NZ Growing Faster Than Aussie, US, Japan, and UK

Written By: - Date published: 11:16 am, April 10th, 2008 - 42 comments
Categories: economy, election 2008, labour, national - Tags: , , ,

The Reserve Bank produces a series of helpful tables of economic data. One table compares our growth to that of Australia, the US, Japan, and the UK. Here’s a graph comparing growth across the countries between National and Labour’s periods in government.

nzvsworld.JPG

National has a pathetic track record on growth. Under them, our economy grew 1% a year slower than Australia’s, slower than the US’s, and barely faster than the UK’s.

Since we tossed them out, New Zealand has grown faster than Australia, the US, Japan, and the UK. The gap in GDP per capita that opened under National has been partially closed and wages have grown after stagnating under National.

But it is still not good enough. To make up the ground we lost under National we need growth to continue and stronger workers’ rights to ensure the benefits of growth go to those who make it happen. That requires a Government that is committed to high employment and high wages, and has the competency to deliver.

Labour needs to do more; National has proven they simply are not up to the task.

42 comments on “NZ Growing Faster Than Aussie, US, Japan, and UK ”

  1. johnn 1

    Have you got a link into the dataset at all ?

    [sorry, meant to include it. linked now. SP]

  2. Sam Dixon 2

    but, but, Labour is wrecking the economy!?

    no come back from the righties I see. Numbers speak for themselves

  3. Perhaps this might have been a better link rather than the poppycock graphs above.

    http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/keygraphs/Fig2.html

  4. Peter Nelson 4

    Why then are wages not rising as much as Australia?
    How much of the growth is due to bigger government in NZ wrt Aust?
    Spam Dixon – statistics can say anything you like them too.

  5. SweeetD 5

    stats are wonderful things eh Pierson, can show you anything you want to see, or want to show people what to think. Typical labour, all smoke, mirrors and bullshit.

  6. Lampie 6

    Perhaps this might have been a better link rather than the poppycock graphs above.

    think both show merits towards how well we have done as that link of yours said, we have done better than our two largest trading partners 🙂

  7. I’m glad you are following the Troy line there SD – I agree with you completely. I mean who would base their case on stats?

    I think we should immediately abolish the census, the department of stats and most of treasury and instead rely on the vast array of anecdotes talkback radio provides for us. Think of the savings we’d make!

    Y’know I think I’m starting to understand how National party “policy” is written…

  8. r0b 8

    Sweetie, is that really the best you can do? Cover your ears and shout “I can’t heeeear you!”. Why not take a look at the numbers yourself, and show us where you think Steve has it wrong?

    You too HS, what makes Steve’s graphs “poppycock” (lovely word, underused) exactly?

  9. Tane 9

    SD: to be fair economic growth rates provided by the RBNZ are relatively uncontroversial.

    Peter Nelson: Australia has had stronger unions and wider provision of collective bargaining, meaning the benefits of growth have been shared more widely than in New Zealand.

    It’s also untrue that Australian wages have been growing faster since 1999 – the last major increase in the wage gap came under National.
    http://www.thestandard.org.nz/?p=1522

  10. Higherstandard 10

    rOB

    Haven’t got time for in depth discussion – suffice to say that one has to investiagte the trends and circumstances for our performance vs competitors over time as in the graph on the RBNZ website rather than grabbing the figures reformatting and trying to make a point as per Steve’s post.

    If thread is still running tonight I’ll expand on the stream of conciousness above – you may be surprised that I agree with Tane’s comments regarding Australia sharing benefits of growth more widely than in NZ.

    Have a good afternoon.

    PS we should endeavour to bring back some more underused words far more fun than expletives all the time !

  11. r0b 11

    Haven’t got time for in depth discussion – suffice to say that one has to investiagte the trends and circumstances

    Rightly or wrongly, simple effective headlines and messages are the ones that have an effect. Consider “Iwi / Kiwi” – how many issues and complexities were swamped in that little gem? So, I don’t disagree with you that a more detailed analysis is more revealing, but it is also true that far fewer people are likely to read it.

    Have a good afternoon.

    Likewise I’m sure.

    PS we should endeavour to bring back some more underused words far more fun than expletives all the time !

    I quite agree. I’m going to look out for an opportunity to call someone a “dingbat”.

  12. Steve Pierson 12

    I’m sorry. HS, SweetD etc – on what grounds do you contest the validity of the graphs, other than that they don’t show want you want to believe?

    The figures are straight from the reserve bank table i linked to in the article – they are the average of the annual growth rates in each quarter during which Naitonal was in power during the 1990s and each quarter during which Labour has been in power in the 2000s.

    You’re implying I’ve manipulated them somehow, well make your argument.

    You know what makes an even more interesting graph? when you show the cumulative growth under National and Labour – since National had us in recession for the first 2 years we didn’t actually grow under them until 1994 – Labour had stronger growth up front, and growth is compunding so the result is even worse for National – if I remember rightly National’s total growth after nine years was matched by Labour in 7

  13. Billy 13

    Hey Steve,

    In your view, what policies of the Labour Party have caused this growth?

