web analytics

National’s electoral returns and the Donghua Liu donation

Written By: - Date published: 11:22 am, February 25th, 2015 - 41 comments
Categories: john key, national, uncategorized - Tags: ,

National has been busy constructing a story around recent news concerning Donghua Liu’s donation of $25,000.  The proposition is that John Key went to Donghua Liu’s place for dinner, that Liu then gave a significant donation but it was not to the party or to Liu’s BFF Maurice Williamson who found Liu a house, set up meetings with successive Immigration Ministers for him and even sacrificed his ministerial career by interfering in a police prosecution of Liu.  No not to the top man John Key, not to the National Party, not to Williamson, but to a nondescript back bencher who tagged along with Key to the dinner.

How likely is that?

The motivation is clear.  If news of a donation by Liu to National had been published the day before Williamson resigned for interfering in a police prosecution it would have been incendiary.

In the Herald story National claimed that the donation was to the Botany Cabinet Club.  This particular club has the unique feature that donations to it or at least the Liu donation do not appear to be recorded in National’s yearly return of donations.  Apparently this particular cabinet club works under different rules to the rest of them.

Jamie-Lee has now filed his return of electoral expenses.  It is interesting that the Herald [may have been] given three days heads up on the story.  Perhaps National saw this as a way to lead the story with its own framing in particular suggesting that the donation was to Ross and not National.  The news was obviously going to break anyway as soon as Ross’s return was published.

I have had a look through the returns.  The figures are impressive.  There are some unusual features:

  • National spent on average $20,356 in each seat it contested.  By contrast Labour spent $9,199.84.  When you add in the party campaign figures ($2,558,211.53 verses $1,269,298.91) National spent twice as much on attributable expenses as Labour ($3.8 million verses $1.9 million).
  • Nikki Kaye is the only person to not declare any donations.  Either her local organisation is well funded or she has made a mistake which she may wish to correct.
  • The total of donations declared by National candidates is $1.262 million with over 80% of this being funded from National head office.
  • Talleys were a major private contributor giving $37,500 to different campaigns.
  • In 26 of the 41 National held seats the only donor was head office.  In the remaining 15 there was a single donor in nine of those seats with Talleys being the donor in three of those seats.  So in only six seats were there more than two private donors.
  • There is no sign of any Cabinet Club donations being recorded in any of the individual returns apart from in Ross’s return.

It seems clear that cabinet club donations are collected centrally, recorded in the party’s annual return and then distributed out to the local electorates.  National previously said that since Cabinet Club donations were declared everything was above board.

And the story, at least in the way that National presents it, keeps changing.  According to TV3 a couple of days ago:

Last year Mr Key’s office denied a dinner he had with Liu was a ‘Cabinet Club’ fundraiser. But today the story changed, after pictures emerged of the Prime Minister meeting Liu at his Remuera home – a meeting that at the height of last year’s donations saga, Mr Key didn’t want to talk about.

His office at the time said the mystery dinner wasn’t a contentious fundraiser, but today Mr Key said he knew it was a Cabinet Club dinner.

And …

Liu’s links to National have hurt the Government – most notably last year’s resignation by Maurice Williamson as a minister for interfering in Liu’s ongoing police case.

At the time, Mr Key was keen to keep his distance, admitting they’d met, but wouldn’t give specifics. However Mr Key’s office later said the pair met at a National Party fundraiser.

But today’s pictures reveal that fundraiser was actually the private dinner at Liu’s home – complete with a smiling Mr Key and National’s Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross.

When asked last year if it was a Cabinet Club dinner, the Prime Minister’s office replied in a statement simply saying no.

So what happened?  Maybe Key employs absolutely amateurish staff who put out information without running it past the boss to make sure that it is accurate.  Or maybe not.

So Key denied last year the dinner was a Cabinet Club dinner.  And his staff said it was not a contentious fundraiser the day after TV3 broke the news about cabinet clubs and on the same day that news about contentious Cabinet Club meetings for the Chinese was released.  Then this year it is said to be a cabinet club fundraiser but the donation is not declared by National even though it seems that it has declared other cabinet club donations.

The whole story is as fishy as Talley’s best products.

