Good afternoon, My thanks to the Rotary Club of Auckland, and in particular President Andrew Aitken and the Rotary team for hosting this event. I also want to acknowledge Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett and Finance Minister Steven Joyce, who are here today. Both of them are doing great work on behalf of New Zealanders. Special guests, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for coming today. The start of the year is the time to stand back and look at how we’re doing as a country. New Zealand is a fantastic place to live, work and raise a family. We aren’t…

Prime Minister Bill English has announced this year’s General Election will be held on Saturday, 23 September. “As we have done in previous election years I am announcing the election date early as I believe it’s important to provide the country with some certainty and that it’s in everyone’s best interest to have plenty of notice.” National will be campaigning on its strong record in Government and will go into the election with a positive and ambitious programme that will back New Zealanders to succeed. “I am proud of what we are achieving for New Zealanders,” says Mr English. “Our…

Under fire for misguided hand-outs, government dithered instead of issuing instant public health warning When Muhammad Ali visited New Zealand even boxing aficionados failed to recognise his traveling companion Jimmy Ellis (pictured) the former champ. Ellis shrunken in size and bent over we know now was then in the grip of dementia pugilistica. Muhammad Ali was shortly afterward himself to start succumbing to the effects of his pugilistic career. The willingness at the end of last year for government cabinet members even to entertain the notion of public funds being devoted to a professional boxing spectacle in Auckland implicitly supported…

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse is pleased to announce the appointment of Jenni-Maree Trotman as a new Member of the Employment Relations Authority (the Authority). The Authority performs a very important role in New Zealand’s employment relations system, investigating and working to resolve employment relationship problems. “Ms Trotman is an experienced employment lawyer who will join the Auckland office for a term of three years,” says Mr Woodhouse. “The breadth of Ms Trotman’s work and particular strength in commercial law will be a real asset to the Authority. “I have no doubt that her skills will complement those…

A by-election to elect a new Member of Parliament for the general electorate of Mt Albert will be held in New Zealand on Saturday 25 February 2017. More information    

UAE, January 18, 2017 - H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy (MOE), affirmed that the economic relations between the UAE and New Zealand continue to grow and are expected to develop further as the two countries aspire to strengthen cooperation in a number of economic sectors of common interest and prioritized within their respective development plans. The announcement came during a meeting between the UAE Minister of Economy and H.E. Todd McClay, New Zealand Minister of Trade, and his accompanying delegation at the MOE’s Dubai headquarters. Both parties demonstrated the potentials of increasing trade and…

Prime Minister Bill English will travel to Brussels, London and Berlin next week to meet with leaders to discuss issues including trade and security. “This is an opportunity to exchange views on a range of issues facing Europe and the world, and to reaffirm that New Zealand remains a committed friend and partner,” Mr English says. “The focus of my trip will be to advance New Zealand business and trade opportunities in the region, including starting the negotiations on an FTA with the European Union this year.” In Brussels, Mr English will meet with the three Presidents of the EU…

Prime Minister Bill English has today announced his new Cabinet line-up which builds on the success of the last eight years and provides new ideas and energy heading into election year. “Over the last eight years National has provided a strong and stable Government which is delivering strong results for New Zealanders,” says Mr English. “This refreshed Ministerial team builds on that success and provides a mix of new people, alongside experienced Ministers either continuing their roles or taking up new challenges. “This new Ministry is focused on providing prosperity, opportunity and security for all Kiwis, including the most vulnerable…

Ethnic Communities Portfolio is Gesture to New Zealand First ties Judith Collins held the police portfolio before the reshuffle, along with Corrections, but she has lost them both and picked up Revenue, Energy and Resources, and Ethnic Communities. She has also been moved down two places on the Cabinet rankings, but new prime minister Bill English insisted she had not been demoted in the cabinet shuffle. We foresaw this tactical re-assignment.. Our report last Monday, a week ago...... Monday, 12 December 2016 07:54NZ National Government new Co-Leaders Curb Rebels Day one of the Dream Team means coping with problems before…

Day one of the Dream Team means coping with problems before they become bigger problems and in politics this means people which is what the word politics actually means. Top priority is hardly surprisingly Mrs Judith Collins MP, minister of police. The new team knows that Mrs Collins must be kept in the tent and also kept busy, very busy. Mrs Collins demonstrated her determination of purpose when she reached for the top job and did so without any support from the National government’s king-makers, people such as Murray McCully MP or of enforcers such as Steven Joyce MP, the…

Duo master every contingency. But honeymoon will be brief The pending official emergence of the new top two at the helm of New Zealand’s National government confirms the National Party’s routine boast that it represents the cross section of the nation’s electorate. The new top team of Bill English and Paula Bennett has been crafted by outgoing premier John Key with the active assent of his leading lieutenants, notably Murray McCully, the foreign minister – strategist. Paula Bennett who will emerge Monday at the National Party’s caucus-coronation personifies the National Party’s operational formula of being all things to all people.…