Social Democracy is still alive

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, November 24th, 2017 - 49 comments
Categories: capitalism, China, class war, Deep stuff, Economy, Globalisation, Politics, us politics - Tags:

Socialism has to work with capitalism – if we want to keep both democracy and the states’ redistributive goods and services. The name for that work is social democracy.

Straight socialism is deeply unpopular and isn’t coming back in our lifetimes.

Our current coalition government is a classic social democrat government. It’s not going to nationalise anything.

The revolution will not start, let alone be televised:

It’s going to spend on social and infrastructure goods and services like we haven’t seen in quite a while. It’s even going to hold itself to account to lowering child poverty. It’s the state working within capitalism, softening and directing it, and being more assertive about it. Labour movements stronger than ours are not in power much anywhere. Though hope springs eternal.

Socialist redistributive power and a strong active state do well for people when they work together. Here’s why.

Governments around the world are increasing their redistributive efforts.

This redistributive capacity has led to a decline in poverty right across the world.

In the U.S., homelessness has continued to fall from both G.W. Bush and Obama programmes.

And when governments spend a lot on social services in particular education, the GINI coefficient really starts to fall.

China is going to have to figure out this relationship between state redistributive effects and its own transformation from an export-led economy to a more consumption-led one.

Capitalism is still powerfully effective but even with New Zealand’s strong version of social democrat government, the road to a stable society is simply massively steep and long.

I’m sure there are lots of theoretical alternatives, but the one we have in operation here now stands in stark contrast to National, and also stands our Labour-led government in great global company.

With socialist governments in rapid decline right across the world, and just a very few social democrat governments re-emerging after many years out of power, it’s useful to remind ourselves of what governmental combinations are working well. They are social democrat governments.

49 comments on “Social Democracy is still alive ”

  1. Straight socialism is deeply unpopular and isn’t coming back in our lifetimes.

    How can something that people don’t understand be deeply unpopular? Perhaps it’s the lies?

    Perhaps it’s time that we socialists came out and simply said that we’re going to do what’s needed, what the people choose.

    The way to tell a true socialist state is by its participatory democracy.

    You know, I don’t think there’s been one of those since the fall of Ancient Greece. Of course, Ancient Greece was capitalist and had all sorts of rules preventing the majority of people participating in elections.

    Quoting link:

    They see a party that’s institutionalized, that has helped to build institutions, and that is now invested in them. They see politicians who compromise, policies that are cautious, activists who talk about familiar ideas. They see us alongside the conservatives and the liberals, and from where they are standing, they see hardly any differences among all of us. They see, essentially, the status quo.

    That sounds about right and the only people giving an alternative voice (but then reneging on it) happen to be the hard-right populists – like Trump.

    And at no point in that article did I see any mention of socialism being unpopular. What I did see was a social-democrat telling everyone that they should just keep doing the same as what they have been doing – despite that one paragraph that I quoted.

    China is going to have to figure out this relationship between state redistributive effects and its own transformation from an export-led economy to a more consumption-led one.

    Yes, because having even more of the world going full Consumerist is a such a good idea…

    /sarc

    Capitalism is still powerfully effective but even with New Zealand’s strong version of social democrat government…

    Capitalism is bunk and always has been. Overall it simply destroys and what it destroys is society and the environment and it does it for greed.

    I’m sure there are lots of theoretical alternatives, but the one we have in operation here now stands in stark contrast to National, and also stands our Labour-led government in great global company.

    That’s got to be one of the most confusing sentences I’ve read. It seems to be trying to a) disparage any possible alternatives to the present system, b) compare our present system with the National Party and c) kiss Labour Party arse.

    Our present system is identical to the one we had under National – it just has different managers. Sure, those managers are going to be better than the previous lot but they’re not actually going to change anything. This is why, as that article you linked to points out, the far-right populists are rising in popularity. They’re actually saying that they’re going to change things.

    • Tricledrown 1.1

      Greed is a survival instinct and will always be with us.
      Communism is pure socialism and hasn’t worked anywhere as totalitarianism / Greed is it’s undoing.
      Pure Capitalism becomes totalitarianism Monopoly by oligarch’s.
      A balance between them works best.
      Fundamentalists on both sides live in Silo mentality.

