Nats panic over climbing prison population – I have some advice

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, July 15th, 2017 - 70 comments
Categories: class war, crime, housing, national, prisons, useless - Tags: , , , ,

Seems the Nats are starting to panic (Shane Cowlishaw on Newsroom):

Government searches for prison panacea

The Government has been unapologetic for the record high prison population, but that confidence may be beginning to waver. …

Corrections Minister Louise Upston has sought advice about how to curb the surging prison muster, but what those options are remains a secret. It comes as New Zealand’s prison population is forecast to keep rising, with the possibility a new prison facility may not be big enough to cope. In February, the Department of Corrections responded to a request from Upston for an “initial set of options” that could reduce the population.
…
New Zealand’s prison populations sits at about 10,200 – the highest it has ever been.
…
While much information is withheld, the briefing does contain some insight into how the prison population has risen so high – a surge of 20 percent since 2014 – and the tough decisions looming. “Long term, the Government will have a choice between the extent of additional investment in prison capacity, or policy and investment decisions across the justice sector that ‘pull back’ the demand curve,” the briefing says.
….
But the Corrections briefing squarely points the finger at law changes that have seen the remand population balloon. In 2013 the Government changed the Bail Act to make it tougher to get bail, particularly for violent and drug-related crimes. The briefing reveals that in reality, the changes led to a need for 10 times the number of prison beds initially estimated. When the policy was designed, justice officials believed a mere 50 extra beds would be needed each year, but actual demand was for an additional 500. Restorative justice changes had also created demand 10 times the original estimate of 10 beds a year. It would be “useful” to understand why these figures had been so wrong, the briefing says. …

So what do we do about an out of control prison population? They aren’t asking me, but I have some advice anyway:

The band-aid solution is to change sentencing laws so as to send fewer people to prison. Revisit the 2103 law changes and reverse where sensible. Also, treating marijuana and other drug use as a health issue rather than a legal issue would be a good place to start.

A better solution is to put resources into rehabilitation and the prevention of re-offending, instead of prisons.

The best solution is to fix the social conditions that drive crime. The conditions that are giving us more and more frequent headlines such as these:
Aggravated robberies almost double in a year, with an average of one robbery a day reported in South Auckland.
Auckland City Mission overflowing with need in desperate winter months
Faced with skyrocketing power bills, Kiwis opt not to use heaters – survey
Te Puea Marae ready to welcome the homeless
Understanding these conditions isn’t rocket science. Poverty. Inequality. The same desperate lack of hope that gives this country its shocking suicide statistics. Address these issues, fix these causes, and the prison numbers will take care of themselves.

70 comments on “Nats panic over climbing prison population – I have some advice ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Xanthe 1
    15 July 2017 at 8:00 am

    Yes eliminate poverty is the only approach that can work.

    I do question the use of incarceration as a deterrent!. Is there evidence it does deter?
    I also question the concept of incarceration as retrebution. Is that ethical. Or is the ultimate cost to society too high?

    Which leaves just one reason for a custodial sentence. To protect the physical safety of public or offender, and only one reason to release , that that risk no longer exists.

    Perhaps those with a “debt to society” should if at all possible be out in society paying that “debt”

    • Draco T Bastard 1.1
      15 July 2017 at 11:13 am

      I do question the use of incarceration as a deterrent!. Is there evidence it does deter?

      There’s probably some but it would be on the low side. The criminals who do the most damage to society, the so-called white collar criminals, usually don’t see the inside of a prison anyway and they’re likely to be the ones who are most deterred by the idea of going to prison but they’ll probably still do it believing that they’re too smart to get caught.

      I also question the concept of incarceration as retrebution. Is that ethical.

      Retribution is never ethical which is why it’s not left to the victims.

      Which leaves just one reason for a custodial sentence. To protect the physical safety of public or offender, and only one reason to release , that that risk no longer exists.

      Which is why, IMO, only violent offenders and those who commit fraud should be going to jail.

