Category: Political Parties

Auto Added by WPeMatico

Posted on

Second CE to reappear at Select Committee to answer inconsistencies

Source: National Party – Headline: Second CE to reappear at Select Committee to answer inconsistencies

Not one, but two, chief executives will reappear at a Select Committee this week to correct the record following inconsistencies exposed by National MPs, National’s Environment spokesperson Scott Simpson says.

“In the same week as Radio New Zealand’s CEO and chair are being recalled to correct the record regarding the Carol Hirschfeld-Clare Curran saga, the chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) will reappear to answer a number of questions around contradictory evidence given to the Environment Select Committee in February,” Mr Simpson says.

“At his last select committee appearance on 15 February, chief executive Dr Allan Freeth assured us there had been no discussion, questions or issues with the Associate Environment Minister, Eugenie Sage, over the Chief Scientist or over the EPA’s role, independence or expression of views.

“He said this despite Eugenie Sage later stating publicly that she had actually met with the EPA on the issue, and the paper record shows she sent emails to the EPA that were critical of the Chief Scientist.

“We also know that this issue was discussed at the first meeting between Eugenie Sage and the Dr Freeth in late November. The Chief Scientist resigned in February.

“If the EPA is to be an effective environmental watchdog, then it needs to be completely free of any ministerial interference.

“It is critical for the Government to be held responsible for its repeated attempts to cover up examples of Ministerial interference.

“It is without question that in New Zealand environmental regulatory decisions should be made on the basis of science and not politics. 

“We intend to hold the Government to account for inappropriate ministerial interference in public agencies like the EPA and RNZ. New Zealand’s public sector needs scientists and journalists that are independent of the Government of the day,” Mr Simpson says.

Posted on

Govt’s botched handling of charters continues

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Govt’s botched handling of charters continues




“Revelations that the Government’s utu against charter schools may cost taxpayers $20 million show how badly Chris Hipkins has handled them,” says ACT Leader David Seymour, who was responsible for charter schools as Under-Secretary in the previous Government.

“The schools were contracted to deliver a service, with compensation for reasonable costs if those contracts were terminated early. The 16 contracted schools can each claim up to $1 million in compensation for committed costs, while the six schools that were contracted last year received a total of $3.4 million in start-up costs.

“This Government knows it costs to break contracts. The Speech from the Throne said all existing contracts to build new irrigation infrastructure would be honoured.

“They were not prepared to risk breaking those contracts, but somehow concrete culverts deserve more consideration than a child’s education.

“Instead of honouring the contracts, the Minister of Education has made hostile, prejudiced statements against the schools right from the get-go. He has suppressed the Martin Jenkins final report on the schools performance to date. He has given the schools a close-or-be-closed ultimatum with little certainty over their future.

“National Education Spokesperson Nikki Kaye has oversimplified saying it is costing the taxpayer $20 million to change a name. Charter school operators would be more than happy to continue operating if the change was in name only.

“In practice, conversion to Special Character Schools status will mean:

  • No control over funding. Instead of cashed-up funding, the schools will be beholden to the Ministry of Education and its funding formulas;
  • No management autonomy. Despite the schools being praised for innovative management structures, they will be forced into one-size-fits-all model;
  • No control over contracts. They will have to use the union contracts preferred by Labour’s backers.

“If only it was only a name change!

“It is little wonder that 60 per cent of voters believe the Government has handled the charter school issue badly”, says Mr Seymour.

Posted on

Free Press Monday 2 April 2018 -The Government’s Weird War on the Poor

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Free Press Monday 2 April 2018 -The Government’s Weird War on the Poor




Chaos in the Beltway

Media are hysterical over the Government’s various disasters from the Curran-Hirschfeld debacle to the absence of Russian spies in New Zealand, and New Zealand First heavying opposition MPs over Regional Growth Funding in their electorates. The honeymoon is over early and Easter weekend political columns read like bitter break up letters to Jacinda Ardern. We doubt that much of it will affect polling in itself but, make no mistake, the Government is facing the beginning of the end at its beginning.

Real Issues

Governments don’t win and lose on issues that beltway journos love. Nobody who’s listened to Red Radio will be surprised that the Radio New Zealand’s director of programing had a cozy relationship with a left-wing Minister who wanted to give them money. If there were only two ‘undeclared intelligence officers’ in Australia, who would be surprised if the Russians couldn’t afford to send one here? The real issues are about economic opportunity.

