Say chee$e

Written By: - Date published: 5:46 pm, February 10th, 2008 - 35 comments
Categories: economy, workers' rights - Tags: ,

At the supermarket earlier this week I was browsing the aisles and noticed the price of cheese. It seems now that for a kilo of this yellow gold (hold on isn’t gold kinda yellow anyway?) you’ll be paying $16. Now that’s a lot of money for what is pretty much a Kiwi staple but it’s a particularly large amount of money if you’re one of the hundred thousand poor sods on minimum wage. In fact it’s going to take you two hours to earn enough in net wages to buy a block of cheese. Or to put it another way: 5% of your income. For cheese.

That’s why I was particularly angered to see this release on Friday from the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce telling us that:

‘Immigration rules need to be adjusted urgently to relieve the wage pressure, to allow increased migration to meet employer demand,’

That’s right, your desire to be able to afford cheese (and housing and clothes for the kids and…) is nothing other than “wage pressure” that needs to be relieved by allowing more (presumably non-cheese eating) folk into the country.

Let’s get this straight right now. These employers are saying wages need to come down. We’ve given them a tax cut. We’ve made it very easy for them to do business. Now they want us to be paid less too. You could cut a minimum-wage earner’s tax to Zero and it would still take them over an hour to earn enough for a block of cheese. The problem is wages.

35 comments on “Say chee$e ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Whaleoil 1
    10 February 2008 at 6:01 pm

    “We’ve given them a tax cut. We’ve made it very easy for them to do business.”

    You say that like you are part of the government. Are you?

    No one from the Standard has come clean yet over your funding issues, your sponsorship by Labour or you supposed independence.

    Now you post things that take ownership of policies of the government, I guess the truth will always out.

    [lprent – asked and answered innumerable times.
    Look at the About page.
    If you’re not going to find something intelligent to say, why come here?
    Go play with photoshop and lose some more votes for the right.
    Explanation for newbies about that comment:
    How to lose some critical votes]

  2. Tane 2
    10 February 2008 at 6:11 pm

    Bill was clearly talking about New Zealand, Whale – the guy’s even said he’s a Green voter. This smacks of pure desperation on your part.

    Your questions about the temporary hosting mixup have been answered elsewhere. If you’re too stupid to find it yourself why not flick Lynn Prentice an email and ask him to explain it to you again?

    We’re not going to let you disrupt every thread with your conspiracy theories.

  3. Robinsod 3
    10 February 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Yeah Whale – Bill is actually Michael Cullen and I’m Helen Clark. If you want to talk about secret funding how about telling us if your mate Davey is really running Curia out of National Party HQ?

    On a more topic-related note I see McCarten has picked up on the issue of wages:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10491537

    I think it’s starting to become apparent that wages not tax is the issue. I personally can’t wait to see National’s IR policy announcement…

  4. James Kearney 4
    10 February 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Fuck Whale’s stupid.

    We’ve given them a tax cut. We’ve made it very easy for them to do business. Now they want us to be paid less too.

    You’re accusing a Green supporter of acting as Labour and saying the Labour party is a wage earner not being paid enough by business? That’s so convulted and so retarded I almost feel sorry for you. Please, for all of us, stop breeding.

  5. James Sleep 5
    10 February 2008 at 6:25 pm

    Whale, the only way you would be able to win votes for National is attempting the last resort – [Deleted]

    Why don’t you spend your time [Deleted], then you can take a picture and photoshop it first, just to make it look extra special, stick it on your joke of a blog and tell people to vote National.

    It is the last option, Whale. You may as well spend your time trying the last trick in the book.

    Run along child.

    [Tane: No need for personal attacks James]

  6. Benodic 6
    10 February 2008 at 6:37 pm

    Irish – it’s good to see the wages element of the debate is starting to get some good discussion. It’s been frustrating as hell watching National dominate the debate with tax cuts over the last few years, and much as I dislike Labour’s planned tax cuts I think at least it’s neutralised that issue and in a roundabout kinda way brought it back to the real issue of wages.

