Now that the police have been equipped to nobble drug importers, let’s equip them to nobble the ram raiders
Our buzz from the Beehive today alerted us to the buzz some Kiwis might have got from the contents of maple syrup jars.
A shipment of maple syrup from Canada – the police said – was found to be concealing 713kg of methamphetamine, which they estimated had a street value of $250 million and would produce around 35 million doses.
This quickly became the stuff of Beehive bragging from Police Minister Ginny Andersen, who said this was the largest ever meth bust at the border and would have a significant impact on the methamphetamine trade that causes huge harm.
Andersen said:
“This bust shows that by giving Police the resources they need we can stop organised criminals in their tracks.”
This raises several questions, among them: what resources are being given to the Government to stop other criminals in their tracks, such as ram-raiders?
Andersen’s statement was one of a hefty batch to flow from the Beehive in the past 24 hours or so –
Andersen said:
“This bust shows that by giving Police the resources they need we can stop organised criminals in their tracks.”
This raises several questions, among them: what resources are being given to the Government to stop other criminals in their tracks, such as ram-raiders?
Andersen’s statement was one of a hefty batch to flow from the Beehive in the past 24 hours or so –
Latest from the Beehive
The Government’s $6.1m investment in a new centre manufacturing prosthetics and orthotics will support over 600 amputees and nearly 3,000 people with disabilities.
The feasibility of producing sustainable aviation fuel locally will be tested in two studies that could speed up Aotearoa New Zealand’s energy transition, Tourism Minister Peeni Henare announced today
Tourism has an essential role to play in reversing the decline of Aotearoa New Zealand’s unique biodiversity and protecting the environment, Tourism Minister Peeni Henare says.
The Prime Minister has released the Cabinet Secretary’s report into Stuart Nash’s ministerial communications with donors.
The Minister of Police says an operation to shatter a multi-million dollar international drug ring will have a significant impact on the methamphetamine trade that causes huge harm
A new tourism attraction being opened today in Rotorua is expected to bring thousands more tourists to the region, Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan announced today.
The Government and game development sector are gearing up to roll out the support announced in Budget 2023.
Fifth-generation farmer and former Nuffield scholar Hamish Marr has been appointed New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy.
The economy is showing its resilience in the face of the second largest natural disaster to hit New Zealand, with GDP falling a fraction (0.1%) during the first three months of the year.
These statements address a raft of questions, such as:
- How are they spending (or mis-spending) our taxes?
1. On finding if we can make our own aviation fuel
The Government is co-funding two studies with Air New Zealand to test the feasibility of establishing and operating a sustainable aviation fuel production facility in New Zealand.
It is investing $765,000.
Decarbonisation of tourism journeys is a major focus of the draft Tourism Environment Action Plan, which has just been launched for public feedback. Aviation contributes up to 60 per cent of tourism’s total emissions.
It is investing $765,000.
Decarbonisation of tourism journeys is a major focus of the draft Tourism Environment Action Plan, which has just been launched for public feedback. Aviation contributes up to 60 per cent of tourism’s total emissions.
2. On attracting more tourists to Rotorua
Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan said the new Wai-Ariki Hot Springs and Spa’s in Rotorua is expected to bring thousands more tourists to the region. (Many of these no doubt will fly in – or come by other oil-fuelled means of travel – thereby contributing to tourism’s greenhouse gas emissions).
The formal opening follows a five-year development with a $52.21 million investment from the Government.
That’s a significant injection of corporate welfare, eh?
Tourism Minister Peeni Henare said tourism data released this week shows an estimated 220,000 international visitors will come to the region this year, and
“Wellness tourism is a high-value visitor category, with total visitor spend on health and wellbeing over $1.7 m just this past April. ‘Relaxation and wellbeing’ is on the top three reasons Kiwis travel to destinations outside of where they live.
“The mineral waters of our geothermally rich regions have long been a feature of New Zealand that our visitors love,” Henare said.
Oh – and he noted that this is New Zealand’s only spa owned by mana whenua. It offers services that incorporate “the long-standing and unique Ngāti Whakaue practices and culture” into their environment and services.
