The importance of party unity

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, October 7th, 2020 - 83 comments
Categories: election 2020, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, national, paula bennett, same old national - Tags:

If a party wants to become Government there are a few characteristics that is has to have.  Fiscal competence is one.  And unity is another.

Currently National has neither.  Its fiscal strategy is a $10 billion dollar joke.  And it is clearly factionalised and divided.

After yesterday’s incredible story about Denise Lee’s leaked email attacking Judith Collins for not understanding Auckland issues and for making policy on the hoof there was this extraordinary twitter fight between former chief of staff and occasional Standard reader Matthew Hooton and former Deputy Leader and pseudo westie Paula Bennett.

Newshub has the details in this video.

Believe me I know how this works.  I lived through the Labour experience in 2014.  Leaks are the weapons used by dissenters and if used properly can catch out and undermine leaders and make them look like fools.

But it is when the fight goes public that you know things are really bad.  I have not seen this level of public disruption from National for decades.  Here are the tweets for all to see.

Bennett’s tweet is astounding.  So National had has policy, benchmark polling and campaign work prepared but the previous leadership refused to share it.  Strong team eh.

Hooton is not showing signs of backing off.

This is very messy.  During Labour’s darkest times at least the dissent only erupted publicly after the election.

And it gets worse for National.  The only way to describe last night’s debate is Jacinda was ascendant and Judith was appalling.

The most important feature of a campaign is momentum.  Yesterday’s events have well and truly killed any momentum National may have had.

83 comments on “The importance of party unity ”

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  1. Muttonbird 1
    7 October 2020 at 9:44 am

    Someone needs to ask the good Reverend at St Thomas Tamaki just how often Judy and her boof-head husband turn up to Sunday service.

    • Chris T 1.1
      7 October 2020 at 2:04 pm

      It is interesting you throw personal abuse at both Collins and her husband and then make out they are the boof heads.

      • In Vino 1.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 2:18 pm

        If one reeks of personal hypocrisy, one can expect some borax.

        • Chris T 1.1.1.1
          7 October 2020 at 2:42 pm

          I haven't seen her husband spouting hyprocisy.

          • woodart 1.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2020 at 5:04 pm

            do you spend much time with him?

            • Chris T 1.1.1.1.1.1
              7 October 2020 at 5:15 pm

              No

              I just watch media.

              Wouldn't know him if I bumped into him.

              Just find it funny Muttonbird choses to slag the bloke off, because he doesn't like his wife.

              Personally would never slag off Ardern's partner, no matter how much he wastes police time pretending to smuggle eggs into countries.

              • solkta …
                7 October 2020 at 5:24 pm

                There is good reason to slag him off. Did you not see the national memes thing in the media you watch? Or on here:

                https://thestandard.org.nz/left-wing-twitter-is-the-worst/#comment-1747064

                • Chris T …
                  7 October 2020 at 7:21 pm

                  Why

                  Are people now not allowed to voice their opinions on their own social media?

                  • solkta …
                    7 October 2020 at 7:28 pm

                    Of course they are "allowed" to voice their opinions. But as mickysavage points out in the post i linked to:

                    As much as possible leaders’ spouses should be left out of the media gaze. But regularly and publicly attacking the opponent with racist misogynist material makes them fair game.

                    The guy is a boof-head. Fair comment.

                  • froggleblocks …
                    7 October 2020 at 7:54 pm

                    So you're pointing out that Collins' husband is allowed to voice his own opinions on his own social media, while telling Muttonbird that they can't voice their opinions on (this) social media?

                    Do you not see a little bit of hypocrisy there?

                    • Chris T …
                      7 October 2020 at 8:21 pm

                      I haven't said Muttonbird needs to do anything.

                      Just questioned his crass messages and slight hypocrisy.

                      If you can point out where I have feel free to post

                    • Tricledrown []
                      8 October 2020 at 10:54 am

                      Chris T crying in your beersies when your party and leader are deeply involved in Dirty Politics and get caught out and then get caught time after time denying .

                      You can 't pathetically claim to be the victim all the Crap has come back and now sticking and being amplified as National tries more lowdown Dirty tricks to win at all cost's.

                      National has no one to blame but itself and its ingrained corruption.

                  • Rapunzel …
                    7 October 2020 at 10:00 pm

                    Well that's a little creep down memory lane

          • Patricia Bremner 1.1.1.1.2
            7 October 2020 at 8:41 pm

            He has put awful stuff up on facebook.

