The Emissions Reduction Plan we voted for

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, May 17th, 2022 - 33 comments
Categories: climate change, ETS, greens, james shaw, julie anne genter, labour, sustainability - Tags: , ,

Nearly my shortest post ever, because there’s not a lot else that needs to be said.

However, I suspect the tweet will annoy some Labour supporters as well as dissers of the Greens, so let’s pull it apart. From the Green Party’s website: Finally a Plan to take on the Climate Crisis,

Over the last four years, the Greens in Government have laid the foundations for climate action in every part of Aotearoa. The Emissions Reduction Plan(ERP) is a landmark all-of-Government plan to cut climate pollution in a way that makes life better for everyone, protects nature, and improves our communities.

It comes after decades of calling for climate action and after years of negotiations led by Green Party Co-leader and Climate Minister James Shaw. And what’s more, it will be paid for by polluters.

Containing over 300 initiatives to cut climate pollution, it’s a big deal and will have a huge influence on the future of Aotearoa.

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most transformative initiatives: 

  • More walking, cycling and public transport through a range of local and national measures
  • Clean car standard to begin in 2023, and further measures to make EVs affordable – such as social leasing and scrap and replace the scheme
  • Decarbonising freight so our trucks and trains run on clean energy not oil
  • Improving kerbside waste collection across Aotearoa
  • A ban on new low & medium temperature coal boilers and phasing out existing coal boilers (by 2037)
  • Less organic waste in landfills & $103 million for waste reduction
  • Banning new fossil fuel baseload generation & 100% renewable power generation
  • Improvements to public transport including reducing emissions caused by buses (zero by 2035), a national ticketing system & funding for better bus systems
  • Gas Transition Plan for households and businesses
  • A strategy for an equitable transition & working with unions, communities and businesses to develop plans
  • Changing the building code for warmer, dryer, more energy-efficient buildings
  • Funding for the development of regenerative farming practices & for Māori farmers to adopt low emissions farming practices
  • Māori climate strategy that prioritises mātauranga Māori
  • Restoration and protection of indigenous forests

These initiatives are decades in the making. The truth is we’ve known how to address the climate crisis for many years. The hard part has been getting politicians to act.

That’s why the ERP is so significant. Finally, we have a commitment and a plan to act, all while creating jobs and making polluters pay.

My emphasis. The ERP isn’t enough, and the Greens, and Shaw, openly say this. (full plan is here). One of the biggest holes is what’s happening with agriculture.

(If it’s too depressing, remember that meanwhile, in the background, a whole bunch of farmers have been doing regenag anyway. When the rest of New Zealand catches up, those farms will be the signposts of how to transition ag).

Analysis and critique from Russell Norman, Marc Daalder at Newsroom, Bernard Hickey at The Kākā, and Greenpeace NZ.

However the problems with the ERP doesn’t mean it is nothing. Professor Bronwyn Hayward, Director of Hei Puāwaitanga Sustainable Development and Civic Imagination Research group, Canterbury University,

https://twitter.com/BMHayward/status/1526059471268900865

“It’s easy to be cynical, but I do feel quietly optimistic, that finally this is an emissions plan that starts us as a nation on a new journey of clearly reporting and measuring the difference we are making for our climate and our community. Having the Climate Commission regularly assess our progress is a very real difference to anything we’ve had in the past. All evidence shows that the countries that are able to sustain downward emissions reductions while also protecting populations are countries that that have an independent plan and an independent agency to assess performance over time. This is why it matters that the NZ Climate Commission sets out the budget for the amount of heat trapping gas we can produce as a country and assesses our performance. Their independence is crucial.

Thomas Nash, Greater Wellington Regional Council councillor and climate chair,

Nash also speaks to the importance of having the structures set in place,

The scale of the plan’s cross government reach is remarkable (although undoubtedly boring to most people) and the funding is big, far more than anything ever facilitated by a Green Minister.