  2. Keith 2
    15 July 2017 at 8:02 am

    Treating methamphetamine addiction (and other drugs) as a mental health issue and having long term residential treatment centers as the primary response to users would be far more sensible than court action followed by punishment.

    Dealers, manufacturers and importers, that is where serious punitive measures are required.

    • James 2.1
      15 July 2017 at 8:04 am

      That makes a a lot of sense.

      I believe anyone involved in making P or importing it should be on 20’years Min.

      Make the punishment so hard they don’t think it’s worth the risk.

      • garibaldi 2.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 8:15 am

        That’s 20 years@ $100,000 a year. Great economics! There’s gotta be better solutions than long stretches of incarceration.

        • dukeofurl 2.1.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 8:34 am

          A Non violent crime like that would have a parole after 1/3 sentence and likely pre release and similar stuff at 1/4. So the cost is for 4-5 years only

          • James 2.1.1.1.1
            15 July 2017 at 8:44 am

            And that’s the problem $xxxx for 5 years – it might be worth the risk.

            But 20 years – nope.

            • mickysavage 2.1.1.1.1.1
              15 July 2017 at 9:17 am

              I have acted for many people who have gone to jail. I can’t recall one of them making a calculation that because they might go to jail for longer they would not commit a particular crime.

              When they hit the straight and narrow and many of them did they made that choice because either they realised the effect crime was having on their life or more often they had beaten dependence on drugs or alcohol that was the cause of their offending.

              • dukeofurl …
                15 July 2017 at 11:25 am

                Isnt sentencing for most people a ladder- initial offences are dealt with by community service and then home detention, after regular offending the prison sentence kicks in.
                And once they have gone to prison if they continue to offend then prison becomes the base sentence instead of the outlier

                Once a guy went to prison after a conviction for stealing a valuable painting from a gallery. But at the same time he was convicted for a something like kidnapping, and had previous offences.

                I may have this wrong, but unless its a serious first time offence, prison is rightly seen as the worst option.

              • RedLogix …
                15 July 2017 at 11:47 am

                So if prison is not a deterrent to criminals mickey … what is?

                • cardassian …
                  15 July 2017 at 12:59 pm

                  I think addressing the underlying causes rather than trying to deter the symptom.

                  • RedLogix …
                    15 July 2017 at 1:19 pm

                    OK so we abandon deterrence and address all the underlying causes. Close down the courts, dump all the cops and empty the prisons. Is this working for you so far?

        • James 2.1.1.2
          15 July 2017 at 8:43 am

          I know but with the very long periods of time people will be less inclined to commit the crime – thus the numbers will go down.

          • One Two 2.1.1.2.1
            15 July 2017 at 8:59 am

            with being a ‘left leaning blog’ , right wing agitators will be less inclined to keep running their scripted lines

            No..it doesn’t always work out with simple logic, does it James…

            Perseverance…you have it, just as any ‘criminal’ set in their ways, does!

          • Muttonbird 2.1.1.2.2
            15 July 2017 at 9:00 am

            How cute. He thinks length of prison term as a deterrent works.

          • North 2.1.1.2.3
            15 July 2017 at 9:55 am

            James @ 2.1.1.2 in reply to MS……”I know but….”. Rinse and repeat ignorant soundbite. Already we’re NOT blowing $100K per person per year. Portray smug idiot. End of conversation. Choice !

          • barry 2.1.1.2.4
            15 July 2017 at 10:39 am

            evidence?

        • Keith 2.1.1.3
          15 July 2017 at 9:07 am

          The cost to society from this drug far exceeds the cost of locking up the scum who deal in it.

        • Gabby 2.1.1.4
          15 July 2017 at 10:43 am

          That might be a saving, depending on how much damage they would be causing outside.

