Something big but not like that

Written By: - Date published: 7:45 am, March 23rd, 2021 - 41 comments
Categories: covid-19, election 2020, housing, jacinda ardern, poverty - Tags:

Chris Trotter and Martyn Bradbury have been running some interesting theories recently.

The theories are straight out of beltway, or at least a twisted part of beltway.

Chris reported in this post on rumours that that Jacinda was going to resign as Prime Minister.  The basis for his claim?  A usually reliable source.

Comrade Chris thought that Jacinda had recently been “out of sorts”, “morose”, “not her usual self” and speculated that she was pregnant.

He then chose to repeat completely discredited Colmar Brunton polling analysis where a change in polling technique suggested Jacinda’s popularity was waning.  Only if Judith’s is tanking.  Stephen Mills, who knows something about polling, was properly dismissive of the claim.

Piling hyperbole on top of hyperbole comrade Chris then said this:

In normal circumstances, this might have worked. But, from what I have discovered over the past 72 hours, these are not normal circumstances. Only last week, Robertson’s friend and mentor, Sir Michael Cullen, a man stoically succumbing to terminal lung cancer, is reported to have told a select gathering of Labour Party notables that: “It is not enough simply to win – you have to DO something.” Aware of how determined the PM is to “do” as Sir Michael advises; seized also, as his boss is said to be, by intimations of mortality, Robertson, “the reluctant radical” seems ready, for once, to throw caution to the wind.

From all sides, now, comes word of the imminence of “something big” being announced. The Labour caucus is said to be both “nervous” and “excited”.

And how did Comrade Martyn handle this disclosure?  Not very well:

Th[e] latest political rumour being feverishly spread through the back channels is that Jacinda and Grant are at loggerheads over a secret new policy programme to the point that Jacinda has threatened to resign if Grant doesn’t give it to her.

Now sure, there is a secret new policy programme and sure it is transformative, but the resistance to it isn’t coming from Grant, it’s coming from the Wellington Bureaucratic elites who are terrified that Jacinda intends to actually make them help the people.

Reporting on gossip, that is almost inevitably wrong, is not the basis for a sound policy discussion.

Coincidentally I saw Jacinda on Saturday.  She was out with Clark and her daughter.  They were clearly wanting to get some family time together.

After the past 12 months should she feel jaded?  Having guided us through a global pandemic that has brought many nations to their knees and winning a historic election result what do you think?

And she is probably getting pretty tired of the beltway demanding that she has regular drinks with them rather than spend time with her daughter.

Bradbury’s attempt to suggest that debt is the sticking point is strange.  Interest rates have never been lower, the economy is remarkably robust and the rather dire predictions for the economy have proven to be very conservative, and very wrong.  And the current debt trends suggest there is a significant amount of head room.

Today the Government will announce its response to the housing crisis.  I suspect that there will be some pretty radical responses proposed.  Which is a good thing.

But Jacinda announcing her resignation as PM?  Comrades Trotter and Bradbury should interview their laptops less.

41 comments on “Something big but not like that ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Infused 1
    23 March 2021 at 7:50 am

    That's an interesting read. The policy is likely right. Jacinda is looking tired but I doubt the rest is true.

    • Cave Johnson 1.1
      24 March 2021 at 10:00 pm

      After reading Chris Trotter's article I wondered if the rumours of resignation could have been based on JA staking her position on getting the policy through cabinet. "Support me on this or I'm out."

  2. Visubversa 2
    23 March 2021 at 7:56 am

    Comrade Trotter is still sulking 'cos the Labour Party does not ask him to sing at their conferences any more.

  3. Tiger Mountain 3
    23 March 2021 at 8:08 am

    Some NZ Labour Party loyalists I have known for many years, and have friendly relations with, from unions, community boards, LECs, to even a handful of ex MPs, have been doing the long unthinkable, and being publicly questioning of the progress of the Arden majority Govt. on matters non COVID.

    Sue Moroney has been most forthright on social media calling for bold moves on benefits and housing in particular.

    I am not trying to negate Micky’s view of Mr Trotter and Mr Bradbury, unquestionably thorns in many sides for a long time, and poking in places not everyone likes to go. But where there is smoke…criticism of this unprecedented MMP majority Govt. does seem to be registering at top levels.

    I really think there will need to be generational change among voters for the biggest question of all to be faced–retiring structural neo liberalism. The working class of NZ desperately need a “visible hand” of intervention at the moment, not more banksters telling Jacinda and Grant “how it is”.

    • Adrian Thornton 3.1
      23 March 2021 at 9:26 am

      @ Tiger Mountain, " not more banksters telling Jacinda and Grant “how it is” unfortunately that exactly who Ardern and Robertson seek out for advice, along with all NZ MSM, thereby creating a closed loop of rigid thinking about the economy in both government and the general public…in other words, because there is never any alternative to the neoliberal ideology offered or even discussed anywhere by anyone, an alternative is never even considered.

      It seems pretty obvious to me that Labour NZ is directed by free market fundamentalists, not only would they never consider an alternative to neoliberalism, they obviously don't believe there is one…just look at their response to the housing crisis today… it’s like shifting seats on the Titanic.

      • Tiger Mountain 3.1.1
        23 March 2021 at 12:28 pm

        I agree, neo liberalism is an entrenched, legislated, closed system. If the Govt. wants to appear to find something out–a report is contracted out to the private sector. People are paid hundreds per hour to put the slipper into beneficiaries, or if like the Welfare Experts Advisory Group, they recommend change, then their findings are ignored.

        The neoliberal Parliamentary consensus only responds to “disruption” of some kind–as at Ihumātao, or equal pay for carers. It takes organisation and action to achieve anything much against the Fifth Columnists at the top of the public service, and the Finance Capitalists that export so much in profits that should go to the NZ working class.

  4. lprent 4
    23 March 2021 at 8:17 am

    Jacinda is looking tired…

    Hardly surprising after the last year. I mostly just write code. After a year of zoom meetings often on weird time zones, delays in getting gear, the frustrations of remotely diagnosing faults, and lockdown sessions of trying to have two of us working in our 55 square metre apartment – I'm actually looking forward to getting some more holiday time.

    This is a bit of a shock to my system. Outside of visiting families, since this site started almost 13 years ago, I only have had one actual two week holiday. My holiday time usually gets chewed up with elections, server fixes, helping various organisations and people out, and playing with educating chunks of technology.

    Since covid-19 struck, I have had a week in a bus and a extended Waitangi weekend at a airbnb. Way way more than my usual holiday time – and all of it concentrated on winding down and hanging about. It turns out that I'm not that good at holidays – lack of practice.

    It has either been a hard year, or I'm getting older a lot faster that I used to.

    I may have to eat into my copious holiday time backlog more over the coming year. But locally. I have been going overseas a lot in the last 6 years for work. Flying is a waste of my time. I prefer to relax here.

    But I think that Chris Trotter and Martyn Bradbury are barking up the wrong tree. It has just been a really hard year for hard workers. Way harder for Jacinda than my little work stress. But she still looks more relaxed than I feel.

    • Rosemary McDonald 4.1
      23 March 2021 at 10:14 am

      Jacinda is looking tired…my guess she's losing precious sleep over what she must realise by now was the rather foolish promise of no Capital Gains Tax on her watch.

  5. tc 5
    23 March 2021 at 8:21 am

    Trotter sings for his supper fulfilling his role as the tame 'left' voice the msm require for 'balance'.

  6. GreenBus 6
    23 March 2021 at 8:37 am

    Bomber is very seldom wrong. Mr Trotter not so much. Propping up this useless Govt. must be exhausting, but since they all do sfa all, except covid covid covid, which I expect Dr Bloomfield does most of, why Jacinda so tired? Hard year my arse.

