Open Mike 20/03/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, March 20th, 2017 - 50 comments
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50 comments on “Open Mike 20/03/2017 ”

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  1. esoteric pineapples 1
    20 March 2017 at 8:46 am

    I don’t suppose there are any protests planned for when John Key leaves Parliament. It would be great to give him a final hurray to let him know that a lot of people don’t like him. I don’t live in Wellington so couldn’t make it but it is a fine thought.

    I also don’t think he is just disliked by the general population. He has unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people by passing the blame, particularly in the Public Service. They, their families and friends must know the truth when someone further down the chain of command has been the scapegoat for the actions of Key and his ministers.

    • Pete 1.1
      20 March 2017 at 9:29 am

      He may have unjustly ruined the reputations and careers of a lot of people. He may deserve a noisy send-off. (or better still a ‘Bugger off!’) I personally think he was a lying, weasly opportunist.

      It’s a fact though that he was not disliked by the general population. Certainly not by any significant numbers.

      • aerobubble 1.1.1
        20 March 2017 at 10:03 am

        Media assisted Key. Take this weeks Nation and Q&a, both had annoying stupid greying balding hacks on, no doubt paid by the 1% to go on TV and say annoyingly stupid things. Franks says Greens caused Aucklands Housing crisis, you know the Green party that constucted the stupid city, Key, and the ACT MP Hide who became local govt minister. Then on Q&a former ACT leader, the more balding one, says that not only should foregn buyers have no cultural concerns when shifting to a new different culture, but once here should total act without any community spirit, doubling down on how mney makes rich people invinsible invisible even to us general oiks. This is how Key got such an easy ride, dumb and stupid are merged and put into the media spotlight, just right, that it does not show. As long as the talking heads dont shift the shadows, insure the obvious lies aren’t not asked or answered, then the distraction is complete. everyone gets paid. Hey think about the Chinese tourists, how can they feel about bringing their monkey year child up on NZ milk, to NZ and feeling at home swimming in a shitty river like back home.
        The dairy boom was a politicial Chinese need for milk and we all paid for it with farm debt, land misuse in conversions, overstocking and shiity rivers. No wonder NZ gets poorer, it grows and takes on all the risks and hands off the profits.

        • Wayne 1.1.1.1
          20 March 2017 at 10:45 am

          aerobubble,

          You do realise that Q & A usually has a political scientist, plus a commentator from the left and the right; same with the Nation. As publicly funded political programmes I guess they naively think balance is important.

          So it is no doubt really annoying for you to put with comment from the right as well as the left. Though Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation, certainly much less than National supporters think appropriate.

          At least it gives you something to complain about.

          • Tophat 1.1.1.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 11:58 am

            Are you suggesting political scientists are all balanced?

          • Pete 1.1.1.1.2
            20 March 2017 at 1:57 pm

            “Jamie Whyte is a true libertarian and does not really buy into regulation.”
            Must be a real bastard for him that there are traffic lights and speed limits restricting his freedom to choose.

          • aerobubble 1.1.1.1.3
            21 March 2017 at 2:19 pm

            The right by which you mean super individualists whose objective is to stymie the issue and keep systemic wealth unaccountable. Essentially false libertarians whose job is to hose down any issue. Any company that grows has growing pains, its essential those matrs are brought to the boardroom, inequality, low pay, high rents, por public transit, shitty rivers, etc are all met by these paid supposed libertarians with ad hom, distraction fed by mediator of some gen war. If the nats really thought these particular commentators are doing themselves any favors then sirely they deserve the now obvious joke. Trump, like them makes bald obvious untrue claims of greatness, how he’s great with the economyetc Facts are nAtional are woeful managers of the economy, who shorts their kids? Tax cuts coupled with taxing education, its decades of shoving future weath into the pile of present politicial expediancy.
            And its all now coming back to bite. The ultra stupid savants of ACT are hardly credible rightwing commentators, just lousy socialists for the few.

        • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2
          20 March 2017 at 5:22 pm

          Christ Wayne – you really are quite a naiive little wall flower aren’t you. And here’s me thinking you were the Brains of Britain with a wealth of experience.

          No accounting for a closed mind, rote ‘learnings’ and ideology though I ‘spose.

          Btw…..did you check out Matty boy this morning?. Someone’s obviously told him to try and be cool calm and collected. He ALMOST made it.
          He was almost convincing. He certainly had Nick Smith and major friend Bill pegged (as to their mediocre intelligence, disguised by polly and spin speak).
          It was probably Matty’s attempt at exercising a smidgeon of honesty (going forward).
          Congratulations Matty – you almost made it.

          But as for you Wayne – much as I tried to think otherwise, now I know you’re really just full of shit dressed up in the robes of academic rationalism and supposed experience.
          You’ll go far (going forward). A+ with honours

          • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2.1
            20 March 2017 at 5:35 pm

            And oh btw @ Wayne
            Did you hear Nick Smith on Q+A or The Nation (both fairly feeble efforts at holding our political ‘representatives’ to account in a democratic nation state) say
            “I did them the courtesy of meeting them in my office”.
            ??
            It seems to me that Nick the faux has lost all notion of what his job is, what a functioning rep dem is, and the idea that he is a servant. (As of course were you and ilk if you could just get past your priviledges and swilling at the trough)

            Historically, that’s the sort of arrogance that got the natives really really restless. Lucky we don’t really have a functioning mainstream media that picks up on those details – though as Dear Matty suggests – Nick Smith is managing to piss off people all on his own

            • Once was Tim now no longer 1.1.1.2.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 9:27 pm

              Ah well it’s been about 4 hours and fuk all response from ‘The Wayne’.
              My reason for not engaging in discussion in the past was more about the state of TS – whereas, it appears ‘The Wayne’s’ is more about a troll-like hit and run agenda in pursuit of his agenda and in the name of self preservation.

              @The Wayne, and @The Nick Smith …… we know you present yourselves as the gorgeous voices of reason (going forward), and as the intelligensia of the Neshnool Party along with that bitter old queen from the Eastern suburbs trying to define High and Might (there’d be one or two Snots Porridge old boys along with a few polly bois that still have ushooooos).
              (There are a few of them that set themselves apart from the feral leopard skins but who are publicly so-in-sync with the same publicly – for some – it hurts: IT REALLY HURTS)
              Why do you keep at it @ Wayne? (It’s a genuine question).
              Are you actually as thick as I suspect you might be and just riding on your past, or are you getting just an eeensie teeeensie little bit scared.
              I think Matty Dear the Hooter could actually be correct, and that you, along with Nuk Smuff could actually be just a little bit FUK

              • Once was Tim now no longer …
                20 March 2017 at 10:04 pm

                Let me clarify @ Wayne
                by which I mean you have the capacity for argument but not reason, ideology over issue, and a total lack of critical thought processes.
                Polly wanna Cracker?

                Wayne – you’re in ….compliant? ideologically comitted’ cultural? company. There’s a Hekia to ya roit, and a Crus to ya left. A part time feminist to ya roit, and a bitter old poof to ya left (even though he’d be too scared to move)
                . And both sides protesting a high ground in a compliant and main stream media (check out that AM Show fukwit trying his hardest to cling to yoof and relevance for a start -and no ….. not the “Dunk”
                A tuff on croim coward to ya roit, and probably half the fucking back bench asking where to point their tounges: should it be towards a Bling giving a thrill his wife yet never has – or ……. (And it’s a shame that so many are just a little bit ….. you know …. Nafe Goi).

                Jesus! I sure as shit hope you’re getting value for the CT dollar, but I suspect (as do others in your politically defined bracket) your time is up and you’ll have to start dealing with the ushooooze

  2. Graeme 2
    20 March 2017 at 10:10 am

    Careful Bill, the head of that pin could get awfully small very fast….

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english

    I don’t see what’s so hard about the ownership side, there’s no issues around petroleum and minerals, only contentious bit there is the price.

    • aerobubble 3.1
      20 March 2017 at 10:24 am

      Noted. Wealthy people change nothing, nothing to see types, its so good, its never been better… …oh and bring back beatings for kids. Yeah, they hven’t ben holding back Northland with thei ineffective neolib fantasy of leaving it to the market, no not them, that stress out families, working two jobs, never able to communicate values to their kids.

  5. Penny Bright 5
    20 March 2017 at 11:01 am

    New Zealand, in my considered opinion, is and has been riddled with endemic and entrenched corruption for decades.

    The ‘commercialise – corporatise -PRIVATISE Neo – liberal Rogernomics’ model, locally, nationally and internationally, promoted and enforced the contracting out of public services that used to be provided ‘in house’ by central and local government.

    The ‘Rogernomics RORT’ was based upon the unsubstantiated myth and mantra
    ‘PUBLIC IS BAD – PRIVATE IS GOOD’.

