2013-06-10 10:50:10 // Sim Ahmed
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
While the world watches the PRISM spying saga, New Zealand is on the verge of giving similar (if not more powerful) privileges to our spy agency – the GCSB.
2013-05-16 14:45:31 // Sim Ahmed
// The Idealog Blog
| 3 comments
The Government has released its 2013 Budget today revealing amongst other things new assistance for startups towards research and development costs.
2013-05-03 09:39:58 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
The battle lines have been well and truly drawn in the wake of Labour and the Greens' power policy, which would set up NZ Power, a national electricity-buying agency they say would save hundreds of dollars a year on power bills.
2013-05-01 17:02:04 // Skye Wishart
| 1 comment
National Science Challenges came into being because basically, in Sir Peter Gluckman’s words, “Science makes our lives better and our country richer”. They were announced today by Minister Steven Joyce – with news also that the budget has been boosted by an extra $73.5 million on top of the $60 million set aside in last year’s budget.
2013-04-22 11:24:10 // Matt Nolan
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
So we’ve had Labour and the Greens make the cost of energy the first big pillar of their upcoming election campaign.
2013-04-16 09:11:30 // Idealog
Those keen to get their mitts on a piece of Mighty River Power have three weeks to apply, with the SOE expected to be listed on the stock exchange on May 10.
2013-03-21 13:25:03 // Neil Deans
// The Idealog Blog
Water Conservation Orders (WCOs) are statutory tools used to protect waterbodies of outstanding value nationally – rivers, lakes, and wetlands – much like mountains and coasts are protected by National Parks. They preserve or protect outstanding features such as fisheries, wildlife, Maori, cultural, recreational, wild and scenic or scientific values. They are to exist in perpetuity, unless amended.
2013-03-14 11:55:10 // Eric Crampton
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
New Zealand has one of the world's cleanest tax codes. It typically aims to avoid distortionary effects.
2013-03-06 12:00:00 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Kiwis dig getting their census done online,with a peak of 130,000 forms per hour submitted last night.
2013-03-06 11:56:37 // Sim Ahmed
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Despite a somewhat confused launch, 100,000 Kiwis have managed to pre-register to buy stakes in Mighty River Power this week.
2013-03-05 10:57:01 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
What we desperately need is an integrated innovation system from fundamental science through technology development to commercial exploitation of the results.
2013-02-28 15:33:54 // Idealog
The government is proposing a revamp of the Resource Management Act (RMA) and has released a discussion document outlining potential changes to planning, consenting and appeals.
2013-02-27 10:25:21 // Idealog
The government is underwriting the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund by $60m to encourage more private investment into new venture capital funds.
2013-02-25 09:46:06 // Dwight Whitney
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Beware of ‘geeks’ bearing gifts; the Trans Pacific Partnership could let GE in through the back door.
2013-02-21 10:29:02 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
More risk-taking and more discussion between the business and public sector are what's needed, top business leaders say in one of the key outtakes from this year’s PwC Government and the 16th Annual Global CEO Survey.
2013-01-30 10:36:21 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
I hope I’m wrong about Callaghan Innovation, and for our country’s and industry’s sake that it is a roaring success when it stumbles into life on February 1.
2013-01-21 13:11:20 // Idealog
| 1 comment
With Callaghan Innovation scheduled to commence operations on February 1, the government has announced an eight-member board to lead the new crown entity.
2013-01-18 11:12:49 // Pattrick Smellie
// Idealog #42: workshop
| 1 comment
Getting this tree-hugging country's populace along for the resources ride will require finesse.
2012-12-13 11:53:54 // David Thompson
// Idealog #42: workshop
| 3 comments
Decisive political action hasn't happened anywhere in the world, which suggests it's about as likely here as Santa coming down the chimney.
2012-11-27 09:29:47 // Idealog
| 2 comments
New Zealand businesses can now nab a company name, domain name and trademark in one go using the goverment's new ONECheck tool.
