The GCSB revelations

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, March 24th, 2024 - 24 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, International, john key, national, Politics, same old national, Spying, The Standard, us politics - Tags:

Anyone else feel their jaw move rapidly to the floor as news of the GCSB’s problems emerged this week?

The Standard has spent a lot of time over the years talking about the GCSB. Check out these posts to get a flavour of what we have covered. So the problem was not unexpected. But the desire to say told you so is fuckin so strong.

Here is RNZ’s analysis of what happened:

A foreign agency ran a spy operation out of New Zealand’s Government Communications Security Bureau for years without ministers knowing.

The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security has revealed this in an investigation out on Thursday.

It has found the GCSB knew when it agreed to host the signals intelligence system it could be used to support “military operations by foreign partners”.

“The capability clearly had the potential to be used, in conjunction with other intelligence sources, to support military action against targets,” the report by IGIS Brendan Horsley said.

The system operated from 2013 until 2020, when it was stopped by an equipment failure.

But government ministers were not told despite the agency knowing how sensitive it was.

The current GCSB senior leadership and legal team “apparently knew nothing of the system”.

“It was ‘rediscovered’ at a senior level following concerns being raised in 2020 about another partner system hosted by GCSB.”.

The system was of no benefit to the GCSB, which did not know what the outcome of the spying was, the inquiry said.

This raises so many questions …

Let me see if I am understanding this. A foreign agency put in some equipment and collected some or all of the information that the GCSB was collecting and it was then transmitted to a foreign agency, presumably a member of the Five Eyes Network. The information that the GCSB insisted was protected by all sorts of measures that clearly did not work?

The first question is which nation. The answer is probably the United States of America. No other answer makes any sense. I cannot imagine Canada for instance wanting to hoover up our data.

In the past Mike Smith in particular has been a keen watcher of what the GCSB has been up to. And blogger No Right Turn has taken an active interest in what has happened.

In my review of old posts I found this quote from Whistleblower Edward Snowden from 2014:

Once the NSA has successfully subverted or helped repeal legal restrictions against unconstitutional mass surveillance in partner states, it encourages partners to perform “access operations.” Access operations are efforts to gain access to the bulk communications of all major telecommunications providers in their jurisdictions, normally beginning with those that handle the greatest volume of communications. Sometimes the NSA provides consultation, technology, or even the physical hardware itself for partners to “ingest” these massive amounts of data in a manner that allows processing, and it does not take long to access everything.

Remember the insanity of the 2014 election and Bomber Bradbury’s Auckland Town Hall meeting and the claim of a smoking gun to prove that Key knew about Kim Dotcom before Dotcom’s home was raised.  This was the red herring of red herrings.

But some of what was said appears to be true.  For instance:

[Journalist Glenn] Greenwald said he knew for certain that the New Zealand government engaged in “extraordinary amounts of analysis of metadata”.  Meaning who is talking to who, for how long, where they are when they speak, on a massive indiscriminate scale not just internationally but of New Zealanders as well.”

New Zealand spent an “extraordinary amount of resource” for a country its size on electronic surveillance and “every single thing that the NSA does…involves NZ directly. They are full fledged allies of this effort.”

And of course there was the effort of John Key’s Government to set up a system allowing for our mass surveillance. Although he denied it repeatedly I would be surprised if it did not happen. And it looks like a piece of equipment may have sent at least some of the results overseas.

As I said again in 2014:

John Key during the weekend came out swinging and said that although a “business case” had been prepared by the GCSB for the mass surveillance of New Zealanders he had, after quite some time, put a hold on it.  The phrase “business case” is interesting.  Putting a monetary value on the violation of our rights of privacy shows how dollar centric this Government is.

Andrea Vance has set out a helpful timeline.  In November 2011 two New Zealand corporations were subject to a cyber attack.  Rumours are that one of them was Fonterra and that the attacks originated from China.  The response of the Government was to contemplate the mass surveillance of New Zealanders.  But you have to wonder why.  As said by Danyl McLaughlan “[h]arvesting meta-data about phone calls or web traffic of New Zealand citizens does absolutely nothing to stop Chinese hackers targeting Fonterra or MFAT. It’s a bit like your local police officer saying ‘I think someone is trying to break into your house so I’m gonna drill peepholes in the walls of your bathroom and bedroom’.”  The phrase “never let a good crisis pass you by” springs to mind.

Key says that he put a stop to it.  But here is the jaw dropping feature about the work.  It was started in early 2012 and Key only told the GCSB to put a hold on it in March 2013.  According to his version it is clear he changed his mind presumably only after the controversies surrounding the GCSB came to light.

Key has promised to declassify and release GCSB documents that he says will back him up.  It makes you wonder why the documents were classified in the first place as well as why they should be declassified for political purposes.  And why at the time we were not told about this most intrusive of projects.

And there was at the time this admission by John Key that he could not rule out US spy agency NSA having New Zealanders’ electronic communications under surveillance, even if the GCSB doesn’t.

There was also confirmation that New Zealand was hoovering up data from our Pacific neighbours and sending it on to the United States. Perhaps this was the job of the equipment. From my post in 2015:

The Herald this morning has reported on the latest analysis of New Zealand’s data gathering role based on Eric Snowden’s files.  The story is bound to have a profound effect on New Zealand’s relationship with its Pacific neighbours.  Essentially New Zealand has been collecting data en masse from them and handing it over to the Americans.

From the Herald:

New Zealand’s spies are targeting the entire email, phone and social media communications of the country’s closest, friendliest and most vulnerable neighbours, according to documents supplied by United States fugitive and whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Snowden’s files reveal a heavy focus on “full-take collection” from the Pacific with nearly two dozen countries around the world targeted by our Government Communications Security Bureau.

Information from across the Pacific is collected by New Zealand’s GCSB but sent onto the United States’ National Security Agency to plug holes in its global spying network, the documents show.

From there, the documents show information collected by New Zealand is merged with data captured from across the world. It is then able to be accessed by the NSA’s XKeyscore computer program through an online shopping-style interface, which allows searching of the world’s communications.

Ex GCSB head Bruce Ferguson did confirm that New Zealand was harvesting data from our Pacific Neighbours.

If the intelligence collection started in 2013 it may or may not have been related to changes made to the Government Communications and Security Bureau Act 2003 made in 2013 by the Key government.

The latest revelation makes you question all of the assurances previously given.  There needs to be a proper inquiry into what has occurred.

24 comments on “The GCSB revelations ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    24 March 2024 at 12:48 pm

    Former American intelligence analyst, Paul Buchanan sums up the situation in this portion of his post on the subject:

    In effect, the story about this foreign intelligence “capability” secretly operated from within the GCSB is one about violation of basic principles of democratic oversight of intelligence agencies, of an abdication of sovereignty to a foreign power when it comes to intelligence collection and analysis, and above all, of an ongoing culture of impunity within NZ intelligence agencies that do not appear to have learned the right lessons from the Zaoui, Dotcom or March 15 cases when it comes to behaving ethically and taking responsibility for the actions or inactions taken on their watch.

    For an in-depth study of what appears to have happened I recommend people read the entire post.

    https://www.kiwipolitico.com/

    • Tiger Mountain 1.1
      24 March 2024 at 5:35 pm

      yes
      The “pie and Penthouse” bunglers roll on…

    • mickysavage 1.2
      24 March 2024 at 8:42 pm

      It is a very good post and Pablo has a better understanding of this issue than pretty well any of us.

      Time and my brain space stopped me from referring to it.

      Also I could not believe the history of what happened and trying to understand this development in the historical context.

  2. KJT 2
    24 March 2024 at 3:09 pm

    Thanks for reminding me about my Anzac Day. post.

    Still relevant now with the election of a bunch of wannabee, if they thought they could get away with it, Fascists, in our current Coalition of Clowns.

    • mickysavage 2.1
      24 March 2024 at 8:44 pm

      I am really terrified. Key at least had the understanding that the Government had to give the appearance it was not succumbing to US requests for mass surveillance and collection of all of our data.

      This current lot would not see it as a problem.

      • Anne 2.1.1
        24 March 2024 at 9:00 pm

        I disliked Key but his friendship with Obama did seem to be genuine. Luxon is a boot licker. He would sell his soul provided he got a good deal for himself.