The Government’s Weird War on the Poor

The strangest thing this Government is doing is systematically attacking the people who voted for it. This week Free Press lists the many and varied ways that the Government is attacking the poorest New Zealanders. It seems that Wellington bureaucrats cum politicians who misunderstand economics are accidentally knee capping their own constituency.

Why Should You Care?

Even if none of these policies directly affect you, you’ll pay for them. This Government has never seen a problem it couldn’t solve by taxing you more and giving the money to those affected by its various other failures. For example, transfers to help people afford housing in an overheated market were already over $2 billion under National, they are forecast to grow at over $100 million per year minimum.

Partnership Schools

Free Press readers know that Partnership Schools were an ACT Party labour of love. We used our free market principles to give choice and opportunity to those who might not be able to afford to move into a different school zone or send their kids to an independent school. They became official policy of the Iwi Chairs Forum, and now the Government is abolishing them while suppressing taxpayer funded reporting on their performance.

Minimum Wages

On the subject of ignoring advice, a taxpayer funded report told the Government that raising the minimum wage would destroy 3,000 jobs. They will be lost to exactly the people whose best hope of upskilling was a start in the labour market. The Government would rather they sat at home on a $200 per week benefit than earning $15.75 an hour.

90 Day Trials

ACT’s policy of a 90-day trial has given thousands a start in the labour market when employers mightn’t have otherwise taken a chance on them. As if hiking the minimum wage didn’t destroy enough opportunity, the Government has removed 90-day trials from any workplace with more than 20 staff.

Petrol Tax

The Government’s 10 cent petrol tax will hit; those who live in farther out suburbs with longer commutes and less reliable public transport, those who drive older, less economical vehicles, and those who have less disposable income the hardest.

Ring Fencing Property Tax Losses

The Inland Revenue Department has announced initial discussions on ring fencing tax losses on investment properties. Negative gearing is, for better or worse, a massive subsidy to renters. Unless the Department knows how to reduce landlords’ costs somehow, then ring fencing their tax losses will give landlords only one option: put up rents.

Capital Gains Tax

The Capital Gains Tax (sorry bright line test) was introduced by National. ACT predicted that the two-year bright line test would be extended when the Government changed. Here we are. Watching National try to argue that Labour have introduced a Capital Gains Tax by extending their own policy would have been amusing if it wasn’t so serious. Needless to say, in a tight market, the cost will be passed from the owners of investment property to their tenants.

Free Tertiary Education

As a general rule, kids from wealthier homes are more likely to go to school, succeed at school, graduate to tertiary education, and do more expensive courses once they get there. The biggest beneficiaries of free tertiary education will be wealthier kids (until they have to pay higher taxes for the rest of their lives).

Meanwhile at ACT

If you are an ACT Member in Christchurch, our next regional conference will be on April 22nd. We have had very successful and well attended conferences in Auckland, Wellington, and Hamilton, and the Christchurch will be the last in the series. At the completion of this member consultation, we will be going into phase II of our Party Relaunch. If you are a member in the South Island and have not received an invitation to the April 22nd Regional Conference, please contact danae.smith@act.org.nz

Posted on

Takahē returning to Kahurangi: Kia kaha!

Source: Green Party

Headline: Takahē returning to Kahurangi: Kia kaha!

They’re big, blue, beautiful and will hopefully breed. Fingers and toes are crossed that a group of takahē will settle into life in Kahurangi National Park after being released on March 20.

The Department of Conservation released 18 birds onto the Gouland Downs near Heaphy Track is a historic attempt to create the first new wild population outside of Fiordland.

The takahē was thought to be extinct until 1948 when Geoffrey Orbell re-discovered the bird in the remote Murchison Mountains, in Fiordland. That’s the only place they have lived in the wild since then.

Trying to establish another wild population is a risky step, but one worth taking if we want to see takahē in growing numbers in large areas of their former natural range.

The release is the result of a lot of hard work, good science and dedication. It marks an important stage in the species’ recovery which is now 300 birds-strong. That a bird that was classified Nationally Critical has now improved to be Nationally Vulnerable is a testament to the breeding programme and predator control work that DOC and its partners have done.

The takahē population is increasing by 10 percent annually so secure island and mainland sanctuary sites that are currently home to most takahē are filling up fast. We’re at the stage where we have a blueprint for breeding birds successfully – but without suitable habitat with low predator numbers their future is still not secure.

The Kahurangi takahē release was supported by Takahē Recovery Programme partners Ngāi Tahu and Fulton Hogan.

The birds will be closely monitored over the coming months and years to track survival, health, habitat use and breeding success.

The post Takahē returning to Kahurangi: Kia kaha! appeared first on Blog | Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Posted on

Tomorrow’s the day we all start paying

Source: National Party – Headline: Tomorrow’s the day we all start paying

This weekend marks the point where ordinary hard-working New Zealanders start paying for the misguided policies of the Ardern-Peters Coalition Government, National Party Finance Spokesperson Amy Adams says.

“National’s 2017 Budget would have made workers on the average wage $1000 a year better off starting from this weekend thanks to tax threshold changes,” Ms Adams says.

“Also from this weekend superannuitant couples would have been better off by $676 a year in their superannuation.

“Instead, under the Labour-NZ First Coalition Government most hard-working wage earners get nothing on 1 April, and superannuitants and those receiving working for families will have to wait an extra three months for any gain. Even then superannuitants will simply be given the poorly conceived and designed winter energy payment which is neither for energy nor for winter.”

Ms Adams says workers and superannuitants are paying a big price just so that first year university students can get one year’s free tuition.

“All the money Labour saved from cancelling the tax changes has gone straight to first year tertiary students in a failed policy that has resulted in no extra people studying.

“Meanwhile the health sector has so far seen less than nothing – with the previous Government’s $100 million investment in new mental health initiatives sitting on the shelf. The allocation for health in the next budget is unlikely to be any more than what National would have provided.

“Cancelling National’s tax changes for hard working Kiwis and giving the money to tertiary students is poor policy.

“Unfortunately it’s now happening under Ardern and Peters.”

Posted on

Funding for Christchurch rebuild confirmed

Source: National Party – Headline: Funding for Christchurch rebuild confirmed

There has been widespread concern in the Christchurch community that Labour has rescinded some of the funding appropriated by National to support the rebuild of Christchurch, National Party Spokesperson for Greater Christchurch Regeneration Nicky Wagner says.

“With Labour’s recent record of promise and back track, it’s not surprising that the Christchurch community was worried that the funding set aside by National for Christchurch may not be available,” Mrs Wagner says.

“Fortunately, in response to my questions in the House today the Minister for Greater Regeneration Megan Woods has confirmed that they will honour National’s funding appropriations for Christchurch.

“Furthermore, in response to my questions concerning the $300 million extra for the rebuild Labour promised during the election campaign, both the Minister of Greater Christchurch Regeneration and Minister of Finance hinted that it would be part of Budget 2018.

“We look forward to the continuation of the funding that was promised by the previous National Government and know that the Christchurch community will be happy to have assurances that the rebuild will progress as planned.”

Posted on

Peters takes Govt right back again on Russia

Source: National Party – Headline: Peters takes Govt right back again on Russia

There is obviously something both confusing and concerning about Russia and its effect on Winston Peters as evidenced by his performance in Parliament this afternoon, National Foreign Affairs spokesman Todd McClay says.

“Mr Peters simply can’t bring himself to do what dozens of Governments already have, and hold the Kremlin accountable for the attempted assassination of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.

“Again today Mr Peters was dancing around the issue of who poisoned the Skripals, suggesting some other party besides the Kremlin might have been responsible.

“When asked in Parliament ‘has he received sufficient evidence that Russia is responsible for the Salisbury nerve agent attack on British soil?’ Mr Peters responded: ‘To the best of anyone’s investigations of thus far, the product looks like it was manufactured in Russia, that it was sourced out of Russia, about as to who the perpetrators of that violent terrorist crime, that is still a matter of substantial investigation in the UK.’

“That answer is simply astonishing,” Mr McClay says.

“It suggests dozens of countries have jumped the gun in expelling suspected Russian intelligence agents from their countries.

“Winston Peters has taken the Government right back to where it was when the Prime Minister instigated damage control last Friday evening by issuing a clarifying statement that didn’t quite finger Russia as responsible, but at least said ‘Russia has serious questions to answer.’

“Has Mr Peters’ bought into the Kremlin’s theory that the UK Government might be responsible for attempting to kill the Skripals?

“Is the New Zealand Government saying Theresa May and the Governments who have supported her have got this wrong?

“Is this the real reason New Zealand hasn’t expelled any diplomats?

“It’s time for Jacinda Ardern to step up, pull Mr Peters into line, and finally show some real leadership in what is becoming an Achilles’ heel for this Government.”

Posted on

Government begins killing 3000 jobs this weekend

Source: ACT Party

Headline: Government begins killing 3000 jobs this weekend




“By increasing the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour, the Government is condemning 3000 young, unskilled workers to the scrapheap”, says ACT Leader David Seymour.

Official analysis by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment shows the ‘restraint on employment’ as a result of the minimum wage hike could be about 3000 jobs.

“In a classic example of good intentions and poor results, some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable workers will be stripped of an opportunity to gain valuable skills and work experience.

“Official advice to the Minister of Finance also shows minimum wage increases don’t increase productivity or economic growth, and are a poor way of tackling poverty given being on the minimum wage is a transitional stage for many workers.

“The pressure on vulnerable workers will only increase as the Government commits to a minimum wage of $20 an hour by 2021.

“New Zealand already has one of the highest minimum wages in the Western world. This means that the potential for job losses in future is even greater.

“The Government must instead focus on the underlying drivers of a high-productivity, high-wage economy – most importantly, a world-class education system where parents and students have choice.

“Forcing businesses to pay workers more than those workers can produce is the simplest recipe for higher unemployment”, says Mr Seymour.

Posted on

Greens welcome chief science advisor’s prisons report

Source: Green Party

Headline: Greens welcome chief science advisor’s prisons report

The Green Party is welcoming a report released by the Prime Minister’s Chief Scientist, Sir Peter Gluckman, which acknowledges our justice system is broken and incarcerating more New Zealanders won’t fix it.

“This report points the way forward for justice in New Zealand, and fits with what the Green Party has been advocating for some time,” said Green Party justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman.

“I know, having worked on the frontlines of our criminal justice system, that so-called ‘tough-on-crime’ rhetoric and policies do not stop crime or protect victims; the data and evidence clearly shows that.

“If we take that approach, our prison population will continue to rise at record rates.

“We need a justice system that prioritises early intervention, rehabilitation and mental health and addiction support.

“The Green Party has always seen imprisonment as the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff when it comes to making our communities safe.

“As law-makers, we need the courage to change tack, based on what the evidence tells us will actually reduce crime.

“We will continue to push for changes to our justice system to ensure it’s more equitable, and serves a better purpose than just locking people away,” said Ms Ghahraman.

Contact

Golriz Ghahraman MP

Article Type

Posted on

Bill to improve liquor licence laws for restaurants

Source: National Party – Headline: Bill to improve liquor licence laws for restaurants

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop has lodged a Member’s Bill to allow restaurants that hold on-licences to sell alcohol, to also hold off-licences under the same roof.

“The Sale and Supply of Liquor Act currently prohibits ‘shops within shops’, which means that restaurants that are also speciality food stores have great difficulty in selling alcohol through an off-licence under the same roof and at the same time,” Mr Bishop says.

“For instance, Bel Mondo international food market and restaurant in Kilbirnie was recently forced to close after licencing authorities asked the owners to erect a wall separating the dining area from the food store and operate two separate companies in order to sell wine to take away.

“At La Bella Italia in Petone, customers who may wish to purchase a bottle of wine after trying it in the restaurant are required to buy the wine online on an iPad in the corner of the store and pick it up from a separate entrance out the back.

“There are other examples I know of around the country. The Sale and Supply of Liquor Act is about reducing alcohol related harm; but this section of the Act is sadly just stopping innovative restaurants from offering a broader dining and retail experience.

“My bill makes it clear that restrictions on the granting of an off-licence to a premises that is situated within a shop do not apply to a premises that is a shop sharing premises with a restaurant.

“This is a common-sense change that I hope will receive broad support across the House.”