Open Mike 18/11/2016

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 18th, 2016 - 60 comments
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60 comments on “Open Mike 18/11/2016 ”

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  1. Wairua 1
    18 November 2016 at 6:54 am

    Serious questions should be raised whether taxpayer funding NZ troops at Camp Taji would be better applied to local earthquake relief. One threat – virtual, the other – real.

    • Clump_AKA Sam 1.1
      18 November 2016 at 7:06 am

      Rather than funding a company seized response team on 24 hour call it’s done on a voluntary bases where individual members can apply to there commander, for the day off, to join domestic humanitarian and search and rescue efforts.

    • save nz 1.2
      18 November 2016 at 7:08 am

      +1 propping up an illegal war and a F*&*ed up one at that

      Clearly a waste of time for a million reasons but even if you were a Hawk – the US can’t even be bothered with getting basic inventory so they could be effective. Plus running it from a school???

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/72838414/serious-problems-at-taji-military-base-in-iraq–us-report!

    • Puckish Rogue 1.3
      18 November 2016 at 8:37 am

      Not really, the troops at Camp Taji are already funded through the defence budget so its not like its taking money away EQC (or whatever agency will be dealing with this)

      Then it starts a slippery slope kind of thing…like some people will agree with this because they disagree with the kiwis being over there and fair enough

      Some kiwis will then go we spend 29 billion ( or whatever it is) a year on welfare so lets spend some of that on earthquake relief

      Or I could be completely wrong

      • save nz 1.3.1
        18 November 2016 at 9:19 am

        The defence budget is just a waste of money. It’s cash for cronies. Whenever NZ needs anything for defence it is revealed that the 757’s or what have you haven’t been maintained and are sitting somewhere broken down or the frigates are unstable in high seas etc etc.

        Face it, we are better to sent in some cow poos as biological weapons and some suicide sheep bombers as our effort than the cash for cronies deals and then spend the rest on educating our population so we don’t turn into the US a basket case that can’t even respond to Cyclone Katrina as they are too busy assassinating people with drones around the world.

        • Puckish Rogue 1.3.1.1
          18 November 2016 at 9:31 am

          Well that is certainly another way at looking at things and I’m sure there are some ideas in there that could be valid

          • save nz 1.3.1.1.1
            18 November 2016 at 9:57 am

            The biggest threats both economically and fatality related in NZ are disaster related, earthquakes, land slides, floods and so forth.

            Think how many disasters Kiwis have endured from the last 5 years vs terrorists attacks.

            It’s cheaper and easier in NZ to buy land in NZ than invade it so I don’t think we need to worry about a Pearl Harbour – and even if it happened we would not be able to stop it with a couple of planes and a frigate out of order. Most Kiwis are more worried about not being able to afford to live in this country anymore, with good reason that is more of a real threat than anything else at present.

            The type of weapons NZ defense are buying are old school and not going to work. The Brits found when fighting with Maori… you can come here, but you can’t win a war. That is why we got the Treaty of Waitangi. And why invaders will never win Afghanistan, Iraq and so forth.

            People’s resistance are more of a weapon than weapons, when it comes down to it.

            Traditional war is probably over. And the TPPA & TISA which is the new type of social weapon against ordinary people has been defeated for now.

            • Clump_AKA Sam 1.3.1.1.1.1
              18 November 2016 at 10:15 am

              1 ton (defence minister brownlee) announced the defence budget will be 1%GDP so that’s no more than 1.4 billion a year until maybe 2030 or another government changes that. That means defence will have to shrink a bit.

              The frigate replacement will definitely have to be smaller than the 3000 ton Anzacs, if not in over all wieght the crew will be smaller, skilled seaman are super expensive, and the budget won’t be able to support the number of staff we have now so numbers will fall, or hours worked, or a combination.

              It’s a really bad time to join a service right now. All the cash is going to the intelligence sector.

              • save nz …
                18 November 2016 at 10:34 am

                “It’s a really bad time to join a service right now. All the cash is going to the intelligence sector.”

                Well, we put all our intelligence eggs in one basket with 5 eyes. But no one thought about what a change of government might do to that relationship.

                I mean if a certain orange haired senior has a senior moment and starts a war with the world….

                Or Nigel Farage takes over and sets up the New Nazi moment in the UK…

                see any potential issues that Kiwis might be uncomfortable with as our mass data collected gets off shored off?

                Or does our government go Rah Rah, united we fight for friends no matter what they believe in, like in Iraq and Afghanistan.

