The exciting sexy selloff of our State housing

Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, November 1st, 2014 - 78 comments
Categories: housing, national, paula bennett, phil twyford, same old national - Tags:

National has a plan to sell off at least some of the state’s emergency housing.  This is a plan based in doctrine rather than reality.  The intent appears to be to that by divestment of the housing stock to other organisations these organisations will be able to provide enhanced housing services to the country’s poor.  The intent is based on hope than rather than analysis.  Government owned emergency housing has worked well ever since the first Labour Government.  Society has not changed that much to suggest that the original model is no longer relevant.

At least this is what reality should be telling our leaders.  But it is clear that the Government is more concerned with slogans than reality.

The policy was not given any prominence during this year’s election campaign.   As that liberal bastion the Herald has stated:

It is a bold step and one that ought to have been flagged in the election campaign. The Government obviously had this reform in mind many months before the election when the Social Development Ministry was given control of Housing NZ’s income-related rent subsidies. The plan can fairly be called a privatisation of state housing and it would have been a hot issue. That was no reason to keep it quiet. John Key went to the previous election with a programme of partial asset sales and it did him no harm. Why did he say nothing about this one?

Paula Bennett is the flag carrier for this policy.  She was interviewed on Morning Report this week and as usual made no sense at all.  She thought that the state divesting itself of social housing will mean that the problem will be addressed.  I always thought that more and not less emergency housing would be the solution.  She agreed that camping grounds should not be emergency housing places and that families using camping grounds for housing are doing so because there is nowhere else for them to go.

She also thought there were developers who can do some pretty exciting sexy stuff that will suit people much better that what Government has been doing.  I am intrigued.  Can anyone, anyone cite an example where a private developer has done more for people needing emergency housing than the State?

Bennett also complained about housing that has not been looked after or maintained. Her lot have been in power for six years.  They should start wearing failures of the state rather than blaming others.

Bennett thought that the market and freeing up community housing providers will solve our problems.  Letting private entities build up their balance sheet will let them borrow money and provide more houses.  Funny thing is that the Government is well placed to build more houses.  Robust balance sheet, an ability to borrow money at cheap rates, why should the Government exclude itself from providing social housing and instead rely on a group of community organisations to solve problems?

The market does not work.  The Ranui Caravan Park that was referred to by Bennett for instance has been described as “a mix of tiny one-bedroom units and decrepit caravans, and is home to 300 semi-permanent residents.”  Is this what Bennett has in mind when she talks about developers and investors finding solutions?  Because in a market driven economy where the focus is on cost this is exactly the sort of solution that is normally delivered.

And the proposal is so Victorian.  The policy is based on a premise that the State should not do anything about poverty but we should rely on private charity instead.

National’s refusal to accept that the State can own property which attracts a market rental is bizarre.  Why not house a young family and when they get themselves on their feet financially charge them a market rental?  The profit can then be put into new social housing.  Why let the private sector reap the benefits but insist that the state bears the losses?

On Wednesday afternoon in Parliament Phil Twyford was able to question Paula about her obvious sexual excitement caused by the prospect of weakening the State further. The video makes interesting viewing. Twyford’s questions were direct and pointed. Bennett’s responses were frankly nonsensical.

This particular policy shows the Government’s current modus operandi. They have learned that they should not say what they think. They should instead do what they always do, and try to weaken the collective, while at the same time talk as if they care about the problem.

78 comments on “The exciting sexy selloff of our State housing ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Dont worry. Be happy 1
    1 November 2014 at 8:56 am

    Who will be the first MP from the Left arrested at a sit in to stop forced evictions from privatised State Houses?

    • Paul 1.1
      1 November 2014 at 8:58 am

      Hone Harawira has already been arrested for resistance in GI.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 1.2
      1 November 2014 at 12:28 pm

      It technically wasnt a state house privatisation.
      Old houses on large sections were removed to allow MORE state houses on same area. This happened near me while under Labour, weatherboard houses were removed ( for use elsewhere) and two level terrace type houses were built. The end result was more homes.
      I understand HNZ were having some privately owned houses in that mix that Hone was arrested over.

      • Murray Rawshark 1.2.1
        2 November 2014 at 3:37 am

        Hmmm. 156 state houses removed and 78 new ones will be built. The rest are a gift to developers. Are you using the same logic that says the power company sales weren’t privatisation either?

