Southern DHB sacked

Written By: - Date published: 12:36 pm, June 17th, 2015 - 53 comments
Categories: health - Tags: , ,

So the Minister of Health has just dismissed all members of the Board and replacing it with a Commissioner:

Southern DHB Board dismissed – Commissioner appointed

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman has today written to Southern DHB dismissing all members of the Board and replacing it with a Commissioner.

“The financial problems at Southern DHB are longstanding. I do not have confidence that the current governance arrangements are suitable for delivering on the changes required in Southern DHB,” says Dr Coleman.

“Southern is forecasting a final deficit of $27 million for the current financial year. That figure has effectively doubled in the last six months.

Southern covers the Otago and Southland regions. Here’s some background reading on the problems:

Southern DHB financial crisis lies with underfunding
DHB’s funding below inflation – Labour
Southern hospitals bear the brunt of Government underfunding
Hundreds of DHB workers on less than ‘living wage’
SDHB ‘in extreme difficulties’
Democracy under threat as axe hangs over SDHB

There are real and significant problems in Southern’s jurisdiction, especially around the state of Dunedin Hospital. They stem from underfunding by the government. No doubt a new Commissioner will save money. They will do it by cutting services, and placing further pressure on staff who are already at breaking point.

53 comments on “Southern DHB sacked ”

  1. Macro 1

    What a useless lot of incompetent idiots we have as a so called “government”. A do nothing minister of “finance” and a uncaring pony tail pulling “prime minister” who has little conception of what constitutes truth.
    When are the people of NZ going to wake up from their sleep? The longer this shower remain warming their fat arses on the treasury benches the more NZ as a whole will suffer.

  2. Tracey 2

    have details been given around the commissioners kpi’s

    • Chris 2.1

      Will we be told precisely what the government believes the DHB has done wrong? No, we won’t be. It’ll be government spin like what Coleman’s already saying: “I do not have confidence that the current governance arrangements are suitable for delivering on the changes required in Southern DHB”. Wait for how many ways government can say the same thing without telling us what the DHB has done wrong or what it believes the DHB is incapable of doing.

      What’s worse, though, is the opposition’s inability to ask the right questions or to do what’s necessary to find these things out. Half our problem at the moment is the fact we do not have an Opposition.

    • cogito 2.2

      kpi = kill poor innocents.

  3. dv 3

    New appointed board member been sacked once already!!!
    Richard Thomson

    Mr Thomson was chairman of Otago DHB (2001-2009) before being sacked by then Health Minister Tony Ryall who held him accountable for the $17 million fraud which took place at the DHB over six years.

    • dv 3.1

      How much of the $17m fraud is responsible for the short fall?

      • dukeofurl 3.1.1

        The fraud was between 2000 and 2006.
        “Swann spent just under $8 million of his $15.2 million booty on cars and boats, $3.7 million on real estate, a little over $1 million on food, liquor and household items, with $1.1 million taken in cash.”

        http://www.spcs.org.nz/michael-swann-checketts-mckay-fraud-and-otago-dhbs-missing-6-million-report/

      • McFlock 3.1.2

        well, none really.

        $27M this year isn’t really impacted by $17M ten years ago.

        Basically Southern DHB isn’t given enough money to run, and some of the funding is ringfenced (which is good because it helps guarantee funding for those areas) which means that the shortfall has to be made up by cuts in other areas alone (which is bad).

        DHBs are funded pretty much at a fixed per capita rate for their resident population.

        There are significant building costs that need to be funded, both to dunedin public hospital and to satellite hospitals like upgrading queenstown. These costs are basically funded on a desperate-priority basis (like roof leaks in operating theatres).

        Then there is the issue that DPH is a tertiary-level hospital and needs to fund specialists to serve the population in a halfway decent period of time, especially after trauma. We have a pretty large surface area compared to the population that needs to be served, so that impacts on things like the golden hour. And then there’s another full DHB between the northern border of Southern and ChCh hospital, which is the next closest tertiary-care hospital. Even with helicopters, invercargill or Remarkables to ChCh just isn’t cool for urgent treatment.

        So we need a lot of infrastructure that a population doesn’t need when there are two tertiary hospitals in your metro area even though you’re in a different DHB.

        • dv 3.1.2.1

          Thanks dofurl and Mc

          However that Thompson ‘allowed’ the fraud AND was sack would suggest his governance is not to good

          • McFlock 3.1.2.1.1

            He’s not too bad – Swan kept the IT budget with spec, and used an undisclosed conflict of interest in the “servicing” company for the fraud that started prior to Thomson turning up.

            Thomson seems pretty capable, really. As soon as the CFO picked up that something was amiss, the entire thing was handled pretty smartly. I reckon the previous CFO has a fair bit to answer for, though.

            • dv 3.1.2.1.1.1

              Thank]x

            • dukeofurl 3.1.2.1.1.2

              The real donkey was the CEO. Invoices of that scale should have been approved beforehand and werent.

              The whole thing is a case study of incompetence and poor governance

              • McFlock

                because he never saw them because the CEO never kicked them upstairs and the auditors never flagged that point.

                Captain and all, but still, a bit of a bad rap.

  4. McFlock 4

    Underfund it, run it down, gain direct control from the democratic boards you placed in an impossible position, privatise.

    BAU.

    • dukeofurl 4.1

      The board is mostly run by the Ministers appointments all ready.

      As well some elected members were first appointed by Minister.

      The Board consists of seven elected members (four from the Otago constituency and three from the Southland constituency) and up to four members appointed by the Minister of Health. The Minister also appoints the Board Chair and Deputy Chair.

  5. Ffloyd 5

    Does that mean seeing as this government has run our country into the ground we can write them a letter sacking them?

  6. hoom 6

    Obviously there will be loads of ‘DEMOCRACY UNDER ATTACK’ banner headlines.

    …oh wait, silly me this is Nats actually and directly attacking democracy. Again.
    No, this will just earn praise from the Dirty Columnists :-/

  7. Paul Campbell 7

    part of the problem is the way funding is done, a physically large health board covering roughly the bottom 2/5 of the south island is funded using the same per-capita rates that one in Auckland is.

    The Nats have squeezed hard on Otago, one assumes it may have something to do with our token National MP who used to run the only local private hospital

  8. weka 8

    How many local bodies has the govt taken over so far?

  9. Colonial Rawshark 9

    Worth remembering the Southern DHB cut home help to many elderly people a few years ago, resulting in some personal health disasters for vulnerable older people in the community.

  10. mac1 10

    Also, remember this health board outsourced its meals on a fifteen year contract, provoking a very strong local reaction.

    Was this an example of its poor decision making or a result of pressure to lower costs due to under-funding?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/regional/273059/southern-dhb-will-outsource-hospital-kitchens

    • Ergo Robertina 10.1

      Yeah, maybe the minister will sack all of the other district health boards which’ve signed the very same Compass contract as Southern; the one developed at great expense over several years by the Government’s very own Health Benefits Ltd.

  11. North 11

    From Anthony Robins’ post – “They [the ‘problems’ pounced on by Coleman] stem from underfunding by the government. No doubt a new Commissioner will save money. They will do it by cutting services, and placing further pressure on staff who are already at breaking point.”

    This typifies the approach of this fetid, corrupt, lying executive. Act so as to render problems inevitable – once the problems manifest publicly abuse the elected decision makers as incompetent and worse – then drive a truck through Democracy by appointing a yes man/woman (outrageously remunerated [viz. ‘bought’] no doubt) to do their bidding. Those more knowledgable than me will have other examples.

    Where’s the NZ Herald screeching “Democracy Under Attack” ?

  12. Wayne 12

    From time to time, over the last thirty years, various DHB Boards have been sacked when their performance is substantially under par. The common element is their level of incompetence, not particular features of their communities.

    Helen Clark sacked the Auckland Board when she was Minister. Most people thought she had done the right thing.

    These sorts of actions say very little about the ideological aspect of any particular government. To show that you would have to show that a particular govt sacked way more DHB’s than other governments. That does not appear to be the case here.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1

      When those events occurred, did you make any political hay out of it much, Dr. Mapp?

      In fact, it’s pretty much the duty of opposition to hold the government’s feet to the fire in any such situation, aye.

      Otherwise witless and destructive ideology masquerading as “personal responsibility” might, say, kill lots of patients.

      Like it is now.

      • Wayne 12.1.1

        Of course the Opposition has to deal with it. My point is the way they deal with it.

        Of course they could say it is all due to gross underfunding, but that immediately raises the question of why other DHB’s are able to cope.

        In my view Labour has all too frequently tried to argue that this govt is the most irresponsible ever.

        Like Andrew Little saying not achieving the surplus was the worst political deceit in his lifetime (or words to that effect). It sounded just a little overwrought. It therefore damages his credibility.

        Labour needs to choose its targets by focusing on the things relevant to the public. On housing they are doing that, and are having some effect.

        But on a huge lot of other things, the public turn off (GCSB, ponytails, Warner Bros, cabinet club, charter schools, 90 days etc), since they are simply not sufficiently relevant, or the “scandal” is grossly over-hyped.

        • RedBaronCV 12.1.1.1

          The health spend is declining as a % of GDP so looks like Nact is underfunding all. Nor does anyone know how large the unmet needs are. But hey why don’t we use that $26m of the flag referendum for health instead?
          BTW don’t bother with any more uncaring remarks- this one is kinda personal –
          wait till you know some young people who have serious but treatable issues not getting the care they need and deserve.

          • john 12.1.1.1.1

            Some facts about what you call “underfunding”.

            Health has risen from $11.297 billion in 2008 to $15.075 billion in 2015.

            That’s over 30% increase – around three times faster than inflation which was 11% over the same period.

            Or you could look at it on a population basis – $2646 / person in 2008 up to $3281 / person in 2015 – that’s a 24% ($635/person/year) increase – still more than double inflation.

            The increases are even more remarkable if you factor in that 2008 was at the end of years of a boom economy and 2015 is after years of the global financial crisis,

            • One Anonymous Bloke 12.1.1.1.1.1

              All you have to do now is factor in the increasing age of the population, and the consequential increased costs, and you’ll look like you know a little bit about the subject.

            • Malconz 12.1.1.1.1.2

              The 2010 OECD per capita expenditure figures might enlighten you. NZ paid US$2454 per person for healthcare, the lowest of any comparable nation. The UK paid $2992, Australia $3357, Germany $3558, Netherlands $3837, Canada $3895, and the USA $7290.
              My own experience of working in rural hospitals is that staff routinely work loooong hours to paper over the cracks.
              And anyway, if you look closely at the SDHB’s deficit ($27 million), it’s a tiny fraction of their billion-dollar budget.
              So basically the whole thing is another Tory jack-up, an excuse to seize control (see Christchurch etc etc).

              • greywarshark

                @Malconz
                Clear figures that indict us. Can you put the link to those stats?

                • Malconz

                  The figures are on an OECD chart that I screen-grabbed a couple of years ago, and I don’t know how to post the image here.
                  But here’s a link to an equally damning 2014 EOCD report: it shows that in 2012 our per capita expenditure on health was US$3172, while the OECD average was $3484. That places us at number 20 out of 34 OECD nations. Not great!

                  http://www.oecd.org/els/health-systems/Briefing-Note-NEW-ZEALAND-2014.pdf

                  • greywarshark

                    Thanks Malconz. Facts like that are gold when trying to get a handle on comparisons with the rest of the world. I’m always trying to find out if we are a banana republic already, or whether we can never hope to reach that level!

    • Tim 12.2

      How could we possibly question the ethics of health minister Jonathan Coleman who after accepting an invitation to watch U2 in a corporate box from British American Tobacco in 2006 subsequently caused an altercation by blowing cigar smoke in a woman’s face?

      http://tvnz.co.nz/content/910849/425825.xhtml

    • dukeofurl 12.3

      In those days they were all elected, whereas now the Minister puts his own people in the key board roles.

      This board has been ineffective for a while, under Tony Ryalls oversight.

      I still think they are underfunded, but Ryall was the one who sat on his hands for 6 years with his people running the show.

  13. Jester 13

    I struggle to see where this is democracy under attack. Surely a government has a responsibility to ensure the best possible services are delivered and DHBs are fiscally responsible.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1

      *whoosh*

      • Jester 13.1.1

        Are you suggesting that is not a correct assumption OAB?

        • McFlock 13.1.1.1

          The government’s failure to provide the funds for your first SDHB responsibility renders the second responsibility impossible and any attempt at it morally and possibly legally criminal.