                • Clump_AKA Sam …
                  18 November 2016 at 10:57 am

                  The Americans under Bush opened up a can of worms when they unleashed stuxnet on Iranian nuclear felicities, destroying 6000 centrifuges with a computer bug. That attack was as powerful than a conventional attack from the air, forensically it was untraceable except for the Wikileaks. So no one can really point a finger and say it was you with any evidence. But it’s a Pandora’s box similar to what submarines did to naval warfare. No we have to spend treasure defending cyber attacks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuxnet

                  There’s so much work that needs to be done note just in the defence space but right across government services and it’s mind boggling the government is trying to cut spending

              • alwyn …
                18 November 2016 at 12:25 pm

                I think you will find your estimates regarding GDP are very out of date.
                The current New Zealand GDP is about $250 billion and therefore 1% would be around $2.5 billion/year. It is a long, long time since we were on $140 billion

            • Puckish Rogue 1.3.1.1.1.2
              18 November 2016 at 11:34 am

              I appreciate your comments and while I disagree with most of what you say I’m interested in what you say, as someone who workisn in logistics could you elaborate on this statement please:

              “The type of weapons NZ defense are buying are old school and not going to work.”

            • McFlock 1.3.1.1.1.3
              18 November 2016 at 12:59 pm

              Well, I reckon I disagree with almost your entire comment, which is a new one for you 🙂

              Firstly, climate change will make our land pretty desireable. Yes we sell it easily, but then that transitions into sending “advisors” to protect property rights, and maybe have a staging base for antarctic access. Then there’s some point where we draw a line in the sand, and have to make it more expensive to take us than to negotiate.

              Dunno about the old-school weapons, so won’t comment on that.

              As for why we got te Tiriti, it was mostly because of the French. Both in immediate geopolitical terms, and Rousseau. British racism called for negotiation with Maori, rather than just declaring the land empty like Australia (a lot of it has to do with land use and permanent structures). But that doesn’t mean they had to keep with the ToW, as the subsequent wars demonstrated (and the British won).

              “Traditional” war is just getting started, imo. For every assymetric or nuclear encounter, there’ll be some measure of conventional engagement – e.g. Somalia, Darfur, Syria, Ukraine, Colombia…

              • Clump_AKA Sam …
                18 November 2016 at 2:40 pm

                Threats to New Zealands standards of living come from the sea, because 100% of trade is transmitted via sea, goods & services, money, communications, the best we can hope to cover these vital links is 6 months a year, 3 months if anything goes under maintenance.

                The Future Air Surveillance Capability, Future Air Mobility Capability, and Future Surface Combatant projects are the next big ticket items. We’re dropping those inshore patrol vessels and picking up one larger patrol vessel. I’m not sure how you would do all this differently, because production lines open and close, and once closed we’d have to spend 60 billion because New Zealand dosnt have the economy to produce these big ticket items.

  2. save nz 2
    18 November 2016 at 7:00 am

    Ending poverty could be this simple…

    “We tend to think that simply giving people money makes them lazy. Yet a wealth of scientific research proves the contrary: free money helps. It is time for a radical reform of the welfare state.
    Why we should give free money to everyone”

    https://thecorrespondent.com/541/why-we-should-give-free-money-to-everyone/31639050894-e44e2c00

  3. Cinny 3
    18 November 2016 at 7:32 am

    I wonder how much time and money Hekia has wasted with her flip flop decisions? How much money she was wasted that could have gone into helping the education system?
    It’s pretty basic really, consult the teachers then come up with the ideas, not the other way around.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11750271

    • dv 3.1
      18 November 2016 at 7:52 am

      Parata said the current funding system was “riddled with complexities”.

      AND yet she proposes

      A funding model

      using about 19 indicators relating to each child, including how old the mother was at their birth, how many siblings the child has, parental income, father’s offending history, and the child’s ethnicity.

      • Giving extra money to small and isolated schools to ensure they survive as rolls drop.

      • Changing how private schools are funded by giving them a per-child subsidy, a move that would likely provide more public money.

      • Only paying schools maintenance money if they prove they have carried out basic jobs such as clearing gutters and painting buildings. Parata said that came after some schools hadn’t used maintenance money appropriately.

      • The ministry is working with energy providers to get usage data. Schools which cut heating bills would retain a portion of the savings to encourage energy efficiency.

      That certainly sounds really simple!!!!!

      • Cinny 3.1.1
        18 November 2016 at 12:31 pm

        Her ‘funding model’ is super messed up DV. Am fully looking forward to her departure, hopefully before she does any more damage with her impractical ideas.

        I wonder which schools ‘hadn’t used maintenance money appropriately’ and why.