        • ma rohemo 1.2.1.1
          2 November 2014 at 9:46 am

          The houses were in Glen Innes.
          It is a pleasant easterly facing slope that runs down to the Tamaki estuary.

          It is a geographical extension of the very exclusive Glendowie/Point England area. Property prices there are high.
          Glen Innes is way too nice a location for state house tenants, when it could be owned by rich bastards who don’t give a toss about housing the poor.

          Of course we have to go through the good cop/bad cop routine where Blinglish announces a 5000 house sell-off followed by a weekend release from Bennett saying that they are considering selling the more poorly maintained ones.

          It is the same old BS. What a pity only half the country can see it.

    • johnm 1.3
      1 November 2014 at 1:07 pm

      Only Mana would do that and Labour outed him from parliament. No labour mp will do that, they’re not really left at all, but right with a more human face.

  2. someone else 2
    1 November 2014 at 8:57 am

    Hi Mickey.
    Are you using the terms “state housing” and “emergency housing” interchangeably, or are you talking about two different things?

    I hope the words “emergency housing” aren’t a strategic term that the Labour Party will use to debate the privatisiation of state housing. Because if it is, it will be just like the term “child-poverty” in place of “poverty” – a total buy-in to right-wing framing. National relies on this kind of shit. The wealthy and powerful rely on it.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      1 November 2014 at 11:30 am

      Kia ora SE

      I am using them interchangably. But I believe there is a role for the state to provide emergency housing and also to provide long term rentals to people.

    • Murray Rawshark 2.2
      2 November 2014 at 3:40 am

      +1
      I also think we should be careful with our terminology. Emergency housing is only a small part of state housing.

  3. Manuka - Ancient Order of Rawsharks 3
    1 November 2014 at 9:01 am

    Five and a half thousand families on the waiting list for housing, — Of course they have to sell off a third of State Housing to provide homes for them! Mate, what’s not to understand? Besides, there’s a fleet of new ministerial chauffeur driven limousines to pay for, remember. And a flag referendum.

  4. ankerawshark 4
    1 November 2014 at 9:07 am

    Well done Phil T

    What a sarcastic c.w Ms Bennett is?

  5. Heather 5
    1 November 2014 at 9:35 am

    Phil Twyford did an excellent job in the house trying to question an over excited, strange and often nonsensible women. Paula I think is out of control some of the time, she is so unbelievable in her comments, it is childish.
    The suggestion that this person may be the Prime Minister of New Zealand is unthinkable.
    New Zealand’s proud history of housingb for those that need is slowly been eroded. I have little believe that the Government will build new houses, they have lied before and will continue to lie.
    We have lived in Housing New Zealand accommodation on 2 occassions and the homes were strong and well built.
    It is the present Government that deliberately allowed for the exisiting stock to fall into disrepair, it is nothing short of outrageous.

    • tc 5.1
      1 November 2014 at 9:45 am

      After the GE result and kiwis preference for smiley wavey shonky why not Bennefit for leader. She just needs more training and experience the bought estate will take care of the rest through its many tendrils.

      • Manuka - Ancient Order of Rawsharks 5.1.1
        1 November 2014 at 10:12 am

        Quote from her, mid-vid: “The angrier you get with me, the better my career seems to go, so that’s fine.” At 5.56 min.

        • ankerawshark 5.1.1.1
          1 November 2014 at 10:27 am

          Manuka – Ancient Order of Raw Sharks @ 5.1.1

          Yes what a give away about Ms Bennetts true concerns and (self) interest.

          • Manuka - Ancient Order of Rawsharks 5.1.1.1.1
            1 November 2014 at 11:52 am

            Parliamentary Haute Couture, or at least window dressing. She’s displaying the shimmering fabrics of the Emperor’s newly clothed state housing policy. Saying, “See how beautiful it is!” when in reality, there’s nothing there.

            • Tracey 5.1.1.1.1.1
              1 November 2014 at 11:56 am

              remember when she was pretending to be a proud westie, and how quickly she became a proud upper harbour person.

              • les …
                1 November 2014 at 12:25 pm

                I notice her dress sense is improving,maybe Boagy is advising her on Upper Harbour couture.

                • ghostwhowalksnz …
                  1 November 2014 at 12:38 pm

                  It baffles me that she is seen as some bright shining star for national.