  7. Sabine 7
    23 March 2021 at 8:48 am

    Hard Year?

    Yeah, it was a hard year. For anyone who lost their jobs. For anyone who lost their business. For anyone who will lose their business, For anyone who is losing their job. For all those that can neither rent nor buy. For the women who don't receive unemployment benefits even tho they paid taxes during their working lifes. For the kids that go to school and then not.

    This year has been hard on anyone. The only ones that have had it nice as far as i can understand are the ones that suffered no income loss, that can work safely from home and for whom life has not changed a bit aside from working from home. The rest of us? Shit outta luck, every day a bit more – specifically women.
    here is a nice article of who did well during covid and who did not. Guess where the women are at.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/divided-we-fall-the-scary-trends-in-new-zealands-two-speed-economy/YVISWHWYQOV5ZPOICRMGU3QHUM/

    The difference between the PM and the rest of us, we can't actually quit. IF she wants to quit, give a week of notice like dear Leader John Key did, she could. She would not suffer loss of reputation, she would not suffer a loss of income, and she would surely land on her f eet.

    But i find it amusing that now that NZFirst ain't the blaming block anymore on which to chop heads, its Grant Robertson and the Burocrats.
    Maybe she could just muster all her courage, and ignore the risk averse person she seems to be, and maybe just hold a presser and lays out all the stuff she would like to do if others would let her. But she don't. And that is telling, and it is telling loudly.

    Maybe her tiredness is due to the change in season, maybe she is pregnant (which can be a issue), maybe she is just tired.

    The whole country is tired, more so these that have no income, try to live on begging benefits, and are trying to make go with air and a kind word of ‘not here to help’.

  8. Adrian Thornton 8
    23 March 2021 at 9:09 am

    "Interest rates have never been lower, the economy is remarkably robust and the rather dire predictions for the economy have proven to be very conservative, and very wrong. And the current debt trends suggest there is a significant amount of head room"….you do understand MS that an economy that can't house it's own citizens is an broken economy right?..or have you turned slowly over the years (maybe without even realizing it) into some sort of left leaning libertarian?

    • mickysavage 8.1
      23 March 2021 at 10:03 am

      You do understand that passage was to provide support for the Government to spend up on dealing with the housing crisis?

      And that straight after that passage I said this:

      "Today the Government will announce its response to the housing crisis. I suspect that there will be some pretty radical responses proposed. Which is a good thing"

      • Sabine 8.1.1
        23 March 2021 at 10:17 am

        there was nothing radical in it. Nothing Micky. Its actually a package that is 3 years to late.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/housing-crisis-38b-housing-package-unveiled-speculators-to-be-stung-by-bright-line-test-extension/7VPSYR42A6UZO7B2UTGKYC3GVM/

        I read the whole thing, and it is nothing more then a testament to the inaction of the first term.

        Too little too late.

        • Enough is Enough 8.1.1.1
          23 March 2021 at 12:25 pm

          I completely agree.

          Today's announcement shows they are totally out of ideas and don't know what to do. It is generally an extension of programmes and taxes that are already in place, but have had no effect to date,

          Its a mild tweak rather than anything radical.

          • Sanctuary 8.1.1.1.1
            23 March 2021 at 1:17 pm

            The problem with the likes of yourself is you seem to have no idea of the political landscape. As Otto von Bismarck said — "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable — the art of the next best." The property owning class, which constitutes both the main advertisers and main readers of the likes of the NZ herald and therefore underpin the entire NZME stable, will react with fury to this. National as the party of the rentier will fight this tooth and nail and they'll be able to count on a fair slab of the media to spread misinformation.

            Labour has done about as much as they can within political reason.

            • Sabine 8.1.1.1.1.1
              23 March 2021 at 1:36 pm

              While mentioning hte Iron Chancellier you need to also mention that Germany has social housing, and welfare because of him. Why?

