Category: Politics

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National leads the charge on promoting women

Source: National Party – Headline: National leads the charge on promoting women

On a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, National is proud to be setting the parity agenda, Spokesperson for Women Paula Bennett says.

“It’s International Women’s Day and I stand proud alongside my fellow wahine as a mother, a grandmother, a politician, a wife and a fisherman (in no particular order) as an example of what we can do and what we can be given the opportunities.

“It’s a fact that in the National Party we have a number of very smart, formidable women who’ve carved out some exceptional careers for themselves both inside and outside of Parliament – and it’s a real focus of ours to ensure we promote talent in our Caucus based on merit, and not just to meet quotas.

“National’s done a great job in developing and promoting policy settings that have encouraged women to make the gains that they have in recent years.

“Under our watch women held 45 percent of governance roles appointed by Ministers onto State sector boards and committees, and we had a strong line-up of women in senior Cabinet positions, which has continued in Opposition shadow portfolios.

“The New Zealand economy has undergone robust growth in recent years and it’s no accident that the labour force participation rate for women is almost 65 percent, the highest rate ever.

“The gender pay gap has reduced by 16.3 percent in 1998 to 9.4 percent – but we all agree, there’s still more to be done to close that. The $2 billion pay equity settlement that National made last year to 55,000 aged care workers has meant that some of our hardest working women received an average of $100 a week more in their hand.   

“Change comes from the top and it’s a shame to see there are now fewer women in senior Cabinet positions under the Labour-led Government than there were under National.

“The Prime Minister is a great example of how women are more than capable of grabbing opportunities and running with them. I hope that her words turn into action when it comes to equal pay for women and she continues the work that National started,” Mrs Bennett says. 

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Minister for Trade and Export Growth heads to Paraguay then Chile for CPTPP signing

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Minister for Trade and Export Growth heads to Paraguay then Chile for CPTPP signing

Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker will travel to Asunción, Paraguay before joining other trade ministers in Chile for the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“The CPTPP will help the Government’s efforts to create jobs and deliver a better standard of living for New Zealanders,” says Mr Parker.
The 11-nation deal will create new opportunities for international trade, including preferential access for the first time to Japan – the third biggest economy in the World – as well as to Canada, Mexico and Peru.
“CPTPP has increased in importance because of growing threats to the effective operation of the World Trade Organisation,” Mr Parker says.
Mr Parker will also sign a number of side letters with CPTPP partner countries to accompany the CPTPP.
His travel to Paraguay marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations with New Zealand.
“New Zealand and Paraguay share common interests across a range of areas, including agriculture and issues facing our indigenous peoples. There is significant scope to share information and deepen our collaboration,” says Mr Parker.
While in Paraguay he will also advance New Zealand’s interests in strengthening trade with Latin America. Paraguay is the current President of the Mercosur trading group made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
“I look forward to registering New Zealand’s interest in beginning exploratory discussions with Mercosur,” says Mr Parker.
“These discussions would allow us to identify whether there is mutual interest and benefit in negotiating a comprehensive, high quality free trade agreement.”
Mr Parker leaves on 6 March and returns on 10 March.

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New Zealand explores ties with Mercosur

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: New Zealand explores ties with Mercosur

New Zealand is interested in strengthening economic ties with the Mercosur trading bloc, says Minister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker.
Mr Parker visited Paraguay, the current president of Mercosur, on 6-7 March.
He held talks with the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Marcos Medina and with Minister of Foreign Affairs Eladio Loizaga during the visit. He also held a working lunch with Paraguay’s new generation of leaders to discuss sustainable economic growth.
“As part of my visit I registered with Paraguay New Zealand’s desire to begin exploratory discussions with the Mercosur trading bloc,” says Mr Parker. These exploratory discussions would identify joint interests and strengthen New Zealand’s understanding of the benefits of a potential free trade agreement.
“An agreement with Mercosur could contribute to New Zealand’s track record of comprehensive and high quality free trade agreements,” said Mr Parker. There is also considerable potential to use a trade agreement to enhance cooperation across a range of important areas, including agriculture, labour and environmental standards.
Any agreement would reflect the Government’s progressive and inclusive trade agenda, which is currently being developed.
“A New Zealand-Mercosur agreement would also send an important signal about the value we place on a strong, rules-based international trading system”. 
Taken as a whole, Mercosur countries, which include Brazil and Argentina, have a combined GDP of US$2.42 trillion. “There is considerable value in developing stronger trade linkages with Mercosur,” says Mr Parker.
New Zealand is one of only two observer countries of Mercosur, a South American trade bloc comprised of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
 

