Labour's plan for the future  INTRODUCTION BY THE PRIME MINISTER  This booklet sets out the main points of the Labour Party's 1987 election manifesto.  It is a guide to the future.  We all know how much New Zealand has changed in the last three years. Labour believes that change must be matched with opportunity.  Labour's goal is real equality of opportunity.  I sum up the government's task in the next three years like this.  Better social services. There can't be real equality of opportunity unless all of us have the same chance of a good education and the same right to care in time of sickness.  A higher standard of living for all New Zealanders. That doesn't just mean higher incomes. It means a better quality of life, like better housing and greater personal security.  Employment. In a changing economy, the government must work hard to see that people can take advantage of opportunity.  I add to the list our continuing quest for nuclear disarmament. New Zealand has already set the world an example. There's more to be done.  There's more to be done across the board. That's why I ask the people of New Zealand to vote on 15 August to let the Labour government get on with the job.  AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE  Labour's goal is a productive, market-led farming industry.  Labour will  enhance marketing support to the farm sector through TRADECOM, the Market Development Board, the Horticultural Export Authority and the producer boards  expand the operations of the Rural Bank, giving it full authority to lend to processors as well as producers  ensure that the Rural Bank provides a full commercial service to the farming industry, with a continuing commitment to rural communities  continue to, restructure farm loans to let as many farmers as possible stay in the industry  actively promote the settlement of new farmers on the land through lending by the Rural Bank  provide a greater range of opportunities to train in the skills of agriculture and horticulture.  ARTS  The arts help shape New Zealand's identity.  Labour will  establish a Ministry of Arts and Culture, with wide-ranging responsibilities for the  encouragement and promotion of the arts  support the building of the New Zealand cultural centre  encourage and promote the marketing of craft-based industries, in New Zealand and for export  encourage private support for the arts by allowing tax deductibility for donations to bona fide cultural organisations  assist in funding the recording of New Zealand music  substantially increase the grant to the New Zealand Film Commission.  BROADCASTING  Labour believes in dynamic, responsible public broadcasting.  Labour will  support a reduction in the amount of violence shown on television  encourage radio to adopt a quota system for the broadcasting of New Zealand music  encourage broadcasting of programmes which reflect New Zealand's cultural diversity  review children's television programming, considering its timing and its advertising content  give power of review of the public broadcasting fee to an independent authority.  COMMUNICATIONS  Labour has already reformed the government's postal, telecommunications and retail banking businesses. Labour's goal is even better services.  Labour will  identify essential social services in communications, making sure those services are provided.  COMMUNITY  Labour believes that communities themselves know their own best interests.  Labour will  encourage local and regional authorities to plan for community development  help local groups to help themselves  encourage co-operation between communities with the same goals  review community representation on public bodies, making sure it is fair and sufficient  support training programmes for voluntary workers in local communities  review departmental boundaries to match them with community interests.  CONSUMER AFFAIRS  Labour's goal is a fair deal for all consumers.  Labour will  promote fair advertising  vigorously uphold the provisions of the Fair Trading Act and other law which safeguards the interests of consumers  review the Sale of Goods Act  protect the home delivery of milk.  DEFENCE  Labour has acted to exclude all possibility of nuclear weapons entering New Zealand. Labour believes that the basic requirements of an effective ANZUS association must recognise our anti-nuclear stance.  Labour's comprehensive review of the defence policy emphasised greater self reliance, a concentration of effort on the South Pacific region and close cooperation with Australia. Labour will  defend the independence and territorial integrity of New Zealand  maintain an effective nucleus of defence forces which can be expanded should the strategic situation change  maintain an effective defence force made up of career service personnel with provision for a continuing element of Territorial Force volunteers  ensure that the defence position is consistent with, and supportive of, the principles of the United Nations charter and the United Nations' need for peace keeping forces.  DISABLED  Substantial gains have already been made on a clearly defined policy for the disabled.  Labour will  ensure that disabled persons are able to achieve their maximum potential within the community  pursue policies which enable the disabled to be integrated into the mainstream of community life as much as possible.  ECONOMY  Labour will continue its far-reaching reform of New Zealand's economy. Labour's goals are sustainable economic growth; fairness, equality of opportunity and social justice; better living standards, especially for people on lower incomes;  full employment; stable prices; and New Zealand  control of New Zealand's economy.  Labour will  share the benefits of economic development fairly  improve living standards through the wage and tax structure and the provision of social services  guarantee minimum living standards, by measures such as the guaranteed minimum family income  support public investment where this is in the public interest  allow New Zealanders the greatest possible economic freedom consistent with the public interest  encourage the further development of a competitive, efficient economy  assist workers involved in economic change to make the adjustment through assistance with retraining and relocation  protect New Zealand industry against dumping and unfair competition  continue the reform of the tax system, increasing fairness and encouraging hard work and investment  improve the quality of public spending.  