              The good man realised that if the unwashed, unhoused, lowly paid, generally abused mass of the poor left to nothing they will revolt. And thus under the Iron Chancellier germany got a few benefits health care benefit, accident compensation, retirement benefits.

              Jacinda Ardern is no where near the Iron Chancellier. She will never be anywhere near him, or Mr. Savage for that matter. Both knew that an unsupported, hungry, unhoused, neglected populace is not good for interal piace. And the Labour Party of our time seems to think that tinkering on the edegs will fix something that has grown unrestricted for a few decades now.

              'State Socialism (German: Staatssozialismus) was a set of social programmes implemented in the German Empire that were initiated by Otto von Bismarck in 1883 as remedial measures to appease the working class and detract support for socialism and the Social Democratic Party of Germany following earlier attempts to achieve the same objective through Bismarck's Anti-Socialist Laws.[1][2] As a term, it was coined by Bismarck's liberal opposition to these social welfare policies, but it was later accepted by Bismarck.[3] This did not prevent the Social Democrats from becoming the biggest party in the Reichstag by 1912. According to historian Jonathan Steinberg, "[a]ll told, Bismarck's system was a massive success—except in one respect. His goal to keep the Social Democratic Party out of power utterly failed. The vote for the Social Democratic Party went up and by 1912 they were the biggest party in the Reichstag".[4]

              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Socialism_(Germany)

              https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/bismarck-tried-end-socialisms-grip-offering-government-healthcare-180964064/

            • Enough is Enough 8.1.1.1.1.2
              23 March 2021 at 3:17 pm

              I don't disagree with you. But you just get to the point of concluding what is the point of a Labour Government?

              It's National with a dusting of artificial kindness.

              We are 3.5 years into this government's reign, and really, what the hell is different from 2017.

              • Tiger Mountain …
                23 March 2021 at 3:58 pm

                Indeed, Enough is Enough. The Emperor has no clothes, but very few in the punditry or establishment will bring that to the public’s attention for some rather obvious reasons.

                Labour has made numerous incremental changes, and small projects via the Provincial Growth fund–which is appreciated in Northland. I mean who could not like free period products, cultural centres and start ups galore and the Kaipara set to become a marine highway again.

                But…the big stuff for working class people and the environment is just not happening and not likely to. They are still bricking themselves dealing with Dairy Farmers, so enjoy that nitrate with your glass of water for a while yet.
                Fair Pay Agreements? Not on Jacinda’s watch. Even my union friends have acknowledged it will take a strong campaign on that to get anything resembling the CTU concept of FPAs.

                Nothing will change for real imo, until there is a generational voter shift, and gen Student loan, and gen exploited renter become tired of paying NZ Super for all these know it all bastards with multiple properties and kick some arse at the polls.

                My pick is for the Green and Māori Party to hook up and get a strong vote for promoting all the things Labour was too timid to do!

                • Enough is Enough …
                  23 March 2021 at 4:19 pm

                  I don't understand why they are timid.

                  Key and the Nats came in and just did whatever they wanted. They slashed taxes for the rich and sold state assets despite there being widespread disapproval of those two key policies. Their base wanted them so they delivered to their base.

                  Why can't Labour deliver to its base – working class New Zealanders. Why does it pander to the property owning elite?

                  • Tiger Mountain …
                    23 March 2021 at 5:14 pm

                    While yours might be a rhetorical question…my reckon is…

                    a) NZ Labour is in effect an elite organisation with not much “rank and file” involvement, excepting election cycles. It is an election machine more than it is a community organising entity for social improvement. Māori Party and Green involve their membership more enthusiastically imo.

