Remember the big picture, Fran

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 pm, February 28th, 2009 - 66 comments
Categories: Media - Tags:

Fran, you’re pretty smart, you can do maths, and you understand the economy. You’re ideology is fundamentally flawed but at least you’ve got the analytical tools.

So, how can you go and write something like this “It can cut a number of Labour’s own expensive prior election bribes, like making student loans interest-free.”

Fran, think about the macroeconomics. The only sensible economic policy at the moment is the one that every other country expect New Zealand is pursuing. That is, inject demand into the economy as an adrenaline shot to break the downward cycle and restore confidence, which then becomes self-sustaining. Ending interest-free loans will cause the hundreds of thousands of people of my generation to prioritise paying back the loan to avoid the interest costs. That will result in us decreasing our consumer demand. That’s de-stimulatory, Fran, it is pro-recessionary. And all so the Government could save a few million of the billions it will have to borrow anyway. That’s just dumb.

And, Fran, you’re far smarter than that.

66 comments on “Remember the big picture, Fran ”

  1. Redbaiter 1

    C’mon, why should underpaid trades apprentices, that are in short supply anyway, pay for dimbulbs to be ‘educated’.

    (Let’s use that word [educated] for now. They aren’t really, but that’s another issue).

    The fact is NZ is drowning in a surfeit of over educated dimbulbs most of them with a mental capacity that makes them more suited to being bus conductors or traffic wardens. (that’s right, they wouldn’t even make half useful tradesmen)

    No free education. Make users pay, with charities and bursaries for youngsters who show promise but might be poor.

    Universal free education merely makes the product almost worthless and many of the “educated” virtually unemployable. You know this is true.

    Anyway, the real problem is government funded education. That’s really what needs changing. Vouchers would be a start.

  2. Redbaiter,

    I’m sure you own a rock somewhere so why don’t you go and “rest’ under it for a wee while. You are a singularly exasperating soul.

  3. anti-tosspot 3

    The government is attempting to increase credit liquidity so playing the supply side.

    Anyway, I agree with Redbaiter, why should heartland NZ pay to support some whining middle class tosspots studying marxist politics while living in Kingsland drinking soy lattes on K Road.

    [we generally don’t allow handles that refer to an author or another commentator, too provocative/creepy. So I’ve suggested a different one]

  4. That doesn’t mean I agree with you young Steve. There is a lot you need to learn yet.

    • Ianmac 4.1

      Travellerev: Do you think that the interest free element of the Student loans should be dropped? As it is those very rich who can manage their income so that their student children are eligble for a Student allowance instead, avoid repayment and interest. My youngest son’s friend is in that position, while said son owes tens of thousands. It would be an insult to escalate the cost of Student Loans while wiping the loans for selected people.

  5. Redbaiter 5

    “I?m sure you own a rock somewhere ”

    How come you know that? Bet you don’t know its name.

    Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough for you Evie. I’m merely making the point that primary and secondary education should be paid for and that this would have two clear benefits-

    1) reduce the number of over educated bozos cluttering universities with free loans that are a tremedous drain on the economy and,

    2) add to the pool of apprentices.

    The way it is now, these dipshits travel at virtually no real cost through an underperforming primary and secondary education system, and then travel on to tertiary, where they’re provided with free money, and there’s no real benefit to the taxpayer given so many of them are unsuited to a university education anyway.

    Paying for secondary and primary would weed a lot of the useless twits out of the system and therefore reduce the massive debt burden of loans made to nitwits. A debt burden that apprentices have to shoulder. Quite unfairly.

    Its OK for me to express such views isn’t it?

  6. Felix 6

    “I’m sure you own a rock somewhere ‘

    How come you know that? Bet you don’t know its name.

    Oh shit we’re through the looking glass now, people.

  7. burt 7

    Interest free student loans might be interest free for the borrowers but the money isn’t for the lender – the govt. All that foregone interest has to be paid somehow. Currently the country is borrowing to keep student loans interest free. Is that sensible and is it sustainable for perhaps another 10 years ?

    I think loans should be interest free for a maximum of five years of full time study or until such time as a persons earnings exceed the repayment threshold (current about $18,000 I think).

    Free money is a novel concept.

    • RedLogix 7.1

      So burt, what do you think of the Nats policy of WRITING OFF loans for med, vet and other students who bond to certain locations then.

      That has to be better than free money, its paying them to take it away.

      • burt 7.1.1

        RedLogix

        IMHO

        If it achieves it’s goal as a bond it will probably have the long term consequence of keeping the salaries of the groups who its available to less internationally competitive. Thus perpetuating the requirement to have the bond.If this is the case then we need to look at it as a social policy cost of having NZ trained people working in NZ.

        Personally I would rather we made the jobs competitive on salary, the problem of repaying the student loans would also then go away. However I don’t write policy & I can’t control wages.

        • RedLogix 7.1.1.1

          So you ducked the question.

          Writing off a loan is a huge step further than making it interest free, yet you seem happy with the former and still bitchin about the latter.

          (As it happens I’m happy with both, and this new loan policy has to be the one decision the Nats have made I can fully support so far.)

          Oh and my pet rock is Jadis.

          • burt 7.1.1.1.1

            I didn’t dodge the question. I didn’t expressly say I don’t like it because I think it will achieve a goal, and it’s an important goal for NZ. I just don’t like how the goal is being archived. Where the people effected are state employees I would rather the ‘state’ just wacked an extra $10K or more on their salary.

            These people leave the country for more money, we need to give it to them one way or another, but do we want a system that encourages hiring grads over more experienced staff. The unintended consequence will be that salaries do not need to rise as much as they should to attract ‘one group’ of staff therefore holding them low overall and driving experienced rather than freshly trained people off shore.

  8. Edna 8

    My pet rock is called Norman.

  9. None of you righties have addressed the economic argument. ‘I don’t like interest-free student loans’ is not an argument to get rid of them as a counter-recessionary measure.

    • djp 9.1

      I am not necessarily a righty but I do disagree with you that fixing the recession is all about restoring confidence. Back a couple of years ago everyone was irrationally exuberantly overconfident, it was false confidence (and malinvestment) that caused the problem.

      As I said the other day people are now realizing that:

      a) their assets are not worth as much as they (wished) to believe

      and

      b) they have been spending too much because of point a)

      Sorry Steve but I don’t think a shot of confidence is going to fix a) or b)

    • TghtyRighty 9.2

      Steve. the interest differential is funded by the government through taxes. or if the government is not borrowing to lend, then it is foregone revenue. in return for returning the interest component of student loans, the government could decrease taxes by the same amount as it was spending on the interest/revenue differential. this would put more money in all new zealanders pockets, not just those with student loans. returning to interest bearing student loans would stimulate the economy, as the macro-economic effect of across the board tax cuts would be to increase consumption and/or savings.

  10. keith 10

    “..more suited to being bus conductors or traffic wardens…”

    do they still have bus conductors in NZ??

  11. Edna 11

    My friendly bus conductor clicks ny ticket when I flash him my tits.

  12. Redbaiter 12

    “Oh and my pet rock is Jadis.”

    Well of course it is.

    I’m saying interest free loans are of little benefit to the taxpayer because there are too many dipshits at unversities anyway and the taxpayer would be better off training apprentices.

    I am also saying it is unfair to expect apprentices to pay (thru PAYE) the interest on university loans taken out by people who are probably less intelligent than the apprentice anyway.

    Do you think its fair that apprentices should pay? Leftists are all for “fairness” aren’t they??

    I could tell you the real reason the left want people to attend university and its nothing to do with education.

  13. Redbaiter 13

    Mr Pierson, the idea that people buying knick knacks in shop is something that is critical to a strong economy is just not correct. Especially when the knick knacks come from China. Consumer demand does not drive economies. It eventuates as a result of strong economies.

  14. RedLogix 14

    There is no point in arguing with you RB. I’ve worked many years in both University and industry settings. You meet intelligent and capable people in both. And dumbasses.

    I’ve every respect for good tradespeople. my closest mate is one. There is as my father once said, no such thing as unskilled labour. All work takes skill.

    But to assert that tradespeople are generally smarter than university graduates is so much palpable nonsense. They are both good at what they do, but in quite different aspects of human capacity.