 

41 comments on “National’s electoral returns and the Donghua Liu donation ”

  1. There’s no reason yet to believe that the Herald was given a heads up. Candidate returns had to be filed on 20 January, but the Commission doesn’t place them on-line until after the the party returns get in, about four weeks later. There’s no reason at present to believe that an enterprising Herald journalist didn’t simply go in and inspect the returns at the Electoral Commission 🙂

    • Tom Gould 1.1

      Indeed. The notion that the Tories and the Herald are in cahoots is preposterous. People who think otherwise need to get some guts and join the right side, eh?

    • mickysavage 1.2

      You might be right Graeme. Time will tell!

    • tracey 1.3

      Graeme

      Would the returning of the donation have shown up, and how would anyone know to look for it?

    • veutoviper 1.4

      Well put! LOL. Good to see someone undertaking some proactive investigation.

      BUT – how did they get the photos of the dinner?

      • One Anonymous Bloke 1.4.1

        After the slap in the face I expect Liu supplied them.

      • Clemgeopin 1.4.2

        “BUT – how did they get the photos of the dinner?”

        May be the ‘honest’-‘non corrupt’-‘the great man of guts’, John Key, had a copy himself in his top drawer and gave it quietly through his honest ‘blind trust’ to his propaganda rag, NZ Herald, to double cross the ‘honest’-‘non corrupt’-‘silly fool’, Jamie Lee Ross?

        Walter Scott foretold this a while ago:

        “Oh what a tangled web National weave,
        When first they practice to deceive!

  2. Jonas 2

    There is also a broader issue here, and that is the role of Chinese donations in the NZ political system. They come from a culture where ‘donations’ or gifts to local party officials is an integral part of life, hence the never ending anti-corruption campaign. Donations from Mainland Chinese business men or women, with only tenuous links to NZ, is a dangerous development. For the PM to fund raise in this manner, and then cover it up, is completely unacceptable.

    • Olwyn 2.1

      A further problem is that the behaviour of these right wing politicians is disgraceful by any cultural norm, and I can’t help but wonder what people like Mr Liu make of being feted one minute and disowned the next. They neither adhere to the constraints of our system nor the mutual respect and obligation inherent to theirs – their levels of expedience and callous indifference to others are simply staggering.

    • Clemgeopin 2.2

      +1

  3. This perhaps puts the Liu-Cunliffe smear in a new light. I’m thinking that National knew that the issue could hurt them after Williamson, and so prepared a smear against Cunliffe so that they could defend the donations along the lines of “everyone does it”, if it turned out that the press found out about Liu’s donations to National.

    I’ve always wondered why it was such a weak smear. Surely they could have concocted something better.

    Of course it ended up working better than expected because the press never picked up on this particular donations to National, and because – as Frank Macskasy has proved – people in the Herald and TV3 were acting as de facto National party press secretaries.

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4

    I thought National was constantly squeezing its local branches for money?

    Then we see it was really the other way around.

    As an incorporated society doenst national have to publish figures on its accounts, not just the ‘declared’ income and expenditure which has lots of legal gaps. ie polling money doesnt have to declared as expenditure

    • tracey 4.1

      I don’t think an incorporated has to publish details on the minutiae of its accounts.

    • mickysavage 4.2

      This will surprise you ghost but National is not an incorporated society, neither is Labour. They do have to declare donations each year under the electoral act however.

      • tracey 4.2.1

        So national has to list all its donors but the party would be responsible for any “mistakes” not the candidates?

  5. tracey 5

    Once national put Jamie-Lee Ross tot he front on this issue you know Key has already contradicted himself at least once and they don’t want him speaking of it any more. That’s the pattern.

  6. ankerawshark 6

    I posted this on open mike this morning just before you post went up Micky. I know it might not read so well, but please excuse, very limited time today.

    I felt so incensed about the whole Dong Liu donations saga and the spin about Labour and Liu, that I contacted the Press Council last night and asked them to re-consider Frank Mac’s submission to them about the Herald’s claims that Dong Liu donated $$$$ to Labour. The complaint from Frank wasn’t upheld, because the Herald maintained there was “more to come” about Liu and Labour. And of course nothing has come about Labour and Liu, but indeed we find out it was National receiving donations.

