Venezuela, China and Russia

Written By: - Date published: 1:41 pm, March 4th, 2019 - 54 comments
Categories: China, Deep stuff, democracy under attack, International, us politics - Tags:

Now that we are in a proper new age of robber barons in which most states are collectively so weak that they no longer offer effective resistance against large corporations, it’s somewhat easier to refresh how we view states: they are diplomatic fronts for corporations. True it’s also part of every state’s job to do that.

The willingness of some countries particularly the United States to use crisis within a country to accelerate the interests of their own corporations has been well documented in Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine from over a decade ago:

But Klein and others like her such as Hardt and Negri, and Chomsky, focussed almost exclusively on the United States.  

Why is Maduro able to hold on to power? Who is really in play?

For the answer in Venezuela, we need to look deeper, particularly to Russia and China.

In exchange for modest loans and bailouts over the past decade, Russia now owns significant parts of at least five oil fields in Venezuela, along with 30 years of future output from two Caribbean natural gas fields.

Venezuela also signed over 49.9% of Citgo, its wholly owned company in the United State. This includes three Gulf Coast refineries and a massive web of pipelines – as collateral to Russia’s state-owned Rosneft for a reported US$1.5 billion in desperately needed cash.

Russia is seriously exposed to Venezuela.

Rosneft also funnelled supwards of US$17 billion in loans to the Chavist-Maduro regime over the past decade. It has also gained three million tonnes of oil from 2017 from Venezuela.

Helpfully for all this financial funneling, Russia and Venezuela have a joint venture bank, Evrofinance Mosnarbank, Russia’s 91st largest by assets. The Venezuelan National Development Fund owns 49.99% of the bank. Russia’s state-owned Gazpromban, and the state bank VTB each own 25% of Evrofinance.

So whether Russian public support for Putin’s international interventions falls or not, the Russian state has to prop Maduro up because they simply have too much skin in the game. U.S. sanctions against Russia have crippled its ability to secure financing other than from its own state. This is the state acting with the coldest of commercial calculations.

According to Reuters, Russian private military contractors are now surrounding President Maduro.

Russian President Putin knows that if National assembly President Juan Guaido takes power, those who stood with Maduro will likely be ousted, and Russia’s privileged access to Venezuela’s oil fields will be revoked.

(The closest comparison I can think of is the impact of the Iranian oil nationalisation programme in the early 1950s. British investor confidence was shaken and the Shah of Iran barely survived. In 1979 the government simply nationalised all the banks.)

Then there’s China.

Venezuela has the world’s highest oil reserves, China is the world’s largest oil importer, and China has lent more money to Venezuela than to any other country in the world. An ocean of superlatives.

China gets about 19% of its oil from Russia and Venezuela together.

China has investments in Venezuela estimated to be worth around US $60 billion. As of April 2018 China owns US$23 billion of Venezuela’s foreign debt. That’s about three times the exposure of Russia to Venezuela. Interestingly, China has not followed Russia in accusing the United States of an attempted coup. That tells me that China has cultivated contacts with the opposition and with Venezuelan civil society broadly.

No doubt Russia is going all out against the United States via Venezuela because the degree of U.S. government commercial hostility to Russia through sanctions and military positioning is now so high that Russia simply have less to lose. China, not Russia, is in the middle of a complex trade negotiation with the United States.

Last week, President Trump indicated that Huawei and ZTE – vital Chinese domiciled tech multinationals – could be included in that trade deal.

That is another almighty big reason not to go head to head with the U.S. via Venezuela. China knows that it gains rewards if its companies accede to paying massive fines to United States regulators. ZTE paid the fine, fired its entire board, sucked up the losses, and kept going. I suspect the same thing will happen with Huawei.

There’s still plenty of capacity from the United States to damage Chinese tech firms, and China is playing a careful diplomatic game around it, in part because of its exposure to U.S. intervention in Venezuela.

Venezuela represents the contest of the United States, Russia, and China like no other place on earth.

54 comments on “Venezuela, China and Russia ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Gosman 1
    4 March 2019 at 3:08 pm

    Russia and China are on a hiding to nothing. There is no indication that Maduro will be willing to make the sorts of reforms necessary to stem the decline in the Venezuelan economy and certainly no ability to turn it around so that it expands significantly rather than contracts. Therefore Russia and China will have to continue to stump up cash in exchange for sections of a declining Venezuelan economy. There is a saying for this – “Throwing good money after bad”.

