since 2017. The trip down under – ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    4 days ago

  • The Real Thing
    I know the feelingIt is the real thingThe essence of the soulThe perfect momentThat golden momentI know you feel it tooI know the feelingIt is the real thingYou can't refuse the embraceNo?Sometimes we face the things we most dislike. A phobia or fear that must be confronted so it doesn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on how moderates empower the political right
    Struth, what a week. Having made sure the rural sector won’t have to pay any time soon for its pollution, PM Christopher Luxon yesterday chose Fieldays 2024 to launch a parliamentary inquiry into rural banking services, to see how the banks have been treating farmers faced with high interest rates. ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Thursday, June 13
    In April, 17,656 people left Aotearoa-NZ to live overseas, averaging 588 a day, with just over half of those likely to have gone to Australia. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Thursday, June 13 ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Our guide to having your say on the draft RLTP 2024
    Auckland’s draft Regional Land Transport Plan (RLTP) 2024 is open for feedback – and you only have until Monday 17 June to submit. Do it! Join the thousands of Aucklanders who are speaking up for wise strategic investment that will dig us out of traffic and give us easy and ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    5 days ago

  • The China puzzle
    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Wellington today for a three-day visit to the country. The visit will take place amid uncertainty about the future of the New Zealand-China relationship. Li hosted a formal welcome and then lunch for then-Prime Minister Chris Hipkins in Beijing a year ago. The pair ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Fossil fuels are shredding our democracy
    This is a re-post of an article from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler published on June 3, 2024. I have an oped in the New York Times (gift link) about this. For a long time, a common refrain about the energy transition was that renewable energy needed to become ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Life at 20 kilometres an hour
    We are still in France, getting from A to B.Possibly for only another week, though; Switzerland and Germany are looming now. On we pedal, towards Budapest, at about 20 km per hour.What are are mostly doing is inhaling a country, loving its ways and its food. Rolling, talking, quietly thinking. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins is still useless
    The big problem with the last Labour government was that they were chickenshits who did nothing with the absolute majority we had given them. They governed as if they were scared of their own shadows, afraid of making decisions lest it upset someone - usually someone who would never have ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Exercising with the IDF.
    This morning I did something I seldom do, I looked at the Twitter newsfeed. Normally I take the approach of something that I’m not sure is an American urban legend, or genuinely something kids do over there. The infamous bag of dog poo on the front porch, set it on ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Helm Hammerhand Anime: First Pictures and an Old English ‘Hera’
    We have some news on the upcoming War of the Rohirrim anime. It will apparently be two and a half hours in length, with Peter Jackson as Executive Producer, and Helm’s daughter Hera will be the main character. Also, pictures: The bloke in the middle picture is Freca’s ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago

  • Farmers get free pass on climate AND get subsidies
    The cows will keep burping and farting and climate change will keep accelerating - but farmers can stop worrying about being included in the ETS. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: My six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Wednesday, June 12 were:The ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Six ideas to secure Te Huia’s Future
    This is a guest post by our friend Darren Davis. It originally appeared on his excellent blog, Adventures in Transitland, which features “musings about public transport and other cool stuff in Aotearoa/ New Zealand and around the globe.” With Te Huia now having funding secure through to 2026, now is ...
    Greater AucklandBy Darren Davis
    6 days ago

