Take that, Iran – but what must countries do to be considered unfit for sitting on the UN Human Rights Council?

Buzz from the Beehive

China is a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, along with countries such as Eritrea, Somalia and Libya, despite their shabby records when it comes to political rights and civil liberties.

We can only conjecture on what they must do to rile our government – and others – and be kicked off the council.  

But today we can celebrate the news that Iran has been booted off the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women, the first time a member state has been removed, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

She welcomed the news in a statement headed –

Iran removed from Commission on the Status of Women

New Zealand is welcoming the successful removal overnight of Iran from the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women, the first time a member state has been, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.

Buzz from the Beehive: Oh dear, Robertson dents the Nats in a sideswipe about Transmission Gully delays

Communication, in various forms, was a common factor in three of the latest statements from the Beehive.

One of these – released in the names of the PM and two other ministers – declared that Jacinda Ardern has officially opened the Transmission Gully motorway, in time for the Easter break, school holidays, “and the return of tourists to New Zealand”.

Two other statements, dealing with digital-age technologies, advised us of –

• A new research project which aims to fast-track the delivery of a digital solution for farm environment plans.
• The latest data which records progress in improving internet connectivity for rural areas across the country.

Oh – and there was some stuff about Covid-19 and how to combat it.

The Government has launched a new targeted rural service of rapid antigen tests for those who live in remote rural areas. And new guidance for businesses and organisations to help them deal with upcoming changes to vaccination requirements has been released.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta popped up, too, with news she has signed a partnership statement.

Not a treaty partnership statement.  This one strengthens this country’s relationship with  Fiji. 

Russian envoy gets a “dressing down” while Mahuta focuses on Indo-Pacific Forum – but other wars are being fought in NZ

A Stuff headline suggests Russian Ambassador Georgii Viktorovich Zuev was treated like a naughty schoolchild, when Foreign Affairs officials told him what this country thinks about Russia’s provocative incursion into another country this week.  It said NZ scolds Russian ambassador over Ukraine encroachment. 

The report proceeded to say Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta had instructed government officials to give the Ambassador “a dressing down” over the military incursion into Ukraine.

A dressing down.  Is that it?

On the other hand, Stuff has reported:

Professor Bethan Greener of Massey University said despite this country’s size, calling in Russia’s ambassador on Wednesday was “still in fact an act of global significance.”

“Calling in the ambassador is highly symbolic in foreign policy and is one of the strongest diplomatic signals available to the Government, short of other more forceful measures that may now be on the table,” Greener said.

Our check with The Beehive website for an update on this country’s official response to events unfolding in Ukraine drew a blank. 

PGF projects – and $439.8 million worth of investment – are up and going again under Alert Level Three

Provincial Growth Fund troughers will be delighted to learn they are back in business (or some of them are).

They may not be so chuffed to learn that troughing has become commonplace and many more Kiwis are dipping into public funds through an array of  programmes set up to revive an economy ravaged by Covid-19 and the government’s response to it.

The bigger the number of troughers, the smaller the serving for each of them, although this consideration perhaps is overcome by the printing of money, quantitative easing, and what-have-you.

Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones brought news of the resumption this  week of Provincial Growth Fund projects around the country that were halted during Alert Level 4.

At Alert Level 3, more than 60 projects representing $439.8 million worth of investment are expected to get going again.

While we were digesting this news, Jones – in tandem with Kris Faafoi, Minister of Communications and Digital Media – threw out another announcement.