Not how a democracy works

Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, August 16th, 2013 - 34 comments
Categories: Spying - Tags:

Key and his cronies have a long history of passing laws that give themselves sweeping powers and promising (honestly, truly) that they won’t use them. How many times has King Brownlee found himself in court for abusing his dictatorial powers, despite the ouster clauses in his enabling Act? Now, Key, says he won’t actually use the powers he’s getting the the GCSB Bill.

In a scene reminiscent of Fitzgerald v Muldoon, Key has purported to alter the law by press statement, telling the Herald (exclusively! for fuck’s sake) that how he will use the powers he gets in the GCSB Bill will be completely different to how those powers are stated in the law itself. ‘Don’t worry that you’re give me unnecessarily broad powers’ he says ‘I won’t use them’.

Except that’s not how a democracy works. The law in a democracy should give the government only the powers it definitely needs to have for the pubic interest and nothing more. It shouldn’t have a grab-bag of powers that it doesn’t need on a ‘we won’t use them, but just in case’ basis.

Why? Because sooner or later, that ‘just in case’ circumstance comes along from the perspective of the government of the day. Maybe it’s an opposition group that’s giving the government trouble, maybe it’s a segment of the population that’s deemed ‘undesirable’.

You don’t create the conditions for excessive government power and autocratic rule and then trust the government never to use them. Sooner or later, when you give a government excessive powers, you get excessive government action.

34 comments on “Not how a democracy works ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    16 August 2013 at 11:17 am

    Key has purported to alter the law by press statement, telling the Herald (exclusively! for fuck’s sake) that how he will use the powers he gets in the GCSB Bill will be completely different to how those powers are stated in the law itself. ‘Don’t worry that you’re give me unnecessarily broad powers’ he says ‘I won’t use them’.

    I have yet to read the Herald (prefer to read the hard copy) but if this a correct resume of what he said then… this is almost beyond words. Translated it means:

    ” You’re (us for god’s sake) gonna put a whole lot of powers in this bill so that if I wanna get gen on anyone I don’t like then I can cos that’s going to be my new right as PM. But hey fellas I’m not gonna do it (well, not in this term anyway mumble, mumble) so youse got nothing to worry about – nothing to worry about at all.”

    Where is Labour? Why are they not shouting from the rooftops. This is serious banana republic stuff – Robert Mugabe-ism. A few press releases written in what I term “formalese” does not cut it Labour.
    That is why the media so often ignore your releases. In situations like this nothing less than a bit of “mongrelese” and maybe a swear word or two will cut it. Get to it will you!

    • Sable 1.1
      16 August 2013 at 12:14 pm

      Because Labour are every bit as bad as National, that’s why. Clarke came out in support of Keys spy law and I see they voted down the Greens legislation to clean up our rivers. People need to get past their tribalism and start voting for a political party that actually represents their interests and those of their families. HINT: not National or Labour.

      • Anne 1.1.1
        16 August 2013 at 12:56 pm

        I’ve responded to this claim of yours before Sable. CLARK DID NOT COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF KEY’S BILL. All she said was… it was necessary to have good laws surrounding the intelligence services and that our security agencies perform a very necessary function – that was the substance of her reply to a question by Audrey Young on Q&A. She passed no judgement on the current legislation being rushed through parliament which was the diplomatic thing to do.

        If we found ourselves in this exact situation under a Clark government there would have been a “full and independent inquiry” already up and running by now.

        • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.1.1
          16 August 2013 at 4:42 pm

          Even if she had, it would not be a good reason for anyone who supports Labour to support the bill, and it would not be a statement of current Labour Party policy.

          Also, I should point out that the fact that the GCSB were illegally spying on kiwis under Clark doesn’t necessarily make her responsible for it, although it certainly makes her negligent if she didn’t take efforts to ensure it wasn’t happening.

          • Anne 1.1.1.1.1
            16 August 2013 at 5:19 pm

            Hi Matthew,
            My understanding of the Urewera raids under Labour’s watch is that the then minister of police, Annette King – and presumably Helen Clark – were told about the impending raids less than 24 hrs before they actually occurred. They were told the raid was legal, and I imagine they had little choice but to accept that their officials were correct so gave the go ahead. I recall Annette King commenting recently she was given few operational details (which would be correct because ministers are not responsible for operational minutia) and she was ‘taken aback’ by some of the police actions. I guess that was a polite way of saying she was appalled at what happened.

            • Wayne 1.1.1.1.1.1
              17 August 2013 at 1:25 pm

              Which is pretty much the same as John Key and the Kim Dotcom raid. This is what Police independence means.

              Even if Ministers are appalled there is nothing they can do about it. They simply cannot direct the Police, who jealously protect their independence (as they should). But it could be argued they sometimes get carried away since they have (seemingly) few internal checks.

              Instead Police actions can only get challenged in the Courts as happened in both Urewera and KDC. And I also guess the IPCA can also act.

              And you don’t have to be as rich as Croesus. If the issues are big enough, Legal Aid comes to the rescue, as it did in the Urewera cases and with Zaoui.

              And I also guess the Court of public opinion is a check, but how strong is that in any particular case?

              • Colonial Viper …
                17 August 2013 at 1:30 pm

                Which is pretty much the same as John Key and the Kim Dotcom raid. This is what Police independence means.

                Even if Ministers are appalled there is nothing they can do about it.

                Shit, the cops got on to the Key/Banks/Ambrose teapot tapes quick smart. No burglaries to solve that week?

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2
          16 August 2013 at 5:42 pm

          She passed no judgement on the current legislation being rushed through parliament which was the diplomatic thing to do.

          Sometimes the “diplomatic thing to do” is the wrong thing to do. This was one of those times.

          • Anne 1.1.1.2.1
            16 August 2013 at 6:29 pm

            Can’t agree with you there DTB.

            Helen Clark would leave herself open to accusations that she was interfering with the running of the country… and given her role as a top United Nations official she would be laying herself open to even more criticism. This might seem a bit paranoid but you only have to look at the vicious allegations she faced in the past to appreciate she has to be particularly careful – far more than almost anyone else in her position.

            • Draco T Bastard 1.1.1.2.1.1
              16 August 2013 at 9:44 pm

              Helen Clark would leave herself open to accusations that she was interfering with the running of the country…

              But they would have only been accusations, ones easily ridiculed.

              …and given her role as a top United Nations official she would be laying herself open to even more criticism.

              I’m sure that the UN Declaration of Human Rights has something about privacy in it so it seems strange to me that a person employed by the UN can’t say something about laws that transgress that privacy.

              This might seem a bit paranoid but you only have to look at the vicious allegations she faced in the past to appreciate she has to be particularly careful – far more than almost anyone else in her position.

              Comes with the job.

        • Murray Olsen 1.1.1.3
          16 August 2013 at 7:22 pm

          Anne, a similar situation was the Ahmed Zouai case and the faulty advice given by the SIS. I don’t share your faith in Clark government inquiries, or was this different enough to not be relevant?

          • Anne 1.1.1.3.1
            16 August 2013 at 7:54 pm

            @ Murray Olsen
            It didn’t enter my mind at time of typing that comment. I’ve said previously that was a very curious case indeed. But my recollection is that it was part of a court case not an ‘inquiry’.
            All I can do is repeat what I said about it on Open Mike 10 August:

            A read of Paul Buchanan’s latest post on Kiwipolitico is enlighting. The SIS director at the time of the Zaoui case was Richard Wood who was a well known Francophile, and Buchanan links the persecution of Zaoui very much with this particular predilection.

            http://www.kiwipolitico.com/

            After reading that link it does seem that the SIS Director was under the influence of the French and that explains the conviction on the part of the SIS – and subsequently the Clark government – that he was a suspect character.

            • Anne 1.1.1.3.1.1
              16 August 2013 at 8:02 pm

              The Edit function is having a hissy fit so I add an addendum to the above:

              I’m not trying to defend the Clark govt. – just pointing out what appears to be a plausible explanation as to why the Zaoui debacle proceeded the way it did.

            • Murray Olsen 1.1.1.3.1.2
              16 August 2013 at 11:38 pm

              Given that France is the only nation that has committed an act of war on our territory, I have to wonder about the wisdom of having a francophile as SIS director. Do we only spy on people that don’t attack us?

      • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2
        16 August 2013 at 5:40 pm

        People need to get past their tribalism and start voting for a political party that actually represents their interests and those of their families. HINT: not National or Labour.

        QFT

        Both National and Labour work in support of business and the rich and against the needs of everyone else.

  2. tracey 2
    16 August 2013 at 11:30 am

    Include the creation of an auckland super city. Sold as being best for auckland to run itself free of govt but turns out it was so govt cld impose on one council instead of 8.

    • Greywarbler 2.1
      16 August 2013 at 1:10 pm

      tracey + 100

      edit – awaiting moderation!

      [lprent: So don’t write things that akismet thinks look like a spammer 🙂 Umm I see that you had another one as well. Guess it doesn’t like your IP. ]

      • Greywarbler 2.1.1
        16 August 2013 at 4:25 pm

        lprent
        No worries. I’ll talk to my people and see what can be done about my IP and you two have a restful warm weekend.

  4. blue leopard 4
    16 August 2013 at 1:30 pm

    Excellent post Eddie

    This is such an important point.

    I think that democratic countries really do need to be taught civics in schools. There are some principles that we need to understand because these principles protect us and when adhered to keep our society functioning healthily and unless we understand them, it is very evident that some manipulative fuckwit can come along and fool people into thinking that they don’t matter. They do matter and this is why I like your post. You have spelt out one of them in very simple terms

    • framu 4.1
      16 August 2013 at 2:40 pm

      agreed – its a really important part/compliment of world history

      im constantly amazed by peoples failure to notice similarities to an issue today and where the same type of thinking has ended up previously

      • blue leopard 4.1.1
        16 August 2013 at 4:39 pm

        @ Framu,

        Yes, same here re historical repetitions.

