National 0, Christchurch 1

Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, September 21st, 2016 - 97 comments
Categories: christchurch earthquake, Economy, Gerry Brownlee, john key, Politics, polls, Privatisation - Tags: , ,

A stunning victory for the people of Canterbury was announced last night by Mayor Lianne Dalziel. At a candidates debate in Christchurch she promised that there would be no sell off of the Christchurch council’s assets.

The Christchurch council has built up a substantial portfolio of businesses and other profitable entities. This has allowed them to keep rates down, build up community facilities and keep the council focussed on doing good for the citizens of the people’s republic.

National’s Gerry Brownlee, and the dominant right round the council table, had been insisting that the council’s share of the earthquake bill must come from asset sales. The right have a majority on the current council and Dalziel and the other progressives have managed to stall the process long enough for the profits provided by the assets to cover the quake cost.

All it took to tear down the threat of asset sales were two quick sentences:

“The value of our assets has increased substantially since the time I’ve been in office. This means we can obtain cash from these companies without selling shares. It’s that simple.

“And I can say not one single share in one single company needs to be sold to balance the books.”

In other words, the assets have shown themselves to be more valuable in the medium and long term than any financial solace that a sugar hit of privatisation would have provided. Y’know, kinda like the left has been saying for years.

Don’t you wish our leaders in the Beehive weren’t so short sighted? We’d still be earning be getting 100% of the profits from our power companies if the idealogical blinkers weren’t strapped so tight to John Key’s head.

Let’s hope Dalziels announcement spells the end of asset sales in New Zealand. They make no economic sense at all.

Ps. Spare a thought for John Minto. His campaign for the mayoralty just got derailed spectacularly. Standing under the banner of Keep Our Assets, he must be kicking himself that he didn’t put up for council instead. There’s a lot of good will toward him and he might have made a difference as a councillor, but clearly, he’s not going to be mayor now.

 

 

 

97 comments on “National 0, Christchurch 1 ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Dialey 1
    21 September 2016 at 1:55 pm

    She said there is no need to sell, she did not categorically say there would not be any sell off

    • Patrick 1.1
      21 September 2016 at 2:05 pm

      Absolutely correct Dailey. She refused to categorically rule out future asset sales this morning on Morning Report, saying that currently there is no need but couldn’t commit to the future as “things change”. If I recall correctly she also seemed to infer that as the value of the assets grew, smaller portions of them could yield higher returns if sales were needed.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 1.2
      21 September 2016 at 3:53 pm

      Looks smart to me: when the facts change I change my mind; what do you do?

      That’s not to say I could ever see myself supporting an asset sale, just that ‘never’ is a long time in politics.

  2. save nz 2
    21 September 2016 at 1:57 pm

    +100 “In other words, the assets have shown themselves to be more valuable in the medium and long term than any financial solace that a sugar hit of privatisation would have provided. Y’know, kinda like the left has been saying for years.

    Don’t you wish our leaders in the Beehive weren’t so short sighted? We’d still be earning be getting 100% of the profits from our power companies if the idealogical blinkers weren’t strapped so tight to John Key’s head.

    Let’s hope Dalziels announcement spells the end of asset sales in New Zealand. They make no economic sense at all.”

    • b waghorn 2.1
      21 September 2016 at 2:24 pm

      ”We’d still be earning be getting 100% of the profits from our power companies if the idealogical blinkers weren’t strapped so tight to John Key’s head.”

      The problem is a lot of nationals supporters are getting those profits ,so they quite like asset sales ,

      • Esoteric Pineapples 2.1.1
        21 September 2016 at 10:05 pm

        Not to mention the $300 million tax payers won’t be getting from Air New Zealand this year.

  3. Chooky 3
    21 September 2016 at 2:08 pm

    Double Talk ?

    Dalziel keeps options open. Dalziel has NOT ruled out sale of Christchurch Assets. Minto maintains there is an unhealthy relationship between the Council and the Nact government

    ‘Christchurch mayoralty rivals Dalziel and Minto debate issues’

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201816950/christchurch-mayoralty-rivals-dalziel-and-minto-debate-issues

    Christchurch residents/voters who want to keep their assets and who dont rates rises and debt for unwanted white elephants …and most important don’t want to be dictated to by jonkey nactional will be voting Minto ! ….and NOT Dalziel.

    • Lanthanide 3.1
      21 September 2016 at 3:15 pm

      Yip.

      This morning on RNZ, Dalziel clarified her position:
      Strategic assets would not be sold without public consultation first.

      That means:
      1. Strategic assets may still be sold
      2. Non-strategic assets may be sold without public consultation

      She said that City Care is a non-strategic asset. The council tried to sell them off but didn’t get any offers they liked. So they might try and sell it off again, this time with a cheaper asking price.

      Also, Minto said that rather than this derailing his chances, it’s a policy win on the campaign trail. When you get your opposition to adopt your policy, it is pretty hard to say you’ve lost something.

  4. BM 4
    21 September 2016 at 2:13 pm

    We’d still be earning be getting 100% of the profits from our power companies/

    That’s not profit, it’s tax.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1
      21 September 2016 at 3:58 pm

      Don’t be such a bloody ingrate: it’s revenue; Christchurch can use it to increase services or lower rates or a combination of both.

