Oh dear – Hyde the costs

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 pm, May 7th, 2009 - 71 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, democracy under attack - Tags: , ,

rodneycross

Liar: another worthless minister

democracy-under-attack1How embarrassing. Rodney Hide has been forced to admit that he has no idea of the costs of his super-city proposal. Phil Twyford with the aid of the speaker cornered him into an admission that he’d been bullshitting.

The Minister has been caught out trying to mislead Aucklanders about whether the Government has done those costings and only acknowledged there were none, when ordered by the Speaker in the House today.

Yesterday I asked Mr Hide whether the Government had costed its Super City proposals, as outlined in its Making Auckland Greater booklet, and he answered ‘yes’.

Today when I asked what those costing were, Mr Hide danced on the head of a pin as he tried to evade the question, until he was finally ordered by the Speaker to come clean.

This was as I suspected yesterday when I wrote “How Hyde is wasting my taxes on an uncosted project”. So Rodney Hide has spent my money as a tax-payer on PR to make me accept a project that he has not figured out what it will cost me as a rate-payer. That really really sucks. If something is presented to the voters of this country as a proposal, especially one that the legislation is being prepared now to be pushed through under urgency, then it should be properly costed. To do otherwise is to have a seriously incompetent minister – so why are we paying his wages?

Perhaps Rodney should stop trying to push this ‘proposal’ through parliament and wait until it becomes a ‘plan’, with some detail and at least some ideas of the costs. Rodney should definitely explain what all of the rush is for, because that appears to be what is causing these embarrassments to the government. First Key admitting that there would be little consulation with Aucklanders with the proposal, and now Rodney admitting that he has no idea what money he is going to make Auckland rate-payers to fork out.

Embarrassingly, Twyford dug out some other statements by Hide that now turn out to also be false.

Rodney Hide is promoting himself as the Minister for Ratepayers and said recently ‘it’s a good test for a planned spend-up to get the agreement of those who are paying for it.’

He’s clearly not following his own advice and nor is he demonstrating the transparency he claims to champion.

Aucklanders are being asked to swallow the Government’s Super City plan, the least Rodney Hide can do is tell them how much it’s going to cost.

Exactly! It seems like he couldn’t care less about the rate-payers of Auckland.

All I can say to Phil is “Good hunting”, and how about putting links into your statements?

Update: The link to the debate is here. It is very clear that Rodney was attempting to avoid answering it, with a lot of obstruction on his part, but the relevant section is

Hon RODNEY HIDE: The Government actually does not have the cost of implementation, but it is minuscule compared with the cost of $2 billion—

Followed by more diversions. Audio at here (mp3) – question starts at 55:25. Thanks gobsmacked and Felix.

The key factor is that he is pushing a proposal into legislation when he has no idea about the costs. Since the costs are borne by the rate-payers of Auckland, it appears that the usual treasury checks have not been followed.

Update: My apologies about the inadvertent association of the target on Rodney Hide with the events in Napier today. I hadn’t heard the news at the time I wrote and published the post. My heartfelt commiserations to the police and their families. However I will leave the target on this bumbling minister… Ok all the wingnuts are PC now. I changed the picture and showed the real guy inside. Thanks mike.



71 comments on “Oh dear – Hyde the costs ”

  1. Anthony Karinski 1

    Good to see old Rodney turning into the Winston Peters of this government. Whereas Peters’ stupidity was not affecting people’s lives, Rodney’s charade will hit Aucklanders’ directly. He’ll probably bring Key down the gurgler with him as well.

    Another 2,5 years in a leaky boat for this government…

  2. What a fantastic change in the house now we have a speaker that is prepared to hold the government to account. I agree that Rodney looked like a plonker today.

    • burt 2.1

      barnsleybill

      I agree, Rodney is already starting to do all the stuff that Labour use to do. No referendums, use of urgency to push his agenda and uncontrolled spending.

      Shit I use to squeal about this sort of thing and have the authors of the standard calling me stupid because it was OK when Labour did it.

      The only up side to all of this is that I can agree with the authors of the standard!

      • lprent 2.1.1

        Please stop agreeing with me. You’re starting to scare me. I just checked in the mirror to see if the metamorphosis was showing.

        But this is really bad. One of the big problems is that the super-city stuff will be paid for by the tax-payers of Auckland, but is being driven by the crown minister. That means that the minister is not accountable for the money expended (ie to treasury) AND the council(s) both past and future have no say in the policy that they are being forced to expend money on.

        Furthermore, Rodney is talking about a pretty radical restructure here because we are getting a massive number of structures being amalgamated across the city. That is always expensive and is unlikely to result in any savings in the next 5 years.

        I smell a massive budget blowout and a hell of rates-bill because of lack of accountability. If the government wants to restructure Auckland without consultation or approval from Aucklanders, then I’d suggest that they should pay for it under the aegis of Treasury so it restricts Rodney’s ability to screw it up.

        • burt 2.1.1.1

          Of course it is bad. MP’s who abuse the parliamentary processes should always be dragged out in public for a kicking. Hey I don’t think I’m agreeing with you – I think you are finally agreeing with me that there are standards of ethical conduct that must not be put to one side for expediency. There are processes that exist for a reason, they cannot be ignored for expediency. I’ve been saying this stuff for years lprent.

        • burt 2.1.1.2

          lprent

          That means that the minister is not accountable for the money expended (ie to treasury)

          Yep, when the govt puts itself in this position it is time to protest loudly and to remind people about this again and again and again.

          I think you and I will get alone fine for the next few years at least on issues of principle and process. That’s not to say we will always agree on the issues.

          • lprent 2.1.1.2.1

            This is even more basic. It is basic management and accounting – who is responsible for the bill, and who is tabulating it against the budget. Every government (and minister) has to do that as a priority.

            I might disagree about what they spend on or where they get their revenue. But this is common across ALL systems where money is disbursed.

    • Lew 2.2

      BB, this is probably the only time I’ve ever agreed with you, as well. I was highly critical of Lockwood Smith’s appointment as Speaker, but he’s doing a cracking job so far. Long may it continue.

      L

      • felix 2.2.1

        I also agree, Lockie’s been doing a bang-up job. And he gets extra points for making “W3” jokes today. Actually when you think about it he’s come full circle, presiding over a children’s quiz and all.

        I must say there’s a bit much agreeing going on around here today though…

  3. John Dalley 3

    Could Rodney be so blinded by the “Baubles of Office” that he thinks we are all stupid!

  4. vto 4

    If right then its quite gobsmacking. And naive ya? Foolish too? Cannot be… must be an explanation or something. What is the other side of the story mr prent?

  5. mike 5

    poor taste with the cross-hairs on rodders given todays events isn’t it fellas?

    • Pascal's bookie 5.1

      I agree. Not cool.

      I’d say the same (not cool) about your comment though Mike, in that today’s events are not what makes the graphic a poor choice, so bringing those events into it demeans both those events and your criticism.

      Your use of the plural, and your implied suggestion that on some other day the graphic would be AOK with you, amounts to you using todays events to score a cheap shot against The Standard. I’m not sure which is worse to be honest.

      • mike 5.1.1

        WTF? are you nuts.

        If the same thing was done to labour minister by whale the peace nik pinko’s around here would be beside themselves with faux outrage.

        Nice excuse IP – goes to show how aware you really are of life outside your bubble

        • lprent 5.1.1.1

          Apart from the working code, I’m also doing work for the by-election, this blog, and job-hunting for the next job. So I’m pretty much locked to music and getting updates via e-mail until next week during my 15 hour work days.

          I realize that you might not work particularly hard, but please respect those that do.

          • mike 5.1.1.1.1

            Just like how your party came a guttser then IP – asleep at the wheel while the big issues go unnoticed…

          • lprent 5.1.1.1.2

            mike, I’m not a politician. I’m a programmer, which takes a lot of time and effort. This site is a hobby.

            I can assure you that I seldom let anything small or large escape my attention in my work space. The attention that I expend here is a small fraction of that I expend on code. However it still seems to give some people the feeling that I’m hovering over them all of the time (the joys of smart coding giving that effect).

            The party also gets a small proportion of my attention compared to something like USB code I’m on now, or the Qt library I was learning yesterday. However I’m sure that there are those who’d prefer that I gave it less.

            Then there are family and friends…

            However this means that I have limited attention time for the news. I tend to expend it in political news here on the net, and world news over the net. I don’t do the sparrows fart stuff for the waffle that usually makes up TV or radio ‘news’ because it has a low content. Mostly I scan the newspaper sites in the mornings.

            If I’d wanted to notice what you term as ‘big’ issues, then I’d have become a politician maybe, but more likely a vacuous newsreader with a sensationalist editor. Neither appealed for some reason – both are too boring

        • logie97 5.1.1.2

          odd that comments from the right see the cross hairs as the sites of a weapon. Anyone familiar with photography (pre digital) would know that they are the crosshairs of a good SLR camera or a telescope. Hyde is under the microscope now – on film – on camera…

          • mike 5.1.1.2.1

            so the comment “Target: another worthless minister” doesn’t give it away?

    • lprent 5.2

      What are you talking about?

      Ummm. Ok I just looked at the news. I only get political feeds when I’m working. Yeah you’re right, it is a bit gauche. But I’m afraid it is just coincidence. A shooting like that over a cannabis bust????. Added a note on teh post.

      But ‘rodders’ should definitely be in the gun as a minister – he admitted this in the house only after the speaker forced him to do so. In this case he is violating his own words. He also appears to be contradicting his statement from yesterday, but explaining it by what looks like a deliberate attempt at spinning ambiguity.

      I’ll leave it up.

      • burt 5.2.1

        lprent

        Yes I agree the cross hairs should go. The use of the word target is a bit poor as well. It’s just not right with what has happened today.

    • Eddie 5.3

      I agree. Innocent mistake but it should come down in my opinion.

      • lprent 5.3.1

        Arghh damnit – fixed. Not worth arguing over. However I blame the gun shows and those who go to them

  6. Brett Dale 6

    I suggest you move that target from Hyde’s face.

  7. gobsmacked 7

    People can make up their own minds by reading the entire exchange here:

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/e/4/49HansQ_20090507_00000651-11-Auckland-Local-Government-Reform-Costings.htm

    Again and again, Twyford asks how much it will cost. Hide does not answer.

    • r0b 7.2

      Hmmm. Credit to Lockwood Smith (never thought I’d write those words) for making some effort to do a good job.

      No credit to Rodney, who is looking more and more like a turkey each day.

  8. Oh it’s just brilliant reading: http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/e/4/49HansQ_20090507_00000651-11-Auckland-Local-Government-Reform-Costings.htm

    Good on Lockwood Smith for pushing it.

    Edit: ah damn you beat me to it gob

    • mike 8.1

      Isn’t it good having an impartial speaker guys. Lockie sure is making Wilson’s tenure look pretty pathetic eh.

    • gobsmacked 8.2

      Well, it’s worth reading twice!

      I don’t like Hide’s politics, but he’s usually pretty sharp in the House. That was an embarrassing performance today.

    • felix 8.3

      Hearing it is pretty good too. The audio is here (mp3).

      The action starts at 55:25

  9. felix 9

    I don’t like hearing that Rodney was caught in a flat-out lie, on record.

    I’d like to pretend that the real issue is the cross-hairs on the picture, please.

  10. burt 10

    Isn’t it great to have a speaker in the house who is not partisan to the point of stupidity.

    If Wilson was still speaker and Rodney was a Labour party MP he could have answered the first question with something like “I know how much it is but the report is not complete” and Wilson would have insisted the question had been answered.

  11. forgetaboutthelastone 11

    What the bloody hell has the world come to when you can’t put a bloody cross-hair in a picture without some dolt having his precious sensibilities offended? I’m tellin’ ya now – its PC gone mad.

  12. Brett Dale 12

    If a kiwiblog had a picture of labour mp, you guys would complain.

    • burt 12.1

      Brett

      That is exactly the point that needed to be made. Well said.

      • Quoth the Raven 12.1.1

        I think you two are being overly sensitive. It’s quite ludicrous to think we should not make gun references because of one incident. Will you arbitrarily determine when enough time has passed since this incident and people can start using those sort of references again? Thousands upon thousands of people are shot everyday does that mean we should not ever use gun metaphors? How about a bomb metaphor in light of a recent incident?

  13. rave 13

    I doubt that the perp used his sights to shoot the cop.
    Shows whats a fucked up society we have when cops raid people for dak while Hide gets away with grand theft regional.
    Hide wants the whole Auckland region as his private speculators playground. Get ride of the RMA, get rid of ARC, youve got three harbours, a gulf to kill for, and tons of beaut beaches, so the property speculators will be giggling all the way to the reserve bank.
    Take the port, shift most of the heavy cargo to Tauranga so you can put up tons of highrise luxury crap to build the pseudo city image that stretches from the viaduct to gulf harbour and back.
    The rest of us can suffocate on diesel on the rat run to the factory and back to the shack and dodge wild west cops chasing dakked up kids off the road.
    This is just the latest land grab by the rich that has always been the hallmark of a slickers city run by speculators. NZ wealth is built on stolen Maori land and this is the home run.

  14. felix 14

    Look I know that Rodney lied, OK? I heard it myself. It’s pretty clear.

    But it’s the picture that matters, dammit. That’s what this is about.

  15. forgetaboutthelastone 15

    “If a kiwiblog had a picture of labour mp, you guys would complain.”

    Yea – but only if some poor sap just happened to have been shot dead that same day. lol!

  16. toad 16

    And it’s people like Rodney, and his Cabinet colleague 84% (or is it 86%) Stephen Joyce, who give wankers a bad name!

    • Eddie 16.1

      sweet post, toad. mind if we grab it and link through to the original?

      • lprent 16.1.1

        Yeah, that could definitely use a recycle and more exposure. The comments kinda lost the point though. Deflated it a bit.

  17. Adrian 17

    Speaking of ACT members costing ratepayers money, here in Marlborough the ACT parliamentary candidate of 3 years ago,eventually got on to the District Council,and then recently threw his toys out of the cot when challenged to actually do some work and turn up at meetings.He resigned thus forcing a by-election which is going to cost up to 40k, and bugger me when nominations closed, he puts his name forward again because it’s his “democratic right”. These conceited, arrogant,self-important ACT arseholes are a plague on the country.

  18. Ianmac 18

    Late arriving. But heard the Hide exchange live. Costing not available. That is the issue Burt. I guess that you are doing what Hide attempted to do: divert the issue and make camera sights an issue???? Rubbish! Felix you too?

    • felix 18.1

      Apparently my sarcasm could be a little less convincing…

    • burt 18.2

      Ianmac

      I think you missed my comment at 8:17

      And yes I think the cross hairs and the words target were offensive. Would lprent print the same for other party leaders or just the ones he expects high standards from?

      • lprent 18.2.1

        I’m an equal opportunity stirrer. However I make my own judgments about what is worth targeting.

        In this case I haven’t seen anything good about the process followed for the super-city since the Royal Commission’s report got released. The kudo’s for that largely go to Rodney, with only minor stuff going to Key and the Nat’s for not reining in Rodney’s low standards of governance.

        Especially now that it looks like it will be a total and very expensive mess for rate-payers – who will not get an opportunity to have a say in the decisions.

        The stupid thing is that I actually support the concept of a ‘super-city’, but something like an enhanced ARA/ARC with some authority on top of some councils that actually have some powers at the local level. The only real problem with the old ARA was that councils had a veto on decisions with no majority voting. Led to parochial lowest common denominator decisions. They were also excluded from some areas that they should have had control on.

        The Royal Commission proposal I could have lived with the majority of it, while wishing for a few tweaks. There were too few ward councilors which made the wards too big, and I wasn’t happy with at-large councilors across the whole city which looked like a corruption sink waiting to happen because of the campaigning costs.

        To date I haven’t seen anything about Rodney’s proposal that makes any sense at any level.

  19. jarbury 19

    He said he didn’t have the information, then he said he did. But he still didn’t tell us what it will actually cost….

  20. Quoth the Raven 20

    Should we really be associating Rodney Hide with a Red Cross considering all the good work they do. Change the picture again.

    See where this PC madness from the right can get us.

    • lprent 20.1

      The red cross has a vertical cross….
      I also blame the people who play around with guns. Click on the picture.

      • Quoth the Raven 20.1.1

        That’s a good one.
        Though, you’ve probably just pissed off the wingnuts again.

        • felix 20.1.1.1

          At least this time they’ll be actually pissed off. The mock-outrage and bullshit gets old pretty quick.

      • burt 20.1.2

        its not funny.

      • bilbo 20.1.3

        Ha ha Yes very amusing……… you’ve now reached the same level as those on the other side of the fence who bang on about HCs sexuality…………… pathetic.

        • felix 20.1.3.1

          Really? Is there an attack on Rodney’s sexuality or appearance here? Please explain.

          • bilbo 20.1.3.1.1

            Funny how on this site words such as EPMU or questioning HC’s sexuality will get you banned but making fun out of a policeman’s murder is fair game.

            Why don’t you go and smoke some of your dak and contribute f’all to society for another day Felix.

          • felix 20.1.3.1.2

            1. Not my style.
            2. No-one made fun of a policeman’s murder. If you were as smart as the average labrador you’d know Lynn was actually making fun of you and your bogus reactions.

            That was the whooshing sound you heard.

  21. SPC 21

    Look its obvious the cost will be less than the money saved later. Now just don’t ask how much the savings will be as he has no idea about that either.

  22. bobo 22

    Anyone else notice Roger Douglas move out of the background shot as Rodney started to look like a bad standup comedian choking on stage?

    Pansy Wong , Jonathan Coleman and Hide all had shockers today avoiding questions , wait till after the black budget to see some more nervous gulps.

  23. Pat 23

    Remind me again why Goff thought Twyford would be no good to stand in his own electorate?

    The left should be happy that Hide is showing himself up as a plonker who hasn’t done his homework. It shifts the power on the Supercity decisions away from ACT (the main proponents) and back to Key, who can make the changes to reflect the coming select committee submissions e.g. more Ward councillors, Maori representation etc.

    • Maynard J 23.1

      AKL Central (that’s your answer twice over – one direct reason, one a consequence).

    • lprent 23.2

      …and back to Key, who can make the changes to reflect the coming select committee submissions e.g. more Ward councillors, Maori representation etc.

      I’m getting worried about the implementation costs as well. The Royal Commission proposal had the existing cities remain almost intact as a operational structure with relatively minor shifts.

      Rodney’s one spreads them out under the Auckland council. That is a MAJOR restructure, and those cost a *lot*. What does that come out at the bottom-line – ie my rates.

      I can’t see how he is going to be able to get synergy and consolidation savings out that pay back the implementation investment in any time frame before 5+ years (if at all). There will have to be some hefty up-front costs that go straight on to my rates.

      I’d say that starting with the Royal Commission proposal going in as the base for legislation in front of the select committee for the usual tweaks would be a good start. But also shift the deadline out from this local body election to a new election in say 2011 or 2012. 2010 is just too damn close for the consideration required.

  24. DeepRed 24

    rave: “Shows whats a fucked up society we have when cops raid people for dak while Hide gets away with grand theft regional.”

    ‘Grand Theft Auckland’ has a nicely sinister ring to it.

  25. jarbury 25

    One of the main reasons the Royal Commission chose to go with the 6 local councils option was cost. In fact I think it was THE reason they chose that option over the 11 council option or the 20 odd council option (which is roughly what Rodney’s going for).

    So clearly the cost of the government’s proposal is going to be significantly more than what the Royal Commission proposed (what was their figure again?)

    Maybe the government hopes to counter-balance that by giving the local boards no power…. oh, crap. That explains a lot.

  26. toad 26

    Eddie said: May 7, 2009 at 9:15 pm
    sweet post, toad. mind if we grab it and link through to the original?

    Yep, that would be fine – sorry for delay in replying – been a busy day.

  27. jarbury 27

    It’s interesting looking at why the Royal Commission chose not to go with the 20-30 community council option.

    Let’s look at the executive summary of the Royal Commission’s report, and in particular paragraph 27:

    27. At the same time, the Commission was concerned not to create an organisational monolith, unconnected to the people it serves. With this in mind, the Commission considered carefully a number of variations of a two-tier model comprising a unitary authority with additional representation at a local level. The Commission concluded that having up to 20 community councils, as a number of submitters proposed, would be costly to establish and run, and disruptive to existing staff and services. The conclusion was borne out by independent financial analysis undertaken for the Commission by experts Taylor Duignan Barry.

    Now I’m gonna have a good look through that report by Taylor Duigan Barry.

    Link: http://www.royalcommission.govt.nz/rccms.nsf/0/B764F57542CB4EC1CC25758500470729?open

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    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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 ...
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    4 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
    6 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
    6 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
    20 hours 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
    24 hours 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    7 days 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
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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