Parker nails English on economic policy

Written By: - Date published: 2:25 pm, August 25th, 2014 - 32 comments
Categories: bill english, capital gains, david parker, Economy, exports, labour, manufacturing, minimum wage, monetary policy, national, wages - Tags:

Labour has the policies to take New Zealand forward into the 21st century – National’s “same old same old” will see the Kiwi skiff swamped. That was the clear conclusion from the debate between David Parker and Bill English on National Radio this morning. Parker’s approach was to put a new engine in the boat and deal to the big issues – exchange rate, housing supply, wages and secure jobs. English preferred to tinker with the old diesel – things are pretty good and “you can’t solve poverty.”

Kathryn Ryan finished by saying “I don’t hear a focus that might shift the economy for the first time in thirty years” to which Parker responded by saying with a capital gains tax 60% is paid for by the top 1% so it is highly redistributive, the answer to housing crisis is to build more houses which every few decades is what Labour governments do and which fixes the problem, and wages have to rise as too many people end up with huge student loans which lead to insecure work and insecure incomes. Bill’s answer was to work on worthy issues one at a time.

Parker said our exports have gone from  from 33% to 29% of the economy and are forecast to drop to 25% so that our external deficit will be 6% of GDP – this contrasts with National’s promise at the 2008 election to lift exports to 40% of GDP. He said that we need to fix the exchange rate, save more, push away from speculation and push up value chain so we lift wages.

Similar points were made by Rod Oram last week in the Sunday Star times. Some excerpts

We need a broader, more sophisticated range of exports to overcome our commodity constraints. But we’re going in the opposite direction. Manufactured goods have fallen from about 37 per cent of exports in 2003 to about 22 per cent today. This increasing simplification of our economy towards low value commodities has accelerated in recent years, according to data from a long-term study of countries’ economic complexity run by Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In 2008, we ranked 39th in the world in terms of economic complexity, in the company of countries such as Brazil, Russia and Greece. But by 2012 we had fallen to 52nd.

and

There is a common theme for English-speaking countries: monetary and government policies have favoured the domestic over the export economy, asset appreciation over productive investment, and simple low value activity over complex high value business. This is particularly true of our three countries dominated by our natural resources – NZ, Australia and Canada. We could shrug our shoulders and say we are an inherently low growth economy and we can’t do much about it. But anyway it doesn’t matter because our natural resources and commodities enjoy such strong demand.

If this is what we want, National is offering a perfect set of conservative policies to keep delivering it: 1980s monetary policy that controls inflation but to the detriment of the dollar and interest rates and thus export competitiveness; a superannuation time bomb; and tax policy that skews investment to property and away from production. Moreover National offers R&D grants to a few companies at the expense of wider innovation; incentives for more natural resource depletion and commodity production; and declining investment in science in real terms, as shown in the government’s draft 10-year science funding strategy.

Or, if we want a sophisticated, wealthy economy, Labour and Greens are offering progressive policies to trigger the shift: a modern monetary policy that targets inflation and our external competitiveness; and compulsory superannuation that deepens our capital base and adds another tool to monetary policy to help take the pressure off interest rates and the dollar. Moreover, they also offer a capital gains tax to help level the investment playing field; and science, education, skills, investment, R&D policies that help companies develop high value products and invest in new areas such as clean technology.

Oram’s conclusion

This is our starkest choice in economic policy in decades.

I’m for a sophisticated wealthy economy, I think Parker and Labour have the policies to deliver it.

 

32 comments on “Parker nails English on economic policy ”

  1. I have a certain respect for Bill English – I may not agree with him, but he’s no Steven Joyce and is willing to debate policy. This was by far the most enlightening debate I’ve heard.

    And yes, Parker’s the one with the ideas – and good ones.

    Link to debate

    • Lanthanide 1.1

      Yes, I have to give Bill grudging respect. He has a very slanted view on everything and is always working in the interest of the top 10% against the rest, but he does also really understand the policy behind things and isn’t afraid to put his understanding across.

  2. National may come to regret their decision to front foot their economic performance during the campaign and debates.

    Fully informed with this kind of data and detail, Labour and the Greens may come out looking a lot more credible, in economic terms, for ordinary New Zealanders than they did going into the campaign.

    • Lanthanide 2.1

      Yip, in 2008 it was their meaningless catch-cry of “decade of deficits” that really shored up their vote, and in 2011 they only won their asset-selling platform because of the CHCH earthquakes.

