Where is Melissa Lee?

Written By: - Date published: 1:22 pm, March 4th, 2024 - 44 comments
Categories: Deep stuff, democracy under attack, democratic participation, Media, media abuse, melissa lee, Politics - Tags:

The New Zealand media sector has been in turmoil during the past week.

Warner Bros Discovery is consulting with workers about the total shutdown of its media wing Newshub. You would think that leaving such a big hole in the country’s media infrastructure would require the Minister to at least front up and publicly address the issue but she has been strangely silent.

And she had plenty of warning. From Guyon Espiner at Radio New Zealand:

Officials warned the government it may face requests to bailout media companies if it failed to progress a law forcing digital platforms to pay local media for using their content.

The warning, from officials at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, came in November last year, months before Newshub collapsed.

The advice to Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee said any further delay to a law change forcing Google and Facebook to pay local media companies for using their news content could lead to job losses.

“The industry considers the [Fair Digital News Bargaining] bill is the best mechanism to support a free and independent news media that is not reliant on government funding,” officials told Lee.

“The government may come under pressure from news media entities to consider other more interventionist and costly options for supporting the news media industry, such as bailouts.”

The briefings obtained by RNZ made it clear Lee was on notice about media job losses, months before Warner Bros Discovery said last week it would close down Newshub in June with the loss of about 300 jobs.

It will be at least May before the bill progresses any further, however, as Lee told RNZ she would wait for a report from the select committee considering it before going any further.

The second piece of news in the past week was TVNZ reporting a $16.7 million loss put down to a declining local advertisement market.

David Seymour responded to this news by suggesting that TVNZ should pay more in dividends. In particular he said:

“I think there’s a question mark around whether the government’s ownership of one TV channel and the poor returns it’s demanded as a shareholder has actually contributed to an uncompetitive market,” he said.

“It may well mean that they have to make a return on equity just like every other business in New Zealand is required to do … for a long time people have raised the simple question: how is it possible that New Zealand has very very cheap television advertising and a major player owned by government that doesn’t return a dividend as other companies are expected to do.”

TVNZ could return greater profits, by doing what Warner Bros Discovery is doing and partially or closing down the news side of its business. Wall to wall game shows, dramas about people renovating houses and series about celebrities living on desert islands could increase. The profit motive can produce rather unusual results.

But meanwhile an informed electorate, an absolute core necessity of a properly functioning democracy, could be severely impacted.

The Minister has nor ruled out one possible solution, passing Labour’s Fair Digital News Bargaining bill.

But she is content to wait until May when it is due to be reported back. The urgency of the current situation has clearly passed her by.

And the idea seems to be such a no brainer. Australia has created a similar scheme. And the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the EU and France are also in the process of introducing similar measures. But Lee’s reluctance to advance the proposal quickly is startling.

It is almost as if the Government does not care about the health of local media. And when you see that its supporters think that Newshub is a left wing outlet, although not as left wing as the Herald, you really have to wonder about their thought processes.

And while we are on the subject of undue pressure on the media how about this doozie from David Seymour?

Putting pressure on Journalists to tow the party line when reporting and not refer to left wing positions or discussion points ought to a sackable offence. It is disturbing that Seymour should be so blatant and so impervious.

This is a complex difficult issue. But without a properly functioning fourth estate things could get really chaotic really fast.

44 comments on “Where is Melissa Lee? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. roblogic 1
    4 March 2024 at 1:37 pm

    Seymour's "free speech" posture didn't last very long.

    • Tiger Mountain 1.1
      4 March 2024 at 4:33 pm

      Exactly. He is happy enough to receive his salary–I take it–all the while pushing Atlas inspired small Govt. policies.

      Paula Rebstock detested the state but happily put her mitt out for no less than $2000.00 per diem on one CYF Commission she chaired. Ann Tolley had pushed for it to be 3 grand!
      https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/289946/tolley-wanted-to-pay-chair-$3000-a-day

      Neo libs want state spending slashed but not for them!

    • AB 1.2
      4 March 2024 at 4:38 pm

      Right-wing advocates of "free speech" are mostly authoritarians who are determined to continue the entrenched dominance of their preferred speech by any legal means available.

