The Covid election

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, August 6th, 2020 - 73 comments
Categories: brand key, covid-19, jacinda ardern, john key, labour, national - Tags: ,

I normally do not do this, tempting fate and all that.  But the forces behind this election are so strong that it would take a really dramatic event to change current momentum.

Because kiwis are really proud that we are, so far, Covid free.  We celebrate that our team of five million knuckled down and did the hard yards and knocked the bastard off.  There are some really strong cultural and historical themes in that statement, but I am sure you get my drift.

And we are all united behind Captain Jacinda who kept giving us the most rousing of pep talks, who kept telling us clearly and without spin what we had to do to win, who explained the game plan, the tactics we would use and what it looked like as we advanced.

She already had our trust, her handling of the Christchurch Mosque massacre and the White Island tragedy showed us that under pressure she was formidable.

On the world stage she has also been exceptional, and is someone to be really proud of.

Elsewhere throughout the world they are not doing so well.  In fact when you look at democratic countries with right wing male leaders who talk tough they are failing.  Have a look at this graph if you need proof.

I sort of feel sorry for National.  What sort of oppositioning do they do?

This is where they have failed.  They have been all over the place.  At times they critisiced the Government for being too tough, at other times for being not tough enough.  National’s problem was that at various stages it looked like they were actively cheering for the quarantine to fail.  and releasing racist comments and leaking confidential medical information for political gain was just too much for us fair minded kiwis.

And they have just fallen apart.  Six years ago I was in awe of their discipline and their messaging.  Now it is a joke.  And people know it.  The number of conversations I have had while door knocking with erstwhile National supporters who will now vote Jacinda is testamony to this.

The other problem for National is that it is now reverting to type and saying that Labour has been too strict.

In an earlier variation of this argument it said that we should be more like Australia.  You can see from the graph above how that would have worked out.

Then yesterday former PM John Key (remember him?) came out and said that we should let rich Americans into the country so that local workers can become serfs and also let in students who should be privately managed through quarantine because aw shucks it would be fine and the market always delivers.  From the Herald:

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key wants to encourage rich Americans to buy New Zealand property to help reduce the impact of a looming “financial crisis”.

He told Newstalk ZB host Heather du Plessis-Allan that border restrictions should be loosened so that universities and companies could bring in foreign students and skilled workers and pay for their own quarantine.

And he said foreigners buying New Zealand property would provide work for Kiwis whose jobs are disappearing.

“Let’s focus on what we can do. We’ve got this crazy foreign buyer ban,” he said.

“Why don’t we let in rich Americans who want to build a house in New Zealand? Who cares? They’re in Mangawhai or somewhere, they are going to create thousands of jobs.

“Why do we care if someone who lives in New York wants to spend $10 million building a house in Auckland, using NZ craftsmen and NZ tradespeople?”

He has always had these weird ideas.  A few years ago I wrote this post where I concluded that Key wanted to turn New Zealand into a bolthole for the uber rich.

His statement yesterday reinforces my earlier impression.

His suggestion concerning students is also crazy.  A sector of our population more likely to take risks and breach quarantine I cannot imagine, especially wealthy ones wanting to escape their Covid ravaged countries.  And Melbourne shows what happens when you leave quarantine measures to Private Enterprise.

This morning’s Herald poll suggested that most Kiwis by a margin of 68% to 29% prefer keeping the borders as closed as possible.  This is National’s problem in a nutshell.

While I am on the subject I have to question why Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Management did not, as far as I can tell, invite Councillors or Local Board members to the event and why a diversity of views was not offered.  Cheerleading business who just want things loosened up no matter how big the risk should not be in the job description for a Council controlled organisation.

Sure bringing in specific job skills for projects such as the City Rail Link are important.  But clearly kiwis are pretty comfortable with the way things are now and they do not want to risk it.

Which is why at this stage the election result looks like it will be clear cut.  And this is the basic reason why, putting to one side the infighting, the controversies, the loss of senior MPs and the seemingly never ending disclosure of scandal, National is struggling.

73 comments on “The Covid election ”

  1. dv 1

    Don't forget the bonfire of regulations and Tax cuts at the beginning of the pandemic

  2. Adrian 2

    As I said late last night, just how difficult would it be to deliberately releaseCovid into the community and would some RWNJ do it?

    It’s already been done with Rabbit Calicivirus bought in from Australia and propagated in a farmhouse kitchen in a blender.

    Is anyone stupid enough to do it ? To beat Jacinda ?, Yes.

    Has Ashley Bloomfield been warned of this possibility?. My guess is yes again.

    • You_Fool 2.1

      Conspiracy theory, this woman was Michelle Boag

      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12354118

    • roy cartland 2.2

      Horrible to admit, but it's definitely a possibility. Why wouldn't they? Throw a few thousand (mostly poor) to the wind to make a buck; societally we do that already.

      It's their only hope, hence Bloomfield's "if not when" announcement.

    • This sort of conspiracy speculation is as nuts as those on Twitter and Kiwiblog suggesting that Ardern might deliberately stoke fear via Covid to control the population.

      • I Feel Love 2.3.1

        I believe it's unlikely, but not an impossible idea.

        • Pete George 2.3.1.1

          It's not impossible that the UN or aliens are using 5G to spread Covid to take over the world either. Maybe the UN is controlled by aliens, but I believe that's unlikely.

          • Robert Guyton 2.3.1.1.1

            Pete George said:

            "It's not impossible that aliens…" & "that's unlikely"?

            Your not certain, Pete? A little bit maybe perhaps, are you?

      • Adrian 2.3.2

        Pay attention PG, it is not Jacinda or anyone else in the Labour govt publicly saying this but why are the warnings getting more urgent, why the ramping up of awareness. Somebody has been told something and it is Dr Bloomfield's job to pass on the message.

        And it has been done before.

        • Anne 2.3.2.1

          All they had to do is look across the ditch at Melbourne and think to themselves: God almighty, this could happen to us so easily. We will have to get ready for the possibility and make sure everybody knows how easily it could happen.

          Add to that the WHO has already warned the world a second wave is coming.

          Enough said. No conspiracy!

      • Stuart Munro 2.3.3

        These things come down to character. There is nothing in Key's character to suggest he wouldn't do it in a heartbeat if he thought he could make a buck out of it. But that doesn't mean he has a sufficiently malleable virologist with a sample ready to go.

        • Roy Cartland 2.3.3.1

          Re character, we've witnessed that time and again from this lot – it's not even a conspiracy, they were quite blatant about it during the days of DP and Crosby/Textor. How hard would it be to pay off a couple of goons to spread a highly infectious virus? Unlikely maybe; but do they want to be in government or not?

          • Stuart Munro 2.3.3.1.1

            I imagine the only thing that has stopped them doing it already is breaking the chain of traceability. Rabbit calicivirus was relatively forgiveable, being implicated in a Covid release would destroy the rest of the rotten husk that is National.

            • roblogic 2.3.3.1.1.1

              Same kind of psycho arseholes that belong to the “National Party Supporters” page on facebook, like Cam Slater, have a record of doing shady shit

            • lurgee 2.3.3.1.1.2

              I imagine the only thing that has stopped them doing it already is breaking the chain of traceability.

              FFS. What idiotic posting. Do you really think the fear of getting caught is the "only thing" stopping people unleashing Covid 19 on New Zealand?

              Kiwiblog would love to show this sort of lunacy off to the world. "Forget Jacinda's Mother of the Nation schtick, this is what The Left really think!"

              Do us all a favour and stop posting embarrassing nonsense.

              • Stuart Munro

                By all means present any evidence you may have to the effect that Key has scruples of any kind whatsoever.

                My cynicism has consistently fallen short of Key’s reality.

                • lurgee

                  You're the flip side of a Trump-MAGA clown, believing Covid is a Chinaplot or unleashed by Hilary or whatever delusion they are entertaining this moment.

                  Proclaim the 'other side' are capable of anything.

                  Which means 'our side' is justified in doing anything to stop them.

                  Its a fascist mindset.

                  • Stuart Munro

                    You're the flip side of a Trump-MAGA clown, believing Covid is a Chinaplot or unleashed by Hilary or whatever delusion they are entertaining this moment.

                    How easily you sum up another's character – be sure to swallow it graciously when they do as much for you.

