Oram on Nats’ poor record and why we should vote for change

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, September 17th, 2017 - 89 comments
Categories: economy, labour, national - Tags: , , , , ,

Rod Oram at Newsroom:

Rod Oram: ‘Why new leaders and policies are needed’
…
National’s track record:

It came to power in November 2008 at the height of the Global Financial Crisis. It was singularly unprepared for the job. It had spent the previous nine years in opposition micro-managing issues and shuffling leaders seeking to regain power. It had failed to develop its policies to respond to the fast-changing world.

A year later, its economic strategy still consisted of only a dozen or so A3 sheets of paper, reported Colin James, the veteran political journalist.

As it promised in the election, National established a tax working party, which later proposed many remedies to the distortions in our tax system. But the government ignored them. Instead it cut the top rate of tax; and it raised GST, which it promised in the election it wouldn’t do.
…
National’s third term has benefited from big booms in migration, tourism, housing, and construction. Again, the government has been highly opportunistic, but it has lagged badly on strategic policies and investment to cope. Infrastructure, housing, construction capacity, the environment and climate are just five of the crucial areas.

It has managed government finances well. But it has been weak on economic strategy. For example, it offers no views on how rapidly the global economy is changing; or on how to reorient technology, education, skills and other policies New Zealanders need to seize those abundant opportunities.
…
Under nine years of National’s governance GDP per capita has grown by barely 1% a year in real terms, which is not much ahead of the OECD average. Wealth inequality has risen, environmental sustainability has fallen and productivity growth, the factor determining our standard of living and economic resilience, remains among the lowest in the OECD.

On current trends and policies, we will achieve none of National’s 2025 goals: catching up with Australia’s GDP per capita; lifting exports from 30% of GDP to 40%; and doubling the value of exports.

The near future:

National says there’s no need to change policies. It says current ones and the strong economy will deliver much more, enabling it in a fourth term to make big inroads on the big economic and social challenges outstanding.

But that’s not the future Treasury or the Reserve Bank forecast last month. They said GDP growth will peak next calendar year then decline. The Reserve Bank is the more cautious of the two, forecasting growth of 2.1% in the year to September 2020 – just before the next election.

Treasury forecasts multifactor productivity — the key determinant of improvements in our wages and wealth — will actually decline in the next two years, then grow weakly in the following two years. We will remain near the bottom of the OECD on this vital measure of economic health and competitiveness. As a consequence, wage growth will barely outpace inflation.

Treasury also forecasts the growth of export volumes will ease in the next two years to less than 2% a year, which is below their long-term average; and our current account deficit – the key measure of our trade and investment relationships with the rest of the world — will worsen.
…
The choice:

National’s top three priorities for business are: “train kids”; continue to grow R&D; and ensuring New Zealand was open to the world, Steven Joyce, its finance spokesman, told business leaders at the Mood of the Boardroom breakfast on Tuesday.

Labour’s are: “A relentless focus on skills and retraining”; lifting R&D; and to give small businesses more access to capital, Grant Robertson, its finance spokesman, told the audience.

Superficially, there’s little difference between the two parties. But in those brief lists, Robertson demonstrated greater understanding of, and ambition for, New Zealand businesses than Joyce.
…
National, in contrast, is far too busy defending its record of the past nine years to admit where it has failed, let alone to think about how it might do better.

Joyce, for example, denies there is a housing crisis. He says home construction will boom for the next six years. But his own government’s recent construction pipeline report shows it will peak next year then fall back, for example, in Auckland to the previous peak in 2005. The government had done nothing to grow the capacity of the construction sector, nor is it offering any policies to do so.

English says productivity is growing nicely. But his own government’s data and analysis show he is absolutely wrong. He also says wages have grown twice as fast as inflation. But that assertion surprises many voters.

More of the same won’t deliver for New Zealand. Hopefully, new leaders and policies will. ….

These are just a few extracts from a long, balanced, and interesting piece. Go read the whole thing on Newsroom…

89 comments on “Oram on Nats’ poor record and why we should vote for change ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Carolyn_nth 1
    17 September 2017 at 10:42 am

    So, basically, the Nats are conservatives and managerialists, managing in the interests of a few in a fairly ad hoc way, without any real kind of plan.

    It’s interesting that Oram, a long time analyst of business-related politics, rates Robertson better than Joyce in his understanding of NZ business and their hopes for the future.

    • Pat 1.1
      17 September 2017 at 10:55 am

      Interesting though not surprising….Joyce may be a devious (and arguably successful) electioneer but as his academic record shows his grasp of economics is woeful

      • cleangreen 1.1.1
        17 September 2017 at 11:19 am

        1000% PAT
        ‘Joyce may be a devious ‘

        Yes he is the master devious person of this century, as he has bullsitted his entire life, even when he took over alll former ZB am stations he told lies and in Government.

        He bulllshited English to give his new owner $25 million to keep operating the stations he had sold going and stayed o the board of directors?????

      • alwyn 1.1.2
        17 September 2017 at 12:48 pm

        “academic record shows his grasp of economics”.
        Please enlighten us. What sort of academic record does Grant Robertson have in the economics discipline? As far as I can see the answer is none.

        • Pat 1.1.2.1
          17 September 2017 at 12:54 pm

          he certainly doesn’t have a failed first year economics paper in his CV

        • Ad 1.1.2.2
          17 September 2017 at 1:00 pm

          Shot me in the ass but what about Shaw for Assoc Finance?

