PSA tackles the stats

Written By: - Date published: 7:30 am, November 3rd, 2008 - 38 comments
Categories: election 2008, public services - Tags:

The PSA have put together some interesting numbers on the size of the public service. They appear to tell a different story to the one we’ve been hearing about from Mr Key who wants a” razor gang of cabinet ministers to trim state sector fat”. For example:

We’re on par with Australia:

  • Australian public service comprises 0.99 % of the population
  • New Zealand public service comprises 0.98, % of the population

Government spending as a proportion of GDP is down slightly:

  • 1999=32.4
  • 2008=31.8

The public service is mainly outside Wellington: 58.1% are outside Wellington with the fastest growing areas Otago, Northland, and Southland

These and other statistics (and some great graphs) are in an election special in the PSA’s election feature on their website or download the psreport.

Statistics are always open to interpretation but these provide some context for deciding whether we need a special Cabinet Expenditure Control Committee or not…

38 comments on “PSA tackles the stats ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Francois 1
    3 November 2008 at 8:03 am

    A very good article by Rod Oram:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaystartimes/4745851a6445.html

    A fantastic line:

    These great shifts are at the heart of the global crisis. They are also a great opportunity. But only for the bold and prepared. Labour is. National isn’t.

  2. higherstandard 2
    3 November 2008 at 8:26 am

    Rod Oram is to Labour what Matthew Hooten is to National such that he’s so much in Helen’s pocket the top of his head hasn’t seen the sun in 9 years. Predictably Rod’s independent thoughts line up quite closely with Labour’s current spin.

    Perhaps Randal and others calling for a completely independent media are right – or we could just read a range of opinions and make our own minds.

  3. Carol 3
    3 November 2008 at 8:32 am

    Oram’s analysis does tend to support Labour’s policies very often. But I think it’s a bit of a stretch to equate Oram’s analysis with Hooton’s spin. Oram doesn’t spin, but reaches conclusions based on analysis. Oram has never been a PR person for Labour, and is independent of them.

    Sometimes independent analysis just does give credence to Labour. But, I’m sure righties will try to spin this against Labour.

  4. John 4
    3 November 2008 at 8:40 am

    I have no problem with Rod Oram and others pushing their own political barrow, but he should have the courage to admit that he has always been a Labour supporter.
    I met him approx. 10 years ago and he was very pro Labour then.

  5. Felix 5
    3 November 2008 at 8:44 am

    Anybody care to discuss the post?

    (hint: Rod Oram isn’t in it)

  6. Bill D 6
    3 November 2008 at 8:49 am

    At last some discussion of the real issues. I have sometimes felt like a lone voice trying to get the following facts out. It would be nice if supporters sent this to all on their email list.

    Before you vote, consider this. National were in power for nine years up until 1999. Labour have now had nine years. Here are the stats:

    Total Government spending as % of GDP:

    1999 (National) ….. 32.4%

    2008 (Labour) ……. 31.8%

    Unemployment:

    1999 (National) …….. 7.1%

    2008 (Labour) ……. 3.1%

    Number of people on benefits:

    1999 (National) ……. 360,000

    2008 (Labour) ……… 245,000

    Spending on Health (adjusted to 2008 dollars)

    1999 (National) ……. 8.7 billion

    2008 (Labour) ……. 12.2 billion

    Spending on Education (adjusted to 2008 dollars):

    1999 (National) ……. 7.5 billion

    2008 (Labour) ……. 10.1 billion

    Prescription charges:

    1999 (National) $15

    2008 (Labour) $3

    How have the last nine years been for you?

    Seriously.

    Have you personally been prosecuted for smacking your child? Have you found chipping your dog, a gay couple being married, Government flunkies discussing showerheads, Winston’s follies, Helen’s manner and artwork – a serious infringement on your liberty and happiness?

    During the past nine years, Labour has added to the “bureaucracy” by providing an additional 4000 Nurses, 2500 Police, 1200 Doctors, 675 other Health Professionals, 7500 extra cataract operations and 10,000 extra hip and knee replacements, an additional 10,000 elective surgery procedures.

    Do accusations of corruption stand up in the light of the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2008 that places New Zealand 1st equal with Denmark and Sweden for the least corruption in the World?

    If you’re in business and the past nine years has been tough, maybe you’re in the wrong business. New Zealand ranks 2nd in the World according to the World Bank “Ease of doing business” survey 2008.

