The America’s Cup is just another spinoff

Written By: - Date published: 7:18 am, June 17th, 2021 - 36 comments
Categories: capitalism, Deep stuff, sport, uncategorized - Tags:

The America’s Cup competition now looks likely to head offshore.

The Minister of Economic Development Stuart Nash was remarkably sanguine:

At the end of the day the America’s Cup is a global commercial operation. It is an international business as much as a sporting contest. The team is now free to look to commercial sponsors, private supporters, or other avenues to bankroll the operation.”

This framing puts the government’s proposed investment on a par with any other invitation by a local corporate to build their business like RocketLab or Xero. New Zealand will retain here only what it can afford. As astute local fund manager Sam Stubbs noted in his recent column, we could have been able to afford it and much more, but from historical decisions we can’t.

The government’s recent large partnership with Australia to host the Women’s Football World Cup is but one of the many events that MBIE seeks to contest with bids. There are always benefits, and costs, to hosting a major international event to put to Cabinet – available public funding available being not limitless.

When the strange new AC36 design was announced, the SailGP series was set up with Oracle and Rolex backing it, in direct competition.

This series does pretty much what the America’s Cup used to do: have a single stable design, national-origin crews, and single nation flags on their sails.

That illustrates that the competitions are in themselves competing as businesses, with the locations also in competition – like film productions playing off country locations for tax benefits.

We need to disabuse ourselves of any notion that paying into the team for previous host rights gives them further contest host rights. Or any stupid ideas like loyalty, honour, and patriotism, when there’s so much keen competition for its hosting.

The America’s Cup is not called New Zealand Cup. Nor does it have the relationship that the All Blacks have to New Zealand stadia such as Eden Park. The state gains only as much purchase over the team as it is prepared to pay for.

As Minister Nash says in his statement: “Regardless, we wish the team all the best for the future. New Zealand is a world-class team. I know they will fly the flag for their home nation in the 37th America’s Cup, whether it is held in Auckland, or taken offshore.”

We need less presumed hold over them, and more encouragement of more spinoff businesses that make their way in the world.

36 comments on “The America’s Cup is just another spinoff ”

  1. Peter Don Wilson 1

    All this rubbish about the rich boys toys. Why when seeking support for this outfit we only hear team nz quoted, not the full name – Emirates team nz?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1

      Have Emirates re-signed for the next campaign ?

      Best news all year is that this expensive circus is moving its tent out of town

      • Jimmy 1.1.1

        I believe Emirates like most airlines, did not have a good financial year, and are reviewing their sponsorship deals, so team NZ may lose them as sponsors.

  2. GreenBus 2

    Meh. No big deal just another professional sport going about it's business. NZ has fronted a heap of dosh for Rugby, Olympics and others. If there is lots of fluffy feel good to be had along with some benefit to local business and there communities then fronting up some of the cost is worthwhile IMO. Compared to Rugby which also needs mega dollars but joe average can't watch unless you pay which I refuse too, it's better value, more interesting and free to air with fantastic on screen tech which we will get anyway wherever it is held. The viaduct area was developed for this and has remained for the benefit of NZ and tourists. If it has some nice benefits I reckon we should back it. 100 mill is peanuts, 200? Meh. Look what Covid has cost.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 2.1

      $100 mill was turned down, they are said to want twice that…and then theres the other costs.

      What real world do you live in when its a health emergency of this scale and yet you say AC has a place in the queue too. Theres plenty of contortions over talking about the 'benefits' to NZ using nonsensical spreadsheet accounting, when the benefits entirely flow to the all conquering 'hospitality sector' – on another tack the harms from the hospitality sector are not minor , with migrant exploitation, and explosion of violence related to bars

      • GreenBus 2.1.1

        Are you the grim reaper? There must be play money in all budgets, not for the bottomless pits of Health and Education. Not one cent for them. The Health system will get what the Govt gives it irrespective of other priorities. Flag referendum money well spent? No, along with a big hunk of each budget. How many BILLION did we hand out to businesses during our lockdown that didn't need it, was that money that should have gone to fix the crippled health sector? We don't have a health emergency do we? Covid isn't here trev.

        • ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1

          AC did get its 'share' during Covid ..that was last year or is your memory too short.

          Anyway a new cup is 4 years away , and a $200 mill event for a small part of the Waitemata isnt a priority anymore.

          It happens !

          • GreenBus 2.1.1.1.1

            It matters not what us peasants think, you will not be consulted, nor I. They will waste away our hard earned all the same. A Billion to cycle across the harbour is ridiculous and I bet they'll do it. Didn't you know that we are made of money?

          • RobbieWgtn 2.1.1.1.2

            $685M for a bridge cycleway or 3 Americas Cup challenges @$200M ea. ?

            Investment in the America’s Cup brings massive tax take and ongoing benefit to our country.

            • ghostwhowalksnz 2.1.1.1.2.1

              AC rules on country of origin will still apply no matter where the races are sailed.

              But you are joking about 'tax returns' there no evidence other than paid for reports to back that up., as for the hospitality its just spent here on other similar things

  3. Obtrectator 3

    One thing's unlikely to change: whether the thing is held here or overseas, we'll still get the relentless media barrage about the "Shutduffer" Cup.

  4. Sanctuary 4

    IMHO Grant Dalton has mis-read the public mood with this gambit. I like the America’s Cup as a showcase for a different, high tech NZ that presents a different face to the tired and frankly condescending one of a beautiful country full of pleasant hobbits.

    BUT

    The last America's Cup Regatta was a bit of a damp squib, with COVID and just four teams competing I don’t think the taxpayer got value for money. As a catalyst for the redevelopment of the east-west corridor from Britomart to Wynyard quarter it was ideal, but that is largely done now. Public perception can turn on a dime on this sort of thing and 200+ million is far, far to much to secure the rights to a regatta with such mickey mouse rules as the America's Cup.

    We'd be far better off spending a fraction of that for a SailGP regatta.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1

      Dalton will be right now working on his communications blitz and getting the usual 'stale pale male' voices to ramp up the rhetoric about changing the governments mind. Im sure the Koru Club set will be 'outraged' and 'gutted' and the other cliches used as headlines these days.

      • woodart 4.1.1

        you forgot "shambles" "stabbed in the back""pandering to cyclists"(current favourite for dorktalk radio)

        • ghostwhowalksnz 4.1.1.1

          I wouldnt say Im fan of the 'cycle bridge' but wasnt a small but hyper expensive motorway serving the factories of Penrose even more expensive and promoted by National….but was canned by Labour as they were about to tender.

          It was never in the Roads of 'national' significance , but crept into the system once Bridges became Transport minister ( he also cancelled a road bypass they were ready to do detail design which was promised for Rotorua)

    • Ad 4.2

      SailGP are now holding a round in Christchurch's Lyttleton Harbour, in January next year.

      https://www.christchurchnz.com/news/otautahi-christchurch-confirmed-to-host-sailgp

      It's excellent to see competition amongst competitions, and amongst our own cities. It helps everyone sharpen their competing public budgets and concepts, and puts a bit of reality to the proposed regional and national benefits through a direct comparison.

  5. AB 5

    "Or any stupid ideas like loyalty, honour, and patriotism"

    Agreed. The effort by Team NZ (and the media hangers on) to arouse these emotions in us is entirely cynical – and it goes completely unreciprocated by them when the dollars get counted. Like an abusive relationship characterised by an asymmetry of power – it's a small sign of the generalised depravity of our business culture.

    • alwyn 5.1

      Our New Zealand businesses, by and large, kept well clear of this latest America's Cup.

      The "generalised depravity, as you call it, was all by the National and Local Government in New Zealand. Take a bow Phil and Jacinda. What a pair of idiots to throw so much ratepayer and taxpayer money at the circus.

