Public Service meltdown

Written By: - Date published: 7:33 am, December 21st, 2018 - 55 comments
Categories: accountability, jacinda ardern, Politics, public services, workers' rights - Tags:

Shit is going down.

Police. Transport. Housing. MFAT. Christchurch. Health. Education

Prime Minister does not sack Wally Haumaha, on advice of Solicitor General and Independent Police Authority, despite PM going all-out on pro women and anti bullying to get into power.

Primary and secondary school industrial action deep into next year.

Head of NZTA resigns last week, with NZTA in total turmoil. Major report to Parliament in March and more big damage coming.

Kiwibuild Chief Executive not working and in employment dispute.

Public Service Commissioner has to go on tv apologising for agencies including MFAT spying on citizen activists against agribusiness.

Christchurch Southern Response head fired and replaced.

Ministry of Health restructuring and resignations.

All inside 2 weeks.

Here’s the teetering balance: how much Wellington-political-economy damage can this lot sustain while pushing reform across so many Ministries?

Many knives, many backs, making enemies that deliver their goods to National and then to media. That’s the perpetual cycle. Attrition really drags government down many gears.

Governments rely on public servants.

Can reform momentum last when so many Ministries are so pissed off?

55 comments on “Public Service meltdown ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. JanM 1
    21 December 2018 at 7:51 am

    The shambles in the public service has taken a long time to develop – it’s going to take a long time to recover, and it could get very messy while it’s sorted.
    For a start, I think we need to go back and have some serious reflection on what the definition of ‘public servant’ actually is.

    • patricia bremner 1.1
      21 December 2018 at 8:31 am

      JanM I couldn’t agree more!! Some of these heads of department characters were hand picked for their particular beliefs, and have infused their departments with their own interpretation of “Public Service”

      This view generally followed the belief that the public had no rights, and a neo liberal line would not only be followed but promoted.

      Much of the work done shows ingrained attitudes of sexism even racism, and the odd proven case of spying and manipulating of statistics. When a past National Minister calls one of the perpetrators “A gentleman” you get the picture.

      Any journalist trying to uncover what the inquiry finally did, was moved on or moved out. Good to see John Campbell back on TV1.

      Jacinda will tell the people how she feels, and what is causing some decisions.
      Winston will keep being Winston, and James Shaw will keep his eye on the oil.

      They work as a team. Mallard is frustrating the opposition, so has become a target.
      Any effective Minister can expect the same relentless negativity from the Right.

      Just now David Moffett says “he is coming for” and “Going to get you” to the PM and her Deputy.

      Will all that wear the Government down? Possibly, but not probably, as I think they have a planned approach and clearly aligned goals which allow them to know their direction and purpose. Internal nasties are anticipated as vested interests show their teeth.

      Externals are the problem.
      We have scant control of Trump May, or the climate. Plus our faultline timebomb. These are the “Rainy Day” Robertson, like his predecessor Cullen anticipates.

      I’m anticipating a budget formed under new rules which will show real change, the ground work having been decided in the new monetary framework. Let’s do this!!

      • Anne 1.1.1
        21 December 2018 at 9:15 am

        Thank-you patricia bremner. Well said. Nothing left to be said except most of this “shit” began under the previous administration and some of it was wholly caused by the policies of that same administration. It was always known that Labour was going to have to pick up the pieces and that it would take a term or two before they succeeded.

        The one exception is the Wally Haumaha affair. I find the so-called “advice” given to the Prime Minister incomprehensible. Can’t speak for anyone else but I’m angry as hell he is still in the job. It feels like a slap in the face for every woman who has ever been harassed, bullied and intimidated.

        Lest we forget, we are still second class citizens ladies.

        • patricia bremner 1.1.1.1
          21 December 2018 at 9:56 am

          Yes Anne, and Jacinda showed her feelings with an icy anger that may give one or two of these perpetrators notice. Thank for your feed back.

        • SPC 1.1.1.2
          21 December 2018 at 10:11 am

          WH remains because of NZF and the Labour Maori MP’s (one of their own was stood down but not her AND WH). No other reason.

        • JanM 1.1.1.3
          21 December 2018 at 10:16 am

          I agree that Wally Haumaha’s behaviour was definitely not ok, but a lot of these guys have been around this toxic culture so long they have little insight into it. He’s still ‘bewildered’, but I should think that by the time he’s been laundered through some effective Professional Development he might just see the error of his ways! I think he needs a second chance, but yes, I saw the look on Jacinda’s face – he won’t be carrying on like that any more if he know’s what’s good for him! If you tossed out all the men in this country in positions of power who harbour unpleasant sexist attitudes, we’d be facing a melt-down, I think. Bit by bit, attitudes will change, if we keep working at it 🙂
          The thing is, it’s pointless being bitter, it only makes you take to the bottle or gives you ulcers!

