Public service broadcasting and politics

Written By: - Date published: 10:15 am, November 25th, 2012 - 24 comments
Categories: broadcasting, democratic participation, Maori Issues, Politics, tv - Tags: , , , , , ,

Public service broadcasting and commercial TV tend to cover politics in different ways.  News on public service broadcasting internationally, tends to cover political stories and policies in more depth.  Internationally, news on commercial channels has become increasingly ratings driven, sensationalistic, Murdoch-style, infotainment since the 1980s. Sky TV’s new public service channel, Face, seems like a contradiction in terms.  Universally accessible public service TV is essential for democracy to thrive.

In a recent speech, Nicky Hager convincingly argued that there is a need for “democratic renewal” in NZ.  To help achieve this, we need,

long-term funding and statutory independence for non-commercial television, radio and, eventually, print public news media.

This would help bring back good journalism, which Hager said, should  relentlessly “seek out truthfulness in politics“, especially when the truth or facts are hidden.  It should go beyond the political manipulations and PR distortions that passes for much of mainstream journalism these days. In today’s news media, as argued by Glenn Greenwald, the attempts to present “both sides” of the story are superficial, and that, in the interests of democracy and truth-seeking, it is preferable that a journalist be openly aware of their own biases.

I was particularly saddened yesterday, to see that  some of the remnants of our free community and public service TV are being taken over by incorporated into Face:

Sky Television is to host a new public service channel on its airwaves after striking a deal with Stratos Television founder Jim Blackman. …

… his Auckland-based Triangle TV channel would be the basis for Face TV’s schedule.

Blackman said Face TV was different to Stratos and Triangle because it would have more of a public service focus, although the exact programming schedule was not yet decided.

Public service broadcasting in NZ took a fatal hit when the government closed TVNZ’s Channel 7, followed by the disappearance of Stratos from Freeview.  Next year I will no longer have the option to watch Auckland’s Triangle on analogue TV. Not being a Sky subscriber, I will (fortunately) be left with Maori TV as the only Freeview public service channel.

The shift of Martyn (Bomber) Bradbury’s show Citizen A from Triangle to Face, will be a loss to those of us with only Freeview TV access.  He has a flare for expressing left wing views in colourful and engaging ways, even if I don’t always agree with him (though I agree more than I disagree).  His shows have provided some very good political analysis and helped some people elected to Auckland Council become more visible.  Bomber responded to my rather blunt misgivings about Face, by tweeting.

sadly this Government has destroyed public broadcasting and this is as good as it gets for now

It’s possible that the Face will help maintain and develop the skills and technologies required for good public service television, rather than putting them into indefinite cold storage.  However, the revitalisation of democracy needs public service broadcasting that is available to all, and, as Peter Thompson states (in the above-linked Stuff article), universal access cannot be provided by pay TV.

Public service broadcasting services democracy because it puts a lot of focus on policies and issues.  In contrast, commercial TV news makes more use of the “strategic framing” of politics as Game playing, while also putting a lot of focus on drama, conflict, and personality politics.  This was shown in Margie Comrie’s study, which compared the political coverage of TV One, TV3 and Maori TV in the run up to the 2008 elections. She concluded that, of the three channles, Maori TV was more like public service broadcasting in many ways. TV3 and TV One’s coverage was more personalised, used more visuals of the leaders, and tended to use more strategic framing of politics as a “game”, in which

poll positions and horserace aspects were emphasized in many stories.

Rather than use experts to provide analysis, TV One and TV3 made more use of “live-crosses” to journalists, who talked to the camera from the campaign trail. They posed as “experts”, providing summaries of “winners and losers”. This was “topped and tailed” with editorial comments in the studio. MTS, in contrast, used more voice-over analysis, “summarizing policies and providing contextual information”.

International studies cited by Comrie, show that the “strategic”or “game framing” of politics is destructive, because it minimizes political information and portrays politicians as “self-interested”.  This results in significant numbers of people becoming cynical about, and disengaged from, politics (although other international sources contest such findings).