        Given the latest terrorist attack it would seem to me the Middle East is about to become a tinder box that could go off at any time. Helen Clark very wisely kept us out of the last meelee, but this Luxon clown is likely to drop us headfirst into the next one.

  3. Ad 3
    24 March 2024 at 8:34 pm

    I would certainly like to know whether the state public safety reaction to COVID19 has formed a permanently deeper surveillance state than we used to have – whether foreign or domestic. Hopefully that comes out in the COVID19 review.

    I'm slightly bothered that Minister Little didn't know anything about and didn't seem to care. On the other hand I struggle with the very idea of privacy.

    • lprent 3.1
      25 March 2024 at 2:46 pm

      He cared enough to support the IGIS enquiry after he found out in 2020 that there was an issue. GCSB has 'a much different attitude' now – Andrew Little says after foreign op

      When Little found out about it he was concerned whether the operation was consistent with the legislation which had taken effect in 2017 and provided much tighter constraints and greater oversight of the spy agencies.

      He supported it being referred to the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security for investigation.

      That review by the IGIS that made this public. That was specifically because he thought that the matter violated the requirements of the 2017 act about reporting foreign use of locally acquired intelligence – which its did. (see para 115-117 of the IGIS report)

      115. From 2017 the ISA also required the GCSB to have a Ministerial authorisation for sharing intelligence.13 A Ministerial authorisation to share intelligence with relevant parties was issued on 18 September 2017. In it the Minister authorised the listed parties: 1. […] to receive from the Government Communications Security Bureau intelligence and analysis collected in accordance with the Government’s priorities, pursuant to s10(1)(a) of the ISA.

      I'd point that was 5 days before the general election in 2017

      116. The authorisation was subject to the GCSB complying with the Joint Human Rights Risk Management Policy before providing any intelligence and analysis to any authorised parties. It did not state any further conditions or any details of how intelligence would be shared.

      117. In 2020 the GCSB sought and received another authorisation of the same scope and terms.

      Don't have a date on the latter or a timeline on it. But what else did you expect him to do?

      Miraculously intuit that there was some hardware sitting in the GCSB racks that might be a problem? Pry into the operational aspects of the GCSB himself? Which in itself would have been unlawful for him to do. Ministers in some ministries like intelligence, police, military, etc aren't allowed to get involved in operational decisions. And I'd argue that we sure as hell don't want them to be. It was bad enough in the past. I'd hate to think what vindictive dickhead like Simeon Brown would try to do with it.

      As far as I can see Little did exactly what he should have done and supported what would be a inquiry to IGIS who does have a investigative and advisory role in the GCSB and SIS. He followed the procedure that made this public and provided the ministerial advice.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspector-General_of_Intelligence_and_Security_(New_Zealand)

      The IGIS is an independent oversight body, with a broad function of assisting the Minister responsible for NZSIS and GCSB to ensure the activities of each agency comply with the law; ensure that complaints relating to these agencies are independently investigated;[7] and review those bodies' compliance procedures and systems.[8] Neither the National Assessments Bureau nor the Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security are under the oversight of the role.[9]

      The Inspector-General does not have a management role in the NZSIS or GCSB and cannot order them to take, or to cease, any activity – the role is limited to reporting concerns and findings to the Minister,[10] who ultimately is responsible for corrective action. Reports are also made public, so far as possible, as are steps to implement recommendations.

      The Inspector-General conducts inquiries into matters of concern, including individual complaints, and reports consequent findings and recommendations to the Minister. Those reports, excluding information withheld because of security concerns, may be found on the Inspector-General's website.[11] The Inspector-General also makes a report each year to the Minister. A copy of that report, excluding material of security concern or which may cause danger is presented to Parliament. A copy, without deletions, must be given to the Leader of the Opposition.[12]

      Looking at the resourcing of a office of the IGIS, I suspect we need that increased so this type of investigation gets handled more quickly and in a more timely manner.