          • Pat 1.1.2.2.1
            17 September 2017 at 1:04 pm

            which moniker would you like the reply under?

            • Ad 1.1.2.2.1.1
              17 September 2017 at 1:30 pm

              Meaning what?

              • Pat …
                17 September 2017 at 1:32 pm

                read the comments under the thread 1.1.2 and it is evident

                • Ad …
                  17 September 2017 at 1:38 pm

                  What is your point?
                  Be clear.

                  • Pat …
                    17 September 2017 at 1:41 pm

                    the thread of comments read to me as being written by the same commenter but with different handles….you are welcome disabuse me of that notion , and while you are doing so you may wish to clarify who the question was for.

                    • Ad …
                      17 September 2017 at 1:45 pm

                      They are different people.

                      The original question, as denoted in the numeral annotation, was to Alwyn.

                    • lprent …
                      17 September 2017 at 2:11 pm

                      I will have a look when I get near a larger screen. It is a behaviour that I tend to discourage – strongly. And I can usually tell.

                    • greywarshark …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:07 pm

                      It would be helpful in a diffuse thread to actually put the pseudonym of the person being replied to. Then anyone including the individuals involved can follow the discussion.
                      I have mentioned this before, and often do it myself. It helps the discussion to evolve, and without it there is often confusion. It’s as easy as using the indicator in your car, even just putting the initials of a name would be good.

                    • Pat …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:20 pm

                      It would Greywarshark, but I’m still struggling to understand how Ad’s arse was shot when he wasn’t previously involved in the conversation?……self inflicted wound perhaps?

                    • Ad …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:32 pm

                      Pat, you need to follow the numeration because it enables you to see precisely who us being asked what. That was the case this time. It has been increased in the last year precisely to better control threads.

                      I was replying to Alwyn because he is on record as highly credentialled in the economic sphere and would be well versed with James Shaw’s CV. No idea whether you have any qualifications in that field.

                      Otherwise, I have but one handle, which is Ad. The site editors wanted me to lengthen it for actual posts, so I went to Advantage. No mystery.

                    • Pat …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:37 pm

                      the numeration clearly shows no possibility of previous involvement in the conversation Ad……or Advantage or whatever…..would get the wound attended to.

                    • Ad …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:46 pm

                      You do not own this discourse.
                      You own nothing on this site other than your capacity to express clearly.

                    • Muttonbird …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:48 pm

                      And Ad why the different avatars? You tried to explain it as using different devices but no-one else’s seems to change with different devices.

                      Are you sure you are not two different people?

                    • Pat …
                      17 September 2017 at 3:54 pm

                      think you fucked up Ad/Alwyn and forgot which avatar you were posting under…is that clear enough for you?

                    • alwyn …
                      17 September 2017 at 4:07 pm

                      To Pat @ 3.54pm.
                      I have only just come back to this site and seen this storm that my simple comment seems to have inspired.

                      For your information, and anyone else getting as het up as you are.
                      I am not the person posting under the name of Ad.
                      I have no idea who Ad is.

                      I have never posted under any other name than Alwyn (or alwyn if you really want to get picky).
                      There, is that sufficient for you?

                    • swordfish …
                      17 September 2017 at 5:16 pm

                      Pat

                      think you fucked up Ad/Alwyn and forgot which avatar you were posting under…is that clear enough for you?

                      Barking up the wrong tree, Pat – confusion possibly caused by

                      (1) You wrongly assuming Ad was replying to you (he was replying to Alwyn)

                      (2) Ad writing “Shot me in the ass …” when he presumably meant “Shoot me in the ass …”

                      (ie “Shot me in the ass …”
                      = criticise me for what I’m about to say if you must but … (“what about Shaw for Assoc Finance?”)

                      rather than

                      “Shoot me in the ass …”
                      = Touché ! You got me on that one Pat)

                    • swordfish …
                      17 September 2017 at 5:28 pm

                      Dang ! Shoot & Shot illustrative meanings around wrong way in my comment (above)

                      Should read

                      ie “Shoot me in the ass …”
                      = criticise me for what I’m about to say if you must but … (“what about Shaw for Assoc Finance?”)

                      rather than

                      “Shot me in the ass …”
                      = Touché ! You got me on that one Pat)

                    • Pat …
                      17 September 2017 at 5:46 pm

                      plausible Swordfish….I withdraw the accusation and apologise to both parties….must be getting paranoid in my old age.

                    • alwyn …
                      18 September 2017 at 12:27 am

                      To Pat @ 5.46pm
                      Thank you.

        • Tracey 1.1.2.3
          17 September 2017 at 3:43 pm

          Interesting analysis though by Oram. Especially the promise to form a tax working group post election…

  2. ianmac 2
    17 September 2017 at 11:37 am

    Historians seem to show that most innovations are produced by Labour Governments and consolidations by National Governments. Some of the changes however by National Governments have been the incremental reduction of worker rights. Hence the drive to eliminate Unions and persist with a low wage economy.

    Must go out and deliver more fliers for Labour. Not sure that they do much more than herald that we are here but…

  3. Penny Bright 3
    17 September 2017 at 11:38 am

    NZ WHISTLE-BLOWER ALERT!

    National is NOT delivering housing, especially in Tamaki.

