Category Archives: Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is confident that district health boards will be able to cope with Covid-19 pressures over the summer.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to the country on day two of the lockdown. Photo: Pool / Getty

Ardern said the fact we have Covid-19 in New Zealand is not a new phenomena, nor is the fact people and workplaces need to be prepared for the virus.

She said the areas which have "the most significant number of people coming into them" over the holiday period have been identified.

"We've (been) with the district health boards and the Ministry of Health already identified the areas where we have the most significant growth in population, they've been stress testing those DHBs' Covid plans because they are the areas that have larger movements of people to ensure that they are prepared for extra population in those areas."

Ardern said when the government considers alert levels on 29 November, it will be considering regions' likely status over summer as well as their vaccination rates.

Vaccine passports are not mandated for accommodation and Ardern said the vaccine passports were only being used in high risk environments such as hospitality.

In the past people have been in a range of different situations when they contracted Covid-19, Ardern said.

"We have actually had cases in camping grounds before so our public health units have managed them before and I expect that they would continue to do the same."

She said health authorities get in touch with people when they have Covid-19 and work through a plan for the person and their family regardless of where they are when they are diagnosed.

Ardern said she wants people to be able to travel this summer and to be able to connect with family and friends.

"But ideally we want people to be vaccinated when they do that and if they're from Auckland and unvaccinated we want them tested."

Ardern said she has heard concerns from some areas, particularly in Northland, that do not want people visiting from other regions.

"And that's where we're working and the police are working closely with iwi around what we can do to allay some of those concerns.

"Mostly of course that's coming from the concern of Auckland but as you know we have put in expectations around the movement of Aucklanders and the vaccination and testing requirement should assist with that and then it just becomes a matter of checks in the northern border."

Te Punaha Matatini data modeller Shaun Hendy said once the borders open we can expect to see further spread of Covid-19 around the country.

"We've already seen that the virus has been marching south fairly steadily over the last few weeks, once we have much larger movements of people and indeed as we get into the holiday period, and you know Aucklanders do travel a lot during the holiday, we will get cases in the regions."

But Hendy said cases do look to be stabilising in Auckland and the effective reproductive number of the virus, or R number, has been trending down and is perhaps at about 1 at the moment.

"We want it to go well below 1 so that we actually have decreasing numbers, but you know at least we're at a point where maybe that outbreak in Auckland is stabilising."

He said that is largely because of high vaccination rates in Auckland but not all regions are so highly vaccinated.

"And once Aucklanders do leave, that's potentially exposing populations that aren't as well protected to the virus and that could lead to further small outbreaks in the regions."

Hendy advised Aucklanders to respect the calls from locals from some regions for them not to travel there to give those regions time to get their vaccine rates up.

"We do know that some parts of the country just haven't had the momentum behind the vaccination drive that we have in Auckland, it is more difficult in regions like Taraiwhiti to get to a vaccination centre."

Hendy said he would prefer Auckland to remain at level 3.2 until the new traffic light system is introduced, rather than moving to level 3.3 which would see the hospitality sector reopen.

He said there has been spread of Covid-19 due to hospitality in the past with people indoors, without masks, eating and talking.

Hendy said it could be quite confusing to move Auckland to level 3.3 this week and then maybe next week to move to the traffic light system and vaccine passes.

"I think at this stage I wouldn't take the extra risk of reopening hospitality when we're very close to what's going to be quite a complicated new system that we're going to have to get used to."

Hendy said it would be hoped that keeping Auckland at level 3.2 for another week would keep the Covid numbers stable and even see them start to reduce, as well as giving contact tracers a chance to get on top of the outbreak.