                    Labour has a strong brand, though little ideological grunt, following the 1980s clean out of leftists from the top level of the Party. One of the early things Roger Douglas did was sever links with the Trade Unions, by ending the Joint Council of Labour–where workers leaders met face to face with Labour Party leaders. Jim Anderton was virtually expelled also. Ultimately you cannot expect an at best centrist party, to act like a left party. But social media and perception counts for a lot these days, and people of many stripes were genuinely so appreciative of the PM’s COVID performance.

                    b) Technically for those into left politics, even Savage era Labour was characterised as “class collaborationist” by marxists, because they advocated class peace with Finance Capital and the captains of industry rather than open struggle. Neo Liberalism is probably the last stage of capitalism before authoritarianism proper, as Mr Trump demonstrated. Private capital is so ensconced in the NZ Govt. mechanism, and the Parliamentary consensus between Labour and National says that the Reserve Bank Act and all the rest MUST remain whoever the Govt. is, that change is very difficult. That explains much of their inaction on urgent matters.

          • Mat Simpson 8.1.1.1.2
            23 March 2021 at 8:36 pm

            " Today's announcement shows they are totally out of ideas and don't know what to do "

            There are trapped in the market driven neo liberal world that their predecessors created.

            They want to deliver but can't due to the market constraints and powerful vested interests.

            Until someone has the real courage and guts to stand against the current system and the oppressed demand their fair share nothing is ever going to change.

      • Adrian Thornton 8.1.2
        23 March 2021 at 5:33 pm

        Exactly what was "some pretty radical responses"? that you would like to point out to us during this what is effectively a state emergency?

  9. Stuart Munro 9
    23 March 2021 at 9:46 am

    The housing announcement is significant. Of course it will not reverse the decades of injustice nor will it rapidly reform the housing situation. But Labour has finally broken with the presumption of ineffability of markets, and understood that speculators and productive investors are very different beasts. Not so long ago that would have been unthinkable for them.

    The upside is evaluating other neoliberal failures on their merits is suddenly on the cards – it becomes possible to return to pre-Rogergnomic norms of good governance. Too late for our generation, but worth doing nevertheless.

    • Shanreagh 9.1
      23 March 2021 at 10:25 am

      The upside is evaluating other neoliberal failures on their merits is suddenly on the cards – it becomes possible to return to pre-Rogergnomic norms of good governance. Too late for our generation, but worth doing nevertheless.

      Including, I hope, a recognition that good governance is NOT only found in the company business model with its rigid short term ROR. How do you value the return on an investment in housing for instance – using business models? I don't think so!

      The return is incalculable when looking at the benefits of stability for children so they can be educated, have warm houses etc. Neo-libs were known for “knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing”(Oscar Wilde)

      I guess the acolytes of the first wave of neo-libs of the Chicago school may still be in govt departments may still be with us in the PS, sadly. Without some intervention it becomes a TINA (there is no alternative) option when recruiting for public sector CEs.

      Perhaps some work could be done to model the best store of knowledge, exposure to concepts that we expect from a CE – perhaps a working knowledge of triple bottom line accounting "people, planet, and profit." with a greater emphasis on the last of the Ps people and planet. Or incorporating well being as an aspiration or measure.

      The triple bottom line (TBL) is an accounting framework that incorporates three dimensions of performance: social, environmental, and financial. These three facets can be summarized as "people, planet, and profit." https://www.investopedia.com/

      Also as Ad said in 'Covid Zeitgeist'

      Related to this – my concern is that the single biggest insight delivered by the pandemic is going to be rapidly stuffed down the rabbit hole of amnesia. It's that an economy is a tool created, managed and refined by humans to serve the needs of every citizen. An economy can be put in suspended animation for 6 weeks to stop lots of people dying, and governments who control their own currency can create money out of nothing when they really need to. An economy has no independent existence from the society it serves. To say as some people did at the start of the pandemic, that 'the economy' requires that we let the virus circulate in the community, is to create a genocidal abstraction.

      "After such knowledge, what forgiveness ?" There will be a major effort to eradicate the knowledge and withhold any forgiveness.

