Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 28/1/25

Simeon Brown steps out as Minister of Health

Your PoO monitors of ministerial doings have noted that, since we last reported, Simeon Brown has stepped out to deliver his first media statement as Minister of Health.

The PM and his refreshed Cabinet team have been …

• Regurgitating the growth message…

The PM said in his State of the Nation speech the Government “as far as I’m concerned, going for growth is without a doubt priority number one” this year. He reiterated that message in his Statement to Parliament today, saying 2025 “will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity”.

A female triumvirate – Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford and Immigration Minister Louise Upston – beat the “going for growth” drum when they announced the Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand.

• Discouraging truancy

Associate Education Minister David Seymour sad the government’s attendance goal for 2025 is to raise each school Term’s attendance rates higher than the same periods in 2024. This progress is essential for reaching the Government’s target of 80 per cent of students more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030

He added a rallying message:

“The Government encourages all students to attend school every day because there is a clear connection between being present at school and setting yourself up for a bright future.”

• Keeping quiet about project costs

Health Minister Simeon Brown kicked off his career as Minister of Health – this was his first press statement in that portfolio – by telling us of the new podiatry clinic which has been launched in Wairoa. Health New Zealand has hired a podiatrist with a special interest in diabetes to travel to Wairoa with a nurse for monthly clinics. This six-month initiative will be reviewed in June. Further engagement with the community will continue throughout the year, including on the Wairoa Ageing Well Project.

Brown did not specify the cost but said the service is made possible by the Government’s record investment of $16.8 billion in health in Budget 2024.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop had something to bray about, too. He said the opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt would provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families.

The development will include 30 affordable homes in partnership with Hutt City Council’s housing agency Urban Plus, more than tripling the original number of homes on the site.

The formal opening of this social housing development was “another step forward as we work to end New Zealand’s housing crisis”, Bishop said, recalling that last week the Government announced it had achieved its target to reduce households in emergency housing motels by 75% five years early, and under this Government the social housing waitlist has reduced by about 4,000.

Bishop made no mention of what the Epuni development has cost the government.

• Crossing the Tasman

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay flew to Australia early this week for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF).

He said he would raise with Farrell the issue of Canada’s dairy policy “which harms international dairy trade.”

Australia is the current chair of New Zealand’s leading trade agreement – the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Latest from the Beehive

28 January 2025

PM emphasises importance of growth in 2025

For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity.

PM emphasises importance of growth in 2025

For the Government, 2025 will bring a relentless focus on unleashing the growth we need to lift incomes, strengthen local businesses and create opportunity.

27 January 2025

Students are back at school

Associate Education Minister David Seymour welcomes students back to school with a call to raise attendance from last year.

Going for Growth: New rules for visiting tourists

The Government is relaxing visitor visa requirements to allow tourists to work remotely while visiting New Zealand.

Housing Minister opens new Epuni development

The opening of Kāinga Ora’s development of 134 homes in Epuni, Lower Hutt will provide much-needed social housing for Hutt families, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.

26 January 2025

Trade and Investment Minister to hold trans-Tasman discussion

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay will travel to Australia today for meetings with Australian Trade Minister, Senator Don Farrell, and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF).

25 January 2025

New podiatry clinic brings much-needed service to Wairoa

A new monthly podiatry clinic has been launched today in Wairoa and will bring a much-needed service closer to home for the Wairoa community, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.

Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton