Bludgin’ ain’t so easy

Written By: - Date published: 2:30 pm, December 18th, 2008 - 47 comments
Categories: welfare - Tags: ,

So, I’m out of work. I was employed on a contract and when it came up for renewal the boss told me business is too tight, have to let me go. It wasn’t their fault and they were pretty good about it. For the first few weeks I just looked for work but there’s not much going so I thought I better get on the dole. That’s what it’s there for.

I’ll tell you what though, anyone who reckons that its easy to get on the dole and there’s heaps of bludgers hasn’t ever tried it. Firstly you have to go along to this seminar about how to get a job. I had to wait 3 weeks before I could get into one of those seminars. Then I had to get a meeting with a case manager, take along all these forms and hopefully get on the benefit. But seems I’m not the only one in this situation. I was going to have to wait until February to get meeting at the nearest WINZ office. I managed to get a meeting at an office in another suburb instead just 3 weeks later. That was last week. All my papers were in order and I was accepted. Got my first dole payment. After tax, it’s $184. Not much left after $150 a week in rent. I’m lucky to have some savings to get by on but you’ve got to worry about others less fortunate.

Don’t get me wrong, we’re lucky to have benefits to keep us going when we fall on tough times. Just don’t go thinking that people like me are bludgers. It isn’t easy to get the dole and it sure isn’t easy to try to live on it. It’s great to have it while you need it but, like most other people on benefits, I’ll be keen to get work as soon as possible.

– Ben the wannabe worker

47 comments on “Bludgin’ ain’t so easy ”

  1. Mr Magoo 1

    Cue the right posters talking about how you are not a typical case or some such?

    No?

    Perhaps how there are really jobs out there, you are just not looking hard enough?

    Anyone?

    Come on guys! You are very vocal when talking out your bum against someone who is not experiencing it first hand!?

    PS: Thanks for the post. I grew up in a beneficiary family and know what this is like. (invalid’s benefit) I hear it has got WORSE since then…

  2. George 2

    probably written by steve or eddie or IB or one of their mates as a puff piece. no real substance here.

    [the cup of human kindness runneth over with thee, eh George. We get an email, we run it and this is how you react. Grow up. SP]

  3. Rex Widerstrom 3

    $184?! That’s not much more than I was getting over a decade ago!! And that’s in real terms… take inflation into account and you’re probably getting about the same.

    Nine years of Labour and that’s the best they could do for some of our most vulnerable citizens?!

    It’s not like National are ever going to raise benefits (cf the slash-and-burn of the 90s) so surely one of the main things on the agenda of any Labour government should be ensuring beneficiaries are given an income which sustains the basics. And $34 a week does not cover food, medical, clothing and utilities.

    In fact Labour surely ought to aim to raise the level a little higher than that which sustains the basics, thus giving National room to play to some of its base by cutting the amount, thus still leaving a liveable level.

    At least in my days on the benefit you were granted money backdated to the day you rang and informed DSW you were unemployed. You just had to wait for the interview till you got paid it.

    Best of luck, Ben.

  4. Stephen 4

    At least in my days on the benefit you were granted money backdated to the day you rang and informed DSW you were unemployed. You just had to wait for the interview till you got paid it.

    I was on it a year and a half ago – that’s exactly what happened with me – was quite a nice and unexpected surprise…hmm.

    Cue the right posters talking about how you are not a typical case or some such?

    I somehow doubt anyone outside of the Libertarian party says all those on the unemployment benefit are bludgers – ssoooo a ‘straw man’ anybody?!

    The long term unemployed (say on it for 1 year +) are people that should be focused on. Not necessarily having their benefit cut off, but surely warrant special attention of some sort…

  5. Janet 5

    Is there still the unemployed workers’ union? I know so many beneficiaries in similar circumstances. A 50 cent rise in bus fares can be the last straw. But hard to organise when you can’t afford a phone or computer or even a text.

  6. Bill 6

    Anyone who is not reasonably literate is going to really struggle with the forms and be generally ‘defeated’ by the onerous nature of the whole signing on procedure. And all for not a lot of anything worth while.

    Sure, you wont starve. But suffer stress? Exhibit signs of malnutrition? Drown in unavoidable debt? Yup. And more. ANYONE who claims that WINZ does any more than allow you to keep hanging on by the slimmest of threads simply doesn’t know their arse from their elbow.

    Labour as overseers were no great shakes in humanising the benefit system. Apart from the fact they introduced the biggest benefit cuts since the early 90s when they removed Special Benefit and introduced Temporary Additional Support in it’s place they allowed the ghost of Christine Rankin to stalk the department’s corridors.

    Now that the Nats are the overseers it will get even worse. Rankins ghostly legacy will gleefully be given substance again and maintained via the department sucking any remaining vestiges of hope and self worth from it’s ‘client base’.

  7. Bill 7

    “The long term unemployed (say on it for 1 year +) are people that should be focused on. Not necessarily having their benefit cut off, but surely warrant special attention of some sort ”

    Special attention sounds nice to me. Can I have some of that? Maybe enough money to pay my bills? Or treat myself to something special like?

  8. Stephen 8

    Special attention sounds nice to me. Can I have some of that? Maybe enough money to pay my bills? Or treat myself to something special like?

    Compulsory re-training?

  9. Stephen 9

    After tax, it’s $184. Not much left after $150 a week in rent.

    Why the hell is that taxed? What’s the point?! Same with super I think..

  10. Pat 10

    While you’re waiting for a new fulltime job, working on a hay gang over the summer will pay more than the dole.

  11. Stephen 11

    Might i also suggest seasonal work (for the able-bodied). *Great* pay, though not everyone can just up sticks and move to nelson to pick apples…

  12. Bill 12

    That like a re-education centre? You know, like what they do in countries with dodgy totalitarian regimes?

    Or do you mean like a dog needs to be trained (re-trained?) not to piss on the upholstery?

    What do you mean by re-training? You assume I didn’t get something quite right the first time around?

    Maybe I need reprogrammed? EST or something perhaps?

    You know, I’d rather just have something special as suggested in your first comment. Doesn’t have to cost FA.

    Like they say, it’s the thought that counts. How much would it cost, really, to allow beneficiaries their dignity and dismantle the institutional ‘dogging’ of them?

    Actually, sod it. I want a big fucking medal from the Employers Federation for doing my bit in contributing to labour flexibility!

  13. Stephen 13

    Think you’re going a bit over the top Bill, but – I know this a bit of a hoary old chestnut but what the hey – what to do with the long term unemployed? Nothing? Offer them re-training opportunities? What if they don’t want them?

  14. ak 14

    Bill: Labour….allowed the ghost of Christine Rankin to stalk the department’s corridors.
    Have to disagree there Bill – still patchy but not a smidge on the Rankin years in my experience, especially from the upper echelons (which is where to go when you have trouble)

    ….when they removed Special Benefit… Totally agree there – but to be fair I saw some excesses, and prior to Labour Special Benefit was almost impossible to get, one office I went to in about 98 had never ever paid it! In my experience the attitudinal change which enabled better access to all benefits more than compensated for this. Still no excuse from a Labour govt, but.

    Ben, three weeks is ridiculous and you should be paid from your first phone call. Ring your nearest beneficiary advocacy group and/or put in a Review of Decision. Go to DWI on the interweb and look at Manuals and Procedures, and good luck in the job hunt.

  15. Bill 15

    On the apple picking front. No, Stephen, it’s not ‘great pay’. But I wonder. Has anyone bothered to go around the orchards and enforce the law with respects to the min wage?

    How many orchardists illegally underpay by paying by volume picked which translates to less than min wage when calculated in hourly terms and not making up the discrepancy in the pay packet?

    I suppose WINZ would point that out to any poor sod they send off to be an itinerant worker during the summer?

  16. cocamc 16

    Every year in the vineyards they need 2-3,000 seasonal workers for the harvest and i know that some people as part of the RSE scheme take home around $52k for six months work in the vineyards. So there is work out there. It may be manual but sure beats the level of the unemployment benefit?

  17. Bill 17

    AK

    By ‘upper echelons’, I guess you mean within the MSD in Wellington? Fair enough. I was referring to WINZ offices. Big hangover of Rankin-ism in a lot of them.

    Stephen.

    Yeah ok. A bit OTT. But at the end of the day, why should it be seen as okay to denigrate unemployed people? ( I’m not saying you were…but it’s a widespread and almost universally condoned part of MS NZ culture)

    Where the hell does the idea that worth and usefulness stems from job activity and what does that say to us about our concept of ourselves? And why is that idea accepted so unquestionably these days?

    Both those latter questions are rhetorical by the way. And as you might gather I’ don’t adhere to the majority position with regards either.

    I don’t think it’s so much a question of ‘doing something’ with the unemployed as allowing the unemployed to be so with dignity. I think it’s really sad that many would see that proposition as ‘off the wall’ or some such.

    Change perceptions of what worth is. Encourage and enable people to explore and develop their potential minus the shackles of the ideological imperitive to be in a job.

  18. Mr Magoo 18

    i know that some people as part of the RSE scheme take home around $52k for six months work in the vineyards.

    To be fair, some of the vineyard “picking” (and pruning) is actually a highly skilled job and not something a peson off the street with little training could do. I doubt they would be making 52k even if they were doing it for the first time….

  19. Janet 19

    Can someone explain to me why Christine Rankin is such a media and National Party darling?

  20. rainman 20

    “I don’t think it’s so much a question of ‘doing something’ with the unemployed as allowing the unemployed to be so with dignity.”

    I hear ya, but what you’re asking is hugely idealistic. Sure, there are better ways to conceive of a societal value system that isn’t rooted in money (and therefore employment) but it ain’t the one we have, or are likely to get, ever. Unemployment is therefore sensibly seen as a problem to be fixed – unless of course you have made/obtained sufficient money up front to retire early. So, you can be as dignified in unemployment as you want, as long as you don’t need state financial support.

    If someone is unemployed and happy that way, but still needs/wants state support, then there will be conflict between them and those what don’t think like that. Quite reasonable, really.

  21. rainman 21

    Meant to add, to Ben the wannabe worker: Best of luck mate, hope you find something soon.

  22. Bill 22

    rainman.

    The state has ‘closed off the commons’ so to speak…of permissible or possible ways to do things. But with the power comes responsibility.

    I’ll put it this way. I might not be able to prevent you caging me. But having caged me, it is your responsibility to see I am fed.

    Oh. And I’m not going to be grateful either.

  23. Akldnut 23

    Hey I’ve been on the invalid benefit for over eight years (organ failure) and when I first applied was told ” Theres nothing wrong with you, you look fine and shouldn’t be on benefit. Thankfully I took it further with a complaint to the local Winz manager and managed to get on a sickness benefit for six months before I was classed as having qualified for the Invalids benefit.
    At the time Uneployment and sickness were the same at $150 per week and Invalids $180 plus prescription costs. (wohoo was I was living it up!)
    Its icreased a bit more now but not that much

    Finally getting some return on my “Tax” dollars

    Unfortunately wer’e still forced to live on the good will of others

    Might even

  24. Akldnut 24

    wheres the edit function gone?

  25. anonymouse 25

    You should also be eligible for an accommodation supplement
    (unless your “some savings” are more that $8,000)

  26. Jimbo 26

    Bill:

    What does this mean and how much should the Goverment spend doing it? – “Change perceptions of what worth is. Encourage and enable people to explore and develop their potential minus the shackles of the ideological imperitive to be in a job.”

    Is it more important than, say, increasing retirement benefits or improving the health system? Should we do it before or after raising teacher salaries.

    It sounds pretty good, but in my view our Government should only get into this “encouraging and enabling people to explore and develop their potential” malarkey one they’ve dealt with the basics, which are (in no particular order):

    1. Education
    2. Law and Order
    3. Defence
    4. Health
    5. Ensuring there is state support for the disadvantaged such as invalids, the aged and people who cannot (or are unable to find) work.
    6. Creating an environment that facilitates business growth.

    If you reckon we’ve got all of the above sorted, then it’s probably time to start on this “potential developing” without the “idealogical imperative” of being in work. In the meantime, I’d prefer Government to keep away from new-age claptrap and stick to things that will undoubtedly benefit NZ as a whole.

    You need to DO SOMETHING to survive. If you don’t DO SOMETHING, you need to rely on public or private benefactors. It’s not denigrating beneficiaries to state that obvious fact. I don’t want any government to put in place policies that encourage inactivity.

  27. Jimbo 27

    Basically what Rainman said, but far better than me.

  28. Jim Dandy 28

    “I’ll tell you what though, anyone who reckons that its easy to get on the dole and there’s heaps of bludgers hasn’t ever tried it. Firstly you have to go along to this seminar about how to get a job. I had to wait 3 weeks before I could get into one of those seminars. Then I had to get a meeting with a case manager, take along all these forms and hopefully get on the benefit.”

    An outrageous state of affairs for a human. in our distant past we all shared the work (fishing, hunting, gathering) we lived in small groups with people who knew each other for generations. When times were lean things got shared (more or less)
    http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Stage/8922/

  29. Bill 29

    Jimbo
    Where did I mention government? Why the assumption that government is the agency to effect an attitudinal shift? Can’t people form opinions and develop ways of seeing situations and each other without governmental input?

  30. Ianmac 30

    Yes to the bit about giving particular attention/help to those unemployed for more than a year. (I believe the number has been surprisingly small.) And use the same principle by giving particular attention/help for the tail end of learners who are failing in school and thus reduce the probability at the older end, rather than a blanket money hungry testing regime for everyone.
    Good luck Ben.

  31. George Darroch 31

    Ben, I hear there is a job going with the police, which might suit someone in your position. $600pw, plus expenses. No previous experience required, the ability to work with groups is a must, however. Special skills with radio communications, and the ability to pretend you’re a former SAS soldier would be looked upon highly.

    Applications care of – Judith Collins, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. (cause she’s the new boss, and thinks it’s ok – surely that means hiring a new one?)

  32. George Darroch 32

    On a more serious note, I’ve said in previous threads how angry I was that Labour deliberately continued with National’s benefit levels. Can someone even tell me when Labour actually raised them? Because I don’t believe they ever did. I don’t think they even raised them for inflation in their 9 years…

    We could have tried to implement a social democracy. Labour Party people told me – eventually – but the pace of change in this area was glacial.

    Ben, have you applied for the accommodation supplement? As I understand it, you’d probably be eligible for $50 pw in supplements (one third of your rent). You’d have $84 to live on. Still not more than canned food, bills and a couple of bus fares, but at least it’s survivable. While Labour failed to increase benefits past survival levels, they did do a reasonable amount to encourage case managers to actually help their “clients”, instead of impede them. As a result, obtaining a little meagre assistance is actually possible.

    Those seminars are a bloody joke though. And if you’ve been unemployed more than once, you’ll go to exactly the same seminar every time.

    I’ve said it in another post, bt we need to get an unemployment benefit system that takes lessons from the Danish. High unemployment benefits, low unemployment figures, high productivity, high satisfaction from both workers and employers, flexible labour laws, and high taxes. Of course, if Labour did put such a scheme in place, the screaming and whinging from the right would be endless, and they’d try and pull away the good bits as soon as they had the chance.

  33. QoT 33

    Good post, Ben. Of course the righties are fantastically quick to jump on the old, “Oh not YOU, YOU have good reasons” bandwagon, beloved of all conservatives confronted with an actual human being going through hard times.

  34. TimeWarp 34

    Not everyone has small enough hands for that seasonal work, apparently…

    Bill, best of luck with the hunt – been there before buddy and I know it’s not easy.

  35. Taane (maxx being an idiot) 35

    Can you get the dole if youve been fired?

    [lprent: Are you looking to get banned permanently]

  36. TBA 36

    Things may have changed but when I was working for Work and Income (about 4 years ago) and this “course” was introduced while we were all made to say it was compulsory it is not and we were also told if anybody made a fuss then to just process the application.

    Print off the Unemployment form (http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/forms-and-brochures.html), make sure you’ve got all the required support documentation (its on the form but in particular any pay slips, bank account details (need a statement/proof), fill it out and then go and submit it. Make sure you watch them date stamp it and your support documentation and then ask for a copy an appointment.

    If they give you crap ask for them advise what part of the Social Welfare legislation that the seminar is a requirement and indicate where on the form it says you must attend one. It they still give you crap ask for a review of decision form and fill it in then and there and submit it. In addition I would suggest contact citizens advice (or the local Green Party if CA can’t help and ask for the local benificary advocate and they will help you through the process.

    BTW the review of decision form was one that just made everybodys life hard so if nothing else will get peoples attention like wise with the advocate.

    Hope this helps, and all the best.

    By the way Taane (maxx being an idiot) whether a persons quits or is fired doesn’t effect their elligability for UB, eg if you quit you got the maximum (12 weeks) unless there were just reasons and were actioning them eg taking a personal grievance and could prove it though this was at the branch managers discretion.

