You’ve got to know to ask the questions that matter

Written By: - Date published: 2:51 pm, February 16th, 2009 - 41 comments
Categories: economy, Media - Tags:

When I heard Shell is looking at selling its service stations in NZ and its shares in Fulton Hogan, my initial thought was that the Government should look at buying – to keep profits in NZ, to help ensure competition in the market as Kiwibank has for banking, and so there is a publicly-owned network of service stations that can used to lead the way on future ‘refueling’ (battery charging or battery replacement).

And while I still think there may be some merit in that, then I heard One New’s Heather du Plessis-Allan repeat Shell’s explanation for why it was looking to sell. The company claimed it needs cash for investment in exploration and high growth markets. That raised alarm bells for me and if we had enough quality journos they might have picked up the problem too.

Shell is awash with cash. It made a profit of US$41 billion last year, probably twenty times what it would hope to make from selling its NZ interests. It returned $3 billion in dividends each quarter to its investors last year and spent $3 billion on share buy-backs (basically, what a company does when it has nothing else to do with its money). And it’s still sitting on a huge pile of cash. It doesn’t need to free up money from NZ for investment elsewhere, if it needed the cash it already has it.

So that leaves two possibilities two my mind. Either Shell thinks that service stations aren’t a money-maker in the long-term and wants to get out while the getting it good. Or it thinks New Zealand isn’t a good prospect in the long-term. The first implies a belief that people aren’t going to be going to service stations in the reasonably near future either because the technology has moved on or the supply of petrol is falling. The second, more worryingly, suggests it doesn’t think the New Zealand economy will be a good place to be compared to the rest of the world for some time, which may also link into peak oil.

Maybe those aren’t the real reasons but would be really interesting to know why Shell wants out of New Zealand. A pity the question wasn’t asked.

41 comments on “You’ve got to know to ask the questions that matter ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mike 1
    16 February 2009 at 7:29 pm

    Comrad pierson – the Governments job is to govern. Not to run petrol stations. silly post..

  2. Travellerev 2
    16 February 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Mike,

    That would be Comrade Pierson actually.

    If the commercial private oil companies no longer find NZ interesting as a market and want to move to “growth” countries then perhaps it would be wise to make sure as a people to make sure that we keep supplies of petrol distributed to the places where we need petrol.
    Those petrol companies might think that providing 4.3 million people with petrol isn’t very interesting but those 4.3 million might disagree.

    The Government which should be by the people for the people might very well be tasked by the people to keep petrol supplies coming.

  3. Phil Sage (sagenz) 3
    16 February 2009 at 11:31 pm

    An astute question Clint. It does not smell quite right. Having said that the oil price has dropped substantially and Shell has had some reasonably massive structural shocks over the last few years. You will recall it was forced to write down its reserves by 25% + a year or two ago. It is likely that a strategic review has identified that Shell NZ does not meet its cost of capital and is unlikely to in the medium term. The reason companies like Shell make so much money over the long term is that they have a ruthless attention to financial performance and believe their analysis. If the projected returns even under positive scenarios was less than cost of capital they may well make the decision to exit on that basis.

    That said there has been a comfortable downstream oligopoly in New Zealand for many years which would suggest they should have been extracting high returns. Consistent poor local management is a more likely explanation.

    The getting is not good now. Oil price is low and equity not highly available unless you think they are trying to sucker the government into buying.

    Also bear in mind that they may simply be exiting ownership of the franchise. Shell is still a value brand and it is unlikely any buyer would change that. Owning service stations is high cost and regulation intense. They may still make most of their margin in the wholesale price. I did not see any reference to selling out of Marsden point. Which means they keep the refining margin and get rid of low added value distribution.

  4. rave 4
    17 February 2009 at 12:02 am

    Well I know what we should do.
    Nationalise Marsden Point and use it to refine Venezuelan crude which we could swap for much needed high protein food.
    Shell, Mobil, Caltex etc could then take a massive cut in profits or piss off leaving their monstrous eyesores to be redeveloped as bike shops, car pool centres, discos and fast food outlets.
    Alternatively we could bypass Mitsubishi and swap our food for lithium in Bolivia to power locally constructed electric cars that would dispense with oil. The bosses would need to take some also to calm down. Lithium that is.

  5. Redbaiter 5
    17 February 2009 at 1:22 am

    “Nationalise Marsden Point and use it to refine Venezuelan crude which we could swap for much needed high protein food.”

