Why I voted two ticks Labour

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, September 20th, 2017 - 64 comments
Categories: election 2017, greens, labour - Tags: , , ,

I voted yesterday.

The electorate vote was simple. Dunedin North – Labour’s David Clark is a great MP and a lovely guy, very easy to vote for!

I struggled with the party vote. I happen to be a Labour Party member, but that’s mainly a historical accident. I’m not “Tribal Labour”, I have voted Green and Alliance before. Obviously this time it was a tossup between Greens and Labour. Difficult. In the end, I’m pretty sure that the Greens are over the line (do vote Green!), and after that the exact size of their vote is not too much of a worry. So I went with Labour, because it would be good (but not necessary) if their vote exceeded National’s, and that is looking like a very close call indeed.

Parties aside, I voted for change. Labour + Greens + the majority of public opinion on NZF represents a strong and clear mood for change. Don’t lose sight of this in all the spin about the Labour vs National horse race. The Nats have no mates.

I voted for change because the Nats are liars and scaremongers who play the dirty politics game. They have helped the rich get richer while watching poverty and homelessness get worse and worse, while the environment degrades and the impact of climate change accelerates. Nine long wasted years. They do not deserve to lead this country.

I voted for change because a Labour led government will be, as always (ok with one notable exception!) – good for NZ and its people. Because their hearts are in the right place. Because their record shows them to be competent and innovative. Because they believe in inclusive politics. Because Jacinda Ardern has inspired me. Because it’s time for generational change.

I voted two ticks Labour.

64 comments on “Why I voted two ticks Labour ”

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  1. Bearded Git 1
    20 September 2017 at 9:14 am

    That logic doesn’t work really Anthony-I think you got this wrong.

    Lab 42+Gre 6 with Nat 43 is best because we get a Lab/Gre government.

    But Lab 44 Gre 4 either leaves us either with a National government (Nats 43+NZF 7) or leaves us with a Lab/NZF government. (Lab 44+ NZF 7) .

    Surely you would prefer Lab/Gre to Lab/NZF?

    It follows that when in doubt Party Vote Green

    • r0b 1.1
      20 September 2017 at 9:24 am

      Yup, that’s exactly the struggle! But I’m not in (significant) doubt that the Greens are going to make it.

      (Labour + Green) > Nat, but it will help the perception / stability of the next government if Labour > Nat on its own.

    • Anne 1.2
      20 September 2017 at 9:35 am

      It can equally follow that when in doubt Party Vote Labour.

      I’m also a Labour Party member who toyed with giving my party vote to the Greens. Two weeks ago I might have done it, but the Nat campaign of fear, lies and innuendo
      has left me with no alternative but to vote Labour. I wish it could be otherwise but until voters stop being led by the nose by a corrupt National Party then I don’t have a choice.
      My priority is a Labour led government.

      • Bearded Git 1.2.1
        20 September 2017 at 9:49 am

        Then you are happy either with Nat/NZF or Lab/NZF??

        From what you say you should be voting Green in order to be sure of a progressive Labour-led government, which will not be the case with Lab/NZF.

        • Anne 1.2.1.1
          20 September 2017 at 10:33 am

          Then you are happy either with Nat/NZF or Lab/NZF??

          No. I want a Labour/Green coalition government. But if it transpires the dirty Nats have succeeded in scaring the pants off too many of the voters… then I would accept a Lab/NZF govt. but only at a pinch.

          Leopards don’t change their spots and Winston is the same untrustworthy bastard he’s always been. I hope it’s Lab/Green.

          • DoublePlusGood 1.2.1.1.1
            20 September 2017 at 8:16 pm

            So the scare tactics scared you into voting in such a way that a Labour-led government is less likely, because of the risk of the Greens missing 5%. Good work.

      • cleangreen 1.2.2
        20 September 2017 at 10:07 am

        100% Ane,

        You mirror us too.

        Some of us willl split Labour/NZ First too.

    • spikeyboy 1.3
      20 September 2017 at 11:16 am

      Totally agree Bearded Git. I was surprised ro find a lot of previous Green supporters going the same way as Anthony and am now more worried about the greens making it than I was. I have party voted green as I know it is essential for them to remain in parliament.which doesnt bear thinking about really.

  2. Thomas Forrow 2
    20 September 2017 at 9:25 am

    And if the Green party gets a greater percentage we have more strong capable women in Parliament.

