New Zealand First

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, June 24th, 2017 - 61 comments
Categories: election 2017, elections, nz first, Politics - Tags:

With New Zealand First now front and centre of any 2017 election outcome, it’s worthwhile understanding their policies.
Here are their 15 fundamental principles.

Here’s a few of their commitments:

  • Buy back state owned enterprises, including all the electricity companies, and put them back into one entity.
  • Stop any state asset sales. Also, if a previous state asset comes up for sale, government gets first shot at buying it back.
  • Limit foreign ownership in any NZ strategic asset to 24.9%
  • Drastically reduce the sale of land to foreigners, building on their 1997 initiative.
  • Form a New Zealand Fund for New Zealanders to invest in New Zealand infrastructure.
  • Require the NZSuper Fund to invest in New Zealand infrastructure.
  • Form a Kiwisaver fund called Kiwifund, with minimal fees, open to citizens and permanent residents, investing largely in New Zealand enterprises, land, and infrastructure.
  • No GST on fresh ingredient food. They estimate that will cost about $3 billion a year.
  • Remove GST on rates bills.
  • Crack down on corporates like Google and Facebook to pay more tax.
  • Exporter companies have their tax rate lowered to 20% (that’s from their Economic Plan).
  • Have a thorough review of Working For Families, because it’s been used as cover by employers to pay poor wages, and because it unfairly discriminates.

It concentrates on local control and ownership, strong state-directed investment and savings management, and shifting the tax burden away from indirect taxes to corporates.

I’m sure more policies will be revealed at their conference coming up on July 15-16, but it’s definitely worth getting to know their full suite as the election looms closer. I have a sneaking suspicion that they will be very important.

61 comments on “New Zealand First ”

  1. BM 1

    I can’t really see how Peters could work with either the Labour/Greens coalition or National.

    Maybe apart from a watered down version of number 4, no one’s going to be doing any of that

    • Ad 1.1

      Much more likely we’ll get a National+NZF government until 2020.

      • Cinny 1.1.1

        I doubt it Ad, but that’s just my humble opinion from watching every question time in the last five years.

        What has surprised me is how many young people are going to vote for Winnie, and even a few hippies.

        Good post btw.

        At least our new PM won’t be able to say “I’m not a lawyer” to defend his guilt and lies. Both Winnie and Alpha have studied law.

    • Draco T Bastard 1.2

      With most of those policies I think he can work with Lab/Greens.

      Can’t work with National with any of them though.

      • Ad 1.2.1

        National has tonnes of Labour policies now.

        On the cross benches and a good Ministerial slot he’d be just fine.

        At 15% he’s go for PM.
        That would be fun.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.1

          National has tonnes of Labour policies now.

          National copies Labour policy once their own policies are shown to be completely against what the people want – unless it’s selling off of state assets and a few other core National Party principles. In which case they’ll keep them no matter what the people want.

          And that’s what we’re talking about here – principles. NZ1st’s are almost totally opposed to National’s principles. They do align with Labour’s though and could probably work with the Green’s.

          • Ad 1.2.1.1.1

            He’s not going to do it that way.

            He is going to run the next 2.5 months so that we follow him, not the other way round.

      • BM 1.2.2

        He’s banking on the provincial vote to really lift him this time around.

        That rules out the greens completely.

        • Ad 1.2.2.1

          Once votes are cast, the farmers get no say.

          And of course NZF will never say who they are going in with beforehand.

          • BM 1.2.2.1.1

            Unless he has no interest in the longevity of NZ First.

            Spending all that time trying to build up a provincial voter base and then to throw it all away by siding with the rather farmer hostile green party does seem counter-intuitive.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.2.2.1.1.1

              The Greens aren’t hostile to farmers. Their hostile to destroying the environment for profit.

              It’s a rather critical distinction.

              • BM

                The greens think current farming practices have to stop, if that happens the whole farming sector will collapse and go broke.

                How can Farmers deal with the Greens when they basically want to put them out of business?

                Because of this Peters can’t go into any coalition that involves the Greens.

                • Draco T Bastard

                  The greens think current farming practices have to stop, if that happens the whole farming sector will collapse and go broke.

                  Which tells us that the current farming practices are wrong.

                  But it’s still not an attack on farmers.

                  And why should we keep subsidising farmers at the cost of our environment?

                  How can Farmers deal with the Greens when they basically want to put them out of business?

                  They don’t want to put them out of business but get them to change their practices to being sustainable. Farmers should, if they were any good at farming, fully understand that.

                  • Ad

                    Farmers as a whole will not give a flying fuck about the Greens, unless the Greens can figure out how to work with Winston Peters. Because the Greens will not be in government without New Zealand First.

                    New Zealand First on the other hand does not need the Green Party at all.

                    That is not a happy place for the Green Party with 2.5 months to deadline.

                    • Actually NZ First does need the Green Party, as they’ve made very clear that National doesn’t currently meet their bottom line policies in terms of who they’d form a government with, and Labour has been very clear that the Greens are first in line come coalition talks if Labour is in a position to be forming a government, because they committed to working together ahead of the election.

                      The real question is whether those discussions are moot and it’ll be so close that the Māori Party ends up deciding things. Labour should be buoyed tremendously by this latest controversy for National, but I’ve learned not to underestimate their impressive ability for unforced errors and failing to inspire people.

                • Mate, the thing you fail to realise is that if stopping the current practices will drive them into financial ruin, whoever runs those farms is eventually heading for financial ruin whether they stop now or stop later, because those practices cannot be sustained in the long term.

                  It’s true the Greens would rather we start now in transitioning less sustainable models of farming, (mostly in the dairy sector) particularly high-intensity models, towards business practice that can be sustained over the long term. But that doesn’t make them enemies of farmers, rather it means that they want farmers to start doing business in such a way that they can pass their farms down several generations, with nobody going broke.

                  Blaming the Greens for bringing it up as a political issue is a classic case of shooting the messenger.

                  • You_Fool

                    From my understanding, Farmers actually get this and are heading that way anyway, so it is a non-issue.

                    The big farms as a business corporations don’t like it, but that is just rich pricks wanting to rape the land for all its worth and are not worried about the future anyway (and aren’t farmers)

                    Oh and it is also an issue for certain political commentators/junkies who seem to want to ignore everything the Greens say or how it actually aligns with reality and just claim them as impractical hippies who will ruin the world in some way

  2. Bill 2

    Thanks for compiling the list Ad.

    It’s ironic that an expression of social democracy persisted in NZ in the shape of New Zealand First.

    A conservative party to be potentially courted by what was once a labour party? And that old social democratic party, that’s very firmly from the right of the social democratic spectrum, is more left than the would be liberal seducer…

    Welcome to spaghetti politics.

  3. roy cartland 3

    You missed repeal the so-called anti-smacking legislation.

    • Ad 3.1

      I outlined specific policies.

      If Labour keeps fading NZF have a good chance at 15%.

      They’re a bit retro for me, but they’re important.

      • The Chairman 3.1.1

        “If Labour keeps fading NZF have a good chance at 15%.”

        Or more. Winston is out polling Little for preferred PM.

      • mary_a 3.1.2

        Sometimes retro isn’t such a bad thing Ad (3.1).

        • Ad 3.1.2.1

          Would you vote for him though?

          • Eyre 3.1.2.1.1

            Cam Slater and halve of whale oil readers are voting nz first this time round. Strange times.

            • BM 3.1.2.1.1.1

              Slater is a pathetic man-child who’s sulking because Bill English told him to go away.

              He’s hoping National loses and English gets replaced with his true love Judith.

          • mary_a 3.1.2.1.2

            @ Ad (3.1.2.1) … no, simply because I don’t trust Winston.

            Voting NZF, despite having some good MPs and policies, could well be a vote for another National government and that’s something I could never live down.

            When I refer to retro, I make reference to the time when NZ was once the envy of the world for its egalitarian social and economic structure. Although it wasn’t perfect, it did work reasonably well. Seems to me this is what NZF is offering up and it’s a pity Winston doesn’t front up and make it clear which side he will be going with prior to the election. His non commitment here, is not beneficial to NZ.

            • Tamati Tautuhi 3.1.2.1.2.1

              Highly unlikely he will go with National and in a recent survey 71.4% of NZF Voters would prefer a NZF/Labour Coalition, he’s already been shafted by National once. There is an old saying “Once bitten twice shy”.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      Referendum on the Māori seats.

      All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages…

      protect our social fabric and traditional family values which underpin our society.

      Uh huh.

