Why is there a media honeymoon?

Written By: - Date published: 2:53 pm, November 25th, 2008 - 41 comments
Categories: labour, Media, national/act government - Tags:

Why do new leaders get honeymoons? When you think about it, there’s no objective reason why a leader should get an easy run at first, not be asked the hard questions, be served lavish praise. So why does it happen?

Well, I asked around a few people who’d been there and done that, and the only credible answer I got was that it’s because the press gallery and the new leader are building relationships. It works like this: gallery journos need access, that means they have to get the new leader and his ministers to trust them, and that means no critical articles. To protect their ability to gain information for writing stories, the media have to only write nice stories. The new government has the power to shut them out, so they’ve got to protect their own arses. The new leaders are also building relationships. Flush with victory they are in an open, welcoming mood and with the media being so nice to them, they are minded to be even more open and friendly toward them. When you’re getting to be friends with people, and when your job prospects depend on good relations with them, it’s easy to have a honeymoon.

It’s not until one of the half-dozen people who essentially control our political discourse starts writing critical articles and others follow them that the honeymoon ends. That never really happened to Key during his time in opposition. Sure the political editors all got in their pro forma critical pieces but all were afraid of getting offside with someone they were certain would soon be PM. Moreover, some of them have a career change to consider. Watch over the next few weeks for at least one, possibly more, of the top political journos to join Key’s office.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – ‘this sucks, the people meant to hold our politicians to account are too busy trying to keep their jobs or get new ones’. Yeah, it does suck but there’s no changing the lay of the land. Instead, the Left, and Labour in particular, needs to do a much better job working with the media than they have done.

There is a tendency for the Left to view the media as an enemy to be fought, which is a big mistake. While the old media still control how the public perceives politics, Labour needs to work with them. In particular, they need to turn away from this paralysing ‘risk avoidance’ model and, instead, work on building personal relationships with the media.

The journos are just people, treat them with distrust and they’ll treat you badly back; be friendly and they’ll be nice back. And it’s not hard – they’re, most of them, genuinely nice people in person – just make friends. That’s something smiling John and National know all too well. It’s something Labour needs to learn, and quick.

41 comments on “Why is there a media honeymoon? ”

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  1. illuminatedtiger 1
    25 November 2008 at 3:00 pm

    Well of course Steve but then you get pricks like Hooton who are so blinded by their own ideology that they wouldn’t say a nice thing if Clark somehow managed to save the world.

    CAPTCHA: Nothing critical

  2. Tane 2
    25 November 2008 at 3:01 pm

    tiger, I think Steve was referring more to the gallery journos proper. Hooton’s more of a freelance dickhead and muckraker.

  3. insider 3
    25 November 2008 at 3:01 pm

    It’s also a practical recognition that because they have yet to properly take the reins of power a story like today’s increase in emigration to Aus cannot be reasonably laid at the feet of the new govt. Once they introduce their policies and those start causing ripples, stories will flow. The story today on tree planting being hit by the ETS review is an example. And of course Labour will be able to seed bad news because they will know where bodies are buried.

    Yes of course Duncan Garner and Fran Mold were soooo scared of getting offside they never ran anything negative on Key and his party.

    [the fact that you can only list two journos who have done embarrassing stories on Key’s National says it all. SP]

  4. Tane 4
    25 November 2008 at 3:14 pm

    Exhibit A, today’s article by Audrey Young:

    John Key’s extraordinary first week as Prime Minister continues today with a visit to London where he will meet for the first time an older half-brother – just before his meeting with the Queen and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown…

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10544851

  5. bobo 5
    25 November 2008 at 3:15 pm

    It’s all a bit too chummy for my liking and if the media are just there to be a PR firm for either party the public is the loser. As they say never do business with friends and I would think that keeping a professional objective relationship is hard enough with NZ being a tiny country where everyone knows everyone. The MSM acts in an adversarial way swinging from friend to foe at the expense of well researched journalism reporting the actual news of the day.

