“Social bonds” fail – blame the officials!

Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, December 16th, 2016 - 31 comments
Categories: accountability, national, public services, spin, useless - Tags: , ,

Remember “social bonds”? From the Ministry of Health:

Social bonds are an innovative way for private and not-for-profit organisations to partner in delivering better social outcomes – and be rewarded by Government. The Ministry of Health is leading cross-government work to pilot social bonds in New Zealand.

Last year MS wrote here:

The stupidest idea this Government has had yet

This is the sort of thing that only a Merchant Banker would think was a good idea. The Government is planning to issue “Social Bonds” to corporations and individuals investing in social services with the expectation that market forces will produce a superior result.
…
This belief that the invisible hand of the market will always deliver verges on cultism. It will also ensure that existing levels of inequality will only get worse. Perhaps that is the real motivation. …

Internationally the experiment is still underway, with plenty of failures (of various kinds) stacking up. In July this year NZ added its own failure to the list:

Government’s first social bond collapses

The government’s first social bond has collapsed, with negotiations breaking down and the provider walking away.
…
Last year nearly $29 million was put aside for the rollout of four bonds. The first was to be a programme to help people with mental health problems get into the workforce, and the plan was to put employment consultants in GP practices. But the provider, Wise Group, confirmed yesterday that it had withdrawn from the scheme. It would not make any further comment saying it had been directed to refer inquiries to the Ministry of Health. …

Today it seems that a scapegoat for this failure has been found:

Report on NZ social bonds pilot cites lack of commercial expertise by public officials

A report on failures within the government’s first social bonds pilot blames them on a lack of commercial expertise from the bureaucrats involved.

Work started in 2013 on social impact bonds where typically a central or local government pays private investors a return based on achieving agreed social outcomes.

The government earmarked nearly $29 million in 2015 for the rollout of four bonds but the first one aimed at helping people with mental health problems get into the workforce failed to get off the ground mid-year when the provider, Wise Group, withdrew from the scheme. It won’t comment on why.
…
A joint Treasury, Ministry of Health release on the report, made public with redactions, said the main problem was a lack of commercial financial expertise within their pilot team. That led to a heavy focus on “process diligence” as opposed to achieving a successful outcome.

Government officials by their nature are not expected to have “commercial financial expertise” and “process diligence” is what they do. The “successful outcome” was the responsibility of the contracting organisation, that’s the whole point of “social bonds”.

Other issues included a lack of visible senior sponsorship of the pilot within the agencies and the need to include investors earlier in the process and provide them with clearer information upfront on the basic commercial and financial parameters the Crown is willing to contract at. …

Or in other words, it was a risky idea that was poorly implemented by an incompetent minister. But you can’t say that, so sure, whatever, blame the officials.

31 comments on ““Social bonds” fail – blame the officials! ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Vaughn 1
    16 December 2016 at 3:26 pm

    Another example of minister Coleman blowing smoke in the face of his opponents.

  2. Rosemary McDonald 2
    16 December 2016 at 3:44 pm

    This is exactly the outcome one can expect when one endeavours to profit from the misery of others.

    Wise Group was a perfect contender for this scheme, being what they are, and I have no sympathy for the wasted effort they must have put in in their failed bid to attract an investor for their program.

    “The first was to be a programme to help people with mental health problems get into the workforce, and the plan was to put employment consultants in GP practices.”

    Hah! The ‘arbeit macht frei’ initiative, aka, ‘Daniel Blake’s mental illness cured by Hard Work.’

    Oh, and it’s not entirely Coleman’s fault either…this is a Bill ‘the Lizard’ English ‘reduce the liability of the big hard lump of wasted human potential’ scheme…enthusiastically embraced by Tony “I ‘ll just talk through a hole in my arse and maybe no one will notice” Ryall.

    • millsy 2.1
      17 December 2016 at 3:23 pm

      To be honest, were I an employer, I wouldn’t hire someone who needed a case manager to hold their hand while they worked.