  14. Lampie 14

    Haven’t got time for in depth discussion – suffice to say that one has to investiagte the trends and circumstances for our performance vs competitors over time as in the graph on the RBNZ website rather than grabbing the figures reformatting and trying to make a point as per Steve’s post.

    Save you the bother http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monpol/review/0096149.html

  15. Lampie 15

    I’m sorry. HS, SweetD etc – on what grounds do you contest the validity of the graphs, other than that they don’t show want you want to believe?

    They can’t, see link above, They worked out an average as you did, 1990’s was actually 2.5% 🙂

  16. Occasional Observer 16

    It’s a facile argument, Steve. Yes, the statistics are accurate. Your conclusion–that Labour is a better economic manager–is banal.

    Here’s a fact: National inherited a stagnant and failing economy in 1990. Throughout the 1990s, National encountered several major economic shocks that were well beyond the government’s control. Despite this, National turned a stagnant economy into a consistently growing one throughout the 1990s, and massively reduced the debt burden. Every economic indicator was substantially better, and following a more positive trend, at the end of 1999, than it had been when National had taken office in 1990.

    Cue to the Labour Government. It inherited a growing economy, falling unemployment, low inflation, declining debt, and rapidly growing budget surpluses. Since 1999, the Government hasn’t had to deal with any severe, external, economic shocks.

    Now, it’s a reasonable argument that the current slow-down in the economy are partly due to external factors. But if you’re going to blame National for the Asian crisis, then you have to accept Labour is to blame for the sub-prime crisis, which given business confidence levels, and every other economic indicator heading south, is not an argument you’d want to sustain for very long, going into an election year.

    But I suspect that wasn’t the point of your facile post, Steve. You just wanted to compare two completely and fundamentally different economic eras, and draw inane conclusions from them.

  17. Peter Nelson 17

    Tane, you must be useless at your job if unions have been more powerful in Aust than NZ with a Union loving government we have had for 9 years in NZ.
    Contrast this with Australia, even allowing for their Work Choices legislation.

    IrishBill says: and you must be stupid if you think you can come on this blog and contribute nothing but dull insults to the blog owners. You have been warned.

  18. Steve Pierson 18

    OO – so Government have nothing to do with economic performance? or, more accurately, you argue that national is not responsible for any negative economic outocmes during its time in power but responsible for all the positive outcoems, and vice versa for Labour.

    I’m holding them to the same standard. Both parties have had a similar time in power, economic performance under National trailed this important set of countries. under Labour economic performance has beaten the same set of countries.

    Lampie: did you include 1990 to get 2.5%? Becuase National came to power in October 1990, so I only count from Q1 1991-Q4 1999.

  19. Lampie 19

    But I suspect that wasn’t the point of your facile post, Steve. You just wanted to compare two completely and fundamentally different economic eras, and draw inane conclusions from them.

    I think Steve’s conclusion is that under a Labour Govt. we have perform better than our trading partners than when a National admin was in power. As those external factors affected them as well.

    “The New Zealand economy will continue to be hit by external shocks, and will remain less diversified than other larger economies. As a result, it is probably unrealistic to expect New Zealand to achieve the same level of stability in the real economy as most other OECD countries.”

  20. Steve Pierson 20

    Billy – off the top of my head

    Labour has:
    -increased the minimum wage and other wages through labour policy, that creates domestic demand (money going to people who will spend, rather than shareholders more likely to save and often offshore)
    -lowered business tax and compliance costs (that $2bln reduction in compliance costs is often forgotten)
    -negotiated a series of FTAs
    -has not cut benefits and spending like National did – cuts pull demand put of the economy
    -boosted superannuation and government spending, adding demand to the economy
    -invested 10 times the amount in roading that National did
    – run record low unemployment for nearly four years, putting more demand into the economy, and boosting wages – Government policies do influence the unemployment rate – KBB did an analysis a while back on how unemployment dropped 1.5% following the jobs jolt.
    – paying down Government debt, increases investor confidence in the continuing stability of the NZ economy, encouraging investment
    – higher wages to police, doctors, nurses, etc – more demand in the economy
    – Working for Families, higher after-tax incomes for 370,000 families
    – lower crime rate due to higher employment, more police = greater social stability = more investment
    – increased health spending = healthier workforce that is more productive than it otherwise would be
    – all increased government spending has a multiplier effect throughout the economy = more nurses with better pay buy more cars, buy more fridges, spend more at the supermarket. the reverse occurred when National cut benefits and the civil service, not only were those people’s demand and production cut but other people went out of work because of lower demand.

  21. Lampie 21

    Lampie: did you include 1990 to get 2.5%? Becuase National came to power in October 1990, so I only count from Q1 1991-Q4 1999.

    yes correct, we also came to power in 1999 🙂 Thought you were just been too kind 🙂 Also was going off the RBNZ as they did the decade. Will be interesting to see what they say when the 2000s are up. As biggest growth period since WW2. 🙂

  22. Billy 22

    Good one, Steve. Applying your standards, it is quite OK to compare the policies of Harding favourably with Franklin Roosevelt.

