NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICIES  POLICY SUMMARIES CURRENTLY ONLINE:  * Introduction to our policies  * ACC  * Broadcasting & Communications  * Conservation  * Consumer Affairs  * Defence  * Disability  * Economic  * Education  * Employment  * Fisheries  * Foreign Affairs  * Foreign Investment And State Assets  * Health  * Housing  * Immigration  * Law and Order  * Pacific Island Affairs  * Racing  * Research and Development  * Rural Policy  * Senior Citizens  * Superannuation Policy  * Taxation  * Tertiary Education Policy  * Tourism  * Trade  * Transport  * Youth Affairs    POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS  New Zealand First announced the following policies at  the party's Sixth Annual Convention, in Auckland, on  18 July 1999.  New Zealand First will:  * Reduce the interest rates on student loans. New  Zealand First will peg interest rates to the CPI  plus 2%. At present students pay over 7%. This  initiative would halve current interest rates.  * Invest in education and training, making it  available and attainable for all New Zealanders.  New Zealand First will treat education as an  investment, not an expense.  * Amend the Reserve Bank Act to broaden the policy  targets to include employment.  * New Zealand First will create a New Zealand  development banking utility to provide venture  capital;  * Provide tax incentives for exporters because  increasing exports is essential for employment  growth and regional development.  * Invest more in science and technology, research  and development.  * Restore National Superannuation to 67.5% of the  average wage.  * Increase all war veterans' allowances and  pensions by 10%.  Further policy announcements will be listed as they  are unveiled.  For additional information go to Winston Peter's  speech. To read what other New Zealand First MPs' had  to say at the convention, go to Convention Speeches.  NEW ZEALAND FIRST - LEADERSHIP YOU CAN TRUST    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Introduction to New Zealand First Policies  NEW ZEALAND FIRST  BACKGROUND  New Zealand First was formed on 18 July 1993 as a party to  represent the views of all New Zealanders concerned about the  economic and social direction of New Zealand, the sale of public  assets to foreign control, and the decline in employment and  social services. New Zealand First fielded 83 candidates in the  1993 election, and in 1996 17 MPs were elected.  OUR VISION  To put New Zealand and New Zealanders First through enlightened  economic and social polices, by placing control of New Zealand's  resources in the hands of New Zealanders and by restoring faith in  the democratic process.  New Zealand First was formed with 15 fundamental principles  PLANNING FOR AN ENHANCED FUTURE  NEW ZEALAND FIRST BELIEVES THAT:  1. New Zealanders are entitled to a political system they can  feel confident about, and politicians they can rely on to  represent them;  2. New Zealand needs a clear strategy aimed at boosting export  growth and employment and an end to aimless restructuring of  government services; and  3. The principal aim of a Government should be full employment.  Any person capable of work should be given the opportunity to  do so and not relegated to welfare dependency.  Those who have the most to lose from political and democratic  reform continue to occupy the positions of power. The introduction  of a new electoral system (MMP) has not created any real  institutional and attitudinal change. Political domination is  still the basis of power seeking by the old parties. The events of  the past 18 months confirm this. Vested interests have worked to  cripple the MMP process. There has been little change in political  behaviour.  Politicians have been consistently discredited by dishonoured  promises; deliberate campaigns of policy deception; party  political goals taking precedence over public goals; the process  of political appointments, and ministerial meddling. There have  been unauthorised and inexplicable payouts to bureaucrats and  political appointees. The attainment and retention of power and  financial gain have superseded the concept of an impartial public  service.  The move to MMP was not the end of political reform - it was the  start. New Zealand First aims to make Parliament itself a more  responsive and accountable institution, and to give greater power  back to the community.  To achieve this aim, New Zealand First advocates:  1. A reduction in the size of Parliament  New Zealand First adheres to the position established in its  15 founding principles ie, the number of MPs will be reduced  to 80.  2. Greater contestability of policy advice  Experience has shown that all parties in government must have  access to contestable policy advice with social impact  analysis to accompany cost/benefit analysis in government  decision-making processes.  3. Code of ministerial responsibility  A clearly defined new professional code of ministerial  responsibility is required to govern the standards of our  ministers, including a clear job description, limitations to  ministerial powers, a clear chain of responsibility, and a  clear outline of the circumstances under which a minister  would be required to relinquish their warrant.  4. A Cabinet of ministers based upon talent  A New Zealand First-led administration would promote to  Cabinet MPs with particular talents and not necessarily  according to party affiliations.  5. Greater use of public referenda  New Zealand First wants to form a practical partnership with  the New Zealand people by the judicious use of direct public  referenda where:  o there is neutrality and impartiality in the question;  o there is fair dissemination of all of the facts on both  sides of the argument;  o there is certainty in the poll (ie, the question can be  clearly understood);  o there is appropriate time for debate to be conducted;  o the referendum's objective is capable of being met  within the country's fiscal constraints.  6. Strengthened Select Committee process  New Zealand First accepts the value of a second tier of  responsibility that is currently manifested in "associate"  ministers and the role of "parliamentary under secretary". To  this tier should be added Select Committee chairpeople the  status of whom needs enhancing to achieve greater  co-operation and communication with ministers and improved  scrutiny of policy and legislation.  Currently there is enormous waste in spending on policy  advice. New Zealand First will conduct an independent enquiry  into this spending. The Committee will be assisted by experts  and will be charged with establishing the criteria by which  policy advice units should be judged. All policy advice units  in the Government will be investigated. A further enquiry  into each Government departments' public  relations/communications unit will be conducted. Their links  with outside agencies will also be investigated for potential  conflicts of interest. The State Sector Act 1988 will be  rewritten.  7. Electoral (Resignation from Party) Bill  Desertion from parties and acting without any mandate has got  to stop. New Zealand First is promoting a Bill that provides  that a Member of Parliament's seat becomes vacant if he or  she resigns from the parliamentary membership of the  political party they belong to. This matter will continue to  be pursued so that the proportionality of Parliament is  maintained as voted for by electors.  8. Strengthened electoral legislation  New Zealand First will ensure that political parties are  publicly accountable for their finances to remove conflicts  of interest.  9. Reform of the Parliamentary petition process  New Zealand First will ensure that all petitions over a  certain number of minimum adult signatures (5,000 signatures  per constituency and/or 50,000 nationally) must be  appropriately researched and receive both departmental and  parliamentary responses.  1999 POLICY - TOWARDS 2010  New Zealand First is providing a clear outline of the party's key  plans and their legislative implications.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  ACC Policy  INTRODUCTION  The original intention of the 1972 Accident Corporation  Compensation Act was that ACC should carry forward the common law  indemnity principle and reimburse injured people in full for their  losses (less 20% of their earnings) and costs.  The Woodhouse Commission based its recommendations on five key  principles:  * Community responsibility;  * Comprehensive entitlement;  * Complete rehabilitation;  * Real compensation; and  * Administrative efficiency.  However, since that time there have been significant changes to  the Act and to employment structures and conditions.  The Act now requires people on work place compensation, when  assessed, to be fit only for a job which is judged as suitable and  in which they can work for 30 hours or more per week and then  compensation is terminated completely.  There is no requirement for the earnings in this new job to be in  any way similar to the earnings of the former occupation.  In addition, injured people are now often compelled to meet a  substantial proportion of medical treatment, rehabilitation costs,  travelling costs and some other charges associated with injury  and/or disability.  Employers also have had concerns about the ACC structure for some  time, believing it to be too costly, too dictatorial, and not  efficient enough.  In return for embracing the Woodhouse scheme the right to sue for  negligence or loss of earnings was waived by employees.  There has been a trend in areas, since the inception of the  Employment Contracts Act, towards more casual employment, short  term contracts, and the like. Many people now employed on such a  basis have little or no job security and regard their employment  as "stepping stone" employment whilst they search for a more  secure job.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led government will:  * maintain the right for employers to use private workplace  insurers;  * appoint an Accident Compensation Ombudsman to address areas  of claims and responsibilities, to ensure fairness;  * introduce a structure to cater for sports injuries (this  could be by "experience rating" the employees account, or by  creating an independent "sports account");  * restore lump sum compensation;  * allow all employees the right to sue for expenses and when  there has been employer's negligence, for loss of future  earnings when:  * they are employed on a casual basis with little or no job  security or they are compelled to take a lesser earning job  as a result of a work place accident;  * introduce legislation to allow accident insurance providers  the 'right to sue' those persons who inflict traffic injuries  through drunk-in-charge driving;  * introduce graduated accident compensation levies (higher for  motorcycles and vehicles of greater power and/or risk, lower  for vehicle types with good protective safety features);  * increase the amount of the fuel tax that is allocated to  accident compensation; and  * remove loopholes to ensure the exclusion from coverage of any  injuries suffered whilst committing a crime.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Broadcasting & Communications  INTRODUCTION  Free and open communication is the foundation of the democratic  state. While the role of Government should largely be confined to  essential regulatory matters, there are issues relating to  community standards, access, impartiality, and diversity that  necessitate intervention.  New Zealand First believes that the current structure of public  television and radio in New Zealand does not allow either to  fulfil their public obligations. In the case of television, its  only motives are profit driven, and within its ranks there is a  culture of 'greed'. Conversely, public radio is so short of  resources it has difficulty meeting its statutory obligations.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * combine TVNZ and RNZ under one state-owned enterprise known  as New Zealand Broadcasting (NZB), modelled on similar public  broadcasting systems overseas, and with clear aims that  include the promotion of our nation's uniqueness, and the  coverage of significant national events;  * re-establish TV One as a public service channel with limited  advertising, and concentrating on quality programming;  * lower dividend requirements (establishing digital capacity,  reductions in peak time commercials, maintenance of  transmission capacity and encouraging quality programmes);  * run TV2 on a commercial basis to help fund TV One and Radio  New Zealand, and return dividends to the taxpayer;  * require TV One and Radio New Zealand to establish a common  complementary news service that enhances coverage;  * ensure that all future appointments to the NZB board are made  on the basis of experience, expertise, and appropriate  representation from industry and consumers, and not political  patronage;  * broaden the scope of the Concert FM network to make it more  accessible to a wider range of New Zealanders, and to promote  our nation's uniqueness by broadcasting a wide range of  indigenous music as well as the best loved of the classics.  