      Are you packing a sad because it wasn’t your idea or what?

      • Groundhog 4.1.1
        22 September 2016 at 4:39 pm

        “We’d still be earning be getting 100% of the profits from our power companies if the idealogical blinkers weren’t strapped so tight to John Key’s head.”

        NZ is earning more in dividends with 51% ownership than we did with 100% ownership. And power prices are now increasing by less than the rate of inflation.

        • te reo putake 4.1.1.1
          22 September 2016 at 5:24 pm

          Your claimed increase in profitability has nothing to do with the dilution of the ownership. And wouldn’t we be better off with 100% of an improved dividend, anyway?

          • Groundhog 4.1.1.1.1
            23 September 2016 at 10:04 am

            “Your claimed increase in profitability has nothing to do with the dilution of the ownership.”
            Evidence?

            “And wouldn’t we be better off with 100% of an improved dividend, anyway?”
            The improved dividend coincided with the ownership mix change. Are you suggesting this was a coincidence?

            • te reo putake 4.1.1.1.1.1
              23 September 2016 at 12:14 pm

              Yes, it is a coincidence. Shareholders do not manage companies, managers do.

              If you think there is some divine link between selling off the assets and and improved performance, feel free to mount an argument. Please also provide links that show the current leadership of the companies believe that to also be the case.

              Something like ‘CEO Bill Bloggs said the improved rainfall and the rise in generating capacity, domestic consumption and spot prices can be directly linked to us selling shares to a variety of mom and pop investors in Arkansas, Beijing and the leafier parts of Kent, UK.’

              • Groundhog …
                23 September 2016 at 1:46 pm

                “Shareholders do not manage companies, managers do.”

                That’s not the full story, by any means. Shareholders set certain priorities, they have an element of control over Directors, and by extension just WHO the management is, and the imperatives to which they work.

                “If you think there is some divine link between selling off the assets and and improved performance, feel free to mount an argument.”

                I don’t think that, and I didn’t argue it. But I’m not the one trying to defy gravity with my argument. The shareholding mix changed, profits increased. Unless you can provide another reason, the connection seems to be the most likely explanation.

                • te reo putake …
                  23 September 2016 at 2:02 pm

                  You’re not really all that up with how businesses run, are you? In short, a simple change of passive shareholding will not instantly or inevitably lead to increased profits. A full takeover and a change of direction might do that, but this is not what happened here. There hasn’t even been a change in the boards of the companies as far as I know, so it’s just business as usual.

                  In summary, you’ve conflated two unrelated matters. And, the simple maths remains; if we had 100% ownership of the companies, we would make more money than if we had 50% ownership.

                  • Groundhog …
                    23 September 2016 at 6:37 pm

                    “You’re not really all that up with how businesses run, are you? ”
                    I run an international business.

                    “In short, a simple change of passive shareholding will not instantly or inevitably lead to increased profits.”
                    Instantly? No. But change happens, and can happen fast.

                    “In summary, you’ve conflated two unrelated matters. ”
                    That is your assertion; it is nothing more.

                    “if we had 100% ownership of the companies, we would make more money than if we had 50% ownership.”
                    That is an assertion based on a false premise. If the enterprise makes more money with our 50% than it did with or 100%, then you would be wrong. Wouldn’t you?

                    • te reo putake …
                      23 September 2016 at 7:21 pm

                      You’re still struggling, but good on you for blagging the job. Let’s hope that nobody ever asks you which is bigger, 50 or 100. If you can avoid that dead giveaway, I reckon you’re set.

                    • Groundhog …
                      23 September 2016 at 7:38 pm

                      “Let’s hope that nobody ever asks you which is bigger, 50 or 100.”

                      I smell evasion. The dividend being received on the 50 is higher than on the 100. You’re clinging to coincidence in the face of no evidence to support that.

                    • te reo putake …
                      23 September 2016 at 7:58 pm

                      And 100% will always be larger than 50%. As I said, keep your head down and you’ll probably get away with it.

                    • Groundhog …
                      24 September 2016 at 8:55 pm

                      “And 100% will always be larger than 50%.”

                      Not when it comes to the dividend income. And that really is the point.

        • Molly 4.1.1.2
          23 September 2016 at 8:36 am

          The usual mode for recently privatised companies is to increase profits to justify the practice.

          Efficiency measures almost always include: reducing proposed (and often) necessary maintenance and repairs, reducing staff levels and training, and pretty much creating a business model that will suffer from these choices in the long run. But for a while they can benefit from the previous maintenance and staffing policies and most decision makers will move on before the shtf.

          At that point, the government will be asked to step in with support of some kind to ensure the continuation of much needed public utilities.

          • Groundhog 4.1.1.2.1
            23 September 2016 at 10:05 am

            Do you have any evidence that any of those things are actually happening?

            • Matthew Whitehead 4.1.1.2.1.1
              23 September 2016 at 3:13 pm

              The railway network seems like a pretty good example tbh.

              • Groundhog …
                23 September 2016 at 6:39 pm

                No, it isn’t. Toll didn’t make the rail network work, and frankly they were stupid to try. (Although they made a lot of money on the sale, by duping Michael Cullen).

                • Matthew Whitehead …
                  23 September 2016 at 8:18 pm

                  …you seem to be agreeing with Molly’s point in your counterargument to that example, so I’m not even sure what you’re trying to say.

                  Yes, Toll ran down the rail network and then extorted the Labour government’s overly nice consentual buyout process. (Which is why the government should simply compensate them a fair amount for nationalising the infrastructure back into government hands where it belongs in cases like that)

                  • Groundhog …
                    24 September 2016 at 8:50 pm

                    I’m not agreeing with Molly at all. Her view seems to be an ideological ‘one size fits all’ opposition to partial or total privatisation. My view is that there are some circumstances where mixed ownership, or even full privatisation works. And there are some circumstances where it doesn’t.

              • Molly …
                24 September 2016 at 7:00 am

                Thanks Matthew.

                Was AFK, but the rail sale is a good example. Knew someone who worked there at the time, and who questioned decisions like pulling apart wagons, cobbling together all the good parts into wagons which were then sold overseas, leaving NZ Rail making do with the detritus.

                Line maintenance also fell considerably, and the decision was made to focus on freight and allow passenger services to atrophy.

                • Groundhog …
                  24 September 2016 at 8:54 pm

                  Rail will never make money in NZ, either commercial or passenger. There simply isn’t the volume, and so there is little commercial imperative for privatisation. If we are to insist on persevering with a rail network, an SoE type structure, where the Government is the shareholder but the enterprise is run on as close to a commercial basis as possible is probably the best option. I believe that is the current model.

  5. The Chairman 5
    21 September 2016 at 2:30 pm

    The timing of this announcement would suggest it was possible this was an attempt to derail Minto and appease voter concern. Yet, Dalziel denies that.

    In your link above it states Dalziel used a candidates’ debate to take asset sales firmly off the table, however, in this later debate (link below) she wouldn’t fully rule them out.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201816950/christchurch-mayoralty-rivals-dalziel-and-minto-debate-issues

    Therefore, voters should still be concerned, seems Dalziel may be attempting to pull a political fast one, giving herself an out for partial sell offs or a later change of mind.

    • Red 5.1
      21 September 2016 at 3:21 pm

      Derail Minto? He is not even a mediocre chance, so there is nothing to derail The activist and far left far overstate their appeal by the echo chamber they live in

      • The Chairman 5.1.1
        21 September 2016 at 4:05 pm

        The timing of this announcement would suggest that some may have had concerns about a momentum building.

        Moreover, voters are concerned about asset sales, thus this kind of political fast one will appeal (hence appease) the politically ignorant amongst them.

      • Scott 5.1.2
        21 September 2016 at 4:54 pm

        But why would Minto ever think he stood a chance?

        Ch-ch Chiquita makes a good point below. Her vote for Minto is more of a protest vote so that the winner realises they don’t have as much support as they might think if she didn’t vote at all.

        That makes sense to me.

        I suspect it is much the same reason Minto stood for election at all.

  6. Ch-ch Chiquita 6
    21 September 2016 at 3:25 pm

    I’m still voting Minto. He doesn’t stand a chance but the more votes Dalziel is going to loose the better notice she will take about the policies he is promoting. There are also people standing for councilors who support no assets sale and if successful they can make the difference.

    • Chooky 6.1
      21 September 2016 at 4:25 pm

      +100 Ch-ch Chiquita….in order to make an evaluation of the integrity of a politician one should perhaps examine their closest associates and family members

      John Minto has impeccable credentials in this regard..he is uncompromised

    • Scott 6.2
      21 September 2016 at 4:50 pm

      That’s a good attitude to have, and I suspect Minto himself shares it – he seems too intelligent to actually think he ever stood a chance of winning.

      • Chooky 6.2.1
        21 September 2016 at 5:10 pm

        is that wishful thinking?….maybe Minto does have a chance…it will depend on what Christchurch residents think of the integrity of the Mayor and this council…not all are happy

  7. Enough is Enough 7
    21 September 2016 at 3:29 pm

    TRP – You are dreaming.

    Dalziel will sell assets. That much is certain.

    So long as she can come up with a reason why any particular asset is not a “strategic asset”, that asset will be sold to the highest bidder.

    Christchurch needs to know that and to vote John Minto to stop it

    • te reo putake 7.1
      21 September 2016 at 5:10 pm

      I think you’re wrong. Dalziel has little option but to front the sales asset option because the council has democratically voted for it, under extreme pressure from central government. In addition, the majority of current councillors are right leaning, so whatever her views, this iteration of the council is supportive of the sales.

      The key question is whether or not the next council is majority opposed to asset sales. Clearly, Dalziel is going to be returned as mayor, but what will be more important is getting left leaning councillors elected. It’s just a shame John Minto isn’t going to be one of them.

      • Anthony 7.1.1
        21 September 2016 at 10:58 pm

        I full year agree: hence why it is essential that Christchurch people who want to retain the city’s assets need to vote, however disillusioned some may be feeling.

        Only a strong People’s Choice caucus can ensure the city retains ownership.

      • Keir Leslie 7.1.2
        22 September 2016 at 1:15 pm

        This is just wrong.

        Lianne Dalziel pushed the asset sales agenda against stiff opposition from Labour backed People’s Choice councillors and the trades unions in Canterbury. Her vote was the decisive vote which made sure they would go ahead as far as they have — otherwise the motions would all have been lost 7-7.

