The TPP11 negotiations: ISDS provisions are gone – almost

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, November 12th, 2017 - 113 comments
Categories: david parker, Economy, Free Trade, International, labour, trade - Tags: , ,

The do we don’t we have a deal negotiations over TPP11 are set to continue over the next few months.  It appears that a lot of progress has been made in dealing with investor state dispute resolution procedures but the question will be has it been enough.

David Parker appeared on Q&A this morning and gave an outline on how the negotiations are going.  From Television New Zealand:

Foreign corporations would still be able to sue New Zealand’s government under principals agreed to by the government, but those circumstances have been considerably narrowed, Trade Minister David Parker says.

Mr Parker, is in Da Nang in Vietnam where the APEC summit is the venue for negotiations between 11 countries on the newly-renamed Comprehensive Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) agreement.

He said New Zealand has been able to reach consensus on “four and a half out of five” of the main things the Labour government wanted from the TPP.

One of those issues, the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) clauses, has caused concern, as it could allow foreign corporates to sue our government in a foreign court if they felt they had been disadvantaged by New Zealand law or changes to those laws.

One example would be a tobacco company potentially suing New Zealand for lost income if tobacco became illegal.

Mr Parker said consensus around a considerable narrowing of the ISDS clauses have now been achieved, including a “side-deal” with Australia which completely eliminates ISDS clauses between Australia and New Zealand, which makes up 80 per cent of potential CPTPP trade.

“We’ve effectively got 80 per cent out, we’ve got some bilateral negotiations outside of the text that are ongoing, that we haven’t yet concluded – but we’re still trying our best to conclude,” Mr Parker said.

However, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1’s Q+A programme, Mr Parker said the remaining 20 per cent of trade with the other 10 CPTPP countries did currently still include ISDS provisions, but only for unhappy investors to use New Zealand courts.

“As the text stood, if a big multinational was building a big infrastructure project in New Zealand under contract with the Government and they became dissatisfied and had a dispute, until the narrowing, they could have used these ISDS clauses to take that dispute to an international tribunal – they now no longer can,” Mr Parker said.

“If they’ve got a breach of a contract like that, they’ve got to sue the New Zealand government in the New Zealand courts – just like a New Zealand company would have to.”

Mr Parker also said that New Zealand will retain the power to modify its own legislation and governmental systems without fear of corporations suing them.

“If we changed the regulation relating to taxes or environment or labour laws or public health or did anything with our public schooling system or our public health system, no they could not [sue New Zealand]” but “there are some narrower areas where they could still make a complaint under these ISDS clauses,” Mr Parker said.

Thankfully in the future the days of ISDS clauses will be at an end, at least for this Government.  The Report quotes Parker as saying:

We have instructed our negotiators not to agree them [ISDS clauses] in future, but we haven’t been able to successfully remove them completely from this agreement.”

The report then confusingly suggests that Parker confirmed, possibly over optimistically, that the new deal satisfies the five conditions that the Government had set for itself.  The conditions are:

– It achieves meaningful gains in market access for farmers and supports the more than 620,000 New Zealanders whose jobs depend on exports. The CPTPP will also provide New Zealand for the first time with preferential market access into Japan, the world’s third-largest economy, as well as Canada, Mexico and Peru;

– It upholds the unique status of the Treaty of Waitangi;

– It preserves New Zealand’s right to regulate in the public interest. We have also retained the reciprocal agreement with Australia, which is the source of 80 per cent of our overseas investment from this new grouping, that ISDS clauses will not apply between our countries. We continue to seek similar agreements with the other countries in this new Agreement. In addition, the scope to make ISDS claims has also been narrowed;

– The Pharmac model continues to be protected. Further improvements now achieved include suspension of patent extensions which could have increased the cost of medicine to the government; and

– The ability to control the sale of New Zealand homes is being preserved by separate legislation in New Zealand.

So American and Australian corporations will not be able to sue New Zealand over trade matters except in our courts.  And New Zealand will be able to regulate in the national interest in many areas free of concern that a law suit may ensue.  But the “narrower areas where they could still make a complaint under these ISDS clauses” needs to be clarified and preferably deleted.

Now that the US is no longer involved, Canada is showing considerable reluctance and Australia is willing to do a side deal removing the ability of its corporations from attacking New Zealand under the ISDS provisions maybe New Zealand should go the full hog and insist that they be removed completely.

113 comments on “The TPP11 negotiations: ISDS provisions are gone – almost ”

  1. Et Tu Brute 1

    A lot of smoke and mirrors. 90% of what he claims is a gain was in the text already – probably just clarified for him. They’ve got to make the agreement appear better now so they can walk back on their previous statements. Tobacco was always out of the ISDS and the original agreement had carve outs on public health and the environment etc… Not saying it is a good deal, just this messaging is dodgy from Parker.

    • Enough is Enough 1.1

      Yep – Parker was always in favour of TPP so I don’t really believe anything he has to say on this. It is all spin.

      I will wait to see Jane Kelsey’s analysis before giving Parker any credit here.

      • cleangreen 1.1.1

        Enough is Enough,

        I agree 100% with the dis-belief in those changes Minister Parker talks about as there will always be “fish-hoooks in these agreements, that a government could not predict.

        OAB spells some out here,
        SOEs.
        Natural resources.
        Infrastructure.
        Intellectual Property.
        Financial instruments.

        And no doubt many many more.

        DH offers further evidence of fish hooks,
        “they can only sue our Govt on the same grounds an NZ investor can sue…. that needs clarifying IMO.”

        This Government tripped up on the first day in Parliament wirtth national threatening to veto the speakers elction to office, so how satisfied can we be to believe anything the government tries to sell us now????

        No we need very comprehensive deep analysis of all the new TPP 11 or whatever it is called now.