      • Tiger Mountain 1.2.1
        4 March 2024 at 5:38 pm

        Yes, Groundswell ute slow drives are fine. We supported a Ngati Kahu educational picket about sustainable fishing at Taipa Point Far North during a fishing contest, and half of Kaitaia’s Police were dispatched, and made immediate arrest threats if we stopped any fishers.

        The salient point is that it was Ngati Kahu land that they had returned on which they allow a boat ramp still to operate. They are tired of being arrested on their own land.

        Talleys/AFFCO are suspending and prohibiting entry to workers wearing Meat workers Union T shirts. Free speech… as long as you don’t say too much that the ruling class does not like…

  2. Muttonbird 2
    4 March 2024 at 1:58 pm

    Not a great start for Mellisa Lee, losing one of New Zealand's two 6:00pm TV news programmes, that's 50%. She's also has now to fend off the idiot duo deputy PMs who both want the other one to be demolished. Unfortunately these two are just going to laugh at her and gleefully continue their malevolent agenda.

    Supplementary question: Where is Christopher Luxon?

    • newsense 2.1
      4 March 2024 at 11:27 pm

      He’s got another 100 day plan and this isn’t on it. Premier House getting a new guest ball room though…

  3. Mr Nobody 3
    4 March 2024 at 2:38 pm

    There is no way thebgovernment should be bailing out private company's considering the state of the New Zealand economy.

    The fact that both TV3 and TVNZ are unable to produce a product that is able to be cost neutral let alone profitable says more about their inability to produce a product that is valued by their audience.

    • Descendant Of Smith 3.1
      4 March 2024 at 2:54 pm

      It isn't funded by its audience. Its funded by capitalist businesses.

      This is why once you paid a licence fee – so news was not just subject to the whims of capitalism and where they decide to put their advertising dollar.

      BBC is funded 75% by licence fee. Even then capitalists are trying to move to a commercial advertising basis to "save the poor" from paying the fee. Like they give a shit about the poor.

    • SPC 3.2
      4 March 2024 at 4:00 pm

      In most nations there is a state media funded by tax, thus there is no competition for the advertising dollar.

      The private sector media market is being fragmented by the existence of on-line competition to broadcast and print.

      And then there are the on-line platforms that "borrow" content from them – using their standing/reputation for advantage.

  4. That_guy 4
    4 March 2024 at 3:22 pm

    Toe the line. Not tow.

    Originally used by prizefighters who would literally put their toe on a chalk line to show that they were ready to start the fight. The original meaning is therefore "get ready to fight" not "comply with an external norm or policy".

    Might be one of those cases like "decimate", where the only examples of people using it to mean "kill one in ten" are pedants like me on the internet.

    • Mike the Lefty 4.1
      4 March 2024 at 3:38 pm

      I didn;t know about the "toe the line" either, although as a keen classical historian I knew "decimate". We so often use expressions that we have no idea what they actually mean.

    • Tiger Mountain 4.2
      4 March 2024 at 4:27 pm

      only “loosers” “tow” the line…well pointed out That_guy

  5. Mike the Lefty 5
    4 March 2024 at 3:36 pm

    A distracted minister of broadcasting is a real concern – the conspiracy theorist media are already thinking how they can profit by this.

  6. tsmithfield 6
    4 March 2024 at 3:39 pm

    I don't think the government should be funding media at all in the current environment. They should remove public funding and leave media companies to sink or swim.

    The way we consume media is changing rapidly and the old media models are becoming progressively less workable, so are likely to become a progessively larger black hole for any government. They are going the way of posted mail, private landlines, and Yellow Pages directory books.

    And, funding TVNZ but not TV3 just created an unfair and unlevel playing field that no doubt contributed to the demise of TV3.

      • tsmithfield 6.1.1
        4 March 2024 at 3:47 pm

        Thanks for the clarification on that. Therefore, I would revise my statement to say that the tax payer should not step in to rescue TVNZ for the reasons I have given above.

        • Descendant Of Smith 6.1.1.1
          4 March 2024 at 4:04 pm

          Most of the top countries with the highest press freedom have some sort of government support. I have no problem with that at all.

          Informing the population should not be at the whim of the private sector. Public broadcasting is fine.

          https://rsf.org/en/index

        • KJT 6.1.1.2
          4 March 2024 at 4:44 pm

          So. The information we get should be totally at the mercy of private owners?
          W’ve seen how that works.

          • tsmithfield 6.1.1.2.1
            4 March 2024 at 4:50 pm

            TV3 was privately owned, and it's content didn't seem a helluva lot different to the state-owned one. So, I am not sure you have much of an argument there.

            • KJT 6.1.1.2.1.1
              4 March 2024 at 4:57 pm

              The State owned one was run as a commercial profit making enterprise, dependant on the same funding sources as TV3.

              A big mistake, typical of the neo-Liberal attitude to what should have been a public service.

              No surprise that both supplied the same dumbed down, mass audience content.

              Bit like our dumbed down "bums on seats" immigration scam, tertiary education..

    • SPC 6.2
      4 March 2024 at 4:14 pm

      Another sign of the bowing down to mammon, all hail the reign of the market nihilism of neo-liberal right wing culture here since 1984.

      You cannot name one first world nation that has no state funded TV and radio. No where is state funding seen as unfair to private competition.

      Mail will be around for decades (even if reduced to weekly delivery) because it is cheaper than courier. People will miss landlines when they lose power for their phones – in an age of climate change (and in Christchurch earthquakes). The wise will look at solar power and or battery for that reason alone.

      Print and radio and TV broadcast "legacy" media will continue online.

      • tsmithfield 6.2.1
        4 March 2024 at 4:44 pm

        You might have an argument if the media organisations such as TVNZ were able to produce quality material. But, why should my taxes go to fund mindless reality TV fodder that seems to dominate most of the TV schedule these days?

        And if they were capable of producing well thought out, balanced investigative type journalism, I might be a fan.

        But, I don't see any justification of propegating the sort of crap we have now at the tax-payer expense.

        • Descendant Of Smith 6.2.1.1
          4 March 2024 at 6:20 pm

          They produce that crap because they are expected to be paid for by advertising revenue.

          It is cheap to produce annon fodder exactly the type of stuff pioneered by TV3. Period dramas etc require lots of funding for costumes, extras, and so on.

          A cast of ten Big Brother style or a game show not so much.

        • roblogic 6.2.1.2
          4 March 2024 at 8:27 pm

          Labour developed a Charter for TVNZ in 2003; to get more local content and balanced news.

          Of course, National got rid of that in 2011 so that TVNZ could "pursue commercial interests"

          Damian Christie wrote an interesting piece on how the Charter wasn't taken seriously by TVNZ until Labour mandated channels 6/7 for public service broadcasting.

          Of course, National got rid of those too.

  7. Ad 7
    4 March 2024 at 3:48 pm

    This National-led government has a top 5 that resemble the Clark administration.

    If you weren't in it, at Cabinet table you were peering through the wrong end of a telescope.

    For this lot, it's Luxon, Willis, Reti, Brown, then Upston, Collins and Mitchell pitching in where needed.

    Winston is where he should be ie overseas, and Seymour is given toys to keep entertained.

    Lee is nowhere near this list and has well and truly peaked where she is.

    • Kat 7.1
      4 March 2024 at 5:35 pm

      Luxon, Willis, Bishop, Brown………mayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyybe Reti……
      Upston and co are just henchpeople…..

  8. tsmithfield 8
    4 March 2024 at 4:54 pm

    All we need is channels such as Ground News that displays how biased various articles are.

    The current TV news is hopeless in that it only covers what they think we should know about. Not what is necessarily most important.

  9. Obtrectator 9
    4 March 2024 at 5:21 pm

    The Minister has nor ruled out one possible solution, passing Labour’s Fair Digital News Bargaining bill.

    But she is content to wait until May when it is due to be reported back. The urgency of the current situation has clearly passed her by.

    Of course Ms Actua-Lee is "content to wait". She personally does not support that Bill "in its current form" (a stance mentioned briefly in passing during RNZ’s MediaWatch on 25 Feb, and stated by the lady herself in an audio clip played on the same programme a week earlier).

  10. Phillip ure 10
    4 March 2024 at 5:22 pm

    Both tv1 and tv3 news are utter timewasting crap..

    One hour of news:…minus the ads…minus the sport..minus the entertainment 'news'..minus the human interest news..

    And you end up with s.f.a. news..

    I haven't watched either in about six years..

    I would bet money it's still as it was back then…

    This is the curse of the commercial model..

    An hour of non-commercial news would be much closer to a real news service…

    We can but dream…

    • Ad 10.1
      4 March 2024 at 5:40 pm

      If that's what you prefer you have the option of RNZ.

      • Phillip ure 10.1.1
        4 March 2024 at 6:00 pm

        Which is what I rely on…

        • Phillip ure 10.1.1.1
          4 March 2024 at 6:03 pm

          And I have lived in countries that have that commercial-free model..

          So I do know how it could/should be…

          And were tv1 and tv3 like that..I would watch them..

    • Obtrectator 10.2
      4 March 2024 at 6:10 pm

      Well, the latest All-Blacks squad is still invariably the lead item ….

  11. Koff 11
    4 March 2024 at 10:44 pm

    Over the ditch, we still have commercial free ABC TV (and radio) and 80% government funded, more internationally oriented, SBS (with a cap of 5% ads per hour). Of course, Oz has far more dosh to keep these two free to air channels alive with generally good news cover and some other programmes worth watching (7.30 Report, Foreign Correspondent and Four Corners on ABC, for example). Much of the rest is the same crap as on commercial channels, mostly quiz programmes and reality TV, but with no (ABC) or fewer (SBS) commercials. When in NZ, I just listen to RNZ and don't watch TV, which is dreadful. Could NZ maintain a government funded free to air, non commercial TV service? Of course, as it has been pointed out in comments above, many other rich countries do. The Labour government lost its nerve in the last administration like it did over introducing a more radical, fairer taxation system.

  12. newsense 12
    4 March 2024 at 11:32 pm

    Jon Oliver this week on putting the cost cutting managerialists- you know this government of invented panic and arbitrary budget reductions- in charge of a company of product led excellence. The doors start coming off aeroplanes. And we’ve been here before. At Cave Creek. And many other places. And here we go again!

  13. thinker 13
    5 March 2024 at 7:09 am

    "But she is content to wait until May when it is due to be reported back. The urgency of the current situation has clearly passed her by."

    …and it isn't as if National is a stranger to urgency. People called Muldoon a dictator but he didn't do urgency like this government, IMHO.

  14. Bob 14
    5 March 2024 at 9:43 am

    "how is it possible that New Zealand has very very cheap television advertising and a major player owned by government that doesn’t return a dividend as other companies are expected to do.”

    This comment is at the crux of the weakness in Seymour's thinking – the government is NOT just another company seeking a "return on investment" – it has social as well as economic drivers that need to be balanced to deliver fair and reasonable decisions for ALL constituents, not just their political supporters. Governments are not just about being good at managing finances.

    Also – very very cheap? What? Compared to who? Luxon will be of a similar ilk – just perhaps not to the extent of Seymour and his extremist friends at the NZ Initiative and other far right "think" tanks (emphasised for the irony) that focus purely on the financial (sometimes immediately measurable) aspects of governmental responsibilities.

    • tc 14.1
      5 March 2024 at 1:42 pm

      ACT wants to run the government like a company and jones wants to bond future governments to compensate businesses for policy changes.

      Meanwhile luxons looking weaker by the day, dodging questions and having no portfolios and he didnt start out from a position of strength.

  15. Anker 15
    5 March 2024 at 3:05 pm

    I think Melissa Lee is the quietest Cabinet Minister to date. Weakest link?

    However Newshub shouldn't be ballied out imo

    • SPC 15.1
      5 March 2024 at 3:17 pm

      Give she hounded a former Minister of Broadcasting into making misstatements – she has made herself paranoid of coming to the same fate … guilt as her shadow.

      But then maybe it should be the shadow of more than one Minister …

    • Anker 15.2
      5 March 2024 at 5:02 pm

      I will wait and see what ML does, but so far its not great. however whoever criticised her for not being empathac enough was silly. She was kind enough, but thats not her bloody job. i am looking for competence and am yet to see any

  16. observer 16
    5 March 2024 at 5:57 pm

    Taxpayer funding?

    It financed Melissa Lee's broadcasting career before she became an MP. She presented and produced Asia Dynamic and Asia Down Under (both good and useful shows, but unfortunately stuck in the Sunday morning timeslot).

    Without NZ on Air (i.e. our tax dollars) the shows would not have existed – along with her TV profile among Asian-Kiwi viewers, and voters.

    It is absolutely right that tax dollars fund a voice for minorities, then and now. It is shameful that the Minister and many commentators have conveniently forgotten that it happened.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-27T10:37:22+00:00