Open mike 09/10/2022

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 9th, 2022 - 51 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:


Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

51 comments on “Open mike 09/10/2022 ”

  1. Stephen D 1

    For those of us who are interested in how language affects geopolitical affairs.

    https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/does-ukrainian-exist-

    “A special animus, however, was reserved for forms of regional speech, which were closely related to dominant state languages, and which were viewed by the powers that be as needless, subversive irritants. In France, the Republic’s full weight was thrown against Occitan and Provençal in particular. In Spain, General Franco’s educators were pursuing their campaign to liquidate Catalan as late as 1975.

    So Ukrainian speakers in Russia were fighting a fight shared by numerous minorities across Europe. In 1917, after the formal recognition of their language, they could be forgiven for believing that a new day was dawning. They could not have imagined the ordeals that awaited.”

    • AB 1.1

      Perhaps more relevant for New Zealand is this bit:

      In these matters, Tsarist Russians were not uniquely wicked. In 19th Century Europe a widespread, Darwinian belief was that powerful so-called ‘historical languages’ like English, French, or German (and indeed Russian) deserved to flourish while ‘unhistorical languages’ were unfit to survive.

      The animus the conservative heartland in NZ has to hearing Maori on the telly is because they think it's an inferior 'unhistorical language'.

  2. weka 2

    this is a very good explanation of what is going on

    https://twitter.com/helensaxby11/status/1578668921426960384

    • roy cartland 2.1

      Excellent bit of clarity there, thanks Weka.

      I guess it goes the other way too, with 'conservatives' raising concerns about 2 when they're against 1.

  3. PsyclingLeft.Always 3

    A large fire on farm land at Mt Creighton, near Glenorchy, has been brought under control by helicopters with monsoon buckets.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/big-farm-fire-near-glenorchy-under-control

    the fire was no longer in control yesterday afternoon, with smoke spreading across the Queenstown area and Fenz calling for back-up.

    https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/crews-return-battle-blaze-near-queenstown

    Complaints were made to the Otago Regional Council’s pollution hotline following a large vegetation fire in the Cardrona Valley on Saturday (September 24

    The blaze began as a controlled burn off and appeared to burn out of control, affecting approximately 150 hectares above the Cardrona Valley, near the Snow Farm.

    https://wanakaapp.nz/news/news/complaints-of-pollution-follow-cardrona-fire?id=6333c92bf4c137002c111308

    Queenstown…and Wanaka

    So.."controlled" burnoff really means….a soon UNcontrolled raging inferno.

    I wonder if the farm/station owners face ANY consequences? This has been happening for decades. IMO Seems to work out well for them. Oh and FYI I have called ORC about this in the past….not much action. Obviously. : (

    • Graeme 3.1

      There's lots of thing going on that are contributing to this.

      All the changes in environmental management, and the reasons for those changes, that led to the GroundSwell movement, along with the influence of the movement, has resulted in an attitude of 'oh bugger, had an accident…'

      Add to that the huge increase in on the ground fert prices, in some high country situations 2 – 3 times last season, and burning becomes the only way high country farmers can afford to maintain production. Burning as much as possible is even better.

      As for consequences it will depend on how much DOC land got burnt, and the ecological value of what burnt. Mt Crighton has been through tenure review so DOC will be very involved and the Station has a history of poorly controlled burning.

      ORC won't do a thing, it's there to facilitate traditional agricultural activities. If you are burning the remains of a 100 year old conifer wind break that QLDC made you chop down because 'wilding seed source' then it's a different story, full enforcement even though it was fully permitted, 'you are spoiling someones view'.

      Hope DOC throw the book at them, but it'll only be for the direct costs of putting it out. And that will probably be less than what fert to give the same production would have cost and an evaluation of likely cost vs benefit would have been one before they burnt.

      • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.1.1

        Thankyou Graeme for that considered and detailed reply. It seems pretty much as I thought. ORC useless. Ive been working in both Wanaka and Queenstown when these burnoffs go up. Volcanic is a descriptive image i remember…..

        Sad that…'oh bugger, had an accident…'

        Anyway, hope they get it put out before any big winds get up again.