        I’m really pleased Lianne has seen the light and realises that there is no need to sell assets, as Labour has said all along. But please don’t erase the fact she did push this asset sales agenda and Labour councillors had to lead a strong fight back to protect Christchurch’s assets.

  8. john 8
    21 September 2016 at 3:59 pm

    Inconvenient truth:
    The sell down of electricity companies, now nets more to the Govt. from dividends on the 51% Govt. ownership plus taxes on the 49% private ownership, than it did on the 100% govt. ownership.

  9. Autonomouse 9
    21 September 2016 at 4:25 pm

    “Dalziel and the other progressives have managed to stall the process long enough for the profits provided by the assets to cover the quake cost.” – That makes it sound like the progressives within the CCC have made a conscious effort to slow down the rebuild of Christchurch. Possibly not a bad thing in the long term if such a move has enabled Chch to have its cake and eat it too (keep Assets & rebuild), but not sure how that information would sit with those that have been waiting on progress.

  10. srylands 10
    21 September 2016 at 5:56 pm

    So why does a local council need to own an airport or a port? Saying because they make money is nuts. That would raise the question of why these companies?

    Why does the central Government own Landcorp or TVNZ? It is just as crazy.

    The Crown is receiving higher dividends now from its 51% of the partially privatised power companies than it used to get from 100% ownership. Of course it should have sold the lot.

    The Cameron Partners report on CCC holdings made it clear that CCC should review the strategic need for owning these businesses. They should be sold unless ownership was the only way to achieve vital strategic objectives.

    http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/blog/2014/8/christchurch-city-council-releases-cameron-partners-report

    Where is the business by business analysis using the Cameron Partners methodology?

    • Lanthanide 10.1
      21 September 2016 at 6:21 pm

      “So why does a local council need to own an airport or a port? Saying because they make money is nuts.”

      Because they’re strategic assets, duh.

      It means that some other private company who is only interested in profits, can’t buy them up and make short-term decisions that are in the best interests of themselves, regardless of how they impact the city who the assets exists to serve.

      For example, the National government selling off TranzRail was stupid, because the private owners asset stripped it, leaving the country worse off because we now have a poorly performing rail network.

      It’s the same reason people were against National’s latest great idea to sell off the power companies. Now that private interests hold a significant stake in them, they can make decisions about how the companies operate that aren’t in the best interests of New Zealand (for example, by increasing the salaries of the board members by 3x as a result of the privatisation – which all comes out of NZers pockets in the form of higher power prices).

      You really are thick if you can’t put 2 and 2 together and work out how a strategic asset differs from any old private company.

      • BM 10.1.1
        21 September 2016 at 6:36 pm

        Your dumps fees are rather expensive in Christchurch.

      • Chooky 10.1.2
        22 September 2016 at 8:44 am

        +100 Lanthanide …for all your comments

        re ” “So why does a local council need to own an airport or a port? Saying because they make money is nuts.”

        Because they’re strategic assets, duh….”

        Precisely!….Do we want these sold off to the Chinese government with access to Antarctic waters?….fishing?….economic?…military strategic?
        …also the airport with access to NZ land and assets?

        … Do we want them sold off to jonkey Nacts mates?…blind trusts?

        ….I am sure they would just love them and I am sure they could afford them!

        We would lose our sovereignty however

        This jonkey Nact government and mates in and out of the Christchurch City Council is putting the SQUEEZE on Christchurch so that it offers its ASSETS up for SALE!

        …to the detriment of Christchurch citizens and all New Zealanders

        VOTE MINTO!

    • Barfly 10.2
      21 September 2016 at 8:38 pm

      Ideology much?

    • Henry Filth 10.3
      22 September 2016 at 4:35 am

      Why the Cameron Partners methodology in particular?

  11. Barfly 11
    21 September 2016 at 6:43 pm

    “Why are the right so wedded to asset sales when they make no financial sense?”

    IDEOLOGY

    • Chooky 11.1
      22 September 2016 at 8:50 am

      +100 Barfly…IDEOLOGY of their own personal bank balances and not the public good of Christchurch, Canterbury and New Zealand citizens

      …these are robbers of publically owned assets ….robbers of the white collar variety

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    21 September 2016 at 8:11 pm

    In other words, the assets have shown themselves to be more valuable in the medium and long term than any financial solace that a sugar hit of privatisation would have provided.

    The whole point of state asset sales is to shift the peoples wealth into the hands of the rich. It has no other purpose.

    Don’t you wish our leaders in the Beehive weren’t so short sighted?

    They’re not short sighted. They exactly what they’re doing – they’re making the rich bigger bludgers.

    • srylands 12.2
      22 September 2016 at 7:43 am

      Well congrats on that. Because laughably in the case of the powercos labour and the Greens made the rich richer. Their ridiculous power policy..I can’t even remember its name now… It suppressed the offering prices only for the share price to roar back when Cunrliffe bombed. So a transfer of wealth from people to the share buyers. So cheers for that. I literally think about it every time my MRP dividend lands.

      It is way past time you got over the state run business model. When the government eventually puts the rest of the powercos up for sale what are you going to do? Double down on last time and transfer another billion to the new shareholders? I hope that in National’s 5th term in 2021 that the world will have moved on enough to complete the process.

      • Draco T Bastard 12.2.1
        22 September 2016 at 7:48 am

        So cheers for that. I literally think about it every time my MRP dividend lands.

        Yes, bludgers do think that them ripping everyone else off is a reason to celebrate.

        It’s all this bludging by the capitalists that your celebrating that’s causing the worlds economy to fail and take the environment and society with it.

      • vto 12.2.2
        22 September 2016 at 8:17 am

        The world is changing srylands, get with the times old fulla

      • One Anonymous Bloke 12.2.3
        22 September 2016 at 8:44 am

        It is way past time you got over the state run business model.

        I agree: they are far better off being run as public services. The SOE model has not delivered on the sophisticated lies its shills promised.

      • framu 12.2.4
        22 September 2016 at 10:16 am

        “It suppressed the offering prices only for the share price to roar back when Cunrliffe bombed.”

        utter bullshit – your ignoring all the other factors such as bill flooding the market against advice

      • Matthew Whitehead 12.2.5
        23 September 2016 at 3:28 pm

        Well we could always have them stop charging and just let that stimulate the economy directly, of course, it would mean higher or new taxes to make up the necessary revenue. 😉

  13. Henry Filth 13
    22 September 2016 at 4:51 am

    Didn’t Bruce Jesson write a rather good book about this sort of thing? Something that both sides could learn from?

  14. Brian Smith 14
    22 September 2016 at 8:16 am

    The ‘private enterprise does it better than public’ debate is over now- the extortion of the NZ public through privatisation, and the massive transfer of wealth (theft) from public to private hands, created mass unemployment, severely reduced public wealth and as a result, public welfare. This has had a lasting negative effect on NZ society, as some of us knew it.
    This is not about political leaders being short-sighted. Privatisation is about greed and the transfer of public wealth, built up over many generations for the public good, into the greedy hands of the few in which political leaders are totally complicit. Those who support privatisation are the greedy few who gain from the process, while the vast majority of the population (and their future generations) suffer. Here’s to your ‘brighter future’……..yeah, right!

    • Richard Rawshark 14.1
      22 September 2016 at 9:08 am

      Bastards!!! Get the pitch forks ma, wheez goin to a hangin.

    • Smilin 14.2
      24 September 2016 at 10:26 am

      So true everything squeezing thru the Nat portal to private enterprise to avoid the democratic vote and sovereignty issues over the right of public ownership of publicly funded assets
      Change laws by stealth go back to Keys first term and look at what the now CEO of Westpac did

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    The government has made it abundantly clear they’re addicted to the smell of new asphalt. On Tuesday they introduced a new term to the country’s roading lexicon, the Roads of Regional Significance (RoRS), a little brother for the Roads of National (Party) Significance (RoNS). Driving ahead with Roads of Regional ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    1 day ago

  • School Is Out.
    School is outAnd I walk the empty hallwaysI walk aloneAlone as alwaysThere's so many lucky penniesLying on the floorBut where the hell are all the lucky peopleI can't see them any moreYesterday morning, I’d just sent out my newsletter on Tama Potaka, and I was struggling to make the coffee. ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago

  • How Are You Doing?
    Hi,I wanted to check in and ask how you’re doing.This is perhaps a selfish act, of attempting to find others feeling a similar way to me — that is to say, a little hopeless at the moment.Misery loves company, that sort of deal.Some context.I wish I could say I got ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • The Rings of Power: Season Two Teaser Trailer
    I have hitherto been fairly quiet on the new season of Rings of Power, on the basis that the underwhelming first season did not exactly build excitement – and the rumours were fairly daft. The only real thing of substance to come out has been that they have re-cast Adar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    1 day ago

  • At a glance – What ended the Little ice Age?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Talking Reo with the PM
    “The thing is,” Chris Luxon says, leaning forward to make his point, “this has always been my thing.”“This goes all the way back to the first multinational I worked for. I was saying exactly the same thing back then. The name of our business needs to be more clear; people ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Waitangi Tribunal’s authority in Chhour case is upheld – but bill’s introduction to Parliament...
    Buzz from the Beehive It’s been a momentous few days for Children’s Minister Karen Chhour.  The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision which blocked a summons order from the Waitangi Tribunal for her. And today she has announced the Government is putting children first by introducing to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Australia jails another whistleblower
    In 2014 former Australian army lawyer David McBride leaked classified military documents about Australian war crimes to the ABC. Dubbed "The Afghan Files", the documents led to an explosive report on Australian war crimes, the disbanding of an entire SAS unit, and multiple ongoing prosecutions. The journalist who wrote the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • Some “scrutiny”!
    Back in February I blogged about another secret OIA "consultation" by the Ministry of Justice. This one was on Aotearoa's commitment in its Open Government Partnership Action Plan to "strengthen scrutiny of Official Information Act exemption clauses in legislation" (AKA secrecy clauses). Their consultation paper on the issue focused on ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • TVNZ is loss-making, serves no public service due to bias, and should be liquidated
    Rob MacCulloch writes –  According to the respected Pew Research Centre, “In seven of eight [European] countries surveyed, the most trusted news outlet asked about is the public news organization in each country”. For example, “in Sweden, an overwhelming majority (90%) say they trust the public broadcaster SVT”. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • The conflicted Covid Chair
    David Farrar writes –  Kata MacNamara reports:    Details of Tony Blakely’s involvement in the New Zealand Government’s response to the pandemic raise serious questions about the work of the Covid-19 Royal Commission of Inquiry over which he presides. It has long been clear that Blakely, a ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Attacking the smartest and most resilient people in the room is never a good idea
    Chris Trotter writes – Are you a Brahmin or a Merchant? Or, are you merely one of those whose lives are profoundly influenced by the decisions of Brahmins and Merchants? Those are the questions that are currently shaping the politics of New Zealand and the entire West. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A fortune-telling failure, surely, if the tarot cards can’t see a bulldozer coming
    RNZ reports –  It’s supposed to be a haven of healing and spiritual awakening but residents of the Kawai Purapura community say they’ve been hurt and deceived. It’s the successor to the former Centrepoint commune, and has been on the bush block opposite Albany shopping centre since 2008. It ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • The climate battleground heats up
    TL;DR : Here’s the top six items climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, as selected by Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent Cathrine Dyer. Usually we have a video chat to go with this wrap, but were unable to do one this week. We’ll be back next week.Several reports ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Tuesday, May 14
    The Transport Minister has set a hard 'fiscal envelope' of $6.54 billion for transport capital spending. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The economy is settling into a state of suspended animation as the Government’s funding freezes and job cuts chill confidence and combine with stubbornly high interest rates to ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on why anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitic
    To be precise, the term “anti- Zionism” refers to (a) criticism of the political movement that created a modern Jewish state on the historical land of Israel, and to (b)the subjugation of Palestinians by the Israeli state. By contrast, the term “anti-Semitism” means bigotry and racism directed at Jewish people, ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    2 days ago

  • Climate change is making hurricanes more destructive
    This is a re-post from the Climate Brink by Andrew Dessler Because hurricanes are one of the big-ticket weather disasters that humanity has to face, climate misinformers spend a lot of effort muddying the waters on whether climate change is making hurricanes more damaging. With the official start to the hurricane ...
    Skeptical Science
    2 days ago

  • Wayne Brown’s PT Plan
    Yesterday the Mayor released what he calls his “plan to save public transport” which is part of his final proposal for the Council’s Long Term Plan (LTP). This comes following consultation on the draft version that occurred in March which showed, once again, that people want more done on transport, especially ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    2 days ago

  • Potaka's Private Universe.
    And it's a pleasure that I have knownAnd it's a treasure that I have gainedAotearoa’s coalition government is fragile. It’s held together by the obsequious sycophancy of Christopher Luxon, who willingly contorts his party into the fringe positions of his junior coalition partners and is unwilling to contradict them. The ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Our slow regional councils
    The Select Committee hearing submissions on the fast-track consenting legislation is starting to become a beat-up of regional councils. The inflexibility and slow workings of the Councils were prominent in two submissions yesterday. One, from the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association, simply said that the Waikato Regional Council’s planning decisions were ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law after all
    Back in April, the High Court surprised everyone by ruling that Ministers are above the law, at least as far as the Waitangi Tribunal is concerned. The reason for this ruling was "comity" - the idea that the different branches of government shouldn't interfere with each other's functions. Which makes ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • NZTA takes the wheel after govt gives it the road map for regional roads (and puts a speed governor ...
    Buzz from the Beehive  Tolling was mentioned when Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced the government was re-introducing the Roads of National Significance (RoNS) programme, with 15 “crucial” projects to support economic growth and regional development across New Zealand. All RoNS would be four-laned, grade-separated highways, and all funding, financing, and ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Change in Catalonia?
    or the past 14 years, ever since the Spanish government cheated on an autonomy deal, Catalonia has reliably given pro-independence parties a majority of seats in their regional parliament. But now that seems to be over. Catalans went to the polls yesterday, and stripped the Catalan parties of their majority. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Having an enrolment date is not depriving anyone of a vote
    David Farrar writes –  Radio NZ report: Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins said the Electoral Commission should make sure the system ran smoothly and “taking away the right of thousands of people to vote” was not the answer. “Thousands of people enroled and voted on the day. If ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Perhaps house prices don’t always go up
    Don Brash writes –  There was a rather revealing headline in the Herald on Sunday today (12 May). It read “One in 8 Auckland homes on market were bought during boom, may now sell for loss”. The first line of text noted that “New data shows one in ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Can’t read, can’t write, can’t comprehend – and won’t think…?
    Mike Grimshaw writes –  At a time when universities are understandably nervous regarding the establishment of the University Advisory Group (UAG) and the Science System Advisory Group (SSAG) it may seem strange – or even fool-hardy – to state that there are long-standing issues in the tertiary sector ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Time for some perspective
    Lindsay Mitchell writes –  A lack of perspective can make something quite large or important seem small or irrelevant. Against a backdrop of high-profile, negative statistics it is easy to overlook the positive. For instance, the fact that 64 percent of Maori are employed is rarely reported. For ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Will NZ Herald’s ‘poor journalism’ cost lives?
    Earlier this year, the Herald ran a series of articles amounting to a sustained campaign against raised pedestrian crossings, by reporter Bernard Orsman. A key part of that campaign concerned the raised crossings being installed as part of the Pt Chevalier to Westmere project, with at least 10 articles over ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to May 19 and beyond
    TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to May 19 include:PM Christopher Luxon is expected to hold his weekly post-cabinet news conference at 4:00pm on Monday.Parliament is not sitting this week. It resumes next week for a two-week sitting session up to and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Webworm Popup Photos!
    Hi,Thanks to all the beautiful Worms who came to the LA Webworm popup on Saturday.It was a way to celebrate the online store we launched last week — and it was super special.As I talk about a lot, I really value our community here — and it was a BLAST ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    3 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #19
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, May 5, 2024 thru Sat, May 11, 2024. (Unfortunate) Story of the week "Grief that stops at despair is an ending that I and many others, most notably ...
    Skeptical Science
    4 days ago

  • The Gods Must Be Woke.
    Last night the largest solar storm in decades resulted in Aurorae being seen across Aotearoa, causing many to ask why?Why was the sky pink? What was all this stuff about the power grid? Have we, as so many have wondered since the election, reached the end of days?I had a ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • More road
    We have been on the road in England, squeezing down narrow lanes, flying up the M6, loving hedgerows and villages and cathedrals, liking the 21st century less.There have been moments when it’s felt like a movie trope. The pub in Exford, lovely seventeenth century bar, almost more dogs than people, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Seeing the Aurora Australis
    There’s a solar-storm on at the moment, and since the South Island is having a day and night with clear skies, that means Aurorae. I have just got back from a midnight visit to Tunnel Beach – southwards-looking over the Sea, and without the light pollution. Quite a few others ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    4 days ago

  • Welcome to the current welfare mess
    Michael Bassett writes – I’m not sure that it’s much comfort to anyone to know that the post-Covid surge in violent crimes, gang activity, ram raids, random shootings, thuggery and stabbings is occurring in other countries as well as New Zealand. These days, wagging school, out-of-control welfare and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • A shovel-ready autopsy
    Oliver Hartwich writes –  Cast your mind back to mid-December. A new Prime Minister had just been sworn in, the new Government started its 100-day programme, and Christmas was only days away.Amid all the haste, a report landed that would have deserved our attention.I am talking about the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago

  • Why we almost blacked out and how to fix it
    TL;DR: An unseasonally early icy blast at the same time as some long-overdue maintenance almost caused Aotearoa-NZ’s electricity system to black out this week. That’s because a quadropoly of gentailers1 have prioritised paying dividends from their rising profits and adding debt over investing in 1.5 GigaWatts of new wind farms ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago

  • What Is Instagram Trying To Sell Us?
    Hi,Before we crack into today’s Webworm, I wanted to acknowledge the fact that Israel is pushing into Rafah. Over 100,000 Palestinians are now attempting to flee the one place that was deemed “safe”.Trouble is, the place they’re fleeing to is already destroyed. Total annihilation is the end goal here.“Israel is ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago

  • Precious Little Excitement: Warner Brothers, Peter Jackson, and Gollum
    Back in February 2023, I made the cardinal mistake of getting my hopes up. Warner Brothers declared that fresh Middle-earth movies were in the works: https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2023/02/24/it-never-rains-but-it-pours-warner-brothers-and-impending-tolkien-adaptations/ My assumption, based on which rights were available, and what had already been done, was that this was a stab at either the Angmar ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    6 days ago

  • Do We Need a Population Census?
    ‘It has been said that figures rule the world. Maybe. I am quite sure that it is figures which show us whether it is being ruled well or badly.’ GoetheI was struck at a recent conference on equity for the elderly, how many presenters implicitly relied upon Statistics New Zealand. ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    6 days ago

  • No, the govt will not be cutting back on every budget – and the Defence vote is among those to be ...
    Buzz from the Beehive Reporting on defence spending late last year, RNZ said the coalition government will have to make some tough calls this term to help the force address staff shortages and ageing infrastructure. “These are huge, huge amounts of government spending. It’s a significant proportion of the government’s ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • The Treasury and productivity
    Late last week The Treasury released a new 40 page report on “The productivity slowdown: implications for the Treasury’s forecasts and projections” (productivity forecasts and projections that is, rather than any possible fiscal implications – the latter will, I guess, be articulated in the Budget documents). In short, if (as it has) ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • The Controller and Auditor-General’s role
    Peter Dunne writes –  I am always wary when I hear that the Controller and Auditor-General has commented on or made recommendations to the government about an issue of public policy that does not relate strictly to public expenditure. According to the legislation, the role of the Controller ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • More harm than good
    How Labour’s and National’s failure to move beyond neoliberalism has brought NZ to the brink of economic and cultural chaos   Chris Trotter writes –  TO START LOSING, so soon after you won, requires a special kind of political incompetence. At the heart of this Coalition ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Real reason Waitangi Tribunal could not summons Chhour
    And why did the Crown not challenge the Tribunal’s jurisdiction?   Gary Judd writes –  Retired District Court Judge, David Harvey, has posted on his A Halflings View Substack an excellent summary of Justice Isacs’ judgment declining to uphold the witness summons issued by the Waitangi Tribunal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Bryce Edwards writes – Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result?As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Macklemore's Pro-Palestinian Protest.
    Macklemore isn’t someone I’d usually think about. Sure I liked his big hit from a few years back, everybody did it was catchy and cool with some memorable lines. But if I was going to think of artists who might speak out on political matters or world events, he wouldn’t ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell on miserly school lunches, and the banning of TikTok’s Gaza coverage
    Another week goes by in the Luxon government’s efforts to roll back the past 70 years of social progress. The school lunches programme is to be downgraded by $107 million, and women need bother their heads no longer about pay equity, let alone expect ACC to provide adequate sexual violence ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    6 days ago

