The right become socialists as Covid-19 bites

Written By: - Date published: 7:52 am, March 17th, 2020 - 38 comments
Categories: Economy, health, national, Simon Bridges, tax, taxpayers union, uncategorized - Tags:

Clearly it is a time to put ideology aside.  The right, elements of which have thought the best thing to do to the state is weaken it that badly that they could then drown it in a bathtub, are rethinking and now realise that a well resourced, active and engaged State is actually a life saver.

Like our comrades at the Taxpayer’s Union.  Maybe they are a real union after all.  They have released this policy document which containse suggestions of what the Government should be doing.  Their paper contains this statement:

A market-led approach in these times would be an extraordinary mistake. The extremely tight timeframe, matched with significant information deficiencies on the part of consumers and firms, plus massive externalities of individual behaviour all characterise market failure.

As fiscal conservatives it does not come naturally to call for a dramatic expansion of the size of state spending. But a core of role of Government, and why we pay taxes, is to protect the citizenry at times of national systematic shock such as war or pandemic.

And this is one of their proposals, something which Karl Marx would be proud of:

A variety of firms will go bust in the coming 12 months. The Government will inevitably seek to support some firms and sectors that for which continued operation is of strategic importance, Air New Zealand and major airports being obvious examples. Support should be limited to a handful of strategically important firms, rather than an excuse to nationalise large swathes of the economy.

While there is justification to ensure some major companies continue, shareholders should not be insulated. The Government should only propose terms for bailouts which give the Crown a significant (majority or total) shareholding in these firms. The funds are for the continued operation (i.e. jobs and services) of these companies, not to protect the existing shareholders.

They then propose a sell down when things return to normal.

National has gone very quiet.  Apart from their cheerleaders suggesting that the Government has been doing too much AND too little and have acted too quickly AND too slowly they realise that now is not a time for partisan political games.

There is also this strange contribution from a techhead published in the Herald.  They insist that the country should be run in the same way as well resourced highly profitable tech companies.  If only.

The primary subject of the interview, Zuru founder and Entrepreneur of the Year Nick Mowbray, urged the Government to do a lot of things most of which it was doing.

Ah the right. They spend most of their time weakening the state as much as possible, then when we strike a crisis they have all the answers.  Marx would be perplexed.

38 comments on “The right become socialists as Covid-19 bites ”

  1. Peter Barry 1

    It appears your right is using common sense and being pragmatic rather than burying it's head in ideolgy like some others.

    It makes a pleasant, even if unexpected, change.

  2. Siobhan 2

    You appear confused..the headline is..'The Right become Socialists'..(correct)…then, "its time to put ideology aside"..um, no, lets go socialist, like you say…"a well resourced, active and engaged State is actually a life saver"..lordy how i hate to be reduced to memes..but you really are this guy..

    Image result for meme but thats socialism

  3. Tiger Mountain 3

    Good perspective as per usual from Micky.

    It has been frustrating alright to observe the Nats behaviour during this virus contagion…“their cheerleaders suggesting that the Government has been doing too much AND too little and have acted too quickly AND too slowly”.
    Cynical bastards pushing for political advantage rather than dealing with the substantive matters in a cooperative way.

    Now, will the Labour Caucus also embrace this “socialist spirit” and assist the working class directly, or skew aid funds mainly to business bailouts?

    WINZ/MSD should be repurposed urgently into a citizens aid machine, with the draconian/moralistic/sadistic side of their operations retired. It would be the perfect time to do that. No standowns, no abatements for part time work, direct credits to all citizens with a demonstrated need without stigma. And the Stasi style Benefit Investigation Units to start ‘investigating’ disabled, long term ill, and other vulnerable peoples needs–and fulfilling them instead of punishing and establishing debt!

    Hey, dreams are free…but disaster capitalism always waits to swoop in these tight spots.

    • Molly 3.1

      "WINZ/MSD should be repurposed urgently into a citizens aid machine, with the draconian/moralistic/sadistic side of their operations retired."

      Politically, this is a great opportunity to do just that. The impact of Covid-19 may have just opened that Overton window much wider as a larger number of voters find themselves in the precarious position of needing support.

  4. Nic the NZer 4

    The political right has always been cogniscent of the states ability to fund the economy through its spending. The govt deficit concern is only raised from that side when they don't like the programs being funded, but its repeatedly been clear that the US president can fund tax cuts, the military and blow the deficit out completely and nobody gives a toss.

    Unfortunately on the left we seem to have a bunch of true believers amoung us. This buys into the rights rhetorical dismissal of state funded public goods as being unaffordable. The next time that the NZ govt is being cheer lead towards running a surplus for ideological reasons we should remember how it works when an actual emergency arises and the true nature of the economy becomes plain fact.

