Open Mike 08/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, February 8th, 2019 - 111 comments
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111 comments on “Open Mike 08/02/2019 ”

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  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    8 February 2019 at 7:37 am

    Excellent interview with United States Green Party leader Jill Stein with a lot of perceptive comments

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yfnamXfPYA

  2. Incognito 2
    8 February 2019 at 7:48 am

    When you put lipstick on a polished turd it just looks silly and becomes a juvenile joke. Alchemists knew that if you want to turn lead into gold you have to change the essence of it, not scratch the surface.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/110426463/national-party-strategy-already-in-place-as-party-thrashes-out-tactics-for-year-ahead

  4. marty mars 4
    8 February 2019 at 9:30 am

    Wow what a nothing speech unless you’re a dumbarse business as usual zealot. Disappointing

    “Ardern’s first State of the Nation speech was delivered at a Wellington church to a group of largely community and voluntary agencies and focused on poverty and children.

    The setting for Friday’s speech was a room at the upmarket Hilton Hotel in Auckland overlooking the glitzy Viaduct Harbour, attended by top CEOs and managers…That was not the only contrast; in an unusual move, Ardern was preceded by speeches from business sponsors…”

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/110444167/pm-jacinda-arderns-state-of-the-nation-speech-sunny-but-clouds-gathering

    • rata 4.1
      8 February 2019 at 11:10 am

      “Sunny but clouds gathering”
      So everything is as it is in Kiwi land.
      Sate of the Nation speeches like Budgets announcements
      are heavy on build up but boringly predictable.
      Gov’t supporters say everything is on track.
      Gov’t opponents say wheels are coming off.
      Delightfully predictable.
      Like night follows day.
      Read life is ticking over well in Ehohdeararower
      Have to giggle.

    • Herodotus 4.2
      8 February 2019 at 12:25 pm

      How “if” climate change is our “Climate change is my generation’s nuclear-free moment” are we being told “A Just Transition Summit in May this year will kick-start a national conversation about what the Just Transition means for New Zealand. ”
      A conservation ??? If it is TAHT important shouldn’t real action and leadership be warranted ??
      Talk or Action ???

    • James 5.1
      8 February 2019 at 10:19 am

      He’s not wrong tho.

    • Kat 5.2
      8 February 2019 at 10:25 am

      More “wedging” propaganda from the king of spin. Aunty Herald is certainly stepping it up though, day by day. If spin were a cancer then the Herald would be guilty of spreading death. The rag is certainly guilty of being a plague on intelligence.

      • Bewildered 5.2.1
        8 February 2019 at 12:54 pm

        Yep herald columnists Hine Elder and Liz Marverlly hard right facists You do realise the herald isn’t thier just to suppprt your left thinking

        • Kat 5.2.1.1
          8 February 2019 at 2:35 pm

          Crikey, didn’t realise that at all……will have to switch to my right thinking then, become a bit more creative.

    • Grantoc 5.3
      8 February 2019 at 10:28 am

      No he is not.

      He’s pointing out political realities. As we approach next year’s election NZ First will need to define itself as something other than Labour’s lap dog if it is to have any hope of re election.

      For starters., watch it apply the pressure on Labour for significant changes to be made to Labours proposed tax reforms and employment law reforms.

      • Kat 5.3.1
        8 February 2019 at 10:39 am

        Interesting, so NZ First is now “Labours lap dog”… after being spun the line for the past year and a half that Winston is the tail wagging the dog and Jacinda Ardern is his “little girl”. Seems the right still can’t get there heads around how a real coalition functions.

      • James 5.3.2
        8 February 2019 at 6:46 pm

        I think you will find you have who’s the lap and who’s the dog the wrong way around.

    • Shadrach 5.4
      8 February 2019 at 10:58 am

      He may be, but much of what he says in that piece is on the money.

  6. Alan 6
    8 February 2019 at 9:53 am

    so what part of his article can you factually dispute?

  7. veutoviper 7
    8 February 2019 at 9:58 am

    Calling mickysavage, lprent or whoever …

    Can we please have our nine years back, please. I really don’t want to be back in 2010 with Key in charge.

    Thank you in advance.

  8. Morrissey 8
    8 February 2019 at 10:28 am

    Meet the next President of the United States

    She effortlessly confounds this panel of fools trying to confront her and embarrass her. It’s funny in a grim and black sort of fashion, with the funniest thing of all being the sight of Zbigniew Brzezinski’s hapless daughter trying to look serious….

    https://news.grabien.com/story-tulsi-gabbard-assad-not-enemy-united-states

  9. esoteric pineapples 9
    8 February 2019 at 10:29 am

    “You can be sure that every government in the world is going to rethink putting any money in London, as they used to do, when they are watching this political manipulation with the money they entrust to the British. It is very dangerous for the world, but for Britain particularly.”

    “Economist and co-founder of Democracy at Work Prof. Richard Wolff joins News.Views.Hughes to discuss the freezing of Venezuelan funds in the Bank of England amid the deepening political crisis in Caracas. He says the Bank of England’s decision is a signal to all countries out of step with US interests to withdraw their money, as the Bank has shown itself to be “under the thumb of the United States.” He also opines on the “horrific prospects” of regime change in Venezuela. ”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBKZLGdPuWo

  10. francesca 10
    8 February 2019 at 10:36 am

    I’ve been smelling the smoke from Pigeon Valley for days now
    Yesterday I saw smoke wafting down our river valley and thought some idiots burning, rang a few neighbours who’d been told by the fire chief, its Pigeon Valley
    We live 128 kms away, in pretty much a straight line
    A disturbing sensation, the smell of smoke , and probably fast becoming the new summer normal

    • marty mars 10.1
      8 February 2019 at 11:07 am

      Yep I smelt and saw smoke in the early morning yesterday – we are norwest from it with a big hill in the way.

      I think this will become a horrible scarey norm.

    • Cinny 10.2
      8 February 2019 at 2:04 pm

      Just came back from Richmond, sheez the smoke is thick there, you can’t see any of the surrounding hills.

      Was walking around with my eyes streaming wanting a facemask,

      It’s the worst day for smoke since the fire started, possibly because there was no wind this morning.

      Would liken it to the photos we see of extremely polluted cities in China.

      Here in Motueka the sky is half smoke, and half blue sky.

      The sky in Richmond is completely obscured by smoke, it’s really bad.

      Heard from a chopper pilot that the smoke makes it hard to see where to release the water from monsoon buckets. They are concentrating on saving houses.

      Wind has picked up again.

      Wakefield is being evacuated.

    • patricia bremner 10.3
      8 February 2019 at 10:04 pm

      Sorry, that has been the way of it in Australia. That smell, the smoggy sunrises and sets following the fire/burn off news, seeing blackened areas, and wild life struggle.

    • Muttonbird 10.4
      8 February 2019 at 10:24 pm

      Has anyone investigated whether the person operating the machinery in the area was a smoker?

  11. Observer Tokoroa 11
    8 February 2019 at 10:50 am

    Hooten The Screamer

    As is the way with John Key, Simon Bridges, and Assorted Standard Trolls, Hooten screams when he is loosing his brain and his guts.

    He often screams at Kathryn Ryan who for some reason invites him on her women’s program each week.

    Winston Peters is beyond Hooten. Nearly everything on the Planet is beyond Hooten. I sometimes think dear Mathew has a little piggy bank tin on his desk. He has no other Horizon whatsoever.

    Neither have the Trolls. Basically children doing their simple child’s play.

    Not Hooten, but serious Business men and women will recognise the frequent ups and downs in World economy, and its effect on NZ. The more far seeing Business sector will be alert to new hazards – unforseen. But prepared for by Robertson.

    John Key or his stand in servants, and Mathew Hooten will raise the Gst by at least 3%. To rub the noses of the poor into the Hooten / Key / English shit policy

    Winston will breeze home. Shayne will bring the Northern Horses home.

    Jacinda will protect the Poor. For, She is that way inclined. The World knows Her.

    Take a happy kiddies holiday Matthew.

  12. Observer Tokoroa 12
    8 February 2019 at 11:21 am

    Yes Gabby

    Women are better Listeners.

  13. greywarshark 13
    8 February 2019 at 11:45 am

    Smoke haze over Nelson city. Dead silence for some time, few birds, momentary footsteps, computer whirring. Creepy.

    Coincidentally, I have just bought a DVD of film The Quiet Earth – was thinking about Bruno Lawrence.
    When everyone around him vanishes overnight, scientist Zac Hobson (Bruno Lawrence) finds himself seemingly the only person on the planet. The isolation initially drives him to the brink of suicide, but eventually Zac adapts to a day-to-day routine. After meeting two other survivors, Joanne (Alison Routledge) and Api (Peter Smith), a Maori, the trio roams New Zealand trying to understand what caused everyone else to disappear, why they remained behind — and whether disaster will strike again.

