Open mike 17/08/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, August 17th, 2013 - 48 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 link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

48 comments on “Open mike 17/08/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tom 1
    17 August 2013 at 6:20 am

    Is he *still* flogging Norton Antivirus ?

    “Developed and distributed by Symantec, it *only* runs on MS Windows and Mac OS X.
    It has involved FBI cooperation in developing a keylogger [Magic Lantern], an update disabling legitimate software, slow and indifferent service on bugs, a faulty update for Norton AntiVirus 2006 users, criticisms for refusing to uninstall completely – leaving unnecessary files behind, incompatibilities with ZoneAlarm, a firewall warning stating that a Norton-associated file – “PIFTS.exe” – was trying to connect to the net, and consumers complaints for perceived ethical violations .. and that is just what is the public domain.”

  2. geoff 2
    17 August 2013 at 7:11 am

    Just so we don’t lose sight of the heart of the problem here’s a recap:

    We are living in a time when it has been proven that the USA has created a global surveillance system, straight from the pages of 1984, and it has also been shown that NZ’s GCSB is an active part of this system.

    At the same time as all this is happening, our Prime Minister, John Key, is refusing to even acknowledge that this global story has even occurred AND he is pushing through legislation which allows the GCSB even more powers of surveillance.

    • Colonial Viper 2.1
      17 August 2013 at 9:34 am

      Are we living with Huxley or are we living with Orwell.

      Well we started with Huxley, and the illusion/delusion of brain numbing consumer-corporate branding comfort.

      Now that is starting to not work, we are transitioning nicely to Orwell’s permanent war-surveillance state.

      As usual, we are just 10-15 years behind the USA.

  3. Saarbo 3
    17 August 2013 at 7:59 am

    NZ Herald today: National Party cheerleaders Fran O Sullivan and John Armstrong gloating about Key’s performance on CL, just a small mention that he told a crucial porky about “content” …which I believe changed the balance of the interview in Key’s favour. But when one of New Zealand’s major media organisations is prepared to go along with Key’s porkies instead of crucifying him, we have a major problem.

    (Copied from my comment yesterday) But you have to admire National’s damage control, they have incredibly powerful allies in the media, which is scarey. Labour need to raise their game enormously. This brings me back to the this weeks Listener article on the Labour Party where Mike William’s says “for a party to be strong and credible, six key figures in the party need to be working in unison. They are the leader, the deputy leader, the chief of staff, the party president, the party general secretary and the campaign director.” Well I reckon he left two out. He needs to add in the caucus and members. Labour are going to have to make sure everything is aligned and heading in the same direction to beat this National Party. This National Party is a powerful party on top of their game, as Chris Trotter pointed out in a recent article, the Left is taking them too lightly. The way they have recovered from this cock up is case in point.at

    • Olwyn 3.1
      17 August 2013 at 8:34 am

      You are right. It does not matter if “six key figures” are working like clockwork if everyone else is angry with them, or has given up on them. I don’t think Mike Williams is taking into account the amount of “political capital” that Labour has lost over the last few years.

      • phillip ure 3.1.1
        17 August 2013 at 2:35 pm

        from hearing williams on nat-rad – he is a throwback to the douglas 80’s..

        ..and is a constant apologist for the current fucked-paradigm..

        ..and if he ‘agreed with matthew’ (hooten) any more..

        ..he’d be carrying his bags..

        ..phillip ure..

        • Tim 3.1.1.1
          17 August 2013 at 8:12 pm

          @ Phillip …
          I’ve considered a complaint to the BSA. The “From the Left, and From the Right” handle is essentially false advertising. No doubt it’d be pushing shit further uphill than is necessary … but you’re correct – they could put Williams’ “Mathew … I agree with you” on a cartridge and just have the technician push the play button and save themselves the fees.