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Forestry registration rights to be brought into Overseas Investment screening regime

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Forestry registration rights to be brought into Overseas Investment screening regime

Cabinet has agreed to changes to the treatment of overseas investments in forestry rights that will see them brought into the Overseas Investment Act screening regime.
At the same time a new streamlined approval path will be opened for overseas investors buying forestry rights that will make it easier to gain approval. 
Associate Finance Minister David Parker said that in recognition of the importance of quality overseas investment in forestry, this new streamlined approval path will also be available for investments in leasehold and freehold forestry land, which are already screened.
 “It is important to note that Māori hold a large percentage of forestry interests in New Zealand. It is not anticipated that this change will prejudice interests that Iwi have secured through the settlement process or fundamentally change the rights and interests of Māori in relation to their lands.” Mr Parker says.
 Mr Parker said the change needed to be made before the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) came into force. Mr Parker heads to Chile later this week to sign the CPTPP.
 “Making this change now will preserve policy options for future governments in relation to forests,” Mr Parker says.
 “Not making this change would mean future governments could not screen overseas purchases of our forests because there is little difference in effect between a long term lease and a long term forestry registration right. Both confer effective control of the forest and land.”
 Overseas investors will be able to purchase up to 1,000 hectares of forestry rights per annum, or any forestry right of less than three years duration, without OIA approval.
A standing consent system will also be developed, so quality forestry investors can make purchases of forestry land and rights without needing to seek prior approval of each individual transaction.
The counterfactual test, which has complicated forest purchases, is removed. Any existing commitments to provide logs to domestic customers are maintained.
 Ministers are finalising the details of the proposal and it will then be referred to Select Committee. There will be a short period for public consideration.

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History Suggests Adams Will Disappoint

Source: ACT Party

Headline: History Suggests Adams Will Disappoint




Now that Amy Adams has been promoted to be National’s Finance Spokesperson, here are a few predictions based on recent history.

Dealing with Superannuation 

By 2060, New Zealand will have 1.7 million superannuitants, or 27 per cent of the population. Every two workers will support one retiree.

Health and superannuation spending will rise to 18 per cent of GDP. As migration and labour force growth slows, so will economic growth and tax revenue.

The Government will be left with a massive fiscal hole. Net debt could hit $3 trillion.

Ardern and Robertson, like Key and English before them, have their heads in the sand.

Adams could make a big statement on the most pressing of our long-term issues by promising to raise the retirement age.

Prediction: National will retain its weak stance of raising the Superannuation age to 67 by 2040.

Actually cutting taxes (not just promising them) 

Steven Joyce talked a big game and promised tax cuts, but never delivered. He then cried crocodile tears when Labour cancelled them.

The fact is that the Key/English regime was Labour-lite.

If Adams is serious about boosting our economy, she’ll give a cast iron assurance that National will cut taxes on return to power.

Prediction: Adams won’t return money to its rightful owners. She believes she knows best how to spend taxpayer money.

Reducing corporate welfare and company taxes

Adams should “Just Say No” to the predilection Simon Bridges developed for corporate welfare while he was Economic Development Minister.

National spent about $13 billion in corporate welfare during its time in office.

There is no public appetite for handouts for politically trendy firms except from politicians seeking photo-ops.

Here’s a radical suggestion: business owners at the coalface know how to invest their money better than politicians sitting in plush Beehive offices.

If Adams promised to cut corporate welfare, the corporate tax rate could be cut to 25%, boosting investment, wages and jobs.

Prediction: The Bridges/Jones corporate welfare gravy train will roll on.

Dealing with tobacco tax

Adams should promise to cancel the four, annual 10 per cent tobacco tax increases National put in place in 2016.

Tobacco taxes have not significantly reduced smoking rates.

Eric Crampton from the NZ Initiative has estimated the new taxes will take $178 million out of the pockets of the poorest New Zealanders.

Aside from punishing the poor, the taxes are also fuelling hundreds of violent dairy robberies.

Prediction: The Nats won’t back down, meaning the poor and dairy owners will continue to be punished.

Dealing with housing costs

Adams should promise a future National government will overhaul the Resource Management Act to boost housing supply and get costs under control.

In 2016, 29% of households spent more than 30% of their income on housing. Only 10% of households did in the late 1980s.

The Government now spends $1.14 billion on accommodation assistance. Arguably, most welfare spending, including welfare spending on the middle class, is due to inflated housing costs.

Prediction: Adams utterly failed to get RMA reform over the line while she was Environment Minister. She won’t deliver this time.

Growing the economy to catch Australia

New Zealand’s economic underperformance relative to Australia is largely a problem of our poor productivity.

Adams should welcome foreign direct investment, which boosts jobs, wages, and growth.

She should promise to cut red tape, allowing firms to get on with their core business.

Adams should also promise to cut taxes across the board, creating incentives for New Zealanders to save, work and invest.

Prediction: National’s commitment to higher taxes, spending, and suffocating regulation will remain.

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More rangatahi to benefit from Youth Fund

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: More rangatahi to benefit from Youth Fund

Youth Minister Peeni Henare today announced the 31 successful projects that will receive a share of just over $182,000 to fund community projects led by young people, as part of Youth Fund 2018. 
Youth Fund supports young people to get involved in projects that will develop valuable skills such as decision making, leadership and peer mentoring and at the same time boost self-confidence to make a positive contribution to their community. 
This funding has been in place for nine years and is very significant to the Ministry as it is a youth-led initiative – by rangatahi, for rangatahi. The selection panel is made up of young people who assess the applications and make decisions on how the funding should be allocated. 
The projects this year will see young people get involved in community focused projects, mentoring platforms, leadership programmes, and internships. 
One particular project this year, Save and Help, will bring together a core group of ten young people who will buddy up with staff members and work alongside families in need from the community. This can include the young people cooking a meal for a family that is going through a tough time, helping an elderly person stack firewood, or simply painting a community fence. Up to 30 young people will be involved. This project will demonstrate how young people of today have such great community spirit and whanaungatanga.
“Another exciting project, Te Kopounga, will see rangatahi co-design a 12-week programme which will focus on media workshops, enterprise skills, work readiness, and cooking skills for young people Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET),” says Mr Henare.
“It is important that we invest in rangatahi, especially through projects that will allow young people to use their own initiative in making informed decisions and solving problems along the way.” 
“To the successful recipients of the Youth Fund 2018, I wish you all the best,” says Mr Henare. 
Details of the 31 successful projects can be found on MYD’s website.
Contact: Patisepa Helu 021 821 562

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Minister welcomes Canoe Racing training centre opening

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Minister welcomes Canoe Racing training centre opening

Acting Sport and Recreation Minister Peeni Henare congratulates Canoe Racing New Zealand and the Waipa District Council on today opening the newly constructed High Performance Training Centre and Perry Community Water Sports Centre at Lake Karapiro, Cambridge. 
“It’s incredibly exciting to be here for the opening, with the added buzz around our elite women who won four medals at the World Championships last year competing in the NZCT Canoe Racing National Championship this weekend – and I’m sure the local community feels as inspired as I do,” Minister Henare says.
The shared facility aims to drive efficiencies and bring economic benefits to the region through events and programmes, while building on Cambridge’s ‘Home of Champions’ brand as the host of the Avantidrome and Rowing New Zealand High Performance Training Centre. 
“The model for this facility is a great example of how high performance athletes and community groups can share space and complement one another. The Government is proud to invest in this project, to provide a world class daily training environment for elite athletes and inspire our youth to be physically active and healthy. 
“Making the move from Auckland has been a collaborative effort to leverage the resources and capability that Rowing New Zealand, Cycling New Zealand and High Performance Sport New Zealand already have in place here in Cambridge, and I’d like to recognise Sport NZ as the funder for having the vision to bring these facilities together for tremendous mutual benefit.” 

Media contact: Patisepa Helu 021 821 562
 

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New Zealand to host World Conference on Women in Sport

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: New Zealand to host World Conference on Women in Sport

Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson and Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter today welcomed New Zealand’s successful bid to host the 8th International Working Group on Women in Sport secretariat from 2018 to 2022.
The honour will culminate with New Zealand hosting the 8th World Conference of the International Working Group on Women in Sport (IWG) in Auckland in 2022. The bid was a joint effort by Sport NZ, Women in Sport Aotearoa (WISPA), the NZ Olympic Committee and Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development (ATEED).
“The vision of the IWG is sustainable sporting culture that enables and values the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport – a vision our Government shares,” Grant Robertson says.
“Hosting this influential event will provide an opportunity to connect New Zealand with the global conversation, highlight our achievements and focus our efforts and aspirations on achieving much more.”
“Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the immense achievements of women, and is a call to action to accelerate gender equity around the world,” says Julie Anne Genter.
“The hosting of the IWG World Conference and work of the Wonderful Group are reminders of the important role sport can play in this.”
Grant Robertson was in Auckland today to help launch the newly formed Wonderful Group’s ‘It Takes Two’ mentoring programme. The programme helps young women with ambitions to work in sport media by drawing on the experience of women already in the industry, in turn empowering these mentors to strive for leadership roles.
“Increasing the profile, participation and leadership contribution of women across our sporting sector is a key priority for the Sport and Recreation and Women’s portfolios,” Grant Robertson and Julie Anne Genter say.

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World-class canoe training centre opens in South Auckland

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: World-class canoe training centre opens in South Auckland

Sport and Recreation Minister Grant Robertson today officially opened the Canoe Slalom New Zealand High Performance Training Centre at the Vector Wero White Water Park in Manukau, Auckland.
“This Centre is a world-class training environment for New Zealand. It was constructed as an add-on conversion to the existing Vector Wero White Water Park, opened in 2016,” Grant Robertson says.
“As well as its high performance aspect, the facility allows people of all ages and abilities to ‘give it a go’, aiming to cater for 15,000 children each year through kayaking, rafting and water safety sessions. These are important and valuable skills for our young people to learn.”
The opening celebrations included a pōwhiri with Tainui representatives, before Rio Olympic silver medallist Luuka Jones and World Championship bronze medallist Mike Dawson did a run of the course. A school group then took part in a Tamariki Rafting course. 
“The shared facilities approach will allow for a strong focus on activities for young people wishing to pursue white water sport through the Momentum Hub at Wero,” Grant Robertson says.
The project is a collaboration between Canoe Slalom New Zealand, Sport New Zealand, High Performance Sport New Zealand and Wero operator Second Nature Charitable Trust. In late January, the Park hosted the Canoe Slalom Oceania Championship. Sport NZ invested $250,000 in the fit-out to upgrade the course.

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Further aid to Papua New Guinea

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Further aid to Papua New Guinea

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says New Zealand will make a further deployment of aid to Papua New Guinea to help with the emergency response following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake last Monday.
A second RNZAF C-130 Hercules aircraft carrying emergency relief supplies will depart for Port Moresby on Thursday carrying mother and infant kits, family hygiene kits and tarpaulins. While in Papua New Guinea the C-130 will assist with the delivery of relief items to the affected Highlands region in partnership with Papua New Guinean authorities and other development partners.
“Sadly a number of people have lost their lives during this earthquake and New Zealand stands ready to help the people and Government of Papua New Guinea in the best way we can,” says Mr Peters.
ENDS
Contact: Alex Masters, Press Secretary, 021 809 186