    Last night I re-submitted Frank’s complaint to the Press Council, copied a link about National’s donations and asked them to re-consider Frank’s complaint. (hope that’s o.k. Frank???? didn’t know how to contact you to get your permission);

    Much to my surprize I had an email this morning saying it would be re-presented to the council.

    I will keep you updated!

    • mickysavage 6.1

      Thanks ankerawshark. Please do.

    • Lanthanide 6.2

      The press council shouldn’t use the “more to come” as a reason to dismiss a complaint – it should be put into a pending/holding state until such time as the Herald ponies up the goods. Then, if they fail to pony up the goods, that can additionally weigh into the complaint as further evidence.

    • Pasupial 6.3

      ankerawshark

      The only times I’ve communicated with MacSkasy have been on comment threads of TDB. However, the About page of his own blog does have a gmail address (no idea if it’s still current, or how often he checks it):

      https://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/about-3/

      • ankerawshark 6.3.1

        Hi Pasupial.

        I have left a message for Frank on his gmail address, but to date haven’t heard.

    • mary_a 6.4

      Hey thanks for this @ ankerawshark. Look forward to further posts from you on this one.

      Have to give it to Frank Mac, he dedicates a lot of time and effort on various contentious issues on behalf of ordinary Kiwi folk, attempting to get to the truth. Doing the work of lazy msm it seems!

    • ianmac 6.5

      Well done ankershank! Was pretty annoyed back then when reading Frank’s complaint and now that it might reawaken is good. Pity that the Press Council can do very little except say naughty, naughty.

    • linda 6.6

      labour should go lui for lies and the herald

  7. wyndham 7

    I see David Parker is quizzing key at question time today – – – q.10.

    10. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by the statement made on his behalf last year about his contact with Mr Liu that: “As Prime Minister and the leader of the National Party, Mr Key attends a number of functions up and down the country which are attended by a large number of people. While we don’t have a record of who attends these events, Mr Key recalls seeing Mr Liu at various functions, including a dinner as part of a National Party fundraiser”?

    • mary_a 7.1

      @ wyndham – thanks for this info. I shall watch out for Parker’s question and listen to the sleazy, slimy response drivel from Key.

    • Clemgeopin 7.2

      Here is the video. Incisive questions. Seems to me that David Parker KNOWS much more and more questions will follow. (It is a shame we mostly have quite an useless, biased or RW bought up media!)

      http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/35809

      As an aside, also watch the speech from Ron Mark about ISIL and guts and his EXCELLENT telling off to the idiot, Goldsmith who was behaving like a prick when Ron Mark was speaking. You must watch it! The first two minutes of this link:

      http://www.inthehouse.co.nz/video/35815

      • mickysavage 7.2.1

        Yep the meeting with Woodhouse is potentially dynamite. If it happened shortly after the donation was made there would be a very bad perception created …

  8. irascible 8

    Botany has been ill served by its National Party MPs ever since the electorate was formed… first Pansy Wong forced to resign over using taxpayer funded travel to boost her family business in China and now JL Ross acting as the bagman between Donghua Liu and John Key in search of largesse for their campaigns locally and nationally.
    If this is how crassly theNats treat their electors in a “safe” seat then its no wonder Key feels justified in his lying over this donation scandal.

  9. Tautoko Mangō Mata 9

    I see the Herald has made available the returns for donations and expenses for the candidates in last year’s election.
    The dates for the Jami Lee Ross $25,000 are published.

    “Money in politics / Our crowdsourcing experiment: How you can lay bare candidate expenses and donations”
    Article by Jared Savage

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11407714

  10. Clemgeopin 10

    “So Key denied last year the dinner was a Cabinet Club dinner. And his staff said it was not a contentious fundraiser the day after TV3 broke the news about cabinet clubs and on the same day that news about contentious Cabinet Club meetings for the Chinese was released. Then this year it is said to be a cabinet club fundraiser but the donation is not declared by National even though it seems that it has declared other cabinet club donations”

    I have ABSOLUTELY no doubt in my mind that New Zealand at present being led by a government that is corrupt, dishonest, deceptive, cunning, dangerous and harmful to our country, its ethos and its common people.

