Zimbabwe

Written By: - Date published: 11:37 am, November 20th, 2017 - 24 comments
Categories: colonialism, International, Media, Politics - Tags: , , ,

Five days ago, military spokesperson Maj Gen SB Moyo said the following in a speech broadcast on Zimbabwean state TV

Firstly we wish to assure our nation, His Excellency, the president of the republic of Zimbabwe and commander in chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, comrade R G Mugabe and his family, are safe and sound and their security is guaranteed. We are only targeting criminals around him who are committing crimes that are causing social and economic suffering in the country in order to bring them to justice

The full statement can be read here.

Today western media outlets are reporting that Mugabe has given a speech in which he failed to resign. I’m not quite sure who it is that has been holding that expectation – or why they would necessarily have that expectation in light of the address given by the military spokesperson last Wednesday. And I’m a little bit foggy on what legitimacy his reported removal as leader of the Zanu-PF has – ie, who made the call, what authority do they have to make the call, and then, even if his removal is legitimate, what effect that has on him retaining the position of President?

At the end of Gen SB Moyo’s address last Wednesday, he said

And to the media, we urge you to report fairly and responsibly.

Now see, I’m not so sure that’s happening. The impression I’m getting is that European and South African media are reporting off the back of decades worth of bias towards Zimbabwe and the rule of Mugabe. In other words, I’m suggesting the current picture (like the political history of the country) is far more nuanced and complex than what “our” media reports. And sure, maybe most of us are happy enough to understand what we’re led to understand.

But if a broader picture of Zimbabwe than that offered by “our” media is your aim, then I’d suggest this piece that I stumbled across maybe a year ago “Harare: Is it Really the Worst Place on Earth?” by Andre Vitchek as a gentle enough place to start. Or, if you want some political commentary from inside Zimbabwe, then maybe this is a place worth visiting.

And any further links to informative  news sources that anyone wants to provide in the the comments section will be appreciated.

24 comments on “Zimbabwe ”

  1. Cinny 1

    Thanks for the info and the post Bill. I’ve been following this story via Al Jazeera, will share some links below.

    Analyst: Robert Mugabe’s political support was a ‘facade’
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtFjfUcFkrk

    Here’s another article just released in the last few minutes… via AJ

    “The army insists it is not launching a coup, but on November 15, as well as placing Mugabe under house arrest, the military seized the state broadcaster and blocked access to government sites.

    The takeover unfolded after Mugabe sacked Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa on November 6 for showing “traits of disloyalty”.

    The ex-vice president is an ally of army chief General Constantino Chiwenga and a veteran of the country’s struggle for independence.

    Many believe Mugabe sacked Mnangagwa to make way for his wife Grace to become vice president and eventually rule the country.

    Army commander Chiwenga had warned that the military would act if purges against former war liberation fighters did not cease.”

    http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/zimbabwe-171118122845387.html

  2. Michael 2

    Right, so we’re all expected to believe that Mugabe remains the legitimate President of Zimbabwe, while all reports to the contrary are wicked, Western propaganda? I don’t know much about Zimbabwe either but it seems clear to me that Mugabe’s time is up.

    • Bill 2.1

      No Michael.

      The post is simply suggesting that we might want to base our understandings on something more a than the simple understanding that we’re led to understand.

      It’s not for everyone.

      • Michael 2.1.1

        So we should all immerse ourselves in a thorough study of every aspect of Zimbabwe’s history, culture and politics before we are fit to express our views of its, apparently popular, efforts to displace the tyrant who oppressed his people, looted the country’s wealth, and ran its economy into the ground? Sorry, but relativism doesn’t extend that far in my world. There is a difference between right and wrong in most situations and Mugabe falls well outside any grey zone.

  3. OnceWasTim 4

    What’s interesting to me ( in terms of human behaviour and all that kaka), is how and why those that were oppressed (and sometimes pampered) by their colonial masters, and who fight for freedom from it, often go on to emulate them – sometimes becoming even bigger arsholes.
    The pomp and ceremony of Zimbawe/Rhodesia’s colonial masters was bad enough. Then you have a freedom-fighter-turn despot dressing up in some of the most ridiculous costumes you’ve ever seen. They learned well apparently – too well – 40 years too well.
    A lot of it, you have to put down to male ego, insecurity of self and machismo. But then along comes a female gold-digger looking for the main chance.
    I’m not female, so I can’t explain his wife’s motivations other than a lust for Gucci and diamonds, and a preparedness to hook-up with such a pathetic old duffer (He’s almost like the Zimbabwe equivalent of Wayne – hooked on an idea or ideology, or even a religion).
    Same shit, different stink Idi Amin, or the Congo(s) – or even the Arab world where the only diff is the clothing styles, and worse still, with an especially pungent stink – those leaders of ‘The Free Whurl’.

    • Bill 4.1

      When European colonies were gaining independence, it’s fairly accepted that the USSR served as a “touch-stone” for some of those seeking independence. It’s portrayed as one of the good things that resulted from the Boshevik’s ascendancy to power.

      But my take is that that meant movements for independence became dominated by more authoritarian factions who had better funding and support etc because of their access to Moscow.

      So was the resultant statism ,that often provided good measures of health-care and schooling (eg – Syria, Libya etc), a better fate than a vacuum being filled by unrestrained capitalism (as happened to Russia after the collapse of the USSR)?

      Well. I’d say that it was.

      But then I look at the promise held by non-authoritarian left movements (1930s Spain or today”s Rojava) and I can’t help but wonder at the lack of evidence for deeply democratic forms of organisation in the post colonial period. Is that down to suppression by those who set themselves up as the principle liberators – the better funded, armed and logistically supported “vanguard” who took it upon themselves to co-ordinate and organise the resistance to the colonisers?