      We need to see the understanding in the PS that the economy is a tool of the people not some sacrosanct abstraction called 'the economy' that cannot be altered and exists outside of everything.

  10. mikesh 10
    23 March 2021 at 9:49 am

    The announcement has been made:

    The Brightline Test is to be extended to ten years;

    It looks as if interest is to be no longer deductible from rental incomes; and

    Caps on first home buyers' grants are to be increased.

  11. Ad 11
    23 March 2021 at 9:57 am

    Ardern looked in fine form rolling out big policy this morning.

    Good to hear a little policy ambition tension in the joint. Its needed.

  12. Sanctuary 12
    23 March 2021 at 10:41 am

    Ever heard a jet engine spooling up? it makes a whine that sounds like the property owners lobby group…

  13. Booker 13
    23 March 2021 at 12:28 pm

    Chris Trotter is more and more taking over from Whale Oil these days. Just ignore him.

  14. Sanctuary 14
    23 March 2021 at 12:57 pm

    Chris Trotter's main sin is he lives in the past.

  15. Siobhan 15
    23 March 2021 at 1:51 pm

    "After the past 12 months should she feel jaded? Having guided us through a global pandemic that has brought many nations to their knees and winning a historic election result what do you think?"

    I'm not sure that "winning a historic election"..is a valid excuse for feeling 'jaded' and doing stuff all about pretty much everything ..apart from, as you say, closing the borders of an island on the arse end of the planet in a pandemic.

    I’m really not sure that todays announcements fall into the ‘radical’ category…they seem more like housekeeping (if you’ll forgive the pun), though, the reaction of Landlords is ‘radical’ but then it always is, so nothing new to see here folks..

  16. millsy 16
    23 March 2021 at 7:19 pm

    I read both articles. I think the proposals that Jacinda wanted are bigger than these, and will not be revealed till the middle of year.

  17. peter sim 17
    23 March 2021 at 7:44 pm

    Jacinda has condemned NZ to being a society of property owners and renters (homeless).

    What a great caring society she has fostered.

  18. Mat Simpson 18
    23 March 2021 at 8:43 pm

    " From all sides, now, comes word of the imminence of “something big” being announced. The Labour caucus is said to be both “nervous” and “excited”

    What an utter joke , the Social Democrat caucus have no idea how compromised that entire party and government is in delivering anything remotely close to what really needs to be done.

    Only a real Labour party would already know and be carrying it out.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

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

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
    The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
    The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti Expressway
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announced
    Two New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Attendance action plan to lift student attendance rates
    The Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.   New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards. Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • World must act to halt Gaza catastrophe – Peters
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.    “Palestinian civilians continue to bear the brunt of Israel’s military actions,” Mr Peters said in his speech to a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th session
    Mr President,   The situation in Gaza is an utter catastrophe.   New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children. All of us here must demand that Hamas release all remaining hostages immediately.   At the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government woolshed roadshow kicks off
    Today the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay said it has been a tough time for farmers over the past few years. The sector has faced high domestic inflation rates, high interest rates, adverse weather events, and increasing farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM heads to Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia. “South East Asia is a region that is more crucial than ever to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Prime Minister launches Government Targets
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders. “Our Government has a plan that is focused on three key promises we made to New Zealanders – to rebuild the economy, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Natural hydrogen resource should be free of Treaty claims entanglement
    Natural hydrogen could be a game-changing new source of energy for New Zealand but it is essential it is treated as a critical development that benefits all New Zealanders, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones is seeking to give regulatory certainty for those keen to develop natural, or geological, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government responds to unsustainable net migration
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand on stage at global Space Symposium
    Space Minister Judith Collins will speak at the Space Symposium in the United States next week, promoting New Zealand’s rapidly growing place in the sector as we work to rebuild the economy. “As one of the largest global space events, attended by more than 10,000 business and government representatives from ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-16T13:46:51+00:00