Buzz from the Beehive
A further slew of trade bans and sanctions has been announced by the Government to put further pressure on the Putin regime and the Russian economy as part of the Government’s ongoing response to the war and illegal annexations.
Here’s hoping we have not run out of things to sanction. And especially we hope we can respond appropriately to punish Putin if – or should we say when? – he carries out his threat to use nuclear weapons.
The latest measures are
- New sanctions and trade bans on Russia and Belarus in response to Putin’s attempts to illegally annex parts of Ukraine
- Sanctions target 51 oligarchs including New Zealand-linked Alexander Abramov and 24 Russian-backed office holders in annexed areas of Ukraine
- New bans on exports and imports of luxury goods like NZ wine and seafood and Russian vodka and caviar, as well as strategically important products like oil, gas and related production equipment
- Extension of 35% tariff on Russian imports till March 2025
- New Zealand condemns Russia’s overnight missile strikes on civilians
This punitive action has been announced on the Beehive website along with news that our ministers are…
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little will travel to Australia tomorrow to discuss New Zealand’s treaty negotiations experience with Australian State and Federal Governments.
He will meet with state ministerial counterparts and local indigenous councils of Queensland and Victoria, which have roles overseeing the way these states are starting to address historical grievances and a lack of representation in decision-making by their indigenous peoples.
“Both states have committed to looking at how a treaty-based process can improve and reframe the relationship between the state governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Little said.
“I will discuss how New Zealand’s treaty settlement process works, how we have carried it out, and what policies and approaches have been beneficial to the Māori Crown relationship as it has evolved over the past thirty plus years.”
We would like to be in on the chat when he explains how his government has eagerly embraced the concepts of co-governance and “the Treaty partnership”.
Or rather, the headline of the press statement says the aim is to better support workers.
In the opening sentence, however, ACC Minister Carmel Sepuloni says the Government aims to better support injured workers and employers through a more efficient process with consultation opening today on proposed changes to the Accredited Employers Programme.
But the headline looks appropriate when Sepuloni goes on to say the consultation aims
“… to help us strengthen the programme by ensuring employers are held to account and injured workers are better supported.”
The proposals have been co-designed with accredited employers, worker representatives and health and safety experts.
The consultation closes on 6 November. Click here to have your say.
The proposal would result in our farmers leading the world in reducing emissions and help give NZ a competitive advantage in the green-conscious global marketplace, the press statement said.
The key points:
- Modelling shows the Government’s proposal should meet the Zero Carbon Act 2030 methane reduction target
- The Government “largely adopts the farming sector’s proposal to price emissions at the farm level, giving farmers control over their own farming systems with the ability to reduce costs
- Revenue would be recycled back into agriculture sector through new technology, research and incentive payments to farmers
- A consultation will work through sequestration, levy setting process, and transition assistance issues. The consultation open from now until 18 November 2022.
Point of Order has reported on the announcement here.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor say the new batch of measures are a tangible way to express New Zealand’s condemnation of Russia’s invasion, and its recent attempts to illegally annex regions of Ukraine.
The sanctions apply to a further 24 so-called ‘officials’ in those regions, who are agents of annexation.
“We reject what they represent, and we will continue to identify and sanction them,” says Nanaia Mahuta.
“We have also extended sanctions on all members of the State Duma and Federation Council, Russia’s houses of Parliament which have given their support to Russia’s illegal actions.
“Sanctions have also been applied to a Russian state-owned company that makes passports for occupied areas of Ukraine, and a Russian public relations firm involved in managing the public campaign around the sham referenda” the Foreign Minister said.
Since the introduction of our trade measures in April, trade between Russia and New Zealand has significantly reduced, with a 75% drop in imports.
Trade Minister Damien O’Connor says today’s additional measures will further reinforce our message to Russia
“… that we will not fund or support the Russian war machine.”
The trade measures include a significant expansion of the range of exports of strategic importance prohibited to Russia and Belarus, and prohibiting certain luxury goods from being traded with Russia.
New Zealand has imposed sanctions on over 1,000 individuals and entities, and has imposed unprecedented trade measures which have seen New Zealand exports to Russia and Russian imports to New Zealand both fall drastically.
More information about sanctions, travel bans, and export controls against Russia; as well as humanitarian, military, and legal support to Ukraine can be found on the MFAT site here.
Latest from the Beehive
11 OCTOBER 2022
New trade bans and sanctions on oligarchs and Russian officials
Further pressure is going on the Putin regime and the Russian economy through a series of trade bans and sanctions on oligarchs and officials, as part of the Government’s ongoing response to the war and illegal annexations.
NZ Govt invited to share Treaty Negotiations insights with Australia
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister Andrew Little travels to Australia tomorrow to discuss Aotearoa New Zealand’s treaty negotiations experience with the Australian State and Federal Governments.
Govt seeks to better support workers through ACC’s ACCAccredited Employers Programme
The Government is seeking to better support injured workers and employers through a more efficient process with consultation opening today on proposed changes to the Accredited Employers Programme (AEP).
Pragmatic proposal to reduce agricultural emissions and enhance exports and economy
Proposal would see New Zealand farmers lead the world in reducing emissions and help give NZ a competitive advantage in green conscious global marketplace.
Point of Order 