Author: MIL OSI Publisher

Source: ACT Party

ACT MP Mark Cameron is calling on Parliament to thank farmers working through summer by reinstating provisions in the Resource Management Act that prevent regional councils from factoring climate change into their planning.

“While many Kiwis enjoy some time off work this summer, cows still need to be milked and crops still need to be watered. Farmers are sacrificing trips away from home to keep New Zealanders—and the world—fed.

“When the politicians get back to Wellington later this month, they ought to give farmers some proper thanks and respect. That starts by unwinding laws that have seen councils pile compliance costs onto farmers in the name of climate action.

“Currently, councils are allowed to use the Resource Management Act to impose a confusing array of restrictions on how New Zealanders use their land, supposedly to cut emissions.

“These changes were made by the previous government, essentially sacrificing property rights to the altar of the climate gods.

“It’s impractical to expect regional councils to tackle global climate issues. It’s an exercise in futility, especially since emissions are already managed at a national level through the Emissions Trading Scheme. If one council clamps down on emissions, it simply shifts high-carbon activities to another region. Plus, councils lack the capability to account for carbon offsets companies might have elsewhere in the country.

“I’ve introduced a member’s bill to bring back the ban on regional councils considering local greenhouse gas emissions.

“Local government should be focused on roads and rates, not on punishing farmers and growers to please a misguided environmental lobby.

“ACT has consistently advocated that the best approach to emissions management is through good science, sensible carbon pricing, and global cooperation – not through intricate land use regulations under the Resource Management Act.

“Kiwi farmers are the most efficient in the world, and my bill would be a helpful step to enable them to focus on what they do best: growing the food that fills our bellies and bringing in the money that keeps our economy ticking.”

You can read the Resource Management (National and Regional Emissions) Amendment Bill here.

Source: ACT Party

As New Zealanders enjoy time with friends and family this summer, ACT MP Todd Stephenson is calling for greater autonomy for terminally ill New Zealanders to choose when, and with whom, they spend their last moments.

Mr Stephenson is the sponsor of the End of Life Choice (Extended Eligibility) Amendment Bill, which would eliminate the need for a terminally ill individual seeking assisted dying services to prove they have only six months left to live, while maintaining all other protective measures.

“The holiday season has been a precious opportunity for Kiwis to gather together with their loved ones, share cherished memories, and create new ones,” says Mr Stephenson.

“As a supporter of end of life choice, I’ve been reflecting on how seriously ill New Zealanders deserve similar moments with their loved ones at the end of their lives.

“In the last three years, the End of Life Choice Act has given around 1,000 terminally ill New Zealanders the chance to decide how, when, and with whom they spend their final days. I’ve heard moving accounts of Kiwis choosing when to say goodbye, often at home surrounded by family. This has spared many from ending their days in impersonal settings like hospitals or care homes.

“However, due to political compromises, stringent eligibility criteria have barred some from this option simply because they couldn’t confirm a six-month prognosis. Yearly reports on assisted dying indicate that this six-month rule is the primary barrier for eligibility.

“Even those who qualify can find that six months is too brief for adequate personal contemplation, medical assessment, and the legal processes required to honour their wishes.

“In August, I was handed a petition from fellow New Zealanders asking that the six-month rule be lifted. I committed to do everything in my power as an MP to amend this law.

“I hope my bill will be drawn from the ballot in 2025 so Parliament has a chance to hear from New Zealanders and vote on a change to the law.”

Source: ACT Party

As many New Zealanders enjoy time off work this summer exploring conservation land, ACT Conservation spokesperson Cameron Luxton is promoting legislation that would ensure hunters and fishers have representation on the Conservation Authority.

“Hunters and fishers have a deep connection to nature and the environment. We enjoy being in the great outdoors, and we’re instrumental in conservation efforts. Every weekend this summer season, thousands of us are out in the bush, and many will contribute to conservation work that would otherwise cost the Department of Conservation and taxpayers billions,” says Mr Luxton.

“From managing deer populations to setting traps for pests, hunters nationwide are active in controlling introduced species, and our activities are influenced by decisions made about the DOC estate.

“Currently, hunters lack representation on the New Zealand Conservation Authority, which comprises 13 members, including representatives from iwi, the Royal Society, Forest and Bird, and Federated Mountain Clubs. Deerstalkers Association members alone dedicate about 184,000 hours annually to conservation activities like habitat restoration, planting, pest control, organized culls, and maintaining backcountry huts and tracks. This is on top of the conservation benefits provided by recreational hunting as a method for game animal management.

