Open mike 20/05/2021

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 20th, 2021 - 52 comments
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52 comments on “Open mike 20/05/2021 ”

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  1. Jester 1
    20 May 2021 at 6:39 am

    It's budget day. Should be interesting though Grant cant please everyone.

    • Sabine 1.1
      20 May 2021 at 8:51 am

      He only has one person to please, himself. The rest will have to do with what ever they get.

      I doubt that dear Grant gives a dime about pleasing 'us' the people.

    • millsy 1.2
      20 May 2021 at 9:18 am

      Apparently benefits are on the way up. Not too sure by how much though.

      I guess we will see.

      • Sabine 1.2.1
        20 May 2021 at 10:47 am

        57 NZD over the next three years for those on the Unemployment Benefit.

        https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/05/carmel-sepuloni-promises-massive-boost-to-jobseeker-benefit-but-won-t-say-when.html

        Carmel Sepuloni told Newshub Nation on Saturday morning she was "confident" the Government would reach the $315 target set by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group for a single person on the Jobseeker benefit.

        But she wouldn't be drawn on how soon the hike would come.

        "We will be addressing income adequacy this term, but I'm not going to rule in or out what will be in the Budget… I cannot talk about what might be in or out of the Budget before the 20th of May. We'll just have to wait until then."

        btw, that ‘target’ was an increase demanded by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group set in 2019 and as a full immediate increase.
        So they are already two years behind, and per this announcement think it will take three years to roll out. But i guess it passes at doing something at some stage.

        and last, if this increase is on the main benefit, pretty much any other fringe benefit will go down and some people will probably be worse off. Details, Details.

        • Bob 1.2.1.1
          20 May 2021 at 4:53 pm

          Gee, reading your posts , it seems your not a very grateful person?

          R u comfortable where u are in life?

          [your approved user name is Bob, so please use this if you want your comments to go through]

          • Sabine 1.2.1.1.1
            20 May 2021 at 5:16 pm

            I don't have to be grateful. I am not on a benefit. 🙂

            and as i said, better late then never

    • I Feel Love 2.1
      20 May 2021 at 8:35 am

      Haere ra Mike!

    • Anker 2.2
      20 May 2021 at 9:12 am

      Mikes leaving for Oz. What did Muldoon say about raising the IQ of both nations.

      if mike does leave it will one of Labours greatest achievements.

    • millsy 2.3
      20 May 2021 at 9:55 am

      They will love him over there. He might even get his own show in Sky News Australia

      • AB 2.3.1
        20 May 2021 at 10:15 am

        His right-wing narcissist precursor Paul Henry didn't do so well over there I recall. Aussies' superior mental toughness means they have no time for vain puffballs with an unconcealed agenda.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 2.3.2
        20 May 2021 at 10:23 am

        Posturing…probably his contract negotiations are coming up and as a 53 yr old trying to pretend hes 33 doesnt have a lot bargaining chips left
        And they have a new hire for the Wellington ZB breakfast show and christchurch cant be far behind

        • Jimmy 2.3.2.1
          20 May 2021 at 11:24 am

          I wouldn't say he "doesn't have a lot of bargaining chips left?".

          If the statistics are correct, love him or hate him, I think he has the highest rating breakfast show in NZ.

          • McFlock 2.3.2.1.1
            20 May 2021 at 3:18 pm

            Highest rating commercial breakfast radio show. Whether most listeners tune in for him, would be happy with some other generic dickhead, or are primarily interested in the actual news is also an interesting question.

            Paul Henry found that one out the hard way.

  3. Adrian Thornton 3
    20 May 2021 at 8:20 am

    Here is a voice rarely heard in western media…an Hamas official from the legally elected representatives of the Palestinian people the Hamas party…. Dr. Basem Naim who heads of the Council on International Relations in Gaza for Hamas, and former head of Gaza's Health Ministry.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7xW1Yp7PRE

    • Jenny how to get there 3.1
      20 May 2021 at 9:18 am

      @ 15:04 minutes

      We willl say it again, the United States is a direct participant in the crimes against our people.

