What happened to Hisco?

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, June 23rd, 2019 - 75 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, Economy, equality, Financial markets, john key, Living Wage, wages, workers' rights - Tags: , ,

This week’s news about ANZ is beginning to resemble a Game of Thrones episode.  But with more blood.

The guy who used to be ANZ’s chief executive and the purchaser of John Key’s batch suddenly found the world around him changing dramatically.  One day he was chief executive on a salary of over $3 million and also with benefits like the supply of limousines and the safe storage of his wine collection and the next day he was outski.

And he had suddenly lost $6.4 million worth of share options.

But wait there’s more.

Late Friday there was this hit piece from Stuff:

The wife of former ANZ New Zealand boss David Hisco bought the couple’s Auckland family home from her husband’s employer for substantially less than its capital valuation in 2017.

Deborah Walsh paid $6.9 million in July of that year for the lavish St Heliers property, less than the $7.55m ANZ paid when it bought the house in early 2011.

The luxurious 700 square metre ocean-view home, reached by a private driveway that runs off the main St Heliers Bay road, includes a heated swimming pool, tennis court and six bedrooms.

Valuations service QV put the property’s 2017 capital value (including an estimated $7.2m land value for the 2454 sqm parcel) at $10.75m.

The revelation is likely to raise more questions about Hisco’s employment package with ANZ as disclosed by chairman Sir John Key.

Maybe the cheap price was part of the salary package?  But it appears not:

On Friday evening ANZ’s spokesman said the bank bought the house when Hisco arrived in New Zealand.

“The housing allowance that David received as part of his expat arrangements — which was disclosed annually — was offset by the market rent David was required to pay ANZ for the house.”

The house was eventually sold by the bank to his wife based on market valuations done at the time, he said.

So there was no sweetheart deal or a long term agreement for sale and purchase.  Whoever was ANZ’s valuer should check their professional indemnity insurance.

And fuck it but this affects ordinary kiwis.  Again from Stuff:

Sam Stubbs is breaking the silence of the KiwiSaver schemes over the ANZ expenses furore.

Stubbs, who has repeatedly called for a New Zealand Royal Commission on banking, has sent a “please explain” letter to ANZ chairman Sir John Key asking for details of the expenses claims of ANZ’s former chief executive David Hisco.

In Europe and the United States, activist investors, including pension funds, would have been seeking more information, Stubbs said.

But in New Zealand the pension fund market was dominated by KiwiSaver, and KiwiSaver was dominated by the big banks.

It will be interesting to see what response Stubbs gets from Key.

Stubbs’ letter to Sir John began: “We have become aware of the expenses incurred recently by the recently departed CEO, David Hisco, reported as an average of over $418,000 per annum, for the last eight years.”

It went on to request “as a shareholder” that Simplicity be provided with the following:

1) Detail of the expenses policy that allowed this spending to occur, and detail on how often this was reviewed by the Board.

2) Any documented policies and procedures describing the internal controls in place to ensure spending was within policy guidelines.

3) A line by line description of, and the amount of, each of Mr Hisco’s expenses paid for by the company, for every year Mr Hisco was CEO of ANZ New Zealand.

4) Any further explanations as to why you consider Mr Hisco’s expenses reasonable in the context of his role and responsibilities.

“We request answers to the above questions as a matter of urgency, and under no circumstances later than the 5th of July, 2019,” the letter concludes.

Key had the Wall Street nickname the smiling assassin.  Just think of his time as leader of National and wonder what happened to Richard Worth, Pansy Wong, Phil Heatley, Colin King, John Hayes, Mike Sabin, Claudette Haiti amongst others.  They all disappeared without a trace after getting into various sorts of trouble.

So this latest bit of bad news for Hisco may be the result of really good journalism or the result of a strategic leak.

We may never know.

I almost feel sorry for Hisco.  I am sure he never saw it coming.

75 comments on “What happened to Hisco? ”

  1. Key was always a slippery, slimey prick.

    What he gets away with is beyond belief.

    • peterlepaysan 1.1

      Very early on he was known as "slippery john". The Labour party pollies decided to stop using the term, to my surprise.

  2. ankerawshark 2

    Nope don't feel sorry for Hisco at all Mickey. You must be a very compassionate person.

    I struggle to understand how another human being can feel such a sense of entitlement.

  3. JustMe 3

    I doubt Sam Stubbs will get a proper or rather direct reply from John Key.

    Looking at Key's cavalier attitude and the cavalier attitude of his parliamentary staff whilst he was prime minister of New Zilland(as he called the country)when it came to OIA requests I doubt Stubbs will get a proper response.

    And if he does it will most likely be a from junior staffer. Just lets hope that junior staff isn't of the emotional type. And at the first instance of a mistake Key will beato the usual "blame everyone else but himself" mantra.

    I was of the opinion that until recently Key and Hisco were bosum buddies but had a major fall out. And Key resorted to what he gets away with time and again and gets anyone he doesn't like removed.

    He(Key) probably told Hisco at morning tea that his job is safe but by lunch-time Hisco was tossed out.

    It's amazing what Key seems to get away with. It's like he deems himself as a Godlike figure and he can say and do and get away with anything and everything.

    I am so hoping Karmic Payback hits Key very soon because he is as slippery as an eel.

