SaveMart shows why unions are vital for New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 2:02 pm, September 27th, 2017 - 47 comments
Categories: employment, health and safety, jobs, minimum wage, poverty, Unions, wages, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

Those of you who are keen op shoppers will have been following the explosive story of SaveMart employees over the last few weeks. John Campbell on Radio New Zealand first aired the allegations that employees in the New Lynn store were being made to sort through bales of filthy clothing dumped in Child Cancer charity bins, without gloves. Employees found used syringes, dirty nappies, bloody underwear, sex toys and even a dumped sheep’s head. Just as importantly for SaveMart shoppers, the clothes are not cleaned before sale. It is only the ‘pickers’, minimum wage workers, mostly women, who are responsible for sorting through which clothes should be hanging in your wardrobe and which are destined for the rubbish. They were told they had to use their bare hands to feel if fabric was soiled or wet.

When the women at the New Lynn store were denied their request for gloves, they contacted their union, First Union, for help. Worksafe New Zealand was brought in by their union, and in response SaveMart separated the unionised staff from non-union employees with metal bars. Staff were told by management not to socialise with each other outside of work. Eventually, owner Tom Doonan decided to fire all the people who had joined First union.

New Lynn isn’t the only store that contacted Worksafe to try to improve conditions. In Napier, after staff unionised and called in an inspector, the store closed for three months when given a list of health and safety requirements. They simply reopened and rehired a new set of non-unionised staff. Authorities were aware that SaveMart wasn’t a great place.

These are the kinds of working conditions most New Zealanders find shocking and disgusting. We don’t expect people to be denied access to hot water to clean other people’s excrement off their hands, or denied drink bottles in the heat of summer. So those of us in unions decided to do something about it. We started a public campaign to save the jobs of SaveMart employees who had been bullied for speaking out. In just a week over 6,000 people had signed, including many loyal customers. Employees and ex-employees sent even more incredible stories in. On Monday, SaveMart announced they would be reinstating those 10 women who joined their union in New Lynn.

Union members will now be using crowd funding to train health and safety representatives in SaveMart stores. They will help make SaveMart a safer place for employees and also for the customers that shop there. Save Mart owner Tom Doonan has made a good profit for many years off other’s charity. It’s about time a better, safer deal is won for those who sort the clothes, clean the stores and put the money through the till. First Union members are also calling for everyone working at SaveMart to contact their union and get behind the campaign.

People working at SaveMart can now wear safety gloves because of the power of collective action. But there is something badly wrong when a campaign is needed to win something so basic. Unfortunately, this is just one example of an employer showing complete disregard for their employees. Health and safety and the right for employees to freely join in union, it should be a fundamental part of doing business in New Zealand.  But sadly, for too many New Zealand working people like those at SaveMart, employers prevent their employees from knowing what their basic   rights are.

The real question is, why did it take so much public pressure to achieve meaningful change? We think of these horrific working conditions as happening in ‘other countries’, not in New Lynn, Levin, or Christchurch. It should never have got to this point.

Being an employer is a big responsibility which requires respect for employees as people.  Good employers in New Zealand recognise and respect their staff. They see their wellbeing as essential to good business performance. Good employers also respect and value the collective voice of their staff; their union. They recognise that when their staff join, and work together, in union it is an opportunity to improve the dialogue and engagement in the workplace.

Good employers aren’t threatened when working people raise workplace issues because they understand that real staff engagement involves staff being able to disagree and give voice to their own issues and ideas at work. Without that voice, employee views will too often come second to making a buck.

Sadly over the past three decades, there has been a steady erosion of the rights of working people. Employers are encouraged to be profit maximisers above all else and impose a command and control culture in the workplace. The new ‘normal’ for many younger New Zealanders, women, migrants, and people of colour is something older New Zealanders wouldn’t like or recognise. Helen Kelly had a simple answer to how this happened – ‘It’s by design’. She meant that bad working conditions are no accident. With Government support, companies like SaveMart and other bad employers have been encouraged to feel like its okay to deny working people their basic rights to things like health and safety and forming and joining in union.