    The speed of the fire as it began and the shock of it to the first people involved.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/110446721/nelson-bush-fire-man-first-on-the-scene-shocked-at-speed-of-spreading-flames

    • Cinny 13.1
      8 February 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Grey, Walters Bluff, by Founders in the city is now on fire.

      Not sure where you are, but keep safe please.

    • Puckish Rogue 13.2
      8 February 2019 at 5:16 pm

      Still shows that one of the mot powerful images in a movie is a simple, wide shot of a city with no people in it

      Gets me everytime

    • patricia bremner 13.3
      8 February 2019 at 10:12 pm

      Grey pack be ready, just in case. Take water and a first aid kit. Kia kaha. Fire takes no prisoners, especially with the unpredictable wind.

  14. greywarshark 14
    8 February 2019 at 1:14 pm

    Some little miracles occur every day that we don’t know about. Here is one that has come to light, a story of survival and love and a turning from bitterness – a treasure that stands out from BAU.

    The book The Tattooist of Auschwitz will remind us of things we would like to forget, but they are part of our human story.
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018681016/the-tattooist-of-auschwitz

    For three years, he [Lale Sokolov] was the one who used a needle and black ink to tattoo numbers on the arms of new arrivals.

    The day he tattooed Gita Furman would change his life forever. They fell in love in a place built on hate, survived the camp and settled in Australia.

    When Lale decided to tell his secret, he chose Heather Morris, a screenwriter from Te Awamutu, living in Melbourne.

    She tells Jesse Mulligan about her debut novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, based on their love story, is now being adapted for television.

    Morris says she met Sokolov through a friend who knew his son. After the death of his wife, Sokolov had told his son to find him someone who he could tell his story too. Morris says the pain of his loss was still raw.

    “This is a man whose wife of over six decades has just died and he was incredibly grief stricken. He wouldn’t lift his head above the level of the floor for several weeks when I met him. All he would say to me each time was ‘hurry up and tell my story’ even though he hadn’t really given me anything apart from his and Gita’s names and that they met in Auschwitz.

  15. joe90 15
    8 February 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Someone tried to blackmail Jeff Bezos.

    He shoved their threats right back up their arse.

    https://medium.com/@jeffreypbezos/no-thank-you-mr-pecker-146e3922310f

    • Andre 15.1
      8 February 2019 at 3:05 pm

      Arkell v Pressdram was admirably more succinct.

    • te reo putake 15.2
      8 February 2019 at 4:05 pm

      Good on him!

      One small moment of unintended humour – Bezos blanked out Dylan Howard’s phone number in the email’s body (917 XXX-XXXX), but left it untouched in the signature section at the bottom of the email. Quite tempted to give the man a call, see how this is working out for him 😉

    • Cinny 16.1
      8 February 2019 at 3:22 pm

      Just heard from exhusband the motorway out of Nelson towards Atawhai is now closed because of the new fire.

      He said two houses have already gone, But that’s not confirmed.

  17. CHCoff 17
    8 February 2019 at 3:24 pm

    Can the city water mains be tapped into with fire hoses?

    & wet blankets to dash it out on the ground one on one?

    • Andre 17.1
      8 February 2019 at 3:29 pm

      Around here the firefighters can. The connections are under metal rectangular covers with FH cast into them.

    • Cinny 17.2
      8 February 2019 at 3:30 pm

      Not sure CHCoff.

      Walters Bluff is a steep hill, was told there is around 6 choppers there at the moment, also told that the best way to fight that particular fire is by air.

      Also told that most of the ground crews are at the other fire.

      Freaking scary stuff, so dry here.

      Behind Walters Bluff is lots of forest and walking tracks.

      Edit… the wind has picked right up now.

      • CHCoff 17.2.1
        8 February 2019 at 3:37 pm

        would like to be there fighting this b@#$%Y fire!

      • greywarshark 17.2.2
        8 February 2019 at 3:38 pm

        Latest I have found.

        https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/02/large-blaze-flares-up-near-homes-near-nelson-cbd.html

        The flames are flicking up the hill behind the houses on the subdivision and look quite bright and fast moving, rather like those earlier on at Pigeon Valley.

        People are getting worried. How could this happen, another fire!

        Position It’s fairly close to the old cemetery on the way out of Nelson main road to Blenheim, with high hill covered with grass that will be dry beside and behind it and there is high steep road on Walters Bluff where the fire is. Then a bit further over towards the city on the flat is Founders heritage park with huge amount of money spent on it and irreplaceable old buildings in it and that’s bordered by flat part, Miyazu Japanese Garden, the Marae and surrounding buildings and then closely settled housing. I have friends further over the hill but not far as the fire moves. So a worry.

        • Cinny 17.2.2.1
          8 February 2019 at 3:40 pm

          Thanks for the link Grey, you ok at yours?

          • greywarshark 17.2.2.1.1
            8 February 2019 at 4:37 pm

            Yes quite a distance away, friend lives on the other side of the hill, there was talk about them evacuating but the road is blocked by police going towards the city – can’t go there. The suggestion was to go to Saxtons Field in Stoke but there are Wakefield people there I think. We run the risk of being overwhelmed if more happens.

            Apparently the guy who reported the Walters Bluff fire saw it right from the beginning and said there was no one to be seen – it looked like spontaneous combustion down in a ravine – could have been a bottle or bright aluminium tin who knows. Not impossible. Friend says that there are eucalypts and that they spark. Lots of coming and going with helicopters. They are getting salt water – the tide is in apparently otherwise there can be quite a muddy area near the coastal road.

  18. greywarshark 18
    8 February 2019 at 4:09 pm

    Someone is talking about the possibility of arson. It’s so strange that the first thing some do is to make the situation worse by thinking badly of someone so they can be blamed for it all. It may be a barbecue gone wrong, even a cigarette butt, there was a known fire from one recently put out. I

    If all the teenagers had something constructive to do during the holidays, that could cut risk by 50% I think. A teenager escaped from a house he/she was in which was engulfed in fire minutes – that was in the last few days. Firefighters saved the house but was burnt and blackened. Got to watch out for those computers – can eat up time while something is on the stove getting over hot.

    • Cinny 18.1
      8 February 2019 at 4:37 pm

      Grey, the siren has just gone off again here in the last few minutes…

      • greywarshark 18.1.1
        8 February 2019 at 4:40 pm

        Keep us posted. Cinny and car turned round. Surely I don’t have to worry about that. I’m not too far from the Grampians and very dry up there.

        • marty mars 18.1.1.1
          8 February 2019 at 4:46 pm

          I’m sure no issue and keep listening. There may be some surprises with these fires. Stay safe.

          • Cinny 18.1.1.1.1
            8 February 2019 at 6:31 pm

            Will do, you keep safe too Marty.

            • veutoviper 18.1.1.1.1.1
              8 February 2019 at 8:05 pm

              Thinking of you all, Cindy – that goes for everyone in the Nelson, Tasman area. Cannot mention MM cause I am not flavour of the month at present and got told not to think about him and his whanau, but cannot help myself. Love your area of the country and really feeling for you all.

              • marty mars …
                8 February 2019 at 10:57 pm

                Lol yes you cannot help yourself – you’re still in my good books

                • veutoviper …
                  9 February 2019 at 10:16 am

                  Good to hear, Lol! Seriously take care, the situation there is very precarious. Just listened to some of the press conference this morning and they are obviously really worried about the wind levels in the next day or so.

                  And thanks for pointing out the contra proferentem principle re Te Tiriti. I am no scholar/expert on TT issues but was still amazed at some of the ignorance/misinformation of some of the thinking and opinions that came out in the last few days. Won’t mention any names.

                  • marty mars …
                    9 February 2019 at 10:42 am

                    The whole region is in drought – we aren’t near wakefield although I have friends there. I hope the big one sorted soon but that wind – it is chaos in action. Other worries are copycat fires and just idiot ciggie butts or whatever – so dry, won’t take much.

  19. greywarshark 19
    8 February 2019 at 4:58 pm

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12202124

    Nelson residents are being evacuated after a second fire broke out in Walters Bluff.
    The fire is located in Sir Stanley Whitehead Reserve… near top of Walters Bluff

    Telecommunications provider Spark said a cell tower in Wakefield was in the direct path of the fire.
    Flame retardant had been deployed at the tower, and the company was trying to bring in a back-up cell site.

    Conflicting stories about how they started. I still have my landline with this sort of thing in mind. Video put up yesterday about how complexity disadvantages ‘advanced’ countries! Lots of aerial movement. I hope that everyone gets through this intact. There has been a car? crash on the coastal highway they say serious.

    • Cinny 19.1
      8 February 2019 at 6:29 pm

      Thanks for that info Grey, if there was a crash on the coastal highway that will explain the siren.

  20. greywarshark 20
    8 February 2019 at 6:35 pm

    But I think it was near Tui Glen which is on the way out of Nelson not in Motueka direction, unless you get the sound carrying across water. Not sure just where you are.

    Apparently another blaze up before 6pm on city side along from Walters Bluff – winds expected to pick up so they are working hard to damp down.