    IMO – both National PM Bill English and ‘Mr Fixit’ Steven Joyce have been worse than spectacularly USELESS in ‘delivering’ housing for New Zealanders.

    Under this National Government, more houses in Tamaki have gone than new houses have been built.

    237 Tamaki State houses have gone – relocated or demolished.

    Only 213 new houses have been built in FIVE years – of which only 92 are ‘social’ houses.

    The remaining 121 new houses have been for private sale.

    39 ‘affordable’ houses for first home buyers.

    82 ‘high end’ houses.

    PROOF that the Tamaki ‘Regeneration’ has been GENTRIFICATION.

    Destroying established communities in Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure – pushing poorer people off desired real estate.

    IMO, Bill English and Steven Joyce, as Crown Shareholding Ministers in Tamaki Regeneration Ltd, have been personally responsible for the ‘housing crisis’ and increased homelessness in Tamaki.

    For whom exactly have this National Government – PM Bill English and ‘Mr Fixit’ Steven Joyce been delivering?

    Especially in Tamaki?

    IMO – private property developer$ and investor$.

    THE FACTS!

    ‪https://www.facebook.com/penny.bright.104/posts/1796625243683493‬

    ‪https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/5840214/shareholdings‬

    PLEASE SHARE!

    These FACTS are not being reported by mainstream media – which IMO – is simply scandalous.

    Authorised by Penny Bright, 2017 Independent candidate for Tamaki, 86A School Rd, Kingsland, Auckland 1021.

    • greywarshark 3.1
      17 September 2017 at 12:26 pm

      Good facts to note Penny.

      • Penny Bright 3.1.1
        17 September 2017 at 1:57 pm

        The FACTS about this Tamaki SCAM are revealed in this 5 minute video.

        Which has had over 83,000 ‘views’ on Facebook in 3 days.

        ‪https://www.facebook.com/penny.bright.104/posts/1796625243683493‬

        ‪

  4. Ad 4
    17 September 2017 at 12:33 pm

    Most of Oram’s critique could be applied to Labour.

    Tax is the bluntest possible mechanism to direct an economy. Their R&D credits proposed aren’t big, and had limited effect last time.

    Labour have plenty of policies, but I’ll be damned if there’s an economic strategy in there.

    • Stuff The Politicians 4.1
      17 September 2017 at 1:06 pm

      Did you even bother to look at Labours policies Ad ?

    • Nic the NZer 4.2
      17 September 2017 at 2:49 pm

      Fiscal policy may be reasonably blunt but is at least relatively effective at directing the economy. On the other hand National policy is almost exclusively to maintain the existing fiscal balance and rely on monetary policy to direct the economy. This has been so ineffective there is a fresh new single issue party running on reforming this at the election.

      • Ad 4.2.1
        17 September 2017 at 2:57 pm

        Agree with that.

        • greywarshark 4.2.1.1
          17 September 2017 at 3:09 pm

          Ad
          Why does your identifier have different colours and shapes? Green and light blue. Is it a mood identifier, or indicates the political line?

          • Ad 4.2.1.1.1
            17 September 2017 at 3:27 pm

            Samsung phone to MacBook laptop I would presume.
            Otherwise ask the site controller.

          • Muttonbird 4.2.1.1.2
            17 September 2017 at 3:50 pm

            A very good question, greyrawshark. The light blue one is clearly anti-Labour and the green one is moderately socially conscious.

            • Ad 4.2.1.1.2.1
              17 September 2017 at 4:07 pm

              Oh Jesus go ask LPrent.
              Try your sad projections elsewhere.

              • lprent …
                17 September 2017 at 6:24 pm

                Do you want me to fix the emails up at the database?

              • WILD KATIPO …
                17 September 2017 at 10:12 pm

                Ad 4.2.1.1.2.1
                17 September 2017 at 4:07 pm

                … ” Oh Jesus go ask LPrent.
                Try your sad projections elsewhere ” …

                OI ! , – don’t use the Lords name in vain , please AD , otherwise I would suggest saying :

                Oh Muhammad / Buddha go ask LPrent.
                Try your sad projections elsewhere.

              • greywarshark …
                18 September 2017 at 10:03 am

                Hey Muttonbird
                You sure know how to stand on everybody’s toes with your caustic wit. Sometimes though ou are a caustic twit.

            • AB 4.2.1.1.2.2
              17 September 2017 at 4:57 pm

              Gets me thinking of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa and his multiple personalities or “heteronyms”. All different, all interesting.
              Famous Pessoa quote:
              ““I’d woken up early, and I took a long time getting ready to exist.”

              • greywarshark …
                18 September 2017 at 10:20 am

                AB
                What a pleasure to have some high-class philosophising entering the mosh pit. And I mean this sincerely.

                (Modern term to add to those of Samuel Johnson’s 308 year collection and meanings. See google:

                Johnson’s Dictionary – A Harmless Drudge. Here Johnson gives an unusual definition for the word lexicographer, describing it as ‘a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge, that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words.’

                Johnson’s Dictionary – A Harmless Drudge – The British Library
                http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/johnson/drudge/drudge.html)

            • lprent 4.2.1.1.2.3
              17 September 2017 at 6:21 pm

              Same IP. Looks like a typo on in the email address and that got caught in the cookie used for leaving messages when not logged in.

              We see this a lot. Especially when people shift around computers.

