The ides of April

Written By: - Date published: 7:34 am, April 30th, 2019 - 87 comments
Categories: Judith Collins, national, Politics, same old national, Simon Bridges - Tags:

Parliament resumes today and National will hold its first caucus meeting in a while.

And I suspect it will be a humdinger.  Because the undermining of Bridges by leaking is continuing.  From Tova O’Brien at Stuff:

Simon Bridges’ political future seems uncertain, after murmurs from National MPs that his leadership is unfocused and incompetent.

Before the Easter break, an MP told Newshub that “the numbers are firming for Judith [Collins]” to lead the party. On Tuesday, National’s leader will face all his MPs for the first time since those murmurs surfaced.

National MPs told Newshub before Easter they were unimpressed with Bridges behavior, calling it “incompetent”.

MPs are also unhappy with his handling of ‘slushy-gate’; Bridges’ described Corrections spending $1 million on slushy machines for staff as “irresponsible and wasteful”.

But National MPs went on record with Newshub to say they are not pleased with their leader’s handling of the situation, saying it seemed petty and stupid.

“It didn’t feel like a guy being focused on being Prime Minister,” said one MP.

Another said it feels like bullying behavior.

“These people do a job that hardly anyone would. It smacks of bullying of staff that can’t fight back,” they told Newshub.

Although a bloody coup will be unlikely, Bridges’ MPs will be watching him like hawks tomorrow, waiting for any slip or sign of weakness.

The knives are well and truly drawn.

If these MPs went on the record I would love to know who they are.

Of course this could be a vocal minority seeking to undermine Bridges’ leadership by leaking information.  Maybe most of the caucus are still satisfied with or prepared to tolerate his leadership.  And maybe the contenders would never consider a coup because being the leader of the opposition would be such an awful job to have in these times where Jacinda is so dominant.

But politics is full of people who think that their innate ability is such that if they were given a chance they could achieve what most of us would consider a dream.

Step right up …

87 comments on “The ides of April ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Sanctuary 1
    30 April 2019 at 7:38 am

    Simon is in the position of being in his job because no one else wants to be around for the post election witch hunt next year.

    • AB 1.1
      30 April 2019 at 8:02 am

      If Judith' is brave enough to move now, she has a better chance of winning the leadership because of the high risk involved. Other younger candidates may not want to take that risk and burn their careers with a 2020 loss.

      Collins may believe that a narrow 2020 loss would allow her to keep the job for one more attempt. I think she may go for it, and her approach will be to go full Bolsonaro, because that's her natural ideology and style, and it can be sustained without pretence.

      • Chris 1.1.1
        30 April 2019 at 10:19 am

        It will be good if she does because we'll finally get to test whether that approach is sustainable. It's easy to believe that Collins as leader is a guarantee for failure but there's still an unknown aspect to that which is whether hateful attitudes towards others that've emerged since the 1990s are widespread and sufficiently established to really support what Collins stands for.

        • AB 1.1.1.1
          30 April 2019 at 12:35 pm

          Yes – sometimes I fear that she will be wildly popular, contrary to expectations. Obviously it would be "Bolsonaro with Kiwi characteristics" – so wound back from overt violence and grounded in the ‘commonsense’ of the golf club bar and the Pauanui barbecue.

        • michelle 1.1.1.2
          30 April 2019 at 2:59 pm

          If blinglish cant get elected and was was very close judeath has no chance

          • Chris 1.1.1.2.1
            30 April 2019 at 3:18 pm

            I hope that's more than wishful thinking. There's a nasty underbelly in this country we possibly haven't fully experienced and that might just take one leader with a modicum of populist appeal to fully reveal.

    • cleangreen 1.2
      30 April 2019 at 12:22 pm

      smileysmiley Double smile for you today Sanctuary.

      If Simple Simon Bridges stays; – it is a ticket to next year another Labour victory again with NZFirst and greens hitched train.

  2. Gristle 2
    30 April 2019 at 7:49 am

    I'm a little confused. (Not difficult to achieve, nor infrequent in its occurrence.)

    The ides is typically a day in the middle of the month: often the 13th, though the 15th for March. And Julius Caesar's political career/life came to an abrupt end on this latter date.

    We are a couple of weeks past the ides of April so I don't understand if you are referring to something that happened on the 13th of April, or something else.

    [I was taking significant licence with the concept and referring to Caesar’s untimely end – MS]

    • Phil 2.1
      30 April 2019 at 9:35 am

      <i>referring to Caesar’s untimely end – MS</i>

      Nothing about Simon makes me think any ending for him would be 'untimely'.

    • millsy 2.2
      30 April 2019 at 10:09 am

      Dont confuse yourself too much. You may rupture something.

      As MS says, he was just taking a bit of licence.

  3. Incognito 3
    30 April 2019 at 7:51 am

    I wonder whether Simon is actually quite happy being Leader of the Opposition/National and doesn’t care too much whether he’ll become PM in 2020. That would put him into a different perspective, wouldn’t it?

    • roy cartland 3.1
      30 April 2019 at 10:00 am

      Good point. He'll stick around forever, and will have advisors and lackeys telling him to 'stick it out' etc. I remember the look of thunder on Mallard's face after his demotion for undermining Cunliffe (was it?) and being mocked mercilessly. Now look at him, lord of the manor and lovin' it.

      There will always be some (highly paid) place to shove Bridges like there is any 'prominent NZer'.

      • woodart 3.1.1
        30 April 2019 at 2:08 pm

        yes, there will be seats on companies(oil ,etc) being kept warm for him.

        • The Lone Haranguer 3.1.1.1
          30 April 2019 at 9:16 pm

          I think ex politicians arent nearly as keen on being directors of public companies anymore, as it seems that there are clear and present dangers for those who sign up for the prestige and the glory. John Key is the exception of course.

          Its far better to hope your lot get the treasury benches, and then look for an appointment to an SOE, where the risks of being sued are negligible, or onto a Government funded advisory group where you can play Sir Lunchalot with your old mates for years if you play your cards right.

  4. swordfish 4
    30 April 2019 at 8:16 am

    I'll just re-post my comment from a couple of weeks ago.

    Final Preferred PM Poll ratings for Leaders just before being Toppled / Replaced
    (Colmar Brunton since 1997)

    (Main Intra-Party Rival in parentheses)

    Bolger (Oct 1997) … 13%
    (Shipley … 10%)
    Shipley then replaces Bolger
    .

    Shipley (Sep 2001) … 14%
    (English … 5%)
    English then replaces Shipley
    .

    English (Oct 2003) … 7%
    (Brash … 3%)
    Brash then replaces English
    .

    Brash (Oct 2006) … 17%
    (Key … 11%)
    Key then replaces Brash
    .

    Shearer (July 2013) … 13%
    (Cunliffe … 2% / Clark … 2%)
    Cunliffe then replaces Shearer
    .

    Little (July 2017) … 6%
    (Ardern … 6%)
    .Ardern then replaces Little

    .
    Compare with
    .
    Latest Colmar Brunton
    Bridges (April 2019) … 5%
    (Collins … 5%)

  5. KJT 5
    30 April 2019 at 8:47 am

    Simon Bridges is still in the job, because he really is, the best that National have!

    • Anne 5.1
      30 April 2019 at 9:59 am

      I doubt anyone wants it yet KJT. I mean, can you imagine a Nat sacrificing themselves on the alter of the National Party? Andrew Little did it but he is a rare political commodity.

    • Shadrach 5.2
      30 April 2019 at 1:36 pm

      So, was Goff the best Labour had? Or David Shearer? Or David Cunliffe? Or David Parker? Or Andrew Little? Come to think of it, changing leaders every 5 minutes just made things worse for Labour…

      • Chris 5.2.1
        30 April 2019 at 3:12 pm

        But there was nobody else. That's why they changed leaders every 5 minutes.

      • KJT 5.2.2
        30 April 2019 at 4:26 pm

        Showed at least some depth to the talent pool.

        Unlike National. Collins, Bennett, Mitchell, Ross, Kaye….. FFS.

        • Shadrach 5.2.2.1
          30 April 2019 at 8:53 pm

          Are you seriously suggesting David Cunliffe, as one example, represented depth? The man who is sorry for being a man? And remember David Shearer and those two dead fish?

          • KJT 5.2.2.1.1
            1 May 2019 at 8:19 am

            The "man" comment showed a depth of empathy and intelligent thought, totally foreign to most National MP's, and obviously, their sycophants, such as you.

            • Shadrach 5.2.2.1.1.1
              1 May 2019 at 3:09 pm

              The 'man' comment showed a weakness and political naivety of staggering proportions. Thankfully most people agreed and Cunliffe was toast – left to contemplate his future at the beach.

              • KJT …
                1 May 2019 at 5:15 pm

                Only amongst right wing shock jocks. The very people we are talking about. "Only the truly ignorant can be so certain". The Hoskings, Richardsons, Trumps and Shadracks……..

        • michelle 5.2.2.2
          1 May 2019 at 12:39 pm

          well national had some depth but then they started sleeping with one another nek minute all hell broke lose and now we have the national circus i mean caucus

  6. Stuart Munro. 6
    30 April 2019 at 11:32 am

    The say the rose blows ne'er so red
    as where some buried Caesar bled.
    In Simon's final fatal spot
    plant pallid blue forget-me-nots.

  7. fustercluck 7
    30 April 2019 at 11:34 am

    I am a conservative.

    I believe in universal human rights, national sovereignty, a fairly regulated free market, and a government with checks and balances on power.

    I have no idea what Simon Bridges stands for.

    This is, in my view, National's fundamental problem.

    • vto 7.1
      30 April 2019 at 12:05 pm

      National's fundamental problem is they don't recognise that human beings are intensely social creatures.

      Their other fundamental problem is they don't recognise that they are conservatives, with associated limitations.

    • cleangreen 7.2
      30 April 2019 at 12:28 pm

      Clustercluck;
      I grew up in the 1950's and begun work in 1960's when we had "real conservative" National Governments, and they did keep our industries, farmers and our own assets in our hands.

      But this modern ‘National Party are all corporate global agents for the foreign elite & cabals and are ready to sell even our "National pride" after selling our country.

      • woodart 7.2.1
        30 April 2019 at 2:45 pm

        no longer the party of the farmers and blue haired oldies , party headquarters now in beijing

    • AB 7.3
      30 April 2019 at 1:10 pm

      I think a couple of caveats are needed to make your stated belief in universal human rights a reality, rather than something purely notional or formal:

      – there should be essential areas of life where markets are not allowed to operate because these things (e.g. healthcare) are human rights and should not be allocated based on the ability to pay

      – there should be checks and balances not only on government power, but also on private (primarily economic) power

    • Shadrach 7.4
      30 April 2019 at 1:38 pm

      You speak for many of us. Well done.

    • woodart 7.5
      30 April 2019 at 3:00 pm

      you are a conservative, does this mean you would (a) ban all pokie machines, or (b) turn a blind eye toward gambling as a free market exercise?. stay out of peoples business ? or try to interfere in peoples bedrooms?. maybe nationals fundamental problem is that there are many different groups of conservatives, from right wing white power gun nuts to religeous godbotherers, to free market hustlers, and all the others who indentify as conservatives but hate these other groups. look at conservative parties abroad, they are tearing themselves apart ,as much of the old time conservative ideals have been either proved unworkable for the masses, or just sold off to cashed up lobbyists.

    • The Lone Haranguer 7.6
      30 April 2019 at 9:22 pm

      Nationals problem is that, for as long as I can remember, they have never had any philosophy on why they want to govern, they just have a hungry desire to govern.

      In the early ACT days (with Prebbles weekly newsletter which was great fun) it seemed that Douglas had a political philosophy which drove ACT, but the Nats political philosophy was to follow thru on their "Born to Rule" belief system

      I cant see that much has changed really.

  8. vto 8
    30 April 2019 at 12:07 pm

    Can anyone name anything which the National Party has done for NZ which we celebrate today as being an advancement and progress ?

    • OnceWasTim 8.1
      30 April 2019 at 12:40 pm

      Advancing our linguistuk oidentuty? Ear "segsie" eggsent making us unique?

