This should have been the climate election

Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, October 16th, 2020 - 30 comments
Categories: climate change, election 2020, greens, labour - Tags: , , ,

If 2017 was the election where we changed the government from right to centre left, then 2020 should be the election where we changed that centre left govt into a green left one.

We’re kind of getting there, but here’s the problem. The climate crisis isn’t on the doorstep, it’s now in the front hall poking it’s head into the living room. Incremental approaches used by centre left governments are not going to act in time.

The Ministry for the Environment’s report, Our Atmosphere and Climate, was published yesterday. Would that they had released this a few weeks ago and the MSM had pushed on it hard during the election campaing. It’s sobering.

From RNZ,

Natasha Lewis, the Ministry’s deputy secretary of strategy and stewardship, said the 84-page report shows climate change is not a far off threat.

“Climate change is having a profound impact on us and on our environment here and now, and it’s the decisions that each one of us make that are contributing to this.”

…

… the report finds extreme fire danger is expected to dramatically rise over the next two decades.

Fire danger is projected to increase by an average of 70 percent by 2040 with the the largest increases set to be in areas not used to fire, like Wellington and Otago.

…

By 2040, the report predict Wellington will see a doubling in fire danger to 30 days a year where fire risk is very high or extreme, and coastal Otago a tripling – to 20 days a year.

…

It found that over the past two decades there was an increasing trend in days with very high or extreme fire danger at Napier, Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Gisborne, Masterton and Gore.

The report also notes that, unlike Australia, New Zealand ecosystems have not evolved to cope well with fire.

There are so many red flags here. For those of us paying attention this is scary stuff, because as far as I know MfE, Niwa etc are still working with conservative predictions, not what will happen if we get runaway climate change. But we’re not doing the things to prevent the worst of climate change.

From Stuff,

Climate scientist James Renwick, who advised on the report, said if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase globally, New Zealand’s climate would see massive changes through the rest of this century, making adaptation very difficult. “If emissions are reduced rapidly, in line with the Paris Agreement, climate change across New Zealand would still be significant, but more manageable,” he said.

“making adaptation very difficult” should be the wake up call. If we don’t act we’re going to start experiencing domino effects from climate impacts locally.

Also pertinent here is that unlike Australia we don’t have good sensibility about wildfires. We still build housing in highly flammable situations, we still plant flammable trees around and near housing and infrastructure. Up until recently, we still let clueless international tourists travel at will and free camp and light fires in the dodgiest of places. Now would be a really good time to start teaching New Zealanders about fire.

There’s also some damning stuff in the report about New Zealand’s emissions, including related to transport. TL;DR is that we have to majorly adjust our behaviours around personal car use, and government priorities on public transport.

Of 43 countries in the OECD, New Zealand ranks 5th in terms of worst polluters on CO2 emissions from road transport. in other words, each person pumps 3.2 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year from driving alone.

We will see what we can do in the next three years, if our luck holds and we end up with a Labour/Green government on Saturday.

But every extra Green MP we can get now ups our chances significantly of New Zealand finally getting on board with what real climate action is.

Although the report does not make recommendations, Lewis said it should inform decision making everywhere.

“The whole point of doing the report is to generate response across the country and across all levels – from whānau and hapū level, local government, business, industry and of course government,” Lewis said.

If you haven’t voted, climate is still by far New Zealand’s biggest challenge, and it’s the Greens that have the plan for what to do.

Think Ahead. Party Vote Green.

Green Party Climate Policies

30 comments on “This should have been the climate election ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Tricledrown 1
    16 October 2020 at 11:15 am

    If the exit polls are correct it could be the greenest govt we have had.

    • weka 1.1
      16 October 2020 at 11:24 am

      Fingers crossed, and we have all sorts of opportunity if the polling holds.

    • Pataua4life 1.2
      16 October 2020 at 2:37 pm

      We don't have exit polls

      • weka 1.2.1
        16 October 2020 at 6:15 pm

        people are calling the pre-election polls exit polls because so many people have already voted.

    • Labour_Voter 1.3
      16 October 2020 at 6:50 pm

      Bullshit. It will be Labour majority government and only because Jacinda is so warm and friendly she will invite Greens to be part of her government. Let the Greens show eternal gratitude for that and not try to ask for big ministerial roles.

  2. Koff 2
    16 October 2020 at 11:42 am

    Twitter comment by Greta Thunberg when asked about Amy Coney Barrett's response to being asked about her views on climate change during the Senate hearing into her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court.

    "To be fair, I don't have any "views on climate change" either. Just like I don't have any "views" on gravity, the fact that the earth is round, photosynthesis nor evolution… But understanding and knowing their existence really makes life in the 21st century so much easier.

    A classic.

  3. woodart 3
    16 October 2020 at 12:24 pm

    well, if the greens dont get sucked in to having to answer endless questions about a wealth tax, and learn how to play the political game, we MAY have action.but, if theres any party that knows how to shoot themselves in both feet, its the greens(unfortunatley). FFS, play whats in front of you, and dont get sidetracked(again)

    • Drowsy M. Kram 3.1
      16 October 2020 at 12:54 pm

      All political parties make mistakes – seems to me that the Greens are often held to a higher standard of accountability; part-and-parcel of 'playing' by their own rules?

      IMHO, the weaknesses and mistakes of Green party MPs pale into insignificance beside those of National party MPs and their friends, but no-one’s talking about Boag-Walker-Woodhouse-Falloon-Bridge now.

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/122097249/nationals-leaks-fiasco-reveals-an-ethical-weakness

    • Incognito 3.2
      16 October 2020 at 1:36 pm

      The Greens often are perceived and portrayed as politically naive and as slow-learners by some commenters here with particularly jaundiced views. However, I think the Greens are cunning and play a smart tactical game. They know they cannot ‘win’ on all their policies and priorities so it’s all about positioning, just like a game of chess.

      • woodart 3.2.1
        16 October 2020 at 4:49 pm

        cant play a chess game if you are not on the board, and the greens STILL dont have a certain seat at the table.after all the elections they have been in, they still phuck around ,just above the 5% cutoff. time to really put in the effort and have one or two electorate seat power base. if a noddy like seymour has it figured, why havent the greens?

        • weka 3.2.1.1
          16 October 2020 at 5:07 pm

          their polling all year has indicated they will be back in. Not a guarantee, but it's a misrepresentation to say they're hovering just about 5%.

          Act are doing well because National are in freefall. If Labour were in free fall in the same way I would expect the Green vote to increase.

  4. gsays 4
    16 October 2020 at 3:15 pm

    For this to have been a CC election there would have been a lot of scared horses. Our PM is a lot of things but a horse scarer she is not.

    I am an eternal optimist, so I am hoping The Greens and senior Labour pollies have something up their sleeves that would make the folks who baulk at a wealth tax/CGT, absolutely crap their jocks with a plan to remediate our emissions.

    Trucks off the road, freight on to rail/coastal shipping, geothermal power, cockies helped more to transition to regen ag/commercial permaculture.

  5. Stuart Munro 5
    16 October 2020 at 3:28 pm

    There are a lot of things that should have been done this term. Covid is an excuse for a few of them – but serious environmental concerns don't wait on the vagaries of political convenience, or calculation, or ignorance. Social and economic justice has been deferred too. There's no denying Labour is infinitely better and smarter than the Gnats – but that's far from a gold star for good governance.

  6. WeTheBleeple 6
    16 October 2020 at 4:01 pm

    Addressing climate related fire issues should go hand in hand with water management and carbon storage/forestry planning.

    It's time to start storing water in tanks and water gardens (urban) and small ponds and swales extensively throughout all our landscapes. These hydrate the land for trees and will greatly reduce drought severity. We need rain water to go in the ground recharging rivers and aquifers, not overland and directly out to sea.

    Regen-ag and similar soil building systems will likewise increase water infiltration and thus drought tolerance. With the water, carbon can be stored both below and above ground.

    We need mixed forestry with less combustible species and forest blocks that are surrounded by 'fire-proof' species. Fire breaks and maintenance of them should also be mandatory practice for foresters, especially in drought prone areas.

    Water is the key to it being manageable at all. Small earthworks but on a massive scale can make a world of difference.

    Hope now requires action. This election couldn't be over soon enough for me, with Greens integral to effective government.

    • weka 6.1
      16 October 2020 at 4:20 pm

      all of this.

      One of the worries is that farmers are probably right about the build up of flammable growth with removal of grazing on some land, but their approach is to basically create deserts. We need more vegetation of the right kind in the right place.