        • peter sim 1.1.1.2
          7 October 2020 at 9:53 pm

          Exactly where did J Collins get the information that Samoa was a month ahead of NZ i in clovid lock down?

  2. Pat 2
    7 October 2020 at 9:53 am

    Appalling in personality, though I thought she had the better of the 'debate'…though it seems from reportage I'm very much in the minority and happy to be so.

    • Gabby 2.1
      7 October 2020 at 10:26 am

      No Sarrrrandar Pat!

    • ianmac 2.2
      7 October 2020 at 1:55 pm

      Always interesting to know the reasons for the opposite view Pat. What do you think were the 3 top reasons for Judith's win?

      • Pat 2.2.1
        7 October 2020 at 2:17 pm

        Only saw the second half but thought that collins scored a couple of telling hits on Ardern (and also revealed her character, which imo a negative)whereas aside from a couple of quips about Brownlee Ardern didnt manage to nail Collins on anything, though she came close once but Collins was quick enough with a good retort. All in all while some policy was broad brushed there was nothing there to change anyones mind but Collins got it on delivery, not content IMO….but as noted just about everyone else is calling it the other way so Im happy, not that it will make any difference…and nearly 400,000 had voted before it aired

  3. Andre 3
    7 October 2020 at 9:55 am

    Unity, huh?

    As a committed atheist, I'm always amused by lines like:

    This distinguishes the one true faith from papists.

    • Pat 3.1
      7 October 2020 at 10:01 am

      I thought Hooton was only around fifty?…..that sort of rhetoric went out about the time he was born.

      • Gabby 3.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 10:18 am

        I'd like to hear from the photographer akshly. Must've been a very cunning stealthy one to get a snap from that angle and so nicely posed, without Codger's cooperation.

        • Muttonbird 3.1.1.1
          7 October 2020 at 10:21 am

          There was certainly more than one. She tacitly invited them in.

          • Gabby 3.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2020 at 10:25 am

            Did she ask the photographers, whom she didn't invite in, where they'd like her to sit? Or would kneeling look better?

        • JanM 3.1.1.2
          7 October 2020 at 10:39 am

          There is no doubt in my mind that that was posed for the camera. She has seriously resurrected 'truthiness' in the public eye.

        • Robert Guyton 3.1.1.3
          7 October 2020 at 11:15 am

          Monty Python's Black Knight was reduced to kneeling, but fought on, uber-confident of winning!
          Nek minnit!

      • Muttonbird 3.1.2
        7 October 2020 at 10:19 am

        It also highlights how far the political right have retreated to their core value – social division.

      • Anne 3.1.3
        7 October 2020 at 11:05 am

        What an arrogant and detestable creep Hooton is. The word papist is a disparaging term used by National Party-voting protestants who imagine they are superior beings. So, he went to Kings School and Kings College and thinks that gives him the right to look down his nose at others.

        I remember that attitude existed 60 plus years ago when I was growing up. It astonishes me there are people around who still think that way.

        • Pat 3.1.3.1
          7 October 2020 at 11:11 am

          guess I must move in the "wrong" circles

          • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1.3.1.1
            7 October 2020 at 11:16 am

            Hooton's 'God' moves in 'mysterious ways' laugh

            Ardern’s ‘moves‘ remain a mystery to English Bridges Muller Collins.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP8ZNekmxJQ

          • In Vino 3.1.3.1.2
            7 October 2020 at 2:27 pm

            'Papist' was commonly used in earlier times – certainly at the time of Guy Fawkes – but only students of history and well-read people would use the word nowadays. I took the sentence as a nice piece of irony by Hooten, worrying about who kneels when praying indeed! He is at least reasonably literate by modern standards, and maybe some people are becoming a little too dependent on 'sarc' tags. Personally, I do not want to 'sarc' tags appearing in newspaper columns, thanks…

            • Matthew Hooton 3.1.3.1.2.1
              7 October 2020 at 4:53 pm

              Thank you. Of course it was. Calling Anglicanism "the one true faith" would, I'd have thought, made that pretty clear.

              • Dennis Frank …
                7 October 2020 at 5:46 pm

                Ah, Nats doing irony? Many would not believe such a thing possible. Clearly you're a cut above the hoi polloi. Do they actually have a patrician faction? If so, would explain the friction at the divide.

