Nikki Kaye

After the memorial service for Kashin I pledged to go in and check on how the staff and Burma were holding up. A couple of weeks ago I headed back to the Auckland Zoo and I am pleased to let you know that they are coping ok.

The staff tell me that Burma seems to be doing alright but I am working with them and MAF to ensure she gets a new companion as soon as possible. Here are some pictures from my visit, as you can see she loves a bit of apple and a good ear scratch.

Each time I meet the staff at the Zoo I am reminded of their dedication and commitment to the welfare of the animals they look after.

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : Why is the Opposition so grumpy that it cannot acknowledge a bit of good news? Today we have seen a spark in the New Zealand economy. The boat, or perhaps the bike, as Opposition members might prefer to call it, is going slightly faster, with GDP data showing that the economy grew 0.1 percent in the June quarter. Although it is a positive sign, it is really important that we do not get ahead of ourselves. For many New Zealanders, particularly young New Zealanders, the measure of a good economy is having a job to turn up to on Monday or a regular pay check for their family. That is why young Kiwis are taking up our Job Ops package. Over 1,200 young people are being offered opportunities as a direct result of that scheme. Today’s result is positive. » Continue Reading

I attended Auckland Zoo on the 13th to take part in celebrating the arrival of the super celebrity Kakapo – Sirocco. Associate Minister of Conservation Kate Wilkinson gave a superb speech and mentioned her meeting with Sirocco’s sister Hoki on Codfish Island.

There are now 124 Kakapo in NZ as a result of a very succesful breeding program. Join Sirocco’s facebook page here

Hi, I have got two new sets of speeches up under the “speeches” tab above, from the Committee stage and also the Second Reading, regarding the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill.

See the full Paul Holmes interview featuring me and Jacinda Ardern on TVNZ Q & A here:

See the full Paul Holmes interview featuring me and Jacinda Ardern on TVNZ Q & A here:

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : Auckland is an incredibly gifted city, with a third of New Zealand’s population and a unique and diverse people and geography. Auckland has the stunning Hauraki Gulf, many bayside beaches, and New Zealand’s largest business district. How we better engage with people who are younger and of different ethnicities will be very important in the future. The reform of Auckland’s local government will help us put a structure in place that will help deliver this engagement. » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I want to pick up on the comments made by some of the previous speakers this morning. Ms Ardern made a number of comments about youth representation. It is true that there were some pretty impassioned speakers on the subject of youth representation at the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee. We held a number of public meetings on the issue and we received some great contributions from across Auckland on the issue. But as I said to Ms Ardern the other day, a number of issues will be dealt with in the third Auckland bill. The issues around youth representation, Pacific representation, and support for groups with disabilities have been flagged as issues that will be addressed in the next bill. » Continue Reading

[Second Reading]

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I rise to speak on the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. The Resource Management Act came into force in October 1991 and replaced or amended more than 50 other laws relating to town planning and environmental management. This complex statute is designed to help manage a wide range of issues including conflicting values, expectations, and rights with regard to the environment. In the 17 years since the Act became law there has been criticism of the legislation’s ability to effectively manage complex environmental issues, and complaints about slow and costly plan preparation and consenting processes. » Continue Reading