                    Proclaim the 'other side' are capable of anything.

                    I take it then that you cannot produce any of the evidence of good character that I requested? And there is form of introducing viruses, from Calici to Mycoplasma.

                    Which means 'our side' is justified in doing anything to stop them.

                    That invention is your own. The National party has indeed been in need of significant reform for quite some time – even they know it. Am I not to comment on their dysfunction to placate some timorous anonymous wretch?

                    Its a fascist mindset.

                    Oh, much older than that. But I get it – the Right may employ the arguments of necessity, TINA & such, with impunity for ever. Your argument is one of class – I am not to protest.

                    And yet I do.

              • greywarshark

                lurgee Note to self: 'Do us all a favour and stop posting embarrassing nonsense.'

          • lurgee 2.3.3.1.2

            We've gone from Adrian's (already preposterous) suggestion that "some RWNJ" might deliberately introduce Covid (presumably by hopping on a plane, finding someone with Covid and rubbing up against them, then returning to New Zealand, eluding quarantine and rapidly spreading to as many people as possible, and somehow confounding any sort of track-trace-isolation effort; a bit of a rubbish plan); now we're on to some sort of paid conspiracy.

            Just stop it, it's silly.

      • Chris 2.3.4

        You must've had a very sheltered upbringing, Pete, to live in such naivity. Anyone who's had anything more than fleeting dealings with government know what they're capable of. And those who are perceived as getting too close to the root of governmental power know so doubly.

    • Gabby 2.4

      I hope we're keeping an eye on comings and goings from the yankistani embassy.

  3. It's interesting to speculate what the Natz polling would be if they had taken the high ground from the beginning of the pandemic and fully backed the government. Been positive instead of negative! Co-operated rather than tried to wreck.

    They might still be in the 40s and in with a real chance of getting into government.

    But no, being positive is not in their DNA. They oppose for the sake of opposition. And so their support has bled away to the point where they may manage 25%

    And giving a platform to a has-been like Key just reinforces that they are not fit for government.

    • Just Is 3.1

      The Nats are too stupid and self entitled to consider this option even though if they had of adopted a supportive role with Govt over Covis they would be riding a lot higher in polls.

      Key and rest of them inviting a significant problem to NZ by weakening Border Controls for predominantly the benefits of wealthy are just simply Greedy.

      They have no concern for the economic risks, risks that could effect everyone.

    • I Feel Love 3.2

      I said this when Bridges was Nat leader, Ardern probably would have allowed him to stand with her, possibly even had turns at the daily press briefings, "united front against Covid" etc, what a missed opportunity, thankfully for us really, and like said above the Nats just can't hide who they really are.

      • froggleblocks 3.2.1

        Nah. Maybe a one-off as chair of the covid select committee, whatever that thing was called.

        The reason the PM fronted those was to answer political questions that Bloomfield couldn't, and knowing all the operational matters going on behind the scenes. Leader of the opposition doesn’t have the required knowledge or position to do that job.

  4. Tricledrown 4

    Keys billionaire mate Peter Thiel bought land now it's been unkempt run down.

    No kiwi jobs.

    • Thiel's land is immediately beside Lake Wanaka in an area categorised as Outstanding Natural Landscape. ONL is not meant to be domesticated; it is by definition natural, somewhat wild and unkempt. (Though some of Thiel's land is heavily farmed)

      If he builds a massive house on it with large rolling lawns and numerous curtilage activities that are visible and obviously inappropriate within ONL that will be a blot on the landscape and a terrible shame.

  5. Stuart Munro 5

    It's surely an anomaly that now that Labour has for the moment suspended the tribal globalism that insisted mass low-wage migration was really really good for our economy however many rorting employers were turned up, they suddenly have an insuperable lead on the party still boosting that manifest failure.

  6. Robert Guyton 6

    Key's warbling away on talkback now, hosted by John Banks. The Nats "Secret Weapon".

  7. The National Party don't like to think to hard.

    That is why, all they ever come up with is Roads, more roads and Bridges, and now they add tunnels.

    And letting in the rich pricks from America.

    Little Johnny must have a mate up there wishing to escape from the nut job in the White House.

