Chinese Capital in the Pacific

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, July 19th, 2022 - 26 comments
Categories: China, debt / deficit, Economy, International, Nanaia Mahuta, Pacific, uncategorized - Tags:

It would be tidy for New Zealand and Australian leaders to blame China’s debt within Sri Lanka for its collapse, so that they could scare Pacific Island nations back into the fold. It would be wrong.

A lot of good came out of the Pacific Island Forum and in particular the 2050 Blue Pacific strategy, and some big new diplomatic investments by the United States.

But in this interview with Jack Tame, the Minister of Foreign Affairs traverses a lot of ground, but from 9.20m discusses how mindful the government is about the collapse of Sri Lanka.

You’ll be aware that the way New Zealand funds is largely by grant funding. We would like to see the opportunity of development partners to look towards greater coordination of its efforts,” said Mahuta.

“I’d say there’s a level of indebtedness that sits across the whole of the Pacific to financial institutions, including the way in which China has funded into certain countries.”

The minister described it as a “key area of vulnerability that should be addressed, and we need to find different ways to work together on the challenges that sit within the Pacific.”

Sometimes, however, it’s better to see what’s on the ground causing civil unrest before reaching for blaming other countries. The Pacific Forum was Chaired by a person who had led coups in Fiji. Its own multiple coups were caused for the most part by native Fijian-origin military and paramilitary groups seeking to ensure Indo-Fijians didn’t achieve parliamentary rule.

In the Solomon Islands, troops and police from Fiji, Australia and New Zealand have been invited in several times over the past decade to restore order after inter-ethnic fighting broke out. It stems from a really poorly handled internal decision to switch recognition of Taiwan to that of China, which cut off critical Tainwanese aid to parts of the Solomon Islands. It’s complex but aid withdrawal was at its base. The US stepped in with massive replacement aid but the cack-handed damage was done.

Further back, in 2006 New Zealand and Australian troops were invited to secure Tonga’s main city and airport after massive riots. Tonga has a messy and multi-layered relationship between authoritarian monarchical rule, feudalistic restrictions of political rights, cultural patronage, massive inequality, and a very low wage economy. Their path to greater democracy was and is very, very hard.

In none of those examples did Chinese state loans cause civil unrest. Nor in any of them was New Zealand out of the picture.

And so to Sri Lanka. Certainly China financed a billion dollar port+airport at Hambantota, but then accepted a lease of the property in place  of much of the repayment. At 99 years it’s more like a equity-for-debt swap.

And of course it was in Rajpaksa’s constituency, ‘nuff said. But the lessons out of Sri Lanka that New Zealand can draw are simpler, and little to do with how China forms debt agreements within Pacific island states.

The first lesson is very very few small states will ever have the headroom to massively slash income taxes, as the Sri Lankan government did in 2020. VAT was halved from 15% to 8% and many other taxes minimised. Well, state got no money. Fiscal deficit soared to 11% of GDP. Those lenders that had hung in there for a long time like the IMF were just shown empty pockets. No party that promises massive tax giveaways can also promise that the state will stay stable.

The second lesson for New Zealand is that the fastest thing we can do to stop layabouts on the streets looking for trouble, is get them jobs here. Developed countries like us have that power. Talk a lot less about medium term hero projects for climate change and more about dollars and cents to get cash into small island villages. We will need the workers particularly in horticulture, until such time as we get much greater harvest mechanisation. We caused stress through shutting them out during COVID.

A big lesson for countries that are striving their way out of subsistence and poverty is that they will stop getting access to highly concessional loans from the IMF and World Bank – so that’s the point where very kind lenders or donors like New Zealand, Australia and China need a whole bunch less suspicion of each other and a lot more coordination of what they are actually funding. Surely the PIF can do an actual job of coordinating that rather than complaining.

Sri Lanka’s farmers also give New Zealand a much more direct lesson, namely: you can’t force organic farming on farmers and banning fertiliser imports. When Sri Lanka’s government tried that to decrease import costs, rice and tea harvests crashed 20%.  Dilmah Director Malik Fernando gives a sense of how Sri Lanka is continuing to rebalance tea production and tourism amongst the crisis:

Tourism continues without any untoward incident. Citizens have been protesting the government’s mishandling of the economy. Demonstrations have been peaceful, barring a few at the start where protesters were dispersed by the police. Sri Lankans from all walks of life came together peacefully and demanded that the government step down. The entire cabinet resigned. There is a strong sense of unity. Tourists have also joined the protests in some places. Although it may look worrying in the news, there’s no risk whatsoever to tourists.”