That boring stuff is gold. They’re all pointing to the fact that in order to make effective change you have to have government departments willing and able to implement that change, and the legislative structures so that Nact don’t tear it all down again. That’s what we have now. It will get easier to do the things we should be doing, should we vote in a more climate progressive government next year.

The rest of Nash’s thread focuses on the details of the major transport restructuring, and he also points to where the limitations are coming from,

The plan’s headline grabbing focus on replacing fossil fuel private cars with EVs feels out of touch with reality if you’re thinking about the wider climate, transport and urban planning challenge, but I guess it is the kind of policy Labour Ministers felt comfortable funding.

Climate Minister James Shaw was copping a big of flack yesterday, some blaming him for the ERP not being better/stronger. Which demonstrates a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of how parliament works. In 2017 we had a Labour-led coalition government with NZ First. The Greens provided Confidence and Supply. In 2020, Labour got to govern alone, but gave two Ministerial portfolios to the Greens, including Climate.

Shaw as Climate Minister is formally outside of Cabinet but must support and implement Labour’s Cabinet decisions. (PDF of Labour/Green agreement). Pretty amazing what he has managed to achieve despite all that.

If the Greens had been coalition partners in 2017, and had more MPs and again been in coalition in 2020, we’d be seeing a very different plan. If the Greens were the major party, we’d be streets ahead of where we are now. NZ First dragged the chain in 2017, but the problems with the ERP rest largely with Labour. If you think this is on Shaw, see if you can explain how, within the structures of parliament and the Labour/Green agreement, he could have made Labour adopt more progressive climate policy.

It’s inconceivable that the Greens would have not moved on agriculture if they had been allowed. From their Climate policy,

Agriculture: Immediately begin a phase-in of greenhouse gas emission
pricing for agriculture, along with suitable support for a Just Transition for
affected communities. There are cost-effective ways to reduce agricultural
emissions, many of which also boost on-farm productivity, biodiversity and
resilience and reduce other forms of pollution (see our Agricultural and Rural Affairs policy)

Labour’s environmental approach,

Labour will keep working with farmers on our world-first partnership to reduce primary sector climate emissions at the farm level, including improving tools for estimating and benchmarking emissions on farms, increasing farm advisory capacity and capability, and providing recognition for on-farm mitigation.

and

“New Zealand’s agriculture sector and our farmers already do so much to address climate change and Labour will support them in that work by increasing funding across agricultural climate change research programmes by $6 million a year, to boost research happening in New Zealand and build on our international leadership in this area.

Supporting farmers to reduce emissions through integrated farm planning.

Nothing about agriculture, the ETS and regulating the farming sector, lots about letting farmers get there in their own time. But the whole point is that we no longer have the time to spare.

Te Pāti Māori,

  • Bring methane emissions from agriculture into the ETS, and incentivise transitioning away from intensive dairying

TPM also have a solid emphasis on regenerative agriculture, as do the Greens.Te Pāti Māori climate policy,

Intensive dairying has become the country’s biggest river and climate polluter in Aotearoa. The IPCC says we need significant reductions in methane in the next eight years to keep the world under 1.5C. Aotearoa can only meet its emissions reductions obligations by significantly reducing livestock numbers and moving away from emissions-intensive farming practices like the use of synthetic nitrogen fertiliser, and imported feed, and towards regenerative and value-added farming.

Regenerative agriculture has its roots in indigenous farming practices that our tupuna used to produce food sustainably before European colonisation. Regenerative farming also fits in with climate adaptation as it increases resilience against impacts from drought, flooding, and other extreme weather events, and improves food self-sufficiency.

I cannot find anything on Labour’s website about regenag. This matters because regenag and allied systems are the way we can farm sustainably while lowering emissions and building resiliency. Mainstream farming tech isn’t going to get us out of this as a primary approach and it looks like Labour believe we can green the massive number of industrial dairy farms (and Fonterra) and all will be well. No-one taking climate seriously believes that.