  • The methane waka sinks
    In some ways, there may be less than meets the eye to the Government announcement yesterday that the He Waka Eke Noa proposal for farmers to pay for greenhouse gas emissions has been scrapped. The spectre of farmers still having to pay at some point in the future remains. That, ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Does positive feedback necessarily mean runaway warming?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Climate Change: Farmers get what they wanted – for now
    Since entering office, National has unravelled practically every climate policy, leaving us with no effective way of reducing emissions or meeting our emissions budgets beyond magical thinking around the ETS. And today they've announced another step: removing agriculture entirely. At present, following the complete failure of he waka eka noa, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Presumed Innocent?
    The blue billionaireDistraction no interactionOr movement outside these glazed over eyesThe new great divideFew fight the tide to be glorifiedBut will he be satisfied?Can we accept this without zoom?The elephant in the roomNot much happens in politics on a Monday. Bugger all in fact. Although yesterday Christopher Luxon found he ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on our doomed love affair with oil and gas
    What if New Zealand threw a fossil fuel party, and nobody came? On the weekend, Resources Minister Shane Jones sent out the invitations and strung up the balloons, but will anyone really want to invest big time in resuming oil and gas exploration in our corner of the planet? Yes, ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Building better housing insights
    This is a guest post by Meredith Dale, senior urban designer and strategist at The Urban Advisory. There’s a saying that goes something like: ‘what you measure is what you value’. An RNZ article last week claimed that Auckland was ‘hurting’ because of a more affordable supply of homes, particularly townhouses ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 days ago

  • Putin would be proud of them
    A Prime Minister directs his public service to inquire into the actions of the opposition political party which is his harshest critic. Something from Orban's Hungary, or Putin's Russia? No, its happening right here in Aotearoa: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Public Service Commission will launch an ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths
    This is a repost from a Yale Climate Connections article by SueEllen Campbell published on June 3, 2024. The articles listed can help you tell fact from fiction when it comes to solar and wind energy. Some statements you hear about solar and wind energy are just plain false. ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Juggernaut
    Politics were going on all around us yesterday, and we barely noticed, rolling along canal paths, eating baguettes. It wasn’t until my mate got to the headlines last night that we learned there had been a dismayingly strong far right result in the EU elections and Macron had called a ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Numbers Game.
    Respect Existence, Or Expect Resistance? There may well have been 50,000 pairs of feet “Marching For Nature” down Auckland’s Queen Street on Saturday afternoon, but the figure that impresses the Coalition Government is the 1,450,000 pairs of Auckland feet that were somewhere else.IN THE ERA OF DRONES and Artificial Intelligence, ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Media Link: AVFA on post-colonial blowback.
    Selwyn Manning and I discuss varieties of post colonial blowback and the implications its has for the rise of the Global South. Counties discussed include Palestine/Israel, France/New Caledonia, England/India, apartheid/post-apartheid South Africa and post-colonial New Zealand. It is a bit … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    1 week ago

  • Policy by panic
    Back in March, Ombudsman Peter Boshier resigned when he hit the statutory retirement age of 72, leaving the country in the awkward (and legally questionable) position of having him continue as a temporay appointee. It apparently took the entire political system by surprise - as evinced by Labour's dick move ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • PSA: NZ's Richest Company, Zuru, Sucks
    Hi,Today the New Zealand press is breathlessly reporting that the owners of toy company Zuru are officially New Zealand’s wealthiest people: Mat and Nick Mowbray worth an estimated $20 billion between them.While the New Zealand press loses its shit celebrating this Kiwi success story, this is a Webworm reminder that ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Bernard's Dawn Chorus and pick 'n' mix for Monday, June 10
    TL;DR: The six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty in the past day to 8:36 pm on Monday, June 10 were:20,000 protested against the Fast-track approval bill on Saturday in Auckland, but PM Christopher Luxon says ‘sorry, but not sorry’ about the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • In Defence of Kāinga Ora
    Given the headlines around the recent findings of the ‘independent’ review of Kāinga Ora by Bill English, you might assume this post will be about social housing, Kāinga Ora’s most prominent role. While that is indeed something that requires defending, I want to talk about the other core purpose of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    1 week ago