It should cater for all age groups;  * improve Radio New Zealand's international services;  * maintain NZ on Air funding at the level previously raised by  the Broadcasting fee;  * immediately introduce a fair process of allocating digital  channels and radio spectrum bands;  * the revitalisation of the Maori language leading to the  promotion and preservation of Maori culture;  * work with the industry and the public to achieve, voluntarily  in the first instance, a quota system to increase the New  Zealand content of radio and television broadcasting; and  * review the regulations relating to the use and allocation of  funds for the broadcasting of election programmes. New  Zealand First will remove political representatives from the  Electoral Commission.  COMMUNICATIONS  * use the regulatory powers (as recommended by Treasury) to  ensure fairness in the telecommunications sector and to allow  for fair competition in the market;  * provide a long term solution for the total portability of  telephone numbers;  * conduct an analysis of the current telecommunications regime  and evaluate the effects of deregulation, investigate and  overcome barriers to competition, and address interconnection  issues;  * require full financial disclosure for Telecom's monopoly and  contestable business;  * provide the Commerce Commission with the resources to deal  with disputes in the telecommunications industry quickly and  effectively. The Commerce Commission will be empowered to  protect New Zealanders from monopoly pricing and  anti-competitive behaviour; and  * ensure that social objectives in telecommunications are  safeguarded: in the interests of both business and consumers.  We will investigate Kiwi Share, its valuation, its  application to internet services, and consider its  replacement.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307      NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY   Conservation and Environment Policy  INTRODUCTION  "Wise Governments view the preservation and enhancement of the  environment as sound economics. All environmental policies will be  proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable  wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages."  [New Zealand First Founding Principle]  Striking a balance between economic progress and appropriate  environmental and conservation goals can only be achieved through  a partnership between government, industry, and community groups.  While our environment is envied internationally as clean, green,  and attractive, the image hides a number of serious environmental  problems which need to be addressed.  The conservation of our country's natural and cultural heritage  has international significance, and is a New Zealand First  priority.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * enhance and protect the rights of all New Zealanders to  access their environment and cultural heritage sites;  * clarify and amend legislation protecting heritage sites,  buildings, and objects, including improved documentation of  important Maori sites;  * conclude Treaty of Waitangi settlements without compromising  environmental protection. Conservation land should only be  urupa and notable pa sites;  * promote the development of a strong eco-tourism industry;  * evaluate and consult on policy development on energy and  climate change, sustainable land management, and the  conservation of indigenous biodiversity;  * provide conservation authorities with the necessary resources  and legislative framework to ensure that the role of  protecting the conservation estate is not at odds with the  commercial ventures which utilise that estate;  * develop further co-management plans and structures to  increase conservation gains on a wider scale;  * extend the community wage programmes to include  beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks,  and other conservation estates, and pest and weed control;  * commit additional funding for opossum and other pest control  and management programmes;  * implement an ownership ban on fecund ferrets;  * ensure effective deterrents to poaching and trafficking of  protected species and support 'threatened species recovery  programmes';  * make available the resources, funding, and technology needed  to combat any biological threats crossing our borders  including developing protocols for decontamination of  imported vehicles, machinery, and containers, and for ship  ballast water and hull fouling;  * support the Forest Heritage Fund, QEII Trust, and Nga Whenua  Rahui and explore other means of encouraging the voluntary  protection of natural and historical resources in private  ownership;  * ensure public access to the Queen's Chain;  * rationalise pastoral leases to promote ecologically  sustainable land use, with special attention to 'protected  natural areas';  * support consultative debate on the issue of extractive  industries, their roles in local economies, and their effects  on conservation lands. In principle, New Zealand First  believes that mining should not take place on conservation  land;  * continue to support the West Coast Accord (1986);  * seek a fair and reasonable solution to SILMA forests so that  an adequate compensation package is achieved and remaining  forests are included in current indigenous forests  legislation;  * promote the use of Taiapure, mahinga mataitai and marine  reserves as mechanisms for allowing fish populations to  replenish, and review the Marine Reserves Act with a view to  increasing its integration with other local fishery  management regimes;  * amend fisheries legislation to include public participation  when setting catch limits, environmental controls, and  management strategies whilst retaining government control of  management research and enforcement;  * ensure the representation of recreational fishers on the  Fishing Industry Board;  * introduce tougher penalties, improve education, and other  measures to better protect the coastal marine environment;  * support the Resource Management Act review process with a  view to reducing compliance costs, and facilitating the  application of the Act in a manner which supports sustainable  economic growth whilst protecting public participation and  environmental assessment provisions;  * produce a coherent plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions  (to 80% of 1990 levels by the year 2005, and to 50% of 1990  levels by the year 2020);  * adopt at least 20% cut in 2008 - 2012 greenhouse gas  emissions over 1990 levels;  * fully implement (via Environmental Risk Management Authority)  the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;  * amend the Companies Act to require statutory disclosure of  environmental impacts by companies in annual reports and  amend the Public Finance Act and Local Government Act also  requiring reporting of environmental impact;  * continue the phasing out of organochlorides and facilitate  the development of safe alternatives by 2010;  * facilitate the provision of improved standards for key  aspects of water and air quality;  * provide funding to develop and promote organic farming  options;  * support topocultural programmes with a view to the provision  of a database and advisory service on alternative land use  proposals and diversification;  * provide financial support for the development of water  harvesting schemes that have met feasibility, viability, and  environmental requirements;  * legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified  food (GMF) products and ban all imports that do not meet this  requirement. Conduct a Commission of Inquiry into genetic  engineering processes to form clear guidelines for research  and development. Establish a "watchdog" group of professional  advisors and members of the public to oversee research and  development and advise the Government;  * set up a stand alone 'Food and Drug Administration' agency;  * seek to minimise the environmental costs of generating  electricity. There will be no privatisation of Meridian,  Genesis, and Mighty River Power, or Transpower;  * legislate for price controls where appropriate on the  generation, line and retail sectors of the electricity  industry. Form an independent commission to monitor security  and price and adequacy of supply and to deal with energy  issues; and  * continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica,  for the cessation of all whaling, and for the abolition of  nuclear weapons.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Consumer Affairs  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * expand the watchdog role of Consumer Affairs in product  safety (especially in the area of imported goods) and ensure  that there are adequate powers to enforce the withdrawal of  unsafe products from sale;  * improve consumer education, budgetary advisory, and  retirement planning services;  * ensure that Energy Efficiency measures are encompassed by the  wider energy policies of Government;  * provide the resources to protect New Zealanders from monopoly  pricing and anti-competitive behaviour in communications,  energy, and other key industries, and regulate where  necessary;  * promote a 'Buy New Zealand First' campaign aimed at reducing  imports;  * Facilitate the replacement of the Senior Card presently used  to access Social Welfare services with a Golden Privilege  Card. To recognise the contributions of our senior citizens,  the card will entitle them to discounted goods and services.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Defence  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand First recognises the need to provide security for all  New Zealanders through contributing positively to world stability.  Constructive measures towards global peace we will undertake  include diplomacy, trade, economic and technical aid, continuing  support for the United Nations and maintaining professional armed  forces appropriate to our size.  New Zealand's best defence is to be an active part of global and  regional security forces. Being a small nation New Zealand is  unable to contribute to such security forces the most expensive  technology available for modern warfare. Our greatest asset is the  superior quality and skills of our armed services personnel. In  order to be effective, our forces must be supported by the best  possible equipment so they can carry out their tasks.  New Zealand First believes that our defence resources need to be  concentrated on an affordable range of military capabilities and  to this end it is necessary to prioritise. We support the Foreign  Affairs Defence and Trade Select Committee view that the priority  should be:  * Land forces  * Fixed wing, rotary wing and maritime transport forces.  Maritime patrol forces (Navy and Air Force)  * Air strike  New Zealand First will continue to honour existing defence  agreements. In particular the Closer Defence Relationship with  Australia will remain the cornerstone of New Zealand bi-lateral  security arrangements.  New Zealand First remains strongly committed to New Zealand's  anti-nuclear policy and is equally opposed to the possession and  use of anti-personnel mines, chemical and biological weapons and  other weapons of mass destruction.  New Zealand First believes that the most valuable asset in our  defence forces are our service men and women. New Zealand First  will undertake regular reviews of pay and conditions of service  for defence personnel. We will also ensure they are properly  equipped and trained for the missions they are asked to undertake.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led government will:  * Actively pursue peace and stability through diplomacy,  economic and technical aid, trade, and the use of  international forums and associations including the United  Nations.  * Contribute to global security through the provision of peace  support forces at such times and of such size as is  appropriate to the circumstances.  * Retain the existing defence associations and agreements, such  as those with Australia and the Five Power Defence Agreement.  * Retain the special New Zealand defence association with, and  interest in, the South Pacific Region, noting that this link  assists those nations in; national development, maintaining  peace and building the professionalism of their defence  forces.  * Make greater use of our regular and territorial defence  forces in both New Zealand and the South Pacific Region in  civil defence, disaster relief, resource protection, maritime  surveillance and civil action ( construction and medical  programmes).  * Seek to build on a multi-party consensus on defence policy as  proposed in the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee  Interim Report, with a view to providing stability and  certainty in defence policy, planning and procurement.  * Concentrate our defence resources on affordable and  sustainable capabilities which bring maximum security and  political benefit to New Zealand. In particular develop our  land forces as our highest priority, then our fixed wing,  rotary wing and maritime transport forces, then our maritime  patrol forces, then air strike.  * Ensure the early procurement of essential modern equipment  for the Army, especially armoured and cross-country vehicles,  tactical communications, direct fire and surveillance  equipment, sufficient to ensure the sustained deployment of a  mobile battalion sized force.  * Instigate an assessment of air and sea transport requirements  for the overseas deployment of a battalion sized force with a  view to procurement.  * Undertake a full inquiry into the circumstances surrounding  the purchase of the unsuitable HMNZS Charles Upham.  Investigate the purchase of a more suitable vessel including  on-board medical capacity, helicopter operating and ship to  shore landing capability, suitable for both military  deployment and civil defence and disaster relief operations.  * Terminate New Zealand's participation in the ANZAC frigate  project at the existing two vessels and re-examine the Navy  requirement for surface combatants with a view to identifying  the best vessel to meet New Zealand's future defence,  surveillance and fisheries' protection requirements.  * Examine the requirement for close air support to the Army and  how best to deliver this, including consideration of the role  of attack helicopters as mentioned in the recent White Paper  "The Shape of New Zealand's Defence".  * Regularly review the pay and conditions of employment of the  servicemen and women and the civilian workers within the New  Zealand Defence Force with a view to ensuring that their  skills and service are remunerated commensurate with their  contribution.  * Recognising the valuable role of the armed forces in  assisting the development of young people to date,  investigate and introduce schemes in which all three Services  and other agencies can further assist young people through  building their confidence, sense of pride, social  responsibility and work skills.  * While accepting that the Navy, Army and Air Force have  distinctly different skills and requirements, seek a closer  amalgamation of the three services at the higher levels to  streamline the current separate lines of command and control.  A greater emphasis will be placed on a joint force approach  to command and management of our armed forces both within New  Zealand and when deployed.  * Review the rationalisation of the support structures of the  three single services with a view to identifying further  areas for amalgamations, contracting and cost savings so as  to transfer resources to the operational elements.  * In seeking to achieve a more joint approach within the armed  forces, a joint services staff college will be established in  Wellington for the development of regular and territorial  officers of all three Services and appropriate civilians.  This staff college will subsume and replace the existing  staff college.  * The defence real estate rationalisation documents will be  released for public consideration, submissions and discussion  before final decisions are taken.  * Encourage the involvement of our armed forces, regular and  territorial, in exercising with overseas forces to ensure  that skill levels are maintained and that interoperability  exists.  * Take positive action to assist the veterans of the nuclear  testing at Christmas Island and their families in achieving  compensation for the negative effects to their health.  * Continue the investigation into the effects of Agent Orange  as used in Vietnam, on the lives of veterans and their  families with a view to providing support if necessary.  * Review annually the War and Veterans' pensions to ensure that  our veterans are properly recognised for their special  contribution to New Zealand.  * Consult closely with the New Zealand Defence Force, the  Returned Services Association and other involved  organisations on matters of importance to veterans and  serving personnel.  * Strongly maintain New Zealand's opposition to the possession  of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  ECONOMIC STATEMENT  New Zealand's economic performance has been poor since the mid  1980s.  We have seen a focus on the reduction of inflation and a  mean-minded approach to social spending.  INFLATION NEW ZEALAND IRELAND AUSTRALIA OECD  1985 17.3% 5.0% 6.7% 6.9%  1998 1.3% 2.7% 1.9% 3.3%  Average (1985 - 4.6% 2.6% 4.1% 5.5%  1998)  Success with inflation has come at a huge price. New Zealand's  real GDP growth rate (as at December 1998) was -0.3%. Average GDP  volume growth (from 1985 - 1998) was 1.7%. This compares  unfavourably with the OECD average of 2.7%. Our 31 March 1999  result of -0.2% is not encouraging.  New Zealand is placed at the lower end of 'developed' countries.  Real and lasting national prosperity will only come via economic  growth.  New Zealand First recognises that our lifeblood has always been  trade. Export-led economic growth is the key to our future  development.  EXPORTS PER NEW ZEALAND IRELAND FINLAND SINGAPORE  CAPITA  1998 (US$) $3,447 $17,722 $8,346 $36,668  Clearly we have under-performed. Certainly this is our problem.  There are a number of major factors in this poor performance:  * an emphasis on the interests of the financial sector at the  expense of the productive sector and exporting;  * over valued exchange rate coupled with high interest rates;  * the aforementioned focus on inflation; and  * programmes of privatisation.  The combined effect of these and other factors has seen the  development of an economy skewed towards the financial sector and  overseas borrowing, without providing a capacity to service  rapidly increasing overseas debt.  New Zealand's net foreign debt of 43% of GDP is higher than that  of our trading partners. A worsening balance of payments deficit  is predicted to be well over $7 billion next year or a truly  alarming 8.3%.  In order to improve our current account we must of course maximise  our tourism opportunities as well as improve our export  performance and promote import substitution. There needs to be a  fundamental change. The plain fact is that New Zealand does not  have a big enough savings base. Remedying this situation is the  key to our future.  New Zealand First has a plan that sets targets towards providing a  sound economic base by the year 2020. It is a plan based on honest  reporting of progress towards that goal. It is a plan that  includes all sections of our society.  Compared with our trading partners, New Zealand is relatively  poor. Our per capita GDP is less than 63% of that of the United  States. Where once New Zealand's average net wage was 77% of that  of the USA (1974), it is now 52% (1998). Of greater concern is the  distribution of income and wealth. There is a growing chasm  between the haves and have-nots.  Our employment growth has averaged less than 1% pa since 1985. The  average over the same period has been 1.9% in Australia and 2.2%  in Ireland. An unemployment rate of 7% is unacceptable.  Creating employment opportunities through economic growth and the  up-skilling of our workforce is vital.  New Zealand First's economic policy prescription is based on a  partnership with the people in promoting sustainable export-led  economic growth. Employment growth for an increasingly  well-educated and healthy populace, and fairer participation in  our economy for all New Zealanders remain our policy planning  priorities.  The budgets presented by Treasurer Winston Peters in 1997 and 1998  took major steps towards providing the conditions for economic and  social progress.  Increased quality Government spending helped overcome the  recessionary effects of the international economic downturn from  Asia.  The time is right to pursue policies which deliver to all New  Zealanders the benefits they have been promised as a result of a  decade and a half of reform. Election year offers of small tax  cuts will not deliver these benefits.  Responsible business leaders are now recognising that pure market  forces have failed to deliver either economic gains or social  justice.  Adjustments to the economic environment need not be wholesale but  do need to be well directed.  TARGETS 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003  Budget Surplus $0.4b $0.8b $1.6b  Net Crown Debt $23.7b $23.5b $22.0b  Economic Growth 4.2 4.5 5.0  Achieving economic growth of 6% by 2003/2004 is a realistic goal,  with stronger world economic growth and a sharper export focus.  New Zealand First will aim to treble exports, in real terms, by  2020 and will set export goals to reach that target.  ECONOMIC PLAN  INTRODUCTION  A New Zealand First administration will promote economic policies  with an export focus:  MONETARY POLICY  The more flexible monetary policy prescription promoted by New  Zealand First in 1996 contributed to a substantial lowering of  both exchange and interest rates.  New Zealand First will:  * promote a balanced and flexible monetary policy of low  exchange and interest rates conducive to real export and  employment growth;  * amend the Reserve Bank Act and make export, growth, and  employment objectives part of the policy targets agreement  between the new government and the Governor of the Reserve  Bank  TRADE POLICY  I: Exports  The export focus of New Zealand First's plans provide the base  from which a re-orientation towards high technology and further  processing industries will lead the way to an export performance  that builds on the best of the present and provides growth for the  future.  New Zealand First will:  * ensure that New Zealand's Trade Board - Tradenz - focuses  increasingly on the development of emerging markets, and on  the promotion of industries where we have a clear competitive  advantage;  * establish a New Zealand development banking facility to  provide export credit guarantees and expand new venture  capital funding in support of the export sector and to  encourage innovation and research and development in key  industries;  * actively seek improved trade access;  * provide tax incentives for exporters where new markets are  developed, or existing markets are significantly expanded;  and for export related Research and Development;  * develop short, medium, and long term strategies and goals for  exporters.  II: Imports  New Zealand First will:  * give priority to the needs of New Zealand industries and  communities in setting any programme on tariffs. Future  tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and  progress of our trading partners. We aim to win the export  and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal  race.  III: Import Substitution  New Zealand First will:  * encourage businesses to engage in import substitution;  * place a "buy New Zealand first" purchasing requirement on  taxpayer and ratepayer owned businesses and State Owned  Enterprises;  EMPLOYMENT POLICY  New Zealand First will encourage long term commitments by all  parties to employment contracts, and so provide stability and  certainty within industry. The key is to create the conditions  that will encourage job creation in a growing economy.  New Zealand First will:  * amend the Employment Contracts Act to improve fairness whilst  retaining flexibility;  * ensure improved training by Industry Training Organisations  in relationship to industry requirements;  * fully implement the community wage scheme to facilitate the  quickest possible return to the work force and apprenticeship  training. This will involve broadening of the criteria  allowing some business access to community work schemes (i.e,  a "buy a job" scheme -we pay the community wage, you pay the  rest). New Zealand First believes that the proper application  of this inititiative will result in more than 80,000  full-time jobs;  * retain the Employment Court with a clear focus on meeting the  needs of both parties with streamlined court procedures;  * codify existing case law as necessary and ensure that all  employers and employees have a convenient handbook covering  their rights and responsibilities; and  * raise the minimum wage to $7.50 per hour.  BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT  New Zealand First will:  * apply incentives to business activities which add value,  create employment, provide export growth, and/or develop new  technology.  * increase competitiveness of New Zealand business by  progressively reducing red-tape and compliance costs;  * promote innovation by creating a technology transfer agency  that ensures that developments can be readily transferred  between the public and private sectors, and between industry  groups; and by amending funding criteria for Public Good  Science Funding;  * provide incentives for research and development;  * support Skill NZ in enhancing the relationship between  employers and Industry Training Organisations in the  development of programmes which up-skill labour to meet  employers' needs;  * encourage the consolidation of ITOs to reduce administration  costs;  * introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified  industries and selected approved investments so as to attract  business development; and  * establish a Business Advisory Board to advise and consult  with Government;  IMMIGRATION  New Zealand First promotes an immigration policy that puts the  interests of New Zealanders first. The emphasis must be to raise  the living standards of those New Zealanders here now, rather than  add new pressures through unrestricted immigration.  New Zealand First will:  * control immigration numbers at an acceptable level;  * introduce a probationary period for all new migrants;  * introduce procedures to ensure pre-entry medical screening of  visitors - in an effort to stop the current abuse of our  public health system and to protect our citizens; and  * give greater priority to immigrants who have the skills and  qualifications necessary to advance regional economic and  social goals.  TAXATION  To protect our nation's tax base New Zealand First will reform the  taxation system by: simplifying tax processes; clarifying tax  legislation; ensuring that the taxation laws of New Zealand are  upheld; and that all, large or small, pay their taxes. Our long  term objective is New Zealanders paying less tax.  New Zealand First will:  * act against incompetence and corruption within the Inland  Revenue Department;  * ensure that the Inland Revenue Department's application of  the compliance and penalties regimes is fair and equitable;  * reduce tax compliance costs by monitoring, evaluating, and  amending measures introduced during our time in government.  Priorities remain: streamlining taxation analysis and the  preparation of returns; and making the tax system as neutral  and equitable as possible;  * remain opposed to any increase in general taxation;  * require that disclosure of tax schemes that affect the  instance of tax payable by more than $50,000 be mandatory;  * ensure that any failure to disclose (or the falsification of  material facts) by a person experienced in taxation matters  is treated as a serious criminal offence. If a sum of greater  than $5 million revenue is involved it will carry a maximum  penalty of 10 years imprisonment;  * establish a tax ombudsman to investigate taxpayer complaints;  * enact legislation giving effect to the recommendations and  minority report of the select committee enquiry into the  Inland Revenue Department;  * amend requirements and implement practices to enable the IRD  to more appropriately remit tax liabilities or enter into  arrangements for deferred payments; and  * provide tax incentives for research and development; and  * apply tax incentives to business activities which add value,  create employment, provide export growth and/or develop new  technology.  SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT  New Zealand has gross savings of 14% of GDP. This compares  unfavourably with Australia (19%), Hong Kong (31%), China (43%)  and Malaysia (44%). It is up to us as a nation to see that we fund  enough of our own development to ensure that we do not lose  control of our resources. There can be no substitute for a  national savings strategy if we are to be in charge of our future.  I: Foreign Investment  New Zealand First's foreign investment strategy is based upon the  premise that such investment must be in the interests of New  Zealand.  New Zealand First will:  * promote the creation of an internal investment/savings base  to provide a clear alternative to foreign credit for the  development of New Zealand infrastructure and businesses;  * ensure that priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand  will depend on whether this brings new technology and  employment and export growth;  * build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to reduce the  sales of land to foreigners;  * make the Overseas Investment Commission fully independent of  the Reserve Bank. A new organisation, the Investment  Commission, will take over the functions of the OIC and some  of the tasks of the current Commerce Commission;  * stop state asset sales. If considered appropriate, and only  where necessary, public assets currently in the hands of the  Government will be commercially managed in the public  interest and ownership;  * limit foreign investment in strategic assets to 24.9%; and  * strike a balance between preserving the nation's  infrastructure in New Zealand hands and ensuring that New  Zealand enterprises can enter partnerships with international  agencies for their mutual benefit.  II: Superannuation  New Zealand First will:  * ensure the needs of retired New Zealanders are met through a  sustainable superannuation scheme. In giving people certainty  (and thus security) such a scheme also gives New Zealand an  expanded savings base;  * restore the base minimum level of NZ Super for married  couples to no less than 67.5% of the net average wage;  * raise the base level to no less than 70% in the longer term;  * subsequently adjust the rates for single persons; and  * establish a statutory body charged with establishing a  two-tier sustainable long term scheme that: maintains a  reasonable standard of living; holds purchasing power  constant; is universal from age 65; is portable; guarantees  returns; protects current entitlements; provides a death  benefit; and is in the national interest; and  * encourage the development of good savings habits for our  children.   Rural and Provincial New Zealand  New Zealand First recognises the need for greater governmental  rigour in ensuring that provincial and rural New Zealanders are  not handicapped by their location and that they are given every  opportunity to continue to create wealth for New Zealand through  their initiative, hard work and enterprise.  A fiscally responsible approach that balances the competing  demands of economic development, social advancement, and debt  repayment needs to be combined with a flexible monetary policy  that enables export and employment growth.  New Zealand First will:  * legislate for a more flexible monetary policy (see above);  * ensure social equity for rural New Zealand (Social impact  analysis to accompany cost/benefit analysis in government  decision making processes);  * introduce a range of export-friendly policies (see Trade,  above);  * re-establish a Rural Affairs Unit;  * review implementation of Resource Management Act to reduce  compliance costs and facilitate consistent application across  New Zealand;  * ensure that any Producer Board reform will be considered on a  case by case, board by board basis within the following  framework:  * if a substantial majority (at least 75%) at the core of the  industry agree on directions and aspirations then their views  should prevail;  * each industry should provide its own long-term plan to the  Government.  * pass the Farm Debt Mediation Bill;  * improve industry training (see Employment above) and expand  the farm cadet scheme;  * provide incentives for Regional Development programmes;  * implement the co-ordinated study of the effects of climate  change, and the setting up of a climate change/land use  advisory unit; and  * support the development of water harvesting (irrigation)  schemes that satisfy feasibility, viability, and  environmental requirements.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Education Policy  INTRODUCTION  "The quality of the future we leave to our children is determined  by the quality of the children we leave for our future".  New Zealand First believes that education is a critical social and  economic investment. We will continue to deliver policies which  will develop an education system for the 21st century which will  enable each and every New Zealander to achieve his or her greatest  potential. The foundation of education lies in the family. New  Zealand First will focus programmes which assist families to  provide the best environment of care and educational development.  The framework for early childhood education established under the  "Before Five" policy will be maintained and early childhood  education will be advanced within this framework.  Within the compulsory sector, New Zealand First believes that  structural refinements are necessary if the policy of local  self-management is to be fully functional.  At the tertiary level, New Zealand First believes that there is a  degree of private good which should be funded by students.  However, the existing regime is too harsh, particularly on middle  income families. Priorities for New Zealand First will be to:  * implement policies which will increase participation rates  and quality provision of early childhood education;  * develop a comprehensive package of parent support and  guidance programmes;  * provide support for teachers through a sabbatical provision;  * attend to workload issues of teachers;  * strengthen and improve education provisions in all sectors  for rural areas;  * implement a human resource planning component to policy  development;  * reduce student interest rates to CPI plus 2%;  * reinstate the Emergency Unemployment Benefit for students;  and  * increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to  that of the 1998 budget.  EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION  The importance of the early years of development is recognised by  New Zealand First. In particular, New Zealand First affirms the  importance of the family for the optimum development of children  and will develop and fund programmes which will provide all  families with support and guidance in this role.  Moreover, for formal early childhood education, New Zealand First  will continue to pursue the joint goals of increased participation  rates and enhanced quality provision, in particular for those  groups which have least access to high quality programmes.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * initiate Family Start Programmes across the country aimed at  those children at greatest risk of less than optimal  development;  * make available Home Instructional Programme for Pre-schoolers  and Youngsters (HIPPY) programmes to all families with low  levels of educational capital;  * develop Parents as First Teacher (PAFT) programmes across the  country;  * provide an 0800 advice line to all parents and caregivers;  * combine all parent-caregiver support programmes under the  umbrella of a singular agency;  * increase the discretionary grants available to communities  for building or upgrading early childhood facilities in order  to increase participation rates;  * continue to increase early childhood grants;  * make top funding rate available to all early childhood  centres providing certain quality indicators are achieved;  * explore the possibilities of enabling early childhood centres  to be funded more than six hours per day and for weekend  sessions;  * develop and resource programmes which will increase  participation of Maori and Pacific Island pre-schoolers; and  * assist the development of a range of Maori and Pacific Island  language immersion programmes.  COMPULSORY SCHOOLING  New Zealand First remains committed to the concept of "Tomorrow's  Schools" and will pursue policies and programmes to enable it to  fully function, so that all children will leave school with the  skills to undertake higher education and/or vocational training.  New Zealand First recognises the importance of Boards of Trustees,  principals, teachers, and other staff members, parents and  community members in the schooling process and will continue to  provide policy which will support them in their endeavours.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * establish regional education committees to make decisions  over such things as:  o discretionary building funding;  o transport;  o special education provision;  o gifted education;  o terms and holidays; and  o community and adult education.  * establish a realistic definition of a rural school and apply  a modified staffing formula for small rural schools;  * revise the Targeted Rural Funding formula to better target  these funds to meet real, additional costs for isolated  schools;  * accelerate the revisions of the Education Act and its  subsequent regulations;  * maintain the status quo over the staffing resourcing of  schools with Boards continuing to have choice over which  method they prefer, and there is a national collective  agreement;  * enter into discussions with teacher associations over the  introduction of sabbatical provisions;  * accelerate the review of rural education and the place of  Rural Education Activity Packages (REAPs). The role and  function of REAPs will be absorbed into the rural regional  committees;  * not pursue large scale assessment of primary students. New  Zealand First will develop a series of normed tests for  school-based use. Certain assessments and the communication  of results to parents will be mandated;  * require schools to identify gifted students and regional  committees will be required to establish programmes for those  identified;  * establish a national advisory service contracted to the  Ministry through a purchase agreement with accountability  measures, to ensure in-service development in core curriculum  areas. Schools may opt out from this service and receive  equivalent funding through the operational grant;  * not tolerate failing schools and will introduce measures to  ensure such schools do not continue to fail students;  * develop national contracts for training of principals and  Boards in the identification of teacher workload issues and  best practice in dealing with these;  * facilitate the placement of Social Workers in schools;  * deliver a nation-wide, anti-bullying campaign;  * require that principals, before appointment to schools of  specified size, have gained qualifications in educational  leadership and management;  * restructure and modernise the Correspondence School to better  meet the needs of its students;  * establish a taskforce to identify the particular factors  relating to underachievement of boys and make recommendations  to Government;  * complete passage of the Education Establishments (Exemption  from Certain Rates) Bill; and  * reduce class sizes for lower decile schools in the first  three years of schooling.  TERTIARY EDUCATION  The key to our nation's economic and social future lies in  education. While tertiary education cannot be allowed to be solely  focused on skills for employment, such focus must be a significant  element of any system. The tertiary system must be designed to  maximise both economic and social objectives, enhancing needed  vocational skills and academic acumen.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to  that of the 1998 budget;  * increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for  specific courses to increase the number of appropriately  qualified graduates (eg. science and technology);  * introduce further scholarships (especially at post graduate  level) to ensure that we keep our best students and provide  for research and development expertise;  * introduce a system that encourages graduates to provide a  professional service for areas of New Zealand that suffer  from a shortage of such services by way of loans abatement;  * set interest rates on student loans at CPI plus 2%;  * while studying interest will be charged at a rate equal to  the consumer price index;  * work towards a universal student allowance by progressively  increasing the family income levels at which the abatement  commences and when allowances disappear;  * reinstate access to the Emergency Unemployment Benefit  (community wage) for students not receiving allowances;  * require all tertiary institutions to provide pre-enrolment  information on potential local and national vocational  opportunities as an outcome of any course, or qualification;  * clearly define the status of wananga along iwitanga lines and  provide with initial capital funding; and  * create a new class of institutions, namely Universities of  Technology.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Employment Policy  INTRODUCTION  The employment of New Zealanders is our first planning priority.  Unemployment is a huge cost to the nation. It is a direct cost to  taxation, it contributes to the level of crime, and makes demands on our  health system.  Essentially employment creation is dependent upon wealth creation and a system which efficiently distributes that wealth.  Businesses, particularly small businesses, are the major employers and job and wealth creation is dependent upon such enterprises thriving.  New Zealand has a small domestic market. As a result business development and wealth creation must be export led. Maximising the value added content of our exports is a priority.  It is also to the nation's advantage to encourage commercially driven initiatives and regional development. New Zealand First is firmly committed to policies which will achieve these objectives. Export and employment objectives will be added to Reserve Bank targets.  The industrial relations environment that facilitates economic and  employment growth must be based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality.  It is also important that people obtain and retain a sense of worth, and self esteem through making a contribution to their society. New Zealand First is committed to the community wage concept, and to ensuring that people move from dependence on the state, to a state of independence.  Our vision is of a nation made up of well educated, determined, healthy, and innovative people, and an expanding business programme geared around exports, regional development, job growth, and harnessing the natural attributes of the country.  Industrial Relations   INTRODUCTION  For business to succeed there needs to be a workable industrial  environment.  Employers need skilled, dedicated, and flexible staff, whilst employees require stability in employment and appropriate conditions and remuneration. An ideal industrial relations environment is one based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality between the parties.  New Zealand First policies are supportive of such an environment and  recognise that this is essential to achieving high sustainable economic growth.  PLANS   New Zealand First will:  * amend the Employment Contracts Act to ensure that it is neutral, fair and flexible;  * establish an Industrial Relations Advisory Group;  * amend industrial laws to ensure that casualisation employment practices are fair and just to all parties;  * review the practice of short term employment contracts;  * conduct an inquiry into waterfront employment structures, operational practices, and charging regimes;  * increase the minimum wage to $7.50 per hour;  * allocate sufficient resources to enable the Labour Department  inspectorate to give greater emphasis to education (small employers/new entrants to workforce);  * retain the Employment Court;  * establish a Fire Service Modernisation Group to ensure that this process is completed;  * allocate more resources to the Employment Tribunal in order to reduce time for Mediation and Arbitration hearings;  * incorporate a definition of "Fair Bargaining" into Employment Law;  * ensure that the provision of "Fair Bargaining" applies to ALL contracts (collective and individual) and to all bargaining agents regardless of whether they are a trade union;  * ensure that employers recognise the duly elected bargaining agent as chosen by employees;  * allow reasonable access for bargaining agents to address employees at their work site; and  * allow reasonable access for bargaining agents to address employees at their work site; and  * codify existing case law as necessary and ensure that all employers and employees have a central legislative reference that outlines their rights and responsibilities.  Business Development   INTRODUCTION  Enhanced prosperity is dependent upon high sustainable economic growth. New Zealand First is firmly committed to the pro-active support of business. Successful business means increased employment.  To achieve and maintain this there needs to be innovation and  co-operation; research and development; appropriate incentives; good  management and sound practices; minimum compliance costs; and, a highly skilled labour force.  New Zealand First believes that total taxation should be used to help New Zealanders, and so should the tax structures.  PLANS   New Zealand First will:  * progressively reduce business compliance costs;  * ensure accident compensation is made fair, more efficient, and more cost effective;  * place greater emphasis on developing partnerships between the private sector and central and local government. This includes encouraging regional development, and Research and Development;  * introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified industries and selected approved investments so as to assist business development;  * support Skill NZ in enhancing the relationship between employers and ITOs in the development of programmes which up-skill labour to meet employer's needs;  * apply incentives to business activities which add value, create employment, provide export growth (or import substitution), and/or contribute to regional development;  * improve transportation;  * establish an "Export Guarantee" scheme to encourage export growth; facilitate technology transfer to ensure that developments can be readily transferred between sectors;  * provide a Venture Capital Fund to encourage innovation and export and/or employment growth;  * ensure TRADENZ focuses increasingly on the development of emerging markets; and  * amend funding criteria for Public Good Science Funding to ensure research facilitating business development are given due emphasis; and  * establish a Business Advisory Board to advise and consult with  government on business concerns and development (established business leaders).  1. Community Wage   INTRODUCTION   New Zealand First is firmly committed to the concept of mutual  obligations. Where a person is unable to obtain paid employment the state will pay that person on the understanding that that person makes a contribution back to the community.  PLANS   New Zealand First will:  * broaden the range of activities deemed to be community work;  * empower Regional Commissioners to train and utilise community wage workers for the construction of homes for low income people on multiple owned land;  * further empower Regional Commissioners to make decisions for their region;  * encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed control activities;  * reduce the stand down period for school leavers to enter the community wage scheme from 13 weeks to 4 weeks; and  * reinstate access to the Emergency Unemployment Benefit (community wage) for students not receiving allowances;  * introduce military or community training for young males (18 years) who will be paid the community wage during their twelve weeks training, aimed at fostering discipline and self esteem.  1. Industrial Training   INTRODUCTION   New Zealand First remains committed to industry training managed by  industry itself.  During the Coalition the number of industry training places increased from 18,000 in 1996 to 45,000 by 1999.  There are still some industries and some within industries dissatisfied that the present policy is not meeting their needs.  PLANS   New Zealand First will:  * refine existing arrangements to overcome impediments to business development;  * conduct an evaluation of all industries to assess how well industry training is meeting their particular needs;  * support Skill NZ in enhancing the relationship between employers and ITOs in the development of programmes which up-skill labour (further development of apprenticeship programmes for specific industries) to meet employer needs;  * proceed with the development of a quality assurance agency to recognise and monitor validation bodies for tertiary courses: and  * expand the "community wage" scheme to allow businesses to offer apprenticeships and other training schemes. New Zealand First believes that the proper application of this initiative will result in more than 80,000 full-time jobs. Employers taking advantage of this scheme will be required to provide certainty of employment and a 'topped up weekly wage'.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Fisheries  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand fisheries are one of our most valuable natural  resources. Fishing and aquaculture earn over a billion dollars a  year and employ over 10,000 people. More than a million New  Zealanders fish for fun and food every year - a right that needs  to be clearly established for all New Zealanders, and  responsibilities that need to be similarly clear.  The Government will be responsible for meeting all of its  statutory obligations; for ensuring the sustainability of the  fisheries resources and meeting international fisheries  commitments.  Before a New Zealand First led Government can enter into any  shared management arrangements with recreational, customary or  commercial fishers, the Minister of Fisheries will have to be  satisfied that: a 'sustainable level of fish stocks' is clearly  defined through appropriate research; fish stocks will be  maintained at or above the sustainable level; the negative effects  of fishing on the aquatic environment will be avoided; and  proposed management plans will not hinder other fishers.