        I asked jacinda to take our very special lady Professor Jane Kelsey who knoows more about this issue than anyone else onto her team of negociators, but labour did not!!!!!

        So I have deep reservations about the way labour are conducting this issue now since labour said they would be a government of “inclussion”!!!! really?

        Prove this now Jacinda and co by placing Professor Jane Kelsey on your negociating team for expert advisory legal issues for our bloody sakes before you sign this thing and tie us into a 30yr hole of ISDS death.

        • srylands 1.1.1.1

          I have doubts that Ms Kelsey would ever agree to the prerequisites for being on the negotiation team. Firstly, vetting by the NZSIS. Secondly, signing a non disclosure agreement that commits her to keeping secret all details of negotiations.

        • James 1.1.1.2

          That’s got to be the funniest thing ever. you actually asked her to take Kelsey?

      • red-blooded 1.1.2

        So Jane Kelsey is impartial in these matters, is she? Has she ever endorsed any free trade deal?

        I also have reservations about TPP and want to know more about this revived version, but I was reasonably reassured by Parker’s interview. And to be fair to him, he didn’t claim to have been entirely satisfied, just said that they had got 4 1/2 of their 5 concerns dealt with.

        As for NZ “insisting” on anything, what leverage do we have to insist on anything? We can negotiate, and it looks like we were lucky here, because others also had reservations and were happy to park the provisions that had just been added in to satisfy the US, and then we can sign or not sign, but we’re a small fish and we don’t get to demand or insist.

        • red-blooded 1.1.2.1

          One thing I still want to know more about is the process agreed for ISDS. Parker says that corporates would have to use NZ courts if they wanted to bring a case, but would there be another (international) tribunal sitting at a last-appeal level? If so, it would be a but meaningless (and bloody expensive for the crown) to go through the NZ courts first. This is the kind of thing I’d still like to see clarified.

        • tracey 1.1.2.2

          She is not impartial but her analysis contains more depth and reliance on evidence and research than most I have heard in support of TPP.

          I would expect a Labour Govt, like a National Govt to be speaking with a political view, that is talking up the gains and minimising or ignoring the losses.

          David Parker, like the Trade Minister before him is NOT impartial.

          • UncookedSelachimorpha 1.1.2.2.1

            Agree. Her arguments seem factual and logical. I don’t think you need to have a history of supporting free trade deals, to have a valid viewpoint.

            • tracey 1.1.2.2.1.1

              If someone like, say, Wayne Mapp, provided the same kind of analysis with support and evidence, I may well find myself a recruit to the TPP. He has the knowledge, the contacts and the interest. the biggest thing for me is going to be the release of the cost/benefit analysis so we can judge what “best for NZ” actually meant in both Nats and Labour’s minds.

              • KJT

                That is the problem. Wayne Mapp’s inability to provide evidence, shows there has never been a proper encompassing Cost/benefit analysis, of any of the ideological flatulence from Government since the 80’s.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.3

          As for NZ “insisting” on anything, what leverage do we have to insist on anything?

          We have the power not to enter the agreement. We don’t have to be in the agreement. In fact, from what I can make out, we’d be better off if we weren’t.

          • tracey 1.1.2.3.1

            Seemingly we got a trade deal with China before anyone else. The time and money expended on TPP1 -11 must be considerable

        • Incognito 1.1.2.4

          So Jane Kelsey is impartial in these matters, is she? Has she ever endorsed any free trade deal?

          Nobody with the slightest professional interest in this can claim 100% impartiality. A much better question to ask would be whether Professor Kelsey is ideologically opposed to free trade per se and in such a way that it would preclude her from doing an in-depth critical analysis and drawing conclusions that are based on fact & merit that can be supported with evidence. Even if she can only draw inferences she should be able to provide compelling arguments. Do you think you know the answer to that question?

          In the end, I don’t think there is one right or wrong answer re. TTP-11 (CPTPP), just a best and well-educated guess based on the best information and knowledge (AKA evidence) that is currently available.

          This is in shrill contrast to the information vacuum created by our Government and the spin they are using to fill this hole with …

          • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.4.1

            A much better question to ask would be whether Professor Kelsey is ideologically opposed to free trade per se and in such a way that it would preclude her from doing an in-depth critical analysis and drawing conclusions that are based on fact & merit that can be supported with evidence.

            She’s already done as much and posted it.

            Do you think you know the answer to that question?

            What question?

            In the end, I don’t think there is one right or wrong answer re. TTP-11 (CPTPP), just a best and well-educated guess based on the best information and knowledge (AKA evidence) that is currently available.

            The best information presently available tells us that the present system of FTAs doesn’t do as advertised but the exact opposite thus the only thing that a government should do is drop out of them.

            • tracey 1.1.2.4.1.1

              She may have an ideological view but she absolutely has supported her views with fact and evidence. If people like Mapp or other supporters did the same we would all be better off. But they dont. Quick to sling insults at Kelsey but slow to take the time she does to write evidence based submissions for us to consider

            • Incognito 1.1.2.4.1.2

              What question?

              You’ve’ already answered it, obviously 😉

              The question [to red-blooded] is whether Kelsey is compromised so that she has got no (academic) integrity and credibility to do her job properly.

              PS As far as I can tell those links are to stuff that Kelsey posted in 2016, i.e. before Trump/USA pulled out!?

              • She posted a lot of stuff about the TPPA and how it doesn’t stack up. That link just seemed to have most of it but, yes, it would be from before the USA pulled out.