  • Baby You're A Rich Man
    “How does it feel to beOne of the beautiful peopleNow that you know who you areWhat do you want to beAnd have you traveled very far?Far as the eye can see”Yesterday the ACT party faithful were regaled with craven boasts, sneers, and demands for even more at their annual rally.That ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Stopping a future Labour government from shutting down gas exploration
    A defiant Resources Minister Shane Jones has responded to Saturday’s environmental protests by ending Labour’s offshore oil exploration ban and calling for long-term contracts with any successful explorers. The purpose would be to prevent a future Labour Government from reversing any licence the explorers might hold. Jones sees a precedent ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #23
    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, June 2, 2024 thru Sat, June 8, 2024. Story of the week Our Story of the Week is Yale Climate Connection's Resources for debunking common solar and wind myths, by ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Fission by the river
    This is where we ate our lunch last Wednesday. Never mind your châteaux and castles and whatnot, we like to enjoy a baguette in the shadow of a nuclear power plant; a station that puts out more than twice as much as Manapouri using nothing more than tiny atoms to bring ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Fact Brief – Is the ocean acidifying?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by John Mason in collaboration with members from the Gigafact team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Is the ocean acidifying? Acidification of oceans ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • 20,000+ on Queen St.
    The largest protest I ever went on was in the mid 90s. There were 10,000 people there that day, and I’ve never forgotten it. An enormous mass of people, chanting together. Stretching block after block, bringing traffic to a halt.But I can’t say that’s the biggest protest I’ve ever been ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Josh Drummond's Columns
    Hi there,I wanted to put all of Josh Drummond’s Webworm pieces all in one place. I love that he writes for Webworm — and all of these are a good read!David.Why Are So Many “Christians” Hellbent on Being Horrible?Why do so many objectively hideous people declare themselves “Christian”?Meeting the Master ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Bernard’s Saturday soliloquy and weekend Pick ‘n’ Mix for June 8/9
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: On reflection, the six things to note in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty this week were:The Government-driven freeze in building new classrooms, local roads and water networks in order to save cash for tax cuts is frustrating communities facing massive population ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The no-vision thing
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past somewhat interrupted week. Still on the move!Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • When Journalists are Disingenuous
    Hi,One of the things I like the most about Webworm is to be able to break down the media and journalism a little, and go behind the scenes.This is one of those times.Yesterday an email arrived in my inbox from journalist Jonathan Milne, who is managing editor at Newsroom.I don’t ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 week ago

  • Me, elsewhere: Just say you’ll do the thing
    Wrote something over at 1/200 on a familiar theme of mine: The way we frame the economy as a separate, sacred force which must be sacrificed to, the way we talk about criminals as invaders who must be repelled, the constant othering of people on the benefit, people not in ...
    Boots TheoryBy Stephanie Rodgers
    1 week ago

  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted
    A nice bit of news today: my 4600-word historical fantasy-horror piece, A Voyage Among the Vandals, has been accepted by Phobica Books (https://www.phobicabooks.co.uk/books) for their upcoming Pirate Horror anthology, Shivering Timbers. This one is set in the Mediterranean, during the mid-fifth century AD. Notable for having one of history’s designated ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago

  • Ministerial conflicts of interest
    Since the National government came to power, it has been surrounded by allegations of conflicts of interest. Firstly, there's the fast-track law, which concentrates power in the hands of three Ministers, some of whom have received donations from companies whose projects they will be deciding on. Secondly, there's the close ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • The 2024 Budget Forecasts Are Gloomy Prognosis About The Next Three Years.
    There was no less razzamatazz about the 2024 Budget than about earlier ones. Once again the underlying economic analysis got lost. It deserves more attention.Just to remind you, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update (BEFU), is the Treasury’s independent assessment and so can be analysed by other competent economists (although ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago

  • A government that can't see twenty feet ahead
    There are two failings that consistently characterise a National government. One is a lack of imagination, the other is their willingness to look after their mates, no matter what harm it might do to everyone else.This is how we come to have thousands of enormous trucks carving up our roads. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • A post I hope is incorrect
    In May, we learned that National MP David MacLeod had "forgotten" to declare $178,000 in electoral donations. Filing a donation return which is false in any material particular is a crime, and the Electoral Commission has now referred MacLeod to police, since they're the only people who are allowed to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • Māori Cannot Re-Write New Zealand’s Constitution By Stealth.
    The Kotahitanga Parliament 1897: A Māori Parliament – at least in the guise of a large and representative body dedicated to describing the shape of New Zealand’s future from a Māori perspective – would be a very good idea.THE DEMAND for a “Māori Parliament” needs to be carefully unpicked. Some Pakeha, ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago

  • Cowpats and Colonials.
    Dumbtown, is how my friend Gerard refers to people like ZB listeners - he’s not wrong.Normally on a Friday I start by looking at Mike Hosking’s moronic reckons of the week which he vomits down the throats of his audience like helpless baby birds in a nest, grateful for the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Gordon Campbell on cutting the sick leave of vulnerable workers
    Should sick leave be part and parcel of the working conditions from Day One on the job, just like every other health and safety provision? Or should access to sick leave be something that only gradually accumulates, depending on how long a worker has been on the payroll? If enacted ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 week ago

  • Making it easier to build granny flats
    The Government has today announced that it is making it easier for people to build granny flats, Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters and RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop say. “Making it easier to build granny flats will make it more affordable for families to live the way that suits them ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • High Court Judge appointed
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Auckland King’s Counsel Gregory Peter Blanchard as a High Court Judge. Justice Blanchard attended the University of Auckland from 1991 to 1995, graduating with an LLB (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (English). He was a solicitor with the firm that is now Dentons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Health workforce numbers rise
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says new data released today shows encouraging growth in the health workforce, with a continued increase in the numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives joining Health New Zealand. “Frontline healthcare workers are the beating heart of the healthcare system. Increasing and retaining our health workforce ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to overhaul firearms laws
    Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has today announced a comprehensive programme to reform New Zealand's outdated and complicated firearms laws. “The Arms Act has been in place for over 40 years. It has been amended several times – in a piecemeal, and sometimes rushed way. This has resulted in outdated ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government delivers landmark specialist schools investment
    The coalition Government is delivering record levels of targeted investment in specialist schools so children with additional needs can thrive. As part of Budget 24, $89 million has been ringfenced to redevelop specialist facilities and increase satellite classrooms for students with high needs. This includes: $63 million in depreciation funding ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Major health and safety consultation begins
    A substantial consultation on work health and safety will begin today with a roadshow across the regions over the coming months, says Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden.  This the first step to deliver on the commitment to reforming health and safety law and regulations, set out in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Growing the potential of New Zealand’s forestry sector in partnership
    Forestry Minister Todd McClay, today announced the start of the Government’s plan to restore certainty and confidence in the forestry and wood processing sector. “This government will drive investment to unlock the industry’s economic potential for growth,” Mr McClay says. “Forestry’s success is critical to rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, boosting ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government cancels forestry ETS annual service charges for 2023-24
    Annual service charges in the forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will be cancelled for 2023/24, Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. “The sector has told me the costs imposed on forestry owners by the previous government were excessive and unreasonable and I agree,” Mr McClay says. “They have said that there ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the LGNZ Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Thank you for having me here today and welcome to Wellington, the home of the Hurricanes, the next Super Rugby champions. Infrastructure – the challenge This government has inherited a series of big challenges in infrastructure. I don’t need to tell an audience as smart as this one that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government boosts Agriculture and food trade with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard welcomed outcomes to boost agricultural and food trade between New Zealand and China. A number of documents were signed today at Government House that will improve the business environment between New Zealand and China, and help reduce barriers, including on infant formula ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • NZ and China launch Services Trade Negotiations
    Trade Minister Todd McClay, and China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, today announced the official launch of Negotiations on Services Trade between the two countries.  “The Government is focused on opening doors for services exporters to grow the New Zealand’s economy,” Mr McClay says.  As part of the 2022 New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement Upgrade ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon meets with Premier Li
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at Government House in Wellington today.  “I was pleased to welcome Premier Li to Wellington for his first official visit, which marks 10 years since New Zealand and China established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Mr Luxon says. “The Premier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government and business tackling gender pay gap
    The coalition Government is taking action to reduce the gender pay gap in New Zealand through the development of a voluntary calculation tool. “Gender pay gaps have impacted women for decades, which is why we need to continue to drive change in New Zealand,” Acting Minister for Women Louise Upston ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Funding Boost for Rural Support Trusts