  4. saveNZ 4

    NZ First sounds like good policy to me and they look like popular and centre positions. Around the world voters are rejecting neoliberalism. It’s not helping people, it’s taking people’s country out of the local people’s control and ridiculous and dangerous decisions are being made that benefit people who don’t live there at the cost of the community that does.

    Winston’s not stupid and anybody can see all National’s partners end up with declining votes, or befalling an unexpected demise right before the election aka, Conservatives style. I don’t think National will have many takers as coalition partners. Even Bill’s legendary charisma and spaghetti pizza may not tempt them.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 4.1

      Neoliberalism or Zombie Economics has turned New Zealand into a Dogs Breakfast ?

  5. Stuart Munro 5

    Good policies for the most part – and the idea of a joined up reform is overdue.

    I just can’t reconcile them with the possibility of leaping into bed with the Gnats.

    It does show I think that Winston was the leader National always needed, but they were too racist for him back in the day, and now they’re too dependent on corrupt commercial relationships to move his way.

    It may mean the Gnats collapse after this electoral loss, and try to rebuild their brand.

    • Ad 5.1

      I made sure I only put up the picked lefties would like the most.

      There’s lots of annoying ones as well.

      • Stuart Munro 5.1.1

        He has a lot of supporters – but he’s too mercurial for some of us.

        Like TOP, I’d like to see his better policies cherry picked.

      • saveNZ 5.1.2

        Yep, so if you find the other ones too annoying, you can vote Labour or Green:) But you can be silent supporters to NZ First and for those voters disenchanted from the darker National side back to the conservative centre, which is NZ First.

        My prediction is the South Islanders are getting sick of the Natz taking them for granted. There has been Pike River, ChCH still not rebuilt and going slower and slower, other quakes, Nick Smith and his Faeces rivers… There is a point where people have had enough of being taken for granted and want to send a message.

        NZ First or Labour or even Greens should pick up the votes. The country has had enough of National.

      • MJH 5.1.3

        Comment directed to Ad at 5.1: That is troubling; were you inviting attacks on NZ First policies? Is this a stalking horse post? Until I read this little comment, I assume you believed (as I basically do) that NZ First is, at essence, first and foremost a party that is opposes and seeks to reverse neoliberal economic policy. And that is a goal I believe in 100%. Some of its methods we could quibble with and some of its rhetoric, well…
        But NZ First is the ONLY party [okay, the only party with more than a few thousand supporters] that says no, no, no to the economic path this country has been following for decades. That is why I am supporting it.

        • Ad 5.1.3.1

          It really really is time the left took NZF seriously, started interrogating their policies, and not just their leaders’ character. Most of the time I see too many commenters spouting platitudes about moist left stuff that will be of no moment to any future government at all.

          New Zealand First are the only indispensable party in the next government.

          Fantastic to see you nail your colors to the mast here.

  6. David Mac 6

    Our MMP system amps up the requirement for compromise between parties. When forming a government the compromise trading operates on 2 primary planes. Appointments and Policies: Who sits in what chair and what’s the action plan?

    The natural place for NZ First is with National. But when I consider ‘Does Winston want to play 2nd Fiddle or be 1 of the 3 tenors?’ The left block makes sense.

    When I look at that list of policies and consider ‘Who has to give up the most to accommodate NZ First’s wishes? Again, I think the left would be more accommodating.

    Shane Jones is Nga Puhi as is Winston. if Jones steps up to the plate…Nat lovers are a small minority in that iwi.

    Winston has had a problem with aspects of the Greens. I feel this may be a pre- James Shaw sentiment. His beef with the greens softened by their slide towards broader appeal. eg: Making a career business consultant part boss.

    So yep, on the face of it, NZ First will run with the Nats….but when you start looking at the dissected bits and pieces, I’m not so sure.

    The big winner is NZ First, 2 very suitable suitors, hard to tell who they’ll marry. Both of those boys will spend heaps wooing that girl.

    • Stuart Munro 6.1

      Not sure Winston’ll go for Jones – may be a bit wary of possible waka jumpers.

    • Ad 6.2

      He will go with National, but not in a formal coalition.

      He will go with Confidence and Supply.

      Unless.

      Unless he is in the position to achieve Prime Minister.

      Then, and only then, it will be a formal coalition with National.

      The point of the post is to show that NZF is the only party with some left credentials with current likelihood to alter the course of the likely next government – a National government.