                Collins saying on the radio earlier that they don't actually have a local govt spokesperson makes the screenshot of the title of the woman claiming to be it seem a tad fractional. Perhaps a fraction too much friction happening? Or perhaps one of the two was doing irony?

              • Pat …
                7 October 2020 at 6:14 pm

                Ah sorry Matthew….us poorly educated folk call them Catholics these days…if we think it's necessary to distinguish.

            • Draco T Bastard 3.1.3.1.2.2
              7 October 2020 at 6:30 pm

              Personally, I do not want to 'sarc' tags appearing in newspaper columns, thanks…

              The problem being that sarcasm doesn't really come across well in text as it's missing a lot of the queues that would be available face to face such as tone and expression.

              In other words, to get sarcasm across in text requires very careful writing or /sarc tags.

              • Incognito …
                7 October 2020 at 10:49 pm

                The problem with face to face is that I cannot easily tell the difference between queues and cues, which is much easier in written language 😉

              • In Vino …
                7 October 2020 at 11:04 pm

                I never saw a 'sarc' tag in Oscar Wilde's written works. Maybe our readers need to sharpen up..

            • Incognito 3.1.3.1.2.3
              7 October 2020 at 10:44 pm

              It was a tweet. Personally, I think MSM headlines resemble tweets more and more and my fear is that newspaper will be replaced by Social Media altogether. I think we’re almost halfway there.

        • Draco T Bastard 3.1.3.2
          7 October 2020 at 12:43 pm

          It astonishes me there are people around who still think that way.

          Doesn't surprise me in the slightest. The only way to have multiple faiths is if people believe their one is better than all the rest.

        • RedLogix 3.1.3.3
          7 October 2020 at 12:54 pm

          Agreed Anne. I was brought up in a middle class Anglican church, but I've never heard or used the term 'papist'.

          When my mother was a child she was off school for much a year with whooping cough (it was a big deal in those days), and no-one in her immediate family could or would care for her. Except for a fairly distant Catholic family who took her in and cared for her, despite already having numerous other children in the household.

          She took great care to explain this to me, and made it clear that in her mind these old denominational conflicts were an abomination.

          My partner of many decades grew up in a Catholic family, and while both of us hold many strong views about the failings of that Church as an institution, we both deeply appreciate her extended family and get together with them whenever possible.

        • tc 3.1.3.4
          7 October 2020 at 2:44 pm

          Don't forget the behaviour that copped him a life ban here by placing someone in danger.

          A man at home on the right with all his mates shilling for a living.

  4. Enough is Enough 4
    7 October 2020 at 10:48 am

    Love the concern trolling almost as much as I loved Paula taking the bait- in public.

    What a shambles

  5. Muttonbird 5
    7 October 2020 at 10:49 am

    Collins either has zero control over her staff or she's lying:

    Stuff reported on the day one of Collins' handlers actually checked with church staff whether it was okay for the media pack to follow her into the church.

    https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/10/nz-election-2020-judith-collins-blames-the-left-for-criticism-of-church-photo.html

    And she’s now in full cornered John Key mode:

    Despite the leaders of the Labour and Green parties having nothing to say publicly about Collins' prayer session, she said "the left" had been "really obnoxious" about it. It's not clear who she was referring to.

    It’s all a left wing conspiracy!

  6. Ad 6
    7 October 2020 at 10:54 am

    I'm looking forward to three more years of a Labour led country.

    So fun to see the right going through what we went through in the late 1990s.

    • Stunned Mullet 6.1
      7 October 2020 at 11:54 am

      I'm not looking forward to the next three years.

      At present National are utterly woeful and will make an appallingly weak opposition…that wouldn't be so concerning if the economy was booming and the current Labour lineup included more than a handful of competent ministers.

      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 12:46 pm

        Having a strong opposition doesn't really make for better government.

        For that a better democracy is required rather than the elected dictatorship that we have.

        • Stuart Munro 6.1.1.1
          7 October 2020 at 8:29 pm

          I think it's more of a veiled oligarchy – Muldoon was the last one that really dictated. But they've certainly made a fine mess of things.

  7. Incognito 7
    7 October 2020 at 11:07 am

    A ‘leader’ who does have no confidence in their ‘team’ doesn’t receive to trust and respect in return. This rag-tag shambolic collection of MPs fearing for their political lives needs to sort their shit. If you cannot work as a team with your own people, how on Earth can you expect to be able to work with coalition partners or the State sector? Judging by the last three years, National will need at least two more terms to clear out dead wood and re-invent itself. In the meantime, they will suffer from a thousand cuts from competing parties. Lowering the electoral threshold would increase National’s agony.

    • Pat 7.1
      7 October 2020 at 11:10 am

      lowering threshold is a double edged sword so both major parties will fight it tooth and nail

      • Incognito 7.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 11:24 am

        Yes, which is a pity. In the current climate [no pun], I think National is more vulnerable.

        • Pat 7.1.1.1
          7 October 2020 at 11:31 am

          in the current climate Im not sure its a good idea to facilitate fringe groups….but then i guess that depends on the definition of fringe

          • Incognito 7.1.1.1.1
            7 October 2020 at 12:23 pm

            I’d call them “minor parties” and, IMO, they serve a purpose in a (our) democracy. If the Greens and NZF don’t make the cut, we might end up with just three parties ‘representing’ the people in NZ Parliament. Maybe that’s a good thing in the current climate?

            • Pat 7.1.1.1.1.1
              7 October 2020 at 12:54 pm

              as said…it depends on your definition of fringe…will we lament the fact that Advance NZ wont have a seat at the table?

              • Incognito …
                7 October 2020 at 1:52 pm

                Only if you’re a supporter and voted for Advance NZ, in which case your vote doesn’t count the way you’d like to and you won’t necessarily feel represented in Parliament in the same way as others. But hey, that’s ok, because we live in a democracy 😉

      • Phil 7.1.2
        7 October 2020 at 11:31 am

        Yeah. If the threshold was drastically lowered (or completely removed) NZF would be back, but so would TOP, the Maori Party, The New Conservatives and potentially even Advance NZ. On balance that's probably a national-leaning gaggle of small parties.

        • Pat 7.1.2.1
          7 October 2020 at 11:44 am

          Its more the fragmentation of purpose thats a concern…parliament dosnt function terribly well as a melting pot of ideas and if the electorate breaks up into ever increasing factions where does the discussion occur?….having said that no threshold is more democratic.

      • Ed1 7.1.3
        7 October 2020 at 12:34 pm

        I believe it is sometimes worth taking the high ground. Labour and the Greens would I believe benefit from having the integrity to accept the recommendation of the last review of the electoral system and to lower the threshold – from memory 3.5% was recommended. If a political party gains enough party votes to elect over 3 MPs, then I believe they deserve to be in parliament. On the other hand, the "coat tailing" provision which waives the threshold requirement for a party than gets an electoral seat should be removed, as it distorts the proportionality of parliament. If the results are what we expect it is possible that these changes could be made with a true statement that they would not have affected seats allocated at the 2020 election.

  8. Stephen D 8
    7 October 2020 at 12:57 pm

    Looking forward to the January BBQ season. The fight for the heart and soul of the National Party will be at stake. Will the Christian Right prevail? The Farmers rump?Business men for sale? What’s left of the urban liberals?

    My popcorn futures are looking good.

    • woodart 8.1
      7 October 2020 at 5:11 pm

      think it will be taken over by a nth shore farmer looking for a quick do-up, so a combo of what you suggest.

    • Georgecom 8.2
      7 October 2020 at 9:18 pm

      Can I order a very large carton please

      delivery day before national party summer caucus bbq

  9. mac1 9
    7 October 2020 at 2:11 pm

    Sorry, Stephen D, I grow my own. But you're right. The BBQ season will show more singed eyebrows and reputations than caused by errant gas lighters. The sound of spitting will be more than just the lamb. There will be little noise of champagne corks popping; rather the muted conversations of huddled green-beer-bottle-supping men and panic amongst the canapés.

  10. NZJester 10
    7 October 2020 at 3:31 pm

    National has never had either, it has only ever had the illusion of both.

    They always leave the county in a bad state. A lot of the underfunding from their previous time in the treasury benches is still being cleaned up. The health system still needs a lot of repair that will take another term or more. The environmental impact of their policies will take decades to fix
    Ops on my phone and put in the wrong name. Should have been NZJester not TheNZJester

    [Fixed error in user name]

  11. observer 11
    7 October 2020 at 5:07 pm

    This is very funny …

    Party unity in Ponsonby!