      • marty mars 2.1.2
        15 July 2017 at 9:18 am

        nice, so on a post about increasing prison numbers you suggest putting some people in prison for longer – duh

        • jcuknz 2.1.2.1
          15 July 2017 at 11:59 am

          An alternative is to shorten sentences but make it tougher and less a ‘better home away from home’. That should prove to be a deterent and cost saving?

          • marty mars 2.1.2.1.1
            15 July 2017 at 12:29 pm

            It isn’t a home away from home – try staying in your bathroom until tomorrow and tell us how great it is for you.

          • North 2.1.2.1.2
            15 July 2017 at 1:14 pm

            “That should prove to be a deterent and cost saving?”

            Bloody brilliant Junkcus.
            Make detritus pay for its detergent. Like Mexico.

  3. Andre 3
    15 July 2017 at 9:00 am

    For a long time I used to tie myself in mental knots about drugs, and how our approach to the criminality of drugs should be informed by the relative harms of the drugs compared to alcohol and tobacco etc etc.

    Then recently someone really clarified it for me: criminalising drug use causes way more harm to society and users than using the drugs ever does.

    So the reasonable response is to legalise all drugs (yes, even the likes of P), regulate and tax the supply side, provide support services to help users get off the drugs. Simply remove the demand for illicit criminal suppliers, and prosecute the remaining illicit suppliers for financial crimes like we do for moonshiners and black market tobacco.

    • Keith 3.1
      15 July 2017 at 9:12 am

      Legalising methamphetamine suggests to me you live under a rock and have not dealt with the horrendus fall out this brain altering substance causes. The damage it is doing is incalculable.

      Might as well legalise murder.

      • Andre 3.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 9:15 am

        A large part of the harm from criminalised drugs comes from the fact that it’s criminal is a huge barrier to users getting support to get off the drugs.

        • dukeofurl 3.1.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 11:27 am

          Have you ever had knowledge of treatment programs?

          The addictive nature means only a proportion succeed even when motivated to kick the habit.

          Thats the HUGE barrier.

    • marty mars 3.2
      15 July 2017 at 9:25 am

      Yes, well, the idea of legalising all drugs has been around for quite a while.

      Today there are not enough support people or programs to help people who are ready to make the changes. Today we still have massive problems in society with legal drugs – whether alcohol or paracetamol.

      Treating drug addiction like an addiction, a health issue, is the way to go imo.

    • Cricklewood 3.3
      15 July 2017 at 7:30 pm

      If you legalized and made available less harmful drugs like mdma or lsd you would likely cause an immediate drop on meth use and uptake

  5. North 5
    15 July 2017 at 9:39 am

    Your maths DukeofUrl ! First parole on 20 years comes after 1/3 = 6.666. First parole doesn’t guarantee release anyway, in fact it’s seen only in a minority of cases and usually only for up-market fraudsters so criminally culpable that the end sentence exceeds 2 years.

    So where from your 4-5 years ? Talking 1/3 that extra two to three years really matters when it’s $100K a year. Obviously matters more when release doesn’t happen until 2/3.

    The pathology is seen in a politically motivated distortion of the balance between the chucking of red meat to scum (McVicar/McMansion/McCabre) and rationally considered solutions. Wherein “politically motivated” essentially = “What can I say to protect the power and privilege of me and mine ?”

    • dukeofurl 5.1
      15 July 2017 at 11:52 am

      Yes you are right, parole can occur at 6.333 years, but pre release parole/ home detention happens too, thats where I was getting the extra 2 years from

      The formal parole used to be the start of various forms of release , now its the end point.
      The parole Board stats are meaningless as we dont know what the length of sentences are , for which people are being paroled. They just give raw numbers for those on fixed sentences and the others ( ‘Life’ and indeterminate)

      • North 5.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 7:50 pm

        Strange. Near uniformly late in sentence and rare anyway. As far as I’ve observed it.

