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? ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. tc 1
    28 February 2023 at 8:50 am

    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
    28 February 2023 at 10:04 am

    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
    28 February 2023 at 10:12 am

    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
      28 February 2023 at 10:41 am

      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
        28 February 2023 at 5:26 pm

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

        • adam 3.1.1.1
          28 February 2023 at 8:57 pm

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

          • mickysavage 3.1.1.1.1
            28 February 2023 at 9:11 pm

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

            • weka 3.1.1.1.1.1
              28 February 2023 at 9:13 pm

              so we don't have a neutral public service?

              • adam …
                28 February 2023 at 9:16 pm

                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
              28 February 2023 at 9:18 pm

              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
        28 February 2023 at 5:40 pm

        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
          28 February 2023 at 8:56 pm

          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
    28 February 2023 at 10:24 am

    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
    28 February 2023 at 10:55 am

    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
    28 February 2023 at 11:03 am

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

  7. Mike the Lefty 7
    28 February 2023 at 12:08 pm

    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
      28 February 2023 at 12:16 pm

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

    • weka 7.2
      28 February 2023 at 5:28 pm

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

      • Stuart Munro 7.2.1
        28 February 2023 at 7:36 pm

        Ok? It will be mandatory.

      • Red Blooded One 7.2.2
        28 February 2023 at 8:09 pm

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

      • Shanreagh 7.2.3
        1 March 2023 at 10:33 am

        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
    28 February 2023 at 12:27 pm

    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
    28 February 2023 at 12:56 pm

    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. Christopher Randal 10
    28 February 2023 at 4:27 pm

    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
      28 February 2023 at 5:48 pm

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

      • Shanreagh 10.1.1
        1 March 2023 at 10:36 am

        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
    28 February 2023 at 5:14 pm

    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
      28 February 2023 at 7:13 pm

      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
      28 February 2023 at 7:13 pm

      Exactly, good riddance to him

    • adam 11.3
      28 February 2023 at 9:06 pm

      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
        28 February 2023 at 9:22 pm

        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
          28 February 2023 at 9:26 pm

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

          • Belladonna 11.3.1.1.1
            28 February 2023 at 9:42 pm

            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
              28 February 2023 at 9:54 pm

              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

              • Belladonna …
                28 February 2023 at 10:00 pm

                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
              1 March 2023 at 2:21 am

              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
          1 March 2023 at 10:48 am

          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
      1 March 2023 at 10:38 am

      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’.

  13. MickeyBoyle 13
    28 February 2023 at 5:41 pm

    Robs just been sacked.

    • bwaghorn 14.1
      28 February 2023 at 7:11 pm

      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
        28 February 2023 at 9:33 pm

        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
      28 February 2023 at 9:17 pm

      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
        1 March 2023 at 6:56 am

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

      • woodart 14.2.2
        1 March 2023 at 6:06 pm

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

    • Shanreagh 14.3
      1 March 2023 at 10:53 am

      Hmmmm.

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

  15. Corey 15
    28 February 2023 at 8:14 pm

    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.

  16. Belladonna 16
    28 February 2023 at 8:17 pm

    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
      28 February 2023 at 8:28 pm

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

      • joe90 16.1.1
        28 February 2023 at 8:38 pm

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

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

        • Muttonbird 16.1.1.1
          28 February 2023 at 8:45 pm

          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
            1 March 2023 at 11:03 am

            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?

  17. pat 17
    28 February 2023 at 8:28 pm

    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.

  18. Muttonbird 18
    28 February 2023 at 8:40 pm

    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.

  19. Anker 19
    28 February 2023 at 9:16 pm
    • 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

  20. adam 20
    28 February 2023 at 9:25 pm

    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
      28 February 2023 at 9:40 pm

      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
        28 February 2023 at 10:09 pm

        seymour house is acting more and more like whaleoil.

        His dirty politics is fast moving towards totally McCarthyism.

  21. Darien Fenton 21
    1 March 2023 at 4:41 am

    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.

  22. KJT 22
    1 March 2023 at 6:46 am

    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
      1 March 2023 at 11:20 am

      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.
  23. roblogic 23
    1 March 2023 at 1:52 pm

    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

  24. roblogic 24
    1 March 2023 at 2:46 pm

    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
      1 March 2023 at 4:25 pm

      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.

  25. Anker 25
    1 March 2023 at 2:46 pm

    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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    TL;DR: In news breaking this morning:The Ministry of Education is cutting $2 billion from its school building programme so the National-ACT-NZ First Coalition Government has enough money to deliver tax cuts; The Government has quietly lowered its child poverty reduction targets to make them easier to achieve;Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Weekly Roundup 26-July-2024

    Kia ora. These are some stories that caught our eye this week – as always, feel free to share yours in the comments. Our header image this week (via Eke Panuku) shows the planned upgrade for the Karanga Plaza Tidal Swimming Steps. The week in Greater Auckland On ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    1 day ago
  • God what a relief

    1. What's not to love about the way the Harris campaign is turning things around?a. Nothingb. Love all of itc. God what a reliefd. Not that it will be by any means easye. All of the above 2. Documents released by the Ministry of Health show Associate Health Minister Casey ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago
  • Trust In Me

    Trust in me in all you doHave the faith I have in youLove will see us through, if only you trust in meWhy don't you, you trust me?In a week that saw the release of the 3,000 page Abuse in Care report Christopher Luxon was being asked about Boot Camps. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • The Hoon around the week to July 26

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking about the Royal Commission Inquiry into Abuse in Care report released this week, and with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent on a UN push to not recognise carbon offset markets and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • The Kākā’s Journal of Record for Friday, July 26

    TL;DR: As of 6:00 am on Friday, July 26, the top six announcements, speeches, reports and research around housing, climate and poverty in Aotearoa’s political economy in the last day are:Transport: Simeon Brown announced $802.9 million in funding for 18 new trains on the Wairarapa and Manawatū rail lines, which ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Some years ago, I bought a book at Dunedin’s Regent Booksale for $1.50. As one does. Vandrad the Viking (1898), by J. Storer Clouston, is an obscure book these days – I cannot find a proper online review – but soon it was sitting on my shelf, gathering dust alongside ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell On The Biden Withdrawal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    As previously noted, my historical fantasy piece, set in the fifth-century Mediterranean, was accepted for a Pirate Horror anthology, only for the anthology to later fall through. But in a good bit of news, it turned out that the story could indeed be re-marketed as sword and sorcery. As of ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 week ago
  • The Kākā's Chorus for Friday, July 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
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