      People like to quote Michael Cullen out of context when he said “the cupboard’s bare – we spent it all”. He was actually referring to Labour’s tax-cut policy boxing National into a corner, on the belief that National wouldn’t dare run a deficit in order to fund tax-cuts – which they promptly showed wasn’t going to be something that they would let get in the way of enriching their mates.

    • Dumbrse 2.2

      I suspect Labour is already regretting their fiscal decisions so much so that they have now cancelled 8 of them. Which 8 was it by the way? Trucks in the fast lane…… what else ? Talk about now being on the back foot.

      • mickysavage 2.2.1

        Do you approve of Key suggesting tax cuts when it is clear the country cannot afford them?

        • Dumbrse 2.2.1.1

          Yes I do because I’m not silly enough to think they will take effect the day after they return to the benches. If I recall there was some comment about tax cuts in 2017 when, by the sounds of it, they will become affordable.
          Back to Labours back pedal …. Your leader is front footing Thursday nights debate by cancelling fiscally irresponsible policy so as JK cannot ask him to …show us the money… Yes?

          • Colonial Viper 2.2.1.1.1

            Tax cuts to the top 5% are NEVER affordable, because it is always the bottom 95% who pay for them.

            • Dumbrse 2.2.1.1.1.1

              I didn’t realise that was Nationals latest tax cut policy. I can’t help thinking you may be another of those in the hacking syndicate to get such advanced notice.

              • Colonial Viper

                And have no specific details, I just admire the way that National consistently serves their core constituency – the top 5%

          • Hanswurst 2.2.1.1.2

            It’s bizarre to set store on a policy indication that is produced with no detail on the fly in the run up to an election, when that policy is touted to have no effect until the next election. It reflects a blind faith that defies all reason.

          • Macro 2.2.1.1.3

            250,000 out of work, 150,000 on unemployment benefit, 100,000 unemployed and no income – this is a rockstar economy? – How much of the 84% increase in the Meridian profit worth to you personally dumb arse?
            And we can afford tax cats???

      • Puddleglum 2.2.2

        I was thinking more about policies to change the economic settings rather than spending promises.

        National is doing so little in relation to those settings.

        And crowing about GDP growth is an achilles heel now that economists have pointed out the over-reliance of that on the Christchurch rebuild and the lack of anything else in place to either continue growth (if that’s National’s aim) or to transform the economy (or doesn’t National think that’s necessary?).

        • Colonial Viper 2.2.2.1

          Once the Christchurch rebuild slows down in its money to funnel to their blue mates, of course, National will need to “transform the economy” and get a new money funnel going.

  3. hunter 3

    Agree with the above. An amusing aside before the debate was an anecdote by a guest speaker (sorry didn’t catch his name) referring to the alleged rock star economy. “The problem with rock stars is the managers always take off with the money” CLASSIC

  4. Enough is Enough 4

    I am still not convinced on Parker. He seems to come from the same economics school as English and Cullen and in my view will continue the status quo, albeit with a few of the rough edges knocked off.

    He continues to advocate for austerity measures (increasing the pension age of eligibility), which does not sit well for a party that purports to represent the working class.

    I would like to see Russell Norman get the Finance job. He has the balls and intellect to stand up to the 1%ers.

    To do so the Greens need at least 15% in the polls. Remember that and give your party vote to the Greens,.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      Parker is a good man but way too indoctrinated in the economic and monetary orthodoxy.

    • Murray Olsen 4.2

      I’m in total agreement, EiE. Parker is more of a wet Rogernome than anything else. Norman would be great in Finance. He actually has a few ideas from outside the economic orthodoxy. I can’t see it happening though 🙁

  5. fambo 5

    I can’t see what’s to like in either Bill English or Winston Peters. They both hate Labour and even more so the Greens so don’t waste your goodwill on them.

    • Colonial Viper 5.1

      IF National won, I’d want English right in there at the most senior levels of the National hierarchy. Not Joyce, not Brownlee, not Collins, not Bennett, not Adams, not Parata.

      • David H 5.1.1

        And when TricKey uses his oneway ticket to Hawaii, how long do you think Blinglish will last?

  6. Richard 6

    Just love that picture. Seems our “rock star” economy is more Barry Manilow than Rolling Stones

  7. Colonial Viper 7

    Fossil fuel depletion will become severe in the next 20 years. This focus on electronic numbers and spreadsheet balances is fucking our ability to think about and deal with the harsh physical realities which are coming down the pike.