EDUCATION  Education is New Zealand's most important  investment. It's the key to opportunity. Labour's goal  is better education.  Labour will  increase the accessibility of education  increase community involvement at all levels of decision-making in education  encourage real equality of educational opportunity  reform the funding of childcare, recognising care in early childhood as part of the education process  reform the school curriculum, guided by the recent curriculum review  bring an end to corporal punishment in schools  increase teacher and parent involvement in the management of schools  meet the target of a 1:20 teacher:pupil ratio in junior classes, making sure the staffing is sufficient for pupils with special needs  work towards nation-wide cover for the reading recovery programme  complete the reform of curriculum and assessment in the senior secondary school  strengthen support services for rural schools  develop a comprehensive Maori education policy, in close consultation with the Maori community  complete the integration of disabled people into the education system  increase the availability of in-service training for teachers  give greater independence to polytechnics and community colleges  improve staffing at the universities  make sure that lack of money is not a barrier to tertiary education.  EMPLOYMENT  Labour believes that people must have a real chance to take advantage of opportunity in the economy.  Labour will  put in place an active labour market policy, bringing together skills training, the identification and encouragement of new employment opportunities, job search assistance and mobility assistance  increase the availability of training to overcome New Zealand's shortage of skifis  reform apprenticeship training to suit the needs of a modern economy  encourage programmes which help young people make the change from school to work  reform the administration of continuing education and training  crack down on abuse of the unemployment benefit  extend schemes which successfully assist in the  identification and development of new ventures and job opportunities  upgrade the vocational guidance and employment services of the Labour Department.  ENERGY  Labour has separated commercial and noncommercial activities in the public sector so that both can be better served.  Labour will  act as needed to reach social goals and serve the national interest in energy management  encourage Electricorp to maintain the price differential between the North and South Islands, recognising that development near the source of supply is in the common interest.  ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATiON  Labour has been committed to the preservation of New Zealand's unique indigenous natural resources, landscapes and ecosystems. Labour also knows the job of protecting these resources is never finished.  Labour will  continue to support the World Heritage Site concept for Fiordland and Mt Cook/Westland National Parks  give particular priority to assessing the natural values in the Southland Beech Forests for forma] protection and inclusion in a World Heritage Site nomination  study further appropriate incentives for the protection of native forest on private or Maori incorporation land  continue with the review of the resource use statutes  review the classification of protected lands and waters to ensure their continued protection.  FISHERIES  Labour's record in fisheries has been based on sound management, conservation of resources and protection of the environment.  Labour will  ensure the sustained protection of our inshore fish species  continue with the fishing resource rental, some of which will be used for fisheries management and research  protect the interests of those who enjoy recreational fishing  continue the assistance for aquacultural development and habitat enhancement  encourage the fishing industry to give priority to supplying New Zealand consumers with a wide variety of fish and fish products.  FORESTRY  As part of the environmental restructuring, Labour has established the Forestry Corporation and the Ministry of Forestry.  Labour will  recognise the marketing of New Zealand's plantation timber as a principal issue in forestry  continue the separation and refinement of functions of the new forest agencies  ensure that the remaining indigenous timber extraction for commercial purposes on the West Coast will focus on small scale, high value end uses  ensure sufficient staffing and funding for the Department of Conservation to act as an advocate for conservation of indigenous state forests.  HEALTH  Labour believes that all New Zealanders are entitled to the highest standard of health care. To meet that goal, Labour plans to reform spending on public health.  Labour will  promote better child health promotion programmes  boost health education and health promotion programmes  adopt a comprehensive preventative strategy for dealing with hazards to community health, including meningitis, hepatitis B, AIDS and toxic substances  review the provision and funding of primary health care, including general practice and dentistry  reform the structure of all health benefits and subsidies  extend dental nurse care to secondary schools  review staffing and procedures in public hospitals to reduce hospital waiting lists  expand the Maori health education programme.  HOUSING  Labour's innovative approach to housing has already helped thousands of New Zealand families.  Labour will  give priority for Housing Corporation assistance to low income families purchasing their first home, 'while allowing for refinance and second home lending where the need is urgent  make available home improvement loans up to $20,000 to low income families for essential extensions for modernisation  set interest rates on Housing Corporation loans according to income, with a ceiling on home outgoings of 25 per cent of gross household income  expand the granny flat scheme  maintain an adequate stock of Housing Corporation rental units  allow the sale of rental units to longstanding tenants, at the discretion of the Housing Corporation  promote a uniform, performance-oriented building code.  