“I’ve lodged a bill in Parliament’s ballot that proposes that the Minister of Conservation appoint two additional members to the board—one recommended by the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association, and another after consultation with both Fish and Game and the Game Animal Council.

“ACT believes that effective management of DOC lands requires input from those who are boots-on-the-ground, passionate about conservation. Take the Wapiti Foundation, for example, which manages an introduced species in Fiordland, while also maintaining huts, setting traps, and supporting high-value tourism. Giving hunters a stronger voice on the Conservation Authority could foster more beneficial partnerships for both our natural environment and the taxpayer.

“I hope this bill will gain cross-party support in Parliament.”

You can read the full text of the Conservation (Membership of New Zealand Conservation Authority) Amendment Bill here.

A video where Cameron Luxton discusses this bill is available here.

Source: ACT Party

“Westies and Southlanders trying to buy alcohol for New Year’s or going to the pub this summer deserve the same choice and freedom afforded to the rest of the country,” says West Auckland-based ACT MP Simon Court.

Mr Court is promoting a member’s bill aimed at dismantling New Zealand’s last liquor monopolies.

“In West Auckland, along with Invercargill and Mataura, the only entities allowed to operate liquor stores, taverns, and licensed hotels are the licensing trusts. These monopolies, a relic from the nanny state era of the 1970s, restrict choices and drive up prices,” Mr Court explains.

“My bill wouldn’t eliminate the Licensing Trusts, but it would end monopoly powers and allow local entrepreneurs to sell alcohol under the same regulatory framework as the rest of the country.

“West Auckland’s population is booming, yet there are just eight venues licensed as taverns or hotels for 296,000 people – that’s one for every 37,000 residents. Compare that to the rest of Auckland, where there’s one for every 3,900 people.

“This scarcity leaves the community underserved. Residents are either deprived of the conveniences enjoyed by other Aucklanders or forced to spend their money out of their area, which could be spent locally during this summer’s festivities.

“The existing system is a confusing jumble. In West Auckland, you can operate a hotel, but you’re not allowed a bar or room service. Supermarkets can’t sell alcohol, yet it’s deliverable to your doorstep. It’s just absurd.

“A common justification for these monopolies is that profits go back into the community, but in reality, 80% of the profits in West Auckland come from pokies, and around 60% in Southland.

“Another claim is that by monopolising and restricting alcohol sales, there’s less harm. However, there’s no solid evidence suggesting that West Auckland has less alcohol-related harm due to these monopolies.

“Passing my bill would inject some much-needed vibrancy, diversity, and life into these communities by allowing more bars and eateries to flourish, providing a broader selection for those looking to dine and drink out.

“The economic benefits would extend to other local businesses, drawing more people to the town centres and boosting areas that aren’t burdened by these outdated constraints.”

“Removing monopolies is the right principled starting point. Ultimately, consumers can decide whether to support the Trusts. They will continue to have a vote – that vote is with their dollar.”

You can find Simon Court’s Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Repeal of Licensing Trust Monopolies) Amendment Bill here.

Source: ACT Party

ACT MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar is thanking the operators of liquor stores serving their communities during the summer period, and says these operators deserve a stronger voice in licensing decisions.

“While many of us enjoy some long-awaited time off work this summer, our holiday activities have been made easier by those who sacrifice sunny days to serve us at shops, service stations, and restaurants.

“One sector that often goes unacknowledged is off-licence liquor stores that help Kiwis prepare for Christmas and New Year festivities.

“Licensed liquor stores are legitimate businesses that serve a genuine demand in the community. They provide jobs and draw people into local shopping areas.

“I have introduced a bill into Parliament’s member’s ballot aimed at fortifying the voice of liquor-licensed businesses.

“Starting and running a licensed business entails significant investment, risk, and effort, yet the current laws put these businesses at risk of closure when they apply for licence renewal or when local alcohol policies shift.

“Under the previous Labour government, the process for obtaining or renewing a liquor licence became even more cumbersome. Too many parties have been given disproportionate influence to block or challenge liquor licences.

“ACT believes that decisions about licensing should focus on those directly impacted – the business owners, their patrons, and the nearby community. My bill proposes that only those living within one kilometre of the liquor store can contest an application or renewal for a liquor licence.

“Moreover, licensing regulations should provide stability for businesses that have already secured a licence, preventing sudden rejections due to new establishments like childcare centres or churches moving nearby. My bill guarantees that licensing authorities cannot consider these new developments if the liquor outlet was established prior to their arrival.”

You can read more about the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Participation in Licensing Decisions) Amendment Bill here.