                  I suppose Crosby Textor think she can ‘grow the vote’ and they certainly have worked hard to turn her into a bright shining lie.
                  Meanwhile traditional tory women like Tolley, who actually achieve something in portfolio are kept out of the spotlight.
                  Others like Melissa Lee who was soup du jour 6 years ago have been kept on but are invisible

                  • les …
                    1 November 2014 at 12:48 pm

                    Tolley ,sure doesn’t impress me.Not many of the Natz do…one with a future is Jamie Lee Ross.The dearth of talent is probably the reason Bennett is touted as a future leader and the reasoning behind the Team Key strategy.

                    • karol …
                      1 November 2014 at 12:55 pm

                      Bennett has been promoted as potential leader since the demoting of Collins.

                    • Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark …
                      1 November 2014 at 1:31 pm

                      The actress. Remembers her lines. Sometimes.

                    • ghostwhowalksnz …
                      1 November 2014 at 2:21 pm

                      JLR a future ? Hes part of the Whaleoil, Collins, Williamson , Lusk faction.
                      hes been a full time polly since he was elected councillor at 18. Has no tertiary qualifications either. hes just a stooge for those who cant be patient enough to sit through endless meetings.
                      he wouldnt even be an MP if it wasnt for Lusk

                    • phillip ure …
                      2 November 2014 at 9:24 am

                      pimping ross..?..now that is fucken hilarious…!

                  • Murray Rawshark …
                    2 November 2014 at 3:45 am

                    I think they promote her exactly because she is simple, self-interested and has neither ideology nor philosophy. She acts to please what she sees as the powerful men around her. She’ll be great at taking orders from Hollywood and Wall St. She’s too bloody thick to even see what will be happening around her.

                • finbar …
                  1 November 2014 at 3:50 pm

                  I will take that as hehe,and rightly so.Seen lovely Michele,and her couture as she was walking into court the other day with her ‘SQUEEZE”I thought middle age had the tag of give back my youth.Possible our age longevity has moved it along to sixty with wealths arrogance.Michele,Kermit on Acid,with boots.

  6. Kevin M 6
    1 November 2014 at 9:57 am

    Bennett/Boyd & co as usual can be proven to be dead wrong. Still awaiting Candice Haakma Winz staffer apology letter on the “emergency housing” scenario bullshit from 6 years ago, still awaiting the answers for the power bill payment failure of Winz for invalids who get abused at Winz($5.00 per week for power), still awaiting answer on why the rape victim in Invercargill was turned away by Winz staffers when seeking aid. Winz/Bennett/Boyd/Winz staffers etc have declined a public open debate on there unfounded lies & accusations towards those they manage, they also declined intervention of a media crew to showcase there abuse towards clientele. Failed policy caused recent deaths, not good governance at all. Winz decline aid to rape victim. Donations welcome. http://www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/freedomtolive

  7. adam 7
    1 November 2014 at 9:58 am

    Please Micky, you sound soft. This is the thing, you present another slow bow down, as you change the language to appear to moderate. This when the VRWNJ’s have taken the debate so far into, right wing wet dream ideological lala land.

    Micky, you raise some great points, and put up some good arguments, then you try to be moderate. When the middle ground has been ripped from under your feet, why do you bother – this is why people say labour is national lite.

    This is a policy of stupidity in front of overwhelming evidence that the country as a whole benefits from social housing. Again we have a national party so far off the reservation they can say any old bat shit and people rush to make it appear reasonable.

    Liberalism, a bankrupt ideology – which now is so far into lala land, it’s going to let more people die for ideological purity. I’m trying to think of other ideological pure times when working people got shafted – Oh that right – the Gorta Mór and the Great Famine of 1876–78.

    • dave brown 7.1
      1 November 2014 at 10:57 am

      The dinosaur in the backyard here is the global crisis of capitalism as it goes down the historic drain into climate chaos and human extinction.

      This doesn’t leave any room for ideological purity or ideological grandstanding just survival instincts.

      The reason why the NACTs have an agenda to smash the unions, drive the surplus army of unemployed into misery, and terrorise us to death, is that they have little time left to rip off the rest of the wealth in NZ before they pull up the drawbridge against the seething rabble.

      Screwing the last 10 minutes of labour power from workers, selling off state housing, contracting out the state functions and so on, is all rational when viewed as the emergency plan of the ruling class.

      Such is their drive for the preservation of their wealth this is misconstrued as an arbitrary war on the poor driven by bloodymindedness and ideological mania.

