What now for Sky TV?

Written By: - Date published: 10:45 am, March 4th, 2013 - 45 comments
Categories: capitalism, news, Privatisation, tv - Tags: , , ,

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp are selling their shares in NZ Sky TV.  What does these mean for the on-going decline of public broadcasting, and related rise of global corporate control?  It will be interesting to see where the shares go.  It is possibly part of the shift away from control by media moguls and towards control of news media by investment bankers.

Liam Dann reports in the NZ Herald today:

Shares expected to go on trading halt this morning as News Corp sells its 43.6 per cent stake.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp is understood to be selling out of New Zealand’s Sky Television.

Sky TV shares are expected to go on a trading halt this morning as the media group sells its 43.6 per cent stake into the market at a price of $4.80 – a 7 per cent discount to its $5.17 close on Friday. …

Bankers for the deal are understood to be Craigs Investment Partners and Deutsche Bank.

Market sources said yesterday that the sale had been tendered by News Corp and the investment banks were effectively underwriting the deal.

No cornerstone shareholder is expected to take a stake in excess of 19.9 per cent – a level that would require a full takeover offer to be made.

A spokesperson for Sky TV said yesterday that the company could not comment on matters relating to shareholdings.

Another substantial shareholder – the Todd family – sold its 11.11 per cent stake in Sky TV in November last year to Credit Suisse, which on-sold it to institutions and private investors.

That block of shares was sold at $5.05 a share for about $218 million.

The on market selldown of Sky TV also follows media group Fairfax’s $769 million selldown of Trade Me in December.

I’m pleased to see Murdoch’s empire struggling and that it is withdrawing from NZ.

Murdoch’s News Corp has been the dominant shareholder in Sky TV since 1999.  Dann reports that the number of Sky subscribers have been pretty static over the last year, with the profit gains largely coming from subscribers spending more and subscribing to more services:

  Last month Sky TV reported a 9 per cent gain in first-half profit as subscribers migrated to its MySky premium service and spent more.

Profit rose to $68.2 million in the six months ended December 31, from $62.7 million a year earlier.

Sales rose 3.9 per cent to $443 million.

Total subscribers to Sky TV’s services were little changed at 846,988 at December 31 from a year earlier, though the number on MySky climbed 28 per cent to 423,973. Average revenue per subscriber rose to $75.78 at December 31 from $71.81 a year earlier.

I’m not very knowledgeable about the way such sales of shares work, but I am concerned about the role of financial institutions in managing the share sales.

In an article in Pacific Journalism Review, Oct 2011 17.2, p188, ‘Global capital and media communication ownership in New Zealand‘, authors Wayne Hope and Merja Myllylahti outlined the increasing globalisation of NZ media ownership.  They said:

In 2011, there are still four major players in the New Zealand media market: APN News & Media, Fairfax Media, MediaWorks, and News Corporation/Sky. New Zealand news media is dominated by overseas companies and these companies are primarily owned by financial institutions and a handful of foreign media moguls: Australian/Amrerican Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), Irish Tony O’Reilly  (Independent News & Media), and Australian mining billionaire Gina Rinehart …

News media have been struggling in various ways to make profits.  According to Hope an Myllylahti, MediaWorks were heavily in debt in 2009, but were rescued by the involvement of several new investors including Goldman Sachs JBWere, which took a 12.9% stake in the company.

So rather than looking at the withdrawal of News Corp from Sky as a decline in corporate global control in the media, we are probably seeing a shift in the kind of players dominating the media: a shift away from the media moguls, and towards the investment bankers or financial institutions.  It’ll be interesting to see the individuals and organisations that take up News Corps’ NZ Sky TV shares.

I am hoping that this won’t mean that Sky is rejuvenated so that it can once again start to recruit more subscribers, further fueling the decline in free-to-air news and other media.

45 comments on “What now for Sky TV? ”

  1. ghostwhowalksnz 1

    To me its clear Murdock is setting the groundwork to buy TVNZ.