    • Wensleydale 3.1

      He'll get the 'John Key Special' – "Actually, I think you'll find most New Zealanders aren't terribly interested in the tedious workings of the finance sector. They'd rather have a beer and a sausage and watch the rugby. And who can blame them? Go the All Blacks!"

      And then we'll all go back to pretending nothing untoward happened.

  4. patricia bremner 4

    Ankerwarshark, Bankers reward themselves for finding ways to gain money at the public's expense.

    Bit by bit they reinforce that entitled belief through share packages and parachute clauses.

    Swimming with sharks, or in this case running with wolves is always dangerous.

    The most memorable cartoon was JK dressed as a lamb, but clearly a wolf.

  5. Blazer 5

    How the hell Hisco could spend $8000 a week ..on expenses for years unchallenged is remarkable.

    Those junior staffers have a lot to answer for.

    • dv 5.1

      My reaction is How the hell Hisco could spend $8000 a week ..on expenses !!!!

    • Pat 5.2

      wheres the 8K p/w figure come from?

    • Graeme 5.3

      Every board chair worth their salt cultivates the ability to terminate their CEO forthwith, and without recourse, should the need ever arise….

      • RedLogix 5.3.1

        And that's the truth. My reading is that for some reason we will never find out, Hisco's face suddenly didn't fit, and the assassin did his thing.

        He's older than Key, it's my speculation he knows something from the 80's.

        • Phil 5.3.1.1

          Hisco graduated from university in '94 (see his LinkedIn page) so it's highly improbable he was pal-ing around Wall Street in the 80's.

          • RedLogix 5.3.1.1.1

            Well my bad. From the pics I assumed he was well into his 60's.

          • Andre 5.3.1.1.2

            Bloomberg says he's 54 and joined ANZ in July 1980. That suggests he finished high school awfully early.

            • Phil 5.3.1.1.2.1

              That would mean he left school at 16? Not 'awfully early' by the standards of 1980 at all.

              I recall some media articles talking about Hisco coming up through the company from the bottom rung. Starting out as a bank teller in 1980 then going back to Uni later, to get a foot in the door of management promotions, some years later is a not uncommon story.

            • Psycho Milt 5.3.1.1.2.2

              54? Seriously, that dude is younger than me?! He must have led one motherfucker of a dissolute lifestyle.

        • Gabby 5.3.1.2

          Or he didn't look the other way the one time the boss really wanted him to.

      • Blazer 5.3.2

        Would love to see a list of those 'worth their salt'!

        I look at all these Chairpersons like Key,and Sir Ralph Norris is another that preside over all sorts of chicanery and excess and waste.

    • Herodotus 5.4

      For a CEO/GM his expenses would have been signed off by either for under a certain limit perhaps the CFO but normally by the board/Chairman/Audit Committee designate.

      In many cases I have been involved in – once an expense has been signed off (e.g. housing allowance) then it is "accepted" that the same claimed $ is signed off monthly, BUT there would be authorisation from the top for the initial claim.

      The more that is released from this story the less that "Makes Sense"

      I am reminded by this "If a man is sufficiently unimaginative to produce evidence in support of a lie, he might just as well speak the truth at once." — Oscar Wilde

    • Naki man 5.5

      It was in his salary package, so he was entitled to.

      These guys don't travel cattle class and rent on a multi million dollar mansion isn't cheap.

      You do get that he is an expat and was shoulder tapped to work/live in another country.

      That might start to explain his very generous salary package.

      If you guys bothered to read the articles you would know all this.

      • Blazer 5.5.1

        Must read the details of his salary package.Where did you find it?

      • Herodotus 5.5.2

        The senior management team (CEO,CFO etc) travel, hotels etc will be paid for by the company direct e.g. Air NZ account , there are very few occasions whereby such costs are picked up by the manager. All coys I have worked for will have a policy regarding category of travel based on position, flight times etc, and should the individual wish to upgrade they would use their air points earned (On coy travel) for the upgrades.

        Relocation allowances will have a time period that they are applicable, after 2-3 years the short term nature of the appointment will be formalised and the employee will be considered a local, but this time duration would have be specified in his employment agreement.

      • Gabby 5.5.3

        He wasn't worth it was he Nastiman.

  6. ianmac 6

    I bet Key will just ignore Stubbs. Sadly.

    • I doubt that Key will be able to get away without a satisfactory answer to Mr Stubbs.

      There is much at stake here and it seems that Stubbs is not about to let it go.

      Key is under a lot of pressure on this, hence he bought up the hory old flag again to divert attention.

      • Rapunzel 6.1.1

        Has anyone yet questioned as to how much the NZ tax payer contributed to the reduced sale price for a house modified under the Hisco's control? How? By calculating the amount that Arawata Assets would have claimed in GST when they bought with no payment required from the then seller if the house was not registered for GST? Yes they should be passing on 15% of the amount of the sale to Hisco's wife but will have paid for the renovations, roofs for one don't come cheap and neither do high spec bathrooms the cost of which would have also been under GST claim by Arawata. Then there's the "loss" component that could be accounted for.

        So how much did the NZ tax payer via these various transactions with IRD contribute to the price paid by Hisco's spouse?

        • Craig H 6.1.1.1

          Normally residential housing is exempt from GST which means not being able to claim GST from expenses, so hopefully nothing was claimed.

          • Rapunzel 6.1.1.1.1

            They are but if they are bought by a registered company they can claim the GST, if they sell it they then pay GST but if it is divided and developed the GST goes on each of those sales but they would have claimed GST on the "improvements" that took place as mentioned in the link.