      I see now why Key had gone so very cold on the whole affair and why he cut back so hard on the financing of the event.

  6. gsays 6

    Kinda matters not where the regatta takes place (excusing time of broadcast), it will be watched by most of us on tele/web.

    Just a few Hoorah Henry's and the self important Viaduct bars that may be miffed.

    • alwyn 6.1

      Are you going to pay to watch it on TV? You may be absolutely sure that if the organiser of the bun-fight can find anyone willing to pay for the rights to show the event it will only be on pay-to-view channels.

      The thing I would love to know is who was the Lawyer who reviewed the contract the Government signed up to last time. What imbecile agreed to a contract that did not have a cast iron clause that if the Team Dalton won it the next event HAD to be held in Auckland.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1

        Seems that they only had to make their offer to NZ first and if it was rejected look elsewhere. No one would commit to a future contract on either side without knowing the $$$ to make it work. The news good news is the outcome is fairly muted response and I think people are over it and dont get sucked into the ' we need more tourists more of the time ' ideology

        • alwyn 6.1.1.1

          I lost interest in the America's Cup back when Fay Richwhite got involved back in, I think, 1987. They got all the publicity, the BNZ paid out all the money.

          That was the good part. After that our involvement went rapidly downhill.

          And my comments are from someone who was actually involved in yachting when I was young and was keen on the sport, as a sport. We are better out of it. It was never worth the ridiculous expenditure of taxpayer's, and ratepayer's money.

          I think John Key had decided that by the latter part of his time as PM. Unfortunately our current Government were just like the Clark lot. They seemed to be in total awe of all the people involved and spent even more.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 6.1.1.1.1

            The Key government funded all the 'out of NZ ' challenges right up to the 2017 Bermuda race – being Jan 2017 the new government had no time to change existing funding.

            Clearly the home challenge in 2021 was worthwhile to many – not me-.

            Bizarre that you think Key wasnt 'interested in the end' in AC when the actions right up to the Jan 2017 races which would have been decided after the San Francisco event in 2013, would suggest different

  7. Tiger Mountain 7

    Keep the Ducatis and naming rights coming…it’s the kiwi way…yeah–Nah.

    Hopefully a critical mass of taxpayers will have worked out by now that such commercial enterprises masquerading as sports are corporate money trenches no longer worthy of their support?

    • ghostwhowalksnz 7.1

      PRADA Americas Cup !

      It was abased on the 'trickle down' theory of economics, where the insanely rich pee all over us …best I leave it there

  8. Adrian Thornton 8

    I loved the way Dalton said the NZ offer was "completely reasonable" but not enough, so one is only left to assume that the amount they imagine that they require must be therefore completely unreasonable.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/americas-cup/125457113/americas-cup-government-confirms-no-hosting-deal-for-auckland

  9. RosieLee 9

    How much is Grant Dalton worth and what is he making out of all this?

  10. No Billionaires 10

    There is absolutely nothing lost for New Zealand with regards to the America’s Cup. The people behind it are completely horrible scam artists and gun running mercenaries. Not putting public funds into their pockets is a very good thing.

    https://web.archive.org/web/20210310231938/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/americas-cup-billionaire-team-owners-arrive-in-auckland-for-prada-cup/3EQ5PTVC3ZBJEEZBQH2BEOFO2M/

    https://web.archive.org/web/20210226145704/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fmagazine%2Fstory%2F2017%2F01%2Fbetsy-dick-devos-family-amway-michigan-politics-religion-214631%2F

  11. Gosman 11

    What does this mean exactly?

    "We need less presumed hold over them, and more encouragement of more spinoff businesses that make their way in the world."

    • Incognito 11.1

      I presume it means we should enable and encourage more start-up companies to rise and flourish without this notion that they owe us anything if/when they become successful and want or need to expand beyond NZ borders. You don’t stop your children from leaving the nest, study overseas and make a life for themselves, do you?

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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
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    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
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    1 week ago

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