    • Macro 7.1

      Exactly! Both men focused on “growth” as if that is the be all, and end all, in an economy. Neither have any idea of what the economy is about, or even seem to care. Maybe Parker has a little more inkling than English, but as you observe, CV both are fixated in the traditional and failing old school of economic theory. The idea that growth is the panacea of all economic ills, and will get us out of all manner of difficulties, is now so far off reality that it is frightening.
      Humans demands have now outstripped most of our main resources, and there simply isn’t enough left for the traditional solution of growing the pie even bigger (The result of which merely results in those with the largest slice getting even bigger slices and the rest getting crumbs). Evidence the “wonderful” results of Mainzeal, Meridian, etc – “wonderful profits” for whom? and at the expensive of whom? These we are told and they would have us believe, are the result of our “rockstar” economy which is doing so nicely! Yes for some! But what about the rest? 250,000 out of work. 150,000 on unemployment benefit, leaving 100,000 with no job or any income whatsoever! But you know this. I’m preaching here to the casual passer by.
      What is required is urgently finding ways to distribute the “wealth” equitably. Money does not buy happiness. Accumulating more and more at the expense of others is the problem, not the solution.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1

        Yep well put, distribute the wealth equitably and also get underway the massive massive amount of work that is needed to ready NZ for a low carbon, de-globalised future. Because that future is rapidly coming, whether we are ready for it or not.

        • Brendon 7.1.1.1

          Yes and finance it with reserve bank credit, not bank credit from a foreign owned private corporation.

  8. and Oram is the beacon of impartiality, beware of the fallacy of the so called expert to justify an argument

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      Oram isn’t just an expert, he’s also got excellent real world economic reasoning, something that the bank economists and financial academics can rarely muster.

    • tricledrown 8.2

      Redesperatelytryingtospreadbullhit!
      ffs just go fishing and stop pouring oil on the fire Simon!
      When Rod Oram first arrived in this country he was a born again Thatcherite!
      The only person that believes Nationals economic lack of policy is working is Phil O’Reilly the of business New Zealand who want lower wages and more short sighted short term thinking!
      Nationals economic policy is to pray for some more Earthquakes!
      Oram knows more about economics than most in this back water country reddeliverence!

      • dave 8.2.1

        i went to one rod orams presentations at labours Epsom branch last year you shake your head in disbelief at just how gutted this economy is so narrowly focused agriculture is only 4.35 percent of the economy the largest part is banking and finance speculation trading houses.
        we cant continue this way our rock star is an air guitar not even a manalow with ageing population the remaining workers have to be more productive (greater value exports ) and our exports must be less dependent on a barrel of oil.