            This fact as we sold a property to a developer that had been re-zoned – the solicitor was at pains to be sure we had not claimed GST on anything while we had it (we stored machinery so they had to be certain) if so we would have had to then pay the GST portion of the agreed price but have no doubt the developer was going to claim GST which meant a bit of haggling on price as we knew that, to him the sale price was reduced by about 122k.

            • Dukeofurl 6.1.1.1.1.1

              The situation you are talking about the developer and GST only applies for residential subdivisions.

              So your suppositions are incorrect, hes not 'having the price reduced'

              Once the land is subdivided ,or even boundary adjustment, thats when GST kicks in . Not before

              • Rapunzel

                You are wrong we sold a property that was re-zoned the purchaser claimed the GST portion on it as part of his GST business dealings, we as private owners did not pay GST had we operated the property in anyway incl as a rental if that was our business and had income over $80k or had claimed GST on any of the dealings for the property and for some reason had registered for GST we would have had to pass of 15% of the price we got for it.

                The solicitor was at pains to ensure we were not liable for GST on the sale because it was not a straight forward sale of a personal home it had been used for storage but we were aware enough to only operate without claiming GST on any dealings, repairs etc.

                It is not just subdivisions it if for any GST registered business activity.

                This can arise similarly when someone purchses a rural type lifesytle block and whether it previously earned income either from grazing, growing or any for any purpose and was GST registered as a business entity the selling price incl GST and that portion has to go to IRD. If the individual buying is not GST registered to carry on generating an income they operate as a private individual if they are going to carry on as a GST registered business they can claim the GST but when they sell they will have to pay the portion of the sale price of GST (15%) to IRD.

                • Dukeofurl

                  he may have had business dealings as a developer, but as it was a residential house with no strings attached there was no claim on GST when he bought it.

                  New houses pay GST , used houses like other used goods like cars dont pay GST or can claim it.

                  The solicitor could fluff over it all he likes, hes being careful, but there is no GST

                  https://auditnz.govt.nz/publications-resources/tax/land-sales-and-purchases

                  You used for a zero rated purpose, residential . he bought for residential purposes , again zero rated.

                  Subdivision is a business purpose, only then the GST is due.

                  • Rapunzel

                    I repeat yes there was he bought as a development company and not an individual and the development company claimed GST. Had we made claims on the property we would have had to pay that portion on but we had elected to and were not obligated as it earned less than $60k.

                    FYI if a company purchases a vehicle from a private individual it can claim 15% of the purchase price in GST – the private individual selling privately ie not a business vehicle for example does not then have to pay the GST component to IRD.

                    You can check it out – in that instance as with aspects likely in the Hisco improvements and the sale the NZ tax payer comes up short with a claim being made but the only GST received is via invoices for treades and materials and the price at the last sale that ANZ received. Accounting practices cover a lot but not all things and Arawata Assets would have claimed GST in 2011 when they purchased it and paid some on the sale price that was about $3m below valuation and less than the purchase price so a loss that would also be accounted for.

  7. Muttonbird 7

    After this puff piece by team Key/O'Sullivan comes this puff piece by team Key/O'Sullivan.

    I can't/won't read either but the first is a clear attempt to frame Key as the tough force for anti-corruption we know he is not. And the second seems a sickly-sweet sympathy piece which allows Key to set the tone for his own screw up.

    And as for, "one hundred percent own(ing) that problem", what is the penalty for Key?

    A censure from the RBNZ? Big deal!

    The Herald and O’Sullivan appear to have been seconded by brand Key and what a fine job they are doing for him!

    • Naki man 7.1

      Mutton you need to read these articles before you make incorrect assumptions.

      I have read both of them and you are talking through a hole in your arse.

      There was no "sickly-sweet sympathy piece" or Key screw up.

      • Nic the NZer 7.1.1

        Title of second literally says board of directors screwed up. That includes the chair.

        • Naki man 7.1.1.1

          Someone changed the risk model in 2014 without authority from RBNZ.

          The board have been acting on incorrect written advice about the new risk model.

          If there was a screw up it was in 2014. Long before Key was on the board.

          • Blazer 7.1.1.1.1

            'Someone'..yeah right..the invisible man!

            and..'Must read the details of his salary package.Where did you find it?

            well answer it.

          • Nic the NZer 7.1.1.1.2

            If the board doesn't know when the risk model changes or if the present one is inappropriate that is the responsibility of the board. That is why Key says this was his responsibility and he owned it in that article.

    • Nic the NZer 7.2

      I actually think that the ANZ board are in the right here. As an outcome of an *internal* expenses audit it was discovered on of the officers was submitting missleading expense claims. He was told to go despite being the CEO. ANZ don't think there is evidence to indicate this was fraudlent and signed them off however so that is where it ends (violation of internal policy).

      This kind of thing may be happening at other banks, however in this case ANZ is ahead of the reform process which might discover this.

      I don't really know why mickey is putting such negative implications on keys role in this or making out Hisco to be a victim of a power struggle. Yes the sums invoved are obscene.

      • Muttonbird 7.2.1

        I think a lot of connections need to be investigated if only to make the public aware of what the obscene profits the banks strip from ordinary Kiwis is spent on.