      If John Koi and Soimon have anything to do with it, we'll soon need trenslators whenever we attend intaneshnool confrinses. It's a win win going forward – think of the ploimint tunities

    • NZJester 8.2
      30 April 2019 at 12:43 pm

      Yes, putting in Simon Bridges as leader so that the party leaks like a sive and we can now see some of what has been going on behind closed doors that they have not been able to shrug off as easily like they did when Dirty Politics was published. cheeky

    • Shadrach 8.3
      30 April 2019 at 1:42 pm

      Actually both major parties have achieved considerable advancements of NZ over the years. Our current economic standing being one very good example. As for the National Party specifically, there are many – one example being the progress with Treaty settlements.

      • Stuart Munro. 8.3.1
        30 April 2019 at 2:10 pm

        They inflated the real estate sector – no other growth over inflation to speak of, except maybe a bit of dirty dairy. Not a good result, and certainly not clever.

      • vto 8.3.2
        30 April 2019 at 2:15 pm

        Shadrach I think our economic standing rests on the foundations laid by the various Labour governments over the decades, who have implemented changes to the fit the growing world. As opposed to National governments who have retreated at times of difficulty (price and wage freeze) and change – as conservatives always do.

        • Shadrach 8.3.2.1
          30 April 2019 at 2:48 pm

          You would be historically wrong. Governments of both Labour and National have largely followed the market policies introduced by the Fourth Labour government, which followed disastrous economic management by preceding National and Labour governments. Since that time (the mid 1980's), Labour have been in power for 5 terms (1984-1990, 1999-2008), National for 6 terms (1990-1999, 2008-2017).

          • Stuart Munro. 8.3.2.1.1
            30 April 2019 at 5:25 pm

            You seem to have made a factual error there Shadrach.

            Governments of both Labour and National have largely followed the disastrous faux market policies introduced by the Fourth Labour government.

            The result has been the decline of the real economy and the prioritizing of non-contributing sectors – Kelsey's FIRE economy.

            The untaxed capital 'contribution' to our GDP is at record levels, and our labour productivity is not keeping pace with countries with whom we were once competitive.

            Burgeoning real estate costs impose a substantial deadweight cost to the economy, as do the rentseeking behaviours of privatized utilities and private landlords.

            Had the governments of the last few decades deliberately set out to cripple the NZ economy they wouldn't have done a thing different.

            • Shadrach 8.3.2.1.1.1
              30 April 2019 at 8:51 pm

              The NZ economy has been well served by the policies of the past 35 years. If you don't like the way things are, try Venezuela.

              • Stuart Munro. …
                30 April 2019 at 9:02 pm

                Well if you're going to rude as well as stupid, maybe you should toddle off to the US with the rest of the far-right crazies.

                Look at the truth straight on for once in your trivial life – NZ's growth hasn't cracked 3% since we started down the fucking stupid Rogergnomics path. And most of that is real estate inflation.

                'Sound economic management' – not by any stretch of the imagination.

                • Shadrach …
                  1 May 2019 at 3:02 pm

                  "maybe you should toddle off to the US with the rest of the far-right crazies."

                  Why? I'm not the one complaining about how NZ is being run.

                  "NZ's growth hasn't cracked 3% since we started down the fucking stupid Rogergnomics path. "

                  "GDP Annual Growth Rate in New Zealand averaged 2.62 percent from 1988 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 7.30 percent in the third quarter of 1993 and a record low of -2.30 percent in the first quarter of 2009. "

                  https://tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/gdp-growth-annual

                  Meanwhile, what's the current growth rate in Venezuela?

                  • Stuart Munro. …
                    1 May 2019 at 3:22 pm

                    Nobody except you is talking about Venezuela, you braindead turd.

                    My people have been here for six generations and you're trying to kick me out in defense of your failed economic policies? How dare you! This is a democracy and by golly I will have my say in it – especially when corruption and incompetence endanger it.

                    Corruption and incompetence that you, to your undying shame, endorse.

                    • Shadrach …
                      1 May 2019 at 10:40 pm

                      Oh boo hoo. You're the one whinging about how bad things are. If you don't like it here, bugger off.

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      2 May 2019 at 12:35 am

                      I'm not about to be forced out of my country by a sleazy corrupt piece of shit like you, and, insofar as we are talkingt about epic governmental nonperformance, you might reflect on the fact that only the very worst of governments rely on pushing the citizens they are paid to represent out.

