The Coming Global Economic Slowdown and New Zealand

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 am, June 3rd, 2019 - 49 comments
Categories: australian politics, business, capitalism, China, class war, debt / deficit, Donald Trump, Economy, Financial markets, Free Trade, housing, International, us politics - Tags:

New Zealand is currently avoiding the economic effects of a full
politically manufactured economic crisis originating in the Donald
Trump presidency of the United States of America, but not for long.

This emerging economic crisis is likely to decrease the capacity of
the New Zealand economy in the near future.

The United States has put tariffs up on Chinese goods in a range of
fields, and China has followed suit with slightly more restraint as it
has somewhat more to lose.

Here’s the history of these retaliatory trade strikes up to May 14th,
which also includes links to lists of all the affected product lines.

China’s tariffs on US$60 billion of U.S. goods came into effect as of June 1st.

China also has stronger retaliatory measures that it could call on.

One of these is the export and refining of rare earths. China
dominates world and U.S.-export trade in these materials. These are a
group of 17 chemically similar elements which are used for the
manufacture of high technology products.

They include elements critical to the manufacture of loudspeakers,
computer hard-drives, wind turbines, hybrid cars, camera and
telescope lenses, cinema lighting, catalytic converters, crude oil
refining, welding visors, x-ray and MRI scanning systems, televisions,
computer screens, nuclear reactors, and bunches of other stuff the
U.S. makes a shedload of money in manufacturing.

China has about 70% of the global share of all of that set of specific
materials and their refining.

China would have difficulty simply cutting off exports, since a
previous attempt to do so resulted in a World Trade Organisation case
against them.

But Apple is the obvious counter-strike target as a US-owned company
to avenge the targeting of Chinese-owned Huawei, and Apple
manufacturing would at least slow considerably with a major rare earth
trade move. Difficulty in getting Huawei Android upgrades is
important, slowing down the entire Apple manufacturing cycle is
another.

China could also try to sell U.S. Treasury bonds, since it holds
masses of them
. If they did that it would be very possible that
China’s remaining U.S. debt holdings would decrease in value very
fast. But in mid-May China sold off US$20 billion of US Treasury
bonds, and everyone knew who it was.

That’s a big chilly signal to send to the US-dominated debt market
traders. While they are not yet likely to turn US Treasury bonds into
a trade weapon, don’t rule it out if Trump keeps escalating this.

China could also make US businesses uncompetitive inside China by
doing a big go-slow on permitting in business activity which favours
domestic business over US. More inspections, slower port releases,
slower permitting of all kinds of categories of trade. In case we
don’t know how effective that is, New Zealand only needs to remember
what happened to Fonterra’s products when there was merely a scare to
its infant formula products. Despite our own officials swearing it had
nothing to do with government policy, it was really easy for other
commentators to make those direct links back to New Zealand’s own
initial Huawei decision.

But even for the Chinese government there will be limits to how much
economic pressure it can take. Nearly a year ago in July 2018, the
Chinese Communist Party’s Politburo analyzed the current economic
situation and proposed stabilizing employment, finance, foreign trade,
and investment to tackle external changes and ensure stable economic
operations effectively. Within that list, the Politburo ranked
“stabilizing employment” as the first and most important task. In
addition, the report of the 19th National Congress of the CCP also
stated that employment is pivotal to people’s well-being, noting that
instability in employment will affect the standard of living and may
ultimately affect social stability.

From this perspective, stabilizing employment is tantamount to
safeguarding social stability from economic risk. Lest anyone forget,
social stability is all the Chinese government has to keep it in
power, as they demonstrate from the efforts to in suppress the 30th
anniversary of the massacre of Tianenmen Square
this month.

The harder these retaliatory movers hit, the more China will be
exposed because its economy is more brittle and it has only its
economic performance to sustain its governmental social mandate,
whereas Trump’s polls are so low he’s immune from public fallout and
his key economic indicators such as unemployment and national economic
growth are much stronger.

There’s also a state security issue coming straight to the fore as a
trade issue as well.

United States Secretary of State George Pompeo has issued a warning on
June 31st after meeting German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, that
countries which allow China’s Huawei to build their 5-G networks could
be cut off from crucial intelligence data.