        I'd also like explained the remarkable coincidence between the Hiscos buying the house ridiculously cheap and them then buying Key's beach mansion six moths later.

        It's basically dirty money in my view.

        I think ANZ staff and customer and the public want to know more. Particularly the public who can then make decisions who they bank with.

        Unless I’m mistaken, that’s why Mickey is interested.

        • Nic the NZer 7.2.1.1

          I think it should be considered that, a big media expose targeting people who acted correctly is more likely to cause ANZ to surpress the results of their own investigations in future. An external investigation would probably not surpress the outcome but i also understand the present government said no to such an investigation.

        • Phil 7.2.1.2

          I'd also like explained the remarkable coincidence between the Hiscos buying the house ridiculously cheap and them then buying Key's beach mansion six moths later.

          "Wealthy banker buys holiday home from wealthy mate" is hardly the stuff of Woodward and Bernstein.

  8. patricia bremner 8

    Don't ever forget the money put into banks to assist during the crisis of the GFC .

    Followed by the huge bonus payments they then immediately made from that to the top bank personnel.

    It shocked the world and made protest headlines but mainly continued…. and continues

    Entitled indeed!! The true meaning of Ivory Tower.

  9. Ad 9

    If Bruce Jesson were still around we would be able to draw a web-diagram of how the top 50 families in New Zealand, Sydney and Melbourne form a network of directorships that enforce who is in for how long and who is out.

    Since our government seems shy of regulating any industry – let alone banking – this tight web of directorships and enforcement mechanisms can simply wait this lot out until the family reps within National can run the country again.

  10. Sacha 10

    Top ANZ managers were in on Hisco’s perks and house deal
    (though the writer can't count – it's closer to a $4m than 3 discount): https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/113712883/how-did-anz-lose-money-on-a-house-in-the-hottest-housing-market-in-memory

    Neither [Antonia] Watson nor Key mentioned the “housing allowance” Hisco enjoyed for years after he’d bought a $1.7 million dollar apartment in the plush suburb of Kohimarama, within easy reach of his Albert St office in downtown Auckland.

    If they didn’t know about it, others certainly did. Craig Mulholland, ANZ NZ’s general counsel at the time of the 2014 purchase was on the title (it was sold in 2016).

    Mulholland is also listed alongside Hisco and Walsh on the title of an Omaha beach house they bought from Key in 2018 for an estimated $3.8m.

  11. cleangreen 11

    Anything connected to John Key is a shonkey deal indeed, as we should know what key was up to during his time as a bankster and then a posterboy for the "panama papers event." and the dark corners it all involved as a 'tax shelter haven'.

  12. Ad 12

    Stubbs is a good man who went to Kelston Boys High School way back in the 1980s. He's westie made good.

    Kerry McDonald's callout of Key to resign is however even more trenchant, since he is a true Wellington elite who has been around since Muldoon. Now old but his word carries a lot of weight in older Wellington institutional circles. Definitely a Lion in Winter, as the saying goes.

    But it would take a few more leaders to actually come out on this for real pressure to build.

    So it's really good to see the Reserve Bank stepping things up harder and harder, as of this morning.

    Last month the ANZ was censured by the Reserve Bank and ordered to put hundreds of millions more aside to ensure it could cover its risks. That means for years it had not been covered to the extent the regulators needed it to be.

    So as of this morning the Reserve Bank is seeking a report with clear assurances about that.

    The Reserve Bank has also announced this morning that it is seeing a report on whether the ANZ is being run to the rules by Directors and its senior staff.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/392779/reserve-bank-requests-assurance-reports-from-anz

    This is pretty appropriate since it's now patently obvious that the RBNZ report into banking conduct that they completed last year was too narrow and its results were crap. Really bad catchup football.

    So it does totally amaze me that our own Minister of Finance hasn't caught on to this as a political gift by calling for the resignation of John Key. OR indeed calling for anything.

    At this point it would only take an “I no longer have confidence” statement from Minister Robertson and Key would be gone.

    If only.

    • Muttonbird 12.1

      The Labour and Greens part of the government have done well to not over-reach by getting involved in opposition or private sector problems. To do so would invite a pile on from the usual RW suspects.

      Better to let the pressure build and as you say ensure this review is more thorough than the last.

      Key must have been tipped off that these second reviews were coming which is why he's attempted the clean out. Clearly he would have not moved on Hisco had he not felt Orr breathing down his neck.

    • Phil 12.2

      Last month the ANZ was censured by the Reserve Bank … it's now patently obvious that the RBNZ report into banking conduct that they completed last year was too narrow and its results were crap.

      The ARC across the Tasman focused on bank conduct and culture related to *selling products to customers*. It didn't get anywhere near modelling for capital requirements.

      The NZ-equivalent that people were clamoring for would also have gotten nowhere near ANZ's operational risk capital models.

      • Sacha 12.2.1

        Did the Australian review consider perks?

        • Phil 12.2.1.1

          Depends on how you define a "perk" 🙂

          The ARC (and the review here) looked at sales performance incentives, e.g. a bonus for selling more than X number of products to a customer. And, more importantly, the reviews looked at how those bonuses might pervert the bank or staff member into acting in a way that is not in the best interest of the customer.

          As far as I'm aware, neither review looked at the kind of employment package benefits or house financing that seems to be the issue with Hisco. That's because these benefits wouldn't be linked to ANZ's sales or Hisco's performance in any directly meaningful way.

    • Blazer 12.3

      I will give Stubbs the benefit of the doubt.

      He did work for 2 'favourites' i.e Eric Watson and Mark Hotchin at Handover Finance..but jumped ship before the 'the size and the strength to withstand ANY conditions' proved quite the opposite.(as usual)

  13. Infused 13

    Key may have been appointed to get this guy out cleanly. Who knows.

    Your hate for key is showing though. How you could feel sorry for this guy.

    Keys just doing his job.

    • Muttonbird 13.1

      Key sold Hisco his house you idiot. They are good mates.

      • Wensleydale 13.1.1

        No, no, Mutton. You're just being unnecessarily cruel to that poor Mr Key – an elder statesman of our fine nation and an icon of success and prosperity. There's not a venal bone in his body, and you do yourself a profound disservice by insinuating as much. He once lived in a state house, you know. (It’s perfectly fine to behave like an amoral pirate if you spent your formative years living in a skip and scrounging for crusts.) Rags to riches and all that. Aspiration! Building a brighter future! Shame on you, Mutton. Shame.

      • Infused 13.1.2

        Hear that? That's logic going way over your head

  14. SHG 14

    Reality check – the transgression for which Hisco was fired was breaking the first commandment. Thou shalt not embarrass JK. Thus has it ever been.

    • Pat 14.1

      Lol…except the embarrassment to Key has been caused by (on the face of it) his own inept handling of the issue….new theory needed.

  15. Senior board of the ANZ ,… spot Jonkey and Hisco there playin' along…

    Harry Nilsson – Coconut (1971)

    https://youtu.be/Tbgv8PkO9eo?t=166

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  • Radical law changes needed to build road

    The northern expressway extension from Warkworth to Whangarei is likely to require radical changes to legislation if it is going to be built within the foreseeable future. The Government’s powers to purchase land, the planning process and current restrictions on road tolling are all going to need to be changed ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #30 2024

    Open access notables Could an extremely cold central European winter such as 1963 happen again despite climate change?, Sippel et al., Weather and Climate Dynamics: Here, we first show based on multiple attribution methods that a winter of similar circulation conditions to 1963 would still lead to an extreme seasonal ...
    2 days ago
  • First they came for the Māori

    Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedFirst they came for the doctors But I was confused by the numbers and costs So I didn't speak up Then they came for our police and nurses And I didn't think we could afford those costs anyway So I ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Join us for the weekly Hoon on YouTube Live

    Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on UnsplashWe’re back again after our mid-winter break. We’re still with the ‘new’ day of the week (Thursday rather than Friday) when we have our ‘hoon’ webinar with paying subscribers to The Kākā for an hour at 5 pm.Jump on this link on YouTube Livestream ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Will the real PM Luxon please stand up?

    Notes: This is a free article. Abuse in Care themes are mentioned. Video is at the bottom.BackgroundYesterday’s report into Abuse in Care revealed that at least 1 in 3 of all who went through state and faith based care were abused - often horrifically. At least, because not all survivors ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    2 days ago
  • Will debt reduction trump abuse in care redress?

    Luxon speaks in Parliament yesterday about the Abuse in Care report. Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:PM Christopher Luxon said yesterday in tabling the Abuse in Care report in Parliament he wanted to ‘do the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Olywhites and Time Bandits

    About a decade ago I worked with a bloke called Steve. He was the grizzled veteran coder, a few years older than me, who knew where the bodies were buried - code wise. Despite his best efforts to be approachable and friendly he could be kind of gruff, through to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Why were the 1930s so hot in North America?

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Jeff Masters and Bob Henson Those who’ve trawled social media during heat waves have likely encountered a tidbit frequently used to brush aside human-caused climate change: Many U.S. states and cities had their single hottest temperature on record during the 1930s, setting incredible heat marks ...
    2 days ago
  • Throwback Thursday – Thinking about Expressways

    Some of the recent announcements from the government have reminded us of posts we’ve written in the past. Here’s one from early 2020. There were plenty of reactions to the government’s infrastructure announcement a few weeks ago which saw them fund a bunch of big roading projects. One of ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Thursday, July 25 are:News: Why Electric Kiwi is closing to new customers - and why it matters RNZ’s Susan EdmundsScoop: Government drops ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • The Possum: Demon or Friend?

    Hi,I felt a small wet tongue snaking through one of the holes in my Crocs. It explored my big toe, darting down one side, then the other. “He’s looking for some toe cheese,” said the woman next to me, words that still haunt me to this day.Growing up in New ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • Not a story

    Yesterday I happily quoted the Prime Minister without fact-checking him and sure enough, it turns out his numbers were all to hell. It’s not four kg of Royal Commission report, it’s fourteen.My friend and one-time colleague-in-comms Hazel Phillips gently alerted me to my error almost as soon as I’d hit ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Thursday, July 25

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Thursday, July 25, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day were:The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry published its final report yesterday.PM Christopher Luxon and The Minister responsible for ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • A tougher line on “proactive release”?

    The Official Information Act has always been a battle between requesters seeking information, and governments seeking to control it. Information is power, so Ministers and government agencies want to manage what is released and when, for their own convenience, and legality and democracy be damned. Their most recent tactic for ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • 'Let's build a motorway costing $100 million per km, before emissions costs'

    TL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:Transport and Energy Minister Simeon Brown is accelerating plans to spend at least $10 billion through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to extend State Highway One as a four-lane ‘Expressway’ from Warkworth to Whangarei ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Lester's Prescription – Positive Bleeding.

