Weak

Written By: - Date published: 3:35 pm, September 1st, 2008 - 101 comments
Categories: election 2008, national, spin - Tags: ,

Perhaps I’ve overestimated the National Party’s PR machine. I mean I’ve seen them run their C/T strategy pretty well and, as much as I hate to admit it, Ansell’s billboards were pretty bloody good last time.

But then I opened the PDF with their latest billboard on it. It’s busy, the message is confusing, and the strapline seems completely at odds with the lines they’ve been building up for the past five years.

‘Wave goodbye to higher taxes’? Wave goodbye to a big chunk of your campaign spend for no real reason more like.

If I was the Waitemata Trust I’d be asking for my money back.

 

101 comments on “Weak ”

  1. sweetd 1

    Of course you don’t like it. For nine years labour has tried to outlaw and disband the family unit.

  2. schrodigerscat 2

    Wouldn’t send any of our loved ones to Iraq would they?

    probably can’t remember!

  3. Felix 3

    Looks like B52s. Creepy.

    This should remind a few people what Key thinks our soldiers should be doing…

  4. Tane 4

    Of course you don’t like it. For nine years labour has tried to outlaw and disband the family unit.

    There are usually two responses to comments like this. You either engage with the idiot by going through working for families, paid parental leave, higher wages etc, or you just go “what the fuck?” and move on. I think I’ll go with the latter on this one.

  5. sweetd. please don’t comment when you’re stoned.

    I laughed out loud when i saw that billboard. That’s not to say the others will necessarily do better, but this is pretty poor.

  6. Ha! – It’s trying to be a positive brand building image and then it’s got this hysterical “your loved ones are leaving!” message. And the logo is real small – It’s kinda like a metaphor for John Key – pretty corporate branding, confused message and bland, bland bland…

  7. Lew 7

    Felix: I thought this, too. Reminds me of Capra’s counter-propaganda propaganda in Why We Fight.

    If I were the Nats’ propagandist, they’d be red planes.

    L

  8. Dom 8

    Choose a brighter future? That’s their brilliant sales pitch? Well, take the ‘b’ from brighter and perhaps it makes sense…

  9. Tane 9

    Dom, brilliant. The parodies are going to be fun. If anyone knows what the font is let me know. Hard to tell when it’s in caps.

  10. forgetaboutthelastones 10

    So higher taxes have somehow boarded masses of planes and I get to look up and wave goodbye to them. As for my loved ones – I don’t get to wave goodbye to them because the higher taxes have used up all the planes.

  11. gobsmacked 11

    Note to the Nats: Australia’s the other way.

    Or are we invading Fiji?

  12. Patrick 12

    Tane, the fonts are Unit-LightLF, Unit-RegularLF and Unit-MediumLF.

    And yeah, terrible bill boards. Any idea how many of them are going up?

  13. Quoth the Raven 13

    Certainly reminds me of a WW2 propaganda poster with those planes. All it needs is a glorious soldier looking forward.

  14. Tane 14

    Thanks Patrick.

  15. Dom 15

    Tane, if you replace the NOT with AND – then follow with a National quote on supporting the US in Iraq (English and Mapp from memory?) the whole militaristic imagery could work nicely to highlight the Nat’s support for the US invasion of Iraq…

  16. Tane 16

    I’m thinking something along those lines, just need to figure out how to shop it, then find the bloody time…

  17. randal 17

    weak is not the word…if this is hung in tory hq they will spend all their time going for a leak…blerkkkkkkkk!

  18. dave 18

    No not weak, clever, given that 1,555 people leave the country for good every week. Or 222 people per day. Or one every six and a half minutes.
    At least they haven’t flogged a stock picture from the US.
    [dave. the fact you think where a pic comes from is significant shows the holloowness of your politics. The numbers you are quoting are just emigration, you’ve got to at least count the Kiwis coming back, if not the people immigrating here. The net Kiwi citizens emigration is less than 0.7% per annum and well within the norms of the migration cycle. SP]

  19. Julie 20

    I thought it was an ad for Air NZ. Perhaps that’s one of the things the Nats would send overseas too (i.e. into foreign ownership)?