2012-11-22 10:09:59 // Idealog
Land Information New Zealand's data service has been named winner of both the Spatial Enablement category and the JK Barrie Award for Overall Excellence at the Asia Pacific Spatial Excellence Awards.
2012-11-20 10:43:19 // Idealog
A new unit within the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment will be tasked with boosting Maori economic outcomes through a greater focus on financial literacy, education, a plan to improve Maori land productivity and a new Maori-oriented investment fund.
2012-11-15 11:06:39 // Josh Martin
Green growth advocacy group Pure Advantage has launched a significant new report on attaining balanced green growth in a world awash with ‘green washing' and failing to act would amount to "economic treason", according to one commentator.
2012-11-15 10:54:36 // Josh Martin
Public sector bureaucrats are often in the line of fire from politicking MPs on the campaign trail or late night callers to talkback radio – and now we can add Art Daniels to the list.
2012-11-15 09:24:08 // Idealog
The Advanced Technology Institute will be named after Paul Callaghan in honour of his contributions to New Zealand science.
2012-11-15 08:34:16 // Gareth Renowden
// The Idealog Blog
| 5 comments
Wedded to an unrealistic view of the world, where climate change is just another policy setting that can be fiddled to the advantage of supporters or to suit ideology.
2012-11-12 10:08:10 // Siouxsie Wiles
// The Idealog Blog
Yesterday saw the launch of the Great NZ Science Project, a TV and web campaign that is part of the government’s new $60 million National Science Challenges initiative announced earlier this year.
2012-11-09 10:13:07 // Josh Martin
| 3 comments
A diluted Emissions Trading Scheme, which continues to exclude agricultural emissions, has passed its third reading in Parliament – resulting in calls of “ecocide” from the Greens.
2012-11-01 11:04:07 // Idealog
The fibre movement marches slowly on, with a sweetener announced today in the form of free residential connections for distances of up to 200 metres per house from the road until at least the end of 2015.
2012-10-26 10:00:13 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
By the look of things, maybe we should accept that the Advanced Technology Institute won’t be up and running by February.
2012-10-18 10:29:35 // Josh Martin
// Idealog #41: now
| 1 comment
David Shearer negotiated his wife's hostage release from a Somalian warlord, staring down the barrel of an AK47. Now he leads the charge against John Key's government. Josh Martin puts the Labour leader under the grill to see if this former UN peacekeeper can heal a wounded party and inspire a country.
2012-10-09 13:21:50 // Matt Nolan
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
As a general rule of thumb, whenever someone offers you something for nothing they aren’t telling you the full story – and that is exactly what we have with the Greens stating the Reserve Bank should start rebuilding Christchurch themselves by printing money.
2012-10-04 14:00:29 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
The ever-agile open source world manages to keep on top of change using version tracking services like GitHub. Clay Shirky asks why governments can't do the same, bringing democracy to the next level.
2012-10-02 17:06:21
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
New Zealand’s contribution to the world’s supply of industrial wood may be relatively small, but across Asia-Pacific markets our timber accounts for almost 10 percent of all forest products. This makes it one of our most significant industries.
2012-09-12 09:54:42 // Idealog
Government grants for heat pumps are no longer, after a report found insulation provided greater benefits than subsidising clean heating.
2012-09-04 10:12:55 // Idealog
The government is forging ahead with plans to sell up to 49 percent of Mighty River Power, with an IPO slated for some time between March and June of next year.
2012-09-02 17:55:46 // Esther Goh
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
It is a scientifically proven fact (or will be, once somebody gets around to studying it) that the internet favours extremes. Trolls (like spammers) are inescapable. And as Alec Ross said in his keynote address to the Project Revolution conference last week, moderation and compromise tend to get punished in the process.
2012-08-29 09:32:20 // Idealog
The Green Party says the costs of National's asset sales policy just keep on rising, with co-leader Russel Norman slamming Mighty River Power for squandering $3.8 million on preparing for its sell-off.