“A facility like this, combined with the manaakitanga provided by Ngāti Whakaue and the team onsite providing the services, is a tourism offering of significant potential value for the region,” Peeni Henare said.
3. On helping the people who provide us with playthings
Ginny Andersen, as Minister for the Digital Economy & Communications, said the Government and game development sector are gearing up to roll out support announced in Budget 2023.
The Budget included a “funding boost” of $40 million a year to give “certainty for the growing and important game development sector”, Andersen said.
“And the focus has quickly shifted to delivering the scheme.
“We’ve already consulted on the scheme’s framework and principles and today discussions move to the most effective way to deliver it.
“It’s an ambitious sector with big plans to build on the $400 million it brought in last year.”
An industry earning $400 million needs government help?
Andersen obviously thinks so, saying the Government has swung in behind with a 20 per cent rebate that is designed to help grow and retain gaming studios in New Zealand.
Individual studios that meet the minimum $250,000 expenditure threshold a year will be able to receive up to $3 million a year in rebate funding, backdated to 1 April 2023.
Feedback on the scheme opens today and will be considered from 6 July, with the scheme’s outline expected to be announced by October. Pending the consultation, registration for the scheme will start later that month, with successful applicants starting to receive funding from mid-2024.
NZ On Air will administer the scheme.
More information on the consultation for the rebate scheme can be found here.
4. Help for amputees and the disabled
The Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, said $6.1m had been invested in the new Peke Waihanga – Artificial Limb Service Centre just opened in Christchurch.
The centre will manufacture prosthetics and orthotics, supporting over 600 amputees and nearly 3,000 people with disabilities.
Around one in 1000 Kiwis have lost a limb and need both physical and emotional support, the Minister said.
“So well as providing technological advances, Peke Waihanga will support amputees and those at risk of amputation in a world leading peer support evidence-based program.”
Medical students in their final year at Otago University are able to co-locate at the centre.
What new legislation should make us apprehensive?
The answer to this one is the the latest bill that promises to deliver “affordable water”
Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty said the final piece of legislation for the Government’s revamped affordable water reforms has been introduced to the House.
The Water Services Amendment Bill changes the Water Services Entities Act 2022 to replace four water services entities with 10, “allowing for greater community ownership of water entities”.
Having 10 entities rather than four means every council – and therefore every community – is represented on the entities’ regional groups, McAnulty said.
The cost of fixing broken water infrastructure is estimated at $185 billion over the next 30 years, he said.
“Without these changes, New Zealanders would see unaffordable increases to their rates to fund the investment needed.
“Moving from 67 different water services providers to just 10 means the new entities will have the increased size necessary to improve access to funding and management of water services to secure the benefits of reform for New Zealanders including affordability.”
Other important changes in the Bill are a staggered and flexible approach to when the new entities go live, community priority statements to give a voice to local people with an interest in water bodies within the entity area and a process to enable voluntary mergers of the entities.
McAnulty did not mention co-governance provisions. That does not mean they are not there.
- What did the inquiry find?
The Cabinet Secretary’s report into Nash’s ministerial communications with donors does not identify any instances – other than those that led to his dismissal – in which Nash shared information with declared donors in a manner inconsistent with the Cabinet Manual.
It identifies one instance in which he identified a conflict of interest and took substantive steps in relation to an appointment of a close associate and donor. The report concludes further steps were required to fully manage the conflict, but that it is at the lower level in terms of inconsistency with the Cabinet Manual.
The Cabinet Secretary is also releasing relevant communications with Nash’s donors.
The link to the release is here.
- What accomplishments are they chuffed about?
Police Minister Ginny Andersen released a press statement (without mentioning the maple syrup shipment) after Police announced the largest ever seizure of methamphetamine at the border.
She enthused:
“Three quarters of a tonne of methamphetamine will never make it onto our streets or into our communities as a result of this great work. I want to congratulate Police, Customs, and international partners for helping to make our communities safer,” Ginny Andersen said.
Six men have been arrested in Auckland and are due to appear in Court.
Andersen reminded us the government has invested significantly in Police – “they’ll soon have an additional 700 staff working on disrupting organised crime”.
The Government has also given Police new powers to seize criminal assets, with new laws last year to strip gang members of the benefits of their criminal activity.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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