              I suggest that people get or use a gravator – it makes it way more obvious when leaving messages.

              https://thestandard.org.nz/faq/gravatar/#GravatarSignup

              • Muttonbird …
                17 September 2017 at 6:26 pm

                Thanks. I enjoy using a gravator because it’s easier to see my comments. It also gives a personality to each user and makes the place more colourful.

                • lprent …
                  17 September 2017 at 7:17 pm

                  …makes the place more colourful.

                  Of course that does immediately lead to the question that it couldn’t have been for this site. That is mostly white, grey and black with a bit of beige, blue and green. But the site colours are muted so you can see things like the gravatars and avatars. So what site did you find that made a black on on grey image “colorful”.

                  Actually don’t answer that. I prefer to keep my eyes intact rather than see yet another garish, blinking, 1990s wonder site. God I remember those things. 😈

                  Or did you mean something like it makes the site more personalised without the random patterns?

                  • Muttonbird …
                    18 September 2017 at 12:10 pm

                    Ha. Yes, I meant colourful as in more personal rather than actual colour.

                    I agree that less is more with forums for the reason you said – to allow avatars to do their job which is to make it easier to recognise posts.

                    Wish more people would use them.

  5. Draco T Bastard 5
    17 September 2017 at 3:19 pm

    That is the international norm, rather than selected recipients being funded by taxpayers via Callaghan, which is a Kiwi quirk.

    That’s actually wrong. Many other countries do that as well – especially the US which uses government departments and institutions to drive innovation in selected ways. The government department/institution is given a budget for R&D and then it chooses how that budget is spent. They’ll possibly have R&D that’s inhouse or outsourced and that outsourcing could be to state/private universities or to state/private enterprises (The Entrepreneurial State). The most well known of these state funded and directed R&D institutions is, of course, NASA. Apple’s Siri was developed through this system although it wasn’t Apple that did it but a small company that got bought up by Apple after they’d done the developing.

    The Callaghan system seems to be a failed copy of that system. Our system fails to have that government institution directed funding for specific results resulting in haphazard R&D.

    The Greens idea of a Minister for Manufacturing could be morphed into such an institution. A Ministry for Manufacturing which does R&D on manufacturing techniques with findings going to the public so that local business can use it to build local manufacturing that’s on par with the best in the world.

    Such a ministry would also be looking into developing our resources. The sustainable extraction and processing of them to then use in that manufacturing.

    Considering my idea of state factories founded around 3D printing which anybody can then use to produce any product on demand I’d even have that ministry building and maintaining those factories.

    • Ad 5.1
      17 September 2017 at 3:44 pm

      There’s lots of different R&D models, many better suited to small and narrow economies. The old Ministry of Research and Development studied bunches of them – particularly from Denmark, Singapore, Netherlands, and Israel. South Korea’s one is also worth looking at. The literature on the results is not currently massive, although it’s there.

      None are perfect, most are more successful than our starving, anachronistic, and timid set of mechanisms.

      I really like the Greens’ aim of turning much of our economy towards digital. And I appreciate that Labour wants a specific base for that in Dunedin. There is much to commend.

      But if the only mechanisms we can come up with to propel our remaining agrarian base into outstanding sustainable world-beating wealth is yet another set of taxes, then there is a real failure of national thinking and leadership. I would want to see that leadership from either of the major parties.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1
        17 September 2017 at 3:55 pm

        But if the only mechanisms we can come up with to propel our remaining agrarian base into outstanding sustainable world-beating wealth is yet another set of taxes, then there is a real failure of national thinking and leadership.

        That’s part and parcel of the neo-liberal system of using payment of money to encourage desired actions while taking money from people to discourage undesirable actions.

        It’s not a particularly good way of encouraging people and we really should be looking at other ideas. From what I can make out, simply ensuring people have enough to live and access to the necessary resources would seriously improve our innovation.

        • Ad 5.1.1.1
          17 September 2017 at 4:06 pm

          Motivation is one part of it.

          National leadership has some part.

          Universities another.

          Basic good wages, strong unions, infrastructure, public services – all necessary but insufficient conditions.

          There’s a whole ecosystem to innovation and productivity.

          If there were a perfect recipe, we would have found it. But this current government has done little to strengthen it, and I don’t currently see strong alternatives on offer.

          If I were charitable, there are bigger social priorities for the next government to solve – and we have time to do that while the economy is stable.

          • tracey 5.1.1.1.1
            17 September 2017 at 4:25 pm

            If immigration is slashed and 5 year bright line imposed, the economy will suffer bumps. I think we need those bumps so dont get me wrong. But your prediction of a stable economy are unlikely to prevail.

            • Ad 5.1.1.1.1.1
              17 September 2017 at 6:49 pm

              Both Treasury and Reserve Bank forecasts released recently show continuous growth and strong employment with a very soft landing into the longer term.

              Both National and Labour are signaling no major changes to tax for many years.

              So, no.
              The bumps to the New Zealand economy – as they have been for the last 20 plus years – will be external.

              • Tracey …
                17 September 2017 at 7:28 pm

                I keep forgetting. You know everything.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                17 September 2017 at 10:52 pm

                The economy is about to crash.

                That’s what the slowing housing bubble will do. As the private banks create less money due to the slowing house turn-over the economy will slow. That will slow the banks lending money even more starting a death spiral that will result in a serious crash.

