Re-Nationalise Electricity Generators Now

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 8th, 2022 - 60 comments
Categories: assets, Economy, energy, health, Privatisation, privatisation, Public Private Partnerships - Tags:

This COVID era is the decade in which the state is back, bigger and faster than ever before. But the one area this government won’t let the state expand again is the one area in which New Zealand is the most vulnerable: electricity generation. It needs to change.

At the end of July this year I commented:

Over the last fortnight, France and the UK have already renationalised energy companies, ready for greater political oversight from impending massive energy disruption.

The UK government has also started to put in place a windfall tax against petroleum companies.

Germany had signalled that it was ready to renationalise, and then did so.

While the Prime Ministership of Boris Johnson was falling apart, Britain’s government passed a law to fully accelerate their energy security strategy. Once you get past the spin, it’s substantial.”

The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Liz Truss has indicated today that one of her top three priorities is going to be controlling energy prices to consumers.

I will take action this week to deal with energy bills and to secure our future energy supply.”

She knows winter is coming, so she is going to generate greater and greater control over electricity markets.

This New Zealand government, based on no specific plan or electoral mandate, has in the course of just one calendar year renationalised the entire health system, centralised public television and radio, pulled in all property management from school boards, nationalised tertiary trade education, bought back the remaining local bank into state ownership, and is on its way to amalgamating all water entities into four with much greater state governance control and high regulation.

It is also clear that money is simply no barrier to this government  to make these moves: if they want it they will print it.

The outstanding exception to increased direct state control is in electricity. Why?

Instead of taking active control of electricity generators beyond the 51% shareholding and their exceptionally distant governance instruments, it prefers to subsidise customers rather than control. Wave after wave of taxpayer cash gone in short term bills rather than long term assets that generate whole policy benefits. The outrageous short-termism has to stop.

It is in electricity alone that we have had the most acute market failures; last year in the big August blackout, and successively in Auckland by Vector the lines company since 2015.

Since the state is clearly so confident that it sees its role in direct control of so many areas of our lives, why is it missing from state control of electricity? What greater market failure do they need?

We do not need to rehearse here the current regulatory instruments available. They are frighteningly complex as MBIE discovered last year.

Indeed as winter slowly grinds past us into the storms of spring, New Zealand’s brittle, thin and uneven renewable energy system is highly vulnerable to being knocked out by the whims of the climate: smash out a wind farm, disable a dam, knock regional feeds out, and our increasingly electricity-reliant country is in a world of pain.

Climate violence is to our energy system when Russia is to Europe’s energy system.

Consider this recent comment from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyden in May during a visit to the Danish port of Esbjerg used by top wind turbine makers Vestas and Siemens:

The more interdependent we become in Europe, the more independent we will become from Russia,” she said. “We all know green power generation is great. But if you really want to use it, you need a grid, and there we have to step up.”

New Zealand’s threat is not from Russia but from major weather events that take out key generators and lines.

We need the renationalisation of our key electricity generators far more than many of the governments’ other nationalisation moves.

60 comments on “Re-Nationalise Electricity Generators Now ”

  1. Ad 1

    "system when what Russia"

    apologies

    • This New Zealand government, based on no specific plan or electoral mandate, has in the course of just one calendar year renationalised the entire health system, centralised public television and radio, pulled in all property management from school boards, nationalised tertiary trade education, bought back the remaining local bank into state ownership, and is on its way to amalgamating all water entities into four with much greater state governance control and high regulation.

      I'm astounded that you all still seem to believe in the competence of vast, centralised government. Looking at the catastrophe that is our health and education sectors you actually think that it can run all these others things, plus electricity, merely because it once did? All such groups grow incompetent with time and I saw enough of that in the early 1980's in Railways and the like. And the supreme example of course:

      It was a Keystone coup. Right after the organizing meeting of the plotters’ Emergency Committee, Zubok explains, ;some members went home and succumbed to various illnesses. Boldin was already suffering from high blood pressure; he went to a hospital. Pavlov . . . tried to control his emotions and stress with a disastrous mixture of sedatives and alcohol. At daybreak, his bodyguard summoned medical help, as Pavlov was incapable of functioning.; Pavlov later took some more medicine to control his nerves and had a second breakdown that incapacitated him for days.

