Professor Mark John Costello: Marine protected areas safeguard more than ecology

Marine protected areas safeguard more than ecology – they bring economic benefits to fisheries and tourism

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been used as a conservation measure for decades, but critics continue to argue that evidence of their economic benefits is weak, particularly with regard to fisheries.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 16/8/23

Dairy prices have slumped and international student numbers are flagging – but Robertson rejoices in the pace of wage growth

While dairy farmers were lamenting the impact on prices of a flagging demand for dairy products in the critical China market, Education Minister Jan Tinetti was noting the importance of China in the international education business.

Almost 12,000 Chinese students were studying in New Zealand, she said when expressing her delight that China’s Minister of Education, Huai Jinpeng, is in Wellington and Christchurch this week.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 8/8/23

Govt’s partner for financing renewable energy projects is being investigated by US Senate committee for its China dealings

Hard on the heels of announcing plans to ease the way for more wind farms, our government announced plans for fast-tracking nine solar power projects and – in today’s news – the launch of a $2 billion fund aimed at making New Zealand one of the first countries in the world to reach 100% renewable electricity.

The fund is being established with the help of an American company, BlackRock, which the Beehive press statement describes as one of the world’s largest investors in climate infrastructure and clean technology.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 31/7/23

Robertson congratulates the Black Ferns, Mahuta will watch the Silver Ferns – but does govt support help a team’s chances?

How our money is being spent – and misspent – is among the burning questions which Point of Order strives to answer by monitoring the government’s official website.

Today we can record a few projects proudly announced by ministers – but we can’t always tell readers how much is being spent because the ministers haven’t bothered including that information in their press statements.

Another question we like to ask relates to the whereabouts of our busy ministers – and their sporting interests.

Point of Order: Code of conduct for school board members is announced.....

.....by a minister whose grasp of Parliament’s rules is in question

Education Minister Jan Tinetti brings news of a book of rules for school board members at the same time as her own grasp of Parliament’s rule book has been brought into question.

Tinetti has announced a compulsory code of conduct to “ensure school board members are crystal clear on their responsibilities and expected standard of behaviour”.

How crystal clear she might be on her responsibilities as a minister and the standard of behaviour expected of her is questionable.

Point of Order: Climate Change Commission sounds caution about forestry.....

......while Peeni pumps $57m into a fund for wood processing

There’s much to absorb in the 205-page report from the Climate Change Commission headed 2023 Draft advice to inform the strategic direction of the Government’s second emissions reduction plan.

If media headlines fairly sum up what the commission is saying, the government should be smarting.

Here’s a sample –