National’s leadership on home ownership

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 am, July 16th, 2015 - 55 comments
Categories: housing, john key, national - Tags: , ,

No need to worry about low levels of home ownership, National is here to lead. Here’s Key’s speech on the issue:

SPEECH: NZ Contractors Federation
…
Today, I want to talk in some depth about the declining rates of home ownership in New Zealand. … It wasn’t so long ago, in the 1990s, in fact, that New Zealand had a high level of home ownership compared to other countries. Not so anymore. We now have what has been described as the second worst housing affordability problem in the world.

Make no mistake; this problem has got worse in recent years. … This decline shows no signs of slowing. In fact, on current trends, the crisis will only deepen. Home ownership rates are predicted to plummet to 60% within the next decade. And one of the biggest factors influencing home-ownership rates over the next 10 years will be the difficulty young buyers will have getting into their first home.

This problem won’t be solved by knee-jerk, quick-fix plans. And it won’t be curbed with one or two government-sponsored building developments.

Instead, we need government leadership that is prepared to focus on the fundamental issues driving the crisis. National is ready to provide that leadership.
…
National will look for long-term solutions based on a sound understanding of the economic forces that have led to the contemporary low home-ownership rates.

Those forces can be grouped in two categories.

The first is demand-side. Sadly, in 2007, thousands of young New Zealanders have resigned themselves to never owning their own home. Since 2001, saving a deposit for a house has become increasingly difficult for too many of them.

Even though unemployment has declined, having a job hasn’t been enough to enable people to buy their own house. In 1999 a median-priced house cost just over 6 times the median wage. By 2006 it cost 10 times the median wage.
…
The second and most important reason for the home affordability crisis is one of supply. It explains why houses have become so unaffordable for so many people. Quite simply, not enough new houses are being built in New Zealand. This is a recent phenomenon. In many parts of the country, increases in demand for housing are now outstripping supply.
…
Conclusion

Over the past few years a consensus has developed in New Zealand. We are facing a severe home affordability and ownership crisis. The crisis has reached dangerous levels in recent years and looks set to get worse.

This is an issue that should concern all New Zealanders. It threatens a fundamental part of our culture, it threatens our communities and, ultimately, it threatens our economy.

The good news is that we can turn the situation around. We can deal with the fundamental issues driving the home affordability crisis. Not just with rinky-dink schemes, but with sound long-term solutions to an issue that has long-term implications for New Zealand’s economy and society.

National has a plan for doing this and we will be resolute in our commitment to the goal of ensuring more young Kiwis can aspire to buy their own home.

As you may have guessed, that speech was from way back in 2007. So how are we doing after seven “long years” of National’s leadership and action on the “fundamental issues”? Not so good:

Home ownership rates drop

New Zealand’s home ownership rate is now the lowest it has been for 64 years, Statistics NZ says.

(Note that the Stats NZ numbers quoted don’t match Key’s – where did he get his?)

Gosh, why did National fail so badly? They’re so good with the economy, aren’t they?

55 comments on “National’s leadership on home ownership ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Lanthanide 1
    16 July 2015 at 9:13 am

    “They’re so good with the economy, aren’t they?”

    Of course, they’re good at marshalling the numbers and the accounting tricks to get everything to line up and maximising the black numbers while minimising the red.

    Not so good when it comes to dealing with humans and basic human requirements like shelter, though.

    They manage the economy for the sake of the economy. Not for the sake or benefit of humans.

    • Peter 1.1
      16 July 2015 at 1:38 pm

      …. so true … they manage by numbers ….. they don’t get out of bed thinking about the consequences of their policies on our society …….. what’s good for me must be good for everyone else is the philosophy. An interesting bunch of people on the Right.

  2. Rob 2
    16 July 2015 at 9:15 am

    So good with the economy yeah right
    Time for that tui or is that a glass of milk!!

  3. Chch_chiquita 3
    16 July 2015 at 9:59 am

    Why isn’t this speech splashed all over the MSM with a demand for his resignation?