  2. adam 2
    4 March 2019 at 3:09 pm

    But isn’t trump a putin puppet…

  3. Gosman 3
    4 March 2019 at 3:10 pm

    Once again I will post John Oliver’s take on the mess that is Venezuela

    https://youtu.be/IYfgvS0FA7U

    • Jinx 3.1
      4 March 2019 at 3:49 pm

      John Oliver is an establishment shill.

      Watch this.

      By the way, YouTube is trying to censor the video for absolutely no reason by making it age required.
      There is no reason for their claim for violating community standards.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QcP25nIx1o

      • weston 3.1.1
        4 March 2019 at 10:47 pm

        Thanks Jinks nice to get some REAL facts !!

      • Gosman 3.1.2
        5 March 2019 at 1:19 am

        That was hilarious. I especially enjoyed his explanation for hyper inflatiom. Apparently it is because people smuggle the currency out of the country. Of course he fails to grasp that if currency is been taken out of the country you reduce the supply of it and thetefore under the law of supply and demand you increase its value. Venezuela’s problem is not too little currency but TOO MUCH. As for extracting food and other items to other nations, that happens when you impose price controls.

  4. Siobhan 4
    4 March 2019 at 3:34 pm

    I’ve already brought this up today…and I’m not sure if there’s any point me commenting on such a right wing, possibly racist* article…but…

    “Hands off Venezuela!”

    The “Permanent War State” Aims to Plunder Venezuela – Wilkerson and Jay
    Trump promises “democracy and freedom” to Venezuela, delivered by Elliott Abrams who brought you illegal wars, coups, and support for dictatorships; and Mike Pompeo and VP Pence, both with deep ties to the Koch brothers who need Venezuelan heavy crude to feed their Texas refinery – Col. Larry Wilkerson joins TRNN’s Paul Jay

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkR9YWqfjsA

    *http://theconversation.com/venezuelas-long-history-of-racism-is-coming-back-to-haunt-it-82199

    *http://www.afrocubaweb.com/news/venezuela-racial-conflict.html

    • Gosman 4.1
      4 March 2019 at 3:41 pm

      Where is the evidence that the US has “plundered” say Iraq or Afghanistan?

      • Sam 4.1.1
        4 March 2019 at 3:43 pm

        Only way to deny U.S motivation for stealing Middle East oil is to pretend to be thick in the head.

        • Gosman 4.1.1.1
          4 March 2019 at 4:58 pm

          No evidence just an emotional laden argument that pre-supposes the point.

          • Sam 4.1.1.1.1
            4 March 2019 at 5:27 pm

            You are not deceiving me, just yourself.

            • Gosman 4.1.1.1.1.1
              4 March 2019 at 8:03 pm

              I’m just asking you to back your views up. It is you who is refusing to do so.

              • Sam …
                4 March 2019 at 8:06 pm

                They’re not my views. They’re the words of The President of The United States of America threatening Venezuala repeatedly and consistently and his spokespeople from the pentagon and Whitehouse carrying the burden of carry. And you gooie, in complete denial.

                • Gosman …
                  4 March 2019 at 8:10 pm

                  Trump has only made a really concerted effort in the past few months and he hasn’t threatened to steal oil for tge US.

                  • Sam …
                    4 March 2019 at 8:27 pm

                    Protecting U.S. Oil interests has been a long standing U.S. Forign policy. Where have you been the last 100 odd years…, Checking your fathers navel?

      • Ad 4.1.2
        4 March 2019 at 3:50 pm

        Have trawl through the Naomi Klein video.

        Or even the book.

      • Siobhan 4.1.3
        4 March 2019 at 4:41 pm

        Not enough time has passed for me to have good links at my fingertips on those two countries, plus its home time…but its a well known fact that America’s involvement beyond its borders is always about its own ‘business interests’, which is just a modern term for ‘plundering’.
        Its always been this way, and to think it is now otherwise would be denial on a tragic scale…,not to mention the idea that America spent 6 trillion on a war in Iraq/Afghanistan for kicks is also pretty hilarious…

        in the words of Smedley Butler, at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history …

        “I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer; a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”

        • Gosman 4.1.4.1
          4 March 2019 at 8:05 pm

          That was from 2005 and was meant to be some sort of secret plan. How did this plan work out? Where is the evidence for that?