    And most technical and professional jobs these days demand a level of tertiary training simply as an entry point.

  15. Redbaiter 15

    “There is no point in arguing with you RB”

    Good. Don’t do it then. I’m quite happy for you to ignore me. Please feel free.

    “I’ve worked many years ”

    Oh. You do want to argue. Make up your mind.

    ( I can’t imagine a tradesman behaving so irrationally.)

    Actually you’re probably quite a good example of a wasted tertiary education. Wouldn’t have made much of a tradesman either I’d venture. Its clipping bus tickets for you I’m afraid. Don’t be glum. Its not all bad. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a flash of Edna’s tits.

  16. RedLogix 16

    There is not much point in arguing with you because of your monomania, but however little there is, I’m bored and I will anyway. (Besides I’m running five different blogs and chats right now and it’s kinda fun cranking your handle as an idle distraction.)

    In the meantime I suggest you stop drinking the water, I’ve poisoned it.

    • keith 16.1

      redbaiter has been particulary frothy today, I think the nurses at his rest home must have mucked up his meds.

  17. keith 17

    from redbaiter –> “consumer demand does not drive economies.”

    lol! Hey frothy chops, what does drive economies?? Do the nurses know you’re out of bed??

  18. Redbaiter 18

    “lol!”

    That you clearly think of yourself as so clever as you simultaneously reveal what an ignoramus you really are is pretty symptomatic of a lot of NZ’s problems. Such conceited arrogance it reminds me of Helen Clark, another half educated vain and arrogant dimbulb who thought public servants spending money at the Warehouse was the epitome of a strong economy. Or Zerobama or Krudd. All the same kind of leftist dipshit struggling with the same daft misconception.

    Economies are strong when production is high and exports are high. If you’ve got those two essentials, then you can start spending on imported shit. The leftist twits interfering with the economies in most of the western world have it completely arse about face. As usual.

    BTW your attempt to be clever with your references to “meds” is so banal and unoriginal I’d be embarrassed to try it myself. You’re apparently not. This is another thing that tells me all I need to know about the mental capability of Keith. Another sad pitiful leftist loser.

  19. RedLogix 19

    RB,

    New Zealand HAS a strong economy with exports and imports of goods actually almost in balance with each other (within a billion or so, small enough not to matter so much.)

    The real enduring weakness of NZ is that far too much of it was sold off to overseas owners in the 80’s and 90’s creating a massive structural imbalance. Sure at the time we gained a very small short term benefit from the cash we got for those assets, but since then the profits from these assets are now being exported back overseas each year, every year. To the tune of about 9% of GDP.

    We are tenants in our own land RB, with no hope of paying off the money-lenders. That is the fatal flaw. It is something your hero Mr Douglas brought down on us all.

  20. Santi 20

    “You are a singularly exasperating soul.”

    How ironic! The Dutch Einstein calling someone else exasperating. Akin to the pot calling the kettle black.

  21. Edna 21

    At least redbaiter has a “soul”.

  22. keith 22

    “We are tenants in our own land RB, with no hope of paying off the money-lenders. That is the fatal flaw. It is something your hero Mr Douglas brought down on us all.”

    good post RL. Speaking of Mr Douglas I’m beginning to think RB actually IS Roger Douglas. Think about it; the old timey language patterns (who actually says “knick knacks” anymore except your grandma?) Add that to the irrational evangelist frothy posts and the inverted reality economic theories and I think there’s a strong case to be made that RB is none other than the repugnant Roger Douglas!

    Or am I being too unfair to Redbaiter?

  23. ieuan 23

    Redblither: ‘I am also saying it is unfair to expect apprentices to pay (thru PAYE) the interest on university loans taken out by people who are probably less intelligent than the apprentice anyway.’

    Of course you totally ignore all the taxes paid by graduates once they leave university and as the average income for someone with a degree is higher than those without a degree this means graduates make a significant contribution to future government tax income.

    • Mike Collins 23.1

      “as the average income for someone with a degree is higher than those without a degree”

      Quite right about that point. So please tell me why it is essential that New Zealand taxpayers support tomorrow’s high income earners through interest free student loans. I somehow don’t think it is to stimulate consumer demand which seems to be the excuse de jour. What was the rationale last year or the year before that?

