Why didn’t NZF use Nats’ donations playbook?

Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, September 4th, 2008 - 56 comments
Categories: election 2008, election funding, national, nz first - Tags:

This business with donations from the Spencer Trust going to New Zealand First but not being declared. I find it hard to credit that this was an accident. It seems beyond belief that no-one in the party would have seen the donation declaration at some point and said ‘hey, what about that $50K from the Spencer Trust?’

So why purposely leave the donation undeclared? Maybe NZF didn’t want to be seen as hypocrites, campaigning against big money but taking big money. Maybe some money came from a source which would be politically damaging. But that’s what National used the secret trusts for, why not do that? The secret trusts were legal at the time, National was moving millions through them. Well, NZF wanted to oppose the secret trusts too and not appear hypocritical by using them.

The obvious solution would to have been to not take the money but the other option would just been to spread the donations around so they were paid to NZF from several sources (this ‘funnelling’ is banned under the EFA but was legal beforehand) and make them in different years so that no payment in one year from one source came in over the $10K reporting threshold. A little complicated but legal and if it ever came out it, the paper trail would be clear from Bob Jones, through a trust or two to NZF.

But pooling donations into a trust and then making a large donation from that trust to the Party without not reporting the trust’s donation? Weird. Incompetent, really. Maybe they should have asked National for advice.

56 comments on “Why didn’t NZF use Nats’ donations playbook? ”

  1. monkey-boy 1

    I think they made the mistake of asking for Labour Party President ‘Forgetful Mike’ William’s advice, which is why they are in this mess right now.

  2. Tane 2

    I never thought I’d say this, but I’m bored of Winston Peters.

  3. I know. I’m mindnumbingly bored by it but jokers want to say ‘The Standard refuses to talk about Peters, The Standard’s protecting Peters’, as if a blog can protect an MP, so thought I would do something on it. We’re not just a news cut and paste site like farrar, so i cast around for an angle on the topic that isn’t just repeating what’s widely avialable in the mainstream

  4. Tane 4

    Yeah, I know, just sayin’

  5. Matthew Hooton 5

    Exactly. There is a major difference between National and Labour’s trust arrangements, and those of New Zealand First which are much worse. If New Zealand First had done what National and Labour have done over the years, there would be no issue. But what New Zealand First has done is much worse. See http://www.policy.net.nz/blog/?p=211 for a more detailed discussion.

    [matthew. a) welcome to the blogosphere b) commenting on someone else’s blog in a thinly veiled attempt to promote your own blog is called link-whoring, is not welcome, and will be dealt with c) Labour hasn’t used trusts d) take back what you said about my suit 🙂 SP/Clinton Smith]

  6. outofbed 6

    Yeah isn’t anything else exciting happening like, I don’t know
    Ashcroft funding controversial Australian strategists Crosby Textor ?

  7. Scribe 7

    I’m mindnumbingly bored by it but jokers want to say ‘The Standard refuses to talk about Peters, The Standard’s protecting Peters’, as if a blog can protect an MP, so thought I would do something on it.

    And whatever you wrote had to be a criticism of National.

    Steve, can I recommend you read yesterday’s post entitled “Not good enough”. I read the beginning and just waited for it to turn into National-bashing. I was pleased to see IrishBill tackle an important issue but not turn it into anti-National rhetoric.

    Might be worth considering yourself.

  8. Matthew Pilott 8

    Not that I’d dream of putting you guys in the same boat as Ms Livingston, but someone else is bored. We’ll, more outraged, than anything.

    Remember, people: it only takes 1 in 20.

    End obsession with Mr Peters

    I object strongly to your editorial saying that residents in rest homes who vote for NZ First are confused and dotty. How dare you?
    Once editorials were signed, but not now. They are obviously written for the most part by ignorant nobodies.
    For goodness’ sake, give it a rest.
    We are all sick and tired of your obsession with NZ First leader Winston Peters.
    JOAN LIVINGSTON
    Waipukurau

    I did like Clark’s “They’re an amateur organisation” call, clearly as opposed to National.