  11. NZJester 11

    Those cabinet club donations that are all so called anonymous donations seam to add up to quite a large figure and a lot of people would have to donate multiple times for them to get those sort of anonymous figures. How is it that they can also claim them as anonymous as those people donating the money are all there sitting at the events so they know they had to donate to get in. To me it seams to break the following rules listed on http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/party-donations/about-annual-returns-party-donatio-5
    (Donations made in the following ways are not considered to be anonymous:
    where a known or identifiable donor asks that the donation be treated as anonymous.
    Concealing the identity of a donor when the donor is not anonymous is an offence.)

    The cabinet club seams to be designed to do nothing but try to conceal the identity of a known donor and the donor is not really anonymous.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Government focus on jobs sees record number of New Zealanders move from Benefits into work
    113,400 exits into work in the year to June 2022 Young people are moving off Benefit faster than after the Global Financial Crisis Two reports released today by the Ministry of Social Development show the Government’s investment in the COVID-19 response helped drive record numbers of people off Benefits and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    27 mins ago
  • Vertical farming partnership has upward momentum
    The Government’s priority to keep New Zealand at the cutting edge of food production and lift our sustainability credentials continues by backing the next steps of a hi-tech vertical farming venture that uses up to 95 per cent less water, is climate resilient, and pesticide-free. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor visited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Conference of Pacific Education Ministers – Keynote Address
    E nga mana, e nga iwi, e nga reo, e nga hau e wha, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou kātoa. Warm Pacific greetings to all. It is an honour to host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Aotearoa is delighted to be hosting you ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • New $13m renal unit supports Taranaki patients
    The new renal unit at Taranaki Base Hospital has been officially opened by the Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall this afternoon. Te Huhi Raupō received around $13 million in government funding as part of Project Maunga Stage 2, the redevelopment of the Taranaki Base Hospital campus. “It’s an honour ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Second Poseidon aircraft on home soil
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has marked the arrival of the country’s second P-8A Poseidon aircraft alongside personnel at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base at Ohakea today. “With two of the four P-8A Poseidons now on home soil this marks another significant milestone in the Government’s historic investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Further humanitarian aid for Türkiye and Syria
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide further humanitarian support to those seriously affected by last month’s deadly earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, says Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta. “The 6 February earthquakes have had devastating consequences, with almost 18 million people affected. More than 53,000 people have died and tens of thousands more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Community voice to help shape immigration policy
    Migrant communities across New Zealand are represented in the new Migrant Community Reference Group that will help shape immigration policy going forward, Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.  “Since becoming Minister, a reoccurring message I have heard from migrants is the feeling their voice has often been missing around policy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • State Highway 3 project to deliver safer journeys, better travel connections for Taranaki
    Construction has begun on major works that will deliver significant safety improvements on State Highway 3 from Waitara to Bell Block, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan announced today. “This is an important route for communities, freight and visitors to Taranaki but too many people have lost their lives or ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Ginny Andersen appointed as Minister of Police
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today appointed Ginny Andersen as Minister of Police. “Ginny Andersen has a strong and relevant background in this important portfolio,” Chris Hipkins said. “Ginny Andersen worked for the Police as a non-sworn staff member for around 10 years and has more recently been chair of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government confirms vital roading reconnections
    Six further bailey bridge sites confirmed Four additional bridge sites under consideration 91 per cent of damaged state highways reopened Recovery Dashboards for impacted regions released The Government has responded quickly to restore lifeline routes after Cyclone Gabrielle and can today confirm that an additional six bailey bridges will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Foreign Minister Mahuta to meet with China’s new Foreign Minister
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta departs for China tomorrow, where she will meet with her counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, in Beijing. This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Minister to China since 2019, and follows the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions between New Zealand and China. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Education Ministers from across the Pacific gather in Aotearoa
    Education Ministers from across the Pacific will gather in Tāmaki Makaurau this week to share their collective knowledge and strategic vision, for the benefit of ākonga across the region. New Zealand Education Minister Jan Tinetti will host the inaugural Conference of Pacific Education Ministers (CPEM) for three days from today, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • State Highway 5 reopens between Napier and Taupō following Cyclone Gabrielle
