Open mike 22/12/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:53 am, December 22nd, 2013 - 53 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

openmike

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step right up to the mike …

53 comments on “Open mike 22/12/2013 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Paul 1
    22 December 2013 at 7:27 am

    The Herald continues to show it is a forum for ignorance and flat earthers by giving Hide a soapbox on climate change. Depressing that it gives his weird noon-scientific views the same weight (or less) than actual scientific experts in the field.
    Koch Brothers and their friends pay well.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11176510

    • Satty 1.1
      22 December 2013 at 9:11 am

      In the meantime in the real world:

      “The combined average temperature over global land and ocean surfaces for November 2013 was record highest for the 134-year period of record, at 0.78°C (1.40°F) above the 20th century average of 12.9°C (55.2°F).”

      http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/

    • Grumpy 1.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:43 am

      Allowing Gore to spout bullshit is the problem. When his crap is exposed, it taints everybody and completely discredits the message he was trying to deliver – and rightly so.

      • Tat Loo (CV) 1.2.1
        22 December 2013 at 11:11 am

        Discredit the messenger if you want, Grumpy, but rapid global climate change is well in progress now. And the countries around the Arctic circle know it. Hence a rash of territorial, resource and new sea route claims are being pursued.

    • Tat Loo (CV) 1.3
      22 December 2013 at 11:07 am

      Hide’s an ex North Sea oil rig worker who is generally pretty sincere about his opinions. I’d doubt he was receiving or expecting anything for this.

    • Murray Olsen 1.4
      22 December 2013 at 7:44 pm

      I thought Orcs like Hide came from Middle Earth. The guy has nothing worthwhile to say on anything, and says it very loudly. On climate change, he and his ilk just repeat lies. On the economy, they do the same. Hmm, I think I’m detecting a pattern here.

  2. Paul 2
    22 December 2013 at 7:33 am

    A tale of 2 New Zealanders.
    30 years of neo-liberalism and the country is reduced to this.
    The revolting rich
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=11176532

    And the poor
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9544508/Santas-heart-breaking-Christmas-wishes
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176410

    And people like grumpy etc say the country is better than the 70s.
    Well I guess it is for a privileged few.

    Shame on New Zealand for letting this happen.

    • karol 2.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:18 am

      Thanks, Paul.

    • Grumpy 2.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:07 am

      Really Paul??? Where did I say that? In the ’70s, I worked for NZ Railways and was a Union Branch secretary and an advocate before the NZ Railways Appeal Board. Don’t assume………..

    • Murray Olsen 2.3
      22 December 2013 at 7:58 pm

      We’re headed for the third world where, if you run someone over in a car worth more than a million dollars, you won’t even be charged. That asshole banker in Auckland in his Audi was just a few years early, a man ahead of his time.

  3. Paul 3
    22 December 2013 at 8:03 am

    And we’re grinches if we dare suggest there’s a problem with the present economic set up, says Maria Slade.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/business/9539858/Christmas-grinch-alive-and-well

    • Saarbo 3.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:18 am

      Yes, you can only conclude that Maria Slade from Unlimited Magazine is as revolting as all of the other RWNJ out there, how does a hopeless magazine like Unlimited survive anyway…real shit mag. This paragraph is interesting Paul

      “Like most developed nations we have a problem with a widening gap between rich and poor. But economic prosperity gives a government far more options, allowing it to invest in things like housing and education to create opportunities for those in the lower socio-economic stratas”

      OK then Maria, why the fuck don’t they do that investment then! That is utter bull shit. The other thing that Maria has forgotten to mention is that next years growth is on the back of 2 things that National had nothing to do with, the Chch Earthquake and NZ dairy faming.

      • Tigger 3.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 11:32 am

        That quote reeks of ‘let them eat cake’. How about creating some jobs or investing in healthy children?

      • Akldnut 3.1.2
        22 December 2013 at 12:26 pm

        …………………………..next years growth is on the back of 2 things that National had nothing to do with, the Chch Earthquake and NZ dairy faming.