It is possible to incorporate some public service, and good journalistic values into programmes on commercial TV, especially with current events programmes like Campbell Live.  However, they still operate within a ratings-driven framework.  This is underpinned by values that favour personalities over policies, poor analysis, and a focus on the strategic game playing of politicians over the interests of ordinary members of the public.  My concern is that, in spite of the positive PSB values that Face aims to embrace, in the long-term the logic of the ratings-driven market will predominate. The result could possibly continue to undermine true public service broadcasting, quality journalism, open debate, and democratic participation.

It is also very likely that cynicism about politicians, and political disengagement, will continue to rise among those who don’t subscribe to Sky.

24 comments on “Public service broadcasting and politics ”

  1. Colonial Viper 1

    An outstanding piece, Karol, one which focusses on some of the core infrastructure needed to keep a real democracy functioning and citizens informed and thoughtful – the Fourth Estate.

  2. Slartibartfast 2

    You can of course watch Citizen A on Bomber’s blog site and there are links from Scoop and Live News too. Is this the real future of public tv?

    • karol 2.1

      But will the online videos be available once Citizen A goes to Sky/Face? Sky/Prime doesn’t make any of it’s content available free online, ondemand at the moment.

      I like to watch Al Jazeera news on Triangle, which is likely to go to Face as past of it’s international programmes. AJ does have low resolution live streaming online, so I guess I’ll be watching that eventually.

      • Slartibartfast 2.1.1

        Um…. hadn’t thought of that.
        Make sure it’s in your contract Bomber!

        Perhaps we need a PIRATE public broadcasting website.
        Kim.com could help. 🙂

  3. Bomber working for Murdoch, that will be fun to watch

  4. higherstandard 4

    I’m tempted to say that Martyn Bradbury is the ultimate waste of broadcasting monies but when you see the shite that passes for entertainment and attracts NZ on Air funding you’d have to suggest that money spent on him would be good value in comparison.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1

      even I can appreciate that perspective.

    • Chalupa Batman 4.2

      But but but hes the voice of the left!

    • karol 4.3

      If you’re not that into Bomber, Citizen A also has some excellent commentators like Selwynn Manning. It regularly has Chris Trotter, and sometimes includes people like Julie fairey, Penny Hulse (Auckland deputy mayor), and many other people who are worh watching.

      I also haven’t seen what other Triangle shows are going to Face, but David Beatson is a good journalist – an old style conservative: he is well informed on the topics he covers, and is familiar with diverse views on them. He makes an honest attempt to draw interviewees out, rather than just trying to bludgeon them into saying something that will support his views – unlike several off the mainstream neoliberal journalists.

  5. QoT 5

    I haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate live crosses. That is all.

    (Also, great post!)

    • karol 5.1

      Thanks, QOT, and CV

      Those live-crosses are a bit of an infotainment con trick – keep changing the scene to make it look like loads are happening. And it helps the journalist to pose as an “expert” – on the spot, as though s/he is in touch with all the action.

      TV One and TV3 news tend to have shorter interviews and reports than MTS – part of the infotainment, and encouragement of short attention spans. I’ve noticed these days that TV One News reports are also shorter than those of TV 3.

  6. Rogue Trooper 6

    excellent writing in my ‘umble opine

  7. Rogue Trooper 7

    btw, clever photo shop! “I’ve seen the nights filled with bloodsport and pain…the bodies obtained…
    the bodies obtained…where will it end…where will it end…

    -Atmosphere (don’t walk away in…Silence…don’t walk away)

    It’s not a circus you know son, it’s PG tips

  8. xtasy 8

    Thanks for this good summary of relevant details to consider re public and private broadcasting.

    As a regular Triangle viewer I am also dismayed about the developments.

    Maori TV only offers some programs that generate my interest, and we know what happened to TVNZ in general.

    This new channel on Sky will never meet the standard of true public broadcasting. The trend worldwide has been towards direct or indirect “commercialisation” – going hand in hand with a total ratings focus, which again determines prospective advertising revenues.

    Bring back something like TVNZ7, and add another truly publicly funded channel to that for a slightly different focus, offering diversity for various interest groups cherishing true, fact based, independent reporting and information!

    I do generally agree with what Nicky Hager has said re this kind of topic.

    Democracy has become a farce in NZ and other “western” and not so western countries, which shows itself in the mediocre, always “balance” seeking (and with that sadly often fact ignoring, apologetic) shows we have for news and current affairs.

