Still No Ferries As First Of Old Fleet Retire
'Nicola Willis botched the original ferry deal, failed to secure a new deal and then ran away from the mess she made," Labour transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere said.
"Winston Peters now has to watch the current rail-enabled ferry retire four years before he's promising replacements. He hasn't even secured a new contract, we are no clearer on cost, but he's claiming replacements will arrive in 2029. How can New Zealanders trust that without any details?
'I feel for the workers set to lose their jobs because of this Government's ferry failures, but job losses seem to be run-of-the-mill under this Coalition.
'Labour's ferries would have arrived next year. In time to replace the ageing fleet so taxpayer's money wasn't being spent on ongoing maintenance of the old fleet and job losses would've been avoided.
'Winston Peters claiming he doesn't want to pay to maintain use of the rail-enabled Aratere, when he's getting two decades-old ferries to do double the work is ridiculous.
'At this rate we'll have no ferries left before he even signs a contract for new ones. Who will retire first, the current fleet of Cook Strait ferries, or Winston Peters?' Tangi Utikere said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
British Prime Minister expected to set out proposals in what insiders envisage as public ‘moment'
Emmanuel Macron, the French President, last week became the first leader of a G7 nation to announce that he would take the step , with the formal change coming at the United Nations General Assembly in September. It came after weeks of private discussions with the United Kingdom and other allies about how and when to announce the recognition of Palestine. British officials have long favoured attaching conditions to the move to deliver tangible changes in the stance taken by Hamas, the terror group that rules Gaza and was responsible for the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Macron argued that the announcement alone could trigger progress towards peace. Today Donald Trump, the United States President, appeared to clear the way for Starmer to change the UK's stance on recognition, saying the Prime Minister was free to take a new position. But No 10 will still be carefully calibrating Washington's reaction to any new declaration after Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, last week accused Macron of serving 'Hamas propaganda'. Today a US State Department spokesman described a United Nations conference to discuss recognition of Palestine – being attended by David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary – as 'unproductive and ill-timed'. The spokesman said: 'This is a publicity stunt that comes in the middle of delicate diplomatic efforts to end the conflict'. Around 150 of the countries that are members of the UN, some three-quarters of the total, have already recognised Palestine as a state – but not the UK, the US or the biggest European economies. Britain's long-standing position has been that the step will be taken but only when it can help the peace process in the Middle East. The images of malnutrition in Gaza, including of starving children, that have made the front pages as Israel limits access to aid have fuelled renewed debate within the UK about recognition. Behind the scenes, Cabinet ministers including Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, are pushing Sir Keir to take the step. Last week, 135 Labour MPs signed a letter calling for the recognition of Palestinian statehood, while Labour mayors and the party's Scottish leadership are also piling on the pressure. Starmer has recalled his Cabinet from the northern summer parliamentary recess for a discussion about Gaza at 2am Wednesday NZT which is expected to include the approach on statehood and increased delivery of aid. Speaking to reporters during his meeting with Trump in Scotland today, the Prime Minister made clear his shock at the photographs of starvation coming from Gaza. He said: 'Certainly, speaking for the British public and myself, those images of starving children in particular are revolting and there's a sense of revulsion in the British public at what they're seeing. And they know and we know that humanitarian aid needs to get in at speed, at volume.' Trump also publicly pressed Israel to do more to get food to the Palestinians, saying there was 'real starvation' in Gaza and that the US would be setting up places with 'no boundaries' that people could reach by walking. Starmer has been hardening his rhetoric on recognising Palestine in recent days, when he also has been talking to both Macron and Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, about Gaza. On Friday NZT, he said it was the 'inalienable right' of Palestinians to have their own state. The following day he said he was 'unequivocal' that recognition was necessary for 'lasting peace'. But placing caveats on the declaration when he unveils his plan later this week, rather than announcing the move immediately, would risk a backlash from some in Labour. Labour MPs have expressed concerns to the Telegraph that delays could benefit the new hard-left party being set up by Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, which is championing Palestine. One Labour MP said: 'There are millions of voters deeply worried about Gaza. I think the Government are in deep trouble on the issue. 'They need to move fast but it may be too late to win voters back … This is why so many Labour MPs are so worried about their own seats.' Sir Keir is taking part in discussions, led by Jordan, about whether aid can be dropped into Gaza to help ease malnutrition. At the weekend, Israel announced that it would suspend fighting in three areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery. Starmer's official spokesman said the plan coming later this week would build 'on the collaboration to date that paves the way to a long-term solution on security in the region'. He added: 'The Prime Minister will be presenting that plan to other key allies, including the US and Arab states, over the coming days, and indeed convening Cabinet this week. You can expect to see more coming out of that.'
