Peters policy priorities

Written By: - Date published: 8:36 am, October 11th, 2017 - 23 comments
Categories: election 2017 - Tags: , , , , ,

Fran O’Sullivan has a good piece this morning on the policy priorities that appear to be emerging from the coalition talks:

Fran O’Sullivan: Winston Peters wish list has sensitive topics

Peters has put overseas investment, the NZ currency and affordable housing near the top of the issues he wants the new regime to tackle.

And given the sensitivity of the three policy areas he singled out for attention yesterday both he and the other main governing party will want to avoid any suggestion of a return to Fortress NZ and a managed economy.

In particular, foreign investment has provided a lifeline for the NZ economy, companies and householders in recent years. It is foreign investors who (in the main) fund the Government’s bond programme, own a good deal of our sharemarket – and by inference our listed companies; and own our major banks. The level of New Zealand household and farm debt will have to be factored in.

Should we have relied on that “lifeline”? Look around at our low productivity, low wage economy. Look at our polluted rivers and carbon emissions. Our crazy housing market and our homeless. Our failing health and troubled education systems. Our record suicide rate. Perhaps we would have done better on another path.

It is fatuous to believe that any foreign investor is not going to act in its private interest.

Exactly. Their private interest is to extract profit from this country, not to build it (e.g. aussie banks). But I digress.

On top of that NZ First wants to impose strict controls over foreign ownership; create and maintain a comprehensive register of foreign ownership of land; prevent vertical integration and foreign control of key export industries; restrict ownership of residential land and farmland to New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents who are exercising their right to residence and majority New Zealand-owned companies.

As well it wants to prohibit the further sale of “strategic state assets” to overseas buyers and require foreign companies operating in NZ to pay their fair share of taxation.

The other key issue is housing affordability. Expect a smorgasbord of policies to deal with this difficult problem.

These policy priorities are clearly anathema to National. Depending on the details Labour may be more accommodating, but it’s a risky path given signs that “the economy” is already flatlining.

Meanwhile poor Winston is coming to terms with the fact that whatever he does he’s about to blow away part of his support base (that’s the problem with refusing to commit during the campaign):

NZ First leader Winston Peters says he is feeling the pressure of the coalition negotiations, and any decision he makes will cause “disappointment and anguish”.

Interesting times.

23 comments on “Peters policy priorities ”

  1. Brokenback 1

    “The economy is already flatlining” ???

    For those of us who don’t inhabit the bubble of BS , it’s been obvious that [ deja vous mid 90’s] the economy was heading back down sh** creek , past the paddle shop , ever since the Gnats oozed back onto the treasury benches.

    As a survivor of the “neo-lib” revolution I’ve got no illusions that dismantling and trashing the foundations of our neo-lib legislation will be painful for some and cause unexpected impacts , but most ,if not all will survive.

    To continue to ignore the bleeding obvious , that the lower reaches of sh** creek are detrimental , perhaps even catastrophic, for all and sundry, is not an option.

    Lets do this.

    • As a survivor of the “neo-lib” revolution I’ve got no illusions that dismantling and trashing the foundations of our neo-lib legislation will be painful for some and cause unexpected impacts , but most ,if not all will survive.

      And that that trashing of the neo-liberal foundations is necessary else our society won’t survive.

  2. Patricia Bremner 2

    Winston has a clear vision of us as serfs or tenants in our own country, while the Landed Gentry mix with the “Moneyed Investor Class”.

    He has been right about many of our issues, and the close examination of Policy and the “Direction we want for our country” is pleasing to me personally.

    Too much of our Law has been passed under urgency as a knee jerk reaction in the last 9 years, causing a loss of privacy and a heavy handed outcome, where people have fewer and fewer rights.

    • Indeed ,… particularly under the rat jOhN keY . How people ever let themselves get sucked in to voting for that smarmy corrupt little rodent is beyond me.

      siR jOhN keY my arse.

  3. SMILIN 3

    Living in an electorate that just swung back to national
    The first statement by the incumbent to the king maker implied that he should do the moral thing in his decision to form a govt which is total arrogance considering labour have tai tokerau plus a new list mp in whangarei
    This national stance on the morality of their fpp based thinking is immoral and a corrupt load of corporate shyte
    Why or how they think NZF should just roll over and give national the right to govern should be shot down in flames for the lack of development of northland by their successive tenures bar Winston’s brief sojourn which definitely brought the focus to the province it needed on the national stage
    NZF could easily go into a three way coalition to ensure the morality of national and its obligations to northland are kept moving forward because national will just try to run it as they previously done with next to no progress born to rule cocky land owning presumption that this is what politics in nz is while they kept selling the tourism rights to off shore interests and creating immigrant favour at the expense of the indigenous peoples
    The arrogance of national to immediately go to a fpp position indicates they have no agenda for real change and I hope Winston can see this

    • Foreign waka 3.1

      I am not very optimistic that labour will govern. WP is playing with all of us – I truly belief that he already stitched up the deal with Nat. I looked at the picture of Mr English in the Herald today and, to be honest, I thought given the facial expression that its done.