                National didn’t avoid the GFC with their propping up of the housing market – they just delayed it a bit. Of course, when it hits they’ll blame Labour because they won’t be in power any more. Labour will really need to show that it was National’s policies that brought it about.

        • eco maori 5.1.1.2
          17 September 2017 at 8:17 pm

          +10000000

    • David Mac 5.2
      17 September 2017 at 4:53 pm

      R & D, hell yes, but I think we should be looking in areas where we have a natural headstart. An edge over the rest of the world.

      eg: A few strands of flax feel like they will cut my fingers off before breaking. The swamps around my place are full of it, grows like a weed. It’s the fibre used to make linen. I wonder what that fibre can do better than something that is in popular use now? I think we should be R and Ding down paths like this.

      • Ad 5.2.1
        17 September 2017 at 6:50 pm

        Agreed.

        Although I would go straight for Fonterra.
        Fonterra is the reason dairy farmers maximize volume over all else.

      • Stuart Munro 5.2.2
        17 September 2017 at 11:15 pm

        It is a logical crop – especially for riparian and roadside planting (it makes a good soft crash barrier) – but European linen is made from quite a different plant. There are anecdotal accounts of NZ flax being made into linen but most commercial use last century was as sacking and rope.

        The reason flax is not routinely made into fine fibre as cotton is, is that it contains a lot of hemicelluloses between the main fibres – which stick them together or tangle them up. Traditional Maori flax preparation involved lengthy working to break these up and soften the end product fibre. Irish linen sometimes used pond retting that would derive some value from bacteria that digest hemicelloses. Other techniques that would probably bear fruit are heat or pressure processes like the steam explosion method used to produce bamboo fibre from a rather less obvious textile source.

        Some work has been done on its use in reinforcing: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.29863/abstract

        A well designed process would aim to recover an antiseptic sap fraction, and the chlorophyll component would probably be suitable for stock feed.

        • David Mac 5.2.2.1
          18 September 2017 at 8:42 am

          Hi Stuart, yes, R & D into it’s potential as a reinforcing agent or similar, those sort of avenues.

          eg: A replacement for the plastic mesh currently used to hold the steep banks beside new motorways cuttings in place until the plantings retain the soil erosion. The NZ market would keep a factory in work for 2 days a year but the global market? Reinforcing in rammed earth walls? In concrete? An organic carbon fibre type product?

          Fonterra, I agree Ad, diverse and capable existing R & D infrastructure. The rest of the world is surfing on the rising Chinese household income. Like our logs, we ship bags of milk powder. There are only 4.5 million of us, we don’t even have to be that good at it. A weekly tub of Fonterra dairy food in 10% of Chinese household fridges….the figures are staggering. Farmers making the same $ with herds half the size.

          The bottling line at the Chinese owned wine-making operation close to me. I can’t read the labels, Mandarin. Palleted and shipped to a foodstuff distribution centre in China.

        • eco maori 5.2.2.2
          18 September 2017 at 12:39 pm

          Flax is also good for helping minimizing worms in stock to i would plant it all around farms its a pain in the ass if you mow lawns though.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.2.3
        17 September 2017 at 11:23 pm

        but I think we should be looking in areas where we have a natural headstart. An edge over the rest of the world.

        We don’t really have such a thing.

        A few strands of flax feel like they will cut my fingers off before breaking.

        Flax is another plant that is under rated. But I’d look to hemp to start with as it grows faster and we could possibly use it to clean up our over fertilised land. Throw in some cannabis for medical and recreational reasons and we’d be on to a sure fire winner.

        • David Mac 5.2.3.1
          18 September 2017 at 9:05 am

          Nah, just like people, as a nation we have a best foot to put forward. Hemp can be grown in many places around the world. I’m suggesting we look for solutions that can’t be replicated in third world locations. A viable use for flax has spin-off benefits. If we could develop it into a cash crop we create a financial reason for farmers to keep stock out of boggy/swampy areas, the waterway feeders

          Backpacker places are the same the world over. How can we do that like nobody else can? Create a unique experience and create fufilling work for the cash and job strapped? Marae-stay.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.2.3.1.1
            18 September 2017 at 9:38 am

            Hemp can be grown in many places around the world.

            So can flax. It’s not unique to us.

            I’m suggesting we look for solutions that can’t be replicated in third world locations.

            No such thing exists.

            If we could develop it into a cash crop we create a financial reason for farmers to keep stock out of boggy/swampy areas, the waterway feeders

            There’s certainly options available for flax. Using it to help regenerate our wetlands would be great. Would need to develop a market for it’s products. ATM there doesn’t seem to be a lot with only some two and a half million tonnes produced per year.

            • David Mac 5.2.3.1.1.1
              18 September 2017 at 9:58 am

              Flax or hemp may not be it. The Manuka honey thing, it’s niche, but 20 Manuka honey things, a few may runaway succeed. I’m suggesting we look for ways to unearth our next Manuka honey thing rather than bagging up more milk powder.

            • tracey 5.2.3.1.1.2
              18 September 2017 at 10:03 am

              Kakapo

  6. tracey 6
    17 September 2017 at 3:46 pm

    So Nays and many in the media have been haranging Labour for what Nats did in Election 08 BUT without being hammered by the media…

  7. Upnorth 7
    17 September 2017 at 4:41 pm

    I still struggle with the fact labour nzf and greens want to tax everything. Why do they want to do that.