      Which leads to the delusion that if we lock them up in the madhouse we can save ourselves.

      No. Nothing arbitrary about it. This is the reason of classic liberalism. Freedom of the class that owns private property and un-freedom of the class from which the private property was expropriated.

      The survival instinct of the dispossessed is to repossess this property as the means of subsistence and species survival.

      We are the vast majority and have the power to take control before it is too late. The only thing missing is our consciousness of this fact.

      • karol 7.1.1
        1 November 2014 at 11:24 am

        I do not think the majority of right wingers who promote and/or lead such policies, actually think in terms of a long term self-preservation plan: nor that they are involved in such a vast rightwing, well-planned and orchestrated conspiracy.

        Their thinking appears to me to be far more short term and self-serving.

        I think you may be confusing a possible outcome, with the main intent of such right wing policies.

        • dave brown 7.1.1.1
          1 November 2014 at 12:11 pm

          Karol
          The “emergency plan of the ruling class” does not need to be a “vast, long-term …orchestrated conspiracy”.
          It need only be short term, as in, say, each electoral cycle and NACT parliamentary agenda.
          The main reason that this plan can be entrusted to the political representatives of that class is that the dominant ideology of capitalism already prevails in the general population, so no conscious orchestrated conspiracy is necessary to justify the existence of capitalism.
          The “emergency plan” as I use it here is a short-hand for the daily profit drive when facing a global crisis of falling profitability so that what David Harvey calls “accumulation by dispossession” becomes a reflex.
          This explains cutting wages (hence extracting more unpaid labour), selling off state houses (profits into speculators/cronies pockets) and every other policy the NACTs force through to make the working class pay for its crisis.
          Capitalists are individually motivated but collectively organised to advance their class interests. They delegate to the state the function of defending their interests.
          One does not need a ‘conspiracy theory’ to explain an actual conspiracy.

          • karol 7.1.1.1.1
            1 November 2014 at 12:43 pm

            I still think you are confusing outcomes with intent.

            yes, the daily profit drive and support of capitalism is a very conscious driver. But that does not mean they are consciously doing this:

            The reason why the NACTs have an agenda to smash the unions, drive the surplus army of unemployed into misery, and terrorise us to death, is that they have little time left to rip off the rest of the wealth in NZ before they pull up the drawbridge against the seething rabble.

            • dave brown 7.1.1.1.1.1
              1 November 2014 at 4:12 pm

              If capitalists intent is to maximise profits, and they act in such a way as to do that, how are their intentions not related to the outcomes?

              You seem to be suggesting that attacking workers, destroying nature and suppressing social resistance to the point of the destruction of humanity is an unintended outcome and that if we point out this mistake good-intentioned people will stop it.

              I call this reactionary utopianism because you create an illusion of the possibility of change that at best will delay any real solution, and at worst will lead to our demise as a species.

              I know this is the philosophy of the Greens. But its naive and dangerous.

              I suggest we expect the worst and act to stop it.

            • finbar 7.1.1.1.1.2
              1 November 2014 at 4:22 pm

              Capitalism and its profit blood is its drive.Why they punish Unions is they are a threat to their productive expendature profit.Why has their anti union philosophy and pillory been successful within N.Z. The Kiwi birth dream,we can own our own home.A dream now,lost for our children,yet got for their parents and their do as we are told,our Kiwi can do,and unions had no place for the majority in that.Only did voluntery unionism give them the wage for servicing their home,not their attitude to Unions.Only a serious excuse to their employer,i have to belong its the law.Never one ever turned down a pay rise that the UNION,fought and won for them.

              Today our children, ignorant of Union and its cry,or our government pillory
              of that cry,get the pin number,their saftey net,of being part of us,most penuary existance, as their parents lay back in their home ownership and rubbish the Unions,forgetting their wage at their childrens age they earned from the hardship of the Unions steadfastness.

  8. Brian 8
    1 November 2014 at 10:36 am

    When did this govt start “caring about people”?

    • karol 8.1
      1 November 2014 at 10:42 am

      When Bennett began with strangling people with her caring “wrap around” policies and programmes.

  9. fisiani 9
    1 November 2014 at 10:41 am

    Sell 100 state houses to efficient housing charities for say $200,000 each. Houses that are worth $300,000.
    Result- housing numbers the same and the government now has $20,000,000 to build another 50 houses each worth $400,000.
    Result – Housing numbers have increased by 50.
    Housing charities sell 50 of their new stock to the occupants for $250,000 each and they generate $12,500,000 to build 41 houses worth $300,000.
    Housing numbers are now increased by 91
    20 of which they sell to occupants for $350,000 generating $7,000,000.
    So 100 state houses turns into 191 affordable houses.
    Take the ideological blinkers off and see how innovative thinking can virtually double the number of affordable houses.

    • Mark 9.1
      1 November 2014 at 11:07 am

      You must have been on the weed this morning. I read fairytales to my grand chrildren but am surprised to find an adult having an Alice In Wonderland approach in real life.To have an adult espouse such utter crap as you have above makes me worry about your mental state.

      • fisiani 9.1.1
        1 November 2014 at 2:26 pm

        Care to dispute the arithmetic rather than spout personal abuse? The Left are being left floundering as National think about the people and the Left are concerned with who owns the houses. Three years from now there will be another tens of thousands of people living in comfortable houses grateful for the government largess.
        Two elderly people living in a four bedroom state house whilst a family of four lives in a garage is unacceptable. National will house the family in the state house and the elderly couple can move to an apartment. If you cannot see this as a good thing I despair. There would probably be a post here headed National bastards evict elderly couple from the house they raised their family for 40 years.
        National are freeing up hundreds of acres of land and have consents for thousands of homes. The phenomenal housing growth in the next six years will astonish people.
        This is the 21st century and modern thinking needs to apply. Private developers are encouraged and the building industry is booming. The brighter future is here folks. Just look out your window.

        • fisiani 9.1.1.1
          1 November 2014 at 3:47 pm

          Labour actually wants families to live in a garage so they can blame it on National and garner their votes. The poor and disadvantaged have finally woken up to the fact that Labour simply want them as protest voting fodder, National want the housed and thus one day become National voters.

        • Mark 9.1.1.2
          1 November 2014 at 6:32 pm

          For a troll you are either exceptionally thick or just ignore what is staring you in the face. The Nats are planing to put the funds from the sale of state houses into the consolidated fund. No new housing, just fob the problem that is social housing off to the NGOs and then it is not their problem anymore.
          According to the Nats,there were going to be 9000 new homes built in Auckland this year. How are we tracking on that. I can give you an update if you like but you don’t need any of those zeros for the current figure.

      • Paul 9.1.2
        1 November 2014 at 5:34 pm

        He knows it’s nonsense.
        He’s just a paid tr***.
        Ignore him.

        • fisiani 9.1.2.1
          1 November 2014 at 6:11 pm

          I have cogently pointed out how to turn 100 houses into 191 houses,
          70 house owners who no longer pay rent. The government owns 50 and the housing charity 71. What part of that is nonsense? It’s a win win win situation for all and a near doubling of the housing stock.

          • felix 9.1.2.1.1
            2 November 2014 at 6:17 am

            It’s a lovely fantasy but Key is not building any new state houses.

            The current stock are to be sold and the money put into the consolidated fund.

            It will be spent on the day-to-day running of the country so that Key can keep cutting taxes for the rich.

    • miravox 9.2
      1 November 2014 at 11:10 am

      Don’t be silly fisi. Nobody in government wants poor people to own houses. They want big corps (or NGOs) to own houses. .

    • Tracey 9.3
      1 November 2014 at 11:23 am

      english said they wouldnt be replacing the houses they sell, has this changed? what will the charities be paying on their lending

      “… Finance Minister Bill English says the proceeds from selling state houses are unlikely to be spent on new state houses and may go into the Consolidated Account.

      “I mean, if we want less stock, there’s not much point in rebuilding stock with it,” he said in an interview with Herald journalists yesterday.

      “So it might go into other forms of housing support or whatever. Some of it could go into the Consolidated Account. We just haven’t made a decision about that.” …”

      • Manuka - Ancient Order of Rawsharks 9.3.1
        1 November 2014 at 11:42 am

        Twyford makes the point at the opening of vid above, in his first q to Ms Bennett: “Without building any replacement housing”. At no point does she deny or dispute that. It seems unlikely Fisiani even played the video before commenting – It’s so far off the mark.