  • Weekly Roundup 10-May-2024
    Brrr, the first cold snap of the year. Hope you’re rugged up nice and warm. Here are some stories that caught our eye this week… This Week on Greater Auckland On Monday, we had a post from a new contributor, Connor Sharp, who dug into the public feedback ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    6 days ago

  • The Hoon around the week to May 10
    Almost all of the Wellington City Council’s recommended zoning changes to allow many more apartments and townhouses in its inner-suburbs have been approved.Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The podcast above of the weekly ‘hoon’ webinar for subscribers features co-hosts and , along with regular guest on geopolitics, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago

  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #19 2024
    Open access notables A Global Increase in Nearshore Tropical Cyclone Intensification, Balaguru et al., Earth's Future: Tropical Cyclones (TCs) inflict substantial coastal damages, making it pertinent to understand changing storm characteristics in the important nearshore region. Past work examined several aspects of TCs relevant for impacts in coastal regions. However, ...
    Skeptical Science
    7 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Losing confidence in the integrity of NZ elections
    Do you believe New Zealand runs its general elections fairly and competently? As a voter, can you be confident that the votes on your ballot will be counted towards the final result? As a political scientist, I’ve been asked these questions many times and always answered “yes”, with very few ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    7 days ago

  • The Song of Saqua: Volume VIII
    Thus far May has followed on from a quiet April in the blogging department, but in fairness, it has been another case of doing what I am supposed to be doing, namely writing original fiction. Plus reading. So don’t worry – I have been productive. But in order to reassure ...
    A Phuulish FellowBy strda221
    7 days ago

  • Pretending to talk other people’s languages
    Fakes can come in many forms.A Rolex, for instance.A tan can be fake. Read more ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    7 days ago

  • What’s new? A social agency with an emphasis on “investment” instead of “wellbeing” – b...
    Buzz from the Beehive A new government agency will open for business on July 1 – the Social Investment Agency. As a new standalone central agency effective from 1 July, it will lead the development of social investment across Government, helping ministers understand who they need to invest in, what ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 days ago

  • Following the political money
    Bryce Edwards writes –    “Follow the money” is the classic directive to journalists trying to understand where power and influence lie in society. In terms of uncovering who influences various New Zealand political parties and governments, it therefore pays to look at who is funding them. The ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Hipkins would rather no one remember that he was Minister of Education
    Alwyn Poole writes –  After being elected to Parliament in 2008 the maiden speech of Hipkins was substantially around education policy. He was Labour’s spokesperson for education 2011 – 2017. He was Minister for Education from 2017 until February 2023. This is approximately 88% of the time Labour ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Fashionable follies
    Eric Crampton writes –  A fashion industry group is lobbying for protections. They make the usual arguments and a newer one. None of it makes sense. An industry group says it pumped $7.8 billion into the economy last year – that’s 1.9 percent of New Zealand’s GDP. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    7 days ago

  • Justice for Bainimarama!
    In December 2006, Fiji's military leader Voreqe Bainimarama overthrew the elected government in a coup. He ruled Fiji for the next 16 years, first as dictator, then as "elected" Prime Minister. But now, he's finally been sent to jail where he belongs. Sadly, this isn't for his real crime of ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • March for Nature in June
    Don't like National's corrupt Muldoonist "fast-track" law? Aotearoa's environmental NGO's - Greenpeace, Forest & Bird, WWF, Coromandel Watchdog, Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Kiwis Against Seabed Mining, and others - have announced a joint march against it in Auckland in June: When: 13:00, 8 June, 2024 Where: Aotea Square, Auckland You ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    7 days ago

  • Bernard’ s Dawn Chorus & Pick ‘n’ Mix for Thursday May 9
    Seymour describes sushi as too woke for school meals. There are no fish sushi meals recommended by the School Lunches programme. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / Getty ImagesTL;DR: The Government will swap out hot meals for packaged sandwiches to save $107 million on school lunches for poor kids. MSD has pulled ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 week ago

  • The non-woke $3 Lunch.
    I don't mind stealin' bread from the mouths of decadenceBut I can't feed on the powerless when my cup's already overfilled, yeahBut it's on the table, the fire's cookin'And they're farmin' babies, while slaves are workin'The blood is on the table and the mouths are chokin'But I'm goin' hungry, yeahSome ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 week ago

  • Labour’s chickens come home to roost
    The Ardern Government’s chickens came home to roost yesterday with the news that the country is short of natural gas. In 2018, Labour banned offshore petroleum exploration, and industry executives say that the attendant loss of confidence by the industry impacted overall investment in onshore gas fields. Energy Resources Minister ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 week ago

  • Pre-Budget speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Government’s first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges – Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich – Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • New Zealand and Vanuatu to deepen collaboration
    New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “It is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealand’s relationship with Vanuatu,” Mr Peters says.    “This ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago

  • Penk travels to Peru for trade meetings
    Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • 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 day 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 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 days ago

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