Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 30/10/24

Podiatrists to get a firmer toehold on healing patients while builders will check the quality of their own handiwork

The Government’s deregulatory impulse is evident in the latest posts on the government’s official website.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 9/10/24

Bishop moves on from nobbling a hospital to hobbling transgender athletes who have an advantage when competing against women

Fresh from slowing down spending on a new hospital for Dunedin while speeding up a raft of projects in the name of economic growth, Chris Bishop today indicated he has been paying attention to female pleadings for a fair shake against transgender competitors.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 4/10/24

Casey Costello (at long last) shows the information which she regarded as superior to the advice which Treasury gave her

Point of Order waited patiently for it to be posted on the Beehive website.

But no. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has released her “independent advice” on heated tobacco products, but – at time of writing – she has not yet posted it on the official government website.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 25/3/24

How school lunches provide enough leftovers for food bank clients, caravan park residents – and feral pigs

Just before Christmas, Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered something that was pitched as a mini-budget and brayed about the decisive action being taken to repair the Government books and support income tax relief in Budget 2024.

In a statement headed Fiscal repair job underway. she introduced us to her “ongoing Fiscal Sustainability Programme”, intended to embed “a culture of responsible spending across Government”.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 12/12/23

Ministers set about easing up on labour laws and speed limits – but suppliers of building goods must watch what they tell consumers

Don’t get the idea the new government has declared war against all compliance costs.

Some compliance costs, no doubt, will be headed for the dustbin when ACT’s David Seymour gets down to work as Minister of Regulation.

Brian Gaynor: Building, the industry that got left behind

The poor productivity and performance of the construction and building sector is a major global issue because construction-related spending is approximately US$10 trillion ($13.9t) per annum, equivalent to 13 per cent of world GDP.

These inefficiencies have been highlighted in New Zealand by the disappointing performance of our building-related companies, particularly Fletcher Building.