      Fingers crossed NZF are gone on Sat and no more stupidity like mass planting pine trees.

      I need to go look up the GP's original climate tree planting plan and see how far ahead it was from what we actually ended up doing.

      Systems thinking is what is needed urgently.

      • WeTheBleeple 6.1.1
        16 October 2020 at 5:06 pm

        This video (following) describes the strategy employed by a village to win an award for water harvesting out of around 1000 villages competing. Note how simple the solutions are to completely alter their landscape and livelihoods. I recommend all of this series some is simply remarkable.

        We can learn a great deal studying countries that rely on monsoon rains in how to deal with drought/flood cycles.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDMnbeW3F8A&ab_channel=AndrewMillison

        • weka 6.1.1.1
          16 October 2020 at 6:28 pm

          That's a seriously impressive project.

          The phase two competition is fantastic.

          "Water management structures serve as the bones of the landscape system"

          I wrote a post a few years ago about that part of India, looking at water harvesting. One of the things that stood out there too was the relationship between the tech and the ability of villages to work together that led to permanent solutions.

          https://thestandard.org.nz/a-tale-of-two-droughts/

          Interestingly, your video clearly points to why climate action is linked to social justice and wellbeing.

          What do you think it would take to get NZ farming to start thinking about water in the landscape instead of on top of it? Somehow I can't imagine NZ farmers being enthused about a competition.

          • Robert Guyton 6.1.1.1.1
            16 October 2020 at 6:48 pm

            "What do you think it would take to get NZ farming to start thinking about water in the landscape instead of on top of it?"

            Haikai Tane.

          • WeTheBleeple 6.1.1.1.2
            16 October 2020 at 7:38 pm

            'Farmers thinking about water in the landscape'. As drought conditions hammer bottom lines those with solutions will be quite readily listened to – only detracted from by farm 'advisors'. Those selling fertiliser and cides and irrigation schemes and whatever else they can.

            We see this with Ravensdown (fertiliser) board members posing as concerned scientists in local newspapers trying to twist the narrative around regen-ag. It's a global push back against common sense by fossil fuel interests, we see it all over.

            But, I eagerly read the stories of NZ regen-ag farms watching heavy downpours soak into, rather than run across, their farms. I see pictures of lush multi-species pastures and fat happy animals while regions called for help with feed.

            You got to have a lot of money to throw away not to get onboard if pastures are drought stressed consistently. Guess that's why the boom in irrigation booms, and the cutting of trees to accommodate them. Clever if you can't see past your nose.

            These divergent groups of farmers were mostly all following the Fonterra model not long ago. But times are changing, and some have seen the writing on the wall. 3/4 of voters are concerned today with a parties stance on the environment. That's a massive shift. And they're not all townies.

        • gsays 6.1.1.2
          16 October 2020 at 6:47 pm

          Thanks WTB, that was a great clip.

          I am always moved when seeing folk cooperate.

      • James Thrace 6.1.2
        17 October 2020 at 9:16 pm

        If by "systems thinking" you mean joined up thinking, then yes, I agree.

        I still view Nationals abhorrent failure to house SH1 road and rail workers in Kaikoura motels and hotels after the 2016 quakes but instead renting all those portacabins from the Australian company that donated to National in 2014 as a classic and clear example of their failure to show joined up thinking or to assist small businesses.

  7. Stuart Munro 7
    16 October 2020 at 5:33 pm

    The New Zealand government has been praised for heeding scientific advice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when it comes to environmental protections the scientific advice seems to be negotiable. Freshwaters have been in decline for decades, despite clear science on limits needed to protect them. There are many examples of 'shifting baselines', where limits have been progressively weakened through agency regulatory capture and political expediency.

  8. RRM 8
    16 October 2020 at 8:13 pm

    Chloe will care for the environment with an asset tax!

    • Incognito 8.1
      16 October 2020 at 8:26 pm

      If there were a Troll Tax, you’d be in the highest bracket. In lieu of such tax, we do have the Ban-Axe.

  9. Grafton Gully 9
    16 October 2020 at 8:25 pm

    The massive recent reduction in global CO2 emissions owes absolutely nothing to green party policy. The pandemic and its social and economic effects makes all parties’ policies obsolete. Parties that can create wide appeal for credible policies in a post covid world will most likely gain power in the future.

    https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201014082806.htm

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    6 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

  • 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T09:48:10+00:00