Category: ACT Party

Source: ACT Party

ACT Rural Communities spokesman Mark Cameron is welcoming the delivery of a banking inquiry with specific focus on rural banking.

Mr Cameron chairs the Primary Production committee which guided the formulation of the rural banking segment of the inquiry’s terms of reference, announced today.

“Finally, rural communities will have the chance to be heard in Wellington on rural banking practices,” says Mr Cameron.

“Farmers trying to get ahead with a bank loan say they’re increasingly being denied access to capital or being given loans only with stringent conditions attached, and interest rates significantly higher than urban loans. They look at the deals being given to other types of businesses and wonder if they’re getting a fair deal.

“These concerns led to a briefing of banks in front of the Primary Production committee, but we weren’t satisfied with the answers we received. We agreed more questions warranted answers, and that farmers themselves should be involved in the process.

“I hope MPs and the Government will pay close attention to the concerns raised by rural New Zealanders speaking to the inquiry, and consider what we as lawmakers can do to make it easier for farmers to access capital to invest in, and maximise the productive potential of, New Zealand’s most valuable resource – the land.”

The Finance and Expenditure and Primary Production committees jointly developed the terms of reference for the inquiry. The committees will consider holding joint meetings to hear evidence from submitters relevant to rural banking and that the Primary Production Committee prepare a report on rural banking, to feed into the overall inquiry report on banking competition.

The inquiry will investigate the price of banking services, with a particular focus on business and rural lending products.

The inquiry also aims to:

• Determine how and to what extent the RBNZ’s capital requirements and credit risk models influence lending rates to agriculture and horticulture businesses.
• Ascertain whether the RBNZ’s approach to greenhouse gas emissions risk, including risk of government policy, has and is likely to result in further increases in lending rates to the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
• Ascertain whether bank environmental and sustainability policies have or are likely to result in further increases in lending rates to the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
• Ascertain whether there is adequate transparency on lending rates for rural, residential, and business lending.
• Access to banking services, including access to cash services, especially in rural areas.

New Zealanders can make a submission on the inquiry by 11.59pm on Wednesday, 25 September 2024.

Source: ACT Party

ACT Energy and Resources spokesman Simon Court is welcoming the mayor of New Plymouth’s support for cross-party action to deliver confidence to the natural gas sector and avoid an energy crisis.

“Chris Hipkins might not want to listen to ACT, but he ought to pay attention when regional communities say they’re hurting,” says Mr Court, who last week wrote to party leaders calling for a cross-party accord on natural gas.

“The shutdown of Methanex’s plants, even temporarily, will have painful second-order effects for the wider region. Methanex provides hundreds of high-paying jobs to practical people who didn’t necessarily go to university. The livelihoods of so many families in Taranaki and beyond are intrinsically linked to companies like Methanex and the region’s natural gas resources.

“The fact this closure is being framed by some as good news for the way it frees up gas shows just how desperate things have become in New Zealand. We already knew that the scarcity of natural gas is contributing to high energy prices, and now we’re seeing its impact on employment. Of course, the news from Methanex comes off the back of Winstone Pulp pausing operations in neighbouring Ruapehu in the face of soaring energy costs.

“Unless parties across Parliament give confidence that gas companies can invest and explore without being made illegal, we’ll sleepwalk into an energy crisis. That means families unable to pay their power bills, and regional communities hollowed out from the inside as major employers shut down.

“Chris Hipkins must show some political maturity and respond.”

Source: ACT Party

“The Greens should borrow the values of working New Zealanders, rather than stealing their money”, says ACT Leader David Seymour, responding to the overreaction to the Government’s proposed welfare reforms.

“A culture of perpetual victimhood doesn’t just cost money – it costs the spirit of New Zealanders who most need some self-belief.

“The real problem with Labour and the Greens is that they steal money off people who get up, go to work, and try to make a better life for themselves.

“We’d all be better off if Labour and the Greens tried borrowing the values of working people, instead of stealing their money and using it to fund the misery industrial complex that is multi-generational welfare.

“It does nothing for the children of people on benefits to see adults sleeping their futures away.

“That’s why ACT stands by the Government’s welfare reforms. Far from being a radical change, we’re implementing values most New Zealanders see as normal.”

Source: ACT Party

ACT is celebrating the liberalisation of genetic engineering laws, a commitment secured in the Party’s coalition agreement and formally announced today.

Dr Parmjeet Parmar, who is ACT’s Science, Innovation and Technology spokesperson and has worked on genetic engineering policy since 2019, says:

“Today’s news shows how we have a different type of Government, willing to do what Clark, Key, and Ardern failed to do, bringing New Zealand into the 21st century, even if 24 years late.

“The delivery of this coalition commitment means our brightest scientific minds will be freer to make advancements that will lift human flourishing, improve environmental outcomes, and create major commercial opportunities.

“Current restrictions on gene technology have led to absurd outcomes. In one case local scientists developed a red-fleshed apple, but weren’t allowed to taste test that apple in New Zealand. They had to taste it in the US instead.

