Will Collins walk the talk?

Written By: - Date published: 9:18 am, December 27th, 2011 - 54 comments
Categories: uncategorized - Tags: ,

Radio New Zealand reports that Peter Ellis has a petition to the Minister of Justice seeking a pardon.

The current Minister of Justice, Judith Collins, signed another petition seeking an inquiry into his case in 2005.

The question is will Collins now walk the talk?

54 comments on “Will Collins walk the talk? ”

  1. higherstandard 1

    Can’t understand why they’ve never given Ellis a pardon – it’s pretty clear it was a gross miscarriage of justice and he’s made it fairly clear that it’s not about liability he just wants his name cleared.

    • Prefab Sprout 1.1

      Higherstandard, if you’re wanting some deeper insights into the reasons why Peter Ellis has not been pardoned, I would strongly recommend you have a read of Lynley Hood’s dissection of the Ellis case (if you haven’t already). But very broadly, the obstacles to a pardon are:

      (a) lots of people connected with the case (Judges, lawyers, QC’s, psychologists, politicians and many other people of high standing) will be made to look like fools if Ellis is pardoned. Many of these people have staked a reasonable amount of their professional reputations on their conduct during the Ellis case;

      (b) although Ellis is undoubtedly innocent, child sexual abuse is political dynamite, and politicians don’t like pardoning those convicted of such crimes, even if they are innocent. Few crimes have the capacity to excite public anger like child sexual abuse, and the government may be concerned that the act of pardoning Ellis may be interpreted by at least some of the electorate that the government is going “soft” on child sexual abusers;

      (c) if Ellis is pardoned, our criminal justice system will have to face a raft of uncomfortable questions. Hood was able to prove that not only is Ellis innocent, but that the alleged “crimes” at the Christchurch Civic Creche never took place. Ellis would have had to defy to laws of physics in order to commit the crimes he now stands convicted of. A properly functioning criminal justice system should have been able to pick up on this fact and acquit Ellis as a matter of course. The fact that this did not happen suggests something has gone seriously awry in our criminal justice system. An official inquiry of some sort would almost certainly take place, and it may reveal a number of ugly and unpalatable truths that the present government doesn’t need in light of such issues as the Christchurch rebuild, the economy, etc.

      There are other factors at play too, but in the interests of brevity I’ll stop here.

      • Grumpy 1.1.1

        Where does Luanne Dalziel figure in this?

        I heard she was a strong voice in Labour Cabinet against any inquiry?

        • Prefab Sprout 1.1.1.1

          Christchurch-based Leanne Dalziel, who was a member of the Justice and Electoral Committee when it was considering the Brash petition, has always been of the view that Ellis was guilty (who knows, she may have changed her mind). However, in fairness to Dalziel, it should be noted that she did exempt herself from all of the Committee’s considerations of the Ellis petition. I do not know what influence (if any) her views on this case may have had on the Labour caucus.

      • Ari 1.1.2

        As far as I’m concerned all three of those points are positives, but then again, I actually care that those convicted of any offense are genuinely the people who did the deed.

  2. Jenny 2

    As it took her three years to crush her first car. I wouldn’t hold your breath.

    • Jim Nald 2.1

      More likely to win a bet that rather than attempting to drag her heels to walk the talk, she would sooner squawk like cock 😉

  3. randal 3

    Not only does he need a pardon but he needs full compensation as well.
    the shits that dragooned him need to be flogged in public as well.

    • Anne 3.1

      the shits that dragooned him need to be flogged in public as well.

      I well remember the interview with a bunch of hysterical mothers whose almost incoherent venom knew no bounds. Even at the time they reminded me of the women who sat knitting in front of the guillotine shouting the French equivalent of “off with their heads” or some such. It was the first indication to me that something with that case against Ellis was badly wrong.

  4. Fotran 4

    I think it is a disgrace that so many Ministers have avoided doing the right thing by Peter Ellis.
    Look at the Paper by Ross Francis of Wellington for the Law Society Journal, Nov 2007, showing new evidence.
    randal – yes I agree.

  5. I will be watching closely as iIdo not think that man should ever have been accused of doing harm to any child.
    The policeman heading the investigation was a born again as well as the mother who initally made the complaint. Just goes to show how dangerous these cults of born agains can be on our society,

    But when have you know the police to come out and say we got it wrong, the funny thing is though the police then expect us to have complete faith in their ability to uphold the law in a honest and just way.

    • Just goes to show how dangerous these cults of born agains can be on our society

      Indeed Maggie May; those born agains you refer to are almost as dangerous a cult as those wolverines who devoured Peter Ellis after children were enticed into making allegations which could not be proven, simply because the events in question didn’t actually happen.