  8. Anker 8
    • With 68% of us wanting the borders as tight as poss, I hope people will start to see Key for who he is…someone who doesn’t give a dam about sacrifice if lives, including the lives of nurses, bus drivers etc looking after things at the border. Only cares about money and the economy. Aside from anything else his ideas are hardly new or inspirational. It was Key who drove the low wage tourist industry during his term. What a legacy.
    • perhaps when he was photographed at an auction with his son bidding on a 1.5 million dollar house, people might have done a double take. A super wealthy guy buying an expensive house for a very young man, who never seemed to think he needed to make a useful contribution (my opinion and I could be wrong) is something to hide, not to publicise. Thank god Key is gone
    • That NZHerald article is paywalled and I refuse to pay for that rag. It would be appreciated if anyone has a few more details of the survey that could be shared here….

    • AB 8.2

      The world is a place they roam around, looking to extract profits by whatever legal means are available – and if they aren't available, lobby governments to make them so. The notions of a country, a people, or the common good, barely exist for them.

    • Anne 8.3

      @ Anker
      National has asked Key to intervene and put a spoke in Labour's wheel. They are hoping he might be able to attract his former supporters back to them by appealing to the streak of greed and entitlement that is never far from the surface. I doubt it will work because its a different ball game to the Key years, but desperate people do desperate things.

  9. Key and co promoting business as usual. ( Sadly a few who should know better)

    The fire sale economic plan which enriches the rich who trickle a few crumbs to the poor, who end up living in cars and vans and lining up to be hired.

    We have been on Key's planet before.

    Many who are struggling now know this Government will endeavour to feed house and keep people safe from the pandemic, so they in turn are helping their less fortunate neighbours and friends, donating whatever they can, coming up with useful ideas and innovations to meet new needs, using technology, following the health guidelines fairly well, getting tested and acting as a team.

    A feeling of collective purpose in the face of a huge threat.

    We are an oasis with a brilliant leader, and a recovery plan. The envy of the world. Kiwis helping Kiwis, even supporting Kiwis to return here and isolate at no charge. We are naturally anxious that our Borders are well managed, and after the debacle of Private management in Victoria Australia, we are rightly adamantly saying NO to that.

    We starkly now see what is an essential service and what is a "Lovely to have" (coffee/ cultural gatherings/religious services/dancing/shows)

    We accept that the Government should govern, provide services and support to create work which enhances health well being and safety in the face of a 1 in 100 event. Small government is no longer promoted as a helpful idea, and Public Service is seen as essential again. Thank you Mr. Bloomfield.

    The plan to recover should be inclusive sustainable and safe.

    The Government has laid out a programme in the 2020 Budget, in great detail, and has stated they will not operate an austerity programme trying to pay debt back at levels that cause hardship. We accept their plan to get us through this and "bounced back" from lock down with some exceptions. (closed borders affecting industries such as the tourist/flying/education businesses.)

    The casandras are out in force, telling us that the worst is yet to come, as the world struggles.

    We know that, but we are listening to Jacinda when she says "Keeping the virus at our Border will allow our economy to work and our hospital capacity to function, while we get time to prepare for a local incursion." Most agree with this sensible approach.

    Kiwis seem to have gone from individualism to collective aroha.

    We are talking freely about topics which seemed taboo not so far back. We have become more aware of mental health issues, unintended racism, sexist behaviour, colonial appropriation and the misuse of technology, the importance of being connected and what is essential.

    The biggest change is our pride in our Prime Minister and country.

    We are happy to be seen as being part of a successful plan to overcome this virus, to have a Leader so admired world wide. We bask in her glory rather than cringe at naff statements and behaviour. Jacinda is gracious clever and kind to all she meets and she leaves a good impression of New Zealand and New Zealanders, and we wish this to continue as well.

    Some say "It can't last" Nothing much stays the same, but by cooperating we do better.

    Some want revolution, but they seldom end happily.

    Most it seems are in favour of the current plan and will vote Labour and hopefully the Greens back to the benches.

    • AB 9.1

      "The plan to recover should be inclusive, sustainable and safe."

      Yes. And that's what our economy should have been even prior to Covid. It wasn’t, and that fact is an indicator of the scale of the sh*t fight ahead if the government even thinks of changing BAU. Rolling out Key and Fyfe is a tiny foretaste of the push-back if Labour tries anything once re-elected.

  10. John G 10

    I think Blomfield and Jacinda are saying it will come back is an attempt to stop us from becoming more complacent than we are. There is no doubt (in my mind) that there is a feeling we are on top of this so we can take it easy now. That is why they are winding things up a bit. I don't think there is any conspiracy.

  11. Byd0nz 11

    John Key is still a big wig in the National Party. He loves big digits when in comes to money and his love for rich Americans knows no bounds, and that is why we should never ever let the Nats anywhere near the reigns of power. Key would soon invite the Yanks to build a military base here. The man is a disgrace and should have his Knighthood ripped off him and put in the crusher.

  12. Just Is 12

    Thanks everyone for NOT giving Key the respect he expects by NOT using SIR

    What exactly did he do for NZ to deserve a Knighthood, pulling pony tails doesn't cut it

    • Roy Cartland 12.1

      I always thought the knights of old were the ones who invaded a peaceful village, plundered their resources, destroyed those who stood against them, 'protected' (enslaved) the rest, installed themselves as local warlord and 'donated' some of their plunder to the monarch. Pretty apt, really.

      • Just Is 12.1.1

        Good point.

        I was comparing the Knighthood of Sir Edmund Hilary, where he spent most of life helping those in need and using his own wealth for the benefit of many, selfless, a great Man.

        In the 20th century, most Knighthoods were awarded to those who had spent time Volunteering to those in need, and organizations supporting people in need, Charity.

        In the last decade it would seem the critical criteria for a Knighthood is wether you've been an MP in the National Party, or, a Very good friend of theirs.

    • He brought back knighthoods, for one thing. Mainly because he coveted one for himself, to demonstrate that the former poor little state-house boy had truly arrived.

  13. mosa 13

    " He ( Key ) has always had these weird ideas "

    I guess amassing immense wealth and helping others to do the same can do that to someone.

    • roblogic 13.1

      You mean, screwing over a small nation and inviting his mates to join in the pillage?

    • Wairua 13.2

      It sounds like a history of Aotearoan colonisaton. What is new ? I think we are seeing a spoiling tactic to set the tone of the election. If this is the opener, what comes next ? Hang onto something folks ..

  14. Key and co are modern day carpetbaggers.

  15. Brian Tregaskin 15

    Not so fast buddy you are temping fate if we have to go back to Level 3 Election will be delayed and the old saying rings true “A week is a long time in politics”
    Do you think this scene may play out ?

    Sounds as though we are been prepped to go to level 2.
    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/08/coronavirus-kiwis-urged-to-have-supply-of-masks-in-case-new-zealand-goes-back-to-alert-level-2.html

    My main point is NZ is basically a liberal nation and wont take much to move towards the centre right, almost any excuse and the voters will jump ship back to National , I reckon. That said it would be very hard to happen under the extreme right leadership team they have along with ACT, too much for the nation to handle at the moment.

  16. Brian Tregaskin 16

    What about bring Election forward to Aug 29 or Sept 5 because of increasing COVID threat?
    “Lets get it done”

  17. Tiger Mountain 17

    Try not to jinx things Micky, though even arch tory John Armstrong seemed to be sullenly throwing in the towel in his column today, and ‘Crusher’ has seemed a real flat tyre in interviews the last week.

    And as for our glorious ex leader–FJK! it is all coming back now…off shore trusts, causing a female MP walkout, throat slitting gesture in Parliament, cutting funding to Rape Crisis and Women's Refuge, Union busting, asset sales–make it stop…please… be gone Pony tail puller in chief.

  18. new view 18

    Ok Mickey, let’s say you’ve won the election. Does the record of this Government give you huge confidence they will cope with the social and financial destruction we’ll face next year and years beyond. Don’t tell me that the general public will live on kindness for the next three years because they won’t. When the loans are too large and the money runs out your kind social minded PM may come across as being heartless, as hard decisions have to be made. National would do no better socially but then they most likely won’t be the Government. Not for twelve months anyway.