I’m not saying this from a partisan position. I’m saying this to point out that if we truly want adequate progress on climate, if we are willing to act as if climate is the greatest crisis of our time (it is) and act as if it is here, now (it is), then we need to support and vote for the parties that will give us that. We are fortunate to have both the Green Party and Te Pāti Māori to choose from. New Zealand would be very well served by having all three parties in government next year.

Don’t forget the local body elections on October 8th!

33 comments on “The Emissions Reduction Plan we voted for ”

  1. Peter 1

    Act as if climate is the greatest crisis of our time?

    Speaking of which … on the other side there are some who see the biggest crisis of our time is that National is not the Government.

    So what would a National / Act government have announced instead of what came out yesterday?

    • mickysavage 1.1

      If they followed the Key model they would nod and agree that climate change is a terrible thing then step by step and decision by decision they would undermine the country's ability to do anything.

    • AB 1.2

      So what would a National / Act government have announced instead of what came out yesterday

      That we need a 'strong economy' to be able to afford to take action on climate change. That means ensuring that the private sector is profitable, can fund R&D and come up with market-based solutions to emissions reduction. To make businesses profitable we need to reduce their unnecessary costs including wages and compliance costs. Compliance costs that need slashing include health and safety, immigration restrictions, fair pay agreements, minimum wage laws and (ahem) environmental regulations.

      In other words, in order to lower carbon emissions we just need to keep them high (and higher) for a bit longer until the magic of markets leads us to solutions. It won't be for long (promise) and this absolutely isn't kicking the can down the road.

      And this is why it seems that National are relatively comfortable with what was announced yesterday. They figure that if they get into power they can easily just weaken it a bit more to give their supporters/donors what they want.

      Labour is doing what they think is politically possible and can't really be blamed for that. But we are really politically stuck on this issue until the Nat/ACT influence is a minor one only. Which means that so much future warming is now baked in that we'll need to be thinking about mitigation – probably an even worse sh*t fight than emission reduction.

    • Incognito 1.3

      So what would a National / Act government have announced instead of what came out yesterday?

      Lip service and stall, stall, stall.

  2. Robert Guyton 2

    Shortest post? 🙂

    I'm with Thomas Nash:

    "The way to get stronger government action on climate is to elect a more progressive government next year and climate oriented councils this year. I’m as frustrated as everyone else who knows the plan is not enough and that we have no time for any more wrong moves on climate."

    When rung by The Southland Times for comment, I had a lot to say about industry and my delight to find their inclusion in the plan, with the notable exception of agriculture, and used Fonterra's CO2 spewing factory at Edendale as an example, but they selected my more anodyne comments for publication 🙂 The Southland Regional council has gathered its skirts and leapt into semi-action with a strong initiative, that I support, naturally, and wanted to "localise" my comments on the Emissions Reduction Plan announcement 🙂 I might use Nash's comment when asked to describe our own efforts a little down the track. It is pleasing though, to feel the tides turn on several levels.

    "Environment Southland councillor Robert Guyton said it was very encouraging to see such wide-reaching policies put forward, and believed Southland was in an “amazing” position to transform its industries in line with the plan.

    “We have vast amounts of land, good rainfall and quite a few less people than other regions … we're quite innovative, Southland people … we’re in a good place to transform,” he said.

    The creation of the Environment Southland Climate Change subcommittee, for example, was a promising sign for the region.

    “The new climate change committee is extremely important … these issues are being actively addressed, I am extremely proud of it.”

    However, the Emissions Reduction Plan was largely proposals and pathways forward, Guyton said, and he was mindful that some industries such as agriculture may push back against implementing proposed regulations.

    “We have to hope they go ahead,” he said.

