Category: Political Parties

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Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

Source: Green Party

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many.

“This adds insult to injury for our workers who have been under constant attack under this Government,” says Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono.

“The Green Party’s Income Guarantee provides a clear alternative, a commitment to every New Zealander that no matter what, you will have enough to put food on the table, a safe place to call home, and live a decent life–all paid for with a fair tax system.  

“While the Government claims this move supports its objective of reducing the number of people claiming the Jobseeker benefit, it fails, miserably, to address the reality for many workers. The assertion that work is the pathway out of poverty rings hollow when minimum wage is no guarantee of the ability to pay rent, feed a family, or pay for essential things like healthcare.

“Shockingly, half of children living in poverty live in households whose primary income comes from work. 

“Further, rents are increasing significantly faster than minimum wage increases, with a massive 4.1 per cent increase in rent costs from November last year. The system is failing those it claims to support. 

“Choosing to raise the minimum wage by less than inflation means more people will face mounting debt and will struggle to cover the basics, let alone afford the unexpected costs of medical care, childcare, or urgent repairs. 

“The Government’s decision today does not reflect what New Zealanders deserve. It’s time for bold action that prioritises the well-being of workers and their families, not more pandering to the rich at the expense of the rest of us,” says Teanau Tuiono.

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Government smokescreen to downgrade climate ambition

Source: Green Party

Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released.

“Whether it’s climate action or child poverty, Christopher Luxon committed at the election, then quietly tried to change the targets and reduce action while in Government,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson on Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“There’s a reason climate scientists balked when the Government announced it would review agricultural emissions: it was an obvious smokescreen to lower climate ambition, as the report and Ministerial comments released today make abundantly clear. 

“There’s a reason the Government chose not to give this job to the independent, expert Climate Change Commission, but instead set up their own Ministerial pet project, who were conveniently not allowed to consider the impacts of so-called ‘no additional warming’ from agriculture in the context of all of our climate targets and strategy.

“The Climate Change Commission and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment have explained time and again that a ‘no additional warming’ approach would mean every other part of our society and economy will carry a far higher burden, or mean reducing our necessary contribution to the global fight for climate action.

“Christopher Luxon should be thoroughly embarrassed to have been hoodwinked by lobbyists who have tried and failed this grift in Australia. Then again, we’re talking about the same guy who decided to throw our constitution to the wind to form a Government despite the Treaty Principles Bill not being anyone’s bottom line.

“Enough is enough. Climate Minister Simon Watts, will you please stand up?” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

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Govt guts funding for social sciences and humanities

Source: Green Party

The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards.  

“Social sciences are critical in shining a light on some of the injustices and inequalities of society, things this Government would prefer to keep in the dark,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Science and Research Scott Willis.

“We can and must invest in social science research, it forms a critical part of the ongoing critique and improvement of the society we all live in. It is essential for understanding and addressing the big challenges we face.

“If we are to counter the rise of misinformation and disinformation, and concerning trends such as the lurch towards authoritarianism and ‘alternative facts’, then we need to have a well-resourced social science and humanities sector.

“Today’s announcement compounds the pattern we’ve seen from very early on in this Coalition’s tenure of undermining the science community while ignoring the advice that comes from it. 

“This ideology-driven Government doesn’t value evidence-based policy where it doesn’t align with its focus on short-sighted economics. 

“The uncertainty this creates among a sector that is already chronically under-funded cannot be under-estimated.

“The Government has a key role in encouraging and supporting high-quality research for the benefit of New Zealand. 

“We can and must invest in research if we want to find answers to our most pressing problems,” says Scott Willis.

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ACT welcomes Marsden Fund refocus on science, further changes needed

Source: ACT Party

ACT is welcoming news that the Royal Society’s Marsden Fund is being updated to focus on core science that is of economic, environmental or health benefit to New Zealand.

“In recent years, the Marsden Fund’s terms of reference have seen funding prioritised for spirituality, activism and identity politics over high-quality public good research that benefits all New Zealanders,” says ACT Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar.

Recent Marsden Fund Grants include:

  • $853,000 to investigate historical and current relationships between Māori and taxation, aiming to propose new, Te Tiriti-aligned tax systems.
  • $757,000 to imagine ‘honourable kāwanatanga’ in preparation for a decolonised nation and a Tiriti-based future.
  • $360,000 to assess the rhetorics of civic deliberation in true crime podcasting.
  • $861,000 for research on linking the celestial spheres to end-of-life experiences.

“These projects are hard to justify to taxpayers who are struggling to afford the basics. Every dollar spent on these grants is a dollar that is not supporting research in the hard sciences, or for that matter, life-saving medicines, essential infrastructure, or tax relief for struggling households.

“Politicians shouldn’t decide which specific research projects are funded, but we have a duty to ensure taxpayer money is focused on research that delivers tangible benefits for society and the economy. Today’s changes will help to ensure that this funding delivers a long-term benefit for New Zealand.