          • Rhinocrates 3.1.1.1.1
            17 August 2013 at 11:20 pm

            Williams is just a joke, a pathetic, spineless trougher like Shearer and the rest of the ABC club… but alas, so representative/symptomatic of the ABC club. “They are winning, therefore they must be right, therefore we must be like them.”

            I’d say it’s Stockholm Syndrome, but in fact it’s corruption and terror. All they want are their meal tickets and high list positions, because that there’s nowhere else they can go. Goff’s got to pay for his lifestyle block somehow, he knows that even the UN won’t take him and Shearer thinks that he has a cushy retirement job and a knighthood due to him, Hipkins is just a yuppie and Curran wants good soil and regular watering.

            I don’t even want to think about what Mallard wants… it’s probably boobs.

            Meanwhile, we’re supposed to be grateful while paying the tithe of our votes.

            On the other hand, I’m confident of a devastating Left victory in 2017. It’s a pity that they’ll inherit ruins.

    • Hami Shearlie 3.2
      17 August 2013 at 9:06 am

      And it’s all very well for the Herald to highlight what Fran Mold is doing at the moment – working hard to make Shearer fit to be leader, by making him seem more aggressive – Fact is (and this Fran should know) if it’s not in him naturally, then no amount of coaching is going to work – he’s only going to look like a big fake once again. David Cunliffe has all the qualities a leader should have and then some, and they come naturally to him, he doesn’t need any coaching from Fran or anyone else!! ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.

      • David H 3.2.1
        17 August 2013 at 9:46 am

        “ABC must know this, and even if they don’t like it, they’re going to have to suck it up for the good of the Party, or there won’t BE any party.”

        And there lies the corpse that was Labour. Killed by the ABC club! Who, as long as they collect their pay packet could not give a rats arse about the rank n file members.

      • yeshe 3.2.2
        17 August 2013 at 2:02 pm

        If they don’t put Cunliffe in there as the members seem to want, we are doomed to another term of these mad people. There won’t be any party. C’mon Labour .. do the best thing for NZ just this once ?

      • Saarbo 3.2.3
        17 August 2013 at 3:52 pm

        Yep Hami, it seems naive of Fran O Sullivan to suggest that Fran Mold can make a big difference, there are a lot of factors in play to achieve success.

        Shearer has not managed to bring Labour together, which I reckon is critical, absolutely critical if Labour are to succeed (The way he handled the Gower orchestrated crisis after the November conference was atrocious, achieved exactly the opposite of what it should have and lead to two strong caucus members leaving). And success isn’t just about winning in 2014 (which is what I believe most of the Labour caucus seem to think), success is winning in 2014 and then running a successful and strong government for more than one weak term. For this to happen then Labour need to get all 8 factors moving in the same direction

        David Cunliffe is the leader that would get most members in behind the party, I’m certain of that. But the caucus need to pull together…that is the major problem I reckon, but only they can sort this out. If the caucus are not going to sort themselves out, then I reckon let Shearer lead into 2014 election, FAIL, then have a good cleanout…think long term. There would be nothing worse for the left that one weak term.

        • Hami Shearlie 3.2.3.1
          17 August 2013 at 7:33 pm

          True, Saarbo! -What I find disgusting is the blatant self-interest amongst many Labour MPs! The arrogance of the ABC club is absolutely breathtaking! Annette King “David Shearer is doing a great job” for instance. If this is a “great job”, what on earth does a bad one look like?

          • Rhinocrates 3.2.3.1.1
            17 August 2013 at 11:52 pm

            Look at the ABC club and see old French aristocrats. They’re sure that you owe them since for time immemorial, or for a few seconds at least, they claimed to be your champions; they know that they deserve their privileges, or at least they don’t know what they’d do without them and they’re terrified that they could crumble away.

            They once waved a flag you know.

            It was beige. Red would scare people away, but beige is conciliatory, uncontroversial – PRAGMATIC.