  6. leftrightout 6
    25 November 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Steve, as a lefty my biggest gripe with the media is that they are not impartial and lean heavily towards the right, when they have a duty to represent both sides fairly. While I realise that no news service can be truely impartial the current state is unacceptable.

    It feels like the media have too much power and influence over voters which is undemocratic. If we work to get them onside arent we just giving them more power and influence?

  7. Lukas 7
    25 November 2008 at 3:34 pm

    “…but then you get pricks like Hooton who are so blinded by their own ideology that they wouldn’t say a nice thing if Clark somehow managed to save the world.”

    You could easily substitute Hooten for SP and Clark for Key into that sentence too… I love it how both the Left and the Right on the blogosphere claim that the media is biased against their particular view… often the truth lies somewhere in the middle. One would imagine it would be a proverbial cold day in hell before SP said something nice about Key though.

  8. Jem 8
    25 November 2008 at 3:35 pm

    Remember too what happened to Rod Oram when he wrote a piece critical of Don Brash he was forbidden to interview the leader ever again. And then exactly the same thing happened with John Key during the election campaign. Rod was effectively blacklisted.

    I wonder if Smiley Happy John will keep up the ban on one of the country’s most respected economic journos.

  9. Pascal's bookie 9
    25 November 2008 at 3:35 pm

    My biggest gripe with the media is that HS Thompson is dead, and so is Molly Ivins. And Exiled is broken again. Though those aren’t local problems… and we do have GC at Scoop, who is above the bs.

    The honeymoon is as SP says, about establishing access, and working out a narrative and generally being polite, like Americans doing that ‘dating’ thing.

    Edit: Lukas, let me know when SP gets the same access to journalistic real estate that Hooten gets, and I’ll agree there’s equivalence.

  10. gingercrush 10
    25 November 2008 at 3:35 pm

    What a load of tripe. Anyone thinking the mass media has an obvious right bias are kidding themselves. How strange to see the right believing there is a left bias and the left believing there is a right bias. Neither is true. There are some where that bias is clear. That being NBR or something like that. I’ll even hand you the NZ Herald. But you cannot claim the whole media has a right bias. Especially when every media for five years plus were rather pathetic in their total admiration for Helen Clark. Not to mention for years the Sunday Star Times had a clear left bias. Radio New Zealand has always carried a rather bias to the left. TVNZ for years showed a real lack of bias towards the right and pushed to the left. TV3 has largely showed a left wing bias.

    You want real bias. Move to the United States. Otherwise treat the media in New Zealand as rooting for winners and losers. When National was a bunch of losers and Labour was riding high in the polls aka 1999-2003/4 they backed Labour. When that changed and National got some momentum the media changed and became more or less balanced. With the media being critical of both the left and right. Since Brash went and Key went into office.The media has on the whole been rooting for Key. Though there’s been many critical articles etc as well.

    Blatantly right wing bias? lol hardly. More just the media backing someone who right now is a winner. Things change and watch that same media back Labour again sometime in the future.

  11. higherstandard 11
    25 November 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Meanwhile on the right leaning blogs commenters were seen to be screeching about the left wing media.

  12. Ianmac 12
    25 November 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Insider:”a story like today’s increase in emigration to Aus cannot be reasonably laid at the feet of the new govt. ”
    I don’t think that that is so. Since the popular belief for the last year or so has been that Labour was going to be evicted, and that National would be the boss and would clean things up, you could reasonably expect that from a year or more ago, there would be an arrest of the outflow and indeed a flood back into NZ. It fact the rate has increased????
    Of course the flow may have nothing at all to do with who is in power, but the National spin is that it was Labour’s fault. (Nat spin might have actually put ideas in people’s heads!) So! How will our Nats deal with future outflows??

  13. Scribe 13
    25 November 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Tane,

    So you wouldn’t characterise John Key’s first week as PM as “extraordinary”? I would. How many New Zealand PMs have met the leaders of the UK, US and China — as well as countless other world leaders — in their first week in office?

    Answer: One.

  14. Tim Ellis 14
    25 November 2008 at 3:54 pm

    I very much doubt John Key will have the extraordinary five-year honeymoon that Helen Clark had. As for the motives, I very much doubt it is about getting a job: the Labour Government tripled the number of press people in ministerial offices over its nine years. Yes, a bunch of media ended up in ministerial offices, but I’d say of the senior media–the six or seven who “control” the media now as you say–wanted a higher paying job in a ministerial office they would have made the jump long ago.

    I think there’s an element to building good relationships when journalists write their copy, but Helen Clark was a master at keeping in contact with media. Senior gallery journalists used to boast of getting phone calls and texts from her to talk through issues of the day. Goff is no slouch on media matters either.

    Of course there’s a honeymoon. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, it’s just a feature of democratic political systems everywhere. Whenever the public have clearly expressed their voice, there’s an element of celebration that a new government representing the public will is in power. I think part of the role of the fourth estate is to ensure that the public will is being adequately expressed by government. A lot of the anti-government media positions that have been taken in the past–from Palmer 1989-1990, Shipley from 1997-1999, and Clark from 2007-2008 seem to be when an old, tired government has taken the public for granted.

  15. Robinsod 15
    25 November 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Righties – there’s a lot of the media themselves talking about the honeymoon period –

    http://news.google.co.nz/news?hl=en&tab=wn&ned=nz&q=%22john+key%22+honeymoon&btnG=Search+News

    But what would the media know about what the media think??? Damn the Standard and it’s partisan belief in a slanted media!!!

  16. Brett Dale 16
    25 November 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Aunty Helen had a none year honeymoon with TVNZ.

    [lprent: Hey Brett – is re-edit not working for you? I’m absolutely sure that wasn’t what you meant to say??]

  17. Brett Dale 17
    25 November 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Opps that should be NINE year honeymoon.

    [lprent: ok – same question though. I pushed re-edit out to 8 minutes a few weeks ago. You should have been able to edit that bo bo in place.]

  18. gingercrush 18
    25 November 2008 at 4:01 pm

    Yes we know there’s a honeymoon period it always happens. It happened with Labour and as Tim Ellis pointed out, that one lasted five years. Whats your point. That doesn’t make the media bias. That means the media is giving John Key and his government a honeymoon. You can talk about bias when that honeymoon ends up two years or more.

  19. leftrightout 19
    25 November 2008 at 4:10 pm

    Scribe thats just good timing.

  20. Scribe 20
    25 November 2008 at 4:14 pm

    leftrightout,

    Yes, and good timing can make for an extraordinary week. Audrey Young calling it extraordinary is not evidence of a media honeymoon, which is what Tane suggested.

  21. Steve Withers 21
    25 November 2008 at 4:19 pm

    As far as the NZ Herald is concerned, National’s ‘media honeymoon’ began in 2004 and never ended.

  22. Scribe 22
    25 November 2008 at 4:26 pm

    If The Herald was so in love with National in 2005, why was the Exclusive Brethren story on page one and the Taito Phillip Field story, which broke on basically the same day, on page five (or thereabouts)?

    Allegations of bribery and corruption are a pretty big deal — far more important than a group telling the truth about Labour and the Greens, albeit with a fake address on the information.

    And the recent study on the media coverage leading into the election from Victoria University (?) shows that Labour got a better deal from the media than National.

  23. QoT 23
    25 November 2008 at 4:27 pm

    Seriously, Lukas? When SP gets to sit next to John Campbell on election night and tell provable lies about That Nice Mr Key, then your comment might be slightly plausible.

  24. Ag 24
    25 November 2008 at 5:07 pm

    Half the problem is that being bland and brainless seems to be mandatory for New Zealand political journalists. It would be nice if they could occasionally say something outside of the tired and incoherent narratives that pass for political commonsense in our country.