    The coalition Government is boosting funding for Rural Support Trusts to provide more help to farmers and growers under pressure, Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced today. “A strong and thriving agricultural sector is crucial to the New Zealand economy and one of the ways to support it is to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Latest data shows size of public service decreasing
    Spending on contractors and consultants continues to fall and the size of the Public Service workforce has started to decrease after years of growth, according to the latest data released today by the Public Service Commission. Workforce data for the quarter from 31 December 23 to 31 March 24 shows ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Law Association
    Thank you to the Law Association for inviting me to speak this morning. As a former president under its previous name — the Auckland District Law Society — I take particular satisfaction in seeing this organisation, and its members, in such good heart. As Attorney-General, I am grateful for these ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • 25 years on, NZ reaffirms enduring friendship with Timor Leste
    New Zealand is committed to working closely with Timor-Leste to support its prosperity and resilience, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “This year is the 25th anniversary of New Zealand sending peacekeepers to Timor-Leste, who contributed to the country’s stabilisation and ultimately its independence,” Mr Peters says.    “A quarter ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Inquiry requested into rural banking
    Promoting robust competition in the banking sector is vital to rebuilding the economy, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  “New Zealanders deserve a banking sector that is as competitive as possible. Banking services play an important role in our communities and in the economy. Kiwis rely on access to lending when ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Ministry for Regulation targets red tape to keep farmers and growers competitive
    Regulation Minister David Seymour, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds, and Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard have today announced a regulatory sector review on the approval process for new agricultural and horticultural products.    “Red tape stops farmers and growers from getting access to products that have been approved by other OECD countries. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to reverse blanket speed limit reductions
    The Coalition Government will reverse Labour’s blanket speed limit reductions by 1 July 2025 through a new Land Transport Rule released for public consultation today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  The draft speed limit rule will deliver on the National-ACT coalition commitment to reverse the previous government’s blanket speed limit ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Chair appointments for NZSO, CNZ and NZ On Air
    Minister Paul Goldsmith is making major leadership changes within both his Arts and Media portfolios. “I am delighted to announce Carmel Walsh will be officially stepping into the role of Chair of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, having been acting Chair since April,” Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Carmel is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government focus on long-term food, fibre growth
    Food and fibre export revenue is tipped to reach $54.6 billion this year and hit a record $66.6b in 2028 as the Government focuses on getting better access to markets and cutting red tape, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones say. “This achievement is testament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Govt consulting on cutting red tape for exporters
    A new export exemption proposal for food businesses demonstrates the coalition Government’s commitment to reducing regulatory barriers for industry and increasing the value of New Zealand exports, which gets safe New Zealand food to more markets, says Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard.  “The coalition Government has listened to the concerns ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand and Philippines elevating relationship
    New Zealand and Philippines are continuing to elevate our relationship, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The leaders of New Zealand and Philippines agreed in April 2024 to lift our relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026,” Mr Peters says. “Our visit to Manila this week has been an excellent ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Paid Parental Leave increase to help families
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister, Brooke van Velden says paid parental leave increase from 1 July will put more money in the pockets of Kiwi parents and give them extra support as they take precious time off to bond with their newborns. The increase takes effect from 1 July 2024 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Defence increases UN Command commitment
    The number of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel deployed to the Republic of Korea is increasing, Defence Minister Judith Collins and Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today.  NZDF will deploy up to 41 additional personnel to the Republic of Korea, increasing the size of its contribution to the United ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • New Zealand to attend 'Summit on Peace in Ukraine' in Switzerland
    New Zealand will be represented at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine by Minister Mark Mitchell in Switzerland later this week.    “New Zealand strongly supports Ukraine’s efforts to build a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Minister Mitchell is a senior Cabinet Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Big step forward for M.bovis programme
    Farmers’ hard work is paying off in the fight against Mycoplasma bovis (M. bovis) with the move to a national pest management plan marking strong progress in the eradication effort, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard.  “The plan, approved by the Coalition Government, was proposed by the programme partners DairyNZ, Beef ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Build To Rent opening welcomed by Housing Minister
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