Political donations and conflicts of interest

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, March 2nd, 2015 - 53 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, christchurch earthquake, election 2014, election funding, Gerry Brownlee, hone harawira, john key, labour, national - Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Danyl has some thought-provoking comments about the Herald’s analysis of electoral donations:

MPs and other political insiders get really upset if you suggest to them that this is all basically political corruption. Partly this is down to their massive egos. MPs don’t think it’s strange that corporations just give them huge sums of money. Are they not extraordinary individuals? Have they not been chosen by destiny to lead the nation? Related to that is cognitive dissonance. The system around political donations might look totally corrupt, but MPs all know that they personally are not corrupt – how dare anyone suggest that? – so Tallys must just be giving free money to the MPs that happen to sit on the Select Committee that oversees and regulates their industry because they personally believe in those individual MPs.

A lot of it looks pretty dodgy, especially National’s apparent funnelling of larger anonymous donations through party HQ, and the Talleys’ enthusiastic support of people making the laws which affect the Talleys’ business.

But it also led me to reflect on some of the criticisms – from the left and right alike – of Andrew Little and Carmel Sepuloni’s decision that she give up the social development portfolio temporarily while her mother faces charges of benefit fraud.

The same kind of arguments that Danyl outlines were in play – everyone knows Sepuloni is a person of integrity! How can she be held responsible for the actions of her mother? No one would dare accuse her of impropriety!

This is on the one hand rubbish – just look (or don’t!) at how furiously Cameron Slater, of all people, defended Sepuloni, with the exact same arguments. Wouldn’t you know it, just a few days later we got a well-timed story about Sepuloni asking the Minister questions about benefit fraud. Slater’s fury probably has a lot less to do with Due And Fair Process and a lot more to do with whatever additional attack lines he had queued up.

And on the other hand, it’s rubbish again, because that’s not how conflicts of interest work. People in positions of influence don’t get to walk around saying “I’m making decisions about something I have a personal stake in, but I’m a good person so it’s not a problem!” or “But I haven’t done anything corrupt yet so I can’t have a conflict of interest!”

It’s all there in the name: when your interests are in conflict, you have a problem. And the unfortunate reality of our society is that people are judged by what their family members do – otherwise stories about Hone Harawira’s nephew’s conviction or John Key’s daughter’s art would never get the headlines they get. And those aren’t issues where you can make any kind of case that the famous person “involved” has done anything dodgy.

But it does look dodgy as hell when Talleys are pouring money into the primary production select committee. It does look dodgy as hell when Amy Adams as Minister for the Environment is overseeing freshwater management changes which just happen to massively increase the value of her land, or Gerry Brownlee denies there’s a problem with rental prices soaring in Christchurch, where he happens to own four properties.

And it would have been child’s play for the right to make it look dodgy as hell for Sepuloni to stay on as social development spokesperson. They already had the ratf*cking machine up and running and ready to go.

We can’t give our people a free pass just because they’re our people and we know they’d never do anything wrong. And the good ones who have integrity – like Carmel Sepuloni – don’t expect us to.

It’s a temporary situation for Sepuloni, and she’s continuing to do damn fine work in the meantime. The issue of political donations – and how much our political system is influenced by the people with the most money to spare – is going to be far more difficult to change.

53 comments on “Political donations and conflicts of interest ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1
    2 March 2015 at 1:06 pm

    Here’s what MBIE has to say:

    The options for managing a conflict of interest include:
     restricting: imposing restrictions on the person’s further involvement in the matter
     recruiting: engaging an independent third party to oversee all or part of the process and verify its integrity
     removing: where the person chooses, or is asked, to be removed completely from the matter
     relinquishing: where the person relinquishes the private interest that created the conflict
     resigning: where the person resigns from their position with the agency. (This should only be considered if the conflict of interest can’t be resolved in any other workable way.)

    I can’t see the National Party’s preferred method – defunding the regulatory body – anywhere. Must be some sort of oversight.

  2. Draco T Bastard 2
    2 March 2015 at 1:56 pm

    Ban all donations from legal entities, limiting them to natural persons (Who must be citizens) only.
    Ban all donations from offshore.
    Maximum of $1000 per person per year and nobody under the age of 18 can donate.

    Make it so that political parities have to become mass parties again and that they’re forced to listen to the broader membership and not just the rich that give large donations.

    • dv 2.1
      2 March 2015 at 2:16 pm

      AND all donations (per dtb) are published on a public web based data base every month

      • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1
        2 March 2015 at 4:18 pm

        Anonymise the donations through a central authority or website.

        You want to give $1000 to a Labour or National candidate, or to the parties themselves. It goes through the central authority which strips identifiers from the donation and then passes it on to the recipient’s bank account.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1
          2 March 2015 at 4:26 pm

          So I donate to National through the CA, then I show Peter Goodfellow the receipts and it’s corruption as usual.

          You want to make political donations: donate them to democracy, ie: split among all parties.

          That will sort the National Party’s owners out from the altruists.

        • Paul Campbell 2.1.1.2
          2 March 2015 at 7:58 pm

          No – no anonymous donations – ever – every donation right down to the dollar should be noted online with the name of the person doing the donation – otherwise you can never tell there’s no quid pro quo there

          National’s funding their candidates from “Candidate Club” donations funneled through the party are so obviously wrong – the cabinet members have already actually met with the donors even though the money passed through the party – it’s an obvious way to avoid the sort of transparency that we need as a functioning democracy to decide if our politicians have been bought and by who – of course in the case of “Cabinet Clubs” they have indeed been bought, by the hour

          • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.2.1
            2 March 2015 at 8:08 pm

            Well, lots of people would not be happy to see their $20 donation to Labour or the Greens de-anonymised.

            • Anne 2.1.1.2.1.1
              2 March 2015 at 8:52 pm

              Yes and in some cases find themselves being harassed and intimidated and in others… losing their jobs or being isolated from peers and colleagues. And if anyone thinks that’s being over the top, it’s happened before many times. That is the reason for pseudonyms etc.

            • Paul Campbell 2.1.1.2.1.2
              3 March 2015 at 8:46 am

              I think that the only rules that really work here are rules that apply to everyone. If you expect the rich and powerfull to come clean about who they are buying then equally we should expect everyone – then we can look and see that Jan Bloggs sent a hard earned $20 to Labour while at the same time Michael Rich-Fuker send $100k from petty cash to the Nats

          • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.2.2
            2 March 2015 at 8:10 pm

            How does knowing that Talleys buy MPs stop them being bought? Will any of those MPs step down from the select committee?

  3. Tracey 3
    2 March 2015 at 2:01 pm

    The National Party are taking the piss with this cover-up. If, as they seem to be saying, there is nothing untoward, why not reveal all?

  4. exStatic 4
    2 March 2015 at 3:54 pm

    Conflict of interest is very serious. Mona Dotcom’s latest revelation that the whole Mana/Internet thing was a setup to try and prevent extradition is serious.
    Hone and his Mana mates taking huge amounts and spending very little might make their ex benefactor a bit grumpy?
    As far as Conflict of Interest goes, KDC, Hone and the entire Mana Internet lot own it.

    • rawshark-yeshe 4.1
      2 March 2015 at 4:06 pm

      hyperbole much ? and of course, you have a link for that exStatic ? and hopefully, something slightly more reputable than trashy Glucina gossip ?

    • Colonial Rawshark 4.2
      2 March 2015 at 4:09 pm

      Huh? Dotcom spun a sweet story for his wife so that she would let him blow $400K on a pet project.

      If Dotcom was really aiming to stop his extradition with that $400K – like you outrageously claim – he would have given that money to the high court judge in a fat brown envelope.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.3
      2 March 2015 at 4:16 pm

      Exstatic is a lying hypocrite.

      IMP, completely open about its funding sources, gets no seats, thanks to the Left. Exstatic wets the bed over it.

      National hides its foreign donors and pretends they’re anonymous until Goodfellow runs his mouth and reveals they in fact have a “relationship”. Exstatic says there’s nothing to see.

      Right wing smears reveal their ethics: the reason Exstatic thinks money buys influence, is because money buys Exstatic.

      • Colonial Rawshark 4.3.1
        2 March 2015 at 4:19 pm

        BOOOOM!

      • Lanthanide 4.3.2
        2 March 2015 at 5:20 pm

        “IMP, completely open about its funding sources, gets no seats, thanks to the Left. Exstatic wets the bed over it.”

        I think Exstatic has a valid point.

        KDC and Laila Harre always insisted that KDC was “in the background” of the party and that being in Parliament / Government would have no impact on his extradition process at all.

        Then we find out, from Mona, that KDC had told her exactly the opposite.

        This is worth remarking on. KDC has lied to someone. His wife, or the public?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.3.2.1
          2 March 2015 at 5:28 pm

          At best, we have hearsay evidence of something KDC may have believed.

          Meanwhile, we have horse’s mouth evidence that the National Party maintains relationships with foreign buyers who it pretends are anonymous. Its MPs sell access and other services in exchange for financial rewards, and again, this is from the horse’s mouth.

          Lusk and Goodfellow have let the cat out of the bag. No wonder the smears are coming thick and fast, and how sad is it that the best these hypocrites can do is more squealing about Hone, who isn’t even in Parliament.

          Several orders of magnitude more remarkable much?

    • Murray Rawshark 4.4
      2 March 2015 at 6:16 pm

      I don’t think Dotcom should be extradited and he’s never given me a cent. Mana stand for an independent and sovereign Aotearoa and would not have needed to be paid to oppose this low toadying to the US and A.

      • Chooky 4.4.1
        2 March 2015 at 10:02 pm

        +100….and he may have been saying that to his wife to keep her happy about his donation

  5. alwyn 5
    2 March 2015 at 5:20 pm

    You appear to be suggesting that there is something contrived about the story regarding Sepuloni’s questions when you say ” Wouldn’t you know it, just a few days later we got a well-timed story about Sepuloni asking the Minister questions about benefit fraud”.

    It couldn’t really have been any earlier could it. The questions were asked on 23 February. How could the story be at a different time? It is not as if they were a secret either. Any reporter commenting on politics would, or at least should, look at the questions for written answer every day. I’m not even involved but I look at them and try and guess what scandal the opposition are going to try and pin on the Government from the questions asked.

    Finding out her questions is as easy as looking at Parliamentary Business. under the section on questions for written answer.

    They ones being talked about are 1085 to 1099 on 23 February. Actually I’m surprised they haven’t been withdrawn. If you want to find them just use the option of selecting questions by Carmel Sepuloni. I find it a little unlikely that she started asking these questions just, by coincidence, a couple of days before her mother appeared in court. I think by this stage she knew what was going on.

    The real trouble with questions for written answer is that they are really only “gotcha’s”. There is often something small that an opposition MP finds out about. He/she will then ask an enormous number of, often computer generated, questions which are intended to hide the thing they know about. Then if the department doesn’t spot the problem they will go to town complaining that the Minister is lying. The Opposition MP isn’t really interested in the answer, or solving the problem. They are just trying to score points at our expense.

    Trevor Mallard was one of the worst at this. He would find out, say, that the part-time cleaner at some little school was related to the headmaster. Then he would ask some trick question, not about that school but with separate questions for every one of the thousands of schools in the country. The questions were all computer generated by using a form question and merging it with a list of every school in the country to get all the questions. He didn’t care what it cost to answer the thousands of questions and he wasn’t even going to look at 99.9% of the answers. He was just trying to get something where the department could be claimed to have lied about one school.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1
      2 March 2015 at 5:22 pm

      🙄

      Paranoid right wing nut job conspiracy theorist unintentionally reveals personal ethics.

      • alwyn 5.1.1
        2 March 2015 at 8:32 pm

        ??????????
        There, there. Just take a deep breath and calm down.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.1
          2 March 2015 at 8:33 pm

          I’m picking you know precisely zero about the inner workings of Trevor Mallard: instead, you’re telling us what you would do if you were him.

          • alwyn 5.1.1.1.1
            2 March 2015 at 8:52 pm

            Well here is an example of the sort of thing he did.
            It is only one screen from dozens on the same day.
            Now tell me again why you think I am making it up what Trevor used to do?

            10186 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Te Aro School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10185 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Tawa School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10184 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Tawa Intermediate School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10183 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Tawa College?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10182 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Tautoro School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10181 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Taipa Area School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10180 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Swanson School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10179 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Sunnyvale School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10178 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Sunderland School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10177 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Sunderland College?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10176 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Summerland Primary?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10175 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Strathmore Community School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10174 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Springbank School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10173 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at South Wellington Intermediate?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10172 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Seatoun School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10171 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Scots College?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10170 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Samuel Marsden Collegiate School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10169 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Sacred Heart School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10168 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Rutherford School?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            10167 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
            What is the total value of school property at Rutherford College?
            Reply 17 Jul 09

            • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1.1.1.1.1
              2 March 2015 at 8:58 pm

              Thought so: your interpretation is based on conjecture and projection.

              • Lanthanide …
                3 March 2015 at 9:14 am

                Please offer an alternative interpretation of Trevor Mallard’s questions, as you seem to think alwyn’s is unlikely.

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  3 March 2015 at 9:21 am

                  I think it’s based on conjecture and projection.

                  We have a list of questions: where’s the example of the ‘gotcha’ that allegedly followed?

                  • Lanthanide …
                    3 March 2015 at 10:49 am

                    Ok, so you don’t have an alternative interpretation.

                    Given the evidence we have, alwyn’s interpretation is pretty compelling to me.

                    Regardless of Trevor’s true motives, he certainly looks like he’s wasting taxpayers time and money.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      3 March 2015 at 10:54 am

                      It might be that, or it might be that Hekia Parata has instructed officials to be so willfully obstructive of Parliamentary questions, that single specific questions are the only way to get the information.

                      Still no evidence of the gotcha, eh.

                    • Lanthanide …
                      3 March 2015 at 10:57 am

                      Yes, but what “information” does Trevor want?

                      If he wants specific information on all of these individual schools – for what purpose? If he’s using it for some sort of statistical purpose, what purpose could that be that wouldn’t already be covered by the ministry itself, or potentially the parliamentary library? If his statistical purpose is valid and useful, then surely he could ask either of those institutions to perform that analysis themselves – and I’d dare say they’d be more efficient and cheaper at doing it than he would, especially as he has to ask for all of this raw data in such a ponderous way in the first place.

                      If he only wants information about a few or one school(s), then he should ask only about those schools, not all of them.

                      So, plenty of evidence that what Trevor is doing is either very unusual, or very misguided. If we consider what Trevor’s job is – to hold the government to account – surmising that he is trying some sort of gotcha attack is a reasonable assumption, especially given his personality.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      3 March 2015 at 10:59 am

                      If, if, if, if.

                      Projection and conjecture.

                    • Lanthanide …
                      3 March 2015 at 11:58 am

                      People on this site routinely make projection and conjecture about the National party and associates.

                    • One Anonymous Bloke …
                      3 March 2015 at 12:43 pm

                      Ok then, look at what we know: Trevor Mallard can be a bit of an egg, and he also knows Parliamentary procedure pretty well.

                      Anne Tolley (the Minister at the time) is dismissive of criticism and incompetent. The National Party actively obstructs information requests.

                      Without further information who knows why TM asked all those questions.

                      Alwyn took the trouble to list them, and “somehow” failed (the word keeps cropping up around wingnuts, funny that) to find any follow-up questions to support the allegation. Alwyn is not noted for deep insight: quite the contrary, in fact.

                      Perhaps you can be bothered trawling through Hansard to discover that Alwyn is full of shit, again.

            • mickysavage 5.1.1.1.1.2
              2 March 2015 at 9:16 pm

              You are struggling Alwyn. You are looking for a pattern when clearly there is none.

              • Lanthanide …
                3 March 2015 at 9:14 am

                You’re saying there is “clearly no pattern” in Trevor Mallard’s questioning?

              • Enough is Enough …
                3 March 2015 at 10:59 am

                Yes Micky…clearly.

              • alwyn …
                3 March 2015 at 12:28 pm

                You may doubt my opinion that the questions are computer generated. I offer just a few of the many, many questions that Trevor produced. Unfortunately the table of school names included the word “school”. Thus you get a repetition because the word was also put into the basic question.
                Do you honestly think that a human being generated these questions, and the hundreds of others where the same question was asked about other schools, or that anyone at all looked at them before they were entered into the system?

                22901 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
                What is the expected costs of operations for 2010 at Mangamuka School school?
                Reply 16 Dec 09

                22900 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
                What is the expected costs of operations for 2010 at Mangonui School school?
                Reply 16 Dec 09

                22896 (2009). Hon Trevor Mallard to the Minister of Education
                What is the expected costs of operations for 2010 at Massey Primary School school?
                Reply 16 Dec 09

                Incidentally, Trevor asked over 20,000 questions of this repetitive type in 2010. Do you really think he looked at all the answers?