        Well put! Why oh why can’t someone in the Labour Party get up and say that sentence over & over whenever English, Key and all those National spinners start bragging about it when the house is sitting.

        Say it loud and long enough, the msm will print it and people will start to believe.
        Thats all National does.

  4. Saarbo 4
    22 December 2013 at 8:09 am

    This article by Gordon Brown is scary but clearly articulates why we may be heading towards another crash…the last paragraph sums up nicely:

    “In short, precisely what world leaders sought to avoid — a global financial free-for-all, enabled by ad hoc, unilateral actions — is what has happened. Political expediency, a failure to think and act globally, and a lack of courage to take on vested interests are pushing us inexorably toward the next crash.”

    http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/opinion/gordon-brown-stumbling-toward-the-next-crash.html?_r=2

    and in New Zealand 2013/14 is becoming very similar to 2007/08 in terms of the way the banks are lending money to dairy farmers. Banks lending to farmers to purchase farms for up to $60 per kg ms plus.. The last I heard total NZ farming debt was $51 billion…it will be interesting to see what this figure is now. The banks have gone nuts again…will see some more Crafer deals when the dairy payout heads south.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.1
      22 December 2013 at 12:49 pm

      He misses the most vital bit – that private banks need to be prevented from using the fractional reserve system. As long as the banks create money then the financial crises that we get will continue and they will get worse, poverty for the majority will increase while the top 1% will get richer.

      • Saarbo 4.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 2:57 pm

        True…his comments on the “shadow banking” growth is interesting, particularly in Asia. I get the impression that the next crash will include Asia/China…NZ wont be so lucky to miss the next crisis then.

        • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1
          22 December 2013 at 3:52 pm

          The “shadow banking system” is the massive system of quasibanking entities and transactions that the banks set u to evade regulation.

          By most estimates it is now at least as large and as leveraged as it was when it began to crash in 2007/2008. This time around however, the public purse has no more room left to contain the crash.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.2
        22 December 2013 at 3:50 pm

        DTB. Western private banks do NOT use the fractional reserve banking system – they haven’t for the better part of a century.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1
          22 December 2013 at 4:56 pm

          The concept of ratios still apply and it’s that that needs to be addressed.

          • Colonial Viper 4.1.2.1.1
            22 December 2013 at 6:03 pm

            The concept of loanable funds being constrained by reserves on hand is what I’m saying no longer applies.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.2.1.1.1
              22 December 2013 at 9:59 pm

              I agree bvut the ratios etc are still talked about in the Basel Accords and in legislation governing central banks this gives the impression that it still means something. When, as you say, it really doesn’t.

  5. phillip ure 5
    22 December 2013 at 8:14 am

    this is a public service announcement..

    http://boingboing.net/2013/12/20/howto-delete-your-smartphone.html

    “..If you have an Android or Ios smartphone –

    – it defaults to storing the history of all the places you go – at a very fine resolution –

    – for a very long time –

    – and mirrors that data on remote servers – from which it might be leaked or subpoenaed.

    Lifehacker has a great tutorial on deleting your Location History – and turning off future logging of your location.

    They cover both Ios and Android.

    I just did my devices – and it was very easy..”

    phillip ure..

  6. ianmac 6
    22 December 2013 at 8:31 am

    So there is nothing wrong with what Brewer failed to do and all of those who criticized him were very naughty people:
    Herald: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11176523
    “Meanwhile, Brown critic councillor Cameron Brewer lamented a “ratepayer-funded smear campaign” after he was criticised for failing to make a formal declaration to the council over his MediaWorks junket to Queensland.

    “This is all entirely predictable when you have a mayor fighting for his political survival and spin doctors out there running a strategy of interference and diversion on his behalf.”

    Lambert dismissed the claim.”

    • bad12 6.1
      22 December 2013 at 8:53 am

      Yes Cameron Brewer playing the ‘victim’ takes the whole affair deeply into the realm of the farce, from word one of this whole sordid little tale the ‘right’ have simply painted themselves in glorious landscapes of hypocritical yellow as expose has surely as night followed day lead immediately to an expose of the same or worse from those so desperate to re-litigate the Mayoral election,

      If Brewer had an ounce of decency He would do as He has tried to force Brown into, resign and have His seat on the Auckland City Council voted upon again as it is obvious that Brewer’s voters put Him in that office without knowledge of His undeclared ‘freebies’,

      In the final analysis, the people of Auckland vote for these clowns in suits as their representatives and if shamed by their collective choices may well have to ‘think’ a little deeper next time they come to cast a vote…

    • RedBaronCV 6.2
      22 December 2013 at 10:37 am

      And what about EY’s role in this report. Unbiased, impartial? Maybe not. Firstly, They look like they are being grossly overpaid. The report less covers, disclaimers etc is only 14 pages long. That’s about $7000 per page. One feels their main concern is ensuring that nobody sues them and pandering to the purient. Parts are distinctly shoddy.

      They strayed outside the terms of reference in that they went looking for the security guard. Why? Unless the guard interupted one or other party with their hand in the office petty cash at the same time, then what he saw in terms of use of council resources had no more relevance than someone eating lunch in the office and should have been excluded.

      The hotel rooms – the report does not distingush between rooms paid for personally and those paid for by the council. Most of the upgrades appear to be at the hotel used personally. The upgrade policy of the Stamford (if it has one) has not been considered. Anyone spending 50 nights a year in a hotel has to be a valued customer (whether or not they are the mayor) and is likely to be treated accordingly. Attaching a $ figure to this reeks of bias.

      The other complimentary rooms and upgrades where not considered against the relevant hotel policies.Really shoddy NY.

      No evidence was produced that the Mayor actually knew of the complimentary rooms or upgrades.

      Stripping out all the commentary what are we left with:
      – mobile use – some reimbursement was made and an argument could be made for asking for another $200 so that percentage of private use was fully reimbursed despite this not actually being the policy.
      – ticket to NRL grand final (the ipad was actioned for charity)
      – one possible ride in a mayoral limo
      -a shoddy job over the hotels and no evidence that any money was involved.

      In terms of expense audits that is nothing, absolutely nothing . I doubt whether many audits would turn up so little and Len is to be congratulated on his corruption free holding of the office.
      So, now he can go for it and do his best for Auckland.
      Why the bias EY – what other council dealings do you have??

    • Draco T Bastard 6.3
      22 December 2013 at 4:53 pm

      In a surprise turn, Mr Thomas advised Mr Brewer in an email today that “You did however declare the Port Douglas trip and this was included in the gift register. A copy of the gift register was given to the Ernst Young Inquiry.”

      In an email to Mr Thomas from Mr Brewer on 8 September 2011, Mr Brewer wrote

      “Bruce, please declare… 1 trip to Port Douglas courtesy of Mediaworks, Four nights in august. Value approximately 2k. Secondly, my partner and I are in SkyCity box for opening night and game tomorrow. Cost unknown. Please let me know what further information you require. Thanks Cameron”

      Does an email actually count though? I’d expect the need for a signature.

  7. Belladonna 7
    22 December 2013 at 8:48 am

    David Cunliffe is on Radio Live with Wallace Chapman from 9am – 10am this morning.

  8. Rodel 8
    22 December 2013 at 12:30 pm

    Like to see an itemized breakdown of the $100,000 cost of the Ernst & Young report on Len Brown’s affair. Is there any way to find this?
    Seems a lot of money to me to make a few phone calls and check hotel bills.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1
      22 December 2013 at 7:16 pm

      It’s only 150 hours of chargeable time for say a firm partner, a senior manager, and a couple of analysts.

  9. rich the other 9
    22 December 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Green poison and labour stupidity,
    The Anglican church is in a turmoil over pokie money because they have been manipulated by these political party’s and are paying the price.
    No money for the church and that’s been approved by internal affairs.