      So incompetent were they that they did not bother to turn off Yeltsin’s phone or prevent him from organizing opposition. One of Yeltsin’s supporters was able to fly to Paris, denounce the coup, and prepare, if necessary, to set up a government in exile. Opposition news sources, who knew what was happening better than the coup leaders themselves, continued their broadcasts to the West ;The situation was unbelievable, one KGB general recalled. KGB analysts were learning about a crisis, in the capital of our Motherland from American sources. When Margaret Thatcher accepted advice to telephone Yeltsin, she recalled, to my astonishment I was put through.

      • Stuart Munro 1.1.1

        Comparing state management of energy to the chaos of the corrupt end of Russia's response to glasnost is on a par with going "But, but, but, Venezuela."

        NZ had a fully functional and vastly more efficient and reliable publicly owned energy sector for decades before Rogergnomics laid waste to our society. We can have one again once we apply broad spectrum anthelmintics to our neoliberal parasites.

        • Tom Hunter 1.1.1.1

          It's not really a question of ideology but simply failing to scale up, as I've seen in many corporate environments. And corporations often stagnate precisely because the small, inventive, creative parts of themselves get stifled or outright killed off. Hell, Silicon Valley was created because people broke away when their ideas were rejected, and found start-up funding elsewhere. It's why the culture of that place has not been replicated elsewhere.

          Failures are increasingly catastrophic as more decision-making occurs in places like Wellington, Brussels and Washington D.C.. This isn’t just because of corruption, dishonesty, malevolence and incompetence, but because of scale. We have forgotten the valuable lesson of subsidiarity.

          Decisions should be made at the smallest workable scale, not the largest possible scale. A town imposing some insane and destructive policy destroys only the town. Same for coporations. When the Capital imposes some insane and destructive policy, it can destroy the entire country. Subsidiarity isn’t maximally efficient I admit – but it is highly reliable. It’s expensive – but its robust.

          By contrast its opposite – what we have today and will have more of tomorrow – is tremendously fragile. It isn’t even efficient because the government is populated with thieves, liars and fools (and often in combination).

          Totalitarianism doesn’t and can’t work for this reason. Even assuming the starry-eyed sincerity of the totalitarians (a situation we most decidedly do not have), mistakes have perfect coverage and no one is immune from the totalitarians’ decisions. Failure not only stops being a good thing from which you learn, it becomes a constant threat and source of terror. This is compounded and made infinitely worse when the totalitarians are dishonest, lying, stupid psychopaths.

          Centralisation and incompetence, centralisation and malice, and centralisation and malicious incompetence are poisonous combinations.

          In this case you might think your proposals are brilliant because now you've got central control and can do things right. But what if you're wrong? It might even kill off the smaller solutions that work. Such things certainly have in the past.

          • Stuart Munro 1.1.1.1.1

            There's no need to go sifting through pseudoentrepreneurial examples, the privatisation of our electricity sector failed because it was corrupt. A collection of public benefits were promised, none of which materialized. As with any other defaulting debtor, there comes a time when the debts are called in.

            We need not concern ourselves with the hypothetical acumen of a non-performing sector.

          • KJT 1.1.1.1.2

            Nonsensical.

          • Gareth 1.1.1.1.3

            Alternatively you could say
            Profit-taking and incompetence, profit-taking and malice, and profit-taking and malicious incompetence are poisonous combinations.

            Also, you seem to be hung up on the idea of a vast organisation being unable to manage different branches while completely ignoring the consolidation of the private sector.

            Is Disney a vast bloated organisation unable to produce quality content or drive the cultural conversation because of it's size-driven incompetence? Does Alphabet struggle to make a profit because of it's vast size? How about Meta, having to manage Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Oculus, Mapillary, Workplace, Portal and Diem?

            That is obviously false and you're ignoring the fact that nobody in one part of the government like say education has to take into account or is directly impacted by decisions made in another like health care.

        • Gabby 1.1.1.2

          I mean, it was privatised because it was working and there was money sitting there begging to be hoovered up by corporates.

  2. PsyclingLeft.Always 2

    Re-Nationalise NZ Electricity generation. Can't come soon enough.

    That Max Bradford …..not "quite" single handedly…..but aided by neolibs from both National and Labour, screwed OUR NZ Electricity System. For what benefit? Some have made fortunes. The rest of us…screwed over.

    https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/the-chill-of-rising-power-prices

  3. Sabine 3

    Not sure how much the US is affected by the war but this is happening.

    https://twitter.com/hugh_mankind/status/1567257731765080070

    the world needs much better solutions to our problems, and we need way less greenwashing, and we need humans to pull their heads out of their asses.