It doesn’t have to be this way. We can change the future for working people in this country. We can have better employment laws which protect our rights and make sure all employers know what’s okay and what isn’t acceptable. Collectivism is about working people securing respect at work from all employers. When we stand together for basic Kiwi values, change is possible. There is strength in numbers and in unity. There is power in the collective. There is power when we work together in union. Join us.

 

 

 

47 comments on “SaveMart shows why unions are vital for New Zealand ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. ianmac 1
    27 September 2017 at 2:55 pm

    Incredible that these days only 11% of the work force belong to unions. Wonder why successive governments have made it so difficult to belong.
    Zero contract hours?
    Workers working several jobs?
    Can be fired without notice?
    Low pay is better than no pay?

    • infused 1.1
      27 September 2017 at 4:57 pm

      All the ones I’ve had dealing with are assholes and act like bullies. There’s always more than one side to the story.

      • tracey 1.1.1
        27 September 2017 at 5:58 pm

        It is about the relationship. And that goes both ways. In many union employer relationships both sides are entrenched in adversarial low trust relationships.

      • millsy 1.1.2
        28 September 2017 at 7:33 am

        Seems you described yourself there. Given the fact that you are on record as saying you love firing your workers all the time.

      • esoteric pineapples 1.1.3
        28 September 2017 at 9:24 am

        The representatives in the union I’m a member of are fantastic. I think they do an amazing job, especially considering the toxic situations they have to deal with on a daily basis.

    • Baba Yaga 1.2
      27 September 2017 at 11:37 pm

      “Wonder why successive governments have made it so difficult to belong.”
      They haven’t. They’ve just given us choice. It just so happens that most workers have chosen some other form of representation.

      The SaveMart case is a good example of why some people choose to join unions. There will be other examples of why people choose not to.

  2. tracey 2
    27 September 2017 at 3:54 pm

    And those NZers who have supported this steady erosion of basic rights with who they vote for cannot comfort themselves with ” lazy bludgers” as they do with poor treatment of our beneficiaries.

    The lack of rise in real wages ( unless you be politician or CEO) coincides with the deliberate decimation of union membership.

    Keep up the great work Richard.

  3. tracey 3
    27 September 2017 at 4:00 pm

    Compare this

    June 2016

    “NZ Kiwifruit Growers Inc chief executive Nikki Johnson said growers supported the Government prosecuting people who broke the law.

    “The overwhelming majority of our industry complies with labour regulations and we have an ongoing work programme with government agencies to educate growers and contractors about their legal responsibilities to their workers.

    “Kiwifruit is a major contributor to regional economies and we take our responsibilities to our community very seriously – we strongly condemn these illegal and unprincipled actions.”

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/business/80892811/kiwifruit-business-ordered-to-pay-226k-after-skipping-workers-holiday-pay

    To this

    July 2017

    ” NZ Kiwifruit Growers chief executive Nikki Johnson said the findings were disappointing, but not surprising.

    “We’ve been aware of issues around labour compliance for some time… the operation that MBIE have announced took place in the 2016 harvest so we’ve been working proactively on this issue for some time.

    “The level of non-compliance is perhaps surprising, but it does mean that the work we are doing is justified… we’ll be looking for improvement across the industry. ”

    I note that taxpayers are paying to upskill employers… Employers are not paying to get themselves upskilled. Just so we are clear, this is a business subsidy

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/country/335331/half-of-audited-kiwifruit-companies-underpaid-workers

    • Stuart Munro 3.1
      27 September 2017 at 5:06 pm

      Why do they need educating?

      You break non employment laws and the police will tell you ignorance is no excuse – as they charge you. It’s government collusion in illegal employment practices.

  4. Michael 4
    27 September 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Our employment laws are so inadequate, Mr Wagstaff, because you collaborated with successive governments that deliberately made them that way.

  5. Incognito 5
    27 September 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Collectivism got replaced by hyper-individualism. Socialism got replaced by neoliberalism. Will the unions make a comeback or will we see a different kind of community spirit rising up?