IMMIGRATION  Labour has undertaken a major review of immigration. The policy that has been adopted abandons the discriminatory 'traditional source' restrictions, and selects migrants on the basis of personal merits and attributes without regard to nationality.  Labour will  continue the more humane and non-discriminatory family reunification and family size entry policies set out in the earlier review  continue the regular updating of the occupational priority list in consultation with employers and unions  make sure that ethnic communities are consulted on policy changes that particularly affect them.  INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS  The new Labour Relations Act is a landmark in industrial law reform. Industrial relations can now reshape themselves to reflect in the economy.  Labour will  assist and support the amalgamation of trade unions  actively encourage improvements in health and safety in the workplace  encourage worker participation in the management of enterprises.  INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS  Labour has established an independent and constructive foreign policy working towards peace and stability in the South Pacific.  The New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone,  Disarmament and Arms Control Act came into force in 1987.  Labour has established a disarmament  division within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and funded peace education and research projects.  Labour has re-established a High  Commission in India and opened New Zealand's first diplomatic post in Harare, Africa.  Labour will  reaffirm its commitment to pursuing an independent foreign policy and the prohibition on visits by nuclear armed and/or powered warships and/or craft in New Zealand waters  actively seek to strengthen the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty  work to strengthen the authority of the United Nations and other cooperative international groups or bodies seeking to promote international peace and understanding  continue to recognise the urgent needs of developing countries for practical assistance and aid  reaffirm moves made to remove racial discrimination everywhere.  JUSTICE  Labour believes in the rule of law. Labour has already acted to reform and enforce the law.  Labour will  continue to upgrade court facilities, giving priority to the children's and young persons' courts and the family courts  improve the compensation paid to jurors, witnesses and interpreters for loss of earnings during service  improve access to legal services by improving legal aid  review the law of defamation  modernise the prison system  ensure that violent offenders are imprisoned for lengthy periods to protect the public  increase the level of psychiatric and counselling services available in the prison system  encourage sentencing which provides compensation to injured parties  increase assistance to victims of crime.  LANDS  Labour's Land policy has reconciled the aims of sustainable production, effective utilisation and management with the conservation and protection of important lands.  Labour will  administer protected natural areas and develop them as tourism and recreation resources through the newly created Department of Conservation  ensure the Land Corporation operates as a commercial land development agency and that the public gain a fair return for their investments  ensure that New Zealand land remains under the control of New Zealanders.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT  Labour believes in a more equal partnership between central and local government.  Labour will  continue to encourage greater local body involvement in the provision of social services  consolidate into one Act all rating legislation  improve the revenue sharing scheme by incentive grants linked to the adoption of additional functions  review the system of remuneration of local authority members.  MAORI AFFAIRS  Labour's goal is real equality between Maori and non-Maori.  Labour will  strengthen the Waitangi Tribunal and provide assistance in the compilation of claims  provide for the separate representation of Maori people in Parliament for as long as that is the wish of Maori people  encourage and support the Maori Development Corporation  enhance understanding in the education system, Maori cultural values and the Maori language.  OPEN GOVERNMENT  Labour believes the democracy depends on accountability in government  Labour will  require all members of Parliament to disclose their financial interests  consult widely on the proposed Bill of Rights  review the New Zealand Security Inteffigence Service Act  review the law of search and seizure and arrest  consult widely on the issues raised by the Royal Commission on the Electoral System and empower an inquiry by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Electoral Law  reform the electoral system on the basis of consultation  PACIFIC ISLANDS  Labour has taken major initiatives to ensure improved representation of New Zealand's Pacific Islands communities at all decision-making levels. Labour will  recognise the desires of Pacific Island people who live in New Zealand to maintain their cultural identities  continue to fund the Pacific Island Employment development scheme  support Pacific Island language nests  examine the reciprocity and portability of superannuation  ensure that there is adequate flexibility in Housing Corporation housing and loan finance to suit the needs of different lifestyles.  POLICE  Labour believes that the police can play an even greater role in crime prevention. Labour will  increase police strength and resources on a planned basis  appoint more community police officers  provide resources to combat drug offences  provide resources to combat white collar crime.  RECREATION AND SPORT  Labour knows the value of recreation and sport to a healthy community.  Labour will  work closely with the Hillary Commission to develop recreational and sporting programmes  investigate ways of increasing funding for recreation and sport.  REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT  Economic change has different results in different regions. Labour believes that a constructive partnership between central government and regional and local communities can manage the process of economic adjustment.  