Earlier in May Pompeo had urged U.K. Prime Minister May not to use
Huawei technology to build heir 5G networks.

From both the actions of the U.S. and Chinese governments in trade,
this trade+intelligence security war is likely to escalate rather than
defuse, and (obviously) these two countries represent the largest and
second-largest economies in the world.

Little old Kiwiland is fully reliant on them both, as is our big
brother Australia.

So what does all this mean for the global economy? Well, Goldman Sachs
has analyzed it
:

Our model says that an across-the-board 25% tariff on China with a
limited amount of retaliation would hit US GDP by 0.5% and Chinese GDP
by 0.8%, all over a three-year period,” analysts at US investment bank
Goldman Sachs said in a research note.

This is the net effect from 1) direct trade effects, which are
positive for the US but negative for China, 2) the effects of higher
inflation on real incomes, which mainly hit the US and 3) the effects
of tighter financial conditions, which are also most negative in the
US.”

The unusual part of this global economic slowdown is how much of it is
the result of direct and predicted unilateral political actions by
China and the United States, rather than some massive market failure.

Both countries are still learning daily lessons in how resolute the
other is in this trade war – how much political capital they are
prepared to spend to make the other suffer and bend. So far the limits
are rising higher and higher.

Our Minister of Finance is confident that New Zealand is well placed
to handle a global economic downturn.

His comments follow the chilly IMF global economic stability forecast
released in April this year.

But decreasing economic growth, as even National sees, also means
proportionately decreased taxes, and this proportionately decreases
government capacity to spend on all that good social stuff, unless
there’s also really good headroom for spending by raising debt.

Robertson continues, smartly, to retain the debt headroom to keep this
New Zealand economy in strong order by spending much harder if he has
to in future years. The New Zealand Treasury has near-identical
sentiment, noting in its Budget update that we are particularly
affected by changes to external flows of goods, services and finance:

The outlook for world growth is fragile and has become more
uncertain. Trade tensions and a range of country-specific factors have
seen global growth slow over 2018, with higher frequency indicators
suggesting this weakness has persisted into 2019. The set of forecasts
presented in this chapter assume a stable outlook for trading partner
growth, albeit at a lower rate than experienced over recent years.
Risks to the international outlook remain prevalent and skewed to the
downside.”

He’s going to need it. Winter’s coming.

With the United States – China trade war well underway, the sick chaos
of Brexit is shrinking the U.K. economy and slowing much of Europe’s economy, and smaller economies such as that of Mexico in the crosshairs through further politically manufactured trade disputes, the second half of this year looks for New Zealand nowhere near as rosy as the first half.

49 comments on “The Coming Global Economic Slowdown and New Zealand ”

  1. Sam 1

    Singapore has a population of 5 million and assets worth $1 MOTHERFUCKEN trillion. Let that sink in. They don't produce anything, they don't have agriculture or mineral reserves. They're just better at everything else. So for 10 hours of work in Singapore would be equivalent of 40 hours in New Zealand. That's what makes Singpore more compitive and attractive.

    So from about January to May you're just working to fund some one else lifestyle. And that's okay because people are still flooding in. But go to far and all the smart people making great products and services and making New Zealand attractive and compitive. Make it to hard for them and they might just fuck off. They don't care because we've got money. The only people the tax the rich agenda hurt is the middle classes. And people just need to be aware of all the dangers because you won't get an awareness from people with an agenda.

    • There is no middle class in NZ anymore Sam. There is poor people and non-poor people. Tax the rich more I say.

      • Sam 1.1.1

        I always point out to those that try and model economies and taxes by looking back at the numbers and plucking them out from the past then using those trends to forecast future growth in some nostalgia for the 50's when growth was just awesomeness and go on about how great the economy and things in general were. What was I saying? So don't do that, please.

        So dude, you look back on growth and try and model that golden age and that 90% top marginal tax rate, under a new set of conditions. We don't have the Gold Standard any more, The Top Companies are no longer energy stocks and banks we have service providers, Apple, Facebook, Google, Amazon Microsoft dominating and in New Zealand the top 4 are Fletchers, Progressive Enterprises, AirNZ and Spark, all are service providers.