    This is where National will struggle and if Labour (and the unions) have any sense they’ll want to give this issue a good run.

  8. Benodic 8
    10 February 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Does someone want to get rid of Whale? I’m interested in having a discussion here but it’s obvious he’s determined to misrepresent other people’s statements to fit with his conspiracy theories.

    Whale – get some control over your emotions, stop acting like an angry little pubescent boy and leave the grownups to have their discussion. Your father must be ashamed of you.

  9. Benodic 9
    10 February 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Good, he’s been deleted. Thank you.

  10. AncientGeek 10
    10 February 2008 at 6:46 pm

    I was wondering how long it was going to be before some business leaders came out with that old chestnut. Classic quick-fix prescription, that just causes more problems down the line.

    They need to look at figure 5.01 in 5 External migration of the Demographic Trends: 2007 reference report.

    Each time the immigration over emigration gets too high like 96 and 02/03 we get some serious over-heating in the economy, mainly because it heats up the building industry, car sales, and a pile of other factors for a number of years afterwards (can’t be bothered going to the rbnz reports). A large chunk of the over-heating goes straight into inflation.

    Now that isn’t so bad if the was room to jump another percentage of inflation. But right now we’re running at about 3.2%, slightly above the approved range. The current net increase is probably part of what is driving our existing inflation.

    So in fact, what the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce is asking for is more inflation, and a resetting of the Reserve Bank Act’s bands. Of course as business people who are fully conversant with the economy, they realize this – yeah right!

    What exactly are we getting these extra workers in for? Are they going to put only into export industries where they’d generate wealth for the country?

    Well as we know, Wellington is the great export earning area in NZ. Say what? When did that happen?

    What these clowns are after is, as IrishBill says, that they don’t like the wage increases if they continue with their current level of productivity. So they should do what any economist would suggest. Put the effort in to raise productivity. Don’t ask the government to do a quick fix that benefits no-one apart from themselves.

    BTW: Whale isn’t worth discussing

  11. James Sleep 11
    10 February 2008 at 6:49 pm

    My apologies, Tane

    [lprent – It is understandable.
    Have a look at the link I attached to his comment.
    It is extremely well written. I’ve been holding it for Whale’s next appearance.
    BTW: you’re getting caught in the d4j moderation trap. Nothing to do with you.]

  12. AncientGeek 12
    10 February 2008 at 6:56 pm

    So actually I sort of disagree with IrishBill.

    The wages are going to go up. Same as the price of any scarce resource. The real question in my mind is if NZ employers are capable of getting a more efficient usage out of that resource. Can they raise productivity enough to offset the wage increases.

    Frankly I’m not hopeful based on past experience. But it has been 30 years since they were in a position that forced them to do it. May the efficient employer of labour survive, and the inept go under.

    Market forces rule again in the labour market (and thats what these particular employers don’t like)

  13. Camryn 13
    10 February 2008 at 7:39 pm

    Just a side issue really, but the government doesn’t *make* New Zealand an easy place to do business. All a government has to do is avoid making it a difficult place. It’s an act of restraint, rather than of commission.

  14. Tane 14
    10 February 2008 at 8:17 pm

    I think that depends on your point of view Camryn. The government provides a police force, it institutes and guarantees private property rights, it enforces contracts, educates the workforce and provides a health system to ensure the population is fit to work. It also sets up the Reserve Bank, monitors inflation and regulates interest rates. And on top of all that (if you take a Marxian analysis), it allows employers to take the surplus value of a worker’s production.

    The discourse of positive vs. negative rights is a false dichotomy. All rights are positive, in that they require a state to set the rules a certain way and enforce them. Somalia has no functional state, but it’s in no way a good place to do business.

  15. AncientGeek 15
    10 February 2008 at 8:23 pm

    Agreed. A common complaint I hear is that NZ is a compliance cost hell.
    Personally I haven’t found that, and there are various comparitive tables that back that up.