  2. adam 2

    Social democracy, not sure you got the right word their Ad. Looking through your links it’s more a manifesto for support of third way politics, just an observation. But good on you for trying out the term – hope for you yet to embrace the idea.

  3. Bill 3

    Socialism has to work with capitalism – if we want to keep both democracy and the states’ redistributive goods and services.

    Uh-huh. Except that socialism is the antithesis of capitalism, and if there’s a state redistributing (or distributing) goods and services then likewise, there is no socialism.

    Social democracy on the other hand, accommodates capitalism and moderates it via state intervention (redistribution of goods and services).

    I could say more on other aspects of the post, but sorry Ad, your post jumped the tracks before it left the station….

  4. David Mac 4

    I’m a social democrat and minor capitalist player because I love fishing. I don’t need to fish so I prefer to trade some of my time and effort for outboard fuel and bait rather than expecting the efforts of others to bankroll my hobby.

    Forms of capitalism are as old as mankind. It’s as old as the first caveman with a natural gift for making spearheads worked out he could score a slightly larger share of the hunt if he stayed home and made spearheads to trade as the rest of the clan stalked prey. They all ended up getting more meat. Capitalism is not necessarily evil.

    • Bill 4.1

      Reads like you’re confusing trade with capitalism. Trade takes many forms and has (like you say) existed since “forever”.

      Capitalism, unlike trade, is predicated on the exploitation of labour.

      • Reads like you’re confusing trade with capitalism.

        Yep. That does seem to be the problem today with many mistaking trade as capitalism.

        Capitalism, unlike trade, is predicated on the exploitation of labour.

        Through the private ownership and control of the nations resources and land.

        • Macro 4.1.1.1

          .Through the private ownership and control of the nations resources and land.

          Yes; this is the fundamental error which Locke and subsequently Adams committed in their justification of Private Property in Money without limit. Initially the ownership of Private Property was justified by the concept of the owners acquired the property by “mixing their labour”. That this is so much bullshit is obvious today when a handful of people control half of the world’s wealth.

      • David Mac 4.1.2

        The caveman that no longer faced the dangers and discomforts of the hunt, got to stay home with his family and chip at stone yet end up with a larger share of meat than the others…that guy is capitalist scum!

        But if collectively every family ends up with more to eat, has exploitation taken place?

        I find it hard to believe that you would allow anyone to exploit you Bill, me too, I won’t stand for it. I give my time and effort willingly.

        • Bill 4.1.2.1

          Well no, he’s not a “capitalist scum”.

          A simplified version might run…

          under capitalism the caveman of your scenario would be denied access to the means of production (the stone quarry or whatever) and the required tools.

          He would have to rent his labour to the capitalist who owned such things in return for a wage. And that would not allow him to buy the things he produced (the arrow heads), seeing as how the capitalist would have secured their own profit margin when setting the price of the arrow heads.

          sans capitalism, the caveman may well set to making arrow heads if he was particularly good at it while others hunted (a horizontal division of labour) and would enjoy a fair share of the hunt.

          And in response to the second part of yuor comment – every single job that pays a wage has exploitation set at its core. And I don’t hold – not for a second – that people generally give their time and effort willingly. A lot of acculturation goes into having people go along with the notion that a job = dignity etc. And that’s before we get into the motivational aspect of fear that keeps people on the hamster wheel because no money = no food or shelter and no reasonable way to provide for oneself etc.

          • David Mac 4.1.2.1.1

            Yes, things take on a different complexion when Spearhead Joe floats his cottage industry on the Bedrock Bourse and has to talk to Mr Slate about cubits of spearhead stone.

            I think there is a link between the size of corporate entities and the exploitation of people and resources. The acres of empty faces sewing on Nike logos, the abandoned trashed drilling sites bearing the rusty logos of the same places we buy petrol.

            I wonder if as an animal, we humans might operate best in corporate entities no larger than one where everyone knows everyone.