  6. Barfly 6
    27 September 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Would someone care to do a “Whaleoil” by publicly announcing Mr. Doohan’s address?

    – not that I would ever suggest anyone should threaten such a wonderful employer but perhaps with a physical address people could most accurately communicate their desire to him for fair treatment of his employees.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1
      27 September 2017 at 8:02 pm

      Echo, echo…

      So you kinda suggested it twice already. I think it’s a bad idea.

      • Ian 6.1.1
        29 September 2017 at 8:03 pm

        For once I agree with you. I can remember Tom Doonan,s first few years in NZ as I think an assisted imigrant from the UK. A 10 pound pom from memory. He has done pretty well for himself considering his first job in NZ was weeding pumpkins and I note he has donated $3.5 million to charities over the years. Think of all the cotton he has rescued from landfills,the money he has paid to employees,the tax he has paid and the union crap he has negotiated through. The guy deserves a knighthood.

        • McFlock 6.1.1.1
          29 September 2017 at 8:07 pm

          His workers don’t even get gloves to deal with real crap.

          Fuck that guy.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.2
          30 September 2017 at 5:30 am

          🙄

          What McFlock said. Think of all the ethical employers he’s put out of business in his race to the bottom.

        • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.3
          30 September 2017 at 5:48 am

          …not to mention breaking the law.

          I note that Ian cuddles up to crims.

    • gsays 6.2
      27 September 2017 at 9:01 pm

      Wouldn’t emailling your disapproval be enough?

  7. Whispering Kate 7
    27 September 2017 at 4:57 pm

    Odd I don’t see any Nats coming on to this post trying to make excuses, fudge and generally try to defend these disgraceful employers – and there are thousands in NZ, in small businesses and many large corporations who are little hitlers. I always think of small business owners as people who are not team players, want to be the big boy and are generally unemployable and hence they start up their own enterprises.

    Yes, I understand that there are many small business owners who are decent and abide by the law but most of the little hitlers I have come across are small business owners.

  8. Draco T Bastard 8
    27 September 2017 at 5:15 pm

    We started a public campaign to save the jobs of SaveMart employees who had been bullied for speaking out.

    Shouldn’t be trying to save these jobs – they’re not worth saving. Instead they should be getting the place closed down and suing the owners for several million dollars.

    There’s probably some criminal charges that need to be applied as well.

    We think of these horrific working conditions as happening in ‘other countries’, not in New Lynn, Levin, or Christchurch. It should never have got to this point.

    Correct, it shouldn’t have so we, as a Nation, should be asking how it did. What deregulation and unenforcement of existing laws has allowed or even encouraged this sort of behaviour by owners?

    Good employers aren’t threatened when working people raise workplace issues because they understand that real staff engagement involves staff being able to disagree and give voice to their own issues and ideas at work.

    And then there are the majority of managers and business owners who think that their ideas are the only good ones. That employees should simply do as they’re told and will find someway to get rid of people who question them.

    These are, from what I can make out, the majority of employers.

    Helen Kelly had a simple answer to how this happened – ‘It’s by design’. She meant that bad working conditions are no accident.

    And, IMO, she would be right. What we’re seeing is the result of a concerted effort over decades by a few people to undermine the poor. These few people lie, cheat and spread malicious lies about other people to get their way.

    And we all know, after a campaign of lies, which political party supports them.

    • Antoine 8.1
      27 September 2017 at 11:25 pm

      >> We started a public campaign to save the jobs of SaveMart employees who had been bullied for speaking out.

      > Shouldn’t be trying to save these jobs – they’re not worth saving. Instead they should be getting the place closed down and suing the owners for several million dollars.

      I’m wondering what the correct legal recourse here is. Is it for staff members (or the union on their behalf) to take the employer to court? or is there some kind of employment disputes resolution service? or …?

      Yours ignorantly
      A.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        28 September 2017 at 12:04 am

        yeah, can’t say I know either. The employer’s actions seems to have broken all sorts of moral and legal codes but no one seems to be taking them to court.

        • Michael 8.1.1.1
          28 September 2017 at 1:04 am

          That’s because the Judges are all right-wingers. At any rate, they interpret and apply neoliberal employment law in ways that favour employers. The Union will be well aware of the costs of litigation – especially if it loses.

          • Antoine 8.1.1.1.1
            28 September 2017 at 3:37 am

            > That’s because the Judges are all right-wingers. At any rate, they interpret and apply neoliberal employment law in ways that favour employers.

            That sounds like a bunch of rubbish to me.

            Does anyone here know the actual answer?

            A.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.1.1.2
            28 September 2017 at 7:41 am

            the Judges are all right-wingers

            Not in my experience.

            they interpret and apply neoliberal employment law in ways that favour employers

            [Multiple citations and meta-analyses needed]

          • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1.3
            28 September 2017 at 12:35 pm

            If they’re not getting to court then the judges have no say.

        • Wainwright 8.1.1.2
          28 September 2017 at 9:31 am

          Because it literally takes years to get anything through the employment relations authortity and workers don’t have the luxury of waiting for the process to play out the way bosses do.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 8.1.2
        28 September 2017 at 7:56 am

        Any reasonably experienced lawyer should be able to get such a stupid reckless client to back down the moment they get legal advice.

        Which makes me wonder what Talley’s problem is.

  9. Upnorth 9
    27 September 2017 at 7:53 pm

    Unions should not be taking credit. The employees should…they paid millions to the unions and had to kick their arsenal to do something.
    Go the employees I say!

    • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1
      27 September 2017 at 7:56 pm

      …they paid millions to the unions…

      Wow! Is that true! I can hardly believe it. Kick them you say. Wouldn’t a simple phone call or email have done the trick?

      No matter, obviously you’re in the know.

      • Upnorth 9.1.1
        27 September 2017 at 8:37 pm

        Yep unions are lazy

        • One Anonymous Bloke 9.1.1.1
          28 September 2017 at 8:13 am

          Yawn. Tiresome ungrateful brat. Read the OP: it clearly demonstrates the value of unions. For further information on how unions can protect workers from low-life centre-right bullies, contact Mr. Peter Talley.

    • Baba Yaga 9.2
      29 September 2017 at 8:24 pm

      “…and had to kick their arsenal to do something.”
      Really? Sounds to me like the Union acted promptly and effectively. Do you know something we don’t?

  10. Barfly 10
    27 September 2017 at 7:59 pm

    Would someone care to do a “Whaleoil” by publicly announcing Mr. Doohan’s address?

    – not that I would ever suggest anyone should threaten such a wonderful employer but perhaps with a physical address people could most accurately communicate their desire to him for fair treatment of his employees.

    • McFlock 10.1
      27 September 2017 at 9:06 pm

      Nice try with your second paragraph, but it would still evaporate if anything bad did actually happen as a result of your request being granted.

      Email, boycott, see your MP, write letters to the editor. Don’t be a dick.

  11. Dot 11
    27 September 2017 at 8:16 pm

    Cheers for collectivism and thanks for all your valuable work

  12. McFlock 12
    27 September 2017 at 9:12 pm

    It’s the lack of gloves that gets me – that’s just gross. What sort of arsehole thinks that’s ok? And a lot of people might think Save Mart is like an opshop, when it doesn’t even do good things for its employees, let alone anyone else.

  13. Anonymous 13
    27 September 2017 at 10:23 pm

    I’m surprised they make enough money to dump all the waste they receive, let alone pay 10 wages.

    So wait, did they get any punishment /at all/ for breaking health & safety AND employment law?

  14. Wayne_2 14
    28 September 2017 at 12:41 am

    I find it incredible that the employer is not being hauled over the coals for this.
    Surely the legal rights of these employees have been breached?

    This is such an egregious, blatant case of employer bullying that Mr Doonan should be in court being sued for all the prick is worth.

    • Tricledrown 14.1
      28 September 2017 at 8:44 am

      Successive National govts have destroyed unions and cut the Labour inspectorate’s to virtually non existant.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day 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
    1 day 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T06:10:15+00:00