            Try to forget that Goff, King and Mallard licked Douglas’ arse and Hipkins would if he weren’t too busy squeezing pimples, forget their lifestyle blocks, their ticket scalping and greed.

            Forget that they’re pushing any real progressive agenda back – like marriage equality – because it’s “distracting”… except when it succeeds… but, er, it’s still a bit embarrassing, so they don’t want to upset their hallucination of the Waitakere vote, so… well, I guess we’d better issue a reassuring press release saying that the policy we released was… well, um… popular… but you know, the markets and all…

            Here’s my suggestion for Labour’s election slogan in 2014 as the ABC club would have it:

            “Fuck you, just get off your roof and vote for us, alright? I’m your hero blah blah blah and I’m hungry too and the venison at Bellamy’s looks damn good.”

            It would, on their terms, be honest at least, but the caucus and membership would have something far more meaningful.

    • Ad 3.3
      17 August 2013 at 10:20 am

      Key will remain where he is – in power – until Labour has an equal or superior leader.

      The supporting machinery are I agree a help, but 50%of national’s stunning continued success is a weak opposition leader, with another 10% a disunited opposition. There’s been plenty of issues to sink this government. The rest is down to how good Key is.

  4. ScottGN 4
    17 August 2013 at 8:19 am

    For the benefit of Maurice Williamson The Guardian has a video of a Richard Rogers designed flatpacked prefab 3 storey house being constructed in just one day in the courtyard of the RA in London.
    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/architecture-design-blog/video/2013/aug/16/richard-rogers-timelapse-house-build-video

    • bad12 4.1
      17 August 2013 at 9:06 am

      This site posted by Macro in Open Mike yesterday deserves another airing, a 3 week build in a factory and a couple of days to set up on it’s piles and hey presto move in,

      These people have any number of designs which they can build so Maurice need not worry His luxuriant little bouffant about ‘rows of houses all looking the same’,

      i would assume after having a quick look at the site that a second story could be added to these places without too much problem and garages if required…

      http://www.go-homes.co.nz/

  5. North 5
    17 August 2013 at 8:23 am

    “I feel pretty……oh so pretty……..”

    Dear Old Boardroom Trout Fran O’Sullivan in the Herald this morning dusting off her Best Side West Side Story……..”For I’m loved by a pretty wonderful boy……..”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10913505

    “The mainstream deserves better.” Huh !

    • halfcrown 5.1
      17 August 2013 at 10:36 am

      Good post North, I like it, it conjures up a not so pretty picture of O Sullivan dancing on a roof or boardroom table somewhere.

      I cannot comment on the articles unfortunately, as I don’t purchase that pathetic excuse of a paper. The reason being, and I have said in the past. “We prefer our shit house paper to come in rolls”.

      As for O’ Sullivan, she is so predictable dribbling right wing bullshit I have avoided listening to her on the radio or television for a long time, and I certainly would not strain my eyes reading the crap she writes.

  6. Jenny 6
    17 August 2013 at 9:23 am

    ”Nothing is more pressing than climate change; we need to elevate our priorities and address the challenge.”

    Maryan Street Labour environment spokesperson

    ”refreshing” to see the issue of climate change back on the agenda.

    Janet Stephenson University of Otago Centre for Sustainability director

    Street’s statement is a direct challenge to climate change, (and GCSB bill), ignorer, David Shearer. Is David Shearer finally starting to lose his conservative grip on the Labour caucus?

    Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said information from seminars such as yesterday’s would be used to help Labour form its environment policy.

    Rebecca Fox Otago Daily Times, Thursday 15 2013

    If what Rebecca Fox has reported is true, then the Labour caucus will be reconsidering their support for, Denniston, deep sea oil drilling, and fracking.

    This would make a coalition with the Greens on a more equitable basis a much more likely probability.

    Good on Maryan Street. Good on Clare Curran.