        The thing is, most of what we know is what we are told by others. The only time I know to draw such parallels is from someone pointing it out to me, or having read an informative book, watched a documentary etc.

        Because not everyone ‘digs’ political/historical conversations, informative books, documentaries etc, it seems rather important that some foundational knowledge is imparted in school.

        I would consider this type of information far more applicable and causing a direct and important impact on people’s lives than some of the other never-to-be used information I (for one) was taught in school.

  5. aerobubble 5
    16 August 2013 at 2:27 pm

    Key says let him into your home, he won’t
    look in your underwear draw, and he promises
    that any future PM won’t either. Now that’s
    the lie, he can’t promise for future PMs.
    Everyone knows someone who makes promises
    for others, who aren’t available, its called
    a scam. Making a promise you can’t deliver on
    is the basis of every scam going. Lucky this
    isnt a national security issue, oops, it is.

    John Key keep out of my smelly pants!

    • Greywarbler 5.1
      16 August 2013 at 4:29 pm

      aerobubble
      You know how the RWNJs respond to that sort of appeal. They would say if you only kept your underpants clean and didn’t allow them to smell, you wouldn’t have anything to worry about. It would be all your fault for bringing the armed squad of civic protectors down on you in farce.

      • aerobubble 5.1.1
        19 August 2013 at 4:02 pm

        I would like to refer you to the government ministry of standards, of what constitutes smelly. My smelly pants could be very attractive to a Prime Minister like Key who seems quite enamored will smell distractions.

  6. Murray Olsen 6
    16 August 2013 at 7:27 pm

    Spy agencies, and law enforcement in general, have historically gone beyond their allotted powers. They will do what the law allows, plus 10% or more, while pushing for more powers by telling lies about how hamstrung they are. Some politicians realise this, and write laws which take it into account. I have never heard of any historical case where spy agencies have used less than the powers allotted to them. Maybe on Planet Key?

  7. BrucetheMoose 7
    16 August 2013 at 7:35 pm

    Brownlee is the perfect exemplar of what happens when you his type and this lot unbridled powers. Instead of using them wisely and for beneficial purposes, he has abused and misused them, all under the guise of a major natural disaster.
    Despite being the Minister of EQC, he has let this imperative government entity continually fail in it’s duty to make sure those relying on it’s services and financial assistance get the support they so desperately. Instead of using his position to discipline the insurance companies who are waging a campaign of attrition and submission upon their claimants, Brownlee won’t lift a finger to, not even utter a word against them. He would rather let these people suffer on many levels instead of acting against the perpetrators.
    He has instigated rulings that violate fundamental property rights in the residential red zones and commercial property owners in the CBD, again using these decisions and the disaster to not only deliberately undermine their right to own, but also severely undermine values in order for the government to acquire cheaply. This after he stated that the extreme powers regarding compulsory land acquisition would be used sparingly when the CERA legislation was first announced.
    Brownlee has already been taken to the high court and ruled against his decisions over rezoning certain areas of the Canterbury region for new residential development. Now two other legal actions are taking course at the moment by those severely affected financially by the red zoning process. Fowler Developments for a small relatively undamaged subdivision caught in the red zone, and Quake Outcasts, a group of various property owners desperately fighting for their financial survival due to Brownlee’s disgraceful rulings affecting their properties values. To learn more about this go to –
    http://sbitnz-web.sharepoint.com/Pages/default.aspx
    https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/Crowd/Details/1230
    There certainly is no democracy for these people.

    • Puddleglum 7.1
      16 August 2013 at 11:38 pm

      Yep, brucethemoose.

      When a government gathers together such powers in one place it’s usually to fight a powerful foe (e.g., in a war). Yet, it’s hard to see any evidence that Brownlee has been using all the ‘grunt’ invested in his role to wield against other powerful agents like the insurers and reinsurers.

      Instead, there’s lots of evidence that those powers have been used mainly to push the relatively powerless domestic population around for various purposes, as you describe.

  8. hellonearthis 8
    17 August 2013 at 1:18 am

    LOL “pubic interest” I didn’t know my pubic area has interest.

  9. I agree with Matthew 9
    17 August 2013 at 5:09 pm

    Look why not go with the law change, welcome it and when we the ‘left’ eventually win (might be a few years away yet) use it powers to take out the bastards. Use it on those right wing ,journos, bloggers and anyone else who takes our fancy or any one else whose views don’t conform . Use it to take our country back.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      17 August 2013 at 5:15 pm

      oh god lets support a fascist state, because one day it’ll be run by our fascists?

      No thanks

      • I agree with Matthew 9.1.1
        17 August 2013 at 7:48 pm

        woosh

        • Colonial Viper 9.1.1.1
          17 August 2013 at 7:52 pm

          If you have an argument to make or a debate point to lay out…feel free.

          Mine is clear. Governments must be limited and must not be permitted to abuse their powers over the citizens, regardless of how “worthy” you feel those citizens are of being fucked over.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T18:16:56+00:00