      There are idiot Christians, idiot agnostics, idiot Muslims and idiot atheists. Don’t tar everyone with the same brush.

      I would far rather see Peter Ellis pardoned and compensated than a single penny awarded to David Bain who should, in my opinion, be satisfied with an acquittal that was against the weight of evidence..

    • Lindsey 5.2

      One of the things in common in most of these “child abuse” cases has been the presence of fundimentalist Christians as part of the investigation team, either in the Police or among the Social workers. Particularly in the so called “Satanic” abuse variants. There was a book, I think called “Satanic Panic” which looked into this aspect of sveral overseas cases.

  6. Nick K 6

    The police never convicted him Maggie. And take your religious bigotry elsewhere.

    Having said all that, of course he should be pardoned. I feel very sorry for him and all that he has had to endure. This is certainly a blight on our country.

  7. Grumpy 7

    A sorry story and one that should now be sorted with a pardon for Ellis.

    Now, can someone please explain the political shennanigans that prevented Labour doing the decent thing years ago?

    Collins must act or be regarded as no better than her sorry predecessors.

    • Prefab Sprout 7.1

      Hi Grumpy – up above you’ll see a reply I made to Higherstandard which outlines some of the factors preventing Ellis from being pardoned. In terms of the political shenanigans that led to Phil Goff (the then Minister for Justice) fluffing this issue, the brief history goes something like this:

      Upon becoming Minister for Justice, Phil Goff, who apparently had concerns about the Ellis case, directed Justice Eichelbaum to do a review. Justice Eichelbaum reported back that he had no concerns about the convictions, and that, as Goff made clear, the case for Ellis’ innocence fell short “by a distinct margin”. Eichelbaum’s report was subsequently criticised by many, including a Dunedin author by the name of Lynley Hood.

      Lynley Hood’s book A City Possessed was released in 2001. It received almost unanimous critical acclaim from lawyers, academics and other learned authors. It sold very well for a 700 page hardback and won a few literary awards. As a result of the book’s success and widespread acclaim, Goff came under pressure to consider a pardon. Goff responded by asking Val Sim at the Ministry of Justice to assess Hood’s book and the allegations contained within it.

      Val Sim produced a virtual hatchet job on Hood’s book. Despite the fact that Hood’s book had been almost universally praised, Sim dismissed the book out of hand. Had Sim at least conceded that Hood’s book raised some significant issues, Sim’s report would have been more compelling, but by dismissing it in total, I can’t help but speculate that Goff may have said to Sim “get this woman and this book off my back!”

      Not willing to admit defeat, Don Brash then submitted a petition to Parliament asking that Ellis be pardoned. That petition was considered by the Justice and Electoral Committee. Their report on the petition was bizarre. The Committee was of the view that there was no miscarriage of justice in the Ellis case, but nonetheless they said they were “concerned” at the operation of a number of sections in the Evidence Act.

      That simply astonished me. You think Ellis is guilty, yet you’re seriously concerned that the sections used to secure his convictions are faulty? How can they justify that? It’s a bit like saying: “We have heard concerns that fires can cause burns. Having considered the matter, we do not agree, but we nonetheless recommend that people stay as far away as possible from fires”.

      Goff also dodged the petition on the grounds that Ellis supporters had not been able to present “any new evidence” for consideration. But this was a red herring. The point of the petition was not that there was any new evidence, the concerns were how the existing evidence was interpreted at the time. But Goff was not interested. As per the “factors” in my response above, there was too much riding on the Ellis case, and Goff did not want to open a can of worms.

      • Colonial Viper 7.1.1

        Hey well here’s the perfect answer then: pardon Ellis posthumously, after everyone else involved with the fuck up that was the investigation, court case and subsequent reviews has also died.

      • deuto 7.1.2

        Thanks for your learned inputs, Prefab Spout.

        I followed the Ellis case very closely at the time and during the subsequent appeals etc. including reading (thanks to the net) material that was suppressed.

        IIRC, there were two MPs (who are still MPs – one Labour and one National) who had/have personal relationships with parents of children at the creche at the time. Hence, IMO and that of others, the reluctance of both major parties to support indepth investigations, the revelation of new evidence etc. Being a cynic, I strongly doubt that Collins or the current National govt (or Labour opposition) will change their previous stance due to the high listings of both MPs concerned.

      • RedLogix 7.1.3

        These lucid and obviously informed comments Prefab are much appreciated. Frankly the whole affair reflects very badly on NZ’s Court system and has undermined confidence in it rather badly. Everyone knows Ellis is innocent of the crimes he’s convicted of, yet the system cannot bring itself to rectify it’s own mistake. That is very, very concerning.

        One question. I can accept that various Ministers, Goff being one of them, have fluffed this badly. There is a pattern of Ministers of Justice being reluctant to intervene where intervention was clearly needed. Why?

        Have they been constrained by the convention that our political and judicial arms of government should avoid directly meddling in each other’s operational sphere? Has this sense of not wanting to ‘piddle on each other’s patch’ led to successive Ministers acting to avoid embarrassing some very senior members of the legal fraternity in an entirely unwarranted manner?

      • Morrissey 7.1.4

        Val Sim produced a virtual hatchet job on Hood’s book.

        There was another high-profile attempt at a hatchet job by the Prime Minister’s poisonous “media adviser”….

        TV1 9:35p.m., Saturday 16 August, 2003
        “Edwards at Large” Transcript—-Presenter Brian Edwards
        Segment with Lynley Hood

        http://www.peterellis.org.nz/docs/2003/HoodComplaint/2003-0816_TV1_BrianEdwardsWithLynleyHood.htm

        BRIAN EDWARDS: In recent months there appears to have been a ground swell of public support for a further review of the conviction of Peter Ellis for the sexual abuse of children in his care at the Christchurch Civic Creche. There can be little doubt that much of the impetus for this ground swell including the petition calling for a Royal Commission to look into the case has come from Lynley Hood whose almost 700 page book, A City Possessed, critically examined the evidence presented at Ellis’s trial and the conduct of the subsequent appeals and the inquiry by Sir Thomas Eichelbaum. Well, Hood has received no less than three Montana awards for A City Possessed and a Doctorate in Literature from Otago University for it and her previous books on Sylvia Ashton-Warner and Minnie Dean. Could she, nonetheless, have got it wrong? …

        http://www.peterellis.org.nz/docs/2003/HoodComplaint/2003-0816_TV1_BrianEdwardsWithLynleyHood.htm

        [Edited. Please don’t duplicate vast screeds verbatim in comments. Post extracts and links. — r0b]

  8. randal 8

    cutting to the chase it is clear that Ellis was framed by idiots.
    ?

    • Colonial Viper 8.1

      idiots with an agenda and a know it all attitude.

      • Grumpy 8.1.1

        With you all the way here CV.

        What will it take for justice to be done – Collins?

        Well done prefab sprout, clear logical explanations. Hard to credit that this discussion is courtesy The Standard, but well done for raising this most scandalous festering boil on the N Z justice system”s bum

  9. Anne 9

    As per the “factors” in my response above, there was too much riding on the Ellis case, and Goff did not want to open a can of worms.

    Yes, in a nut shell. Mind you I think the same would have happened had it been a Nat. govt. Not only would it have caused a few of their ‘establishment mates in high places’ to be publicly embarrassed, there is always the desire (be it a Nat. or Lab. led govt.) to side step any issue that might culminate in millions of dollars in compensation. It would set a precedent for every Tom, Dick or Harry who was incarcerated for a crime they didn’t commit.
    Can’t have that!

  10. monty 10

    That act of gutlessness by Goff should hopefully cause him eternal shame.

    • chris73 10.1

      It should but it probably won’t (being hes a politician) but then if National do nothing then they’re as bad as Labour

  11. chris73 11

    Justice Minister Phil Goff reportedly does not intend to read ‘A City Possessed’

    I will not read that book by Hood

    I will not, will not, say it’s good

    I will just say the courts are right

    I do not want to see the light

    I will not read about that case

    I am scared of losing face

    I will not read it fast or slow

    I want to keep the status quo

    I will not read it, so I say

    I wish that book would go away

    I will not read that woman’s book

    I will not even take a look

    I will not read it, not a bit

    In case I have to act on it

    by David Hood

    Be warned Collins this could be said about you 😉

    • RedLogix 11.1

      Credit where it’s due chris… that’s rather good. His handling of the Ellis affair was not one of Goff’s finer moments.

      • chris73 11.1.1

        so good in fact that I’m going to track down the book and read it

        • Fotran 11.1.1.1

          Chris – should be a copy in your public library, although I was led to believe that some “Librarians” never actually put it on the shelves when published, or was recorded as “out” when requested.
          You should read the Eichelbaum report but remember it was actually written by Val Sim, whose “view” it represented. Eichelbaum was ill at the time, but it was published in his name.

