Who wants to lead the National Party?

Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, May 21st, 2020 - 93 comments
Categories: national, Nikki Kaye, paula bennett, same old national, Simon Bridges, todd muller, uncategorized - Tags:

Simon Bridges is not going down without a fight.

First he outs the challenge to displace him although he does not say who the challengers are.

This is left up to an anonymous source leaking the details to media.

The names have been among those bandied around for a while, Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye.

Obviously they are trying to present a team. Dour business farming type male and likable urban liberal female.

Muller has not yet set the world alight with his parliamentary career.  I concede that he managed to get National to a semi rational position of climate change and National did support the Zero Carbon Bill but otherwise his parliamentary career has not been stellar. And he undid the good achieved by the bill by attacking Te Papa for hosting a water display that makes perfect scientific sense by calling it a kick in the guts to farmers.

The overwhelming response to his candidacy has so far been “Todd who?”.

Then Judith Collins moves in and potentially crushed Muller’s bid by announcing she will be supporting Bridges and not standing herself.

Muller further compounds things by emailing all of caucus later yesterday afternoon.  The email is immediately leaked.

Bridges then in a sign of extreme power or extreme stupidity called the Caucus showdown meeting for tomorrow, Friday.

This suggests two things:

  1. He knows the results of tonight’s Colmar Brunton poll and they are not too bad for National.  Anything above 32% could be spun as an improvement.
  2. He is confident of his caucus numbers.

The confidence as to caucus numbers is always something to be taken with a grain of salt.  I understand the ballot is a confidential ballot.  In 2003 Don Brash in an upset replaced Bill English even though English thought he had the numbers to hang on.  The rumour was that John Key switched votes, vital in a 14-12 vote. Corralling MPs on career affecting decisions and getting them to commit is like herding cats.

But if Bridges did not have the numbers then it would be rational to have the meeting next week and see if some weekend arm twisting could turn things around. Hence, I presume, his confidence.

What is really surprising is that this debate is being held in public with senior party figures like John Key and Jim Bolger expressing support for other candidates. This morning Matthew Hooton and Michelle Boag offered totally contradictory views of what is happening within Caucus. In the past decade I cannot think of a time where National appeared more rattled and disorganised and more lacking in discipline.

The challenge has an extra level of urgency about it, particularly for Nikki Kaye.  If she fails no doubt she will be demoted to a list place that will see her leave Parliament.  And I cannot see her winning Auckland Central.

There is also a groundswell of support for Bridges from some unlikely sources.  All together now …

93 comments on “Who wants to lead the National Party? ”

  1. observer 1

    Bridges doesn't know the poll numbers (or didn't at time of his comments). The polling was still going on.

    MPs' public comments are quite revealing. It's safe to say "I support the leader". That's the default response, and if the leader then loses, you can't be sacked just for supporting the party's leader at the time.

    BUT if you say "I don't support the leader" and he keeps his job, you're in trouble. So you just don't answer the question, like the MPs at the end of the story.

    Every ''no comment" is a problem for Bridges.

  2. Adrian 2

    If Simon really, really wants to hold on to the job he should open up voting to the Labour caucus as well.

    It would be a landslide, the biggiest landslide, greatest landslide ever.

  3. Peter 3

    Jami-Lee Ross was Bridges' numbers man last time around. A lot of water has gone under a lot of bridges since then eh?

  4. Andre 4

    Corralling MPs on career affecting decisions and getting them to commit is like herding cats.

    Herding cats is easy. All ya gotta do is manage their food. Same principle more or less applies to MPs.

  5. Dennis Frank 5

    Interesting that Richard Harman came out & picked Muller this morning. He's aging very well. Every comment incisive & on point.

    I see it as a style vs substance divide in National. The Key faction go for style, so will keep to the status quo assuming Simon is born to lose – their problem is that even with Luxon elected MP, it's too soon to make him leader.

    Bolger and the party base prefer substance. Muller apparently has that. Plus he's the only viable bridge to the Greens in the forseeable future for them. Nikki Kaye has never distinguished herself but mainstreamers love bland cuties, so it could work.

    You could frame it as urban liberals vs rural nationalists, eh? Poor old Shane Jones. All those dollars showered on the regions, and the nationalists still don't like their benefactor. Bugger!

    • Sacha 5.1

      Harman's post is well worth a read today, yes: https://www.politik.co.nz/2020/05/21/how-bridges-flushed-out-muller/

      Bridges has a strong core of support; people like Paula Bennett, Todd McClay, Brett Hudson, Michael Woodhouse, Louise Upston and the Christian conservatives within the caucus.

