What should NZ prioritise in international climate change negotiations later this year?

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, March 15th, 2018 - 48 comments
Categories: climate change, Environment - Tags: , ,

Details at mfat.govt.nz:

_____________________________________________________________________

Submissions on New Zealand’s priorities in the international climate change negotiations

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

We’re seeking submissions on New Zealand’s priorities in the international climate change negotiations

The Paris Agreement on climate change was agreed in 2015. Countries that signed up to the Agreement are now negotiating the guidelines for how to put it into practice.

The guidelines are due to be agreed at an important meeting in December 2018 in Poland – the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24). Although the COP24 is not until December, negotiations on the guidelines are already under way.

We would like to hear your views on the outcomes New Zealand should seek in these negotiations to help reach an outcome on the Paris Agreement guidelines that will balance all countries’ needs and priorities.

Below is some background information on some of the negotiating issues that have in the past been of interest to New Zealanders, together with some guiding questions. This does not represent the full range of negotiating issues, which can be viewed on the United Nations Climate Change website here (external link). Submitters are welcome to put forward ideas on all parts of the negotiations.

Public submissions are due by 3 April 2018.

This process is separate to consultation on the Zero Carbon Bill, which the Ministry for the Environment will begin in mid-2018.

Nationally Determined Contributions

Each country that signed up to the Paris Agreement has set a nationally determined contribution (NDC). New Zealand communicated its NDC in 2016. All countries will be required to revisit their NDCs by 2020. NDCs include targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each country can choose how to reduce its own emissions. NDCs are not legally binding. Countries are currently negotiating over guidance on how they can define and show they are achieving their targets. Clear explanations of targets and clear reporting are essential to hold countries accountable and achieve the long-term temperature goals laid out in the Paris Agreement.

Transparency

The Paris Agreement establishes a comprehensive transparency framework that applies to all countries. The details of how the framework will operate are currently being negotiated. The framework will require countries to report on actions taken to reduce emissions, as well as support for climate action (including financial, technology and capacity building – see below for more on this). Under the framework, countries’ reports will be reviewed by independent teams of experts, and then go through a process to monitor their individual progress.

The transparency framework is an essential part of the Paris Agreement. It will help hold countries accountable to each other for their actions and build confidence that all Parties are implementing their commitments.

Agriculture

Around half of New Zealand’s emissions come from agriculture, which contributes significantly to our economy. New Zealand has an opportunity in the international climate negotiations to encourage emission reductions from agriculture while supporting food security. Through the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (adopted in 2017) and other parts of the negotiations, we can encourage countries to take climate action on agriculture, including by improving the emissions efficiency of agricultural production.

Gender Action Plan

The Paris Agreement calls for countries, when taking climate action, to consider human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations, as well as gender equality and the empowerment of women. To implement this, in 2017 countries agreed on a Gender Action Plan. New Zealand has an opportunity to promote outcomes in the international climate negotiations that encourage and facilitate the participation of women in the process, including in leadership roles.

Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform

A Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform has been established as part of the international negotiations. New Zealand has an opportunity to advocate for how the Platform is structured and what it should focus on to enable indigenous peoples and local communities to exchange knowledge, and encourage countries to respect indigenous rights when they take climate action.

Climate finance

The Paris Agreement anticipates that financial resources will be provided for developing country climate action. New Zealand’s climate-related support is provided via Overseas Development Assistance. New Zealand committed in 2015 to providing NZ$200 million over four years, most of which is benefiting the Pacific.

The Paris Agreement’s transparency framework includes reporting on climate finance that countries provide or receive. The Agreement also anticipates developed country countries providing information on projected future support. The details of this are now being negotiated. New Zealand has an opportunity to help improve predictability and transparency of climate finance flows, consistent with countries’ national systems for tracking and reporting this information.

The Adaptation Fund was established under the Kyoto Protocol. It is important to Pacific Island and other developing countries as it is more easily accessed and better able to finance small projects compared to other climate funds. A decision will be reached this year on how the Fund will work under the Paris Agreement.

Carbon markets

The Paris Agreement recognises that some countries will cooperate to help achieve their NDCs and enable more global action on climate change. This cooperation is likely to occur through linking carbon markets (such as emission trading schemes) and other government-to-government arrangements, or through a new central system. New Zealand has an opportunity to help ensure that units traded in this way have environmental integrity and that cooperation between countries supports global efforts to reduce emissions.

Questions for submitters

  • What outcomes should NZ prioritise in 2018’s international negotiations on the Paris Agreement guidelines?
  • Are there issues we should consider less important than others in this year’s negotiations?
  • What other information or ideas would you like New Zealand officials to consider before this year’s negotiations?

Your feedback will be considered by our negotiators and summarised for Minister for Climate Change, Hon James Shaw. New Zealand’s negotiating mandate will be considered by Cabinet in mid-April ahead of the first negotiating session of 2018 in late April.

How to get in touch

  • Email: feedback@mfat.govt.nz
  • Mail: Coordinator, Climate Change Unit, Environment Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Private Bag 18-901, Wellington

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48 comments on “What should NZ prioritise in international climate change negotiations later this year? ”

  1. Ad 1

    Anyone else going to the James Shaw gig on business and climate change in Auckland tonight?

    • Cinny 1.1

      Would love to… need to get that teleporter happening 🙂

      Do you know if it’s being streamed please?

  2. bwaghorn 2

    you had me till the gender, indigenous rights bit , wtf has that to do with climate change.

    • weka 2.1

      Would you like climate mitigation to be driven by white men? Oh wait…

      (don’t take it personally b, it’s not a comment on you).

    • Baba Yaga 2.2

      Nothing. It’s virtue signalling. A bit like this moronic individual (https://twitter.com/cathmckenna/status/971914130436382721) who tweeted this:

      “We need to consider the gendered impacts of climate change on women, girls and children.”

      What a load of sexist bollocks.

      • bwaghorn 2.2.1

        for me it’s just the greens being their usual over the top lets please all our supporters at the risk of turning of joe public with side shows , there really is lots being done in nz around gender and indigenous rights without it having to invade ever corner.

        • weka 2.2.1.1

          you do realise that the NZ Green Party doesn’t control the Paris Agreement nor what is on the agenda for negotiations. Did you read the post?

          Also, while I think having the Greens in government, and Shaw as Climate minister, means the Greens will have influence on this (thank-fully), this actually came from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Ministers for that are Winston Peters and David Parker. Hard to see Labour having a problem with the gender and indigenous people’s aspects. Maybe NZF doesn’t support the indigenous people’s bit.

          • bwaghorn 2.2.1.1.1

            sorry i saw Shaws name and assumed he was running it , it doesn’t change the fact that the gender etc stuff is a side show that will no doubt suck up meeting time that could be better spent .

            • weka 2.2.1.1.1.1

              Women and children will be disproportionately affected by CC. Likewise indigenous peoples.

              Just as important, women (and children) and indigenous people’s bring perspectives that are sorely needed in addressing the problems of climate change. White men in power have utterly failed to make this a priority so bringing in other perspectives may be the only things that saves us at this point.

      • weka 2.2.2

        Nothing. It’s virtue signalling. A bit like this moronic individual (https://twitter.com/cathmckenna/status/971914130436382721) who tweeted this:

        “We need to consider the gendered impacts of climate change on women, girls and children.”

        What a load of sexist bollocks.

        yes, I’m sure you would prefer the white dudes to stay in power and continue to destroy the planet. Throw all the virtue signally pejoratives around that you like (although I think you don’t understand what that actually is), but the only way this would be sexist was if women held the institutional power and were stopping men from accessing it.

        • bwaghorn 2.2.2.1

          you do understand that us white guys have only fucked about a third of the planet , there’s asian guys , africain guys and an arab chap or two that have burnt oil and made plastic stuff

          • weka 2.2.2.1.1

            Yes, but that’s not what I am talking about. When I talk about white guys fucking up the planet I am really talking about the power imbalances. So the West has led the way, and we live in a country where the white dudes hold the power and too many of them don’t want to share it.

            But sure, if you want to also look at the power imbalances in nob-western countries that are also fucking up the planet, that would be a great conversation assuming we could do it from an informed place.

        • Baba Yaga 2.2.2.2

          “yes, I’m sure you would prefer the white dudes to stay in power and continue to destroy the planet.”
          White dudes? Like Angela Merkel? Theresa May? Jacinda Ardern? Li Keqiang? Narendra Modi? Simonetta Sommaruga? Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic? How many more examples of non ‘white dudes’ who are current heads of state would you like me to quote?

          “…but the only way this would be sexist was if women held the institutional power and were stopping men from accessing it.”
          Sexism is defined as “prejudice or discrimination based on sex”. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sexism.

          Considering the “gendered impacts of climate change on women, girls and children” is classic sexism. As well as being mindless drivel.

          • weka 2.2.2.2.1

            ” How many more examples of non ‘white dudes’ who are current heads of state would you like me to quote?”