2012-08-24 12:28:41 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Denmark, Finland, Israel, Singapore. All countries constantly extolled as examples for New Zealand to aspire to.
2012-08-21 10:00:15 // Idealog
The new Advanced Technology Institute will be named after the late Sir Paul Callaghan, a champion for science and innovation if ever there was one.
2012-08-17 09:41:13 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
An idea is easy. Pulling it off is the trick. The ATI has the potential to be a crucial player, a Sonny Bill Williams even, in cranking us up a couple of gears in clever tech stuff.
2012-08-15 17:28:12 // Idealog
New Zealand businesses will get better access to an estimated US$1.6 trillion worth of overseas government contracts, or 2.64 percent of the world’s GDP, by joining the World Trade Organisation’s Government Procurement Agreement (GPA).
2012-08-06 11:02:48 // Design Daily Team
// The Idealog Blog
District plans form a central part of regional council strategy, but how many people actually take the time to review the plans or provide feedback? In Queenstown, new technology incorporating GIS in the form of an 'e-plan' means people in the community can tailor their view of the plan online to only look at items relevant to themselves and their property or places of interest.
2012-07-31 15:09:51 // Idealog
Former Fonterra chief executive Andrew Ferrier will be the new head of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise board come November, replacing Jon Mayson.
2012-07-26 10:16:31 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Monday-ised holidays are one step closer, with Labour’s holiday amendment bill making it to its second reading in Parliament.
2012-07-25 09:28:02 // Hazel Phillips
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Weighing up the prospects of the first SOE cab off the rank, selling off part of Mighty River Power looks to be a Cornucopia bloodbath.
2012-07-19 09:19:01 // Idealog
| 2 comments
The Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill passed its second reading in Parliament last night.
2012-07-13 09:36:55 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
The structure for the new Advanced Technology Institute has been announced, and it will have operations in Auckland, the Hutt Valley and Christchurch.
2012-06-26 12:29:16 // Idealog
Former World Bank managing director Graeme Wheeler will be the new Reserve Bank Governor, taking over after Alan Bollard's second five-year term expires on September 25.
2012-06-13 16:14:59 // Rob Hosking
// Idealog #39: features
| 1 comment
From having more portfolios than you could shake a stick at to now heading up the newly-created Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Steven Joyce seems to have his fingers in a lot of political pies.
2012-05-24 15:04:07
| 1 comment
Finance minister Bill English's 'zero budget' includes a total of $26.5 million in total net new spending over the next four years and will post a surplus in 2014/15.
2012-05-24 14:53:10 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 2 comments
Bill English screwed the fiscal wallet to the floor today, while Auckland mayor Len Brown yesterday went for a spend-a-thon. Could this be our very own Franco-German divide?
2012-05-24 14:30:39 // Esther Goh
Two Ministry of Economic Development funds have been cancelled in the latest budget with both the Enterprising Partnerships Fund and the Transformational Initiatives Fund disestablished, bringing back $26.1 million over the next four years into the government fold.
2012-05-24 14:19:25 // Idealog
The taxman is getting another $78.4 million over the next four years to help deal with the hidden economy, debt collection, and following up on unfiled returns.
2012-05-24 14:00:01 // Idealog
The government plans to establish a new Future Investment Fund with the proceeds from SOE asset sales, which is expected to amount to $5-7 billion.
2012-05-24 14:00:00 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
A 10 percent increase in excise on cigarettes will produce more than $528 million to play with, while the health sector gets a sizeable boost
2012-05-15 10:31:02 // Esther Goh
Bosses won't be required to partake in multi-employer bargaining or (in a return to the original Employment Relations Act) have to conclude a collective agreement under a package of employment law measures approved by Cabinet yesterday.
2012-05-09 10:36:28 // Idealog
Environment officials have told the Science Media Centre they have no plans to continue with a National Environmental Standard (NES) for future sea level rise.
2012-05-09 10:17:48 // Idealog
Gen-i, Vodafone and 2degrees have signed up to a deal that will slash the government's mobile bill by $60 million over the next five years.
