Open mike 23/01/2013

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, January 23rd, 2013 - 52 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

52 comments on “Open mike 23/01/2013 ”

  1. karol 1

    A very good article on affordable housing by Gordon Campbell yesterday. He begins by referring to Bill English’s admission that the major lack of sufficient affordable housing is a “market failure”. But Campbell also questions the government’s priorities:

    Of course, the government was ready to set those democratic niceties aside when it came to the “mandate” and “knowledge” of Environmental Canterbury – but that was about something really important like the water demands of dairy farmers, rather than putting a well-insulated roof over the heads of the country’s children. The current strategy puts the focus solely on the supply side of the problem, while leaving the demand side all but untouched – which means that the role of the banks in fostering housing price bubbles will continue to be ignored.

    In the meantime, local government can be blamed for the delays, since red tape and bureaucracy is always a handy scapegoat for the centre right. Given the government’s wilful impotence on this issue. Labour and the Greens can make inroads on this issue (especially in Auckland) right up until election 2014. Haggling by government over the feasibility of Labour’s house-building plans will only expose the paucity of its own response.

    Campbell also has a couple of paragraphs on Mali, referring to a long Werewolf piece he did on Mali last year. In the middle of the turmoil in Mali, is its positioning amidst various sought after minerals, natural resources and oil.

    • Bill 1.1

      China. All over Africa and in the ME too, the common denominator is Chinese investment and the ‘threat’ of allegiences (eg Egypt) and resources (eg pipelineistan) straying east.

      The Escobar piece Campbell links to gives an excellent rundown of the ‘finer details’ at play in Mali. But at the end of the day, it’s the new cold war that is different to the old cold war only insofar as the enemy is never named directly and the enemy doesn’t involve itself in military conflict.

      http://muslimvillage.com/2013/01/21/34413/burn-burn-africas-afghanistan/

      As summarised in the Escobar piece

      In practice, it’s Western militarization (with Washington “leading from behind”) versus the ongoing Chinese seduction/investment drive in Africa.

      Simple game plan – lay waste to a country – make it ‘ungovernable’ and the advantage then lies with whoever has the military wherewithall (drones and troops or mercenaries on the ground) to safeguard ‘their’ resources. The Chinese ploy of investment, soft loans and helping a country to build infrastructure and develop at least some form of industrial base? Not happening in a war zone.

      So, expect a lot more war zones.

  2. Conservative Party leader Colin Craig
    “There are grounds to discriminate on certain things. If you said to me, ‘do I think there should be separate toilet facilities when it comes to men and women’, ‘yes I do’.”

    So because he can’t piss in the same place women do, he has the right to discriminate.
    Who’s next after the gays, the immigrants or the mentally ill?

    • karol 2.1

      Or maybe some specific provisions to decrease the income gap between men & women? Or to extend paid parental leave?

    • Craig may require La Beneficiary to walk on the other side of the street and hang their head in shame, shop in certain shops and take away several rights bestowed on other sections
      of the community.
      Craig is a wannabe,with a bit of luck and a fair breeze he wont get anywhere near
      the tiller.

    • rosy 2.3

      do I think there should be separate toilet facilities when it comes to men and women’, ‘yes I do’.”

      Lucky he doesn’t live in some parts of Europe then. *shrug*

    • PlanetOrphan 2.4

      How about if someone said to him …

      What’s your opinion about a LAW in NZ that forces good law abiding citizens to live a dysfunctional life, even break the Law because is robs them of their right to chose what they do with their own body in their own homes ?

      Colin Craig = Fuckwit moron

      Go spout your emotional gibberish somewhere else Colin.

      The Taleban/Al-qaeda are hiring at the moment, you’d fit right in their M8!
      You could sit down around the campfire and deny your fundamental delusions all day !!!

    • McFlock 2.5

      Is he afraid he’d sexually assault a woman in unisex toilets?

      edit: just pointing out the absurdity.

      • Kevin Welsh 2.5.1

        Depends how she was dressed…

        • PlanetOrphan 2.5.1.1

          Colin Craig wouldn’t wear anything above the Knee, let alone those pushup Bras M8!