      • Tamati Tautuhi 1.1.2
        21 December 2018 at 8:32 pm

        Who is David Moffet, Aussie Muppet ?

      • alwyn 1.1.3
        22 December 2018 at 1:59 pm

        “They work as a team. Mallard is frustrating the opposition, so has become a target.
        Any effective Minister can expect the same relentless negativity from the Right.”

        You clearly don’t understand how Parliament is meant to work. You are absolutely correct that Mallard is frustrating the Opposition. However he is meant to be a NEUTRAL Referee, and he isn’t. He refuses to do that and goes out of his way to protect the Government from questioning. Go back and look at how Lockwood Smith operated as Speaker and then look at Trevor.
        It is no wonder that the Opposition are unhappy.

        • KJT 1.1.3.1
          22 December 2018 at 9:50 pm

          Lockwood Smith, did not have to deal with a bunch of entitled, petulant, childish, sore losers in opposition, who are intent on disruption, destruction and dishonest “gotcha” politics.

          • alwyn 1.1.3.1.1
            22 December 2018 at 11:07 pm

            “a bunch of entitled, petulant, childish, sore losers in opposition, who are intent on disruption, destruction and dishonest “gotcha” politics.”

            That sounds like a perfect description of the Labour Party after the 2008 election.
            I will admit he never had to deal with anyone like the current deputy PM, aka The Drunken Dwarf, in the 2008 – 2011 term.

            • KJT 1.1.3.1.1.1
              23 December 2018 at 9:40 am

              No opposition, as long as I have been watching Parliament, is as childishly destructive as the current one.

              Just a continuation of our history of right wing vandalism, by people who have never read a book.

              Bridges is the best they have. FFS.

  2. Gabby 2
    21 December 2018 at 8:11 am

    They might have been even more pissed off before, having to work under a bunch of vindictive incompetents. Hummer’s got friends in the right places, interesting to see whether he’s given rein to extract utu.

    • patricia bremner 2.1
      21 December 2018 at 10:41 am

      Gabby, is that how you see his role. ‘ to extract utu?’ Are you saying he will now target those women who complained? If you are, that tells us a great deal about your beliefs and attitudes.. none of it good.

      • Gabby 2.1.1
        21 December 2018 at 12:41 pm

        That’s how I see his nature, and that of his enablers.

        • patricia bremner 2.1.1.1
          21 December 2018 at 1:26 pm

          Oh so you know him? That gives a different slant.

          • patricia bremner 2.1.1.1.1
            22 December 2018 at 7:37 am

            Of interest was the comments by WH’s lawyer ‘you don’t know what the women did’
            Still victim blaming, still the ‘she asked for it’ mentality.

            • greywarshark 2.1.1.1.1.1
              22 December 2018 at 9:29 am

              To be honest, we are jumping to conclusions based on prejudice, and a past of WH that had some faults which raises suspicion. But the lawyer’s point remains that we don’t know….. We haven’t all the facts, and females don’t always tell all the truth, or do see things through their own biases, even though they may be the superior gender.

              • Anne …
                22 December 2018 at 9:48 am

                … females don’t always tell all the truth,…

                Its been my humble experience, the females who don’t tell the truth are almost always trying to discredit another female. Also in this case there were three females. Its highly unlikely they were all lying.

                • KJT …
                  23 December 2018 at 10:32 am

                  The person I know, who openly gloated about falsely accusing her boss of sexual harassment, to get his job.

                  I agree though, the personal consequences of reporting harassment, and bullying, are often so dire, that the majority of complaints are genuine. As things are at the moment, with very little rights for workers, it is very dangerous to complain.

                  We are dealing with it, with one of our bosses at present. He is currently trying to single out and retaliate, against those making the complaints.

  3. Ross 3
    21 December 2018 at 8:24 am

    So many ministries are pissed off? Yeah nah you are thinking of the previous government which treated public servants with contempt.

    The only person delivering the goods to National is Mrs Sroubek. 🙂

  4. Ross 4
    21 December 2018 at 8:28 am

    “Prime Minister does not sack Wally Haumaha, on advice of Solicitor General and Independent Police Authority, despite PM going all-out on pro women and anti bullying to get into power.”

    You do know the two aren’t mutually exclusive. I am anti bullying and anti wrongful dismissal. I’m weird like that.

    • SPC 4.1
      21 December 2018 at 10:17 am

      Which really speaks to the culture of police where bullying is tolerated and the IPA is their defence counsel – thus bullying and the like is a legacy of a culture of self-policing and lack of accountability.

      The Solicitor General – looks like bullying but won’t call it bullying coz they get way with it, because they should have greater independence from government oversight than others.

  5. Ed1 5
    21 December 2018 at 8:45 am

    “Christchurch Southern Response head fired and replaced.”

    There is no evidence that he was fired, or induced to resign – all reports except comments from Gerry Brownlee indicate that he resigned on certain information becoming public, and before the Minister had spoken to him.

    Perhaps Brownlee has more credibility than many thought!

    • tc 5.1
      21 December 2018 at 10:40 am

      Coming from Gerry’s near zero credibility start that’s not hard to do. Just show some glimpse of humanity….Then back to belligerent brownlee BAU.

    • patricia bremner 5.2
      21 December 2018 at 11:55 am

      A separate Police Referrals Board should be created to examine such cases. IMO.

  6. Dennis Frank 6
    21 December 2018 at 9:26 am

    Not being a public servant or Wellingtonian, all this strikes me as much ado about nothing. If it means non-performers being replaced by someone better, all to the good. I’m hoping these are all just minor quakes, precursors to something more transformational. If this govt can initiate a culture shift towards professional competence and accountability in the public service the benefits will spread across the political spectrum and downstream to business and everyone else for decades!

    • OnceWasTim 6.1
      21 December 2018 at 2:12 pm

      Believe me @ Denis, they’re not “minor quakes” The culture that has been allowed to grow and become normalised over the past 30 or more years is going to take a while to correct. I think I commented here maybe, or possibly on TDB that one of the biggest obstacles to the Coalition government implementing its policies and trying to become ‘transformational’ was going to be the PS. And by that, I didn’t mean the poor bloody peons at the coalface – many grinding their arses off, but their managers and the Senior Management and CEO’s of many of these dysfunctional little (and huge) fiefdoms – who (as even Mathew Hooton once said – bless his little cotton socks) have a vested interest in preserving the status quo.

      It’s a culture that even the best of them have to fall in line with when they put career and advancement, and prestige above all else. (I’ll give one example:
      Ngatata Love, who when he lost his ‘minders’ succumbed to the inevitable).

      So I actually have no sympathy for some little weasel who Gerry Brownlee is having a bromance with when he fucks up. The best that can be said of the guy is that he had the decency to resign.

      Some of them managed to escape accountability (such as a MoBIE Smol – and deepest sympathy to his successor), but rest assured there are a few little arse lickers still desperate to take His place, and who Ministers are almost obliged to say they “have confidence in”. Unfortunately – more fool them. They’re hard at it, and they can lie like a trooper, and when straight-faced, feign concern. It’s the nature of a Public Service that’s in-tune with ‘The Market The Market’ and which has drivers that in all cases have economic imperatives over the social.

      And bear in mind, a good many in the PS workforce – especially the underlings – have grown up and have never known, nor experienced anything other than the corporatism and neo-liberal practices that are now commonplace.

      Great that all this is now Whoar! Shock! Horror! Outrage!. It’s only that because now a few Masters of the Universe have been caught with their pants down exposing themselves

      Maybe now that the search function is now back (apparently) in action, we can see that a few on here, AND many others using other means have been protesting the decay for quite a while.

      • Dennis Frank 6.1.1
        21 December 2018 at 2:31 pm

        Yes I’m aware of the indoctrinating effect of workplace culture. There’s a paradigm shift required. I trust that it will result from what the current govt does next year, but if not c’est la vie. The PSA is an option for good public servants to use as a reform vehicle (but I realise that it could be captive to the residual empire bureaucracy culture too).

        • OnceWasTim 6.1.1.1
          21 December 2018 at 2:58 pm

          ae!
          For now, the best that can be done is to keep all of this alive, and in whatever media outlet is available.
          I’ve never been an advocate for putting people in the stocks (as you’ll be aware from some of the comments around the Sroubek bullshit), or in ends justify means ………..
          But hey (as they say in the new world), maybe naming names is going to be the only way – especially when some of these Masters of the Universe have already put themselves publicly on record, and are now desperately trying to backtrack.

      • greywarshark 6.1.2
        21 December 2018 at 4:46 pm

        A Christmas dinner from Bowalley Road with plenty of meat to chew on and finishing with the plum pudding flaming up. There is quality reading in this link on how the neo lib culture has advanced and recognises only those who get into line, and bureaucrats and rank and file do so as a default position.
        https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2018/12/working-towards-fuhrer.html

        Pat has also put this up from TDB link where it first appeared.

        • KJT 6.1.2.1
          23 December 2018 at 10:36 am

          I used to wonder where the Nazi’s got their Sonderkommando and death camp guards, from?

          After recent experience with some WINZ staff and police, while supporting youngsters, I don’t wonder any more.

  7. Michael 7
    21 December 2018 at 9:49 am

    If the Government really wants to “reform” the way it’s bureaucratic functionaries behave, it must make an example out of some of them to encourage the others. A “Labour” government will never do this because it is owned by the PSA, even though it refuses to affiliate with the Party (because that would annoy the Nats). Therefore, the Government is not serious about “reform” or anything like it. Any changes will be strictly cosmetic and the machinery of government will remain stuck on National Party settings pending the restoration of the National (aka “Natural”) Party of Government.

    • Marcus Morris 7.1
      21 December 2018 at 9:58 am

      Spoken like a truly right wing troll. I don’t usually bother with Tweets but there is an interesting thread going at the moment. Jerry Brownlee was invited to front up to Lisa Owen on Checkpoint re the Christchurch recovery. His response says it all. His pathetic response hasn’t got much support.

    • patricia bremner 7.2
      21 December 2018 at 10:07 am

      This is a Coalition Government, and if you think the changes are cosmetic dream on.

      • soddenleaf 7.2.1
        21 December 2018 at 4:05 pm

        Yes, with NFZ in there… ..but seriously that user accountant left a mess even the NFZ could not ever had achieved. worst pm ever.

  8. Pat 8
    21 December 2018 at 10:01 am

    Its systemic and will take considerable time to reverse….if it can be at all. The incentives from a market model state sector were predicted and inevitable….model the state sector on private business and dont be surprised when they behave so.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/12/21/must-read-working-towards-the-fuhrer/

    • patricia bremner 8.1
      21 December 2018 at 10:24 am

      Pat, a thoughtful and well constructed article from The Daily Blog. His points are valid, but as I said earlier, the changes being made to the monetary framework are to correct many of those wrongs created under Douglas.

      We see Kris Faafoi creating a supporting framework of consumer protections, along with Orr and Robertson’s work in finance treasury and banking.

      With this comes a supportive taxation framework, and educational and changing work situation with supports and laws.

      This Coalition Government is working steadily towards massive changes for people.

      • Pat 8.1.1
        21 December 2018 at 10:36 am

        The point is without the removal of the underlying incentives there can be no culture change even if ALL staff were replaced (an unrealistic short/medium term proposition)….and that is in effect a repudiation of the neo-lib model of the previous decades…..can you hand on heart say that this Gov. is acting thus because despite pre election rhetoric from both Labour and NZ First there is little tangible evidence of such a repudiation.

    • soddenleaf 8.2
      21 December 2018 at 3:57 pm

      yes. Take the new HamAwk rail. Why use, or build a new station, so far from potential customers. oh they need park and ride, wtf, the rail runs past tens of thousands. Its simple, build a flat concrete slab in east hamilton next to the line, and another at Nawton. move the existing station at Frankston selling the land for homes. And profit from a happy functioning rail service. Or… stuff up the central station, infill land around the Frankton station so no room for nowt, and setup the base for huge profitable parking fees. Geez, why not just dumb down Hamilton some more.

  9. Siobhan 9
    21 December 2018 at 10:40 am

    I thought we were having a ‘kind’ ‘incremental’ set of changes so as to not ‘upset the apple cart’ too much.
    To bring the public service (and the public in general) along with us.

    I’ve heard that mantra repeatedly from the wise ones.

    Yet here we are.

    Labour’s appeasement to the moderate’s is not enough.

    Its alot like Labour’s policies designed to win over the ‘soft’ National voters. Who we now know, thanks to election results and polling, don’t actually exist.

    Sorry folks, but remarketing centrist Liberal left-wingish Parties and policies is never going to work.
    We need a revolution of policy, around spending, Public debt, wages and pretty much everything you can think of that the Government could influence .

    The equivalent of the Douglas/Lange revolution, but in the opposite direction.
    You know, Douglas/lange never asked permission, they didn’t even explain what was happening and its ramifications. Yet we are still living our daily lives under their policy cloud, so why not give NZ a real makeover for an actual ‘kinder’ future?

    • Dennis Frank 9.1
      21 December 2018 at 11:09 am

      Yes, that’s what I’d like to see. Reconceptualising the entirety of governance, that’s a large part of why I joined the Greens in 1990, and I’m hoping our current govt uses this term to provide a basis for that.