      Traditionally the office had been very small, but was expanded from 2014 onwards in response to controversies over unlawful activities to include a Deputy Inspector-General, two external advisors, and a number of investigation staff.[2] That expansion was accompanied by some greater resourcing and a more intensive role, in particular with the addition of an own motion power of inquiry, and quickly resulted in a significantly larger number and depth of inquiries, including into systemic issues and matters of public controversy such as an incident involving adverse allegations arising from briefings claimed to have been given by the Security Intelligence Service to the Leader of the Opposition [3] and the conduct of the agencies in parts of the conflict in Afghanistan. [4] Senior political figures have at times criticised the extent of the broadened independent oversight that followed the 2014 reforms. [5]

      The IGIS report about authorisations (and warrants) from September 2017 onwards para 132-153 was interesting to read because it highlights how much of a change (and lack of retrospective view) that the GCSB took from it. To me it seems clear that the GCSB in their new 'candor' requirements from 2018 onwards should looked to see what current capabilities and operations it had inherited.

      The register referred to in para 161, in particular, if implemented retrospectively after the 2017 act came into force in 2018 should have allowed the required levels of 'candor' to have been informed by fact rather than by institutional forgetfulness.

      Overall, a good report highlighting the flaws (especially the historical ones)- I suggest that you read it. Then make some more relevant criticisms or suggestions that actually relate to changes to the legislation that governs the gap between minister and intelligence agency.

      So far I’m coming up empty on changes apart from wanting the IGIS to have a bigger staff. Taking 2-3 years to dig into this doesn’t seem responsive enough.

      • Ad 3.1.1
        26 March 2024 at 4:48 pm

        Little did the minimum, Didn't even note displeasure. Even Findlayson the ex GCSB Minister had the sense to go all out against this kind of deliberate bullshit from GCSB.

        Finlayson said he agreed with former prime minister Helen Clark that there needed to be “disciplinary consequences” for anyone working on the relationship responsible for the handling of the foreign intelligence system.

        And this is how they do it. Wellington bullshit:

        Both current and previous governments need to penetrate the weasel-words harder. Despite the review you cite, this is how the intelligence community responded through the IGA:

        https://igis.govt.nz/assets/Annual-Reports/Annual-Report-2022-23.pdf

        "The Foreign Cooperation MPS came into effect on 28 September 2017. Since then neither agency has referred an arrangement to the ISC for noting. This is despite both agencies entering into significant arrangements with foreign counterparts since that date. Both agencies have asserted that on their interpretation of the MPS they were not required to refer the arrangements to ISC. The nub of the interpretation issues, about which my Office and the agencies disagree, relates to the word “new”."

        Neither agency has found an international partnership worth noting to Parliament.

        That was so last week.

        This week we have major revelations that the Chinese government has been undertaking operations against MPs in Britain and reps in the United States that criticise China. Our new Foreign Minister has stated this is unacceptable.

        https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/26/new-zealand-says-chinese-state-sponsored-group-hacked-parliament

        Our new GCSB Minister has condemned China for its "malicious cyber activity". Prime Minister Luxon made similar comments.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-zealand-parliament-systems-targeted-by-china-based-hackers/RNUEMYIZFBAILLCOJ7QMIUZJ5Y/

        In a rare move, the GCSB Director General did his own press conference, saying a Chinese group connected to Beijing’s Ministry of State Security had obtained data. Sure it wasn't massively sensitive this time, but it was serious.

        So what you do is not more ineffectual reviews. You fire peoples asses.

        The PM simply should state he no longer has confidence in the head of GCSB. Which is of course what Little could have done, rather than just complacently saying he'd done a review and was satisfied.

        • Anne 3.1.1.1
          26 March 2024 at 5:54 pm

          Before you start throwing accusations at Andrew Little, suggest you check out the facts:

          https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-condemns-malicious-cyber-activity-chinese-state-sponsored-actors

          And here is what Andrew Little had to say earlier today:

          https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/very-low-former-security-minister-on-the-risk-of-mps-personal-information-being-stolen-in-china-sponsored-cyberattack/6FKI6KAW2NDQFBWXXECQWO7YMY/

          My reading of the situation is that investigations into these activities have been ongoing since 2021. They were almost complete – or at least ready to be publicly revealed – when he had to hand over the reins to Judith Collins.