      • Stuart Munro 6.2.1

        I wouldn’t mind a constitutional precedent whereby a coalition partner bringing over 20% gets a spell as PM. The frightening thing about Winston as PM is not what he’d do (he has some understanding of how PMs fail) but the compromises he might be prepared to make to get there.

        Of course that goes for the Greens too – if they break 20, why shouldn’t they have a crack? Somehow I doubt it’ll happen, but it is somewhat in accord with democratic principles.

  7. NZ1 are a racist lot ,Labour should have nothing to do with them.
    Recently their racism is getting worse .I for one find their racist remarks offensive,
    .

  8. McGrath 8

    How much is Winston First willing to compromise to get the baubles of power? If the above list are absolutes, then I can only see him either on the cross benches or with Labour/Green.

  9. Jenny Kirk 9

    It’s possible Winston will tell NZF supporters that its necessary to go with the Nats to be able to harness and haul-in their more outrageous policies. Something like that could well be his excuse for going into coalition with the Nats.
    Don’t be fooled by his smiling ways, charm and rhetoric. IMO He wants the baubles only – and he doesn’t really care about the rest of the country or our people.

    • Ad 9.1

      You may be right.

      On the other hand, Winston could really be conviction politician.
      It’s there in the policies.

      • Graeme 9.1.1

        But most of those policies are the antithesis of what National have been trying to achieve in this and prior governments. Will they go with NZF? They do have some principles, other than being in power.

        • Ad 9.1.1.1

          All you have to do is go through the number of massive and era-defining policies from Labour that National have now locked in for good, to understand how far National are going to turn Labour into an irrelevancy by adopting New Zealand First policies.

          Can you list them?

          • Graeme 9.1.1.1.1

            And that will be national’s down fall. The more they turn into some populist Labour lite / NZ First clone, the more their core voters will turn away from them.

            Labour isn’t, and won’t be an irrelevancy, Labour’s policies are being maintained, and extended by National. Labour is making National be Labour. This isn’t going to suit National’s donors and eventually those funds will go to a party that represents those donors interests. If National continues their labour lite approach they’ll go the way of the Blarites in UK and become the irrelevance.

            Sorry, I can’t see National adopting NZ First, and really Labour policies ending well for the National Party. It’ll be bloody entertaining while it lasts though.

            • Ad 9.1.1.1.1.1

              Net effect either way is to squeeze Labour smaller – whether they are pushing National leftwards or not.

              I mean, I hope you are right. But so far adopting Labor policies are working really well for National. Those donors don’t have too many principles; power and its levers are usually enough.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 9.2

      NZF Caucus will decide which party they go into coalition with not just Winston.

    • Tamati Tautuhi 9.3

      NZF look as if they will get around 15% of the Party Vote at the next Election which should be enough to hold the Balance of Power, it is cheap insurance as they will hold whichever party they are in coalition with to account.

      This is what MMP is all about folks, it puts the checks and balances in place, evidently NZF is getting some traction even though MSM and the State Broadcaster Mike Hokins do not give NZF any credibility or media coverage ?

      New Zealand needs NZF if this country is to have any future we are now offshore owned and controlled ?

  10. benby 10

    In 2005 I stepped off a plane and sat down to enjoy a meal in one of the Asian eateries on upper Queen Street.

    A racist trailer billboard rolled past. It featured Winston Racist Peters.

    How do I vote in a way that keeps him and his racist party away from power?

    • Ad 10.1

      You can’t.
      He’s covered both ways this election.
      Vote for some party whose values seem true to you.

  11. Incognito 11

    NZF has always struck me as a party that’s all about process and not so much about purpose. In a nutshell …

  12. gsays 12

    Kia ora northlanders, how has it been for y’all having Winston as your MP?

    No new bridges yet?

    • Tamati Tautuhi 12.1

      Can’t do anything in Opposition the Natzis have the cheque book ?

    • You_Fool 12.2

      Would those be the bridges that National announced as not being an election bribe, and totally going to happen no matter the outcome of the by-election? Those bridges?

      • gsays 12.2.1

        That’s the one!
        Maybe they had their fingers crossed behind their back and meant Simon bridges.

  13. millsy 13

    NZ First is opposed to the use of 1080, believing that using an army of possum hunters will go on and keep them under control, and enjoy the life of a “Good Keen Man” as depicted in Barry Crump novels.

    They have pretty much lost my vote because of this.

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    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    5 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    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:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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