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/128657180/emissions-reduction-plan-too-much-too-soon-for-ev-sales

    • weka 2.1

      Shortest post?

      self deprecating (JAG’s tweet could have stood on its own, I can’t write a short post to save myself),

      can we put your whole statement up as a post? Including the bits they didn’t publish

      • Robert Guyton 2.1.1

        I'm not especially pleased with what was published – my full response (over the phone, un-prepared-for) was far stronger than what was selected. Consequently, I don't have a record of the full conversation. The paper chose not to include most of my comments about land-use changes in Southland, the outrageous burning of lignite by Fonterra and so on. I don't blame the reporter; I'm pleased they called me and I've received a lot of messages in response, including several from my fellow councillors 🙂

        There will be a better "seed statement" for a post out there; the release of James Shaw's work yesterday has moved the conversation forward dramatically, imo. Thursday's budget will ginger it up even more 🙂

        • weka 2.1.1.1

          Putting up posts that look at important issues through a regional lens is good I think. I probably won't be able to write such a post, but if you feel the inclination at any point, the door is open 👍

          Good to hear your optimism. I suspect that in a few years time things will have changed a fair amount. The balance is with voters and the left.

    • barry 2.2

      I know it is not what you all that you would have wanted said, but for the Southland Times that is already a lot. Keep up the fantastic work.

      • Robert Guyton 2.2.1

        Thank you, Barry. It certainly fed into the council's climate committee workshop today. Putting our (councillors) hands up as a team willing to lead on the issue, is something I've been pushing for a long time now. The ES staff are excellent around this topic – we have people who are highly qualified in this very field. There will be more reports in The Southland Times before too long – I don't expect to be the one answering the questions, but they'll be asked of someone on the council.

        • Poission 2.2.1.1

          Did you discuss that announced projects as a part of the ERF and Regional development up to now will mean 100000 tons of co2 pa from industrial processes and Government services (schools ,prisons etc) will not be forthcoming,over the ER period.

          That the projects also increase efficiency in onsite energy use,such as electricity for a further saving in generation ,and the saving in co2 alone ( from above process mitigation) of around 1 tonne is equivalent to each South lander not exhaling (respiration ) for 3 months.

          • Robert Guyton 2.2.1.1.1

            Nope. Suggesting that Southlanders not exhale would damage my chances at the coming election 🙂

  3. Blade 3

    James Shaw was interviewed by Mikey and Jamie McKay today.

    Mikey destroyed him completely. And even the more benign McKay, had James talking inanities at times. To be fair, things may have been different if Shaw had complete control over government climate policy.

    In my opinion, Labour needs to prepare for the opposition benches next year. Or, even better, call an early election and put us out of our misery.

    https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/james-shaw-climate-change-minister-says-the-government-has-been-forced-to-play-catch-up-on-emissions-reduction-plan/

    • Incognito 3.1

      Mikey destroyed him completely.

      That’s a shame, if indeed true, and so typical of those shock-jocks who always play the man to boost their own ego and ratings. Did they have anything useful to say about (against, one would assume) the ERP or had it gone over their heads, as usual?

      What would happen if they called a snap election and how would it help to reduce emissions in NZ? What would you like to see happening and why?

      • Blade 3.1.1

        ''That’s a shame, if indeed true.''

        A link is provided so you can make your own judgements.

        "What would happen if they called a snap election and how would it help to reduce emissions in NZ? What would you like to see happening and why?"

        I can't answer that because Weka doesn't allow dissenting views regarding Climate Change on her threads covering the issue.

        • Incognito 3.1.1.1

          If the claim about ‘destruction’ of Shaw is true then I have no interest in listening to the hatchet job. If it is not true then I have no interest in confirming this. Either way, I don’t care because it is largely irrelevant to the ERP.

          I’m interested in your personal opinion but you duck for cover, which makes some sense under this Post. You could always argue your opinion on OM instead of cowardly spamming weka’s CC Posts with hatchet jobs by shock-jocks who will oppose any policy or plan to reduce NZ emissions just for the sake of it and because it came from a Labour-Green Government.

          BTW, I don’t think weka has a problem with dissenting views per se but with outright CC denials. However, please don’t put this to the test here 😉

          • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.1.1

            I think weka is known for sweeping idiot-posts into the trash, rather than disallowing dissenting views. At least, that's how I read it.

    • AB 3.2

      In my limited exposure to 'Mikey', I have never heard him destroy anything other than all evidence of his own rationality.