    • Colonial Viper 6.1
      17 August 2013 at 11:02 am

      Hmmmm I don’t think that you understand much about Labour Party environment/conservation situation. Basically, most interested parties have given up on them. For instance. Smith’s Milford Tunnel decision? I still can’t find a single Labour Party press release about the decision even though it was arguably the biggest conservation decision of the last 6 months. The Greens had their statement out a couple of hours after Smith announced.

      As for climate change. This civilisation is going to burn and bury itself, led by corporate interests. The melting of the Artic sea ice and permafrost? Just another drilling opportunity for Exxon Mobil and Gazprom.

  7. phillip ure 7
    17 August 2013 at 9:57 am

    does anyone know if new zealand signed up to the u.n. plan to save the amazon..?

    ..(i tried googling..found zip..)

    ..where the worlds’ countries pledged $1.3 billion – and have actually stumped up with $13 million..?

    ..(and the deal has now been ‘torn up’…?..)

    ..did we sign up..and for how much..?..

    ..and did we pay our share..?

    ..and if not..why not..?..eh..?

    phillip ure..

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    17 August 2013 at 10:28 am

    John Armstrong mentions Boadicea by name!!! Ha!

    Hmmmmm I don’t remember Fran Mold doing that great a job at being Shearer’s press secretary 2012-2013. Correct me if I am wrong peeps? And now a promotion to CoS which Armstrong couldn’t applaud louder if he tried.

    Bloody Wellington bubble gaming.

  9. phillip ure 9
    17 August 2013 at 10:29 am

    bloody hell..!

    ..one in five greens..and 84% of nz first voters..

    ..want a return to capital punishment/state-executions..

    http://whoar.co.nz/2013/the-nation-a-review-ed-bloody-hell-one-in-five-greens-want-a-return-to-capital-punishmentstate-execution-of-selected-criminals/

    phillip ure..

    • Paul 9.1
      17 August 2013 at 1:22 pm

      That’s what happens when newspapers put crime a front page fodder day in, day out.
      As usual, no analysis of why such views have eventuates.

  10. joe90 10
    17 August 2013 at 11:38 am

    In a twenty first century surveillance state the last ditch effort to stop young women being sent away to a life of misery – a spoon in the undies…sigh.

    http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/15/spoon-in-underwear-saving-youths-from-forced-marriage/

    http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/

  11. newsense 11
    17 August 2013 at 12:02 pm

    The Herald is coming! All is saved!

    “When the Labour-led Government in 2007 forced through the deeply undemocratic Electoral Finance Bill, to widespread criticism including from Mr Key, the issue never rated a blip in polls. Given a choice between the state of the economy, health, education or immigration, highlighting a concern with how elections could be funded proved all too abstract.

    Yet it was important and its controversy undoubtedly fed a general public malaise with a high-handed Government.”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10913538

    Of course none of this, http://werewolf.co.nz/2013/08/nanny-national/, is so deeply undemocratic as to warrant the Heralds ire. And well done to Herald journos for calling a fight for Key, but not doing any fact checking. Isn’t fact checking a journos job?

    • Paul 11.1
      17 August 2013 at 1:14 pm

      Whoever are the editors and subeditors should hang their heads in shame.
      They are enabling a deeply undemocratic law and failing in their role as the 4th estate.
      Wonder how much they get paid to sell their souls?

      • rod 11.1.1
        17 August 2013 at 4:59 pm

        I would suggest, HEAPS.

        • Colonial Viper 11.1.1.1
          17 August 2013 at 5:13 pm

          Not that much these days…but certainly way more in TV than anywhere else….but print is drowning in red ink

          • Rhinocrates 11.1.1.1.1
            18 August 2013 at 12:04 am

            It used to be said that politicians should never start a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Now they can always argue with someone who buys red ink by the barrel.

  12. ianmac 12
    17 August 2013 at 1:10 pm

    If the Public Meeting on Monday Re the GCSB Bill was really huge in numbers, would the organisers have been allowed to hire the future Skytower Convention Centre?