  12. Ari 12

    I would like to be able to congratulate Judith Collins on something for once, but we’ll see…

    • Brooklyn 12.1

      And Don Brash too… sheesh

      • chris73 12.1.1

        Don Brash, at the very least, had honesty. When he talked about cannabis you could tell it was something he believed in rather then just for votes.

        Not saying everything he talked about was right (and I’ll be the first to admit I got it way wrong when he came back) but at least he believed in it.

        NZs most honest politician?

  13. randal 13

    poor old donny brash.
    he reached the limit of his expertise when he put his signature on the $1 note and then allowed inflation to drive one dollar notes out of existence.
    !!!!!!!!
    other than that he knew how to count baloney!

  14. Adam 14

    “Everyone” doesn’t know Ellis is innocent. I for one don’t believe he is, even though he may have now convinced himself he is. The judge’s sentencing notes give warning of people wanting to believe otherwise, ignoring the weight of evidence. Yes, there were extreme statements that were not put to the jury, which might have raised questions as to credibility of evidence, but that was because the prosecution judged that they were unsound because of probelms that might have crept on on the second or third interview of young children by people who did not know how to do it. The first interviews were enough to convict, without what might be construed as “leading”.
    Lynley Hood’s book was not universally praised, and her subsequent hatchet job of the Unfortunate Experiment, and her lame defence when that was clinically refuted by people who knew stuff, indicates Hood is not the genius investigator people seem to think she is.

    • Daveosaurus 14.1

      And what “hatchet job” would that be? Are you sure you’re not confusing Lynley Hood with Linda Bryder, who did write a (subsequently refuted) hatchet job on the Cartwright Inquiry?

    • ron 14.2

      Pleased to someone responding to the drivel above, Adam.
      Ellis is guilty. Those of us who know the kids and were actually at the trial know that. Everyone else is basing their opinions on media coverage and Hood’s book. Hood had no intention of writing a balanced investigation, she went into the book with the agenda of “proving” a miscarriage of justice and was supported by the usual misinformed media hysteria that accompany this sort of thing. The most revealing interview with Hood was on a small local TV station when she was asked “what about the kids? The – now adults – who still say he abused them?” She laughed and basically refused to answer the question.
      Ellis is guilty. He’s done his time and should shut the f^*k up.

      • Colonial Viper 14.2.1

        So which of Hood’s criticisms are factually wrong, in your opinion.

      • Prefab Sprout 14.2.2

        Ron – many of the children who said they were abused by Ellis at the High Court trial have since retracted their allegations … not least the oldest child who was the only one to make any coherent allegations against Ellis.

        I would strongly recommend that you at least read the first chapter of Hood’s book. That chapter deals with her overall approach to this case and the reasons why she did not contact the children.

        And have you ever asked yourself why Ellis has not, as you say, shut the f**k up? The vast majority of convicted pedophiles strongly protest their innocence in Court, but nonetheless slink off into the shadows after they have been convicted. Ellis is our most notorious pedophile, and yet he refuses to let this matter rest. Why is he still protesting his innocence after so many years? Could it be because he actually is innocent?

        • ron 14.2.2.1

          PreFab
          “Many”? The complainants (and several victims who weren’t complainants) have come under enormous pressure from the media and their lackies and I don’t blame them for recanting. Some left the country. Others have changed their name.
          Have read the book and spoken directly to Hood. Hasn’t changed my view because I know the victims and I was at the trial. She bought her own conspiracy theory and then went out to sell it.
          I don’t know why Ellis continues to maintain his innocence.
          The only scandal here is that so many otherwise intelligent people have bought the apologist line and continue the abuse of those kids..
          Those kids were abused. He is guilty.

      • Morrissey 14.2.3

        You are clueless, Ron.

    • Prefab Sprout 14.3

      Adam – I don’t think anybody is suggesting that Hood is a “genius investigator” and I cannot speak for what you consider to be her “hatchet job” on the Unfortunate Experiment. But I think it is significant to note that A City Possessed was almost universally praised by a significant number of scholars, academics, medical practitioners and psychologists. That suggests to me that Hood had got quite a few things right in her analysis of the Civic Creche case, and that the conclusions in her book cannot be dismissed lightly.

  15. Adam 15

    You’re right. Apologies there. Hood’s other books are about Sylvia Ashton Warner and Minnie Dean.
    In these kind of cases, the hardest thing can be the children getting someone to believe.

  16. Roy 16

    Having actually been in the premises where the Christchurch Civic Creche was, I am absolutely certain that Ellis is innocent. The premises are extremely open-plan. I think it is very sad that some children were so brainwashed by leading questions that they still retain false memories.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T14:55:54+00:00