          • Ad 3.1.1.1.1
            26 March 2024 at 8:07 pm

            From your own links:

            The Parliamentary Counsel's Office is actually where experts draft the precise wording of a proposed law.

            Little: “The attack ended up being mainly on the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) – they’ve got draft legislation and instructions, that sort of thing,”

            That is one of the smartest and most acute points to attack our system. Far more effective than attacking an MP, occupying Parliament's grounds, or having a swipe card access into the Beehive. Surely you know that?

            And to underscore the point about our abject international weakness, Little says:

            “In the end, China understands that our relationship with them is multidimensional. I think that the prospects of retaliatory action are very low.”

            Do you even know what the word sovereignty means?

            • lprent 3.1.1.1.1.1
              3 April 2024 at 12:56 am

              Umm. You have to remember that the responsibility for any public accessible system lies completely with the person(s) maintaining it.

              Doesn't matter if it is a state actor or not, simply because you can't prove it one way or another. You have to put that kind of protection in anyway.

              Incidentally, this site gets tens of thousands of attempted attacks on it daily. I depend on several different layers of protection from the OS, the internal malware detection, apache, php, wordpress plugins like word fence and others, and wordpress itself. That is reason that comments take so long to save. The intrusion protection on the web system.

              The server itself, outside of the web ports, has a number of external port access on the gateway for me to remote in. They each get hundreds of attempts per hour from a multiplicity of IPs across many countries to login. Both act as honey traps that are there for me to collect kinds of attempted intrusions. They also block IPs for some time if they don't detect specific remote hardware credentials.

              This isn't exactly a high value target. But along with the unwanted crawlers, >95% percent of the traffic to this site is always malicious to some degree of another.

              That is the reality of running any exposed server. Having state financed actors just kicks the required defences up a bit. You still have to defend like crazy. That is the sole responsibility of the IT admins and the people who give them budgets.

  4. thinker 4
    25 March 2024 at 7:15 am

    I think the can that got kicked down the road some years back was:

    We are friends with the Chinese government not least because they do a lot of trade. Some people close to the National Party have been on the boards of Chinese companies, as far as I remember.

    We are friends with the American government not least because of our 5 eyes relationship.

    What happens if the American and Chinese governments fall out with each other?

    • KJT 4.1
      25 March 2024 at 7:57 am

      Well.

      There are those who think we need the USA, to defend our sea trade routes to/from China! That China makes the most use of and will lose the most from blocking……………

      The USA is more likely to block our sea trade, which is predominantly with China.

      And those who think the USA will win a conventional war with China. When the USA has shifted their manufacturing capability to China, China has many times the people and the means to extend their capability. The only way the USA can "win" that war is with nuclear strikes. Then everyone loses.

      Which side will our large Chinese population, take?
      I know many who will “side” with NZ. Whichever side we take. Not all.
      And the National party whose associates are directors, share holders in Chinese companies?

      Of course the USA and China could continue with proxy wars of attrition in other countries, like Vietnam and North Korea. Syria! Ukraine! Afghanistan! How do those end?
      Or. Both could negotiate a way to live together.

      Unfortunately, unlike China, the US economy cannot survive without war.

      Those talking about war, sides and who wins, are living a dangerous fantasy.

      • Bruce 4.1.1
        25 March 2024 at 10:50 am

        I'm not sure China represents the threat many assign it. Corruption is a great equalizer.

        China's Army Had Missiles Filled With Water Instead of Fuel: Bloomberg (businessinsider.com)

      • SPC 4.1.2
        25 March 2024 at 11:48 pm

        The USA made the mistake of presuming a more prosperous China (access to WTO) would develop a civil society glasnost as it became part of the global market. China chose vertical integration and the One Belt and Road, and the multiple line border expansion and associated military build-up.

        A bit like how Russia chose war with Ukraine and NATO, rather than allow it to join the EU.

        NATO made its own mistakes, it could have followed George Kennan's advice on a post Cold War regime in Europe and the US opened up trade with China more conditionally (sorted out Korea and Taiwan and international sea borders first).