  13. Morrissey 13
    17 August 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Those protestors WANTED to get killed, says Guardian hack
    Huge contrast to sensible democracy-loving westerners
    Radio NZ National, Saturday 17 August 2013

    Democracy has, again, been bloodily crushed in Egypt. There are all kinds of experts who she could have interviewed about this disaster, but unfortunately Kim Hill’s producers decided to bypass all of them and instead went to a safe pair of hands called Ian Black, who is one of those unfeasibly smug and complacent Grauniad hacks that foolish and uninformed people keep calling “liberal”.

    The interview went exactly as one would have expected. I have got to the stage of not letting most of these pseudo-journalists upset me now; you just have to admit the fact that the corporate media is an integral part of the establishment, and that if Ian Black was any good at all, he would not be rejoicing in the grand title of “Middle East Editor of the Grauniad“. So I was prepared for virtually any depravity to fall from Black’s lips—-but he still managed to stagger me (and I’m sure many other listeners) when he delivered up a Breivik-level analysis of the Islamic love of being killed. In spite of my vow of self-restraint, I had to spring into action. Just before 9 a.m., listeners heard Kim read out the following e-mail….

    Dear Kim,

    Ian Black asserted, in apparent high seriousness, that “in Islam there is this concept of martyrdom.” I’ll remember how addicted to martyrdom those Islamic people are the next time I pass a War Memorial in this country.

    Ian Black’s comment is similar to General Westmoreland’s infamous statement about how Asians were a “formidable adversary” because they had “such a disregard for human life”, and (more recently) Rosemary McLeod’s sniffy assessment on Jim Mora’s show that “these people [Egyptians] have no desire for democracy”.

    Yours sincerely,
    Morrissey Breen
    Northcote Point

  14. Colonial Viper 14
    17 August 2013 at 5:42 pm

    AOS accidentally shoot suspect after suspect voluntarily surrenders and has been handcuffed

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10913551

    Seriously. Do NOT give the police easier access to firearms, it is arguably too easy at the moment.

    • Tim 14.1
      17 August 2013 at 8:25 pm

      And what do you think the outcome of it all will be?.
      I’m picking an “oh sorry, accidents happen”, and “the officer has been punished enough – he has to live with this for the rest of his life” …. next.

      The Polis are apparently taking this “VERY seriously” however.

  15. Linz 15
    17 August 2013 at 10:38 pm

    On a lighter note: on Wednesday last week I sent an email to my MP asking her about the GCSB bill, and in particular if New Zealanders are being spied on by the US, given what Edward Snowden has had to say. I also asked how easy would it be to get noticed by the NSA by accident if you innocently used buzz words like those on the list of 680+ words in the Homeland Security spooks’ hand book. I added the list at the end of her email and sent it off. I then sent a copy of the email to every member of parliament, so this list of dangerous words got a bit of an airing. I’ve also got a blog called Six More Lines where I write innocuous sounding articles, which I pepper with dangerous words, to see if the spooks notice. Snowden said it’s quite easy. Well, my mail-out was on Tuesday, and I was feeling very clever, then on Thursday morning I pressed the start button on my computer and there was one hell of a bang! My computer literally blew up. “My God! I thought. Can they really do that already?” I went to my husband and asked, “Do you think it’s just a coincidence?” He said,”Well, if it’s not we’re in deep shit!”
    Galloping paranoia: it was just the power supply box.
    You can find the list of incriminating words here: (http://epic.org/foia/epic-v-dhs-media-monitoring/Analyst-Desktop-Binder-REDACTED.pdf). You can also find my blog here: http://sixmorelines.blogspot.co.nz/.

    • weka 15.1
      17 August 2013 at 11:03 pm

      Lolz @ “galloping paranoia”.

      Thanks for posting, I was just about to ask if anyone had a link to your blog.

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
    9 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
    15 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
    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
    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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    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

  • 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T17:14:50+00:00