    But then again, the point of political journalism is no longer to inform voters of necessary information, but to confirm their pre-existing prejudices. Who cares if the Emperor has no clothes.

  25. Oli 25
    25 November 2008 at 7:07 pm

    Hooton is no worse than Trotter or Bryan Edwards.

  26. northpaw 26
    25 November 2008 at 7:11 pm

    scribe,
    So you wouldn’t characterise John Key’s first week as PM as “extraordinary’? I would. How many New Zealand PMs have met the leaders of the UK, US and China — as well as countless other world leaders — in their first week in office?

    How about trick of the calendar..?

    Else we might assume that the writer of ‘I would’ above holds coincidence to be by intelligent design ro some other fanciful phenomena..

  27. Ian Llewellyn 27
    25 November 2008 at 8:06 pm

    It is interesting how both the left and right wing blogs see the media (and in particular the gallery) as part of some organised movement out to get their side.

    I think this is probably due to the fact that those who care for a cause with a passion, tend to stew over stories they don’t like or perceive are not being written and forget the ones they agree with.

    A couple of points… I think the honeymoon idea is a more a nice turn of phrase than an active concept.

    The idea put forward by the writer that the gallery don’t attack ministers of an incoming government for a period in order to build contacts does not stand up..

    One of the dynamics between the gallery and politicians when the opposition moves into the treasury benches is that they have had years of building contacts.

    Being the opposition there tends to be a less formal relationship and it takes a little while for the walls to go up.

    In 1999 when Labour came in I was able to to talk directly to Clark, Cullen, Goff etc for some time, but over time ministers withdraw from direct contact.

    So the building contacts theory is just not true.

    Also last week some in National were very unhappy with the reporting of the ETS, they did not feel like they were in a honey moon period.

    There is also the fact that while it may seem a long time ago, the election was quite recent. The Beehive is a picture of chaos at the moment and ministers are still being briefed on portfolios… any answers to questions at the moment are referrals back to the election policy or “not been briefed”.

    You might also notice that there have been little or no attacks by Labour (and the ones they have made seem to be instantly regretted) as there is little point politically.

    Also many gallery journalists are taking stacked up leave from the last year. I am about to get six weeks off (does that count as a honeymoon)

    Just one more little point, there seems to have become this idea that Labour under went years of a honeymoon.

    I do not recall it being like that. They were very active in the first months and came in for both negative and positive reporting and I also recall a host of bad headlines around the “winter of discontent” though I can’t remember if that was 2000 or 2001.

    But anyway I am certain that both right and left blogs will be equally delighted and disgusted when the gallery journalists write stories in 2009, because actually that is the point, most journalists just like good stories

    That’s my 10 cents worth anyway

  28. mike 28
    25 November 2008 at 9:08 pm

    “There is a tendency for the Left to view the media as an enemy to be fought”

    Much the way an arogant and out of touch labour govt saw the mainstream public as an ememy to be fought eh SP.

    Also – did you not see the research into political media coverage that had National copping by far the most of the bad press?

  29. lprent 29
    25 November 2008 at 10:13 pm

    mike: Who did the research? What was the methodology? Where is the link?

    captcha: polls bored
    🙂

  31. RT 31
    25 November 2008 at 11:03 pm

    A lot of that bad press came from leaked tapes of Bill English and co. John Key pushed it as a Labour dirty tricks campaign, all the time knowing Labour had nothing to do with it.
    It worked I suppose. Make yourself out to be the victim. Yeah right

  32. Carol 32
    26 November 2008 at 7:40 am

    Ian, seeing the MSM as leaning to the right does not mean we all see this as the product of an organised movement or conspiracy. IMO, this bias exists, but is partly due to the shoddy state of our news journalism: focused more or ratings/sales and entertaining, than on providing news that informs people of the main sides of significant political issues. The lean to the right is a dominant tendency, but is not cut and dried. There is more tendency to lean to the right in the most popular news media, the NZ Herald (which is probably a bit concious on the part of the NZH editor/s), and TVNZ (probably less conscious). And there is more of a tendency for some journos to lean right than others (eg Guyon Espiner).