  4. Clemgeopin 4
    16 July 2015 at 10:10 am

    National’s Rock Star Economy :

    @NZQandA : Rock star economy? Yeah, ROCKS for the less wealthy and wealth for the STARS!— Clem Geo Pin (@clemgeopin) May 16, 2015

    • Phil 4.1
      16 July 2015 at 3:57 pm

      There are few things on the internet as sad as seeing someone shill their own tweet. It’s a short step from this to ‘like’-ing your own Facebook posts.

  5. Skinny 5
    16 July 2015 at 10:18 am

    The ad men will be working on the foreign owned banks new 50 year mortgage campaign advert as I type.
    I’ll give them a catch phrase they can use;

    “When you take out a mortgage with us we aren’t just partner for life so are your children.”

    • Clemgeopin 5.1
      16 July 2015 at 3:59 pm

      mortgage (death pledge)

      Etymology

      From Anglo-Norman mortgage, Middle French mortgage, from Old French
      mort gage (“death pledge”), after a translation of judicial Medieval Latin mortuum vadium or mortuum wadium, from mortuum + vadium or wadium, of Germanic (Frankish) origin, from a root *waddi, wadja.

  6. red-blooded 6
    16 July 2015 at 10:25 am

    …?

    Do you mean something like, “…a partner not just for your life, but also for your children’s”?

    • Skinny 6.1
      16 July 2015 at 10:51 am

      You got it stickler lol.

      • Hanswurst 6.1.1
        16 July 2015 at 11:26 am

        Not trying to flame, but I don’t think it’s being a stickler. That sort of thing makes comments impenetrable once they get much longer than three sentences.

  7. leftie 7
    16 July 2015 at 10:36 am

    Just like John key’s forked tongue, (read it and be sick), 2007 Press Club speech on democracy, and freedom of political expression in his attack on the Electoral Finance Act , John key was lying his head off.

    To say one thing but do another has always been the way John key operates.

    <a href="http://www.johnkey.co.nz/archives/214-SPEECH-National-Press-Club.html

  8. Sable 8
    16 July 2015 at 11:43 am

    Its the same issue Australia had when Howard was in office. They solved the issue in par by limiting foreign ownership to new developments and not allowing the purchase of existing property. It did work in part but the issue then became one of enforcement which they claim to be currently clamping down on:

    http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-australia-toughens-property-ownership-laws-for-foreigners-2015-5?IR=T

  9. Saarbo 9
    16 July 2015 at 11:58 am

    I get sick of hearing about “supply side constraints” being the reason for the Auckland housing crisis, of course we are going to be having “supply issues” when we are trying to satisfy the “investment housing demands” of people living on the other side of our planet. Lets deal with this issue first.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      16 July 2015 at 12:02 pm

      Why not deal with Kiwi property speculators who own 10, 20, 50, 100 houses first?

      Too politically difficult?

      • Lanthanide 9.1.1
        16 July 2015 at 12:24 pm

        Because the justification for overseas investors buying houses in NZ is less than the justification for Kiwi property speculators buying houses in NZ.

        Overseas investors can buy properties in their own country first. Kiwi property speculators are doing that.

        So, lets resolve the problem that is both easier to solve, and has less justification for existing, and then turn our attention to the kiwi property speculators.

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          16 July 2015 at 1:58 pm

          Well, 14 or so years after the start of the Auckland housing bubble I guess we should be doing something, anything.

          • Lanthanide 9.1.1.1.1
            16 July 2015 at 4:53 pm

            Yes, so again, lets start with the easy things, before we try and handle the difficult things, get bogged down and give up?

            • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1.1.1
              16 July 2015 at 7:06 pm

              In 6-8 years time, a typical Auckland house will be $2M (if the bubble doesn’t burst). So what ever we want to try, and we should do it all, and we should do it now.