          • Stuart Munro 4.1.4.1.1
            4 March 2019 at 8:10 pm

            I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – go and Google it you lazy ignorant trolling prick.

            • Stuart Munro. 4.1.4.1.1.1
              4 March 2019 at 8:27 pm

              But, on the principle that you are too useless to look for it yourself:

              On the ground, the occupation forces are quickly working towards selling the Iraqi governmental services to private companies. They are quite open about their plan.
              In mid-April, U.S. officials stated that they want the World Bank to eventually act as the “neutral international body” that will be the accountant for oil revenues, replacing the United Nations, which had overseen the oil-for-food program (April 18, 2003, New York Times). The World Bank is definitely not a “neutral” body; quite the contrary, it has caused immense impoverishment in its agenda of privatization.[2] For example, as reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), “despite World Bank contentions that it does not force privatization on the poor, research by ICIJ and the bank itself showed that privatization is playing an ever-increasing role in bank lending policies.”[3]
              In mid-May, Bremer announced that, within weeks, the Central Bank of Iraq and a group of private banks would begin providing “substantial” trade credits to finance the sale of goods to Iraqi ministries, government-owned factories and private companies. Bremer did not say which “private banks” would provide these credits, or at what terms the credits would be made. He did reveal that U.S. and British companies were expected to be among the first to benefit.

              https://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/168/34828.html

              • Gosman …
                5 March 2019 at 1:28 am

                So your evidence that a “secret” plan to control the oil industry in Iraq is a link to reports from 2003 is it? How about you find out who controls the Iraqi oil and finance industry NOW not who the occupation authorities were discussing in 2003 or some sort of “secret” plan suggested in 2005?

                • Stuart Munro. …
                  5 March 2019 at 1:37 am

                  This is all such old news Gosman, did you sleep through the first decade of this century?

                  If you want to know what went down you really ought to get your mouse finger working. But it was a jackal’s wedding. You’ll probably reject the source (so dear is your crippling burden of ignorance to you), but a quick and dirty summary is here for those who ignore current affairs and have to play catch up:

                  https://archive.org/details/bushinbabylonrec00alit

                  • Gosman …
                    5 March 2019 at 8:09 am

                    I want to see you provide evidence of how US oil interests have taken over thr Iraqi oil sector please. Not so called “secret plans” from 15 years ago which suggest they were going to.

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      5 March 2019 at 9:01 am

                      Yes, I thought as much – more ignorance and bad faith behavior, and an implicit assumption of superiority unsupported by anything greater than cynicism.

                      This is the thanks I get for throwing a little light into the all but infinite void of your ignorance and bile.

                      I’ve provided you with three sources, which you were not sincere enough to read. I’d quite like to see you justify your own position – the endless denials, the enthusiastic embrace of any hint of amorality, the astonishing ignorance of the principles of democracy and appalling want of judgment.

                      Fuck off and do your homework Gosman, or better yet, just fuck off.

                    • Gosman …
                      5 March 2019 at 10:24 am

                      No I enjoy too much you squirming and ducking and diving whenever I ask you to provide evidence that the US is doing the things you accuse it of doing.

                    • Stuart Munro. …
                      5 March 2019 at 10:37 am

                      Yes we know Gosman – you are the consummate troll, lazy, cynical, ill-informed, fucking useless, a blight on humanity and on this site.

                      I’ve produced a truckload of evidence, but that’s not good enough for a lying weasel lie you, you haven’t even looked at it. That’s the squirming, and it’s all yours.

                      You’ve produced nothing to validate your position. Nothing could. Shame on you Gosman, you pitiful lazy wretched lying thing.

                • Skunk Weed …
                  5 March 2019 at 5:24 am

                  Gossie you little testicle tickling toad go back to Kiwi Bog with the rest of the Swamp Dwellers.