2012-05-04 13:34:15 // Tony Parker
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Design is a human resource and to invest in it is one of the most important global differentiators and competitiveness factors.
2012-04-26 14:58:38 // Idealog
Ministry of Economic Development chief executive David Smol has been handed the responsibility of acting chief executive at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
2012-04-26 14:04:32 // Idealog
The government has revealed plans to amend the Public Finance Act to rein in spending decisions by ministers, including a spending cap, and reporting on fiscal policy successes and failures.
2012-04-24 10:31:03 // Esther Goh
Four key government agency chief executive roles will be disestablished with a new acting chief executive appointed to lead the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment when it is up and running by July 1, the government confirmed today.
2012-04-17 13:12:08 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
| 12 comments
At the risk of displaying a Wellington-residential and Southland upbringing bias, the government’s keenness for an Aucklandisation of our science and innovation strikes me as stupid.
2012-04-05 09:37:58 // Bryan Walker
// The Idealog Blog
If we are truly informed by sound science we will understand that “doing our fair share” is not a sufficient response in a world falling well short of doing what is necessary to prevent deeply disruptive levels of warming.
2012-04-03 11:32:14 // Esther Goh
A building of epic proportions is now underway at Christchurch's high-tech business hub, which will get $1.8 million of government funding over the next three years.
2012-03-19 13:29:01 // Peter Griffin
// The Idealog Blog
Wellington is abuzz with news of the super ministry, which was unveiled last week and will have major implications for a large number of public servants.
2012-03-15 12:25:12 // Esther Goh
The latest in a raft of government reforms will see the establishment of a single, dedicated, business-facing department, or super ministry, to be known as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
2012-03-13 10:07:22 // Idealog
| 2 comments
John Key is expected to announce a new super ministry combining the economic development, science and innovation portfolios and others under the watch of Steven Joyce this week.
2012-03-07 10:26:46 // Idealog
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is no more – come April 30, it will be known as the Ministry for Primary Industries encompassing all government work across the agricultural, horticultural, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry and food sectors, as well as biosecurity.
2012-03-06 10:22:49 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
As a small trade-dependent country, New Zealand will be increasingly pulled towards greener growth as other larger economies move in this direction.
2012-02-29 13:43:22 // Paul Adams
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
New Zealand is at a public research crossroad: push it into the real world or continue to write off vast amounts.
2012-02-20 13:44:16 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
The Bioenergy Association has put out a call for the government to renew its biofuel subsidies to avert the "death" of the industry.
2012-02-17 09:11:53 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Kiwi telcos have written to communications minister Amy Adams slamming Crown Fibre and calling for it to be disestablished, a letter leaked to the Dominion Post shows.
2012-02-16 10:08:38 // Idealog
// The Idealog Blog
Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye is passionate about her city. And she thinks it's finally on the right track, stepping back and taking a longer-term view of issues with the Auckland Plan as a starting point.
2012-02-14 11:11:04 // Idealog
'Mondayising' Anzac and Waitangi days will be debated in Parliament today with the introduction of Labour Party member David Clark's bill.
2012-02-14 09:47:31 // Idealog
The government is in talks with Google about providing cheaper and more efficient technology to the public sector, according to Prime Minister John Key.
2012-02-10 13:30:02 // Esther Goh
The government has identified 25 blocks of land to target for oil exploration in the Waikato, Taranaki, Tasman, West Coast and Southland.
2012-02-09 13:09:54 // Peter Kerr
// The Idealog Blog
Steven Joyce has the opportunity to spout a new mantra on behalf of all New Zealanders – have a go, and another after that.
2012-02-03 15:58:55 // Siobhan Leathley
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
With populations constantly growing so too is the demand for energy – something New Zealand’s image as a energy-rich country can tap into by using our technology and expertise to help other countries develop their own energy resources for a fee.
2012-02-03 09:49:28 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
Exports are the key to building national wealth, the Ministry of Economic Development has told incoming minister Steven Joyce.