    • Brendon Harre 9.4
      1 November 2014 at 6:25 pm

      Fisiani it might work if the National government adopted the Labour party’s KiwiBuild policy. But this government doesn’t have a policy to build homes. Bill English has said the proceeds from selling off State Housing will go to the Consolidated Fund.

      By the way the government can solve the affordable housing problem anytime it likes. It just needs to favour first home buyers over crony capitalists.

      “…the Government needed to play a more active role to help solve the city’s housing problems,…” Manji said. (CCC Councillor)

      “The Government should just buy out waves of rural land on the outskirts of the city . . . and build 5000 to 10,000 homes on it. The price of the land would be at rural prices and that’s where you get your affordable housing.”

      Land rezoning led to “huge windfall capital gains” for the owner, but did not reduce house prices, Manji said.

      “The first shot has been fired at councils – that’s fair enough – but now we need to all sit down together to see how we’re going to get houses finished for $250,000.”

    • Murray Rawshark 9.5
      2 November 2014 at 3:57 am

      You’ve never run a business, have you? Washing the boss’s car and reading his discarded copies of NBR hasn’t given you much of an idea at all. Your rubbish makes as much sense as pyramid schemes.

    • Treetop 9.6
      3 November 2014 at 4:59 pm

      The government cannot even manage, managing the transfer list approx 1500. A single person in a three bedroom state home and a family of four in a caravan park. This example is how the government think, the problem is they do not think.

  10. RedBaronCV 10
    1 November 2014 at 10:44 am

    The legacy of this arrogant government will be the creation of massive slums. So Paula wants to drive people into slum housing. The only reason I can see for no state housing is that everyone can afford to buy build one of their own.

    Repeat the words slum, housing & arrogant as often as possible.

    • BassGuy 10.1
      1 November 2014 at 1:12 pm

      In her mind, I think she’s imagining whole suburbs of affordable housing while the values increase for owners in the other suburbs.

      You know, it occurs to me that we’ve gone from a country with our own national identity and turned into pseudo-America.

  11. Ad 11
    1 November 2014 at 11:23 am

    What is left of Savage’s legacy once they are gone?

  12. Tracey 12
    1 November 2014 at 11:25 am

    less houses more new limousines
    flag chat instead of brekkie in school

  13. Stickler 13
    1 November 2014 at 11:29 am

    Read a little history.

    Try reading Papers Past, for starters – catch up with how the market actually engendered slum creation in New Zealand from 1840s-1930s. And how charities could not cope with the social and medical and criminal side-effects, so that government involvement was eventually seen as essential. And what a painful slog it was to achieve those slum clearances and to build decent accommodation for the less well-off.

    And that was when churches and charities were strong.

    We never learn, do we? Looks like we’re condemning ourselves to recycle some of the saddest history this country has known.

  14. Goodsweat 14
    1 November 2014 at 11:35 am

    A small percentage of families that have nowhere else to go require state assistance. Due to histories of rent arrears, wilful damage, gang affiliation, multiple pets etc 100’s of people find it impossible to secure homes through private channels. Meeting the needs of these people that the private sector turns down is difficult and expensive. It’s hard and tricky work, not stacks of money for nothing. It’s business that greedy capitalists walk away from. I can see why any party would want to slide the task sideways to community help providers.
    If a problem gambler with a history of chronic rent arrears is renting a house that belongs to an agency that specialises in helping problem gamblers, I can see benefits.

    • Tracey 14.1
      1 November 2014 at 11:54 am

      but that is a service to society but we are making THEM borrow money to provide it. govt could peppercorn rent the homes to such groups to manage

  15. Ad 15
    1 November 2014 at 1:03 pm

    Hey Mickey very apposite post given the opening of Lopdell House today.

    Takes four or five electoral terms and massive community support to fund, build and open something.

    And just a year to sell so much intergenerational wealth off.

    Can’t think of a better illustration between Left and Right politics.
    May your efforts to build continue.

  16. Draco T Bastard 16
    1 November 2014 at 1:16 pm

    Why let the private sector reap the benefits but insist that the state bears the losses?

    Because that’s the only way that the private sector can make a profit.

  17. CnrJoe 17
    1 November 2014 at 1:22 pm

    I can’t stand her voice…..is it just me?

  18. Sable 18
    1 November 2014 at 2:56 pm

    Bennett and sexy, two words that do not belong together….