              • Weepus beard …
                16 July 2015 at 8:03 pm

                and we should do it all

                Halting all immigration is in there. You advocate doing it all so you must advocate that too.

                • Colonial Viper …
                  16 July 2015 at 8:12 pm

                  the way i would do it is this: you get immigration points for real investment and settling in the regions. if you are heading to Auckland: it is twice as hard.

                  • cogito …
                    16 July 2015 at 11:13 pm

                    “settling in the regions”

                    Like Dargaville? Like the couple of secondary school teachers who were brought out to teach at the local High School with the promise of a fantastic lifestyle? They lasted TWO DAYS and were on the next plane out again.

                    …. Or the bright young primary school teacher who arrived in NZ to start a new teaching job in an “idyllic location”. Was in Mangamaire. You know where that is? The poor teacher thought she’d landed on then dark side of the moon.

        • Chooky 9.1.1.2
          16 July 2015 at 2:15 pm

          +100 Lanthanide

        • Saarbo 9.1.1.3
          16 July 2015 at 3:56 pm

          Yep, agree.

          Kiwi speculators need to be dealt with too.

    • Keith 9.2
      16 July 2015 at 1:52 pm

      Nick Smith needs this straw man and has to say its supply because its hurting National. The alternative is to tell the truth and admit they really couldn’t give a shit!

      • Brendon Harre 9.2.1
        16 July 2015 at 10:18 pm

        +1 to National not giving a shit. All their housing policies have been tokenism.

        Supply (in the up and out directions) is part of the problem. As is demand -investors targeting capital gain, foreign investment, immigration…

  10. irascible 10
    16 July 2015 at 1:14 pm

    When you are a weather cock PM you suffer from convenient short term memory loss and never ever have to admit that you lied.

  11. Keith 11
    16 July 2015 at 1:47 pm

    It certainly suits the National voter demographics to have lowering home ownership, because they have become the “Rentier” class. Keep the “muppets” (as I heard one woman refer to first home buyers) out of the buyers market so they have to rent and the Rentier can make plenty of money out of them.

    Honestly given how bad Auckland’s housing market is, not to mention other areas, surely no government could be so inept so this has to be Nationals intent!

  12. Sabine 12
    16 July 2015 at 1:49 pm

    oh well no worries

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11481160&ref=mobile

    all will be well.

    nothing to see here
    nothing at all

    look over there
    phil twyford and the labour party are racists.

    But other than to say he felt “totally relieved” and it was a “huge misunderstanding”, Mr Liu declined to comment on the assault charges dropped last month after his partner and her mother recanted their statements to the police.

    The prosecution catapulted him into the spotlight when the Herald revealed Government Minister Maurice Williamson called police to make “sure somebody had reviewed the matter to ensure we were on solid ground as Mr Liu is investing a lot of money in New Zealand”.

    This led to his resignation as a Minister a few months before the election.

    Mr Williamson also lobbied for the political donor to be granted New Zealand citizenship because of his potential investment and cut the ribbon at the opening of the refurbished Boulevard Hotel with the Prime Minister John Key.

    Four years later, Mr Liu says the potential of the site of the former Carlton Bowling Club is about to be fulfilled.

  13. Mrs Brillo 13
    16 July 2015 at 2:00 pm

    A man with a plan. And that plan was, apparently, to sell the country to foreigners bit by bit for the modern day equivalent of axes and blankets (hold the muskets).

    NACT government + rapacious real estate agents + offshore speculators = Perfect Storm.

    • Liberal Realist 13.1
      16 July 2015 at 6:19 pm

      +1

      You could add (specifically to the ‘man’s plan’)
      sign the TPPA
      Fuck off to Hawaii for a planet key vacation
      Then off to the new job at the Fed for more pillaging

  14. old school 14
    16 July 2015 at 2:06 pm

    As far as our National corporation guided governance is concerned,the housing market shall find its level playing field as the market dictates,therefore allowing their Minister to tamper with a soft hand and turn it on the market.