    Also 60 minutes is being phased out, and what else is there in current affairs now? Stuff all. The government and so far lacking opposition get away with far too much.

  9. Tim 9

    I’ve already commented on the latest Citizen A “@” a Tumeke post. If people think Face is going to be “PSB” they’re deluding themselves. There’s a fundamental problem too with JUST relying on social electronic media (such as the internet). For an underclass, that’s going to be a luxury for quite some time as well. The problem though is that its subscribers only ever SOLICIT information (news and current affairs in particular) they prefer.
    The Media Studies students I once tutored not too long ago), I’m sad to say, were heavily reliant on Stuff ffs!. Worse still, most concentrated on entertainment and other bullshit sections of the site. If ever I wanted to wring necks it was then. I kept thinking “open you’re fcking minds!, allow yourselves to encounter and digest things you might encounter UNSOLICITED”. They might even encounter alternative political views but at least 50% had esprayshuns of becoming a Jack Tame or a du Plessey-WhatsherName, or a screaching One Network News Max Headroom doing a live-cross to somewhere on the Desert Road (just because they can). And worse worse still, they progressively became the high-mark achievers in a tertiary system where there was some obvious manipulation at play come moderation time.

    I’m afraid Face (as Bomber Brad says) suggests, might be the least worst thing though, until we actually take back power abd force representative gubbamint.

    • xtasy 9.1

      Tim

      You raise serious concerns I have had for quite some time.

      While there are so many praising social media sites, alternative and not so alternative blogs (incl. this one), thinking all this will forever be “independent” of sorts, offer “true” information and grow to compete with and outsmart the commercial and still in part state run media, I think you will have another thing coming!

      We are still in what I would call the “end phase” of the “free” internet adventures, where much content is still freely accessible.

      The mainstream media are already starting to abolish print editions and to instead offer more online services, which in some cases already is only offered on a “user pays” kind of basis.

      This will become the norm soon. The NZ Herald will be on their way to follow the NBR and SST, to make at least a fair bit of content “chargeable”. Users will have to register and establish accounts all over the sites they will use for private and in the end “public” media, or what will be left of it.

      While there will be forums like TS still available, regulation may make life difficult for themselves and their users. Also information will (as it already mostly is) be gathered by the main corporate, private media companies, held by them and only published selectively and for charges.

      So how are the wider public going to get information, access forums for debate and whatever, when so much information will be a chargeable commodity only some will be able to afford? Forums like this often have commenters insert links to other media, to access more information. That will become limited, as information may not be so freely available to all anymore.

      The internet will become predominantly commercially focused, and users will be “hand fed” with bits of information of little substantial value, so “discussions” will tend to become more and more “trivial”. Facebook is thriving on this, but where does the user’s info go, where does the money get made? Some are increasing power, while most will become dumbed down, manipulated users of media and information.

      Indeed there is a HUGE threat for true democracy ahead of us! I also see and meet so many people, not having much of a clue about anything, let alone political debate. It is shocking, but that will be the future.

      John Key and consorts will just “love” this.

      Only widely available, free broadcasting can offer this, as the internet is going to be for “selective” use and consumption, splitting society in part with over-individualised, brainwashed, manipulated idiots (that is most).

      • Tim 9.1.1

        Thumbs up. Hopefully I’ll get to reply in proppa-like fashion soon. Can’t right now though.

    • karol 9.2

      It is pretty depressing, Tim, that the neoliberal take-over of news media has done it’s job for now and the future.

      Most of those characteristics that Comrie associates with commercial TV news pretty much support neoliberal values.

      And they can be seen in the coverage of politics daily – including the coverage of the Labour Party conference: focused on personalities, dramatic conflicts, officially leaked LP PR, and, most importantly, politics as “strategic (game) framing”.

      It focused little on the background issues: eg concern about the political direction of the LP, the weaknesses in the current leader and failure to be an effective opposition; failure to get opposing policy-positions into the media,etc.