        Lolz ministry working with energy providers to get usage data. Dang schools should all be fitted with solar, and other alternative forms of energy. I wonder how many un-insulated classrooms there are? It’s a small investment to make for massive gains. Kids could do an alternative energy project to coincide with their schools alternative energy being installed. Heaven forbid any of the children come up with their own ideas for free energy and change the world as a result of it, wait, power companies won’t like that… oh what to do what to do.

        Some of the country schools here have fires in all the classrooms, working bee’s are done to collect wood, at times utilizing trees already on the school property. Forestry are helpful too. All of that so kids can get a good education because the ministry under funds schools and over inflates classrooms.

        Oldies in the region often knit and donate these little slipper socks to all the kids, keeping their toes warm in the winter while they learn. It’s the little things like that which make a huge difference, things the ministry would rather not fund. Warm healthy kids will learn more and our society will fully benefit from that knowledge in the future. Lunch should also be part of school funding, feed the kids and watch them thrive.

        Buggered if i know why the outgoing government under prioritises education, the stupid it hurts.

        There is so much talent from Hipkins, Delahunty, Hughes, Tracey Martin, Sepuloni, Ardern, Robertson. Am very excited about the positive changes coming to our country next year.

      • Siobhan 3.1.2
        18 November 2016 at 2:14 pm

        “Schools will not get a general increase to operations funding to cover inflation. Instead, schools will get $92 in extra funding for each student from a long-term, welfare-dependent background.”
        …I do not see how these two issues are connected.
        Surely the $92.00 extra funding would be used for (hold your hat on ‘cos it’s pretty life changing stuff!!), four hours of teacher aid, or two school text books, or an extra ball for the PE class..things to engage/help the under achiever.

        How does that cover inflation?? Is this in fact a cut???

        • Cinny 3.1.2.1
          18 November 2016 at 4:11 pm

          Sounds like a cut to me, inflation should always be covered.

          So Hekia believes that a child from a long-term welfare dependent background needs extra funding? That disturbs me, pigeon holing a child from the get go. Jeepers said welfare child could be a high achiever with fantastic mental health, where as maybe the child from a wealthy background is autistic or has other troubles.

          If all schools had enough funding they wouldn’t have to pigeon hole kids, making those kids feel like they have been given the ‘poor’ label, way to go for improving their self esteem. Not.

    • Muttonbird 3.2
      18 November 2016 at 9:42 am

      Another victory for workers and defeat for the government. It can be done.

      • Cinny 3.2.1
        18 November 2016 at 12:09 pm

        Yes, yes Muttonbird 🙂
        Unions are a crucial factor in making sure voices are heard. The teachers union is outstanding in this instance, love the teachers and their supporters, teachers are so very very important to society.

  4. Muttonbird 4
    18 November 2016 at 7:44 am

    Stats NZ finally moves on something resembling a measure of real peoples living costs, revealing what has always been know but smugly denied by poverty deniers – rising inequality.

    The HLPIs paint a picture of widening inequality over the past eight years.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11744496

    Expect Stats NZ to be punished for this this betrayal.

  5. Wairua 5
    18 November 2016 at 7:55 am

    Wellington has already suffered more damage in the last 24 hours than the Japanese achieved with submarine-launched overflights during World War Two.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokosuka_E14Y
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_submarine_I-25
    https://en.wikipedia.org/…/Axis_naval_activity_in_Australian_waters

  6. ScottGN 6
    18 November 2016 at 8:07 am

    So Todd Barclay our pretty lacklustre backbench govt MP has launched an online petition to get NZTA to double lane less than 500 metres of roadway in Queenstown to solve a congestion problem at Terrace Junction roundabout that’s already being addressed with the construction of the SH6 bypass around the airport.
    Welcome to election year!

  7. The Chairman 7
    18 November 2016 at 8:52 am

    There’s no excuse not to be prepared for more big quakes

    There is still a 95 per cent chance of up to seven quakes of between magnitude 6 and 6.9.

    There is a 30 per cent chance of another quake of between magnitude 7.0 to 7.8, centred somewhere between Christchurch in the south and the Kapiti Coast and Wairarapa in the north.

    An even more worrying scenario, which fortunately has less than a 1 per cent chance of happening, is the small possibility of a quake of greater than magnitude 8 occurring somewhere on the Pacific-Australia plate boundary.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/science/86581271/comment-theres-no-excuse-not-to-be-prepared-for-more-big-quakes

  9. Kevin 9
    18 November 2016 at 9:54 am

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/86441740/civil-defence-overhaul-inevitable-after-tsunami-warning-confusion-govt

    After the shambles over warning sirens in Napier on the night of the earthquake, I think this is necessary and, for once, pleased that Jerry Brownlee has got straight on to it.

    There needs to be a national standard that all local authorities must comply with.

    My two cents worth:

    1. GEONET must be a 24/7 operation. NZ is one of the most seismically active areas in the world and it seems crazy that you have to get people out of bed to review information before issuing a tsunami warning.

    2. Coastal areas should have evacuation plans that the population know about. For example in Napier, depending on what suburb you live in, there should be a preferred evacuation route to higher ground. This should be co-ordinated with CD staff and police at crucial intersections.

    3. Text message early warning, like Japan has. This was credited with the relatively low loss of life in the Tohoku tsunami in 2011. Their system also automatically puts warnings up on TV and I think radio.

    4. Work out exactly what the role of the bloody sirens is!! The confusion over this could have lead to a large loss of life if the tsunami event was a major one like we have seen in Japan and Indonesia.

  10. Cinny 10
    18 November 2016 at 10:36 am

    MEDIA.. come on do your job, some investigative reporting, we both know there is so much more to this story than was initially told, mhmm scandal, scandal, scandal.

    Please media this requires so much more investigating, or have any staff members involved departed offshore to avoid media questions… if so why?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/297819/bill-english-unfazed-by-staff-resignations

  11. The Chairman 11
    18 November 2016 at 11:40 am

    Wellington City Council are extremely lucky not to have blood on their hands.

    After recent news reports, it’s clear Wellington City Council welcomed citizens back into the city far too early.

    Buildings have not been fully checked, with new damage being discovered daily.

    There have even been reports that buildings which were initially cleared were now assessed to be at risk.

    NZTA reported on Wednesday their assessment has confirmed that all structures along the Wellington motorway have retained their structural integrity. Yet, citizens were welcomed back into the city on Tuesday.

    Were the roads fully checked and cleared before citizens were welcomed back into the city?

    Additionally, along with ongoing shakes, Wellington was warned of a oncoming storm (which went on to cause havoc) yet citizens were still welcomed back into the city.

    To date, people have been residing in, working in and traveling pass buildings that are now considered at great risk.

    We are so lucky no one has been harmed.

    Wellington City Council, you need to up your bloody game!

    • The Chairman 11.1
      18 November 2016 at 2:41 pm

      I see the Government distance themselves from it, saying Wellington’s state of civil emergency was a local one, “completely in the hands of the local area, and run out of the city council”.

      Meanwhile, Wellington Mayor Justin Lester has defended the steps his council has taken.

  12. Red Hand 12
    18 November 2016 at 11:57 am

    Recently released NZ Government Defence Capability Plan.

    http://www.defence.govt.nz/assets/capability/2016-Defence-Capability-Plan.pdf

    Perhaps add an enhanced NZ Civil Defence capability to this – say a unit of personnel transport helicopters on permanent standby ?

    • Puckish Rogue 12.1
      18 November 2016 at 12:38 pm

      Probably quite expensive to set up to run but maybe:

      Expand the air force to other parts of the country specifically helicopter sqns possibly running in conjunction with established air fields

      Contract civilian helicopter services to provide this service in remote areas or in some cases formalise what’s already happening

      I’m sure others with greater experience in this area could come up with something better then I could

      • Clump_AKA Sam 12.1.1
        18 November 2016 at 2:16 pm

        Submissions were made on this white paper by professionals that expanded on what you two are talking about in detail. Obviously the will to spend treasure simply isn’t there.

        This DWP is a real kick in the teeth to all those who thought this government was serious about maintaining defence spending at 2%GDP

        • Puckish Rogue 12.1.1.1
          18 November 2016 at 2:54 pm

          We should be at 2% of GDP that’s for sure but I’d like to see a smarter use of it, the new weapons systems for the army is a good start though

          • Sacha 12.1.1.1.1
            18 November 2016 at 6:23 pm

            Why should NZ spend a 50th of our public funds on a relatively insignificant and ineffective military?

            Emergency response, sure. We could be that for the whole Pacific.

            Rather spend on developing climate response innovation, though we’re behind rather than in front on that now.

            • Clump_AKA Sam 12.1.1.1.1.1
              18 November 2016 at 6:48 pm

              Because the defence force is the only organisation allowed to use technology not available to civilian organisations such as night vision/some electro optics/petabyte hardrives/military spec aircraft are also built to different specs, not available to civi’s. Government organisations also have statutory Aurthority to commondare land for disaster relief.

