Where is the Free Speech Union when you need it?

Written By: - Date published: 8:25 am, February 28th, 2023 - 97 comments
Categories: act, chris hipkins, david seymour, human rights, national, spin, Unions - Tags:

Rob Campbell is under some pressure from National and Act for calling out publicly the right’s dog whistle attacks on co governance.

Craig McCulloch at RNZ has the details:

In a LinkedIn post over the week, Campbell – who also chairs the Environmental Protection Authority – lambasted the National Party’s Three Waters policy as a thinly disguised “dog whistle on co-governance”.

He went on to target National’s leader, writing: “Christopher Luxon might be able to rescue his party from stupidity on climate change but rescuing this from a well he has dug himself might be harder.”

Under the Public Service Commission’s code of conduct, directors of crown entities must act in a politically impartial manner.

Chris Hipkins has described Campbell’s comments as “inappropriate” and “fell well outside” the code of conduct.

The right were not so restrained.

National Party public service spokesperson Simeon Brown said Campbell’s conduct was “absolutely appalling” and his excuse did not fly.

“His job is to fix the health system and make sure people don’t have long waiting lists – not to be making running commentary on National Party policy.”

Brown said Campbell’s behaviour raised serious questions about his judgement, but declined to say whether he should be sacked.

ACT leader David Seymour showed no such restraint, telling RNZ he did not see how Campbell could remain in the job.

“If he is able to get away with this, what signal does that send to the rest of the public service?” he said. “The Public Service Commissioner Peter Hughes needs to take a stand here.”

Their comments smack of that word that starts with “h” and ends with “ypocrisy”.

For some time one of their puppet organisations has extolled the right of workers to enjoy the right to freedom of speech.

In fact on the front page of its website is this text:

We envision a flourishing New Zealand civil society that values and protects vigorous debate, dissenting ideas, and freedom of speech as cultural cornerstones.

As a trade union, we will promote members’ collective employment interests with a particular focus on the protection of their freedom of speech from employer interference. If you feel that your job could be placed in jeopardy because of thoughts or opinions you express in your private life, or if you simply want the reassurance of having the support of a community dedicated to defending free speech, then become a member today.

Free speech is the bedrock on which all our other freedoms rest, yet it is currently in greater peril than at any time since the Second World War.

One of the wins of the trade union moment in the early 20th century was the 8-hour day, and the concept of employees not remaining servants to their masters once they’ve clocked off. That is the principle we need to reestablish – to stop employers, or others, trying to get people fired for having so called ‘unacceptable’ or controversial views.

This ought to be a classic case for the FSU to take up.  Campbell is being subject to cancel culture for expressing personal views which a lot of us agree with.  But it’s silence deeply suggests that free speech for the right is more important than free speech for the left.

97 comments on “Where is the Free Speech Union when you need it? ”

  1. tc 1

    Coming from a bona fide club member with directorships across a range of entities that's quite telling IMO.

    Could we be seeing a genuine change at that level with the BS getting called out, only time will tell.

  2. Tiger Mountain 2

    Free the Campbell! let Rob speak.

    He was a talented senior unionist who moved off to the corporate sector for various reasons, including a brush with cancer. He is still talented and the Govt. is fortunate to have him at Te Whatu Ora.

    Genuinely dangerous are the ACT/Natzo fifth columnists that infest the public sector. They generally operate by stealth in the background with their leaking and undermining.

  3. AB 3

    Most contemporary champions of free speech operate in bad faith. Their agenda is mostly to maintain the existing cultural and political dominance of their preferred speech – and repel any challenges to that status quo as somehow illegitimate.
    That said, Campbell has overstepped and deserves censure, but not sacking.

    • adam 3.1

      Campbell has overstepped

      How? He is the chair of Environmental Protection Authority, and he has a role to play to protect the environment. The policy does not protect the environment, and instead uses itself as a platform to dog whistle more of the same old, same old .

      So AB do you support that type of politics, and are your suggesting it should be protected? People should be censored for calling it out flaws, in this case fundamental flaws in policy?

      What have we come to when a snowflake like seymore house can call for someone to be fired, for doing their bloody job.

      • weka 3.1.1

        what kind of relationship will Campbell and National have if National form government sometime in the future?

        • adam 3.1.1.1

          None, they are snowflakes, so they will fire him.

          • mickysavage 3.1.1.1.1

            National regularly purges boards when it gains power. Nothing is more certain.