  20. Tane 21

    Wave goodbye to Air New Zealand
    We’re selling that too

  21. Wave goodbye to higher wages
    Not 90s policies

  22. Dom 23

    LOL Julie, I’ve just be playing with this wording:
    WAVE GOODBYE TO
    YOUR NATIONAL AIRLINE.
    AND OTHER STATE ASSETS.

  23. Dom 24

    LOL Tane – that’s great!

  24. Tim Ellis 25

    I’m a national party supporter, and I think it’s a good message. Maybe I’m getting old though, because it does seem quite difficult for me to read. It might look a bit different if I was driving past it, but not being a technical guy I’d give it 8/10 for message, 3/10 for visual impact. I assume that there is going to be a series of messages going up; they won’t all be about emigration to australia, and to have drastically different billboard designs sounds to me like it would dilute the brand.

    Still, I suppose it will get noticed a lot for no other reason than it’s the first shot fired in the battle.

  25. outofbed 26

    To add to the military theme, the arrows look not unlike US military stripes (rank of corporal perhaps?) :-}

  26. Tane 27

    Wave goodbye to your loved ones
    We’re sending them to Iraq

  27. Bill 28

    Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones ’cause they’re on board too thanks to massive borrowing to fund these squadrons of lear jets for John’s mates and their families.

    Next stop Andora.

  28. r0b 29

    The first time I saw Iwi/Kiwi (2005) I thought shit, we could lose this election. Seeing this billboard I’m thinking shit, we could win this one!

    “Not your loved ones” is a great tag line to keep.

    Who went to bomb Iraq
    Not your loved ones

    Who benefits from increased borrowing
    Not your loved ones

    Who wants to sell our schools
    Not your loved ones

    Who wants to pay road tolls
    Not your loved ones

    Don’t go back to the Righter future

    and so on…

  29. Tane 30

    It’s such an appallingly bad ad campaign I’m actually worried that parodying it will give it a cultural currency it doesn’t deserve.

  30. Rob 31

    Good message I believe some one has to stop the brain drain of the intelligent ones that have departed from this Labour Led Helen Clark Government.

    All we do is fill our Country up with People who more than likely vote Labour in the future. I’m sure that must be a question on the immigration papers now “Will you vote Labour OK you can come to New Zealand”

    I just believe that you guys at the Standard are a little bit Anal Retentive about Bill Boards given Nationals last campaign last time. I’m sure there will be some Crosby Textor Specials to come out yet.

    I promise you open and Honest Government yea right

    I have some very big ideas for New Zealand yea right

    I would never ban a smack because parent dont want that yea right

    I never knew about the $100000 promise yea right

    I believe Owen Glenn might give Labour another loan yea right

  31. r0b 32

    Rob, those are so bad that I believe you wrote them yourself. Maybe you should go back to plagiarising, so you get better material?

  32. randal 33

    wave goodbye to john keys…he’s on the road to nowhere. bye bye johnny.

  33. dave 34

    you’ve got to at least count the Kiwis coming back
    Problem is that they’re not staying here and I’m only counting permanent departures not OE’rs. Ther are so many Maori leaving NZ flying out for Aussie for good that if it keeps up Aussie will soon be called Outeroa.

  34. lprent 35

    That billboard is pretty pathetic.

    It looks like something for selling tampon’s. Trying to wrap something vaguely offensive in a non-intrusive, low-key, and designed not to cause divisiveness package. Well it does fit the type of message National has been trying to sell. I’m not sure if it suits how this election campaign is going.

    Anyway, I vote for referring to them as Nationals Tampon billboards. Something designed to staunch the leakage of blood.

    Damn it does remind me of tampon packaging……

  35. outofbed 36

    Choose a frightning future, Party vote National

  36. Lew 37

    r0b: A mate of mine has come up with the following, which has a zen simplicity:

    NATIONAL: NOT YOUR LOVED ONES

    L

  37. coge 38

    How are Labours billboards coming along? Is Owens’ cheque still in the mail?

    All this talk about Iraq, is far leftist speak. Most Kiwis know that idea is a complete fallacy i.e it ain’t happening. Your suggestion Tane, will have no currency with the masses.

  38. Quoth the Raven 39

    Rob – Your are the biggest sycophant out there. I’ve never once heard you criticise your party and you seem to be the only person who defends your party’s use of C/T. Not even your party’s leaders like to acknowledge it. And Rob the brain drain is a myth.

  39. r0b 40

    NATIONAL: NOT YOUR LOVED ONES

    Love it!

  40. Tara 41

    Bring Back The Lash !

    Bring Back Muldoon !

  41. higherstandard 42

    Not sure what’s stranger ?

    That one of the major political parties can’t come up with something better with all the talented marketeers about in NZ or that Lynn seems to have a good knowledge of feminine hygiene products.

  42. dave 43

    Lynn, what do you know abut tampon packaging. Anyway it is definately trying to minimise leakage of blood – between Winston and Helen no doubt. Perhaps thats the problem, Helen doesnt have any

  43. Daveski 44

    I don’t know why they bothered – it’s a little clumsy but has a message that has some relevance.

    It would have been a lot easier to put a billboard up and say “Vote for Helen and get Winston for free”.

    Strange that while the rest of the country is trying to work out why Helen is happy to continue to work with Winston, the big topic at the Standard is a billboard. Not to mention why Helen never acknowledged that her Minister was being charitable with the truth.

    Isn’t that a bit weak, too?

  44. schrodigerscat 45

    So John Key left to go overseas, why did he do that?

    People have been coming and going from here for quite a while now.

    I have been away and come back a couple of years later 3 times so far. I have always bought back more than I left with too, knowledge, experience, wealth….

    I personally don’t know anyone that left because the taxes were too high here.

  45. sean 46

    The amusing and absolutely f**king ironic thing is, that the meaning of this billboard flies so far over the top of your heads. The airplane flying to the right is so apt.

    Lads, you’ve been done brilliantly. ROFL.

  46. randal 47

    doh. yeah right. excuse me while I go to the lavatory. it seems to have affected my bladder.

  47. Mike 48

    Wave goodbye to competence.

    I don’t think using images of airplanes on a billboard with the words “Wave goodbye … not your loved ones” is a good idea, particularly in 10 days time. Let’s just hope it’s not erected anywhere near the US consulate or embassy.

  48. Julie 49

    Some great ideas in this thread, I look forward to seeing some of them mocked up!

    lprent, not sure what’s vaguely offensive about tampons? I’m prepared to concede many people seem them as icky (and I tend to that view despite my best intentions) but it’s more because of our silly ideas about bodies imho. anyway, that’s a rant for another time and place.

    It’ll be interesting to see if the rest of National’s campaign is along the lines of this billboard, focusing on something they perceive NZers don’t like about the current govt (in this case higher taxes which is weird because Labour has cut taxes – higher than what exactly?). I wonder what they’ll pick in future? Perhaps wave goodbye to telling you how to parent (s59), wave goodbye to underfunded schools (return to bulk-funding, oops, sorry I mean “the fully funded option”)?

    It’s kind of weird to have to think about these sort of double negative thingies.

  49. dave 50

    what about Labour – hanging by a thread…

  50. jaymam 51

    Here’s a blank billboard for you guys to add your comments to!

    http://i33.tinypic.com/34oo4co.jpg

  51. lprent 52

    I just consider them to be a normal part of living. Anyone who spends any time around farms or medics (as I have done) loses any squeamishness pretty fast.

    However I’ve noticed a certain degree of squeamishness about almost any body process, sexual preference, or even that they have a body around KB’s comments section. I suspect that there are an awful lot of prudish urbanites amongst them. Always useful to use a lever at a level below the conscious level.

    However I’m sure someone can come up with something more effective than that.

    hs: Comes of having women around your life. In particular adolescent female relatives getting tutoring for exams. You stash a supply in the bathroom cupboard.

    The billboard does look like some kind of box packaging…

  52. Quoth the Raven 53

    Daveski – How about “Vote for Key get Douglas for free.” That one rhymes too.

  53. jaymam 54

    Here you go. Sorry I don’t have the correct font:
    http://i33.tinypic.com/2ebe51u.jpg

  54. John Dalley 55

    Was looking at your PDF link and act funds in particular.

    2006. Association of Consumers and Taxpayer $37 413.00
    2005. G Mallet $20 200.00
    Sky City $12 000.00

    Like Winnie maybe Rodney Should be investigated for undeclared funds
    $37 Thou to run act? and $32 the year before? got to worth the examination iwould have thought.

  55. randal 56

    when national would not run a candidate against wodney then how come it even cost that much?

    capcha: j. rolly….?

  56. Draco TB 57

    Now, where have I seen that imagery before?

  57. Dan 58

    Those planes are definitely coming home. Very few of our travellers head off to Chile or Argentina.
    Those fast forward arrows point into a vague future under National. Pretty honest there when we have few policies, or at least policies that are contradicted the moment they are released.
    The irony is that last time it was the billbooards that allowed the Nats to have a chance. If this is the best they can do, then I can understand why many on the left are so confident.
    By the way, who is the English Tory who subsidised the Howard campaign in Australia who was at Key’s place over the weekend? I guess the Nats and Conservatives could be considered brethren of sorts, but how exclusive?

  58. QoT 59

    My partner and I are fairly smart people. My first thought on reading this? “Holy fuck, are they actually saying people will die if I don’t vote National?” His first thought? “Holy shit, death camps?” Not exactly on-message, there.

    @Mike: really good point there. Not well-played, National.

  59. Which one is Biggles flying? Red fox to blue bomber command. Over.
    Red Barron 3 O’Clock over.

  60. gobsmacked 61

    Hang on, they’re not planes, they’re tyre marks.

    “Nice family you got. Loved ones, ain’t they great. Be a shame if sumfing happened to ’em, know what I mean guv?”

  61. There is no way we could muster enough pilots to fly such a squadron, just look at the Sky Hawks rotting away at great expense to the tax payer.They are now used to house rats. Oh well, we can throw stones at the Russian Bombers. Go comrades.

  62. How is that confusing? I know your a liberal, but think about it for a second and you might understand.

    I swear, and I have said it before, you guys are just like Fox News, if someone from the other side releases something, you act all confuse and try to play dumb.

    I would say 100% of people would get that.

  63. Brett, the loony Liberals’ like playing dumb and always throw a Conservative who dares to challenge them the wet pc victimhood card.They are pathetic wimps.

    Edit – Labour Blame the exclusive brethren for everything bad in kiwiland.

  64. mike 65

    Well its got you guys pretty excited – talking about tampons and war planes so can’t be that ineffective.

    The ‘weak’ story of the day SP is helen trying to smear the SFO and NZ Police for giving JK the heads up.

    The poor old girl has gone paranoid now – call an early election Labour First to put her out of her misery.

  65. Anita 66

    lprent,

    It looks like something for selling tampon?s. Trying to wrap something vaguely offensive in a non-intrusive, low-key, and designed not to cause divisiveness package.

    The most noticeable thing about tampon packages it that they do everything in their power to not look like tampon packages. For a start, why blue?!

    Strangely the most noticeable thing about the National campaign is how hard they try not to look like what’s inside.

  66. Dan 67

    Brett, get what?
    Our net emigration rate is not huge. We get lots of new, motivated migrants who replace the sad sacks who migrate to Australia thinking it is all goodness and light. We get lots of young people returning after their OE.
    The use of war-time allusions to exaggerate the loss overseas will not wash with many NZers who have all loved their experience overseas. And the things that most NZ travellers cling to when shouting NZ’s accomplishments to others are matters such as nuclear free, staying away from Iraq and clean and green, all of which are far stronger under Labour than would ever be possible under Brash or the new fellow.

  67. mike it is way past time the NEW ZEALAND POLICE stood up for the honour and oath.

  68. bomber 69

    Hey why aren’t you guys all over the latest issue regarding John Key?

    http://www.tumeke.blogspot.com

    Lord Ashcroft I presume?

  69. The Nats have hit the spot again. Check out their other billboards at http://rodneygrub.blogspot.com

  70. Dean 71

    SP:

    “I laughed out loud when i saw that billboard. That’s not to say the others will necessarily do better, but this is pretty poor.”

    Did you also laugh out loud when Clark talked about the SFO?

    Somehow I think your sense of humour is entirely manufactured.

    It’s alright though, you don’t have to answer this one. Just like when you are called out on all matters pertaining to your own good sense, you just ignore it and pretend it didn’t happen.

  71. Patrick 72

    Love your work Rodney! (Wow, never thought I’d say that)

    Captcha: Richman great – their next billboard?

  72. randal 73

    the sfo is like everything else in this sandpit of the pacific. it has been infantilised beyond repair and its bye bye sfo straight after the election. and whats more I dont ever recall them ever having detected a serious fraud. just another waste of time from typical kiwi bignoters looking for an office or more like a sinecure where they can have drinky poos with the rich folks on friday nights and go home pretending they are somebodies.

  73. Tane 74

    Bomber bro, I’m sure someone will get round to it tomorrow. I only heard about it half an hour ago over a beer with a mate who still watches the TV news.

  74. Dean 75

    bomber:

    “Hey why aren’t you guys all over the latest issue regarding John Key?

    http://www.tumeke.blogspot.com

    Lord Ashcroft I presume?”

    Because it’s a non-event, perhaps?

    And in shocking news, Peters meets with potential foreign, nuke-loving lots of money bag-woman Rice.

    Bomber, it’s time to get a new tack mate.

    captcha: calamari heads. Somehow fitting, don’t you think?

  75. Bomber is as boring and predicable as Lickspittle Radio NZ and TVNZ.Yawn,yawn, change the record boring bomber.

  76. Roger 77

    Is someone proposing higher taxes? Didn’t the government just announce lower taxes? Did I miss National’s tax policy announcement? Or will they be raising taxes via user pays? All very confusing.

  77. deemac 78

    wave goodbye to your job? this is just begging for parodies…

  78. jbc 79

    while I agree it is not a strong billboard when compared with the iwi/kiwi ones: it still carries a message.

    makes sense to me: I left NZ shortly after the 39c rate came in to force. I’d love to be back in NZ too – if it were a little less costly.

    it will probably hit the spot with my parents too: all their grandkids born and growing up overseas.

  79. Tane 80

    jbc. NZ’s tax wedge is among the lowest in the OECD. But if you’re going to find a corner and have a wee cry over a few cents in the dollar over $60k then all power to you.

    In terms of it being too ‘costly’ to live in New Zealand the real issue is wages, which fell or stagnated for most NZers under National’s policies in the 1990s and opened the wage gap with Australia by 50%.

  80. jbc 81

    tane: my current average tax rate is 12%. Last time I ran the numbers it would cost me about $55k in additional personal tax. No, I’m not crying about it.

    That’s not counting all of the additional tax that IRD would then want to assess via the CFC rules.

    I can still come back for holidays and it doesn’t cost me anywhere that much.

  81. Tane 82

    Ah, so you’re one of the insanely wealthy elite in the top 1 or 2% of income earners. I agree mate, you’ve got it hard. Who wants to pay tax?

  82. deemac 83

    plus of course if all you want is more for yourself you just go wherever tax is lowest and build a big fence to keep out the nasty poor people – don’t think many Kiwis would be happy in those countries for long.
    And in any case international labour mobility is now a fact of life all round the world – it has its positives and its negatives but the idea that people should never work abroad is unrealistic.

  83. jbc 84

    Tane, if being on a decent salary for a self-employed IT contractor makes me insanely wealthy then I’m guilty as charged. Feel free to hold that against me. As far as the industry goes then it’s nothing special. Used car salesman and plumbers probably earn more.

    I would be happy to pay more tax to enjoy living in NZ – a lot more tax – but I feel that at present that I’m actively discouraged from doing so.

  84. johndoe 85

    oh, god. “insanely wealthy” at that rate does not compute. wtf are you guys smoking? Should we all be making the crap money you do?

  85. T-Rex 86

    Wave goodbye to empty slogans.

    Please.

  86. burt 87

    Tane

    You link to the Waitemata Trust, good on you.

    Could you please link to the trusts that funded Winston and the New Zealand First party. I’m sure their names and the amount they donated are on the NZ1 party returns – Doooh.

    We don’t know who that are but we are learning day to day. Winston voted for the EFA ? Along with Labour?

    You do look silly when you name trusts that a party returns shows their name and the amount of money they donated. In todays political landscape of unknown trusts propping up the Labour-led govt such denigration is so 2005.

  87. jbc 88

    deemac:

    plus of course if all you want is more for yourself you just go wherever tax is lowest and build a big fence to keep out the nasty poor people – don’t think many Kiwis would be happy in those countries for long.

    Nasty poor people? Are they nasty rich people gone bankrupt?

    If anything, deemac, spending time in countries with real poverty will strengthen any thinking, decent New Zealander’s concern for the poor. It will also give them great respect for some of the positive aspects of NZ’s employment law (holidays, minimum wage, etc).

    And in any case international labour mobility is now a fact of life […]

    Of course it is. I left for a change of scenery (good), but I stayed for the tax differential (not so good). It’s the long term drift that is important. Ireland reversed theirs. Can NZ?

    Back to the topic of the billboard: I’m under no delusion that National will be making any significant changes in the area of tax, but at least they give a hat tip in this direction (rather than the poke in the eye that Labour delivered in 2000).

  88. jbc. if you pay 12% tax and returning to nz would cost you $55K in tax, you have an income of $237K a year. 1.5% of people have an income over 150K. 50% of kiwis have an income less than 27K. I’m more concerned with those people than whether your net income is $210K or $165K, or cutting the 39% rate would put about 10K in your pocket but do nothing for most people.

    Now, I don’t earn anything like as much as you but I do earn within the top 10% of income earners, and I don’t begrudge any of the tax I pay. It is the cost of running a society that treats me very well. It treats you even better, maybe you should acknowledge how fortunate you are and realise that without tax that good fortune would not be possible.

  89. jbc 90

    Steve, I’m also more concerned for those on the bottom (a fact which causes great arguments in my household). I have no argument with the essence of your post, however I don’t think you can extrapolate my nag with NZ tax to a disregard of the poor. Those things are not exclusively joined.

    I toyed with (and scratched) some long replies here but can’t avoid drifting OT significantly. Another day, another thread.

    I’ll just leave it at this: the billboard, dull as it is, does present a message that I can relate to.

  90. Paul Campbell 91

    Fish in a barrel: “Wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones, they can’t afford the tolls”

  91. Paul Campbell 92

    (I’m glad they left that space at the bottom)

  92. Dom 93

    Wave goodbye to your new job.
    We’ll give employers the power to fire you after your first ninety days.

  93. Crank 94

    This thread resembles something from Kiwiblog.

    Lots of petty people trying to be as spitefull as possible with failed attempts at wit.

    The bill board is ho hum at best but this reflects the Nats tactics well. Labour are doing a fantastic job of losing the election so they have to try not to scare any potential voters off with messages that may be too devisive.

    I am certain that if a change in tact is required they will start thumping out the “a vote for labour is a vote for Winston” line.