              • tracey

                Why is she compromised? She has analysed, researched, written arguments with support that are firmly against entering this agreement. You do not have to agree with her, no one does. Any many do not but just because having compiled that information she marched to ensure her view is heard does not make her lacking credibility or academic integrity. I argue the opposite. She very public stands up and behind her assertions. She does not shrink from them. She holds them out to be knocked down, one by one by analysis, evidence and research. I was at the Fabian event she and Wayne attended. When he put forward a view she countered with reference to clauses, to evidence, to research. When she made a statement he replied with rhetoric. he had advance notice, he could have prepared in the same way she had. he chose to take a route other than specific clause reference, evidence, research and relied upon the power of his rhetoric to persuade.

                The Education Act states that University academics are to be the critic and conscience of society. I would suggest that those who sit on their hands for fear of rocking the boat or jeopardising their jobs are the ones we should poiint fingers at as having no academic credibility or integrity to do their jobs.

                “Jane Kelsey is one of New Zealand’s best-known critical commentators on issues of globalisation and neoliberalism. She has taught at the University of Auckland since 1979, specialising in socio-legal studies, law and policy and international economic regulation.

                Jane is active internationally as a researcher, analyst, adviser and media commentators on globalisation, especially the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, trade in services, and investment agreements. She is an active member of a number of international coalitions of academics, trade unionists, NGOs and social movements working for social justice.

                A followup to her best-selling book on the neoliberal restructuring of New Zealand, ‘The New Zealand Experiment. A World Model for Structural Adjustment?’ will be published in 2015. Entitled ‘The FIRE Economy’, it examines the challenges of embedded neoliberalism in the context of financial crises, and was supported by a Marsden Fund research grant. Other recent books include ‘Service Whose Interests? The Political Economy of Trade in Services Agreements’ (Routledge Cavendish 2008), and the edited ‘No Ordinary Deal. Unmasking the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement’ (ed) (Bridget Williams Books 2010), as well as many published articles.”

                Who better to test the prevailing view that all (any) free trade deals are good trade deals?

                As for her not having anything published since this last round of talks, she usually gets stuff up pretty quickly given she is shut out from information that others get (eg when USA was in 400 Corps got briefed or were invited to talk rounds)

                https://itsourfuture.org.nz/jane-kelsey-nz-joins-trend-countries-say-no-isds-must-hold-firm-tppa/ from 1 nov

                • Incognito

                  Hi tracey,

                  Since your comment appears to be directed at one of my comments (@ 1.1.2.4.1.2?) it seems there might be a misunderstanding as you seem to think that I somehow doubt, question or deny & reject Jane Kelsey’s personal and/or professional integrity & credibility. Nothing could be further from the truth!

                  I have huge respect for Jane’s razor-sharp intellect that slices through a very complex issue such as TPP and for her stamina, perseverance and resilience. And for her bravery to take a (public) stand that takes a lot of guts. New Zealand needs more people of her calibre to stand up and speak out publically – these people exist but they tend to keep quiet for a number of reasons.

                  For the record, my question was addressed at red-blooded @ 1.1.2 who appeared to question Jane’s ability to do what she’s doing best: criticising and unpacking the TPP. I note that they have chosen not to respond …

              • tracey

                “‘Bill English suggested this morning that the TPPA was “probably” still a good deal without the US. Seriously? The economic modelling the government relied on to sell the TPPA last year had zero credibility and failed to account for the costs. Take the US out of that equation and any attempt to pitch the agreement as having net benefits to New Zealand is risible.’”

                https://thestandard.org.nz/the-tpp11-negotiations-isds-provisions-are-gone-almost/#comment-1413470

    • Wayne 1.2

      Good on Labour on doing TPP.

      But there was certainly a lot of spin by Parker this morning on Q & A on the gains that had been made. Virtually everything he was claiming had already been provided for in the ISDS clause.

      As for no future ISDS clauses, well they aren’t really a feature of bilateral trade agreements anyway.

      And he has not said that the NZ government would never agree to an international arbitration clause in a very big investment deal, for say a 30 year development licence of an oilfield.

      By that I mean something like the Maui concession. Normally such deals are drawn up in such a way that successive governments cannot increase licence fees and royalties (except by some agreed formula perhaps tied to the international oil price) or impose new taxes. Investors however have to accept the usual changes to employment law and environmental regulation that occur over the life of a project.

      • tracey 1.2.1

        Best kept secret in analysis of TPP and subsequent… 80% of our gains are with Australia, with whom we already have CER. I was a little surprise Wayne, cos you and other TPP supporters have never pointed this out and have given the impression (maybe not intentionally) that 9 other countries were VERY crucial when in fact we only expect to get inroads against the whole deal, of 20% across 9 nations

        • Jan Rivers 1.2.1.1

          The point about the 80% of investment from TPPA countries coming from Australian (or about 1/2 of the total) is that it represents the stock (or current total) of existing investment and not the annual flows of inward investment which are changing rapidly even without the TPPA being in place.

          New flows can be volatile from year to year. For example according to a KPMG (thought leadership :-)) report that used overseas investment office data showed

          https://assets.kpmg.com/content/dam/kpmg/nz/pdf/November/KPMG-FDI-Thought-Leadership-Web.pdf

          for 2013-15 20% of new investment came from Singapore (a TPPA country) in 2015. It also showed that the flow of Australian FDI accounted for only 12% of the total (not just TPPA) investment in 2013-15 whereas other TPPA affected countries new flows were more than 36% of new (global into NZ not just from TPPA countries) investment

          China (9%) (included by Most favoured nation status)
          Canada 15%
          Singapore (8%).
          Japan’s was 4% ,
          other Asia 4% (includes Korea & other MFN status)
          Other 11% (some MFN status)
          &
          US 17%.

          is coming from countries that would leave NZ vulnerable to ISDS claims. These changes, which can only be expected to increase more rapidly over time, will open NZ to greater and greater ISDS risk. This is important – like a pet for Christmas the gov’t is signing the TPPA for 2030 and 2040 not for now!

          • The Chairman 1.2.1.1.1

            Dead right, Jan. The way Parker framed it (around current investment) was misleading. Investment from other TPP nations will grow once the deal commences.