Otago Daily Times
6 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Electoral Amendment Bill passes first hurdle
Legislation banning prisoner and same-day voting has passed its first reading. The House heard spirited speeches for and against the controversial electoral law changes today. The Electoral Amendment Bill claims it "makes a range of systems improvements to support the timeliness, efficiency, integrity, and resilience of the electoral system". It makes a suite of changes including ending same-day voter enrolment, banning prisoner voting, changes to "treating" (such as offering free food) on Election Day and expanding anonymous political donation limits. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said the system was strong but needed "constant maintenance". "Confidence in the Electoral Commission has fallen in recent years, and we know the system has come under significant strain. "This bill overhauls a number of our dated and unsustainable electoral laws. The package of amendments will strengthen the system, helping to deliver timelier election results, manage the costs, clarify rules, and provide more efficient services to voters." Same-day voting did make it easier for some people to vote, but it also removed the incentive for people to get enrolled before the election, he said. "We had the Electoral Commission, on one hand, with one message saying, 'Get enrolled; get enrolled', and they were funded with many millions of dollars to encourage people to enrol, which the law says you should do; but, on the other hand, they were also saying, 'By the way, don't bother, because you can just rock up on election day and vote'. "More people heard the second message than heard the first message. As a result, more and more people were turning up and enrolling when they voted. That's led to more and more special votes and pressure on the count." Goldsmith said he had received advice that the final count, which took three weeks in the 2023 general election, could take even longer in future elections. Labour's justice spokesperson Duncan Webb said it was a dark day for democracy, arguing the changes would make it harder for people to vote. "Politicians should be making it easier for people to vote, not harder. That's how we make sure that everybody's voice is heard, that everyone gets a say, and that this democracy - this Parliament - is truly representative. Webb pointed to Attorney-General Judith Collins' report that found the proposals were inconsistent with people's rights as further reason the legislation should be scrapped. "The Attorney-General, frankly, slated this bill. I have never seen an Attorney-General's report which is so bluntly vicious and damning, saying things like 'freezing registration earlier in the voting period has the potential to harm confidence and trust'." ACT Party justice spokesperson Todd Stephenson said shifting the enrolment deadline from the day of the election to 13 days before was a "modest change". "Voting in a democracy such as ours does come with some responsibilities, and it's one of those responsibilities to actually be on the electoral roll - that's a legal requirement. "If you can't be bothered doing that within a short period before an election, you've really got to question whether you have a commitment to being a participant in our democracy." Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said it was already clear the bill would not achieve what its proponents were promising. "This bill proposes the exact opposite of a modern and robust, effective democracy, because it intentionally seeks to deny entire groups of people and communities from having easier access to be able to enrol and to be able to vote, while at the same time it is shifting the threshold for donations to be declared." Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the changes were cynical. "It's not a coincidence that the very communities who would be silenced are the same communities that wouldn't vote for this government, and probably the same communities that made up the netballers on the weekend. "They say they're fixing democracy, but let's remember: this is the same government that has abolished Māori wards, introduced the Treaty Principles Bill, dismantled co-governance, Te Aka Whai Ora. And we know, again, why they do not want to see 16-year-olds voting." The legislation is now off to select committee, having passed with support from coalition partners National, ACT and New Zealand First.
1News
7 hours ago
- 1News
Cabinet Ministers defend hiking board fees for Crown bodies
Cabinet ministers are defending a move to hike board fees for Crown bodies by up to 80%, insisting those in the roles are overseeing billions of dollars — not just "beer and skittles." Labour says the decision proves the Government is out of touch with the cost-of-living crisis and has accused it of trying to sneak the news by the public. A Cabinet document, quietly uploaded online on Monday, shows ministers agreed to lift the maximum annual fee for chairs of governance boards from $90,000 to about $162,000. The "Cabinet Fees Framework" is not binding but provides guidance to ministers when deciding compensation for those on a range of bodies, such as royal commissions and ministerial inquiries. Speaking today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said public sector fees had become completely "out of whack" with private sector rates and needed a reset. ADVERTISEMENT "We need to make that a little bit more competitive, so that we can actually attract good talent," he said. Luxon said paying more to ensure "really good governance teams" could save billions in the long run. New Zealand currency. (Source: Finance Minister Nicola Willis echoed the point, stressing that New Zealanders deserved value for money. "This isn't beer and skittles. This is billions of dollars of public money. We need the very best people making governance decisions about it." Public Service Minister Judith Collins told reporters that the updated fees still fell short of private sector rates — around 80% of the going rate. "A lot of people who are experienced directors don't want to do these jobs in the public sector because they know they're going to lose money," she said. ADVERTISEMENT Judith Collins. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone (Source: Collins said she did not think the public would be worried by the news. "One of the problems is that we've had an underperforming public service that's taken a hell of a lot of taxpayers' money, and so it is very important that we have the right people in charge of that." Hipkins accuses government of 'twisted priorities' Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the decision revealed the Government's "twisted priorities" at a time when households were doing it tough. "They're saying that board members can get up to 80% increases in their pay, whilst nurses and teachers are being told to settle for 1% or less," he said. "They've said everyone needs to tighten their belts — apparently except for the people who they hand-picked to put on public sector boards." ADVERTISEMENT Hipkins rejected the idea that higher fees were necessary to attract quality candidates, calling it "absolute nonsense." Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii (Source: He said many public appointees had altruistic motivations and were already sitting on "very well paid directorships" in the private sector as well. "They're not doing it for the money," Hipkins said. Hipkins accused the Government of trying to "slip this [announcement] out quietly" without scrutiny. But Luxon denied any secrecy: "It's normal practice... how it's been communicated." Hipkins does not appear to have issued a media release as Public Service Minister in 2022 when the then-Labour Cabinet agreed to a smaller 10% increase in fees. In November, State Owned Enterprises Minister Paul Goldsmith published a release about a similar but separate move to increase director fees for 22 Crown-owned companies.