    I always remember looking at doing some remote business in NSW and giving up. Couldn’t figure out if we had to do GST.

    Now where was that link…. I think we were 2nd best. I’ll look it up later if noone else links it

  17. AncientGeek 17
    10 February 2008 at 10:07 pm

    Thanks – thats the one I was after.

    Obviously these are slightly subjective (see the methodology links), and you find variations between different tables. It is different for different levels of business.

    But we’re always up towards the top for ease of business. Not surprising after you have to deal with the US tax system (for instance).

    Could always do with some improvement. But mainly by doing more things electronically.

  18. Camryn 18
    11 February 2008 at 5:56 am

    Tane – Well, I don’t take a Marxian analysis. I also disagree with some of the roles you include as seemingly the basic minimum of government e.g. *institution* of private property rights (they tend to take them away, but it doesn’t mean they create them if they don’t) and involvement in health and education (optional).

    My basic point is that you clearly want to go further than that, and have the government mediate in the employer/employee relationship etc. It’s precisely those type of things that this survey measures, and it’s because we don’t go as far beyond the basic role of government as many countries that we do so well.

    One of the best things about this Labour government is the way they’ve managed to restrict themselves to a fairly mild labour relations reform, some tinkering with the minimum wage, and minimal additional complexity in the tax system (e.g. making IRD handle Kiwisaver).

    P.S. Where do you shop, Irish? Foodtown in Auckland Central does have $16 1kg cheeses, I see. It also has $10 for store brand cheese which is probably made in the same place. I’m sure a family on a tight budget is more likely to shop in a supermarket with a larger format etc and hence lower prices e.g. Pak’n’Save. Yeah, it’s still quite a lot, but it doesn’t have to be $16.

  19. Psycho Milt 19
    11 February 2008 at 6:21 am

    I also disagree with some of the roles you include as seemingly the basic minimum of government e.g. *institution* of private property rights…

    I realise Libz have this religious fantasy that “private property rights” are some independently existing entity, but the fact is without a legal system your “private property rights” consist of what you personally have the weaponry to take and defend. I’ll take the legal system, thanks.

    My basic point is that you clearly want to go further than that, and have the government mediate in the employer/employee relationship etc.

    And the ECA was what, exactly? The govt carefully keeping at arms length and not interfering?

  20. Camryn 20
    11 February 2008 at 6:31 am

    Psycho –

    1) I’m not saying we don’t need a legal system to enforce private property rights, I’m just saying that the rights themselves aren’t created by the legal system. They’re not bestowed by the government, they’re protected by the government. It’s one of the most useful things that individuals can get together and do via a government.

    2) OK, Mr Literal… insert “more” after “mediate” and then debate the point instead of being so pedantic.

    Captcha was “dining man”, which is exactly what I’m going to do.

  21. sdm 21
    11 February 2008 at 7:24 am

    Dear Dr Cullen
    I am sorry as a hard working employer I havent raised wages enough. I know I like to feel sorry for myself, you know as the economy is going to shit (in the construction sector where I work its very flat), sales are down, my overheads are up, interest rates are up, and yet I could only afford to raise my staffs wages by 10%. I shouldn’t pity myself, and I apologise. I understand that I can’t be trusted with some of my money back. I know that you know better than I do about how that money should be spent. Thank you for not trusting me in my wage negotiations, you made me contribute to kiwisaver. Saves me having to think, and you are much better at thinking that what I am. All these people leaving for Australia is my fault, I realise that. I have tried my best, not giving myself a pay raise, trying to create more work when the work isnt there, but it isnt enough. My staff seem happy enough, but clearly they are lying. I know I am an evil employer, I know that I have sinned, please forgive me Dr Cullen?

    Sincerely enslaved

  22. IrishBill 22
    11 February 2008 at 7:43 am

    Camryn, there’s a certain irony in you calling PM “Mr literal” after nitpicking about the price of cheese. But I’m feeling indulgent so:

    1. The cost of plain brand cheese has also doubled.

    2. $10 still means more than an hour’s work at minimum wage (net).

    SDM, if you really gave your workers a 10% wage then that’s commendable but the truth is there’s a whole lot of employers out there that don’t give any rise at all (despite the last eight years delivering record profits).

  23. Tane 23
    11 February 2008 at 7:55 am

    I also disagree with some of the roles you include as seemingly the basic minimum of government e.g. *institution* of private property rights (they tend to take them away, but it doesn’t mean they create them if they don’t) and involvement in health and education (optional).

    You’re still assuming private property rights can somehow exist without a government. They can’t. I’ve never understood how someone can ‘own’ property without a legal system that says they can. Where does this natural right that you’re appealing to come from?

  24. sdm 24
    11 February 2008 at 8:05 am

    Irish – you have to give raises if you want to keep your staff. It was a straight business decision. But my issue is this – everything is cooling off. Thing is I cant afford to do any more – hell I havent had a holiday or given myself a raise in a long time. Dont blame me for people leaving Australia – I suspect Dr Cullen has alienated a lot of good employers who try and do the best by their staff.

  25. Daveo 25
    11 February 2008 at 8:11 am

    Perhaps you shouldn’t be so sensitive sdm. When Cullen says employers need to pay more he’s talking about them as a group and he’s right, employers do need to pay more. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some employers like yourself who are paying well or giving good increases already but the statistics suggest you’re the exception to the rule.

  26. Kent Parker 26
    11 February 2008 at 8:33 am

    Cheese going up in price could be a good thing for some: too much is fattening and dairy products acount for our poor record of cholesterol. You moan about cheese. What about butter? That has almost doubled in price in the past year, now about $4 for 500gm. As you know these price rises are driven by our success in the international market and will no doubt be made worse by the drought.

    So some business leaders think that immigration will help ease the labour squeeze. Yeah right: same dream as the seasonal worker demand; that a whole bunch of willing workers will appear on demand on a temporary basis when the employer wants, and then disappear miraculously without any further obligations required to them.

    What does the Wellington Chamber of Commerce propose to do with all these immigrant workers when work is no longer so readily available? Further, what do they propose we do about providing this increased population with electricity, water, housing, social welfare and all the other resources that we know full well we are struggling to provide on a resource finite planet?

  27. Geoff Hayward 27
    11 February 2008 at 8:34 am

    The way I see it, the price of dairy is not just affected by business savvy, taxation level or wage level in NZ. I remember reading an IHT piece a couple of months back clearly suggesting an increase in international demand, and the demand looking as if it will not abate, although it may plateau. Cactus Kate had a piece recently about how the price of NZ cheese is high, even in HK (which indicates to me how little any impact of trade barriers is having on the price). So Camryn, I shop at both Foodtown and New World and there is parity in the price, maybe between 12 and $16 for 1 Kg. I remember when the price was half that…more immigrants will not change it one bit. A wage increase may make it more affordable however.

  28. Phil 28
    11 February 2008 at 9:21 am

    Irish,

    Employers ARE giving out payrises (I want to say “like they’re going out of fashion”, but in respect for differing views on fashionable economic policy, will keep myself restrained). Look at the latest Labour Cost Index numbers – largest quarterly and annual increase since they started calculating them in 1992.

  29. Uroskin 29
    11 February 2008 at 5:27 pm

    How to deal with cheese price rises? Easy, demand isn’t inelastic for that commodity. Just eat less cheese, buy something tasty, nutritious and healthy that isn’t cheese. And sock it to the farmers at the same time: how dare they asking for higher wages for their cows (by charging higher prices for their product?) can’t they increase the productivity of their worker cows instead? Encourage the immigration of cows or discourage the immigration of cheese eaters?

  30. AncientGeek 30
    10 March 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Just updating the chee$e. Read this from In a strange land about the price of cheese in aussie The price of cheese.

    I just can’t resist links….

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 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
    2 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    6 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
    7 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
    7 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
    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

  • 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T03:40:47+00:00