  4. cleangreen 4

    Winston should be in a finance portfolio as he was around when the way NZ was financially run was changed by rogernomics from “Thnk big” policics of Rob Muldoon who roundly warned all the Australian banks to claw back the obscene 23% interest rate levels; – or he would mandate those controls again upon them, – and Rob Muldoon was at that time head (chairman) of the ‘IMF/World bank’
    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-robert-muldoon-1538341.html
    Robert David Muldoon, … Chairman Board of Governors IMF and World Bank 1979-80, GCMG 1984

    • Brigid 4.1

      Yep Muldoon was between a rock and a hard place being head of the IMF. Having that position, he couldn’t tell the banks to take a hike and legislate for the control of the monetary supply by the Reserve Bank.
      Or perhaps he wasn’t the finance guru he thought he was.

      • SpaceMonkey 4.1.1

        From my perspective with a little hindsight (I was just a wee lad at the time), it seems to me now it was more of a case of bringing a proverbial knife to a gunfight, in that the economic policies Muldoon was trying to apply were no longer applicable as the monetary environment had changed. He just hadn’t caught up.

    • red-blooded 4.2

      Let’s remember Muldoon had NZ in lockdown in a futile wage-price freeze (well, he succeeded in freezing wages, anyway) and the huge levels of international debt. The man was NOT a financial genius!

  5. In particular, foreign investment has provided a lifeline for the NZ economy, companies and householders in recent years.

    No it hasn’t. If anything, it’s done the exact opposite as funds are drained out of the NZ economy in profits.

    It is foreign investors who (in the main) fund the Government’s bond programme, own a good deal of our sharemarket – and by inference our listed companies; and own our major banks.

    And thus making us all poorer and turning us into serfs for foreign owners.

    Depending on the details Labour may be more accommodating, but it’s a risky path given signs that “the economy” is already flatlining.

    The economy is going to crash and burn. This is what always happens when the entire economy is propped up by a private debt bubble:

    Speaking to RT, Keen said another financial crisis could be just around the corner unless a fundamentally different approach to debt is adopted. He says we are too focused on government debt, when what actually caused the crisis was “run-away private debt.”

    National’s built it up and Labour/NZ1st/Greens are going to have to deal with it – or National are going to have to wear it (they can’t deal with it as it’s way outside their delusional ideology).

  6. It was the unbridled , unfettered way certain individuals went about ‘ foreign investment ‘, – in an age of deregulated open slather exuberance to cash in and get rich quick and carve the place up which had massive social consequences.

    And we are still paying for that 33 years after.

    There is nothing wrong with foreign investment but with all deals , there needs to be terms and regulatory practice to ensure we don’t go down the path of the ‘ Wild West’.

    Which we have done. And look where its landed us, – huge social and infrastructure problems , lack of funding for the same ,- with a small ‘ elite’ becoming phenomenally wealthy while we live in a land of low wages and homelessness.

    Right wing economist after economist more often than not were paid to do reports for big business to carry on the charade year in , year out , … deliberately downplaying the growing avalanche of evidence of just how dire things were getting for tens of thousands of citizens while those politicians who stood to gain either ignored or denied there was a problem.

    But it always was doomed to have a shelf life and now its crunch time.

    It was inevitable.

    And there was one party that always opposed this whole neo liberal framework consistently through the years , – NZ First. Yes , so did the Greens , but not quite to the same extent in ‘outspokenness’ as Peters party. Although the Greens certainly included it in their social policy’s .Now we have a good chance of a Labour led govt with the Greens and NZ First. And its inevitable there will be changes.

    Back in the 1980’s the neo liberal ideologues were fond of telling us that we will ‘experience some pain at first but in the end reap the benefits’.

    Another favorite was creating ‘ a level playing field’.

    We now see both were a bald faced lie and for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders there has been no benefits and it certainly is NOT a ‘level playing field’. A classic example of neo liberal largesse is the recent obscene salary increase of one of Fonterra’s leading CEO’s, – while family’s sleep in cars and garages working for subsistence wages , – and many farmers struggle to keep their mortgages afloat , – we see this sort of free market justification.

    And so it is with far too many of these ‘foreign interests ‘ extracting wealth and profits from this country without contributing much of any value back , and to add injury to insult , – by and large not paying their tax bill.

    Double dipping , as it were.

    And that’s got to stop.

    And if , as suspected , – Winston Peters is negotiating to put an end to this 33 year long neo liberal rort and bring some sanity back into the situation through regulation and policy’s designed to benefit and advantage New Zealanders , – then he very well would deserve the title of New Zealands elder statesman.

    And would have earned as well the title of , … not just ‘ The Guardian of the North ‘ , – but of the country as well.

    • Brigid 6.1

      “There is nothing wrong with foreign investment but with all deals , there needs to be terms and regulatory practice to ensure we don’t go down the path of the ‘ Wild West’.”

      There is plenty wrong with foreign investment, the main being that profits benefit the foreign investor, not this country.
      Economic foreign investment is not necessary, our Reserve Bank is perfectly able to invest in our country for our benefit.

      Foreign investment could only be of benefit to a country where the investor is investing the likes of intellectual property or scientific research. Not money, but the actual goods.

      • WILD KATIPO 6.1.1

        Exactly , foreign investment should have a lot of spin off benefits for this country . There has been some rather lame attempts to appease the public through flowery language dressed up to look like checks and balances but in practical terms?

        Generally its just a smokescreen to extract more wealth and profits and pay little tax.

        What you are talking about is right , – intellectual property or scientific research. There are times when certain things need foreign assistance but not in the same vein as the open slather rape and pillage we have been seeing for decades.

        • Skinny 6.1.1.1

          Your talking common sense I can not believe the sheep haven’t had enough, actually on second thoughts let them wake up on Friday or whenever at the L/G/NZF slaughter house 🙂

    • cleangreen 6.2

      100% Wild Katipo,

      I recall at that time 1986-7 Douglas was bullshiting us all that we would suffer but the “trickle down effect” would kick in and we would all become wealthier when it did!!!!!!!

      Rogernomics = how long do we wait?

      For after 30yrs we still are to see the “trickle down efffect”?

      Obviously just another bloody lie!!.

  7. Sparky 7

    If you look at what happened to Ireland and the current rates of impoverishment in that country its clear that foreign investment is a broken crutch lent to fools. Any nation that does not move to protect itself and act in its own interests first leaves itself open to the vagaries of globalism and its capricious nature.

    • savenz 7.1

      Yep, the NZ government has to stop looking at always doing the easy thing aka allowing free for all foreign and private ‘investment’ which boosts the economy in the short term. Long term however the wheels start coming off, clearly if the entire economy is run just off quick trader type ‘profits’, that is income lost from Kiwi’s actually living here.

      Exports of ‘profits’ now overtake our exports of milk and forestry as being exported out of NZ. Just the assets of power sales show that if the National government had kept it, the dividends would have been more than the sale price and NZ would still own and control the asset!!!

      It is the Kiwis living here who have to clean up the pollution, have to provide welfare for those who don’t have jobs or jobs so poorly paid they need tax payer top ups, for people arriving in this country who need top ups and require social aid, health, schooling and social welfare, top ups to accomodation that has been sold off like state houses (which used to turn a profit) and inwards migration is 100,000’s per year of people who all need to be provided for with housing, transport, health and more. All of this with less working capital due to the gross mismanagement of the National party in their spend up and gross borrowing to cling to power while the MSM don’t bother with any real reporting.

      As for Fran O’Sullivan, she’s just a gullible fool for hire, not a journalist, as seen by her involvement in dirty politics.

    • SpaceMonkey 7.2

      “Any nation that does not move to protect itself and act in its own interests first leaves itself open to the vagaries of globalism and its capricious nature.”

      Which is why I maintain that the concept of economic treason needs to be legislated and then every one of the f**kers who enabled the NZ economy to be this exposed should be rounded up and tried accordingly. For too long our representatives have been been subservient to foreign interests ahead their duties and obligations to NZ.

      In other words: NZ is no longer a nation; it is a heavily indebted incorporated company.

      • WILD KATIPO 7.2.1

        … ” the concept of economic treason needs to be legislated and then every one of the f**kers who enabled the NZ economy to be this exposed should be rounded up and tried accordingly. For too long our representatives have been been subservient to foreign interests ahead their duties and obligations to NZ ” ….

        Indeed. If it was good enough for jOhn kEy to write in retrospective legislation surrounding the GSCB / SIS regards the Kim Dotcom affair and the skulduggery attached with the Warner Bro’s that also affects other New Zealanders , – then its bloody well good enough to legislate based on the concept of ‘ economic treason’.

        Cant see it happening however , not in this country , – but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t. Starting with a few prize bastards right here :

        New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
        http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

      • Liberal Realist 7.2.2

        100% in agreement re: economic treason and the perpetrators being tried.

        We could start with Roger Douglas and his Mont Pelerin pals.

  8. Richard Christie 8

    Foreign Investment = the entrance fee Multinationals pay to secure the right to extract wealth from a country too myopic to care

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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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