Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
Ξ Anzac Day
Yesterday, the CTU publicly called for a return to centralised wage bargaining. Max Whitehead, CEO of Small Business Voice, says they have made their motivation for pushing for pay equity clear: The CTU thinks one shoe fits all employees.
“The unions are out of date and no longer relevant, despite having infiltrated Parliament and introduced a myriad of overzealous employment laws,” says Mr. Whitehead.
Mr. Whitehead says the unions’ overzealous laws are so difficult to handle that employers have spent the last ten years removing employees and replacing them with self-employed contractors. Consequently, New Zealand has become a nation of contractors and small employers. In fact, today, less than 4% of NZ enterprises employ more than 20 employees.
“Unions are now barely relevant because they focus on big employers. “Richard Wagstaff, who replaced Helen Kelly, is desperately trying to turn things around, but unfortunately, it is too late.”
Mr. Whitehead acknowledges that unions have at times played a positive role in the workplace. However, he says their lust for power has cost them.
“If Unions had have adopted a more moderate approach, they may have remained relevant.”
Mr. Whitehead says that today's jobs are more diverse and very different from in the past, so trying to impose one wage on them all is verging on ridiculous.
“Centuries ago, Prince Charming proved that one shoe does not fit all, so why do the unions think otherwise."
| A Small Business Voice release || April 24,2017 |||
Regulatory Reform Minister, Paul Goldsmith, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Regulatory Reform, David Seymour, say changes to Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) requirements will lead to better informed decision making by Parliament and the Government.
“Our laws and regulations have a profound effect on our economic performance, the operation of business, and the well-being of every New Zealander,” says Mr Seymour.
“High quality policy advice is the foundation of robust government decision-making. Poor quality regulation unnecessarily increases the costs of doing business and reduces New Zealanders’ freedom.
“Although the quality of RIA from government departments has improved over time, it is still highly variable.”
The changes to the RIA requirements are designed to:
Encourage earlier and broader engagement on proposals by agencies
“These improvements are in line with the findings of a newly released report by Castalia that was commissioned by the Treasury and will help ensure the government regulates in the right way, at the right time and only when necessary,” says Mr Seymour.
“The changes also reflect feedback from the business community suggesting costs of regulation are insufficiently considered.”
The changes to RIA requirements are a key part of the Government’s new Regulatory Management Strategy, also announced today.
“At the core of the regulatory management strategy is the government agencies’ role as regulatory stewards, and the expectation that they will actively monitor and maintain regulation to ensure it delivers the intended benefits,” says Mr Goldsmith.
“Rapid societal, market and technological changes are increasing the demand for more sophisticated and nimble regulatory solutions, strategies and regulators.
“While we have a well-established reputation for our fiscal management and reporting disciplines, the challenge is to build that same level of discipline around government regulation.
“Good regulation is an important driver of national competitiveness, productivity and living standards, which all contribute to the Government’s clear economic plan for building a faster-growing economy with more jobs and rising incomes to support New Zealanders and their families.”
The Castalia report that informed the RIA changes can be found HERE.
The Regulatory Management Strategy can be found HERE.
| A beehive release | April 21, 2017 |||
A rare opportuntiy to purchase a business that offers services now required by law and even more so allows common sense to play a real role. 
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 Scott Simpson, the chairman of the local government and environment select committee have been appointed ministers outside cabinet.
“This is a Government that is focused on the future. Our careful stewardship of the Government’s books over the past eight years has given us a rare opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and we are going to take it.
“These changes illustrate the depth of talent within National’s parliamentary ranks,” Mr English says.
“As education minister, Ms Parata has changed the conversation in our schools and driven sharp rises in achievement for all our students, particularly Māori and Pasifika.
“As foreign affairs minister, Mr McCully has improved existing relationships and developed new ones, all the while running a truly independent foreign policy for New Zealand.
“Neither will be easily replaced but in Nikki Kaye and Gerry Brownlee we have two very well qualified successors.
“The same holds true for the Ministers who are picking up the roles relinquished by Mr Brownlee to take up the demanding foreign affairs position.
Mr English said he particularly wanted to pay tribute to Mr Brownlee for his untiring efforts to put Christchurch back on its feet after the 2011 earthquakes.
“Having worked alongside him as associate minister for several years his successor, Ms Wagner, is ideally placed to replace him.”
The Prime Minister also announced some changes to the housing portfolios.
Social Housing Minister Amy Adams will remain responsible for Housing New Zealand and all aspects of the Government’s supply of social and emergency housing. She will also take responsibility for the Crown land programme and have a closer involvement in the Government’s overall house building programme.
Building and Construction Minister Nick Smith will continue to oversee the various aspects of building regulation, including planning, minimum codes and building sector productivity issues.
The new ministers will be sworn in next Tuesday and the new Cabinet will hold its first meeting on May 8.
| A beehive release || April 24, 2017 |||
Elaflex HIBY Tanktechnik, a specialist company in safe connections for the transfer of dangerous goods and sensitive fluids, have acquired a major stake in Oasis Engineering Ltd of Tauranga (New Zealand). Oasis, a member of NGV Global, is an internationally operating specialist for valves and couplings used in the compressed natural gas (CNG) industry.
The company established a strong reputation as supplier of CNG components and systems for filling stations and gas delivery networks. An example: Worldwide CNG trailer companies are rapidly adopting the new Oasis high flow breakaway and coupling systems that have positively changed the whole economics of road transport for gas.
“This exciting partnership brings together two highly innovative companies both well respected in the fuel handling world,” says Andy Cameron, Managing Director of Oasis Engineering.
Stefan Kunter, Managing Director of Elaflex: ”The complementary product ranges mutually allow us to further expand our expertise with fluid energy transfer.”
Existing distribution structures will remain untouched. Oasis will continue to independently operate, with unchanged staff and with Andy Cameron, as Oasis’s managing director.
| An Elaflex release || April 23, 2017 |||
Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges and Trade Minister Todd McClay have announced that New Zealand will participate in World Expo 2020, to be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The announcement was made during Mr Bridges’ visit to Dubai.
“Through Budget 2017, the Government is committing $53.3 million to construct a New Zealand Pavilion that will allow Kiwi businesses to highlight their innovative products and services and open doors to new export markets,” says Mr Bridges.
“Showcasing New Zealand to the world is a crucial part of boosting economic growth. Expo 2020 will provide a springboard to promote us as an innovative, solution-focused economy to the 25 million visitors expected to attend from across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.
“It will also allow us to build on our strong economic and transport links to the UAE which acts as a global air and sea logistics hub, providing access for New Zealand exporters to a much wider region. We’re already well connected with five direct daily Emirates flights, contributing $700 million to the economy,” says Mr Bridges.
“It makes clear economic sense for New Zealand to participate in this global event,” says Mr Bridges.
The Expo will take place from October 2020 to April 2021 with Mr McClay saying it will attract high-value visitors from all corners of the world.
“Expo 2020 is a vital opportunity to increase New Zealand’s profile amongst new trading partners as well as grow our trade with existing partners,” says Mr McClay.
We have a strong trade and economic relationship with the UAE and $3.8 billion of two-way trade with the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC),” says Mr McClay.
“The Gulf States also importantly provide an entry point into the wider region for many New Zealand companies and a base from which to better access the wider Middle East and beyond,” says Mr McClay.
New Zealand is close to completing a free trade agreement with the GCC, which comprises of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The UAE alone is New Zealand’s twelfth largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade exceeding $1.9 billion in 2016.
About Expo 2020
Expo 2020 has the theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. The Expo site will be around 2sq/km in size and will contain three thematic areas: opportunity, sustainability and mobility.
These three pavilions will showcase ideas and innovations, and countries that attend will have their specific pavilions spread around the thematic areas. New Zealand has been invited to participate in the sustainability precinct.
The organisers expect around 180 nations to participate. New Zealand is among the first 20 to formally confirm attendance.
More information on the Expo see http://expo2020dubai.ae
New Zealand Pavilion
The Government is about to launch an RFP process within the creative sector of New Zealand to select the best team and ideas for the design and content.
| The Beehive || April 23, 2017 |||
Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges will travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tomorrow for meetings with Ministerial counterparts in Dubai.
“New Zealand’s relationship with the UAE continues to go from strength to strength. This visit will be an opportunity to progress discussions across a range of areas, including economic opportunities and collaboration in areas such as renewable energy and the New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement,” Mr Bridges says.
The UAE is now New Zealand’s largest export market in the Middle East, and our 12th largest trading partner.
Alongside meetings with counterparts, the Minister will also meet with Dubai-based New Zealand manufacturing firms and Kiwi business representatives as well as the CEO of Emirates Airlines, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum.
“The UAE is often seen as the gateway to the wider Middle East and North Africa region and a number of New Zealand firms have a presence in market. It is also an increasingly important hub for tourists travelling to New Zealand. The five daily Emirates Airlines flights alone are estimated to be worth $700 million to the New Zealand economy,” Mr Bridges says.
“Like New Zealand, the UAE is investing significantly in innovation and given the complementarity of our respective markets, this presents real potential for greater cooperation. I look forward to discussing this opportunity on my visit.”
The Minister will also attend a Dawn Service to commemorate Anzac Day before returning to New Zealand.
| A Beehive release || April 21, 2017 |||
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Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
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