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * develop a national policy statement on integrated marine  fisheries management;  * foster shared management arrangements with recreational,  customary, and commercial fishers whilst maintaining  government control of management research and enforcement;  * rebuild Valued Recreational and Maori Customary Fish species  to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and above;  * review current fisheries consultation processes to ensure  that public consultation on fisheries issues is meaningful  and encourages effective communication and collaborative  problem solving;  * implement clear accountability systems and auditing  programmes of fisheries management performance by public and  private management;  * support the introduction of fourth schedule species now,  under the same system that applies to others including Crown  compensation as agreed to in 1994;  * introduce permit fishery species into the quota management  system and the consequential discharge by the Crown of its  statutory obligations to Maori;  * overhaul the cost recovery regime to ensure the rules are  simple and fair to all;  * oppose the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No. 2) and the  ratification of the Fish Stocks Agreement;  * support the prompt allocation of fisheries assets currently  held by Te Ohu Kaimoana (Fisheries Commission) to iwi;  * support the downsizing of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries  Commission once the current litigation has ended;  * support active participation of Maori in the seafood  industry;  * ensure that recreational and customary fishing rights are  protected and enhanced. Funding for research and development  will be supported to ensure that these practices are  understood from a scientific, social equity, and cultural  basis and subsequently appreciated and preserved;  * promote the use of a modified Taiapure, mahinga mataitai and  marine reserves as mechanisms for allowing fish populations  to replenish, and review the Marine Reserves Act with a view  to increasing its integration with other local fisheries  management regimes;  * amend fisheries legislation to enable public participation  when setting catch limits, environmental controls, and  management strategies;  * ensure the representation of recreational fishers on the  National Fisheries Advisory Committee;  * focus research on recreational, customary, and commercial  fisheries to ensure sustainability;  * consider allocating a quota species (for example of Orange  Roughy) which could be leased to finance the administration  of the recreational fishing resource (this quota would never  be sold);  * oppose licensing of salt water fishers;  * support New Zealand fishing crews and seafood processors;  industry training initiatives; and the regulation of foreign  crews and vessels operating in New Zealand waters;  * facilitate the development, administration and enforcement of  food gathering regulations that devolve customary management  responsibility to iwi and hapu where practicable;  * encourage recreational fishers to join in partnership with  the Crown to administer and regulate recreational fishing in  the interests of sustainability. All recreational fishers  should help police the system to ensure that there is no room  for poachers and quasi 'recreational' fishers who sell or  raffle their catches. This system should be managed  regionally, under a national umbrella organisation, such as  the Recreational Fishing Council;  * significantly reduce fishing industry compliance costs;  * maintain the current 'special management' status of the  Chatham Islands by ensuring existing and new stocks remain  exclusive to the Chatham Islands; and  * ensure that the aquaculture industry's legislative needs are  met by the fisheries and resource management legislation.  This growth industry (worth over $100m per year) will be  reviewed with particular emphasis on the potential for  developing marine farms. Also the review will, as a priority,  define the nature and extent of aquacultural rights relative  to the Quota Management System, the Sealord settlement, and  clearly define recreational rights.      NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY   Foreign Affairs  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand First was founded on the principle that the interests  of New Zealand and New Zealanders are paramount.  New Zealand First's approach to international relations is tough  minded, independent, and integrated. It affirms and enhances our  country's traditional relationships while recognising the  emergence of a global economy, and the realities of regional  politics.  It is recognised that a strong and independent stance must be  accompanied by an inner strength. The emphasis must be on putting  our own house in order first. Our economic policy advocates a  closely co-ordinated export-oriented strategy that delivers on our  vision of an evolutionary, technologically competitive, and  balanced agricultural and industrial future.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * continue to be a strong supporter of the United Nations. We  will work within the organisation to make it more democratic,  accountable, and effective;  * ensure that no political appointments will be made to  overseas governmental positions;  * maintain Defence Force roles in international affairs  especially in regional peace keeping;  * remain strongly committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear  policy;  * advocate disarmament and oppose the possession and use of  anti-personnel mines, chemical and biological weapons, and  other weapons of mass destruction;  * enhance the special New Zealand association and interest in  the South Pacific region. As a good neighbour, New Zealand  will make the Pacific its focus of attention;  * review the level of Overseas Development Assistance, and its  global allocation and ensure that it is focused on  facilitating priority projects;  * maintain Radio New Zealand's international services;  * focus on facilitating New Zealand's trading performance:  seeking improved trade access, developing emerging markets,  and promoting industries where there is a clear competitive  advantage;  * give primary importance to the needs of New Zealand  industries and communities. Tariffs will be adjusted at no  greater pace than that of our trading partners;  * continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica,  for the cessation of all whaling, and for the abolition of  nuclear weapons;  * accept refugees on a case by case basis in liaison with local  Government;  * ensure that immigration is in New Zealand's interests; and  * ensure that intelligence gathering is subject to greater and  more transparent Parliamentary control.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Foreign Investment And State Assets  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand continues to become ever more dependent upon foreign capital and foreign credit.  Foreign debt has ballooned to $102b despite asset sales and takeovers. 39 state assets have been sold since 1984 - for a total of $19b.  The vast majority of the profits of foreign companies are paid out to their overseas owners.  Our land continues to be sold. Seventy percent of our forestry is in foreign ownership.  New Zealand First is not opposed to foreign investment but the line has been clearly drawn; such investment must stand the test of being to New Zealand's advantage.  New Zealand First has also stood firm against state asset sales to majority Foreign Ownership to protect the national interest. The cost to our party was considerable, but our principles are not for sale.  PLANS  New Zealand First's foreign investment strategy:  * is based upon the premise that such investment must be in the interests of New Zealand. The private interest of foreign shareholders is not our concern, the public interest of New Zealanders is;  * establishes priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand that requires that such investment brings new technology and leads to employment growth;  * promotes the creation of an internal investment/savings base to provide a clear alternative to foreign credit for the development of New Zealand infrastructure and business;  * builds on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to limit the sale of land to foreigners;  * involves making the Overseas Investment Commission (OIC) fully  independent of the Reserve Bank. A new organisation, the Investment Commission, will take over the functions of the OIC and some of the tasks of the current Commerce Commission. The focus will be on providing a stiffer test of what is in New Zealand's best interests;  * stops state asset sales ie. public assets currently in the hands of the Government will be commercially managed in the public interest;  * limits foreign investment in strategic assets to 24.9%; and  strikes a balance between preserving the nation's infrastructure in New Zealand hands and ensuring that New Zealand enterprises can enter partnerships with international agencies for their mutual benefit.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Health Policy  INTRODUCTION  Health is a critical investment in New Zealand's human resource -  not a balance sheet item.  New Zealand First undertook to remove the profit focus from the  health system. We promised to introduce new initiatives in the  area of child health, and to reduce hospital waiting lists. We  delivered on these promises. Major challenges remain.  New Zealand now ranks between 17th and 19th of the 24 OECD  countries in the key indicators of life expectancy and infant  mortality. We were once in the first five.  New Zealand First wants a properly funded and resourced public  health service. Getting the greatest amount of health and  disability support from our health spending is critical. Providing  people with certainty about their healthcare and ensuring timely  access to quality services is essential.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * continue to focus upon family health, and particularly early  intervention, by expanding such programmes as "Family Start"  and home based support;  * restore emphasis on preventative measures and health  education;  * introduce nationwide health screening for all children under  one year;  * provide nationwide screening for Hepatitis B (completing the  1997 New Zealand First initiative), asthma and diabetes,  ensure access to existing screening programmes (eg, breast  cancer and cervical screening services) and resource the  development of suitable screening and/or education programmes  for prostate cancer;  * provide an 0800 advice line;  * introduce a nationally co-ordinated immunisation register as  part of a strategy to stamp out third world illnesses;  * Extend New Zealand First's initiative (of 1997) of free  doctors visits and prescriptions to include six year olds  immediately, and seven and eight year olds in the short term;  * ensure that all New Zealand pre-school and school children  receive adequate dental care. In particular, a national  strategy that includes a shake up of the state funding of  teenagers dental treatment is necessary to avoid a future  toothless society;  * fund additional mobile dental care services and the upgrading  of dental clinics and services;  * provide additional resourcing for child and youth mental  health services;  * provide the necessary resources and funding to address the  continuing appalling state of mental health services by  completing the full implementation of the recommendations of  the Mason report;  * redress the inadequate treatment and professional support  provided to mentally ill patients and their families. The  lack of discharge planning coupled with refusal of medical  responsibility for crisis intervention in some areas remains  a great concern;  * give the Mental Health Commission greater independence to  provide national leadership in the mental health sector;  * increase the number of acute and non-acute beds and  accommodation units;  * consider process of judicial review of decisions to release  mentally ill patients into the community;  * improve residential services for people who have severe  illnesses or disabilities and/or substance abuse problems;  * increase public health resources for Maori health providers.  Accelerate the development of the professional Maori  workforce, and their development of administrative and  organisational expertise towards the ultimate goal of Maori  as purchasers of health and healthcare services for Maori;  * support Nga Ringa Whakahaere in developing Rongoa Maori  policy guidelines;  * facilitate the improved co-ordination and integration of  community health, dental health, disability support, family  health, Maori health, maternity, mental health, and public  health services;  * maintain rural health services and ensure good access to  basic healthcare equitably throughout the country;  * immediately develop a "rural and provincial" health services  plan with a view to early injections of health funding to  ensure continuity of services (eg, such services as those  provided by hospitals like Thames and Kaitaia which are  currently under threat will be immediately evaluated and  solutions implemented);  * raise and better allocate rural hospital premiums;  * acknowledge that the rural sector is an essential part of the  economic and social fabric of New Zealand and enter a  partnership with the community to increasingly use technology  to reduce isolation (eg, mobile services, helplines,  telemedicine, teleradiology) and consider the expansion of  the health centre model;  * use a range of measures to ensure the adequate recruitment  and retention of health professionals in rural areas,  including consideration of student loans abatements, amending  the definition of "rural" in relation to the rural GP  premiums, the development of a robust peer support programme  for rural practitioners, an 'alternative route' registration  for family doctors, the supply of locums to enable ongoing  training, support and a sustainable quality lifestyle, and  resources for visiting specialists;  * ensure a high quality 'rural service' specialisation is  available in our medical schools;  * seek national consistency in the provision of ambulance  services;  * develop a strategy for meeting the health needs of an ageing  population;  * assure equity of access to health and disability services  across generations by removing income and asset testing for  older people needing long stay geriatric hospital care  services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private  hospital care;  * implement national standards for geriatric home care that are  enforced, and require a more than cursory inspection of Rest  Homes to ensure standards are met;  * review the criteria, eligibility, and benefits of community  cards to ensure access to adequate health care especially for  our senior citizens;  * ensure that mechanisms exist for community involvement in the  decisions relating to health services for their locality;  * follow up the abolition of the regional health authorities by  focusing on the systems and service of the Health Funding  Authority to ensure that health funding is applied to where  it is most needed and that administration, consultation, and  communication costs are minimised;  * replace the senior decision making personnel of the Health  Funding Authority with personnel who support the concept of a  public health system;  * restore accountability and transparency to our health system,  ensure that the responsibilities and relationships of the  Ministry of Health, the Health Funding Authority, and health  providers are clearly defined and that the quality of  communication between them is substantially improved;  * require providers of public health services to achieve  clearly stated health outcomes. 'Health gains' must have  greater emphasis than 'business-like' in the conduct of our  health services;  * ensure that safety considerations are paramount in funding  decisions relating to such services as maternity care and  pharmaceutical purchases;  * conduct a review of the efficiency and efficacy of Pharmac's  operations;  * require improved provision of ante-natal classes, maternity  services for rural, Maori and Pacific Island women, and  improved monitoring of maternity services;  * investigate the real levels of hospital debt and alternative  means of accounting for and/or servicing it;  * guarantee the maintenance of core hospital services and  timely access to acute emergency services;  * adequately resource elective surgery and increase waiting  times funding so as to firmly establish guaranteed maximum  waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist  treatment. Very few services are meeting the stated objective  of seeing 90% of new referrals within two months;  * protect the funding for activities such as health research  and training that have a long term benefit;  * ensure that major effort is put into child mortality,  Alzheimer's, substance abuse, and food and nutrition  research;  * legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified  food (GMF) products and ban all imports that do not meet  these requirements;  * conduct an inquiry into genetic engineering processes to form  clear guidelines for research and development;  * establish a stand alone Food and Drug Authority;  * operate a nationally consistent pharmaceutical schedule;  * replace current negotiated settlements with payment of proper  compensation to those who contracted Hepatitis C and HIV from  contaminated blood transfusions;  * investigate the monopoly powers of the Medical Council;  * ensure that the application of the Privacy Act does not  impinge upon public health and safety;  * ensure health screening of overseas visitors and review  issues relating to the treatment of overseas patients within  our public health system; and  * review specific 'disability' provisions and rest-home care.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Housing Policy  INTRODUCTION  A PROPERTY OWNING DEMOCRACY  New Zealand First believes that all New Zealanders should have  quality, affordable, accommodation. The home, the basis of family  life, is fundamental to New Zealand.  Private ownership provides an underlying social stability - a  "Property Owning Democracy".  Existing policy provides housing for landlord's needs and is  failing: driving rental prices for low income earners up to  crippling levels, and not providing adequate, healthy  accommodation in areas of low housing supply. New Zealand First's  policy package recognises that different policy mixes are needed  for regions with different problems.   PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * build or buy sufficient low income houses to address New  Zealand's current housing crisis;  * provide a better match between the size and locality of  houses and the requirements of tenants;  * reduce the bureaucracy and improve operational efficiencies  by merging Housing Corporation into Housing NZ;  * remove the profit focus and reduce the Internal Rate of  Return for the Corporation;  * encourage New Zealanders to save for their future long-term  accommodation needs, to strengthen the family, and provide a  sense of security for all families;  * establish policy variations (through purchase agreements)  that reflect the nature of housing needs within each housing  region;  * designate areas as Zones of High Housing Need (eg, Northland,  East Coast, Eastern Bay of Plenty). Such zones will have low  deposit and low interest provisions made available to them;  * develop convertible rent-to-own schemes to encourage private  ownership;  * develop policies to reduce rents paid by state tenants,  including minimum levels of occupancy for each state housing  region, and working towards a maximum rent for low income  earners of 25% of their income;  * provide finance facilities for self-build organisations to  use as a revolving fund to assist low income earners into  affordable homes;  * encourage saving by excluding balances in dedicated home  savings accounts from asset calculations when considering  emergency benefit grants;  * empower Regional Employment Commissioners to train and  utilise community wage workers for construction of homes for  low income people on multiple owned land;  * include Government housing assistance schemes in Treaty of  Waitangi settlements;  * review the Residential Tenancy Act and to ensure that it is  equitable to both the landlord and the tenant;  * provide incentives for state housing tenants to maintain  their residences to agreed standard;  * introduce peppercorn rentals for Community Housing through  contractual agreements between the Ministry and approved  community organisations;  * develop policies to improve energy efficiencies in all new  dwellings, and as refurbishment is required, in the existing  housing stock;  * review the sale of state rental properties to private  developers and re-develop existing rental sites where  commercially appropriate; and  * encourage Local Government to retain existing housing stocks  for pensioners.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Immigration  INTRODUCTION  "Whilst this country, with such a small population, will continue  to require an infusion of overseas skills and expertise,  immigration will cease to be used as an excuse for our failure to  train, skill, and employ our own people" (New Zealand First  founding principle).  The exodus of our bright young people continues to be a drain on  our society, and a dampener on our future hopes and aspirations.  New Zealand First makes no apology for wanting our people back, or  for placing strict limits on immigration into New Zealand.  Clear obligations and responsibilities will be placed upon new  migrants before they are able to gain New Zealand citizenship.  New Zealand First intends to concentrate upon uplifting the living  standards of those New Zealanders here nowÉ rather than adding new  pressures through unrestricted immigration.  According to the 1996 Census, there were 605,061 overseas-born  people living in New Zealand. Changes in immigration policy have  meant that almost two thirds of the overall growth in the "new  immigrant" population between 1986 and 1996 has come from Asia.  The age structure of new immigrants is younger than that of other  New Zealand residents. More than half of all new immigrants were  living in the Auckland area (1996 Census).  PLANS  New Zealand First's immigration policy has one clear aim: to  ensure that immigration is in New Zealand's interests. To that  end, New Zealand First will:  * control immigration numbers;  * introduce a probationary period for new immigrants. All new  immigrants will need to keep an unblemished record for four  years before becoming eligible for citizenship (serious  breaches of the law will see residency approvals cancelled  and deportation ordered);  * grant a limited "amnesty" period for overstayers;  * ensure health screening of overseas visitors;  * ensure that failure to disclose all relevant information in  applications for residency results in deportation;  * offer approved immigrants citizenship (with full rights) or  permanent residence (and be subject to foreign ownership  restrictions). Those who attain the status of citizenship  will obtain the same rights as if born here;  * give greater priority to immigrants who have the skills and  qualifications necessary to further regional economic and  social goals;  * require registration of immigration consultants;  * ensure the appropriate induction of immigrants into New  Zealand society with due weight given to an understanding of  New Zealand customs;  * require professional bodies to accept overseas qualifications  that have been recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications  Authority;  * accept refugees on a case by case basis in liaison with local  government; and  * develop a population policy that integrates immigration  policy and economic policy.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Law and Order Policy  INTRODUCTION  It is a basic right of all New Zealanders to live in a safe  society.  New Zealand has changed from being safe to a crime-ridden,  ill-disciplined and violent society.  An immediate campaign against lawlessness is needed now, while  longer-term strategies are required to deal with the root causes  of crime.  New Zealand First recognises that the rights of the victims are  paramount, and that the offender's rights are subject to the  rights of both the victim and the State.  New Zealand First acknowledges that unemployment, poor parenting,  inappropriate peer group pressure, and other socio-economic  factors contribute markedly to our crime rate.  We advocate a balanced policy prescription containing the elements  of prevention, apprehension, punishment, and rehabilitation. New  Zealand First's policies are tough, but fair and non-restrictive  for law abiding citizens.  New Zealand First will:  * ensure that our police force will have the frontline police  numbers, powers, and resources to create safer communities.  * give local police and community groups greater power and  ability to deal with local problems.  * introduce new measures designed to prevent crime "at the  source" and will aim to eliminate the reasons young people  enter into a life of crime.  * introduce a new sentencing regime which will give the public  protection from serious, violent offenders: if there is not  genuine rehabilitation the offender will serve the full  sentence.  * make offenders more directly accountable to their victims and  communities.  * dedicate police traffic safety squads.  * introduce national service, compulsory military or compulsory  community training for young males (18 years) to foster  discipline, self esteem and order into their lives.  