The trade war

Written By: - Date published: 1:56 pm, July 9th, 2018 - 27 comments
Categories: China, Donald Trump, Free Trade, Globalisation, International, trade, uncategorized, us politics - Tags:

donald trump make america great again

The speed of the growing trade war between the United States and China will hit New Zealand.

Our long term diplomatic arc, such that it is, was to follow a modernist impulse set after World War Two: that economic growth and democracy matched deep human impulses for freedom and prosperity together.

China has never assented to that. A Princeton Professor Aaron Friedberg recently described the conflict like this:

America’s post-Cold War strategy for dealing with China was rooted in prevailing liberal ideas about the linkages between trade, economic growth and democracy, and a faith in the presumed universality and irresistable power of the human desire for freedom. The strategy pursued by China’s leaders, on the other hand, was, and still is, motivated first and foremost by their commitment to preserving the Chinese Communist Party’s monopoly on domestic political power.

To be a little fairer, China had its own modernist impulse, but it remains a propulsive nationalist developmental drive not causally linked to human rights or democratisation.

America’s goal was to avoid conflict, get China to reform and open its economy, and assimilate it into a system built around open markets and liberal values. The problem was that China never really accepted this system. China’s goal has been to protect its long term strategy of modernising its industry and society, building territorial influence, and securing its future through trade and resource control – and it will keep doing this irrespective of Donald Trump or his trade representatives.

No matter what the United States President seeks to do in trade, Xi Jinping knows he will outlast him, and he will continue to implement his resolute and highly historically conscious direction for China:

History has proven and will continue to prove that only socialism can save China and only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics will we realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Both China and the world are in the midst of profound and complex changes. China is still in an important period of strategic opportunity for development. We have a favorable development environment that was unimaginable before, but we still face unprecedented difficulties and challenges. At the 19th National Congress, the CPC has drawn up a splendid blueprint for securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, embarking on a new journey to fully build a modern socialist country and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It will be another Long March

 

Xi Jinping is re-energising that highly conscious historical materialist arc with an impressively coordinated telic drive. Which puts this trade war in perspective somewhat, and that is reflected in China’s consistently diplomatic responses to it.

Now let’s compare.

China’s leadership can see the sway that U.S. listed business leadership has on government direction in matters other than trade: whenever Trump or his officials talk tough on China, the U.S. stock markets fall. Whenever there is more conciliatory talk about negotiating an agreement, markets rise. This is an indication that major companies have a lot at stake in resolving this dispute, preferably with some better market access, rather than having a trade war. There’s no real discussion of anything except interests now. So at the same time as the United States gives up on its own modernist project and retreats, China remains exceedingly resolute in its own. Back in the day, President Kennedy’s economic rhetoric had real similarities to Xi Jinping’s.

 

Suffice to say, not anymore!

So that response to the modern purpose of China is what is represented in this U.S.– China trade war.

New Zealand is at risk to be sure, but could do well out of this, largely because of how Australia is positioned. The U.S. and Australia are our two top foreign direct investors by country.

 

On the other hand, New Zealand capital mostly flows out to Australia and the U.S. and less so to China. It’s handy for New Zealand that the U.S. Trade Representative has flagged new restrictions on Chinese investment into the U.S. to contain “China’s stated intention of seizing economic leadership in advanced technology as set forth in its industrial plans, such as Made In China 2025.”

 

There is no way in hell China is giving up the Made In China 2025 strategy. It will drive all its component suppliers, including us.

 

The trade war between the U.S. and China could mean that world trade falls fast. That would in turn knock on against us as a country fully dependent upon international trade.

Yet it could also mean that really savvy investors reprioritise their sights away from housing and towards higher value ventures in China.

 

With the U.S. shutting down Chinese-based commercial cooperation in i.t. and tech-based companies, China’s Made in China 2025 drivers will need to search elsewhere for partnerships, including here. That just might mean more investment spillovers flowing between China, Australia, and New Zealand in areas that are expanding here such as game production, film production, and other i.t.-heavy ventures. Deeper investment ties between China and New Zealand will make an increasingly negative trade balance with New Zealand more acceptable to China over the long term. China is also well poised to assist in New Zealand’s locally strained ability to build the infrastructure this government has planned.

This opportunity also aligns with New Zealand government sending ever-stronger market signals limiting foreign investment into existing houses, and in general making real estate less attractive to buy: if you are going to invest here it needs to be in businesses that need capital to increase innovation, productivity, and foreign market access. Much of the task for making the most of this will fall to MFAT and NZTE.

Overall we are in the presence of a paradox. It’s not the same as the U.K. joining the E.U. in the 1970, or leaving in the 2010s. It’s not the same moment as C.E.R’s formation. Because what in ordinary times used to be New Zealand’s vulnerabilities may instead prove its strategic strengths in the context of a trade tug-of-war between the U.S. and China.

That’s a long, long way from an idealist modernist impulse, but it’s a likely route for a little country like us.

27 comments on “The trade war ”

  1. McFlock 1

    May we live in interesting times…

    We might prosper, but similarly we might be swatted absentindedly by either giant in the midst of the battle. With a third contender being Europe.

    Head down, stay in the trenches, hopefully you’ll be right…

    • Bill 1.1

      Or then again, maybe simply two cabs at a rank, one driven by an inconsistent and incoherent loon exhibiting signs of what might be a death wish…

      I say we opt for the other cab.

      • McFlock 1.1.1

        Assuming the loon won’t be ramming the cab we’re in because he thinks we should have used his cab instead, I still wouldn’t want to share the road with that guy.

        Might be better to walk, or wait for a bus.

  2. DH 2

    I find myself unconcerned about the trade side of it but I do fear it will lead to more frenzied nationalist rhetoric that could be the final trigger for a war in the South China Sea and perhaps a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. If the US persevere with it I think much will depend on how the Chinese Government frames this to its citizenry.

  3. Paul Campbell 3

    I design electronics here in NZ, build them in China, and ship them around the world, the profits come back to NZ.

    This is going to be a giant pain, my US customers are likely going to have to pay 25% more, and at this point I have no idea how. Luckily most of my customers are not in the US.

    So, yes it will affect NZ, I will likely get fewer sales, and fewer profits will find their way into our economy.

    On the other hand it’s an insane thing to do, China has a fifth of the world’s population and a fifth of the world’s smart people, cutting them off from western technology is just going to force them to be self-sufficient, they already know how to make chips well, and how to make them cheaper, forcing them to make all the stuff that they currently buy from the US will not end well .. for the US … Trump’s just flailing about, he’s a real estate developer who knows nothing about manufacturing

    • Ad 3.1

      How will you seek to alter your market positioning into Asian markets as a result?

      • Paul Campbell 3.1.1

        Probably nothing, I sell everywhere in the world, I’ve shipped to Russia, France and Canada today, but I don;t actually sell much to Asia

        BTW building in China vs. building in NZ is kind of a wash for me, I do do some manufacturing here – the killer is shipping – a small package world wide from China is $1, from Dunedin it’s $25

    • DH 3.2

      No offence Paul but it could just be your business is too small for them to be bothered stealing the IP and making it themselves.

      It’s the big players who are antsy over it….

      https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/06/26/dram_technology_thievery_by_taiwanese_tech_co/

      • Ad 3.2.1

        Have you seen the security features around Weta Workshop and the other film studios in Wellington?

        Weta itself are about the embark on a really large Chinese science fiction film – led by a Chinese company.

        No one produces what they do to their quality.

      • What I build is open source – have at it!

        However my stuff is built and crypto signed several ways, each one unique so I can pretty easily detect fakes – the real goal here though is to detect nation-state actors messing with the hardware.

        Remember that how to make DRAMs is well known, you can even buy them and pull them apart legally, I’m sure everyone does it, back when I was a chip designer in Silicon Valley I once walked into the board room of a small company – they had a photomicrograph of IBM’s VGA chip covering their board room table and a team of uni kids on holiday matching standard cells to what was there to extract a circuit diagram to see how it really works so they could build a work-alike (I was there because they were helping build one of my unrelated designs).

        What you can’t do is:
        – exactly copy a mask (essentially reproduce a chip photographically)
        – use something that has been patented

        and both of those things are public information.

        So in reality it’s not chip designs that are really trade secrets, it’s the cost of reproduction that’s the limiting thing (that VGA chip was really pretty primitive, I’ve designed one from scratch in a couple of months) – what are trade secrets are the process info – the exact tweeks, how long you spend using each reagent, how you make the masks etc etc – more how you make a factory than how you make a particular chip

        • Paul Campbell 3.2.2.1

          The real trick is treat China as a customer and sell stuff there – looks like AMD’s working on that:

          https://www.tomshardware.com/news/china-zen-x86-processor-dryhana,37417.html

          remember that it’s not illegal to make an x86 clone, provided you avoid the various patents (I even have patents on ways to make x86 clones, and most of those are about to expire).

          Provided that is you do all the design from scratch – what AMD is doing above is licensing their design to a Chinese company so they don’t have to do that – it’s probably a smart move, China’s probably the world’s largest growing market at the moment, the US is crazy working to cut itself off from it

          • DH 3.2.2.1.1

            The last thing they want is to licence their designs, that’s a big part of what the whole dispute is about.

            The US have put out quite a comprehensive report on what they see as China’s unfair trade practices. It’s a long one, and perhaps slightly self-serving, but still worth reading to get some background on the issue.

            https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/Section%20301%20FINAL.PDF

            • Paul Campbell 3.2.2.1.1.1

              But licensing their designs (for $300m plus stock in the fab companies) is exactly what AMD is doing here – they’re going to own that market – because in the process they’ve likely opened up the secure boot stuff so that the Chinese can see under the hood and see if there are any back doors – Intel wont do that and AMD’s going to own that market which is ~1/5 of the world – it’s a really smart move – I look forward to buying cheap laptops in Shenzhen soon (laptops are one thing that aren’t cheaper in China)

              (I mentioned process technology as being the really secret stuff above, none of that is included here)

              • DH

                Maybe it’s a good move by AMD, and maybe AMD will find themselves squeezed out of the market by unfair trade practices.

                Many business have already gone down the AMD route and their experiences are one of the reasons they’re having a trade dispute.

                And really, why should they have to licence their designs? There’s no commercial or trade justification for it, that’s strictly a Chinese Government mandate and why are they demanding it?

                • Paul Campbell

                  I don’t think you understand, they’ve CHOSEN to license their designs, they can’t build the chips without the designs … for $300m plus shares of the JV – this is pure capitalism – sure they could have chosen not to license their designs, but they wouldn’t have gotten the $300m or insider access to the Chinese market

                  • DH

                    I think I do understand Paul, business media has been reporting on these joint ventures for the last twenty odd years.

                    I admire your confidence but think it’s misplaced and not grounded in reality. Recent history is littered with brash westerners claiming they’d ‘win’ the Chinese market. They’ve all been chewed up and spat out, even Apple has a shrinking market share.

                    Our own Fonterra is a prime example of western arrogance. Look at the mess they’ve made of winning the Chinese market.

                    • Paul Campbell

                      iPhones are so popular in China right now I suspect the only reason they could have a ‘shrinking market share’ would be because the market is growing so fast – and because China excels at recycling and repairing phones that we in the west throw away – last week I walked through an entire city block in Shenzhen dedicated to turning junk western iPhones (and other high value phones like Samsungs) into working devices (at one end they take in old devices, break them down into chips, build them back onto boards, at the other end are retail stores)

                      BTW you should realise that China doesn’t have to play with IP the way that the west does – just because the US passes a law China doesn’t have to apply it in China – (or NZ for that matter, thank god we didn’t get the US’s TPPA Disney IP laws foisted on us). Bunnie Huang has a great article on the cultural differences:

                      https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/i-broke-my-phones-screen-awesome-bunnie-huang/

                    • DH

                      Certainly there’s much to admire about China but that’s not what this is about. The trade dispute is primarily over the Chinese Government deliberately favouring its own local industry at the expense of foreign competitors.

                      The debate would then come down to whether that’s true and if so whether it’s reasonable or justified. After the last few decades of foreign investment in China there’s now quite a substantial body of evidence supporting the argument that China is indeed (unfairly) subsidising, supporting and protecting its own industry to the detriment of other nations.

                    • Paul Campbell

                      Honestly it’s not, it’s all Trump blundering around pretending he knows what he’s doing – he put a 25% tax on electronic components, but not on assembled devices (assembled with those same components) – something guaranteed to push more of the US’s electronics industry offshore – he’s a realtor, he doesn’t understand manufacturing

  4. Sanctuary 4

    I wouldn’t necessarily assume a trade war will end badly for the United States. The USA is the world richest country and it spans an entire continent. Depending on how you measure it, only about 10-11% of American GDP is dependent on foreign trade – the rest is simply supplying it’s own internal market of rich consumers. Import substitution would be a bit unsettling, but not a calamity.

    For China, with it’s much lower GDP per head, trade represents 38-40% of all GDP activity and a trade war will stall their economy big time – which spells trouble for the Xi Jinping and his buddies in the CCP because constant economic expansion is how they keep the lid on domestic dissent. The other option to growth is to focus on a foreign enemy and start a war…

    Also, the United States could cause such a huge economic hit on China that the Chinese decide to seek resources and markets by force in the same way the Japanese empire saw US trade sanctions on them in the 1930s and 40s as necessitating war.

  5. SPC 5

    It’s not only China that is waiting out the Trump presidency.

    Trump’s real policy is economic isolationism/permanent tariff barriers. It is hostile to the WTO (and the UN). If it becomes American policy (beyond his term in office) our interests no longer converge.

    The USA is for now hostile to the international regime, and that when combined with its occasional resort to assert its will by force makes it a threat to peace. The USA is becoming what it claims others were/are (and yeah it has been a threat to peace from time to time, for other reasons, in the past).

  6. adam 6

    These guys have some interesting videos on China and it’s housing market. I’m using this link not the link to the video – to early in your post for a video link.

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwNPa8fSXzzAZuT9859GVhg?&ab_channel=ADVChina

    The 2 videos I’d suggest are – Ghost cities inside the chinese housing bubble, and the most recent one – Are all chinese building really falling down.

    So I’m not so sure China is in a good way, on the surface it looks fine, but underneath some really scary stuff happening. Like rapidly rising unemployment and investments internally drying up.

    On good news front, strike action, and unionisation are both up in the South of China.

  7. barry 7

    What a load of drivel.

    China is committed to international trade, and abuses the rules about as much as anybody else. This is about US failure to spread to gains of international trade fairly and the losers blaming trade instead of their politicians for the result.

    It has nothing to do with liberal ideals or democracy. All leaders know that their own wellbeing is dependent on the people feeling better off.

    The trade war will open up opportunities for NZ, but will overall be bad for us. The worst thing we can do as a nation is to take sides.

  8. Timeforacupoftea 8

    Our Green Party will be dancing again in the streets thanking Trump for the slow down in trade and use of resources which will cause the earth to cool quickly.

    We are all saved !
    Better buy a pushbike tomorrow.

  9. Incognito 9

    War is the continuation of politics by other means and similarly a trade war is the continuation of trade by other means. The little people always lose even when they think they’re winning or have won. The powers that be will always endeavour to let the people believe they’ re on the path to victory, to a brighter future, that there’s light at the end of the tunnel and there’s always hope, the last and in fact only vestige of the desperately powerless. I’m one of the little people and I’ve had a guts full and I don’t think I’m alone.

  10. Ken 10

    The POTUS will live out his days in the lap of luxury no-matter what.
    Of that we can be certain.
    If China is clever enough to attack his voter base – as they have been so-far, the casualties will be the people who voted this horror in.
    That’s how it should be.

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    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    1 day ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    1 day ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    3 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    3 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    3 days ago
  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    3 days ago
  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    4 days ago
  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    5 days ago
  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

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

    5 days ago
  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago
  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    6 days ago
  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago
  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    6 days ago
  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago
  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    6 days ago
  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Auckland faces 25% water inflation shock
    Three Waters became a focus of anti-Government protests under Labour, but its dumping by the new Government hasn’t solved councils’ funding problems and will eventually hit the back pockets of everyone. Photo: Lynn Grieveson/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 8:06 am today are:The Government ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Small accomplishments and large ironies
    Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.Share Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
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  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
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