        So the question is how much taxes is fair so that it doesn't impair the talent pool of the new possibilities in the Internet. We are just entering the 4th industrial revolution so lets say that there's no debate over the economics, that everybody agrees it's overwhelmingly accepted economic fact taxes go up. What remains is that to tax someone at such a high rate while taxing someone else at significantly lower rates is fundamentally unequal and this is where the woke lefties fall over. We have a duty to see that law is applied as equitably as possible. And, no, the progressive tax system is not equitable as the outcome of it's cumulative effect is inequitable through out a growing population, especially for select minorities in this country.

        Whatever we do with our tax and economic policies, the primary goal should be equality with any other considerations a distant second. We just can't grow as fast as our slowest citizens, Y'know? So the real shit heads like Bankers who don't add anything to the economy ought to be taxed, polluters, oil magnets AND bankers who are stealing from future generations ought to be taxed. Okay? It must be fair and equatable. Hope turns into hopium when justice is vacant and hope becomes perpetual. Hope must be meet with justice, they go hand in hand. Y'know every team requires an enforcer so they know not to fuck with us and dish out justice with an even hand.

        The real area you don't want to dis incentivize out of existence are your valuable inventors and entrepreneurs. Thank you.

    • A 1.2

      Singapore doesn't have welfare which is a big chunk of our tax. That being said their corporate tax is 14%.

  2. WeTheBleeple 2

    Can't say any of this is relevant it's just more nonsense to distract from facts. A global economic slowdown will arrive with or without Trump, China, Huawei or the Highway.

    The facts are that we've used all the easy to get at oil. These posturing buffoons posing as leaders mean nothing to this simple fact. America will continue to bully for oil and use its companies to extract global funds and brag about itself on social media till the entire world unfriends it.

    China will continue to develop sustainable initiatives and leave America far far behind.

    Just look at the average American vs Chinese citizen and tell me who's going to help the world and who's going to fuck it.

    We need to return to circular economies with local manufacturing as the hub. This global experiment is an utter failure.

    The world was not built for multi-national corporations no matter how they jostle for positions of power. Divest from anything big. Go local or go to hell (on earth). That's the choice.

    • Peter Christchurh nz 2.1

      It is extremely relevant WTB. If the economy of the China Empire seriously falters, the Chinese leadership may well collapse, as it relies on economic growth to offset the social and political deprivation of it's people. Such a result will have worldwide repercussions.

      It is the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre this week. Over 400 cities mass demonstrations, rebellion of the army and the resultant many many thousands of deaths placed the Chinese leadership very close to collapse in 1989. Only economic growth and liberalisation prevented this.

      Try searching in Chinese media about this. You will find zero mention, and if using Chinese based Weixin, you will likely have your account closed.

    • Pat 2.2

      "Can't say any of this is relevant it's just more nonsense to distract from facts. A global economic slowdown will arrive with or without Trump, China, Huawei or the Highway. "

      Indeed

      • Peter Christchurh nz 2.2.1

        That's because all markets and economies run in cycles. Nothing new there. The downcycle is due. It will be followed 3 years or so later by an upturn.
        The more important thing is the trend line underlying the cycles is still on the up. In other words, the troughs over time do not fall so low.

        • Pat 2.2.1.1

          No…for two reasons…the ponzi scheme has run out of punters (debt) and as WTB noted we are rapidly depleting real resources…there is the cause of the declining growth.

          Trump, protectionism, Huawei are symptoms not causes.

          • Peter Christchurh nz 2.2.1.1.1

            We are certainly depleting the resources we currently rely on, such as fossil fuels, but new technologies will emerge to replace them and we will adapt to the new.

            As an example, there are already Hydrogen powered trains in revenue service in Britain, the US and Europe. As more efficient methods of producing hydrogen are developed, this no doubt will replace the likes of diesel.

            • Pat 2.2.1.1.1.1

              too little too late…..we dont have the capacity to replace that which we currently have and therefore degrowth is inevitable…no 'new tech' will change that

              • WeTheBleeple

                Yes.

                We lack the resources to transition the globe as the globe spent their capital on new sneakers.

                We wait for some magic pie in the sky to solve the problem of no capital – Print more?