    • ianmac 2.1
      20 September 2017 at 9:49 am

      That would be great Thomas but the same applies toLabour. The most optimistic projection had Labour with 50% women over the line.

  3. ianmac 3
    20 September 2017 at 9:52 am

    My thinking is much the same as Rob and Anne and will vote accordingly. I think that my wife and sons think likewise but I have never asked them directly.

  4. cleangreen 4
    20 September 2017 at 10:00 am

    Both NZ First & Greens will both get over the line that is final;.

    Although today National said on the media they need to wipe both the greens and NZ First out to be the next government!!!!!

    So if we can mend our fences people!!!; – and get the ‘all three’ back on board in a ‘grand coalition this will secure we will win!

    We need to run a labour lead government with the greens/NZFirst alliance because Hellen Clark did this successfully in 1999 so in their success we should do it again.

    The alternative national and ‘bitsa’ government will finish us all in NZ off as they drag us into the jaws of TPPA.

    • Anne 4.1
      20 September 2017 at 11:06 am

      Umm… talking of the Nats. Received a phone call this morning from the National Party reminding me of “advance voting”. He had a thick accent and at the end of the call he announced he was ringing from… I think he said Curia and he mentioned a Wellington address which I didn’t catch.

      I live in a true blue Auckland electorate so my assumption is there is a major panic on, and Farrar and co. have been instructed to ring enrolled voters in all their ‘true blue’ electorates.

      Edit: lived here 30 plus years and its never happened before.

      • Enough is Enough 4.1.1
        20 September 2017 at 1:59 pm

        Of course there is major panic on. You make that sound like bad thing.

        I am panicked that National may retain power.

        I hope that sense is shared by all on the left and I hope that Labour and Green are taking similar measures to the call you which received. I hope they are getting their supporters out to vote.

  5. Bob 5
    20 September 2017 at 10:03 am

    All you undecided voters who want a Progressive Govt. Need to vote party vote green,
    NZ DOESNT NEED TO BE HELD HOSTAGE AGAIN, by NZ FIRST.
    Bumbling Bill wants to discourage anyone voting for the Left wing minor parties, as it gives Labour more choice, he has no mates, Dunne is gone, & Seymour is dissing him on a daily basis.
    LAB/ GRN is for me the most progressive way fwd.
    James Shaw & Jacinda work well together, Winnie just won’t cut the mustard, he’s so last century!!
    I’m prepared to endure Winnie if nessacary.
    It’s Generational change we want, after all Shonkey learnt On the job.
    And NZ NEEDS TO BECOME A WORLD LEADER IN THE Right Things, not the WRONG THINGS, like suicide & Poverty.
    And Tax system needs to be overhauled completely, the Gnats will never do this.
    I’m listening to Shamabeel the man.
    TAX IS LOVE #letsdothis

    [lprent: SHOUTING is discouraged here. I won’t tell you again. Once is enough. ]

    • Warren Doney 5.1
      20 September 2017 at 11:14 am

      I party voted Green partly because I see Winston First as dangerous too. I’m picking that a lot of Labour’s new support would melt away if they went into coalition with him. I really hope they think very carefully and do some polling if it comes down to a choice. I know there are elements in Labour who would like him, but I think he would totally derail the movement for change that’s happening now.

    • Bob 5.2
      20 September 2017 at 9:50 pm

      My apologies, thanks for pointing this out.

  6. Dot 6
    20 September 2017 at 10:13 am

    I look forward to your blog stories rOb, they are insightful and concise and keep me coming back to ‘theStandard’.
    Following lots of unpleasant days,
    the weather is fine and sunny in Auckland today so I am hoping for a fine day on Saturday with lots of people going out to vote for a change.

  7. Andre 7
    20 September 2017 at 10:17 am

    My party vote went to the Greens. Because my big issues are climate change, the environment and taxation fairness, and the Greens policies are much closer aligned to my views (on those issues) than any other party (and I’m confident they’ll get over 5% so it won’t be a wasted vote).

    My electorate vote went to Deborah Russell (Labour). Even though she’s been parachuted in, I want her tax expertise in Parliament and I’m sure she will also take on board local issues and represent them well. But mostly because Garcia is such a social troglodyte that I don’t want him anywhere near Parliament, and I’d be appalled if a split left vote let him sneak in. At first glance it appears his list placing (50) should be high enough to get him in, but there’s a bunch of newbies in safe Nat electorates lower on the list than Garcia, so it will take quite a high Nat vote to get him in on the list.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      20 September 2017 at 12:30 pm

      Yep, my vote went Green party and Labour electorate.

      I would much prefer it if the electorate voting was changed to a preferential system. Then we’d actually get the electorates preferred candidate rather than the least preferred with a plurality of votes.

      IRV has the effect of avoiding split votes when multiple candidates earn support from like-minded voters. As a simple example, suppose there are two candidates with similar views, A and B, and a third with different views, C, with first-preference totals of 35% for candidate A, 25% for B and 40% for C. In a plurality voting election, candidate C may win with 40% of the votes, even though 60% of electors prefer both A and B over C. Alternatively, voters are pressured to choose the seemingly stronger candidate of either A or B, despite personal preference for the other, in order to help ensure the defeat of C. With IRV, the electors backing B as their first choice can rank A second, which means candidate A will win by 60% to 40% over C despite the split vote in first choices.

  8. peterh 8
    20 September 2017 at 10:22 am

    I voted Monday I changed to two ticks Labour, But now having 2nd thoughts, we need Winnie, just to shove it up Joyce every time he does a hit on the government, and there will be a lot of hits coming, Every time Peters has been in govt he has done a good job

    • ScottGN 8.1
      20 September 2017 at 2:29 pm

      Joyce will off like a robber’s dog if they lose. He ain’t gonna stick around helplessly on the Opposition benches.

  9. riffer 9
    20 September 2017 at 10:33 am

    I’m with Anne. I’m currently laid up in Wellington Hospital Orthopedic Ward following a major motor vehice accident last week – a combination of people not following standards in road safety on the Transmission Gully Road and other driver idiocy. Chris Hipkins is my local MP and through engagement with him and his support of causes I am aligned with we have become friends of sorts. He’s even ridden on the back of my Italian Supervise in support of charity. I will support him to the end. I have last three elections voted Red/Green but this time wanted to make my intention clear with a strong Labour vote and I too believer the Greens will have no trouble getting there. I’m 50, raised in a staunch National household but I rebelled at an early age. I was a union member from day 1 of working life. I fully believe in the power of unionised labour. There are some things I don’t like about Labour but they are far outweighed by the positives. A Labour Green government will do more to make me feel better than all the painkillers money could buy.

    And if you were wondering, my care in Wellington Hospital has been first class.

    • Tautoko Mangō Mata 9.1
      20 September 2017 at 10:41 am

      Hope you receive the Labour -Green painkiller that speeds up your recovery, Riffer.

    • Tracey 9.2
      20 September 2017 at 12:52 pm

      Good luck with your recovery

    • Macro 9.3
      20 September 2017 at 2:10 pm

      All the best for your recover riffer.
      I had a similar experience in Waikato a few years back. And excellent care. The damaged shoulder (and it was hugely smashed up) is back to 99% of its original capability.

  10. riffer 10
    20 September 2017 at 10:34 am

    Oh yes. Voting early. I voted on Monday. The people coming around the wards were so helpful.

  11. Ad 11
    20 September 2017 at 10:45 am

    Our household is voting two ticks for Labour.

    We usually find the bluest voting place we can find in our electorate and go there, just so we feel like we stick it to the neighbours a bit.

  12. gsays 12
    20 September 2017 at 11:32 am

    Cheers for the post Rob.
    I have voted in palmy.
    I have one quibble, that there has been only Labour government that wasn’t good for the people. I assume that was lange’s reform government of the ’80s.
    I suppose the Labour governments that followed did some good things, buy kiwirail, Cullen fund etc, but they did nothing to undo the market dominance thinking of Aotearoa.
    It could be argued that they helped entrench the system, with the wff, rent subsidies etc, accepting the idea of working poor and welfare for landlords.
    I want wages to rise and conditions to improve and welfare to drop.

    Abolishing secondary tax is a good wee step.

  13. bill brown 13
    20 September 2017 at 11:45 am

    Just voted at Wellington Central Library. Steady stream of voters at 10AM.

    I was tossing up between Green and Labour for party vote – but could not bring myself at the last moment to vote Green – just too tribal.

    • Bearded Git 13.1
      20 September 2017 at 11:50 am

      You are entitled to be tribal Bill….but will you be happy with a Nat/NZF or Lab/NZF government if the Greens don’t get in?

      • bill brown 13.1.1
        20 September 2017 at 12:44 pm

        Well you know _some_ people have to make up the Lab side of a Lab/Green coalition. I just happen to be one of them.

        • Bearded Git 13.1.1.1
          20 September 2017 at 1:44 pm

          Now if you had voted for Seymour I’d be pissed off with you Bill…..looking forward to raising a cold pale ale to Jacinda on Saturday at 7.30 (because the rumour is that the more than than a million advanced votes will be counted quickly and should give a very early result)

  14. left_forward 14
    20 September 2017 at 12:07 pm

    For all of you who have already party voted Labour with the confidence that Greens will get over 5% despite you not supporting this possibility, I don’t know where you get this confidence from (surely not the polls?) – we can only hope that you are right. If you can live with a Lab/NZF or even a Nat/NZF coalition, then fair enough – but if not, you have chosen a flawed strategy.

  15. marty mars 15
    20 September 2017 at 12:10 pm

    We voted yesterday a combination of Green and Labour. I have been so impressed with Jacinda and cannot wait for her to be the Prime Minister.

  16. Chris 16
    20 September 2017 at 12:35 pm

    “I voted for change because a Labour led government will be, as always (ok with one notable exception!) – good for NZ and its people.”

    You forgot to mention how the three Labour-led governments from 1999 to 2008 were not good for New Zealand or its people, certainly not for the poor. The poorest NZers were screwed senseless over that time and it was pretty much done under the radar.

    It mightn’t be time to dwell on that right now given how important a change of government is at the moment, but we should never forget what Labour-led governments are capable of and that period of time – the Clark years – was one hell of a lesson, and one that I hope no future Labour-led government would ever choose to repeat.

    • left_forward 16.1
      20 September 2017 at 12:42 pm

      I assume you are referring to the one Labour-led Government, elected three times – I entirely disagree with your hyperbolic claim – they certainly could have gone further – but compared to any other since the mid 1970s – the Clark Government was by a long, long way, simply the best.

      • Chris 16.1.1
        20 September 2017 at 1:09 pm

        As I said, what Clark and her mates did to the poorest NZers went under the radar.

      • Anne 16.1.2
        20 September 2017 at 1:15 pm

        And the reason why they couldn’t go further than they did was because the electorate was still too mesmerised by the neoliberal experiment. It significantly reduced their options. It wasn’t ideal, but far rather a Labour-led govt. from 1999 -2008 than a National led one.

        • left_forward 16.1.2.1
          20 September 2017 at 2:13 pm

          Totally agree – I recall the heavy flack they got from the media and electorate for their ‘closing the gaps’ program.

          • Ad 16.1.2.1.1
            20 September 2017 at 2:35 pm

            On the back of which Brash nearly stole the entire election from Labour with an attack on Maori and beneficiaries that was far bolder than anything we have seen this year. It got close to a very, very different country right there.

  17. swordfish 17
    20 September 2017 at 2:20 pm

    I’ll be voting on Saturday – as Mother Nature intended.

    Entirely share your mixed feelings vis-à-vis Labour vs Green Party-Vote.

    My 3 priorities (in order of urgency) are

    (1) a Labour led government
    (2) a Left-leaning government
    (3) Ensuring the Greens make that 5% threshold

    On the one hand – I want the Greens in both Parliament & Govt (to ensure priority (2))
    Which suggests strategically Party-Voting Green on Saturday.

    On the other – I agree with you that “it will help the perception / stability of the next government if Labour > Nat on its own.”

    One or two Polls over the past decade have suggested strong public sentiment in favour of the idea that the party receiving the most votes should form the subsequent Government (eg 79% agreeing in a 2008 Colmar Brunton).

    Then again Jacinda-mania may have somewhat mitigated this view – the usual MSM suspects haven’t been pursuing this line in the way they did during previous campaigns & a recent Herald ZB Kantar TNS poll found more voters feeling NZF should make any coalition decisions on the basis of policies it can get (38%) rather than simply going with the largest party (35%) – with 27% Unsure.

    So – on balance – still suggests strategically voting Green

    But now we get to the core issue that continues to irk me as I contemplate a strategic vote to help lift the Greens over the 5% threshold = What do the Greens intend to do if NZF wants to lock them out of power – by insisting on a Lab-NZF coalition with the Greens relegated to c & s support outside of Government

    Let’s say =
    Nat+NZF 62 Seats
    Lab + NZF 57 Seats

    NZF tells Lab they strongly prefer Lab-NZF coalition over Nat-NZF one – but only if the Greens are relegated to c & s = otherwise “we” (NZF) will be forced to choose National

    Green MP Barry Coates, rang alarm bells in July when he said the Greens would refuse to support Lab-NZ First Gov (indeed might prefer to force a second election) & said Green MPs had discussed this in caucus.

    The MSM subsequently suggested Turei had argued along similiar lines in her speech to the Greens’ campaign launch in Nelson.

    According to Gower, “Barry Coates should be congratulated for showing in public what the Greens have been keeping private”. It is their “how do we stop Winston and Labour from shafting us” plan”

    & Bryce Edwards has suggested “other Greens have been quietly talking about this option, too. One Green MP – not Barry Coates – informed me of this (strategy) earlier in the year …. the Greens didn’t want this option to be widely discussed: The problem for the Greens has always been to keep this option quiet until after the election. They want the option in post-election coalition negotiations but don’t want potential Green voters to be aware that the party could well sink the chances of a change of government”

    Shaw – subsequently forced into damage control – partially reassured sympathetic Labour supporters = saying Greens’ “have no intention of forcing an early election” – but then indulged in waffle on other scenarios (ie in the event that Winnie vetoes Green involvement in any possible Labour-led government).

    “Frankly I think that there’s a lot of scenarios that could play out at this election and we just think everything is hypothetical until you know how many MPs each party has got… I don’t think it’s particularly helpful to chuck round lots of different scenarios because there are actually lots of different scenarios… Look there’s a lot of scenarios I don’t want to get into what all of the hypothetical situations are”

    Now I appreciate the Greens have few options in dealing with the very realistic danger of a Winston veto where they’re shut out of a left-of-centre coalition, as in 2005 – hence the high-stakes game of political chicken with the threat to pull the plug on a Lab-NZF Government – but they need to realise they’re in a beggars can’t be choosers position = if you want sympathetic Labour supporters like me to cast a strategic vote for the Greens to lift them over the threshold – then we could do with some clarity & reassurance that by doing so we’re not inadvertently making a change of government less likely

    The Greens need to give a categorical answer on whether they would ever pull the plug on a Labour-led government if they were left out of it.

    Or are they considering the cross benches & abstaining on confidence and supply
    under this scenario – supporting a Labour-led government, on a case-by-case policy basis & using their effective legislative veto to extract concessions piecemeal

    While I agree the Greens participation will ensure any Labour-led government is more likely to be Left-leaning & progressive – such a message is arguably a little deceptive in its ethereal abstraction

    Green-sympathetic Labour supporters deserve clarity on the cold hard practical consequences of strategically Party-Voting Green on Saturday

    • Psycho Milt 17.1
      20 September 2017 at 2:27 pm

      Green-sympathetic Labour supporters deserve clarity on the cold hard practical consequences of strategically Party-Voting Green on Saturday

      I agree, but that should be accompanied by the Green Party getting clarity on whether Labour would screw them over for a deal with NZF. There’s obfuscation on both sides.

    • Ad 17.2
      20 September 2017 at 2:38 pm

      Alternatively just avoid all that ‘deceptive ethereal abstraction ‘and just vote for Labour to get National out. Keep it simple Sword.

    • ScottGN 17.3
      20 September 2017 at 2:46 pm

      Call me old-fashioned but I’m going to vote on Saturday too swordfish.

      In his TVNZ opinion piece today John Armstrong canvasses the possibility that Labour may get slightly fewer seats than National but still end up in government with NZ First. He likens it to similar outcomes in the Scandinavian democracies.

      He notes that all the Aussie betting agencies are betting on which party will deliver the PM rather than which will win the most seats. Currently they all favour Labour to do this. Right now Sportsbet has Labour paying 1.65 versus National at 2.20.

    • Bill 17.4
      20 September 2017 at 2:49 pm

      So hang on Swordfish.

      The idea is that NZF may well play silly buggers (potentially vetoing any Green presence in government) and that NZ Labour will enable that but….the Greens get to do all the justifying and explaining??!?! How’s that work?

      If you don’t want NZF to be in a position to “game” the result, then make sure the Green vote is much higher than the NZF vote. Sod this 5% rational that (I suspect) is a line dreamed up and pushed by more conservative sections of NZ Labour’s caucus.

      • Bearded Git 17.4.1
        20 September 2017 at 5:52 pm

        agreed bill…swordfish making it all too complicated but he is right about coates who should have kept his trap shut

    • left_forward 17.5
      20 September 2017 at 3:21 pm

      They will almost certainly go with confidence and supply in your scenario – they will not want a Nat/NZF Government – who on the left would!?

      • DSpare 17.5.1
        20 September 2017 at 6:32 pm

        Not every MP for a left party is necessarily of the left themselves. My nightmare scenario is where a Nat/ NZF coalition is just short of the numbers and some of the righter Labour MPs jump over to the NZF waka (probably at the same time as Jones becoming deputy and heir apparent).

        GP giving C&S and horse trading for support on a bill by bill basis would be preferable to that!

  18. red-blooded 18
    20 September 2017 at 6:29 pm

    OK folks, so the latest Colmar Brunton has the Greens sitting pretty on 8% (which is where I and others always argued their core vote was likely to settle). One problem – all those Labour/Green supporters who’ve shifted over to the Greens in order to ensure their presence in parliament have had a significant effect on the Labour vote. At 37% (with the Nats on 46) it makes it much harder to argue that Labour are likely to lead the next government.

    I desperately want a left-leaning government. I gave my party vote to Labour and I’m proud of that. Those of you who haven’t voted yet should consider who you want to lead the next government. ‘Cos at the moment it looks like English, Joyce, Bennet, Collins and co are going to keep on grinding down public services, selling off state assets, cosseting polluters and avoiding the hard issues like climate change. But hey, at least we’ll get tax cuts!

    To change the government, party vote Labour.

  19. Tanz 19
    20 September 2017 at 6:37 pm

    Proudly voted NZ First, no contest.

  20. Tanz 20
    20 September 2017 at 7:07 pm

    Voting for the party that aligns to the best outcome for New Zealand and one’s own values is never a wasted vote. The Conservatives for the electorate vote.

  21. Delia 21
    20 September 2017 at 7:44 pm

    I was voting Labour this year, because I cannot bear another minute of National, let alone three years. I dislike this dishonest govt which hides it’s machinations from New Zealanders.

  22. mosa 22
    20 September 2017 at 8:29 pm

    I am voting Green to be in government or failing that in a strong position in the 2017-20 parliament.

    National will be the LARGEST party next week and backed by NZF but the Greens need to be in parliament.

    • red-blooded 22.1
      20 September 2017 at 9:32 pm

      The Greens will be in parliament. If you want them to have any chance of being in government, you need to ensure that the Labour vote picks up. The best way to do that is by giving Labour two ticks.

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    1 day ago
  • Radical law changes needed to build road

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers last night features co-hosts and talking with:The Kākā’s climate correspondent talking about the National-ACT-NZ First Government’s release of its first Emissions Reduction Plan;University of Otago Foreign Relations Professor and special guest Dr Karin von ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #29 2024

    Open access notables Improving global temperature datasets to better account for non-uniform warming, Calvert, Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society: To better account for spatial non-uniform trends in warming, a new GITD [global instrumental temperature dataset] was created that used maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) to combine the land surface ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 week ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The Government is proposing legislation to overturn a Court of Appeal decision and amend the Marine and Coastal Area Act in order to restore Parliament’s test for Customary Marine Title, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says.  “Section 58 required an applicant group to prove they have exclusively used and occupied ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Opposition united in bad faith over ECE sector review

    Regulation Minister David Seymour says that opposition parties have united in bad faith, opposing what they claim are ‘dangerous changes’ to the Early Childhood Education sector, despite no changes even being proposed yet.  “Issues with affordability and availability of early childhood education, and the complexity of its regulation, has led ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kiwis having their say on first regulatory review

    After receiving more than 740 submissions in the first 20 days, Regulation Minister David Seymour is asking the Ministry for Regulation to extend engagement on the early childhood education regulation review by an extra two weeks.  “The level of interest has been very high, and from the conversations I’ve been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government upgrading Lower North Island commuter rail

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