Open up the trusts

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, July 24th, 2008 - 55 comments
Categories: election funding, national, nz first - Tags:

Bob Jones confirmed on Morning Report that he gave $25,000 in 2005 to New Zealand First. The money was to be funnelled to NZF through the Spencer Trust but, according to the party’s declaration of donations the money was not passed on (parties’ declarations of donations are supposed to include any donations from a legal or natural person totalling over $10,000 in a financial year, NZF reports no donations over $10K since 2004 and none from the Spencer Trust).

Now, we have what appears to be proof of wrongdoing in New Zealand First. Either the money donated by people like Jones through the Spencer Trust was used to pay NZF bills and it wasn’t properly declared or the money was not used to pay the NZF’s bills but for some other reason, which is not why the money was donated. It may be that Peters was not aware that this was happening but something is rotten inside NZF.

The only way to clear all this up now is for all parties to open the books of their secret trusts so that Kiwis can finally be certain of who has been donating to parties and that the money has been used as donors intended. Here is a list of all secret trusts, the party each gave to, and the totals of declared money funnelled through them since 1996.

National:
NZ Free Enterprise Trust – $635,000
South Free Enterprise Trust – $17,999
Waitemata Trust – $2,100,188
Ruahine Trust – $318,948
Holland Memorial Trust – $152,168.71

NZF:
Spencer Trust – ?

(some parties, mostly National, also received money funnelled through law firm trust funds but there is no way those could be opened to scrutiny)

Fortunately, these trusts are now illegal thanks to the Electoral Finance Act but that’s useless if money from them is simply not declared. Now, parties must prove they’ve been honest. So, how about it National and NZF? Restore our faith; open up the trusts.

[Update: To be clear. I would love to see all large (say $200+) anonymous donations banned but it’s not possible to open the lawyers’ trust accounts or name past anonymous donors, whereas it is possible to open up the books of the trusts. For the record, since 1996 declared donations through secret trusts, lawyers trusts, or given anonymously have totalled: Nats-$4.3mil, Lab-$2.1mil, Act-$0.8mil, Greens-$20K, UF-$37.5K, Progs-$40K, NZF $6.3K]

55 comments on “Open up the trusts ”

  1. What would Bob box Jones or Winny the Sly old Fox know about trust in a land where corrupt politicians from all colours constantly duck and dive the truth. No wonder the country is fucked!

  2. vto 2

    This time the quicksand seems to have no bottom…

  3. AndrewE 3

    I think we should ban all anonymous donations. I wonder why Labour chose not to?

    And I think you’ll find the the EFA does not make these trusts illegal.

  4. Tane 4

    Andrew, I think we should ban them too. My understanding is that after public funding didn’t happen Labour were worried they’d have no money without anon donations. That’s no excuse, but it’s the reasoning behind it.

  5. “I wonder why Labour chose not to?”

    I wonder why Labour scrapped the Serious Fraud Office.
    It’s not rocket science!

  6. Vanilla Eis 6

    This primarily is a legal matter for Bob Jones to take up with the Spencer Trust. Whether it is political or not depends on who manages the trust, and what the money was used actually for.

    Of course, there’s nothing saying that the Spencer Trust didn’t make multiple donations, totalling $25k over a number of years. Again, this is an issue for Bob Jones to bring up with them – assuming that this is not what he requested.

  7. vto 7

    Tane, good to see some brutal honesty.

    But banning anon donations? Would people stop giving? Politics is a funny thing – anonymity plays a crucial part given the feelings it can arouse. For example, voting is secret. Further example, I personally (and I imagine many others) would not post without anonymity. Politics can arouse such feelings and passion that it can get very dangerous for participants. i.e. actual physical threats etc.

    So it is a difficult area and anon has a role. tricky tricky.

  8. Money buys everything else in a bent world.

  9. Felix 9

    vto while I agree with the sentiment you express for anonymity there is a crucial difference between anonymous voting and anonymous donation – and that is that we all get one vote, regardless of the size of our pocketbooks.

  10. Joker 10

    Why do the unions crap themselves everytime there is a chance of National getting into power?

    Because they fear vindictive legislation from National which may compromise their viability due to their support for Labour.

    Many companies and individuals have the same fear when providing financial support to the party of their choice.

    It is a shame that people are scared of retribution from their Government if they have supported the opposition but acts of petty revenge do happen.

    This is why annoymous donations are still needed.

  11. Rob 11

    Winnie is going to drag Labour and HC down soon if she doesnt cut him loose, We now know that Bob Jone s gave $150 k to NZF in 1999 hes not sure where that money went. Then in 2005 he gave $25000 which didn’t appear on their audited books, One thing I do know in a battle of facts with Bob Jones Winston will surely lose.
    We also know that Brian Henry as a Barrister cant run a Trust Account this was pointed out in the house yesterday by Judith Collins
    Who’s for open and Honest Government then !! Like we were meant to have under NZF and Labour!!

  12. Honest government in New Zealand is impossible !!

  13. Rob. He didn’t say in 1999 – he said ‘at the start’ which would be back before 1993.

    vanilla Eis – it is posible that doantiosn over a number of years were made, none of them totalling mroe than $10K in a year but that seems unlikely, why set up a trust for such small sums? and why space Jones’ donation actually going into NZF’s coffers over 3 years?

    AndrewE. Funnelling is illegal now, see s24 of the EFA. http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2007/0111/latest/DLM1093005.html

  14. D4J. If that’s the level of contribution you’re going to make, can you do it on Kiwiblog please, not here?

  15. Impossible at the moment Steve and I get your drift. Must go, as politicians leave a sour taste in my mouth. What a sick joke.

  16. Rob 16

    Ok Steve fair point but where did the $150 k which is more to the point. Also what about barristers not being able to run trust accounts its getting murkier by the minute you must agree.

  17. monkey-boy 17

    I like this post. In the interst of balance, are we to infer that Labour has received no similar types of donation since 1996. If they have, wouldn’t it be useful and instructive to list those too?

  18. lukas 18

    1999 Total number of Anon donations for Labour 1999 12 $ value $824,000
    1999 for National total number including trusts 5 $value $940,000

    2002 Labour total number 8 $ value $380,000
    2002 National total number invcluding trusts 8 $ value $405,000

    2005 Labour total number 8 $ value $315,000
    2005 National total number including trusts 6 $ value $1,741,00

    If you add in the unions to Labours totals in 99 and 02 they would probably be ahead… the only election year the National has had a significant $ advantage was 05…

  19. monkey-boy. Labour has not received any donations from fornt trusts since 1996. If they had I would have listed them. Look at the link.

  20. lukas 20

    just looking at the other years now… at a quick glance the years in between election years Labour seems to be getting more anon donations than National in terms of number of donations and $ value

  21. Lukas.
    – It’s misleading to only look at election years,
    – the other two election years you’ve chosen 1999 and 2002 happen to be the ebb points for Natioanl when donations were low,
    – there’s no reason why you would include the unions (they’re not anonymous and you may as well be against donations from all legal persons if you’re going to attack them – banning all donations from non-nautral persons is a subject for another post),
    – and I’m only talking about the secret trusts in this context, not anonymous donations in general.

  22. Vanilla Eis 22

    SP: Agreed, it is highly unlikely. Simply pointing out that it is a bit rash to assume so early – I’ll wait for Jones to come out with whatever he uncovers. It was his money, afterall.

    Of course, Winston is still a slimy power-monger. Don’t take this post as apologising for him at all. Also blatantly hypocritical after criticising National for their use of trusts to hide the identity of donors.

    Also: Just read in the Dom that the Spencer Trust was/is administered by Winstons brother. Interesting indeed.

  23. BeShakey 23

    vto – I agree with your claim that anonymity is an important thing and losing it could dissuade people from donating. But two points: one – this only applies to people donating more than $10k. If you want to donate anonymously you could still give $9,999. That seems like more than most people would or could give. Two – the issue could be done away with by public funding.

  24. djp 24

    Yeah funny how there is no mention of the ~$650K of anon donations that Labour has has collected from 2005-07.

    lukas: cheers for adding that up

    Seems that labour was happy for anon donations when theirs were on par with nationals.

    I am generally have a laissez-faire attitude to these things but I could easily live with no anon donations over something like $200-500 (just keep public funding away from political parties)

  25. djp 25

    SP, so if National had got its funds from anon donations (like Labour have) instead of “front trusts” that would be ok?

    What makes an anon donation not associated with a front trust any better then an anon donation that has come from a front trust?

  26. monkey-boy 26

    New Zealand Labour Party 2007

    Palmer Theron, Solicitors, on behalf of an undisclosed client PO Box 2721717, Papakura 2244 $150,000.00

    New Zealand Labour Party
    Simpson Grierson, Barristers & Solicitors, on behalf of an undisclosed client Private Bag 92518, Auckland $50,000.00

    New Zealand Labour Party
    Morrison Kent, Lawyers, on behalf of an undisclosed client PO Box 10035, Wellington $30,000.00

    Is this the same kind of thing? Taking this as a hypothetical (possibly low) average, at $230,00 a year since 1996 this would equate to about $2,530,000
    donated on behalf of ‘undisclosed clients’ through solicitors to Labour also.

  27. monkey-boy 27

    I tell you what I’d be a damned sight more interested to see who is secretly donating to Labour that oto the Nats. Afterall we have already established tht national have supped from the chalice of satan, whereas, Labour, on the other hand are ‘whiter than white’. (Apart from arms/nicotine/petroleum trader Owen Glenn, of course.)
    Throw Open The Books! We, the public demand the truth.
    goowan …
    You know you want to….

  28. Steve – you opened yourself to lukas and monkey-boy’s posts by pretending that Labour hadn’t received anonymous donations, which is patently untrue. Of course, up until 31 December 2007, it was perfectly legal to receive money in such a way, and I have no criticism of any political party who reeceived money in this way. If you want transparency, at least have the decency to put all the facts forward.
    [I didn’t pretned that at all. I was simply only talking about the trusts. If you want to attack my honesty you can do it on your own blog where everyone will read about it. SP]

  29. monkey-boy etc. Read my post.

    There aren’t any books to throw open in the case of anonymous donations, they’re money given to the parties without a name attached – the parties don’t know who the money is from, so there’s nothing they can tell you.

    Going delving into lawyers trust funds would be a very messy business, all kinds of things do through those funds and they are strictly confidential.

    On the other hand, there are some trusts that have been set up specifically and exclusive to funnel funds to parties. The books of those trusts can easily be opened up.

  30. lukas 30

    SP I am sure if the powers that be wanted to know who donated what to whom they would be able to find out.

    Most transactions are done electronically these days… I am not 100% up on the play with how these things work but I am pretty sure there would be a way of tracking who paid what to who and when

  31. monkey-boy 31

    Anyway that is not why we are here is it? The real story is that NZF have been perhaps caught with their fingers in the till. What is Helen going to do?

    A snap election? Nahhh.
    Sack Winston? Nahhh.

    Throw National a tiddler in the shape of this latest revelation, and then suggest that if Nationanal put any more pressure on her to pursue the matter she will dish the dirt on National’s ‘secret trusts’

    hmmm, that might work – not.

    But even if it does, I still think that Owen Glenn is not quite finished with her yet though….

  32. Tane – in terms of advocating the ban of all anonymous donations, do you believe in banning *all* anonymous donations or are you just in favour of lowering the threshold significantly? I.e. would parties still be able to receive 50 cent donations (or whatever) in buckets at public meetings etc? And would parties therefore have to publicise every $5 donation declared from a member or supporter?

    Steve – to what extent do you think the ban against funnelling will be effective? I genuinely don’t know the answer to this, but assume that in practice this is unworkable and that trusts will still be able to get away with receiving money from another non-transparent source in a way that legally avoids the funnelling ban.

    Bryce
    http://www.liberation.org.nz

  33. Tane 33

    Bryce – to be precise a don’t have a problem with under a hundred dollars or so. My concern is the current regime is nowhere near tight enough.

  34. Camryn 34

    SteveP – I think everyone can understand that distinction. You’re saying that there’s no “moral” distinction between different routes of anonymous donation, but that trusts should be opened up because they can be, whereas lawyers trusts funds can’t be so what’s the point discussing it.

    I will do you the benefit of assuming that you’d love to see all opened up, but are resigned to settling for just what is possible… and that if Labour had donations funneled through trusts then you wouldn’t change your point.

    The issue I have with your post is that you request/demand that National open up its trusts on the basis that NZ1 may have had some funny business with its trust. (My instinct would be to replace ‘may’ with something more definite because I have little faith in NZ1).

    Basically, you’re saying all trusts can’t be trusted because one trust can’t be trusted. My take away would be that the only lesson from NZ1 and the Spencer Trust is that NZ1 can’t be trusted. Clearly, it is the actions of corrupt individuals that is/was the problem, not the system. Calling for National to open the books in the absence of any complaints or evidence of misappropriation smacks of opportunism.

    You’re taking a very long shot at tying this back to National and it’s an extremely transparent modus operandi that undermines you in the long run. I’m now more inclined to assume, on future issues about which I know less, that you’re doing the same thing… even when you may have a valid point that could’ve otherwise had traction with me.

  35. insider 35

    Camryn

    You obviously missed the real point – it is all National/John Key’s fault. End of story. Please read the script more carefully next time.

  36. Camryn. thanks for that. I would “love to see all opened up, but a[m] resigned to settling for just what is possible”

    I have had a bee in my bonnet about these trusts for a while though and I’m not alone in that. One of the cornerstones of the Coalition for Open Government’s proposed finance reforms was getting rid of funnelling. It seems to me that they are an invitation for corruption and this instance just proves it. Of course, it may be somewhat academic (sorry, Bryce) since donations from them to political parties are now banned but it would restore some faith to get it all out in the open.