  5. I Feel Love 5

    Are all the right wing guys banned? They've certainly been quiet? I was thinking the other day about some Venezuelan rw guy trolling a lw site about the toilet paper shortages in the US & Aus. Also, giving the supermarket and Uber money for delivering food etc, we still own NZ Post right?

  6. bill 6

    All this damned drop in economic activity indicates we've taken our eye off the ball on the heating the world up front We need to kick everything back into gear and get that peddle to the metal pronto!

    If that means nationalising, then nationalise!

    If that means bailing out behemoths, then bail!

    We can do this.

  7. AB 7

    Tech heads are sometimes the stupidest people in the room.

  8. observer 8

    "Taxation is theft". The thought-free slogan trotted out on various forums (Stuff comments is a favourite), because when you're hit with a virus you can demand to be cured by the pizza you bought with your tax cut, rather than a public health system.

    Or, tax is property confiscation. According to David Seymour, who has been very quiet these past few days.

    Is it unfair to dig up old quotes and mock him and his party now? Maybe. Coronavirus has changed everything. People learn. But then again …

    He was saying it in March 2020

  9. RedBaronCV 9

    I'd believe they were socialists if they suggested the upper echelon payroll in business was cut to the bone and the amounts used to to support extended sick leave.

    I'd also like to see work hours trimmed for all to lessen redundancies and keep people in work and the skills up.

    In fact I'd make this a precondition of any state help – if the pie is smaller then it needs to be shared much more fairly. Th peeps at the top aren't going to lose their jobs anytime soon but they could loose the salary.

    I'd also institute a rent freeze of sorts ( not more than annual from today) – to prevent landlords soaking up state aid and I'd be into the power companies & telco's so that the price of basics dropped.

    And the provincial aid and infrastructure spend – I'd hook some of it away from roads and partner with local government to update other sorts of infrastructure – water sewage etc. LG has a lot of the aging less than adequate infrastructure( getting beyond the capacity of the ratepayers to fund) so why not update that as well and it has the double whammy of keeping down rates and rents looking ahead. It spreads the management and speeds up the spend as there will be projects ready to go.

    It would spread it over the country better, update a wider range of infrastructure, keep a wider range of skills and business in various localities in work ( and couldn't be flogged off by the next right wing government)

  10. Enough is Enough 10

    What has been possibly the only positive thing over the past 5 days is politics has largely disappeared. The right and left across the world are almost all singing from the same song sheet.

    Snide tribal bullshit has no real place at the current time.

  11. Janet 11

    "I'd also like to see work hours trimmed for all to lessen redundancies and keep people in work and the skills up."

    My thoughts too… Everyone should share the load . Take air NZ for example , looking at dropping 3000 staff into shit. Why not all staff take a big cut leaving take home pay being just enough to get by on – and corresponding reduced hours of work instead. Then you hold the human resource in hand until things normalise again.

    Freeze mortgage repayments, freeze rents . freeze money and wait it out together.

    • RedBaronCV 11.1

      Airnz was at the top of my frame as well. It's probably going to need govt help to survive and we need it as a nation to do so – but I'd take a hatchet to the top level payroll ( no more than 5 times minimum weekly wage ?) spread that around – get voluntary hours cuts rather then redundancies then spread the rest of the load as equitably as possible. I'd involve the staff/ unions in the discussions – no more of this top down bull of making decisions around redundancy.

      Stock options shares for senior levels – gone – transfer to the govt shareholding in return for the assistance.

      We can’t afford to keep supporting the lifestyles of the rich….

      • Gosman 11.1.1

        Why do we need Air NZ as a nation? Sure we need to be serviced by airlines but it doesn't need to be Air NZ.

        • RedBaronCV 11.1.1.1

          from discussions in past years when Airnz was in trouble -Reliable communications links -export of produce- heavily supported by the RW as well IIRC.
          Otherwise likely to be ripped off by an oligolipstic market owned overseas

        • Poission 11.1.1.2

          Because the earnings stay in NZ,as does the tax on profits.

          Following the GFC the NZ current account deficit decreased due to lowered profits being repatriated overseas.We will see similar trends in the short term.

          https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/statistics/key-graphs/key-graph-current-account

          • Gosman 11.1.1.2.1

            Ummm… that applies to ALL international transport. Do we have a State owner shipping company?

            • KJT 11.1.1.2.1.1

              Apart from the rail ferries, No, We don't even have an NZ owned and flagged one anymore.

              Which is why Mearsk, and MSC, charge whatever they feel like, with services that can be intermittent and overpriced.

              And our balance of trade is hugely more in the red, paying shipping companies, that don’t buy in New Zealand, don’t pay taxes in New Zealand and don’t pay wages in New Zealand.

              Not to mention spending hundreds of millions on Navy logistics ships, because there are no local cargo ships, we can requisition if needed.

            • Incognito 11.1.1.2.1.2

              Please no whataboutisms, thanks. If you cannot argue your point without it, you’ll be self-isolated soon again.

        • RedLogix 11.1.1.3

          We've been here before when AirNZ almost collapsed in the aftermath of the Ansett debacle. One obvious reason is that letting AirNZ fold would more or less leave Qantas in control of our tourism market. They'd have every incentive to route all international traffic via Australian destinations, then run short hops to NZ, giving Aus tourism a big advantage over NZ tourism.

          There are other reasons, but NZ is the most remote substantial nation on earth and air travel has been enormously important to us. Far more so than most other places.

          • Gosman 11.1.1.3.1

            Will other international airlines not want to get a slice of the NZ international air travel market? It seems to have been very lucrative for Air NZ.

        • lprent 11.1.1.4

          Why do we need Air NZ as a nation?

          Seems pretty obvious to me, even if it isn't to an unobservant economic moron like yourself.

          Air NZ has been the only reliable air-freight in the country when you look over the last couple of decades. If you want to figure out how important air-freight is to us, then have a look at the cargo facilities clustered around Mangere airport and those of Christchurch. The very high value exports and imports go mostly through Air NZ.

          While some of the other airlines moderate amounts of air-freight, they drop in and out of the market at an alarming regular rate. Roughly coincident with changes in fuel prices and the volumes of passengers arriving.

          As far as I am aware there are no regular international air-freight aircraft landing in NZ – otherwise it’d be way easier to get the unprotected lithium batteries for R&D that I need. Instead they get shipped via sea, have low stocks, enormous markups, and the wrong models.

          Since we are a export orientated economy who ships out quite a lot of time critical and high margin produce and goods, it flies. If it is low-margin low-employment commodities like most farm produce, timber, and minerals – then it goes by sea.

          Since we are a small economy who doesn’t stock large quantities of specialised equipment that gets used in domestic productivity as well as the value-added exports I deal in – then we have a large incoming trade as well.

          But you can read this again – this was why Air NZ got bailed out nearly 20 years ago. It wasn’t particularly for the tourism industry. It was because having a local international airline is a lifeline when everything screws up. Just watch as a pile of airlines start to bail away from NZ now. They’ll be back for the tourists. But they still won’t be carrying much air-freight.

  12. RedBaronCV 12

    Actually we could get any shares perhaps transferd to the Cullen fund or whatever it calls itself now. Maybe in lieu of the the annual cash contribution from government.

  13. mary_a 13

    Not only is Simon not saying much these days, but also his offsider, Paula Bennett isn't being as gobby as she usually is. Interesting times.

    We're in this together now, so let's pull together for the benefit of the nation.

  14. Nick Mowbray a "techhead"? He flogs plastic toys to the world. He's a salesman, entrepreneur and a vendor of crap. Pretty much the opposite of the tech nerd stereotype.

    • lprent 14.1

      What he said… More of a marketing dickhead than a tech head.

      • Lettuce 14.1.1

        Mowbray looks like just the sort of opportunistic grifter that National will be looking for to replace Donkey now that Luxon's been outed as a religious nutter.
        How well does he know Michelle Boag?

  15. Wensleydale 15

    This is hilariously (and depressingly) predictable. When it's the poor, beneficiaries, the disabled, the mentally ill, etc. copping all the damage, it's fine. We can't possibly throw money around because it just enables them and "won't someone please think of business". As soon as they realise 'everyone' is going to get a broadside, including business, property investors and the conspicuously affluent, it's "please Nanny State, won't you help us out".

    Principles – those annoying things you desperately need to toss overboard when you realise you are not the centre of the universe and Mother Nature is going to bollock you just as hard as the poor family down the road.

    I'm trying really hard not to smirk, but at this point it's completely beyond my control.

  16. Peter 16

    The Taxpayer’s Union? When it suits them and is of use to them socialism is good. It's just a tap to turn on and off at a self-serving whim.

  17. Cinny 17

    The nats have bragged many times in parliament about how they increased benefits, questioning the government on why they haven't done the same.

    Now that the government has increased benefits, the right wingers are complaining at them for doing so.

    WTF? Listening to the misinformed on talkback, ryan bridge.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-29T11:28:48+00:00