    Overconsumption, on a private and commerical level is our main issue. Like the Easter Island we will not stop until nothing grows anymore and then we realise that we can't eat cars, boats, gadgets and other items we purchase to give ourself a fleeting moment of happiness.

    • Jenny are we there yet 3.1

      Ironic anomalies like the above example will be made illegal in California under plans to phase out small ICE engines, including generators.

      Proving the necessity of government regulation to tackle climate change.

      If you can't recharge your EV sustainably, no cheating allowed, it is public transport for you.

      PHIL WILLON Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times, December. 9, 2021

      ….California regulators voted on Thursday to ban the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers starting in 2024 and portable generators by 2028,

      https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-09/california-regulators-phaseout-new-gas-powered-lawnmowers-and-leaf-blowers#:~:text=California%20regulators%20voted%20on%20Thursday%20to%20ban%20the,harmful%20pollutants%20and%20transition%20toward%20a%20carbon-free%20economy.

      • Sabine 3.1.1

        well it seems that a fossil fuel driven generator is 'sustainable' enough to charge your EV.

        Now try cooking, keeping your house cool/warm, showering with hot water, using elevators in your high-rise, flush the toilet in your high-rise, keep your food safe in your fridge and freezer and come again with that sustainability and accessibility to electricity and work over your list of must haves in your life vs nice to have vs totally useless and greenwashed male sexed bovine manure.

        disclaimer: I still don't have a car a nd have no intention of buying one. In fact i personally have argued on more then one occasion here – over the last 8 odd years that I am in favor of FREE public transport ON DEMAND for EVERYONE all the time.

      • DB Brown 3.1.2

        Banned leaf-blowers – clearly my soul mate lives in Cali.

        Soon they'll be raking it in (sorry, but the puns, along with the climate, will only get worse).

    • bwaghorn 3.2

      3 things spring into mind on your photo,

      1 is that verified, There's plenty of redneck fuck wits willing to stage anti change bs

      2 whoop de do , There's going to be bumps on the road to change

      3 if it is a super car maybe the cashed up owner should consider some solar panels and batteries to charge his car, I here California is sunny

      • Sabine 3.2.1

        It might relate to that.

        https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/flex-alert-extended-to-saturday-ev-owners-asked-to-not-charge-vehicles-during-peak-hours/

        whoop de do, if your grid can't keep it up can't keep up. whoop de do.

        a super car. lol……..lol…….lol……..

        The point i am trying to make, is that electricity is generated, needs to be created. If not enough electricity is generated batteries can not be charged. If batteries can not be charged, things tht depend on charged batteries can't be run.

        Rather then phase out fossil fuel cars, why not phase out fossil fuel. Because that electric car is nothing more then a big waste o'money if you have to fill your generator with gasoline to give your car a bit of a charge to maybe make it to the gorcery store or the next charge station which may or may not be able to supply the electricity to run said 'super' car.

        disclaimer: I do own a generator and am investing in solar cells :), still not getting a car, super or not.

        edit: if a redneck owns a E-vehicle are they still a redneck who refuses change?

      • Sabine 3.2.2

        mind this is from NZ and last year 🙂

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/300306177/department-of-conservation-caught-charging-plugin-hybrid-electric-vehicle-with-diesel-power

        The Department of Conservation (DOC) has been charging one of its electric vehicles with power from a diesel generator, undercutting the goal of providing low- or no-emissions power.

        The vehicle isn’t a full electric vehicle, but a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, a plug-in hybrid EV.

        It’s located on Stewart Island/Rakiura, where it has been since October 2020, and is charged with electricity from the Stewart Island Electrical Supply Authority (Siesa), which provides the island’s domestic electric and industrial electricity.

        The problem for DOC is that Siesa’s power comes from five diesel generators, meaning the plug-in is effectively getting electricity from a diesel generator. The car also runs on petrol.

        Now this is a remote island, and it is a hybrid plug in. But still if you don't have the electricity cause the grid is overwhelmed then your E-vehicle is not worth a dime.

        Do we need E-vehicles? We will need some form of transport. Are E-vehicles the green way out of our misery? No. They are at best a band aid at worst a blindfold to the realities that will come and hit us square in the face in a few month, if not earlier.

        • Ad 3.2.2.1

          Locals opposed a wind farm on Stewart Island that would have enabled removing the diesel generators.

          Wind farm development on Stewart Island shelved | Stuff.co.nz

          It's just the way it is.

          • Sabine 3.2.2.1.1

            And it shows the limitations of it.