                These clowns shouldn't be in charge of a clown car.

                • Pat

                  These clowns are us…sadly

                • Peter Christchurch NZ

                  WTB: when you say 'transition the globe', in what way? And I am guessing by 'no capital' you mean resource type capital rather than money type capital?

                  • WeTheBleeple

                    To transition to solar/hydro/et al. We've already blown much of our excess on being excessive. You know, super yachts, maseratis, advertising, competition, and war.

                    We had a chance to do it smooth. We clung to our baubles instead.

                    The energy to transition the globe to sustainable energy was there, now it is not.

                    • Sam

                      Yada, yada, yada. The U.K. with a far smaller population than China was able to inflate its GDP over and above that of China's GDP using britians coal reserves during the 1st industrial revolution. Now that coal is becoming less and less relevant to the global economy GDP indicators are reverting back to big populations growing the GDP and non has bigger populations than China, India and Brazil. All three of which are members of the BRICS, (B)razil, (R)ussia, (I)ndia, (C)hina, (S)outh Africa. Ya da ya da.

                • WeTheBleeple

                  WTF has that got to do with anything Sam.

                  We do not have what it takes. We can try to transition using fossil fuel energy and we'll pump up the CO2 and burn. Yada yada [deleted].

          • greywarshark 2.2.1.1.2

            Don't understand how chirpy this report is about USA foreign and other debt.

            https://www.graphicmaps.com/countries-with-the-most-debt

            The United States (US)

            The US has a total of 29.27 trillion dollars of external debt, translating to around 45% of the total debt owed. Its two largest creditors are China (roughly $1.18 trillion) and Japan (roughly $1.06 trillion). The US government is wary of heavy reliance on foreign debt and keeps its Net International Investment Position (NIIP) at a manageable level to avoid economic downfall brought about by any sudden foreign debt reduction.

            Then there is this listing of the world's largest economies showing USA at the top which it says has been the case since 1871. But can an economy be regarded as large and strong with such a big debt. What happens if economies are measured on a net basis? Would that show a difference view of an economy then?

            https://www.focus-economics.com/blog/the-largest-economies-in-the-world

            • Pat 2.2.1.1.2.1

              The US debt position is unique and will remain so as long as it is the worlds reserve currency and first resort safe haven….and why they are determined to maintain that position

              • greywarshark

                Does that mean that they want to be the first and last resort? The Financial Tower at the End of the World sort of thing. Has this been agreed to by the Bilderberg Group?

                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Meeting

                Bilderberg meeting elite focuses on politics – CNBC.comhttps://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/06/bilderberg-meeting-elite-focuses-on-politics.html

                Jun 6, 2018 – Some of the planet's most powerful people will take part in the infamously secretive Bilderberg meeting that begins Thursday to discuss their …

                (If it was really secret we wouldn't know it was on. I think it is just a front to distract from the other top level meetings.)

                Listen to Philomena Clunk who will not attempt to explain this but makes you feel happier about not knowing. Whether you do or not understand probably won't make any difference to the Bilderberg Group and their machinations.

                (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsvEE_v2J8g

    • gsays 2.3

      While I agree with the sentiment of your comments WTB, I am curious about the effects of peak oil.

      I became aware of peak oil approx 12 years ago, the warnings were dire. One that stayed with me was that the peak oil point could only be pointed to in hindsight.

      I am wondering if the make believe financial world (sharemarkets, bonds, national debt etc) is acting as a huge buffer to the real life consequences of us humans and our excesses.

      • WeTheBleeple 2.3.1

        Down cycle, upturn, more economic BS honestly these people are utterly useless.

        Governments are not a buffer, they are entirely complicit in providing a false layer of insurance and assurance that all is well. Fluffy ducklings mate. It is not well.

        Governments kowtow to greed.

        Peak oil has come and gone. Now they're all just fear filled assholes as forward thinking was never required.

      • Pat 2.3.2

        "I am wondering if the make believe financial world (sharemarkets, bonds, national debt etc) is acting as a huge buffer to the real life consequences of us humans and our excesses."

        Yep…delaying (briefly) the inevitable….all the printed money in the world is of no use when theres nothing of necessity to purchase

        • greywarshark 2.3.2.1

          …all the printed money in the world is of no use when …. theres huge uncertainty, the market goes belly-up and all the values drop.