      Problem is, pragmatism works sufficiently to allow adhocery to become the prevalent mind-set – whereas vision and design skills are required for long-term planning. We need to see them learn to walk & chew gum simultaneously…

      • Gabby 9.1.1
        21 December 2018 at 12:59 pm

        Maybe that’s what Stephen Barclay’s up to – reconceptualising. I thought he might’ve just thrown a strop at being told to pull his finger out and do some work.

        • Dennis Frank 9.1.1.1
          21 December 2018 at 1:43 pm

          Could be the dispute is about being told that, but when your employer is the govt the question becomes who tells who what, eh? One suspects a considerable morass of reconceptualising can easily develop around the plan and the implementation. Probably emanating from competing interpretations about what specific clauses in his employment contract actually mean.

          “Look, I was hired to do xyz, it says so right here!” “No, that bit actually means you were hired to do abc, as we discussed and agreed.” “Well, why doesn’t it actually say that??” “Come on, are you suggesting that legalese ought to be replaced by plain English? Get real. That’ll never happen!”

  10. patricia bremner 10
    21 December 2018 at 10:52 am

    That is the point. Such seemingly small changes had huge ramifications. As you say, we now need the same in reverse,
    When the changes first happened we couldn’t believe how quickly the machinery of Government could change… but it did … and it will again.
    Why do you think those forces are aligning against this Government with shrill cries? They see their cosy world threatened with sharing.

    • Pat 10.1
      21 December 2018 at 10:59 am

      Well as with CC, the foreshadowed changes of next year will be revealing and make or break the parties of this Government……given all that has gone before I wont be surprised if the action dosnt match the rhetoric.

  11. Dorothy Bulling 11
    21 December 2018 at 12:39 pm

    What happened to the idea that public servants should be apolitical? How many dtooges did the Key/English administration slot in to government departments to do the dirty work for them? Should heads of govt entities have to go when an election produces a different result?

    • Craig H 11.1
      23 December 2018 at 7:00 pm

      Potentially, if the Public Service is to be politicised. Works well in the USA, after all…

  12. Michelle 12
    21 December 2018 at 12:44 pm

    I’m very happy he kept his job its good for our Maori people that have had to deal with a monocultural system that has mainly benefitted the colonisers and now its benefitting new immigrants who look just like the colonisers.

  13. Dennis Frank 13
    21 December 2018 at 3:08 pm

    Chris Trotter: “That multiple state agencies felt entitled to contract-out the gathering of political intelligence to the privately owned and operated Thompson & Clark Investigations Ltd reveals a widespread antidemocratic disdain for citizens’ rights within the New Zealand public service. The alarming revelations of the State Services’ inquiry raise two very important questions: How did this disdain for democratic norms become so entrenched? And what, if anything, can Jacinda Ardern’s government do to eradicate it?” http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2018/12/working-towards-fuhrer.html

    We ought to wait until the coalition has a go at reform of the public service next year. But his other question is worth considering. Class consciousness is the obvious answer. Public servants are conscious that they are ruling class operatives. Consequently they must serve that class, not just the public. The only way that historical norm can be transformed is via the culture shift that replaces the prevailing ethos and conventions with those suitably designed to be sustainable in perpetuity.

    The ruling class is constrained by the structure of democracy, but insufficiently. Compulsion to serve the public is one missing element that must be inserted into the system. Removing the option to serve only the interests of the ruling class would prevent capture by an alien belief system (such as neoliberalism).

    • OnceWasTim 13.1
      21 December 2018 at 5:44 pm

      He’s not wrong @ Denis. But as you probably know, here’s how it works:
      If you are able to successfully label Trotter as a hard left nutter, or that he’s a bitter old curmudgeon who thinks he’s God’s gift to the Left, or whatever else – you’ve managed to shoot the messenger – as was Thompson and Clark’s intent in many cases. And once that’s done, then you can then justify calling whatever he says as nonsense.

      The problem the PS now has (and the gNats for that matter) is that there is a bit of a groundswell happening where more and more people who’ve been affected in some way by the sort of culture that’s now pervasive in the PS, as well as researchers in academia, and from those within the system itself are now singing the same tune.

    • KJT 13.2
      21 December 2018 at 6:34 pm

      Which is why we need Swiss style binding referenda, as the final safeguard.

      Government hasn’t worked for us, since 1984.

      The latest contempt for democracy was the signing of the TPPA. Which sets the corporate Neo-liberal rules, in concrete.

  14. Descendant Of Smith 14
    22 December 2018 at 7:09 am

    The SSC predominantly serves the interests of the Chief Executive and according to family members does little for the everyday public servant apart from issue code of conduct and election year messaging.

    SSC plays an active role in reducing working conditions e.g. space per person in offices, overseeing a massive increase in the use of temporary staff, lack of control in filling positions leaving many public servants in limbo as jobs have “acting” staff which means for or more others then act down the line and that they can fill acting positions with the favoured few with no right of review for those who miss out. Apparently, it’s common to have people acting for a few years – and then despite having done well and received good performance reviews all that time to miss out when they do appoint to an external. Disagreement over direction, strategy or activity is seen as being negative – and even more so when the advice/prediction given turns out to be correct.

    Five skilled long serving public servants in my family have resigned this year. All have been snapped up in the private sector as they have skills but feel no one is listening any more to them in the public sector. The rise of the managerial class who don’t need to know anything about the functions of the organisation e.g. how to do stuff has been catastrophic and the SSC is both complicit and active in this.

    Taylorism is rife with its slave-like division of labour in order to be efficient but have no-one understand the complete picture. Centralisation to large urban centres leaves regions without support and jobs and exacerbates the Wellington influence. MBIE has an undue influence across the public service and the regions but has no staff in the regions to do anything so just annoy the crap out of everyone.

    I’ll be looking forward to catching up with my public service (including ex-public service) relatives over Christmas to see how the year has progressed.

    I’ve picked a strong emphasis on attitudinal change being driven by the managerial class e.g. it is the frontline staff attitudes that need fixing rather than anything structural or managerial. After all the modern manager is apparently a leopard that can change it’s spots – be one thing under one government, another under a different one. What they aren’t doing any more is serving the public.

    The SSC no longer supports the ordinary public servant and change needs to occur there.

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  • Elizabeth Rata: Two Treaties of Waitangi: The Articles Treaty and the Principles Treaty
    Commentary There are two versions of the Treaty of Waitangi.  The first is the 1840 Treaty – the ‘Articles Treaty’. The second is what I call the ‘Principles Treaty’. It dates from 1986 when the principles were first included in legislation. Astonishingly the parliamentary representatives who inserted the word ‘principles’ ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    17 hours ago

  • Climate Emergency!
    It’s hard not to become a bit blasé towards climate change headlines. Flooding kills hundreds - blah. Catastrophic droughts - blah blah. One-in-a-hundred year events happening every year - blah blah blah.The earth had its highest temperature on record - again. Think we’ve read that one.So many articles telling us ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    17 hours ago

  • The Kākā Project: The economics of sufficiency
    The Kākā’s climate correspondent and had a chat with environmental historian and author Catherine Knight about why ‘feel good' actions like recycling and owning an electric car are unlikely to be enough to create a transition to zero emissions, let alone a just one. Knight says comments like ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    18 hours ago

  • Chippy misses a chance
    National leader Christopher Luxon has pulled out of any rescheduling of tonight’s Press debate, which has had to be cancelled because Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid. The cancellation has given National an excuse to avoid a debate, which was always going to be a risk for Luxon. But ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    19 hours ago

  • The Angry Majority.
    The People's Champion vs The People's Prosecutor: It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians – not to prosecute them. Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed. If he finds himself in a position to carry out his threat, then it will only be because ...
    Bowalley Road
    1 day ago