    • weka 3.3

      Hoskings wanted the Climate Minister to answer a question about a specific model of car and if it was included in the subsidy or not. MH is an idiot, I gave up listening after that.

      (it was kind of interesting though listening to Shaw parse MH's obvious trolling and try and find a way to give a coherent answer. Some of the questions were good, some of them were daft).

      • Blade 3.3.1

        Obvious trolling by MH??

        He started the interview by giving a Shaw a chance to salvage some mana. The point Hosking has shown up again is….there is no point to the government’s announced policy. Shaw talked MAINLY in generalities. Everything is endlessly malleable. There is no detail as Mikey pointed out.

        Shaw couldn't define a low income family and didn't want to get into details about how they may benefit from the car scheme.

        Shaw is the minister fronting this, and anyone not living in an ideological bubble, knows he has failed to deliver.

        That leads to my next point. Having been banned for the best part of the last six weeks, I have been able to smell the roses a little more. Weka, you may not be aware of the anger out in the community towards this government.

        This ERP policy has just added fuel to the fire.

        BTW- I'm prepared to listen to any interview you may like to post showing Shaw in a good light with regards to the ERP.

        • Incognito 3.3.1.1

          Shaw couldn't define a low income family and didn't want to get into details about how they may benefit from the car scheme.

          That’s odd because in a different interview this morning he said:

          Bridge questioned Shaw, arguing the scheme seemed very expensive – but the Climate Change Minister said "vehicles are a reasonably expensive asset" and people could receive a rebate of between $6000 to $10,000 per vehicle.

          https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/05/climate-change-minister-james-shaw-defends-govt-s-scrap-and-replace-scheme-for-electric-vehicles-after-act-slams-policy.html

          And Michael Wood said this morning:

          Transport Minister Michael Wood said the threshold would be about the median household income.

          "The median household income is around about $75,000 or so – it'll be round about that level – we'll do further work to make sure that's that very specific."

          The scrap and replace scheme would apply to vehicles eight years old or less, and costing $35,000 and below.

          https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/467240/evs-will-still-be-out-of-reach-for-many-despite-new-subsidy-industry-warns

          I reckon that some interviewers are good at their jobs and get the best out of their guests and some are just shock-jocks. MH is just a shite interviewer, which is why the PM also doesn’t like to waste her precious time on him by default.

          Having been banned for the best part of the last six weeks, I have been able to smell the roses a little more. Weka, you may not be aware of the anger out in the community towards this government.

          As an aside, and irrelevant to the OP, anger is not a good measure of and for good or bad policy, it simply is an instinctive emotion that requires not using the frontal cortex.

          Let’s put a few things straight here. You were banned (by me) for 4 weeks from 1 April to 29 April and then again (by me) for 10 days from 3 May to 13 May. FWIW, weka challenged the second ban in the back-end (which reminds me that I should reply). I think you should be banned more often and for longer, so that you can smell more roses and look at the moon – it was full moon last night and I hope you got to enjoy it despite being allowed back here.

        • weka 3.3.1.2

          Obvious trolling by MH??

          I guess the other explanation is he's ignorant. Do you really expect the Climate Minister to know how a specific model and make of car fits into the scheme?

          He started the interview by giving a Shaw a chance to salvage some mana.

          This presumes he'd lost mana.

          The point Hosking has shown up again is….there is no point to the government’s announced policy.

          You don't believe in AGW, so of course you see no point. But it's obviously there and been talked about extensively in the past few days and the past year. I even wrote a post about why it is important.

          Shaw talked MAINLY in generalities. Everything is endlessly malleable. There is no detail as Mikey pointed out.

          That's not true. Shaw said some is detail and some is plans that need to be developed. This is stupid politicking, especially off the back of govt being majorly involved in the pandemic response in the past two years.

          Shaw couldn't define a low income family and didn't want to get into details about how they may benefit from the car scheme.

          Bullshit, he explained.

          Shaw is the minister fronting this, and anyone not living in an ideological bubble, knows he has failed to deliver.

