Kaaren Mathias: NZ’s shift to more private healthcare will likely raise costs and reduce quality: what the evidence tells us

Because Health New Zealand has refused to reveal how much it is paying private hospitals to perform elective surgeries under a new government contract, it is difficult to assess whether taxpayers are getting value for money.

The government has committed to an evidence-based, cost-effective health system that provides equitable access to all New Zealanders.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 17/12/24

Simply subtract ACC from ABEGAL and add an x for the Christmas miracle of a surplus (but not for a few more years)

Finance Minister Nicola Willis put a brave face on things – aided and abetted by the deft application of accounting cosmetics – after the publication of the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update this afternoon.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 8/10/24

Reti is among ministers who are spending our money (but his injection for Palmerston North hospital is well below $3bn)

The Government has been in bad odour, down south, after Health Minister Shane Reti and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop announced advice is being sought on two options “for delivering the New Dunedin Hospital project within its existing funding appropriation to ensure the people of Dunedin get the modern, fit-for-purpose medical facilities they need”.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 21/8/24

How big bucks are paid to cut red tape – and to polish the press statements that tell us about it

Regulation Minister David Seymour has proudly announced his Ministry has published an Economic Analysis Issues paper as part of the ongoing agricultural and horticultural products regulatory review.

The analysis is part of the regulatory review’s mission to identify unnecessary red tape and make things easier for growers and producers around New Zealand.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive 6/8/24

Look at what’s happened to the wait list for passports – then imagine something similar in the health portfolio

One nugget of news from the Beehive today sparked a Cabinet-reshuffling idea for the PM, assuming he is serious about reaching the “five major health targets” he and Health Minister announced in March to cap off the government’s 100-day plan.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 1/7/24

Roll up, oinkers – Shane Jones is calling hogs to a new trough, not as rich as the PGF, true, but a $1.2bn swill must be tempting

When it has been filled with a swill funded by taxpayers and invitations have been issued to various organisations to come and slurp, it’s fair to suppose it is a trough. This likelihood is increased significantly when we learn the invitation to come and slurp is issued by Shane Jones.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 21/9/23

That new hospital which Labour is promising – is it the same one which Sepuloni mentioned in May (before she backed off)?

Our busy ministers – desperately busy trying to whip up voters’ support as their poll support sags, among other things – have added just one item of news to the government’s official website over the past 24 hours or so.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 29/7/23

Govt is now gunning for modern slavers – but will strong chains (or other protective measures) keep the registry secure?

Not too long after the government was hailing the launch of its gun registry, the newly created Firearms Safety Authority upset gun owners by accidentally leaking information about them.

As Stuff tells it, the email addresses of 147 firearms licence holders were sent to each other in error, after an email was sent with the recipients’ email addresses pasted into the carbon copy (cc) address field, rather than as a blind carbon copy (bcc).

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 15/6/23

How the Hipkins Govt is buttering up farmers and growers – but they haven’t forgotten funding to empower women and girls

More announcements have gushed from the busy bees in the Beehive in the past 24 hours or so, this time enhancing the information they are sharing with a good dollop of dollar signs to show how our taxes are being spent.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 12/6/23

Kiwi who has has blended law with wine industry expertise is backed by govt to win election as new head of the OIV

Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor didn’t mention the weight of support for Auckland lawyer John Barker, when he welcomed the election of Barker as Director General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

Garrick Tremain: Casualty

Here is Garrick Tremain's cartoon commentary on tagger's cognisance!