            None, because I am fairly sure you are intelligent to understand how women get privileged in the patriarchy but are choosing to misrepresent that for your own political agenda.

            Lol that you need to use a dictionary to understand sexism. Try googling sexism 101 and pay attention to things like institutional racism and sexism, and the basic proposition that sexism is about power.

            You can assert mindless drivel all you like, but you plainly can’t handle a rational or meaningful conversation about sexism and just want to make it all about your view of the world. This is why we need more women and indigenous people involved, because they bring in more useful solutions. I can totally see why you wouldn’t want that.

  3. Ed 3

    Abandoning capitalism would be a good start.

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 3.1

      Open your eyes, get woke.

      Capitalism is the only system that distribute the cures to the small amount of ills it has caused. Everything else will fail.

      • Robert Guyton 3.1.1

        Tuppence – I see you’ve already said it (or something like it) – I support your “get woke”.

      • DoublePlusGood 3.1.2

        I think you need to get woke to the vast number of ills capitalism has caused throughout its history.

        Also, have you considered anarcho-syndicalism?

        • Tuppence Shrewsbury 3.1.2.1

          Lol that’ll catch on in time to save the planet.

          Capitalism can be a force of good if used correctly. It’s wfficient distribution systems will enable the planet to be saved far sooner by enabling them not opposing.

    • solkta 3.2

      We could just have a revolution.

  4. cleangreen 4

    `Today we must restore rail as prime mover of freight again as we had before the rapid expansion of truck freight as we now have oil being squandered by using trucks that use 5 to eight times the oil to move each one tonne of freight every km compared to rai.

    So go back to rail NZ as many other countries are doing !!!!!

  5. Robert Guyton 5

    Apologising for the past 9 years of denial and double-speak from the past Government?
    An assurance that Paula Bennett will never again again wear/flaunt the title, “Climate Change Minister”?
    Celebrating James’ securing of the role?

    • Tuppence Shrewsbury 5.1

      Booking all that carbon to fly around the world to try and blame everything on the previous government? It’s attitudes like that that show you are the problem, not part of the solution.

      An immediate ban on all non-essential consumer plastics. Not only do they not bio degrade the energy they consume to produce is staggering. A two fold solution.

      • Robert Guyton 5.1.1

        (this)
        Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation
        From the Center for Action and Contemplation

        Week Eleven

        The Natural World

        The Great Turning
        Wednesday, March 14, 2018

        When we look down on the Earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably
        beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also at the
        same time, looks extremely fragile. —Ron Garan, NASA Astronaut [1]
        I have set before you life and death, therefore choose life. —Deuteronomy 30:19
        Eco-philosopher, Earth elder, spiritual activist, and friend Joanna Macy (b. 1929)
        promotes a transition from the Industrial Growth Society to a Life-Sustaining
        Society. She calls it the Great Turning, a revolution of great urgency: “While the
        agricultural revolution took centuries, and the industrial revolution took
        generations, this ecological revolution has to happen within a matter of a few
        years.” [2] She is hopeful as she sees many participating in: “1) Actions to slow
        the damage to Earth and its beings [holding actions]; 2) Analysis and transformation
        of the foundations of our common life; and 3) A fundamental shift in worldview and
        values.” [3]
        The Center for Action and Contemplation has focused primarily on the last dimension,
        fostering a change in consciousness. Here’s how Joanna Macy and Molly Brown describe
        this crucial shift in perception and values:
        It is hard to undertake the holding actions or initiatives . . . unless we are
        nurtured by deeply held values and ways of seeing ourselves and the world. The
        actions we take—and structures we build—mirror how we relate to Earth and each
        other. They require a shift in our perception of reality—and that shift is happening
        now, both as cognitive revolution and spiritual awakening. . . .
        The insights and experiences that enable us to make this shift may arise from grief
        for our world that contradicts illusions of the separate and isolated self. Or they
        may arise from breakthroughs in science, such as quantum physics and systems theory.
        Or we may find ourselves inspired by the wisdom traditions of native peoples and
        mystical voices in the major religions . . . that reminds us again that our world is
        a sacred whole in which we have a sacred mission.
        Now, in our time, these three rivers—anguish for our world, scientific
        breakthroughs, and ancestral teachings—flow together. From the confluence of these
        rivers we drink. We awaken to what we once knew: we are alive in a living Earth, the
        source of all we are and can achieve. Despite our conditioning by the industrial
        society of the last two centuries, we want to name, once again, this world as holy.
        These insights and experiences are necessary to free us from the grip of the
        Industrial Growth Society. They offer us nobler goals and deeper pleasures. They
        help us redefine our wealth and our worth. The reorganization of our perceptions
        liberates us from illusions about what we need to own and what our place is in the
        order of things. [Moved] beyond tired old notions of competitive individualism, we
        come home to each other and our mutual belonging in the living body of Earth. [4]

  6. Ad 6

    I would like to see this government commit to eradicating the combustion engine.

    It’s certainly not world-leading as a proposition.

    China hasn’t set a deadline to do it, but they will.
    India has a target date of 2030, but not a hard deadline.
    Britain is aiming for 2040.
    France has a deadline of 2040.
    Norway has the most ambitious target: 2025.

    Other countries can commit to it; so should we.

    • Pat 6.1

      would that include heavy machinery?….i dont think the european targets do

      https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jul/06/france-ban-petrol-diesel-cars-2040-emmanuel-macron-volvo

      • Ad 6.1.1

        No.
        Fair while before the big diggers are battery powered.

        If you know of any developments in that area do let me know.

        • Pat 6.1.1.1

          k…there is some I have read of but pretty limited…so essentially a private motor vehicle target….think that essential and a bare minimum….and difficult enough both politically and in terms of supply.

          • AB 6.1.1.1.1

            “difficult enough both politically and in terms of supply.”
            Yes – and if the target is no sales of new petrol and diesel passenger vehicles by 2025, expect quite a few of these vehicles to still be on the road in 2040. Average age of the NZ private vehicle fleet is over 12 years I believe. We are mostly poor, have too much of our income locked into paying for houses/accommodation and we buy old cars.
            Not sure that we will all seamlessly and happily transition into EVs and continue to live as we do now, driving personal automobiles everywhere. I fear it could get ugly if the wealthy retain their mobility and the rest of us are restricted.

            • Pat 6.1.1.1.1.1

              indeed…and an expected battery life of around 10 years

            • Graeme 6.1.1.1.1.2

              Our forbears transitioned from the horse to car / tractor pretty easily and quickly. If we were to drop ourselves back into the 1900 to 1910 period we’d see a profound change in mobility, and in cities an equally profound improvement in the environment. Horses were bloody messy and dangerous things.

              I think the coming mobility revolution will be just as profound as electric mobility becomes cheaper and better. We’re not at the Model T equivalent yet, but it’s close.

              • weka

                Show me a decent GHG emissions audit of converting combustion engines to electric, and then of running the electrics cradle to grave (including manufacture and maintenance of power generators and car factories etc).

                That we can invent new tech doesn’t mean it’s inherently good thing.

              • Pat

                not as quickly as you think…..NZ pop 1950 of around 2 million.. registered private cars around 250.000…thats quite sometime after the model T was released.

  7. Matthew Whitehead 7

    Let’s see, off the top of my head:
    * An immediate end to fossil fuel exploration in all signatory countries.
    * Phase out plans for fossil fuel burning that include leaving more than enough of the existing reserves in the ground. (these two go together as the fossil fuel industry has basically gone rogue and clearly intends to keep burning more fuels than we can afford to. Also ties into Ad’s ambitions nicely)
    * NDCs should have a feasible path forward using existing technology only. (this doesn’t mean they can’t use new technology later, just that they need to be reachable with current tech and a feasible fallback plan should be in place for that)
    * Plans to reach NDCs should be fully implemented by 2040. (this might be charitable, but I also think it would be difficult to get agreement on)
    * Moves on agricultural emissions that assume some degree of phase-down of current amounts of animal agriculture, given its emissions and efficiency problems. (relax, this shouldn’t mean you all need to be vegetarian, but it might mean you can’t have meat at every meal)
    * Ensure climate financing is in line with the likely scenarios from adding together the likely outcomes of NDCs.
    * Sell other countries on the idea of climate refugees as a category, and of implementation in advance of the problem.

  8. Bill 8

    Negotiations? Physics going to be sitting at the table and looking to strike a deal is it? ffs!

    Those NDCs shoot the world beyond 2 degrees.

    Country based emissions are highly misleading (outsourced production anyone?)

    Developing nations require trillions of dollars from developed nations tout suite if they are to leapfrog “our” carbon intensive development path.

    Aviation and shipping are still getting a free pass (largely as a result of emissions being assigned on a national basis) and both sectors have increasing emissions.

    And NZs climate minister (probably in line with similarly positioned people in other countries) does not know what an integrated assessment model is, or the assumptions embedded in the ones utilised by the IPCC or that they underpin the various IPCC “pathways” (RCP 2.6 etc), or that they are not predictive and so ought not ever be used as a basis for policy.

    So on the basis that we’ve had 30 years of bullshit and inaction, I’d submit that all ministers and policy wonks wishing to go to COP24 go, and never leave the conference rooms unless or until such times they face reality and commit unreservedly to ending fossil use without delay and no matter the economic consequences.

    • bwaghorn 8.1

      O come on Bill meetings and taxs will save the day especially if we have a gay indigenous woman as chair

    • Pat 8.2

      “So on the basis that we’ve had 30 years of bullshit and inaction, I’d submit that all ministers and policy wonks wishing to go to COP24 go, and never leave the conference rooms unless or until such times they face reality and commit unreservedly to ending fossil use without delay and no matter the economic consequences.”

      that is a relatively easy statement to agree with on the face of it……economic consequences yes, but what about societal consequences?

      • Bill 8.2.1

        Economic consequences will have societal flow on effects. Our government and all others who signed various Accords have committed to taking action on AGW with an eye to equity. Take that with as much or little salt as you will.

  9. Kevin 9

    Considering we have already had a 1 degree increase in temps since industrialisation, I suspect we will hit the 1.5 by the time any negotiations are finalised requiring new negotiations.

    Which is probably the intention anyway.

  10. Poission 10

    And NZs climate minister (probably in line with similarly positioned people in other countries) does not know what an integrated assessment model is, or the assumptions embedded in the ones utilised by the IPCC or that they underpin the various IPCC “pathways” (RCP 2.6 etc), or that they are not predictive and so ought not ever be used as a basis for policy.

    Indeed the RCP scenarios are problematic at best and integrated IAM are based on equilibrium states with an absence of endogenous dynamics and accompanying predicative skill is troublesome eg Groth and Ghil 2017

    https://dept.atmos.ucla.edu/tcd/news/synchronization-world-economic-activity

  11. savenz 11

    Put in a submission against the TPPA that will allow polluters to sue our government and councils if law changes on climate change effect their profits!

    Send government a message how you feel about climate change being removed from the TPPA text and climate change provision not being in trade agreements! They are crazy for the omission!

    How crazy is agreeing the Paris summit goals and then signing other agreements that ignore it!

    https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/52SCFD_SCF_ITE_76583/international-treaty-examination-of-the-comprehensive-and

    • Carolyn_Nth 11.1

      Thanks for the link. Submission done. It doesn’t need to be long, but it’s important that as many people as possible make their concerns known to the government.

      And I did mention the need for climate change provisions in the agreement.

  12. Drowsy M. Kram 12

    High (behaviour-changing) carbon taxes on corporate profits, to be embedded in ‘FTAs’, ‘TPPAs’, ‘CPTPPAs’, etc., and ring-fenced for climate change research, impact mitigation and supporting ‘creative destruction’ initiatives.

    https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/jul/10/100-fossil-fuel-companies-investors-responsible-71-global-emissions-cdp-study-climate-change

    Or blend it with a ‘Comprehensive and progressive‘ carbon tax (CPCT) of the type proposed in this link.

    https://aneconomicsense.org/tag/taxes/

  13. Electric cars is the best way to lower our carbon out put foot print we have the best country in the World to race towards a carbon neutral or close to a carbon neutral I say this is the easiest fruit to pick a little subsidy from the gas cars farward to the Elictric car owners .
    We have hydro geothermal as a base backup load for wind and solar power the rest of the World would fall over them selves to get these resorces in a rush to get to them.
    We would lower our trade deficit just by that move alone $5000.00 for second hand electric cars we could have had 5000 electric more cars on the road with the money shonky wasted on the flag debate .
    As for indigenous people and the connection to being environmentally friendly and the indigenous cultures well we learnt that if one keep ——-in one own backyard the—–hits the fan we have learnt to respect Papatuanuku mother earth we have a connection with Papatuanuku and all the beautiful things that are associated with her and all the creaters on her we wish to persevere them all. They should be use wisely and not abused .We will be a lot better Guardians of Mother earth and all that part of her than neo libreal mutuality national companys that are legislated in the companys act to deliver a profit over anything else. enough said. Ka kite ano P.S The mokos just turned up Kia kaha

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    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – 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. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • 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
    3 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
    4 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 ...
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    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
    2 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
    7 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
    9 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
    10 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
    23 hours 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 ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
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  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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