  37. Stephen 37

    Thanks Bill – I don’t reaaally think it’s universally seen as acceptable to denigrate the unemployed. I myself will happily denigrate actual ‘bludgers’, but it’s so rare because it’s very difficult to know someone’s individual situation. I certainly had a lower sense of self-worth when I was unemployed because I was receiving money from people who were working – of course I knew I was working hard to find a job, so it was moderately easy to think ‘fuck’em’ to anyone I imagined was looking down on me for doing so.

    On the apple picking front. No, Stephen, it’s not ‘great pay’. But I wonder. Has anyone bothered to go around the orchards and enforce the law with respects to the min wage?

    How many orchardists illegally underpay by paying by volume picked which translates to less than min wage when calculated in hourly terms and not making up the discrepancy in the pay packet?

    I did it early last year and I was taking home (after tax) a low of $520 to a high (for 3 weeks) of $800-odd. I’m not sure what the average was, but about $600. I think that’s pretty great.

    Do they have to make up a discrepancy if the picker is just slack? I had the option of switching to hourly if I couldn’t handle being paid by volume too…

  38. Doug 38

    Bludgin’ ain’t so easy.

    Just ask Aidan Smith.

  39. maxq 39

    bludgin, alcohol free

  40. Bill 40

    Stephen.

    Universality of denigrating the unemployed. Think DPB and the media fuelled right wing b/s about pregnancy for housing etc, etc as just one example. (Notice how single parents are now ‘expected’ to seek work..the wff exemption can be seen as a carrot or a stick depending on your perspective).

    Beyond DPB, it is just plain ingrained that when people ask what you do that they expect an answer framed in terms of what job you have. The implication is that if you don’t have a job you ‘do nothing’ and by extension ‘are nothing’. Cue a 1001 implicit and explicit prejudices.

    On the receiving money from people who are working front. That sucks.UB should be fully funded via a tax levied solely on employers. They benefit most from our waged culture and as I see it, should not be allowed to benefit from engineered levels of unemployment. ( I believe 5% is posited as the optimum level to gain ‘labour flexibility’ allowing for a downward pressure on wages without blowing out government social spending on benefits?). Theoretically, government could change the landscape in this respect by introducing such a tax, but won’t because their prime function is to protect and perpetuate an environment favourable to orthodox business activity, ie profit. Unemployed workers are a cost that business doesn’t just externalise but gains extra profit from.

    Moving on, if your sums are typical, then fruit picking is a different kettle of fish from when I did it last.

    Do they have to make up the discrepancy? Yes. Min wage is min wage.

    A slacker? Before April 1, dismiss them using a fair process.

  41. dave 41

    Can you get the dole if youve been fired?

    Yes you can – provided you are not working more than 30 hours a week, have a partner in work and are looking for work yourself..

  42. If your contract has expired and it is not extended, you haven’t been fired.

  43. Joe Blogger 43

    “If your contract has expired and it is not extended, you haven’t been fired.”

    I would ask your case manager if you would be covered by the rules for seasonal workers. I’m not sure if this would/wouldn’t be possible but it may provide the means to avoid messy stand downs etc.

  44. djp 44

    Ben the wannabe worker,

    Case managers know when to pick their battles…. you obviously arent a true dole bludger so they will probably put you through the ringer.

  45. marco 45

    Your not getting a full and correct entitlement if all your getting is $184, go in and apply for the Accomocdation Supplement, TAS and DA and while your at it get an SNG for a food grant.

    You should be getting around $300 per week plus your entitled to emergency assistance, if your case manager didnt inform you of this then complain to the manager and get it back paid.

    If your using $184 to prove a point and have not listed the supplementary assistance then try to be more objective next time.

    Oh and TBA, the seminar is a requirement it is listed in the pre benefit obligations of the Work and Income Manuals and Procedures available online

  46. Greg 46

    A few questions…..

    Why are you in a place that charges $150 a week rent? Get a cheaper place, living on the doll isn’t meant to be a luxuary

    Have you looked for jobs? I tell ya, they’re out there, especially at this time of year. You spend a few hours walking into bars on courtney place, you’ll have multiple job offers. Other places that have a high staff turnover like fast food places and supermarkets are always looking for staff. Times have to be really really bad for that to stop.

    Thats what I did anyway.

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
    11 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
    12 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
    14 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
    16 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
    16 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
    18 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    20 hours 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
    21 hours 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
    3 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
    7 days 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
    7 days 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
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T16:05:34+00:00