Your Mindset and Your Money

Written By: - Date published: 1:29 pm, January 18th, 2023 - 48 comments
Categories: class, Economy, poverty, tax - Tags:

According to massive property owner Graeme Fowler, the world view about money New Zealanders have governs our place in society.

Often, the difference between poor people, rich people and middle-class people isn’t how much money they have, or even how much they make. The difference between these people is what they believe is actually the purpose of money.

One of the most significant distinctions between the poor, middle class, and wealthy is their respective mindsets. The way in which each group views the world, their goals and their aspirations can vary greatly, and these differences can have a significant impact on their overall well-being and success.

The poor also often have a scarcity mindset, where they see the world as a place of limited resources and opportunities. This can lead them to believe that their chances of success are slim, and they may feel that they have little control over their lives.

This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair, which can prevent them from taking positive steps to improve their situation”.

But then there’s the middle class, apparently.

They see the world as a place of opportunities, but also recognise that there are limits and obstacles that must be overcome. They are more likely to believe that they have some control over their lives and can take steps to improve their situation,” he said.

“However, they may also feel a sense of stagnation, where they may see they are unable to progress or reach their goals.

“The wealthy, on the other hand, tend to have a growth mindset, where they see the world as a place of endless opportunities and resources. They believe that they have the power to shape their own lives and that their success is not limited by external factors. This mindset can lead them to take risks and pursue their goals with confidence. This can contribute to their overall success and prosperity.”

There are so many ways to mock this kind of nonsense, but let’s just start with Maori and go from there.

It is really clear that European ethnicity people in New Zealand own most of the wealth and Maori and Pasifika own the least, by a very, very long distance.

So do Maori have a bad attitude to money? If they just changed their minds about money could Maori just become more wealthy?

It has long been clear that Maori are on the whole one of the most entrepreneurial people not only in New Zealand but also in the world.

It has also long been clear that New Zealand is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world, and has been measured as the easiest to do business in the world.

Our collective mindset about making wealth are on those very concrete measures just fine.

The reality is that in New Zealand you are in the top 10% of wealth if you own a couple of houses, or a whole bunch if you are Mr Fowler.

The top 20% of New Zealand households hold about 69% of New Zealand’s net worth. Europeans as of the last Stats NZ release last year had an individual median net worth at $151,000 and Maori on the same measure $42,000.

That’s why the primary commentary in the Stuff article came from a European guy who owned lots of houses.

Can this degree of inequality be overcome by changing one’s attitude to money?

Perhaps changing one’s attitude to money could also increase one’s chances of making better choices putting items into your charity food parcel.

Or maybe by changing your “money personality” you can make a cornucopia of cash flow into the hands of those lying on our city streets begging.

Which “money personality” demands that over 7% of New Zealander works more than one job?

Liz Koh the money coach believes there is a money personality just for you:

The two key determinants of your money personality are your willingness to take risk and your desire to create wealth. Those who are highly successful at wealth creation are not afraid of risk and have a strong desire to create wealth.”

That’s from the same Stuff article where she agrees with Graeme Fowler the property magnate.

So to summarise, New Zealanders are globally exceptionally entrepreneurial and hard working as a people, are the easiest country in the world to do business, and yet for Mr Fowler the property magnate apparently our “attitude to wealth” and our “money personality” is keeping New Zealand’s poor very poor and the rich very very rich.

New Zealand’s reality, as small state specialist Dr David Skilling reminds us, is one of the smallest, weakest, most distant and least important countries in the world.

Our inventions are agricultural, our thinkers have few followers, our political order and influence miniscule, our corporations don’t grow and conquer. That’s the true “mindset” to address for those property owners who hoard and then preach facile morality.

New Zealand has one of the most unequal economies in the world, its economy reliant on low-value agriculture and real estate and low value tourism. New Zealand’s industries are controlled by a very small set of oligopolies in milk, horticulture, building products, fuel, seafood, ports and airports, shipping, supermarkets, and so much more. The concentration of wealth in New Zealand now is about the same as that of Regency England of the time of Jane Austen. There are pretty sound “money languages” for all of that, none of which are described by Mr Fowler.