            Personally i am more for a almost no car world.

            Vehicles for first responders, government, certain businesses.

            Vehicles for doctors etc. but limited use.

            Community vehicles for towns that can be rented / leased/ shared by the public for the time they really need a car. Free public transport / subsidized bikes / e bikes, for all other times.

            The idea that we all can have an E-vehicle and all get on the grid on the non peak hours to charge is a very limited idea.
            And for a remote island it makes good sense to have a spare generator or two hanging around.

          • Sabine 3.2.2.1.2

            What would the environmental impact of putting a 'wind farm' (as in how many) on Stewart Island. I would include in that impact, shipping the materials, logging a few trees and such for placement, shipping the workers etc? Would it have been a cost that would have been worth it?

            • KJT 3.2.2.1.2.1

              A hell of a lot less than continued diesal generation.

              I would have gone for solar and tidal myself. North end of Stewart Island has good numbers for both, and much less obtrusive.

              • Sabine

                I have never been there so can't really comment on the location.

                Yes, tidal and solar seems to be less intrusive.

    • Powerman 3.3

      Sabine, this screams of a set up there have been many posts like this on the web.

  4. Lanthanide 4

    I'm surprised this article didn't mention the NZ Battery Project that the government is working on, which will totally up end the existing electricity market.

    • Ad 4.1

      It's like light rail: nowhere near market yet and completely reliant on Labour getting a third term. I'll post on it after the 2023 election.

      • Lanthanide 4.1.1

        Right, but it's weird to say "the government is doing nothing" when actually this change will be MASSIVE.

        And yes it does require them to get a 3rd term to actually cement it in. But it's still wrong to say they're doing nothing.

        • Ad 4.1.1.1

          I claimed nothing of the kind.

          In fact this government has introduced substantial changes tot he functioning of our electricity markets in 2019.

          A run down on the Government power plan | Stuff.co.nz

          It's just that they just didn't work.

          Many Kiwis struggling to pay power bills as prices rise (1news.co.nz)

          The battery project, should it eventuate, will not deliver power until about 2026-7. That's a decade after Labour came to power.

          There is no firm view on who will own it, who will fund it, or who will operate it. Let alone whether it is fundable, feasible, or consentable, or constructible. So it's entirely moot to the post.

          Should the next election give it a mandate I'll post on it then.

          Until then it's one of those projects this government just talks about.

          • Lanthanide 4.1.1.1.1

            You said this:

            "The outstanding exception to increased direct state control is in electricity. Why?"

            Should the NZ Battery Project go ahead (and I think it will), it's very likely the government will want to own it themselves, in some capacity. It's highly unlikely it would be 100% private, is it?

            So there would be "increased direct state control in electricity". And so the answer to your final question “Why” is “because the government is putting all its eggs into the NZ Battery Project”.

    • PsyclingLeft.Always 4.2

      Well there is that. However I also think we should look at what happens when rio ..tinto eventually blows the gap from NZ . I really hope that when this happens they have to FULLY remediate their mess..before they leave ! (No more Mataura disgraces : (

      And the Electricity surplus we will then have.

      I have linked Prof Susan Krumdieck before….and her Innovative Ideas. Particularly electrifying the South Island rail network. This also gets HEAVY trucks off the roads. (def still a place for smaller trucks)

      Krumdieck said a national energy strategy was needed.

      Krumdieck said surplus energy from Manapouri should be used to develop a national transport system starting from Invercargill and extending throughout the South Island, before crossing Cook Strait.

      KiwiRail could be a key part of the development, which would provide thousands of jobs.

      "The South Island becomes a net zero (carbon) island, one of the first ones in the world," Krumdieck said.

      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/430181/energy-expert-says-rail-is-a-better-bet-than-hydrogen-fuel

  5. Adrian 5

    “ renationalised the whole health system “ Really, I had no idea all our hospitals were secretly privately owned but have recently been secretly taken over by the Gummint.

    If you are going to make ridiculous claims like that, how can anything else be believed?

    And the most important part of the electricity system, Transpower, is also wholly government owned on our behalf, no business in their right mind would want to own something as capital intensive and so exposed to huge risk as that. Also almost 50% of each of the major producers are controlled by Government shareholding, . It is probably only cost that prevents the other half being nationalised.

    • Ad 5.1

      The District Health Boards and their democratic representation have been abolished after 20 years. There is now – as there was not before – one single commissioning agent for service, and one funder. The entire health system is now accountable to one Board. This is how it is described by the government themselves.

      Government announces radical plan to centralise healthcare, will abolish DHBs | Stuff.co.nz

      That's renationalisation.

      Transpower is consistently not up to the task of shifting from petroleum to total electricity reliance. Otherwise there would not be repeated blackouts and system failure warnings propped up by peak generators.

      Cost of re-nationalising the 49% of generators that National sold is clearly not an issue if the government is quite prepared without warning or rationale to buy back Kiwiback at $2.1b.

      • Ed1 5.1.1

        Would that it was the entire system. There are some large private providers – perhaps easy to dismiss as providing cosmetic services that should not be paid for by government, but they clearly do more than that. At times they lead the public sector – MRI machines were purchased early on by private hospitals, meeting a need that could not always be met by public hospitals. Not surprisingly they were used in some areas to help the public system cope with operations that could not be handled by a public system overloaded by Covid – a friend of mine had a hip operation booked in a public hospital – it was deferred twice, so the surgeon arranged for it to be done by him at a private hospital at public cost. What has been done is re-arranged the management structures of public hospitals to eliminate some of the waste put in in the name of 'competition' that led to increasing ignored budgets, lack of cooperation and funding for patient movements to enable national services for some specialist areas, local boards that in many cases had no idea what they could or should be doing who were treated with contempt by the hospitals they 'governed'. The public system competes with private companies for nurses and doctors – and that includes aged care facilities of various types as well as hospitals. Views will differ as to whether we have the balance between private and public right, but we do not have a totally nationalised health system.

      • tc 5.1.2

        Great post Ad, bring it on. The lines companies need sorting also, the largesse of bloated managements and trusts isn't getting the delivery network anywhere near resilient enough

      • Poission 5.1.3

        Transpower does what it is allowed with a managed return of 4.5% and a real return of 20% to the government on revenue (dividend 147m,tax 35m).

        The large capex programs 30% of revenue would not be seen in any other sector.There is also a large undertaking with local line companies as they have local FF boilers replace with high tech heat pump HW injection.

        Ashburton for example has an ungrade for an additional 25 mw to replace 8 boilers.In the south island for example replacement of 350 FF boilers,will need 1.5 gw of generation capacity.

        There is little additional generation capacity for EV etc.which is being offset by increased domestic solar generation ( 50000 installs with 250 mw output).

        The Carbon removal capital projects from the C tax,also need a lot of local distributed projects (small scale) which should be in use in government buildings such as schools,hospitals,and councils on every pump station etc.

        • Ad 5.1.3.1

          Yes agree Poisson and I don't want to have too much of a crack at Transpower. Made of good people in a hard job.

          Not enough specialist engineers to do the work, let alone be so oddly regulated. Imagine if Auckland Airport had serious Commerce Commission regulation on its CAPEX programme as tough as that, and they don't have a pylon set from the 1960s.

          If I get enthused I'll do something on globally distributed power, with the UK-Norway link, UK-Morocco link proposed, and Australia-Singapore link underway. Our offshore wind capacity has currently 6 proposals going.

          Selling energy from here, like selling bottled water, can be good with its local impact. If Australia can do it so can we.

          • Poission 5.1.3.1.1

            The necessary capital required by transpower can be from the dividend paid to the government.The retained earnings (used as expanded capital) will keep the cost within the CC requirements.

            Large investment proposals such as the pump run the risk of substantive electricity price rises,and needs a constructive rethink,on the natural monopoly of grids.

    • Blazer 5.2

      I think he is in his..'right..mind'

      Li Ka-Shing wants more Kiwi assets | Stuff.co.nz

  6. DB Brown 6

    To regurgitate what I've said for years:

    We're deeply reliant on hydro yet we lack the infrastructure to properly collect groundwater (the flow of which runs hydro).

    Watching the rivers of Europe dry up leaves little confidence in the way we've ignored our most precious resource for so long. Three waters is a start. But catchment by catchment we need small works on a massive scale. That's required for water security. Water security in NZ is energy security.

    A deep drought combined with a heatwave could overwhelm our system easily.

    • Sabine 6.1

      How much of our rivers need on snow melt to feed into our dams? Several rivers feeding into dams in the US all depend on snowmelt for replenishing. Without snow, no water, low rivers. See River Po in Italy, Isar, Iller, Lech, Donau, Inn and some more in Germany, Le Var in France.

      • DB Brown 6.1.1

        That's a good question. I have no idea.