              Government requires NZDF to have a power to weight ratio above what is publicly available to tuck away a bit of performance for times when performance drops. So there isn’t a profitable model for search and rescue unless you want people to pay a door fee every time they step on an NH90. Further NZDF is the only organisation responsible for humanitarian and disaster relief missions in war zones, including on oceans.

              Even if you were to disband NZDF in favour of civilian organisations the initial costs would be huge but the annual costs will remain the same at best, because civilian organisations will use less powerful technology.

  13. adam 13
    18 November 2016 at 12:37 pm

    Fun map. The worlds countries if they were done on population.

    I had a bit of a hard time trying to find New Zealand.

    http://mentalfloss.com/sites/default/files/Untitled-12.jpg

  14. Rosemary McDonald 14
    18 November 2016 at 12:47 pm

    Update of the Havelock North Screaming Shits outbreak.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11750674

    “Charges have been laid by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council against a party for alleged offences uncovered in the course of its investigation into the contamination of Havelock North drinking water.

    The council could not legally name the party until they had appeared in court, and had the opportunity to seek name suppression.

    The council had undertaken an extensive investigation into the source of the contamination and the condition of water supply bores in the area in accordance with its statutory responsibilities under the Resource Management Act.

    During this investigation the council found evidence of a breach of the maintenance conditions of the party’s resource consent.”

    AND…from the same part of the rohe…good news…

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11750184

    “A piece of coastal paradise will remain forever in public hands after a 2ha section of beachfront land was bought by the Napier and Hastings city councils and the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.

    The councils each contributed $300,000 to the purchase of the Waipatiki Beach Holiday Park, buying the land, buildings and business, with the ownership sitting with the regional council.

    A lease of the camping business will ensure it continues as a favourite camping spot and pays for its own costs and a clause means the land can never be sold into private hands.

    “Unless councils or other organisations across New Zealand put their hands up, there will come a time when very special pieces of land like this will be out of the public’s reach”.

    He said the Perrys could not be thanked enough for agreeing to participate in a public purchase process to ensure the land remained available to residents and visitors. It had taken more than five years for the process to get to this point.”

    🙂 🙂

    • Bill 14.1
      18 November 2016 at 1:24 pm

      The council could not legally name the party until they had appeared in court, and had the opportunity to seek name suppression.

      Really? I mean, if name suppression was the norm and the courts had to be asked to allow a name or whatever to go into the public domain, then that’d make sense (though be wholly unacceptable).

      But since it’s the norm for names or whatever to be in the public domain and for requests to be made to prevent that or stop that…

      • Rosemary McDonald 14.1.1
        18 November 2016 at 3:28 pm

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/86609714/charges-laid-over-havelock-north-gastro-outbreak

        ‘Hawke’s Bay Regional Council has laid charges against Hastings District Council for alleged offences uncovered in the course of its investigation into the contamination of Havelock North drinking water.

        The charges were laid after the regional council investigated the source of the contamination that resulted in more than 5000 people getting sick, and the condition of water supply bores in the area.

        The regional council said that ​during its investigations it found evidence of a breach of the maintenance conditions of the district council’s resource consent.

        If a breach was proved, the resource consent no longer permitted the taking of water. The regional council commenced the prosecution, alleging the unlawful taking of water from the aquifer arising from the alleged failure to meet well head maintenance conditions.”

        Lawrence Yule, Mayor of the Hastings District ,is not happy at being charged before the inquiry has even started.

    • Kevin 14.2
      18 November 2016 at 4:22 pm

      No wonder HDC were not keen on any outside help.

      I would think there has a been a shit load of arse-covering going on since the outbreak.

  15. adam 15
    18 November 2016 at 1:45 pm

    Now this is interesting. Around 70% of those polled want a independent fisheries management inquiry.

    https://horizonpoll.co.nz/page/446/70-want-fisheries-management-inquiry?gtid=8129406814307PWQ

  16. Stunned Mullet 16
    18 November 2016 at 4:37 pm

    Looks like David Farrar will be taking a break from blogging and the politcal polling dark arts for a while.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BF2-e1479424945209.jpg

    • b waghorn 17.1
      19 November 2016 at 5:46 am

      yes that put a downer on my friday, enjoy life and hope for the best is all that’s left for us minions.

  18. weka 18
    18 November 2016 at 11:58 pm

    [In order to keep Open Mike and Daily Review free for other conversations, please put all discussion, comments, link postings etc about the US election under one of the posts about the Election – weka]

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    5 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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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 ...
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    5 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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    5 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
    6 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 ...
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    6 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
    6 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
    1 week 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 ...
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    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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