  94. randal 95

    crank…of course lots of people are being spiteful…thats the nature of the game. read Seutonius on Julius Ceasar. nothing has changed. the only thing is people in New Zealand realise that Labour gives them a fair deal while National is about tossing everybody who does not come up to their standards to the dogs. cyber space is not real while Labour will win the election no matter how many spiteful tories clog up the cyber channels

  95. Dom 96

    Actually Crank there have been some very successful witty lines espoused in this thread – Tane’s is my favourite :
    Wave goodbye to Air New Zealand
    We’re selling that too

  96. Bill 97

    First billboard = unspeakably bad. Deliberately so. Their other ones will be very slick and by the time they are out and about, everyone will be focussed on them thanks to the hook that most of us are taking.

    Well done us. Hook, line and sunk.

  97. Felix 98

    Brett that number, 100%…

    I do not think it means what you think it means.

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    2 days ago
  • New Zealand marks anniversary of 7 October

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are renewing New Zealand’s calls for restraint and de-escalation, on the first anniversary of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel. “New Zealand was horrified by the monstrous actions of Hamas against Israel a year ago today,” Mr Luxon says. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Iwi-led and partnered projects among those referred for Fast Track approval

    Kia uru kahikatea te tū.  Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Fast-track to boost renewable electricity

    The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...
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    3 days ago
  • Fast-track to drive transport projects forward

    The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...
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    3 days ago
  • Fast-track projects released

    The 149 projects released today for inclusion in the Government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “The 149 projects selected by the Government have significant regional or ...
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    3 days ago
  • Ruakākā recreation centre opened

    A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Extra Government support for farmers and growers in Southland and parts of Otago

    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson announced up to $50,000 in additional Government support for farmers and growers across Southland and parts of Otago as challenging spring weather conditions have been classified a medium-scale adverse event. “The relentless wet weather has been tough on farmers and ...
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    5 days ago
  • Government welcomes move to delay EU Deforestation Regulation

    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today welcomed a move by the European Commission to delay the implementation of the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by 12 months, describing the proposal as a pragmatic step that will provide much-needed certainty for New Zealand exporters and ensure over $200 million in ...
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    5 days ago
  • Response to Ministerial Inquiry into School Property

    The Government is taking decisive action in response to the Ministerial Inquiry into School Property, which concludes the way school property is delivered is not fit for purpose. “The school property portfolio is worth $30 billion, and it’s critically important it’s managed properly. This Government is taking a series of immediate actions ...
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    5 days ago
  • New Government support for residential construction market announced

    The Government has announced a new support programme for the residential construction market while the economy recovers, Housing Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say.    “We know the residential development sector is vulnerable to economic downturns. The lead time for building houses is typically 18 ...
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    5 days ago
  • New appointment to the EPA board

    Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has confirmed the final appointee to the refreshed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board. “I am pleased to welcome Brett O’Riley to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says. “Brett is a seasoned business advisor with a long and distinguished career across the technology, tourism, and sustainable business ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Strengthening resilience with critical road improvement projects

    The Government has approved a $226.2 million package of resilience improvement projects for state highways and local roads across the country that will reduce the impact of severe weather events and create a more resilient and efficient road network, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Our Government is committed to delivering ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Doubling road rehabilitation this summer to prevent potholes

    Kiwis will see fewer potholes on our roads with road rehabilitation set to more than double through the summer road maintenance programme to ensure that our roads are maintained to a safe and reliable standard, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Increasing productivity to help rebuild our economy is a key ...
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    5 days ago
  • Sir Jerry Mateparae appointed in Bougainville post-referendum moderator role

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has welcomed the announcement of Sir Jerry Mateparae as an independent moderator, to work with the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Bougainville Government in resolving outstanding issues on Bougainville’s future.    “New Zealand is an enduring friend to Papua New Guinea and the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Latest census data highlights New Zealand’s growing ethnic diversity

    The latest 2023 Census results released today further highlight New Zealand’s growing ethnic and cultural diversity, says Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee. “Today’s census results are further evidence of the increasingly diverse nature of our population. It’s something that should be celebrated and also serve as a reminder of the ...
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    6 days ago
  • FamilyBoost payments make ECE more affordable

    Parents and caregivers are now able to claim for FamilyBoost, which provides low-to-middle-income families with young children payments to help them meet early childhood education (ECE) costs.  “FamilyBoost is one of the ways we are supporting families with young children who are struggling with the cost of living, by helping ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • South Pacific defence meeting fosters collaboration