2011-12-12 10:53:55 // Esther Goh
| 3 comments
The government is being accused of burying a report that shows overwhelming public support for alcohol reform, including increasing prices and raising the purchase age.
2011-12-02 14:28:17 // Pattrick Smellie
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
David Shearer may be yet another white, middle-class male, but he may also represent Labour's best chance at redeeming itself.
2011-12-02 12:45:28 // Idealog
| 1 comment
The New Zealand public sector once again tops the charts for integrity, prompting state services minister Tony Ryall to praise public servants for leading the world in transparency.
2011-11-29 15:55:58 // Esther Goh
| 2 comments
Phil Goff and Annette King have emerged from caucus to confirm that they will step down as leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party.
2011-11-29 10:02:58 // Idealog
The government has indicated Mighty River Power or Genesis Energy are likely to be the first SOEs to be floated next year.
2011-11-28 15:15:20 // Idealog
Re-elected Prime Minister John Key is in talks with United Future, Act and the Maori Party as he attempts to drum up coalition support.
2011-11-28 14:44:22 // Esther Goh
| 1 comment
The future of Act is uncertain – a new leader, brand and possibly even a name change are on the cards after this weekend's election result.
2011-11-28 14:36:55 // Idealog
| 1 comment
Up to 20 percent of the four state-owned power companies could be owned by iwi once National begins the process of selling off part of its stake in SOEs.
2011-11-28 14:26:11 // Idealog
An extra 140 undergraduate students will be carrying out state-funded research and development projects for New Zealand businesses this summer.
2011-11-25 10:15:33 // Idealog
| 2 comments
Labour has staked its election campaign upon a promise to retain SOEs in New Zealand – but are asset sales the devil in disguise as Goff paints them out to be?
2011-11-23 15:03:24 // Idealog
The government’s waste minimisation fund has announced its biggest-ever grant – $2.5 million – toward recycling demolition and liquefaction waste from the Canterbury quakes.
2011-11-23 09:42:52 // Idealog
| 1 comment
The Greens are promising to establish a $100 million startup fund for cleantech projects and boost central government R&D funding by $1 billion in the next three years.
2011-11-22 13:34:30 // Sarah Robson
| 1 comment
New Zealand governments are abusing their ability to pass laws under urgency, say a group of researchers from Victoria University’s Faculty of Law.
2011-11-21 14:38:39 // Hazel Phillips
// The Idealog Blog
National is promising to deliver ‘better’ outcomes for tertiary students and the taxpayers who support them in one of its latest policies – but it could have unforeseen consequences for extramural students, Massey University Extramural Students' Society president Ralph Springett warns.
2011-11-15 13:47:42 // StopPress Team
Government agencies spend more than $60 million on the purchase of advertising and media services in New Zealand every year and there are some fairly rigid structures in place to make sure public entities get the best partner for the best price. But, after 12 months' work by a team of senior agency and government communications practitioners on establishing Government Best Practice Guidelines for Selecting Advertising and Media Agencies, CAANZ and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet have come up with a few more.
2011-11-04 11:40:55 // Sarah Robson
| 1 comment
More funding will be injected into the science sector to transform Industrial Research Limited (IRL) into an advanced technology institute, Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday.
2011-10-18 16:38:13 // Esther Goh
The election battle is officially heating up, with National promising to sweeten Kiwisaver with auto-enrolment and Labour touting industry-specific minimum wage levels.
2011-10-17 11:00:10 // Esther Goh
A government-run app store, a single regulator for telecommunications and broadcasting and priority for rural broadband are among the measures proposed under the Labour Party's IT policy.
2011-10-14 09:22:32 // Idealog
The government will crack down on company registration and directors under a new bill tabled by commerce minister Simon Power, intended to stamp out foreigners using New Zealand as a haven to carry out criminal business activity.
2011-10-10 09:25:28 // Idealog
Forget the Super City – an alliance between seven councils in the North Island will represent 2.3 million people, or more than half of all New Zealanders.