                      The UN, a body you no doubt abominate, being a sympathiser with oppressions and corruptions of every description, supports the rights of citizens to live in their own countries unmolested, and to participate in the political processes thereof.

                      We have long established that you have no principles whatsoever, and would cheerfully live under the barbaric despotism of the Orange Orangutan – and you're perfectly entitled to do so, and wallow in the slough of corruption he embodies, if, as it seems, that’s what pushes your buttons.

                      But what you're not entitled to do is to try to silence my critique of government incompetence – I have an absolute right to reproach my representatives for failing to protect my interests and those of my colleagues and fellow citizens – and I will continue to do so.

              • vto …
                1 May 2019 at 5:41 am

                shadrach "The NZ economy has been well served by the policies of the past 35 years. If you don't like the way things are, try Venezuela."

                Forget things like "try venezuela" or zimbabwe or russia or north korea – those are just silly cries that are meaningless in the context of this mini-thread.

                But please do explain how our economy has been well served by the last 35 years, relative to our relative global position in the decades before, and, within NZ, relative to our lives and financial wellbeing in the decades before.

                I only see a deterioration in both those areanas (and there aint no other arenas on this planet). Our workers aren't improved. Our wages and salaries arent improved. Our capital ownership isn't improved. Our home ownership rates aren't improved. Our standard of living isn't improved. Many people put off going to the doctor because of cost, which is a true sign of poverty – didn't exist before.

                • Shadrach …
                  1 May 2019 at 3:07 pm

                  Our lives and financial wellbeing are considerably better today than 40 years ago. We have access to a far wider range of goods and services at more reasonable comparative prices. We are part of a global society where we can trade, buy foreign currency and sell our labour virtually without limitation or restriction. We employ more people today than at any time in the country's history, and at higher remuneration levels. We enjoy a health system that is world class, with access to life changing medications and procedures that were unthinkable 40 years ago. I could go on, but it seems tome that people like you who want to wallow in the misery of your own imagination won't ever appreciate how good life in NZ is.

                  • Stuart Munro. …
                    1 May 2019 at 3:28 pm

                    Declining real incomes and rising living costs are denying most New Zealanders the elements of a quality of life that was generally available. Simple things – a home, a stable job, a government unriddled by corruption and leaders that are not an international disgrace, honestly creating a future desirable to us rather than looting public properties to enrich themselves. Life in NZ is absolute shit nowadays – and it you and your fellow crooks who have made it so.

                    • Shadrach …
                      1 May 2019 at 10:42 pm

                      Most NZ'er have a stable job and a home. Successive governments in NZ have been unriddled by corruption, and I can't remember a NZ PM who was not internationally well regarded.

                      If life here is so bad, find somewhere better.

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      2 May 2019 at 12:24 am

                      Your perception of low corruption requires a willing suspension of disbelief. Events like the Christchurch rebuild established that corruption is the heart and soul of Gnat policy.

                      "If life here is so bad, find somewhere better."

                      Better to share the pain with the culprits so that they fuck off, and everyone's lives improve.

    • Phil 8.4
      30 April 2019 at 1:42 pm

      The Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994 is the single most important piece of legislation we have for holding government to account with taxpayer funds.

      • vto 8.4.1
        30 April 2019 at 2:16 pm

        True, and it surprised me at the time, as that is normally the kind of legislation that Labour would introduce

    • patricia bremner 8.5
      30 April 2019 at 1:45 pm

      VTO, at 8, Him indoors and I thought long and hard……… rumble strips and barriers ??the cycle way? ?

      A number of white elephants..asbestos trains, the flag issue and a few horrors like live sheep exports and Anedarko. …. you may think of some.

      • vto 8.5.1
        30 April 2019 at 2:19 pm

        Outside of the Fiscal Responsibility Act that Phil pointed out above I can't recall any others at all.

        Certainly never in any social, cultural, moral, or other areas of life on planet earth have they ever done anything. Nothing.

        They are not the doing types

        • woodart 8.5.1.1
          30 April 2019 at 3:05 pm

          conservative people are very rarely leaders, they are followers, or reactors.

          • vto 8.5.1.1.1
            1 May 2019 at 5:44 am

            Yes, exactly, but it is that very point that the Nats don't understand about themselves.

            Actually, I think most conservatives don't realise they are conservatives. Most New Zealanders like to think of themselves as progressive and movers, but look at Key for example – best example ever of a useless do-nothing conservative. Yet many of his supporters would consider themselves anything but

        • cleangreen 8.5.1.2
          30 April 2019 at 7:13 pm

          Shadrack is another National gatekeeper

          And he/she has a demented vision of any (false) achievements National have achieved.

          I only remember how National viciously sold off most of the county's publicly owned assets.

  9. Fireblade 9
    30 April 2019 at 12:18 pm

    Simon has survived Tuesday morning.

    How very disappointing for National Party supporters.

  10. NZJester 10
    30 April 2019 at 12:32 pm

    Looks like the right are shapning there knives and the news stories are starting to flow.

    He has been given the nickname " Simon Slushy Bridges" in a news article from The Spinoff posted on MSN News that had nothing but positive things to say about other National Party members Todd Muller, Paul Goldsmith, Nikki Kaye, and Judith Collins.

    Worst of all, it’s a quick and simple metaphor for exactly where the National party is going under his leadership. It’s negative and obsessed with trivialities. But like a car caught up in a slushy snowdrift, it’s going nowhere.

    That didn’t seem like the case this time last year. In fact, I used the exact same phrase – going nowhere – to mean the opposite thing, that is, there was no way Simon Bridges was going to lose the leadership. All of that seems a long time ago now for Simon Slushy Bridges.

    https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/simon-bridgess-slushy-tactics-make-it-really-hard-to-take-him-seriously/ar-BBWnTNf?li=BBqdg4K

  12. Puckish Rogue 12
    30 April 2019 at 12:58 pm

    Well for what it's worth I won't be voting National as long as Simon Bridges is leader

    • Dennis Frank 12.1
      30 April 2019 at 1:41 pm

      Don't vote – it just encourages them. An oldie but goodie, eh? I expect to be voting Green next year, for the 11th consecutive general election, despite the frequent eye-rolling the Greens keep making me do. Yeah, I know it ain't rational. Faith-healing?

      • Pat 12.1.1
        30 April 2019 at 10:00 pm

        and will you vote Green if the Zero Carbon Bill is a sell out?

        • Dennis Frank 12.1.1.1
          1 May 2019 at 10:26 am

          Good question. I don't expect a sell-out, just a compromise. I'll wait till it emerges before evaluating how well James has managed the outcome. Any evidence of NZF influence will be the focus of judgment (not just by me) – in respect of kow-towing to vested interests.

    • Michael 12.2
      30 April 2019 at 1:42 pm

      Make sure you tell all your friends not to vote for them either.

    • cleangreen 12.3
      30 April 2019 at 7:14 pm

      Me neither PR.

  13. Puckish Rogue 13
    30 April 2019 at 2:21 pm

    "as long as Simon Bridges is leader"

  14. bwaghorn 14
    30 April 2019 at 3:15 pm

    Ha ha i thought it was the ideas of april . Then i figured that cant be right because simon has no ideas.

  15. Grant 15
    30 April 2019 at 4:50 pm

    Simon knows of politics what the moon knows of lobsters.

  16. ankerawshark 16
    30 April 2019 at 5:06 pm

    Surely Simon is gone burger by now??? Pretty soon I would have thought.

    However as always from me #lets keep Simon. I am loyally supporting his place as National Party Leader.

  17. peterlepaysan 17
    30 April 2019 at 9:53 pm

    I am a natural sceptic. ( I have to declare conflicts of interest.)

    I am sceptical of all polls, equally.

    NZ polls asking the question about "preferred prime minister" need to be viewed with cynicism, rather than scepticism.

    We do not have a presidential system.

    Party leadership may have some effect at voting time. It is the party vote that matters.

    No oppostion leader, or co-party leader is ever going to be a preferred party leader.

    The question matters to the media and pollsters (it is about PR spin advertising etc etc),

    The media (gasp) have to have something, anything to gossip about.

    I do hope Simon keeps his current job forever, if he ever leads a government he will become preferred prime minister. Sigh.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T05:55:25+00:00