    However,the slaved worker remains at a low of not only affordability of saving for a deposit for a home,but also at a rate of affordability to pay a rent.Now that minimum pay rate the market does not dictate as it is dictated by the governing Government and A MINIMUM wage rate of $20.00per hour,may recall the 50!s 60!s70!s days of a hourly wage rate of affording joining the Kiwi dream of home ownership.

    • aerobubble 14.1
      16 July 2015 at 3:20 pm

      Min wage will hurt jobs. NO. Its just pathetic how ignorance of the subject matter let’s simplification reach such ludicrous levels. Although Hooton isn’t he just is brought and paid for. Take pollution, the west has caused the carbon pollution, now China is supposed to stay poornd not add to the carbon crisis, but here’s Hootons analysis, that China is worse than us, China will never reach our car ownership levels, we,be collective gotten carbon happy, and Hooton thinks, knows that’s okay, really!

      Too many of the issues in nz have invited twerps like Hooton on to make the right look over simplistic and justified in doing as little as possible. Classic govt talking head. Nine to news should chuck out Hooton and Williams who just let’s Hooton rock his meaningful distractions passed him.

  15. NZBC 15
    16 July 2015 at 5:42 pm

    The issue has been needlessly racialised.

    The fact is there is no cultural peculiarity of the Chinese that has led to this issue, if indeed overseas Chinese investment is a significant part of this problem.

    It is simply a macro-economic issue, and the Chinese, simply due to this particular stage of their economic development, are the ones with spare cash.

    Spare cash will try and find investment vehicles and it is for the NZ government to legislate against this if this is not in the best interests of the country. So the fault lies with the government, not with the Chinese investor.

    In fact the issue could be thus reframed :

    “Greedy kiwi homeowners shutting out their fellow countrymen from home ownership by selling out to foreign interests”

    The source of the money, or the race of the person with the money should be irrelevant.

    However Labour has stirred shit up so that many New Zealanders are going round with “the Chinese the Chinese the Chinese” bouncing round inside his head – the “Chinese” are the problem.

    This is something whites are typically spared.

    The fact that a disproportionate number of people who screwed up the world economy in 2008 were white does not have people going round thinking that crash was a ‘white’ problem.

    Yet only someone completely blinkered could deny that many see this latest housing crisis as a ‘chinese’ problem.

    Again what about the greedy local homeowners –many of them baby boomers, and many of them white.

    And I want to ask this – you want to sell your house —some local offers you 500 grand. Then an overseas Chinese offers you 650 grand, say. How many of you are going to reject the overseas offer? What would your typical NZr do? Be honest now.

    Actually- we well know the answer to this question —if the extent of offshore acquisition of NZ homes is as Labour would have you believe.

    • cogito 15.1
      17 July 2015 at 1:11 pm

      “And I want to ask this – you want to sell your house —some local offers you 500 grand. Then an overseas Chinese offers you 650 grand, say. How many of you are going to reject the overseas offer? What would your typical NZr do? Be honest
      now.”

      Personally, I would either
      1. sell my house privately and thereby keep some control on who I sold it to or
      2. I would give clear instructions to the real estate agent about who I would be happy selling to.

      I would want my house to go to a good kiwi family.

  16. Mike Steinberg 16
    16 July 2015 at 5:51 pm

    I suspect that National hold the view that neo-liberal view that high immigration levels and overseas investment drive economic success even though they are pushing house prices out of reach for a significant proportion of the population. Ex-Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell has pointed out those demand factors along with restrictions on supply unsurprisingly have resulted in high prices.

    As Reddell points out the inward level of migration could be reduced to take the heat out of the market. It’s something Minister Michael Woodhouse could implement, but presumably holds the same view as MBIE and Treasury?

    Reddell has made OIA requests regarding official advice on the economic impacts of current inward migration levels.