            • weka 3.1.1.1.1.1

              so we don't have a neutral public service?

              • adam

                No we don't, never had one.

                Our public service was to offer free and frank advise. That is long dead.

                Neutrality is a myth, created by neo-con to divide and conquer once again.

            • Belladonna 3.1.1.1.1.2

              Could you provide a link to support this? I can't recall it happening.

              Although, they do take the opportunity to 'refresh' boards when the appointment terms come to an end (as does Labour).

              The only example I can think of is Wayne Brown's reign-of-terror via letter – which resulted in some COO board chairs resigning.

              I rather think that that got coverage because it's the exception rather than the rule.

      • AB 3.1.2

        I agree with what Campbell said – if it was a private conversation I would consider his comments true but understated. If he was speaking as part of his role for the EPA (I'm not sure he was), he might have found a more measured way of making the same points. And if he had made similar public comments about a Labour policy I think those of us who are inclined to ignore his comments this time would be less than happy. In the public domain, decorum is useful in keeping the lid on conflict, even though an excess of it kills truth-telling.

        • adam 3.1.2.1

          So we have to put up with the same old, same old racist dog whistle politics. Because it wasn't seemly, I would have thought racist dog whistle politics was more unseemly.

          But sure lets run with giving the racist dog whistle politics of the right a free hand, once again.

  4. SPC 4

    Maybe the Free Speech Union has to get permission from the Taxpayer Union to support free speech critical of policy supported by the Taxpayer Union?

  5. Stuart Munro 5

    The constraints on civil service political expression are stronger on institutional than personal social media accounts. Campbell is right to defend his right to express his views on his personal accounts, and the PM was unwise to criticize him.

    It is notable too that National, unable to contest the facts of Campbells comments, are trying to leverage formal neutrality to suppress the truth. The truth however, enjoys the defense of public interest irrespective of the inconvenience to the wretched refuse of the far right.

  6. Alan 6

    Bollocks, imagine the uproar from the left if the boot was on the other foot.

  7. Mike the Lefty 7

    Freedom of expression apparently works only when it's for the political right according to the FSU. Plus what did Rob Campbell say that was incorrect?

    • Ghostwhowalksnz 7.1

      Good point . If it was a falsehood or misrepresentation , which it wasnt, there might be a case.

    • weka 7.2

      If National are government will it be ok for senior public servants to harshly criticise Labour policy and leader?

      • Stuart Munro 7.2.1

        Ok? It will be mandatory.

      • Red Blooded One 7.2.2

        And is it still okay for the National Party to attack Civil Servants by calling them Wokesters?

      • Shanreagh 7.2.3

        Rob Campbell was not a senior public servant in his capacity as a Board member of Te Whatu Ora. He was an appointee to several boards where the govt of the day gets to make the appointment.

        I would not class him as either a public servant or 'civil' servant (I think this is what people in the UK call them.)

        In NZ we have the Public Service which usually means those in this list.

        https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/system/central-government-organisations/#public-service-departments

        With statutory boards the Govt of the day usually replaces as appointments come due …….but sometimes they leave the people there as often the appointees chosen by the other side are good people, no political axe to grind and are doing good work.

        In the Public Service it is absolutely not the correct thing to become involved politically. PS exist to carry out the work of the Govt of day without fear or favour. The Public Service Commission has strict rules about people campaigning either in local body or national elections.

        As public servants operating on a no surprises basis we are/were expected to let our dept know of any type of action where there was the potential to bring us, department or wider PS into disrepute.

        For instances as a member of a community based org that operated very quietly in town planning matters I uniformly let my dept know when I had been re-elected. I made sure to tell the dept when this little group found itself in a huge court case involving the Council/lessee. I stepped back so that none of the press releases or court actions had my name anywhere.

        Not sure about Boards but I would think that exposing questionable dealings, ie whistle blowing is something that is protected.

        Making comment while a member of a statutory Board is fraught. Even if you make it perfectly clear you are acting as a private citizen the media will always overlook this and tag the announcement onto a membership.

        I personally think

        Rob Campbell is brave to do this knowing how it will be misinterpreted.

        If Rob Campbell had issued the statement as a private person or in his Environmental role then sanctions should not be called for

        Often bad things came to pass on people who point out that the Emperor has no clothes

        Govt is over reacting and doing this because Nats appear to have a 'gotcha' and Labour cannot be bothered explaining the intricacies as general public won't/can't understand them

        Let is hope that if Campbell wants, he is able to keep his environmental role.

  8. Mike the Lefty 8

    Back a few decades the political right used to sneer that trade unions were just a front for the Labour Party and/or communism. Well right now I could rattle off a list of organizations that are a front for National including Taxpayers Union, Hobsons Pledge, Free Speech Union, Groundswell…..

  9. woodart 9

    sounds like seymour etc are being woke and practicing cancel culture. lol. free speech ,hobsons pledge etc, are being hoist on their own petard. the more outraged these clowns get, the more publicity campbells remarks, attracts. its making the media actually report , not just pontificate.

  10. The Bill of Rights Act guarantees the right of Free Speech which cannot be overwritten by contract – at least that is my understanding.

    Why are his outbursts a problem? After all the MSM are doing their best to have the Blue Team elected so anybody getting coverage which denigrates Luxon is a good thing, right?

    • James Simpson 10.1

      It was the Minster of Health that sacked him. Not National or the media.

      • Shanreagh 10.1.1

        Yes that is said.

        An overreaction on my view unless he clearly stated in his release that the comments were made in his capacity as a member of Te Whatu Ora.

  11. Anker 11

    Oh for gods sake. He is a senior public servant and the public service are supposed to be neutral. He can resign and exercise his free speech, or post his thoughts on a private FB page or even come on here and comment anonymously.

    even Hipkins isn’t defending him

    • Anne 11.1

      He is (or was) the government appointed chairman of a board. They are not classed as public servants. Having said that and despite him being correct, he is expected to be a little more diplomatic in what he says in public. That was his perceived crime.

      When I was a public servant in the 80s and 90s the neutral thing only applied one way. I know because I experienced the harmful spite, the set-ups and the bully-boy tactics simply because I supported the Labour Party. They drove me out of the Service. Go figure.

    • hetzer 11.2

      Exactly, good riddance to him

    • adam 11.3

      No it's not suppose to be neutral, it's their to offer free and frank advise.

      The whole neutral thing is an invention of neo-con myth making.

      • Belladonna 11.3.1

        Nope. Their code of conduct specifically covers political neutrality

        We are politically impartial

        We act in a politically impartial manner. Irrespective of our political interests, we conduct ourselves in a way that enables us to act effectively under current and future governments. We do not make political statements or engage in political activity in relation to the functions of the Crown entity.

        https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/guidance/code-of-conduct-for-crown-entity-board-members/

        • adam 11.3.1.1

          As written by neo-cons – thanks for proving my point.

          • Belladonna 11.3.1.1.1

            No. As written by the Civil Service.

            And the principle of politically neutral has been part of the public service in NZ for at least 100 years (my great-uncle was the deputy head of the Dept of Agriculture in the mid-20th century, and he was absolutely prohibited from belonging to a political party, for example; let alone making political statements in a semi-public forum). So well before 'neo-conservatism' was even invented.

            There is also a huge difference between offering confidential free and frank advice to a minister (which isn't, BTW, even an issue in this situation), and making independent political statements.

            But, hey, if you support a politicized public service as they have in the US – then by all means, argue for it. Personally, I think the cure is worse than the disease.

            • adam 11.3.1.1.1.1

              Like the stawman. No never said that, so thanks for trying to put that one in my mouth. You get I like Malcolm X right, so why would I want to import that racist shit fest here??!?

              I'm just for having a system which actually takes into account we are human and have opinions. That we can express them as citizens if they do not directly impact on what we are working on or in.

              Getting back to Brother Malcolm, we need to peel back the racist component in this, Which there seems to be more than enough to go around.

              Citizen calls out dog whistle politics in relation to water, then losses job in the health sector. MMMMMMmmmmm

              • Well, what do you want?

                You don't (apparently) like the requirement for political neutrality in the Civil Service.

                The whole neutral thing is an invention of neo-con myth making

                You also don't (apparently) like the idea of a politicised public service (as in the US).

                What are you arguing for, here?

            • adam 11.3.1.1.1.2

              Because I've stopped laughing, let me say you arguing the civil service is not ideological, has had me in fits of laughter for quite some time. It's right up their with some of the best Gossy b.s.

              Thanks for the laugh.

        • Shanreagh 11.3.1.2

          Yes politically impartial in their dealings as a member.

          It clearly states this

          in relation to the functions of the Crown entity.

          I am not sure you can say it prevents a person from speaking out on matters in a capacity as a private citizen. Though it is clear if Campbelll did this as a private citizen the distinction appears to be lost on many.

    • Shanreagh 11.4

      He is not

      a senior public servant and the public service are supposed to be neutral.

      What dept is he a member of please?

      We rely on people who know speaking out.

      I find it ironic that he has had his membership of the Board of Te Whatu Ora terminated because of his comments about the Nats 3 waters ‘policy’.

  12. MickeyBoyle 13

    Robs just been sacked.

    • bwaghorn 14.1

      Kinda had to go didn't he, I'm sure if he'd attacked labour from his elevated position his scalp will have been called for here.

      • Muttonbird 14.1.1

        He did have to go because the tax dodgers union, NACT, and their client media would not shut up about it otherwise.

        No runway left for the fascists now. A shame for them.

    • mickysavage 14.2

      Reread the post. I did not say that Campbell was right or wrong. I said that the FSU should support him because of its interpretation of what the freedom of speech should entail.

      • bwaghorn 14.2.1

        Not having a shot at you personally, just chuking my 2 cents on the pile

      • woodart 14.2.2

        yes . brash and bowalley should be up in arms ,defending campbells rights to free speech.

    • Shanreagh 14.3

      Hmmmm.

      All sorts of people, even those on high places do not cotton on to the nuances of private citizen/public citizen.

  13. Corey 15

    No, civil servants particularly board members of crown entities MUST keep politically neutral and keep their opinions to themselves, this neutrality is better for the left.

    Unlike Labour, the civil service fear the National party because they routinely purge their ranks and install legions of Tory and Ayn Rand acolytes (which labour never get rid of once gaining power despite these CS doing all they can to stop labour govt policies from being in acted) and fear of being sacked keeps the rest silent.

    The next time we're in opposition we don't need legions of Tory acolyte public servants ripping our policies to shreds.

    There can be no free speech for civil servants. Their job is to implement the elected govts reforms and policies if they don't like it go join the private sector and see what happens when you run your mouth about your company's ideas in the media.

    Im constantly flabbergasted so many on the left are constantly, so short sighted and never once thinks "how can what we're calling for be used against us when we're in opposition "

    Public servant neutrality must be maintained at all costs, period.

    We don't need to add civil servants to our list of enemies when we already have enough problems with the rich, the banks, slum lords, the supermarket duopoly, corporate media, rich boomers, rich gen z'ers, groundswell, farmers,exporters , the god squad ,workers rights abusers, the tin foil hat club, hospo the cops, water bottlers, ridiculing every idea we have all with well funded campaigns.

  14. The alternative to a politically neutral public service is the American system, when a change of President means a wholesale change in management of just about every government agency as well.

    There are pros to this system: The incoming government can be relatively sure that their policies will be implemented by the new agencies, rather than passive resistance.

    However there are cons as well: Continuity is a big one. The new agency heads will spend a significant amount of time simply coming to grips with their new 'fief' – and (unless they have a lot of background in the subject) may well be being subject to being 'snowed' by their staff. And more routine departments may well have work (which is not actually being altered) disrupted by the change in senior management. There's also high risk of political incompetents being shuffled off into senior department roles as a pay-off for their support (we certainly see that in the US system).

    All-in-all, I think I prefer a politically Civil Service.

    • Belladonna 16.1

      All-in-all, I think I prefer a politically neutral Civil Service.

      • joe90 16.1.1

        Assuming we can hold on to our politically neutral Civil Service.

        https://twitter.com/Publicwrongs/status/1630449173551288323

        • Muttonbird 16.1.1.1

          Yep. Right wing nut jobs in the civil service act politically all the time by advising ministers against socially conscious policy all the time.

          But they do it in the shadows because right wing nut jobs live in the shadows.

          At least Rob Campbell acted politically in the sunlight.

          • Shanreagh 16.1.1.1.1

            Can we at least stop calling it the Civil Service?

            That is a UK term and here in NZ we call them

            Public Servants

            State Sector employees

            Board members

            Rob Campbell is a board member and his requirement to be impartial is limited

            in relation to the functions of the Crown entity.

            Whether he was wise in his capacity as a private citizen knowing he was a board member is another thing altogether.

            Come on Standardistas please get the terminology sorted. The issue is much wider, for all of us,

            he comment as a Board member about matters relating to the entity?

            did he comment as a private citizen?

            Do we expect private citizens appointed to boards to forego their rights of free speech to comment on other political elements not related to their entity.

            So they are appointed to boards and then become political eunuchs?

  15. pat 17

    Campbell has demonstrated a lack of judgement….do we desire public servants in senior positions with a lack of judgement?….we have more than enough politicians for that.

  16. Muttonbird 18

    No idea who Rob Campbell is.

    But, he was just saying what everyone is thinking. Also, now Labour looks strong. This is a massive misstep by NACT who seem to have zero political radar of late.

  17. Anker 19
    • Mutton the mis step wasn’t from act, but from Rob aca,one’ll.

    giving him the chop is one of the very few things labour has done that I have supported in a long time.

    campbell was hyped as the man for the job for he health restructure. This will only add to the chaos that is NZ health

  18. adam 20

    So seymour house got his pound of flesh – proving once again that Malcolm X was right – we have a deeply racist system.

    It will protect itself from any criticism, and use any means necessary to crush all and any who raise their voices in question.

    • Muttonbird 20.1

      Unimportant scalp though. Labour clearly had no hesitation in jettisoning the problem.

      Now the grim reaper wants to do a witch hunt through the entire public service, rooting out lefties.

      • adam 20.1.1

        seymour house is acting more and more like whaleoil.

        His dirty politics is fast moving towards totally McCarthyism.

  19. Darien Fenton 21

    I regret seeing Rob Campbell depart. I thought he had come good after he switched sides years back from the union movement to corporate power. Having said that, there was no way he could stay. This would have been a stick to beat Labour with and undermine Te Whatu Ora like forever. It's a brutal world. Everything anyone in public positions says on line will be picked up, picked over, and picked at like a sore. I prefer public service neutrality because it gives continuity from one government to another but I do agree with his sentiments.

  20. KJT 22

    Facts, are "politically neutral".

    And civil servants should be allowed to state facts publically.
    Even when, as usual, facts do not favour the right wing.

    It seems that civil servants are only allowed to criticise Labour.

    Unfortunately for National and ACT, "reality has a left wing bias" which conflicts with their idea that "perception is reality".

    "Free speech" it appears, only applies for RWNJ's!

    Unfortunately Labour caves in to a right wing attack, again!

    • Shanreagh 22.1

      Yes KJT a good summary.

      Labour would have weighed up whether to try to defend his position/ability to make comments as a private citizen and be on a hiding to nothing as no-one understands the nuanced world.

      They took the course least resistance and rode in like a white knight to 'rid me of this turbulent priest' (Henry 11 Shakespeare) and had to terminate his appointment.

      Of course they have got plaudits

      of course this does not mean that they were correct

      of course Campbell may have been careless as to the fallout.

      The big push back on Three Waters from people who could not understand what was proposed and many of whom spoke loudly from a position of ignorance will have warned Labout that nuance is not something the electorate has time for.

      Unashamedly a political action by Labour to toss a person out so they don't have to deal with either

      • explaining the world that these appointees work in
      • commenting on Three Waters (which is sleeping somewhere or long buried so it does not become an election issue) and that means commenting on any pie eyed policy from National.
  21. roblogic 23

    Dr Ashley Bloomfield and LibertyScott feel that public sector neutrality is a sacred principle of democracy, ignored at our peril.

    However Critical Mass argues that “neutrality” is illusory, in reality it’s still a political statement, ie., endorsement of the status quo.

    Then Melanie D. comes up with a banger thread adding some context about Rob Campbell and summarising Rob’s comments from an interview on the Breakfast show…

    https://twitter.com/melulater/status/1630678054472404993?s=46&t=jD40CW33UEoRrKfa8SiFSQ

  22. David Seymour wants to purge the public sector of anyone on the Left. All good and normal.

    https://twitter.com/dbseymour/status/1630104816688177153?s=20

    • roblogic 24.1

      The ownership class (landlords, farmers, banks, giant corporations) are openly sympathetic to the far right, and that is a serious problem. Workers (ie. nurses, teachers, road workers, bus drivers, even cops) deserve to make a living, not become impoverished serfs.

  23. Anker 25

    The idea that the FSU would take up RC cause is ludicrous. RC is free to approach them of course. That is the usual way the FSU take up a cause. It seems RC may be more interested in involving lawyers.

    there are some occupations where people are simply not allowed to express certain views in public eg lawyers can’t comment on their former clients guilt or otherwise. Some professionals have to keep their mouths shut eg Drs, therapists. It is part of professional ethics

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    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    13 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    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
    1 day 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
    3 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
    4 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
    1 hour 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
    6 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
    8 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
    9 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
    22 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
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