      Thanks for the tip about the comments on Bomber’s blog. I see he commented that Citizen A will continue to be available online after it goes onto Sky.

      http://tumeke.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/citizen-with-mike-lee-julie-fairey.html

  10. Tim 10

    ……just as a post-script, the NeoLibs, their sympathisers, those that have never ever experienced an alternative, the ideologues, the 3rd and 4th Reich will probably NEVER understand the concept of Public Service Broadcasting. They might be fully appreciative of the impact of media, but they won’t ever understand a 4th Estate.
    How do you ever deal with that? I’m not sure a Clare Curran has the capacity even though she might be well on the way. I suspect maintaining “I’m in with the IN crowd” though might just get in the way. It WILL Clare – completely and utterly

    Bullshit and Jellybeans!

    • One Tāne Huna 10.1

      “How do you ever deal with that?”

      You don’t. You just win the treasury benches and pass the bloody legislation. Trying to pretend that there are two “sides” to the argument, and that the right’s “opinion” has some merit, a possibility for compromise, is as pointless as the false balance the media is guilty of.

      That’s why the left needs strong articulate voices to challenge the useless backward status quo, instead of begging for crumbs.

      Great article Karol, thanks.

      • Colonial Viper 10.1.1

        Hear hear. Have a clear agenda which represents your values, make sure that the benefits go to a very large section of the community, and then push the bloody thing through and make it happen.

      • Macro 10.1.2

        Absolutely and totally agree!

        Win the treasury benches and pass the legislation – only way. eg first Labour Govt.

        Yes a great article

  11. tc 11

    Sky and public broadcasting don’t go in the same sentence. Yet another content filler to lure subscribers over as it should be on freeview. It’ll have it’s moments but ultimately it’s got monopoly boy Fellett yanking the chain should it prove an irritant.

    They saw off SBS in may which came on the free view satellite if you had a box that decoded the 4 channels. It showed what utter crap we get served up here with its comprehensive news, high quality docos and also nailed all the major football events.