    Problems with the RMA? The RMA was enacted by the Bolger Government after a thorough going over by Simon Upton.

    I suspect that the real reason that the opposition has campaigned on non-issues is obvious given the performance stats above.

    Think about it.

  7. Carol 7
    3 November 2008 at 8:52 am

    My only query about the post, is to do with public spending per capita being equivalent for both National and Labour led governments. Doesn’t surprise me that the Nat spin is way off on this. But I would like to know what the similarities or differences are in the break down of that public spending: ie was it spent on the same or different ways for both governments?

    PS: John, then are you equally critical of analysis by economists who support National?

    Bill D has provided some of the stats for the above question. So what did the Nats spend the money on?

  8. RedLogix 8
    3 November 2008 at 8:58 am

    HS,

    If you really cannot tell the difference between “Hootenpiffle”s embarassing rants, and Oram’s researched and considered work then you have failed.

    A just and fairminded person can acknowledge and respect the work of an ideological opponent without necessarily agreeing with it. Oram has done a tonne of work over the years on all manner of business topics with little overt political bias. He has very largely kept his personal partisan convictions out of his public agenda, while holding his work together with a self-consistent underlying philosophy. He is almost the only heaviweight business commentator with a track record in this country.

    At the same time it has always been clear that Oram is no slavish creature of the Business Round Table. (Just as when you read something from Ron Trotter you just know he is not a CTU delegate), yet it is only in this last article that he has explicitly stated which party he believes is capable of managing the economy and why. The article itself lays out a detailed and reasoned case for this conclusion.

    On the other hand all you have been capable of is a lazy, fatuous comparison that achieves nothing of worth.

  9. John 9
    3 November 2008 at 9:00 am

    I’m not critical of Rod Oram’s analysis, just his attempts to be regarded as non-politically biased.

  10. higherstandard 10
    3 November 2008 at 9:07 am

    Bill/Spoff makes some excellent points but fails to take account of what the Labour inherited both in terms of the world and local economy at the beginning and during their nine years compared to what the Nats inherited in 91.

    Let’s face it whoever gets in is not in for an easy economic conditions for the next few years.

    Some more stats from the PSA website

    “Oh, but New Zealand’s public service is soaring, right?”

    Not really, no. Yes, it’s grown since 1999. But it’s still smaller than in 1990—even with almost a million more Kiwis since then:

    In 2008, 42,000 public servants for 4.2 million people (1:100)
    In 1999, 29,500 public servants for 3.7 million people (1:125)
    In 1990, 50,500 public servants for 3.5 million people (1:69)

    “As New Zealand’s population and economy grow, the need for strong public services grows, too. And service delivery accounts for 85% of the growth in the public sector—with support functions accounting for much of the rest.”

    What the PSA needs to very clearly outline is why as the population and economy grow, the need for strong public services grows – because there is a strong perception that much of the growth has been in bums on seats that don’t add a great deal.

  11. Felix 11
    3 November 2008 at 9:08 am

    Bill D puts it very well.

    Is there anyone here who feels like they’ve been doing it hard?

  12. RedLogix 12
    3 November 2008 at 9:12 am

    And yes back on topic.

    The underlying problem with National’s approach to public service is that they do not really understand it.

    National is the party of property and business owners whose principle, and to a degree legitimate concerns, revolve around profit, cutting costs, and retaining personal and market privileges. As a result all of their internal language and dialogue are evolved from it, and all of their policies (such as the ACC privatisation) are instinctively rooted in it.

    Government by constrast is collective tool of the nation. At every turn the very nature and purpose of public service wrong-foots the right. This is why they talk nonsense about out of control numbers of bureaucrats, because from their limited perspective the depth and complexity of modern goverment is just too big and baffling to grasp.

  13. Felix 13
    3 November 2008 at 9:49 am

    “there is a strong perception that much of the growth has been in bums on seats that don’t add a great deal.”

    I’ve seen that perception expressed by the National party and repeated on the blogs and to a degree (but not much) in the MSM.

    I haven’t seen it expressed in the 3D real world. Quite the opposite actually.

  14. Janet 14
    3 November 2008 at 9:57 am

    Some of these comments reflect the common assumption of those on the right that their ideas are the norm and somehow neutral and that anyone who doesn’t think like them are either in someone else’s pocket or captured by ideology.

  15. Ianmac 15
    3 November 2008 at 10:04 am

    Bill D: It would be hard to dispute such clearly laid out facts. Ta. (Though I am sure some would try!) It intrigues me that this sort of information is not out in the open. Is it possible that the endless fuss about Winston is intended to drown out the facts?
    Imagine your data on a page in the Herald? Ha! Will try and get them into Letter to Ed in our local paper. OkBill?
    And having heard Rod Oram on radio I think that his enthusiasm and clarity of explanation for difficult topics is clear of bias.

  16. Bill D 16
    3 November 2008 at 10:36 am

    Astounding lack of focus in Labour’s campaign. They have allowed the Nats to battle straw men all along the way and to have mishandled the H-fee thing is unforgivable.
    That bloggers like ourselves are the only ones to stay on topic indicates a shakeup is needed in the back room.

    It is my most earnest desire that those stats are placed in every possible publication this week. Go for it.

  17. randal 17
    3 November 2008 at 10:54 am

    HS there is no comparison between rod oram and matthew hooton.
    oram has a degree and a recognised trade
    hooton is just a mouth who says what his paymasters desire
    and I must add that it is not necessary for the press to be independent although that helps but it is only necessary for the press to be fair and most of all mature.
    at the moment we are witnessing a preriod where the recruiting principles of mass journalism are having the unintended effect of bringing the press into disrepute
    one of the reasons is that the juveniles doing the writing have never done any reading!
    and secondly
    that the current generation are letting their unresolved childish desires creep into the discourse
    a very bad recipe indeed

  18. KiwiGirl 18
    3 November 2008 at 11:08 am

    Felix wrote:
    “Bill D puts it very well.
    Is there anyone here who feels like they’ve been doing it hard?”

    Maybe our soldiers who went to the wars didn’t feel like “they’d been doing it hard” but that didn’t stop them from offering their lives for the perceived loss of freedom if they allowed aggression on the other side of the world to go unchecked.

    Now like it or not, there are A LOT of people who perceive that future policies of Labour and the Greens will further impact on the personal freedoms New Zealanders enjoy – freedoms that seem to have been eroded over the last three years particularly.

  19. Vanilla Eis 19
    3 November 2008 at 11:15 am

    KiwiGirl: Sorry, what freedoms were those exactly?

    It’s just that I don’t see any mentioned specifically in your post, and can’t think of any ways my life has been impacted so I was wondering about which freedoms you “percieve” to have lost.

  20. Chris G 20
    3 November 2008 at 11:45 am

    Bill D,

    Fantastic, Post of the Year.

    Kiwigirl,

    Which of your freedoms have disappeared?

  21. Felix 21
    3 November 2008 at 11:49 am

    Yeah I’ve read that 3 times now KiwiGirl and I don’t get it at all. What are you not free from anymore?

    See the thing is, when all the rhetoric is all mopped up no-one seems to be able to say they actually feel like they’re having a really hard time of it.

    But I’ll ask again – who reckons they’ve been doing it hard for the past few years?

  22. Chris G 22
    3 November 2008 at 11:56 am

    Felix,

    The tories on here have gone unusually quiet everytime you’ve asked that (About three times now, am I right?)

  23. Chris G 23
    3 November 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Bill D,

    I have a possible reason as to why Labour haven’t used those sorts of figures in their campaign. Its because people dont tend to respond to stats very well, especially a bombardment of the sort. I watched a doco on propoganda and politics and some professor of psychology and cognitive science said people just dont click to stats. Hence the use of buzz words in politics eg. in NZ: ‘Brighter Future’, ‘Fresh’, ‘Trust’ and in the US and here ‘Change’

    Heres the link, check it if you want. http://www.livevideo.com/video/Drachnid/9D2EB4710E7248B4AE6FF4ECFB8C6A51/propaganda-

    The professor guy speaks second, if I recall rightly.

  24. Felix 24
    3 November 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Yeah I noticed that too. Truth is like kryptonite to them.

  25. Bill D 25
    3 November 2008 at 1:18 pm

    Chris G.