    We need immigration and a very very simple tax system. I earn 90k a year 3 kids…I will be paying more!!!!

    Why why why…what have i done to deserve this

    • tracey 7.1
      17 September 2017 at 7:41 pm

      Because lowering taxes has corresponded with total degradation of our Health system.

      Because our economy is predicated on low inflation or full employment. We chose low inflation. That means the unemployed have to be paid for to keep inflation low.

      The disabled did not choose to be disabled, why do they deserve to life a subsistence life at best?

      Populations in rural areas are low but road costs are high, do they deserve poor or no roads?

      My brother complained about paying 60k in tax. His tax is higher than what half the population earn.

      In 1994 I earned 52k. In 2015 as a Senior Lecturer at a Tertiary I was paid 75k. In the meantime my home went up by over 1.5m. Wages have stayed low and not by accident. English never talks about income and wages during his campaign. His party has no policy on those. Wonder why?

      If you think the path we have been on for 30 to 40 years is working well for you, I cannot help you.

      We need to do something different to what we have been doing for decades… Look around you at who has becone better off.

      • Nic the NZer 7.1.1
        17 September 2017 at 10:08 pm

        Lowering Taxes may have corresponded with systematic under-funding of our health system (and our education system and transport to boot), however its important for the incoming government to understand and recognize that it is not and never has been a cause (the cause here is that the government believes it is spending enough of health). Instead they need to realize the government can always afford to properly fund all of the main public sector parts of the economy.

        Overall it is the governments insistence on maintaining a neutral fiscal balance (or even fiscal surplus) which causes the economy to remain in the present state of less than full employment. Ideally the incoming government would understand this well enough to give up on ‘fiscal responsibility’ and allow a deficit to occur by simply adding to their spending (which will allow the savings rate to increase and start to reduce the unemployment rate).

        This probably has some implications for what tax policy of the incoming government should be.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.2
        17 September 2017 at 10:57 pm

        His party has no policy on those. Wonder why?

        Yes they do but they don’t talk about it because their policy is to lower wages even further.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2
      17 September 2017 at 10:55 pm

      Why why why…what have i done to deserve this

      You voted National who then put in place policies that are destroying our economy and our society.

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 7.3
      18 September 2017 at 10:41 am

      In fact I suggest that people like UpNorth should not pay more tax, and should pay less. With a total 90k income and 3 children (and 2 adults?) Upnorth is below about 45% of the NZ income distribution.

      http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/80229052/interactive-see-how-your-household-income-compares

      Certainly the poorer 80% of the NZ population should not pay a penny more and in fact should receive a large net increase in state funding (via reduced tax and / or increased subsidised services).

      We desperately need to increase tax, but on the wealthy – only the top 10% should pay more (much more!). They own 60% of the nation’s wealth (i.e. most of it) and are currently grossly undertaxed. They also will not suffer any hardship whatsoever if their wealth was reduced by 25% or so (so John Key would have to scrape by with $75m instead of $100m, for example)

  8. red-blooded 8
    17 September 2017 at 5:42 pm

    How will you be paying more, Upnorth? There’s no proposed increase for PAYE or GST. Perhaps you mean that you won’t be getting a tax cut? That’s not “paying more”, and even if it was (which it isn’t) I’d suggest you need to look at this with a bigger lens. It’s not all about you. Do we need more social housing? Yes. Are our hospitals and DHBs coping? No – they’ve been underfunded for years. What about our schools? Ditto… The list goes on. How do we pay for improvements? you guessed it – through our taxes.

    As it happens, we already have immigration and a very very simple tax system. That might be fine and dandy for you ($90k a year sounds pretty damn good to me), but there are people in our country who are homeless, hungry and losing hope. Many of them are kids who aren’t lucky enough to have parents earning such a good income. I care about them, do you?

    • Upnorth 8.1
      17 September 2017 at 6:20 pm

      Yes that is why I pay taxes pay my mortgage and only got UE never had any university free education.
      So I do care about my kids so don’t be so rude and tell me I need to look after everyone else. I pay my taxes and get no benefits or tax credits.
      I state again why does everyone want to tax the hell out of me…I’m do my bit.

      • Carolyn_nth 8.1.1
        17 September 2017 at 6:34 pm

        We all benefit from the tax take but in different ways. I don’t have children, and never will, but I’m happy for some of state spending to go on state early years and school years education, as well as on WFF, and free GP visits for those under 18 years, etc.

        A progressive tax system means those on highest incomes, and the wealthiest pay more – they can afford to pay more and have massively reaped the benefits of state run systems in diverse ways.

        I’m happy for more state spending to go on those most in need – those unable to work, the sick and disabled, etc – we all benefit from a society in which everyone has enough to live on.

        I do not want to be part of a society where large numbers of people are sleeping in the streets, in cars, in inadequate camp ground facilities, etc, and where the working poor need to choose between paying the rent or buying food or paying for power, etc.

        • tracey 8.1.1.1
          17 September 2017 at 7:35 pm

          I am similar to you. I have had no kids til I took in a 15 year old abandoned by his parents. I happily pay for schools and healthcare and transport for others. That is what living in a society is.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.2
        18 September 2017 at 7:31 am

        What are you dribbling about?

        Whinging and whinging and whinging about non-existent tax proposals. Are you terrified that there are wolves under your bed too? Poor baby.

