Category: Political Parties

Source: National Party – Headline: Parents’ choice on ECE snubbed by Govt

Parents who have chosen privately owned early childhood services for their children have been put on notice by the Minister of Education, National Party spokesperson for Early Childhood Education Nicola Willis says.

“The Government is planning major changes to early childhood education through their Early Learning Strategic Plan. Terms of reference released yesterday indicate the Minister’s intention of ‘turning the tide away’ from private provision of early childhood education services,” Ms Willis says.

“By suggesting that the Government will move away from private early education the Education Minister is really saying that he doesn’t approve of parents’ choice of provider.

“Parents choose their children’s early childhood centres with care and every family’s circumstances are different. Any given centre, including a private centre, is chosen because it meets a family’s needs in terms of operating hours, location, philosophy and quality of education.

“Parents are best placed to make those choices. All centres, regardless of ownership structure, are required to meet Government-mandated quality standards. Private centres play an important role in the sector and have grown to meet the changing needs of families juggling work and children.

“It beggars belief that the Minister thinks he knows better than families what type of providers they should choose.

“New Zealand’s early childhood sector is rich because of the diversity of providers within it – from kindergartens and kōhanga reo to playcentres and home-based care. 

“I’m sure parents around the country, like me, will welcome the Minister’s focus on the quality of learning in early childhood education. However, it’s reckless of him to link quality concerns with growth in privately run centres as the terms of reference for this review does.

“While a review of quality is welcome, the ownership structure of the providers should not come into it. The results for the child should be the focus.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Govt deals body-blow to farmers and growers

The Ardern-Peters Government has dealt a body-blow to farmers and growers in pandering to its mates in the Green Party and axing funding to irrigation projects, National Party spokesperson for Agriculture Nathan Guy says.

“Not only that, but it looks to me like it isn’t honouring its commitments to industries relying on these projects,” Mr Guy says.

“When they were first sworn in late last year, the new ministers received a briefing from Crown Irrigation outlining several projects that it had financial commitments to.

“While three projects – in Canterbury, Kurow and Waimea – will be completed, three projects – Hunter Downs, Hurunui and Flaxbourne – have been left high and dry. 

“That’s despite the fact many farmers, growers and councils in these areas have invested their own money and time to progress these localised schemes for over a decade. They’ve bent over backwards to meet the strict environmental consent conditions required to secure government backing.

“Many of those I’ve already spoken to feel this decision by the coalition Government is not in good faith, and a real kick in the guts.

“In the case of Hunter Downs in South Canterbury, farmers have raised $40 million in capital knowing that if they met all the criteria they would secure the funding. While this scheme was going to support 21,000 hectares of irrigation it was also designed to increase flows into Wainono lagoon and supply water to Timaru and Waimate townships. 

“The Hurunui community in North Canterbury has battled through three years of continuous droughts that caused heaps of stress and anxiety.

“These farmers have persisted for over 18 years to get their water storage scheme close to design stage. It would have turbo-charged the region with 21,000 hectares of irrigatable land – most of it for sheep and beef production.

“The small Flaxbourne scheme of 2,200 hectares east of Blenheim would have turned dry hill country carrying a handful of sheep into productive vineyards and arable crops.

“While the Grant Robertson thinks he can dance through legal loopholes and ditch these three schemes, they have neglected their moral obligations.

“The dreams and aspirations farmers have had of mitigating droughts and growing high-value food have literally turned to dust.

“Damien O’Connor – who declared six regions in drought this summer – has been rolled by the Greens and will be forever remembered as a weak Minister of Agriculture for not standing up for rural communities,” Mr Guy says. 

Source: National Party – Headline: Bill to introduce second-tier patent system drawn

New Zealand innovators could get a smoother path to success, as a Member’s Bill is drawn for debate in Parliament to provide intellectual property rights to advancements that may not qualify for a standard patent.

National Party Science and Innovation spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar will introduce the bill which has been drafted after taking into account experience from European countries and Australia, especially the most recent recommendations for a similar initiative to make the Australian system more effective.

“My Patents (Advancement Patents) Amendment Bill will introduce a more accessible and cost-effective second-tier patent system that will protect novel creations that don’t qualify for the standard patent,” Dr Parmar says.

“I am very committed to providing innovator protection over the use of their creation through a second-tier patent system, providing an opportunity for visionaries and creative people to keep working on their innovations without fear of being copied.

“It will also provide forward-thinking people with the opportunity to commercialise their creation whilst continuing the vital research and development component of our economy.

“Protecting ideas and advancements will help New Zealand innovators to stay competitive and stand out on the international stage.

“I will be seeking cross-parliament support for this bill.

“We should not be waiting – we must promote the advancement of technology and my bill will help ensure that New Zealanders continue to benefit from their creativity and innovation with a system that better supports the development of new and forward-thinking ideas.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Members’ Bill to provide help for smokers to quit

National MP Nicky Wagner is looking to improve laws around the accessibility of e-cigarettes to provide less harmful alternatives for long-term smokers that will help them kick the habit.

“The Members’ Bill I lodged this week, the Smoke-free Environments (Regulation of Electronic Cigarettes) Amendment Bill, designed to allow electronic cigarettes containing nicotine to be sold to persons over 18 years of age,” Mrs Wagner says.

“Currently the sale and supply of nicotine e-cigarettes and e-liquid as consumer products is illegal. However, the Ministry of Health itself has said that e-cigarettes have the potential to contribute to the Smokefree 2025 goal.

“E-cigarettes offer a better alternative to ordinary cigarettes for long-term, more engrained smokers and are significantly less harmful than smoking tobacco. They also pose no identified health risks to bystanders.