        "The estimates show that of the large rivers that reach the sea, the Waitaki has the highest snowmelt contribution with 12%, while the Cook River on the West Coast is next highest with 11%.

        Of the hydro-electricity lakes, Lake Pukaki has the highest snowmelt contribution of 18%, whereas Fraser Dam, an example of an irrigation storage dam in Otago, receives 14% of its inflows from snowmelt. Overall, it is estimated that 3.4%, or 1 litre in every 30, of the South Island's river flow originates from snowmelt."

        https://niwa.co.nz/news/new-study-measures-snowmelt-into-south-island-rivers

  7. Tiger Mountain 7

    On The Standard I have long called for “re-nationalisation (public ownership & control) of power generation and supply”, inclusive of booting Rio Tinto and developing the specific infrastructure to effectively utilise the power they have been using.

    If power marketers from Bosco to Trustpower go quietly, compensate them, otherwise…

    NZ Taxpayers and workers built hydro power generation capacity and it has always been the ultimate insult to have their efforts gifted to touts and bludgers like Genesis Energy & Meridian.

    • roblogic 7.1

      Not only leeching off public assets, but also exploiting our rivers and then overcharging Kiwi consumers for the privilege.

    • SPC 7.2

      The purpose of floating 50% was to create a market value to the assets, one the government could borrow against (to lower government debt costs after the earthquake/GFC).

      The assets are now more than double what they were then … (largely because they were sold too cheap, a form of CG bribe to the haves).

      The government still has the rising value of the Cullen Fund (it's just a pity nothing was put in 2009-2017) and its land assets to borrow against – which is why the government signalled to those overseas it had a long term plan to sell off land.

      The Onslow project, removing Rio Tinto and re-organising transmission (maybe SI transport etc) can be done without the expense of buying back shares (cheaper afterwards).

  8. Like the rest of the world, NZ will face some massive climate-induced problems in the near, the very near future.

    You'd be living in dreamland if you thought that the private sector would be able to respond in scale to attempt to tackle these problems.

    The only answer is big government – so we need to nationalise not only our energy supplies, but also many of the users of those supplies – like public transport – all of which should be a government monopoly and free!

  9. Chris 9

    You'd think the electricity industry would have been one of the first things to be nationalised as a measure to address poverty.

    • gsays 9.1

      Considering child poverty is the reason our PM went into politics and CC is their 'nuclear issue' it's beyond me why it hasn't been nationalized too.

      Maybe the Mom and Pop shareholders are too closely linked to the Mom and Pop landlords to have their feathers ruffled.

  10. electricity marketing was a very cruel joke played on an unsuspecting and daresay naive population. the nationals broke up the functioning system and and nearly buggered it beyond repair. forget about growth and innovation and blah de blah blah. it is time to retreat into population attrition and retain the things we value most at the same time. the old order is over. believe me.

  11. We need a Government owned Supermarket and a Government owned fuel company as well

  12. tsmithfield 12

    Advantage, you might be surprised, but I agree with you, even from a right-wing perspective.

    We are just too small as a country to have multiple electricity generators. And the profit model simply doesn't work when it comes to long term issues such as future generation. That is because the time frame for new generation (say building a new dam) is often far outside the timeframe a commercial enterprise would find acceptable for generating a return.

    So, though I am normally against the government owning businesses, I think there are times when it makes sense in the national interest for the government to own it on behalf of the country.

    I thought it was a stupid decision to privatize as aspects of the system when National did it originally, and I still think it was a stupid decision.

  13. Powerman 13

    We had a first-class integrated, efficient and collaborative energy system. This was replaced with a competitive and inefficient system with duplicated management systems. We are unable to plan for the future as the present energy companies are risk aversive. Now is the time to plan for future demands, even if the Tiwai Point Smelter closes, future planning is needed. And away with bonuses for senior employees– they are paid well without an extra reward for actually doing their job.

  14. Tricledrown 14

    the best way to bring down power prices would be to insulate homes the govt could make it compulsory to have all homes fully insulated , by having cheap loans attached to your rates. Heat exchangers,Solar water heating, Solar panels and micro windmills,Thermal ground heat exchanges all in the mix . This would be cheaper than building a water battery in Central Otago for $8 billion dollars ,which as these projects rarely come in on budget could be many $billions more. Going to electric cars charging could also be used for a battery bank but cars would need huge numbers of connected chargers.Given most cars stay parked fo 90% + of the time it makes good sense.

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    7 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

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

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