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    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 ...
    5 days ago
  • New Zealaders  have  high expectations of  new  government:  now let’s see if it can deliver?
    The electorate has high expectations of the  new  government.  The question is: can  it  deliver?    Some  might  say  the  signs are not  promising. Protestors   are  already marching in the streets. The  new  Prime Minister has had  little experience of managing  very diverse politicians  in coalition. The economy he  ...
    Point of OrderBy tutere44
    5 days ago
  • You won't believe some of the numbers you have to pull when you're a Finance Minister
    Nicola of Marsden:Yo, normies! We will fix your cost of living worries by giving you a tax cut of 150 dollars. 150! Cash money! Vote National.Various people who can read and count:Actually that's 150 over a fortnight. Not a week, which is how you usually express these things.And actually, it looks ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Pushback
    When this government came to power, it did so on an explicitly white supremacist platform. Undermining the Waitangi Tribunal, removing Māori representation in local government, over-riding the courts which had tried to make their foreshore and seabed legislation work, eradicating te reo from public life, and ultimately trying to repudiate ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Defence ministerial meeting meant Collins missed the Maori Party’s mischief-making capers in Parli...
    Buzz from the Beehive Maybe this is not the best time for our Minister of Defence to have gone overseas. Not when the Maori Party is inviting (or should that be inciting?) its followers to join a revolution in a post which promoted its protest plans with a picture of ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • Threats of war have been followed by an invitation to join the revolution – now let’s see how th...
     A Maori Party post on Instagram invited party followers to ….  Tangata Whenua, Tangata Tiriti, Join the REVOLUTION! & make a stand!  Nationwide Action Day, All details in tiles swipe to see locations.  • This is our 1st hit out and tomorrow Tuesday the 5th is the opening ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Top 10 for Tuesday, December 4
    The RBNZ governor is citing high net migration and profit-led inflation as factors in the bank’s hawkish stance. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere on the morning of Tuesday, December 5, including:Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says high net migration and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Nicola Willis' 'show me the money' moment
    Willis has accused labour of “economic vandalism’, while Robertson described her comments as a “desperate diversion from somebody who can't make their tax package add up”. There will now be an intense focus on December 20 to see whether her hyperbole is backed up by true surprises. Photo montage: Lynn ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • CRL costs money but also provides huge benefits
    The City Rail Link has been in the headlines a bit recently so I thought I’d look at some of them. First up, yesterday the NZ Herald ran this piece about the ongoing costs of the CRL. Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with an estimated bill of $220 million each ...
    5 days ago
  • And I don't want the world to see us.
    Is this the most shambolic government in the history of New Zealand? Given that parliament hasn’t even opened they’ve managed quite a list of achievements to date.The Smokefree debacle trading lives for tax cuts, the Trumpian claims of bribery in the Media, an International award for indifference, and today the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Cooking the books
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis late yesterday stopped only slightly short of accusing her predecessor Grant Robertson of cooking the books. She complained that the Half Yearly Economic and Fiscal Update (HYEFU), due to be made public on December 20, would show “fiscal cliffs” that would amount to “billions of ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Most people don’t realize how much progress we’ve made on climate change
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The year was 2015. ‘Uptown Funk’ with Bruno Mars was at the top of the music charts. Jurassic World was the most popular new movie in theaters. And decades of futility in international climate negotiations was about to come to an end in ...
    6 days ago
  • Of Parliamentary Oaths and Clive Boonham
    As a heads-up, I am not one of those people who stay awake at night thinking about weird Culture War nonsense. At least so far as the current Maori/Constitutional arrangements go. In fact, I actually consider it the least important issue facing the day to day lives of New ...
    6 days ago
  • Bearing True Allegiance?
    Strong Words: “We do not consent, we do not surrender, we do not cede, we do not submit; we, the indigenous, are rising. We do not buy into the colonial fictions this House is built upon. Te Pāti Māori pledges allegiance to our mokopuna, our whenua, and Te Tiriti o ...
    6 days ago
  • You cannot be serious
    Some days it feels like the only thing to say is: Seriously? No, really. Seriously?OneSomeone has used their health department access to share data about vaccinations and patients, and inform the world that New Zealanders have been dying in their hundreds of thousands from the evil vaccine. This of course is pure ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • A promise kept: govt pulls the plug on Lake Onslow scheme – but this saving of $16bn is denounced...
    Buzz from the Beehive After $21.8 million was spent on investigations, the plug has been pulled on the Lake Onslow pumped-hydro electricity scheme, The scheme –  that technically could have solved New Zealand’s looming energy shortage, according to its champions – was a key part of the defeated Labour government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • CHRIS TROTTER: The Maori Party and Oath of Allegiance
    If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them?   Chris Trotter writes – Christmas is fast approaching, which, as it does every year, means gearing up for an abstruse general knowledge question. “Who was ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • BRIAN EASTON:  Forward to 2017