      Ironically Muller is himself a practising Catholic who voted against the abortion law reform changes and the assisted dying bill. Nikki Kaye, on the other hand, is regarded as one of the most progressive social-liberals in National’s caucus.

      Muller built his base up patiently through his work as Climate Change spokesperson when he visited virtually every electorate in the country ultimately convincing them that rural New Zealand, in particular, were best served by a bi-partisan Zero Carbon Bill. Kaye was his advocate in urban New Zealand.

      • Dennis Frank 5.1.1

        Okay, that's evidence of strategic thinking from the pair. I hadn't read that – I was commenting on his views expressed in response to questions from Ryan Bridge on the AM Show.

        • Sacha 5.1.1.1

          That's the guy with the big hair, right?

          • Dennis Frank 5.1.1.1.1

            Yeah, but he has it tied back in a bun when fronting the show. His hirers don't want to freak their mainstream audience.

      • woodart 5.1.2

        more importantly than all of this is the money, who brings in the most and who can follow instructions. bridges has shown that he can bring in bags of cash and obviously works well with the beijing office, can muller? catholic church has lost much of its political clout, but you can be sure they will have mullers ear. fed farmers dont give money, just want clout without the $$ to buy it. collins seems on bridges side(trust her?) and she brings the yen. swapping bennet for kaye wouldnt make much diff to nats backers.deci$ions deci$ions..

        • Adrian 5.1.2.1

          Most of the catholic vote went Labour for generations.

        • Phil 5.1.2.2

          catholic church has lost much of its political clout,

          Catholicism is the single largest identified religious affiliation in NZ.

    • Sacha 5.2

      Poor old Shane Jones. All those dollars showered on the regions, and the nationalists still don't like their benefactor.

      Maybe voters do not confuse pork barelling with vision or leadership. Sure, they will take the money now but it will not secure their loyalty. Sounds like Muller is offering them a longer-term relationship than Jones is up to.

      • Dennis Frank 5.2.1

        You're right, I suspect. Dunno if pork-barrelling is fair though. Winston is genuine in trying to do regional development, I believe. Remember it was Anderton who started that refocus, long ago, and we integrated it into Green economic policy since it was consistent with the principle of bioregionalism & empowering communities.

        • Sacha 5.2.1.1

          Someone wrote earlier this year that Winston and Shane are just honouring the legacy of 1970s politics with crony handouts for favoured industries and operators – might have been Harman? That business model is coming to grief under scrutiny over their 'foundation'.

          • woodart 5.2.1.1.1

            "someone wrote" probably someone who hasnt been out in the real world for years. out here in the provinces ,plenty of hard working new zealanders have seen real progress in the regions thru the development fund.

            • Sacha 5.2.1.1.1.1

              That does not contradict what was said. The results of that way of doing business may be appreciated by those who benefit in parts of the country. Horsing industry is certainly grateful and I'm sure some roadbuilders are as well.

              • woodart

                maybe you need to get out into the real world sacha. very many things that arent horses or roadbuilders have benefited from looking OUTSIDE two cities

      • RosieLee 5.2.2

        Speaking of shane Jones. Where the hell is he? Very very quiet of late.

  6. Ad 6

    Just makes me ill remembering all Labour's changes through 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.

    I feel for National right now, going through what we went through after Helen Clark.

    • Barfly 6.1

      I feel for National to ……….schadenfreude

    • mickysavage 6.2

      Brings back many memories. At one level I am really enjoying this, at another I am feeling sorry for Bridges …

      • AB 6.2.1

        As a human being it's hard not to feel sorry for Bridges. But in an interesting interview with Kim Hill and Mat Hooten this morning, we learned that the Reid poll apparently included an associative word-cloud – and the result for Bridges was so awful at a personal level it has been kept from the public. Make no mistake, if it had been David Cunliffe, it would have been slathered everywhere in the public domain with hoots of derision and mentions of non-existent $100k bottles of wine.

      • Enough is Enough 6.2.2

        Why would you feel sorry for Bridges? You have spent the past two years devoting most of your time on here attacking him.

        Anyone MP who can't handle defeat should not be in Parliament.

        There are very few MPs who go out as winners, and even fewer who are disappointed when they leave Parliament. For most it is a huge relief and they get on with more fulfilling careers.

        • mickysavage 6.2.2.1

          At a human level I do feel sorry for Bridges. Parliament can be the most corrosive destructive environment imaginable and that is on both sides.

          • Tricledrown 6.2.2.1.1

            So true Mickey politics is dirty business very few come out unscathed.

      • observer 6.2.3

        Nobody, even Bridges, should be getting the nasty treatment. He's a human being.

        I would feel more sympathy for him if – just once – he had ever found the decency to call out his own MPs for their vile abuse directed at the PM. I'm sure Simon doesn't think that Jacinda's NZ is like Nazi Germany (because he's not brain-dead). But it's OK for National MPs to say it, with nothing from the leader except … tumbleweed.

        If he had slapped down his own idiots he'd be more popular with the public and wouldn't be in this mess. So he's earned it.

        • I Feel Love 6.2.3.1

          Yes, if he had slapped down the Nazi comparison it would have shown leadership, at the moment it's a free for all and rudderless. I feel no sympathy, his criticism isn't made up bottles of wine or made up quotes.

        • Adrian 6.2.3.2

          Thats because he is one of them. I have absolutely no fucking sympathy whatsoever, he's a nasty, self-entitled dickhead who couldn't give a shit about anybody but himself and the hardest work he has done is selling his party and the country to the nastiest regime in the world to hold on to power for himself. Fuck him and all who sail in him.

  7. Incognito 7

    I can see Nikki Kaye doing quite well in the election debates with Jacinda Ardern. The worm won’t know which way to wriggle.

    • Andre 7.1

      Nikki is indeed the only Nat to have ever beaten Jacinda in any kind of one-on-one.

      • Sacha 7.1.1

        She is a good local MP as well, apparently. Smart and capable.

        Maybe this move is her being decisive about whether her personal future after the election lies in politics or something else? Opposition is unrewarding when you have more to give than your party allows.

        • ScottGN 7.1.1.1

          I think she’s a bit overrated to be honest. She wasn’t a particularly good Minister of Education (unless all you’re asking of her was to mop up after the disaster that was Hekia Parata) and she’s not been terribly effective as Shadow Minister to Hopkins either. She’s had other portfolios over the years but does anyone remember what they were?

      • Enough is Enough 7.1.2

        Other than Bill English you mean?

        • Andre 7.1.2.1

          When did Bill ever get the better of Jacinda in a one-on-one?

          • Enough is Enough 7.1.2.1.1

            The last general election which was run as a "Presidential" type campaign by both parties.

            It was Bill v Jacindamania.

            • froggleblocks 7.1.2.1.1.1

              Yes, which is why Bill has 59.5% support as Preferred Prime Minister right now, having led the country in a successful elimination effort against COVID-19.

            • Andre 7.1.2.1.1.2

              Even if your claim about a presidential-style campaign was actually accurate, it's still a massively delusional stretch to describe a party vote contest as a one-on-one between just the two leaders.

              • Enough is Enough

                I'm not a Bill supporter. I am a member of the Green party as you will pick up from 10 years of me commenting on here.

                How else would you assess leaders going one on one, if not by the party vote they attract as leaders?

                There have only been two National candidate to go one on one with Jacinda in an electorate, so to suggest Nikki is indeed the only Nat to have ever beaten Jacinda is entirely accurate if that is how you choose to make such an assessment.

      • Anne 7.1.3

        Yes, and that happened at the start of Jacinda's career in politics when she stood for Auckland Central for the first time. It would be fair to say her debating skills have been well honed since then.

      • ScottGN 7.1.4

        It was never a one-on-one though. Kaye only ever won Akl Central (even at the height of Key’s popularity) because Labour and Greens split the left leaning vote in a simple FPP electorate contest. In every election Labour plus Greens have outpolled National in the electorate vote.

        • froggleblocks 7.1.4.1

          So what you're saying is, Jacinda wasn't capable of winning over the Green voters to her side, so she lost to Kaye.

          • ScottGN 7.1.4.1.1

            No what I’m saying is that Kaye was never able to get enough votes on the centre right to win the seat outright and always had to rely on the centre left vote splitting between Labour and the Greens.

  8. AB 8

    If it doesn't work out for Muller we already have the word to describe it: 'Todesfuge'.

    Hat tip to the great and tragic Paul Celan – "Schwarze Milch der Frühe wir trinken sie abends" (Black milk of morning we drink in the evening")

  9. Bridges has been out of his depth the whole time, prone to ridiculous outbursts and embarrassing gaffes. Acts like an Auckland Grammar boy who hasn't worked hard a day in his life, but bears the confidence born of arrogance and entitlement. The public aren't buying whatever he's selling. Nats need boring, sensible, reliable at this time of crisis not a loudmouth showpony trying to act like a prosecutor on LA Law

    • Dennis Frank 9.1

      I was a regular viewer of LA Law. I actually learnt stuff from their dramatisation of US law. Interesting nexus where law intersects with morality and pragmatism, psychodynamics of competition, etc. Simon attempts the style, lacks the nous.

      • Stephen D 9.1.1

        Apparently when Law and Order first came out Russia used as an example of how to separate police and judiciary.

  10. Muttonbird 10

    He knows the results of tonight’s Colmar Brunton poll and they are not too bad for National.

    Question: How would he know the results ahead of time?

    • Incognito 10.1

      Question: would he share it with Caucus?

      • Sacha 10.1.1

        Has anyone leaked their own paid Curia polling results with caucus yet? Might explain their renewed sense of urgency.

        • Tricledrown 10.1.1.1

          Lance the boil or leave it fester that is the question political perceptions are virtually impossible to change once bedded in.David Sheater Cunliffe Jack Marshall etc very likeable people but not politically savvy.

  11. pat 11

    "Yet that generous target was apparently not enough to placate National's agricultural base. At the party's conference over the weekend, Muller was hit by allegations that the party was moving too fast on climate change. Many members still do not believe in climate change, and it appeared there was still a strong voice within the party that doesn't want to move on the issue."

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/114621991/todd-muller-promoted-in-national-party-reshuffle-but-climate-change-demoted

    too successful?

  12. Todd Muller attacking science at Te Papa reminds me of Trump. Not a great deal of substance and if that is style, they really do need new blood.

    Two things will come out of this coming decision, those farmers not totally listening to their own association may get a voice, and regenerative and organic farming will be set back if Todd's attitude to water is promulgated more widely.

    Business is finding that reliance on tourism has shaped their covid fate so they are having to refocus and realign their values to a new reality.

    Factory farming is now becoming a more risky venture due to debt levels. Banks will vote with their profits in mind no matter how much the Government encourages forward thinking.

    It is to be hoped the farming sector take this opportunity for growing their added value, rather than the boom and bust factory farming.

    Resilience is a quality needed here, along with vision. Conservatives find the former possible, but the latter less so. Both require risk taking and that is counter to their fundamental beliefs.

    Bridges is old school law conservative, Muller is the same but farming conservative.
    The differences are superficial between these men, and the real change would be Nicky Kaye.
    She is supposed to soften Muller's conservative face, a "token woman", but as a cancer survivor, she would bring a different perspective.

    • Bearded Git 12.1

      Nicely put Patricia….and agreed

    • tc 12.2

      Yes but it's all splitting hairs over which version of neolib to present as viable.

      There nationals problem right there, proven failed ideological approach with shedloads of evidence from across the planet.

      A half decent media would've stripped the emperor's clothes long ago but then it's not serving the wider public is it.

  13. Barfly 13

    Any one feeling sorry for Bridges should watch this and remember

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD2JKoKGrjA

  14. Wayne 14

    Nikki Kaye will probably win Auckland Central, no matter what happens.

    When a major party loses the party vote, they usually hold on to the electorate vote, particularly if the local MP is popular. In short the voters switching sides between the two major parties tend to split their votes.

    On that basis I expect Nikki to win Auckland Central. She is well known. She works hard. She is widely seen as being an effective local MP.

    • Dennis Frank 14.1

      Is a deputy leader merely a handbag-minder? Not really. You need to be able to stake out a position & defend it. We need to see her do that – to demonstrate an essential component of leadership.

      Then there's the ability to articulate the views of the leader. Independently, without parrotting. Voters don't elect parrots. That means mental faculties, such as framing stuff to suit audiences that are nationwide. We also await evidence of that.

    • Sacha 14.2

      When a major party loses the party vote, they usually hold on to the electorate vote, particularly if the local MP is popular. In short the voters switching sides between the two major parties tend to split their votes.

      The voters who stay at home on the other hand do not cast an electorate vote..

    • mickysavage 14.3

      With current polling not a chance I am afraid Wayne. A good candidate can stem the flow but can never stop it.

    • mac1 14.4

      There use to be an electoral wisdom that a candidate had a personal vote of about a possible 1000 votes but all the rest went on party lines.

      There is little evidence that Kiwis have yet used MMP to toss out useless MPs while still voting for their party of choice.

      Does anyone know different ie how many votes are cast for candidate of a different party from the party vote choice of an elector- we should say outside of an obvious set up like Epsom?

    • lprent 14.5

      Nikki Kaye will probably win Auckland Central, no matter what happens.

      Just under 1600 majority. No boundary changes.
      Same excellent Labour candidate as last time (Helen White) who is now a list MP.
      A Green vote last time of 2838 for a popular local councillor (can’t see who is selected this time).

      It is a tossup. Depends on the ongoing demographic shifts and who the Greens select. But I’d call this as being pretty marginal in Auckland.

  15. RedBaronCV 15

    Okay – clue me in. If Todd/Nikki win does that mean Simon will look to retire from parliament? To add to all the other retirements? And will it push Paula & others down the list places to unwinnable spots? If Simon wins does that mean a likely retirement for Nikki/ Todd as being out of step with the whole caucus and in the case of Nikki no decent list place?

    • Dennis Frank 15.1

      😀 So many questions, so few answers. Remember this is a Schrodinger's Cat situation: the cat is both alive and dead until detection occurs and the wave-function collapses into the new reality. Trotter has a go at it:

      "This is the new reality that the National Opposition has to grasp: that Labour does not need to win the battle of the present, if it has already won the battle of the future."

      Fundamentally misreads the physics, but no problem. Audacious is good. He's gambling that Labour handling of the incoming depression will be sufficiently competent. Not a gamble I would join him on. http://bowalleyroad.blogspot.com/2020/05/does-national-still-need-street.html

    • Sacha 15.2

      Yes.

  16. observer 16

    In an impressive display of party unity …

    National MP calls National MPs nutty and stupid

    • Sacha 16.1

      Never the sharpest knife, that woman.

    • Muttonbird 16.2

      The latest strategy is to blame Simon's and National's poor performance on JA doing daily Covid 19 media briefings.

      Boag, Bridges and now Tolley have all used this excuse.

      What is the Prime Minister supposed to do, stand aside and let Simon do one?

      • KJT 16.2.1

        Just as well for National, they were not more visible.

        The chance to show themselves up as selfish ignorant, chinless wonders, without the usual cosmetic media spin filter, "putting lipstick on the pigs", would have dropped them another 10%.

    • ScottGN 16.3

      Tilley says that Leader of the Opposition is the toughest gig in politics etc and “that you can’t be Mr Nice Guy all of the time.” Hell, if Bridges had just managed to be Mr Nice Guy even some of the time he might not be in this mess.

  17. Dean Reynolds 17

    It's great to see the ruling class disembowling themselves in public

  18. Rae 18

    With bated breath we will wait to see if it is "Beijing Bridges" or just "Beige"

  19. pat 19

    As a (relatively) disinterested observer the National party and NZ would be better served by the further move away from dirty politics by the selection of Muller and Kaye

  20. Corey Humm 20

    Luckily for the Labour party the Nats are idiots who think they have to shore up the right and regional support which backs them regardless. If they had any brains tomorrow they'd make Nikki Kaye leader that'd be a spanner. She'd shore up middle class and centerist and urban votes. Split the middle class feminist vote and is beloved by the LGBT + community and the media who'd be frothing at the mouth.

    She's a young, urban liberal environmentally friendly mp "whose beaten jacinda twice" and a cancer survivor who could announce bold cancer treatment funding. Middle class people who vote based off identitys head would explode some would vote for Nikki just to have a fourth female PM and with Nationals war chest media incompetence i could see Nikki's national running on the same kindness and compassion that Labour will be running on but "let's actually do this , with an experienced team" as other than Grant and Ardern the public thinks labours front bench are incompetent.

    I could see greens being Queen maker and national being so bankrupt ideologically they'd give the greens the welfare and enviromental reforms that labour is too cowardly to agree to and frame it as protecting the middle class Karen's experiencing welfare for the first time imagine if labours reluctance to reform the venomous msd is what did them in ! Haha! Imagine if Nikki beat Ardern because of the greens for the third time ! Ah what an election. The right would vote nats regardless and the right wing of the party just wants to be in govt so they would be quiet and the media would eat it all up.

    Won't happen. National has zero brains

  21. Ovid 21

    As a balding pakeha man, I really feel like my kind are over represented in National's caucus.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T23:29:36+00:00