Bob Edlin: McClay (a Vice Chair again) is braced for another bout of WTO talks ......

McClay (a Vice Chair again) is braced for another bout of WTO talks – but the future looks tariffying for free trade buffs

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay is bound to have been chuffed at being appointed Vice Chair for the World Trade Organisation’s 14th Ministerial Trade Negotiation Conference, “for a second consecutive time following his role at MC13 in Abu Dhabi two years ago”.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 23/2/24

Comings and goings – McClay heads for Abu Dhabi while our leaders prepare to welcome Indonesia Vice-president

Not too long after we posted Geoffrey Miller’s article about the challenge facing Trade Minister Todd McClay in Abu Dhabi, the minister announced he will be travelling today to attend the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation where he will take up his role as Vice Chair of the negotiations.

The government’s official website today also features news that Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf will visit New Zealand next week.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 23/1/24

Trade and security are taking NZDF personnel and a Minister to the Middle East – but Yemen is not on the agenda

A Minister and six Defence Force personnel are headed for the Middle East.

Not for the same reason, we hasten to add.

And no-one will be visiting Yemen (all going well).

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 18/12/23

Trade Minister gets into gear while colleagues put the brakes on Wellington transport scheme

Our Minister of Trade is going places. He is headed for India and Singapore this week and for Abu Dhabi next year.

Wellington’s highly controversial Let’s Get Wellington Moving, on the other hand, is going nowhere. It is headed for oblivion.

Point of Order: While the PM and O’Connor were announcing VIP visits......

......Mahuta was pouring out some thoughts on the wretched water bill

News of the government hoovering the red carpet for VIP visits and cleaning up the environment by advancing the green cause emerged from the Beehive yesterday, including another announcement of Māori mātauranga being to the fore in the government’s conservation programme.

And there was a speech from Nanaia Mahuta which affirmed the Water Services Entities Bill is a done deal and (she expects) the bosses of the four new co-governed water entities will be appointed before the end of the year.