    Dumb fuck. There won’t be any Venezualan crude very soon. The country is broke destitute and its citizens will soon be starving, as another commie scumbag whose mind is as fucked as yours drives another country to destruction, as they have done again and again and again throughout history.

  6. Redbaiter 6
    17 February 2009 at 1:23 am

    ooops- forgot the asteriks..!!

    “Nationalise Marsden Point and use it to refine Venezuelan crude which we could swap for much needed high protein food.’

    Dumb fuck. There won’t be any Venezuelan crude very soon. The country is broke destitute and its citizens will soon be starving, as another c*mm*e scumbag whose mind is as fucked as yours drives another country to destruction, as they have done again and again and again throughout history.

  7. Travellerev 7
    17 February 2009 at 8:52 am

    Redbaiter,

    You are seriously getting on my wick now. I’ve been following your attacks and rants and you are one seriously sad and ignorant puppy. You might want to hook up with Billy and Higherstandard. They’d really appreciate you.

    FYI.
    South America is finally escaping you crummy capitalist greedy pigs and it is countries like Venezuela where populations finally get a fair share of the oil proceeds in the form of healthcare, education and infra structure.

    That is contrary to the disgusting profits oil companies have been making in your capitalist dominated Western world. This is what Stiglitz, Nobel price winning economist has to say about Venezuela. Oh, and Chavez just succeeded by popular vote to change the law so he can be elected again. Doesn’t sound like the Venezuelans feel they are getting a bad deal to me.

    Calling Rave a dumb fuck shows you ignorance and your angry denial of the reality. Your Capitalist system is collapsing around your ears and your banking scum mate John Key and his Companeros (Capitalism for us poor smucks and Socialism for the rich) are to blame.

    That reminds me: John Key signalled today that he was willing to look into bailing out Fisher and Paykel. Would that be the same F&P who dumped their factories here and in Brisbane in favour of Mexico and Thailand?
    You know what, I say let the Mexicans and the Thai pick up F&P’s tab, they wanted them they’ve got them.

    But tell you what I reckon JK loves Socialism. Just so long as it bestows wealth on him his bankster mates and his rich mates the owners of F&P and that means that us, the taxpayers cane cough up for the likes of F&P. That’s what JK said in his APEC speech anyway.

    So now the party is over and the taxpayers of the world are left to underwrite in one form or another the liabilities and obligations of banks and, by extension, their hedge-fund clientele.

    That’s you and me Bubba.

    The rest, that’s us, can get fucked as usual

  8. Redbaiter 8
    17 February 2009 at 9:19 am

    “You are seriously getting on my wick now. I’ve been following your attacks and rants and you are one seriously sad and ignorant puppy.”

    Snicker…

  9. Chess Player 9
    17 February 2009 at 9:20 am

    Rave, can you please pass a large dose of that Lithium on to Travellerev,

    Much obliged…

  10. Tim Ellis 10
    17 February 2009 at 9:48 am

    Redbaiter, there’s no need for that kind of personal abuse.

    Ev, Higherstandard doesn’t go around abusing people as far as I’ve seen. S/he debates civilly and on point. The same can’t always be said for you. Case in point is you calling redbaiter a “crummy capitalist greedy pig”. It’s nice to see you back though. You offer a refreshing, if unorthodox view of the world.

  11. Felix 11
    17 February 2009 at 9:53 am

    Trav,

    Redbaiter is a long-time troll. He’s been copying and pasting the exact same comments across the net for years with no intent other than to wind people up and destroy genuine debates – as evidenced by his reply to you above.

    I have no idea why the authors here are putting up with his vandalism don’t just ban the prick – he’s never, ever contributed anything of any value to any website and never will.

    Ever.

    He’s reading this assessment now and gushing with pride.

  12. higherstandard 12
    17 February 2009 at 9:55 am

    Tim

    I’m not adverse to offering abuse to those who I think need it …

    Interesting word ‘refreshing” before completely dismissing redbaiter’s abuse of Rave out of hand I would suggest you have a peek at his site, Eve’s is almost mainstream by comparison.

    captcha Netherland 18 (Eve have you been lying on your birth certificate 🙂 )

  13. Redbaiter 13
    17 February 2009 at 10:00 am

    “Redbaiter, there’s no need for that kind of personal abuse”

    This isn’t a classroom dipshit and you’re not the teacher. Keep your arrogant condescending crap to yourself.

  14. Redbaiter 14
    17 February 2009 at 10:02 am

    “He’s reading this assessment now and gushing with pride.”