    No doubt he or his henchmen have had the requisite meetings with Key and Joyce to ‘move things along’

    • Tigger 1.1

      Interesting theory. Probably a third term plan for the Nats. Once they’ve hocked off the power companies all other assets will be lined up for sale…

    • cricklewood 1.2

      Nah, They are cashing out as they can see the writing on the wall. The NZ market is probabaly at close to saturation point in terms of penetration for sky and revenue in trational type broadcasts can only go one way. As broadband further improves more and more content will be streamed.

      I recently quit sky and now watch a lot of shows online legally for free, no ad breaks and no monthly subscription. I haven’t managed to get near my data cap yet. There are also pleanty of less than legal avenues available…

      • karol 1.2.1

        cricklewood: I recently quit sky and now watch a lot of shows online legally for free, no ad breaks and no monthly subscription. I haven’t managed to get near my data cap yet. There are also pleanty of less than legal avenues available…

        Well this is where screen productions are going – online. And this is why Hollywood (Dotcom) are so keen to control what people watch online. It is tied up with the TPPA, and Jane Kelsey has posted another excellent article on the TPPA on The Dailyblog this morning. It’s all about the US trying to dictate it, rather than it being a true, fair and equal negotiation process.

        Several of those areas are must-haves for Obama – notably, intellectual property, which impacts on pharmaceuticals, the internet and innovation and disciplines on state-enterprises that could extend to ACC, Kiwibank and the universities.
        The way that John Key and Tim Groser talk, all the parties including New Zealand are equals at this negotiating table. But this has always been the US plus the rest.

        Clare Curran, while correctly identifying the shift to online content as being signalled by the News corp share sales, misses the connection with the TPPA entirely. She just focuses on regulation within NZ:

        The Government must include video content and broadcasting in its review of the telecommunications industry following News Limited’s decision to sell its stake in Sky Television, Labour’s communications and IT spokesperson Clare Curran said.

        “Today’s announcement is a clear signal by Rupert Murdoch that Sky’s dominant market position has changed forever with the increase in online video content from sources such as Quickflix, and Netflix.

        “The Commerce Commission has said ownership rights of content are the critical factor behind the successful uptake of ultrafast broadband in New Zealand. The Commission is also investigating Sky TV’s contracts with telcos, which may be restricting competition. The Minister must acknowledge this and include online video content in its recently announced review of the telecommunications sector.

    • infused 1.3

      Doubt it. Cashing up looks likely.

      Skytv is still good. Still expensive though.

      • infused 1.3.1

        I watch very little of what’s offered though. Mainly movies, history and discovery.

        • Lanthanide 1.3.1.1

          So you’re probably an expert on Hitler, WW2 and how aliens are behind everything?

          • infused 1.3.1.1.1

          • TheContrarian 1.3.1.1.2

            Ancient Aliens is a great watch. The hair, THE HAIR!

          • felixviper 1.3.1.1.3

            And sharks.

            • James N 1.3.1.1.3.1

              You forgot snakes.

              • felixviper

                I tuned in to Bridge Day once, a whole day of programs about bridges.

                There was “Worlds Tallest Bridges”, and “World’s Longest Bridges”, and Worlds Oldest Bridges”, and “World’s Most Amazing Bridges” etc etc.

                Also note that none of those categories are mutually exclusive, and many of the bridges made multiple appearances throughout the day.

                • TheContrarian

                  All those nature/technology channels now pursue an agenda consisting of reality shows and scientific woo like Bigfoot Hunters and Ancient Aliens.

                  very disappointing

            • QoT 1.3.1.1.3.2

              Shark Week is an international cultural treasure, felix. You mess with reruns of Air Jaws Apocalypse and you are messing with *me*.

        • felixviper 1.3.1.2

          That’s about all that appeals to me on sky, and those channels get pretty repetitive too.

          • infused 1.3.1.2.1

            Well new movies once a month. To be honest, the only reason we keep it is when friends come over. Always something on to watch.

      • Rogue Trooper 1.3.2

        cashing up indeed now they’ve made their splash

    • karol 1.4

      Well if the indications that there’s a shift away from the dominance of media moguls, then it’d be more likely that financial institutions are positioning themselves to get a significant interest in other media channels such as TVNZ.

  2. He couldn’t stomach managements decision to broadcast citizen A.
    Bomber Bradbury defeats Murdoch.
    Or, a more likely reason is that this 2 billion dollar company has weak growth potential in a market this size. Timing is good to offload.
    Quite why many of you continually berate Sky TV is a mystery. They provide fantastic service and we are lucky that they exist. The range of sport that we get across many channels is world leading.
    Try and recall the days of tv1 owning all the sport. 4 hours a week at best and piss poor olympic coverage.
    And Coronation street Taliban threatening to blow TVNZ up if Rita was disturbed during any big event.
    Based solely on subscriber numbers Sky has been a phenomenal success story.

    • Tim 2.1

      I suspect many ‘berate’ Sky because of its monopolistic behaviour and attitude; its priviledged position in ‘the market’ whereby what happens elsewhere in the world (such as being levied to support public service broadcasting) does not apply in NZ; because of its anti-competitive behaviour through the use of programming across its FTA channel and pay channels; and because (because of its proviledged position in ‘the market’), its driven up the cost of content for other broadcasters who are honestly trying to make a buck. When I say ‘honestly’ – I mean in the sense that their bizniss of providing an audience to advertisers and treating that audience as consumers rather than intelligent human beings who are residents, citizens and taxpayers who have effectively provided the monopolist with the necessary infrastructure, and who now have to ‘user-pays’ to participate.

      BTW (as they say in the connected world): ‘recall the days of tv1 owning all the sport’ is hardly a fair comparison in that it decontexualises everything that’s occured since that was the case – the specialisation of channels, the manner in which (IF you’re OK with the totally commercial imperative) TVNZ had a charter and an obligation to turn a profit, a load of total politically appointed fukwits at its helm and a culture of comfortably-off pulling its strings, etc., etc., etc.
      Actually not a lot has changed in that regard – and you can be sure that the string-pullers (and cock pullers within) have been wishing for proivitoisashun for many a moon.

      IT might be useful too for you to consider what’s happened over time to a service expected to deliver programming to citizenry (you know – that quaint phenomenon whereby people cast a vote to have representatives to act in their interests including the provision of a public sphere – free & fair – unincumbered by commercial, political or economic imperatives in whose interests it is to try and suppress it).
      Does anybody else remember a National Film Unit that was able to undertake activity that, although might not have been commercially viable, was socio-politically important????; OR – if not…… perhaps a Natural History Unit whose output under its new guise is rarely seen! NZ! unavailable to NZers.
      Saul Roit tho’ aye jonky (and Russ)? All that fawn vestmint, the ‘MUMIN dead vestas’ with orl thet petty kesh they’ve got rolling rearn – sheel see iz roit. [When someone can identify who or what MUMIN dead vestas is or are – please please let me know} Skoi’ll troin make (SKY TV will try and make) surer thet – (With apologies to the likes of Bomber Bradbury who I referred to as a Bradley once) whose faith in SKY is somewhat more optimisic than mine.
      Though I watch the chennil 89 content – its actually a piss poor/technically neglected alternative to what we used to have.

      …. and let’s not get started on Freeview, Kordia and it’s incompetently (and I mean really very basic basic stupid stupid dolt type incompetence) decisions.

      I suspect that why Murdoch wants out is that he can see the future – considering all the above. If I were the masters of the Universe (little “m”) within SKOI NuZiln, I’d be hawking my C.V. now far and woid – i.e. if I subscribed to that over-ambitious attitude with a sense of having an inflated idea of self-worth that many in that bracket have.

      Were it for Labour or Green policy that we should pay their air-fared out of here……they instantly get my vote.

      Russell – ever considered mining in North West West Straylia?. IF I knew who you were, I’d pay the airfare moisef. I’ve even got some mates that could put you up till you get started.

      • Colonial Viper 2.1.1

        Does anybody else remember a National Film Unit that was able to undertake activity that, although might not have been commercially viable, was socio-politically important????;

        Yep.

        Peter Jackson acquired most of its footage for a song and made millions off what was public commons.

        • Tim 2.1.1.1

          Indeed he did – including some shot by my father-in-law who is now busy rolling in his grave.
          Never mind though aye …… Billy “boi” Shearer is strumming it – hoping for the rest of us to ‘sing it’.
          PG Tips it ain’t!

      • asd 2.1.2

        What I would like to know is, was Lindsay Perigo paid off by SkyTv to get rid of the broadcasting fee with his Libertarians political party campaign, so that Sky could grab ascendancy and then dominance of the domestic TV market for subscribers/viewers? If that was a genuine conspiracy it worked a treat.

    • Colonial Viper 2.2

      We are lucky Sky exist even though its been instrumental in deconstructing public TV in this country?

      Yeah sure.

    • Draco T Bastard 2.3

      They provide fantastic service and we are lucky that they exist. The range of sport that we get across many channels is world leading.

      hahahahahahaha

      Oh, wait, you weren’t joking.

  3. Slap Shot 3

    Compared to the pay TV you get overseas SKY is terrible. You have to pay through the nose to get many of the decent channels because the butter is spread too thin.

    Might as well watch online for nothing. Call it civil disobedience because our government doesn’t do enough to protect us from a predatory monopoly.

  4. addison 4

    This vital asset should be immediately purchased buy the Government. Its profits should be kept in NZ for Kiwi mums and dads. It is after all an essential to Life, Nationalise it immediately. Better still make sure Kiwis buy it and then \Nationalise it.

    • freedom 4.1

      oh our aching sides,
      you really should go on tour with material like that,

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.1

        addison the pretend Tory from the pretend UK pretending to be retired in Nzzzzz

        • Rogue Trooper 4.1.1.1

          wotta ’bout Joycee wanting to claw-back funding if Unis enrolments drop more than 1%

    • Tim 4.2

      Addison, whilst once you were busy making GJ Homes Ads along with you nauseating ‘woifee’ having her orgasm over their perfection (GJ’s) and recent carpet sampling by post, it’s not likely to happen un John Key’s gubbamint – or perhaps even the PG Tipster under Labour.
      Just as an aside though ….. have you yet taken advantage of those side bars that desperately implore you to transfer the rest of your wealth to the colony (oops! sorry …. the DOMINION)?
      I’d hold off if I were you – until you’re certain those bloody natives don’t get ideas above their station.
      I mean …. the signs are there aye – those bennies are rattling their dags in desperation

      • Colonial Viper 4.2.1

        have you yet taken advantage of those side bars that desperately implore you to transfer the rest of your wealth to the colony (oops! sorry …. the DOMINION)?

        I believe that we can still be considered a Realm of the Commonwealth.

    • Tim 4.3

      I’ve a recording of a History Channel series addison you’d be interested in. “The Fall of the British Empire”. Over the three episodes it contains some simply gorgeous footage of African miners -some effectively working for nothing; Pakistan/Indian conflicts resulting from partitioning, that little ‘crisis’ in Malaysia; among other things. The NZ, Canadian and OZ ‘utterly British’ Dominion administrations of course were so grown up I don’t think they saw the need to include Australia’s stolen generation, or the fleecing of Canada’s and NZ’s indigenous.

  5. Tim 5

    Yep – sure can. Run up the flag. Actually CV, I’m glad we are, though our contribution as members of it and former Empire is not that great in recent days. Atonement for the bad bits that occurred is rather pathetic (maybe JohnKy is taking a leaf out of Oz’s book), and as for the good bits of membership that occasionally occurred can’t really be regarded as that significant.
    You can bet Jonky is busy studying Joolya’s latest dog whistle where by her RootyHill promise of jobs for the truly,UTTERLY assimilated OZers will be protected from all those queue jumpers and bloody boat people.
    Bet your undies Jonky will be looking for ways to further assist. Actually – it’ll be Steve – John’s trying to grease up South America. Now there’s an idea!. I’m not sure he realises just how ‘onto his case’ they actually are.
    It’ll be meetings behind closed doors – after which they can’t wait to leave the room to smirk!.
    Still, at least a few DPS will have had some R & R aye.

  6. xtasy 6

    To me the media in NZ is generally SHIT! There are those like Farrar justifying conditions by saying we get a lot of current affairs on air, but I decidedly disagree.

    NZ is run primarily by private or corporate media companies, and they are not informing properly and do not target focus on real issues that many NZers are affected by. Especially minorities are not given any voice at all, that includes Maori, Pacifica and beneficiaries for instance.

    Now how long ago did any of you see or hear Q+A or The Nation on TV? Every year it seems there is a 3-month break for these programs, and not much else is reported on on depth. The main news from any main TV channel are not delivering enough. I noted a slight improvement of recent, but it still leaves heaps to be desired. Where is for instance any “debate” on welfare reforms, just one issue and topic, which are the biggest changes in a generation???

    We get heaps on weather, crime, shark attacks, emotional issues, and what some selected pollies raise as headlines to profile their own interests, but nothing that really affects many NZers.

    The remaining “public” media is increasingly trying to compete with the private media to get “headline” stories and neglects other real issues. We have the advertisers dictate to us what broadcasters and print and online media should present, and little else. The remaining accountable and informative media is being phased out, I mention TVNZ7, Stratos and Triangle here in Auckland, the voices of many are being silenced, and one wonderw about the powers of one Steven Joyce, who ran Mediaworks.

    It is a shameful situation, leaving heaps to be desired, so this share sale by Sky TV is not going to change or improve anything, it will just change the ownership of a commercial outlet interested primarily in profit. It should raise questions and ask people to take action to get the media back into an environment where they can have a voice also. Take a bigger step than lament some share holder changes, please.

    • karol 6.1

      xtasy, I agree that the most crucial issue is the need for improvement of NZ media, especially news & current affairs/political reporting.

      However, this is tied up with the nature of media ownership, and the way it has changed over time. News Corps’ withdrawal from NZ, is a significant shift, so it’s important to consider how things are changing.

      I don’t agree that it will be just a change of ownership and nothing more. Murdoch was the leader in the neoliberal shift of news and current events to being “infotainment”. This involved the globalisation of media, plus the increasing control of the MSM by a small number of mega-corporations headed by media moguls like Murdoch. The mogul era now looks to be in decline, with banks/financial institutions increasingly becoming key players.

      Investment bankers like John Key’s ex-employers, have been looking for a while to get more of a foothold in the Hollywood and news media industries. Hence Key’s interest in Hollywood, Hobbits etc.

      crickelwood’s comment above identifies one of the key changes going on now, that may be causing the decline of Sky TV as we currently know it. This has to do with the increasing shift of media, and news to the internet. So now big mega-corporations are looking to get control of copyright etc (e.g. TPPA, Obama, and you can be sure the bankers’ lot will be in there too).

      NZ TV and news wasn’t great before the 80s, but public service broadcasting has gone into decline here at the same time as we saw the rise and rise of Murdoch. Now the entire ground is shifting, and we need to look at the relationship between broadcast media and the Internet. It does give us scope for mounting pressure for changes in new kinds of ways.

      I’m not happy with the shift of FACE to Sky. OTOH, the launch of the Dailyblog gives me some hope for a critical mass of alternative, quality news/political input via the web.

      • Don't worry be happy 6.1.1

        Is Murdoch going out of Sky to ready up his ancient loins for charter schools? Pots of money to be made there. NZ an excellent ‘proving’ ground for dodgy experiments….

  7. Lloyd 7

    Surely it is time for the people of New Zealand to buy any loose shares in Sky, with the obvious investor being the government.

    • tc 7.1

      This may be a prescursor for Foxtel arriving (Ruperts Oz pay service) as maybe the right chats with Joyce and Key whilst on his many US visits have been had.

  8. John Drinnan 8

    No not really
    In fact the Murdoch sale to other financial interests means that the New zealand ownership has increased. Of course it all becomes murky once debt is involved,
    May well change if an overseas company decides to take a cornerstone stake.
    At moment sky hasa much bigger proportion of NZ ownrrship than Mediaworks, APN, Fairfax

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  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    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?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    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
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    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.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    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
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
    5 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
    4 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
    9 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
    11 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
    11 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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 ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 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
    5 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 ...
    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 ...
    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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    6 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
    6 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,” ...
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    6 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 ...
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    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 ...
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  • 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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    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 ...
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    1 week ago

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