  • Verrall is chuffed by govt’s latest push into pay equity while Woods enthuses about an $11m spend ...
    Buzz from the Beehive The headline on a ministerial press statement curiously expresses the government’s position when it declares:   Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers. Is it not enough to declare just one commitment? Or is the government’s commitment to pay equity being declared sector by ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • A very worthy coalition partner for Seymour and Luxon
    There have been 53 New Zealand Parliaments so far. The 39th of them was elected in 1978. It was a parliament of 92 MPs, most of them men. The New Zealand Music Awards that year named John Rowles Male Vocalist of the Year and — after a short twelve months ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Labour still protecting the status quo
    Aotearoa has a cost of living crisis. And one of the major drivers of this crisis is the supermarket duopoly, who gouge every dollar they can out of us. Last year, the Commerce Commission found that the duopoly was in fact anti-competititve, giving the government social licence to fix the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on National’s myths about the desolated state of the economy
    Familiarity breeds consent. If you repeat the line “six years of economic mis-management” about 10,000 times, it sounds like the received wisdom, whatever the evidence to the contrary. Yes, the global pandemic and the global surge in inflation that came in its wake occurred here as well – but if ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • MICHAEL BASSETT: Hapless Hipkins and his racism
    Michael Bassett writes – Without so much as batting an eyelid, Chris Hipkins told an audience on Saturday that there had been “more racism” in this election campaign than ever before. And he blamed it on the opposition parties, National, Act and New Zealand First. In those ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • BRIAN EASTON: The ‘recession’ has been called off, but some households are still struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates. Brian Easton writes – Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Monday’s Chorus: Richie Poulton's lament
    “You can't really undo what happens during childhood”, said the director of the Dunedin longitudinal study. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Richie Poulton, the director of the world-leading Dunedin longitudinal study showing how devastating poverty in early life is, died yesterday. With his final words, he lamented the lack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • North-western downgrades
    This is a guest post from reader Peter N As many of us know, Auckland Transport and Waka Kotahi are well into progressing works on the northwestern interim “busway” with services to kick off in just over a month from now on Sunday 12th November 2023. Some of the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Has Webworm Found New Zealand’s Weirdest School?
    Hi,Before we talk about weird schools people choose to send their kids to, a few things on my mind. I adored the Ask Me Anything we did last week. Thanks for taking part. I love answering your weird and nosy questions, even questions about beans.I am excited and scared as Mister ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • Another mother of a budget
    A National government would make spending cuts on a scale not seen since the 1990 – 96 Bolger government.That much was confirmed with the release of their Fiscal Plan on Friday.Government spending is currently high as a percentage of GDP — as high as it was during the Muldoon ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • A crucial week starts as early voting opens in the NZ Elections … it’s been a ride so far. Are y...
    Chris Hipkins down with Covid, at least for 5 days isolation, National continue to obfuscate, ACT continues to double-down on the poor and Winston… well, he’s being Winston really. Voters beware: this week could be even more infuriating than the last. No Party is what they used to be ...
    exhALANtBy exhalantblog
    2 days ago

  • 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #39
    A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, Sep 24, 2023 thru Sat, Sep 30, 2023. Story of the Week We’re not doomed yet’: climate scientist Michael Mann on our last chance to save human civilisation The renowned US ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Clusterf**ck of Chaos.
    On the 11th of April 1945 advancing US forces liberated the Nazi concentration camp of Buchenwald near Weimar in Germany. In the coming days, under the order of General Patton, a thousand nearby residents were forced to march to the camp to see the atrocities that had been committed in ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • The party of business deals with the future by pretending it isn’t coming
    Years and years ago, when Helen Clark was Prime Minister and John Key was gunning for her job, I had a conversation with a mate, a trader who knew John Key well enough to paint a helpful picture.It was many drinks ago so it’s not a complete one. But there’s ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • 2023 More Reading: September (+ Old Phuul update)
    Completed reads for September: The Lost Continent, by C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne Flatland, by Edwin Abbott All Quiet on the Western Front, by Erich Maria Remarque The Country of the Blind, by H.G. Wells The Day of the Triffids, by John Wyndham A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    3 days ago

  • Losing The Left.
    Descending Into The Dark: The ideological cadres currently controlling both Labour and the Greens are forcing “justice”, “participation” and “democracy” to make way for what is “appropriate” and “responsible”. But, where does that leave the people who, for most of their adult lives, have voted for left-wing parties, precisely to ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • The New “Emperor’s New Clothes”.
    “‘BUT HE HASN’T GOT ANYTHING ON,’ a little boy said ….. ‘But he hasn’t got anything on!’ the whole town cried out at last.”On this optimistic note, Hans Christian Andersen brings his cautionary tale of “The Emperor’s New Clothes” to an end.Andersen’s children’s story was written nearly two centuries ago, ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • BRYCE EDWARDS: The vested interests shaping National Party policies
      Bryce Edwards writes – As the National Party gets closer to government, lobbyists and business interests will be lining up for influence and to get policies adopted. It’s therefore in the public interest to have much more scrutiny and transparency about potential conflicts of interests that ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • LINDSAY MITCHELL: A conundrum for those pushing racist dogma
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – The heavily promoted narrative, which has ramped up over the last six years, is that Maori somehow have special vulnerabilities which arise from outside forces they cannot control; that contemporary society fails to meet their needs. They are not receptive to messages and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • CHRIS TROTTER:  The greater of two evils
    Not Labour: If you’re out to punish the government you once loved, then the last thing you need is to be shown evidence that the opposition parties are much, much worse.   Chris Trotter writes – THE GREATEST VIRTUE of being the Opposition is not being the Government. Only very ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to Sept 30
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:Labour presented a climate manifesto that aimed to claim the high ground on climate action vs National, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Litanies, articles of faith, and being a beneficiary
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past two weeks.Friday 29Play it, ElvisElection Hell special!! This week’s quiz is a bumper edition featuring a few of the more popular questions from last weekend’s show, as well as a few we didn’t ...
    More than a fieldingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • The ‘Recession’ Has Been Called Off, But Some Households Are Still Struggling
    While the economy is not doing too badly in output terms, external circumstances are not favourable, and there is probably a sizeable group of households struggling because of rising interest rates.Last week’s announcement of a 0.9 percent increase in volume GDP for the June quarter had the commentariat backing down ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: The wrong direction
    This week the International Energy Association released its Net Zero Roadmap, intended to guide us towards a liveable climate. The report demanded huge increases in renewable generation, no new gas or oil, and massive cuts to methane emissions. It was positive about our current path, but recommended that countries with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • “Racism” becomes a buzz word on the campaign trail – but our media watchdogs stay muzzled when...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Oh, dear.  We have nothing to report from the Beehive. At least, we have nothing to report from the government’s official website. But the drones have not gone silent.  They are out on the election campaign trail, busy buzzing about this and that in the hope ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Youth justice programme expands to break cycle of offending
    The successful ‘Circuit Breaker’ fast track programme designed to stop repeat youth offending was launched in two new locations today by Children’s Minister Kelvin Davis. The programme, first piloted in West and South Auckland in December last year, is aimed at children aged 10-13 who commit serious offending or continue ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago

  • Major milestone with 20,000 employers using Apprenticeship Boost
    The Government’s Apprenticeship Boost initiative has now supported 20,000 employers to help keep on and train up apprentices, Minister for Social Development and Employment Carmel Sepuloni announced in Christchurch today. Almost 62,000 apprentices have been supported to start and keep training for a trade since the initiative was introduced in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government supporting wood processing jobs and more diverse industry
    The Government is supporting non-pine tree sawmilling and backing further job creation in sawmills in Rotorua and Whangarei, Forestry Minister Peeni Henare said.   “The Forestry and Wood Processing Industry Transformation Plan identified the need to add more diversity to our productions forests, wood products and markets,” Peeni Henare said. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Government backing Canterbury’s future in aerospace industry
    The Government is helping Canterbury’s aerospace industry take off with further infrastructure support for the Tāwhaki Aerospace Centre at Kaitorete, Infrastructure Minister Dr Megan Woods has announced. “Today I can confirm we will provide a $5.4 million grant to the Tāwhaki Joint Venture to fund a sealed runway and hangar ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Updated forestry regulations increase council controls and require large slash removal
    Local councils will have more power to decide where new commercial forests – including carbon forests – are located, to reduce impacts on communities and the environment, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “New national standards give councils greater control over commercial forestry, including clear rules on harvesting practices and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • New Zealand resumes peacekeeping force leadership
    New Zealand will again contribute to the leadership of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, with a senior New Zealand Defence Force officer returning as Interim Force Commander. Defence Minister Andrew Little and Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta have announced the deployment of New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New national direction provides clarity for development and the environment
    The Government has taken an important step in implementing the new resource management system, by issuing a draft National Planning Framework (NPF) document under the new legislation, Environment Minister David Parker said today. “The NPF consolidates existing national direction, bringing together around 20 existing instruments including policy statements, standards, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government shows further commitment to pay equity for healthcare workers
    The Government welcomes the proposed pay equity settlement that will see significant pay increases for around 18,000 Te Whatu Ora Allied, Scientific, and Technical employees, if accepted said Health Minister Ayesha Verrall. The proposal reached between Te Whatu Ora, the New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

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

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

  • New community-level energy projects to support more than 800 Māori households
    Seven more innovative community-scale energy projects will receive government funding through the Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund to bring more affordable, locally generated clean energy to more than 800 Māori households, Energy and Resources Minister Dr Megan Woods says. “We’ve already funded 42 small-scale clean energy projects that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Huge boost to Te Tai Tokerau flood resilience
    The Government has approved new funding that will boost resilience and greatly reduce the risk of major flood damage across Te Tai Tokerau. Significant weather events this year caused severe flooding and damage across the region. The $8.9m will be used to provide some of the smaller communities and maraes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Napier’s largest public housing development comes with solar
    The largest public housing development in Napier for many years has been recently completed and has the added benefit of innovative solar technology, thanks to Government programmes, says Housing Minister Dr Megan Woods. The 24 warm, dry homes are in Seddon Crescent, Marewa and Megan Woods says the whanau living ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Te Whānau a Apanui and the Crown initial Deed of Settlement I Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me...
    Māori: Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna te Whakaaetanga Whakataunga Kua waitohua e Te Whānau a Apanui me te Karauna i tētahi Whakaaetanga Whakataunga hei whakamihi i ō rātou tāhuhu kerēme Tiriti o Waitangi. E tekau mā rua ngā hapū o roto mai o Te Whānau ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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