    I live my life (woo-ooh-ooh)With no control in my destinyYea-yeah, yea-yeah (woo-ooh-ooh)I can bleed when I want to bleedSo come on, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)You can bleed when you want to bleedYea-yeah, come on (woo-ooh-ooh)Everybody bleed when they want to bleedCome on and bleedGovernments face tough challenges. Selling unpopular decisions to ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Casey Costello gaslights Labour in the House

    Please note:To skip directly to the- parliamentary footage in the video, scroll to 1:21 To skip to audio please click on the headphone icon on the left hand side of the screenThis video / audio section is under development. ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    3 days ago
  • Why is the Texas grid in such bad shape?

    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Headline from 2021 The Texas grid, run by ERCOT, has had a rough few years. In 2021, winter storm Uri blacked out much of the state for several days. About a week ago, Hurricane Beryl knocked out ...
    3 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on a textbook case of spending waste by the Luxon government

    Given the crackdown on wasteful government spending, it behooves me to point to a high profile example of spending by the Luxon government that looks like a big, fat waste of time and money. I’m talking about the deployment of NZDF personnel to support the US-led coalition in the Red ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:40 am on Wednesday, July 24 are:Deep Dive: Chipping away at the housing crisis, including my comments RNZ/Newsroom’s The DetailNews: Government softens on asset sales, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • LXR Takaanini

    As I reported about the city centre, Auckland’s rail network is also going through a difficult and disruptive period which is rapidly approaching a culmination, this will result in a significant upgrade to the whole network. Hallelujah. Also like the city centre this is an upgrade predicated on the City ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    3 days ago
  • Four kilograms of pain

    Today, a 4 kilogram report will be delivered to Parliament. We know this is what the report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care weighs, because our Prime Minister told us so.Some reporter had blindsided him by asking a question about something done by ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Wednesday, July 24

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Wednesday, July 24, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Beehive: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to use PPPs to fund, build and run a four-lane expressway between Auckland ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Luxon gets caught out

    NewstalkZB host Mike Hosking, who can usually be relied on to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon an easy run, did not do so yesterday when he interviewed him about the HealthNZ deficit. Luxon is trying to use a deficit reported last year by HealthNZ as yet another example of the ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • A worrying sign

    Back in January a StatsNZ employee gave a speech at Rātana on behalf of tangata whenua in which he insulted and criticised the government. The speech clearly violated the principle of a neutral public service, and StatsNZ started an investigation. Part of that was getting an external consultant to examine ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Are we fine with 47.9% home-ownership by 2048?

    Renting for life: Shared ownership initiatives are unlikely to slow the slide in home ownership by much. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy today are:A Deloitte report for Westpac has projected Aotearoa’s home-ownership rate will ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Let's Win This

    You're broken down and tiredOf living life on a merry go roundAnd you can't find the fighterBut I see it in you so we gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsWe gonna walk it outAnd move mountainsAnd I'll rise upI'll rise like the dayI'll rise upI'll rise unafraidI'll rise upAnd I'll ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Waimahara: The Singing Spirit of Water

    There’s been a change in Myers Park. Down the steps from St. Kevin’s Arcade, past the grassy slopes, the children’s playground, the benches and that goat statue, there has been a transformation. The underpass for Mayoral Drive has gone from a barren, grey, concrete tunnel, to a place that thrums ...
    Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp
    4 days ago
  • A major milestone: Global climate pollution may have just peaked

    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections Global society may have finally slammed on the brakes for climate-warming pollution released by human fossil fuel combustion. According to the Carbon Monitor Project, the total global climate pollution released between February and May 2024 declined slightly from the amount released during the same ...
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Tuesday, July 23 are:Deep Dive: Penlink: where tolling rhetoric meets reality BusinessDesk-$$$’s Oliver LewisScoop: Te Pūkenga plans for regional polytechs leak out ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Tuesday, July 23

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 23, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Health: Shane Reti announced the Board of Te Whatu Ora- Health New Zealand was being replaced with Commissioner Lester Levy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • HealthNZ and Luxon at cross purposes over budget blowout

    Health NZ warned the Government at the end of March that it was running over Budget. But the reasons it gave were very different to those offered by the Prime Minister yesterday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon blamed the “botched merger” of the 20 District Health Boards (DHBs) to create Health ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • 2500-3000 more healthcare staff expected to be fired, as Shane Reti blames Labour for a budget defic...

    Long ReadKey Summary: Although National increased the health budget by $1.4 billion in May, they used an old funding model to project health system costs, and never bothered to update their pre-election numbers. They were told during the Health Select Committees earlier in the year their budget amount was deficient, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    4 days ago
  • Might Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?

    As a momentous, historic weekend in US politics unfolded, analysts and commentators grasped for precedents and comparisons to help explain the significance and power of the choice Joe Biden had made. The 46th president had swept the Democratic party’s primaries but just over 100 days from the election had chosen ...
    PunditBy Tim Watkin
    5 days ago
  • Solutions Interview: Steven Hail on MMT & ecological economics

    TL;DR: I’m casting around for new ideas and ways of thinking about Aotearoa’s political economy to find a few solutions to our cascading and self-reinforcing housing, poverty and climate crises.Associate Professor runs an online masters degree in the economics of sustainability at Torrens University in Australia and is organising ...
    The KakaBy Steven Hail
    5 days ago
  • Reported back

    The Finance and Expenditure Committee has reported back on National's Local Government (Water Services Preliminary Arrangements) Bill. The bill sets up water for privatisation, and was introduced under urgency, then rammed through select committee with no time even for local councils to make a proper submission. Naturally, national's select committee ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Vandrad the Viking, Christopher Coombes, and Literary Archaeology

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

    History is not on the side of the centre-left, when Democratic presidents fall behind in the polls and choose not to run for re-election. On both previous occasions in the past 75 years (Harry Truman in 1952, Lyndon Johnson in 1968) the Democrats proceeded to then lose the White House ...
    WerewolfBy lyndon
    5 days ago
  • Joe Biden's withdrawal puts the spotlight back on Kamala and the USA's complicated relatio...

    This is a free articleCoverageThis morning, US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race. And that is genuinely newsworthy. Thanks for your service, President Biden, and all the best to you and yours.However, the media in New Zealand, particularly the 1News nightly bulletin, has been breathlessly covering ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    5 days ago
  • Why we have to challenge our national fiscal assumptions

    A homeless person’s camp beside a blocked-off slipped damage walkway in Freeman’s Bay: we are chasing our tail on our worsening and inter-related housing, poverty and climate crises. Photo: Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Existential Crisis and Damaged Brains

    What has happened to it all?Crazy, some'd sayWhere is the life that I recognise?(Gone away)But I won't cry for yesterdayThere's an ordinary worldSomehow I have to findAnd as I try to make my wayTo the ordinary worldYesterday morning began as many others - what to write about today? I began ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • A speed limit is not a target, and yet…

    This is a guest post from longtime supporter Mr Plod, whose previous contributions include a proposal that Hamilton become New Zealand’s capital city, and that we should switch which side of the road we drive on. A recent Newsroom article, “Back to school for the Govt’s new speed limit policy“, ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 7:00 am on Monday, July 22 are:Today’s Must Read: Father and son live in a tent, and have done for four years, in a million ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Monday, July 22

    TL;DR: As of 7:00 am on Monday, July 22, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:US President Joe Biden announced via X this morning he would not stand for a second term.Multinational professional services firm ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29

    A listing of 32 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, July 14, 2024 thru Sat, July 20, 2024. Story of the week As reflected by preponderance of coverage, our Story of the Week is Project 2025. Until now traveling ...
    6 days ago
  • I'd like to share what I did this weekend

    This weekend, a friend pointed out someone who said they’d like to read my posts, but didn’t want to pay. And my first reaction was sympathy.I’ve already told folks that if they can’t comfortably subscribe, and would like to read, I’d be happy to offer free subscriptions. I don’t want ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • For the children – Why mere sentiment can be a misleading force in our lives, and lead to unex...

    National: The Party of ‘Law and Order’ IntroductionThis weekend, the Government formally kicked off one of their flagship policy programs: a military style boot camp that New Zealand has experimented with over the past 50 years. Cartoon credit: Guy BodyIt’s very popular with the National Party’s Law and Order image, ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    6 days ago
  • A friend in uncertain times

    Day one of the solo leg of my long journey home begins with my favourite sound: footfalls in an empty street. 5.00 am and it’s already light and already too warm, almost.If I can make the train that leaves Budapest later this hour I could be in Belgrade by nightfall; ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • The Chaotic World of Male Diet Influencers

    Hi,We’ll get to the horrific world of male diet influencers (AKA Beefy Boys) shortly, but first you will be glad to know that since I sent out the Webworm explaining why the assassination attempt on Donald Trump was not a false flag operation, I’ve heard from a load of people ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • It's Starting To Look A Lot Like… Y2K

    Do you remember Y2K, the threat that hung over humanity in the closing days of the twentieth century? Horror scenarios of planes falling from the sky, electronic payments failing and ATMs refusing to dispense cash. As for your VCR following instructions and recording your favourite show - forget about it.All ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Bernard’s Saturday Soliloquy for the week to July 20

    Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being questioned by The Kākā’s Bernard Hickey.TL;DR: My top six things to note around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the week to July 20 were:1. A strategy that fails Zero Carbon Act & Paris targetsThe National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government finally unveiled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Pharmac Director, Climate Change Commissioner, Health NZ Directors – The latest to quit this m...

    Summary:As New Zealand loses at least 12 leaders in the public service space of health, climate, and pharmaceuticals, this month alone, directly in response to the Government’s policies and budget choices, what lies ahead may be darker than it appears. Tui examines some of those departures and draws a long ...
    Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tui
    1 week ago
  • Flooding Housing Policy

    The Minister of Housing’s ambition is to reduce markedly the ratio of house prices to household incomes. If his strategy works it would transform the housing market, dramatically changing the prospects of housing as an investment.Leaving aside the Minister’s metaphor of ‘flooding the market’ I do not see how the ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    1 week ago
  • A Voyage Among the Vandals: Accepted (Again!)

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

    An employee of tobacco company Philip Morris International demonstrates a heated tobacco device. Photo: Getty ImagesTL;DR: The top six things I’ve noted around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy on Friday, July 19 are:At a time when the Coalition Government is cutting spending on health, infrastructure, education, housing ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Pick 'n' Mix for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: My pick of the top six links elsewhere around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day or so to 8:30 am on Friday, July 19 are:Scoop: NZ First Minister Casey Costello orders 50% cut to excise tax on heated tobacco products. The minister has ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-July-2024

    Kia ora, it’s time for another Friday roundup, in which we pull together some of the links and stories that caught our eye this week. Feel free to add more in the comments! Our header image this week shows a foggy day in Auckland town, captured by Patrick Reynolds. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 week ago
  • Weekly Climate Wrap: A market-led plan for failure

    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. A discussion recorded yesterday is in the video above and the audio of that sent onto the podcast feed.The Government released its draft Emissions Reduction ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Tobacco First

    Save some money, get rich and old, bring it back to Tobacco Road.Bring that dynamite and a crane, blow it up, start all over again.Roll up. Roll up. Or tailor made, if you prefer...Whether you’re selling ciggies, digging for gold, catching dolphins in your nets, or encouraging folks to flutter ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago
  • Trump’s Adopted Son.

    Waiting In The Wings: For truly, if Trump is America’s un-assassinated Caesar, then J.D. Vance is America’s Octavian, the Republic’s youthful undertaker – and its first Emperor.DONALD TRUMP’S SELECTION of James D. Vance as his running-mate bodes ill for the American republic. A fervent supporter of Viktor Orban, the “illiberal” prime ...
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 19

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 19, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:The PSA announced the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) had ruled in the PSA’s favour in its case against the Ministry ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • Joint statement from the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand

    Australia, Canada and New Zealand today issued the following statement on the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and the risk of expanded conflict between Hizballah and Israel. The situation in Gaza is catastrophic. The human suffering is unacceptable. It cannot continue.  We remain unequivocal in our condemnation of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • AG reminds institutions of legal obligations

    Attorney-General Judith Collins today reminded all State and faith-based institutions of their legal obligation to preserve records relevant to the safety and wellbeing of those in its care. “The Abuse in Care Inquiry’s report has found cases where records of the most vulnerable people in State and faith‑based institutions were ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • More young people learning about digital safety

    Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden says the Government’s online safety website for children and young people has reached one million page views.  “It is great to see so many young people and their families accessing the site Keep It Real Online to learn how to stay safe online, and manage ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Speech to the Conference for General Practice 2024

    Tēnā tātou katoa,  Ngā mihi te rangi, ngā mihi te whenua, ngā mihi ki a koutou, kia ora mai koutou. Thank you for the opportunity to be here and the invitation to speak at this 50th anniversary conference. I acknowledge all those who have gone before us and paved the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Employers and payroll providers ready for tax changes

    New Zealand’s payroll providers have successfully prepared to ensure 3.5 million individuals will, from Wednesday next week, be able to keep more of what they earn each pay, says Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Revenue Minister Simon Watts.  “The Government's tax policy changes are legally effective from Wednesday. Delivering this tax ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Experimental vineyard futureproofs wine industry

    An experimental vineyard which will help futureproof the wine sector has been opened in Blenheim by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. The covered vineyard, based at the New Zealand Wine Centre – Te Pokapū Wāina o Aotearoa, enables controlled environmental conditions. “The research that will be produced at the Experimental ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Funding confirmed for regions affected by North Island Weather Events

    The Coalition Government has confirmed the indicative regional breakdown of North Island Weather Event (NIWE) funding for state highway recovery projects funded through Budget 2024, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Regions in the North Island suffered extensive and devastating damage from Cyclone Gabrielle and the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Floods, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Indonesian Foreign Minister to visit

    Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, Retno Marsudi, will visit New Zealand next week, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced.   “Indonesia is important to New Zealand’s security and economic interests and is our closest South East Asian neighbour,” says Mr Peters, who is currently in Laos to engage with South East Asian partners. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Strengthening partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto

    He aha te kai a te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the aspirations of Ngāti Maniapoto, Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says. “My thanks to Te Nehenehenui Trust – Ngāti Maniapoto for bringing their important kōrero to a ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Transport Minister thanks outgoing CAA Chair

    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has thanked outgoing Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority, Janice Fredric, for her service to the board.“I have received Ms Fredric’s resignation from the role of Chair of the Civil Aviation Authority,” Mr Brown says.“On behalf of the Government, I want to thank Ms Fredric for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Test for Customary Marine Title being restored

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

    The Coalition Government is investing $802.9 million into the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines as part of a funding agreement with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), KiwiRail, and the Greater Wellington and Horizons Regional Councils to deliver more reliable services for commuters in the lower North Island, Transport Minister Simeon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government moves to ensure flood protection for Wairoa

    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced his intention to appoint a Crown Manager to both Hawke’s Bay Regional and Wairoa District Councils to speed up the delivery of flood protection work in Wairoa."Recent severe weather events in Wairoa this year, combined with damage from Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023 have ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM speech to Parliament – Royal Commission of Inquiry’s Report into Abuse in Care

    Mr Speaker, this is a day that many New Zealanders who were abused in State care never thought would come. It’s the day that this Parliament accepts, with deep sorrow and regret, the Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care.  At the heart of this report are the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges torture at Lake Alice

    For the first time, the Government is formally acknowledging some children and young people at Lake Alice Psychiatric Hospital experienced torture. The final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in State and Faith-based Care “Whanaketia – through pain and trauma, from darkness to light,” was tabled in Parliament ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government acknowledges courageous abuse survivors

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