111 response times lagging
Source: National Party Police are taking longer to answer 111 calls in what’s a worrying trend, National’s Police spokesperson Chris Bishop says. “Police have a target to answer 90 per cent of 111 calls within 10 seconds. In its annual report, Police reported answering 79 per cent of calls within 10 seconds, down from 84 […]
Read More →Questions remain over Government’s ECE plan
Source: National Party National welcomes the focus on lifting the quality of Early Learning in the Draft Strategic Plan released today, National’s Early Childhood Education Spokesperson Nicola Willis says. “National believes all children should have access to high-quality early childhood education. Parents need confidence that early learning services are doing a good job for their […]
Read More →Rents on the rise as Govt hurts low-income families
Source: National Party Rent increases are accelerating under this Government, making a mockery of its claim to be prioritising New Zealand’s lower-income households, National Party Leader Simon Bridges says. “Median rents have risen by $30 a week in the past 12 months, which is an increase of $1560 a year. “Rents have gone up 2.5 […]
Read More →Delayed Sroubek decision shows more Govt incompetence
Source: National Party Confirmation from Immigration New Zealand that its review into Czech drug-smuggler Karel Sroubek’s residency has been delayed is yet another sign of incompetence from the Labour-led Government, National Leader Simon Bridges says. “Embattled Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said this review would be done within three weeks. He then said he expected it […]
Read More →Rebuilding our hospitals!
Source: New Zealand Labour Party If we want to have a world-leading healthcare system, we have to get the basics right. That’s why we’re rebuilding hospitals and fixing our health system’s critical infrastructure. We’ve spent the last few months rolling out our hospital investments around the country – from Middlemore to Maniototo. Take a look at […]
Read More →Urgent answers needed after rescue helicopter unavailable
Source: National Party Just 14 days after the Rotorua Rescue Helicopter service was scrapped lives are already being put at risk, MP for Rotorua Todd McClay says. “Yesterday a man working on a forestry site near Rotorua received an electric shock from powerlines. The 35-year-old Tauranga chopper was being serviced in Auckland and the Taupo […]
Read More →Stalled partnership with Singapore 7 months overdue
Source: National Party The Prime Minister needs to use her visit to Singapore this week to sign the stalled New Zealand – Singapore Enhanced Partnership negotiations which has now been delayed by seven months, National’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Todd McClay says. “The National-led Government was set to sign a major Enhanced Partnership agreement with Singapore […]
Read More →National congratulates Dame Annette King
Source: National Party National congratulates Dame Annette King on her appointment as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia, National’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Spokesperson, Todd McClay says. “The role of High Commissioner in Australia is a very important one and Dame Annette certainly has the experience to build on our relationship with Australia and provide […]
Read More →Sage approving foreign investment welcome
Source: National Party The National Party welcomes signs that Land Information Minister Eugenie Sage is backing away from her Green Party’s anti-foreign investor rhetoric and is now approving investments that benefit the economy and create jobs, National’s Land Information spokesperson David Bennett says. “Ms Sage’s about-face means foreign investment continues to be a crucial element […]
Read More →Serious questions remain over Haumaha
Source: National Party Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern still has serious questions to answer regarding her appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police Wally Haumaha after Mary Scholtens QC’s report was released today, National’s Police spokesperson Chris Bishop says. “This report was only ever into the process behind the appointment of Mr Haumaha, as Ministers themselves have […]
Read More →KiwiBuild’s popularity plummeting
Source: National Party Housing Minister Phil Twyford has admitted his KiwiBuild housing scheme is not nearly as popular as he or the Prime Minister have claimed it is, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says. “According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, contracts for 3,375 houses have been signed between KiwiBuild and a developer. […]
Read More →Government’s soft on crime message filters through
Source: National Party The Government’s soft on crime approach has filtered through to the Police as 84 people were visited for illicit drug importation but not one charge was laid, National’s Justice spokesperson Mark Mitchell says. “Police have admitted they visited 84 addresses as part of a crackdown on people importing illicit drugs via the […]
Read More →Week That Was: Changing the game in education, business, and housing
Source: New Zealand Labour Party Our Week That Was series gives you a round-up of all the achievements, announcements, and other political goings-on around Parliament and across the country over the past week. We’re proud of all we’re doing to make New Zealand a great place to live – and we want to share it […]
Read More →Parker would turn RMA into red-tape monster
Source: National Party Every New Zealander who has sought a resource consent has a tale of being bogged down in red tape, delays and soaring compliance costs and will be asking why David Parker wants to make it worse, National’s Planning (RMA Reform) spokesperson Judith Collins says. “The Environment Minister has revealed his ambitions include […]
Read More →Parliament could block Vic Uni name change
Source: National Party Serious questions are being raised about whether a change to the name of Victoria University of Wellington can proceed without an amending Act of Parliament, National’s List MP based in Wellington, Nicola Willis says. “Evidence heard in the Education and Workforce Select Committee today suggests that a University name change requires a […]
Read More →Parliament must take historic opportunity to make changes on drug harm reduction
Source: Green Party The Green Party is calling on Parliament to take heed of the latest independent report calling for a harm reduction approach to drugs, while the synthetic cannabis crisis continues to grip the country. A report released today, commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation, has reinforced decades of research showing that punishment does […]
Read More →Government additional learning support welcome
Source: National Party Today’s confirmation the Government will build on National’s record investment in learning support is good news for schools, however, with a critical teacher shortage and pay negotiations ongoing, it may be hard to achieve, National’s Education spokesperson Nikki Kaye says. “There will be many students and families who will be hugely supportive […]
Read More →Green Party welcome investment in education
Source: Green Party The Green Party welcomes funding for an additional 600 coordinators in schools to assist teachers with students who have additional needs. “We recognise that schools are central to the success of our communities”, Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. “Families end up keeping their kids at home because it is too […]
Read More →Jacinda Ardern’s Speech to the 2018 Labour Party Conference
Source: New Zealand Labour Party I’m really pleased to be here in Dunedin. For all of the creativity, history, and beauty that this city holds, you still had me at ‘cheese roll.’ I’m also pleased to be here because this is my first leader’s speech at a Labour Party conference. That means my first order […]
Read More →Ballot extension shows KiwiBuild struggling
Source: National Party The latest announcement that the ballot for KiwiBuild houses in Wanaka has had to be extended hammers home just how much Housing Minister Phil Twyford’s pet KiwiBuild scheme is struggling, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says. “The extension of the ballot that opened early last month shows there hasn’t been the demand […]
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