Category: National Party

Source: National Party – Headline: New Bill to extend gift card expiry dates

Extending the expiry dates on gift cards to three years is the aim of a new Member’s Bill launched by Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean.

“My Fair Trading (Gift Card Expiry) Amendment Bill would see the minimum expiry date of gifts cards extended to three years, so that everyone has a fair chance to use their cards.

“The Bill seeks to prohibit the selling of gift cards with expiry dates of less than three years after the initial sale date, giving the recipient a more reasonable period in which to redeem the card’s full value.

“Many Kiwis use gift cards as a convenient option, but the gift can turn sour if the card is not presented by its expiry date. One in five recipients lose out when they don’t redeem the full value before the card expires and research has found shoppers could be losing $10 million a year on cards that expire before they could be redeemed.

“We’ve all had those instances where the gift card has been misplaced and later found to be expired, or where children treasure their gift cards and spend months deciding how best to spend their present, only to find they’ve left it too late. 

“While this might be a windfall for the retailer, it’s frustrating and disappointing for those who’ve received the gift cards.

“Other countries have regulations preventing retailers imposing unfair expiry dates. In Canada expiry dates are banned and in the US a five year expiry date in required, while many New Zealand retailers are still using a six or 12 month expiry.

“My Member’s Bill provides a practical and easy way to ensure that more money stays in the pockets of hardworking New Zealanders.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Pike re-entry decision should be based on safety

The decision to re-enter the Pike River Mine must remain a health and safety one which does not put further lives at risk, National’s Pike River Re-Entry spokesperson Chris Finlayson says.

“Everyone would like to see the bodies recovered but it’s always been a safety issue – never a political one.

“And the expert advice has always been that to re-enter the mine would put further lives at risk. That wasn’t an acceptable risk then and until the advice says otherwise it’s not an acceptable risk now.

“The Government has appointed a panel of experts to take another look at re-entry. Andrew Little should let them do their job without trying to influence their decision.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Whakatohea report wrong

Current National Party spokesperson for Crown-Māori Relations and former Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Chris Finlayson says claims that National put politics ahead of achieving a just settlement with Whakatōhea are wrong.

“The agreement in principle negotiated with Whakatōhea is one of the largest ever recognising the severe losses suffered by the iwi over many years,” Mr Finlayson says.

“The suggestion that political considerations overrode the need for a just and durable settlement is wrong and insulting to the Crown and to me personally.

“Throughout my time I worked with Whakatōhea over at least seven years to lay the foundations for a successful settlement. Crown officials also laboured for many years with the leadership of Whakatōhea to get to a position in 2016 where the iwi was invited to enter into negotiations.

“There was nothing rushed about it. Indeed when I attended the commemorations of the battle of Te Tarata in October 2015 I was criticised by some speakers for taking too long to begin negotiations.

“In adopting this approach to the actions of the Crown the Waitangi Tribunal has failed to consider the full history and process of the negotiations.

“The suggestion that the Crown should pay interest is unreasonable. Interest is always paid from the time of the initialling of the deed of settlement and I hope the Crown ignores this recommendation.

“I applaud the statesmanlike approach of Whakatōhea leaders who have welcomed the report and the recommendation that there be another ballot – which was always agreed – to resolve these matters.

“I also acknowledge the outstanding efforts of all Crown officials with whom it was my privilege to work on this very important matter.

“The fine leaders of Whakatōhea who have worked so hard on these negotiations in recent years deserve to be praised for their efforts and I hope that this report doesn’t deter them from seeking a full and final settlement of their grievances.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Better outcomes for Pasifika under National

The rate of Pacific youth offending more than halved over National’s time in government proving that National had the right plans and policies in place to improve the lives of Pasifika, National’s Pacific People’s Spokesperson Alfred Ngaro says.

“This week we learned that the rate of Pacific youth offending decreased by a significant 61 per cent between 2009/10 and 2016/17.

“This follows the release of NCEA results showing that the number of Pacific students who achieved NCEA Level 2 had improved from just 50 per cent in 2008 to 81 percent last year.

“We know that a lack of education can lead to a young person offending so it’s no surprise that as Pacific student achievement goes up, Pacific youth offending goes down.

“But we also know that National’s focus on youth offending has made a real difference. Our targeted approach to reducing youth crime included the Youth Crime Action Plan, the Social Investment approach, Better Public Service targets and the Pasifika Court.

“There is still more to do, but with a 61 percent reduction in Pacific youth crime, it’s clear that what National was doing was working and we were on the right track.

“National’s concern is that we now have an Ardern-Peters Government that wants to move away from our targeted approach and go soft on crime.

“Pasifika have made big gains in the last decade and we cannot afford to put this all at risk. The Government needs to look at what was working and to continue where National left off.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Minister has blind spot on roadside drug testing

Associate Transport Minister and Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter should explain why she doesn’t think roadside drug testing is a good way to reduce the road toll, National’s Associate Transport Spokesperson Brett Hudson and Police Spokesperson Chris Bishop say.

“For a Minister who claims to be serious about reducing New Zealand’s road toll to zero in just eighteen months’ time, why won’t Julie Anne Genter accept the advice of her own officials that roadside drug testing will reduce fatalities each year?” Mr Hudson says.

“Ms Genter says she doesn’t think roadside drug testing is the best investment of money to reduce impaired and dangerous driving, and reduce serious injuries and deaths.

“This is despite advice from officials at the Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Police that it would act as a deterrent and reduce the number of fatalities on our roads. What exactly makes Ms Genter think that she knows better than these experts?

“The technology previously wasn’t available to make roadside drug testing practicable in New Zealand. But there have been major advances and now is the right time to introduce it. That’s why Alastair Scott lodged a Member’s Bill to establish random roadside drug testing.”

Mr Bishop says frontline Police have seen the impact that drug drivers have and have told Ms Genter they need random roadside drug testing to keep our roads safer.

“But Ms Genter’s rebuff that Police should stop pushing for roadside drug tests and instead focus on more alcohol testing undermines and even discredits Police.

“Recognising and responding to the harm of drink driving doesn’t need to come at the expense of recognising the danger posed by drug driving. Police are more than capable of focusing on both.

“Roadside drug testing is a measure that will help save lives but Ms Genter appears to be putting her own ideology ahead of doing the right thing.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Govt planning to reduce support for business R&D

The Government is planning to reduce support for business research and development in New Zealand’s fast-growing R&D intensive tech firms, National Party Research, Science and Innovation Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar says.

“Hidden way down the back on page 31 of their proposal to introduce R&D tax credits is the news that they plan to cancel R&D growth grants at the same time,” Ms Parmar says.

“This will negatively affect hundreds of New Zealand’s most innovative technology focused companies.

“All of those companies will drop from getting 20 per cent of their research and development expenditure re-funded down to 12.5 per cent.

“And start-ups making a loss may have to wait until they are making a profit to cash-in any tax credit, that could take years compared to the current system which provides grant funding immediately.

“How is this supposed to grow R&D? How is it supposed to speed up development of our high-value tech sector?

Ms Parmar says that the change from growth grants to R&D tax credits will also lead to a big boost in business for accountants.

“When suddenly everyone can get a tax credit for any R&D, it will be amazing how much R&D your average business will find it was doing.

“All over the world these tax credit schemes are ripe for abuse, with their introduction always leading to a lot of ordinary expenditure being ‘reclassified’.

Ms Parmar says that it is telling that the Government’s first practical move in the science and technology sector is to reduce investment rather than increase it.

“These people have talked a big game in science and innovation for a long time. It’s sad for the science and tech sectors, and for New Zealand’s future, that their first move is to take us backwards.

“While small as a percentage of the economy, R&D has been rapidly growing under the previous Government’s settings. Ms Woods needs to explain how it will grow faster when they are reducing the incentive.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Government turns its back on Northland

The Labour-NZ First Government is turning its back on improving Northland’s roads with Transport Minister Phil Twyford’s confirmation this morning that the four-laning of State Highway One between Auckland and Northland won’t go ahead, National’s Transport Spokesperson Jami-Lee Ross and Regional Development Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith say.

“On Morning Report this morning Mr Twyford washed his hands of the project saying a few extra passing lanes and some barriers would be enough,” Mr Ross says.

“This road was prioritised for significant upgrading by National, not at random, but because it serves as the gateway from New Zealand’s largest city to our northern most and least affluent region.

“State Highway One between Auckland and Whangarei is a very busy and dangerous stretch of highway that all local mayors say is the number transport priority for their region.

“It has been acknowledged for years as needing to be brought up to expressway standard to serve current and future traffic needs and help the economic development of the region.”

Mr Twyford also said it wasn’t his place as Transport Minister to select major projects for the transport agency.

“Mr Twyford can’t have it both ways. By his standard, how is it okay for him to demand specific projects in Auckland – including his promise for light rail to service the Prime Minister’s electorate? An Auckland light rail network that Northlanders will be taxed more at the pump to pay for while their own State Highway One upgrade sits stalled,” Mr Ross says.

“In addition, Mr Twyford’s colleague, Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones is hand-picking pork barrel transport projects down the road from his own house,” Mr Goldsmith says.

“This Government has obviously decided to replace meaningful infrastructure investment in regional New Zealand that will encourage development, with ‘Santa Claus’ Jones wandering around giving bits of money to a few pet projects.

“It’s a roundabout here, a church renovation there, the odd passing lane. But large meaningful transport investments that grow regions and transform lives are out the window.

“Cancellation of upgrading State Highway One into Northland is another example of the Government giving a little bit with one hand and taking away much more from the regions with the other.

“They are running a giant confidence trick against regional New Zealand. And people in our regions are rapidly starting to see it.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Now more working groups than MPs in Govt

National Party Leader Simon Bridges says after just six months the Government’s tally of inquiries, reference and working groups has soared to 75 as it desperately tries to compensate for its inability to think for itself or put in the work.

“After nine years in Opposition claiming they knew better, Labour, NZ First and the Greens put in so little work and came up with so few ideas they’re now outsourcing the job of running the country to consultants – wasting tens of millions of dollars in taxpayers funds in the process.

“There is now, after just six months, 75 different groups of people telling the Government what it should be doing. That’s more working groups than MPs in the entire government.

“It’s nothing short of an abdication of its responsibility to lead and it shows how completely out of its depth the Government really is – and how willing it is to waste taxpayers money which should be invested in areas like health and education.

“What we are now certain of is when Jacinda Ardern claimed in Opposition she could slash immigration without harming New Zealand businesses, balance the books without raising taxes and build more houses she wasn’t telling the truth. They had no clue then and they have no idea now.

“What is even more concerning for New Zealanders is when this Government has implemented its own, ill-thought through ideas they’ve been bad for New Zealand.

“Raiding our regions through fuel taxes, fewer roads and pulling the plug on important irrigation projects, putting a wrecking ball through entire industries like oil and gas and slowing our economy through low-growth policies like empowering unions and slashing foreign investment.

“These do nothing but take New Zealand backwards and undermine an economy which is delivering for all New Zealanders.

“Every day this Government is proving to New Zealanders it doesn’t have the ability to run the country, the ideas to take it forward or the best interests of New Zealanders at heart.

“National won’t make the same mistake. We’re working hard in the interests of New Zealanders and we’ll be ready with plans and policies if we earn the right to govern again in 2020.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Govt dragging its heels on Auckland schools

The Government needs to explain why it has put the Auckland Education Growth Plan on hold, National’s Education Spokesperson Nikki Kaye says.

“Cabinet was due to consider the final Auckland Education Growth Plan last November. It’s now been six months and we’ve had no word from the Government on how it plans to manage the increasing pressure on Auckland’s schools.

“In May last year as Education Minister, I put through a Cabinet paper outlining progress in the development of the plan. We were awaiting updated population forecasts from Statistics NZ before considering the final plan.

“Those forecasts have since been released, but we’re yet to hear anything from the Government about the final plan.

“It’s clear that adding capacity to Auckland’s schooling network is not a priority for the new Government like it was for National.

“In 2014, we announced a plan to build nine new schools and additional classrooms in order to deliver the extra 17,000 student places needed in Auckland by 2019. By June 2017, we had delivered 9,000 extra places and were on-track to deliver all 17,000 by 2019.

“We knew that at the rate Auckland was growing, we needed to do more. That’s why we set aside $4.85 billion for school property over four years in Budget 2017.

“That included $240 million just for Auckland in the first year. This money would deliver four new schools, one major school expansion, the relocation of two special education schools, new and replacement classrooms, and additional special education satellite units.

“Auckland urgently needs greater capacity in its school network. Students, parents and teachers deserve better than having to wait six months for the Government to get going.

“The Minister must release the Auckland Education Growth Plan and assure Aucklanders that the money National set aside for adding capacity will be used to do so, and won’t just be eaten up by the $2.8 billion fees free policy for tertiary students.”

Source: National Party – Headline: IGIS must explain legal basis for reference group

The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Cheryl Gwyn must explain the legal basis upon which she appointed her new Reference Group, National’s Spokesperson for GCSB and NZSIS Gerry Brownlee says.

“Following questions raised yesterday about the group, the Inspector-General issued a statement which fails to answer the very simple question regarding the legal basis for appointing the group.

“The Inspector-General says that the group was set up to help her ‘stand in the shoes of the public’ and inform her thinking.

“It’s hard to fathom how this group will be able to give objective advice on behalf of the public, given the very partisan views of several of its members.

“For someone in a role centred on ensuring our intelligence and security agencies act lawfully and with propriety, it is worrying that the Inspector-General has not yet explained what legal basis she had for appointing the Reference Group.”