Stuck in the mire
Stuck in the mire
In April 2006, local authorities and emergency services swung into action to help the occupants of dozens of homes flooded on the Taieri Plain. Questions were asked about why houses had been built in a flood zone.
Nick Smith
ACC to review sensitive claims management
ACC to review sensitive claims management
The way ACC manages the claims such as those by sexual abuse victims is being reviewed, ACC Minister Nick Smith announced today.
Minister considering ACC 'privatisation' report
Minister considering ACC 'privatisation' report
ACC Minister Nick Smith isn't confirming or denying a report that the Government is likely to open up workplace insurance to private competition.
Consent incentive 'still flawed'
Consent incentive 'still flawed'
An "improvement but still flawed" is Local Government New Zealand's reaction to details released yesterday on the discount councils will have to give for late processing of resource consents.
Minister should have declared conflict of interest: MP
Minister should have declared conflict of interest: MP
Environment Minister Nick Smith should have stood aside from legislation that was introduced to sack Environment Canterbury because his brother last year pleaded guilty to charges brought by the council, a Labour MP told Parliament today.
Outrage at decision to sack ECan councillors
Outrage at decision to sack ECan councillors
The Government's decision to replace the Environment Canterbury (ECan) council with commissioners in an attempt to sort out water management problems has been described by opposition MPs as an outrage to democracy and the equivalent of a bloodless coup.
Lawsuits cost taxpayer $320,000
Lawsuits cost taxpayer $320,000
The taxpayer has so far unwittingly chipped in at least $320,000 for MPs embroiled in lawsuits - including $150,000 for two MPs to defend themselves in legal spats with another MP, NZ First leader Winston Peters.
Jenkins wants to keep his job
Jenkins wants to keep his job
Environment Canterbury chief executive Bryan Jenkins wants to keep his job after the Government on Tuesday sacked the 14-member elected council he is responsible to.
'Compelling case' for Govt intervention: Smith
'Compelling case' for Govt intervention: Smith
Environment Canterbury's water management was so bad that immediate government intervention was necessary, Parliament was told tonight.
Ngai Tahu to receive $6m of fishery settlement
Ngai Tahu to receive $6m of fishery settlement
South Island iwi Ngai Tahu will receive about $6 million under aquaculture settlement legislation passed by Parliament yesterday.
Opinion: 'Hysteria' against mining has only scratched surface
Opinion: 'Hysteria' against mining has only scratched surface
Hysterical? Who's being hysterical? Not the media, Prime Minister.
Minister hints at middle way on ECan
Minister hints at middle way on ECan
The Government is unlikely to fully implement a report which recommends sacking the elected Environment Canterbury regional council, replacing it with commissioners and splitting water management from the other functions of the regional council.
MP joins call for dairy farm consent applications to be called in
MP joins call for dairy farm consent applications to be called in
Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean has joined those asking Environment Minister Nick Smith to call in the controversial Omarama-Ohau dairy farm consent applications.
Deadline looms for dairy plans
Deadline looms for dairy plans
Environment Minister Nick Smith has until next Friday to decide whether to call in resource consent applications of two companies with controversial plans to establish new dairy farms in the Omarama and Ohau area.
Bluegreens environmental forum at Totara School
Bluegreens environmental forum at Totara School
Residents, including pupils from three North Otago primary schools, will be able to tell Minister for the Environment Nick Smith about their environmental concerns at a forum at Totara School today.
Govt aiming for ETS deal next week
Govt aiming for ETS deal next week
The Government is still negotiating with the Maori Party over legislation setting up an emissions trading scheme and hopes to strike a deal by early next week.
Bikers' levies to go up but not so high - Smith
Bikers' levies to go up but not so high - Smith
Bikers' ACC levies will have to go up, but not as much as has been flagged, ACC Minister Nick Smith said today as thousands of protesting motorcyclists swamped Parliament grounds.