      Why?

      We are asking ourselves, why?

      What is the fault, what is the sin we have done?

      That the Americans are supporting the crimes against our people.

      The Americans are dealing with Israel, as a state above the law.

      Is this the way to peace and justice?

      This is the law of the jungle.

      We are not attacking anyone. We are seeking freedom and dignity and independance.

      We are a people under occupation, and we have the right to defend ourselves……

      @ 23:15 minutes

      …….Look today the international community, the whole countries of the world are calling for a Security Council session, or meeting to call for a ceasefire.
      I am sure that the Security Council will not come and support Hamas, or support the resistance. They will call for both parties to stop the escalation, and firing, and so on, and on.

      What was the response of the Americans?

      They have blocked the meeting four times…..

      • Adrian Thornton 3.1.1
        20 May 2021 at 9:39 am

        No wait you forget, Biden/Harris are the lesser of two evils…oh that's right I forgot, that is a position we can only take from our safe living rooms, because USA is not an active terrorist in their relationship with our country as they are with so many countries all round this world of ours..including of course the terrorized Palestinian people…….and then just two days ago, this big fuck you with the middle finger well and truly waving in the worlds face to peace in the Middle East by way of the lesser of two evils Democratic Party this outrage…..

        Biden administration approved $735 million arms sale to Israel

        https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/biden-administration-approved-735-million-arms-sale-israel-sources-2021-05-17/

        ….and most of the worlds western governments/media have the fucking gall to target Hamas as a terrorist organization!!!

        • Ad 3.1.1.1
          20 May 2021 at 9:54 am

          Yup agree selling precision guided munitions to Israel at this time is about as tone deaf as it gets.

        • greywarshark 3.1.1.2
          20 May 2021 at 10:17 am

          In this great contest between caring about people and caring about profit the winner is…..PROFIT (of all sorts not just money, power etc.) It just makes sense – money and profit are the measures that chop clean-edged through all other agitations to a clear decision. /sarc

    • Jenny how to get there 3.2
      20 May 2021 at 10:34 am

      @ 16:50 minutes.

      ……By the way.

      At the time that Israel was recognised as a member of the United Nations in 1949, this was conditional on two things.

      Israel is a full member of the Unitied Nations, if two conditions are fulfilled; The independence of a Palestinian state, and the right of return for all Palestinian refugees.

      As long as these two conditions are not fulfilled, Israel must not be a member of the United Nations, of the international community.

      It is strange that this is only on paper.

      Therefore in the 21st Century, we can not accept having an occupation for more than 70 years backed up by the United States.

      I have heard Hamas officials say this many times.

      I recall one Hamas official saying, "We don't care what you call the country, Israel or Palestine, or whatever. We just want equal rights, including the right of return for all those Palestinians expelled by Israel in 1948 and since.
      And we will never give up this demand.

      Because of this principled stand by Hamas, Israeli officials have accused Hamas of wanting the destruction of Israel as a Jewish state and so therefore a terrorist organisation.

      From that blinkered point of view, Hamas demand for the right of return, (A right by the way enjoyed by any person of the Jewish faith), would of course mean the end of the state of Israel as an ethno-religious apartheid state with separate laws that discrimate on race and religion.

      (Under pressure from Israel and the US, the P.A., Palestinian Authority, which rules in the West Bank has officially dropped the demand for the right of return.
      As reward for turning their backs on the millions of Palestinian refugees, the PA which is the inheritor of the PLO, was taken off the US terrorist list, and given limited autonomy in the West Bank, in part collaboration with the Isreli occupier)

      It might also might be worth mentioning here that Hamas as well as being the democatically elected government of Gaza, also carried the democratic vote in the Westbank, but the result was overturned by the PA

      When Biden says he is having discussions with both sides. He means Israel and the PA.