    I’m not actually. I ‘m merely thinking “another brain damaged anti freedom of expression control freak leftist unable to tell the difference between opinion and fact, and so insane irrational and bigoted that any appraisial of anything or anybody is completely worthless”.

    IrishBill: You’ve made no argument for days. All you have done is abuse other commenters. Make an effort to present a cogent argument or you will be banned.

  15. wil 15
    17 February 2009 at 10:03 am

    thats a good point Ev about F&P sending their manufacturing plants offshore, dumping their workers here. In that case, why should taxpayer dollars prop them up? When I threw out my old F&P 400 I put my back out. It was the bloody concrete block in it.. bastards..

    speaking of bastards.. redbaiter/whalegirly whatever your name is, you’re an asshole, but I’m sure you already know that.

  16. Felix 16
    17 February 2009 at 10:11 am

    Rb:
    “another brain damaged anti freedom of expression control freak leftist unable to tell the difference between opinion and fact, and so insane irrational and bigoted that any appraisial of anything or anybody is completely worthless’.

    Nothing further.

  17. Redbaiter 17
    17 February 2009 at 10:24 am

    “IrishBill: You’ve made no argument for days.”

    That is bullshit. The moron above suggests Venezuelan oil is a potential source of income when anyone with any real information on the issue knows that Venezuelan oil production is likely to grind to a complete halt soon due to contractors not being paid and a lack of drillable prospects. The whole oil industry in Venezuela is in free fall and therefore so is Venezuela’s economy. The argument is to prove those facts wrong, and not one leftist here dares to pick up that baton and run with it.

    They seek refuge from the truth by attacking the messenger- as leftists always do, because they cannot ever face truth, and Redbaiter is hated by leftists because he constantly brings them the truth that shatters their delusions and that they have no answer to.

    I have produced stats and references (on other threads on other issues) to back up my claim that progressives and their ideology are the root cause of violent and crime ridden society. Once again- no response other than hate and disparagement. (oh, and of course the weak claim the stats must be wrong, even tho they’d need to be 1000% wrong for the error to be significant)

    Your boys are the ones without facts and arguments Bill. They’re the lamers. Go on, ban me. Prove everything anyone has ever said about the left to be true, (and I’ll take the utmost pleasure in referencing that banning all over the net.)

  18. Travellerev 18
    17 February 2009 at 10:24 am

    No Tim,

    HS, only ridicules and belittles and oh, he will abuse when he thinks someone needs it. How droll.

    LOLOLOL. “HS, debates civilly and on point.” Fucking Hell Tim, I just fell off my chair laughing on that one. No, again he belittles and ridicules but civilly of course. That’s the rule.

    And Tim,

    Redbaiter, there’s no need for that kind of personal abuse. coming from you is rich and to be honest I don’t give a flying fuck whether you like me here or not.

    As to you calling my input here refreshing if somewhat unorthodox, the last time I offered my refreshing unorthodox view you couldn’t wait to pummel it into the ground (very civil and politely worded of course) so if it’s all the same to you why don’t you just fuck off OK?

    I’m glad all you trolls are out there just waiting for a chance to pounce. I missed Billy and Lucas but I’m sure they will show up.

    Someone I don’t consider a troll I miss also though. I wonder what happened to T-Rex. I have something to tell him and I miss his comments here.

    Felix,

    I know but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get up my wick sometimes. Besides what are trolls for but to vent some steam over sometimes. LOL.

  19. @ work 19
    17 February 2009 at 10:34 am

    Sorry red “every one knows…” arguments arent going to cut it here.

  20. Travellerev 20
    17 February 2009 at 10:38 am

    Redbaiter,

    The worlds oil trade is in freefall. The OPEC countries just decided to cut oil production to keep the price up but the pending hyperinflation will put a stop to that too. Why hyperinflation? Because the Banking scum “Morons” are printing money like there is no tomorrow and they are not even lying about it any more and our fiat money system is running of the rails. Why don’t you just ask your pall John Key why that is, eh?

    I mean two trillion here or there to bail the banksters out, what the heck, we’ve got that in our back pocket and under our pillows. Oh oops, we don’t that’s why the bank of England thinks it’s a good idea to start printing it. LOL

    If the bank of London can print money out in the open you tell me, why can’t we?

    You know you should try reading something other than the National mouthpiece, the NZH.