“The Marsden Fund is administered by the Royal Society. ACT says there is an opportunity to make further improvements in areas the Royal Society administers. The Royal Society’s Future Leadership Fellowship Grants award $800,000 each to 20 researchers with quotas for female, Māori, and Pasifika recipients. What’s worse, these grants are allocated via a random lottery, rather than based on the merit of the recipient.

“Where does this leave a New Zealander of European, Indian, or Brazilian descent, for example? They could have the best idea in the world but be excluded for being the ‘wrong’ gender or ethnicity. Even if they meet the identity criteria, their success is left to luck.

“The Royal Society’s funding should prioritise merit, excellence, and societal benefit – not identity politics or lotteries. ACT is calling for a return to fairness, accountability, and a focus on delivering real results for New Zealanders.”

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You can’t bank on pine trees in a climate crisis

Source: Green Party

Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source.

“Banking on pine trees to cut pollution is barely a band-aid on a gas leak,” says Green Party Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Government’s changes are an acknowledgement that there’s a problem in converting productive, food-growing land into biodiversity-squashing pine plantations, but they stop far short of fixing that problem.

“Polluters will still be allowed to wave away their obligations to reduce emissions by simply planting pines. Basically, you get to keep pouring gas on the climate crisis fire if you can afford to stockpile credits.

“The current rules in the ETS can’t be relied on to change the behaviour of our worst emitters. 

“The real solution is cutting emissions at the source, driving structural change, and ensuring sustainable land use practices.

“It’s beyond time to re-think forestry offsets and focus properly on gross emission reduction.

“Carbon sequestration must be effective and sustainable when it is deployed. That means permanent native forests, which support our unique biodiversity and ecosystems.

“A real emissions reduction strategy requires stopping pollution at the source and rehabilitating native biodiversity. We can’t wait to unveil our Alternative Emissions Reduction Plan this coming weekend, for a system that works for people and planet, instead of exhausting both,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

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Finally, accountability for dopey transport decisions in Auckland

Source: ACT Party

ACT is welcoming the Government’s announcement to restore democratic accountability to transport decision-making in Auckland.

“Today’s announcement marks a significant step towards giving Aucklanders back the control over their transport systems that they so rightfully deserve,” says ACT Transport spokesperson Cameron Luxton.

“For too long, decisions such as the proliferation of speed bumps, lowering of speed limits to what sometimes feels like a snail’s pace, and expensive, poorly thought-out cycle lanes have been made with little regard for the daily lives of Aucklanders. Finally, through Local Boards ratepayers will have a genuine say on local speed limits where it matters, like around schools, instead of the blanket speed approach to speed reductions imposed by unelected anti-car activists at Auckland Transport.”

With regards to the move to make Auckland Council the Road Controlling Authority, Mr Luxton says:

“This will align Auckland with the rest of New Zealand, where local councils have direct control over such pivotal decisions. It’s about accountability – if the ratepayers are unhappy, they know exactly who to hold responsible come election time.”

With regards to the development of a 30-year Integrated Transport Plan, Mr Luxton says:

“Importantly, Auckland will finally have the opportunity to create an integrated transport system vital for quality of life, instead of having roads choked with traffic for years after new subdivisions go in.”

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New standards for nurses put patients’ identity ahead of need

Source: ACT Party

ACT is warning that new standards of competence for registered and enrolled nurses will distract from individual patient needs and make it harder to attract and retain nurses.

“The role of the Nursing Council is to protect the health and safety of the public and ensure nurses are competent and fit to practise. But new standards of competence set to be implemented on 20 January will veer the nursing profession badly off-track,” says ACT Health spokesperson Todd Stephenson.

“Once upon a time, being a nurse was a matter of having the right skills and a kind heart. Now we are asking nurses to have the ‘correct’ views on the Treaty of Waitangi and to make assumptions about patients’ needs based on their ethnicity.”

The six planned ‘pou’ (pillars) of competency for registered nurses are:

Pou one: Māori health
Example: Nurses must use te reo and incorporate tikanga Māori into practice.

Pou two: Cultural safety
Example: Nurses must be able to describe the impact of colonisation and advocate for cultural and spiritual health.

Pou three: Whanaungatanga and communication
Example: Nurses must use culturally appropriate communication in all interactions.

Pou four: Pūkengatanga and evidence-informed nursing practice
Example: Nurses must support whānau choice of alternative therapies such as the use of Rongoā (herbal remedies, massage, and spiritual healing).

Pou five: Manaakitanga and people-centredness
Example: Nurses must integrate relational and whakapapa-centred care to meet the needs of people and whānau.

Pou six: Rangatiratanga and leadership
Example: Nurses must support the constant assessment and improvement of sustainability practices.

“Rather than seeing patients as people with basic humanity and individual needs, nurses are being told to focus on their patients’ ethnic identity. Clinical needs are sidelined in favour of a focus on the Treaty, ‘cultural safety’, and even spiritual concerns,” says Mr Stephenson.