Now, granted he’s entitled to his advertorial spin, but he points to a very simple lesson for New Zealanders: the easiest thing you can do to build up a small island state is go there on holiday. Take your family and NZ$5-$10k and buy everyone some happiness. Stop scolding farmers about how to produce, and instead help them diversify their economy. After all it worked here.

None of the above examples of disruption had a Chinese debt trap as their cause. All of them have solutions that don’t necessarily require more loans or more grants for whatever reason. Our New Zealand government needs a whole bunch less political suspicion about sovereign loans, a whole bunch more focus on actual jobs that give Pacific Island families cash in hand, and actually an acceptance that – just as New Zealand did in the 1990s real estate market – Chinese money is a permanent part of our picture.

26 comments on “Chinese Capital in the Pacific ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Stuart Munro 1
    19 July 2022 at 10:29 am

    Well your opening thesis is pretty sound, that China's involvement in Sri Lanka, if not benign (and lets face it, foreign investment is never entirely benign), does not appear to have been a major factor in the debacle that saw there government flee the country to avoid the natural and evitable consequences of their gross irresponsibility.

    China's expansion of interests into the Pacific thus far is more of a threat to competing predatory financiers than to the security of the region. And as long as they proceed carefully, and do not take advantage of the moral flexibility of of small state politicians too often, that's really none of our business. Incremental change, as opposed to the breakneck folly of Roger Douglas and his accomplices, is normal, and, because it allows the time for political responses and reviews, it is invariably more legitimate. Xi has appointed himself president for life, but thirty years on a less bellicose leader may control China, and the internal issues that have always been the major focus of that state are likely to keep him or her busy enough without strange dreams of conquest.

    The fastest thing we can do to settle things down in Sri Lanka is of course to impose a 10% annual property value tax and ship them the money as development aid. Ridiculous? Yes of course – as ridiculous as flooding NZ with even more migrants while we're still struggling to assimilate the extra million people MBIE asininely let in over the last two decades. These unskilled workers will take 30-40 years to work their way through the belly of the beast and allow wages to reach a natural equilibrium – until that time NZ workers have trouble enough keeping roofs over their heads without subsidizing the more egregious failures of foreign politicians.

    Nor should we derive excessive generalizations about the adaptability of farmers or the prospects of environmental reform from what seems to be an unremarkable instance of elite incompetence. The fastest growing (in value) sector in food are those products that are organic or sustainably produced, ideally both. Typically in the realm of 30%. NZ farmers are poised to swoop on that fat profit potential as soon as they get the sclerified old brown Fed crew's boot off their necks.

    • psych nurse 1.1
      19 July 2022 at 11:24 am

      I was in Sri Lanka in 2019 soon after the bombings, we must of been about the only tourists there, the tourist industry was in utter despair. But the astounding thing was the eight lane highway from Negombo to Colombo, built by the Chinese using Chinese prison labour according to the Taxi driver. He said the locals only realized when no locals were employed and all the cats, dogs and lizards disappeared from the streets as the labourers were not fed. There was also a massive port being constructed in Colombo all on a form of buy now pay later. Its obvious now the debt has been recalled and the Chinese will extract their pound of flesh.

      • RedLogix 1.1.1
        19 July 2022 at 11:36 am

        built by the Chinese using Chinese prison labour according to the Taxi driver.

        Yes – I have seen something similar myself working in Panama. We had a group of about 100 Chinese laborers doing light mechanical worlk (installing insulation and the like) who we treated like something out of concentration camp movie. One morning I thought to take a video of it from a distance – and was very quickly shut down by one of their white hat guards. They knew damn well what they were doing was fucked up. Or North Koreans.

        I was told the workers were likely forced labour taken from some very poor region in the interior.

        • joe90 1.1.1.1
          19 July 2022 at 12:32 pm

          My brother said much the same about routine air frame rebuilds in China. Hundreds of workers in crammed into deafeningly loud, sweltering and poorly ventilated fuselages being pushed along by stick-wielding overseers. Little wonder they have the record turn-around times so beloved by airlines.

        • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2
          20 July 2022 at 9:51 am

          Interesting to note that the industrial and manufacturing component of the post war Western Capitalist ‘democratic’ ideology you defend so vigorously on this forum has been enabled to grow over the past few decades almost exclusively through the exploitation of those very same workers…and many other exploited nationalities of course…as we all know, capitalism sees no colour in its endless search for profit….

          So correct me if I am wrong, but I don't seem to remember any problems with China and Chinese workers being issued from the West when they being outrageously exploited by all western countries including New Zealand for huge profit…but now that they are a perceived challenge to Western (mainly US) economic hegemony, we are expected to suddenly forget all that history from literally yesterday, and regard them as the biggest threat to our way of life today…FFS.

          The thing I find endlessly intriguing about the Liberal class is how crazily and outrageously racist they often are, yet they seem to genuinely not even notice it…sort funny and annoying at the same time.

          • RedLogix 1.1.1.2.1
            20 July 2022 at 10:03 am

            Fuckwit.

            It was of course Chinese owned and operated contractors who were charging these poor sods out at Western rates – and paying them sfa.

            The exploiters here are Chinese. Shove your racism …

          • Tiger Mountain 1.1.1.2.2
            20 July 2022 at 10:18 am

            I know it is pathetic Adrian –$80 branded T-shirts for sale in Auckland, made for cents in Bangladesh by exploited workers with horrifically toxic dye methods, latest iPhone “designed in California” made in China.

            US companies “ran away” for cheap labour long ago. That is why I am an internationalist–“Neither Washington, Moscow or Beijing”.

            Obviously Russian and Chinese workers have to get organised in numbers, but so do US workers–and look what happens when they try to at Amazon and Starbucks!

            • RedLogix 1.1.1.2.2.1
              20 July 2022 at 10:27 am

              latest iPhone “designed in California” made in China.

              Well take heart – skilled labour in China is now quite expensive. Even Apple who have repeatedly doubled down on their commitment to Chinese manufacturing are re-considering.

              The bell-weather on this is automation. Investment in both SE Asia and the US is exploding for two complementary reasons – many US based companies are re-shoring their manufacturing as fast as they can in order to regain control and certainty over their supply chains. In order to do this both US based and Asia based entities are investing hard in automation in order to contain soaring labour costs.

              The calculus many companies are now making is that even if Asia remains cheaper on a per unit basis – China now presents an unacceptable sovereign risk to the whole Asian region and reshoring is the best bet in the long run.

            • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2.2.2
              20 July 2022 at 3:38 pm

              @Tiger Mountain +1
              "That is why I am an internationalist–“Neither Washington, Moscow or Beijing”

          • Adrian Thornton 1.1.1.2.3
            20 July 2022 at 3:35 pm

            I might well be a fuckwit RL, but at least I am not a racist fuckwit.

            • Jenny how to get there 1.1.1.2.3.1
              21 July 2022 at 8:32 am

              But you are a genocide denier, and an open supporter of fascist style Russian backed dictators.

              Which would sort of contradict your statement that you are neither Moscow, Washington or Beijing.

              [Your comment adds nothing to the debate and only attacks another commenter without any substance even when that other commenter’s comments are infuriating you because of their tone, style and/or contents. This flaming has got to stop. Take a week off and next one will be doubled – Incognito]

              • Incognito …
                21 July 2022 at 9:11 am

                Mod note

                • RedLogix …
                  21 July 2022 at 10:16 am

                  Nah. I'm fed up with AT's blatant lying as well.

                  • Incognito …
                    21 July 2022 at 10:54 am

                    Aren’t we all?

                    Still, anybody who just attacks the messenger without any (other) substance in their comment can expect to be moderated, at least, and possibly receive an educational ban. As a reader, commenter, and a moderator of this site I’m fed up with those personal slurs, pot shots, attacks, et cetera. No matter how tempting it is to lash out at an infuriatingly obnoxious commenter and no matter how much the other ‘asks for it’ and/or ‘deserves it’, and trust me, I’m also ‘tempted’ a lot …

                    Collectively, we can choose to lift the tone and quality of the comments here and I’d like to think we [can] do this without heavy-handed moderation. But patience is wearing thin with some, obviously, and the time of kind warnings, gentle nudges, and soft moderation is coming to an end.

    • RedLogix 1.2
      19 July 2022 at 8:28 pm

      A country run as a family business. In a word – nepotism.

      • Stuart Munro 1.2.1
        19 July 2022 at 8:43 pm

        Yes I saw some of that in Shanghai – construction worker camps with ash piles outside them.

        "Bonfires?" I asked my host.

        "Funerals".

  2. bwaghorn 2
    19 July 2022 at 11:28 am

    “”Sri Lanka’s farmers also give New Zealand a much more direct lesson, namely: you can’t force organic farming on farmers and banning fertiliser imports.””

    I hope the greens are paying attention, just on the off chance they have some real power next year.

    • barry 2.1
      19 July 2022 at 4:50 pm

      The narrative is about the government of Sri Lanka wanting to to go green. In reality it was the government refusing to use foreign reserves to pay for chemicals. Going green is not just about stopping using chemicals and the Green party is not advocating for a cold-turkey on them.

      • bwaghorn 2.1.1
        19 July 2022 at 8:49 pm

        Didn't suggest they where but ,I'm sure there's a couple of em that'd love to shut down modern farming forthwith, so just thought I'd preempt them 🤔

  3. Obtrectator 3
    19 July 2022 at 12:35 pm

    "The first lesson is very very few small states will ever have the headroom to massively slash income taxes, as the Sri Lankan government did in 2020."

    Careful how you construct your sentences. I took that to begin with as implying Sri Lanka did have the said headroom. (It didn't, of course, as further reading made abundantly clear.)

  4. barry 4
    19 July 2022 at 5:01 pm

    I am off to the Cooks next week to support their economy. I am not expecting that my tourist dollars will actually result in many jobs for the locals, and I expect that tourism will be having many negative effects on the environment and wealth distribution. I suspect that tourism is only a small part of the answer to the economic problems.

    There is a need for climate change resilience work. Tsunamis in Tonga and storms in the Cooks recently have demonstrated the vulnerability of the islands, and local labour can be used to maintain defences, build up water infrastructure etc.

    RSE labour and remittances from NZ-based family members allow people to buy imports.

    Spending a lot of NZ/AUS/US/Chinese money does have down sides as it causes inflation and imbalance. Imports drive out local enterprise. Prices rise and the people without foreign income suffer.

    I agree that Chinese loans are not the problem. The problem is the failure to establish sustainable industries (e.g. fishing) that can employ people and sustain a truly local economy which earns enough to support the whole population.

  5. Maurice 5
    19 July 2022 at 7:55 pm

    We must remember that "Chinese Money" is in effect recycled US Money that went from the US to China in exchange for Chinese Manufactured products. That is why China has a huge US Dollar surplus which can be utilised for the Belt and Road expansion

    Very much a US own goal?

    • pat 5.1
      19 July 2022 at 8:05 pm

      And most of that USD earned by China went straight back to the US.

      • Maurice 5.1.1
        19 July 2022 at 9:37 pm

        A lot of it used to buy US land, commercial enterprises and other 'hard' assets

        2nd own goal?

        … and quite major investments here too

        From MAFT website: https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/asia/china/

        Investment from China including Hong Kong into New Zealand reached NZ$10.6 billion in 2018. After Australia, China is New Zealand’s second largest source country for foreign direct investment, representing almost 10% of our total FDI stock. Chinese investment extends across a range of sectors including primary industries and forestry (30%), infrastructure and commercial development (20%), and manufacturing (15%). Chinese investors are the largest foreign investors in primary products exports, waste management, electrical whiteware, and tourism infrastructure. New Zealand’s limited overseas direct investment in China is mainly concentrated in the dairy sector.

        • pat 5.1.1.1
          19 July 2022 at 9:44 pm

          China is the largest creditor to the US government with over 1 trillion of US Treasury Securities

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Minister attends global education conferences
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). “I am looking forward to sharing this Government’s education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Education Minister thanks outgoing NZQA Chair
    Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. “Tracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,” Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Joint statement of Christopher Luxon and Emmanuel Macron: Launch of the Christchurch Call Foundation
    New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Call’s work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.   This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leaders’ Summit, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Panel announced for review into disability services
    Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People – Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Minister welcomes Police gang unit
    Today’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Government’s pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. “The National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • New Zealand expresses regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Korea’s aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners.  “New Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,” Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • New Chief of Defence Force appointed
    Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago

  • Government puts children first by repealing 7AA
    Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Bill’s introduction reaffirms the Coalition Government’s commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. “While section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Defence Minister to meet counterparts in UK, Italy
    Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. “I am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Charter schools to lift educational outcomes
    The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • COVID-19 Inquiry terms of reference consultation results received
    “The results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,” Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “We heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • The Pacific family of nations – the changing security outlook
    Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests  Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues  Ladies and Gentlemen,  Good afternoon, tēna koutou, apinun tru    It’s a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • NZ and Papua New Guinea to work more closely together
    Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Papua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Driving ahead with Roads of Regional Significance
    The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “The Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • New Zealand congratulates new Solomon Islands government
    A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.    “We are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his government’s first ten days in office,” Deputy Prime Minister and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand supports UN Palestine resolution
    New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestine’s participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Speech to the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium
    Introduction Good morning. It’s a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • $571 million for Defence pay and projects
    Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. “Our servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Climate change – mitigating the risks and costs
    New Zealand’s ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Government’s focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “An enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago

  • Getting new job seekers on the pathway to work
    Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “A key part of the coalition Government’s plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Accelerating Social Investment
    A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says.  “Despite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Getting Back on Track
    Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Government’s approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with  your Board and team, for hosting me.   I’d like to acknowledge His Worship ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ – European Union ties more critical than ever
    Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith,   Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States,   Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us.   Ladies and gentlemen -    In diplomacy, we often speak of ‘close’ and ‘long-standing’ relations.   ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Therapeutic Products Act to be repealed
    The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. “The medicines and products we are talking about ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Decisions on Wellington City Council’s District Plan
    The Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Chris Bishop, today released his decision on twenty recommendations referred to him by the Wellington City Council relating to its Intensification Planning Instrument, after the Council rejected those recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations. “Wellington notified its District Plan on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Rape Awareness Week: Government committed to action on sexual violence
    Rape Awareness Week (6-10 May) is an important opportunity to acknowledge the continued effort required by government and communities to ensure that all New Zealanders can live free from violence, say Ministers Karen Chhour and Louise Upston.  “With 1 in 3 women and 1 in 8 men experiencing sexual violence ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Smarter lunch programme feeds more, costs less
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government will be delivering a more efficient Healthy School Lunches Programme, saving taxpayers approximately $107 million a year compared to how Labour funded it, by embracing innovation and commercial expertise. “We are delivering on our commitment to treat taxpayers’ money ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Report provides insights into marine recovery
    New research on the impacts of extreme weather on coastal marine habitats in Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay will help fishery managers plan for and respond to any future events, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. A report released today on research by Niwa on behalf of Fisheries New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ to send political delegation to the Pacific
    Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will lead a broad political delegation on a five-stop Pacific tour next week to strengthen New Zealand’s engagement with the region.   The delegation will visit Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, and Tuvalu.    “New Zealand has deep and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Low gas production threatens energy security
    There has been a material decline in gas production according to figures released today by the Gas Industry Co.  Figures released by the Gas Industry Company show that there was a 12.5 per cent reduction in gas production during 2023, and a 27.8 per cent reduction in gas production in the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Defence industry talent, commitment recognised
    Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight announced the recipients of the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry, saying they all contribute to New Zealanders’ security and wellbeing. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients, whose innovative products and services play a critical role in the delivery of New Zealand’s defence capabilities, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Minister of Defence Awards of Excellence for Industry
    Welcome to you all - it is a pleasure to be here this evening.I would like to start by thanking Greg Lowe, Chair of the New Zealand Defence Industry Advisory Council, for co-hosting this reception with me. This evening is about recognising businesses from across New Zealand and overseas who in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Speech to the Sixth Annual New Zealand Government Data Summit
    It is a pleasure to be speaking to you as the Minister for Digitising Government.  I would like to thank Akolade for the invitation to address this Summit, and to acknowledge the great effort you are making to grow New Zealand’s digital future. Today, we stand at the cusp of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ceasefire agreement needed now: Peters
    New Zealand is urging both Israel and Hamas to agree to an immediate ceasefire to avoid the further humanitarian catastrophe that military action in Rafah would unleash, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “The immense suffering in Gaza cannot be allowed to worsen further. Both sides have a responsibility to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Daily school attendance data now available
    A new online data dashboard released today as part of the Government’s school attendance action plan makes more timely daily attendance data available to the public and parents, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour.  The interactive dashboard will be updated once a week to show a national average of how ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Ambassador to United States appointed
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced Rosemary Banks will be New Zealand’s next Ambassador to the United States of America.    “Our relationship with the United States is crucial for New Zealand in strategic, security and economic terms,” Mr Peters says.    “New Zealand and the United States have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New permit proposed for recreational gold mining
    The Government is considering creating a new tier of minerals permitting that will make it easier for hobby miners to prospect for gold. “New Zealand was built on gold, it’s in our DNA. Our gold deposits, particularly in regions such as Otago and the West Coast have always attracted fortune-hunters. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • NZ and the UAE launch FTA negotiations
    Minister for Trade Todd McClay today announced that New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will commence negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA). Minister McClay met with his counterpart UAE Trade Minister Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi in Dubai, where they announced the launch of negotiations on a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Sign Language Week an opportunity for anyone to sign
    New Zealand Sign Language Week is an excellent opportunity for all Kiwis to give the language a go, Disabilities Issues Minister Louise Upston says. This week (May 6 to 12) is New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week. The theme is “an Aotearoa where anyone can sign anywhere” and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Next stop NASA for New Zealand students
    Six tertiary students have been selected to work on NASA projects in the US through a New Zealand Space Scholarship, Space Minister Judith Collins announced today. “This is a fantastic opportunity for these talented students. They will undertake internships at NASA’s Ames Research Center or its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-05-14T22:29:38+00:00