Labour will  use the role of central government, as a major investor and employer in the regions, to exert a positive influence on development  use the resources of central government as a coordinating agency in regions facing development pressures or problems of contraction and disinvestment  work with regions to identify development opportunities and evaluate the social and economic costs and benefits of development options  undertake regular reviews of all regions  'encourage the evolution of regional development councils into regional development agencies, charged with promoting regional investment and supporting local business  incorporate a regional perspective in government programmes  ensure that regional development agencies are linked with regional government.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  Labour has closely considered the report of the Ministerial Working Party on Science and Technology, and has taken several major steps based on its recommendations.  Labour will  provide adquate funding to the public sector science effort  encourage industry to increase its investment in research and development  improve the teaching of maths and science in New Zealand schools  establish an agency to advise the government on science and technology.  SOCIAL SERVICES  Unemployment, illness or financial crisis may strike any one of us yet we're powerless to help ourselves. Labour believes that people in genuine need are entitled to the support of the community, without embarrassment or difficulty.  Labour will  review, and where appropriate, increase the funding available to community agencies, giving priority to agencies working with families and young people at risk  enhance programmes in the Department of Social Welfare which offer specialist assistance to families  give high priority to funding for preventative and rehabilitation programmes for young people at risk, including solvent abusers  encourage community participation in the development of social services  reform income support in the light of the findings of the Royal Commission on Social Policy, which is considering all aspects of income maintenance, including national superannuation.  STATE SERVICES  Labour's goal is a dynamic, productive public sector.  Labour will  maintain public investment in commercial enterprises, while reserving the option of realising investments which no longer meet Labour's economic and social goals  increase managerial responsibility and accountability in the state sector  fund essential social services provided by the state owned enterprises.  TOURISM  Tourism is a major growth industry. Labour's goal is the best possible return from growing international interest in New Zealand.  Labour will  promote joint marketing campaigns by government  and the tourism industry, producer boards, Air.  New Zealand and the Market Development Board  work for better international air links  improve facilities at New Zealand's international airports.  TRADE AND MARKETING  Labour's approach to trade and marketing  reflects an economy which is increasingly competitive and outward looking.  Labour will  encourage greater co-ordination between government and private sector to enhance trade promotion  take vigorous action to have agriculture fully covered by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  commission research and consult widely on New Zealand's trading future in the South Pacific region  support regional initiatives to extend CER and SPARTECA.  TRANSPORT  Labour's goal is an efficient, effective and well co-ordinated transport system.  Labour will  put the finances of the Railways Corporation on a secure basis by taking over some $400 million of debt  encourage downtown property development by the Railways Corporation  investigate the integration of planning and development of urban rail passenger transport and roading, to provide a sound basis for the funding of urban transport  authorise the National Roads Board to fund measures which ensure that roading systems are not undermined by illegal operators  abolish the New Zealand Ports Authority  reform harbour boards on a port by port basis, requiring each board, with the exception of Gisborne, Wanganui and Greymouth, to set up a port company on a sound business footing  take vigorous action to enforce traffic laws and promote road safety  double fines for drinking drivers.  WOMEN  Labour's goal is real equality between women and men.  Labour will  promote more job-sharing, flexible working hours and part-time work opportunities in both public and private sectors  review the Equal Pay Act to make sure that women get equal pay for work of equal worth  implement programmes to give women real equality of employment opportunity throughout the public sector  increase the availability of good quality childcare  increase services and support for families  ensure that education is based on principles of real equality  sponsor a series of regional forums to discuss women's health issues  review the law of abortion, bearing in mind that the issue is subject to a conscience vote in Parliament  give special attention to the housing needs of women  encourage the work of the Ministry of Women's Affairs  establish a committee of inquiry into pornography  review the law relating to domestic violence  review the law of matrimonial property.  WORKS  Labour has introduced 'limited commercialisation' to fully recover costs from clients of particular services provided by the Ministry of Works and Development.  Labour will  corporatise the Ministry on 1 April 1988  carefully monitor any transitional problems relating  to the corporatisation  continue to fully consult with both public and private sector unions in the discussions.  YOUTH  Young people are New Zealand's future. Labour believes that all young people must have a real chance to reach their full potential.  Labour will appoint a Minister of Youth Affairs, with responsibility for co-ordinating the whole work of government in respect of youth  adequately fund the National Youth Council as the main co-ordinating body for the voluntary youth sector  encourage greater participation by young people in decision-making  provide training and employment programmes for young people.