  21. Redbaiter 21
    17 February 2009 at 10:40 am

    “Sorry red “every one knows ‘ arguments arent going to cut it here”

    Which isn’t what I said. Close down your computer and commit yourself, time waster. Take a course in reading and comprehension while you weave those baskets.

    See Bill- this moron will not take up the baton, instead he prefers childish off topic attempts at a put down that only show how bad his comprehension is. Your site would be much improved if rather than banning Redbaiter, you banned anyone with an IQ less than 65. @work, Blip and so many other boring retards with nothing but doctrinal responses would be absent, and there would be a much improved level of discussion.

  22. Redbaiter 22
    17 February 2009 at 10:41 am

    Travellerev, is depending upon Venzuelan oil for income a good idea or a bad idea?

  23. lukas 23
    17 February 2009 at 10:43 am

    Trav-

    I’m glad all you trolls are out there just waiting for a chance to pounce. I missed Billy and Lucas but I’m sure they will show up.

    Sorry, missed the text message, shoddy reception at my home at times!

    By the way, are you Catherine Delahunty?

  24. Travellerev 24
    17 February 2009 at 10:45 am

    Will,

    LOL.

    That reminds me. We converted an old F&P washing machine to a broody nest. Very sustainable. You just take everything out, cut the corners of the bottom half and fold them inward to serve as the bottom and cut a round hole on the side as an entrance.
    Use the concrete slab to weight the top flap.

    Result a save little Chicken coop to nest in and our chickens loved it. LOL.

    Keep it in the shade though cause steel gets hot.

    By the way thank you for your vote a little way back.

  25. Rudith 25
    17 February 2009 at 10:46 am

    Hi Catherine,how about another lovely song?

  26. @ work 26
    17 February 2009 at 10:52 am

    Redbaiter:
    See Bill- this moron will not take up the baton, instead he prefers childish off topic attempts at a put down that only show how bad his comprehension is. Your site would be much improved if rather than banning Redbaiter, you banned anyone with an IQ less than 65. @work, Blip and so many other boring retards with nothing but doctrinal responses would be absent, and there would be a much improved level of discussion.

    And still your unable or unwilling to tell us, fully explained, how less government, or less people, help to warn more people that bush fires are heading thier way?

  27. Travellerev 27
    17 February 2009 at 10:59 am

    Redbaiter,

    Wow, that almost sounded like an invitation to reasoned debate.

    Read my previous comment. Depending on oil for income as a country isn’t very profitable on the whole at the moment, be it Venezuela or OPEC.

    The answer to that question puts paid to your assertion that Chavez somehow is responsible for the demise of the Venezuelan oil price.

    Big oil companies still make indecent amounts of money though.

    My question to you is therefore: Is it even remotely possible those selfsame oil companies have been manipulating the global oil prices in say oh, the last 8 years.

    Surely their profits went up the moment the US supported by their coalition of the willing killing went on a warring spree.

    Lucas,

    So glad you could join us. I haven’t got a clue who Catherine Delahunty is.

    Now all we have to do it to await Billy’s arrival and our trolls are once again one big happy trolling family.

    Captcha: short-term-loan Wells. I don’t think even a short term loan is going to save Wells-Fargo from their financial demise LOL.

  28. lukas 28
    17 February 2009 at 11:04 am

    Thanks Trav, by the way, I think you should head down to your local Dick Smith and get a new keyboard, your “k” key seems to be typing “c” when you hit it.

    I’m a touch busy today, can you let me know what lines you are running so I can set up an auto reply of some sort?

    How are the levels of depleted uranium going?

  29. Travellerev 29
    17 February 2009 at 11:12 am

    Lucas,

    Ah Lucas. Still the droll remarks man I see.

    DU? What does that have to do with the tread? tuttut, my man. You’re so predictable.

    If you want to learn about DU visit my site.

    This tread is about Shell not finding NZ interesting enough to keep their petrol stations going and its related topics.

  30. lukas 30
    17 February 2009 at 11:15 am

    oh dear, now your ‘h’ key seems to be on the blip.

    Pretty much.

    I figured you of all people would be able to draw DU into this or any conversation, perhaps there is some link with Bush, DU, September 11 and Shell that you could educate us on? LOL

  31. Felix 31
    17 February 2009 at 11:19 am

    lukas, if you’re bored why don’t you go outside and play with your little friends? It’s a lovely day.

    Oh, have you found anyone to talk to about Delahunty yet? Didn’t think so. Off you go.

  32. wil 32
    17 February 2009 at 11:38 am

    Ev yes another old F&P 400 case holds up one end of my heavy workbench in the shed still. So F&P you are not bastards after all. Recycleable, so good.