  19. Mooloo magic 19
    1 November 2014 at 3:50 pm

    Paula Bennett is just obnoxious and plain nasty, it’s a travesty that this evil woman is a cabinet minister as she is unworthy to hold such a position. No empathy or compassion. If Phil Twford spoke with such venom and sarcasm as Bennett did the Mainstream media would have vehemently attacked him yet Bennett is left unchallenged by the media.
    Carter is clearly out of his depth as a Speaker

  20. Paul 20
    1 November 2014 at 5:27 pm

    2011 National does not campaign on Charter Schools
    2014 National does not campaign on selling more assets.

    “Thousands of state houses could be put on the market despite the Government earlier ruling out selling off more state assets after this year’s general election.”

    Hope the muppets who voted for National feel good now.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11351788

    Looks like we’re following England’s tragic model.

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/great-council-house-selloff-scandal-righttobuy-council-houses-leave-nowhere-for-poor-to-live-9832339.html

  21. RedLogix 21
    1 November 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Having been pretty closely associated with Housing for Humanity some years back it should be understood that they are not in the business of providing a complete social housing safety net. They have their place – but they themselves would be the first to say they they could never be the whole solution.

    In my experience there are three main groups of people in the housing market.

    1. About 60% are homeowners.

    2. About 20% will be renters in the private sector because either they are not yet ready to move into group 1 or they are at a transient stage of life where owning makes no sense.

    3. The final 20% are either people whose income is too low or precarious to rent reliably in the private sector, or some other issue that prevents them from accessing a mortgage or tenancy. Or retired people who for one reason or another have reached the end of their working lives without owning their own home. This is the social housing group.

    People will move from one group to another, but typically between adjacent groups only.

    The two big charities, the Salvoes and H4H specialise in moving people from Group 2 to Group 1. They do not typically target moving Group 3 into Group 1 because it’s too big a reach for the individuals and too big a risk for the charity.

    • karol 21.1
      1 November 2014 at 6:42 pm

      2. About 20% will be renters in the private sector because either they are not yet ready to move into group 1 or they are at a transient stage of life where owning makes no sense

      Or there are some of us who choose to rent and never buy, even when we had the income to take on a mortgage.

      NZ differs from many in European countries, in that there is a major promotion of the ideal of everyone owning their own home.

      • Karen 21.1.1
        2 November 2014 at 10:27 am

        Karol, I think the difference between Europe and NZ re home ownership is that here tenants have no right of tenure as they do in places like Germany. So many of my friends who do rent have been forced to move house many times. Even though the landlords initially assured them it was a long term rental, they always seemed to change their mind and decide to sell. One friend used to keep all her boxes with the contents listed as it seemed easier. She has now bought somewhere as she got sick of establishing gardens only for her landlord to get the benefit.

        The situation for those with children is harder. I have a niece on DPB who had to move herself and 5 children many times before finally getting a state house. This has serious implications for schooling and support networks. It is the reason I want more state houses, not less.

        • karol 21.1.1.1
          2 November 2014 at 10:31 am

          Yes. NZers would benefit from having such rights of tenure for renters.

        • RedLogix 21.1.1.2
          2 November 2014 at 1:28 pm

          Even though the landlords initially assured them it was a long term rental, they always seemed to change their mind and decide to sell.

          We have never done that to anyone. The biggest problem we have is a few tenants who get badly behind in the rent (sometimes months behind) and we are too damn soft and slow in dealing with it. Usually ends with us well out of pocket.

          Point is Karen – there are plenty of horror stories from both sides of the fence. Making all landlords the enemy makes as much sense as demonising all tenants. It’s just not true – and obscures the real problem which is an inadequate and weak regulatory regime.

          • Karen 21.1.1.2.1
            2 November 2014 at 3:27 pm

            I do not think all landlords are bad and all tenants are blameless, but in all the cases I was referring to the tenants paid the rent on time and kept the property in good order, yet still were forced to move. For someone with kids on a limited income this is a very serious problem, for others it is still a major inconvenience.
            For these reasons I believe that tenants should have some guarantee of tenure (provided they pay the rent) and there should also be a big increase in the number of state houses and pensioner flats.

  22. Skinny 22
    1 November 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Don’t be fooled the Austraian Banks are set to profit handsomely by these latest assets sales. Deja Vu our power assets. Key is a lying son of a bitch by deceiving the public saying “there will be no asset sales”.

    The next sell off is carving up our Railways.