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    Voters  are deserting Labour in droves, despite Chris  Hipkins’  valiant  rearguard  action.  So  where  are they  heading?  Clearly  not all of them are going to vote National, which concedes that  the  outcome  will be “close”. To the Right of National, the ACT party just a  few weeks  ago  was ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago
  • GRAHAM ADAMS: Will the racists please stand up?
    Accusations of racism by journalists and MPs are being called out. Graham Adams writes –    With the election less than three weeks away, what co-governance means in practice — including in water management, education, planning law and local government — remains largely obscure. Which is hardly ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on whether Winston Peters can be a moderating influence
    As the centre-right has (finally!) been subjected to media interrogation, the polls are indicating that some voters may be starting to have second thoughts about the wisdom of giving National and ACT the power to govern alone. That’s why yesterday’s Newshub/Reid Research poll had the National/ACT combo dropping to 60 ...
    4 days ago
  • Tuesday’s Chorus: RBNZ set to rain on National's victory parade
    ANZ has increased its forecast for house inflation later this year on signs of growing momentum in the market ahead of the election. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: National has campaigned against the Labour Government’s record on inflation and mortgage rates, but there’s now a growing chance the Reserve ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • After a Pittsburgh coal processing plant closed, ER visits plummeted
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Katie Myers. This story was originally published by Grist and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. Pittsburgh, in its founding, was blessed and cursed with two abundant natural resources: free-flowing rivers and a nearby coal seam. ...
    4 days ago
  • September-23 AT Board Meeting
    Today the AT board meet again and once again I’ve taken a look at what’s on the agenda to find the most interesting items. Closed Agenda Interestingly when I first looked at the agendas this paper was there but at the time of writing this post it had been ...
    4 days ago
  • Electorate Watch: West Coast-Tasman
    Continuing my series on interesting electorates, today it’s West Coast-Tasman.A long thin electorate running down the northern half of the west coast of the South Island. Think sand flies, beautiful landscapes, lots of rain, Pike River, alternative lifestylers, whitebaiting, and the spiritual home of the Labour Party. A brief word ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Big money brings Winston back
    National leader Christopher Luxon yesterday morning conceded it and last night’s Newshub poll confirmed it; Winston Peters and NZ First are not only back but highly likely to be part of the next government. It is a remarkable comeback for a party that was tossed out of Parliament in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 20 days until Election Day, 7 until early voting begins… but what changes will we really see here?
    As this blogger, alongside many others, has already posited in another forum: we all know the National Party’s “budget” (meaning this concept of even adding up numbers properly is doing a lot of heavy, heavy lifting right now) is utter and complete bunk (read hung, drawn and quartered and ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    5 days ago
  • A night out
    Everyone was asking, Are you nervous? and my response was various forms of God, yes.I've written more speeches than I can count; not much surprises me when the speaker gets to their feet and the room goes quiet.But a play? Never.YOU CAME! THANK YOU! Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • A pallid shade of Green III
    Clearly Labour's focus groups are telling it that it needs to pay more attention to climate change - because hot on the heels of their weaksauce energy efficiency pilot programme and not-great-but-better-than-nothing solar grants, they've released a full climate manifesto. Unfortunately, the core policies in it - a second Emissions ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • A coalition of racism, cruelty, and chaos
    Today's big political news is that after months of wibbling, National's Chris Luxon has finally confirmed that he is willing to work with Winston Peters to become Prime Minister. Which is expected, but I guess it tells us something about which way the polls are going. Which raises the question: ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • More migrant workers should help generate the tax income needed to provide benefits for job seekers
    Buzz from the Beehive Under something described as a “rebalance” of its immigration rules, the Government has adopted four of five recommendations made in an independent review released in July, The fifth, which called on the government to specify criteria for out-of-hours compliance visits similar to those used during ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Letter To Luxon.
    Some of you might know Gerard Otto (G), and his G News platform. This morning he wrote a letter to Christopher Luxon which I particularly enjoyed, and with his agreement I’m sharing it with you in this guest newsletter.If you’d like to make a contribution to support Gerard’s work you ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: Alarming trend in benefit numbers
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  While there will not be another quarterly release of benefit numbers prior to the election, limited weekly reporting continues and is showing an alarming trend. Because there is a seasonal component to benefit number fluctuations it is crucial to compare like with like. In ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON: Has there been external structural change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase.   Brian Easton writes –  Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • CRL Progress – Sep-23
    It’s been a while since we looked at the latest with the City Rail Link and there’s been some fantastic milestones recently. To start with, and most recently, CRL have released an awesome video showing a full fly-through of one of the tunnels. Come fly with us! You asked for ...
    5 days ago
  • Monday’s Chorus: Not building nearly enough
    We are heading into another period of fast population growth without matching increased home building or infrastructure investment.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Labour and National detailed their house building and migration approaches over the weekend, with both pledging fast population growth policies without enough house building or infrastructure investment ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Game on; Hipkins comes out punching
    Labour leader Chris Hipkins yesterday took the gloves off and laid into National and its leader Christopher Luxon. For many in Labour – and particularly for some at the top of the caucus and the party — it would not have been a moment too soon. POLITIK is aware ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Tax Cut Austerity Blues.
    The leaders have had their go, they’ve told us the “what?” and the “why?” of their promises. Now it’s the turn of the would be Finance Ministers to tell us the “how?”, the “how much?”, and the “when?”A chance for those competing for the second most powerful job in the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • MIKE GRIMSHAW:  It’s the economy – and the spirit – Stupid…
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Over the past 30-odd years it’s become almost an orthodoxy to blame or invoke neoliberalism for the failures of New Zealand society. On the left the usual response goes something like, neoliberalism is the cause of everything that’s gone wrong and the answer ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #38
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 17, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 23, 2023. Story of the Week  Opinion: Let’s free ourselves from the story of economic growth A relentless focus on economic growth has ushered in ...
    6 days ago
  • The End Of The World.
    Have you been looking out of your window for signs of the apocalypse? Don’t worry, you haven’t been door knocked by a representative of the Brian Tamaki party. They’re probably a bit busy this morning spruiking salvation, or getting ready to march on our parliament, which is closed. No, I’ve ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Climate Town: The Brainwashing Of America's Children
    Climate Town is the YouTube channel of Rollie Williams and a ragtag team of climate communicators, creatives and comedians. They examine climate change in a way that doesn’t make you want to eat a cyanide pill. Get informed about the climate crisis before the weather does it for you. The latest ...
    1 week ago
  • Has There Been External Structural Change?
    A close analysis of the Treasury assessment of the Medium Term in its PREFU 2023 suggests the economy may be entering a new phase. Last week I explained that the forecasts in the just published Treasury Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU 2023) was similar to the May Budget BEFU, ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • Another Labour bully
    Back in June, we learned that Kiri Allan was a Parliamentary bully. And now there's another one: Labour MP Shanan Halbert: The Labour Party was alerted to concerns about [Halbert's] alleged behaviour a year ago but because staffers wanted to remain anonymous, no formal process was undertaken [...] The ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago
  • Climate Change: Ignoring our biggest problem
    Its that time in the election season where the status quo parties are busy accusing each other of having fiscal holes in a desperate effort to appear more "responsible" (but not, you understand, by promising to tax wealth or land to give the government the revenue it needs to do ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 week ago