      • Rosemary McDonald 2.1.1
        17 December 2016 at 3:53 pm

        Sometimes people living with mental illness are really keen to work, they just need an employer who is sensitive to their needs…like not subjecting them to unnecessary stress, and considering workplace stress for all is an actual thing…http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9859149/Focus-on-stress-at-work-to-grow it is not unreasonable to expect a little more consideration for a person less robust.

        The case manager works with the employer too…or would have done if the scheme had got off the ground…because some employers are, frankly, arseholes.

        The impression given in the hype when this social bond idea was launched was that only keen and willing patients would be recruited via the GP. In actual fact, GPs were going to be ‘encouraged’ to promote the scheme to patients.

        There was, some of us suspected, going to be the facility for an ‘independent’ doctor (a la ACC) to give the patient a push in the right direction if their own GP failed to do this.

        Shitty idea, better dead.

    • KJT 2.2
      18 December 2016 at 10:11 am

      We already have a totally effective, and cost effective as well, scheme for getting people back to work. ACC.

      Extending it to illness would be a much better “social investment”.

      It would stop private profit from Nationals dodgy privatisation schemes, though.

      • Rosemary McDonald 2.2.1
        18 December 2016 at 11:01 am

        “We already have a totally effective, and cost effective as well, scheme for getting people back to work. ACC.”

        And ACC get a mention in Bill “the Lizard” English’s 2010 declaration of war ….
        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10644993‘

        “”English says the MSD is not set up to deal with them.

        Rather, it is set up to deal with “the easy stuff” – the unemployment and the domestic purposes benefits.

        “They do the easy stuff and they do it very well, but they don’t worry about these guys. If they were ACC customers, we would be spending a lot of money on trying to move them. They cost a bit less on sickness and invalids [benefits], not a hell of a lot less, but we do nothing and we are actually doing nothing to reduce this very large long-term liability.””

        Well…for a start, English was wrong when he said sickness and invalids benefits cost ‘a bit’ less than ACC. 2013 research from Massey uni…http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/about-massey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle_uuid=50F8BDD8-B17D-4C92-956F-827C617A0FA1

        “For the non-ACC group, median income declined by 45 per cent over 30 months (from $36,500 to $19,900) while the median income of the ACC group increased from $40,000 to $45,900.”

        This is about those with permanent spinal impairment….

        This social bond thing is under Misery Of Health, not the Ministry of Social Disintegration

        The Miserly of Health has an almost loathing of the permanently disabled and treats them accordingly. In 2012 there was a joint MOH/ACC study into people with spinal impairments, and although there was, I believe, a deliberate attempt to exclude MOH spinal impaired (which make up about 40% of the sci population) the Situational Analysis presented a very good comparison twixt the two levels of support between the two government agencies.

        http://www.acc.co.nz/PRD_EXT_CSMP/groups/external_providers/documents/project/wpc119428.pdf

        …although you’ll have to scroll to about page 80 to find it.

  3. greywarshark 3
    16 December 2016 at 3:54 pm

    Bart wants it known that – He didn’t do it.
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_iiXWzqHRw

    • Rosemary McDonald 3.1
      16 December 2016 at 9:58 pm

      “Bart wants it known that – He didn’t do it.”

      Maybe…but its the kinda plan the little yellow guy would come up with….

  4. WILD KATIPO 4
    16 December 2016 at 6:10 pm

    ” Or in other words, it was a risky idea that was poorly implemented by an incompetent minister. ”

    Yet despite this…

    Have a happy Christmas !!

    Twas the night before Christmas , …
    ………………………………………………………

    Twas the night before Christmas
    When Jonkey shot through
    And left National feeling ,
    Divided and blue.

    The voters were all nestled
    snug in their beds
    Sleeping more soundly ,
    that the TTPA is dead

    And Bennett in her kerchief ,
    spouting off crap
    And Bill English too ,
    giving Judith the slap

    When from the backbenches , there arose such a clatter
    both Paula and Bill looked to see what was the matter
    away to the Speaker , Bill flew like a flash ,
    to head off some factions, that threatened to clash

    The vote was the test of their new-fallen foes
    Gave the lustre of power to the vanquished below.
    When, what to Bills wondering eyes should appear,
    But Winston and Little , and Metiria showing no fear.

    With a house bubble bursting, so lively and quick,
    Bill knew in a moment that National was nicked.
    More rapid than eagles his problems they came,
    And he screamed, and he shouted, and called them by name!

    Now, Crusher! now, Bridges! now, McCully and Brexit!
    On, Coleman! On, Joyce! – who else will try vex it!
    We’re the top of the pack! the top of the wall!
    Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

    As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
    Unaffordable rents, mount to the sky.
    So up to the house-top speculators they flew,
    Denying first time buyers,and all the homeless too.

    And then, in a twinkling, Bill heard on the roof
    The prancing and pawing of Paula’s great hoof.
    As Bill pulled in his head, and was turning around,
    Down the chimney Auckland’s housing came with a bound.

    She was dressed all in fur, from her head to her foot,
    And her clothes were all tarnished like leopards in soot.
    A bundle of cash she had flung on her back,
    To leave Auckland $5000 , $2000 to come back.

    Bills eyes-how they twinkled! he was not feeling merry!
    His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
    His droll little budget was drawn up like a bow,
    This Deputy ! This Paula ! – kept me out of the know !.

    The stump of a pen he held tight in his teeth,
    And problems with forecasts encircled his head like a wreath.
    He had a broad plan and surplus with a little round belly,
    That scuppered his tax cuts ,when Kaikoura shook like a bowlful of jelly!

    He was grumpy and thin, a shadow of his old self,
    And we laughed when we saw him, in spite of ourselves!
    A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
    Soon let NZ to know we had everything to dread.

    He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
    Destroyed all state housing, then turned like a jerk.
    Then gave us the fingers , aside of his nose,
    And giving a nod, up the Beehive he rose!

    He sprang to his office , to his team gave a whistle,
    And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
    But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
    ” We’re meeting at Keys place for piss ups –

    And to all a good-night !

  5. DH 5
    16 December 2016 at 7:23 pm

    I want to know what the hell is process diligence. I’ve heard of the ministry of silly walks, is there another one for useless phrases. Where do they get this stuff from?

    • peterlepaysan 5.1
      16 December 2016 at 7:44 pm

      It is a bureaucratic example of spin. It is a variant of “nothing to see here, look over there, where (party of choice) did it too.”

    • WILD KATIPO 5.2
      16 December 2016 at 7:47 pm

      ‘ Process diligence ‘…

      Ill agree,… between the global fetish for Americanized jargon and acronyms and Politically Correct ‘speak’ we get inundated with …. it seems its more like the ramblings garnered from a bunch of bored failed linguistics teachers recovering from a recent stroke … or this :

    • Thinkerr 5.4
      17 December 2016 at 7:57 am

      I thought it must mean that the ministry wasn’t monitoring properly or often enough. Just another new, vague term that serves to support the accompanying statement that the ministry, not the minister, is responsible.

      As in, the ministry took the Minister’s brilliant new policy and ruined it by poor implementation.

      Of all there is to be angry about this government, this really riles me. If ministers aren’t accountable for their ministries, then maybe they should be paid at a backbencher’s rate.

      • Draco T Bastard 5.4.1
        18 December 2016 at 10:34 am

        As in, the ministry took the Minister’s brilliant new policy and ruined it by poor implementation.

        I get the feeling it was more that the ministry did their job properly thus preventing a general rort by the private provider but the minister can’t say that.

  6. the pigman 6
    16 December 2016 at 9:40 pm

    Why do I get the feeling that the much-touted “social investment” the B team are talking about will just end up being more of this shit?

  7. UncookedSelachimorpha 7
    17 December 2016 at 5:48 am

    And a lot of the real reasons for problems and failures can all be hidden behind “commercial sensitivity”, with private profit being the divine principle in all of this.

    The whole concept of this bond (force the sick into low paid vulnerable work, while giving private interests a bite at the public purse) was vile from the very start.

  8. millsy 8
    17 December 2016 at 3:19 pm

    You want to get the mentally ill into work? Treat their illness. Simple. Then wean them onto voluntary or part time work.

    • KJT 8.1
      18 December 2016 at 9:45 am

      If their illness is successfully fully treated, then they are no different from someone, who has, say, recovered fully from a broken leg.
      Their previous health problems are no business of their employer, whose only responsibility is that they are fit for work, now.

      From observation, however, expecting someone in the middle of an episode, to work, is an exercise in cruelty. As well as ensuring they lose credibility with workmates, customers and employers.
      I watched an excellent tradesman, a good friend, try and work through an episode of depression, because he couldn’t afford to go on the sickness benefit. The difficulty of even getting treatment for him.
      I saw him lose customers and reputation due to the effects of the illness. His struggles prolonged the depression for years.
      A few months off and proper treatment at the beginning, without financial worries, would have seen him right. And paying taxes again!

      Contrast it to my broken leg. ACC, so no money problems, considerable sympathy from all around. Job held until I was healed, plenty of help from phsio to occupational therapy.

      • Robertina 8.1.1
        18 December 2016 at 10:59 am

        You might want to check out ACC’s well-documented record with long-term claimants, including those who have illness caused by workplace accidents, before blithely giving that Crown entity a whole lot more claimants and financial clout.

        • KJT 8.1.1.1
          18 December 2016 at 2:02 pm

          That is a consequence of Nationals attempts to stuff ACC, so the private sector can compete.

          Worked fine when it wasn’t pretending to be a private insurance company.

          • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1.1.1
            18 December 2016 at 2:10 pm

            Yep, ACC worked fine – until the politicians, for ideological reasons, decided to change it from a pay-go system to a fully funded model and that it was too much of a good example that the private sector simply cannot compete against.

          • Robertina 8.1.1.1.2
            18 December 2016 at 2:24 pm

            No that’s wrong, it got worse under National with its manufactured crisis and affected a much larger group of claimants, but long-term claimants had been persecuted under Labour’s watch.
            It’s amazing how people deny (or just don’t know) stuff that’s been in the public domain.

            • michelle 8.1.1.1.2.1
              20 December 2016 at 11:40 am

              Actually Robertina have you dealt with ACC recently as I have and so has my partner we both had problems with ACC and had to go to John Miller the ACC lawyer who has a reputation for taking ACC to the cleaners since the Tories have been in power and have denied peoples entitlements by trying to say our injuries were degenerative. If you goggle John Miller and ACC his cases will come up and ACC has been paying out heaps but we don’t hear about it thanks to our biased media. Our claims go back to 2003 and are sports related and we didn’t have any problems under the Labs only when gnats took over they employed clinicians to write favorable reports against the claimants.

              • Robertina …
                21 December 2016 at 11:15 pm

                LOL. So ACC specialist lawyers like Miller and Dunedin’s Peter Sara took no appeal cases during the Labour years. As if.
                My comment said National’s manufactured crisis led to ACC playing hardball with a larger group of claimants. Thus it’s unclear why you think your personal experience is relevant, let alone illustrative of the entire situation.

  9. KJT 9
    18 December 2016 at 9:57 am

    A true social bond approach would be to extend ACC to illness.

    Taking a lot of stress off sick people.

    ACC is a proven, cost effective way of getting people back to work, when they are capable.
    However it has the proven fault of keeping money from private insurance and providers.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      18 December 2016 at 10:29 am

      The whole point of privatisation is to shift government money into private profit. When the government provides services for free then there’s far less profit available but when the government not only provides it for free but does it through private investment then the profits go really high and become guaranteed because the government can’t allow the service to fail. That’s actually what we saw with the UFB roll out – the service was failing because of all the profits being withdrawn from the it and so the government had to step in and guarantee more profits for the new private owners.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • 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
    3 days 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
    4 days 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
    4 days 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-28T04:52:48+00:00