  37. polaris 37

    Clinton- can you explain how the National Party (one legal entity) can force xyz Trust (another legal entity) to disclose who has given money to it?

    I think what you mean is: the trustees of the various trusts, should disclose who the beneficiaries of the trusts they are the trustees of.

    In some cases, this may involve breaching the trust deed and thereby committing a breach of fiduciary duty and reneging on their legal obligations – opening themselves up to civil legal action.

    Is this what you really want?

    It is unfortunate that, as in most things, the standard don’t understand how the law works.

    [these trusts do nothing other than funnel money for the parties, they are usually controlled by senior party members (eg. the NZ Free Enterprise Trust was run by an ex-Nat President, the Spencer Trust is run by Peters’ brother). If they want to, National can hide behind legal fictions, hell that’s why they set up the trusts in the first place. However, I’m sure if National asked nicely, their trusts would open their books. SP]

  38. Bryce. I’m not sure if it will work perfectly, I guess we have to see what the first set of donations declarations entirely covered by the EFA look like but it’s better to try to ban them than allow these mechanisms which seem to have no purpose other than to enable corruption and dodgy dealings to exist unfettered.

  39. Draco TB 39

    Clearly, it is the actions of corrupt individuals that is/was the problem, not the system.

    Unless it is believed that those trusts that were set up could be used so that large donors could influence the party policy without being known. That, of course, is the problem with anonymous donations and why they should be banned (down to around $100 because anything less than that would be impractical).

  40. lukas 40

    SP other than ease of identifying who is behind trusts vs anon donations… whats the difference between them in terms of what they achieve?

  41. insider 42

    Where is COG these days? They seem to have disappeared in a puff of “all care no responsibility”.

    They were very good at pushing the EFA and now don’t seem to be interested in dealing with the consequences at a time when open government seems a major issue. Funny that.

  42. lukas 43

    SP then why no mention of the vast amount of $$ Labour has received by anon donations throughout the years?

  43. lukas. for the reasons given in the update and earlier comments

  44. insider. Graeme Edgeler of the COG is with the EC now and Steven Price is regularly in the media on EFA issues.

    It should be remembered that the COG’s proposals were more akin to the Canadian system – more public funding, lower anonymous limits etc – than the one adopted

  45. monkey-boy 46

    but lukas we really need to discuss this rather irelevent diversion from the very real problems the government is now having to face with NZF.
    Sack Winston?
    Election looming?
    Or pretend it’s business as usual?

  46. Camryn 47

    Draco – but the anonymous donation part isn’t the issue here. It’s whether the anonymous donation actually made it to the party.

  47. lukas 48

    sorry…hadn’t seen that updated bit of your post

  48. Anita 49

    If I were a Nat strategist right now I would

    1) Publicly write to the trusts asking them to ask their donors if they are willing, in the name of transparency, to be publicly named.

    2) Release letters from the trusts saying “Yes”.

    3) Wait a week.

    4) Release a small list of entirely innocuous names, and say the Trusts are still following up the rest.

    5) Smile, take the moral high ground.

  49. High risk strategy, Anita. Even the Tracy Watkins and Audrey Youngs of the world would start asking questions if they give names to a few hundred thousand of donations through the trusts and over $2mil is still unanswered for.

  50. Rob 51

    I believe this blog need to get back to what do Helen Clark & Heather Simpson do with Winston.
    obviously he is the one under the gun at the moment. Even though it may be a good time for the rabid left to come out and have a go at National its not them in the firing line
    The chief Baubleeater the man whiter than white on Election spending appears to have some very creative accounting going on. It also appears that quite a bit of the money never reached NZ1 where did it go?

    If you were the Prime Minister of an open and Honest Government wouldn’t you want to know? Especially as this man is acting as a Foreign Minister for her Government.

    I think Clark has to make a stand and the longer it goes on the more damage it will do for Labour!!

  51. polaris 52

    Clinton – once again talking out of your ass.

    “these trusts do nothing other than funnel money for the parties”

    Are you a trustee? How do you know this?

    “they are usually controlled by senior party members”

    So?

    “If they want to, National can hide behind legal fictions, hell that’s why they set up the trusts in the first place”

    A trust is not a legal fiction.

  52. Anita 53

    SP,

    Even the Tracy Watkins and Audrey Youngs of the world would start asking questions if they give names to a few hundred thousand of donations through the trusts and over $2mil is still unanswered for.

    Or it would give them a great chance to talk about National transparency and turn the spotlight on Labour and NZF.

    National could claim rock-and-a-hard-place – genuine commitment to openness vs commitment to privacy (not to mention, it’s the trusts’ decisions).

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T22:41:58+00:00