What about Climate Change then?

Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, March 31st, 2020 - 26 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment, health, health and safety, science, uncategorized - Tags: ,

Shouldn’t this global shock from this COVID-19 virus make us all wake up to the power of collective global action on climate change?

Well, the minor upsides are vastly outweighed by the bad on this question – so far as I can see.

We do know, again, that the state is indispensable. We probably know that it needs to be stronger and have institutions that are rebuilt or indeed that new ones need to be formed in the face of such a massive global threat to humanity. But it’s necessary.

We can already feel it bring us together digitally as never before.
We know that national collective action is possible, and it is necessary, and sometimes it even works. Maybe too early for the last part of that sentence.
We understand that it is possible to upend entire social norms like international travel, and whole parts of the economy (and that regrettably it is also going to make a lot of people miserable).

We know that the state when its mind is put to it can communicate with nationwide coherence and bring us all together. Probably New Zealand doesn’t need reminding of that, given the 12 year near-continuous sets of crises we have experienced.

Those are pretty dim silver linings when you’ve been made redundant because your entire industry has been destroyed, you can’t pay the rent or the mortgage no matter the rent freeze or the rebates, and your relationships are being put through hell. Multiply that by most of society, and our wealth disparity and our child poverty disparity – those silver linings start to look gunmetal grey.

But surely if we can face this we can face what we need to upend society and wean ourselves off petroleum as well? Isn’t this the call to arms we needed?

If governments can take extreme actions to shut down workplaces and restrict movement, surely they can take similarly drastic steps to change how we produce and consume energy?

1. The Problem of Collective Action

“Flattening the curve” of the pandemic is a classic collective action problem. Some people will choose to self-isolate to be responsible and help others, but if most others don’t do the same, there will be little benefit from that sacrifice to slow the disease’s spread. On the other hand, if everyone else self-isolates, a low-risk individual might choose to “free ride” on those sacrifices by continuing to live life as normal.

When the Obama administration was developing an estimate for the harm to society from carbon emissions, it chose to use the global rather than domestic estimate of damage for this reason. Because carbon dioxide impacts are global, if all nations looked only at the impact of a ton of CO2 on their own nations, the collective response of all nations would be vastly inadequate to address the true damage from climate change.

What we’ve seen with this current crisis is: they don’t.

2. The Public and their Leaders

Over the last ten years many Asian societies have had big pandemics. So they’ve responded to COVID-19 far more rapidly than the English-speaking world. Hong Kong, Wuhan, Singapore, South Korea, Japan: they’d seen this kind of risk before. At a level of both government and of broad public education about the risk of the issue and the degree of governmental management needed to turn the curve of the crisis, they get it.

They don’t get it in the United States – either on the virus or on climate change. Only half of Americans believe climate change should be a top priority for the federal government, and the figure is far lower on the Republican side of the aisle.

Canada is the same, and their states are fighting the Federal government all the way to their Supreme Court about it. Few if any of the Gulf States get climate change. Who remembers Paris now?

So the unanimity of states to provide consistent and accurate messaging both across the world and to their respective citizens is staying weak. If they can’t do it for COVID-19 there isn’t much chance for unity on that scale on climate change.

I think this virus throws climate change under the bus for at least the next year. It will be impossible to sustain the pace of climate mitigation ambition during the economic recession about to hit us.

3. It’s the Economy

From 2014 to 2016 global greenhouse gas emissions did not rise at all, leading many to celebrate that emissions and global growth had decoupled. But while carbon intensity has declined as we do stuff more efficiently, the link is still there.

Our economy – and that of much of the world – has been brought to a standstill through COVID-19. Tourism is about to die for a while here. With air travel and other transport ratcheted back globally, oil demand has fallen.

If the recession is bad enough we could see CO2 emissions fall for the first time since the 2008 GFC. That wasn’t a moment to celebrate, and it took massive government intervention (and ourselves pushed into action with the Christchurch and Canterbury rebuilds) to pull out of that.

It is really hard to plan for another Black Swan event, AND come out of it, AND have a strategy and the means to manipulate the crisis to specific policy ends such as climate change mitigation. Who knows maybe deep in the bowels of DPMC or Defence House there are small hairy meat-fed caged risk animals who get to scenario that kind of Machavellian thing. Must be dark in there. It’s not called a crisis for nothing.

The crisis of 2008 and the one we are in now shows how strongly tied emissions are to the good times of economic growth – and thus how hard it is to lower them.

So the answer is no. COVID-19 doesn’t help our response to climate change.

The upsides such as they are, are miserable. Any benefits are fleeting.

Collective action is really freaking hard when it runs right up against the state defending its own people and its own interests in its own way. And there’s not enough public understanding or common messaging across countries. And carbon – particularly CO2 – that’s the stuff that makes our economy sing and pays our wages and salaries and our Kiwisaver. Broadly.

Recovery from this next economic shock, not climate change action, is now the first order of business.

26 comments on “What about Climate Change then? ”

  1. bwaghorn 1

    After this is over it's going to be impossible to counter the argument from wealthy right wingers that the only way to recover is to open the pumps on consumption to full ,theirs nothing lifts living standards more than money churning around the would.

  2. RedLogix 2

    I really enjoy it when you put your thinking cap on and give us well reasoned OP's like this Ad. Too often the threads seem to ignore the OP and just take on a life of their own, which frequently fails to do justice to the effort put in by the author.

    We do know, again, that the state is indispensable. We probably know that it needs to be stronger and have institutions that are rebuilt or indeed that new ones need to be formed in the face of such a massive global threat to humanity.

    If there is one upside to this pandemic it's this; it hammers home not only that a high trust, competently run state is a huge advantage … it's also that when push comes to shove our lives are inextricably linked to all that high tech genetic, medical and manufacturing capacity which is churning out all the PPE, testing and ventilators we need right now. And then immensely complex supply chains that keep it all going.

    The 1928 Flu killed between 50 – 100m people world wide, out of a population of 2b at the time. This very similar virus will likely kill far fewer than this because 100 years of science and tech progress has given us the tools to defeat it far more effectively. The argument against science and industrialisation will be muted for at least a while.

    It will deliver the lesson that we need to think more about anti-fragile systems with more borders and redundancy built in. It will make us re-evaluate the deficiencies of how we are doing globalisation at present. The grossly defective responses from major govts everywhere, from the CCP, the USA, the UK and onward, along with the pitiful impotence of the UN and WHO to effectively manage the event … will stand as inexusable.

    Hyper-nationalism will be revealed as bluff and bluster, a deceitful creed that pretends we are not one human race who all live on one shared planet. Our inter-connectedness will be more starkly highlighted to us more than ever before. What happens in Wuhan, or anywhere else on the planet, does matter to everyone.

    The old idea that nation states can do whatever they please, with relative impunity and little accountability to the rest of the global community will be challenged as never before.

    Then, and maybe then, we can start to treat climate change as the truly global concern it always has been … and treat it at the correct scale.

    • Ad 2.1

      Cheers Red.

      You've been talking for a while about the need for stronger global institutions. I've generally been pretty skeptical in response. It's wrong to be right too soon, but then sometimes the right crisis shapes the right response.

      Sooner or later we'll have to start revisiting the works of those closely influenced by Keynes in Austrlalia like JT Laing the Premier of New South Wales in the Depression, EG Theodore the Federal Labor Treasurer, and Prime Minister Ben Chifley. … and of course New Zealand had its own notably WB Sutch and Prime Ministers M Savage and Peter Fraser.

      I'm keen to see whether someone in our current lot has the bulldog tenacity to drive stuff that Bill Birch had. That was a guy who could form and push plans in a crisis.

      We are pretty much beyond living memory of the actions of the 1930s Keynseans. Thankfully we still have a few books around on it.

      The good patriotic question to ask is: which citizens will stand with the current government to rebuild Australia, and rebuild New Zealand?

      Who will be our next nationbuilders?

      • RedLogix 2.1.1

        Who will be our next nationbuilders?

        I'd love to be on the team 🙂

        You've been talking for a while about the need for stronger global institutions.

        I want stronger people, stronger families, stronger communities, stronger nations … and stronger global institutions. Each play's it's own essential role … weaknesses are where the dark creeps in.

  3. Anne 3

    Recovery from this next economic shock, not climate change action, is now the first order of business.

    We've seen already a massive improvement in the quality of the atmosphere in those countries who have gone into full lock-down. It is confirmation beyond dispute that CC is a direct result of human activity and, in particular, the enormous growth of global commercial aviation.

    The first order of business has to be a global 'resetting' of economic activity which takes into account the increasingly alarming climactic disasters which will be visited upon all life on this planet if real action is not taken now. Nature in its inimitable fashion has now provided us with the perfect opportunity to do just that once this pandemic is under control.

    I am no economist so have no idea what it will look like, but it is imperative that global warming be an integral part of the economic reset.

  4. bill 4

    COVID-19 doesn’t help our response to climate change.

    What covid19 has done, is give the lie to the argument that it would be "impossible" to cut back industrial activity in order to impact on CO2 emissions.

    In relation to the statement that –

    It will be impossible to sustain the pace of climate mitigation ambition during the economic recession about to hit us.

    Pivoting industrial capacity to focus on the things needed in order to (in at least some way) survive climate change, would not only be replacing all that vapid talk of "mitigation ambitions", but provide the precise stimulus that NZ is going to need if it's, one, going to hang on to capitalist models of production and distribution and, two, drag its way out of the coming depression.

