Climate change minister froze out farm leaders – but (is he a closet greenie?) warmed to Greenpeace and WWF lobbyists
Your monitors of the Beehive website can tell you what ministers are up to so long as they post a press statement. They can’t tell you what ministers have been doing which they shouldn’t have been doing, if they keep quiet about it. And they can’t tell you what minister haven’t been doing that they should have been doing.
No matter. There are plenty of other monitors to keep an eye on the rat holes around Wellington which we can’t cover.
Today – for example – we can pass on news from the Taxpayers’ Union about Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being curiously discriminatory while he was concocting the Government’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement.
New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035.
Watts warbled:
“Our climate strategy focuses on strengthening New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme, supporting innovative technologies to reduce agricultural emissions, and accelerating the transition to a cleaner, electrified economy – ensuring we meet our climate targets while driving economic growth.
“This will mean greater innovation originating here in New Zealand to advance low-emission technologies that grow our economy. It will also mean industries are powered by abundant and affordable clean energy, attracting investment and boosting productivity across the country.”
The Paris Agreement is the global climate treaty which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Under the Agreement, each country sets targets for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions.
Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams later said the target was not feasible and will cause extensive planting of carbon-absorbing pine trees.
Renewed afforestation to meet the new emissions reduction target could turn New Zealand into the pine plantation of the South Pacific, he warned.
Did Williams get the chance to explain this to Watts before the announcement?
Maybe not. Watts seemed to prefer meeting greenies.
A Taxpayers Union press statement today is headed
The National Party was once seen as the party for farmers, but it seems that’s no longer the case. The Taxpayers’ Union can confirm that Climate Change Minister Simon Watts refused requests by New Zealand’s largest farming group to meet ahead of his decision to ramp up the country’s already $24 billion Paris Agreement contributions.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross, said
“What is Simon Watts’ job? Because if it’s taking a balanced approach to stakeholders, he’s not doing it.
“Publicly disclosed Ministerial diaries show Minister Watts is happy to get cosy with anti-agriculture activist groups like Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Aotearoa Circle, but his staff wouldn’t even reply to emails from Federated Farmers. Nor did Watts meet with Beef + Lamb, or even a Chamber of Commerce in formulating his Paris target.
“Agriculture accounts for half our emissions. Forget just bad policy, not meeting with the major stakeholders in the industry the Minister has announced he plans to decimate is either extreme arrogance or severe incompetence.
“National MPs were more than happy to join protest marches against James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern’s climate policy. It’s one thing to get into government and adopt the same policies, it’s quite another to ghost the stakeholders who got you there.”
Watts said more than 9,000 New Zealanders have emailed the Prime Minister, and leaders of ACT and NZ First using the Taxpayers’ Union’s email tool asking them to overrule Watts’ extreme and costly 2035 target.
He commented:
“When are we getting a Minister who takes climate change – and the bill for tens of thousands every Kiwi household is getting stuck with – seriously? This isn’t a game, Minister.”
That exposes a case of ministerial negligence.
Now let’s turn to the Beehive website to learn what ministers have been doing.
Making nonsense of Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi’s “racism” diatribes, for example.
Remember what Waititi said during a general debate in Parliament on July 31 last year?
We are punch drunk from the racist agenda this anti-Māori Government lead and have been led by the “dark triad”. The dark triad are leading an anti-Māori agenda in this House. We are punch drunk. You have been punching Māori since you took office.
And:
They’ve been punching Māori since you took office. The attack on Māori wards—punch. Demolishing of the Māori Health Authority—punch. Removing section 7AA—punch. Rushing through the Fast-track Approvals Bill—punch. Cutting Matariki funding—punch. Erasing te reo Māori from public service—punch. Cutting supply and capability of Māori housing—punch. The establishment of youth bootcamps—punch. Gang legislation that will disproportionately target Māori—punch. Ignoring tribunal and High Court rulings—punch. And, yet to come, the Treaty Principles Bill—punch.
What sort of punch has been delivered by Education Minister Erica Stanford?
Today she announced the Government is driving better outcomes for Māori students by providing kura and schools high-quality structured literacy and numeracy resources in te reo Māori.
Conservation Minister Paul Goldsmith and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Tama Potaka announced the Crown has shown its commitment to settling with Ngāpuhi by initialling the proposed transfer of Kororipo Pā to Ngāti Rēhia.
Wow. Did that hit Waititi in the midriff?
Other ministers have been …
Today – for example – we can pass on news from the Taxpayers’ Union about Climate Change Minister Simon Watts being curiously discriminatory while he was concocting the Government’s second international climate target under the Paris Agreement.
New Zealand will reduce emissions by 51 to 55 per cent compared to 2005 levels, by 2035.
Watts warbled:
“Our climate strategy focuses on strengthening New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme, supporting innovative technologies to reduce agricultural emissions, and accelerating the transition to a cleaner, electrified economy – ensuring we meet our climate targets while driving economic growth.
“This will mean greater innovation originating here in New Zealand to advance low-emission technologies that grow our economy. It will also mean industries are powered by abundant and affordable clean energy, attracting investment and boosting productivity across the country.”
The Paris Agreement is the global climate treaty which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Under the Agreement, each country sets targets for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions.