        • weka 3.1.1.1

          it will blow until the front comes through bringing rain in a day or so.

          https://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzsi&noofdays=7

        • Graeme 3.1.1.2

          The sad thing with ORC is that it is controlled by farmers because only farmers, and a few engaged townies, vote in the election.

          The number of blank / informal voting papers in yesterday's election was staggering. Would be very interesting to find out why people didn't vote in the ORC election, but voted in the district or city polls.

          Looking at Flight Radar just now the only machine working around Mt Crighton is one doing observation, so presuming it's either out or they've given up and letting it burn up to the snow line

          • Ad 3.1.1.2.1

            What's your view on the composition of the ORC now?

            • Graeme 3.1.1.2.1.1

              We need to run a book on how may days until a commissioner is appointed.

              In Dunstan it’s a complete farmer takeover if Alexa looses her seat, so the over-allocations will just get rolled over, even if it’s just for five years to get it out of Ngai Tahu’s remit. We just got a consent that Ngai Tahu had nixed by going to a six year term.

              Can see that sort of thing blowing up in their faces.

          • PsyclingLeft.Always 3.1.1.2.2

            A contractor was saved from a fiery end when a helicopter was used to pluck him from an out-of-control scrub fire near Queenstown, which firefighters are still battling — despite hundreds of hectares going up in smoke.

            "You literally cannot see any mountains from the town, you can’t even see Walter Peak.

            "If there’s this much smoke there’s definitely a big fire," Mr Smith said.

            https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/contractor-saved-out-control-scrub-fire

            I hope that at the very least… DOC will get stuck in. 230 hectares burnt to a crisp….Because of idiots

  4. Robert Guyton 4

    Low-tech, no-tech interview with Kim Hill; excellent.

    Listen for the human-power segement.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/audio/player?audio_id=2018861850&fbclid=IwAR0RG7tB0CALcmpQ9TzP3A1vsvRB9M3XOvK4Pv3UBzexz2OgIx6sR-pAgNo

    • weka 4.1

      that was a treat!

      • Robert Guyton 4.1.1

        Human-power! That's muscle-power, fuelled by food. Photosynthesis (solar-power) is the other vital one.

        I loved the suggestions around hot-water bottle use 🙂

  5. tsmithfield 5

    There is reason to believe that the damage to the Kerch bridge may have been from the Russian side rather than the Ukrainian. It is starting to appear that the scorch marks etc point to the explosion coming from the top rather than the bottom, supporting the exploding truck theory.

    So, if it was the truck, it points to a very difficult and unlikely operation for the Ukrainian SOF.

    Firstly, the truck had come from Russia heading to Crimea.

    Secondly, trucks are apparently scanned for explosives etc before going on to the bridge. So the Ukrainians would have had to find a way to avoid that checking.

    Thirdly, the driver was a Syrian, with no apparent ties back to Ukraine, and may have not even been aware the truck was loaded with explosives.

    So, the alternative explanation is that the Russians organised the attack. The question then is, who in Russia would benefit from this attack. It seems unlikely to be a false flag op organised by Putin as the bridge is his baby, and including an attack on the fuel carriages was unnecessary for that effect, and may have had unpredictable effects on the future viability of the rail bridge.

    So, the other possibility is an attempt by Putin adversaries for some reason.

  6. joe90 6

    Russian anti-war rapper Oxxxymiron's reaction to being declared a foreign agent.

    Although he did see it coming.

    https://twitter.com/norimyxxxo/status/1578479472281804808

    Foreign agent
    I hear
    Foreign agent
    Together now
    Foreign agent
    Bulletproof argument
    For them you're still a
    Foreign agent
    Didn't know? You're a
    Foreign agent
    Everyone here is a
    Foreign agent:
    Diploma, medal, compliment

    Oxxxymiron – Агент (Agent) 2021

    The Russian justice ministry has declared one of the country’s most popular rappers to be a “foreign agent”, a legal designation that has been used to hound Kremlin critics and journalists.

    Oxxxymiron, whose real name is Miron Fyodorov, was added to an updated list of foreign agents alongside four journalists and Dmitry Glukhovsky, a prominent writer.