    The coalition party agreements are mainly about returning to 2017 when National lost power. They show commonalities but also some serious divergencies. Brian Easton writes The two coalition agreements – one National and ACT, the other National and New Zealand First – are more than policy documents. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Climate Change: Fossils
    When the new government promised to allow new offshore oil and gas exploration, they were warned that there would be international criticism and reputational damage. Naturally, they arrogantly denied any possibility that that would happen. And then they finally turned up at COP, to criticism from Palau, and a "fossil ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • GEOFFREY MILLER:  NZ’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    Geoffrey Miller writes – New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the government’s smokefree laws debacle
    The most charitable explanation for National’s behaviour over the smokefree legislation is that they have dutifully fulfilled the wishes of the Big Tobacco lobby and then cast around – incompetently, as it turns out – for excuses that might sell this health policy U-turn to the public. The less charitable ...
    6 days ago
  • Top 10 links at 10 am for Monday, December 4
    As Deb Te Kawa writes in an op-ed, the new Government seems to have immediately bought itself fights with just about everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Here’s my pick of the top 10 news and analysis links elsewhere as of 10 am on Monday December 4, including:Palau’s President ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Be Honest.
    Let’s begin today by thinking about job interviews.During my career in Software Development I must have interviewed hundreds of people, hired at least a hundred, but few stick in the memory.I remember one guy who was so laid back he was practically horizontal, leaning back in his chair until his ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: New Zealand’s foreign policy resets on AUKUS, Gaza and Ukraine
    New Zealand’s international relations are under new management. And Winston Peters, the new foreign minister, is already setting a change agenda. As expected, this includes a more pro-US positioning when it comes to the Pacific – where Peters will be picking up where he left off. Peters sought to align ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    6 days ago
  • Auckland rail tunnel the world’s most expensive
    Auckland’s city rail link is the most expensive rail project in the world per km, and the CRL boss has described the cost of infrastructure construction in Aotearoa as a crisis. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The 3.5 km City Rail Link (CRL) tunnel under Auckland’s CBD has cost ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • First big test coming
    The first big test of the new Government’s approach to Treaty matters is likely to be seen in the return of the Resource Management Act. RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed that he intends to introduce legislation to repeal Labour’s recently passed Natural and Built Environments Act and its ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago
  • The Song of Saqua: Volume III
    Time to revisit something I haven’t covered in a while: the D&D campaign, with Saqua the aquatic half-vampire. Last seen in July: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/the-song-of-saqua-volume-ii/ The delay is understandable, once one realises that the interim saw our DM come down with a life-threatening medical situation. They have since survived to make ...
    6 days ago
  • Chris Bishop: Smokin’
    Yes. Correct. It was an election result. And now we are the elected government. ...
    My ThinksBy boonman
    1 week ago
  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #48
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science  Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Nov 26, 2023 thru Dec 2, 2023. Story of the Week CO2 readings from Mauna Loa show failure to combat climate change Daily atmospheric carbon dioxide data from Hawaiian volcano more ...
    1 week ago
  • Affirmative Action.
    Affirmative Action was a key theme at this election, although I don’t recall anyone using those particular words during the campaign.They’re positive words, and the way the topic was talked about was anything but. It certainly wasn’t a campaign of saying that Affirmative Action was a good thing, but that, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • 100 days of something
    It was at the end of the Foxton straights, at the end of 1978, at 100km/h, that someone tried to grab me from behind on my Yamaha.They seemed to be yanking my backpack. My first thought was outrage. My second was: but how? Where have they come from? And my ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Look who’s stepped up to champion Winston
    There’s no news to be gleaned from the government’s official website today  – it contains nothing more than the message about the site being under maintenance. The time this maintenance job is taking and the costs being incurred have us musing on the government’s commitment to an assault on inflation. ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 week ago
  • What's The Story?
    Don’t you sometimes wish they’d just tell the truth? No matter how abhorrent or ugly, just straight up tell us the truth?C’mon guys, what you’re doing is bad enough anyway, pretending you’re not is only adding insult to injury.Instead of all this bollocks about the Smokefree changes being to do ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • The longest of weeks
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Friday Under New Management Week in review, quiz style1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago
  • Suggested sessions of EGU24 to submit abstracts to
    Like earlier this year, members from our team will be involved with next year's General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union (EGU). The conference will take place on premise in Vienna as well as online from April 14 to 19, 2024. The session catalog has been available since November 1 ...
    1 week ago
  • Under New Management
    1. Which of these best describes Aotearoa?a. Progressive nation, proud of its egalitarian spirit and belief in a fair go b. Best little country on the planet c. Under New Management 2. Which of these best describes the 100 days of action announced this week by the new government?a. Petulantb. Simplistic and wrongheaded c. ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 week ago