            • tracey 4.1.2.1.1.1

              It would be wrong to think that exploitation is only the want of large entities. Alot of those exploiting migrants that we read in the paper are SMEs.

      • Baba Yaga 4.1.3

        Rubbish. The profit motive often (not always) is predicated on looking after labour well. You views are from the 18th century, not the 21st.

        • Bill 4.1.3.1

          Really? That description, or suggested motivation fits quite well with chattel slavery – wage slavery, not so much.

          And you are aware (given your talk of a couple of hundred years back) that today’s economics are just nascent late 18thC and developed 19thC Liberalism applied to a 21stC environment, yes?

          Probably not aware of that is my guess…

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.3.2

          The profit motive often (not always) is predicated on looking after labour well.

          Bollocks.

          The profit motive is fully predicated upon stealing from the workers. That’s why National always passes legislation like the Fire at Will Bill and the Warner Bros Bill which both made things worse off for workers at the behest of business. Then there’s their attacks on beneficiaries and unions both of which are designed to lower wages.

          Then there’s all those Western businesses moving production into Eastern countries that have lower human rights, lower wages, and even less worker protection.

          You know, all the stuff needed to look after labour well. Business wants it all gone so as to boost profits.

          You views are from the 18th century, not the 21st.

          Yours are simply delusional and goes against the evidence.

          • Baba Yaga 4.1.3.2.1

            “The profit motive is fully predicated upon stealing from the workers. ”
            Not if, as in most firms, the firm depends on those workers for the profit.

            “Yours are simply delusional and goes against the evidence.”
            What evidence? The profit motive is the motive to make more profit. If a business employs labour that assists in the delivery of that profit, then it is in that businesses best interests to look after it’s labour resources.

            You views of the world are more reflective of the treatment of peasants in soviet Russia than in 21st century NZ.

            • Bill 4.1.3.2.1.1

              Depending on the presence of workers who will work producing stuff in return for a wage in order to spin a profit means (there is no way around this) that the workers are being robbed of some of the value of their labour.

              The profit is precisely that portion of wages that have not been payed.

              • Babayaga

                Profit is the return to the owner for risk and capital. You clearly have no understanding of how capitalism even works.

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.3.2.1.2

              Not if, as in most firms, the firm depends on those workers for the profit.

              The profit is the value that the workers produce but aren’t paid for. This is theft.

              The profit motive is the motive to make more profit.

              Yes, I’m aware of what profit is and it’s motive. I’m also aware that the only way it works is to steal more from the workers so that the bludging capitalists don’t have to work.

              What evidence?

              Piketty
              The GFC and the Great Depression and every other recession
              The increasing poverty that we see in NZ since the implementation of neo-liberalism
              Nasa-funded study: industrial civilisation headed for ‘irreversible collapse’?

              And there’s more. All the research coming out lately shows that capitalism simply doesn’t work.

              You views of the world are more reflective of the treatment of peasants in soviet Russia than in 21st century NZ.

              No, they’re really not. They’re reflective of the research.

              Have you noticed all the worker being brought in to the country whom are then abused and essentially put into slavery for the farmers and others that ‘hire’ them?

              That’s capitalism.

              Yours, on the other hand, are reflective of the 15th century that has been proved to be so bloody wrong.

            • greywarshark 4.1.3.2.1.3

              OMG Bahbah Another one of the Python Debating business.
              (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNkjDuSVXiE

              • Babayaga

                ***snort***

                That brings back memories of my high school years. Always loved the Python crew. Thanks for sharing…I’ll take the dog good naturedly.

      • Baba Yaga 4.1.4

        There is ‘trade’ and there is ‘free trade’. Free trade and capitalism go hand in hand. However in a truly socialist economy trade exists, but it is nowhere near truly ‘free’, because the state sets the prices for goods and services, and often goes as far as to tell the Caveman what and how to produce.

        So in a capitalist economy, David’s caveman negotiates a price for his spearheads with his customer based on the laws of supply and demand. He is free to negotiate, and free to move to a different type of spearhead should he wish. He is free to develop new innovations, new materials and new methods of production.