  23. Rodel 23
    3 November 2014 at 9:09 am

    The sell off of State houses- the sell off of Maori TV.& John Key says he’s not selling assets. And the public falls for it. NZers are so gullible.

    Watch this space.

    It’ll be something like. ‘We’re not selling Kiwibank-just outsourcing it to make it more competitive and efficient.

  24. Treetop 24
    3 November 2014 at 2:04 pm

    1.2 billion is paid out in accommodation supplement (AS) per year for rental and mortgages. A percentage also apply for temporary addition support (TAS) which has to be renewed every 3 months. TAS is considered as being a last resort and a person is expected to reduce their costs. Crazy as rent goes up and never down and the AS is not adjusted annually. State house tenants do not receive an AS, if on a benefit.

    Why is there no detail given for community housing?

    I am begining to think that the cost is going to be much higher with less housing than were the government to stick with state housing. Bennet has stated that a person could receive up to $250 a week for social housing in Auckland, $13,000 a year.

    In the early 1990s under National when market rental was introduced for state housing this caused hardship for some tenants and the Labour government in their first term after the 1999 election charged a state tenant 25% of their income in rent. Amazing that the National government left the 25% figure in place.

    The National government need to wake up and see that the 1.2 billion paid in AS and reducing the state housing stock is not housing many vulnerable NZers (5500 on the state house waiting list). Had the government built 5,500 homes there would be no one on the state house waiting list. The next thing that would require addressing would be an increase in AS.

    • Treetop 24.1
      3 November 2014 at 4:42 pm

      1500 of the 5500 figure are wanting to transfer.

      Since Work and Income took over placing people in state houses about 18 months ago the waiting list has risen 10 fold. Work and Income are probably crunching the dollars paid out in rent trying to reduce what they pay or they are doing a better assessment than HNZ did.

      I reckon that some carvans need to be set up in the grounds of parliament for the MPs who need to stay in Wellington during the week. There is a pool in parliament, showers, a restaurant and they could install a laundry and a few washing lines.

      Re Finbar below. I have made the comment about a year ago that the government are more interested in being a land agent than an affordable housing provider.

  25. finbar 25
    3 November 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Bubbley Paula,is the corporations land agent.She has been charged with selling off State housing and like all land agents full of promise and endevour,a endevour unlike the market land agent uncertainty for their cut of the sale,for they will be sold under Paula. smart is that,pretty inteligent,for her ignorant usury.that she may get going to be a leader of the National Party,doubt it,wrong side of the fence,and intelectualy lacking.

Recent Posts

  • What is the Hardest Sport in the World?
    Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 hours ago

  • What is the Most Expensive Sport?
    The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 hours ago

  • Pickleball On the Cusp of Olympic Glory
    Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • The Origin and Evolution of Soccer Unveiling the Genius Behind the World’s Most Popular Sport
    Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How Much to Tint Car Windows A Comprehensive Guide
    Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Why Does My Car Smell Like Gas? A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosing and Fixing the Issue
    The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How to Remove Tree Sap from Car A Comprehensive Guide
    Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • How Much Paint Do You Need to Paint a Car?
    The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Can You Jump a Car in the Rain? Safety Precautions and Essential Steps
    Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    3 hours ago

  • Can taxpayers be confident PIJF cash was spent wisely?
    Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
    Point of OrderBy gadams1000
    9 hours ago

  • EGU2024 – An intense week of joining sessions virtually
    Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
    Skeptical Science
    11 hours ago

  • Submission on “Fast Track Approvals Bill”
    The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    12 hours ago

  • The Case for a Universal Family Benefit
    One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    13 hours ago

  • A who’s who of New Zealand’s dodgiest companies
    Submissions on National's corrupt Muldoonist fast-track law are due today (have you submitted?), and just hours before they close, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop has been forced to release the list of companies he invited to apply. I've spent the last hour going through it in an epic thread of bleats, ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    15 hours ago

  • On Lee’s watch, Economic Development seems to be stuck on scoring points from promoting sporting e...
    Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    16 hours ago

  • New Zealand has never been closed for business
    1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    16 hours ago

  • Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    19 hours ago

  • Melissa Lee and the media: ending the quest
    Chris Trotter writes –  MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    20 hours ago

  • The Hoon around the week to April 19
    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago

  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago

  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    22 hours ago

  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago

  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    23 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    2 days ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    4 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago

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

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-19T19:11:48+00:00