  23. SweeetD 23

    Pierson, you fully know that comparing two different economic periods and then suggesting that performance or not in one period over another is due directly to a governments economic policy is bullshit. Without understanding the history of the time, a simple snapshot graph is bullshit.

    To hold them both to the same standard as you suggest, you would need 2 NZ’s, and run them both in parallel using both the nats and labours policys. Again, la la land stuff as it is impossible.

    Hence my comment above, stats can tell any story you want.

  24. Lampie 24

    negotiated a series of FTAs

    And plenty more too (what is Key on about??? http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0804/S00230.htm)we trying with every bugger!!! Including India!!!!

  25. Lampie 25

    Pierson, you fully know that comparing two different economic periods and then suggesting that performance or not in one period over another is due directly to a governments economic policy is bullshit. Without understanding the history of the time, a simple snapshot graph is bullshit.

    It is more they performance against other countries in the same period right Steve? I.e we have performed better against OZ NOW than we did when under National. And this comment As a result, it is probably unrealistic to expect New Zealand to achieve the same level of stability in the real economy as most other OECD countries.’

  26. Steve Pierson 26

    Dead on Lampie – the point of comparing to other countries is that the international impacts can be largely discounted as a cause of the difference in gorwth between National and Labour

  27. r0b 27

    So SD, you dingbat you, is presenting the complex legal, racial and social situation that arose as a result of the foreshore and seabed legislation using “Iwi / Kiwi” billboards also bullshit? If not, why not?

    Simple messages do have their place, and if you want the full story then Lampie posted a very interesting rbnz link above. And unlike “Iwi / Kiwi”, Steve’s graphs do provide some context. The NZ economy is compared to other countries. All were exposed to similar external environments (Asian crash etc), and the relative performance of the economy under National and Labour governments can be compared with the relative performance of other countries over the same time periods. NZ shows the greatest improvement in the second (Labour) period.

  28. Lampie 28

    Right on Steve, thought you did well 🙂

  29. Billy 29

    Nice use of dingbat, R0b.

  30. Lampie 30

    Nice use of dingbat, R0b.

    how about, Billy is a dingbat, dingbat

  31. r0b 31

    Blogging would be much more fun if we all used anachronistic insults (if we had to use insults at all, of course). We could do so much with Shakespeare, for example!

    http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/shake_rule.html
    http://www.renfaire.com/Language/insults.html
    http://petelevin.com/shakespeare.htm

    Yo Billy – thou dissembling onion-eyed canker-blossom!

  32. Billy 32

    I think this is beyond brilliant, and I will certainly be employing it from now on. I look forward to calling Tane a mewling fat-kidneyed hedge pig at just the right moment.

  33. Tane 33

    You’ll be careful there, ye paunchy ill-breeding lout.

  34. Billy 34

    My, isn’t this fun.

  35. IrishBill 35

    You geeks. And I don’t mean in the archaic circus-freak sense.

  36. r0b 36

    Come on IB, give it a try! Haven’t you always wanted to call someone a villainous fool-born foot-licker? I know I have…

  37. Occasional Observer 37

    No, Steve. Again your economic illiteracy is showing.

    Fact: National inherited an economic disaster in 1990. New Zealand suffered several major, external, economic shocks during the 1990s. Despite this, New Zealand’s economy improved radically, to the point that every major economic indicator had improved dramatically over the period. Dramatic rises in unemployment were stalled and turned around; inflation and interest rates were at their lowest levels in a generation; economic growth was the strongest it had been in fifteen years; crown debt was declining dramatically, and government was in surplus for the first time in over a generation, and New Zealanders were staying in New Zealand.

    Fact: Labour inherited a strong economy with sound fundamentals in 1999, and has not suffered any significant external economic shocks since 1999. New Zealand’s economy has grown steadily since that time. It is clear, however, that New Zealand is ill-prepared for the effects of the sub-prime crisis, with all the major forecasters predicting a downturn in the economy over the next few years. Every major economic indicator, from inflation to interest rates, to unemployment to debt reduction, and New Zealanders are heading overseas in record numbers.

    To discount external factors shows a degree of ignorance that I never thought even you were capable of, Steve. Well done. You’ve surprised me.

  38. Paul Williams 38

    Possibly the most important thing to note with these data is that they clearly show the NZ economy is more dynamic and exposed that the US and Australian economies. Most of NZ GDP is domestic consumption and we have low-levels of trade intensity (principally in commodities) therefore the external factors have a more pronounced impact.

    I think Steve’s post proves the lie coming from National that it’s the better economic steward, however no government is able to claim full credit for growth or buffer NZ from international trends. What Labour has done however is implement policies to enhance business performance – they might be policies National may now support, but they are policies National hadn’t e.g. investing in workforce skills, increasing tax incentives for R&D and opening new markets through trade agreements. Though it’ll be unpopular with the less informed and more reactionary readers here, there’s also an argument that that increases in the minimum wage improve productivity by encouraging firms out of low-wage, low-value added business.

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    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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    7 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
    12 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
    14 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
    14 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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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