    This week’s South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) has concluded with a renewed commitment to regional security of all types, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. Defence Ministers and senior civilian and military officials from Australia, Chile, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga gathered in Auckland to discuss defence and security cooperation in the ...
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    6 days ago
  • Minister welcomes larger Police recruitment wings

    Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has welcomed the Police announcement that recruitment wings at the Police College will be expanded to 100 recruits next year. “This is good news on two fronts – it reflects the fact that more and more New Zealanders are valuing policing and seeing it as ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the Minerals West Coast Forum

    Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar.  Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also ...
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    6 days ago
  • Positive progress on Government health targets

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti welcomes new data from Health New Zealand, saying it demonstrates encouraging progress against the Government’s health targets.  Health New Zealand’s quarterly report for the quarter to 30 June will be used as the baseline for reporting against the Government’s five health targets, which came into ...
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    6 days ago
  • Supporting better access to data for Kiwis

    The launch of a new data tool will provide Kiwis with better access to important data, Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly says.  “To grow our economy and improve productivity we must adopt smarter ways of working, which means taking a more data driven approach to decision-making.  “As Statistics Minister one of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Progressing remote building inspections

    The Government is progressing plans to increase the use of remote inspections to make the building and consenting process more efficient and affordable, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.  “We know that the building and construction sector suffers from a lack of innovation. According to a recent report, productivity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • PPTA accepts charter schools

    Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes the PPTA putting a proposal to members at its annual conference to change its constitution and allow membership of teachers who work in charter schools. “The PPTA has had a come to Jesus moment on charter schools. This is a major departure from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New TAIC Chief Commissioner appointed

    David Clarke has been announced as the Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC). David Clarke is a barrister specialising in corporate and commercial law and he has over 20 years experience in governance roles in commercial, public and charitable sectors. He also is a current TAIC Commissioner. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government secures market access for blueberries to Korea

    The Government has secured market access for New Zealand blueberries to Korea, unlocking an estimated $5 million in annual export opportunities for Kiwi growers Minister for Trade and Agriculture Todd McClay today announced.  “This is a win for our exporters and builds on our successful removal of $190 million in ...
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    1 week ago
  • South Pacific Defence Ministers meet in Auckland

    Partnership and looking to the future are key themes as Defence Ministers from across the South Pacific discuss regional security challenges in Auckland today, Defence Minister Judith Collins says. The South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting (SPDMM) brings together Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Secretaries of Defence from New Zealand, ...
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    1 week ago
  • Keytruda, CGMs, and FamilyBoost welcomed

    In a triple whammy of good news, 1 October heralds the beginning of the funding of two major health products and a welcome contribution to early childhood fees, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. “Keytruda is the first drug to be funded and made available from the $604 million boost we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Children’s Unit opens at Rotorua Hospital

    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care.  “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...
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    1 week ago
  • Minor variations no longer major problem

    It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Previously builders who wanted to make a minor change, for example substituting one type of product for another, or changing the layout of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New diplomatic appointments

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced seven diplomatic appointments.   “Protecting and advancing New Zealand’s interests abroad is an extremely important role for our diplomats,” Mr Peters says.    “We are pleased to announce the appointment of seven senior diplomats to these overseas missions.”   The appointments are:   Andrew ...
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    1 week ago
  • SuperGold Information Hub live

    The first iteration of the SuperGold Information Hub is now on-line, Minister for Seniors Casey Costello announced today. “The SuperGold Hub is an online portal offering up-to-date information on all of the offers available to SuperGold cardholders. “We know the SuperGold card is valued, and most people know its use ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • New fund to clean up old landfill and dump sites

    A new Contaminated Sites and Vulnerable Landfills Fund will help councils and landowners clean up historic landfills and other contaminated sites that are vulnerable to the effects of severe weather, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds says.  "This $30 million fund, part of our Q4 Action Plan, increases the Government’s investment in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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