  21. greywarshark 21
    8 February 2019 at 7:08 pm

    Robert and WetheBleeple
    Do you like this?

    Love the universe, let’s travel together etc
    Here is someone who built an island out of trash.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnLhWpy_nqI

  22. CHCoff 22
    8 February 2019 at 7:43 pm

    Air operations ceased after reports of a drone at the Walter’s Bluff incident, The Tasman-Marlborough Fire Area Facebook page reported.

    “Please, if you know whom this is please ask them to stop,” the statement read.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12202124

    • Psycho Milt 22.1
      8 February 2019 at 9:57 pm

      Please, if you know someone who insists on using the word “whom” but uses it wrongly, please ask them to stop.

      • ChCoff 22.1.1
        8 February 2019 at 10:12 pm

        Actually i think it may be you who are mixed up Psycho Milt, to it’s usage, but whatever the case, the meaning is clear so it is a perfectly valid phrase all the same where it matters.

        • Psycho Milt 22.1.1.1
          8 February 2019 at 10:57 pm

          There’s no need to use the word “whom” at all in modern English, so insisting on using it and then using it incorrectly is grating. As to its usage, that’s the annoying thing – its misuse is now so widespread that people will argue the toss with you when you point it out it’s for use with objects, not subjects.

      • greywarshark 22.1.2
        8 February 2019 at 10:32 pm

        Please don’t let us start on that pedant thing again – it nips my nickers.

  23. Eco Maori 23
    9 February 2019 at 8:40 am

    Eco says its all about ballance ying yang everything needs to be ballanced .
    We need to work with mother nature We need more Wahine in power to get the ballance back . 5 degrees is the difference in enviroment temperatures that give or takes away the polar ICE CAPS
    {{{How social media is inspiring children to save the natural world }}}

    It’s true that many young people stare at screens instead of being out in the wild – but others use technology to form a global community of conservationists

    Six years ago, I wrote with a certain amount of sadness a rather gloomy report for the National Trust entitled Natural Childhood. It highlighted the barriers standing in the way of engaging young people with nature: primarily dangers from traffic, parental fears of “stranger danger”, and a growing aversion to exposing children to any form of risk. I concluded that we faced the very real danger of a “lost generation”, who might never engage with the natural world.
    Young people were, and still are, we’re told, disconnected from nature, staring at screens when they should be out in the wild. {{{But what I hadn’t predicted back then is that it is these screens that are now enabling our children to join forces to save the natural world. The rise of new technology – especially social media – has allowed a new generation to connect with those who share their interests in a way that I never could have believed possible}}} when I wrote Natural Childhood. As one young ornithologist recently told me: “I thought I was the only birder at my school, but on Facebook I found half a dozen others in my local area.”

    Another budding young naturalist, Abbie Barnes (who climbed Kilimanjaro in the same week she got her A-level results), introduced me to a young man working for conservation in Kenya. When I asked how long they had known each other, Abbie laughed, saying: “We’ve never actually met before, but we’ve connected on social media for the past couple of years.”
    {{{{{{When I look at this generation, and see their commitment, passion, hard work and inspirational actions, I’m inclined to think that they might just succeed. Eco say we will succeed}}}}}}}
    Stephen Moss is a naturalist and author, based in Somerset. His latest book is The Wren: A Biography (Square Peg). He is involved with AFoN as a mentor
    Ka kite ano links below.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/25/social-media-inspiring-children-to-save-natural-world

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFscJ9neIss

    • greywarshark 23.1
      9 February 2019 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks for your great comments lately ecomaori. I am reading through them slowly – very packed info. The odd paragraph to break them up would be helpful.

      Easier to read and understand your points then.

  24. Eco Maori 24
    9 February 2019 at 11:12 am

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOFvJVroAJE

  25. Eco Maori 25
    9 February 2019 at 12:18 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAlCDaaJ9YA

  26. Eco Maori 26
    9 February 2019 at 6:42 pm

    Kia ora Newshub most of the World glaciers are losing Ice faster than scientist predicted.
    Its cool that LGBT Community still has alot of Tau toko support after all the fuss made by some people Ka pai.
    Condolences to Albert Finneys whanau I have watched a few of the movies he acted in.
    Its not looking good for the people and there stock in an around Townsville Queensland Australia.
    There are to many Actors playing games with Venezuela all for there oil they are causing Alot of harm to the tamariki children and the people all for greedy billionaire. Ka kite ano YEA RIGHT can’t touch this

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 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
    3 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 ...
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    3 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
    4 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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

  • 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

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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