            Parker was also called out by Laila Harre, who accused Parker of being misleading on TPP (CPTPP) gains (on Q&A yesterday).

            • Jan Rivers 1.2.1.1.1.1

              Thanks.
              The figures I sourced were from a KPMG report containing only Overseas Investment reported data – so just the larger investments. I got daunted by the complexity of it. The Stats NZ information which was fuller is very technical and I’ve asked for help to interpret it. I’ve also read about another issue which is to do with primary and secondary investing countries. Partly this is tax haven country stuff – but I think it also relates to where the banking happens – so Australia may in fact be over-represented when the actual investor is in some other country and could perhaps still mount a claim.

      • tracey 1.2.2

        Wayne you said a few days ago that we needed the ISDS clause because we could not trust courts in some nations? You have also said in your defence of ISDS clause (including at the Fabian event attended by you and Ms Kelsey) that ISDS are standard fair trade clauses. Now you are saying that that are not standard in bilateral deals. Our deals with China etc are bilateral.

        As for your comment about Parker spinning. You are not suggesting that is something on Labour Ministers do I hope. When you say “virtually” everything you must know what is new, so do tell.

        • Wayne 1.2.2.1

          I made my comment because I don’t believe the ISDS clause will have been dramatically changed. But I have not seen the actual changes, any more than anyone else outside the negotiators.

          Perhaps there has been added some expanded explanatory statements to make it clearer that they don’t apply to normal regulatory stuff on health and safety, employment law and environmental regulation. Which was basically already in the TPP.

          As an example of typical changes, around us all single story houses that are being painted have full scaffolding. Adds about $3,000 to a normal house paint job, but will reduce fall accidents.

          • tracey 1.2.2.1.1

            And this is why it would be great if when you made your statements about ISDS or any other clauses you quoted bits, or reffered to them etc. I have NO memory of you make these kibds of statements when people used different examples of potential rsons to sue us. I recall the last example you were given in discussion related tk the environment but you didnt counter with it already being covered.

            Giving us facts, research etc to back statements advances the conversation.

          • tracey 1.2.2.1.2

            So when you said virtually everything was already there you didnt actually know?

          • tracey 1.2.2.1.3

            You were right. I looked at the 2016 document from MFAT this morning and saw the Asutralian ISDS concession was already there, amongst other things. Why didn’t you direct us to it when you made your statement? Or to it when KJT and I ask you for cost/benefit analysis?

            Despite what some think I actually want to get to the bottom of stuff. I do read links that are posted but am wary of just taking people’s statements at face value. Apart from anything else my legal training is too ingrained to do so.

      • As for no future ISDS clauses, well they aren’t really a feature of bilateral trade agreements anyway.

        Well, that would be another lie from you.

        ISDS clauses started off in bi-lateral trade agreements where one of the nations had limited rule of law. They’ve expanded into multi-lateral trade agreements with nations that have very good rule of law and where such clauses have no reason to be.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investor-state_dispute_settlement

        • tracey 1.2.3.1

          Presumably once signed our Govt will release all the prior analysis showing cost/benefit analysis……. that is what a transparent govt will do.

        • Wayne 1.2.3.2

          Draco,

          I really meant bilaterals between reasonably developed nations. For instance Australia, Singapore, South Korea. So far these tend to be the sort of bilateral that NZ has done. As far as I can recollect there is not in the China FTA, which would have the least independent courts of the nations mentioned above.

          • Draco T Bastard 1.2.3.2.1

            I really meant bilaterals between reasonably developed nations.

            Which really don’t need ISDS provisions because they (usually) have a fairly solid Rule of Law. So, why was this incorporated in the TPPA and, IIRC, the NZ/Korea FTA?

            And I believe that the China FTA promises China Most Favoured Country Status which can be used to retroactively have it applied if China considers that the FTAs we have with other countries which does include an ISDS is better than what they got.

            • tracey 1.2.3.2.1.1

              Apparently the US needed it cos, as Wayne put it last week, some countries have corrupt courts… nothing to do with the 400 corps who have been privvy to all tpp nuances since day one could secure leverage over countries cracking down on their product.

              • KJT

                Some countries. Especially poor third world countries, and cheap commodity exporters, like New Zealand, have to be bullied into making sure their laws favour the wealthy corporations, that are robbing them.

          • tracey 1.2.3.2.2

            You have done a really poor job of making that clear given your knowledge and ability to articulate.

            • KJT 1.2.3.2.2.1

              I wonder why?

              I think we have established that Wayne has no concrete evidence of the “benefits” of “free trade and Globalisation”.

              Surely he would have put up references by now.

              But, as he said “that is not the way we do policy in New Zealand”.

              • tracey

                This is the document which ought to clarify that. It is prepared by MFAT for the Nat Govt. It would need to have been rewritten following the withdrawal of the USA. I cannot find an up-to-date one. Kelsey suggests that one of the main reasons NZ wanted to be in TPP was access to US markets. She suggests with that gone, the cost/benefit analysis would have changed (possibly dramatically?).

                http://www.tpp.mfat.govt.nz/assets/docs/TPP%20National%20Interest%20Analysis.pdf

                This document also shows that parker “misspoke” yesterday by suggesting, or allowing the usggestion, that he and his team had negotiated the Australia exemption to ISDS. This is why it would be so cool if people like Wayne would post this stuff, statements of belief + evidence.

                “There are several aspects of ISDS in TPP that are considered to provide sufficient mitigation to
                balance the advantages and disadvantages of ISDS as acceptable for the New Zealand Government.
                For example:
                 There are safeguards, reservations (non-conforming measures) and exceptions that ensure
                New Zealand retains the ability to regulate for public health, the environment and other
                important regulatory objectives.
                 A specific provision allows the Government to rule out ISDS challenges over tobacco control
                measures. The Government intends to exercise this provision.
                 The investment obligations in TPP have been drafted in a way that would impose a high
                burden of proof on investors to establish that a TPP government had breached obligations
                such as ‘expropriation’ or ‘minimum standard of treatment’.
                 Limiting the types of monetary awards and damages that can be made against the
                Government.
                 Provisions that mean hearings will be open to the public, and which allow tribunals to accept
                submissions from experts and the public.
                 A number of provisions that allow TPP governments to issue binding interpretations on ISDS
                tribunals.
                ISDS provisions would not apply between New Zealand and Australia. This means that threequarters
                of all FDI from TPP countries in New Zealand would not have recourse to ISDS under
                TPP.

                 There are a number of other mitigating features (outlined in detail in this NIA). ”

                Depending on the definition of “provisions” it is good that any ISDS hearing will be public and will accept public submissions. Expensive to appear if not held in NZ. BUT I couldn’t see quickly what “provisions” means in this respect. It suggests some exceptions?

                • There is no new one because it is prepared as part of the process of passing new treaties into place. The last one was done with a very one-eyed perspective and was a very poor quality document in a number of respects.

                  However the lack of ISDS between Australia and NZ was advanced in that original analysis in Jan 2016 (page 16) as a protection against ISDS cases and so I am surprised that it is being announced two years later as a new win when it was already guaranteed by the ‘closer economic relations agreement – ANCERTA.

                  I can’t help but feel the public are being manipulated.

                  I await someone in the MSM making this point but not holding my breath.

                  • tracey

                    BUT surely once it was known that the US was out, a prudent Trade Ministry would set about preparing one that showed the cost/benefit without the USA as a platform from which to continue negotiation? Or a version thereof?

                    That Parker pitched it in a way that made it seem like Labour had won this concession is a worry but not a surprise to me. That the media have not read any documentation on TPP1-11 surprises me even less.

                    Afterall a former Trade Minister who posts here has been repeatedly asked for a cost benefit analysis and could have link those questioning to the above document, but did not.

                    • BUT surely once it was known that the US was out, a prudent Trade Ministry would set about preparing one that showed the cost/benefit without the USA as a platform from which to continue negotiation?

                      Yes, they would have. And a prudent government would have held off signing it until the new analysis had been done.

                      A better government than our last one would have widened the analysis to look at other side effects of that agreement.

                      That Parker pitched it in a way that made it seem like Labour had won this concession is a worry but not a surprise to me. That the media have not read any documentation on TPP1-11 surprises me even less.

                      QFT

                    • KJT

                      A “prudent trade ministry”?

                      Exactly.

                      However I don’t think they really want to know, something they have worked at for decades, is a zombie. Hard to face.

  2. One Anonymous Bloke 2

    regulation relating to taxes or environment or labour laws or public health or did anything with our public schooling system or our public health system

    So what’s missing from that list?

    SOEs.
    Natural resources.
    Infrastructure.
    Intellectual Property.
    Financial instruments.

    And no doubt many many more.

    How narrow this vast open tundra is. I guess we’ll find out in due course.

  3. DH 3

    That’s good work on the ISDS if true. Making them only able to sue in our own courts removes most of the issues I had with it. The corollary to that is they can only sue our Govt on the same grounds an NZ investor can sue…. that needs clarifying IMO.

    If this lot could get that concession so quickly and easily it casts doubts on the motives of National who agreed to the original deal which was so unfavorable to NZ.

    • Bill 3.1

      So there is no ISDS with one country (Australia) that will, if things go to plan, account for less and less of NZs trade. Okay.

      Parker says the government can do what it wants with the public health system. But when that impinges on some foreign owned business interest of the private health sector, what then?

      New Zealand (as before) has the right to legislate in the public interest. But who decides what’s in the public interest and what’s not?

      620 000 jobs depend on exports? Why have we created such a stupid scenario and why would we want to drive that dependency deeper?

      In short. When Parker says “We’re just committed to standing up for what’s best for NZ” (in the audio of the link), just what is this NZ he’s talking about?

      Is it the same thing we think of or sense when we use the term? I think not.

      His New Zealand is nothing much beyond economic spread sheet. Which, to be fair, if he’s being true to Liberal ideology, is all NZ need be – a spread sheet from which all good things naturally flow.

      • DH 3.1.1

        Yeah it comes back to what I said about them only being able to sue on the same grounds an NZ investor can sue Bill.

        The Crown has sovereign power over NZ citizens so it would follow that overseas investors would be subject to the same conditions here if they’re not being given any favorable treatment in NZ courts under the new format. If…

        I’m also not making a lot of sense though. If they can only do what they’re already able to do then what is ISDS?

        • Bill 3.1.1.1

          Only Australia has foregone the ISDS process. Individuals (no matter their nationality) never had access to the ISDS process.

          That aside, I get the impression that Parker is being very careful in how he’s couching stuff.

      • tracey 3.1.2

        Have I misunderstood cos I read Parker as saying 80% of NZ’s gains from this agreement are with Australia?

        • Bill 3.1.2.1

          80% of NZ’s trade is with Australia. NZ and Australia have agreed to forego use of the ISDS when dealing with one another. That’s it.

          • tracey 3.1.2.1.1

            Ah, I see. A nation that has no history of suing us (or others?) in order to stop us implementing health and other policies is not going to be able to sue us. …

        • DH 3.1.2.2

          I don’t think so. My reading of it is Parker is saying that 80% of the expected investment from TPP members will be from Australia and since they negotiated a side deal with Aus that had no ISDS provisions 80% of TPP investment won’t be subject to ISDS clauses.

          IMO it’s fluff and unworthy of him.

      • Et Tu Brute 3.1.3

        Naturally I can only go off the previous agreement text, and not what’s been changed post-Trump. But the public interest agreement had a number of conditions. From memory:
        a. be in good faith.
        b. give time for public feedback before passing the law.
        c. once the law is passed, give a clear day in the future for it to start.
        New Zealand won’t have a problem with these conditions. Sometimes I think we read things that are someone else’s mail. Essentially it is committing all member countries to clear and open legislative practice, which is only a good thing. In terms of public public, companies can only launch a claim if a) no notice was given, b) there was no ability to give feedback to the government, c) it was rushed through. Now some things could clash with this if done under urgency, but we should be mindful anyway that legislation under urgency isn’t best practice anyway.

        • tracey 3.1.3.1

          BUT you could issue proceedings, or threaten to issue proceedings ont he basis that has not happened and suck up some chunk of taxpayer change defending it… or the potential cost of defending makes n executive take that into account behind closed doors when deciding what policy/legislation to float? let’s be honest the kinds of companies that would try to sue would have direct access to the 9th floor anyway? Just thinking out loud.

      • 620 000 jobs depend on exports? Why have we created such a stupid scenario and why would we want to drive that dependency deeper?

        Because our productivity is so high that, even if we produced everything we needed, there still wouldn’t be enough work for everyone of working age to work 40 hour weeks.

        In other words, it’s a way to hide the failure of the present system and blame the victims of it.

        When Parker says “We’re just committed to standing up for what’s best for NZ” (in the audio of the link), just what is this NZ he’s talking about?

        He’s either lying or really that stupid. Free-trade is probably a good idea but FTAs don’t provide that. If they did then they wouldn’t need any ISDS clauses to force government to consider foreign shareholders.

        • Bill 3.1.4.1

          Because our productivity is so high that, even if we produced everything we needed, there still wouldn’t be enough work for everyone of working age to work 40 hour weeks.

          Ah! So we’d have less time spent in jobs, more time spent working on other fronts or spent with family, friends, general whatever…and have more than enough ‘creature comforts’ to go round.

          I’m thinking that was the fear expressed by the elite and powerful just before we all got sold on “fashion” – this year’s, next year’s last best thing – and other forms of inbuilt obsolescence 😉

          • Draco T Bastard 3.1.4.1.1

            Ah! So we’d have less time spent in jobs, more time spent working on other fronts or spent with family, friends, general whatever…

            And politics, IIRC, was the actual stated fear.

            In other words, people with more time on their hands would take an interest in politics and vote. The rich and the political class didn’t want that.

      • Wayne 3.1.5

        Bill

        NZ has always had that scenario. For 150 years we have sent our primary produce overseas and used the money to import stuff that we could not possibly make.

        For a fully self contained advanced economy there has to be about 500 million people. For instance North America or Europe or East Asia. But none of these places are fully self sufficient. They trade with each other in part for choice and in part because one or other place produces things more efficiently, or is better in a specific category.

        For instance the best cars are German. For the most advanced and complex things such as large civil aircraft there are only two global manufacturers. East Asia (including Russia) does not produce such aircraft, though Japan produces a large part of the Boeing 787.

        So what hope does NZ have of being self sufficient in the modern world?

        • tracey 3.1.5.1

          Best cars are Toyota.

          • One Anonymous Bloke 3.1.5.1.1

            Wayne means BMW make the best car he ever travelled in as Minister and/or law commissioner, apart from ‘private’ meetings with people from Cabinet Club.

        • Bill 3.1.5.2

          NZ has always been export orientated? Really!?

          I mean, you do understand the difference between exporting stuff and relying – like a religious obsession – on exports and “niche markets” and “comparative advantage” for economic growth . Of course you do!

          The west had to force that shit on the global south via SAPs. I’m sure you know that too. And then idiotic western politicians caved to business elites in the 70s and 80s and, essentially applied SAPs on their own populations (ie, 19thC Liberalism re-packaged and shipped out as neo-liberalism .) As you know.

          And I’ve no idea where you get the figure of 500 million from.

          Nor where you get the idea (implied) that I’m anti-trade…or the notion that I’ve argued “self sufficiency”.

          • Wayne 3.1.5.2.1

            The figure of 500 million people comes from looking at the great economic clusters in the world. The three regions (North America, Europe and East Asia) are the only 3 places where modern economies make virtually everything they need within that region.

            Maybe they could be smaller, but not much. For instance Japan and Russia do not make everything. Neither make large commercial aircraft and in particular large fan engines for 787 size aircraft. And Russia, when it was the Soviet Union, could not produce anything like the variety and quality of goods as the west. In part because it was too small, but also because it was communist, without a free market driven by consumer choice.

            Australia with over 25 million people does not nearly manufacture everything. In fact they have stopped making cars – not competitive or good enough.

            So NZ relies on exports to buy just about all advanced goods. And that has been true since 1820!

            • Bill 3.1.5.2.1.1

              Christ on a bike Wayne!

              So okay, if you live in Belgium and want pepper, then your going to have to buy imported stuff. But that’s got nothing to do with an ideology that promotes export orientated production and manufacturing above all else – to the extent that societies, their infrastructures and populations can be seen as expendable ‘add-ons’ to be trashed for the sake of satisfying or perfecting the reification of said ideological nonsense.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      Making them only able to sue in our own courts removes most of the issues I had with it.

      Depends on what grounds they can go to the kangaroo courts instead. I have no problem with companies having recourse to the law, but “there are some narrower areas where they could still make a complaint under these ISDS clauses…”

      “Narrower” like for example legislating genuine public services back into existence?

  4. ankerawshark 4

    100% in agreement DH

  5. Bill 5

    Bottom line is that an ideological obsession on export orientated economic activity ends badly.

    Remember back in ’80 whatever, when this export ed growth crap started to bite?

    Where are the domestic shoe manufacturers now? Or the clothes manufacturers? What about the appliance manufacturers?

    So companies big enough to re-locate off-shore, re-located off-shore, and the others went under given the comparative disadvantage occasioned by them paying higher wages, or offering better conditions, or making higher quality products….

    And the working class is no longer working. Highly paid secure employment being replaced by casual insecure and low paid shit isn’t “working” – according to a number of definitions you might want to apply to the term.

    So the increasingly poor working class got to buy cheap shit from some parallel importer (or whatever) that was made under conditions generations fought to overcome. (And said purchase quite literally, and increasingly, falls apart in ‘no time’ as manufacturers seek advantage by using cheaper raw materials in a more ‘level playing field’ of wages and conditions.

    Meanwhile, governments have to top up sinking incomes from reduced tax takes via employer subsidies (eg – wff), that in turn chain workers to, often, some crap service sector job, because that’s more or less all that’s left now, while “the dole” demands you hone your dishonesty in a bid to survive….

    And it’s all deliberately underpinned and driven by such things as optimum unemployment rates (flexible work force) and fiscal fucking responsibility (austerity).

    No ISDS with Australia? That’s good? Export markets? Sell stuff to Japan? Fuck off!

    People are paying huge interest rates on cars they can’t afford but are forced to buy because they’ve got to live in something. Public services are tanking (have tanked). People are dying and far too many are suffering – and all precisely because of this ideological bullshit that NZ Labour blindly promotes as a route to a “more caring” NZ.

  6. millsy 6

    The government didn’t really have much of a choice here. This was more or less done under duress.

    • The Chairman 6.1

      They had (and still have) the choice of walking away from it if they couldn’t/can’t fully secure what they wanted.

  7. Richard Christie 7

    According to J Kelsey, some of the most toxic ISDS provisions haven’t been removed, only suspended.

    I.e. our cup of ISDS poison has merely been postponed.

    • tracey 7.1

      According to Wayne “virtually everything” was already there, so whatever Kelsey’s analysis of ISDS before Parker’s announcement remains the case.

      I had hoped the labour Govt would stick to its chest beating 5 bottom lines… maybe they have through smoke and mirrors.

  8. The decrypter 8

    Now I’m all at sea -don’t know whether to be content or depressed. Possibly a good sign so far is a lack of trolls poking their snouts in and grunting with glee.

  9. The decrypter 9

    “Weh mir,-as instructed.

  10. Whispering Kate 10

    I have this feeling that the 3 way coalition is going to get a bit rocky. The bed will be too small for the 3 of them, I cannot see the Greens being very happy about being signed up for this deal. Winston is only known to himself. To me I think this deal was done and signed long before they went over to nut out the last of the things bothering them. How many Labour voters were and are still dead against this TPPA deal and how many will feel betrayed by Jacinda Adhern going ahead with it anyway. Just more of the same, I am glad I voted for the Greens as I didn’t and don’t trust Labour as far as I could kick them.

    • tracey 10.1

      I suspect the Greens knew this was coming. Like you I voted Green because I want proof the Labour Party has changed before I consider going back there. I know many who voted for them believing they were going to return to closer to Mickey Savage days than they have been. I also know a few have been sending me WTF messages over TPP. I am not saying I told you so, cos I love them… but I have more holes in my tongue than a colander! 😉

    • bwaghorn 10.2

      most non green voters wear big boy /girl pants and know that you have to be part of the world , not living in wish land

      • Apparently, your big boys/girls think that they should also be lied to and screwed over at the behest of the rich as well.

        BTW, The Greens are all about having fair trade and engaging with the world in a holistic fashion. Which would mean that your assertion was either from ignorance or that you were lying.

      • tracey 10.2.2

        Did you vote Green? If yes, on what basis do you purport to speak for all Green voters

    • ankerawshark 10.3

      I note the Greens are not stating that they are unhappy about where Ardern and Parker have got with the TTP…………and I don’t think they will. The will most likely be pragmatic and suck it up. They will know that there are too many other gains they will get from going along with what has been agreed.

      I could be wrong. But if I am not, that means the Greens are being pragmatic the same way Labour is.

      • There is nothing pragmatic (in the actual meaning of the word) about the TPPA.

      • Incognito 10.3.2

        The will most likely be pragmatic and suck it up.

        They may be polite, diplomatic, or stoic, etc.

        I could be wrong. But if I am not, that means the Greens are being pragmatic the same way Labour is.

        I hope and think you’re wrong 😉

        The word “pragmatic” is possibly the most abused and worst understood word in NZ politics. It invokes an illusionary positive quality of conducting politics and decision-making that’s often spoken within the same breath as logical, rational, and common sense. Its function & value are largely rhetorical.

      • The Chairman 10.3.3

        “I note the Greens are not stating that they are unhappy about where Ardern and Parker have got with the TTP…………and I don’t think they will. The will most likely be pragmatic and suck it up.”

        Seeing as the Greens are in a position (outside of Cabinet) to speak up, not speaking up could come back to haunt them come next election.

        A number are expecting them too (speak up) thus will be disappointed at best.

      • tracey 10.3.4

        Except Green party is not at APEC, not in a negotiating team, not in cabinet. In themeantime Peters, representing NZ and those who voted for him was at APEC and has not said a word despite being against TPP (NZF anyway)

    • Louie 10.4

      betrayed? Labour always said they were against the TPP in its “current form” and would renegotiate it. Isn’t that what they are doing?

      • The Chairman 10.4.1

        Yes. But they also had bottom lines that haven’t been fully met. Hence, there will be feelings of betrayal.

        • Louie 10.4.1.1

          But isn’t it something like 4.5 out of 5 that have been met? Is there a possibility that more negotiations will come? It hasn’t been signed yet.

          • tracey 10.4.1.1.1

            Are the 4.5 amongst these Louie?

            “For example:
             There are safeguards, reservations (non-conforming measures) and exceptions that ensure New Zealand retains the ability to regulate for public health, the environment and other important regulatory objectives.
             A specific provision allows the Government to rule out ISDS challenges over tobacco control measures. The Government intends to exercise this provision.
             The investment obligations in TPP have been drafted in a way that would impose a high burden of proof on investors to establish that a TPP government had breached obligations such as ‘expropriation’ or ‘minimum standard of treatment’.
             Limiting the types of monetary awards and damages that can be made against the Government.
             Provisions that mean hearings will be open to the public, and which allow tribunals to accept submissions from experts and the public.
             A number of provisions that allow TPP governments to issue binding interpretations on ISDS tribunals.
             ISDS provisions would not apply between New Zealand and Australia. This means that threequarters of all FDI from TPP countries in New Zealand would not have recourse to ISDS under TPP.
             There are a number of other mitigating features

          • The Chairman 10.4.1.1.2

            “But isn’t it something like 4.5 out of 5 that have been met?”

            That’s how they are spinning it. Yet, Parker is claiming gains that were already in the deal.

            Moreover, 4 and a half out of 5 wasn’t what they campaigned on, thus the feeling of betrayal.

            Additionally, they reached an agreement, though Canada failed to show, thus it wasn’t signed.

            While there may be more negotiations to come, that is nether here nor there at this stage as people feel betrayed now.

            Labour have gone from potentially walking away from the deal (if they didn’t secure what they wanted) to now (after being elected) being reported as being an active proponent of the deal.

            So course, there is a feeling of betrayal.

            • Louie 10.4.1.1.2.1

              But Labour never said they would walk away.

              • The Chairman

                Are you implying that although they had bottom lines, Labour were misleading the NZ public from the get go and never had any intention of walking away?

                • Louie

                  No. All Im just saying is that Labour never said they would walk away from it and always maintained the intention of renegotiating it.

                  • tracey

                    So what did bottom line mean? I took it to mean if those 5 things were not conceded they would not sign. Can you look at the list I posted above and tell me if it ticks off the 4.5 things you say have been ticked off now?

                  • The Chairman

                    While their main intention was to renegotiate, if they failed to successfully renegotiate the deal, it implied they would walk away.

    • The Chairman 10.5

      @ Whispering Kate

      The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is still opposed to the Trans Pacific Partnership, despite the government claiming significant wins at the talks at APEC.

      http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/343643/tpp-critics-unmoved-by-new-negotiation-wins

      Yes, a number will feel betrayed (once again) by Labour.

      Like you I also voted Green. Yet, like their silence on core benefit increases since after the election, I’ve yet to hear them speak out against Labour’s TPP positioning.

      Have you heard anything from them (the Greens)?

  11. J 11

    I would request the new government to seek Jane Kelsey’s advice on the progressive tpp, or whatever it is now called, if they want both sides of the issue.

    That is what ‘listening to all New Zealanders’ is about.

    ‘All New Zealanders’ includes business interests as well as individuals on a benefit, on low wages, homemakers on no personal income, unions, monied interests.

    That is what we need to remember.

    More importantly, however, is that the government MUST heed the FACT that lobbyists are essentially business and monied interests so government MPs have to get off their backsides and seek out those that don’t have the time or money to lobby them.

    As an individual, Professor Jane Kelsey speaks for so many of us, and MUST be taken into the government’s confidence, even if it causes them to rethink their plans.

    BUT,

    what we also need to remember is that the creatures that now slime over the benches of opposition have a lot of money and a lot of external monied interests seeking to wreak havoc on anything that the new coalition decides that may disadvantage those creatures in some way.

    So, be careful what you wish for. It may be another greedy national party getting back into power on your backs.

  12. Sparky 12

    No I do not believe it will be enough based on everything I have read and anecdotal evidence from other similar deals such as NAFTA. The only thing that will be enough is to drive a stake through this monster of a trade deals black heart and walk away.

    • tracey 12.1

      Well it is going through Select Committee and apparently public submissions.

      • J 12.1.1

        Xlnt news
        Something the nats ignored. I’m looking 4wd to seeing the nats filibustering on that.

      • Molly 12.1.2

        Attended the previous submissions and watched David Shearer almost yawn during a submission about ISDS. Then watched the whole committee perk up during an out and out presentation full of nothing but hot air from the NZ Business Forum (or a similarly named association).

        I have little faith in sincere consultation when the words they have used so far are intentionally vague.

  13. RedBaronCV 13

    Okay so now we are in a position to repeal all that legislation that was shoved through parliament by Nact after the last TPP round they were in, despite the USA falling out, legislation that was rumoured to be written by the US??

    If we are not in a position to repeal all that then maybe nothing much has actually changed.

    Parker – looking to be the Tony Blair of NZ? – a third way labourite.

    And what exactly are the trade advantages???

  14. tracey 14

    ““We need a decent free trade deal with Japan. New Zealand First is all for free trade deals that benefit us, but going through the TPPA is not the best approach.

    “By all means negotiate with Japan, but not with rose-tinted glasses so you can tick off a deal, but come away the loser.

    “The TPPA was not a free trade deal, but an international corporate protection racket, covering a wide range of laws which challenged our national sovereignty, giving legal preference in a court not of New Zealand’s choosing. That’s just to highlight just some of its defects,” says Mr Peters.”

    http://www.nzfirst.org.nz/nz_foolish_to_sign_up_to_dead_tppa_with_japan

  15. Philg 15

    Yes folks, the tppa is gone, almost! Our pregnancy has gone almost. Lol. Parker is over acting and we are repeatedly told by the new guv that ‘it’s not perfect’. Fresh gloss on same poo.

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    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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