PM’s ties to Karel Sroubek decision deepen
Source: National Party The Prime Minister must explain her ties to convicted criminal Karel Sroubek and her role in allowing him to stay, as newly released text messages suggest a closer role than she’s let on, National’s Immigration spokesperson Michael Woodhouse says. “The Government has started the year as it finished – cynically dumping information […]
Read More →Twyford must explain resignation of KiwiBuild Head
Source: National Party The announcement that Stephen Barclay has officially resigned from his position in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development does not bode well for Housing Minister Phil Twyford’s KiwiBuild policy, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says. “Stephen Barclay was appointed the head of KiwiBuild by Mr Twyford in May last year with […]
Read More →Health Minister hiding state of DHB finances
Source: National Party The refusal of the Minister of Health, David Clark, to publish the financial performance of DHBs is a cynical attempt at masking their precarious financial situation, National’s Health spokesperson Michael Woodhouse says. “Reports on the financial performance of DHBs are usually published regularly on the Ministry of Health website, however, in the […]
Read More →First NZ Study on effects of screen-time on pre-school children
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: First NZ Study on effects of screen-time on pre-school childrenObesity, poorer motor skills, hyperactivity problems and poor sleep are just some of the effects that may be experienced by pre-school children who exceed New Zealand’s screen-time guidelines, according to a study funded by the Ministry of Social Development’s Children and […]
Read More →Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Will the Government fix spying in the public service?
Political Roundup: Will the Government fix spying in the public service? by Dr Bryce Edwards The week before Christmas was dominated by what may actually have been the most important political issue of the year in New Zealand – revelations that government agencies have spied on New Zealanders through the use of private investigators. The […]
Read More →Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Should rodeos be banned in New Zealand?
Political Roundup: Should rodeos be banned in New Zealand? by Dr Bryce Edwards The Summer rodeo season is in full swing. And so protesters are, once again, drawing attention to what they regard as the cruel and archaic nature of this “entertainment sport”. This is leading to clashes between rodeo supporters and protesters. Rodeo, steer […]
Read More →Growth in Police deployments
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Growth in Police deploymentsThe first Police graduation for 2019 creates a new total of 1,101 frontline officers deployed around the country since the Coalition Government took office. Police Minister Stuart Nash today presented awards to the top recruits of Wing 322, whose Patron is the former Police Minister and current […]
Read More →Hardship grant increase shows baseline benefit must increase
Source: Green Party Hardship grants rising demonstrates why the baseline benefit needs to increase, Green Co-leader Marama Davidson said today. “We need to put the heart back into our social support system. This means providing support for New Zealanders so they can live with dignity. “New Zealanders understand that the cost of housing and rent […]
Read More →Parker to attend first CPTPP Commission meeting in Tokyo
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Parker to attend first CPTPP Commission meeting in TokyoMinister for Trade and Export Growth David Parker heads to Tokyo later this week for the first Commission meeting of the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade agreement, which came into force on 30 December 2018. “This is a significant milestone. […]
Read More →Benefits up as Govt makes it easier to do nothing
Source: National Party The number of people claiming the job seeker benefit has increased by 11,000 because the Government is going soft on benefit sanctions and those who don’t want to work, National’s Social Development spokesperson Louise Upston says. “Over the past year there has been a 42 per cent decline in the number of […]
Read More →Andrew Little to lead delegation to UN Human Rights Review
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Andrew Little to lead delegation to UN Human Rights ReviewJustice Minister, Andrew Little, lead a delegation to New Zealand’s third Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on 21 January. The Universal Periodic Review considers of New Zealand’s human rights records over the last five […]
Read More →Benefit rates remain low
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Benefit rates remain lowLatest benefit figures show the proportion of the working-age population receiving a main benefit remains similar to this time last year, with the rate of people on youth and parent benefits continuing to decline, Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said today. The total proportion of working age […]
Read More →PM to promote trade and wellbeing at World Economic Forum
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: PM to promote trade and wellbeing at World Economic ForumPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be promoting free trade agreements with the UK and EU and the Government’s wellbeing agenda to global leaders when she heads to London, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and Brussels next week. The primary […]
Read More →Finance Minister travels to Davos World Economic Forum, Brussels and London
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Finance Minister travels to Davos World Economic Forum, Brussels and LondonFinance Minister Grant Robertson will accompany the Prime Minister to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF). He will also visit Belgium and the United Kingdom for economic and business engagements. “This is a very timely trip given […]
Read More →Green Party welcome win by Sistema workers
Source: Green Party The Green Party congratulate E tū Sistema members who have secured a collective agreement that will ensure a 16% pay increase and a commitment to always pay workers above minimum wage. “This is collective action at its best and shows how sticking together and standing up for your rights can mean a […]
Read More →Win as Sistema members secure agreement – E tū
Source: Etu Union E tū Sistema members who have been in dispute with their employer over wages and conditions have agreed to accept the company’s latest offer for a new collective agreement. The deal will lift wages by about 16 percent for all members, by April 2020. Also included are provisions so workers are always […]
Read More →Government accounts show books in good order
Source: New Zealand Government Headline: Government accounts show books in good orderThe latest Crown financial statements released today show the Government’s books are in good order, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says. The Treasury today published the Crown accounts for the five months ended 30 November 2018, showing a surplus of $261 million over the five […]
Read More →Govt must act to support smoking cessation
Source: National Party The recent increase to cigarettes provides another incentive for smokers to quit but the Government must now ensure that smoking cessation tools are appropriately regulated and able to be used to encourage smokers to quit, National MP Nicky Wagner says. “Excise taxes have gone up by 10 per cent plus the CPI […]
Read More →Prisoner rehabilitation put above safety of guards
Source: National Party The Corrections Minister needs to explain why prisoners are being prioritised over guards after five serious assaults at Auckland’s brand new maximum security prison, National’s Corrections spokesperson David Bennett says. “Five prison guards have been attacked since the wing opened in October in two separate attacks. That includes a guard being punched […]
Read More →500% increase in organ donors being compensated
Source: National Party National MP Chris Bishop is welcoming the news that 92 people obtained full compensation for donating live organs last year, under the first full year of the Compensation for Live Organ Donors Act being in force. “It is fantastic that the implementation of my Member’s Bill, the Compensation for Live Organ Donors […]
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