          Except for Thursdays, that’s “Walk the Beet Night” of course.

  3. Coronial Typer 3

    Pretty stark seeing Key take to his dead wood like a psychotic woodchipper.
    Pity Shearer has to be propped up by King and Mallard and all the other old Lange-Douglas leftovers.

    Shearer is now challenged hard from both the left of the Labour party and the right of government itself: can you finally kill off the residue of Helen Clark’s timid political management? Housing policy was bold. Dealing to Cunliffe was bold.

    Can Shearer clear out his own dead wood?

    • Jane 3.1

      Mallard is not going anywhere sadly. He will cling on by his finger nails until Labour are back on the Goverment benches so he can score himself some nice quango’s, with nowhere to go he’s going nowhere.

  4. TautokoViper 4

    Steven Joyce is in charge of fixing Novopay. The National Party are in favour of Bulk Funding. Join the dots….

    • ianmac 4.1

      Aha. Good (sad) point there Tautoko. Sorry folks that the Novapay is fully dysfunctional so we have decided to fix it by putting the full sum of money due to each school and each school will run their own pay system. For your own good of course. Aren’t we clever?

      • Logie97 4.1.1

        Anyone else catch Key, on the issue of Novopay, stating at the press conference that “Teachers do a brilliant job and they deserve better”?

        Now that’s the way to start the year Johnny, (or did I just have a recent restaurant-type-moment when I heard the voices in my head …?)

  5. Dv 5

    Just found this from dec last year.
    http://drrobertdavis.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/novopay-history-of-incompetence-repeats/

    “I have been paid by the Ministry of Education a “salary” of a significant value, deposited directly into my bank account. Thats nice, except I am not now, nor have I ever been employed by the Ministry of Education.”

    That is really weird. But then again it is Novopay.

    Good luck Mr Joyce

  6. Dv 6

    Tobin Tax in EU
    HT Interest.co.nz

    http://www.interest.co.nz/news/62814/90-seconds-9-am-eurozone-get-tobin-tax-german-confidence-surge-carbon-price-collapse-japa

    news that EU finance ministers give the green light overnight for 11 eurozone members, including France and Germany, to ready a new tax on financial transactions.

    Six eurozone members won’t impose the tax, and neither will another ten in the wider EU. It is aimed at banks and there are fears it could drive business out of Europe, or at least away from those countries adopting it. The tax – also known as a Tobin tax after the economist who originally came up with it 40 years ago – is expected to be charged at a rate of 0.1% of the value of any trade in shares or bonds, and 0.01% of any financial derivative contract.

  7. Bill 7

    No comment, just…

    The prince, who was in charge of firing the Apache’s Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, rockets and 30mm gun, called his job a “joy” in interviews released on Monday.

    “It’s a joy for me because I’m one of those people who loves playing PlayStation and Xbox, so with my thumbs I like to think I’m probably quite useful,” he said.

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jan/22/afghanistan-taliban-response-prince-harry

  8. Pete 8

    EU approves a financial transactions tax

    Eleven countries won the EU’s backing for a financial transaction tax (FTT), with Germany, France, Italy and Spain adding their names to eurozone neighbours Austria, Portugal, Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia.

    The UK, which already imposes a tax on share trades, could benefit from a shift in banking business if Germany and France tax foreign exchange or derivatives trading in Frankfurt and Paris.

    I’m not sure if that would be the best move in New Zealand just yet if we want to move investment away from housing and into the financial markets, but this seems right for economies with a less uniform approach to investing than our own.

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      if we want to move investment away from housing and into the financial markets

      NOOOOOOOOOOO!

      We need to be investing in the productive real, main street and manufacturing economy. Not giving more financial capital to the Wall St types to skim off and play their casino games with.

      An FTT centred on trading in the NZD will help this by reducing financial speculation and the buying/selling of the NZD not associated with imports/exports. It should drop the value of the NZD, helping our exporters, who are currently being crushed by the currency wars being played by the US, Japan, China and EU.

