The Government's stressing the importance of getting an additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing right from the beginning.  

It's announced a business case will be completed next year for options on a crossing to address the limitations of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. 

An NZTA case endorses a tunnel, while the Government's willing to reconsider a bridge at Meola Reef - mayor Wayne Brown's preferred option. 

Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says earlier investigations have been carried out into the Meola Reef option, but the Government has a deal with the mayor.

"We want to, in good faith, take this seriously - so the offer's there to do a joint study with the council if they're keen for it."

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government's stressing the importance of getting an additional Waitemata Harbour Crossing right from the beginning. &nbsp;
It's announced a business case will be completed next year for options on a crossing to address the limitations of the Auckland Harbour Bridge.&nbsp;
An NZTA case endorses a tunnel, while the Government's willing to reconsider a bridge at Meola Reef - mayor Wayne Brown's preferred option.&nbsp;
Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop says earlier investigations have been carried out into the Meola Reef option, but the Government has a deal with the mayor.
"We want to, in good faith, take this seriously - so the offer's there to do a joint study with the council if they're keen for it."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chris Bishop: Associate Finance Minister on the business case for building a second Auckland Harbour crossing at Meola Reef

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/176d7521-fec8-4a0f-b9d9-b4a90074370b/transcript

Okay, if you voted in the last election to see a tidy-up of the creep of Treaty principles throughout our statute books, you should be very disappointed by what ACT did when it basically walked away from Treaty principles altogether.

ACT announced it's going to change the Constitution Act instead of trying to pass the Treaty Principles Bill again.

It's going to add three principles to the Constitution Act:
Parliament is sovereign.
The rule of law is fundamental.
All New Zealanders are equal before the law.

ACT seems to think this will largely achieve the same outcome, but without the drama of starting another Treaty debate and having a hīkoi to Parliament.

Now, maybe they're right. But my suspicion is that this will be of no consequence whatsoever - because just because you say in a piece of legislation that all New Zealanders are equal before the law doesn't mean that's what Health New Zealand is going to do when it decides, once again, to roll out free GP visits in Hawke's Bay to people from only two ethnic groups.

But it gets even worse, because it has now become abundantly clear that the Government, and by that I mean all three coalition parties, are deliberately moving at a snail's pace, in my opinion, on the other Treaty principles issue: the promise to delete or amend all the Treaty-principles clauses in 19 pieces of legislation.

Paul Goldsmith has been working on that for an extraordinarily long time and still hasn't managed to get it before Parliament. 

It may not even receive a first reading before the election, which means that after the next election, whatever Government takes office can simply dump it, say they've moved on and claim they have other priorities.

Which means that if you didn't like the idea of school boards being forced to give effect to the Treaty, tough luck.

They still have to and they probably still will have to indefinitely because National, New Zealand First and ACT have basically decided this is all just a little too hard.

So, as I say, if you voted in 2023 ...

LISTEN ABOVE

Okay, if you voted in the last election to see a tidy-up of the creep of Treaty principles throughout our statute books, you should be very disappointed by what ACT did when it basically walked away from Treaty principles altogether.
ACT announced it's going to change the Constitution Act instead of trying to pass the Treaty Principles Bill again.
It's going to add three principles to the Constitution Act:
<ol>
<li>Parliament is sovereign.</li>
<li>The rule of law is fundamental.</li>
<li>All New Zealanders are equal before the law.</li>
</ol>
ACT seems to think this will largely achieve the same outcome, but without the drama of starting another Treaty debate and having a hīkoi to Parliament.
Now, maybe they're right. But my suspicion is that this will be of no consequence whatsoever - because just because you say in a piece of legislation that all New Zealanders are equal before the law doesn't mean that's what Health New Zealand is going to do when it decides, once again, to roll out free GP visits in Hawke's Bay to people from only two ethnic groups.
But it gets even worse, because it has now become abundantly clear that the Government, and by that I mean all three coalition parties, are deliberately moving at a snail's pace, in my opinion, on the other Treaty principles issue: the promise to delete or amend all the Treaty-principles clauses in 19 pieces of legislation.
Paul Goldsmith has been working on that for an extraordinarily long time and still hasn't managed to get it before Parliament.&nbsp;
It may not even receive a first reading before the election, which means that after the next election, whatever Government takes office can simply dump it, say they've moved on and claim they have other priorities.
Which means that if you didn't like the idea of school boards being forced to give effect to the Treaty, tough luck.
They still have to and they probably still will have to indefinitely because National, New Zealand First and ACT have basically decided this is all just a little too hard.
So, as I say, if you voted in 2023 ...
LISTEN ABOVE

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: How disappointing is ACT's Constitution Act proposal?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/675dd58c-c868-4143-b13a-b4b00071fbbf/transcript

The National Party has confirmed it's not going to introduce any new taxes if elected for a second term.

Earlier this month, it indicated  it was looking at new bank tax settings and progressing a bed tax, but they've ruled those out.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the party was very clear two weeks ago - and they've clarified these new taxes have been ruled out.

"The three parties of the coalition - National, New Zealand Fist and ACT - agreed to explore it, only explore it...and we've come to our campaign position, which is that we will not do it." 

LISTEN ABOVE

The National Party has confirmed it's not going to introduce any new taxes if elected for a second term.
Earlier this month, it indicated &nbsp;it was looking at new bank tax settings and progressing a bed tax, but they've ruled those out.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the party was very clear two weeks ago - and they've clarified these new taxes have been ruled out.
"The three parties of the coalition - National, New Zealand Fist and ACT - agreed to explore it, only explore it...and we've come to our campaign position, which is that we will not do it."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister on National promising not to introduce new taxes if elected for a second term

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/34ce137d-7702-4c5b-b850-b4b000708fe1/transcript

Farmers have voiced concerns over the state of New Zealand's pest problem, with some saying the issue has reached 'crisis point'.

Federated Farmers' latest National Pests Survey shows numbers are on the rise and that farmers are calling for a coordinated response across public and private land.

Federated Farmers' pest control spokesperson Richard Dawkins says they're proposing a national strategy to cut down on pests.

"That basically recognises that this is a nationwide problem, particularly around deer - they're the ones having the most impact on productive farmland." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Farmers have voiced concerns over the state of New Zealand's pest problem, with some saying the issue has reached 'crisis point'.
Federated Farmers' latest National Pests Survey shows numbers are on the rise and that farmers are calling for a coordinated response across public and private land.
Federated Farmers' pest control spokesperson Richard Dawkins says they're proposing a national strategy to cut down on pests.
"That basically recognises that this is a nationwide problem, particularly around deer - they're the ones having the most impact on productive farmland."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Richard Dawkins: Federated Farmers pest control spokesperson on NZ's pest problem reaching 'crisis point' for farmers

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/8115b511-8a02-4247-80a6-b4b0006abe85/transcript

Chris Bishop: Associate Finance Minister on the business case for building a second Auckland Harbour crossing at Meola Reef

In 1 playlist(s)

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips