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Friday, November 8, 2024

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 8/11/24



Another Rogernomics era veteran lands a government job (this time to head the Social Investment Board)

Another veteran of the Rogernomics years has been given a job by the Luxon coalition government.

Former Labour government minister and ACT Party leader Richard Prebble was recently appointed to the Waitangi Tribunal. Today Graham Scott has been named head of the newly established Social Investment Board.

The board will advise on the implementation of the social investment approach across the public sector and the work of the Social Investment Agency.

The board appointments were announced by Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis, who noted that Scott’s experience included chairing the Central Regional Health Authority and the national Health Funding Authority.

He was Secretary to the Treasury when Roger Douglas was Minister of Finance in the Lange Government.

Willis also noted he was a commissioner on the New Zealand Productivity Commission, is a director of the Sapere Research Group, and was lead reviewer on performance reviews of various New Zealand Government agencies (including Statistics New Zealand, the Inland Revenue Department and the Ministry of Transport) for the State Services Commission.

He has provided economic advice globally and has published articles on social investment.

She didn’t mention Scott’s political inclinations: in the 2005 elections, he was ranked fifth place on ACT New Zealand’s party list, but the party did not gain enough votes for him to enter Parliament.

When Scott was appointed to the Productivity Commission in 2017, Politik editor Richard Harman wrote:

Both its chair, Murray Sherwin and a member, Graham Scott, are veterans of the Reserve Bank and Treasury during the Rogernomics’ years and are regarded by many on the left as high priests of neo-liberalism.

Fair to say, Willis has also appointed Social Investment Board members who are connected to the Maori Party (Te Ururoa Flavell) and Labour Party (Mike Williams).

In their cases she did disclose their political stripes:

Flavell was the Minister for Māori Development, Minister for Whānau Ora and the Associate Minister for Economic Development from 2014 to 2017. He was the Member of Parliament representing the Waiariki electorate from 2005 to 2017 and was the co-leader of the Māori Party (from 2013-2017).

Mike Williams was the President of the New Zealand Labour Party from 2000 to 2009.

The Social Investment Board appointments can be found on the government’s official website along with new that:
  • Internal Affairs Minister of Brooke van Velden has announced that Dr Daniel Tulloch has be appointed to Fire and Emergency New Zealand board. Tulloch is described on the Strata Energy Consulting website as
a thought-leader and published author in energy policy, market design, and climate change.

And:

His work incorporates Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Te Ao Māori and Māori-specific engagement including Tikanga Māori. He also has over 4 years of experience in market design for the Electricity Authority, leading one of the largest distribution sector reforms in New Zealand. He understands New Zealand government policies and processes and has experience leading organisational and legislative change.
  • Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has dipped into the Government coffers for the wherewithal “to deliver practical solutions that reduce emissions for New Zealand’s primary producers”. But he has camouflaged the Kiwi contribution, saying New Zealand and Ireland are investing $9.6 million in this work. Does that mean $4.8 million each?
Then we are reminded we have poured money into this previously.

Under this third funding round of the Ireland-New Zealand Pilot Joint Research Initiative, MPI and Ireland’s agriculture department are committing an additional $9.6 million, bringing the total investment in agricultural research to over $35 million.
  • Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Acting Auckland Mayor Desley Simpson confirmed a programme of upgrades to Auckland’s rail network that will complete the Rail Network Rebuild ahead of the City Rail Link (CRL) opening.

The Government is fully funding the more than $200m needed to complete the Rail Network Rebuild and ensure the benefits of CRL can be achieved on day one. This means further disruption for rail users in Auckland with a large programme of upgrades required over the coming year. 
  • Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit Chile, Mexico and Peru next week. He will have bilateral programmes in Santiago and Mexico City involving engagement with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister counterparts, Parliamentarians, and wider academia.
Peters then will attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting in Lima, Peru.

He leaves New Zealand on Sunday 10 November and returns on Saturday 16 November.
  • Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced the signing of 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and supply agreements between New Zealand and Chinese companies as part of the Trade Mission to the China International Import Expo.
“These new partnerships are set to generate $340 million in export revenue over the next 3 years,” Mr McClay says.
  • Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Maori Development Minister each paid tribute to Sir Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies KNZM, the last surviving member of the 28 (Māori) Battalion, who died yesterday.
Latest from the Beehive

8 November 2024


Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden has today announced that Dr Daniel Tulloch has be appointed to Fire and Emergency New Zealand board.


Former Treasury Secretary Dr Graham Scott has been appointed as chair of the newly established Social Investment Board, alongside a group of highly skilled individuals.


It is with deep sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Sir Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies KNZM, a revered figure in our nation’s history and the last surviving member of the 28 (Māori) Battalion.


New Zealand and Ireland are investing $9.6 million in targeted research to deliver practical solutions that reduce emissions for New Zealand’s primary producers, announced Agriculture Minister Todd McClay today.


The Government has confirmed a programme of upgrades to Auckland’s rail network that will complete the Rail Network Rebuild ahead of the City Rail Link (CRL) opening, Transport Minister Simeon Brown and Acting A


Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit Chile, Mexico and Peru next week.

7 November 2024


Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay, announced the signing of 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and supply agreements between New Zealand and Chinese companies as part of the Trade Mission to the China International Import Expo.


Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has paid tribute to Sir Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies KNZM, the last surviving member of the 28 (Māori) Battalion, who passed away today.

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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