      Hama as a designated ‘terrorist organisation’ is not included.
      This bad faith bargaining is no recipe for de-escalation.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election

  4. Sacha 4
    20 May 2021 at 8:22 am

    Love to know who convinced Cabinet against expert advice to vaccinate the highest-risk ethnic groups younger. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-coronavirus-govt-rejected-expert-advice-to-vaccinate-160000-maori-and-pasifika-earlier/56FWQAES2P5W4LNN2X66FPCXMU/

    "The higher proportion of cases among Māori and Pacific peoples linked to the August 2020 cluster demonstrates the significant risk of infection and transmission in these communities," said a paper which Cabinet considered on March 1

    "The rate of infection during the second wave was six people per 100,000 for Māori (47 cases) and 32.3 people per 100,000 for Pacific peoples (104 cases), compared to rates of 1.3 for European/other and 2.2 for Asian per 100,000.

    "Officials recommend that in the roll-out of Tier 3 to older people, a risk-adjusted age
    factor of 15 years (younger) is to be explicitly applied to Māori and Pacific peoples."

    • Sabine 4.1
      20 May 2021 at 8:53 am

      I guess we only have so many doses in t he country currently and its Triage time.

  5. Bearded Git 5
    20 May 2021 at 11:05 am

    Did anyone else hear the lady who commutes regularly on the new Hamilton-Auckland train being interviewed on Jesse Mulligan's show (RNZ) just before 2pm yesterday?

    She loved the service and said it was much more relaxing than driving. She also said it was running at 80% plus capacity. Ye of little faith in these columns.

    Given this success the next move is obviously more Hamilton-Auckland train services and a better/faster section into central Auckland.

    (apologies if somebody posted similar yesterday)

    • greywarshark 5.1
      20 May 2021 at 11:12 am

      Good to hear. A lot of people can't cope with anything that doesn't solve 95% of problems in one application. Perhaps delivered by cleanser Handy Andy, et al (I don't have a particular al in mind).

    • Sabine 5.2
      20 May 2021 at 11:28 am

      I guess you are talki ng about this one? Frances Cook?

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018796114/te-huia-train-service-on-track

      One of those using the train is NZ Herald journalist and podcaster Frances Cook, who lives in Hamilton

      Any train is better then a car. That does not mean people can't voice their objections or fears considering how public transport is treated in NZ.

      And considering that public transport is often set up to fail or to be run on a minimum, i think it is ok for people to be apprehensive of this in the long term to be again to little too late and not enough after that.

      So lets see next year.

      and there is reason to be 'apprehensive' :

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/441720/doubt-raised-about-sustainable-house-scheme-in-waikato

      Meanwhile, WDC was concerned continued spending on passenger trains by the WRC would increase the rates of rural residents.

      The district council voiced its concerns about the potential for "rates creep" in submissions on the regional council's long-term plan, now open for public feedback.

      In a decision on Tuesday the WDC cautioned the WRC about extending the service to include additional inter-peak services on Wednesdays and extend the service from Papakura into Auckland.

      The council said the uptake of the existing Te Huia service was unknown and the district council was concerned about potential rates creep into rural district councils to support service between two metro centres.

      The Te Huia passenger service between Hamilton and Auckland is supported by $12.8m of money from local authorities, plus $85.8m from the government.

      The cost over the first three years of the proposed plan would fall on Hamilton ratepayers.

      The estimates are $400,000 for the 2021/22 year, $100,000 for the 2022/23 year, and $3.005 million in year 2023/24.

      Hamilton city rates increases to pay for it are said to be 53 cents per $100,000 of each ratepayer's property's capital value in year 2021/22, 13 cents per $100,000 of capital value in year 2022/23 and $1.61 per $100,000 of capital value in year 2023/24.

      • Bearded Git 5.2.1
        20 May 2021 at 11:54 am

        Yes that is the one Sabine-thanks.

        I don't think this service has been set up to fail-it is an excellent first step; may there be many more.

        • Sabine 5.2.1.1
          20 May 2021 at 11:56 am

          I hope that you are correct. I would love trains to go everywhere. I love them. But i can see rates not being a good way to finance – even part finance – a public utility.

