Professor Robert MacCulloch: Regards Free Trade, did NZ get conned by the European Union?....

Regards Free Trade, did NZ get conned by the European Union? Our trade agreement with it cost our government $280 million a year.

Former Trade Minister David Parker & Prime Minister Ardern signed a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU), which they touted as an amazing victory. How good a deal actually was it? Since tariffs are in the world news now, lets take a quick look at that deal. The EU saved itself $280 million per annum in tariff payments to the NZ government. The Euros couldn't believe their luck. Dunedin could've renovated its hospital by now and a ton more infrastructure projects been underway had NZ's government not lost those revenues.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 23/11/23

We are unsure of Damien O’Connor’s whereabouts, but he brings news today of European vote on the NZ-EU FTA

Great news.

No, not the great news you most likely are waiting for, which is the announcement of coalition negotiations being completed, what has been agreed, who has landed which jobs – and so on.

It is great news nevertheless because it suggests there is life in the Beehive.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 10/7/23

RNZ newsletter overlooks new research agreement – and ‘matauranga Maori’ is missing from news of this agreement

RNZ’s daily newsletter this morning featured news that – a year after the breakthrough agreement on a free trade deal with the European Union – “pen has finally been put to paper with its signing overnight.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the deal as a trailblazer across several areas.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 4/7/23

Govt will be hoping new health initiatives give it an electoral lift – but it is shying from the Mongrel Mob’s endorsement

The government is gloating about its latest initiatives on the health front but is coy about the electoral impetus it might get from the support of the Mongrel Mob.

The Minister of Health has announced a change in policy to make eye cataract surgery available to more people.

More significantly, New Zealand’s Health Workforce Plan has been announced and the Minister of Immigration – thanks to a belated change to the visa system – claims to have added more than 6300 nurses to the health-services workforce.