    “I have had Official Information Act requests in for some time with Treasury and MBIE for copies of advice to ministers on the economic impacts of immigration, and on the target level of permanent residence approvals. As is customary with government agencies, the responses to the requests have both been extended/delayed. These aren’t particularly time-sensitive requests, but I will be interested to see what the departments have had to say. MBIE is well-known to be strongly pro-immigration, and I have heard reported that current Secretary to the Treasury (himself a temporary migrant) recently reiterated in private a view that “immigration is good; it is as simple as that” (repeating the tenor of comments in a speech earlier this year). Perhaps, but let’s see the argumentation, in the specific context of New Zealand, and in the light of cross-country economic history and experience.”

    http://croakingcassandra.com/2015/07/16/the-productivity-commission-looks-into-immigration/

    • Colonial Viper 16.1
      16 July 2015 at 9:17 pm

      Ex-Reserve Bank economist Michael Reddell has pointed out those demand factors along with restrictions on supply unsurprisingly have resulted in high prices.

      The willingness of banks to lend ever larger amounts of money on exactly the same house needs to be heavily curbed.

  17. old school 17
    16 July 2015 at 6:15 pm

    And the Kiwi view,just basic $20 a hour for our labour home slaved payment,or are we just like some text book this is how we read its to be.This is our knowing,what is your excuse to care,what is your protection number,is not that the way it is.Pin numbered for your pride,value and care Is social care the care knowing,or the numbers secret.

  18. old school 18
    16 July 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Labour wanabe government,yous have lost the roots to your knowings birth.

    • Thom Pietersen 18.1
      16 July 2015 at 7:03 pm

      Utter, complete BS – Workers party, supporting workers rights, including housing, and getting a fair share from the monied elite. What’s changed in those roots? This is a rightful move back.

      • Colonial Viper 18.1.1
        16 July 2015 at 9:20 pm

        Labour has always been a pro-capitalist pro-ruling class party – to a greater or lesser extent.

  19. Paul 19
    16 July 2015 at 8:43 pm

    Martin Bradbury speaks truth to power.

    ‘The only reason National are calling this racism is because they don’t want any scrutiny of their own contacts with China. Jenny Shipley, Don Brash, Ruth Richardson and Chris Tremain are Director’s of the China Construction Bank, Judith Collins interaction with Chinese Officials to help her hubbies Chinese Company, Oravida, to gain more Chinese money is now a thing of legend, and Maurice Williamson’s love affair with Donghua Liu saw him become Liu’s personal handyman when doing up Liu’s batch and heavying the Police to drop domestic violence charges.’

  20. old school 20
    16 July 2015 at 9:14 pm

    What parargraph was your page turn to,is not that the idiocy of the labour intelegent numbered knowings belief,just dare.

    Hows the houses heat,is the rivers flow upsetting the draft of our homes care.What is your name,what political party do you say you are from.

  21. old school 21
    16 July 2015 at 9:22 pm

    The debt of my capitalist progress shall decide my owning and stand.Dare let the socialist knowing germinate.

  22. Melanie Scott 22
    16 July 2015 at 10:10 pm

    Boy, Old School seems to have put some words in a shaker and just typed them as they came out on his/her snakes and ladders board. I can’t think of any other explanation for the pot porri above. Alternatively his/her keyboard is on something very whacky.

  23. Smilin 23
    16 July 2015 at 10:32 pm

    Recently 850gs in 20 min for a house auction do the math one bloody big bubble

  24. Psycho Milt 24
    17 July 2015 at 6:31 am

    National has a plan for doing this…

    To be fair, back in 2007 people hadn’t figured out yet that Key baldly lies about stuff like this. By the time he was claiming to have a plan to end whaling in the southern ocean, the punters had learned to ask “What plan? Tell us your plan.”

  25. Smilin 25
    17 July 2015 at 10:28 am

    Old school you are senile go back to school and learn some grammar

  26. old school 26
    21 July 2015 at 5:55 pm

    What is your PIN number.Got you insulting.What care.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T22:26:00+00:00