Taxpayers Union receives funding from British American Tobacco

Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, January 25th, 2019 - 39 comments
Categories: accountability, drugs, Media, Politics, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , ,

I don’t know what it is about the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) but they really annoy.

Perhaps it is the use of the word “Union”. You can imagine Jordan Williams, David Farrar and various other doyens of the right sitting around a table having a few beers and talking about what they could do to really annoy the left. Like pretend to be a Union.

Perhaps it is the intimate relationship between the union and Dirty Politics operatives. Who can ever forget Jordan’s frankly misogynist statements in private messages that he clearly thought would never see the light of day.

Perhaps it is because it is clear to us that the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union)is there to push neoliberal right wing ideas, basically government is bad and private enterprise is more efficient and that it seems that any chance they have to ridicule a collective they do so.

But, at least for me, the most annoying thing about them is their pretension. That they are there to represent our (taxpayer’s) interests and to make sure that the powerful do not inappropriately use too many resources.

And their lack of transparency has always been disturbing. They manage, thanks to obviously large resources, to maintain a rather significant office and a large media presence that left wing organisations would die for.

And so the truth has emerged. It appears that the Taxpayers Union (*not a real union) is nothing more than a sock puppet for industry interests, and some of the worst industry interests like British American Tobacco.

From Sam Sachdeva at Newsroom:

A right-wing lobbying group which has railed against cigarette tax increases and plain packaging laws in New Zealand counts a tobacco giant among its corporate funders.

The NZ Taxpayers’ Union has not disclosed its financial support from tobacco companies in its reports or press releases, with one public health academic calling on it to be more transparent about its donors.

The Guardian identified the relationship between the Taxpayers’ Union and British American Tobacco as part of its series on “the huge damage of the tobacco epidemic … and the industry behind it”.

In an investigation into the ties between “free-market thinktanks” and the tobacco industry, the Taxpayers’ Union was identified as being supported by multinational firm British American Tobacco.

A British American Tobacco spokesman told Newsroom the company had been financially supporting the Taxpayers’ Union for three years, paying “a standard annual corporate membership fee”.

“We, like many other companies, support like-minded organisations on issues that are important to us and our consumers,” the spokesman said.

The company did not disclose the size of the fee it paid.

Perhaps in the interests of transparency the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) should disclose how much it received from BAT. And who its other funders are.

The funny thing is the strong relationship between BAT and the National Party. Chris Bishop served his apprenticeship at BAT before entering Parliament. Todd Barclay (remember him?) did the same. What is the link between wanting to work for a corporate dedicated to selling a product that causes misery and shortens peoples’ life expectancy and wanting to represent a party whose ethos, blind support of the free market, comes up with a not dissimilar result?

And it is pretty chilling that the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union), which has major claims to occupation of the moral high ground, should apparently be working as a glove puppet for an international organisation dedicated to the selling of cancer sticks, and not the proper representation of us taxpayers.

And if you need proof have a look at this:

And the report itself reads like the typical high quality PR spin report that takes significant resources to produce.

So here is some free advice to the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) if they wish to rescue what is left of their reputation.

  • Stop occupying the moral high ground.
  • Stop calling yourself a union.
  • And tell us who you are really funded by.

Until this happens they should be ignored.

39 comments on “Taxpayers Union receives funding from British American Tobacco ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Nick 1
    25 January 2019 at 7:46 am

    Assholes Union.

    • soddenleaf 1.1
      25 January 2019 at 5:02 pm

      Psuedo Libertarians, they claim a love of freedom, yet their corporate backers money tells us the truth about their framing. Taxing the wealthy would mean most will have to pay less, which would in turn shrink the wealth gap and stop the whinging about how the wealthy pay the lion share of tax, since as most become wealthier we would inevitablyhave more taxable items. Contrary, lowering taxes on the wealthy makes them richer and so burdens them with a greater share of govt taxation. Any tax union would want greater taxes on wealth

  2. Hooch 2
    25 January 2019 at 8:23 am

    It’s worth noting a similar outfit in the UK. The taxpayers alliance. Basically the same formula just formed earlier. Hardly surprising some bright spark suggested doing it here given the links with the Tory’s/national/Crosby textor etc.