    A vital transport link for communities and local businesses has been restored following Cyclone Gabrielle with the reopening of State Highway 5 (SH5) between Napier and Taupō, Associate Minister of Transport Kiri Allan says. SH5 reopened to all traffic between 7am and 7pm from today, with closure points at SH2 (Kaimata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Special Lotto draw raises $11.7 million for Cyclone Gabrielle recovery
    Internal Affairs Minister Barbara Edmonds has thanked generous New Zealanders who took part in the special Lotto draw for communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Held on Saturday night, the draw raised $11.7 million with half of all ticket sales going towards recovery efforts. “In a time of need, New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government delivers a $3 million funding boost for Building Financial Capability services
    The Government has announced funding of $3 million for providers to help people, and whānau access community-based Building Financial Capability services. “Demand for Financial Capability Services is growing as people face cost of living pressures. Those pressures are increasing further in areas affected by flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle,” Minister for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao – new Chair and member
    Minister of Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, has announced appointments to the Board of Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao. Tracey Bridges is joining the Board as the new Chair and Dr Therese Arseneau will be a new member. Current members Dr Linda Sissons CNZM and Daniel Wilson have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Scholarships honouring Ngarimu VC and the 28th (Māori) Battalion announced
    Fifteen ākonga Māori from across Aotearoa have been awarded the prestigious Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships and Awards for 2023, Associate Education Minister and Ngarimu Board Chair, Kelvin Davis announced today.  The recipients include doctoral, masters’ and undergraduate students. Three vocational training students and five wharekura students, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court
    High Court Judge Jillian Maree Mallon has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, and District Court Judge Andrew John Becroft QSO has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today. Justice Mallon graduated from Otago University in 1988 with an LLB (Hons), and with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ still well placed to meet global challenges
    The economy has continued to show its resilience despite today’s GDP figures showing a modest decline in the December quarter, leaving the Government well positioned to help New Zealanders face cost of living pressures in a challenging global environment. “The economy had grown strongly in the two quarters before this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Western Ring Route Complete
    Aucklanders now have more ways to get around as Transport Minister Michael Wood opened the direct State Highway 1 (SH1) to State Highway 18 (SH18) underpass today, marking the completion of the 48-kilometre Western Ring Route (WRR). “The Government is upgrading New Zealand’s transport system to make it safer, more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers
    This section contains briefings received by incoming ministers following changes to Cabinet in January. Some information may have been withheld in accordance with the Official Information Act 1982. Where information has been withheld that is indicated within the document. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Teaming up for a stronger, more resilient Fiji
    Aotearoa New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta reaffirmed her commitment to working together with the new Government of Fiji on issues of shared importance, including on the prioritisation of climate change and sustainability, at a meeting today, in Nadi. Fiji and Aotearoa New Zealand’s close relationship is underpinned by the Duavata ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Investment in blue highway a lifeline for regional economies and cyclone recovery
    The Government is delivering a coastal shipping lifeline for businesses, residents and the primary sector in the cyclone-stricken regions of Hawkes Bay and Tairāwhiti, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today. The Rangitata vessel has been chartered for an emergency coastal shipping route between Gisborne and Napier, with potential for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Next steps developing clean energy for NZ
    The Government will progress to the next stage of the NZ Battery Project, looking at the viability of pumped hydro as well as an alternative, multi-technology approach as part of the Government’s long term-plan to build a resilient, affordable, secure and decarbonised energy system in New Zealand, Energy and Resources ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement from the Prime Minister on Stuart Nash
    This morning I was made aware of a media interview in which Minister Stuart Nash criticised a decision of the Court and said he had contacted the Police Commissioner to suggest the Police appeal the decision. The phone call took place in 2021 when he was not the Police Minister. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • CPTPP Trade Ministers coming to Auckland
    The Government’s sharp focus on trade continues with Aotearoa New Zealand set to host Trade Ministers and delegations from 10 Asia Pacific economies at a meeting of Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) Commission members in July, Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O’Connor announced today. “New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Govt approves $25 million extension for cyclone-affected businesses