  19. Brian Tregaskin 19

    Yep don't jinx it because we are facing a dystopian nightmare if National and Act win. Thousands of kiwis lives are at are risk , because they value the economy more?
    The borders would be open before we can blink; not to mention worse austerity measures than the mother of all budgets in 1990.

    Its the most important NZ election ever in NZ’s history since lives are at stake due to second wave of COIVD-19.
    So what will it be people ‘utopia’ or ‘dystopia’?

    • Peter 19.1

      Look on the bright side. If National and Act win, charter schools will be here with bells on and we'll all have the guns we want.

      [Deleted superfluous text from user name]

  20. Ad 20

    The "Covid Election" title is useful as a frame because we can see the counterfactuals all around us. This short clip from Christianne Amanpour and Paul Krugman on PBS points out that due to the political mishandling of Covid-19, the United States is facing a year or more of 10%+ unemployment.

    That's the definition of an economic depression.

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

    So even if the Democrats take the House of Reps, Senate, and White House, they will only be able to tackle a few areas at once due to the scale and depth of the economic, social and political crisis that COvid-19 mismanagement has now caused.

  21. observer 21

    I guess there's a NZ Herald poll out Fri/Sat. They've run stories today based on specific poll questions, which would normally be part of a wider range.

    • peter sim 22.1

      How can roads, Wellington tunnels equate with austerity?

      Easy, ask National, They know ,and have all the answers to everything.

      Judith's eyebrows are very revealing.

  22. waves of the sea 23

    While it does appear very unlikely for National to win, I wouldn't get too comfortable and count them out of the game just yet. It may not even take a single 'dramatic event' for Labour to lose – there could also be a steady and relentless stream of smaller, impactful, events, which ultimately work to discredit Jacinda's reputation & undermine the Labour party's credibility.

    According to the latest poll, there's about a 20% gap between Labour & National. If we assume that the figures are roughly correct, then in order for the Nats to win (by the narrowest of margins), they would need to convince an average of about 3-4% of all current Labour (swing) voters to switch sides each week before the election. Around 2-3%, if we count out the Greens, and count in Act.

    Now, that's a tall order, but it's not impossible, especially if they play their cards right (and Labour doesn't e.g. by making several bad judgement calls). National could have been saving up a couple of potential bombs from over the past 3 years, waiting until the right time to unleash them, just before this election. There may also be a portion of current Labour voters who won't actually end up voting on the day, because if the party looks like they are going to win, then why bother?

    There are many variable and factors which are unknowable. Life is full of unpredictable, unexpected events. And if Labour, in particular, are underestimating the opposition and appearing to be arrogant, then it could be their downfall. National have also probably been holding back and waiting until this period before giving it everything they've got.

    • observer 23.1

      It's possible that a number of those things could happen. It's a historical fact of MMP that parties polling over 50% pre-election have never got over 50% of votes in the end (though they still won).

      One thing you can be absolutely certain of is that Jacinda Ardern is not going to behave as you suggest in the last paragraph. Labour supporters might (and some will). Ardern won't. That's just not who she is. A lot of things can change before election day – but not character.

    • Brian Tregaskin 23.2

      Now, that's a tall order, but it's not impossible, especially if they play their cards right (and Labour doesn't e.g. by making several bad judgement calls). National could have been saving up a couple of potential bombs from over the past 3 years, waiting until the right time to unleash them, just before this election.

      These clowns have nothing left in the tank and even if they do throw bombs it will backfire and the public will dislike them even more than they do now.
      The only place where they are going on Sept 19 is to a massive defeat possibly larger than the 2002 loss.

  23. Tricledrown 25

    Gerry Hatrick Brownoselee claiming Ashley Bloomfield is asking us to prepare by having masks for everyone just in case,brownoselee making shit up saying that it’s because border controls aren't tight enough.

    Scaremongering then says it's a good idea anyway.

    Desperation playing the Hysteria Card again why not go back to Nationals policy of opening our border's by July follow Australias partial lockdown cut taxes cut spending.

    Bridges pulled all those stunts and lead the National Party to the lowest polls in 18 yrs .more of the same Gerry your party is on a hatrick of leaders..

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    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    11 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    12 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    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
    13 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
    15 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
    1 day 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 ...
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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 ...
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    6 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
    6 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
    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...
    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

  • 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    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
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