        Now we have Europe as the NATO hawk on Russia and the USA winding down connection to the Chinese economy – exacerbating their issues with labour lying flat and demographic decline.

        All we can do is note the absurdity of the GOP "isolationism" to explain pandering to Putin in Ukraine (a member of the UN) all while talking tough on Taiwan (which is part of China).

        This for mine is the reason why we defer entry to AUKUS Pillar 2 until we know what direction the USA is on.

        And instead we should partner with other nations and try and broker an arrangement for Taiwan within China. And a peace for Korea. We do not want the region to blunder into a war as has happened in Europe.

    • No-Skates 4.2
      25 March 2024 at 10:58 am

      China gets to have us every second weekend.

      • SPC 4.2.1
        25 March 2024 at 11:51 pm

        There is culture and heritage, western tradition etc and then there is region and the economy. If the love of money grows under NACT, as it has for the GOP (walking away from Ukraine), it might end up being every first weekend.

  5. francesca 5
    25 March 2024 at 3:45 pm

    Now that is funny! On several different levels

  6. Ad 6
    26 March 2024 at 4:14 pm

    The core reason that the New Zealand government cannot speak up against China's spying is because of our dairy and meat industry.

    Westland Milk Products, Synlait Milk, Yashilii NZ, the Synlait and Crafar Farms owned by Synlait, and of course Silver Fern Farms – all locked up either 100% or significantly by China.

    Dairy is our largest export by far, and dairy companies other than Tatua and Fonterra are controlled by the Chinese.

    No New Zealand government will dare oppose the Chinese when they control so much of our largest export.

    We are bought and sold to China.

    • joe90 6.1
      26 March 2024 at 4:41 pm

      We are bought and sold to China.

      Thanks to our own parcel of rogues.

      /

      `We're bought and sold for English gold' — Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

      – Rabbie Burns

    • Tiger Mountain 6.2
      26 March 2024 at 4:44 pm

      There is some truth in that if you have a reasonably detailed knowledge of the NZ Dairy industry as it has evolved and the ownership strands.

      But until someone “names names” it sounds much like a 5 Eyes beat up with the Poms, Aussies and Yanks all chiming in.

      • Ad 6.2.1
        26 March 2024 at 5:03 pm

        Brief though it was, we had a highpoint of sovereignty from 1973 (when we sent a naval ship in protest against French nuclear bombing), to 1984 (when we passed the anti-nuclear ships legislation and three years before that signed CER).

        That was our strong moment between the loss of Britain as an export market, defiance against the United States, and finding a real and binding future partnership in our interests in Australia.