“I have been contacted by nurses who are bewildered by the standards and are concerned they will be required to take extensive additional trainings, when they would rather focus on improving individual nursing skills.

“You have to wonder how we’re meant to attract overseas-trained nurses when our bespoke local standards send the message that their skills and experience are not valued here.

“On Monday, I wrote to the Minister of Health asking that he assess the impact of the proposed competencies.

“In fact, during the election campaign, ACT proposed giving the Health Minister power to override decisions of regulatory authorities like the Nursing Council if the Minister believes those decisions go beyond what is necessary to protect public health and safety.”

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Govt continues to punch down

Source: Green Party

The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. 

“This shallow, soundbite policy will see poverty continue to proliferate,” says the Green Party’s Social Development Spokesperson, Ricardo Menéndez March.

“People deserve to live in dignity, they deserve to be supported in times of need. We can afford to look after one another, all that is missing is the political will. 

“No number of check-ins by Work and Income staff will make up for the fact that benefit levels are below the poverty line, push people into debt, and create toxic stress for families. No number of check-ins will make up the fact that this is a Government that actively relied on increasing unemployment to lower inflation.

“If the Government was serious about lifting people out of poverty and enabling them to meet their potential, they would be guaranteeing liveable incomes to ensure people can participate in their communities with choice and dignity.

“Adding new responsibilities for Work and Income staff without fixing benefit levels and bolstering the MSD workforce is setting both people on the benefit and case managers to fail. 

“The soaring numbers of people on benefits are no accident; they are a direct consequence of this government’s slash-and-burn approach to job cuts and public service funding. 

“Sanctions, work-for-the-dole programs, and punitive measures simply do not work. All they achieve is perpetuating cycles of hardship, widening inequality, and creating barriers for people to get back on their feet.

“Successive governments have made bold promises to address poverty and unemployment, but the playbook has failed to change. 

“Instead of putting a new coat of paint on a broken system, the Greens will end poverty by introducing a guaranteed minimum income, paid for by a fairer tax system.

“It’s time for policies that build resilience and opportunity, not more blame and burden for those who need support the most,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.

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Same old joyless, divisive, envy-based politics from Labour

Source: ACT Party

Responding to the Labour Party’s decision to charge ahead with work on a capital gains tax and wealth tax, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“This is the same old joyless, divisive, envy-based politics from Labour. There’s no vision or future for New Zealand in dividing the pie. There’s no future in the values of dividing wealth or dividing people by wealth, we need productivity growth and wealth creation as is abundantly clear in the figures.

“Labour’s basic message is that ‘your problems are caused by somebody else’s success. And if you vote for us we’ll take their wealth and give it to you to solve those problems.’

“The real solution to New Zealanders’ problems is to grow the pie with productivity growth and a celebration of success rather than a demonisation of the very thing we’re trying to create – more prosperity.

“It also shows why it’s so critical to keep Labour and its allies from Te Pāti Māori and the Greens out of power. If their theatrical displays in Parliament weren’t enough, imagine them taking the same attitude towards wealth creation and the wealth that so many New Zealanders have struggled so hard to create over decades.

“They rail against division, then try to pitch us against one another and tear down the tall poppies.

“ACT is focused on real solutions that boost productivity and grow the pie so that there is more wealth for everyone to enjoy. We’re cutting red tape and reforming the resource management system so that New Zealanders are empowered to build and invest. We’re liberalising overseas investment rules to make New Zealand the preferred destination for ideas, investment, talent. And we’re cutting waste, making the government work smarter to do more with less so Kiwis can keep more of their own money and build a better future for themselves and those they care about.”

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Councils told to follow Govt’s lead and ditch “progressive” procurement

Source: ACT Party

ACT Local Government spokesman Cameron Luxton is calling on local councils across New Zealand to ditch “progressive procurement” policies.

“Council procurement should have one purpose: deliver quality services at the best possible value for ratepayers. The pursuit of ‘progressive’, ‘diverse’, ‘sustainable’, ‘social enterprise’, or ‘broader’ outcomes in contracting inevitably detracts from a value-for-money focus.

“In September, the Government ditched Labour’s quota for 8% of government agencies’ contracts to be awarded to Māori businesses. It’s time for councils to follow suit.

“After a quick look, I’ve identified eight major councils with procurement policies that reach far beyond a value-for-money focus. I’ve written to each of them and asked them to review these policies.

“Bureaucratic, politically correct procurement rules means reliable contractors are ruled ineligible, or are simply put off by the paperwork. Having an exclusive club of favoured contractors means less competition and worse value for money.

“Councils should be interested in whether a contractor can get the job done at a fair price. But instead, they’re telling pipeline technicians and traffic management operators to scour their family tree to figure out if they can qualify as a Māori business. That’s absurd.

“In February, Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown flagged a review of the council’s procurement policies after a long-standing contractor was ruled ineligible based on a lack of ‘social enterprise skills’ and relationships with community and Māori organisations. ACT will be asking him for an update, as there may be lessons for other councils.”

The letters to each of the councils can be read here: