Open mike 21/06/2023

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, June 21st, 2023 - 66 comments
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66 comments on “Open mike 21/06/2023 ”

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  1. Dennis Frank 1
    21 June 2023 at 6:51 am

    It's so hard, creating common ground amongst left-wingers. Each of them knows they're right, therefore the others must be wrong. Consequently their default modus operandi is arguing with each other rather than reaching accord. That seems evident in the formation of the axis of evil in Oz currently:

    The $10bn Housing Australia future fund will not pass parliament this week, after the Greens and Coalition teamed up in the Senate to delay the bill until October, prompting warnings of a double dissolution election.

    A Greens motion proposing to delay the bill until 16 October to “allow time for national cabinet to progress reforms to strengthen renters’ rights” was voted up 37 votes to 23 about noon on Monday. A bid by Labor to vote on the bill on Tuesday was defeated.

    The Greens party room met on Monday morning, after which Senator Sarah Hanson-Young stood in the Senate announcing the planned delay. Hanson-Young said the Greens “would like for us to postpone that bill until the prime minister can show what he is going to do to relieve real pressure on one-third of Australian households” who rent. She said after “months of being told there was nothing the government could do”, Labor had found “a bit of cash stashed down the back of the couch”, promising $2bn over the weekend.

    Dan Farrell, Labor’s deputy Senate leader, in the chamber labelled the Greens and the Coalition the “axis of evil”.

    Only a Labour politician would be silly enough to imply that those who care about the third of aussies who pay rent are evil. The foot fits in the mouth more easily due to the lack of brain creating more room at the back in there.

    The Greens leader, Adam Bandt:

    It’s wall-to-wall Labor across the mainland, so rent rises are their responsibility.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/19/labor-housing-bill-australia-future-fund-could-be-delayed-greens-rent-freeze

    The PM trotted out the standard neolib line:

    In question time, Albanese labelled the Greens and Coalition an “unholy alliance” and argued that a rent freeze would “destroy supply”.

    He means landlords would refrain from putting tenants in their houses. Has that ever happened?? If he was clever, he would cite the NZ Labour innovative use of legal doctrine, and point out that since he'd predicted that happening, it had immediately happened. Oz parliament would exhibit universal stunned mullet syndrome.

    Oz online media would then be likely to credit the PM with brilliant legal manoeuvering, with no mention of the kiwi antecedent, because they always steal from us.

    • Phillip ure 1.1
      21 June 2023 at 6:24 pm

      If the greens could achieve more green gains by sitting on the cross benches..I would have no problem with that..

      In fact would encourage it..

      • Dennis Frank 1.1.1
        21 June 2023 at 6:54 pm

        It has been a priority for them to embed in our political culture as capable practitioners of democratic process and having ministerial roles is the best way to exhibit competence. Having been part of the Green movement since 1968, I watched Green values being rubbished by the establishment thro the '70s & '80s.

        Now Green values are established, both on the left and on the right. Even business leaders now embrace them. Focus has switched to how they are best implemented in social & political processes. Greens in parliament are more effectively part of that trend while they have leverage.

        That said, I don't disagree with how you feel – in fact I'd prefer them to mix critical stances in a lot more than they have done so far…

  2. SPC 2
    21 June 2023 at 8:16 am

    From the USA to Israel and now New Zealand there are politicians concerned about the influence of the courts.

    In the USA the GOP organised a long term campaign – involving the blocking of the appointment of Garland in 2016 to win control of the Supreme Court. The object of which appears to be to allow a conservative group control over social policy (unwind civil liberties at the federal level and allow social conservative states their own legislative agency) and in return receive control over state electoral law (a form of return of Jim Crow).

    In Israel an alliance (the most right wing government in the nations history) seeks control of appointments to their Supreme Court and to assert parliamentary dominance over ultimate decision-making – to over-ride human rights constraint on government power by their Supreme Court.

    Here we have David Seymour

    If ACT has its way following next year’s election, the party would pass a law defining the principles of the Treaty during the next term of Parliament.

    https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/24/act-party-wants-referendum-on-co-governance-with-maori/

    He wants his party to decide the meaning of the TOW. Part of doing this is insisting on a referendum as a price for coalition with National. The purpose of which is to demonstrate the principle of popular majority authority over the Treaty and the courts, including the WT.

    In this he follows after Don Brash – 2005 leader of National and then ACT. Principally known for his kiwi or iwi campaign and then his association with One New Zealand.

    The intellect of Don Brash on display.

    https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/don-brash-new-zealand-is-reaching-a-crisis-point

    No mention of iwi property rights and chieftainship in article 2 – the role of WT in redress and how in lieu of claim to property now in public estate might come co-governance of that. Nor any mention of UNDRIP which National signed us up to. Nor of the role of Maori partners in delivery of services to Maori (when whanau ora was set up when National was in government and ACT was a support partner).

    David Seymour also wants to end the Human Rights Commission.

    This speaks of a deliberate play on the right for what might be termed the racist nationalist vote against some other, not of their nation – secular liberals, non Jews and Maori.

  3. Nic the NZer 3
    21 June 2023 at 8:37 am

    On the actual and fictional issues relating to retirement and pensions.

    Demographic retirement shifts

    • SPC 3.1
      21 June 2023 at 8:54 am

      Economists, by and large, are not in the knowledge game, but, are, rather, ideological warriors who seek to advance the interests of the capitalist class, knowing they can glean well-paid consultancies from that class for services rendered.

      Unsurprisingly the deputy of ACT realised her calling when studying economics – I remember saying to a student who asked the Professor about why there was no study of alternatives to the market system till the third year – no one spends three years learning something only to question its value (it's a form of cult grooming where one gets paid for it in employment).

  4. Dennis Frank 4
    21 June 2023 at 10:51 am

    Rabid socialists attack banks? Luke Malpass, on Labour cynicism:

    These market studies, a big Labour thing, use the technocratic power of the state and the supposedly impressive investigatory powers of the Commerce Commission to root out cases of non-competition or lacking competition.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/132373844/commerce-commission-market-study-into-banks-a-bonanza-for-lawyers-and-consultants

    Banking sector dude the other day declared there were 16 players in our banking market, so why Labour felt the need to provide a gravy train for lawyers & consultants to – determine if 16 players in a market is non-competitive – ain't all that clear really. All Blacks use 15 players – they seem rather competitive. Usually.

    Still, if the gravy train determines that the 16 are operating as a cartel, I'll tip my non-hat to the PM's initiative on the issue. It would be serious evidence that the few rabid socialists left alive are not alone.

    • Bearded Git 4.1
      21 June 2023 at 11:40 am

      Luke Malpass shows his true colours yet again. According to Chloe and the Greens a 10% excess profit tax on the banks would raise $500m. Sounds like a good reason to investigate the banks to me.

      https://www.greens.org.nz/when_even_the_nats_agree_bank_profits_are_out_of_control_it_s_time_for_an_excess_profits_tax

      “The bottom line remains: the big banks are fleecing New Zealanders and should be taxed to help pay for the cyclone clean up. The only thing standing in the way is political willpower,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

      • Dennis Frank 4.1.1
        21 June 2023 at 12:00 pm

        Can't fault your logic at all, but I get why he sees Labour's deferral of the issue until the pre-campaign onset as cynical. It is! Still, it's an opportunity.

        Since nobody in my lifetime has provided evidence that any Labourer is a member of Labour, could be Labour members have realised they have an authenticity problem and are preparing to resign en masse to join The Opportunities Party. That would be cool: leftists & centrists in neolib harmony…

        • Bearded Git 4.1.1.1
          21 June 2023 at 1:06 pm

          TOP could waste 4.9% of the Left's votes, putting Luxon in power.

          Defect at your peril.

      • Adrian Thornton 4.1.2
        21 June 2023 at 1:49 pm

        I am not quite sure why people are still handwringing over Labour's lack of movement on banks-supermarkets-fuel industry….Labour have made no secret that their economic ideology is laissez faire Free Market Capitalism…I mean seriously, just like National and ACT they are serious free market fundamentalists, end of story.

        If citizens want a political party that would actually rein in those industries..then they better start start looking somewhere else cos it is obvious that Labour ain't never doing it….and unfortunately when push comes to shove The Greens have proved that under it's present leadership, they have the backbone of a jellyfish…which leaves us in rather a pickle really.

        • Descendant Of Smith 4.1.2.1
          21 June 2023 at 2:52 pm

          But we all know that some of the excess profit was due to the reserve bank lifting interest rates to transfer economic spending in the market to paying increased money to the banks through higher interest rates i.e. it was deliberately engineered government policy.

          What were they expecting to happen to bank incomes and profits when they engineered it thus.

  5. tsmithfield 5
    21 June 2023 at 2:41 pm

    Shit. Wood has gone after it was revealed that there were more undeclared shares. I didn't see that coming.

    • James Simpson 5.1
      21 June 2023 at 2:48 pm

      Very sloppy from Wood.

      Similar downfall to Nash. The initial issue was just the tip and once it was drilled into there was multiple failings of the cabinet manuel.

      Chippy had no choice really.

      Its very frustrating as they were two of the better ministers in this government.

    • weka 5.2
      21 June 2023 at 2:48 pm

      how hard it is to instruct your sharebroker to provide a list of all investments? That’s not meant to be a rhetorical question, so let me rephrase. Is it difficult for a sharebroker to provide a list of all investments?

      • Descendant Of Smith 5.2.1
        21 June 2023 at 2:54 pm

        John Key got around the issue by having a blind trust – even though he gave away wine from the winery he didn't know he owned

        Maybe all MP's should have blind trusts.

        • tsmithfield 5.2.1.1
          21 June 2023 at 3:00 pm

          I think blind trusts would simplify things quite a lot, because, I imagine an MP would only need to disclose the fact that the trust existed.

          If the trust is completely unaccessable to the MP, then they have no way of knowing what assets are in the trust at any particular time.

          • In Vino 5.2.1.1.1
            21 June 2023 at 6:09 pm

            Did you miss DoS's point?

            John Key's interest was in a winery he should not have known he owned, yet he became well-known for giving away bottles from that winery.

            If the blind trust system is that unreliable, it should be abolished.

      • tsmithfield 5.2.2
        21 June 2023 at 2:55 pm

        We have a few shares, and they are purchased and sold online quickly and easily. Not sure how that would work with shares that were aquired before all the online stuff. But, I imagine a broker should be able to discover all that fairly easily. Back in the day it just used to involve putting in a buy or sell order to a broker.

      • JohnO 5.2.3
        21 June 2023 at 2:58 pm

        He only owned a few equities (unless there's more) so he should just know what he had without having to ask. He was both trustee and beneficiary so to not know would be be somewhere in the spectrum of incompetent to negligent. Whatever, it doesn't show the sort of attention to detail required of a senior minister.

        • weka 5.2.3.1
          21 June 2023 at 3:58 pm

          his trust lawyer no doubt manages it all because he's busy. That's not unreasonable. The issue is more how difficult it is for whoever is managing the shares to provide details.

          • tsmithfield 5.2.3.1.1
            21 June 2023 at 4:48 pm

            In whatever case Wood will have been aware the trust existed. So, there isn't really much of a defence.

    • JohnO 5.3
      21 June 2023 at 2:54 pm

      LOL. Yes you did!

      • tsmithfield 5.3.1
        21 June 2023 at 2:58 pm

        I probably thought he should resign. But, I thought it had died a natural death. I didn't expect more shares to show up.

        • RosieLee 5.3.1.1
          21 June 2023 at 4:11 pm

          He shouldn't be allowed to just resign. He should be totally expelled – including from the Labour Party. This BS makes me really angry – and I'm a lifetime Labour voter. Why should I bother?

      • In Vino 5.3.2
        21 June 2023 at 6:11 pm

        Who on earth is this comment directed at?

        The Reply button is there for a reason…

    • SPC 5.4
      21 June 2023 at 3:10 pm

      So that is why he ended any limit on numbers on skilled migrants allowed in, he's off to become an immigration consultant (anyone skilled in compliance checks please see Labour Party HQ and the PM's department for advertised jobs).

      • Dennis Frank 5.4.1
        21 June 2023 at 3:20 pm

        Seems obvious, eh? Worked well for Aussie Malcom 30 or more years back. Last one out of the Labour cabinet turn off the light… enlightened

        Seymour: “I guess he could have a pretty good future as a stockbroker.” But then he’d forget where all the shares were stashed.

    • Charlotte Rust 5.5
      21 June 2023 at 4:46 pm

      So politicians shouldn’t own any shares at all or just ones that potentially affect their portfolio? Or is the problem the lack of declaration rather than the conflict of interest? By this rational should they be landlords? That is a massive conflict of interest that affects a third of our population in the pocket more than say a migration minister having shares in Chorus etc.

      • Ad 5.5.1
        21 June 2023 at 4:56 pm

        They should declare it all both as an MP and as a Minister whether it is in their portfolio or not. Obviously.

        • Dennis Frank 5.5.1.1
          21 June 2023 at 5:40 pm

          I just listened to Lisa Owen interviewing Hipkins on Checkpoint & something he said about all the rigmarole he's instituting or has already put in place made me wonder if it would be easier to just create a Minister for Conflicts of Interest.

          So the other ministers could run their shareholdings by someone briefed to know what to do about them, I mean. The PM did say, in response to Lisa asking if it was defiance or just dumbness (Wood's problematic behaviour), that he'd had `several meetings with Michael about this in recent weeks but he seemed unable to explain why it had happened'.

          Could be neither defiance nor idiocy, but genuine lack of compehension. Some folks just haven't got the faintest clue why they do things.

        • Charlotte Rust 5.5.1.2
          21 June 2023 at 5:45 pm

          Obvious to us but appears not to be obvious to the politicians. Same as Luxon’s hypocrisy over the Tesla debacle. I’m sick of the self serving, do as I say not as I do, nature of politicians.

    • Bearded Git 5.6
      21 June 2023 at 6:17 pm

      Having defended Wood throughout even I have to admit this is just way too careless and lazy-he had to go.

      I do, however, believe Wood when he says none of these shareholdings have had any influence on his behaviour or decisions as a minister. I also doubt that he has profited in any meaningful way.

      Does anyone out there know the value of the Chorus, Spark and NAB shareholdings he has just "found" in the trust?

      • Anne 5.6.1
        21 June 2023 at 10:03 pm

        Based on Hipkins' struggle to understand why Wood was unable to give him a reasonable explanation for his lack of oversight, I suspect Wood might be covering up for someone. It would account for the apparent procrastination in his handling of the matter.

        Seems so strange for someone who has demonstrated his competency in all of his former portfolios to mess up like he has over a personal financial matter.

  6. Joe90 6
    21 June 2023 at 3:16 pm

    Finally.

    AFP

    #UPDATE Iceland's government said Tuesday it was suspending this year's whale hunt until the end of August due to animal welfare concerns, likely bringing the controversial practice to a historic end.

    https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1671152168907288576

    https://uk.news.yahoo.com/iceland-suspends-whale-hunt-animal-134954135.html

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/feb/04/iceland-to-end-whaling-in-2024-demand-dwindles

  7. Herodotus 7
    21 June 2023 at 3:26 pm

    Great to see others concerned with the way the new Dunedin Hospital has been mis managed all for austerity to save a few $$ and to achieve a hospital that will be inferior and not fit for purpose or what the region deserves.

    "the new dunedin hospital is going from a state of the art tertiary hospital that could serve the region for generations to… a cheap imitation that will end up probably needing extensions and remediations within a generation but it’s ok because that cost isn’t incurred today?????

    https://twitter.com/MorganGodfery/status/1669842291643801602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1669842291643801602%7Ctwgr%5E0174bbb027af0be1cac9504f4348da17daba5087%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kiwiblog.co.nz%2F

    • weka 7.1
      21 June 2023 at 4:08 pm

      that's incredibly depressing.

      • gsays 7.1.1
        21 June 2023 at 7:13 pm

        'Scuse the scratched record, but this story brings my two hobby horses together.

        Labour's squandering the opportunity of generational reform and neo-libs gotta neo-lib.

      • Bearded Git 7.1.2
        21 June 2023 at 9:31 pm

        It could easily lose Labour the election. They have a couple of months to get out of their Wellington bubble and do something about this….a couple of hundred million extra for the hospital and a minister anouncing this in to he Octagon in Dunedin would go a long way…time is running out.

  8. Dennis Frank 8
    21 June 2023 at 3:27 pm

    The PM has already re-arranged his deckchairs:

    Carmel Sepuloni will become the Minister of Auckland and Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, Andrew Little will be Immigration Minister, David Parker will cover Transport, and Kiri Allan will become the Associate Finance Minister.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/prime-minister-chris-hipkins-reveals-michael-woods-future/EFRLIOY63FE3BCFXFTXFX3OXGQ/

  9. Alan 9
    21 June 2023 at 3:43 pm

    How will the good people of Mount Roskill feel about todays turn of events?????

    • Red Blooded One 9.1
      21 June 2023 at 3:52 pm

      Some will be disappointed, some will be angry, some will be nonchalant and some, like you, will be rubbing their sweaty little hands with glee. Sorry couldn't be bothered thinking up another emotion for your 5th question mark.

  10. Anne 10
    21 June 2023 at 3:55 pm

    Damn shame. Wood had a glittering career ahead of him. Among the top most competent ministers – a leader in waiting.

    How could he have been so stupid.

    I hate to say it, but to me its a form of arrogance that seems to go with many at the top end of the political scale. Example: For all his matiness, John Key became too arrogant for his own good. To be fair though he saw his demise coming and got out.

    • Red Blooded One 10.1
      21 June 2023 at 4:01 pm

      yes

    • RosieLee 10.2
      21 June 2023 at 4:19 pm

      yes

    • Tiger Mountain 10.3
      21 June 2023 at 4:36 pm

      I had hoped Mr Wood was an old school Labourite–and with his input into substantial Bus Driver pay rises and Coastal Shipping–it looked rather promising.

      Michael did this to him self ultimately. Rationalising? thinking a family trust took him out of the frame? who knows…but sad none the less.

      For almost 40 years now personal shareholdings in Finance Capital have been promoted as a very good thing indeed for all non ‘losers’ in society to participate in. There may well be a few slippery, more skilled at hiding the dosh Nats thinking tonight–“phew, glad it wasn’t me”.

      • Anne 10.3.1
        21 June 2023 at 4:54 pm

        Nats thinking tonight–“phew, glad it wasn’t me”.

        You bet there are! There will be a rush on share-brokers tomorrow.

        I'm starting to wonder if he arranged for someone to manage his shares/finances for him so he could attend fulltime to his portfolios and they bungled it. I watched the questions and answer session after Hipkin's press conference earlier today, and he made it clear "he does not understand Wood's explanation".

        • higherstandard 10.3.1.1
          21 June 2023 at 5:26 pm

          'Nats thinking tonight–“phew, glad it wasn’t me”.'

          No there won't, the Nats are not in government.

          It was not the fact Micheal had shares that got him in trouble it was the failure to declare them and the potential conflicts of interest whilst in Minister it's bizarre.

          I know Michael and get along quite well with him despite being on the different side of the fence politically – I just don't understand how this could happen.

    • joe90 11.1
      21 June 2023 at 6:33 pm

      Here's $250K. Take me to the most hostile environment on the planet!.

      Another issue of contention was the submarine’s viewport—that is, the front window out of which passengers can see the ocean. According to Lochridge’s allegations, he was repeatedly “denied” information by other members of the team about the submarine’s viewport. Eventually, Lochridge attended a meeting where he was given full information about the viewport, and it did not go well…

      At the meeting Lochridge discovered why he had been denied access to the viewport information from the Engineering department—the viewport at the forward of the submersible was only built to a certified pressure of 1,300 meters, although OceanGate intended to take passengers down to depths of 4,000 meters. Lochridge learned that the viewport manufacturer would only certify to a depth of 1,300 meters due to experimental design of the viewport supplied by OceanGate, which was out of the Pressure Vessels for Human Occupancy (“PVHO”) standards. OceanGate refused to pay for the manufacturer to build a viewport that would meet the required depth of 4,000 meters.

      In other words, according to the lawsuit, the Titan’s viewport really wasn’t built for the depths at which the vehicle was traveling. Indeed, the sub was in the midst of a dive to the site of the Titanic wreckage on Sunday when it disappeared—which is said to be some 13,000 feet below the surface of the ocean.

      Lochridge’s lawsuit did not proceed particularly far and the former employee and the company swiftly settled.

      https://news.yahoo.com/company-behind-missing-tourist-sub-053000248.html

    • Dennis Frank 11.2
      21 June 2023 at 6:59 pm

      Jeez. In this hi-tech world one expects systems to be better designed than this. Bit of a cowboy enterprise, it seems. But I hope they get rescued soon.

    • joe90 11.3
      22 June 2023 at 9:49 am

      A disaster waiting to happen.

      @FridaGhitis

      This short clip will help you understand why the Titanic mini sub is missing and why this was an accident waiting to happen.

      https://twitter.com/FridaGhitis/status/1671120043126423553

  12. corey 12
    21 June 2023 at 6:05 pm

    Good grief.

    Day after day, week after week, it feels like a labour minister or a labour appointee has been caught out in a conflict of interest they haven't declared.

    Will the remaining mps quadruple check their investments and if they have a single conflict declare it immediately.

    Going forward any further mps, especially cabinet ministers caught out like this should be sacked from the party all together.

    National has armies of people looking over labour mps conflicts, if they don't come out and say it now they are gonna get caught out regardless.

    Sad to see Wood go, unlike most of Labours cabinet he actually achieved a few social democratic wins, still there can be no tolerance for this shit.

    If there's anyone else, and they STILL haven't owned up, throw them under buses and end their parliamentary careers.

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    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    3 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Calvin Reviews Lord of The Rings
    Hi,If you’ve been digging through the newly launched Webworm store (orders are being dispatched worldwide as I type!) you’ll have noticed the best model we had was Calvin.This is Calvin.Calvin.Calvin is 7, and is the son of my producer over on Flightless Bird, Rob — aka “Wobby Wob”. Rob also ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Climate Adam: How to visualise Climate Change (ft. Katharine Hayhoe)
    This video includes conclusions of the creator climate scientist Dr. Adam Levy. It is presented to our readers as an informed perspective. Please see video description for references (if any). Climate change is everywhere. And when something's everywhere it can feel like it's nowhere. So how do we get our heads ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • The wrong direction
    Some good news on climate change today: the energy transition away from fossil fuels is picking up speed, and renewables now make up 30% of global electricity supply. Meanwhile, in Aotearoa, we're moving in the opposite direction, with Genesis Energy announcing that it will resume importing Indonesian coal. Their official ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • National hates democracy
    Its a law like gravity: whenever a right-wing government is elected, they start attacking democracy. And now, after talking to their Republican and Tory and Fidesz chums at the International Democracy Union forum in Wellington, National is doing it here, announcing plans to remove election-day enrolment. Or, to put it ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • No Tikanga Please, We're Lawyers.
    Yesterday Winston Peters focussed his attention on the important matter at hand. Tweeting. Like the former, and quite possibly next, orange POTUS, from whom he takes much of his political strategy, Winston is an avid X’er.His message didn’t resemble an historic address this time. In fact it was more reminiscent ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Member’s Day
    Today is a Member's Day, and it seems we've entered the slowdown as things emerge from select committee. First up is the committee stage of Greg O'Connor's Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill, which will be followed by the second readings of Stuart ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Hurrah for coal – Shane Jones welcomes Genesis Energy’s import plans as natural gas production s...
    Buzz from the Beehive A significant decline in natural gas production has given Resources Minister Shane Jones an opportunity to reiterate his enthusiasm for the mining and burning of coal. For good measure, he has praised an announcement from Genesis Energy that it will resume importing coal. He and Energy ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Following the political money
    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The political parties are legally obliged to make ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • A Left-Right ranking of universities in NZ: a practical guide for students and parents
    Rob MacCullough writes – Here is my subjective ranking on a “most-left” to “most-right” scale of most of our major NZ Universities, with some anecdotal (and at times amusing) evidence to back up the claim. Extreme Left   Auckland University of Technology Evidence The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  •  Inflation and GST thresholds
    Eric Crampton writes –  I hadn’t thought about this one until a helpful email showed up in my inbox.It’s pretty obvious that income tax thresholds should automatically index with inflation – whether to anchor the thresholds in percentiles of the income distribution, or to anchor against a real ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Jacqui Van Der Kaay writes –  Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • A law school to be avoided – Auckland University of Technology
    Gary Judd writes – The Dean of the law school at the Auckland University of Technology is someone called Khylee Quince. I have been sent her social media posting in which she has, over the LawNews headline “Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Maori studies for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • 17 people in Malaita stand in way of China’s takeover of the Solomons
    Cleo Paskal writes – WASHINGTON, D.C.: ‘Many of us have received phone calls from [the opposing camp] telling them if they join the camp they will be given projects for their wards and $300,000 [around US$35,000] each’, says former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani. The elections in Solomon Islands aren’t ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the Hamas Ceasefire Offer, and Mark Mitchell’s Incompetence
    With hindsight, it was inevitable that (a) Hamas would agree to the ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar and that ( b) Israel would then immediately launch attacks on Rafah, regardless. We might have hoped the concessions made by Hamas would cause Israel to desist from slaughtering thousands more ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Wednesday May 8
    Placards and mourners outside the Kilbirnie Mosque following the Christchurch terror attack: MSD has terminated the Kaiwhakaoranga service, which has been used by 415 families since the attacks. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The Government’s pledge to only cut ‘back office’ staff rather than ‘frontline’ services is on increasingly shaky ground, with ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • A few PT announcements
    There’s been a few smaller public transport announcements over the last week or so that I thought I’d cover in a single post. Fareshare I’ve long called for Auckland Transport to offer a way to enable employer-subsidised public transport options. The need for this took on even more importance ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 days ago

  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Green Party grapples with persistent scandals
    Parliament’s speaker had no option but to refer Green MP Julie Anne Genter to the Privileges Committee for her behaviour in the House last Wednesday evening. The incident, in which she crossed the floor to wave a book and yell at National Minister Matt Doocey, reflects poorly on Genter and ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • At a glance – Tree ring proxies and the divergence problem
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Nothing to sneer at
    Who likes being sneered at? Nobody. Worse yet, when the sneerer has their facts all wrong, and might well be an idiot.The sneer in question is The adults are in charge now, and it is a sneer offered in retort to criticism of this new Government, no matter how well ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • Still on their bullshit
    When in government, Labour pushed to extend the Parliamentary term to four years, to reduce accountability and our ability to vote out a bad government. And now, they're trying to do it through the member's ballot, with a Four-Year Parliamentary Term Legislation Bill. The bill at least requires a referendum ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Drawn
    A ballot for a single Member's Bill was held today, and the following bill was drawn: Public Works (Prohibition of Compulsory Acquisition of Māori Land) Amendment Bill (Hūhana Lyndon) The bill would prevent the government from stealing Māori land in breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • A nod and a wink that will unnecessarily cost Aucklanders tens of millions per year
    Simeon Brown, alongside Wayne Brown, is favouring a political figleaf now in exchange for loading up tens of millions in extra interest costs on Auckland ratepayers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Ratings agency Standard & Poor’s is pushing back hard at suggestions from Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • Correcting the Corrections announcement – a fiscal farce that should bother the OECD
     Buzz from the Beehive One headline-grabber from the Beehive yesterday was the OECD’s advice that the government must bring the Budget deficit under control or face higher interest rates. Another was the announcement of a $1.9 billion “investment” in Corrections over the next four years. In the best interests of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  •  Like it or not, the Kiwis are either going into ‘Pillar 2’ – or they are going to China
    Chris Trotter writes –  Had Zheng He’s fleet sailed east, not west, in the early Fifteenth Century, how different our world would be. There is little reason to suppose that the sea-going junks of the Ming Dynasty, among the largest and most sophisticated sailing vessels ever constructed, would have failed ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • A balanced and an unbalanced article
    David Farrar writes – Two articles give a useful contrast in balance. Both seek to be neutral explainer articles. This one in the Herald on Social Investment covers the pros and cons nicely. It links to critical pieces and talks about aspects that failed and aspects that are more ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Deeply unserious country
    Every bit of this seems insane. And people wonder why productivity is falling through the floor. Energy News reports that the Environment Court finally threw out Allan Crafar’s appeal against a solar farm. From the story: Consent was granted in 2022. Crafar appealed November 2022. On what grounds? That ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Senior King’s Counsel files complaint about compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students
    The tikanga regulations will compel law students to be taught that a system which does not conform with the rule of law is nevertheless law which should be observed and applied…  Gary Judd KC writes –  I have made a complaint to Parliament’s Regulation ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • https://www.greaterauckland.org.nz/?p=77196
    The future of Te Huia, the train between Hamilton and Auckland, has been getting a lot of attention recently as current funding for it is only in place till the end of June. The government initially agreed to a five year trial, through to April 2026, but that was subject ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 days ago

  • Bernard’s pick 'n' mix for Tuesday, May 7
    TL;DR: Hamas has just agreed to Israel’s ceasefire plan. Nelson hospital’s rebuild has been cut back to save money. The OECD suggests New Zealand break up network monopolies, including in electricity. PM Christopher Luxon’s news conference on a prison expansion announcement last night was his messiest yet.Here’s my top six ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 days ago

  • HM Prison Aotearoa.
    A homicide in Ponsonby, a manhunt with a killer on the run. The nation’s leader stands before a press conference reassuring a frightened nation that he’ll sort it out, he’ll keep them safe, he’ll build some new prison spaces.Sorry what? There’s a scary dude on the run with a gun ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    7 days ago

  • Get Your Webworm Merch!
    Hi,I know it’s been awhile since there’s been any Webworm merch — and today that all changes!Over the last four months, I’ve been working with New Zealand artist Jess Johnson to create a series of t-shirts, caps and stickers that are infused with Webworm DNA — and as of right ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    7 days ago

  • Top OECD economist puts Willis between a rock and a hard place
    The OECD’s chief economist yesterday laid it on the line for the new Government: bring the deficit under control or face higher Reserve Bank interest rates for longer. And to bring the deficit under control, she meant not borrowing for tax cuts. But there was more. Without policy changes—introducing a ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    7 days ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
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