    (clue: Hamish Price. If National are still using him, then they really are divided and lost).

    • Gabby 11.1
      7 October 2020 at 6:31 pm

      Hammish must've been taking a break from leading opinions up the garden path.

      • observer 11.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 6:42 pm

        I honestly was feeling a bit sorry for Emma Mellow. She stepped into a mess, created by National's caucus, not her.

        But then she chose Hamish Price as her campaign manager. If she's happy to embrace the toxic, then she deserves the consequences.

    • Robert Guyton 11.2
      7 October 2020 at 8:52 pm

      This is the best lead-up to an election, ever!

      • Incognito 11.2.1
        7 October 2020 at 10:54 pm

        For some, it might end with a sickening thud and a shattering of dreams in the wind of oblivion. I just hope (!) I won’t be among those.

  12. Georgecom 12
    7 October 2020 at 5:31 pm

    News today that National is struggling to find people who actually want to meet Collins out on the streets and are needing to “plant” supporters amongst the populace to make it look like Collins is liked and supported. Rent a supporter.

    • Incognito 12.1
      7 October 2020 at 5:47 pm

      She could use her hubby. Vernon Tava used that trick and didn’t think it was misleading.

      • woodart 12.1.1
        7 October 2020 at 7:49 pm

        no. collins has already admitted she has no control over her husband, so , hard to make him wander the streets, pretending to be a fan.

  13. weka 13
    7 October 2020 at 6:34 pm

    "Bennett’s tweet is astounding."

    Incredible. Do you think it's true, or PB being vicious?

    • Peter 13.1
      7 October 2020 at 8:08 pm

      Good for Bennett telling it as it is. (was)

      Of course she always tells the truth. I won't look at the calendar but I'm happy to think about a timeline.

      Hooton goes to to work in a 'role in National Party leader Todd Muller's office.'

      Muller was trying to be the leader of the party and lead them into the election to see them the next Government. Hooton clearly worked very closely with Muller and was a 'personal friend of Muller's for 30 years.'

      They worked so closely together that Hooton was not trusted with information about policy, benchmark polling, campaign themes and or a campaign grid.

      Maybe they were distinctly party business so not in Hooton's realm. No, can't be that, the leader makes the policy and announces it as we've seen this week.

      The unified party with the high calibre and ability on board were to rise like a phoenix after the Bridges debacle. Remember the photos?

      All that though was bathing in a sea of bitchiness and back-stabbing. Ah, Paula Bennett.

      It is so appropriate that Collins is the leader now and gets a chance to flaunt the bitchiness. Someone's obviously told her that's what will sell her, people like it. Trouble is she listened to someone who said that or relied on her true practised and innate self and came up with it herself.

      No-one actually told her there is a world out here. Basing your behaviour on the way the National caucus operates and just is, is slightly misguided. Bitchiness, nastiness, lack of trust, back-stabbing, arrogance and incompetence are not what people want and don't reflect what most people and communities are.

  14. Georgecom 14
    7 October 2020 at 9:31 pm

    The last 2 odd days has echoes of Don Brashes last days on the election hustings back in 2005. A carefully constructed election campaign coming apart at the seams. For brash of course it was his duplicity. For Collins it is her caucus lack of respect and for her and dislike of her. Nevertheless in the final few days when the leader should be gaining momentum a series of events come along to tarnish them, cause people to question them and force them to be continually defend their position. Karma is returning to Collins at the worst possible moment for her.

  15. peter sim 15
    7 October 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Really ? Photographers stalk church visitors?

    That was a very carefully pre arranged photo op by JC (?).

  16. Uncle Scrim 16
    7 October 2020 at 10:27 pm

    What amazes me is why National, under 3 different leaders, has consistently thought there are votes to be gained from undermining and trashing NZ's Covid response success story. For months it was Australia had the best approach, then Taiwan was great (yay, one country in the world did better than us, good on them), then Collins tried Australia if you don't count Victoria, now it's Samoa. Sure they've wanted to tarnish Ardern and Labour, but NZers are very attuned to international news/comparisons and warmed by punching-above-our-weight stories; at worst, it risks appearing unpatriotic – why would anyone think that was a good tactic?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days 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
    12 hours 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
    17 hours 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
    18 hours 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
    20 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    24 hours 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 day 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 day 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
    2 days ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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