On ‘doing what it takes to win’

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 pm, October 9th, 2008 - 33 comments
Categories: bill english, election 2008 - Tags: ,

As you know, the latest secret agenda tape has Bill English saying National will do what it needs to do to win, even if that goes against their stated principles.

The obvious line from National, which their spin doctors will have been running to the press gallery, is ‘this is nothing, winning trumps principles, all politicians are like that and everyone knows it’. It’s the kind of cynical yet insightful-sounding thing that makes people feel like they’re superior and cool insiders when they say it (watch to see who runs it tomorrow). But it is wrong on two fronts.

Ordinary Kiwis who are not close political observers do not expect their political leaders to have secret agendas and no commitment to the principles they espouse. The first secret agenda tapes came as a rude shock to many and my inbox is already filling with people writing ‘wow, the buggers really will do whatever they need to do to win’.

In real life, most politicians are not unprincipled. The Greens will not abandon their commitment to the environment and social justice to get power. Today, NZF and UF both said they would not work with National if it means accepting National’s gutting of Kiwisaver. Labour may make only cautious progress in line with their principles but they rarely go against them. ACT, too, is highly principled. National is the exception. The idea that you would do anything to win actually makes a mockery of the reason most people go into politics in the first place: to make a difference, to further their principles. If you’re willing to desert your principles, you may as well let the other side govern.

Unless, governing is an end in itself. If you don’t care about furthering your principles, if only you want power for power’s sake, then you will “do what it takes to win”.

33 comments on “On ‘doing what it takes to win’ ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Rose 1
    9 October 2008 at 11:17 pm

    ” In 1990 at the very last Labour caucus , Helen Clark, then Deputy Leader, told the assembled Labour MPs something that I wrote down carefully at the time. She said she would be and I quote from my caucus notes “as vicious, nasty and opportunist as anyone’ in the fight to return Labour to the Treasury benches”

    People in glass houses?????

  2. Steve Withers 2
    9 October 2008 at 11:25 pm

    Your assessment that National is the only party that will sacrifice anything to win matches my own after observing them for 25 years. This is why they are the only party I can’t seriously consider voting for. They let Muldoon get away with anything….and didn’t stand up for their principles then, either.

    They would have sold the lives of Kiwi soldiers invading Iraq in the hope of winning an FTA with the US.

    When you get life and death matters like that badly wrong, I can’t vote for you.

  3. Steve Withers 3
    9 October 2008 at 11:27 pm

    Rose: I don’t see her saying she would sacrifice Labour’s principles.

  4. Pascal's bookie 4
    9 October 2008 at 11:28 pm

    Yawn Rose. Basset doesn’t give any context for that quote, so we don’t know what they were talking about. For all we know Basset had just accused her of being too soft for leadership.

    That article is interesting though. You should link to it.

  5. rave 5
    9 October 2008 at 11:32 pm

    Power for power’s sake? Hardly.
    Power to rule to accumulate capital.
    So far its working.

  6. sean 6
    9 October 2008 at 11:58 pm

    Surely organising the secret taping of politicians in opposing parties and then releasing it to journalists is a prime example of desperation and the will to win no matter what the costs. It surely is the polar opposite of having principals – that much is true.

    But as usual your double standards shine through…..Whats the view like down there in the gutter?

  7. Steve Pierson 7
    10 October 2008 at 12:14 am

    sean. who did the taping? You seem to know. If you don’t, your arguments are pretty dumb.

    What’s it like supporting a party that will do anything to win, includng deserting what it stands for

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    10 October 2008 at 12:30 am

    The National Apologists…er, I mean the NZ Herald are on to it already:

    However, the motives of whoever taped it and is deliberately leaking it to the media, is the issue.

    Yep, according to the NZ Herald, lying, cheating and misrepresenting yourself into power isn’t a problem but showing that the National Party are doing that is.

    Steve Withers:

    They let Muldoon get away with anything .and didn’t stand up for their principles then, either.

    Steve, the National Party doesn’t have any principals.

  9. Steve Pierson 9
    10 October 2008 at 12:39 am

    Draco – to be fair, I think Peachy was a principal

  10. r0b 10
    10 October 2008 at 12:47 am

    Ho! Not bad for this time of night.

    Get some sleep Steve – tomorrow is another day…

  11. Steve Pierson 11
    10 October 2008 at 12:51 am

    🙂 just been writing the morning posts and working on some new posters. night.

  13. noxxano 13
    10 October 2008 at 1:44 am

    You can almost smell the desperation, fear, and panic among the left-wingers dwellers at The (Double) Standard. It´s quite an enjoyable experience.

    Get used to be opposition for a few years, you socialist lot!

  14. Barb 14
    10 October 2008 at 7:52 am

    Couldn’t believe that there is absolutely nothing on tv one breakfast news about this major further evidence of National’s lies and deceptions. To think we had months of major news items on Winston’s supposed donation lie.. – surely further evidence that a party is lying and deceiving it’s way to win an election is major, major news!!!!

  15. Janet 15
    10 October 2008 at 8:25 am

    Is Rose Michael Bassett in drag?

  16. Ben R 16
    10 October 2008 at 8:32 am

    “Your assessment that National is the only party that will sacrifice anything to win matches my own after observing them for 25 years. This is why they are the only party I can’t seriously consider voting for. They let Muldoon get away with anything .and didn’t stand up for their principles then, either.”

    What about Labour & Rogernomics? Has the current Labour govt unwound benefit cuts? Closing the gaps, Foreshore legislation? I think it’s a bit dishonest to suggest Labour doesn’t make sacrifices to win.

    [lprent: I think that you are confusing governance with electioneering.

    Faced with an inability to pass legislation, any government scales back and waits for later. It doesn’t change the determination to move forward on their overall programme. Faced with evidence that what they were planning on doing will not work, then they change their programme to suit.

    Labours programme is quite clear and has been for decades even when Rodger Douglas was there. In fact substantial parts of that same philosophy are still strangely in Act’s manifesto’s. Most parties publish manifesto’s and policies each election in something more substantial than A4 pages.

    With National in electioneering mode, it would appear that they are capable of saying ANYTHING to ANY audience if it sounds better to that audience. Then they will go down the road and promise something that contradicts the earlier statements. They have been doing that for decades. I guess that to be a National party politician it pays to be a hypocritical liar.]

  17. higherstandard 17
    10 October 2008 at 8:34 am

    If anyone here is delusional enough to believe that either of the major two parties won’t do “whatever it takes to win” I would suggest checking yourself in to a psychiatric ward now.

    [lprent: I’ve never seen it happen to any significant degree in the NZLP and I’ve been very active in there for a long time. I have also not observed it in the greens, alliance, or act. It seems to be a philosophical infection that largely afflicts the Nat’s. I’d suggest that you may have been around those bad influences again, have been infected and could do with a good cleansing scrub. Perhaps a rehab clinic?]

  18. ak 18
    10 October 2008 at 8:42 am

    Utterly incredible. As if it weren’t patently obvious from the fact that National has brazenly embraced all the “evil, communistic” policies of Labour, we now have it direct from the horse’s mouth: “Nothing beats winning in politics, despite all our highly principled statements. It’s fantastic….do what we need to do to win.” and yet still the media treats our would-be leaders with kid gloves.

    Oh for a secret recording revealing what has become more and more obvious since 2005: a deliberate determination by key media players that Labour must go. Whatever it takes – including the loss of any remnant of journalistic integrity and independence. Good for the blogosphere but, keep it up folks.

  19. tony norriss 19
    10 October 2008 at 8:44 am

    Barb said: “Couldn?t believe that there is absolutely nothing on tv one breakfast news about this major further evidence of National?s lies and deceptions”

    Thats because it got about as much media attention as it deserved. As I said on another thread, trifling.

    As for doing whatever it takes to win and ignoring principles, what about Labour steeling 800k of public money for their pledge card (proven fact). What about Labour setting up an electoral finance act that is specifically designed to stifle debate. As the electoral commission says, having a “chilling effect” on democracy.

    National has a lot to learn from Labour when it comes to abandoning principles and winning at all costs.

  20. Scribe 20
    10 October 2008 at 8:57 am

    Draco,

    The National Apologists er, I mean the NZ Herald are on to it already:

    However, the motives of whoever taped it and is deliberately leaking it to the media, is the issue.

    Yep, according to the NZ Herald, lying, cheating and misrepresenting yourself into power isn’t a problem but showing that the National Party are doing that is.

    That’s a Newstalk ZB story run on The Herald site alluding to comments from Barry Soper.

  21. Strings 21
    10 October 2008 at 8:57 am

    I suggest that the only party that has a secret agenda is the Labour Party!

    It is the only one not to have announced any policies for the next governmental term!

    This, more than anything else, suggests to me that the Labour Party has run out of ideas and vision OR that it recognises that the state of the nation is so bad they don’t want to be responsible for sorting it out.

    Comment?

  22. Matthew Pilott 22
    10 October 2008 at 9:01 am

    Yeah Tony, as I mentioned to someone on another thread, doing something like the S59 repeal, which was highly unpopular and very principled, really proves your point.

    Pull the other one mate.

    And while you’re at it – learn to read and think for yourself. Your homework is to try and honestly represent what the electoral commission said about the EFA.

  23. Pascal's bookie 23
    10 October 2008 at 9:07 am

    Comment? Sure. Those suggestions contradict each other.

    Which suggests to me tha your post was a grab bag of ‘look over there’ crap that you thought would make people forget that National admits that it’s image aint it’s reality.

  24. Tony Norriss 24
    10 October 2008 at 9:09 am

    Matthew said: “And while you’re at it – learn to read and think for yourself. Your homework is to try and honestly represent what the electoral commission said about the EFA.”

    And why is it that the only people who seem to be breaching the EFA are the very people who voted it in?

    Matthew, I guess by your lack of response, you seem to agree with me about Labour stealing 800k to fund its pledge card. Pretty hard to deny that one, I must admit.

    Matthew said: “I mentioned to someone on another thread, doing something like the S59 repeal, which was highly unpopular and very principled, really proves your point.”

    No. Its just evidence of Labour’s nanny state mentality and their creeping desire to infiltrate every aspect of our lives along with telling us what light bulbs to use and how to shower.

    [lprent: I think that the number of ‘breaches’ of the EFA has more to do with the number of the EFA opponents doing that creepy stalking around with cameras and complaint forms. It is like something out of a bad private eye movie. The obsessional factions of the right appear to think that it makes a difference. For the campaigns it makes bugger all difference

    What I find puzzling is that they actually seem pretty competent at the skulking from the reports I’ve had back. I have to ask – what other professions require those skills. Peeper, paparatzi (?sp), crim, police informant, ???]

  25. Scribe 25
    10 October 2008 at 9:12 am

    MP,

    Yeah Tony, as I mentioned to someone on another thread, doing something like the S59 repeal, which was highly unpopular and very principled, really proves your point.

    At the time, many Labour apologists (not sure if you were one of them) talked about how S59 wasn’t a Labour thing, it was a Green Party private member’s bill. Now you’re using it to prove Labour does things that are unpopular.

    To quote a usually thoughtful blogger: “Pull the other one mate.”

    PS National voted for the S59 repeal as well, in case some have forgotten.

  26. Vanilla Eis 26
    10 October 2008 at 9:12 am

    tony: It’s spelt “stealing” and they paid it back. Under protest, admittedly, but it’s not like the money isn’t there anymore.

    You’d be a lot more credible if you ran your comments through a basic spellcheck first. Hell, try proof-reading your own work.

    And no, setting up the EFA doesn’t stifle “debate” – it stifles third party campaigns. What stifles “debate” is when both Clark and Key refuse to appear in a “debate” with the leaders from the minor parties – and that irks me.

  27. Tony Norriss 27
    10 October 2008 at 9:15 am

    Matthew said “Yeah Tony, as I mentioned to someone on another thread, doing something like the S59 repeal, which was highly unpopular and very principled, really proves your point.”

    Na. Its just more evidence of Labour’s inherent desire to intrude into every aspect of our lives. Along with telling us what lightbulbs to use, and how to shower.

    Matthew said: “And while you’re at it – learn to read and think for yourself. Your homework is to try and honestly represent what the electoral commission said about the EFA.”

    So, why is it only the people who voted it in who seem to be breaching the act?

  28. higherstandard 28
    10 October 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Lynn

    “lprent: I’ve never seen it happen to any significant degree in the NZLP and I’ve been very active in there for a long time.”

    So Labour dancing the tango with Winston Peters, smearing their largest donor and giving tax cuts at the worst possible time during the last time in office and against their ideology is not doing whatever it takes mmm ok right glad we’ve got that settled then.

    Unlike your fine self I don’t mix very much with members of any political party (at least not that I know of) so if anyone’s likely to be around bad influences I’d suggest you look to yourself before me.

  29. higherstandard 29
    10 October 2008 at 1:28 pm

    Feck apologies Lynn my typing is cak.

    during the last time in office = during their time in office this term.

  30. higherstandard 30
    10 October 2008 at 1:32 pm

    Tony and Matthew

    The repeal of Section 59 was a green piece of legislation (Sue Bradford) politically it would have been hard for Labour not to support it despite what the PM said at the time.

    I disagree with the bill but accept that those who voted for it in parliament had good intentions (as did those who voted against it no doubt)

  31. Matthew Pilott 31
    10 October 2008 at 1:33 pm

    “Na. Its just more evidence of Labour’s inherent desire to intrude into every aspect of our lives. Along with telling us what lightbulbs to use, and how to shower.”

    So, Tony, if Labour wanted power at any cost then they wouldn’t be interested in managing every aspect of our lives, because that would annoy people and possibly cost them ‘power’.

    In case you’ve missed it, there’s an inherent contradiction in your position:

    *To have power at any cost, you won’t do anything to lose it.

    *To not do anything to lose power, you won’t do anything to annoy those who can remove your ‘power’.

    *If you can’t do anything to annoy those who can remove your ‘power’, you have no power.

    So your comments vis-a-vis Labour’s infinite desire to interfere with out lives and desire to keep power are paradoxical. I fart in your comments’ general direction.

    “Matthew, I guess by your lack of response…”

    There were a fair few other points, all of which have been covered extensively here, that I couldn’t be arsed rehashing. Some are easily dismissed in a sentence, which is why I chose to comment about them. Some would takle us all day and most of the weekend to adequately resolve. The pledge card being one of them.

    “So, why is it only the people who voted it in who seem to be breaching the act?”

    Because their opposition are very actively pursuing examples where a lew law has not been understood. Do you think that these are brought to the electopral commission’s attention by pixies?

    Now, about that wee homework task I set you – how are we doing with it? I guess by your lack of response you’re admitting you were wrong, but can’t quite bring yourself to retract. Don’t worry, Tony, I’m a forgiving soul.
    _ _ _

    “Now you’re using it to prove Labour does things that are unpopular.

    To quote a usually thoughtful blogger: “Pull the other one mate.’”

    Scribe, it is true that it was a Green act. When people point that out, it’s because people are pointing to it and crying “secret agenda”. That it was a Greens’ Privaste Members bill proves otherwise.

    That Labour supported it shows that they hold principle above ‘keeping in power’. No pulling required.

  32. lprent 32
    10 October 2008 at 1:49 pm

    Tax cuts were only going to come when we’d reduced government debt down, dropped unemployment to virtually nothing, restarted the infrastructure, at least made a start on the superannuation shortfall problem, etc. That was discussed in conference and in public in 1998 when the 39pc tax bracket was being discussed.

    I’m with Cullen on this one. If we’d known then what we know now about international economy, then I’d have held off on initiating the tax cuts. But they’ve been promised and legislated for, and there is no particular reason to hold off on them. Labours tax cuts are designed largely to get rid of acculmulated fiscal drag

    The other two examples have nothing to do with labour policies. They’re just muck-racking crap from the right.

    BTW: Glenn was the biggest single donor if you are looking over a few years from 2003-2005. However his donation is just part of the contributions to the NZLP. It was significant but not massive. We managed to pay the $800k that the A/G made his mistake on in about 6 months after deciding it was going to be required for public relations.

    That was pretty much drawn from fund raising party members and was on top of the usual donations and memberships. I’m always surprised that the right focuses so much on a single public donor.

  33. lprent 33
    10 October 2008 at 2:43 pm

    hs: The intent behind s59 was already Labour policy from some time ago. It’d been passed as a remit quite a while previously.

    However it wasn’t something that Labour government had committed to putting a lot of effort into. It was just part of the party objectives along with quite a large number of other things. It certainly wasn’t campaigned for during 2005.

    However when it came up, due to Sue Bradfords private members bill, then essentially the Labour MP’s were obliged to support it. That is because of the party rules about implementing policies.

    BTW: The remit sessions are *incredibly* boring during conferences. But they get a good attendance and a lot of people poring over the detail. The reason is that those remits if passed define limit on Labour governments.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T01:02:04+00:00