      • WeTheBleeple 4.1.5
        4 March 2019 at 7:02 pm

        Oh for shame just STFU for once in your life you loser.

        • Gosman 4.1.5.1
          4 March 2019 at 8:06 pm

          Ahh…. no.

          • Sam 4.1.5.1.1
            4 March 2019 at 8:08 pm

            May I ask what kinds of injuries causes you to believe that failed policies might one day work in the future?

            • Gosman 4.1.5.1.1.1
              5 March 2019 at 1:22 am

              My policies don’t fail. Contrast Chile with Venezuela to see that.

              • Sam …
                5 March 2019 at 2:53 am

                Lelz. Am I the first person to point out that no one has ever voted for you or your policies? You’re funny.

                • Gosman …
                  5 March 2019 at 5:53 am

                  My policies are mainstream. They have been adopted by most developed nations on the planet.

                  • Sam …
                    5 March 2019 at 6:46 am

                    Most? I could literally use occums razor to prove the negative simply because of pair-pressure that you wanted to look cool in front of “most countries” and adopt there policies or I could even prove that you adopt policies suited for forign nations. Just can’t believe you’d leave yourself open like that, there must be something else going on.

                    I could even wank off your IQ and say that it is 92 so below average, I don’t think you are retarded because you’ve got some arguments, not very good ones but it does imply you’ve got the speech component of IQ and follow basic instructions given to you so you are at least above 80. So I’ll wank you off (high ball your IQ) and say you’ve got a below average IQ of 92 which is very generous.

                    It’s just your entire style of debating is just so cliche that I’v lost count of how many times you’ve conceded. I’ll body your entire body of evidence/comments/research and just bully all your arguments and then you’ll get all paralysed and come back a few hours later like nothing even happened. Iv literally lost count of how many times I’v just bullied you like that and like an injured snake you just keep coming back for more.

                    Every one has lost respect for you that I don’t even think you’ve noticed that no one can spell your name properly for fear of falling prey to what ever injuries that you are carrying around with you. Like you are pretty good at distracting people but as far as debating you are like the level of a 10 year old kid who’s not allowed to swear. You should literally delete your account so you don’t embarrass yourself any further.

    • Sam 4.2
      4 March 2019 at 3:42 pm

      I mean the one thing Venezualan Propogandist fail to acknowledge is that the White House and it’s spokespeople openly admit to causing financial crises and fund undemocratic candidates and blame Maduro for there own meddling. There’s so many hours of spokespeople admitting there fraud it’s not funny.

  5. Hamish Stevenson 5
    4 March 2019 at 5:14 pm

    “No doubt Russia is going all out against the United States via Venezuela because the degree of U.S. government commercial hostility to Russia through sanctions and military positioning is now so high that Russia simply have less to lose.”
    Bollocks. Naive under-interpretation of the complexity of the situation. There are many other factors. The sentence makes no sense and brings down what is otherwise a fairly erudite article.

  6. McFlock 6
    4 March 2019 at 5:20 pm

    Interesting article. So Russia being so exposed to Venezuela makes the geopolitical wonks in the US happy for US intervention in Ven, the Colombian factor means the anti-drugs crowd are for US intervention if only to keep Colombian govt support, Bolton would be creaming for regime change anywhere in the world, the oil crowd will be wanting control over ven production, and so on.

    And the orange-utan would have to be contrary to all of them (and an effective leader) to help Putin on this one.

  7. Milly 7
    4 March 2019 at 8:47 pm

    I love the way the U.S. complains how other countries interfere in their elections, yet they openly get involved in coups against democratically elected governments.
    The irony is too much.

  8. Skunk Weed 8
    5 March 2019 at 11:23 am

    The USA are the world’s bully boys just like Pies Brownlee from Canterbury

  9. sam 9
    27 March 2019 at 7:28 pm

    it sounds nothing happen to each other.

    [Eh? Can someone please reboot the Sambot. Ta, TRP]

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 days 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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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 week 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 week 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

  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
    I was initially resistant to the idea often suggested to me that the Government should deliver an arts strategy. The whole point of the arts and creativity is that people should do whatever the hell they want, unbound by the dictates of politicians in Wellington. Peter Jackson, Kiri Te Kanawa, Eleanor ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-26T07:18:00+00:00