“New Zealand should be an agricultural genetic superpower, but innovations like AgResearch’s High Metabolisable Energy ryegrass, which has the potential to reduce livestock methane emissions by around 15 per cent and ensure less nitrogen is excreted into the environment, are illegal here.

“Earlier this year I launched a survey of New Zealand scientists conducting research involving genetic engineering. A major theme was that low-risk research has been regulated as high-risk, with compliance processes directing resources away from productive research.

“ACT expects to be very engaged with the implementation of a dedicated regulator. It is crucial that regulation is proportionate to risk. Australia’s framework is a good start, but scientists have warned me that that regime comes with its own frustrations. Our system should not just be as good as Australia’s, it should be better.”

Source: ACT Party

ACT Conservation spokesperson Cameron Luxton has introduced a member’s bill to the ballot that would give hunters a seat at the table with the Conservation Authority.

“Hunters have a huge interest in the state of nature and the environment. We love being in nature, and we play an important role in conservation. Every weekend, thousands of us are out in the bush doing for free what would otherwise cost DOC and the taxpayer billions of dollars,” says Mr Luxton.

“Whether it’s shooting deer or laying traps for pests, hunters up and down the country contribute to managing exotic species and we are affected by decisions involving the DOC estate.

“Currently, hunters don’t have a seat at the table. The New Zealand Conservation Authority has 13 members, with seats set aside for nominees from iwi, the Royal Society, Forest and Bird, and Federated Mountain Clubs. But the Deerstalkers Association membership contributes around 184,000 hours a year to conservation efforts across habitat restoration and planting, pest control of rats and stoats, organised culls, and backcountry huts and tracks maintenance. This is in addition to the direct conservation benefits that recreational hunting provides as a tool for managing game animals.”

“My bill would allow the Minister of Conservation to appoint two further members to the board – one appointed on recommendation of the New Zealand Deerstalker’s Association, and one appointed after consultation with both Fish and Game and the Game Animal Council.

“ACT believes good management of the DOC estate can only come from hearing the voices of the practical people on ground, doing the work with a passion for it. A great example of this partnership is the work of the Wapiti Foundation, which manages the population of an introduced species in Fiordland. They maintain huts and lay traps while facilitating high-value tourism. A greater voice for hunters on the Conservation Authority could lead to further partnerships that benefit both papatūānuku and the taxpayer.

“I hope my bill will have the support of parties across Parliament.”

A copy of the Conservation (Membership of New Zealand Conservation Authority) Amendment Bill can be found here.

A video of Cameron Luxton speaking about his bill can be found here.

Cameron Luxton has already had a bill drawn from the ballot to liberalise Easter Trading rules. That bill will soon be debated at its first reading.

Source: ACT Party

“The way journalists are misrepresenting the repeal of s7AA does a disservice to New Zealanders who deserve to understand the facts”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“Journalists continue to report there is no evidence s7AA changed the way OT operated or that it’s harming children. That is simply false. Just because Oranga Tamariki hasn’t recorded the reasons for its decisions doesn’t mean the evidence doesn’t exist.

“We know OT’s practices changed after s7AA came into effect. The Independent Children’s Monitor reported that:

• …[staff] from Oranga Tamariki felt that, due to a practice shift within their agency, there was now a greater emphasis on keeping tamariki out of care and returning them to their parents where possible.’
• …we heard how the practice shift within Oranga Tamariki is to prioritise the return of tamariki and rangatahi back to their whānau rather than non-kin caregivers.’
• …there was pressure to avoid bringing tamariki into care and to “get them out of care” meaning that, in some cases, “we are placing children with whānau [including parents] that aren’t set up [to care for them]’.
• …tamariki and rangatahi in return and remain home care are “the highest risk group”, with “a higher area of proportional risk”, that “continues to be an area of risk”.’
• Unlike other care settings, tamariki are either remaining in or returning to a care arrangement where there have previously been substantiated care and protection concerns.’

“We know that after s7AA came into effect, OT requested an audit to find out where uplifted Māori children had been sent, looking specifically at non-kin carers.

“According to a social worker: ‘…they were finding out exactly where the Māori kids were, and we were asked to find out the ethnicity of their carers and the status of their placements. That’s why they’re on spreadsheets in OT offices up and down the country’.

“And we know that there are heartbreaking individual cases.

“We’ve seen the case of ‘Moana’ who was traumatised and neglected for years, before being removed and placed into a safe, loving home – what was meant to be a ‘forever home’. That is, until a social worker decided they needed to remove Moana from their care, because a Pākehā family could not provide for her cultural needs.

“We’ve seen four children uplifted in a similar way because the caregivers were the wrong ethnicity and could not provide for their cultural needs.

“Finally, caregivers have told ACT they’ve been forced to send the children to visit their previous abusers, just to keep the family connections, with the attitude of ‘a child needs to know where they came from’.

“Tragically, we know that just because a child is living at home doesn’t mean they are safe. There are far too many cases of children who are harmed or even killed by family who are meant to love and protect them.

“Journalists have a responsibility to accurately report the facts, not a version of the world they would prefer existed.”

Source: ACT Party

“Farmers are under real pressure from Labour’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020 and ACT continues to argue for its full repeal”, says Ruawai dairy farmer and ACT’s Primary Industries spokesperson Mark Cameron.

“Farmers have raised their concerns about the proposed changes to the Otago Regional Council’s freshwater rules – rules which are being drafted in accordance with the previous Labour Government’s policies.

“Over the past six years, farmers have not only had to manage the day-to-day challenges of farming but also navigate a sea of red tape and costs imposed by the last Government. This onslaught has threatened one of our most efficient and productive industries.

“The coalition government was elected with a mandate to end this unnecessary burden. We’ve made excellent progress, but a significant remnant of Labour’s damaging policies still lingers: the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management 2020.

“This policy introduced stringent rules, centralising control from Wellington, and elevating the vague concept of ‘Te Mana o te Wai’, the mana of the water. This principle has led to even more restrictive regulations being imposed on our farmers by regional councils.

“Today, despite the work of the Government, regional councils continue to integrate these stringent regulations and vagaries into their regional plans. Farmers face uncertainty and fear. This over-regulation not only stifles our agricultural productivity but also risks our entire national economy at a time when we should be empowering our most productive sectors.

“The concept of ‘Te Mana o te Wai’ is not only vague but replaces scientific benchmarks with subjective interpretations. This isn’t about environmental standards, which are necessary, it embeds a subjective idea of the mana of the water that leads to co-governance and unequal treatment based on who someone’s ancestors were. The broad and often ambiguous interpretation of this principle by councils and courts adds to the confusion, diverting from a clear, science-based approach.

“ACT is dedicated to real change. We cannot continue with a policy that burdens our farmers unnecessarily. We campaigned on a complete overhaul of this policy to remove subjective concepts and ensure that our freshwater management is scientifically sound and adapted to the needs of local communities.

“We are continuing to advocate for repealing the NPS-FM and allowing district councils more flexibility in how they meet environmental limits.

“It is time for urgent reform. We must protect our farmers from the ongoing effects of what has effectively been a war on our agricultural sector.”

Source: ACT Party

ACT Ethnic Communities spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar is proposing to give graduates of the Royal New Zealand Police College greater choice in religious texts when taking their oaths.

“Under current legislation, the option of taking an oath on a religious text is only available for those willing to swear on a Bible. This seems inconsistent with the multicultural makeup of the modern Police force,” says Dr Parmar.

“I am aware of cases where graduates have requested to take the oath on an alternative religious text but were instructed they must instead take the standard Constable’s Affirmation. It is safe to assume many more graduates would take up the opportunity to swear on a religious text relevant to their faith if they were given the opportunity.

“I have drafted a bill to extend the available religious texts to include the Bible, New Testament, Old Testament, Gita, Gutka Sahib, Quran, and others. I have written to the Minister of Police suggesting that this is adopted by the Government to avoid the delays and uncertainty associated with a member’s ballot process.

“While this would only be a minor change, the issue is of greater importance right now as the Government seeks to boost Police recruitment. The recent change to open recruitment to applicants holding a residence visa has the potential to draw recruits from a range of faiths, but the current rules for oaths risk sending an unwelcoming message.

“Fundamentally, this is about religious freedom, choice, and pluralism in a modern multi-ethnic democracy.”

Dr Parmar’s letter to the Minister of Police can be found here.

A copy of the Oaths and Declarations (Recognition of Other Religious Texts) Amendment Bill can be found here.

A video of Dr Parmar speaking about this initiative can be found here.

Source: ACT Party

Kaipara-based ACT MP Mark Cameron is welcoming Kaipara District Council’s vote to disestablish its Māori ward.

“ACT campaigned on repealing Māori wards, and in our coalition agreement with National we secured a commitment empowering local communities to do just that. Now we’re seeing the delivery.

“I’m bloody proud to see my neck of the woods leading the country in its return to equal rights and democratic values. ACT encourages other councils to follow suit.

“Dividing New Zealanders up into different groups with different political rights based on race is poisonous to a democracy.

“I’ve got a message for the protestors who attempted to disrupt today’s vote. You will continue to have a voice in our democracy, but it will be the same voice as every other ratepayer – the chance to argue your case and cast a vote with the same worth as those of your neighbours.

“We’re all neighbours in Kaipara, and our challenges of rates and infrastructure are not race-based. We ought to have faith in common humanity and our ability to solve problems together.”

Source: ACT Party

“The attack on New Plymouth councillor Murray Chong is totally unacceptable and it has to be condemned by all political parties today”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“A slug gun was fired at Chong’s ute last week. He has had his life threatened and his family harassed. He has been so thoroughly intimidated that he felt the need to abstain from voting on Māori wards, an issue he cares deeply about.

“The fact an elected representative has avoided voting on an important issue because he felt intimidated has left the ratepayers who voted for him without a voice.

“It’s never acceptable to intimidate someone who is voting on behalf of the public because it is an attack on voters and on democracy.

“Every political party must unequivocally condemn the intimidation of Murray Chong and affirm that he has the right to vote how he likes sanctioned only by voters in a secret ballot.”