  6. Heather Grimwood 6
    15 July 2017 at 9:45 am

    Seems to me that most contributors above commenting on fast-escalating prison population are ignoring the import of the last paragraph in the post……” the best solution is to fix the conditions that cause the crime etc”.
    The more insightful officials in charge of managing early ‘settlement’ of Australia understood this.
    These measures have been known for a very long time, but somehow in our land of supposed milk and honey, a punitively weighted culture has been in control for a decade with it’s inevitable result.

    • Ed 6.1
      15 July 2017 at 9:51 am

      That’s why I posted the well researched articles about Norway and the investigations completed by Nigel Latta and al-Jazeera.

      • dukeofurl 6.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 11:54 am

        Just choosing a country that bears no resemblance to NZ society will work wont it. ?

        They are an extremely wealthy country, with a low crime rate, yet their police numbers are similar ( for a similar sized population)

        • Ed 6.1.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 12:10 pm

          Have you watched any of these show?
          Before you come to judgement on the matter.

          • dukeofurl 6.1.1.1.1
            15 July 2017 at 5:42 pm

            Well countries come here to and see how we are doing some good things.

            Like I said before Norway is a very wealthy country, likely a large factor to their lower offending.
            Can we just wish our way to that sort of wealth ?

            The other thing to consider is Maori, we have to have our own solutions that work with and for them.
            This sort of ‘ punishment tourism’ with Latta by looking at Norway just smacks of ‘white people know best’

            Do you know any working class maori who know what gangs do ? You have this exaggerated faith on reading books and documentaries on ‘solutions’

  7. Heather Grimwood 7
    15 July 2017 at 10:06 am

    To Ed at 6.1: Yes, I realise that Ed….good stuff indeed.

    • Ed 7.1
      15 July 2017 at 10:11 am

      However, what are the chances James and his ilk will watch any of the material?
      Or will they continue with their highly opinionated viewpoints as if that information is not out there?

  8. Heather Grimwood 8
    15 July 2017 at 10:36 am

    To Ed at 7.1 Compassion, empathy, maturity, required to forestall prison numbers in first place, and most importantly the more equal society that a government with those attributes would produce.

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    15 July 2017 at 11:03 am

    When the policy was designed, justice officials believed a mere 50 extra beds would be needed each year, but actual demand was for an additional 500. Restorative justice changes had also created demand 10 times the original estimate of 10 beds a year. It would be “useful” to understand why these figures had been so wrong, the briefing says. …

    That tells me that the people who chose those figures probably did so to get the policy through. Two possibilities present:

    1. Given three possible estimates, low, medium and high, from the government department responsible for producing them the government chose the lower and possibly lowered it even further.
    2. The government didn’t even ask the government department for an estimate and simply Made Shit Up™.

    Looking at the difference between the estimated and the actual figures I’d say it was the second.

    So what do we do about an out of control prison population? They aren’t asking me, but I have some advice anyway:

    1. Don’t imprison non-violent offenders unless it’s for over a set amount, say, $100k and let out all present non-violent prisoners with an ankle bracelet
    2. Decriminalise and legalise recreational drugs
    3. Better work on rehabilitation for all crims
    4. Address the causes of crime especially poverty

    • greywarshark 9.1
      15 July 2017 at 5:33 pm

      Too true DTb
      There needs to be long-term interest and occasional help after the initial course of training and workshopping with a prisoner, or derailed prisoner. Asking them to choose a couple of interests, and succeed at sticking at one of them to an agreed finish. People tell me if I want to make a change in my habits I’ll have to do the new things for 3 months or so. If we know that it takes a while why should prisoners who need to adopt a new way of life not get long-term help.

      And it can be borne in mind that what most have been doing is work of a kind but that is not countenanced by our law. Find better work that will suit their approach to life and reward it with some money, and some in-kind payment like a permanent room of their own in a communal house where they can mix with good sorts they can enjoy being with, and who are all managing a non-predatory life. Plus finding something they can make, some expressive way of their interest, creating something and soon the prison population would halve, and better they would be better role models to the children around them, and the animals.