        In a socialist economy, the state sets the price for the Caveman – it tells him what to sell and for how much. It tells him how to produce the spearheads, and how many to produce. It regulates the materials he buys for the spearheads, so that he cannot determine his own input quality or price.

        That’s why socialist economies always fail. The system is a dog, and invariably it has to be maintained, even in it’s death throes, by totalitarian regimes.

        • Bill 4.1.4.1

          If there is socialism, then there can be no state re-distributing goods and services.

          In the case of a command economy (which is what you’re talking about) there is, in the words of Lenin, state capitalism – not socialism.

          State capitalism and liberal capitalism are two sides of the one coin. Both always fail and require propping up time and time again.

          Socialism is something else again.

          • Baba Yaga 4.1.4.1.1

            “If there is socialism, then there can be no state re-distributing goods and services. ”

            No that happens when socialism takes over…it’s called theft.

            “Socialism is something else again.”

            Yes. It is beyond propping up.

            • Bill 4.1.4.1.1.1

              When a grouping (like the Bolsheviks) “seizes the apparatus of the state” and abolishes liberal capitalism, the result is state capitalism.

              I know I’m repeating myself here, but it can’t be overstressed that Lenin himself stated it quite unequivocally – that state capitalism was the aim of the Bolsheviks.

              And to achieve it, they jailed, murdered and exiled any who agitated for socialism.

              True enough to say that socialism is beyond “propping up” though, seeing as how it’s constantly unfolding 😉

              • Babayaga

                State capitalism is not capitalism, because there is no private ownership. The term was probably invented by embarrassed socialists, watching their theories go down the toilet.

                • Bill

                  State Capitalism isn’t Liberal Capitalism (for the reason you mention), but it is Capitalism.

                  Social Democracy sits between those two extremes – the state intervenes in the market economy (so not Liberal Capitalism) but nonetheless encourages the market economy (so not State Capitalism).

                  Lenin (no socialist in my book) was using the term (State Capitalism) from about 1917 and stated it as an aim of the Bolsheviks.

                  • Baba Yaga

                    Lenin ‘mis’used the term. Capitalism, by definition, is predicated on private ownership. State capitalism is an oxymoron.

        • Draco T Bastard 4.1.4.2

          Free trade and capitalism go hand in hand.

          No they don’t. If they did then people wouldn’t keep adding more and more regulations that lock down the market in things like patents and copyright. They wouldn’t be signing FTAs that force a country to trade even when they don’t want to.

          However in a truly socialist economy trade exists, but it is nowhere near truly ‘free’, because the state sets the prices for goods and services, and often goes as far as to tell the Caveman what and how to produce.

          Do they do that or is that more BS made up by you?

          Hmmm, it’s more BS made up by you. All a socialist government would do is ensure that prices fully cover the costs. Something that capitalists don’t like as you hear their whinging whenever the government makes effort to do so like when farmers whinged about being in the ETS.

          So in a capitalist economy, David’s caveman negotiates a price for his spearheads with his customer based on the laws of supply and demand. He is free to negotiate, and free to move to a different type of spearhead should he wish. He is free to develop new innovations, new materials and new methods of production.

          That’s NOT capitalism.

          Capitalism is ownership and control of the nations resources and land by a few for their own benefit as it allows them to bludge off of everyone else.

          That’s why socialist economies always fail.

          It’s not socialism that fails. It’s capitalism. Socialism is needed to fix it.

          If you’d bothered to get educated, read history and actually looked at the timing you would know this. But, like all RWNJs, you’ll just keep holding onto to your delusional ideology.

          • Babayaga 4.1.4.2.1

            Ok, go ahead and make up your own definitions. You’re not fooling anyone but yourself.

            Capitalism an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
            https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalism

            • Draco T Bastard 4.1.4.2.1.1

              Here, I’ll just quote your definition:

              Capitalism an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods…

              So, exactly what I said.

              And you’ll note that the politicians, at the behest of business, always limit competition in one way or another.

              • Baba Yaga

                Where does that definition include “by a few for their own benefit as it allows them to bludge off of everyone else.”?

