......while two colleagues bring Aussies into the assault against climate warming
A press statement from Finance Minister Grant Robertson (headed NZ well placed as economy affects Govt books) has not been posted on the government’s official website, but it says “the Government books are reflecting a further moderation in economic activity…”
A speech from the Foreign Affairs Minister has been posted, but it does not tell us to whom she was speaking.
A press statement from Robertson and our Climate Change Minister does not tell us what was agreed when they met their Australian counterparts. But it does include a link to a joint statement from which we learn that the two governments will co-ordinate efforts to stimulate production and supply of electric and zero emission vehicles into the Australasian market.
This includes accelerating the uptake of zero emissions vehicles in government fleets, and exploring the potential for collaboration on vehicle manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.
While nothing in the headline or her speech notes reveals the nature of Nanaia Mahuta’s audience, the headline spells out the topic – Aotearoa New Zealand’s Place in a Troubled World: Partnership and Partnering to deliver international solutions. And the text gives us a good idea of the role the Treaty of Waitangi is playing in the shaping of New Zealand’s foreign policy.
Māori values are being incorporated in policy, too:
Alongside a well-established western viewpoint of foreign policy, we are also drawing on Māori perspectives to enable a richer understanding of the shifting environment in our region. This approach aligns us closely with interests in our Pacific region, fostering a stronger resonance with our Pacific neighbours.
Shared values across the Pacific such as whanaungatanga (connection), kotahitanga (common purpose), Kaitiakitanga (stewardship), and manaakitanga (reciprocity) exemplify partnerships that are substantive, reciprocal, enduring – where respect for mana is paramount – as is sovereignty. They can apply equally to relationships between individuals and peoples, as much as between countries and governments, large and small. Implicitly these values reinforce the core features of the diplomatic toolkit: relationships, equality and a notion that ‘power’ emanates from mutual responsibility and reciprocity – a very different way of thinking and acting.
The speech is among the latest ministerial statements and announcements posted on the government’s official website.
These answer some pertinent questions about ministerial activities:
One statement answers two questions:
This includes accelerating the uptake of zero emissions vehicles in government fleets, and exploring the potential for collaboration on vehicle manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.
While nothing in the headline or her speech notes reveals the nature of Nanaia Mahuta’s audience, the headline spells out the topic – Aotearoa New Zealand’s Place in a Troubled World: Partnership and Partnering to deliver international solutions. And the text gives us a good idea of the role the Treaty of Waitangi is playing in the shaping of New Zealand’s foreign policy.
Māori values are being incorporated in policy, too:
Alongside a well-established western viewpoint of foreign policy, we are also drawing on Māori perspectives to enable a richer understanding of the shifting environment in our region. This approach aligns us closely with interests in our Pacific region, fostering a stronger resonance with our Pacific neighbours.
Shared values across the Pacific such as whanaungatanga (connection), kotahitanga (common purpose), Kaitiakitanga (stewardship), and manaakitanga (reciprocity) exemplify partnerships that are substantive, reciprocal, enduring – where respect for mana is paramount – as is sovereignty. They can apply equally to relationships between individuals and peoples, as much as between countries and governments, large and small. Implicitly these values reinforce the core features of the diplomatic toolkit: relationships, equality and a notion that ‘power’ emanates from mutual responsibility and reciprocity – a very different way of thinking and acting.
The speech is among the latest ministerial statements and announcements posted on the government’s official website.
These answer some pertinent questions about ministerial activities:
One statement answers two questions:
- How are they spending (or mis-spending) our taxes:
- What new ways of regulating us have they decided:
Cabinet has confirmed the freshwater farm plan regulations, which are part of the Government’s Essential Freshwater package, to improve freshwater health and management.
Freshwater farm plans will be phased in region by region over the coming years to ensure they are practical, starting in parts of the Waikato and Southland on 1 August.
Over time, farmers and growers will need a freshwater farm plan if they have 20 hectares or more in arable or pastoral use, five hectares or more in horticultural use, or 20 hectares or more in combined use.
Legislation enabling freshwater farm plans was passed in 2020 as an amendment to the Resource Management Act.
You can check out your obligations in Resource Management (Freshwater Farm Plans) Regulations 2023 (SL 2023/113) – New Zealand Legislation
- Who have been rewarded with government appointments:
The Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, has announced the reappointment of George Reedy as chair of Peke Waihanga which – did you know? – is the Artificial Limb Service.
- Which ministers say they want to hear from us:
Options to get a more efficient building consent system, minimising unnecessary delays in the building process, have been developed. Better delivery of building consent services and removing barriers to alternative products are among the proposals.
The public consultation will be open from 8 June for eight weeks. Submissions close at 5pm on 3 August 2023.
- With whom have our ministers been hob-nobbing:
The brief press statement tells us:
Ministers discussed areas of enhanced cooperation, supporting accelerated climate action and once-in-a-generation economic opportunities that the clean energy transformation offers both countries.
Ministers agreed to a joint statement, as attached, outlining an ambitious forward work programme reflecting bilateral cooperation on climate change between Australia and New Zealand..
The stuff that matters can be found in a related document posted with the press statement: 2+2 Joint Statement.pdf
Latest from the Beehive
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, has announced the reappointment of George Reedy as chair of Peke Waihanga – Artificial Limb Service.
Tania June Warburton, Tania Margaret Sharkey and Ali’imuamua Sandra Alofivae have been appointed as District Court Judges, Attorney-General David Parker said today.
The appointees will take up their roles in July, August and September respectively, replacing judges who are about to retire
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Dr Duncan Webb has today announced the appointment of Anne Callinan as the new Deputy Chair at the Commerce Commission.
Today, I want to highlight the significance of fostering partnerships in our foreign policy and collaborating to devise solutions – at home, in the Pacific, our wider region and across the globe.
The next step in improvements to the building consent system gets underway with the sector and public encouraged to have their say on how it could be improved.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Climate Minister James Shaw have met in Wellington with their Australian counterparts, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, for the inaugural Australia–New Zealand Climate and Finance Ministers’ meeting.
Freshwater farm plans to help farmers improve local waterways will be progressively phased in across the country, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Environment Minister David Parker said.
The statement from Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Climate Minister James Shaw on their meeting with Australia’s Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen for the inaugural Australia–New Zealand Climate and Finance Ministers’ meeting steers the public to an interesting agreement.
The ministers agreed to:
- Hold the Australia-New Zealand 2+2 Climate and Finance Dialogue annually and establish a joint working group to support policy implementation.
- Establish a Net Zero Government Working Group to support decarbonising public services, climate-related disclosures, and sustainable procurement.
- Co-ordinate efforts to stimulate production and supply of electric and zero emission vehicles into the Australasian market, including accelerating the uptake of zero emissions vehicles in government fleets, and explore the potential for collaboration on vehicle manufacturing and improving charging infrastructure.
- Work to align sustainable finance frameworks and tools across the Tasman to enhance interoperability and support businesses operating across the economic region.
- Work together to develop adaptation indicators and monitoring frameworks.
- Support the development of internationally aligned Guarantee of Origin Schemes, including dedicated conversations to explore the adoption of Australia’s GO Scheme in New Zealand.
The Ministers noted Australia’s investment of $2 billion to help Australia scale up the development of its domestic renewable hydrogen industry, and an additional $38 million for the creation of a Guarantee of Origin scheme to certify renewable energy and track and verify emissions from clean energy products.
The statement also says Ministers welcomed New Zealand’s commitment of $6 billion for the National Resilience Plan.
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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