          And i can see rates increases for that to be a point of contention in the future.

  6. greywarshark 6
    20 May 2021 at 11:08 am

    When you get tired of political double-speak here is someone who goes on and on about things we might like to know, unlike pollies.

    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnR5k8Kdxls

    This is Who are the hoi polloi which is announced with – Google makes us all seem clever. As he rambles on with general facts and informed comment on them, it is very restful even quite funny. It is good for a mind break, and a switch from listening to people who are always trying to impress us with, they know best, while we try to get our poor minds to understand the latest panacea.

  7. greywarshark 7
    20 May 2021 at 12:02 pm

    Gordon Campbell on Scoop has a piece on the times of the future Governor-General and how that will encompass the change to the UK throne from Queen Elizabeth to the reign of her deeply uncharismatic son.

    I don't think he is at all. Naturally different because of his age. He seems a pleasant man who has an interest in organics and managing his estate well. And has a settled life with his wife after big trauma. Gordon says he is 'deeply' uncharismatic. Could it be that Gordon is still in allegiance to the past beautiful woman?

  8. gsays 8
    20 May 2021 at 12:32 pm

    In a rare moment of weakness, I watched the 6pm news.

    There was an item about the sanctions beneficiaries face if they do not turn up at court. It featured footage of Ardern getting stuck in to Bennett about the injustice.

    Best part of 1 and a half terms later no change in this punitive stance. Sepuloni had a sound bite along the lines of when in power, there are lots of things to do…

    • weka 8.1
      20 May 2021 at 12:36 pm

      it's so hard to understand this from Labour.

      • alwyn 8.1.1
        20 May 2021 at 12:59 pm

        The only thing I find difficult to understand is that so many on the left seem to be surprised. Did they really expect anything different?

      • Poission 8.1.2
        20 May 2021 at 1:03 pm

        My assumption would be it would be unlawful to provide funds,that would enable a miscreant with a warrant for arrest(for not attending court) to evade capture.

        • gsays 8.1.2.1
          20 May 2021 at 1:47 pm

          Far better for some miscreant to have a few extra crumbs than a provider go without because of sone legitimate reason for not attending.

          The point was well made that it is children that beat the brunt of this heartless, indiscriminate policy.

      • gsays 8.1.3
        20 May 2021 at 1:50 pm

        Especially after seeing the footage of an impassioned Ardern 'giving' it to Bennett in the (largely empty) House.

      • Sabine 8.1.4
        20 May 2021 at 2:25 pm

        Why? Honestly Weka?

      • Louis 8.1.5
        20 May 2021 at 4:15 pm

        Hopefully its removal is part of this work "Continuing to remove ineffective sanctions that negatively impact individuals and families. We have already started this by removing the harmful section 192 sanction which punished women for not naming the other parent of their child, and we will remove the subsequent child policy in 2021 to ensure parents are not penalised for having an additional child while on a benefit"

        https://drive.google.com/file/d/13uhcVrn8HUXEoWoPQgkJYjHX_d_Za-O0/view

    • greywarshark 8.2
      20 May 2021 at 12:42 pm

      Oh blah. Have to run it past roly-poly genial Robertson first I suppose.

      And this failure – to adjust tax rates. People tend to forget most of us pay 15% on most things we trade in or services, as well as income tax, (also beneficiaries pay some income tax on their benefits). I note that the IRD is calling the winter heating payments, a wage or some word, that sounds as if they want to tax it though the official gummint has said it's not taxable.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/2018795948/shaking-up-the-tax-system-in-this-year-s-budget
      Average income earners are paying more tax than 12 years ago because thresholds have not been adjusted, a tax specialist says.

      Terry Baucher has just written a piece for The Spinoff arguing that our tax system is "broken".
      The tax thresholds were last set in October 2008, Baucher told Jesse Mulligan.

      Good on Terry if he has written a full informative piece. I haven't time to read it – have forms to fill out for some services with personal information that could end up on the web through some hacker. The web is soooo efficient, we mere mortals in authority can't be bothered to even speak to us and we don't speak to our friends, too busy looking at our hand-held portals to the world.

  9. Sabine 9
    20 May 2021 at 3:32 pm

    oh boy.

    when technology so runs your world that you can't even pay your staff without it.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125190923/waikato-dhb-staff-members-go-unpaid-as-cyber-attack-woes-continue

    ome health workers have been left unpaid by a cyber-attack that has crippled Waikato District Health Board’s computer systems.

    And they’ve been told they won’t be paid for another two weeks.

    The cyber attack has been plaguing the DHB since Tuesday morning, when it blocked all information technology (IT) services except email in Waikato, Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kūiti and Taumarunui hospitals.

    The incident has now created a massive payroll issue, with some staff members only receiving part of their pay, while others didn’t get paid at all.

    Another person who works for the Waikato DHB confirmed the pay issues, and said it sounded like everyone had been affected.

    Waikato DHB was approached for comment on Thursday morning and was yet to respond.

  10. McFlock 10
    20 May 2021 at 3:40 pm

    OK, gonna spoil a joke for all the freeze peach advocates here who reckon there's no right to protection from being offended by speech.

    The racist who was filmed being racist in a store during the Christmas break? Cops cranked the wheel of justice slowly, but she's made a court appearance.

    […] charged with using insulting words while being reckless about whether any person was alarmed or insulted by those words.

    (my emphasis).

    Section 4 of the summary Offenses Act was last amended in 1998, to adjust the value of the fine. Another subsecton includes the word "offence".

    Looks like causing offence and insulting people in public has been illegal for decades, with no inexorable slide into woke dictatorship.

  11. Ad 11
    20 May 2021 at 4:25 pm

    Great to see that anti-worker a-hole CEO Gibson resigning from Ports of Auckland.

    • Gabby 11.1
      20 May 2021 at 6:06 pm

      No idea why Michael Barnett is so butthurt, unless it's just reflexive class loyalty.

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    The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    2 days ago

  • Thank you
    This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Determining the Engine Type in Your Car
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Become a Race Car Driver: A Comprehensive Guide
    Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Many Cars Are There in the World in 2023? An Exploration of Global Automotive Statistics
    Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take for Car Inspection?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Who Makes Mazda Cars?
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    3 days ago

  • How Often to Replace Your Car Battery A Comprehensive Guide
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    3 days ago

  • Can You Register a Car Without a License?
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    3 days ago

  • Mazda: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Reliability, Value, and Performance
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    3 days ago

  • What Are Struts on a Car?
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    3 days ago

  • What Does Car Registration Look Like: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Share Computer Audio on Zoom
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    3 days ago

  • How Long Does It Take to Build a Computer?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Put Your Computer to Sleep
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • What is Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT)?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • iPad vs. Tablet Computers A Comprehensive Guide to Differences
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How Are Computers Made?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Add Voice Memos from iPhone to Computer
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Why My Laptop Screen Has Lines on It: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Right-Click on a Laptop
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Where is the Power Button on an ASUS Laptop?
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Start a Dell Laptop: A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Serious populist discontent is bubbling up in New Zealand
    Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • How to Take a Screenshot on an Asus Laptop A Comprehensive Guide with Detailed Instructions and Illu...
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • How to Factory Reset Gateway Laptop A Comprehensive Guide
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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 days ago

  • The Folly Of Impermanence.
    “You talking about me?”  The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • A crisis of ambition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Have 308 people in the Education Ministry’s Curriculum Development Team spent over $100m on a 60-p...
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • 'This bill is dangerous for the environment and our democracy'
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • The Bank of our Tamariki and Mokopuna.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • The worth of it all
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    4 days ago

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    4 days ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
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    4 days ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
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    4 days ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
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    4 days ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
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  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
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  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
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  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
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  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
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    4 days ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
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  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
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  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
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    4 days ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
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    4 days ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
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    8 hours ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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