    I have always enjoyed George Carlin’s dicta

    “Think of how dumb the average American (voter) is and remind yourself that half of them are dumber than that”

    However, I do believe that hard facts count in an election if they are presented properly. In this election I think Labour have neglected to focus the debate. It has not been easy to even locate stats that should have been out there in full view. I have highly literate and intelligent friends who have swallowed the kool-aid about big bureaucracy, beneficiaries, nanny state etc.

    Whatever the outcome of this election, there should be a re-shuffle in Labour’s backroom.

  26. Rich 26
    3 November 2008 at 2:10 pm

    A huge percentage of public servants are doing grassroots service delivery: doctors, nurses, policeman, WINZ staff, etc. Policy people are only a small proportion and are neccessary to ensure that front line staff are given the environment to be effective.

  27. Ianmac 27
    3 November 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Bill D: Have sent your data from 8:49, to Marl Express as a letter to “help John Key explain his position about Govt spending”, e-mailed to several friends, posted on blogs the most recent being Colin Espiner. Couldn’t accredit to you as only know you as Bill. Hope you don’t mind?

  28. tracey 28
    3 November 2008 at 2:34 pm

    By loss of freedoms do you mean the EFA? It’s messy and it should have invloved absolute transparency of all donations by all parties. BUT really has the sky fallen because of it during this election? The only thing the electorate has been deprived of is information and education, and NOT because of the EFA

  29. Bill D 29
    3 November 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Ianmac.

    Your blood is worth bottling!

    Accreditation don’t matter.

  30. Joanna 30
    3 November 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Bill D – I found those stats very powerful – simple to understand and easily set out so as to not bog peolple down in too much detail. I hope you don’t mind but I have followed Ianmacs lead and passed them on too.

  31. Akldnut 31
    3 November 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Kia ora guys I just wanna list my freedoms that have been eroded over the past several years.

    1. The freedom to give obscene amounts of cash to the political party of my choice anonymously! (making it harder for me to influence the outcome without my associates knowing what an immoral scumbag I am)
    2. The freedom to give my misbehaving children a thrashing “within an inch of their lives!” (or further if I wish depending on how much drugs or alcohol I’ve had)
    3. The freedom to use any damn lightbulb I want!
    4. The freedom to use a showerhead (that flows faster and harder than I can piss) thereby removing my right to waste as much water and money as I like!
    5. The freedom to pay my staff as little as I can, without the possiblity of union action!
    6. The freedom to choose an insurance provider for my staff who will deny cover from claims that arise!
    7. The freedom to put as much carbon into the atmosphere and produce as much pollution as I like!
    8. But most importantly the feedom to make as much “money” as I can while screwing the rest of our society and the world!

    Yep – Spot on Kiwigirl

  32. Chris G 32
    3 November 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Akldnut, GOLD!!!

    love every bit of that, and if you dont mind I’ll be sending around yours and Bills comments.

  33. Vanilla Eis 33
    3 November 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Akldnut: Some of those haven’t even been eroded… You can still choose any showerhead you want, and put as much carbon as you like into the atmosphere (just use that extra cash from #1 on petrol and leave the car idling whenever you feel like it) without any interference…

  34. jo zinny 34
    3 November 2008 at 4:21 pm

    confirming dancer’s post, BillD wrote:

    Total Government spending as % of GDP:

    1999 (National) .. 32.4%

    2008 (Labour) . 31.8%

    So.. can we take it that a ‘new’ national’s immediate goal would be to beat an olde national’s figures.. So.. why don’t its apologists and blogger frats admit this..?

    Any takers..

  35. Chris G 35
    3 November 2008 at 6:35 pm

    You wont get any jo,

    the tories are decidely quiet with regard to this post and the stats. funny that.

  36. Ari 36
    4 November 2008 at 8:29 am

    So.. can we take it that a ‘new’ national’s immediate goal would be to beat an olde national’s figures.. So.. why don’t its apologists and blogger frats admit this..?

    Any takers..

    “Oh, but tax cuts aren’t spending, they’re saving!” is what I’m imagining they’ll say, assuming they’re forced to confront it. As if people actually save their few miniscule dollars of tax cuts rather than buying some “cheese” with them.

  37. Pete 37
    7 November 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Hey Bill D,

    Thanks for the stats – do you have a source? I’ve posted this, with some of my own comments on some of today’s (7 November) stories on Stuff: and

  38. Pete 38
    7 November 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Sorry lprent, can you help fix the link above.

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    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    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
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
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