The total number of people who control our wealth could fit into the Paeroa Horse Racing stands with several rows left over.

Actual class and economic mobility is decreasing in New Zealand, and it’s under study.

Inequality in wealth in New Zealand is not caused by a ‘mindset’.

They are not going to be cured by changing one’s ‘money personality’.

Though it is quite likely if you are rich enough and stupid enough your mindset and your personality will tell you how much you deserved it no matter what you did.

The people like Graeme Fowler claiming that they are, are simply cynical entitled assholes.

48 comments on “Your Mindset and Your Money ”

  1. Drowsy M. Kram 1

    Thanks for an eye-opening post – it's good that nice Mr Fowler has such laudable goals.

    Assuming all Kiwis want and are to be 'wealthy', where does Fowler imagine the extra 45+ plates, or the tens of millions of rental properties, are going to come from?


    https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/16-08-2022/the-side-eyes-two-new-zealands-the-table

  2. SPC 2

    I am not surprised to see such an apologetic, given we have rebuilt the class system down under.

    More people now own their homes in the UK than in New Zealand, and while the rate is rising there, it is still falling here.

  3. bwaghorn 3

    I think instead of rubbishong the guy and pulling out the poor Maori card, pick through it for the obvious lessons , educating students on money and finance would help.

    Mindste is part of it, I've missed a couple of opportunities because fear took over, and failed miserable financially due to not being taught basic money sense.

    Thank God for Saint cullens kiwisaver as in 10 years it got me to halfway of the average Joe's wealth.

    • Jimmy 3.1

      I definitely think educating school children about money / difference between debit and credit cards and best ways to use them/ budgeting / mortgages / Kiwi saver etc. should be compulsory at school. That way when they go out in to the world they at least have a basic understanding of finance.

    • BAW 3.2

      Nat voter here.

      Kiwisaver was the best policy of the 5th Labour Government.

      My wishlist to Labour – change the minimum wage laws so all workers get a payment to Kiwisaver.

      • bwaghorn 3.2.1

        Have you ever noticed it usually the left that makes things better,the right being conservative hate it until it sinks in .

  4. tsmithfield 4

    A friend of mine (who died a few years back) had made himself extremely wealthy largely through mindset. I will explain how at the end of this post.

    He had a goal to be retired by the age of 30, which he achieved. His definition of retirement was, that retirement means you work because you want to work, not because you have to work.

    He had started doing a computer degree at Uni after leaving school in his teens, but at the same time was working full-time at the freezing works, using notes from friends to do the Uni work (he was extremely bright).

    He built up enough deposit to purchase his first commercial property a year or two later, and then geared up on the existing property to purchase another as the tenant paid off the loan, and the value of the property increased.

    At the time of his death, I think he owned around 10 commercial properties that were paid off. So, he had huge amounts of rent rolling in to his bank account. Plus he had done very well on the share market.

    The sad thing is, he never really enjoyed his wealth. It was almost like he had a mental sickness. For instance, he would walk down to the library to read the paper rather than purchase one, still had his Datsun 120y which he had purchased new back in the 70s, and which he ended up deregistering because he thought he could just bus everywhere. And, he used to wear old jerseys with torn sleaves etc.

    The outward appearance was that he was a bit of a hobo, when in fact he was worth millions.

    When he developed symptoms of his illness, which turned out to be liver cancer, his doctor could have offered him a test that would have uncovered the issue much earlier. But, the doctor didn't offer it because he assumed my friend wouldn't be able to afford it. He was very bitter about that up until the time of his death about 10 years ago.

    The mindset part of how he got wealthy was:

    • He started with a clear vision of where he wanted to get to.
    • He was prepared to do what was necessary to reach his goals.
    • He didn't waste his money on unproductive things.

    He also thought anyone should be able to do what he did. However, I don't think everyone would be willing to live his lifestyle.

    • Jimmy 4.1

      Smart man did well for himself. Sad that he did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. I can admire a person like that who sets goals and plans to achieve them and takes the initial risk.

      • tsmithfield 4.1.1

        Yep, even when he was dying he didn't do anything with his wealth.

        For him, making money was more like a game. He got pleasure from making the money rather than spending it.

    • solkta 4.2

      So from savings after living costs from three years working in a freezing works plus a year or two of what ever he did after that he saved enough for a deposit on a commercial property? I call bullshit on that. Did you leave out some of the story?

      • tsmithfield 4.2.1

        No. The deposit required back then was only about 10%. It would be much harder to do that with commercial property these days because the banks want about 40% now, mainly due to banks losing money on commercial property due to a sharemarket crash or two in between times.

        But, it would be more doable with residential property.

        And he started with a fairly average property.

        And, as you can see from my first post, he wasn’t prone to spending much money.

        He much preferred commercial property though because the yeild tended to be better, and costs such as rates and insurance are covered by the tenant.

        • solkta 4.2.1.1

          I still call bullshit. Did you leave out living at home with wealthy parents? Help with the deposit?

          • tsmithfield 4.2.1.1.1

            His parents were average. We all lived in the same town in Rangiora back then. So, I knew them fairly well.

            He was just highly motivated. II don't know if he was paying board to his parents or not.

            But, the Freezing works did pay quite well back then, and I think he paid about $120k for the property. So, at 10% deposit on that would have been about $12k saved over three years.

            I often used to drive past him as he was biking from Rangiora to Kaiapoi each days (probably around 15ks). So, he definitely wasn't spending much of his money.

        • Descendant Of Smith 4.2.1.2

          Unless he had a family back then he may not have been able to get residential mortgage. Commercial in fact have been his only option.

  5. I think this response from Emily Writes sums it up.

  6. gsays 7

    Mindset, a wonderful euphemism for feeling guilt free for having a bigger share of the pie when others will have to make-do with less.

  7. tsmithfield 8

    Rich people who live poor, as I described my friend above, are not particularly unusual.

    A lot of these people get rich by being wise and frugal with their money. I think it can end up becoming a life habit for them, despite the wealth.

  8. Descendant Of Smith 9

    You can argue it is true to a small extent. I certainly could have been very wealthy if I had wanted to through generous offers of property in the 80's from neighbours and friends who were selling up. However philosophically I'm committed to the notion that you only need one house to live in and that I will never live off the efforts of someone else's labour through rent and I declined all those offers – and some were very generous.

    So yep that is a mindset.

    I could be earning a lot more, and in fact have done, if I hadn't stood up to injustice in various workplaces that resulted in non-promotion, dismissal and demotion. That is a mindset. Or I could have not had kids, or not wasted my hours playing cricket and rugby, or not get married and so on. Doing those things are too a matter of choice and mindset.

    What he says is a simple truism that is almost sociopathic in nature and conveniently ignores a lot of reality as well.

    I have family members who have done and could be earning a lot more now if they hadn't been raped by men and had to spend – and are spending years in recovering both physically and mentally. Same goes for those that have had serious accidents. I have very well off family who have had seven inheritances including from spinster and war-widowed aunts. I have family who were dispossessed of their land by the state and others who were institutionalised. I have some that were born in isolated areas with few jobs and others born in productive urban areas and others who were left to raise young families after their husbands were killed in car accidents..

    Equally brains are clearly different – some of us are good at maths and language – others struggle with it but can pull a car engine apart and put it back together. Others have intellectual disabilities and mental health issues..

    The reality of peoples lives has had a much greater impact on who in my family is wealthy and who is not compared to the miniscule influence of mindset.

    This without even considering more strongly genetics vs nurture and structural societal systems favouring predominantly white males (past and present).

  9. barry 10

    So a rich guy notices, that one's attitude to money is influenced by how much or little of it one has.

    If you have nothing then money is purely a means of getting the necessary for survival.

    If you have enough you might think about saving for retirement.

    If you are rich then naturally money is something you invest.

  10. pat 11

    Success to the successful…nothing new there….and nothing permanent either

    • Descendant Of Smith 11.1

      Is having lots of money the measure of success?