2011-10-10 08:35:48 // Paul S Allen
// The Idealog Blog
The Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill is a mark of laziness – the fact the government has proposed to use retrospective legislation should stand as a warning to all.
2011-10-06 09:52:15 // Idealog
Cyclone Computers and Gen-i have been appointed as suppliers of Apple products to the All-of-Government desktop and laptop computer procurement panel, giving government employees access to Apple devices.
2011-10-03 10:58:47 // Idealog
The downgrading of New Zealand's credit rating today is a reflection of global concerns about foreign debt, says the government.
2011-09-28 13:30:41 // Idealog
New Zealand business will benefit from five new agreements signed today that further cement the growing relationship between China and New Zealand, deputy prime minister Bill English says.
2011-09-15 09:59:16 // Idealog
No surprises there: Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard has opted to leave the official cash rate unchanged, saying the economy has performed "relatively well" amidst global turmoil.
2011-09-13 10:11:16 // Idealog
New Zealand and the UK are forging new ground in the science and innovation sector with a new working group to be set up following the signing of an agreement yesterday.
2011-08-31 10:29:22 // Idealog
| 3 comments
New Zealanders will be at the "front of the queue" for shares in SOEs and will retain ownership of at least 85-90 percent of those companies, according to the National Party.
2011-08-30 09:30:15 // Esther Goh
The Earthquake Commission (EQC) has more than doubled its estimated Canterbury liability as the scope of the damage becomes clearer – and that figure is subject to revision as further information comes to light.
2011-08-24 10:15:08 // Idealog
GST on international business deals is hurting New Zealand's ability to compete on the global market, according to the government, which is seeking feedback on options for addressing the issue.
2011-08-22 09:46:58 // Idealog
| 1 comment
With less than 100 days to go until the November general election, public support for National is still outstripping support for the opposition by far.
2011-08-18 09:33:38 // Esther Goh
| 2 comments
Tech entrepreneurs are the target of a $2.8 million talent development programme on track to launch in the new year in partnership with the private sector, designed to bring various players in the innovation space closer together.
2011-08-15 15:05:20 // Esther Goh
| 2 comments
The tide of transparency has reached our shores: the government is officially urging state agencies to open up their data troves to the public.
2011-08-05 10:28:05 // Esther Goh
KiwiSaver continues to be used as a political football – the scheme faces more fiddling with in the form of a proposed auto-enrolment option.
2011-08-03 10:19:05 // Esther Goh
New Zealand has opened the tourism doors a little wider to Chinese visitors, opening a joint Immigration New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand office in Shanghai as well as further simplifying the visa application process.
2011-07-29 09:52:05 // Esther Goh
Farmers are welcoming news that the European Union has agreed to accept an annual quota of New Zealand grain-fed beef, which will quadruple our beef exports to the continent.
2011-07-21 17:14:01 // Idealog
New copyright laws will target file-sharing through P2P and not streaming sites like YouTube, the government has clarified.
2011-07-12 16:38:10 // Idealog
| 1 comment
With our new copyright law only weeks away, it was announced today that ISPs will be able to charge rights holders up to $25 to process infringement allegations.
2011-07-05 12:49:36 // Idealog
Inventors can look forward to a faster, cheaper and more streamlined trans-Tasman patent process in the very near future.
2010-04-28 10:02:10 // Chris Tobias
// Idealog #27: celsias
| 1 comment
We’re on the brink of transition, says Phillip Mills, with opportunities aplenty in the cleantech field, so he and a diverse range of industry heads plan to lift our economy with a fresh set of rules. By Chris Tobias.
2010-02-09 23:31:00 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
After so many hints that a major overhaul of the Kiwi economy was to come, Prime Minister John Key's speech today records a blow for mediocrity.
2009-07-31 11:40:36 // Vincent Heeringa
// The Idealog Blog
| 1 comment
Don Brash’ Productivity Commission is doomed for a simple reason: The Don. He's too divisive and wonkish to lead New Zild into the great productivity debate.