    What’s remarkable is a green mp complained when funds were denied ,it seems the greens want it both ways, dreamers .

  10. swordfish 10
    22 December 2013 at 2:30 pm

    Employing the election seat calculator, I’ve just found a not implausible scenario whereby the Right win the Party-Vote by 2 points (say 48% to the Left’s 46%), but where the Left hold a majority of 2 seats in Parliament. Requires both the Cons and NZFirst to take 3-4% of vote but win no Electorate, therefore no representation. Not that it would be the ideal situation, you understand. Better to at least match the Right and concentrate on mobilising erstwhile Labour non-voters. But it’s fair to say that tactical voting for Winnie may well end up the wrong strategy next year (as Rob Salmond implies). Possibly focus instead on winning back the Labour-friendly end of the NZF support-base (perhaps 2% of all voters ?).

  11. chris73 11
    22 December 2013 at 5:01 pm

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/12/brewers-trip-declared-smear-backfires-brown/

    I know you lot are shrinking violets and all get attack of the vapours when it comes to whaleoil so I’ll post the main point here”

    Auckland Council Electoral Officer and Public Information Officer Bruce Thomas has confirmed with Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer today that while he did not file a full “Register of Members’ Interests” annual statement by 30 June 2012, Brewer’s much criticised four-day sponsored trip to Australia was in fact declared by the Councillor for Orakei at the time and was subsequently in the Council gift register all along.

    In a surprise turn, Mr Thomas advised Mr Brewer in an email today that “You did however declare the Port Douglas trip and this was included in the gift register. A copy of the gift register was given to the Ernst Young Inquiry.”

    I know you’ll all be pleased to know he did declare his trip unlike Len

    • tinfoilhat 11.1
      22 December 2013 at 5:05 pm

      Oh well fair do’s, guess he’s owed an apology.

      It’s all a bit of distraction anyway from the main culprit which is the current mayor.

      • dv 11.1.1
        22 December 2013 at 5:31 pm

        Two points
        He still didn’t file the register of members interest.
        AND
        He didn’t appear to know what he has filed.

    • Colonial Viper 11.2
      22 December 2013 at 5:22 pm

      Cameron Brewer’s the next Key style amnesiac.

      • gobsmacked 11.2.1
        22 December 2013 at 6:41 pm

        And for the umpteenth time I ask … is this really about corruption, or copulation?

        I say the former, but the Oil sniffers get far more excited about the latter.

        The issue should be the unhealthy relationship between Brown and Sky City. It is/was too close.

        Here’s the problem for the Righties (who take their lead from Slater, we all know they can’t think for themselves). The same in-the-pocket allegations apply to the likes of Cameron Brewer.

        Brewer was in the Sky City corporate box for the rugby (yes, so were Labour MPs and they were rightly condemned for that, on this very blog). Brewer got free tickets from Sky City AND voted for the Sky City deal. It comes out now – but why not before?

        And who will call him on it? The Herald?

    • Pascal's bookie 11.3
      22 December 2013 at 5:27 pm

      Fair enough. Did whale note that ‘explaining is losing’ though?

    • Anne 11.4
      22 December 2013 at 6:41 pm

      Who told Blubber boy? What’s this “Mr Thomas” doing sending emails on the Sunday before Xmas? Doesn’t have anything better to do but swop emails with Cameron Brewer? . Fishy to me. Is Mr Thomas a secret member of the National Party or something?

      The plot thickens. 🙂

      • Murray Olsen 11.4.1
        22 December 2013 at 8:17 pm

        My thoughts exactly, Anne. There is also the small detail that Brewer’s trip was mentioned as a “four day junket to the Gold Coast”. Port Douglas is at the opposite end of Queensland. Are they trying to be a bit clever?

  12. Colonial Viper 12
    22 December 2013 at 6:38 pm

    Welcome back to NZ, Helen Clark. Good to know you are back in the country. You have been missed.

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T04:27:53+00:00