                Nowhere.

  5. McFlock 5

    I always had fun at the pub debating whether I or a mate was a democratic socialist, social democrat, or some other flavour. Even though I got a pols honours degree, the different labels generally bored me – after a certain level, the difference within the leftishsts always end up being much smaller than the difference between them and the tories.

    I’ve long been an incrementalist, rather than a revolutionary, so folk like adam call me a third wayist or even a neoliberal, depending on how much they disagree with my insistence on living in the real world. But my incrementalism has never been a disingenuos excuse to leave people to rot, which I think it what separates me from a tory.

    So all that having been said, that’s why I tend to agree with the post while largely ignoring the label semantics: there is a momentum against tories in NZ, and globally. We have an opportunity for change, and our role is to encourage politicians to sustain that change, and improve the things that need to be improved.

    It’s like a pendulum – if you push strongly against the right when the swing is against you, and push gently towards the left to increase the momentum without spinning it completely over its fulcrum/axle, you can’t go too far wrong.

  6. Sparky 6

    Yes socialism worked for this country but I’d laugh at anyone who calls post 80’s Labour socialist. They brought in GST, student uni fees, created SOE’s, imposed regressive tax in the form of GST and now are pushing the pro capitalist globalist TPP deals. Where’s the socialism in any of that?

    With regards to China its actually moving towards socialism but it being pragmatic about it given its size in terms of land mass, economics and population. Social services are being extended beyond cities to people in rural areas with increases if ever so modest in welfare and disability payments. They are also doing a good job of promoting education and teacher pay has increased tenfold. Recently too their has been an implementation of weeding out corruption and cronyism in government which has seen large amounts of money siphoned off in the form of bribes and back handers. Still a long way to go as many Chinese have to meet the full cost of medical care with a similar model to the US but still better than it was.

    • red-blooded 6.1

      Sparky, when do you think this country was socialist? We’ve had various Labour governments that have intervened to redistribute wealth and lessen inequality (state housing, state schools, state medical system, the benefits system – flawed though it may be, superannuation, ACC…etc) and the pendulum has swung backwards and forwards (or left to right) in terms of how well we’ve supported and extended or retrenched and undermined those systems, but we’ve never been a socialist society.

      Going back to the original post, the approach in NZ has (almost) always been of a social democrat style. It may not be “pure” enough, or fast enough, or far enough along the leftist spectrum for some, but then we on the left scream foul when extremists on the right try to impose their values on us and our society and it’s not exactly surprising that they do the same (and centrist voters get spooked) when we do the same. I say we’ve got to do our best to build people up and embed leftist values in our social structures and institutions, but I think I’m closer to Ad than Bill in terms of how we do this.

  7. timeforacupoftea 7

    Oh GREAT !
    Lets leap back into the Social Democrat Party of New Zealand.

  8. In Vino 8

    Sad drivel from Baba and friends. The vast majority have now understood that the Capitalist profit-gougers do not look after labour well. Since the deforms of the 1980s what has happened? I remember hearing a young Roger Douglas loudly proclaiming that his reforms would work as long as we did all he wanted and became a high-wage economy. We must not, he said, become a low-wage economy.
    Well that is now accepted as what we have done – we have become a low-wage economy.
    Why? Because those deforms (called reforms at the time) did everything to undermine workers, unions, justice, and help the profit-gougers to push our wages down.

    Eat it Baba etc – nobody believes you and your type any more. We see people struggling to survive on a demeaning pay-rate less than a living wage in part-time low-hour jobs , while the profit-gougers ramble on about flexibility, how lucky people are that they have a job at all, choice is so good, sad that some people make ‘wrong choices’…

    That fact is that labour has not been looked after as you so glibly claim.

    • timeforacupoftea 8.1

      Oh dear no !
      The great “Roger Douglas” the “failed pig farmer”, a real and truely idiot.
      We know for sure, Prime Minister Jacinda and Deputy Grant Robinson won’t go down the failed path EH!

  9. Zorb6 9

    Capitalism relies on capital.Who controls and allocates that capital rules the world.

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

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    7 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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