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Jacinda Ardern confident that DHBs will be able to cope with Covid-19 pressures over summer - RNZ

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern could face a new opposition leader as soon as this year after an opinion poll showed widespread discontent with National party leader Judith Collins. The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll, released on Sunday night, shows Labour on top with 43 per cent of the electorate's support. If an election was held this week, Labour would retain government by forming a coalition with the Greens, which polled seven per cent. But the continued rise of the libertarian right-wing minor party ACT is transforming the political calculus. David Seymour, a wonky 38-year-old who appears permanently suited, except for an infamous stint on Dancing With The Stars, has overtaken Ms Collins to be NZ's de facto opposition leader. Despite ACT's minor party status, he has double the personal support of Ms Collins, who leads NZ's main centre-right party. The jury appears in on Ms Collins, who took the helm after leadership instability in June last year as National crashed to a generationally-low 26 per cent in the 2020 election. She has failed to improve the party's fortunes after 16 months in the job, with National polling 27 per cent in Sunday's survey. Sensationally, ACT - which held just one seat in parliament until the 2020 poll - is on track to become the third force of Kiwi politics. After polling eight per cent in the 2020 election, ACT now has the support of 16 per cent of New Zealanders, which would return roughly 20 MPs in the 120-seat house. ACT's rise has many in National extremely worried for their political future. Newshub political editor Tova O'Brien reports a majority of National MPs support removing Ms Collins as leader. "All signs point to curtains for Collins," she said. "Some Nats want the blood-letting over and done by Christmas ... others want to wait until early next year. "There isn't consensus yet about the best approach but I'm told a majority of Nats are keenly looking at ACT's numbers, and David Seymour doubling his MPs on 16 per cent could be impetus for change this year." Ms Ardern took office in 2017 after NZ First sided with Labour following lengthy coalition talks, ending three terms of National government under John Key and Bill English. Since then, she has squared off with Mr English, Simon Bridges, Todd Muller and Ms Collins in parliament. Mr Bridges is seen as most likely leader to replace Ms Collins should a coup take place soon. Former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon is another mooted leader, but as a first-term MP, is seen as too inexperienced to take on Ms Ardern - yet. Both polled 2.5 per cent as preferred PM in this week's survey. Ms Collins defiantly told Newshub a leadership spill "isn't happening". "We're focused on the things that matter," she insisted. Another public poll released earlier this month by rival broadcaster 1News showed roughly similar numbers, with Labour on 41 per cent, National on 28, ACT on 14 and the Greens on 9. LATEST NZ POLL Labour - 43 per cent (steady) National - 27 (down 2) ACT - 16 (up 5) Greens - 7 (down 1) NZ First 3 - (down 1) Maori Party - 2 (steady) PREFERRED PM Jacinda Ardern (Labour) - 42 per cent (down 4) David Seymour (ACT) - 12 (up 3) Judith Collins (National) - 6 (down 2) Australian Associated Press

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November 21 2021 - 5:11PM

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern could face a new opposition leader as soon as this year after an opinion poll showed widespread discontent with National party leader Judith Collins.

The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll, released on Sunday night, shows Labour on top with 43 per cent of the electorate's support.

If an election was held this week, Labour would retain government by forming a coalition with the Greens, which polled seven per cent.

But the continued rise of the libertarian right-wing minor party ACT is transforming the political calculus.

David Seymour, a wonky 38-year-old who appears permanently suited, except for an infamous stint on Dancing With The Stars, has overtaken Ms Collins to be NZ's de facto opposition leader.

Despite ACT's minor party status, he has double the personal support of Ms Collins, who leads NZ's main centre-right party.

The jury appears in on Ms Collins, who took the helm after leadership instability in June last year as National crashed to a generationally-low 26 per cent in the 2020 election.

She has failed to improve the party's fortunes after 16 months in the job, with National polling 27 per cent in Sunday's survey.

Sensationally, ACT - which held just one seat in parliament until the 2020 poll - is on track to become the third force of Kiwi politics.

After polling eight per cent in the 2020 election, ACT now has the support of 16 per cent of New Zealanders, which would return roughly 20 MPs in the 120-seat house.

ACT's rise has many in National extremely worried for their political future.

Newshub political editor Tova O'Brien reports a majority of National MPs support removing Ms Collins as leader.

"All signs point to curtains for Collins," she said.

"Some Nats want the blood-letting over and done by Christmas ... others want to wait until early next year.

"There isn't consensus yet about the best approach but I'm told a majority of Nats are keenly looking at ACT's numbers, and David Seymour doubling his MPs on 16 per cent could be impetus for change this year."

Ms Ardern took office in 2017 after NZ First sided with Labour following lengthy coalition talks, ending three terms of National government under John Key and Bill English.

Since then, she has squared off with Mr English, Simon Bridges, Todd Muller and Ms Collins in parliament.

Mr Bridges is seen as most likely leader to replace Ms Collins should a coup take place soon.

Former Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon is another mooted leader, but as a first-term MP, is seen as too inexperienced to take on Ms Ardern - yet.

Both polled 2.5 per cent as preferred PM in this week's survey.

Ms Collins defiantly told Newshub a leadership spill "isn't happening".

"We're focused on the things that matter," she insisted.

Another public poll released earlier this month by rival broadcaster 1News showed roughly similar numbers, with Labour on 41 per cent, National on 28, ACT on 14 and the Greens on 9.

Labour - 43 per cent (steady)

Jacinda Ardern (Labour) - 42 per cent (down 4)

David Seymour (ACT) - 12 (up 3)

Judith Collins (National) - 6 (down 2)

Australian Associated Press

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Opposition angst as Ardern on top in NZ - Goulburn Post

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern admits vaccine passports will create two-tier society --Vaccine passports will usher in social 'traffic light system' --It occurred to PM that vaccine passports can have 'other uses' than simply drive vaccination | 25 Oct 2021 | The prime minister of New Zealand has admitted that vaccine passports are segregating society into two different classes, by affording those who get the Covid jab more rights than to vaccination skeptics, who are in "the second tier." And PM Jacinda Ardern said this with a smile in response to a New Zealand Herald reporter's question, who recalled that she previously stated that the country's Covid policies would create a two-tier system in her country... "That is what it is, yup," Ardern said with a smile and a smirk, nodding her head... Ardern called the certificates -- which are proving to be a highly politically and socially divisive issue in countries around the world -- "tools for confidence." Reports say that just under 60 percent of all eligible New Zealanders have gotten the jab so far, and on Friday, Ardern said that the figure would have to reach 90 percent before restrictions are lifted under a new strategy to fight the epidemic, dubbed "the traffic light system." It will leave unvaccinated people unable to go to restaurants, gyms, and have access to similar establishments, while they will also be prohibited from gathering in groups larger than 10.

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NZ PM Jacinda Ardern admits vaccine passports will create ...

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns daughter made a special off-screen appearance at a recent, official livestream she did on Facebook. It was past her bedtime when the three-year-old toddler came looking for her mummy, who was then talking to viewers about the COVID-19 crisis management by her government.

Youre meant to be in bed, darling, 41-year-old Ardern answers Neve, whom she had with partner Clarke Gayford. No, pat comes the reply from the girl, as Ardern attempted to strike negotiations.

Its bedtime, darling, pop back to bed. Ill come and see you in a second, she says, apologising to her audience.

Well, that was a bedtime fail, wasnt it? Ardern manages to get in a few words about children going rogue past bedtimes and resumes with her virtual address before the sweet voice floats in again.

Whats taking so long?

This was Arderns cue to end the livestream and bid goodbye to her audience, saying she would return online for an extended, uninterrupted version with more updates on the pandemic sometime in the future.

Watch below:

Since airing earlier this week, Arderns Facebook livestream has gone viral on social media. While some netizens gush over how adorable the little disruptor is, others are sighing over the relatability of working from home with children around.

A familiar moment for any parents and happy to see a political representative communicating and living like everybody else, one Twitter user wrote.

I love how she shows the world what it really is like for women in professional jobs who also have a family. She is a parent first and a solid political leader, one user tweeted.

Love that were seeing managing work and caring responsibilities functionally and warmly in leadership. So cool, another said.

Several such videos as Arderns have gone viral in the last year, as working parents stay locked in with their children. In 2020, global health policy expert Dr Clare Wenhams little daughter came pottering in with her unicorn painting when she was midway into a BBCinterview. With childlike nonchalance, she even proceeds to interact with the interview host who humours her by talking about her unicorn.

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Jacinda Ardern Daughter Crashes Her Livestream: "Well ...

For the rest of the country, each district health board (DHB) would have to reach 90 percent. However, in an interview with Newsroom last week, Ardern suggested the rest of New Zealand could move with Auckland.

At her press conference on Monday, Ardern confirmed that the Ministry of Health has advised her to consider moving to the new traffic light system earlier because it "provides greater protection" than the alert levels.

"We set that high vaccination rate target and that has served us well," Ardern said. "Many DHBs are already hitting that 90 percent first dose, so there is the ability for us to get the best of both worlds - high vaccine rates, but the protection of this new framework."

Collins suspects the reason the Government has held off on moving to the new framework is because the work hadn't been done on vaccine certificates.

"Strangely, today we have the new advice that actually, the traffic light system is more robust than the alert level system, so we should move to it early. The obvious question is, why didn't we simply move to it right away, when it was announced in October?"

"What the Prime Minister can't say is that New Zealand couldn't have moved to a vaccine certificate system in October, or today, because Labour hasn't done the work needed to get certificates or legislation ready.

"It seems the DHB target was a weird charade to buy time while vaccine certificates and enabling legislation was cobbled together."

Ardern rejected the suggestion that a move to the new framework was delayed due to vaccine certificates not being ready. She said vaccine certificates will be available to download later this week.

"We have said that we want high vaccination rates to move into it. What we're doing is essentially just talking to some of those individuals who have helped inform our response this far, around some of our plans to move into that perhaps sooner than some of those targets might have suggested."

When asked what's changed, Ardern said it's the fact that COVID-19 is spreading south.

"What we also have to factor in, is if we are seeing the beginning of cases outside of Auckland, what gives us the greatest protection in that environment? And it's clear that the Protection Framework does that."

Alert level 2, she explained, allows vaccinated and unvaccinated people to attend an event at a venue with no gathering restrictions. But under the 'orange' traffic light, this will only apply to events using vaccination certificates.

Collins said the Government has been too slow.

"Legislation for the traffic light framework has not even been introduced to Parliament to establish the framework, and Parliament will no doubt be expected to rush it into law at some point before the end of the year.

"This is shambolic, incompetent governance by a Government that has never had a backup plan for if, and when, elimination failed."

Collins also criticised Ardern for waiting until Wednesday to announce how regional borders will work over the Christmas period. Ardern said while Cabinet has made a decision, it still needs to be "operationalised".

"Aucklanders have been in limbo for three months and if the Prime Minister has made decisions on when the border will lift then she should release that information to the public," Collins said.

"Auckland will supposedly learn if the absurd idea of Government-allocated timeslots to leave Auckland over summer will be adopted, or if the Government has a backup plan.

"This whole mess could largely have been avoided if the Government had got its act together and sorted vaccine certificates before now. It only started the work in July, which is the same month a European Union digital passport went live."

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Judith Collins questions timing of Jacinda Ardern's hint at early move into COVID-19 traffic light framework - Newshub

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020. Fiona Goodall/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Nov 6 (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed signs from the United States of a bigger engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, saying in an interview that her government has "mature" ties with China that allow for disagreement.

Ardern will host an online summit next week of leaders from the Asia-Pacific, including the United States, China and Japan, to discuss how the region can recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis.

In the interview to air on Sunday on the U.S. network NBC, Ardern said that under President Joe Biden, the United States has "an incredibly important role" to play in strategic defence, economy and trade ties in the region.

"We welcome that physical presence, being part of important talks in our region," she told the "Meet the Press" programme. "And we have seen, we have seen that greater ... engagement in recent times."

Ardern reiterated her government's position that New Zealand - which has major trade ties to China and has long been touted by Beijing as a model of its relations with Western countries - will pursue a policy of "integrity" with China.

"We do still believe that we have the maturity in our relationship to raise issues that we're concerned about, be it human rights issues, be it labour issues, be it environmental issues," Ardern said.

"And it's very important to us that we continue to be able to do that and do that regardless of those trading ties."

Ties between New Zealand's neighbour Australia and China have worsened markedly since 2018, when Canberra banned Huawei Technologies Co (HWT.UL) from its nascent 5G broadband network. Relations cooled further last year when Australia called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic, first reported in central China in 2019.

China responded by imposing tariffs on Australian commodities, including wine and barley, and limited imports of Australian beef, coal and grapes - moves the United States called "economic coercion".

This has not affected China's ties with New Zealand, however, as both nations upgraded a free trade agreement in January, although New Zealand united with Australia over China human rights issues.

Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by William Mallard

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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New Zealand PM Ardern welcomes signs of U.S. greater presence in Indo-Pacific - Reuters

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand's hosting of APEC has shifted the dial for the regional forum, which has for years been troubled by power struggles, protest, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The final week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation will take place next week, culminating in a virtual summit for the leaders of the forum's 21 countries, which include Russia, the United States, China, Japan, Mexico and Peru among others.

New Zealands year of hosting APEC, conducted entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, came after Malaysias 2020 event was disrupted by Covid-19, Chiles 2019 summit was cancelled due to protests, and Papua New Guineas 2018 summit was so marred by US-China tensions that leaders failed to agree on a final statement.

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks during the APEC Informal Leaders' Retreat in July.

The team has done a fantastic job, there's really tangible stuff there, and it will make a difference in the long term. I think it shifted the dial of APEC, Ardern said, of the outcome this year's event.

READ MORE:* Apec leaders to 'redouble' Covid-19 vaccination effort after meeting led by PM Jacinda Ardern* PM Jacinda Ardern speaks to US President Joe Biden ahead of Apec meeting* What is Apec, how will it work virtually and does it still matter?

Leaders, when they meet on Friday, will participate in the APEC tradition of wearing a distinctive garment from the host country. They will also agree to a series of goals the countries will meet to realise the Putrajaya Vision a statement already agreed upon for how the region will economically operate by 2040.

One of the long-term changes that we've been able to embed is just the position of climate change in the work that we will do from here, Ardern said.

Climate-based analysis, analysis on inclusivity, particularly given women and girls have been so heavily impacted by Covid across APEC economies, and also the role of indigenous peoples going forward for APEC ... those are really big, tangible things that New Zealand's done.

Earlier in the week, there will be an event for youth delegates, a meeting of APEC ministers, and an APEC chief executives summit.

Pool/Getty Images

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will speak at an APEC event this week.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will attend the second day of the chief executive summit to discuss the state of the world with Ardern. Other speakers will include international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, former prime minister Helen Clark, and US author Jonathan Haidt.

As chair of this APEC, New Zealand has decided on both the garments and the title for the 2040 goals. The last set of goals were called the Bogor Goals, as they were agreed upon in the Indonesian town of Bogor.

Ardern was unwilling to reveal the garments chosen for the leaders, the title of the goals, or the goals themselves.

Getty Images

Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy secretary Vangelis Vitalis looks on during the APEC Informal Leaders' Retreat in July.

I don't think I'm allowed to do the big reveal. There's always a large interest; I won't say large, I won't overstate it. There's always an interest in APEC attire.

What I would say is that it will speak to New Zealand's fibre sector and design ... It will not be polyester.

Ardern has already claimed APEC a success, however, due to an informal leaders meeting held in July. It was the first such meeting of APEC leader outside the formal summit, and the outcome was to reduce tariffs and trade barriers on Covid-19 vaccine-related goods.

Countries also committed to review tariffs on the vaccines themselves. Ardern said 17 of the economies had either lowered or removed tariffs on Covid-19 vaccines.

We should be proud of how agile we've been able to be, that we haven't just waited on leaders. We haven't waited on leaders declarations, we moved quickly, and we used interim [meeting].

Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy secretary Vangelis Vitalis said that despite tensions, the 21 APEC economies have really pulled together to try to find areas where we can indeed work together.

The crisis that the pandemic and the scar it has left, in terms of the human cost as well as economic costs, has actually driven us closer together to try to find ways in which we can really, genuinely work together.

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New Zealand's hosting of APEC has 'shifted the dial', Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says - Stuff.co.nz

nzherald.co.nz published this video item, entitled PM Jacinda Ardern announces boost to Working for Families payments below is their description.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced a boost in Working for Families payments for those on low incomes, and a top-up to the Best Start payment for parents of new babies.

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PM Jacinda Ardern announces boost to Working for Families payments - The Global Herald - The Global Herald

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses the Labour Party conference via Zoom on Saturday. Morgan Godfery says additional support announced at the weekend is not enough for those most in need of extra support.-

OPINION: The trouble with criticising benefit increases and additional tax credits is that, every time, you fall into the same trap: you come across as being ungrateful.

At the weekends Labour Party conference, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made an announcement via Zoom that the Government will lift the family tax credit by $15 for the first child and $13 for subsequent children, boost the Best Start payment from $60 to $65 per week, and implement a modest $5 increase to the orphans benefit, unsupported childs benefit, and foster care allowance.

Its obvious, but worth stating for the record, that these changes are a public good. In her first term, the prime minister set out to challenge her own Government, promising New Zealanders that this country would become the best in the world in which to raise a child.

The changes announced at the weekend, however modest, are one step towards that. In tough times, even $5 can make the difference between, say, being able to take the bus trip to the supermarket and not.

READ MORE:* Government announces new boosts for family tax credit and newborn payments* Budget 2021: Here's what's in the Budget for households* Working for Families falls behind wage rises: Child Poverty Action Group

But this column isnt meant as a message of congratulations to the Government.

No, this is the ungrateful routine. According to the Child Poverty Action Groups (CPAGs) Susan St John, the Governments changes mean that low-income families will be only $5 better off by April next year.

Like I said, thats the difference between taking a bus trip to the supermarket and back, and not being able to do that and in the time of Covid-19 we know how important the essential shopping trip is but once youre there, that $5 wouldnt even buy a mince pack for dinner. How, then, is that $5 meant to lift thousands of children out of poverty?

The short answer is that it isnt meant to. The long answer is that it wont do so.

Even the benefit increases made in May as part of Budget 2021 are yet to come into full force. The announcement at the weekend that extra $5 and changes to Working for Families (WFF) wont come into full force until April 2022 either.

To quote CPAG again, children cannot live on promises of minor changes next year. If the Government was serious about making New Zealand the best country in the world in which to raise a child, it would implement these changes today, and then boost them again in April 2022.

Its impossible not to come across as ungrateful when you argue additional support isnt enough. But equally, its impossible for the Government not to come off as complacent when the changes its making will primarily benefit households earning moderate incomes.

That $15 boost to WFF is squarely aiming for the middle ground, because under that tax credit scheme, children whose parents receive a benefit of some kind miss out on up to $72.50 per week in support. In other words, the poorest households in New Zealand will still forgo up to $72.50 in support that other, moderate income families receive.

Supplied

Morgan Godfery: If the Government was serious about making New Zealand the best country in the world in which to raise a child, it would implement these changes today, and then boost them again in April 2022.

Thats an inequality thats impossible to justify. The poorest households that is, those on some kind of benefit are in most need of extra support, and they cannot afford to forgo whats available to people in higher income brackets.

The absence of a comprehensive capital gains tax in New Zealand means that successive governments have run perhaps the largest middle-class support scheme in the world.

We dont need another middle-class support scheme. Instead, we need that $15 boost and the $5 boost, and more to find its way to the people who need it most.

Morgan Godfery is a senior lecturer at the University of Otago and the te ao Mori editor at Metro. He is a former Parliamentary staffer for the late Labour MP Parekura Horomia.

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'Perhaps the largest middle-class support scheme in the world' - Stuff.co.nz

OPINION: Climate change, according to Jacinda Ardern in a 2017 election debate, was her generations nuclear-free moment. In 2021, faced with hard choices, her Government has buckled.

On the eve of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference the Government announced it was seeking to cut emissions by 50 per cent by 2030. The policy is both hypocritical and politically expedient.

ROBERT KITCHIN/Stuff

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister James Shaw have often talked up the low-carbon vision and many good, well-meaning people have been taken in, John Bishop writes.

Two thirds of the required reduction will be achieved by purchasing offshore climate offsets at a cost of at least a billion dollars a year.

Financially this is expensive, but politically it is cheap because it means that very little change or sacrifice will be required from Kiwis. The Government is going to buy us out of our international obligations. The lives of ordinary Kiwis will be largely unaffected.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Govt bypassed its climate assessment rules to give $390m to airlines* Budget's carbon savings equal about five days coal use at Huntly* 'The Government will not hold back': Jacinda Ardern on how NZ could go zero carbon* Government introducing car import rules aimed at lowering emissions and fuel costs, considering incentive scheme for EVs* Healthcare rethink required for carbon neutral 2025 goal

A government with integrity would have faced New Zealanders and said we have to change the way we live. We have to go carbon-neutral, emit fewer gases, farm fewer cows, drive less and walk, bike and bus more.

Jacinda Ardern, James Shaw and others have often talked up the low-carbon vision and many good, well-meaning people have been taken in and voted accordingly.

However, this is a Government of wimps, simply afraid to take on the farmers, the families who need their cars, tradies who depend on their utes, and more. Public transport projects are way behind.

Its options are now more limited. Yes, it could have been brave and said making harsh changes is the right thing to do, and we have the leaders, the policies and the political courage to do it.

It didnt. It has left its ideals in the ether and opted to make it easy on us and itself. Unsurprising given the backlash it is getting on Three Waters, Covid-19, and its failures to deliver in housing, mental health and light rail in Auckland.

RNZ

The government's plan to tackle climate change has been revealed in the Zero Carbon Bill. Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw, talks to Corin Dann.

This Government is big on the talk, strong on virtue-signalling, and until recently had a champion communicator.

But Ardern is increasingly seen as weak on policy (no-one has ever claimed she had a strong policy sense), and her smiling homilies, delivered daily, arent as fresh and comforting as before.

Personally, I want to see strong and positive action on climate change from New Zealand and even more so from the rest of the world, particularly the big emitting nations.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

John Bishop: this is a Government of wimps, simply afraid to take on the farmers, the families who need their cars, tradies who depend on their utes, and more.

What happens in Europe, the USA, Russia, Brazil, India and China matters. Since 2000, Chinas CO2 emissions have tripled to nearly 12 billion tonnes per annum. India is up a billion tonnes per year while the USA and Europe are both down a billion tonnes per year. Our contribution is negligible and whatever we do including nothing doesnt move any dial.

If the Government had real courage it would stop importing coal a million tonnes last year, two thirds of it for electricity generation. How is importing better than using the coal we used to mine ourselves?

Coal keeps the Huntly power station going, often needed to keep the lights on, for Kiwis to have hot showers, and for industry to operate.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gives a shout-out to "brilliant Kiwi scientists" in his opening address at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.

A Government with a genuine commitment to a 100 per cent renewable energy target and reductions in carbon emissions would stop importing coal and accept there might be power cuts as a result.

Importing coal shields us from the consequences of the Governments energy policy and buying carbon offset credits does the same for the climate change policy.

Its just rank hypocrisy driven by political expediency, and has little to do with implementing policies which will make a difference, whatever spin Shaw, Ardern and co put on it.

John Bishop is a Wellington political veteran who has covered politics, business and economics variously for Radio NZ, Television NZ and the National Business Review over the past 40-plus years. He helped set up the NZ Taxpayers Union. He has never joined any political party. He is the father of National list MP Chris Bishop. All views expressed are his own.

The rest is here:

On climate change, this is a Government of wimps - Stuff.co.nz