      • Pete 8.1.1

        A FTT would be difficult when it comes to the NZD as most of the transactions take place abroad, where we can’t apply our taxes. And as for the share market, how can businesses get the capital to expand manufacturing operations without some kind of financial transaction? Be it a share issue, a debenture or borrowing from a bank? Saving for 20 years to start a new operation is not a desirable way of fostering job growth.

        • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.1

          Accepted. Currently it is very difficult for new or small businesses to get capital for expansion. NZ, along with many other countries, used to offer cheap, easy capital to developing businesses via publicly owned financial institutions.

          A FTT would be difficult when it comes to the NZD as most of the transactions take place abroad

          Indeed. We would probably have to require that all foreign owned NZD sums were held and transacted through KiwiBank or Reserve Bank accounts or risk not being considered legal tender for any NZ trade purpose.

          • Pete 8.1.1.1.1

            I think a small enterprise loan system would be a good way to start. Administer it in the same fashion as student loans (except apply interest at the OCR) and maybe a yearly admin fee to cover costs. There’d have to be quite a heavy due-dilligence process to prevent rorts, though.

        • Poission 8.1.1.2

          Actually the transfer of transaction to other jurisdictions is a fallacy.The cash aand carry market(arbitrage) part of the forex is attracted to NZ interest rates close to 0 in europe and around 2.5 here at call.

          The increase in overnight parking is seen in the RB stats where we see an increase of around 7 billion in call since 2007,and a decrease in the fixed short end -90 days.

          A tailored investment regime for NZ could reward long term investment at the long end by decreasing withholding tax at the long end and increasing at the short end,reducing short term risk.

          • Colonial Viper 8.1.1.2.1

            A tailored investment regime for NZ could reward long term investment at the long end by decreasing withholding tax at the long end and increasing at the short end,reducing short term risk.

            Nice, with tax levels reaching punitive levels for those holding NZD for 48 hours or less i.e. forex speculators.

            • Poission 8.1.1.2.1.1

              It substantially reduces the risk of capital flight,and increases the availability of long term finance.

              With the economy it is more a problem of where investment is going, a redistribution that is required say from the non productive to the productive and signals need to be increased and expanded.

              We also need to examine OS investment in nz Say for example what use to the NZ economy is OS investment in the NZ residential property market,such as purchasing rentals by non residents

  9. PolishPride 9

    Having returned to work after the break has served to reinforce how completely ridiculous the current system is and how much it needs to change.
    Am I happy to be back – no
    Are my colleagues happy to be back – not really
    Am I greatful to have a job – under the circumstances (i.e. the current system) – yes (although it does not stop me seeing the stupidity of it in the greater context of everything… and how I will waste a third of my life doing this because I have to in order to survive in the current system).
    Are more and more people waking up – Yes
    Either change will continue to come or the system will continue as it is and the unemployed will continue to rise until a tipping point is reached, new ideas (not so new for some) will come to the fore and change will come.
    Either way change for the better is coming.

  10. pollywog 10

    Whinging pom calls it how he sees it…

    I’m an English migrant with New Zealand citizenship and have lived here for over ten years.

    During my time here many of the myths which New Zealand perpetuates for its citizenry, and the world by its media, around the water-cooler at work, and at the pub, have slowly been eroded – much like its rivers, waterways and workers’ rights…

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff-nation/8208827/NZ-a-great-place-to-live-Yeah-right

    har de har har…

    • Ennui in Requiem 10.1

      Ouch Polly, the truth hurts.

    • The Al1en 10.2

      I find the word pom as offensive as nigger, paki and wog.
      No you know, I’d ask you to refrain.
      Thanks.

      Can’t really comment on the whinging bit, save to say, pavements are for walking over, not Englishmen.

      • marty mars 10.2.1

        in the oppression olympics pom doesn’t even get to the starting line TA, but I think it is fair enough for you to express your views regarding what offends you. I’m pretty sure polly won’t agree with me though on that one 🙂

        • The Al1en 10.2.1.1

          Yeah, not really the biggest issue in my life, being it’s a word I’ve heard said to my face a few times with clearly a lot less affection and camaraderie as a word than just playful colonial banter.
          When a word comes with spittle and little pulsing forehead veins, and it’s directed at me for being nothing more than a English man, starting line or not, it’s the thought that counts.