      I suspect that to be the case.

      And that means the post colonial world was perhaps a vast, but lost opportunity.

  4. OnceWasTim 5

    “But my take is that that meant movements for independence became dominated by more authoritarian factions…..”
    Not a bad ‘take’, I’d say. And there’s are corollaries elsewhere in the Whurl – even like that worry that Indira was getting too close to the Soviets way back when.
    Not in a position to comment further atm @Bill – in need of a nanna nap and various other domestics, but I’ll be interested to see the flow on this thread a little later.

  5. One Anonymous Bloke 6

    A Zimbabwean perspective from Senator David Coltart:

    …all the military have done this week is clean up their own mess.

      • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1

        From Wikipedia:

        Coltart played an instrumental role in the first detailed investigation into the genocide committed by the Mugabe regime in Matabeleland between 1982 and 1987… The publication of the report led to Coltart being publicly criticised on national television by Robert Mugabe in February 1999, who stated that:

        “The likes of Clive Wilson and Clive Murphy, complemented by the Aurets and Coltarts of our society, are bent on ruining the national unity and loyalty of our people and their institutions. But we will ensure that they do not ever succeed in their evil machinations…. Let them be warned therefore that unless their insidious acts of sabotage immediately cease, my Government will be compelled to take very stern measures against them and those who have elected to be their puppets.”

        …Coltart was elected to the House of Assembly in the 2000 election as a member of the Movement for Democratic Change, unseating the ZANU-PF incumbent and becoming the MP for Bulawayo South.

        …During the June 2000 election one of Coltart’s polling agents, Patrick Nabanyama, was abducted in front of his family and has not been seen since. Six war veterans were arrested but later pardoned.

        …In March 2003, Coltart, with his two youngest children (then aged 9 and 6 months), drove out of the family home and were followed at speed by three armed men around their neighbourhood until the pursuers were intercepted by Coltart’s security team and Coltart and his children were secured in a safe house.

        An eventful life.

  6. Sparky 7

    I have friends from “ZIm” as they call it. Have not seen them in years as they settled in Sydney. They described the place as “dangerous and a disaster”.From all I have read and seen I think that sums things up pretty well.

  7. CLEANGREEN 8

    I used to live there for a year when in 1970 it was the second best place behind my country NZ was then and there was never any “apartied” as I worked as many did with the Africans to.

    All Africans had homes as I was invited to several, and never saw beggars or un-employment there among both races when Ian Smith run the country under UDI.

    Since then it all went down hill to this.

  8. spikeyboy 9

    For some background on events leading up to the coup.
    https://www.counterpunch.org/2017/11/21/what-is-behind-the-military-coup-in-zimbabwe/
    It appears that much of the talk of Grace Mugabe wanting to take over was a western media beatup to justify the coup and taking over of the reins by Mnangagwa. It also may be that much of the international interest focuses on changes that Mnangagwa will make to the land reforms that broke up the large land holdings of the colonial era. It is worth noting that Mugabe had popular support in rural areas but not so much the cities.

  9. spikeyboy 10

    A bit of history on colonial Zimbabwe and the constraints put on land reform in independence negotiations. Also the land reforms including as they were accellerated once the constraints were eased and US and UK promises to help purchase land evaporated.
    https://www.counterpunch.org/2005/05/07/zimbabwe-s-fight-for-justice/

    Then the following article again by the same author looking at studies that show the huge local benefits from the land redistribution.
    http://www.globalresearch.ca/challenging-western-distortions-about-zimbabwe-s-land-reform/23311
    All this may now be in jeopardy but I guess time will tell

  10. spikeyboy 11

    Some interesting facts about David Coltart from an article in the Guardian some years back

    David Coltart, an MDC MP for Bulawayo South, was a prominent member of the Rhodesian police and he and his bodyguard Simon Spooner – recently charged with the murder of Cain Nkala, leader of the war veterans in Matabeleland – were attached to the Selous Scouts.

    And…

    It was the Selous Scouts who killed refugees, men, women and children, at Nyadzonia, Chimoio, Tembue, Mkushi, Luangwa, and Solwezi, where they still lie buried in mass graves.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jan/24/zimbabwe.comment

    • SW 11.1

      Spikeyboy – Have you been to ZIM? Visited a “redistributed” farm? Any friends or family live there?

      I suggest to you that, whatever distortions existing in Western media, the picture painted by Gregory Elich is complete and utter fantasy land stuff. There is a reason we are seeing historic scenes of jubilation in ZIM right now – it is not because of the “huge local benefits from land redistribution”.

      The corrupt, inept and brutal regime of Mugabe destroyed an economy and ruthlessly suppressed all and any democratic opposition or dissent to it. I’m sorry, but it is simply untenable to blame all of ZIM’s economic woes on the West.

      • spikeyboy 11.1.1

        I dont think I was blaming the west for everything. The nature of the thread is simply asking if we have an unbiased telling of the story or is it a little more complex. Its always possible to find scenes of jubilation to reinforce whatever narrative you are pushing. Mnangagwa has as much blood on his hands as Mugabe and Coltart who has become the wests go to spokesman who even was interviewed on morning report on RNZ today may have a lot too. I can quite accept that not many white people would have much good to say but it seems a lot of the black folk forced into the arid communal areas under white rule may find their lot much better. The primary aim with land distribution is the alleviation of extreme poverty caused by being forced off their ancestral lands. Capitalist views of economics are secondary. The same can be said for Venezuela where similar support for poverty stricken indigenous communities has raised many communities to a place that is much better even though the middle classes may have had a bit of a set back.

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    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
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    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
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  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
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    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
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  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
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    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
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    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
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  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
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    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
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  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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    1 week ago

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