          Deliver what exactly?

          That leads to my next point. Having been banned for the best part of the last six weeks, I have been able to smell the roses a little more. Weka, you may not be aware of the anger out in the community towards this government.

          This ERP policy has just added fuel to the fire.

          I know lots of people angry with the government, so you'd have to be more specific. Imagine how angry people are going to be when they start losing their houses and jobs because NZ dragged the chain on climate response.

        • Mike the Lefty 3.3.1.3

          Mike Hosking is mostly concerned about what the clean car policies might do to his image. Imagine that people might stop envying him as he roars past in his ultra-expensive petrol guzzling Ferrari and start booing him instead. A blow to his ego that he couldn't take. That's what he's concerned about – himself – and that's what Mike Hosking has always been most concerned about – himself – he couldn't give a rats about ordinary people.

    • Robert Guyton 3.4

      "In my opinion, Labour needs to prepare for the opposition benches next year"

      Your opinions are precious to us, Blade. Please hold the line.

      *elevator music plays…

  4. Scud 4

    The is ERP is a filled with warm fuzzy words & meanings which make people feel they are doing something IRT combating CC, but in reality they are doing 4/5ths of SFA.

    In other words this ERP is a complete load of Bollocks.

    But on the same token, as a Famous Pussian General once said "A half ass plan is better than no plan at all, as a half plan can be made workable at some cost to lives & material".

  5. Binders full of women 5

    Yay!! coal powered EVs. Please Lab-Green.. the population is growing– make some hydro dams ASAP.

    • Graeme 5.1

      Investigation work for Onslow is going ahead now. Expect some announcements in the near future, probably pre-election.

      However the generation boost that Onslow will provide comes form new wind and solar, Onslow being a way of storing that energy for when it is needed, balancing demand with supply.

  6. Peter 7

    I'm not sure what all the fuss is about. I'm sure on tv news last night I saw Christopher Luxon saying that climate change was simple to sort out.

  7. peter sim 8

    I am bemused, as a denizen of a small(ish) country a very, very long way from once lucrative markets on distant parts of the planet how to cope with climate change.

    Import/export trade globally requires long distance transport systems.

    What fuels the transport systems? Burning hydrocarbons, the by product being CO2.

    The media constantly bray about the woes of the "tourism industry" in NZ.

    All transport shipping globally relies on burning petroleum products.

    Aeroplanes burn thousands of tons petroleum based products high up in our atmosphere.

    Stop burning petroleum is the answer.

    Replace with what?

    I am not sure Christopher Luxon, or his business cronies understand any of that.

    I could be wrong. Maybe the national party rich list has a cunning plan to build sailing ships using pinus radiata as sailing ship masts and spars.

    This planet is destined to become enveloped in carbon dioxide (Putin may change the time line.

    Any existing life forms post human extinctionwill be interesting.

  8. adam 9

    Slightly off topic, but I hope it fits. Feel free to move if not.

    The teal independents in the up coming Australian election, may be the shot in the arm that is needed to help get all these proposals both here and across the ditch across the line.

    Been wondering as ACT are in absolute denial about the effects of climate change, and national are not much better is a conservative teal like movement here just a election cycle away? Or possibly one brewing.

    I know some of the conservatives I speak too are getting upset with the whole lack of progress on this issue.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: In today’s ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Tuesday, March 19:Kāinga Ora’s dry rot The Spinoff DailyBill McKibben on ‘Climate Superfunds’ making Big Oil pay for climate damage The Crucial YearsPreston Mui on returning to 1980s-style productivity growth NoahpinionAndy Boenau on NIMBYs needing unusual bedfellows Urbanism SpeakeasyNed Resnikoff's case ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 hour ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    3 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    4 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    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
    5 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
    8 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
    9 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
    9 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
    9 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
    10 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
    11 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
    13 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 ...
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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 ...
    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
    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
  • 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

  • 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
    2 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
    7 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
    9 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
    9 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
    23 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
    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
    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
    6 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
    1 week 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-19T06:03:19+00:00