        • pollywog 10.2.1.2

          haha…damn straight nigga !!!

      • The Al1en 10.2.2

        Having said that, I read the article and he’s not really wrong, is he?
        Fair play to him for being so bothered by our 100% pure secret shame that he’s prepared to do something about it, even if just a piece on the web. Certainly not a whinge in my book.
        If I’d wrote it, I would have made a point about the obvious apathy of naturally born kiwis to let it become so bad in the first place, and then I’d challenge you to prove I was wrong.

        A few more kiwis like him and we might get somewhere a bit quicker.
        But of course, feel free to disagree.

    • Colonic Wiper 10.3

      Ok Poly , well we will do our best and try to improve it for you, keep up the good work.

      • vto 10.3.1

        Yeah, kind of a funny approach. Not sure what he is laughing at. His own misfortune to be living here perhaps?

        • The Al1en 10.3.1.1

          Having re-read the article, I applaud him for having a go and saying it how he see it, but I don’t agree with his tone which, to be fair, does sound like a stereotype in action. I certainly don’t agree with him about kiwis being unfriendly,
          I’ve met some lovely people since I moved here, and divs like colin craig and his ilk aside, find you all mostly welcoming and tolerant.
          I still get a pleasant start when strangers out walking say hello. From memory, not London like at all.

          So certainly not ungrateful to be here by association.

  11. Good stuff Hone

    Mana Party leader Hone Harawira issued a statement this morning saying he would be open to the idea of working with the (Maori) party to reinvigorate its leadership, which he said was “old and tired”.

    “Maoridom deserves the strong and vibrant leadership that Mana can provide.”

    He said he would work with the party on the condition it cut ties with the National Party.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10860939

    That is political nous and shows how good Hone is – maybe he could help labour out too.

    • fatty 11.1

      That is political nous and shows how good Hone is – maybe he could help labour out too.

      Yip….its laughable when people say that Hone is too idealistic and not pragmatic enough. He knows when to be which, without questioning his principles.
      Hone already helps Labour. Mana and the Greens have been drafting Labour’s best policies for years now. It’s not as if Labour would have thought to feed the children if the ethical parties didn’t say it first

    • bad12 11.2

      Te Pati Maori on that long slow march to political oblivion, it’s voter base wailing the tangi in the long wait till 2014 when the Maori Party MP’s will get their just deserts and the final marking of the socre-cards which wont be pretty,

      Marked with a larger than life ‘F’ for the failure of what was the most promising political initiative of by and for Maori in a 150 years to clearly represent ‘their people’ as the Party cozied up to a National Government hell bent upon attacking the very existence many of the voters of the Party have on the margins of society,

      Sharples is hanging on like grim death to a Party Leadership that after November 2014 will be relevant to no-one, lap-dogs Pita are not given knighthoods by their masters they are simply tossed the occasional bone to keep them panting in anticipation of a bigger reward that will never come…

  12. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 12

    I consider Came a Hot Friday to be the best New Zealand novel ever.

  13. North 13

    What a disgusting cheek !

    Dunnokeyo suddenly knows heaps about stuff……to wit the necessity to obtain a “professional” analysis of the whole Bain bizo.

    Um, what’s not “professional” about the opinion commissioned from Justice Binnie, 35 years in the upper echelons of Canada’s judiciary ? Hardly the scribblings of a pimply wee law student.

    Oh, I’m sorry…….Baroness Thatcher Judge Judy Girl Collins doesn’t like the $400,000 opinion stodgy Old Simon ordered.

    Righteo…….pay however much to Fisher, the fellow whose two week “report” Binnie described as remarkably “result oriented”. And now, listening to Dunnokeyo, seems like there’s more gonna be paid to yet another, if not Fisher, “result oriented” hired legal gun. Not Judy’s putea, the taxpayers’ putea for God’s Sake. So Judy can go opinion-shopping until she gets the answer she wants.

    That is awesomely corrupt !

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T13:41:05+00:00