    • soddenleaf 2.1
      25 January 2019 at 5:04 pm

      Conservists who dant stomach democracy to cheat and rig pirot victories, since weaken democracy and capitalism is the result.

  3. One Two 3
    25 January 2019 at 8:55 am

    Nothing unusual about conflicts of interest…not a surprise…

    The World Bank guy, whose now the RBNZ Govenor…

    +/- 100% of MPs along with other public and private industry ‘professionals’, will be conflicted…

    Name the sector…

    Revolving doors…

  4. greywarshark 4
    25 January 2019 at 9:10 am

    No-Tax-Payers Union. There FIFY.
    They’re BATty.

  5. Gosman 5
    25 January 2019 at 9:44 am

    And the problem with this is what exactly? If you think Tobacco companies should not be allowed to give money to other gorups in society then pass a law. Until such time they aren’t doing anything wrong and it also doesn’t mean the Taxpayer Union is somehow invalid because it gets money from them. It gets money from all sorts of sources. It would be like claiming the Labour party is tainted with it’s association with Trade Unions.

    • Robert Guyton 5.1
      25 January 2019 at 10:00 am

      Trade Unions are “selling a product that causes misery and shortens peoples’ life expectancy “??
      I didn’t know that!!

      • Gosman 5.1.1
        25 January 2019 at 11:13 am

        Some people could argue they cause long term misery 😉

        However it is irrelevant. Tobacco companies are a legitimate business. The vast majority of people are well aware of the negative health implications of Tobacco smoking and they don’t seem to want to dispute these facts anymore. Unless you want them to not be able to fund stuff then what they are doing is completely okay.

        • Nic the NZer 5.1.1.1
          28 January 2019 at 8:24 am

          “Some people could argue they cause long term misery ”

          But in making such an argument they would say more about themselves than about any Union.

          “Unless you want them to not be able to fund stuff then what they are doing is completely okay.”

          All business agree to a corporate charter when they incorporate. This can and in many cases does and should place limitations on what the company may do.

    • Robert Guyton 5.2
      25 January 2019 at 10:02 am

      ” it also doesn’t mean the Taxpayer Union is somehow invalid because it gets money from them”
      I’d say, I does …

      • Gosman 5.2.1
        25 January 2019 at 11:14 am

        But that is because YOU are left wing and YOU most likely thought they were invalid even BEFORE this information came out.

    • Adrian Thornton 5.3
      25 January 2019 at 10:37 am

      Yes Gosman of course you don’t see a problem, and why would you?
      As you have quite forcefully, clearly and proudly made a point of showing to everyone who will read you on this site (your 70+ comments on Venezuela yesterday will stand testament to this!) that you have absolutely no moral compass whatsoever and make no bones about it, and good on you for not apologizing for that, and standing steadfastly by your twisted regressive ideology.
      But so now that we all know this in no uncertain terms, I guess that’s the end of the story… I can’t see what else you could possibly add….unless you are quite happy to just keep on saying the same old shit over and over and over and over….

      • Gosman 5.3.1
        25 January 2019 at 11:15 am

        A number of left leaning people backed me on the Venezuelan issue. In fact one left leaning person commented they were disturbed by the hard left opposition to my views were making my opinions seem logical and rational. 🙂

        • Siobhan 5.3.1.1
          25 January 2019 at 1:26 pm

          People who ‘lean Left’ are slouchers and layabouts. Either that, or they are, infact, Centrists, so their support is hardly a surprise.

  6. Tricledrown 6
    25 January 2019 at 9:47 am

    Drug Dealer’s Tobacco an addictive Drug that kills 5,000 New Zealanders a year every year! cost’s the economy $6 billion a year every year! in lost productivity. Kills 10 times more people than alcohol a 100 times more than all illicit Drugs combined, I thought Tobacco companies were banned from all sponsorship. The taxpayers Union ie ACT propaganda dept should be prosecuted. Or Jordan Williams made to smoke sponsors product continuously until they stop taking funding. If this was an illegal Drug Williams would be doing serious time for corruption in accepting bribes from a Drug dealing gang.

  7. Sanctuary 7
    25 January 2019 at 10:23 am

    Pretty sad that it took a report in a foreign newspaper to reveal something that should have been low hanging fruit for any half curious reporter here, given the high profile of the taxpayer onion.