    The rapper has called the Kremlin’s Ukraine offensive a “catastrophe and a crime”. He cancelled a scheduled Russian tour in protest at the invasion, subsequently left Russia and gave a series of concerts in Turkey, Britain and Germany entitled “Russians Against The War”.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/07/russia-declares-popular-rapper-and-writer-foreign-agents

  7. Jenny are we there yet 7

    Ukraine’s national postal service to release new stamp with burning Crimean Bridge

    SATURDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2022, 12:02

    "The morning has never been so good.. On the occasion of the holiday, we are releasing a new stamp with the Crimean Bridge, or, more precisely, with what remains of it." General Director of Ukrposhta [Ukraine Post] Ihor Smilianskyi.

    https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/10/8/7370900/

    Special message to philatelists

    Get in quick.

    Make sure you don't miss out. These stamps will be collectibles, worth quite a bit in decades to come.

  8. tsmithfield 8

    This video seems to prove it wasn't a truck explosion. If you step through the frames, you can see the truck still in tact just as the explosion has started.

    As I mentioned above, the truck theory doesn't really make sense if it was a Ukrainian OP. So, either a missile, planted explosions, or a drone boat I think.

    The worry for the Russians will be that if the Ukrainians have done it once, they have another go to finish off the job.

    • joe90 8.1

      The official line is that the Kerch rail link hasn't been destroyed, merely damaged, and traffic is slow but still moving. But they would say that.

      However, if both rail links to the southern front are out?

      https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1578651113745952769

      • joe90 8.1.1

        TFW when you fail.

        Three months ago Russian propaganda claimed the Kerch bridge was impossible to attack. With dozen or more modes to protect it, including military dolphins, it was their Maginot line.

        When Russia's enemies want to tickle Moscow's nerves yet again, they say that Ukraine can strike at the Crimean bridge. In Kyiv, almost everyone threatened us with such blows – from the president and the minister of defense to petty political clerks.

        […]

        But the Crimean bridge is protected from such attacks – by two S-400 regiments at once. They create a kind of cover dome with a diameter of 400 kilometers. In addition, there is additional multi-stage protection by air defense systems, including Pantsir S-1, Tor and others.

        And Kyiv can also send underwater sabotage groups to undermine the bridge pillars. True, this task is extremely difficult. The sabotage group will have to drag half a ton of TNT or gencogen under water. But you need to keep in mind that the bridge has a dense system of anti-sabotage defense (combat swimmers on duty, special boats and electronic sensors on supports). There is also other equipment – the so-called repellers. This is a system of sonar and suppression of saboteurs "Plavnik" – when underwater swimmers (or ordinary divers) are detected at a distance closer than 300 meters from the bridge, an audible signal is turned on with a request to leave the restricted area. If an uninvited guest does not change course and swims closer to the bridge supports than 100 meters, the intensity of the sound signal increases sharply, to the pain threshold, and the person cannot stand it.

        On land, the bridge is guarded by units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and on the water it is protected by the Black Sea Fleet and the coast guard of the FSB Border Service. In addition, the facility is guarded by a special naval brigade of the Russian Guard – its crews patrol the water area on anti-sabotage boats, the personnel are armed with two-medium assault rifles, as well as machine guns, grenade launchers and portable anti-aircraft missile systems.

        The Crimean Bridge is also protected by the EW (electronic warfare) service. Drone flights, even on the distant approaches to the bridge, are prohibited.

        https://www.kp.ru/daily/27390/4584149/

        google translate

  9. Adrian Thornton 9

    Of course no news of the protests to free Assange on MSM liberal new….why am I not surprised…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkLYUQtTHZ8

  10. Molly 10

    Well, another ill-thought out solution to a badly defined problem:

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/immigration-minister-michael-wood-qualification-requirement-to-hire-migrant-chefs-dropped/6MO5D6LHXG2OWY6T5IRSYNZO3E/

    "We agree with the hospitality industry that removing the qualification requirement for chefs to be hired through an Accredited Employer Work Visa will allow those top-rated chefs who have trained at the coal face to come to NZ."

    The changes will take effect from Tuesday, October 18.

    Wood said the requirement for chefs to hold a NZ level 4 certificate of cookery or equivalent was initially introduced to reduce risks of wage and job inflation.

    "We have heard the industry's concerns that this requirement was limiting their options to recruit chefs who do not hold formal qualifications, including some highly skilled or experienced chefs, at a time when labour market conditions are tight," he said.

    "Employers hiring chefs will now only be required to meet the median wage and market rate requirement, enabling employers to recruit from a larger pool of migrant chefs."

  11. Joe90 11

    When Captain Kirk went to space.

    I guess Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong.

    I had thought that going into space would be the ultimate catharsis of that connection I had been looking for between all living things—that being up there would be the next beautiful step to understanding the harmony of the universe. In the film “Contact,” when Jodie Foster’s character goes to space and looks out into the heavens, she lets out an astonished whisper, “They should’ve sent a poet.” I had a different experience, because I discovered that the beauty isn’t out there, it’s down here, with all of us. Leaving that that behind made my connection to our tiny planet even more profound.

    It was among the strongest feelings of grief I have ever encountered. The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness. Every day, we are confronted with the knowledge of further destruction of Earth at our hands: the extinction of animal species, of flora and fauna . . . things that took five billion years to evolve, and suddenly we will never see them again because of the interference of mankind. It filled me with dread. My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral.

    https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/william-shatner-space-boldly-go-excerpt-1235395113/

    • Jenny are we there yet 11.1

      All the evidence collected so far point towards the conclusion that apart from this small corner of it, the universe is as inanimate as it is vast.

      William Shatner the actor gets it.

  12. And, for a complete (and rather tasteless contrast) to Nobby Clark giving thanks to Sir Tim for his years of service – here's Wayne Brown singing "Hit the road Goff" at his victory party.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/who-is-wayne-brown-meet-aucklands-new-mayor-a-banjo-playing-grandfather-from-northland/6PSSAAAAHUX6YAP6NSL2W73ZYI/?c_id=1&objectid=12557490&ref=rss

    Not exactly gracious in victory – especially as Goff had retired, rather than been defeated.

  13. This is a really great initiative – looking at the needs of Mums with young children, who often don't want to, or can't work full-time – and linking them in with employers creative enough to re-imagine how their workforce is staffed.

    Yes. Not all Mums. Some have no alternative, but to work full-time. But there are a lot who would be keen to work part-time, but find the part-time jobs offered are simply not worth the pay. (Just look at day-care costs to see why)

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/calling-on-stay-at-home-mums-auckland-start-ups-move-to-combat-labour-shortage/WUCGVMD6PJ2ICE7CXVGK2QR2II/?c_id=3&objectid=12556608&ref=rss

    I work for a company which has been doing this for over 15 years – deliberately targeting highly-qualified professional women (for very specific and niche roles – so limited numbers ever available) – who want to work part-time (not all Mums, some caring for older relatives or with health issues, or simply reaching the end of their careers and wanting to dial back a little) – and where the major employers (Council and government bureaucracy) simply won't be flexible for them.

    It's been a great success for the women (I'm one of them)- and the employer has benefited from a high-skilled, creative and motivated workforce, with a deep well of loyalty to the company.

  14. aj 14

    Many people have asked me what I think the odds are of an imminent major US-Russia nuclear war.

    https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Dod9AWz8Rp4Svdpof/why-i-think-there-s-a-one-in-six-chance-of-an-imminent

  15. Poission 15

    Australian Actuaries release analysis for first 6 months excess mortality.

    Excess death rate 13% with projections for Covid to be Australia's third leading cause of death (behind dementia and Ischaemic heart disease)

    https://twitter.com/KarenCutter4/status/1577796504604930048?cxt=HHwWgMCjjffjuuUrAAAA

    Similar numbers here with regard to total excess deaths,due to the overweighted rate of deaths in the elderly it is highly likely we will see a decrease in the expected life expectancy in NZ as well.

  16. pat 17

    Tax cuts??

    "All of a sudden, though, the IMF saw the liberal establishment’s lost capacity to stabilize capitalism reflected in rising economic inequality. So the last thing the markets needed, the fund’s technocrats realized, was more socialism for the wealthy. But it would take a feat of wishful thinking to interpret the IMF’s panic-driven reaction as a sincere conversion to economic redistribution and social democracy. A warning against an act of elite self-harm was the extent of it"

    https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/imf-uk-tax-cuts-inequality-neoliberalism/671651/

    None so blind

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    19 hours 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
    22 hours 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T19:29:43+00:00