Ryall sacks DHB Chair

Written By: - Date published: 5:47 pm, February 17th, 2009 - 31 comments
Categories: health, national/act government - Tags: , ,

Health Minister Tony Ryall’s decision to sack Richard Thompson as Chairman of the Otago District Health Board on the grounds of historical fraud by a staff member has a nasty whiff of political interference to it.

Considering the fraud began before Thompson became Chairman and it was caught and stopped under his watch the case for sacking him seems pretty thin. As Pete Hodgson has pointed out, sacking the guy who helped catch the crook is nonsensical.

This is especially so given it’s now been two and half years since the fraud, he’s been kept on by three ministers since and has earned a fresh mandate by being re-elected as the board’s second-strongest polling candidate in 2007.

Given all this, you do have to ask what Tony Ryall’s sudden motivation for sacking him might be. NZPA provides some answers:

A defiant Mr Thomson today told NZPA he believed the real motivation to sack him was because he was a Labour Party member.

Mr Ryall’s decision reeked of political interference, he said.

‘He thought he could get rid of someone who batted for the other side and make some political capital out of it,’ he told NZPA.

The health board’s chief medical officer seems to agree, arguing that Thompson was blameless and that Ryall was simply looking for a scapegoat.

This whole affair reeks of the kind of political interference National campaigned to do away with.

31 comments on “Ryall sacks DHB Chair ”

  1. lprent 1

    I’d say that Tony Ryall should be ashamed of doing this type of blatant political interference.

    However I’m sure from past experience that he is rather too stupid to understand the distinction between dismissing someone for cause after due process and just acting like a petty dictator. His past statements have been to accuse the minister of acting improperly in the Hawkes Bay where due process was followed. Ryall’s actions here have been to ignore due process and just act like a petty arsehole.

  2. Rex Widerstrom 2

    No, no, no you’re completely missing the point Tane.

    This sets an important precedent for sacking the present incumbent because you find things that happened before they took office utterly appalling.

    Any minute now watch for the Nats to call on themselves to be sacked over the Owen Glenn saga 😀

  3. Lew 3

    Pretty good musician, not such a cracking bureaucrat, apparently.

    L

    [lprent: Oh dear.. Next thing I know you’ll be scouring youtube for Nick Smith’s who can sing like a canary. Besides – RT was an excellent musician]

  4. Peter Johns - bigoted troll in jerkoff mode 4

    it’s called accountability chaps, not that soft-coke socialists know the meaning of the word.
    BTW, Peter Doone was political interference of the highest order, this pales into significance.

    BTW, in Atlanta USA, recession here is bad and Obama is already been seen as a full of shit fruit loop already here, even by Democratic voters who voted for him in hope. All talk, no action.

  5. Peter Martin 5

    ‘He thought he could get rid of someone who batted for the other side and make some political capital out of it, ‘

    And he probably will. Everywhere but Otago.

  6. Simon 6

    The communist saboteurs infiltrated into the public sector by Pol Clark are being swept aside by the big broomstick of righteousness.

    Keep it coming! Watch out Liabour agitators! We’ve got a government that’s going to hold you accountable. Yeehaw!

    [lprent: roughly translated, this means “I cannot argue, so I’ll make a spectacle of myself in the hopes of getting some attention”. Sounds like d4j under yet another name….]

    [lprent: Nope just another jerk-off troll. Feeding to the spam]

  7. northpaw 7

    PJ,

    You didnae know about Atlanta?

    The again, it could be the reason you’re there.. huh!

  8. lprent said “His past statements have been to accuse the minister of acting improperly in the Hawkes Bay where due process was followed.”

    Due process followed in the Hawke’s Bay case? You’re kidding aren’t you? The former Minister should be grateful that the High Court judical review didn’t happen, then we would have seen how due the process was – or wasn’t.

    And remember, Cunliffe sacked an entire democratically-elected DHB. Ryall has merely told the Chair to stand aside – no board members have been displaced.

  9. Matthew Pilott 9

    ‘Pol Clark’, Simon?

    Grow up, sugarpuff, just a little.

  10. Dean 10

    LP:

    “I’d say that Tony Ryall should be ashamed of doing this type of blatant political interference.

    However I’m sure from past experience that he is rather too stupid to understand the distinction between dismissing someone for cause after due process and just acting like a petty dictator. His past statements have been to accuse the minister of acting improperly in the Hawkes Bay where due process was followed. Ryall’s actions here have been to ignore due process and just act like a petty arsehole.”

    Do you know the difference between sacking the chair and sacking the entire board? Are you aware of who appoints the chair and who votes the board in?

    Honestly. You’d give an aspirin a headache.

  11. Janet 11

    Ryall reinstated his mates on the HB board, who were clearly implicated in some very shady deals. Watch out for resignations from senior staff there who are very unhappy at the reinstatement of people who are so incompetent, and with questionable understanding of governance.

    Yet a popular DHB chair with some integrity and vision gets pushed by a vindictive minister.

  12. lprent 12

    Dean & I2:

    So what you are saying is that Ryall decided to set aside the decision of the board about the chairman for a reason that wasn’t just political affliation?

    Exactly why did he do that? Was it something to do with ‘interesting’ purchasing decisions? Was it something to do with any kind of malfeasance that the chairman could have any control over? Was it because the board was disfunctional with the staff?

    No – it was because he did his job. Remember that is the ostensible reason that Ryall has released – he found some fraud after he was made chairman and fixed the problem. That is what he was elected to do. Why exactly is that something that Ryall has ANY reason to be looking at.

    Ryall doesn’t appear to have bothered to actually follow the processes. He has just acted like a petty little arsehole who has been made a minister. Ryall is a total disgrace to have as a minister – a true distinguishing attribute of a NACT government. Politically corrupt and something they should be ashamed of.

    Please defend your support of Ryalls actions? Perhaps you have a highly variable sense of justice? Almost hypocritical.

  13. Pascal's bookie 13

    BTW, in Atlanta USA, recession here is bad and Obama is already been seen as a full of shit fruit loop already here, even by Democratic voters who voted for him in hope

    With numbers like these it sure is falling apart fast. And GA was such a stronghold too.

    http://www.pollingreport.com/obama_ad.htm

  14. Dean 14

    LP:

    “Please defend your support of Ryalls actions? Perhaps you have a highly variable sense of justice? Almost hypocritical bearing in mind your previous statements on Cunliffe and the Hawkes Bay DHB.”

    Since you choose to be like that, please defend the sacking of the entire board carried out by the previous government. While you’re at it, please defend the use of due process from a former cabinet minister when the PM did no such thing on several occasions, including the latest defamation case she’s settled out of court. Let’s not talk about the former police commissioner though, because we all know just how embarassing that was for you.

    See, LP? Not only Labour members can play these games.

    I eagerly await your reply in which you attempt to pretend that you’re objective in these matters. While you’re at it, please research the meaning of the phrase “pot? this is kettle. black. over.”

  15. lprent 15

    Dean: So what you’re saying is that you prefer to avoid the issue?

    You cannot defend this obnoxious corrupt political interference by an arsehole minister – Tony Ryall – surely not? From the sanctimonious attacker of Cunliffe over Hawkes Bay? I take it from your last statement with its various indirections to actually say that you couldn’t defend Tony Ryall. If you cannot defend his action – why didn’t you just say so? It’d be a lot easier than twisting yourself through those circumlocutions.

    Defend his action or I will take your agreement as implicit. That is the way of the dogwhistle brigade isn’t it?

  16. Dean 16

    LP:

    I’ve got no reason to debate anything like this on an adult level with you, given your silence on similar or arguably worse actions by members of your own political party.

    I’m loving that you’re using due process as a defence of the Hawkes Bay DHB fiasco while simultaneously ignoring who appoints the chair. It’s also interesting that you chose to ignore that when you asked me to defend Ryall. It’s like you’re trying to be willfully ignorant, or perhaps it’s a case of doublethink that Orwell would be proud of.

    What you don’t seem to understand is that it’s not about defending Ryall at all. It’s that its utterly sanctimonious for you to have a problem with what he did given the actions of the political party you are a member and activist of. And especially when you are pretending to ignore what happened under the previous government.

    I’m afraid that if you can’t understand that then you’re in the same position as Jordan Carter is over the copyright bill – completely unbelievable.

  17. “Peter Johns

    it’s called accountability chaps, not that soft-coke socialists know the meaning of the word.”

    Accountability for someone else’s actions? kind of like how your party of liars and thieves believe the tax payer should be held financially accountable for the bad decisions of the executives of large companies I guess.

  18. Pascal's bookie 18

    Dean, it’s not actually about Lynn. Or at least, it may be for you, but that’s kind of weird. You should stop obsessing.

    What do you think about the sacking?

  19. Quoth the Raven 19

    BTW, in Atlanta USA, recession here is bad and Obama is already been seen as a full of shit fruit loop already here, even by Democratic voters who voted for him in hope.