“While our smoking rate continues to decline, we still lose 4500-5000 New Zealanders each year to smoking-related illnesses. We must be open to alternatives that help to wean smokers off cigarettes and have fewer health risks.

“Although the numbers of smokers are decreasing and less young people are taking it up there is a group of long-term smokers, particularly Maori and Pasifika, who find it extremely difficult to quit.

“Vaping and electronic cigarettes are not a cure-all, but they offer an alternative for bridging the gap between a long-term habit and quitting altogether.

“There is no evidence that electronic cigarettes provide a gateway for smokers of tobacco cigarettes or that non-smokers are attracted to electronic cigarettes.

“I encourage all my Parliamentary colleagues to support this Bill through first reading.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Bill to improve financial security for foster children drawn

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker’s Members’ Bill to help improve the future financial security of foster children by providing access to KiwiSaver for children in foster care has been drawn from the ballot this afternoon and will be debated in Parliament.

“The KiwiSaver (Foster Parent Opting in for Children in their Care) Amendment Bill will make it possible for any foster parent, or Kin carer, to open a KiwiSaver account for a foster child in their care,” Mr Walker says.

“I am delighted that my Bill was drawn from the members’ ballot today. Foster children are among the most vulnerable children in New Zealand and foster parents and Kin carers go through significant barriers to establish suitability for care.

“There are many foster parents and carers who want to provide the best possible future for the children in their care, even if they never achieve legal guardianship. That includes ensuring that their foster child has some financial security.

“My Bill will make it possible for any foster parent, or Kin carer, who has proof of their foster responsibility to directly approach a KiwiSaver provider to open an account for a foster child in their care.

“At present, the only way for a foster parent or Kin carer to open a KiwiSaver account is by application to their allocated social worker and it relies on a complex process within a bureaucratic framework.

“A KiwiSaver account is the only financial instrument that no-one except the owner of the account itself can access. KiwiSaver has also offered not to charge for the accounts of foster children until there is a significant sum in the account.

“The passage of his Bill would add to the work National undertook during its time in Government to improve the lives of New Zealand’s most vulnerable children. I hope that Parliament supports this Bill to first reading.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Health Minister must release conflict statement

The Minister for Health David Clark has acknowledged that there is a conflict of interest with the independent reviewer of the $90 million National Oracle Solution IT programme, but is yet to release the details, National Party associate spokesperson for Health Dr Shane Reti says.

“Under prolonged questioning in the House this week, the Health Minister admitted that a conflict exists with the independent reviewer of the National Oracle solution project but suggests that because it had been declared there is nothing to worry about,” Dr Reti says.

“Even if, as he suggests, there is nothing to worry about with Deloitte’s review of their subsidiary company’s programme he needs to release the conflicts statement so that the sector can have confidence in the programme.

“This is a vital project that will lead to savings for the health sector and improvements in patient care, but the delays are causing significant uncertainty and cost to the Health sector.

“The Minister’s vague assurances that the conflict has been managed are not enough. The taxpayer can reasonably expect to hold the Minister to account for what may be millions of dollars.

“I am asking for the Minister to release the reviewer’s conflict of interest statement so that once the review of the programme is complete and the programme is finalised the sector can have confidence in the National Oracle Solution going forward.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Government continues raid on regions

The Government’s confirmation it will axe major irrigation projects is the second major blow it’s dealt to regional New Zealand in a week, National’s Paul Goldsmith and Nathan Guy say.

“Fresh from whacking a major new fuel tax on New Zealand motorists the Government has announced it will leave regional farmers and growers at the mercy of prolonged droughts by canning support for important irrigation projects,” National’s Agriculture spokesperson Nathan Guy says.

“This is a huge blow to regional New Zealand which is facing an increasingly uncertain future as a result of this Government’s raid on our regions.

“This summer alone saw six regions declared in drought as dry weather hammered primary producers right around New Zealand. These irrigation projects would have given them the certainty they could deal with future dry spells but that certainty’s now been ripped away.

“This Government claims it wants to help grow our exports and support our primary industries to add value but instead of standing behind regional New Zealand it’s taking its taxes and turning its back.

Mr Goldsmith says the Government’s regional growth strategy is a mess.

“It’s Jekyll and Hyde and seems to come down to which of Labour’s two support parties wins the day.

“One day Shane Jones sticks his finger in the air and doles out taxpayer cash for pet projects, the next day four ministers announce the Government will rip $5b out of regional road funding but tax motorists more and the next it is stripping millions out of important and demonstrably effective regional irrigation projects.

“That’s on top of seriously undermining future foreign investment, making it increasingly difficult to find staff and putting potential free trade agreements at real risk.

“It just shows the Government has no clear strategy.

“It says it supports regional New Zealand but it continues to put the boot in. Axing irrigation projects makes it harder for farmers and growers to do their jobs, harder for them to create jobs, harder to grow our exports and harder for New Zealanders to get ahead.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Rollout of Kauri cleaning stations welcomed

National Party Conservation spokesperson Sarah Dowie has welcomed the Department of Conservation’s rollout of cleaning stations in response to the spread of kauri dieback.

“Kauri dieback is devastating our forests and one of our most iconic tree species and we must be doing everything we can to stop it.

“The previous National Government was hugely focused on doing so, initially allocating nearly $30 million dollars to fast-track and beef up the Government’s response.

“Since then however, the new Government and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage have been too slow in moving to stop the spread.

“The Minister needs to start getting more done to ensure that Conservation is not a forgotten priority.

“On top of her inexplicable failure to rollout monitoring cameras on fishing boats to better protect our marine species she is fast looking like she is either uncommitted to conservation or failing to get the support of her fellow governing parties to do her job.

“In the meantime action on protecting our environment has gone backwards, kauri dieback continues to spread, and we need more action from our floundering Government.”