Federated Farmers meat and wool chair Toby Williams later said the target was not feasible and will cause extensive planting of carbon-absorbing pine trees.
Renewed afforestation to meet the new emissions reduction target could turn New Zealand into the pine plantation of the South Pacific, he warned.
Did Williams get the chance to explain this to Watts before the announcement?
Maybe not. Watts seemed to prefer meeting greenies.
A Taxpayers Union press statement today is headed
Watts his job again? Climate Change Minister can’t be bothered meeting farmers
The National Party was once seen as the party for farmers, but it seems that’s no longer the case. The Taxpayers’ Union can confirm that Climate Change Minister Simon Watts refused requests by New Zealand’s largest farming group to meet ahead of his decision to ramp up the country’s already $24 billion Paris Agreement contributions.
Taxpayers’ Union Spokesman James Ross, said
“What is Simon Watts’ job? Because if it’s taking a balanced approach to stakeholders, he’s not doing it.
“Publicly disclosed Ministerial diaries show Minister Watts is happy to get cosy with anti-agriculture activist groups like Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Aotearoa Circle, but his staff wouldn’t even reply to emails from Federated Farmers. Nor did Watts meet with Beef + Lamb, or even a Chamber of Commerce in formulating his Paris target.
“Agriculture accounts for half our emissions. Forget just bad policy, not meeting with the major stakeholders in the industry the Minister has announced he plans to decimate is either extreme arrogance or severe incompetence.
“National MPs were more than happy to join protest marches against James Shaw and Jacinda Ardern’s climate policy. It’s one thing to get into government and adopt the same policies, it’s quite another to ghost the stakeholders who got you there.”
Watts said more than 9,000 New Zealanders have emailed the Prime Minister, and leaders of ACT and NZ First using the Taxpayers’ Union’s email tool asking them to overrule Watts’ extreme and costly 2035 target.
He commented:
“When are we getting a Minister who takes climate change – and the bill for tens of thousands every Kiwi household is getting stuck with – seriously? This isn’t a game, Minister.”
That exposes a case of ministerial negligence.
Now let’s turn to the Beehive website to learn what ministers have been doing.
Making nonsense of Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi’s “racism” diatribes, for example.
Remember what Waititi said during a general debate in Parliament on July 31 last year?
We are punch drunk from the racist agenda this anti-Māori Government lead and have been led by the “dark triad”. The dark triad are leading an anti-Māori agenda in this House. We are punch drunk. You have been punching Māori since you took office.
And:
They’ve been punching Māori since you took office. The attack on Māori wards—punch. Demolishing of the Māori Health Authority—punch. Removing section 7AA—punch. Rushing through the Fast-track Approvals Bill—punch. Cutting Matariki funding—punch. Erasing te reo Māori from public service—punch. Cutting supply and capability of Māori housing—punch. The establishment of youth bootcamps—punch. Gang legislation that will disproportionately target Māori—punch. Ignoring tribunal and High Court rulings—punch. And, yet to come, the Treaty Principles Bill—punch.
What sort of punch has been delivered by Education Minister Erica Stanford?
Today she announced the Government is driving better outcomes for Māori students by providing kura and schools high-quality structured literacy and numeracy resources in te reo Māori.
Conservation Minister Paul Goldsmith and Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Tama Potaka announced the Crown has shown its commitment to settling with Ngāpuhi by initialling the proposed transfer of Kororipo Pā to Ngāti Rēhia.
Wow. Did that hit Waititi in the midriff?
Other ministers have been …
- Shopping for ships
- Reminding us what day it is
- Scrapping Labour’s ram raid bill
Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced two more non-financial benefit sanctions will be added to MSD’s Traffic Light System “to drive economic growth” (what else?) by incentivising more job seekers to enter the workforce.
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The Government has agreed to discharge Labour’s redundant ram raid bill and instead focus on a more targeted response, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Minister for Children Karen Chhour say.
The Government is driving better outcomes for Māori students by providing kura and schools high-quality structured literacy and numeracy resources in te reo Māori.
Rail Minister Winston Peters says the Government has started the world-wide market engagement to buy two new medium-sized ferries to replace the Interislander fleet.
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The Crown has today shown its commitment to settling with Ngāpuhi by initialling the proposed transfer of Kororipo Pā to Ngāti Rēhia.
Land Information Minister and Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk will travel to Antarctica this week to see New Zealand’s scientific and international cooperation efforts on the ice.
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Minister of Forestry Todd McClay has welcomed a decision by forestry sector representatives to drop Judicial Review proceedings related to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) fees.
Two more non-financial benefit sanctions will be added to MSD’s Traffic Light System to drive economic growth by incentivising more job seekers to enter the workforce, Social Development and Employment Minister
Associate Minister of Education, David Seymour, says that today is a great day for educational achievement in New Zealand. From today the first charter schools will begin teaching.
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Kahurangi Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi was close to many people and her passing will be felt across the motu, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says.
The completion of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail electrification project will provide commuters with more reliable and efficient journeys and help reduce congestion on our roads.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
"Climate change minister froze out farm leaders".
“The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t. You have no choice! You have OWNERS! They OWN YOU. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, the governments, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls.” – George Carlin 2008
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