Foreign Minister Murray McCully has appointed diplomat Jane Coombs as New Zealand’s next Ambassador to France. “New Zealand’s relationship with France is one of our most long-standing and vibrant, and it remains an important partner within the European Union,” Mr McCully says. “Since 2014, we have been jointly commemorating both the 100th anniversary of the First World War and the death of thousands of New Zealand soldiers on French soil. “France is one of our major trading partners in Europe and our relationship will prove important in our forthcoming negotiations for an FTA with the EU. “The Ambassador to France…

Only age and hemispheres separate the identical twins of Social Democracy  Slight of build and with their perma-grins they even look alike. The two clever sticks share similar backgrounds, give a zig-zag or two. Both are outsiders who put themselves on the inside – and both entered party politics at the same age Mr Macron is from a wealthy professional family and he went into the Socialist Party. Mr Key is from a working background and he went into the conservative National Party. Both made their name and fortunes in big name investment banking, Mr Macron with Rothschild. Mr Key…

New Zealand is funding a five-year $5.4 million project to help Vietnam reduce dam-related flooding on the Ca River. New Zealand is funding a five-year project to reduce dam-related flooding in Vietnam. The two countries have launched a $5.4 million initiative focusing on the 1000km Ca River. The aim is to halve the death toll from flooding on the river and reduce associated economic losses by 30 per cent by 2021. Foreign Minister Murray McCully says New Zealand will be sharing its expertise in water engineering and natural hazard management. Issues include effective assessment of dams most in need of…

Prime Minister Bill English today announced the appointment of Gerry Brownlee as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nathan Guy as Minister of Civil Defence, Nikki Kaye as Minister of Education and Mark Mitchell as Minister of Defence. The changes follow the resignations from Cabinet of Hekia Parata and Murray McCully. In other changes Simon Bridges has been appointed Leader of the House and Nicky Wagner has been made Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration. Mr Mitchell has been promoted to Cabinet. Tim Macindoe, a former chairman of the justice and electoral select committee and National’s senior whip since the 2014 election, and…

Report coverThe Government’s failure to index tax brackets to inflation since 2010 now costs the average Kiwi income earner almost $500 each year according to a new report released today by the Taxpayers’ Union. The report, "5 Options for Tax Relief in 2017", models five options to deliver meaningful tax relief packages which could be part of Budget 2017 with fiscal implications of $3 billion or less. The report is available for viewing and download at www.taxpayers.org.nz/5_options. Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says, “The National Government likes to talk the talk on lower taxes, but this report shows very…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully travels to the Gulf region this weekend for meetings in Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. “Our relationships with this important region are growing at a great pace and my visit will be an opportunity to continue discussions about priority areas, including the NZ-GCC FTA, regional security issues and cooperation in areas such as renewable energy,” Mr McCully says. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, is New Zealand’s eighth largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade exceeding $3.2 billion NZ dollars. “The relationship with the…

Apr 03:    Fonterra makes a splash at China’s largest food ingredients show Mar 28:   Infrastructure key as MoC signed Mar 23:   Horticultural stalwarts win Farm Environment Awards Mar 21:    Horticultural stalwarts win Farm Environment Awards Mar 21:    Beef prices boosted by US demand Mar 17:    New Zealand-Argentina agricultural agreement signed Mar 17:    NZ wool market improves at double auction Mar 16:      Ravensdown to make early rebate payment Mar 14:     Bottled water debate misses mark says Nick Smith Mar 14:     SFO probing free-range claims Mar 13:     NZ agri innovation helping meat exports to Asia's diverse markets Mar 11:     Award…

Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges, Associate Primary Industries Minister Louise Upston and other Ministers are in Gisborne today for the release of the Tairāwhiti Economic Action Plan, highlighting the Government’s support for the region. The plan has been developed by Tairāwhiti people for the community and represents a shared investment in the future. The plan’s development was led by the Tairāwhiti Action Plan Governance Group and is supported through the Government’s Regional Growth Programme. It articulates opportunities identified by the region and represents their priorities for the next five years. “Growing Tairāwhiti tourism to attract more visitors, upgrading state highways,…

Foreign Minister Murray McCully will travel to the Cook Islands this week to undertake a range of meetings, including with Prime Minister Henry Puna and his Cabinet. “My discussions with Prime Minister Puna and his Cabinet will cover a range of matters including New Zealand’s support to the Cook Island’s tourism sector, which accounts for over 60% of national GDP,” Mr McCully says. “Ensuring the ongoing health of the tourism sector is a top priority in our partnership. For this reason, New Zealand has committed to projects designed to improve sanitation and water quality infrastructure, specifically in Rarotonga and Aitutaki.”…

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has welcomed the signing of a ground breaking bilateral international science agreement between New Zealand and Australia at the Leaders’ meetings in Queenstown today. The Australia – New Zealand Science, Research and Innovation Cooperation Agreement is a commitment to valuable collaboration across the innovation and science systems, and between researchers and innovative companies, on both sides of the Tasman. “International agreements bring new knowledge, ideas, people, technology and investment into New Zealand’s science and innovation system. These partnerships also contribute to the export of the unique research and innovation generated in New Zealand,” says…

Bloomberg View columnist Terry Cowen writes What would you think of a Western democratic leader who was populist, obsessed with the balance of trade, especially effective on television, feisty and combative with the press, and able to take over his country’s right-wing party and swing it in a more interventionist direction? Meet Robert Muldoon, prime minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. For all the comparisons of President Donald Trump to Mussolini or various unsavory Latin American leaders, Muldoon is a clearer parallel case. Some of the similarities are striking. Muldoon often made rude or unusually frank comments about…