        Before and after that brief era, we tried hard but we were bought and sold.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    59 mins ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • $1.9 billion investment to keep NZ safe from crime
    New Zealanders will be safer because of a $1.9 billion investment in more frontline Corrections officers, more support for offenders to turn away from crime, and more prison capacity, Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says. “Our Government said we would crack down on crime. We promised to restore law and order, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • OECD reinforces need to control spending
    The OECD’s latest report on New Zealand reinforces the importance of bringing Government spending under control, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The OECD conducts country surveys every two years to review its members’ economic policies. The 2024 New Zealand survey was presented in Wellington today by OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Agreement delivers Local Water Done Well for Auckland
    The Government has delivered on its election promise to provide a financially sustainable model for Auckland under its Local Water Done Well plan. The plan, which has been unanimously endorsed by Auckland Council’s Governing Body, will see Aucklanders avoid the previously projected 25.8 per cent water rates increases while retaining ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Gaza and the Pacific on the agenda with Germany
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters discussed the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and enhanced cooperation in the Pacific with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock during her first official visit to New Zealand today.    "New Zealand and Germany enjoy shared interests and values, including the rule of law, democracy, respect for the international system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Decision allows for housing growth in Western Bay of Plenty
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop today released his decision on four recommendations referred to him by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, opening the door to housing growth in the area. The Council’s Plan Change 92 allows more homes to be built in existing and new ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Speech to New Zealand China Council
    Thank you, John McKinnon and the New Zealand China Council for the invitation to speak to you today.    Thank you too, all members of the China Council. Your effort has played an essential role in helping to build, shape, and grow a balanced and resilient relationship between our two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Modern insurance law will protect Kiwi households
    The Government is modernising insurance law to better protect Kiwis and provide security in the event of a disaster, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly announced today. “These reforms are long overdue. New Zealand’s insurance law is complicated and dated, some of which is more than 100 years old. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government recommits to equal pay
    The coalition Government is refreshing its approach to supporting pay equity claims as time-limited funding for the Pay Equity Taskforce comes to an end, Public Service Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Three years ago, the then-government introduced changes to the Equal Pay Act to support pay equity bargaining. The changes were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Transforming how our children learn to read
    Structured literacy will change the way New Zealand children learn to read - improving achievement and setting students up for success, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.  “Being able to read and write is a fundamental life skill that too many young people are missing out on. Recent data shows that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ not backing down in Canada dairy dispute
    Trade Minister Todd McClay says Canada’s refusal to comply in full with a CPTPP trade dispute ruling in our favour over dairy trade is cynical and New Zealand has no intention of backing down. Mr McClay said he has asked for urgent legal advice in respect of our ‘next move’ ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Stronger oversight for our most vulnerable children
    The rights of our children and young people will be enhanced by changes the coalition Government will make to strengthen oversight of the Oranga Tamariki system, including restoring a single Children’s Commissioner. “The Government is committed to delivering better public services that care for our most at-risk young people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Streamlining Building Consent Changes
    The Government is making it easier for minor changes to be made to a building consent so building a home is easier and more affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.      “The coalition Government is focused on making it easier and cheaper to build homes so we can ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Minister acknowledges passing of Sir Robert Martin (KNZM)
    New Zealand lost a true legend when internationally renowned disability advocate Sir Robert Martin (KNZM) passed away at his home in Whanganui last night, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. “Our Government’s thoughts are with his wife Lynda, family and community, those he has worked with, the disability community in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Parliament – Annual Lecture: Challenges ...
    Good evening –   Before discussing the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand’s foreign policy, we’d like to first acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs. You have contributed to debates about New Zealand foreign policy over a long period of time, and we thank you for hosting us.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Accelerating airport security lines
    From today, passengers travelling internationally from Auckland Airport will be able to keep laptops and liquids in their carry-on bags for security screening thanks to new technology, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Creating a more efficient and seamless travel experience is important for holidaymakers and businesses, enabling faster movement through ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Community hui to talk about kina barrens
    People with an interest in the health of Northland’s marine ecosystems are invited to a public meeting to discuss how to deal with kina barrens, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones will lead the discussion, which will take place on Friday, 10 May, at Awanui Hotel in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Kiwi exporters win as NZ-EU FTA enters into force
    Kiwi exporters are $100 million better off today with the NZ EU FTA entering into force says Trade Minister Todd McClay. “This is all part of our plan to grow the economy. New Zealand's prosperity depends on international trade, making up 60 per cent of the country’s total economic activity. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Mining resurgence a welcome sign
    There are heartening signs that the extractive sector is once again becoming an attractive prospect for investors and a source of economic prosperity for New Zealand, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The beginnings of a resurgence in extractive industries are apparent in media reports of the sector in the past ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill passes first reading
    The return of the historic Ō-Rākau battle site to the descendants of those who fought there moved one step closer today with the first reading of Te Pire mō Ō-Rākau, Te Pae o Maumahara / The Ō-Rākau Remembrance Bill. The Bill will entrust the 9.7-hectare battle site, five kilometres west ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government to boost public EV charging network
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced 25 new high-speed EV charging hubs along key routes between major urban centres and outlined the Government’s plan to supercharge New Zealand’s EV infrastructure.  The hubs will each have several chargers and be capable of charging at least four – and up to 10 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Residential Property Managers Bill to not progress
    The coalition Government will not proceed with the previous Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “I have written to the Chairperson of the Social Services and Community Committee to inform him that the Government does not intend to support the Residential Property Managers Bill ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Independent review into disability support services
    The Government has announced an independent review into the disability support system funded by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston says the review will look at what can be done to strengthen the long-term sustainability of Disability Support Services to provide disabled people and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-08T07:01:23+00:00