          • In Vino 13.1.1.1.1

            Well said, McFlock. And let’s not pretend that other DHB’s are coping well. Their staff at the ‘coalface’ are all overloaded, and the whole system is under dangerous threat of errors and failures due to work overload. Moreover, what about the secret waiting lists that patients get pushed off – nationwide?

          • Jester 13.1.1.1.2

            You need to read the released documents. Their is no suggestion that the DHB is under performing fiscally due to underfunding. Please provide a link to “possibly legally criminal” actions at SDHB otherwise I assume you are simply just talking shit again.

            • In Vino 13.1.1.1.2.1

              Their (sic) is no suggestion? Who are ‘they’ to whom ‘their’ must refer?
              Please get literate. And please bear in mind that most Ministries now serve to cover the Govt’s backside rather than promote the social good. Their reports NEVER blame underfunding. Funny how people at the coalface have a different perspective.

            • McFlock 13.1.1.1.2.2

              No suggestion?

              Well, that’s wrong for a start. Which means that there is at least a suggestion that my dichotomy reflects the situation facing the board, based on the two priorities that you initially identified.

            • Mark 13.1.1.1.2.3

              I know shitheads like you actually exist in the world but fuck off to the troll hole you came out of.
              You want anyone with an IQ bigger than 10 to take any documents released by this government as true and factual then you are a bigger fuckwit than you sound.
              But as someone who has managed to read the documents only hours after their release, you give yourself away as the troll shithead you are.
              Have a look before they came out did we?
              Slater is missing you, fuck off home.

            • philj 13.1.1.1.2.4

              You are very quick to get this report and to comment. Are you associated with the Gov?

  14. hoom 14

    Maybe they can replace Southern DHB outright with some Social Bonds? /sarcasm

  15. Keith 15

    Sacking boards is becoming just another day in paradise for National. Can’t run your organisations on cut budgets, or stupid edicts and policy, well tough!

    2009 saw the sacking of the Otago District Health Board (DHB) chairman Richard Thomson by Tony Ryall, Thomson, then a member of the Labour Party was the scape goat for a fraud that occurred by a pair of staff members both before and yet uncovered during his tenure.

    2010 saw the sacking of 14 Canterbury democratically elected regional councillors after complaints by amongst others, former National Minister Wyatt Creech.

    Then there is the revolving doors of school boards and commissioners.

    The sundry threats to take over democratically elected boards or else or to do just that as with the governments response to sideline the Christchurch City Council in early 2011 and take over the rebuild to “punch through red tape”. I think I’ve heard that one since in Auckland too, none of this namby pamby democracy rubbish when we feel like it!

    And now the entire Southern District Health board.

    There is probably more but these control freaks with their warped economic management aren’t going to let democracy get in the way of the National Party!

  16. millsy 16

    You cannot cut a big deficit without cutting services or increasing revenue (ie more funding from the government). The SDHB realised that, and that is why this has happened. Most of the fat from the health system was slashed years and years ago.

    • tc 16.1

      Not all the fat has been slashed and this govt has done nothing about the dysfunctional politics, waste and highly paid paper pushers that are littered throughout the DHB system upper levels.

      Combine that with year upon year under NACT of funding decreases in real terms, ryall’s shonky shell game with waiting list numbers and it’s another sector desperately in need of major reform in many areas that don’t actually treat patients.

      Like education, research, social services etc it’s being deliberately run down by the haters and wreckers on treasury benches

  17. saveNZ 17

    Better start standing up, because there is so many democratic positions being ‘sacked’ at present.

    Health in real terms is being underfunded 25%.

    Hello, TPP will come and ‘help’ us reform.

    We can just off shore the health jobs, and have health, USA, style, the worst health system in the world for a developed county.

    • cogito 17.1

      “Better start standing up”

      Well said. But I can’t see kiwis standing up for anything worthwhile anymore. There’s far too much fear and brainwashing.

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  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
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    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
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  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
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  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
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  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
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    1 day ago
  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
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  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
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    1 day ago
  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
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    2 days ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
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    2 days ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
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    2 days ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
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    2 days ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
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    2 days ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
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  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
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  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
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  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
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  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
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  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
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    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
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  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
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    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
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    2 days ago
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  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
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  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
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    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
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  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
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    3 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
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    17 hours ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days 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
    5 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    5 days 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
    6 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
    6 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
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