    That public service provision, under the genuine non-commercialised (not for profit) public service model was supposedly ‘inefficient’.

    ‘Inefficient’ in my view, was corporate-speak for ‘we haven’t yet got our filthy hands on it’.

    The NZ Business Round Table (made up of CEOs of NZ BIG business) who both vigorously promoted and directly benefited from the Rogernomics reforms which served their vested interests – focused on a form of ‘grand’ corruption which most New Zealanders have never even heard of.

    STATE CAPTURE – where vested interests get their way at the POLICY level, to get laws passed which serve their vested interests.

    Where do you look to find STATE CAPTURE in New Zealand?

    Look at the Regulatory Impact Statements that are produced before proposed law changes go to Cabinet.

    Look at those with whom the ‘policy analysts’ have consulted.

    That’s how this form of endemic ‘grand’ corruption has been carried out for decades in this corrupt, polluted tax haven, falsely and misleadingly marketed as ‘clean, green New Zealand’.

    What a total CROCK.

    The answer?

    In my considered opinion ?

    Open the books.

    Cut out the contractors.

    Return public services to ‘in house’ provision under the public service model.

    Penny Bright

    Proven ‘anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog’

  6. Ad 6
    20 March 2017 at 11:11 am

    Fletcher Building taking a massive hit, probably on just a couple of jobs: Sky City and Christchurch.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11821548

    Really bad case of overreach.

    Near-monopoly meets near-monopsony in a small coutnry; who’d’ve thought there’d be tears before bedtime?

  7. mauī 7
    20 March 2017 at 11:32 am

    Bruce has got a great idea, the natural world doesn’t like the west coast or people very much so the plan is to export the natural world to China. Genius!

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/03/water-from-mt-aspiring-in-the-south-island-set-to-be-shipped-overseas.html

    • greywarshark 7.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:51 pm

      This is a great boost for the West Coast, S.I. NZ The locals think it’s all right.
      Yeah, a good idea we’ve got plenty of it heh heh, says Fred Dagg, a local.
      I’ll become a supplier, wear one of those heavy waterproof coats and a hat with a rim and catch the flow in a container at the hem. The way it rains here I’ll be a millionaire in ten years. They are short of water in the world but we will always have plenty to spare. Great idea, need some business and new people to boost house prices here.

  8. greywarshark 8
    20 March 2017 at 12:15 pm

    Another organic farmer, 2% up 98% to go. Come on you farmers that care about the land and doing a good job, not just screwing every last drop out of your properties – Don’t Drop-Prop!
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90617108/heriot-farmer-encourages-others-to-go-organic

    Does anyone know the percentage into organics of all NZ farmers?

    • greywarshark 8.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:44 pm

      Great news. Today’s farmers have a new idea – they are putting in water troughs like NZ farms always used to have. However the energy being used as of now to move the water is not provided by solar, so they are really starting with an old model which would probably have been gravity-fed and adding old technology to it. Hey guys and girls there are things that have been discovered since then – solar, and of course there is the ancient method of windmills that have been updated. So much to learn, it’s a problem.

      Up-front capital costs included pipes, troughs and tanks, as well as fences and additional stock. Running costs were fuel or electricity, insurance, as well as additional fertiliser and extra supplementary feed.

      Manawatu AgFirst consultant Erica van Reenen​ said list “significant” benefits. “Such as increased subdivision, better grazing management, an increase in the number of stock run, and more sold prime rather than as store stock.
      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/90520128/water-troughs-bring-big-gains-for-hill-country-farmers

    • bwaghorn 8.2
      20 March 2017 at 1:04 pm

      It takes a very switched on farmer to farm the organic way , there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.

      • greywarshark 8.2.1
        20 March 2017 at 1:08 pm

        Thanks bwaghorn
        I have heard it is hard. I note that the farmer in the NZ Farmer article said you have to do it in stages.

        • weka 8.2.1.1
          20 March 2017 at 1:23 pm

          It’s not hard technically. Organics is just another set of skills and approaches (although I think you probably do need to have the philosophy clear in your own head too). I can’t see how it would be any harder than switching from sheep to industrial dairying for instance.

          The problem is that the huge infrastructure that exists to support farming doesn’t support organics very well. Banks, farm advisors, support organisations, govt research etc are still massively weighted towards industrial and conventional farming. Not to mention supply line issues. Farm debt is a big one too from what I understand. Banks are less likely to lend to operations they don’t understand and perceive as risky. Risk assessment being affected by all that other weighting.