    Steve Pierson, what an inspired idea you have floated here. If Shell are selling their petrol stations, these being used by govt for recharging/battery exchange. The coming era of electric cars is ideal for our abundant electricity, the fact that the bulk of daily motoring is sub-100km commuting and already well within a single charge range at present, and the need for battery exchange stations for longer travelling. Charge rate technology is also getting to almost the same wait time as an average busy petrol station.

    Great possibilities in developing viable electric commuter vehicles here in NZ. Like our railways which are already much electrified.

    Local engineering expertise built our railway system away back in the steam era, most designed and built here. In those days people didn’t sneer like the trolls here today, they just got on and did it. Sounds like those days (1890s depression) are coming again. Hopefully the local work, engineering inspiration and make-do ethic remains, although so many lawyers so many economists! Not many engineers… able to write eloquent shite and lift lattes but not work in metal and plastics and inspired engineering concepts.

    Shame the magic that is kiwibank wont be repeated for quite a while. I just hope ingenious kiwi engineers are inspired to design viable electric cars in their sheds right now. Even on a bench held up by the F&P 400 case.

  33. Travellerev 33
    17 February 2009 at 11:59 am

    Bloody hell Will,

    That’s not a bad idea at all. If Shell thinks that NZ is not going to make them much money than perhaps they will leave us the hell alone and we can get on with developing energy saving technology.

    I’m sure we can find simple jobs in the real world to do for our latte drinking office boys. lol.
    Who knows if they get hungry enough they might even do them for food and a bed.

    Captcha: $5 immaterial. Hmmm.

  34. SeaJay 34
    17 February 2009 at 12:29 pm

    Woah, should I be worried that redhater writes of itself in the first person? Its i.q of 66 is not enough to maintain a constant character and context?

    IrishBill: I can’t really give RB grief for attacking other commenters if other commenters attack him just as baselessly. You’ve been warned.

  35. lukas 35
    17 February 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Thanks for that suggestion Felix, but I have work to do today. The view outside over the five acres of bush is pretty nice to look at though.

    Yeah I have found other people who are amazed that our tax dollars pay for Ms Delahunty thanks, quite a few left wing people in that mix too.

  36. Felix 36
    17 February 2009 at 3:11 pm

    Pleased to hear you’re busy, lukas. How is your paper round going?

  37. lukas 37
    17 February 2009 at 3:18 pm

    if there was a paper boy where I live I would be surprised. As for the production and sourcing of products out of China, thats going great. No recession in China or in the agriculture supply game.

  38. Travellerev 38
    17 February 2009 at 4:53 pm

    Lucas,

    FYI, China is collapsing too. The Chinese leader are scared shitless for social unrest (a nice the description of mayhem for when 50 million people revolt) So I would enjoy it while you can.

  39. lukas 39
    17 February 2009 at 5:34 pm

    Trav, I have a fairly good idea of what is going on over there. Some of the bad factories are going under, the good ones are doing fine as domestic demand hasn’t really gone down all that much.

    The company that I contract too is finding it hard to fill staff vacancies and to find enough suppliers for some of the products we manufacture.

  40. rave 40
    17 February 2009 at 7:17 pm

    Redbaiter

    The problem isnt that Venezuela is dependent on oil, but rather that it doesnt own its oil yet. Adam Smith said produce what your good at, and buy the rest. But if someone else owns the oil and pumps out the income then their isnt much left to buy food. Chavez is well down the road to taking ownership of the oil back. We should do the same to key sectors of the NZ economy.
    Swapping the stuff we need to live on makes sense as the capitalist system crashes and is only kept alive by using the state to force us to pay for its bad debts. Why should it get rewarded with that future income stream from the people who do the work when it doesnt?
    I say let the system crash and burn and lets nationalise what we need to live on and trade what we don’t need and others do, for what we do need and they don’t.
    We would run much better with the lithium in the cars and not in our brains.

  41. Travellerev 41
    17 February 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Lucas,

    Dream on and enjoy while it last. 30 million unemployed people represents an awful lot of “bad” factories.
    Those 30 million are the people of the rural communities which send on or two of their unwed young family members (mostly girls to the big city. Their earnings represent 65% of the income of those families. That’s 30 million families who are loosing 65% of their annual income. That, whether you like it or not will lead to the collapse of local demand one way or the other.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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 week 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 week 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 week 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 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T16:47:00+00:00