    I think people will realise, if they’re not already they will soon, that Obama doesn’t really represent change. We’ve already have a couple of his nominesss for postiions drop out becuase they didn’t pay their taxes. He played up the fact that he wasn’t a Washington insider then he goes and fills all his cabinet postitions with Washington insiders. He banned the hiring of former lobbyists, camapigned on the fact that he wouldn’t hire any, then grants exceptions so he can hire them. People loudly proclaimed his shutting down of Gitmo and other secret CIA prisons, but they forgot to read the fine print, “Obama’s executive orders actually give the CIA authority to carry out renditions, abductions and transfers of prisoners in secret without the threat of legal obstruction.” see here. He’s going to buy up the toxic debt just like the Bushites planned to do and failed. He said bank CEO’s who receive money from the government will have to have a pay limit except they can get around that by declaring to their shareholders they’re going to exceed it and it doesn’t apply to those that already got their government handout. He’s comes out with this big stimulus plan and then asks the repulcians (which he didn’t even need to do) how he can make it even stupider – by cutting the money that goes to the poor of course. So Obama promptly cuts out money for things like foodstamps and education making extra sure the money for prison inititives and more police stays there. And then we’ve had attack after attack on Pakistan since he’s been in power.
    So I think it will dawn on Americans sooner or later that they haven’t voted for change. They’ve been duped.
    Prosecute Bush. Impeach Obama.

  20. fraser 20

    “I’ve got no reason to debate anything like this on an adult level with you”

    ahh – the redbaiter defence – but without the insults.

    “also, labour did it to” – isnt really a defence or rebuttal. two wrongs dont make a right and all that 🙂

  21. ryallsghost 21

    About time Thomson was removed as chair after presiding over the largest non-clinical governance failure at the ODHB in decades.

  22. higherstandard 22

    FFS

    The chair of the board (who are responsible for governance) has the largest fraud ever in the NZ health system occurring for several years under his watch and people are arguing that he shouldn’t have been asked to step down as chair ??

    Why weren’t the entire board and the CEO thrown out on their respective ear ?

    Sounds like the governance down South is as good as we have to put up with in Auckland where the solution to a shortage in medical staff is to reduce the number of positions…one wonders how these people manage to breath by themselves.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10553187

    The sooner someone bites the bullet and culls the 27DHBs we have in NZ for four million people the better.

  23. Tigger 23

    Can I take a wild guess that the crooks are actually members of the National Party?

    As for Ryall, he’s utterly personally dishonest so when I hear him making comments about honesty I just want to throw up.

  24. higherstandard 24

    Can I take a wild guess that you’re a complete moron ?

    [lprent: There is a point there somewhere – right?]

  25. @ work 25

    You’ve got a history of misrepresenting the subject you should be an expert on HS.

  26. Kerry 26

    god tony is so in love with sound of his own voice…..and im not sure why cause is a whinny whinny wee voice pretending to be authoritative….

    Just like that Bennet tart who runs Social Welfare..saw her on the news pretending to be grown up an pretending to care what her answers were to questions in the house.

    If I were a tory I would be asking for my money back for backing such a crap party like the nats.

  27. Nice to see you using balanced and reasoned arguments without resorting to personality attacks there Kerry 😉

  28. higherstandard 28

    @work

    “You’ve got a history of misrepresenting the subject you should be an expert on HS.”

    And you have got a history of being a mendacious simpering turd.

    Lynn

    “There is a point there somewhere – right?”

    It was in reply to the comment above.

    [lprent: Yeah I saw that afterwards. Remember I read backwards in time and across threads. Sometimes results in notes that don’t account for the context if they show a trait I’m looking for. It helps with ending flame sequences.]

  29. higherstandard 29

    “I read backwards in time and across threads. ”

    There’s a Dr Who joke in there somewhere.

  30. higherstandard 30

    A colleague has made me aware of a thread where certain facts are laid bare by a “friend of the board” while I realise that Kiwiblog is not well liked at The Standard is makes for rather depressing reading ……. I’d also be prepared to wager that this type of fiasco is not isolated to ODHB.

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/02/thomson_responds.html#comment-535392

Links to post

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Pharmac Chair appointed
    Hon Paula Bennett has been appointed as member and chair of the Pharmac board, Associate Health Minister David Seymour announced today. "Pharmac is a critical part of New Zealand's health system and plays a significant role in ensuring that Kiwis have the best possible access to medicines,” says Mr Seymour. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Taking action on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
    Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says.  “Every day, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • New sports complex opens in Kaikohe
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Diplomacy needed more than ever
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges.    “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address, Buttes New British Cemetery Belgium
    Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service.  It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, Türkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 weeks ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-28T20:46:52+00:00