    • Bearded Git 7.1
      25 January 2019 at 1:54 pm

      my thoughts exactly Sanc….where are the journalists in this country?..(actually I’m in Nicaragua at the moment…but you get the drift).

      p.s. deviation here ….walked around the lovely peaceful main plaza in Leon Nicaragua at sunset today and not an extranjero in sight…2 years ago you couldnt move for gringos….Trump and other governments have stuffed this lovely country with their stupid “travel advisories”

  8. NZJester 8
    25 January 2019 at 10:38 am

    I have always said it is not the fact they call themselves a union that is the biggest lie in their name but the part of the name that says “Taxpayers”
    They are not a union of taxpayers, they are a Union of Taxdodgers.

    • Gosman 8.1
      25 January 2019 at 11:16 am

      Why is it a lie? Just because you think it is a lie doesn’t make it one.

      • Draco T Bastard 8.1.1
        25 January 2019 at 12:28 pm

        He explained his position and he’s right.

        • In Vino 8.1.1.1
          25 January 2019 at 10:38 pm

          Gosman, if you really need it spelt out, they earn huge amounts of money, but hide most of it away from personal income, and avoid paying the same proportion of their income as tax in the way we normal salaried people have to. They are legalised tax-cheats, and we normal salaried people are probably not the only ones sick and tired of a corrupt system that you so often defend with obfuscatory, diversionary and disputatious questions. OK?

    • Bearded Git 8.2
      25 January 2019 at 1:56 pm

      ha ha +1 million

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    25 January 2019 at 12:27 pm

    Perhaps in the interests of transparency the Taxpayer’s Union (*not a real union) should disclose how much it received from BAT. And who its other funders are.

    IMO, every single political organisation should operate under the same rules about funding as political parties. They may not be running for office but they’re trying to influence the populace and so the populace needs to know who they represent.

    • Wensleydale 9.1
      25 January 2019 at 1:00 pm

      Come on, Draco. How can you be expected to play dirty, disingenuous, double-dealing games with the lives of the populace you ostensibly represent if some annoying pleb keeps insisting you do so with a great big spotlight being shone on your iniquitous activities? If people knew everything there was to know about the inner workings of the Taxpayer’s Onion, Jordan Williams and friends would likely be driven into the sea by an angry mob waving pitchforks and torches. What fucks me off is the media’s insistence on shoving a microphone under the nose of Williams whenever someone’s caught being a little too free and easy with the public purse. I know they’re lazy and the Taxpayer’s Onion is a convenient port of call when you’re desperately craving some faux righteous indignation, but for fuck’s sake… a little variety would be nice.

  10. Brutus Iscariot 10
    25 January 2019 at 2:00 pm

    Weird article. The Taxpayers Union are not a political party, they’re a lobby group with a well known political slant.

    The notion of “transparency” is pretty much irrelevant.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.1
      25 January 2019 at 2:53 pm

      No, transparency isn’t irrelevant. It’s essential in a democracy so that people can make informed decisions.

      And, yes, that means being able to make informed decisions about a political lobby group.

    • arkie 10.2
      25 January 2019 at 2:59 pm

      The landing page of the Taxpayers Union:
      LOWER TAXES
      LESS WASTE
      MORE TRANSPARENCY

      …so more transparency just not about who pays them to lobby.

      https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/

  11. Kevin 11
    25 January 2019 at 10:22 pm

    So this ‘Taxpayers Union’ is nothing more than foreign corporation ‘Front’ organisations. It is BRT & ACT/Libertarianz in a new guise. Remember before ACT recast itself as a political party it was the ‘Association Of Consumers & Taxpayers’ which too similarly was occupying the same ground/role as ‘TU’ today. I imagine we’llsee after Seymour disappears & ACT folds TU will recast itself as a political party with ‘new ideas’ but actually pushing more of the same old trickle down neoliberal/neo con shit.

  12. WILD KATIPO 12
    26 January 2019 at 11:31 am

    The Taxpayers Onion.

    Whose mission statement , supporters and leader are as shonky as this…

    Benny Hill – Hospital Hi-Jinx w/Closing Chase (1986) – YouTube

  13. Richard McGrath 13
    28 January 2019 at 2:48 pm

    Er, it is a union, as per the following definition: “a society or association formed by people with a common interest or purpose.” For instance a trade union or credit union.