    $25 million boost to support more businesses with clean-up in cyclone affected regions, taking total business support to more than $50 million Demand for grants has been strong, with estimates showing applications will exceed the initial $25 million business support package Grants of up to a maximum of $40,000 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • More than 160,000 new Kiwis to call NZ home
    80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visas applications have been processed – three months ahead of schedule Residence granted to 160,000 people 84,000 of 85,000 applications have been approved Over 160,000 people have become New Zealand residents now that 80 per cent of 2021 Resident Visa (2021RV) applications have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Scholarships propel Kiwi students to NASA
    The Government continues to invest in New Zealand’s burgeoning space industry, today announcing five scholarships for Kiwi Students to undertake internships at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California. Economic Development Minister Stuart Nash congratulated Michaela Dobson (University of Auckland), Leah Albrow (University of Canterbury) and Jack Naish, Celine Jane ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New Zealand to attend regional security meeting in Australia
    The Lead Coordination Minister for the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission’s Report into the Terrorist Attack on the Christchurch Mosques travels to Melbourne, Australia today to represent New Zealand at the fourth Sub-Regional Meeting on Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Security. “The Government is committed to reducing the threat of terrorism ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Health and safety action plan for ports
    The health and safety practices at our nation’s ports will be improved as part of a new industry-wide action plan, Workplace Relations and Safety, and Transport Minister Michael Wood has announced. “Following the tragic death of two port workers in Auckland and Lyttelton last year, I asked the Port Health ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Bikes and scooters to be exempt from FBT
    Bikes, electric bikes and scooters will be added to the types of transport exempted from fringe benefit tax under changes proposed today. Revenue Minister David Parker said the change would allow bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, electric scooters, and micro-mobility share services to be exempt from fringe benefit tax where they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Affairs Minister to reaffirm our close relationship with Fiji
    Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta will hold bilateral meetings with Fiji this week. The visit will be her first to the country since the election of the new coalition Government led by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sitiveni Rabuka. The visit will be an opportunity to meet kanohi ki ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New legislation to streamline Cyclone recovery
    The Government is introducing the Severe Weather Emergency Legislation Bill to ensure the recovery and rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle is streamlined and efficient with unnecessary red tape removed. The legislation is similar to legislation passed following the Christchurch and Kaikōura earthquakes that modifies existing legislation in order to remove constraints ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living package: More bread and butter support for Kiwi families
    Approximately 1.4 million people will benefit from increases to rates and thresholds for social assistance to help with the cost of living Superannuation to increase by over $100 a pay for a couple Main benefits to increase by the rate of inflation, meaning a family on a benefit with children ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Freeing up more government bandwidth and money to focus on the cost of living
    $1 billion in savings which will be reallocated to support New Zealanders with the cost of living A range of transport programmes deferred so Waka Kotahi can focus on post Cyclone road recovery Speed limit reduction programme significantly narrowed to focus on the most dangerous one per cent of state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • State of National Emergency to end for Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay
    The remaining state of national emergency over the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay regions will end on Tuesday 14 March, Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty announced today. Minister McAnulty gave notice of a national transition period over these regions, which will come into effect immediately following the end of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government delivers on Dawn Raids commitment
    The Government is today delivering on one of its commitments as part of the New Zealand Government’s Dawn Raids apology, welcoming a cohort of emerging Pacific leaders to Aotearoa New Zealand participating in the He Manawa Tītī Scholarship Programme. This cohort will participate in a bespoke leadership training programme that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New plan to increase productivity and high wage jobs across advanced manufacturing sector
    Industry Transformation Plan to transform advanced manufacturing through increased productivity and higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs into a globally-competitive low-emissions sector. Co-created and co-owned by business, unions and workers, government, Māori, Pacific peoples and wider stakeholders. A plan to accelerate the growth and transformation of New Zealand’s advanced manufacturing sector was launched ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Aotearoa New Zealand supports Pacific countries to combat animal disease 
    New Zealand will provide support for Pacific countries to prevent the spread of harmful animal diseases, Associate Minister of Agriculture Meka Whaitiri said. The Associate Minister is attending a meeting of Pacific Ministers during the Pacific Week of Agriculture and Forestry in Nadi, Fiji. “Highly contagious diseases such as African ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-03-21T18:31:25+00:00