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Plan for 3,000 more public homes by 2025 – regions set to benefit
    Regions around the country will get significant boosts of public housing in the next two years, as outlined in the latest public housing plan update, released by the Housing Minister, Dr Megan Woods. “We’re delivering the most public homes each year since the Nash government of the 1950s with one ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Immigration settings updates
    Judicial warrant process for out-of-hours compliance visits 2023/24 Recognised Seasonal Employer cap increased by 500 Additional roles for Construction and Infrastructure Sector Agreement More roles added to Green List Three-month extension for onshore Recovery Visa holders The Government has confirmed a number of updates to immigration settings as part of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Poroporoaki: Tā Patrick (Patu) Wahanga Hohepa
    Tangi ngunguru ana ngā tai ki te wahapū o Hokianga Whakapau Karakia. Tārehu ana ngā pae maunga ki Te Puna o te Ao Marama. Korihi tangi ana ngā manu, kua hinga he kauri nui ki te Wao Nui o Tāne. He Toa. He Pou. He Ahorangi. E papaki tū ana ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Renewable energy fund to support community resilience
    40 solar energy systems on community buildings in regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other severe weather events Virtual capability-building hub to support community organisations get projects off the ground Boost for community-level renewable energy projects across the country At least 40 community buildings used to support the emergency response ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • COVID-19 funding returned to Government
    The lifting of COVID-19 isolation and mask mandates in August has resulted in a return of almost $50m in savings and recovered contingencies, Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. Following the revocation of mandates and isolation, specialised COVID-19 telehealth and alternative isolation accommodation are among the operational elements ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Appointment of District Court Judge
    Susie Houghton of Auckland has been appointed as a new District Court Judge, to serve on the Family Court, Attorney-General David Parker said today.  Judge Houghton has acted as a lawyer for child for more than 20 years. She has acted on matters relating to the Hague Convention, an international ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government invests further in Central Hawke’s Bay resilience
    The Government has today confirmed $2.5 million to fund a replace and upgrade a stopbank to protect the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant. “As a result of Cyclone Gabrielle, the original stopbank protecting the Waipawa Drinking Water Treatment Plant was destroyed. The plant was operational within 6 weeks of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Govt boost for Hawke’s Bay cyclone waste clean-up
    Another $2.1 million to boost capacity to deal with waste left in Cyclone Gabrielle’s wake. Funds for Hastings District Council, Phoenix Contracting and Hog Fuel NZ to increase local waste-processing infrastructure. The Government is beefing up Hawke’s Bay’s Cyclone Gabrielle clean-up capacity with more support dealing with the massive amount ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō Supercars revs up with Government support
    The future of Supercars events in New Zealand has been secured with new Government support. The Government is getting engines started through the Major Events Fund, a special fund to support high profile events in New Zealand that provide long-term economic, social and cultural benefits. “The Repco Supercars Championship is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • There is no recession in NZ, economy grows nearly 1 percent in June quarter
    The economy has turned a corner with confirmation today New Zealand never was in recession and stronger than expected growth in the June quarter, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said. “The New Zealand economy is doing better than expected,” Grant Robertson said. “It’s continuing to grow, with the latest figures showing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Highest legal protection for New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs
    The Government has accepted the Environment Court’s recommendation to give special legal protection to New Zealand’s largest freshwater springs, Te Waikoropupū Springs (also known as Pupū Springs), Environment Minister David Parker announced today.   “Te Waikoropupū Springs, near Takaka in Golden Bay, have the second clearest water in New Zealand after ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • More support for victims of migrant exploitation
    Temporary package of funding for accommodation and essential living support for victims of migrant exploitation Exploited migrant workers able to apply for a further Migrant Exploitation Protection Visa (MEPV), giving people more time to find a job Free job search assistance to get people back into work Use of 90-day ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Strong export boost as NZ economy turns corner
    An export boost is supporting New Zealand’s economy to grow, adding to signs that the economy has turned a corner and is on a stronger footing as we rebuild from Cyclone Gabrielle and lock in the benefits of multiple new trade deals, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. “The economy is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Funding approved for flood resilience work in Te Karaka
    The Government has approved $15 million to raise about 200 homes at risk of future flooding. More than half of this is expected to be spent in the Tairāwhiti settlement of Te Karaka, lifting about 100 homes there. “Te Karaka was badly hit during Cyclone Gabrielle when the Waipāoa River ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
    The Government is helping businesses recover from Cyclone Gabrielle and attract more people back into their regions. “Cyclone Gabrielle has caused considerable damage across North Island regions with impacts continuing to be felt by businesses and communities,” Economic Development Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Building on our earlier business support, this ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
    Defence Minister Andrew Little has turned the first sod to start construction of a new Maintenance Support Facility (MSF) at Burnham Military Camp today. “This new state-of-art facility replaces Second World War-era buildings and will enable our Defence Force to better maintain and repair equipment,” Andrew Little said. “This Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Foreign Minister to attend United Nations General Assembly
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will represent New Zealand at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York this week, before visiting Washington DC for further Pacific focussed meetings. Nanaia Mahuta will be in New York from Wednesday 20 September, and will participate in UNGA leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Midwives’ pay equity offer reached
    Around 1,700 Te Whatu Ora employed midwives and maternity care assistants will soon vote on a proposed pay equity settlement agreed by Te Whatu Ora, the Midwifery Employee Representation and Advisory Service (MERAS) and New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNO), Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall announced today. “Addressing historical pay ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand provides support to Morocco
    Aotearoa New Zealand will provide humanitarian support to those affected by last week’s earthquake in Morocco, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced today. “We are making a contribution of $1 million to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to help meet humanitarian needs,” Nanaia Mahuta said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in West Coast’s roading resilience
    The Government is investing over $22 million across 18 projects to improve the resilience of roads in the West Coast that have been affected by recent extreme weather, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed today.  A dedicated Transport Resilience Fund has been established for early preventative works to protect the state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government invests in Greymouth’s future
    The Government has today confirmed a $2 million grant towards the regeneration of Greymouth’s CBD with construction of a new two-level commercial and public facility. “It will include a visitor facility centred around a new library. Additionally, it will include retail outlets on the ground floor, and both outdoor and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Nanaia Mahuta to attend PIF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
    Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta will attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, in Suva, Fiji alongside New Zealand’s regional counterparts. “Aotearoa New Zealand is deeply committed to working with our pacific whanau to strengthen our cooperation, and share ways to combat the challenges facing the Blue Pacific Continent,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • PREFU shows no recession, growing economy, more jobs and wages ahead of inflation
    Economy to grow 2.6 percent on average over forecast period Treasury not forecasting a recession Inflation to return to the 1-3 percent target band next year Wages set to grow 4.8 percent a year over forecast period Unemployment to peak below the long-term average Fiscal Rules met - Net debt ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New cancer centre opens in Christchurch
    Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister of Health Dr Ayesha Verrall proudly opened the Canterbury Cancer Centre in Christchurch today. The new facility is the first of its kind and was built with $6.5 million of funding from the Government’s Infrastructure Reference Group scheme for shovel-ready projects allocated in 2020. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • Government invests in top of the south’s roading resilience
    $12 million to improve the resilience of roads in the Nelson, Marlborough and Tasman regions Hope Bypass earmarked in draft Government Policy Statement on land transport $127 million invested in the top of the south’s roads since flooding in 2021 and 2022 The Government is investing over $12 million to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago
  • New Zealanders continue to support the revitalisation of te reo as we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Mā...
    Ko tēnei te wiki e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. Ko te wā tuku reo Māori, e whakanuia tahitia ai te reo ahakoa kei hea ake tēnā me tēnā o tātou, ka tū ā te Rātū te 14 o Mahuru, ā te 12 o ngā hāora i te ahiahi. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 weeks ago

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