      • pat 11.1.1

        In our current paradigm, yes….whether we agree with the measure or not.

        And we are all inclined to it….we dont deliberately buy products we know are inferior, nor do we engage services we know are substandard….at least we dont after the initial mistake.

        • Descendant Of Smith 11.1.1.1

          Most don't have those choices and the market well knows it can make more money off selling inferior product to poor people than it can selling quality product. Many people every day buy inferior goods because it is all than can afford – and well they know it.

          Terry Pratchett's boots theory sums this up perfectly.

          The "boots theory" comes from a simple piece of dialogue in Pratchett’s 1993 novel "Men at Arms." The book features a City Watch commander named Capt. Samuel Vimes. The captain is set to marry one of the richest women in the world, and he often opines about the differences between low-status and high-status spending habits.

          At one point in the story, the captain ruminates:

          The reason that the rich were so rich…was because they managed to spend less money.

          In reference to the captain, the quote continues:

          "Take boots, for example. He earned $38 a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost $50. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about $10.

          "Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

          "But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford $50 had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in 10 years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet."

          This was Capt. Samuel Vimes' boots theory of socioeconomic unfairness.

          .

        • pat 11.1.1.2

          Conversely "boots theory" proves the opposite….the quality goods are not successful (due in the given instance, to price) and therefore do not proliferate.

          The fact they are perceived as unaffordable is the failure….aka unsuccessful,

          • Descendant Of Smith 11.1.1.2.1

            Yeah because a free and balanced consumer informed supply and demand market rather than conscious deliberate maximum profit making seeking strategy drives pricing.

            • pat 11.1.1.2.1.1

              AKA economies of scale.

              • Descendant Of Smith

                lol.

                You know I was referring to this sort of behaviour.

                "Think about pricing. What has every telco in the world done in the past? It's used confusion as its chief marketing tool. And that's fine," said Gattung in a speech recorded on March 20.

                "You could argue that that's how all of us keep calling prices up and get those revenues, high-margin businesses, keep them going for a lot longer than would have been the case.

                "But at some level, whether they consciously articulate or not, customers know that's what the game has been. They know we're not being straight up."

      • tsmithfield 11.1.2

        “Is having lots of money the measure of success?”

        I don't think it is the greatest measure of success at all. Wealth is obviously a measure of financial success. But I don't think that is the most important thing in life at all.

        I think the greatest measure of success is how people do in their relationships, how they bring up their children, and what they can input into the lives of others.

        If wealth comes with that, then great. And some people do seem to be gifted in accumulating wealth.

  11. Mike the Lefty 12

    My Dad always used to say: "You can't make an honest million".

    Allow for inflation and you could say: "You can't make an honest billion".

    He was right.

    People don't get rich from working hard.

    They get rich by ripping off other people but of course they always deny that they do that.

  12. tWiggle 13

    When I was a teenager in Wellie in the 70s, Bob Jones was considered a bit of a cheat as an entrepreneur, as he did nothing concrete or creative to make his pile. He established no factories and opened no new export opportunities, created no new jobs. He just sat on his bum planning his speculation portfolio.

    Somehow since then, speculation has become confused with entrepreneurship. Land speculation sucks capital away from truly entrepreneurial companies and drives rent and land inflation. A loss for creative companies, a loss for the country and a loss for us. Fowler and Bob Jones are no capitalist heroes, just scrooges.

    [Please use the correct e-mail address in your next comment, thanks – Incognito]

  13. tsmithfield 14

    People often think that wealthy people have some huge starting advantage over others, such as inherited wealth or whatever.

    However, I think the reason for the mindset suggestion from the rich guy mentioned in the article, is that this often isn't the case.

    I have already pointed out my friend who built up a deposit for his first commercial building by working in the freezing works for three years after leaving school.

    Now I want to talk about one of my sons.

    My son left school quite early as that didn't really suit him. He worked in several jobs, and ended up working for a powder coating firm.