  • Ministers visit Hawke’s Bay to grasp recovery needs
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Cyclone Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell and Transport and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown, to meet leaders of cyclone and flood-affected regions in the Hawke’s Bay. The visit reinforced the coalition Government’s commitment to support the region and better understand its ongoing requirements, Mr Mitchell says.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns malicious cyber activity
    New Zealand has joined the UK and other partners in condemning malicious cyber activity conducted by the Russian Government, Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Judith Collins says. The statement follows the UK’s attribution today of malicious cyber activity impacting its domestic democratic institutions and processes, as well ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Disestablishment of Te Pūkenga begins
    The Government has begun the process of disestablishing Te Pūkenga as part of its 100-day plan, Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds says.  “I have started putting that plan into action and have met with the chair and chief Executive of Te Pūkenga to advise them of my ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change Minister to attend COP28 in Dubai
    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will be leaving for Dubai today to attend COP28, the 28th annual UN climate summit, this week. Simon Watts says he will push for accelerated action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, deliver New Zealand’s national statement and connect with partner countries, private sector leaders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New Zealand to host 2024 Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins yesterday announced New Zealand will host next year’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM). “Having just returned from this year’s meeting in Nouméa, I witnessed first-hand the value of meeting with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security and defence matters. I welcome the opportunity to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Study shows need to remove distractions in class
    The Government is committed to lifting school achievement in the basics and that starts with removing distractions so young people can focus on their learning, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.   The 2022 PISA results released this week found that Kiwi kids ranked 5th in the world for being distracted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Minister sets expectations of Commissioner
    Today I met with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to set out my expectations, which he has agreed to, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Under section 16(1) of the Policing Act 2008, the Minister can expect the Police Commissioner to deliver on the Government’s direction and priorities, as now outlined in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand needs a strong and stable ETS
    New Zealand needs a strong and stable Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) that is well placed for the future, after emission units failed to sell for the fourth and final auction of the year, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  At today’s auction, 15 million New Zealand units (NZUs) – each ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PISA results show urgent need to teach the basics
    With 2022 PISA results showing a decline in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford is confident that the Coalition Government’s 100-day plan for education will improve outcomes for Kiwi kids.  The 2022 PISA results show a significant decline in the performance of 15-year-old students in maths compared to 2018 and confirms ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Collins leaves for Pacific defence meeting
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today departed for New Caledonia to attend the 8th annual South Pacific Defence Ministers’ meeting (SPDMM). “This meeting is an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with my Pacific counterparts to discuss regional security matters and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Pacific,” Judith Collins says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Working for Families gets cost of living boost
    Putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families is a priority of this Coalition Government, starting with an increase to Working for Families, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “We are starting our 100-day plan with a laser focus on bringing down the cost of living, because that is what ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Post-Cabinet press conference
    Most weeks, following Cabinet, the Prime Minister holds a press conference for members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery. This page contains the transcripts from those press conferences, which are supplied by Hansard to the Office of the Prime Minister. It is important to note that the transcripts have not been edited ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped
    The Government has axed the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme championed by the previous government, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “This hugely wasteful project was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending and focussing on rebuilding the economy and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ welcomes further pause in fighting in Gaza
    New Zealand welcomes the further one-day extension of the pause in fighting, which will allow the delivery of more urgently-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of more hostages, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. “The human cost of the conflict is horrific, and New Zealand wants to see the violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Condolences on passing of Henry Kissinger
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters today expressed on behalf of the New Zealand Government his condolences to the family of former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who has passed away at the age of 100 at his home in Connecticut. “While opinions on his legacy are varied, Secretary Kissinger was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Backing our kids to learn the basics
    Every child deserves a world-leading education, and the Coalition Government is making that a priority as part of its 100-day plan. Education Minister Erica Stanford says that will start with banning cellphone use at school and ensuring all primary students spend one hour on reading, writing, and maths each day. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • US Business Summit Speech – Regional stability through trade
    I would like to begin by echoing the Prime Minister’s thanks to the organisers of this Summit, Fran O’Sullivan and the Auckland Business Chamber.  I want to also acknowledge the many leading exporters, sector representatives, diplomats, and other leaders we have joining us in the room. In particular, I would like ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Keynote Address to the United States Business Summit, Auckland
    Good morning. Thank you, Rosemary, for your warm introduction, and to Fran and Simon for this opportunity to make some brief comments about New Zealand’s relationship with the United States.  This is also a chance to acknowledge my colleague, Minister for Trade Todd McClay, Ambassador Tom Udall, Secretary of Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • India New Zealand Business Council Speech, India as a Strategic Priority
    Good morning, tēnā koutou and namaskar. Many thanks, Michael, for your warm welcome. I would like to acknowledge the work of the India New Zealand Business Council in facilitating today’s event and for the Council’s broader work in supporting a coordinated approach for lifting New Zealand-India relations. I want to also ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Coalition Government unveils 100-day plan
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has laid out the Coalition Government’s plan for its first 100 days from today. “The last few years have been incredibly tough for so many New Zealanders. People have put their trust in National, ACT and NZ First to steer them towards a better, more prosperous ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • New Zealand welcomes European Parliament vote on the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement
    A significant milestone in ratifying the NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was reached last night, with 524 of the 705 member European Parliament voting in favour to approve the agreement. “I’m delighted to hear of the successful vote to approve the NZ-EU FTA in the European Parliament overnight. This is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

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