KiwiBuild puts the housing market at risk
Source: National Party The Government is putting New Zealand’s housing market at risk through its KiwiBuild programme, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says. The REINZ report released today shows a decline in the national median house price since last month, and the Reserve Bank Governor has indicated prices could fall. “The housing market fluctuates all […]
Read More →Windblown timber bill vital for the West Coast
Source: National Party The Government needs to support a proposed Local Bill which would enable the harvesting of windblown trees on Conservation Land in the West Coast following adverse events, National’s Maureen Pugh says. “I have been working with the West Coast Regional Council since the Government blocked my motion to have my Members Bill […]
Read More →Health Minister dismisses cybersecurity concerns
Source: National Party In light of recent information that Lakes DHB is subject to 1.7 million cyberattacks per day Health Minister David Clark must ensure the sector and the public that something is being done to keep their data safe, National’s spokesperson for Data and Cybersecurity Dr Shane Reti says. “Recently, a spokesperson from the […]
Read More →More reviews won’t fix freedom camping logjam
Source: National Party One of the Government’s infamous 140 working groups has, incredibly come back with a recommendation to have five more reviews, National’s Tourism spokesperson Todd McClay says. “Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis’s Responsible Camping Working Group has reported back not with a plan but with a recommendation the Government reviews the Freedom Camping Act, […]
Read More →Govt must reach agreement and avoid more strikes
Source: National Party The Government’s failure to reach an agreement with primary teachers has caused massive disruption to children’s learning today and to parents who have struggled to sort childcare arrangements, National’s Education spokesperson Nikki Kaye says. “During the election campaign, Labour built up high expectations around pay rises and working conditions for teachers. Now […]
Read More →Alfred Ngaro – Minister not aware of her own Ministry’s failings
Source: National Party Minister for Children Tracey Martin is clearly out of her depth after admitting she’s not aware of high profile cases of children who are being abused, National’s Children spokesperson Alfred Ngaro says. “Today in Question Time, I asked the Minister about two cases which featured in the news last week. One of […]
Read More →Minister’s hands-off approach to strike reckless
Source: National Party The Minister has taken a hands-off approach regarding tomorrow’s strikes. Despite having more than one month’s notice it is clear that neither the Ministry nor the Minister have got the full picture, on the eve of the strike, of exactly how many of the 1945 primary schools will be open or closed, […]
Read More →Haumaha should stand aside
Source: National Party New allegations about Wally Haumaha means the Deputy Commissioner now has no choice but to stand down while he’s being investigated, National’s Police spokesperson Chris Bishop says. “There are now allegations of Mr Haumaha contacting an important witness to an alleged bullying incident after the Herald started asking questions, which shows that […]
Read More →Political priorities trump election promises
Source: National Party Shane Jones continues to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars with no plan or oversight, while the Government repeatedly breaks promises claiming it doesn’t have enough money, National’s Regional Economic Development spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says. “When the Government is closing down maternity centres like Lumsden’s, cancelling new funding for cochlear implants […]
Read More →Time for the Greens to stop anti-democratic bill
Source: National Party The Government’s decision to defer the consideration of the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill this week gives the Green Party another opportunity to rediscover its principles and reject this draconian Bill, National’s Electoral Law Reform spokesperson Dr Nick Smith says. “National’s strong opposition to this Bill has forced the Government to back down […]
Read More →Twyford leaving more questions than answers
Source: National Party Today’s announcement on the opening of pre-qualification for KiwiBuild houses has left New Zealanders with more questions than answers, National’s Housing spokesperson Judith Collins says. “Housing Minister Phil Twyford had nine years to come up with a detailed KiwiBuild plan, yet he’s still dodging the important questions. “How will Housing New Zealand […]
Read More →Government needs to focus on the economy
Source: National Party The Government’s decision to impose a plastic bag ban while neglecting to address plummeting business confidence and slowing economic growth shows it’s focused on low-hanging fruit that won’t make any real difference, National Leader Simon Bridges says. “National wants to see an end to plastic bags too but both consumers and businesses […]
Read More →Still no real change in mental health
Source: National Party Today’s announcement by the Government of a six unit secure facility rings somewhat hollow given that the Government has callously cancelled 17 mental health initiatives that would have been making a difference right now, National’s Health spokesperson Michael Woodhouse says. “The fact that this Government grabbed $100 million that was earmarked by […]
Read More →Further Haumaha revelations raise more questions
Source: National Party Revelations about bullying and intimidation by Wally Haumaha against three female public servants are deeply troubling and raise further questions about Mr Haumaha’s appointment as Deputy Police Commissioner, National’s Police spokesperson Chris Bishop says. “Today’s revelations, alongside earlier reports that Mr Haumaha described serious allegations surrounding his friends in the Police as […]
Read More →Targeted support must come with obligations
Source: National Party National supports efforts to get hard to reach young people into work but believes they must also be held accountable for that extra support and to get their lives on track, National’s Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment spokesperson Paula Bennett says. “National had a real focus on getting those young people not […]
Read More →Govt abusing parliament to rush controversial law
Source: National Party The use of extended sitting hours to ram through controversial electoral law is an abuse of parliamentary processes and will continue the downward spiral of free speech in New Zealand National’s electoral law spokesperson Nick Smith says. “This morning the Government, without agreement of the Business Committee and without debate in Parliament, […]
Read More →Govt raising Māori expectations on water
Source: National Party Environment Minister David Parker’s establishment of Kahui Wai Māori is just another attempt by this Labour-led Government to mislead Māori on freshwater issues, National’s Māori Development spokesperson Nuk Korako says. “Kahui Wai Māori – the Māori Freshwater Forum is another talkfest forum that’s designed to give the appearance of engagement with Māori. […]
Read More →Perfect storm threatening construction industry
Source: National Party Building and Construction Minister Jenny Salesa has no real idea of why the building sector is in crisis, National’s Building and Construction spokesperson Andrew Bayly says. Mr Bayly asked in Parliament’s Question Time today technical questions to Ms Salesa regarding Government construction procurement and whether construction costs would increase as a result […]
Read More →Shabby exploration ban will prove costly
Source: National Party Further evidence shows that the Government’s sudden change in approach to offshore exploration opens it up to the risk of legal challenge, National’s Energy and Resources spokesperson Jonathan Young says. “At a time of already plummeting business confidence it’s becoming more and more clear that the Prime Minister’s hasty decision to end […]
Read More →Major immigration backdown welcome, but too late
Source: National Party The Government’s major backdown on post-study work rights for international students is welcome, but the damage to New Zealand’s international reputation has already been done, National’s Immigration spokesperson Michael Woodhouse and Associate Tertiary Education spokesperson Simeon Brown say. “Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway has been forced into a U-turn on his proposed changes […]
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