          • Pat 2.3.2.1.1

            not quite the same thing….indeed in a market crash there is a use for unlimited printed money, as the GFC showed.

            • greywarshark 2.3.2.1.1.1

              Thanks Pat I will have to take you seriously if you can explain financial matters to the uninitiated, unintel……

      • Andre 2.3.3

        Ever heard of the Fischer-Tropsch process? It's possible to make petrol and diesel from coal. Germans did it in WW2, South Africans have been making a lot of their diesel that way since the 50s.

        Peak oil won't necessarily cause significant economic slowdown or reduction in climate-changing emissions.

        If we're lucky, peak oil will come about because renewable electricity generation becomes so much cheaper that it becomes financially negligent to continue using fossil fuels. We can help bring that point closer by eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and taxing emissions.

        If we're unlucky, peak oil will happen because we've just carried on with BAU and when increasing oil prices make investing in Fischer-Tropsch plants worthwhile, the fuel they produce will take over from oil-derived fuel.

        • Pat 2.3.3.2

          And may be worth remembering that the numbers presented dont take account of any social,political or environmental impacts…..can become a little problematic developing large scale complicated engineering projects in a non functioning society.

          Best case scenario?…the world will have less net energy for its needs.full stop.

    • I think both the 'average American' and the 'average Chinese citizen' will not help the work but will fuck it, actually. The American for obvious reasons. And the Chinese because all Chinese citizens are minions of their god-awful state.

      • WeTheBleeple 2.4.1

        Yes, but that 'god awful' state you describe has them restoring vast swathes of land. Has them innovating in sustainable energy at every level, has them planting, has them discussing the will of the state – in this instance to transition to sustainable energy.

        The bringing up of China's history as some warning to the rest of us is completely farcical in the light of US foreign policy and activity.

        The devil you know is an utter fuckwit.

  3. Observer Tokoroa 3

    Donald's War Games

    Of Course, Mr Trump will snub China and chuck USA Tariffs at it.

    But Donald has other pursuits too. I am just hoping he wont grope Queen Elizabeth's Pussy during his visit to Buck Palace.

    He has already grabbed a handful of Huawei.

  4. Tuppence Shrewsbury 4

    same photo, same media, different story.

    https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47622415

  5. WeTheBleeple 5

    There's work, and there's actually paying your way from work.

    The working poor couldn't give a toss about unemployment figures. Wages is where it's at, unemployment is yet another rubbish economic indicator that tells us exactly fuck all about the state of the economy.

    Take a look at real indicators. Loan sharks, gang numbers, bank defaults, prison numbers, accident and emergency arrivals for preventable illness turned into emergency…

    The disappearance of kaimoana from the coast…

    And all the pot bellied pigs of Ponsonby ever fatter and more full of shit.

    Slaves were 100% employed. Can't see them cheering on the govt of the day either.

  6. SPC 7

    A global recession is an opportunity for this government.

    They made a committment to 20% debt to GDP by 2022 and a 30% government to GDP spending cap (whether it should have made it is another issue entirely, I would have preferred 25% and a 33% government spending to GDP cap – arguing government and infrastructure was underfunded, debt is cheap and to allow leeway for coping with a global downturn).

    They have the capacity to stimulate local growth, to offset a global downturn, by loosening their targets. And they should use it.

  7. Well , take your pick , – either Rothschilds printing of cash and charging the USA interest through the Federal Reserve on every dollar they lend , – or BRIC'S alternative… but somehow ?,… I'd place my money ( no pun intended ) on the Rothschilds winning out…

    All roads lead to the Rothschilds ( joke) and their funny little pervy eye in a pyramid and their equally as funny idea of “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all. And in the darkness bind them.”

    Either way , … the only thing the All Seeing Eye of Sauron wants is to just make us all feel safe and sound and secure ,… safe in the knowledge that the ' nasties' wont get us as we sleep soundly and warmly in our beds at night ,… and all they ask in return is to give them just a teensy weensy smidgen of personal information to them… a bit like the Chinese communist party , really… a little bit of harmless facial recognition technology, cameras, real ID registration, monitoring social media use, and sanctions for behaviour not acceptable to the regime.

    NOW.

    That said , – where is the Chinophile MARK who used to haunt The Standard and The Daily Blog with his railings against the West ( and in particular white Europeans ) and that the 'West is going to get theirs' for events that happened over 100 years ago and that the CHINESE have even gotten over and moved on with , – while ignoring China's ' among the worst ' human rights abuse records ?

    But,you and I, we've been through that
    And this is not our fate
    So let us stop talkin' falsely now
    The hour's getting late"

    The Jimi Hendrix Experience – All Along The Watchtower (Audio …

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLV4_xaYynY

    • Pierre 8.1

      It's not just the opium wars and the physical colonisation of China by western powers. There are good reasons for the left in China to be wary of the imperialist countries.

      The US ran a SACO camp jointly with the Kuomintang, all kitted out with American equipment. Journalists, radical students, peace activists, trade unionists, communists, all were imprisoned, tortured, and they didn't all survive. The USA did that, on Chinese soil.

      While the CCP was arming the peasantry, the CIA was supporting feudalism in Tibet. There is still a substantial rural population in China, you might see it differently, but these historical experiences do matter. The Chinese government still buys rice and basic crops at a fixed price, while selling it on to the market at a (lower) price. Farmers get a stable income and nobody goes hungry, and that's not simply a case of cynical bribes to guarantee 'political stability' – it's a consequence of left politics. At some point the west will have to accept the possibility that the CCP represents a genuinely popular alternative road to development.

      In 1993, US warships held the Yinhe cargo ship hostage for 24 days off the coast of Iran. The US accused China of trafficking chemical weapons, but in the end there were no chemical weapons. The US never apologised.

      In 1999, the US bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, killing three journalists.

      Today the US continues to sponsor radical islamist movements in Xinjiang. The US military flies its planes and sails its ships around Chinese waters, in a display of constant provocation. Are there People's Liberation Army aircraft carries off the coast of california? No, there are not. And now, the US puts sanctions on Chinese companies… It's not all a case of 'events which happened 100 years ago.'

      Lastly, to talk about human rights: New Zealand has about double the incarceration rate of China.

      • WILD KATIPO 8.1.1

        Now that's good info and thank you. Always good to hear both sides and unless you know where to look you miss out.

        And true about NZ , btw. Weve had our fair share of pretty shoddy dealings with other country's ie : Western Samoa.

  8. My apologies for the massive gaps in posts, – I'm having problems with both spell checker and also because I use Google , it doesnt seem to recognize the cut and paste thingy, therefore multiple links I have to delete. And that causes the horrible gaps . So I am sorry for that. I'm no computer whiz I will admit.

    • WeTheBleeple 9.1

      It aint your fault WK the editing software is on the fritz.

      I'm looking forward to the day an unknown alien presence shoots these feckin eejits out of the sky. I hope they hit every satellite in one salvo then split for fifty years leaving us to contemplate that space doesn't want us.

      I wrote a cracker short story about exactly that but unfortunately I had some mental health issues and destroyed lots of my work… it appears some of the science fiction went in the 'clean out'.

      Trying not to do that anymore. Better to de-clutter the room and leave the files alone.

      Have a great day.

  9. Gosman 10

    Whatever happened to "Peak oil" by the way?

    • WeTheBleeple 10.1

      Peak demand? Or peak supply?

      As all the low hanging fruit (oil) has been taken, peak supply is past. Now it requires more calories to extract x number of calories than it did before. This trend will continue though science tries to play catch up with new technology. We're into deeper wells, shittier sources, remoter locations…

      Peak demand will continue to climb so long as governments refuse to tell the truth to the general public how much danger we're all in. GDP mate! Growth must falter, however, as we're rapidly outstripping our resourcefulness and resources.

      All this is moot to the fact we've more than enough fossil fuels to cook the planet and everything on it. Change must occur, burning what's left is suicide.

      The end IS nigh.

  10. Thanks for posting.

    All signs definitely point to a slowdown and I'm interested to see how it all plays out.

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    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    8 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    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 ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    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’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    3 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
    5 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
    6 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
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours 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
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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