Relief and celebration after two-year battle
With the odds overcome, Manapouri's Ruth Shaw was overjoyed at yesterday's Government decision to refuse the Fiordland monorail.
Nick Smith
'It's over' - monorail rejected
'It's over' - monorail rejected
Te Anau people should be crying - not cheering - over yesterday's government decision rejecting the idea of a $240 million Fiordland monorail, its backer says.
Criticism surprises
Criticism surprises
Conservation Minister Nick Smith says he is surprised by Associate Prof Abby Smith's negativity.
World Heritage status safe, Smith says
World Heritage status safe, Smith says
Construction of the Milford Dart tunnel would not cost Fiordland its World Heritage status, Conservation Minister Nick Smith said yesterday.
MP expected to return to Cabinet
MP expected to return to Cabinet
Nick Smith, tipped to return to the Cabinet after resigning early this year as a result of the Bronwyn Pullar scandal, stands by the hard line on long-term ACC claimants which Ms Pullar says prompted her to go to the media over a huge privacy breach.
Cabinet minister Nick Smith resigns
Cabinet minister Nick Smith resigns
With a shaking voice, National MP Nick Smith today announced his resignation from Cabinet in a statement to Parliament.
Resignation raises council reform questions
Resignation raises council reform questions
The decision by Local Government Minister Nick Smith to resign his portfolios, hours after meeting southern mayors in Dunedin, may throw the timetable for local government reforms into doubt.
Comment: Smith had to go to bring Key some closure
Comment: Smith had to go to bring Key some closure
Forget any distinction between resigning and being sacked. Had Nick Smith not fallen on his sword yesterday, one would have fallen on him fairly promptly.
'Bells should have rung'
'Bells should have rung'
John Key's Government yesterday sustained its most significant casualty to date with the loss of senior Cabinet minister Nick Smith, who resigned over his interference in an ACC claim by his friend and National Party activist Bronwyn Pullar.
Council debt load presages reform
Council debt load presages reform
Every man, woman and child in Dunedin will owe $2732 when Dunedin City Council debt peaks at a gross figure of $344 million.
Govt ready to support lagoon cleanup
Govt ready to support lagoon cleanup
The Government is ready to support the cleanup of Southland's Waituna Lagoon but the regional council, farmers, environmentalists and iwi will have to work together to reverse declining water quality, Environment Minister Nick Smith says.
ACC 'improvements' debated
ACC 'improvements' debated
ACC Minister Nick Smith says an "improved performance" by the corporation means levies could be reduced in future but Labour and the Greens says that money was saved by slashing support for accident and abuse victims.
Govt's greenhouse gas target 'inadequate'
Govt's greenhouse gas target 'inadequate'
The Government has pledged to halve New Zealand greenhouse gases emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 but the promise has been labelled inadequate by environmentalists.
Minister dismisses call for ACC review
Minister dismisses call for ACC review
The ACC system is being clogged up with surgery claims that have no hope of succeeding because of private insurance company requirements, ACC Minister Nick Smith says, as he dismissed the idea of an independent review into claims.
Fresh solutions
Fresh solutions
The latest National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research report on the state of our lakes bears disappointing tidings.
ACC changes proposed and ruled out in same breath
ACC changes proposed and ruled out in same breath
The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) wants to increase levies but the Government has all but ruled that out.
ACC didn't handle counselling for abuse victims well: Smith
ACC didn't handle counselling for abuse victims well: Smith
ACC has handled the issue of counselling for sexual abuse victims badly, ACC Minister Nick Smith says.
ETS: National knows overseas consumers the key
ETS: National knows overseas consumers the key
Feeling the financial pinch from the emissions trading scheme? Didn't think so.
MP's relieved defamation case settled
MP's relieved defamation case settled
Nelson MP Nick Smith says he is "delighted" a $15 million defamation lawsuit against him has been settled out of court.
Minister defends ETS
Minister defends ETS
Households can more than offset the cost of the Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) and still get benefits from tax cuts, but Minister for Climate Change Nick Smith admits the Government now needs to get that message out.