    • McFlock 13.1
      28 January 2019 at 3:15 pm

      A definition so useful it includes marriage. But it is not a taxpayer’s “marriage”, nor is it a taxpayers’ “union” in a more precise sense.

      • Gosman 13.1.1
        28 January 2019 at 3:33 pm

        Why do you think that is more precise? I don’t see the NZRFU on that list. Does that mean it isn’t a Union either?

        • McFlock 13.1.1.1
          28 January 2019 at 3:43 pm

          In the imprecise sense, they are.

          The register drops 200,000-odd married couples from the previous definition, sadly also drops one or two sports unions and maybe credit unions.

          So it’s still more precise, even if we all pretended that’s why the fuckers chose the name, that they wanted to be viewed as a sporting code.

        • te reo putake 13.1.1.2
          28 January 2019 at 4:07 pm

          Er, the fact that the NZRFU doesn’t exist anymore means it’s not a union. However, I think the current entity, which trades as NZ Rugby, may still have union in its name somewhere. However, if it does, that is likely to be a reference to the game (Rugby Union) rather than its actual governance structure.

          I guess the point of taking the piss out of the taxpayer’s onion is that they are likely to have chosen that name as an in joke at real unions’ expense. They’re not a union in any real sense; just a paid PR front for big business. They’re no more a union than Steve Jobs’ company Apple was a fruit shop.

          • Gosman 13.1.1.2.1
            29 January 2019 at 2:55 am

            Ummm… The NZRFU DOES exist. The organisation is a affiliationbof it’s member Union’s (e.g Wellington RFU). Just because it has rebranded does not mean it is different. Also where are the individualbprocincial Unions on that list?

            You may well be correct about the reason for them to select the term but then you have fallen in to their trap. Trade Unions do not hold a patent on the use of the word Union and to get upset about others using it displays a large degree of preciousness and arrogance.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Justice Minister updates UN on law & order plan
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has attended the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva and outlined the Government’s plan to restore law and order. “Speaking to the United Nations Human Rights Council provided us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while responding to issues and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Trade Minister travels to Riyadh, OECD, and Dubai
    Trade Minister Todd McClay heads overseas today for high-level trade talks in the Gulf region, and a key OECD meeting in Paris. Mr McClay will travel to Riyadh to meet with counterparts from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). “New Zealand’s goods and services exports to the Gulf region ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Education priorities focused on lifting achievement
    Education Minister Erica Stanford has outlined six education priorities to deliver a world-leading education system that sets Kiwi kids up for future success. “I’m putting ambition, achievement and outcomes at the heart of our education system. I want every child to be inspired and engaged in their learning so they ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZTA App first step towards digital driver licence
    The new NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) App is a secure ‘one stop shop’ to provide the services drivers need, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Digitising Government Minister Judith Collins say.  “The NZTA App will enable an easier way for Kiwis to pay for Vehicle Registration and Road User Charges (RUC). ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Supporting whānau out of emergency housing
    Whānau with tamariki growing up in emergency housing motels will be prioritised for social housing starting this week, says Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka. “Giving these whānau a better opportunity to build healthy stable lives for themselves and future generations is an essential part of the Government’s goal of reducing ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Tribute to Dave O'Sullivan
    Racing Minister Winston Peters has paid tribute to an icon of the industry with the recent passing of Dave O’Sullivan (OBE). “Our sympathies are with the O’Sullivan family with the sad news of Dave O’Sullivan’s recent passing,” Mr Peters says. “His contribution to racing, initially as a jockey and then ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Speech – Eid al-Fitr
    Assalaamu alaikum, greetings to you all. Eid Mubarak, everyone! I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and everyone celebrating this joyous occasion. It is a pleasure to be here. I have enjoyed Eid celebrations at Parliament before, but this is my first time joining you as the Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government saves access to medicines
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced Pharmac’s largest ever budget of $6.294 billion over four years, fixing a $1.774 billion fiscal cliff.    “Access to medicines is a crucial part of many Kiwis’ lives. We’ve committed to a budget allocation of $1.774 billion over four years so Kiwis are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks 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
    2 weeks 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 weeks ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks 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 weeks 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 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-30T20:11:31+00:00