      Lefties – finding new ways to express support for stupid ideas since ages ago.

  24. Redbaiter 24

    “Of course you totally ignore all the taxes paid by graduates once they leave”

    Of course you totally ignore all the taxes paid by apprentices once they are fully qualified tradesmen. Go away. Nobody whose name starts with four vowels could possibly be sane or rational.

  25. Redbaiter 25

    “the repugnant Roger Douglas”

    What an ignorant hateful zealot you are. Mr. Douglas was a Labour man. He just was not a socialist. Is this what things have come to on your watch in NZ? Where anyone who does not subscribe to the poison of European socialism becomes a figure of hate and scorn and is marginalized by those means?

    You totalitarians are such a blight on the civilized world. This is a democracy you half educated bigot. Where political ideas compete. People are not sent to the gulags here for having opinions that challenge the socialist norm. Not yet anyway. Jack booted oaf.

  26. calltoaccount 26

    Redbaiter: Time for you to have a coffee break I reckon, and I registered especially to say that. The clash of ideas is fine, flaming (and the deliberate baiting of it) is not. And definitely not here.

    If I could ban you for a week I would.

  27. ieuan 27

    RB ‘Of course you totally ignore all the taxes paid by apprentices once they are fully qualified tradesmen.’

    Your the one saying trades good, degrees bad – not me. The trades make a huge contribution to our economy.

  28. Redbaiter 28

    “I registered especially to say that.”

    If you registered for the express purpose of muzzling the opinions of others than you should not have bothered. This is the blogosphere. Not “Letters to The Editor” where contributions are controlled by some timid jerk off left liberal too frightened to print anything that confronts the norm.

    NZers need to speak out a lot more strongly to turn back the tide of suffocating left wing totalitarianism and pry their culture from the talons of a spent and dying ideology.

    This is a thread on education. You’ve got a view, express it. Seeking to oppress the views of others is just repugnant Stal*n*st evil of the kind I have fought against all the time I have ever written on the internet. Fuck off is all I have to say to you and your poison. Think yourself lucky you earned that you oily condescending creep. You picked the wrong person to attempt to silence.

  29. RedLogix 29

    Seeking to oppress the views of others is just repugnant Stal*n*st evil of the kind I have fought against all the time I have ever written on the internet.

    And how do you go about it? By using the foul, bullying language of a petty totalitarian tyrant who seeks to oppress the views of others.

    It’s not working RB. Ever considered why?

  30. Redbaiter 30

    Oh Go away Redillogix. Every post you make here reeks of spite and malice and utter outrage at the fact that others have different views to you and that they dare to express those views. You’re a miserable small minded low IQ twit with an extremely inflated opinion of your own worth.

    You misuse the word “bullying”, another sly and sleazy attempt by the left to stifle discussion by categorising those who hold socialism in utter contempt as “undesirables’.

    Here’s a clue. Bullying is traditionally a situation where the victim is unable to escape. Here, its all voluntary. Nobody forces you to communicate with Redbaiter. Nobody forces you to read his posts. Others choose not too and seem quite happy. They of course have the choice to ignore and exercize that choice and good on them.

    Your whining is false and deceitful, in that its real objective is to appease the hurt and panic that arises in you when you see your precious ideology threatened by truth.

    Now this is a thread on education. Shut the fuck up about Redbaiter and stick to the issue. Or ignore me.

    As I’ve said before and many times, this is my preference.

  31. RedLogix 31

    RB, we’ve been crossing paths on blogs now for about 3-4 years. Has it not occured to you that I’m WAY over any of your silly formulaic insults? The more florid they get the more entertaining they become, but that’s about as far as it goes.

    Sure I can understand why you would like me to ignore you. But I am going to exercise my choice not to. You cannot do anything about that.

    Is there some reason why you keep referring to Redbaiter in the third person? I’ve seen you do this many, many time over the years. For someone who prizes his personal rights above all else, this always struck me as odd behaviour. Either YOU are Redbaiter and you take ownership of that persona, or YOU are not Redbaiter?

    Who is the real person here?

  32. Redbaiter 32

    “Has it not occured to you that I’m WAY over any of your silly formulaic insults”

    I don’t care dipshit. Let me say it again. I don’t care. Either discuss the issue or fuck off. I do not have the slightest interest in your views on Redbaiter.

    No hang on, I’m being far too liberal here. I don’t care for your views on anything. Just leave me alone and fuck off. I’ve got better things to do than argue politics with obsessive retards with no point of reference other than left wing doctrine.

  33. RedLogix 33

    I’ve got better things to do than argue politics with obsessive retards with no point of reference other than left wing doctrine

    Then why are you here at all? It is plainly obvious that your point of reference (however correct and wonderful you believe it to be) shares almost nothing in common with most posters here at The Standard.

    That means that almost every attempt at an on-topic discussion with you degenerates immediately into a slugfest of insults. Why do you keep doing this, when after years of trying, it must be plain to you that isn’t working?

  34. Ianmac 34

    Redbaiter: Is it true that you score points for yourself for every response that your insults bring?
    1 for a mention by name.
    2 for a counter-argument and
    5 for an angry name-calling response.
    I think that you are up to 999 so perhaps you could count a reply to yourself under another name to get you over the 1000.

  35. Redbaiter 35

    Ianmac- What does it take to get through to you infantile knuckle draggers? I do not want to discuss Redbaiter, I want to discuss education. The topic of the thread. Get over your fixations.

    • Pascal's bookie 35.1

      ” I do not want to discuss Redbaiter”

      Then stop doing it you hypocritical fuckstick. no one is forcing you.

  36. calltoaccount 36

    Correction redbaiter, this was a thread on education. Now, it’s a thread about you. Take a long look at your language and approach to others. In one word, disgraceful.

    My vote is to ban you permanently.

    • yeah, I edge that way too. It’s not necessarily the content of Reddy’s comments, it’s the quantity and how he turns every thread into a discussion about him.

  37. m_c 37

    I think university education is important, and of course, it leads to higher wages. These days, a university education is all but crucial to a successful career in a number of fields – let alone the lawyers, doctors and accountants etc that require even higher education. University graduates are much more likely to earn more than the average wage.

    The problem with the leftist argument appears to be that while arguing for a universal university education, many are arguing (on this website anyway) that the well off are rich pricks with zero social conscience who hate the poor. I can’t understand how you can argue for the means, but argue against the ends the means create. We want you to have an education, but if you earn more than X amount you are probably an elitist rich prick who hates the poor.

    Education is surely emancipation, shouldn’t we be celebrating success and aspiration? Do you REALLY think every successful person wants to see working class people deprived of education and opportunity? After all, New Zealand is a changing society. The number in the “middle” classes has surely grown over the last 25 years. Many of today’s high flyers will have come from working class roots. You don’t have to be born rich to stay rich, nor does being poor mean you are poor forever. This is a flaw in the leftist theory to me, at least in the NZ context. Growing up, NZers are told of everything they can achieve – and that doesn’t matter what decile school you are at.

    I’ve probably just taken this the wrong way, but it would be great is someone could explain to me the dichotomy in that theory. For what it’s worth, I’m a university graduate earning less than the average wage.

    • m_c 37.1

      Sorry – I should have clarified that I can’t understand how one can argue for more university education but make judgements reagarding any financial success that is the outcome…. I wasn’t arguing anyone who goes to university immediately becomes a “rich prick” or making any sweeping judgements! 🙂

  38. Redbaiter 38

    “how he turns every thread into a discussion about him.”

    Except I don’t. Read the thread for chrissakes. There’s half a dozen posts here that saying nothing about interest on student loans but are totally focused on Redbaiter. Its the left who are so weirdly obsessed. Tell them to focus on the issue or STFU. As you have once already IIRC.

    “Correction redbaiter, this was a thread on education. Now, it’s a thread about you.”

    ..and if it is, its because you with your arrogant codescending compulsion to control, made it so. Two posts so far and not a word on the issue.

    • Pascal's bookie 38.1

      So, this guy turns up to a pot luck dinner and starts wanking into the butter chicken.

      Everyone gets all up in in face and calling him names and shit.

      Some people start getting a bit tempted towards a bit of the old violence, others reckon the guy should just fuck off so the rest of the peeps can try and recover something out of the evening. Others still are more fixated on who this tosser is, why is he here, and why the fuck is he spilling his worthless seed into what would otherwise have been a nourishing and tasty meal.

      If the onanistic reprobate then starts crying and whinging that everyone should “Stop talking about me and just have a bloody bowl of curry for chrissake”, I reckon the gathering is justified in lynching his arse, or at the very least, dis-inviting the boring, self-centered, whiney arsed fool on a more or less permanent basis.

  39. keith 39

    hahahahaha !! I would like to take the credit for so successfully winding up old frothy chops red baiter in this thread. You know you’ve really got him on the hook when he starts spewing lines like: “suffocating left wing totalitarianism” and “repugnant Stal*n*st evil”.
    Can’t you just see him seething at his pc? eyes bloodshot, veins popping out on his forehead, angry spittle jettisons from his slavering lips as he relentlessy mashs the keyboard with stubby violent fingers.
    The truth is he serves as a useful reminder of just how completely nutty those on the far right can be.

    • higherstandard 39.1

      “The truth is he serves as a useful reminder of just how completely nutty those on the far right can be.”

      About as nutty as those on the far left methinks.

  40. Redbaiter 40

    zzzzz… yawn.. zzzzzzzzz

    Don’t worry losers, I’d be frustrated too if I couldn’t answer a simple question like why apprentices should pay the interest on loans taken out by their intellectual inferiors.

  41. calltoaccount 41

    Redbaiter: Two posts on education, and then look what happens. One post by you about you, and it’s all on again.

    Cut back the losers, inferiors, etc etc stuff, before you FC someone and get banned. That’s what I reckon.

  42. Redbaiter 42

    “Redbaiter: Two posts on education,”

    That’s three from you and all on Redbaiter. Go away bore, I’ve had condescending sermonising small minded dickwads like you hounding me for years. I’m bullet proof. Address the issue or STFU.

  43. calltoaccount 43

    Redbaiter: This will be the last from me on this thread, I think you have got the message. But don’t worry, I’ll be checking the others to see if you are behaving yourself. If not, believe me, there will be more from me on you.

    I have a real appetite for tasks like this, and I imagine the moderators need the help.

    Remember, stay on topic by showing some respect and not dragging the debate down to a slanging match. That way you’ll have a better chance of dodging the bullets and staying alive.

    [lprent: The moderators are perfectly capable of moderating the site. Beware than I am a jealous BOFH, and a zealot on protecting the rights in the system (ie mostly mine, the moderators, and writers). I think that you’re presuming a bit more that you can actually claim. ]

  44. Edna 44

    Do you fire bullets at each other at this blog? Staying alive was a Bee Gees song that Heather plays all the time.

  45. the sprout 45

    Is it that you can’t see you’ve been nailed RB, or is it that you just can’t let go?
    Poor sad man.

  46. Redbaiter 46

    “Is it that you can’t see you’ve been nailed RB,”

    No I can’t see that Sprout. As usual all I see is a horde of leftists asserting it, and given how objective that judgment would be, I think its shows mental weakness on your behalf to think it even remotely worthy of posting here.

    Again, if you can get over the arrogant condescending lectures, and the threats, and the worthless judgments-

    Anyone ready to tell me why apprentices should pay the interest on the loans of university students who are probably their intellectual inferior?

    • the sprout 46.1

      Thanks for that confirmation Redbaited.

      All that remains to be clarified now is why you dwell where you are unwelcome.
      Do you see yourself as a saviour of lost souls?

      [lprent: He has as much right to be here as anyone else – at least if he stays within the moderating bounds]

  47. RedLogix 47

    Anyone ready to tell me why apprentices should pay the interest on the loans of university students?

    You seem to forget that most apprentices also have a polytech study component of their apprenticeship, and likely also end up with one of those interest free student loans you are getting so anxious about.

    Almost every trade, technical specialty, or profession,demands some form of tertiary study these days. It’s far from just University Students who have student loans.

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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
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    3 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
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    3 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
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    3 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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