  9. Did Mathew Hooton just linkwhore at the standard??? You guys really need to tighten up your commenting policy ‘cos after this and Ansell it’s starting to look like just any old nutter can have his say here…

    [Tane: Sod, play nice and drop the personal stuff.]

  10. scribe. are you saying that national was wrong to use secret trusts? if not, how is it ‘national baching’ to mention that they were used?

    I thought the not good enough post was excellent, but you’ll notice that half the comments are morons saying ‘yeah Labour sucks, that’s why we need National’, as if National would be restricting loan sharks more than Labour.. so when I criticise Labour for not doing well enough, I usually also include the fact that National’s record is worse.

  11. monkey-boy 11

    Yes I too enjoyed IB’s post yesterday. It was … ‘real’.

  12. we all love you Irish. At least, when you’re sober.

  13. Daveski 13

    SP – acknowledged but what Scribe said too

    Frankly, I’m over Winston in a big way and given my involvement with racing, I never ever expected the day when HC would be the Minister of Racing!! What next Bob the Builder Minister of Women’s Affairs!

    How anyone could vote for NZF after this beggars belief as does the fact that any party would want to work with Winston.

  14. Daveski 14

    SP – I hope you note I got modded for saying nice things about the Standard too 🙂

    Can I ask why you use SP when everyone knows you are Clinton Smith. Mind you, it works for Elvis Costello to name but one!

  15. Matthew Pilott 15

    Daveski, it’s not that the Party wanted to work with Winston, but that 5% or more of the population wanted the party to have to work with Winston!

    Check out my copied (and referenced, in case you’re reading, plagiarism-boy) letter above if you’re convinced he’s gone after this election…

  16. monkey-boy 16

    Did someone say Elvis?
    Well here’s a lyric for you:

    ‘The salty lips of the socialite sisters,
    With their continental fingers that,
    Never saw working blisters.
    Oh I know they’ve got their problems.
    How I wish I was one of them…”

  17. When we started out, we took on pseudonyms, like most blogs and most of the commentators. When I started writing, I chose Steve Pierson because one of the donors to the free speech coalition is an S Pierson and if you google Steve Pierson (NZ) it comes up with a few names – so I thought that would be funny.

    Later, we started getting media asking us for comment on things and we thought we should have a media spokesperson – we drew lots (not really) – and I got that job. But we thought I would keep the pseudonym for consistancy and because it would be used to pressure the others to use their real names – I can understand why they don’t want to, the stalking and the abuse isn’t a lot of fun, and I can understand why they don’t want to expose themselves and their families to that given they are just writing on a blog. Personally, using my real name for the posts might be good but that second point is the reason I don’t

  18. monkey-boy 18

    Well I for one would never lower myself by using a psuedonym….
    Or spelling it correctly.

  19. Tim Ellis 19

    I’m getting a bit sick of it too, Tane, to be honest. This is a very interesting post, and I happen to agree with it. There was a mechanism for parties to anonymise donations, which National used to its full advantage while it was lawful to do so. National’s trust mechanism have been used for many years. They were well known and publicly declared. They were tested by the SFO in 2002.

    It really is baffling why NZFirst didn’t use the same mechanism, and declare it. Their convoluted and contradictory explanations have come back to haunt them. Perhaps they thought they wouldn’t get caught.

    The big problem for NZFirst is that they railed for years against this sort of thing, and got the moral high ground for doing so. Likewise, Labour has railed against National’s use of trusts, and changed the law to stop it happening again. But when it relied on the support of a party that not only used trusts, but systematically broke the law by failing to declare donations from those trusts to the party, then their credibility takes a hit. So too, every time Labour tries to mention the Waitemata trust, will their credibility be knocked by the inference that Labour knew, or should have known that was going on, and protected NZFirst.

    Helen Clark said some time ago that the court of public opinion would decide New Zealand First’s fate. I suspect that the details of what has taken place is lost on many New Zealanders, and they’re a bit bored by the new revelations. I suspect also, however, that the jury has reached a verdict: that New Zealand First are hypocritical crooks, and Labour’s untainted credibility has taken a big whack. Whatever the outcome of the SFO, the Police investigation, or the Privileges Committee, there can be no good result for Helen Clark or Winston Peters.

  20. Daveski 20

    Thanks SP 😉

    Daveski is Russian for Tane …

  21. Draco TB 21

    …the inference that Labour knew, or should have known that was going on…

    Why should Labour have known about NZFirsts donations? They really shouldn’t have known any more than the general public and they shouldn’t be expected to.

  22. gobsmacked 22

    I think Helen Clark should send Matthew Hooton and Rodney Hide a big bouquet of flowers (red roses, naturally).

    The latest poll (Morgan, out today) shows NZ First have lost support …

    … to Labour.

    National 44.5%
    Labour 38%

    Has John Key still got Winston’s phone number?

  23. Tim Ellis 23

    Draco, that’s a good argument. Perhaps I didn’t express myself clearly. I’m not saying Labour as a party did know about the donation from all the unusual places New Zealand First appears to have got its money from. But we do know that the Prime Minister and Trevor Mallard were informed by Owen Glenn of his donation to New Zealand First back in February. The Prime Minister has argued this was merely a “conflict of evidence”. Labour cannot go around saying they did not know about it. What is clear is that the PM and one of her senior ministers did know about it, and did very little to bring the “conflict of evidence” to a resolution.

    I didn’t say Labour needs to take responsibility for the donation. I’m just saying that I think the public have largely made up their minds on the fiasco, that the PM’s hands aren’t clean, and that both NZ First and Labour will take a big hit for it.

    Now, I’m prejudging future poll results, and there’s no point in arguing it, I’m just saying what my prediction will be for the next round of polls. It won’t look good for Labour or New Zealand First. If they do take a hit, I don’t think anybody would credibly argue it is because of anything other than the Peters donation saga. Time will tell if I’m right. I’m happy to say that I was wrong if there isn’t any impact on the next round of polls.

  24. Matthew Pilott 24

    Tim, I’m not sure if that whole post was meant to be a simplified version of what went on, or what you percieve the average punter to understand of the situation, but I find it a stretch to think Labour’s credibility tained by this when you consider all that has changed is Clark revealed she knew Glenn said he paid money to NZF or an account related to them (subsequently shown to pay a legal bill independently of NZF), and that she did not sack him the second allegations were made. Acting when the SFO said it was going to act was entirely consistent.

    Sure, what you said might be the simple perception, which either means Labour isn’t doing spin as well as National, or the media isn’t interested in providing facts to the public, but there’s only so much you can blame Labour for. Essentially you’re trying to blame Labour for something NZF did in 2005. They could have handled the situation better, I suppose, but then their actions would have been inconsistent and, to a degree, irrational. Not a good look either.

  25. gobsmacked 25

    Sorry, I forgot the Greens … 8%

    Don’t worry Nats, those brilliant billboards will turn it around. Got anything else?

  26. Given the apparent close cooperation with Teh THE Party over electoral petitions you would think that Winston would have gone to Williams for party funding advice more likely.

    How much has Teh THE Party received from trusts in the past few years? Here’s a test for you Steve P.

    btw Linking – who remembers Tane’s frequent visits to Kiwiblog to link-whore back to here. Pot. Kettle. Black!

    [lprent: see my comment below. I always like annoying dickheads with systematic spelling issues.]

  27. Daveski 27

    MP – if you’ve been to Waipukurau you would understand 🙂

    There is a risk that the 5% will come out strongly in favour of Winston. Mind you, that 5% is 100% of those who think Elvis is alive and serving petrol in Timaru … “Elvis* has left the garage, thank you very much, thank you very much”.

    The Presley guy, not the real Elvis.

  28. Given the apparent close cooperation with Teh THE Party over electoral petitions you would think that Winston would have gone to Williams for party funding advice more likely.

    How much has Teh THE Party received from trusts in the past few years? Here’s a test for you Steve P.

    btw Linking – who remembers Tane’s frequent visits to Kiwiblog to link-whore back to here.

    Or these recent efforts from Steve?

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/blogs/insidethebeltway/2008/05/29/housing-nz-living-off-the-pigs-back/#comment-62805

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominionpost/blogs/insidethebeltway/2008/07/03/the-new-front-in-political-warfare/#comment-73902

    Pot. Kettle. Black!

    [lprent: Fixed your spelling errors. I see you found the moderation trap for them. ]

  29. Billy 29

    never thought I’d say this, but I’m bored of Winston Peters.

    Yeah, I know. The relentlessness with which the Standard has pursued the issue is tedious.

    When National uses a piece of music which may or not be similar to a Coldplay song we get three posts a day on the topic. When a coalition partner of the government is found to have been lying for years when it says it doesn’t take money from big business and is found to have breached the electoral law what do we get? This is an unimportant side-show.

  30. Tim Ellis 30

    MP, my first post was a bit ambiguous on that point. I was referring to the public perceptions. There has been pretty much information overload on this issue for the last two weeks. It’s been all bad for Winston Peters. I do think, rightly or wrongly, it’s been all bad for Helen Clark as well.

    I very much doubt that the public engages in the level of detail that we do, and I’ve said before that I think we make big mistakes if we assume that they do. The trouble for Labour is that this is the big issue as far as the media are concerned. It will remain the big story until Parliament rises. It’s very hard for Labour to hope to push that off the front page with anything else.

    I’m not crowing about this, because I realise how frustrating it must be for you guys who support Labour so wholeheartedly, to see your electoral hopes dashed for associating with a guy whose policies and approach to politics you have loathed for so long. I felt the same when Winston made a mockery of the National Government’s credibility, by association, from 1996-1999. I privately told National people that having Winston in the tent would end in tears for everybody except the Labour Party. Being proven right didn’t give me any satisfaction.

    We’ll see what comes out in the next round of polls. I suspect that it’s the last nail in the coffin for the Labour government.

  31. gobsmacked 31

    Tim, I’ve given you the next poll. (I can’t link, as I’ll get stuck in moderation, a real pain in the neck).

    Just Google Morgan poll.

  32. Matthew Pilott 32

    Daveski – I have, I do…

    I thought that was the best example thus far of what has been mentioned repeatedly – that no matter what is reported, people will see it about him sticking it to the bad guys.

    You’d think that him sticking it to the bad guys over being proven wrong about doing (badly) exactly what he used to stick it to the bad guys about would have put a few people off (if that makes sense – talking about use of trusts). We’ll find out soon enough.

  33. We’ll see what comes out in the next round of polls. I suspect that it’s the last nail in the coffin for the Labour government.

    That would be today’s Roy Morgan:

    Labour: 38%
    National: 44.5%
    Greens: 8%
    Maori: 3.5%
    Act: 1.5%
    UF: 1%
    NZ First 2.5%

    That’s an L/M/G govt.

    The right’s attack on Winston may go down as the stupidest play in NZ politics. Ever.

  34. Tim Ellis 34

    gobsmacked, I have seen that. It was taken from August 18-31. It didn’t include the PM’s revelation that she knew about the donation. It did have, during the middle of it, Maurice Williamson’s idiotic performance on Agenda promoting toll roads. It didn’t include the PM standing Peters down, or the SFO investigation.

    It is useful data, and is an important part of the polling trend, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up that polls released in the next few weeks will mirror it.

  35. Billy 35

    Well, on those numbers no-one has to work with NZF.

  36. Yeah – good eh? Although I have to confess to feeling a bit sorry for the old sod.

  37. randal 37

    is that really the hysterical mathew hooton…hows ya mental complaint mate?

  38. Testing 123 38

    I suppose Labour would never use secret trusts then?

  39. I suppose Labour would never use secret trusts then?

  40. Matthew Pilott 40

    So did this poll include the ‘secret tapes’ eposode?

    Tim, yep I agree it hasn’t been good for Clark, rightly or wrongly. I can’t see it being as bas as you suggest, and given that Peters went without a fuss the problem is Clark knowing Glenn believed he had made a donation to NZF when Peters did not.

    This isn’t the stuff that will get Peters in really hot water though – it’s the trust stuff. Whether that is associated with Clark is going to be the most crucial thing.

    Given that Glenn’s name is well known, I think there’s enough there to differentiate the two issues for most people.

    They’ll see Clark knowing about Glenn’s donation, which went towards the Tauranga election court case, but Peters getting nailed on the trust donations from the Jones and Vela cheques.

    Enough of a difference? I reckon.

  41. Lets see if this works then…

    Given the apparent close cooperation with THE Party over electoral petitions you would think that Winston would have gone to Williams for party funding advice more likely.

    How much has THE Party received from trusts in the past few years? Here’s a test for you Steve P.

    btw Linking – who remembers Tane’s frequent visits to Kiwiblog to link-whore back to here.

    Or those little slip-ups from Steve on the stuff blogs?

    Pot. Kettle. Black!

    [lprent: repeated messages go straight to spam. I’m sure that while I didn’t like your radiantly positive personality, you didn’t used to be quite this thick!]

  42. (Are my captcha responses that bad)

    Given the apparent close cooperation with THE Party over electoral petitions you would think that Winston would have gone to Williams for party funding advice more likely.

    How much has THE Party received from trusts in the past few years? Here’s a test for you Steve P.

    btw Linking – who remembers Tane’s frequent visits to Kiwiblog to link-whore back to here. Or Steve’s little efforts at the stuff blogs?

    Pot. Kettle. Black!

    [lprent: repeated messages going to moderation are then referred to spam. You seem to have gotten a bit thicker? recent lobotomy ?]

  43. Given the apparent close cooperation with THE Party over electoral petitions you would think that Winston would have gone to Williams for party funding advice more likely.

    (wondering why a longer comment disappears)

    [lprent: Blockhead – stop using your favorite juvie mis-spelling and I’ll have to stop bailing you out of moderation and spam. If you don’t take a hint shortly then I’ll just ban you for terminal stupidity in wasting my time.]

  44. Hey DS – what were you testing? Whether the proxy you use to ensure you don’t show as posting from the National party research unit IP address is working?

  45. lprent 45

    Bugger this for a lark. Either TDS reads my notes on his previous messages or I’ll just ban. Can’t be bothered wasting my time because someone is slow to catch up with change.

  46. Draco TB 46

    I do think, rightly or wrongly, it’s been all bad for Helen Clark as well.

    I don’t think it’s going to be as bad for Labour as you think. Most people will, IMO, differentiate between Labours responsibility and NZ Firsts as far as NZ Firsts finances goes. Even the conflicting evidence that HC had I think people will realise that she just couldn’t do anything with it – she didn’t have access to the accounts to make a definite decision. To do so requires an act of law through the police and due process.

    Well, on those numbers no-one has to work with NZF.

    They do if NZF wins an electorate. Those numbers do show that Nationals actual chance of leading the next government are very slim though and decreasing.

  47. randal 47

    tds is justa nark and most probably a scab too..lprent you are being far too generous in dealing with these people who put out to be interested in political debate but are more intent in crapping on anything and everything they dont beleive in. not worth the space.

  48. forgetaboutthelastone 48

    “I do think, rightly or wrongly, it’s been all bad for Helen Clark as well.”

    This saga has highlighted (among other things) Helen Clark’s long record of integrity and honesty – even the right have been talking about it instead of the usual comparisons to Mugabe, Stalin, Hitler etc.

    This poll shows that new zealanders are waking up to the slipperiness of Key – the constant dishonesty, the secret agenda, the evasiveness. In comparison Clark has made an understandable error after a long record of integrity and honesty. You want honesty and integrity in your politicians? You’ll take Clark over Key any day.

  49. Rex Widerstrom 49

    gobsmacked

    The latest poll (Morgan, out today) shows NZ First have lost support

    to Labour.

    No need to be gobsmacked about that 🙂 I’ve been explaining to people for years that when NZF was polling 29-point-something percent back in the mid-90s it was the Workingmen’s Clubs and the RSAs that were clustering round to hear what I had to say. If I went to the bridge club or the bowling club I’d get a polite hearing and, if I was lucky, a cucumber sandwich.

    A lot of NZF’s support comes from conservatives who’d otherwise support Labour. Working class people of my parents’ generation who believe in social justice and equality and access to affordable education and medical care and all the other socialist fundmentals but who are deeply uncomfortable with what they see as a radical liberal social agenda. They’ve been happy to return NZF knowing they’d go straight back in to coalition with Labour because they’re happy with Helen’s economic policies and with Winston’s social conservatism – for them it’s a match made in heaven.

    (And those NZF supporters who were National supporters pretty much left in disgust when he destabilised Shipley’s government to the verge of collapse).

    Push the conservative Labour voters out of NZF and they’re not going to going to National. They’ve never voted National in their lives. They’re going to return to Labour and hope like hell Phil Goff becomes leader.

    Which is another reason I cannot understand the PM doing the whole “stand by your man” act, unless her political instincts aren’t as good as I give her credit for. Cut Winston adrift and a possible result is a more stable “LPG” (god how I hate that nonsense) coalition.

    Yes, severing Winston is a gamble but it’s a gamble worth taking for the sake of going some way to restoring people’s faith in democracy. Maybe Key has rolled the dice and lost. Maybe he too didn’t understand the true nature of NZF voters, and thought they’d all go to National. But on the face of it, he looks more courageous than Clark.

  50. randal 50

    rex w it looks like you come fromm the garner/espammer/dallow/hooter/mould/mulch hysterical school of political analysis. the reason HC is prime minister is because of wff, kiwibank and not privatising state assets. Bedrock planks for NZF too. once you understand that it will all become perfectly clear.

  51. Tim Ellis 51

    Ah, randal, the resident right-wing troll disguising himself as a left-wing troll for everybody’s entertainment. That’s right, randal. Everyone else’s political analysis is “hysterical”.

  52. Pascal's bookie 52

    Rex, there is the impression within (some) National Party circles that WP essentially steals votes that are rightfully theirs.

    “Afterall he was a Nat, he wouldn’t even be in Parliament if it weren’t for us” and so on.

    I suspect it’s this treachery that fuels much of the hatred for him, his ethics aren’t something if not shit, but let’s be honest, Brash, Boag, and Steven Joyce aren’t exactly paragons of public virtue, and they’ve gotten a pass.

  53. Felix 53

    Tim when you can sum up complex interwoven concepts as succinctly as randal does (rather than stretching out single-celled simple ideas into novellas as you do daily) then perhaps more people will actually read your (often insightful) thoughts instead of scrooooolllllling on by.

  54. Rex Widerstrom 54

    Pascal’s bookie:

    I agree that impression exists among some Nats, and it’s even true insofar as the ‘blue rinse’ support Winston attracts. It’s certainly what kept him afloat in Tauranga – those little old ladies could vote for “their” Winston as MP and still give their party vote to National.

    But just as it’s no longer enough in Tauranga it’s no longer enough across the country. Brash, Boag and Joyce, whatever you think of their ethics, didn’t repeatedly hold themselves out as paragons of political virtue prior to being fund not only to be crooks but also hypocrites – that honour belongs solely to Winston.

    I’d love to see some in-depth research on NZF voters – who they supported prior to the advent of NZF, their demographics and so on. I vaguely recall being interviewed by Jack Vowles on the topic at one point, when I have time I’ll see if I can find some statistics.

    randal:

    It looks like you come from the “criticise what you think/hope someone said rather than attempt to comprehend it” school of blog commenting.

    That NZF’s attitude to economic policy – and specifically its willingness to support Labour policies, particularly opposition to privatisation of state assets, is precisely the point I was making.

    There is considerable commonality between the two parties on matters economic. Less so on matters social. Try asking Peter Brown or Ron Mark what they really think of, say, civil unions. Then stand well back to avoid the spray of spittle.

  55. Rex Widerstrom 55

    Oops somehow half a par got lost (and we have no editing now, Lynn?) above.

    What it should say is:

    That NZF’s attitude to economic policy – and specifically its willingness to support Labour policies, particularly opposition to privatisation of state assets – aligns extremely closely with Labour’s and where it differs that difference isn’t significant is precisely the point I was making.

    [lprent: Depends on the browser etc. But it is noticeably worse as the load goes up. It seems if it craps out once in a session then it keeps dying – the joys of ajax. I’ve been a bit busy to do anything about testing the later versions. Between paid work and unpaid work, the work I have to pay for (ie this place) hasn’t been getting its usual attention. Youall know what it is like coming up to an election.]

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    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    8 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    11 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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