    As this tendency is not total, or always concious, I think maybe journalists, editors etc may not be able to objectively assess how biased their news is.

    The fact that both left and right claim a bias against their POVs, is not necessarily evidence that the news is in fact fairly balanced. For instance, in the US during most of Bush Jr’s presidency, it has been fairly widely thought that the US MSM has leaned towards supporting and promoting the Bush government’s views and policies. Meanwhile, the right/Republicans have claimed that the US MSM is too biased towards liberal perspectives. I think you may be right that this discrepance has to do with the particular items or aspects of items that people from each political perspective pay attention to. But it is not evidence of a balanced news media.

    In NZ, even with a tendency for some media to lean right, they also produce some items/articles that take a more left perspective, esecially in the comments section. It is in the most visible items (top of the news hour, front page headlines) that there tends to be the strongest right bias. And these are the items that a large section of the population take as their main news source, without thinking too deeply or critically about it. There is also a tendency for a right bias in the selection of issues and events that the media highlight most strongly. This is not asily quantifiable by counting the number of items taking a left or right perspective or presenting parties in a positive or negative way.

    I stopped going to the NZ Herlad site regularly a while back because I got sick of its blatant skewing of the news to the right and/or against Labour (and also often the Greens). This week I switched from mainly watching TVNZ 6pm news, to TV3. I am particularly fed up with the tendency for a right bias from Guyon Espiner, and his superficial analysis. There are other political reporters who do a better job at TVNZ IMO (most of them women). When Guyon leaves, I may consider going back to watching TVNZ news. I have always supported the idea of a state broadcaster, and do think TVNZ produces some good reports.

    As I said above, I think the shift towards infotainment and commercialisation of news has had a big influence on the tendency for the MSM news coverage being skewed to the right. I think National’s consultants (Crosby Textor) have become very skilled in exploiting this in favour of the parties they support (think how the babies overboard story helped Howard during his election campaign a few years back).

  33. Scribe 33
    26 November 2008 at 8:47 am

    How about trick of the calendar..?

    Northpaw (et al.),

    I’m starting to wonder if you know the meaning of “extraordinary”. Timing worked in his favour, but a a first week as PM with so much packed into it — including meeting a couple of dozen world leaders and a half-brother he’d never met — is without a doubt “extraordinary”.

    captcha: end praising

  34. lukas 34
    26 November 2008 at 9:10 am

    mike: Who did the research? What was the methodology? Where is the link?

    It was done by a team at Canterbury Uni from memory…the full data should be released next month. I’ve seen some of it in the December edition of Investigate.

    [lprent: Oh hell. That does explain why I haven’t heard of it.

    That means that regardless of the actual quality and results of the research, it is probably useless for any debate. Wishart has touched it and it will have gone through with a fine proof comb looking for a couple of quotes to support his pre-determined argument. Then all of the jerk-off trolls will keep saying the same crap over and over again on all of the blog sites when you can guarantee that it is wrong. They will troll over any debate.

    Frankly anything that Wishart/Investigate touch invariably turns to absolute crap for debate. Frankly the guy should be jailed as being a blogosphere public nuisance.]

  35. Chris G 35
    26 November 2008 at 9:48 am

    In the tug-of-war over who the media is bias towards I’ve only got this tidbit of interesting info.

    Dom Post Today:

    “New Zealand Herald political reporter Paula Oliver, who was confirmed yesterday as joining Prime Minister John Key’s office.

    Mr Key’s chief press secretary is another former Herald staffer, Kevin Taylor.

    Former TV3 political reporter Stephen Parker is also being lined up as Gerry Brownlee’s press secretary”

    That could mean very little, as it would seem sensible to hire press secretaries with journo backgrounds. I just thought it was a bit of a laugh that 2 herald staffers and the supposed Left Wing TV3 landed a press secretary. I wouldnt want to be a press secretary of a party I didnt like, unless I was of course performing an insane mole maneuver. Props if they are, but its very doubtful.

    I will agree in part, however, with ginger saying that the media in general supports the winners and goes with the pendulum. Plus if the right keep saying the medias so left wing and we say the opposite, I can only think the medias doing a Reasonable job.

    exception: Herald and Dom Posts continued reference to Richard Long as an objective editor. Bah!

  36. gobsmacked 36
    26 November 2008 at 11:50 am

    Open bias doesn’t bother me. Editorials, commentators etc generally make it clear where they’re coming from. No, it’s the hidden bias that damages the reputation of a “free and frank” media, a vital part of our democracy.

    Paula Oliver’s last story for the Herald was on Friday. Now she’s on John Key’s team. It’s inconceivable that her new job came out of the blue, without talks, “feelers” from Key’s office (probably Taylor), while she was still reporting on John Key.

    Ditto the documented previous conflicts of interest for Paul Holmes, Bill Ralston, etc. They arrogantly claim the right to privacy while having an influential role in framing the political debate. Sorry, but the public interest comes first.

    Full disclosure should be mandatory – it’s basic professionalism. But if you wonder why the journos’ employers don’t insist on it – well, guess where their political leanings are.

    (My disclosure of interest: I have none. But I could do with a nice fat bribe before Xmas, if anyone’s offering … )

  37. Jum 37
    26 November 2008 at 2:47 pm

    Wasn’t Paula Oliver one of the 3 reporters who gave us the steamy past of Key – not.

  38. lukas 38
    26 November 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Iprent… given the research is independent I don’t think Ian can take too much of the blame that the left will no doubt throw at him for this article.

    Yes his editorial base is right wing, but he does write stories about National also… from memory just before the 05 election he wrote a story that was not at all flattering to the Nats. When any of the authors of The Standard write a piece speaking out against something Labour or the Greens have done you might have a leg to stand on in the bias debate.

    [Tane: Lukas, we’ve criticised both Labour and the Greens in the past. Speaking of legs to stand on, you might want to do your research before mouthing off.]

  39. northpaw 39
    26 November 2008 at 3:31 pm

    scribe,

    quit wondering, start thinking… the only likely ‘extra’ to make your term of “extraordinary” was the personal aspect.. half-brother (like long lost son) and family and political preferences as the case may be.. the rest belonged as I said to another’s organised calendar.

    If such things are to find acclaim by and among the new PM’s adherents and supporters then how on earth can folks discern the fellow’s merits.. as and when they come to light.

    Or maybe that’s the idea—a barrage of triviality to blot out serious interest/s and observation..?

  40. gobsmacked 40
    26 November 2008 at 3:36 pm

    The contest for Idiotic Analogy of the Day is always fiercely contested on teh internet discussings, but Lukas has made a strong bid there..

    We must stand firm against Idiotic Analogies, like we did against Hitler.

  41. Matthew 41
    27 November 2008 at 10:10 pm

    I wonder if there couldn’t be a more sensible reason for a media honeymoon ( and this applies whether the government is left or right). Its simply this, that we shouldn’t be quick to criticise and condemn another, rather we should wait to see what they do and even if they don’t rise to the occasion immediately give them some chance to before one gets excessively critical.

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    17 hours ago

  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    19 hours ago

  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    21 hours ago

  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A Step–by–Step Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and third–party applications. So, let‘s dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. That‘s why they introduced the “Recently Deleted“ folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Here‘s how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the “Recents“ tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on “Edit“. Select “Show Recently Deleted“. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose “Recover“ to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Here‘s how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose “Erase All Content and Settings“. Follow the on–screen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose “Restore from iCloud Backup“ during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore Third–Party Apps (with Caution): ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    22 hours ago

  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    1 day ago

  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    1 day ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    1 day ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    2 days ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    4 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    5 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago

  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago

  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    13 hours ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
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    1 week ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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