  10. millsy 10
    15 July 2017 at 11:19 am

    I think what is most disturbing is the tendency for the prison and court system to be used as entertainment. The deluge of reality TV shows about life in US and UK prisons, as well as court proceedings illustrate this.

    The extremely irrepsonsible “60 Days In”, putting ordinary people into prisons undercover to uncover corruption (something that should be done by experienced policemen out of the public eye), seems to be more about explotiation and money making for entertainment than anything else.

  11. Foreign waka 11
    15 July 2017 at 12:26 pm

    A lot can be said about the reasoning behind the offending in NZ but drugs are certainly right up there. I wont be apologetic but I would a/ deport those who import and distribute if they are from overseas and b/ have compulsory treatment for those who offend and are NZ citizen. Not just 2 weeks, no 12 months minimum treatment.
    As for those cretins who bash minimum wage earners because they think they are entitled to rob a dairy or service station, they need to be incarcerated and then put to work. Yes, you know all those infrastructure workloads where no labour can be found.
    In the end a society has to make a decision – whether the victim is in the right or the perpetrator. It’s this on the fence sitting, political correctness wishiwashi that brought us where we are.

    • marty mars 11.1
      15 July 2017 at 12:35 pm

      you do realise who uses all the ‘p’ in society, you do realise it takes money to buy that ‘p’ – target the real users – hint – go to Auckland or Wellington and set a fire alarm off in a big office block and ‘p’ test every single white collar boss and middle manager that comes out – better yet try it at parliament or Police HQ or Defense HQ or a big insurance company or bank. You may be surprised at how many will be deported on the next flight out to the UK or where ever.

      • Foreign waka 11.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 1:17 pm

        So be it. If we REALLY want to put and end to it, something drastic needs to be done.

        • marty mars 11.1.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 1:40 pm

          and that is the kicker

          why do we want to put an end to it – to stop suffering? the addicts? their families ? Us?

          Are they suffering because they take the drugs or suffering and then they take the drugs to try and reduce their suffering?

          Very challenging area to try and help people.

  12. North 12
    15 July 2017 at 12:47 pm

    Trouble is @ 8 above Heather; that when “Compassion, empathy, maturity” comes from the rightists it’s just super. Shows how modern they are and how much they care etc etc. From anyone else it’s soft-headed and weak.

    The rightists’ problem – http://wist.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/Galbraith-selfishness-wist_info.jpg

    • Heather Grimwood 12.1
      15 July 2017 at 4:26 pm

      To North at 12 and to Anthony : I am still perturbed that almost all the comments above focus on what to DO with offenders, not on how to prevent the offending in the first place by providing a decent society where all are more equal i.e. have expectations for life in a culture which facilitates that.

      • Incognito 12.1.1
        15 July 2017 at 4:44 pm

        A better solution is to put resources into rehabilitation and the prevention of re-offending, instead of prisons.

        The generalised answer is in the OP.

        The causes that led to incarceration are complex and multi-factorial. But we (society) have to do what we can to break the cycle of re-offending and the current revolving doors that’s become a booming and burgeoning prison industry that’s a growing burden on the Tax Payer and a slight on our country.

        First and foremost, offenders should stop being bad role models for others. The best way to achieve this is to ‘keep them busy’, e.g. give them a job that gives them a real chance to rehabilitate.

        If we’re serious about this, and we should be, then we’ll find a way to deal with it in better ways than we have been IMO.

  13. greywarshark 13
    15 July 2017 at 5:38 pm

    What have I got to lose with Nothing is the answer. That would be the basis of decision making for many. Change the answer, give some positives in their lives instead of the deadly negativity even hate that guides so much of the actions and thoughts of the leaders and their cohorts and many of their managers.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 hours ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 hours ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    8 hours ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    22 hours ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    22 hours ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    23 hours ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Play it, Elvis
    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    2 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    3 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    4 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    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
    5 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    5 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago

  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    5 days ago

  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    6 days ago

  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 week ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2023-10-01T01:22:21+00:00