    The guy who was running the business was hopeless at business and should probably have never been a businessman. My son had a number of good ideas that would have helped the guy succeed. But his problem was that he was too far gone at that point, and ended up going bankrupt.

    Another guy had a lease to buy arrangement over the equipment of the business. He could see my son (19 at the time) had some good clues, and was a good worker. So, he offered my son to take over the finance arrangement on the equipment.

    We also knew our son had a lot of great qualities. So, we helped him out with $20k for working capital. Not nearly enough. But, anyway, he launched out in his own business at the age of 19.

    He had a couple of really hard years where he wondered if he was going to make it. But, now, 10 years on, he has an incredibly profitable business, around $750k sitting in his company bank account, is debt free, and a house in a new subdivision.

    One key to his success is that he realised that price wasn't the critical factor in that type of business. The powder coating cost is normally a small fraction of the cost for a customer. Customers tend to be much more concerned that the powder doesn't flake off, and that they can get their work back when they need it.

    So, my son focussed on job quality, and him and his team occasionally worked through the night to get an order out for a customer.

    Now he has major difficulty fitting in all the work. He is taking over the lease on the next door building and is expanding. He pays his staff incredibly well for the industry they are in, and pays them large end of year bonuses.

    In my son's case, admittedly, he did have a small amount of help from us. But, key to his success was a bit of luck, vision, determination and stickability, and a strong focus on customer satisfaction.

    • Muttonbird 14.1

      Your whole comment falls to pieces after claiming success is not dependent on starting advantage, then admitting you did provide starting advantage.

      What seems a small amount of help to you is not possible for most of the population, both in terms of "inherited wealth or whatever", and the ability to recognise an opportunity.

      This is an issue of self awareness on your part and the rest is simply virtue signalling. I think awareness is one of the main qualities right wing people seriously lack.

      • tsmithfield 14.1.1

        But it wasn't the determining factor of his success. Perhaps he would have found another way if we hadn't helped. Its not like we gave him millions or anything. Most of the success was down to him.

        And, as far as I know, my friend who built up a large property portfolio didn’t have help from anyone.

        I don't think that this sort of outcome is possible for everyone. Some people have so much dysfunction in their lives that it is a major inhibition to their success. Other people just don't have such an opportunity fall in their laps, and others are too cautious to take up the opportunity if it does come along.

        But I think it is a valid point that it is a lot more to financial success than inherited wealth or whatever. People who start off like that tend to be arseholes, and are often likely to lose it all because they have never had to work for it.

        • roblogic 14.1.1.1

          The are other forms of advantage – like a supportive family, good health, socialised in good values, being white, social networks, success in relationships, security from thieves

          • tsmithfield 14.1.1.1.1

            You are assuming being white… but that is true.

            As I pointed out below though, people achieve in lots of areas by overcoming all sorts of obstacles, including not being able to read or write as I pointed out below.

            Sure, it is hard, and probably a lot more fail than succeed. But, I guess the point I am trying to make is that we shouldn't place limits on people and end up holding them captive to their disadvantages.

            There is a balance to be struck between that and supporting people in their difficulties.

  14. Sanctuary 15

    The only thing I would observe is that in my opinion it is a bit of a myth that New Zealand is one of the most entrepreneurial countries in the world. Our regulatory environment might support this view but the reality is most New Zealanders would see Graeme Fowler as the type of "entrepreneur" they would wish to emulate.

    The chief aim of NZ settler capitalism is to be a rent seeker and speculator, make your fortune, then retire to wherever suits your tastes within the rich world to enjoy your rentier income in the style of the absentee landlord and vulgar nouveau aristocratic class everywhere.

    Certainly, going to bank in NZ and asking for an unsecured loan for an idea you have would more likely see the bank calling security to escort you from the premises than them giving you the loan.

    It is a colonial mindset we simply haven't yet escaped in this country – extract wealth, retire to the mother country. Graeme Fowler is an absolute poster child for this new class of parasitic, rent seeking wannabe aristocrats that was spawned by neoliberalism.

  15. Jenny are we there yet 16

    Man with 80 houses: Capital Gains Tax will hurt renters

    Cos’ he has the mindset and the ‘personality’ and all the power.

    He will make sure it will.

    Bring back the Anti-Eviction League. Get some power back

    https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19311015.2.78

    • Jenny are we there yet 16.1

      EVICTION RESISTANCE – refusing to leave the home when the landlord ends the tenancy – is a strategy used by tenants worldwide both to enable them to keep their housing in the short or long term and to send a message to policymakers about the importance of improving rental conditions. This article chronicles and analyses eviction resistance during the Depression in New Zealand. Eviction resistance ranged from crowds that gathered to support evicted people to carefully organized pickets……

      https://lhp.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/03_Chisholm-Article.pdf

      "…..to send a message to policymakers about the importance of improving rental conditions."

      And send a message they did.

  16. Mike the Lefty 17

    Graham Fowler's mindset is that there is nothing more important than money.

    Sad!

  17. tsmithfield 18

    Another example is one of our clients who we used to build Sphagnum Moss Packing machines for a number of years ago, Les Sutton. I understand he has died now.

    Les owned his company, and was very proud of the fact that he had made himself rich despite being unable to read or write. He overcame this limitation by employing people who could compensate for his weaknesses.

    This is another example that shows that mindset is a big factor in whether people can achieve financially or in any area. Sometimes people with many serious disadvantages that could undermine their self-belief can actually achieve far higher than what many would expect.

    I am giving these examples as an encouragement more than anything else. Not just in the financial aspect, but for any area people are wanting to achieve in.

    That is, that people shouldn't just accept the die is cast for them, and they have no hope of achieving. People often can achieve a lot more than they think.

  18. Scott 19

    I do think that attitude is important to success.

    My father taught me and my brothers to set goal for each area of our lives.

    The best money advice he gave was to say that we had two options

    1) We could trade our time for money, or

    2)We could trade money for time

    • KJT 19.1

      True to an extent.

      But the reason most of those who are poor, remain poor is they have neither money, nor time available.

      And for those that have there is still a huge element of luck, unless they have had the, also lucky, benefit of inheriting enough money to have several attempts at a successful business, or to simply collect economic rents.

      Do you think the more than 4 out of 5 attempts at entrepreneurship that fail, are all because they "have the wrong mindset"?

      • Scott 19.1.1

        I think that businesses fail through inexperience and a lack of knowledge most often.

        The mindset is to give it a go. Always very positive initially.

        You don't always win but you always learn.

        Most entrepreneurs have failures- I certainly have. But the key is to have a plan and not allow failure to destroy you so you can bounce back.

        • KJT 19.1.1.1

          Most people do not have the money or resources to bounce back.

          I did several times. But I was lucky enough to have a good combination of various highly in demand skill sets, courtesy of 1970's education and apprenticeship systems, even though I didn't have much money capital behind me.

          I see the the lack of resources, jobs and training, , available to people of moderate to low incomes more recently, and the miserly benefits and the forcing of people into the first low hours, low paid job available. I am not surprised that "bouncing back" is totally out of their reach.

          • Scott 19.1.1.1.1

            Yes agree that many people whose plan fails bet the farm and can't try again.

            I have helped (mainly) young people begin over 100 small businesses over the last 30 years and loved it. Many had little education and no financial resource. Some were on the Police diversion scheme.

            I've learned that capitalism does not necessarily require capital

            Some of those businesses have grown into substantial operations.

            My advice to most young people is to get a job in a mid size company and learn how a business works. A couple of promotions and you get to make mistakes with someone elses money.

            Then develop a plan. Test and measure as much as possible.

            Begin slowly and try to keep your paid job for as long as possible.

            Most people thrive in the process of starting, running and growing their own business. The beginning is often the most stressful period and some choose to go back to working for someone else – which is fine.

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
    8 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
    9 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
    10 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
    13 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
    13 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
    15 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
    16 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
    16 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
    16 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
    17 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
    18 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
    1 day 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
    1 day 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
    2 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
    2 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 2024-03-28T12:51:34+00:00