          • bwaghorn 8.2.1.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 2:48 pm

            we’ve breed sheep and cattle for at least 50 years using all manner of potions to keep them safe ,they have no natural resistance , the most successful ones i’ve heard of have two blocks ,one organic one not so they can transfer the weaker stock that need help to the chemical farm

            • weka 8.2.1.1.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 2:55 pm

              Are you saying that parasite management is the stumbling block?

              People raised sheep and other stock for thousands of years before the invention of chemical farming 😉

              • bwaghorn …
                20 March 2017 at 4:17 pm

                yep that would be the biggy , some ram breeders are working on worm resistance , as drench resistance is becoming more of a problem we may be forced to go drench free at some point down the track, unless they come up with a new one.
                fly strike would be a hard one too, and with things getting warmer that is a problem that will only grow. on the bright side the new dips are a lot less toxic than the old ones

              • greywarshark …
                20 March 2017 at 10:55 pm

                Vaccines have been the saviour of us and animals though.

                I read in a series of novels set in the 18th century that there had been a bad cattle plague. It certainly was a doozy.
                Wikipedia:
                Cattle plagues recurred throughout history, often accompanying wars and military campaigns. They hit Europe especially hard in the 18th century, with three long panzootics which, although varying in intensity and duration from region to region, took place in the periods of 1709–1720, 1742–1760, and 1768–1786.[14]

                There was a major outbreak covering the whole of Britain in 1865/66. Later in history, an outbreak in the 1890s killed 80 to 90% of all cattle in southern Africa, as well as in the Horn of Africa. Sir Arnold Theiler was instrumental in developing a vaccine that curbed the epizootic. More recently, a rinderpest outbreak raged across much of Africa in 1982–1984, costing at least an estimated US$500 million in stock losses.

                But good news!
                On 14 October 2010, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that field activities in the decades-long, worldwide campaign to eradicate the disease were ending, paving the way for a formal declaration in June 2011 of the global eradication of rinderpest.[5]

                On 25 May 2011, the World Organisation for Animal Health announced the free status of the last eight countries not yet recognized (a total of 198 countries were now free of the disease), officially declaring the eradication of the disease.[6]

                In June 2011, the United Nations FAO confirmed the disease was eradicated, making rinderpest only the second disease in history to be fully wiped out, following smallpox.[7]

          • Rightly or Wrongly 8.2.1.1.2
            20 March 2017 at 3:49 pm

            In relation to Organic Dairy Farming the limited amount of supply was reduced further 2-3 years ago by incompetence (a particular manager) at a mid-management level in Fonterra when their dedicated group of organic suppliers around the Manawatu and Wanganui regions were told that their Organic premiums were going to cease and their organic milk would be pumped in with the regular milk supply.

            After a couple of years many of the suppliers forwent their Organic status as the low payout meant their farms lost much of their profitability.

            Role on a couple more years and the incompetent had been fired and then Fontera were begging for Organic supply again – not so easy to regain your organic status.

      • weka 8.2.2
        20 March 2017 at 1:24 pm

        “there have been some horror stories about animals suffering under people that have tried and failed.”

        Such as?

        • bwaghorn 8.2.2.1
          20 March 2017 at 2:49 pm

          only anicdata but sheep dying in numbers from worms and fly strike.

          • weka 8.2.2.1.1
            20 March 2017 at 2:50 pm

            How many farms? That sounds like someone who doesn’t know what they are doing rather than being about organics. What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?

            • bwaghorn 8.2.2.1.1.1
              20 March 2017 at 4:21 pm

              ”What kinds of farmer would let their animals get in that state?”
              a useless one and as there is no licence to farm there is no way of stopping his type,
              although a bad outbreak can catch out even the good cockies.

  9. Sabine 9
    20 March 2017 at 12:30 pm

    did anyone read this? what do they make of it?

    http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/

    “The reported incidence of Crohn’s disease in Canterbury, New Zealand has doubled over the past decade, crowning the region with the highest reported incidence globally. Scientists around the world believe environmental factors are contributing to this disconcerting rise. In this investigation, we present the research on a disease found primarily in dairy cattle called Johne’s disease, which has the same symptoms as Crohn’s disease and is recognised on over half of all dairy farms in New Zealand. If the MAP bacteria which causes the immune responses in dairy cattle is tested and found in our local drinking water supplies, our air and our dairy products, we could be facing a public health issue of massive proportions.

    Johne’s (“Yo-nees”) disease is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Johne’s disease is found primarily in agricultural ruminants such as cattle and sheep, and is an immune system response following MAP infection which leads to deteriorated bowels. This inability to process nutrients leads to the most obvious signs an animal may have contracted Johne’s such as weakening, weight loss and even death. Most animals are infected during the first months of their life, yet signs of the infection can take years to show.”

    • greywarshark 9.1
      20 March 2017 at 12:58 pm

      Sabine thanks for that heads up.
      That is really interesting. And it might be one of those illnesses that faecal implants are able to help. I’ve heard Crohn’s is horrible. A real kick in the guts.

      It sounds similar to leptospirosis, which is passed on from animals.

      http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/page2.htm
      What causes leptospirosis?
      The cause of leptospirosis is bacteria, Leptospira interrogans, a Gram-negative spirochete (spiral-shaped bacteria). The bacteria infect many types of animals (many wild animals, rodents, dogs, cats, pigs, horses, cattle, for example) that subsequently contaminate water, lakes, rivers, soil, and crops when they urinate because the bacteria are present in urine.

      The bacteria then infect humans when they invade through breaks in the skin or mucus membranes or when people ingest them. The bacteria multiply in the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Person-to-person transfer of this disease is rare.

      That too leaves a person weaker and vulnerable to illness and seems chronic.

    • adam 9.2
      20 March 2017 at 4:46 pm

      So on top of all the other factors which make dairy farming bad economically.

      Now it would appear, that those with a predisposition to catching Crohn’s disease (which we have no idea of those numbers) are catching the disease because it is a zoonotic (transferable from animals to humans) in nature. And our dairy heard is full of the disease.

      This national government, does nothing beyond short term – at the expense of the long term health of the population. What else will we learn that their shortsightedness has done to hurt the population I wonder.

  10. bwaghorn 10
    20 March 2017 at 1:00 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/90610222/no-charge-put-on-water-before-the-election-because-its-too-hard–bill-english

    ”If the government put a charge on water it was inevitable Maori would make a claim and English said that would be “pretty hard to resolve”. ”

    it’s all the maoris fault we can’t charge for water according to english

  11. Sabine 11
    20 March 2017 at 1:50 pm

    interesting.

    we shifted house 8 weeks ago, but because of our chinese landlord not being here in nz and not having signed the form we must wait 31 working day for a time out and then we will be re-funded our bond.

    Now luckily we are not too poor and moved into our own pad, so did not need the bond to be returned in time to pay for another bond (or pay back any advances from the bank).

    I wonder how standard this is, how much interest people loose on their bond money, and how many overseas landlord make it hard fro people to get their money back.

    Also, can someone explain to me why bond money that is held for years is refunded without interest?

    the reason i am asking is simple, the government holds the bonds paid by people. It would be fair to assume that the money held is accruing interest. where does that interest go?

    again boring but, in Germany the bond (kaution) is held in an savings account on behalf of the tenant by the landlord and when both parties sign to release the bond, the amount plus interest is paid back to the tenant as it is their money security to save keep the house/flat. Right?

    http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t97250.html
    “The fairest way to deal with the Kaution is to put it in a savings book. This is held in the tenants name, the landlord looks after the book. The cash can only be withdrawn when both parties sign at the end of the tenancy so landlord and tenant have to agree any deductions before either get the cash. This is called a Bankburgschaft. As it is a savings account it collects interest and the tenant will recieve this.”

  12. Poission 12
    20 March 2017 at 2:30 pm

    NYT Russia conspiracy “expert”

    Health warning may contain nut.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39250257

  13. halfcrown 13
    20 March 2017 at 3:12 pm

    Another benefit of the intensive dairying in NZ
    No doubt the scientist have got it all wrong just like the scientist who warn us about global warming sarc/

    http://www.wakeupnz.net/link-dairy-farming-crohns-disease-nz/

  14. Jilly Bee 14
    20 March 2017 at 4:04 pm

    A thoughtful piece by the President of the PPTA and a totally predictable reply by Alan Price – National Party’s Kaikohe Chair. “It’s abundantly clear that the last 32 years haven’t seen teachers wishing to turn back the clock. Unless Alan Price was willing to staff schools with National Party branch chairs and members of Family First, it’s hard to see how reintroducing corporal punishment could happen.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/327017/why-corporal-punishment-doesn't-work

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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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    7 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 ...
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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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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