    Otherwise, there's that $US 4-5 trillion in the hands of US corporations (the Congressional bailout), a small portion of which could no doubt be used to buy everything of any use in NZ.

    Is there an actual term for the corporate colonisation of a settler colony?

  5. AB 5

    Seems reasonable. States are intervening to limit the loss of human life – but there will be tremendous pressure to revert to the pre-existing status quo as soon as possible. And that is most likely what will happen. As economies recover, CO2 emissions will go back up to pre-C19 levels.

    The current action of states against C19 is being tolerated – as long as it is not too éxtreme' and because the C19 crisis is naturally time-limited. CC however will require a permanent readjustment, and that will be fought tooth and nail until it looks like C19 with mass deaths everywhere. And even then we will see the sorts of comments emerging now – that some people (other than oneself) will have to die to keep the economy going.

    • greywarshark 5.1

      AB I think you are seeing through a glass darkly, and later when there is more light everyone will see clearly what you have said. Though that makes me feel sorry, but now resigned. All the thinkers can do is try to ameliorate the situation, have small successes and honour them.

  6. bwaghorn 6

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/120675292/coronavirus-stimulating-the-economic-recovery-with-climatefriendly-projects

    Someone thinking along the same lines as Ad.

    Use QE money to go hard putting to work the wave of unemployed to work mitigating cc and its effects.

    But just remember not to kill farming in the process because there're the ones bring in the bulk of the real cash for the foreseeable future.

    • greywarshark 6.1

      Thinking about economic recovery or whatever – there is a pretty nice chart showing the USA going down at various rates at present. But Trump will ride in on his horse Far Lap and save the hotels.

      Mar.31/20 https://www.peakprosperity.com/economic-shockwaves/

      The small/medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) like your local restaurant, dry cleaner, bookstore and building contractor are being hit especially hard, as they don’t have the reserves to withstand the many weeks of no income the lockdown is placing them under. Many of them have already laid off their employees. Many may never reopen.

      The jaw-dropping severity of this job carnage can already be seen in last week’s unemployment numbers. Claims spiked up to 3.3 million — nearly 6x higher(!) than the worst week of the Great Financial Crisis:…

      Both are in agreement that the current breakdown represents “the end of the road” for the 75-year Debt Supercycle we’ve been living through. And because of that, the future is going to look and feel very different to what we’ve been used to:

  7. infused 7

    People are trying to feed themselves and not die around the world. Climate change is at the bottom of that list.

    You saw this greta tried to get media attention by saying she was sick might be covid19 and got ignored by everyone.

    • In Vino 7.1

      What drives you, infused? Have you had an infusion of Meths? Climate change is likely to kill all of us – including you or your offspring – if we do not alter the way it is going. It should not be at the bottom of anyone's list if they have half an educated brain.

      Greta has become a victim of the sensationalist media. They will try to make a story out of anything however minor for clickbait. And you are sucker enough to click on it, aren't you?

      • infused 7.1.1

        someone discuss reducing the world population then i'll give a damm.

        • In Vino 7.1.1.1

          Dumb excuses like that will help nobody, least of all your offspring.

        • solkta 7.1.1.2

          You are waiting for a plan to exterminate humans?

        • RedLogix 7.1.1.3

          Here you go.

          https://www.ecomodernism.org/

          Human population is certainly overburdening our planet, but the solution is not necessarily about reducing population (that may or may not happen anyway). As soon as you get into that discussion you've entered the Malthusian trap and that has no good outcomes.

          The way through this paradox is to think about taking our modes of production to a whole new level. We are sitting on the cusp of plentiful energy, new generations of materials, and unlimited human capacity to reshape our human world so that it is decoupled from the natural world to a far greater extent.

          If you encounter a roadblock, ask yourself, is this a science problem? Technology? Political? Ethical? Then assume the problem can be resolved if we really want to.

    • How we'll feed ourselves when mother nature will refuse to feed us?

  8. Sanctuary 8

    Walking up Mt Albert-Owairaka the last few night has been a salutary lesson of the impact of human pollution. The view from the mountain is crystal clear, you can see the city and the North Shore is brilliant clarity.

    Auckland is a small city in a country with a small population. Imagining the impact of the pollution of billions on the climate is just the little easier today.

    • Anne 8.1

      I grew up on the western slopes of Mt Albert. It is a small mountain with a little bit of everything. As a kid there were nikau palms whose wide solid ‘leaves’ were perfect for sliding down the hills. I can remember the crystal clear views. So much so, it felt sometimes you could reach out and touch the Waitakeres.

      It would be lovely to see that happen again on a permanent basis.

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    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
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    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
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    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
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    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    15 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
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    6 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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    7 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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