                • One Anonymous Bloke …
                  3 March 2015 at 12:47 pm

                  When you vote for a party that obeys the Official Information Act, and point to the ‘gotcha’ moment you allege without a shred of proof, you’ll be a bit more credible.

                  As it is, you just look like a partisan hypocrite.

    • Murray Rawshark 5.2
      2 March 2015 at 6:19 pm

      Damn. I will never be able to hold Trevor Mallard in high esteem ever again. The meaning has evaporated from my life.

      • alwyn 5.2.1
        2 March 2015 at 6:56 pm

        Think and consider Murray
        Please, please, don’t rush in and do anything foolish.
        Don’t even think of taking some terrible final action because meaning has vanished from your life. You will make me feel like the guy in the current drink driving ad who doesn’t want the young chap to drive after being in the pub.

        After all, even Trevor can reform. His character will no doubt be vastly improved with the love of a good woman. He too can now learn and follow the ways of righteousness.

        Actually it is probably a bit late for that.

        • mac1 5.2.1.1
          2 March 2015 at 9:14 pm

          Alwyn, seriously, we have to believe in redemption. If we can’t have hope and redemption, we are truly fucked.

  6. adam 6
    2 March 2015 at 8:15 pm

    Why is this difficult?

    Why are people making this difficult?

    No donations above $5

    No corporations or business to make any donations

    No trusts or other front’s to make donations

    Simple

    Level playing field

    Oh wait – Orthodoxy economics alter worshippers. Sorry my bad – you lot will make the world difficult, because if it was simple and working people could just get on with their lives – you could not keep putting them in shackles.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1
      2 March 2015 at 8:19 pm

      Delivering an innate advantage to those candidates with independent means. Fish-hooks to the left of them, fish-hooks to the right of them…

      • Colonial Rawshark 6.1.1
        2 March 2015 at 8:55 pm

        Not if the candidate himself or herself cannot donate more than the same limited amount to their own campaign fund.

  7. les 7
    2 March 2015 at 9:09 pm

    ‘money talks and bullshit walks…’reality ..das Kapital…the sword is mightier than the pen…thats reality.

  8. les 8
    3 March 2015 at 8:27 am

    politics ‘American Style’…exported around the world.

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    Election Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t have time for. You’re welcome, etc. Let us press on, etc. 1.  What did Christopher Luxon use to his advantage in ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Pure class warfare
    National unveiled its fiscal policy today, announcing all the usual things which business cares about and I don't. But it did finally tell us how National plans to pay for its handouts to landlords: by effectively cutting benefits: The biggest saving announced on Friday was $2b cut from the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Ask Me Anything about the week to Sept 29
    Photo by Anna Ogiienko on UnsplashIt’s that time of the week for an ‘Ask Me Anything’ session for paying subscribers about the week that was for an hour, including:duelling fiscal plans from National and Labour;Labour cutting cycling spending while accusing National of being weak on climate;Research showing the need for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 29-September-2023
    Welcome to Friday and the last one for September. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt highlighted at the latest with the City Rail Link. On Tuesday, Matt covered the interesting items from Auckland Transport’s latest board meeting agendas. On Thursday, a guest post from Darren Davis ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    3 days ago

  • Protest at Parliament: The Reunion.
    Brian’s god spoke to him. He, for of course the Lord in Tamaki’s mind was a male god, with a mighty rod, and probably some black leathers. He, told Brian - “you must put a stop to all this love, hope, and kindness”. And it did please the Brian.He said ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Labour cuts $50m from cycleway spending
    Labour is cutting spending on cycling infrastructure while still trying to claim the higher ground on climate. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Labour Government released a climate manifesto this week to try to claim the high ground against National, despite having ignored the Climate Commission’s advice to toughen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • The Greater Of Two Evils.
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very rarely is an opposition party elected ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #39 2023
    Open access notables "Net zero is only a distraction— we just have to end fossil fuel emissions." The latter is true but the former isn't, or  not in the real world as it's likely to be in the immediate future. And "just" just doesn't enter into it; we don't have ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Chris Trotter: Losing the Left
    IN THE CURRENT MIX of electoral alternatives, there is no longer a credible left-wing party. Not when “a credible left-wing party” is defined as: a class-oriented, mass-based, democratically-structured political organisation; dedicated to promoting ideas sharply critical of laissez-faire capitalism; and committed to advancing democratic, egalitarian and emancipatory ideals across the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Road rage at Kia Kaha Primary School
    It is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha Primary School!It can be any time when you are telling a story.Telling stories about things that happened in the past is how we learn from our mistakes.If we want to.Anyway, it is not the school holidays yet at Kia Kaha ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Hipkins fires up in leaders’ debate, but has the curtain already fallen on the Labour-led coalitio...
    Labour’s  Chris Hipkins came out firing, in the  leaders’ debate  on Newshub’s evening programme, and most of  the pundits  rated  him the winner against National’s  Christopher Luxon. But will this make any difference when New  Zealanders  start casting their ballots? The problem  for  Hipkins is  that  voters are  all too ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    4 days ago

  • Govt is energising housing projects with solar power – and fuelling the public’s concept of a di...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Not long after Point of Order published data which show the substantial number of New Zealanders (77%) who believe NZ is becoming more divided, government ministers were braying about a programme which distributes some money to “the public” and some to “Maori”. The ministers were dishing ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • MIKE GRIMSHAW: Election 2023 – a totemic & charisma failure?
    The D&W analysis Michael Grimshaw writes –  Given the apathy, disengagement, disillusionment, and all-round ennui of this year’s general election, it was considered time to bring in those noted political operatives and spin doctors D&W, the long-established consultancy firm run by Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. Known for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • FROM BFD: Will Winston be the spectre we think?
    Kissy kissy. Cartoon credit BoomSlang. The BFD. JC writes-  Allow me to preface this contribution with the following statement: If I were asked to express a preference between a National/ACT coalition or a National/ACT/NZF coalition then it would be the former. This week Luxon declared his position, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • California’s climate disclosure bill could have a huge impact across the U.S.
    This re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Andy Furillo was originally published by Capital & Main and is part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. The California Legislature took a step last week that has the potential to accelerate the fight against climate ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Untangling South East Queensland’s Public Transport
    This is a cross post Adventures in Transitland by Darren Davis. I recently visited Brisbane and South East Queensland and came away both impressed while also pondering some key changes to make public transport even better in the region. Here goes with my take on things. A bit of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    4 days ago

  • Try A Little Kindness.
    My daughter arrived home from the supermarket yesterday and she seemed a bit worried about something. It turned out she wanted to know if someone could get her bank number from a receipt.We wound the story back.She was in the store and there was a man there who was distressed, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What makes NZFirst tick
    New Zealand’s longest-running political roadshow rolled into Opotiki yesterday, with New Zealand First leader Winston Peters knowing another poll last night showed he would make it back to Parliament and National would need him and his party if they wanted to form a government. The Newshub Reid Research poll ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • September AMA
    Hi,As September draws to a close — I feel it’s probably time to do an Ask Me Anything. You know how it goes: If you have any burning questions, fire away in the comments and I will do my best to answer. You might have questions about Webworm, or podcast ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    4 days ago

  • Bludgers lying in the scratcher making fools of us all
    The mediocrity who stands to be a Prime Minister has a litany.He uses it a bit like a Koru Lounge card. He will brandish it to say: these people are eligible. And more than that, too: These people are deserving. They have earned this policy.They have a right to this policy. What ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • More “partnerships” (by the look of it) and redress of over $30 million in Treaty settlement wit...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point of Order has waited until now – 3.45pm – for today’s officially posted government announcements.  There have been none. The only addition to the news on the Beehive’s website was posted later yesterday, after we had published our September 26 Buzz report. It came from ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago

  • ALEX HOLLAND: Labour’s spending
    Alex Holland writes –  In 2017 when Labour came to power, crown spending was $76 billion per year. Now in 2023 it is $139 billion per year, which equates to a $63 billion annual increase (over $1 billion extra spend every week!) In 2017, New Zealand’s government debt ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • If not now, then when?
    Labour released its fiscal plan today, promising the same old, same old: "responsibility", balanced books, and of course no new taxes: "Labour will maintain income tax settings to provide consistency and certainty in these volatile times. Now is not the time for additional taxes or to promise billions of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago

  • THE FACTS:  77% of Kiwis believe NZ is becoming more divided
    The Facts has posted –        KEY INSIGHTSOf New Zealander’s polled: Social unity/division 77%believe NZ is becoming more divided (42% ‘much more’ + 35% ‘a little more’) 3%believe NZ is becoming less divided (1% ‘much less’ + 2% ‘a little less’) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the cynical brutality of the centre-right’s welfare policies
    The centre-right’s enthusiasm for forcing people off the benefit and into paid work is matched only by the enthusiasm (shared by Treasury and the Reserve Bank) for throwing people out of paid work to curb inflation, and achieve the optimal balance of workers to job seekers deemed to be desirable ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Wednesday’s Chorus: Arthur Grimes on why building many, many more social houses is so critical
    New research shows that tenants in social housing - such as these Wellington apartments - are just as happy as home owners and much happier than private tenants. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The election campaign took an ugly turn yesterday, and in completely the wrong direction. All three ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • Old habits
    Media awareness about global warming and climate change has grown fairly steadily since 2004. My impression is that journalists today tend to possess a higher climate literacy than before. This increasing awareness and improved knowledge is encouraging, but there are also some common interpretations which could be more nuanced. ...
    Real ClimateBy rasmus
    5 days ago

  • Bennie Bashing.
    If there’s one thing the mob loves more than keeping Māori in their place, more than getting tough on the gangs, maybe even more than tax cuts. It’s a good old round of beneficiary bashing.Are those meanies in the ACT party stealing your votes because they think David Seymour is ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • The kindest cuts
    Labour kicks off the fiscal credibility battle today with the release of its fiscal plan. National is expected to follow, possibly as soon as Thursday, with its own plan, which may (or may not) address the large hole that the problems with its foreign buyers’ ban might open up. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • Green right turn in Britain? Well, a start
    While it may be unlikely to register in New Zealand’s general election, Britain’s PM Rishi Sunak has done something which might just be important in the long run. He’s announced a far-reaching change in his Conservative government’s approach to environmental, and particularly net zero, policy. The starting point – ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    5 days ago

  • At a glance – How do human CO2 emissions compare to natural CO2 emissions?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • How could this happen?
    Canada is in uproar after the exposure that its parliament on September 22 provided a standing ovation to a Nazi veteran who had been invited into the chamber to participate in the parliamentary welcome to Ukrainian President Zelensky. Yaroslav Hunka, 98, a Ukrainian man who volunteered for service in ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    5 days ago

  • Always Be Campaigning
    The big screen is a great place to lay out the ways of the salesman. He comes ready-made for Panto, ripe for lampooning.This is not to disparage that life. I have known many good people of that kind. But there is a type, brazen as all get out. The camera ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • STEPHEN FRANKS: Press seek to publicly shame doctor – we must push back
    The following is a message sent yesterday from lawyer Stephen Franks on behalf of the Free Speech Union. I don’t like to interrupt first thing Monday morning, but we’ve just become aware of a case where we think immediate and overwhelming attention could help turn the tide. It involves someone ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Competing on cruelty
    The right-wing message calendar is clearly reading "cruelty" today, because both National and NZ First have released beneficiary-bashing policies. National is promising a "traffic light" system to police and kick beneficiaries, which will no doubt be accompanied by arbitrary internal targets to classify people as "orange" or "red" to keep ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago

  • Further funding for Pharmac (forgotten in the Budget?) looks like a $1bn appeal from a PM in need of...
    Buzz from the Beehive One Labour plan  – for 3000 more public homes by 2025 – is the most recent to be posted on the government’s official website. Another – a prime ministerial promise of more funding for Pharmac – has been released as a Labour Party press statement. Who ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: The Vested interests shaping National Party policies
    As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that might arise. One of the key individuals of ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 days ago

  • Labour may be on way out of power and NZ First back in – but will Peters go into coalition with Na...
    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
    6 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
    6 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 ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 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
    6 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. ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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 ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    7 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
    7 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
    7 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
    1 week ago

  • 100 new public EV chargers to be added to national network
    The public EV charging network has received a significant boost with government co-funding announced today for over 100 EV chargers – with over 200 charging ports altogether – across New Zealand, and many planned to be up and running on key holiday routes by Christmas this year. Minister of Energy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Safeguarding Tuvalu language and identity
    Tuvalu is in the spotlight this week as communities across New Zealand celebrate Vaiaso o te Gagana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week. “The Government has a proven record of supporting Pacific communities and ensuring more of our languages are spoken, heard and celebrated,” Pacific Peoples Minister Barbara Edmonds said. “Many ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks ago

  • Further business support for cyclone-affected regions
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  • New maintenance facility at Burnham Military Camp underway
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