Kicking National’s tyres
National's appointment of Todd McClay as Agriculture spokesperson clearly signals that the party is in trouble with the farming vote. McClay was not an obvious...
Speed limits hit potholes
The Government’s decision to back peddle on lowering speed limits is hitting potholes. At this stage, although it is part of the Government’s reprioritisation efforts...
Housing intensification backfires on National
The extraordinary deal between Labour and National to provide complete freedom to build up to three housing units three stories high on urban sections...
Nats turn green
That old environmental political warhorse Nick Smith put MP Chris Bishop in his place at the National Party’s Blue Greens Forum on Saturday. Bishop, the...
Resource management reforms too slow for Gabrielle
Cyclone Gabrielle has caught the Government with its legislative pants down. A Bill which could have played a critical role in defining how individuals and...
Here comes another contentious piece of legislation
The Prime Minister yesterday put out a number of political fires by deferring or cancelling a series of Ardern Government initiatives. But while he was...
Government makes concessions to farmers on methane
The Government yesterday pulled back on part of its response to farmers over the proposal to impose a levy on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. But it...
Three waters entities may be too small
The proposed four water entities may still be too small to borrow successfully on the international bond market. An ANZ banker told the...
Parker’s plans greeted with scepticism
Environment Minister David Parker had no sooner left the InfrastructureNZ conference yesterday after explaining his Resource Management reforms than a conference panel started to unpick...
Parker’s big RMA changes
Environment Minister David Parker will today unveil the most fundamental and sweeping reforms of our resource planning laws since the introduction of the Resource...
Farmers ambush Shaw
Federated Farmers' hard line on agricultural emissions has won the day, and all the country's major livestock farming organisations are now opposing the Government's...
The Mayors and the three waters money trail
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern looks likely to judge the proposal from the Auckland and Christchurch Mayors to replace Three Waters on what it might...
Farm emissions proposals shock ag sector and shake National
The Government shocked New Zealand’s 23,400 sheep and cattle farmers yesterday with proposals to make them pay for their greenhouse gas emissions which could...
“Taliban” National MP to face selection challenge
Right-wing National MP Simon O'Connor is now facing a challenge to his re-election. O'Connor is the MP for the blue-ribbon Auckland seat of Tamaki, which...
Too many trees
While the Prime Minister last week was filling in for Prince William at a celebrity-laden climate change event in New York, back home, her...