        On $90k and voting National, like a turkey voting for Xmas. Blaming anyone but yourself for the shitty incompetent policies you support. You’re pathetic.

      • greywarshark 8.1.3
        18 September 2017 at 10:12 am

        Upnorth
        You are part of a society that provides the things you have been able to use and perhaps part pay for. You talk as if you are some person annointed from heaven and have entitlement to get everything offered to you at a big discount, and bugger everyone else.

        You think you should be offered a special deal with someone saying “Belong to this group, and we can get everything for you wholesale”. People who talk openly like this often mean that the ‘everything’ fell off the back of a truck; that it was obtained by hook and by being a crook.

        And the truth is this is the path taken by the RWs and their fellow travellers, and the most adept of these are the National Party. So stick with them if you want but don’t come here moaning about the crooks not getting treatment that is not privileged in your favour.

  9. Upnorth 9
    17 September 2017 at 7:42 pm

    Yes but I do care about society that’s my point…why are we getting hit all the time. .I’m sick of it

    • Carolyn_nth 9.1
      17 September 2017 at 8:04 pm

      What things are you actually being hit with? And how will you be paying more tax under Labour and the GP?

      Not sure what you are always being hit with?

      I’m sIck of constantly increasing power and rent, the increasing difficulty of finding decent places to rent at a reasonable price.

      None of that’s the fault of Labour or the GP. they have policies to try and fix that.

      I don’t like that state schools charge parents for a lot of extras. That’s not the fault of Labour or the GP. I don’t like that many put off going to the doctors and the dentist, etc.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.2
      17 September 2017 at 11:07 pm

      but I do care about society that’s my point…

      You don’t show any signs of that. You only show signs of caring only for yourself.

      Everything that you’ve said here is a whinge about how much you’re paying with nothing about how much you’re getting – civil society, low crime, educated populace that improves your living standards – the list goes on and on.

      And all you do is whinge about having to pay for the services rendered to you by society.

    • Robert Guyton 9.3
      18 September 2017 at 9:14 am

      This “getting hit” “being slammed” “kicked in the teeth” etc. tough-talk is woven through the National Party/Right wing narrative. Such violent thinks and talks. Scary stuff comin’ at ya!

    • UncookedSelachimorpha 9.4
      18 September 2017 at 10:56 am

      Upnorth – in fact the policies of the National Party are what are hitting you. Low tax for the wealthy and low wages and low services for everyone else. Please see my comment at 7.3.

      While I am a strong advocate for tax reform (and a large increase in total tax take) – we should remember that we want less tax (or more government spending) for most people, because most people in NZ are comparatively very poor compared to the very rich, even though we are a wealthy country.

  10. Sumsuch 10
    18 September 2017 at 10:21 pm

    Difficult to deny Oram-ji’s integrity. Him one of the few Christians who take that tack–tho’ we appreciate these ones greatly. Rationalization is religion’s real creed. 2008, National argued for keeping up with OZ as a major plank–except for them sinking, no …And the dire tinkerer English is bringing back another fence-pale of that election, boot camps. Laughter is indeed universal.

    About putting the poor right on where they’ve been going wrong, Bill, how about for a start making them not poor? 20% increase in benefits–what your joy-girl, Shipley, took away from US!

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Stories of varying weight

    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on anything you may have missed. Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Balancing External Security and the Economy

    New Zealand is again having to reconcile conflicting pressures from its military and its trade interests. Should we join Pillar Two of AUKUS and risk compromising our markets in China? For a century after New Zealand was founded in 1840, its external security arrangements and external economics arrangements were aligned. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    16 hours ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: The unravelling of the offsets

    The ‘50 Shades of Green’ farmers’ protest in 2019 was heavy on climate change denial, but five years on, scepticism and criticism about the idea that pine forests can save us is growing across the board. File photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top six news items of note in climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • What makes us tick

    This morning the sky was bright.The birds, in their usual joyous bliss. Nature doesn’t seem to feel the heat of what might angst humans.Their calls are clear and beautiful.Just some random thoughts:MāoriPaul Goldsmith has announced his government will roll back the judiciary’s rulings on Māori Customary Marine Title, which recognises ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    22 hours ago
  • Foreshore and seabed 2.0

    In 2003, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision in Ngati Apa v Attorney-General, ruling that Māori customary title over the foreshore and seabed had not been universally extinguished, and that the Māori Land Court could determine claims and confirm title if the facts supported it. This kicked off the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    24 hours ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the Royal Commission report into abuse in care

    Earlier this week at Parliament, Labour leader Chris Hipkins was applauded for saying that the response to the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care had to be “bigger than politics.” True, but the fine words, apologies and “we hear you” messages will soon ring ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 19

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

    The Government has acknowledged the nearly 2,400 courageous survivors who shared their experiences during the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State and Faith-Based Care. The final report from the largest and most complex public inquiry ever held in New Zealand, the Royal Commission Inquiry “Whanaketia – through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Half a million people use tax calculator

    With a week to go before hard-working New Zealanders see personal income tax relief for the first time in fourteen years, 513,000 people have used the Budget tax calculator to see how much they will benefit, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “Tax relief is long overdue. From next Wednesday, personal income ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Paid Parental Leave improvements pass first reading

    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says a bill that has passed its first reading will improve parental leave settings and give non-biological parents more flexibility as primary carer for their child. The Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill (No3), passed its first reading this morning. “It includes a change ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Rebuilding the economy through better regulation

    Two Bills designed to improve regulation and make it easier to do business have passed their first reading in Parliament, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. The Regulatory Systems (Economic Development) Amendment Bill and Regulatory Systems (Immigration and Workforce) Amendment Bill make key changes to legislation administered by the Ministry ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • ‘Open banking’ and ‘open electricity’ on the way

    New legislation paves the way for greater competition in sectors such as banking and electricity, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Competitive markets boost productivity, create employment opportunities and lift living standards. To support competition, we need good quality regulation but, unfortunately, a recent OECD report ranked New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Charity lotteries to be permitted to operate online

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says lotteries for charitable purposes, such as those run by the Heart Foundation, Coastguard NZ, and local hospices, will soon be allowed to operate online permanently. “Under current laws, these fundraising lotteries are only allowed to operate online until October 2024, after which ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Accelerating Northland Expressway

    The Coalition Government is accelerating work on the new four-lane expressway between Auckland and Whangārei as part of its Roads of National Significance programme, with an accelerated delivery model to deliver this project faster and more efficiently, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “For too long, the lack of resilient transport connections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Sir Don to travel to Viet Nam as special envoy

    Sir Don McKinnon will travel to Viet Nam this week as a Special Envoy of the Government, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.    “It is important that the Government give due recognition to the significant contributions that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made to New Zealand-Viet Nam relations,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Grant Illingworth KC appointed as transitional Commissioner to Royal Commission

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says newly appointed Commissioner, Grant Illingworth KC, will help deliver the report for the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19 Lessons, due on 28 November 2024.  “I am pleased to announce that Mr Illingworth will commence his appointment as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to advance relationships with ASEAN partners

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters travels to Laos this week to participate in a series of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-led Ministerial meetings in Vientiane.    “ASEAN plays an important role in supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” Mr Peters says.   “This will be our third visit to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Backing mental health services on the West Coast

    Construction of a new mental health facility at Te Nikau Grey Hospital in Greymouth is today one step closer, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “This $27 million facility shows this Government is delivering on its promise to boost mental health care and improve front line services,” Mr Doocey says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ support for sustainable Pacific fisheries

    New Zealand is committing nearly $50 million to a package supporting sustainable Pacific fisheries development over the next four years, Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones announced today. “This support consisting of a range of initiatives demonstrates New Zealand’s commitment to assisting our Pacific partners ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Students’ needs at centre of new charter school adjustments

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour says proposed changes to the Education and Training Amendment Bill will ensure charter schools have more flexibility to negotiate employment agreements and are equipped with the right teaching resources. “Cabinet has agreed to progress an amendment which means unions will not be able to initiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Commissioner replaces Health NZ Board

    In response to serious concerns around oversight, overspend and a significant deterioration in financial outlook, the Board of Health New Zealand will be replaced with a Commissioner, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti announced today.  “The previous government’s botched health reforms have created significant financial challenges at Health NZ that, without ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to speak at Australian Space Forum

    Minister for Space and Science, Innovation and Technology Judith Collins will travel to Adelaide tomorrow for space and science engagements, including speaking at the Australian Space Forum.  While there she will also have meetings and visits with a focus on space, biotechnology and innovation.  “New Zealand has a thriving space ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend climate action meeting in China

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will travel to China on Saturday to attend the Ministerial on Climate Action meeting held in Wuhan.  “Attending the Ministerial on Climate Action is an opportunity to advocate for New Zealand climate priorities and engage with our key partners on climate action,” Mr Watts says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Oceans and Fisheries Minister to Solomons

    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is travelling to the Solomon Islands tomorrow for meetings with his counterparts from around the Pacific supporting collective management of the region’s fisheries. The 23rd Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee and the 5th Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting in Honiara from 23 to 26 July ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government launches Military Style Academy Pilot

    The Government today launched the Military Style Academy Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North, an important part of the Government’s plan to crackdown on youth crime and getting youth offenders back on track, Minister for Children, Karen Chhour said today. “On the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Nine priority bridge replacements to get underway

    The Government has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has begun work to replace nine priority bridges across the country to ensure our state highway network remains resilient, reliable, and efficient for road users, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.“Increasing productivity and economic growth is a key priority for the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Update on global IT outage

    Acting Prime Minister David Seymour has been in contact throughout the evening with senior officials who have coordinated a whole of government response to the global IT outage and can provide an update. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has designated the National Emergency Management Agency as the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New Zealand, Japan renew Pacific partnership

    New Zealand and Japan will continue to step up their shared engagement with the Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “New Zealand and Japan have a strong, shared interest in a free, open and stable Pacific Islands region,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to be finding more ways ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New infrastructure energises BOP forestry towns

    New developments in the heart of North Island forestry country will reinvigorate their communities and boost economic development, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones visited Kaingaroa and Kawerau in Bay of Plenty today to open a landmark community centre in the former and a new connecting road in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 'Pacific Futures'

    President Adeang, fellow Ministers, honourable Diet Member Horii, Ambassadors, distinguished guests.    Minasama, konnichiwa, and good afternoon, everyone.    Distinguished guests, it’s a pleasure to be here with you today to talk about New Zealand’s foreign policy reset, the reasons for it, the values that underpin it, and how it ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-07-26T22:42:52+00:00