PLANS  Resourcing of Police  New Zealand First will:  * provide a further 200 additional frontline police. A detailed  analysis of police to population ratios will be conducted to  ensure appropriate policing;  * ensure that necessary police numbers are engaged in frontline  duties by providing the requisite level of administrative  support;  * instigate a zero tolerance regime of abuse and crimes against  police officers in the discharge of their duties;  * amend the Police Act to allow able police to work in the  force beyond the age of 55;  * support an inquiry into the INCIS computer project;  * provide police with new powers to conduct random searches in  designated public areas at designated times if there is a  reasonable belief that individuals could be carrying  dangerous weapons;  * legislate to allow minors' fingerprints to be taken to help  police fight the increase in property crimes committed by  youths;  * establish a compulsory register for all convicted  paedophiles, with a legal requirement that they notify police  of any change in address. Police will have the power to warn  schools and community groups about the presence of convicted  child sex offenders; and  * expand dedicated squads for community policing, serious  crime/fraud, burglary, drugs, gang liaison, organised crime  and other major crime fighting initiatives.  COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT  * New Zealand First will encourage community participation in  crime prevention and encourage the development of a climate  of community responsibility and support by:  + implementing citizens' "powers to arrest" legislation;  + immediately establishing a task force to investigate the  powers to protect individuals and their property;  + consider civilian roles in support of the police; and  + developing the community wage scheme for approved civic  safety programmes.  SENTENCING  New Zealand First will complete a comprehensive review of the  current sentencing regime and give the public more say in  sentencing policy. Key initiatives in new legislation will be:  * where there is clear evidence that an acquittal has resulted  from intimidation of a victim, witness, and/or juror, the  accused can be re-tried for the original crime;  * whilst allowing some judicial discretion, New Zealand First  will provide greater statutory guidance to the judiciary on  what sentences offenders should receive for various crimes;  * clearer guidance on whether cumulative or concurrent  sentences should be imposed in particular cases, with an  emphasis on greater use of the cumulative or 'total'  sentencing options;  * greater sentencing options to stress the use of non-custodial  sanctions for non-violent offenders. Prison should only be  for those who are a physical danger to society - the rest  should be working under penal supervision developing a work  ethic and a sense of personal reparation to the community;  * increased use of mandatory minimum sentences for violent  offenders with no automatic rights to sentence reduction;  * replacement of the Parole Board by a Rehabilitation Board  with a primary objective of minimising recidivism. The Board  will be required to consider the actual duration of  imprisonment and to ensure a serious violent offender has  demonstrated remorse and a positive attitude to  rehabilitation, before considering any parole.  BAIL LAWS  New Zealand First believes that the granting of bail must be fair  and embrace both the needs of the victims of crime and the  concerns of the community. We will:  * amend bail laws to ensure public safety is given priority;  * ensure police have the time and resources to put all relevant  information before the court;  * give the judiciary clear guidance on how those with previous  convictions should be dealt with on bail applications; and  * amend bail laws so that in a prima facie case, warranting  trial for serious violent offences, bail will not be granted.  VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE  Victims of crime must not become the forgotten people in our  criminal justice system. At present there is a lack of coherent  and organised delivery of victim support services in the overall  government response to crime.  To that end, New Zealand First will:  * establish a group within the Ministry of Justice to oversee  the effective  co-ordination, funding and delivery of victim support  services by various agencies through every phase of the  criminal justice system;  * give the new unit responsibility for raising public awareness  of the availability of victim support services; and  * ensure that Victim Support Groups receive adequate funding  which reflects both the demand for and quality of the  services they provide.  The rights of victims do not end once sentence has been  passed. Accordingly:  * victims of crime will be given a permanent representative on  the Rehabilitation Board;  * families of victims will have mandatory rights to full  information on rehabilitation hearings, to appear in person,  to have an advocate, or to make written submissions; and  * we will support amendments to the law so that victims of  offenders sentenced to psychiatric hospitals will be told  when the offender is discharged from hospital.  New Zealand First will also ensure that offenders are made  accountable for their actions to the victims of their crimes, and  that they are made to pay for the emotional and physical damage  they cause. Steps will be taken to:  * enhance the use of reparation orders by requiring courts to  give them preference over fines;  * help ensure victims receive court ordered reparations  (deductions from income or benefits may be ordered as  appropriate);  * expand the use of reparation orders beyond the current focus  on property crimes; and  * introduce legislation to allow accident compensation insurers  the 'right to sue' those persons who inflict traffic injuries  through drink driving. Insurers will pay out to victims, but  will be able to claim recompense from those found guilty of  causing such injuries.  Youth Justice Young people (and their parents) will be made more  accountable to the community for their crimes.  New Zealand First will:  * amend the Children, Young Persons, and their Families Act to  enable recidivist and serious offenders aged between 12 and  16 to be more appropriately dealt with;  * emphasise public protection and the promotion of safe  communities as a principal goal of youth justice;  * ensure that actions taken under the Act should be aimed at  preventing patterns of offending developing;  * simplify and clarify the power contained in the Act to waive  family group conferences in appropriate cases;  * provide the Youth Court with guidelines as to when anonymity  of proceedings should be removed to reinforce the offender's  accountability to the community;  * make it clear that violent young offenders should indeed be  treated differently from non-violent offenders through:  + special 'secure training order' sentences involving  supervised control and intensive rehabilitation;  + other secure and military training options; and  + widening the range of offences for which youths are  automatically subject to adult processes, eg, attempted  murder, aggravated sexual assault, serious repeat  offending; and  + review the drinking age.  FIREARMS  New Zealand First's firearms policy is based on the belief that  the public have a right to be protected from those with potential  to misuse firearms.  New Zealand First will:  * provide Police with the necessary power to scrutinise, and  vet the suitability of individuals to own firearms (including  the right to access medical records);  * review the results of Firearms Law Reforms implemented in  Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom;  * increase penalties for firearm offences including improper  possession and improper storage; and  * resource increased random inspections of licensees' premises  to check the security of firearms.  TRAFFIC SAFETY  In addition to progressing the tough new laws regarding drink and  driving offences introduced as part of the Land Transport Bill,  New Zealand First will pursue the following measures to improve  road safety:  * establish a Road Safety Review Committee to specially receive  and respond to submissions on road transport problems;  * establish designated traffic squads within every Police  district to ensure improved traffic surveillance;  * ensure that revenue obtained through speed cameras (about $20  million per year) is used to design better driver education  programmes and promote safer driving practices;  * introduce and trial roadside drug testing using technology  currently available overseas;  * legislate so that it is an offence to carry an open container  of liquor in the seating compartment of a vehicle;  * legislate that any person convicted of highway assault (road  rage) will automatically lose their driver's licence;  * legislate that any person using a motor vehicle in committing  serious crimes will automatically suffer loss of licence and,  in some circumstances, their vehicle;  * legislate that "two strikes" (repeat offences within two  years) "and you are out" (for a minimum of five years) will  apply to drunk drivers; and  * provide accident compensation insurers with the right to sue  offending 'drunk' drivers.  JUSTICE AND LAW REFORM  The cornerstone of New Zealand First's justice and law reform  policy is to enhance the public confidence in the judicial system,  and to ensure that the system reflects principles of openness,  accountability, independence, and integrity.  New Zealand First will:  * continue to promote an independent judicial commission to  recommend the appointment of judges, oversee the  administration of the courts, provide training for judges,  and process and report on complaints; and  * retain the right to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the  Privy Council until such time as public opinion requires  reconsideration of this matter.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Pacific Island Affairs  INTRODUCTION  Statistics show that by the year 2050 a quarter of all the  children in our schools will be of Pacific Island heritage. In  Auckland, which is already the Polynesian capital of the world,  this figure will be 42%. A large proportion of these will never  have seen a coconut tree or a lagoon. They will have had no  experience of the islands from where their culture comes.  Pacific Island people add a colourful dimension to the  multicultural nation which is New Zealand. They have also  contributed greatly at top levels in sports, entertainment and  other areas of our society. Unfortunately, statistics in health,  education and employment demonstrate unacceptable levels of social  inclusion of Pacific Island people.  New Zealand First recognises the contributions Pacific Island  peoples have made and continue to make to the health of our  nation. We also recognise the diversity of cultures which make up  our Pacific Island populations.   PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * Bolster the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs so that it is  able to assess all government policy and its effect upon  Pacific Island peoples.  * Establish programmes such as Vaka Ou in all areas with  significant concentrations of Pacific Islanders and provide  on-going resourcing for such programmes.  * Maintain and strengthen positive educational programmes such  as Aim-Hi.  * Provide additional discretionary funding specifically  targeted for Pacific Island language nests.  * Accelerate the Pacific Island educational strategy commenced  under the coalition government.  * Provide for additional bridging programmes for Pacific  Islanders such as that of the Auckland Medical School.  * Ensure that Pacific Island businesses receive equitable  funding from export incentives and business start-up funding  which New Zealand First plans to implement.  * Maintain the place of Private Training Enterprises in  delivering vocational training to Pacific Islanders.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  New Zealand First - Racing  INTRODUCTION  The racing and gaming scene has changed dramatically.  New Zealand First recognises racing as a major contributor to New Zealand's economy.  The racing industry employs 32,000 New Zealanders, generates $1 billion a year in turnover and contributes $70 million in taxation each year (with up to $200 million in indirect taxes).  Gaming, casinos lotto, Kino and slot machines are generating turnovers in excess of $4 billion a year.  PLANS   New Zealand First will:  * review the whole "gaming" environment to ensure that the positive aspects of each gaming industry are maintained and that there is consistency via the taxation process to ensure the maintenance of these "positive aspects";  * enforce clause 62A, D2 of the Racing Act and make the Totalisator Agency Board (TAB) fully accountable to the New Zealand Racing Industry Board and under the full control of the New Zealand Racing Industry Board (NZRIB);  * ensure that the racing industry is consulted fully on the appointments to the NZRIB and TAB after nominations from the Codes;  * seek the full co-operation from the racing Codes and industry  participants to reduce administration costs;  * consider the introduction of breeding tax incentives to allow parity with Australia;  * consider on-course tax concessions so as to increase stakes, encourage ownership and improve patronage;  * ensure the NZRIB and TAB boards adhere to the terms of reference of their Statement of Intent;  * recognise that the clubs' properties are the assets of their members and not of the NZRIB;  * support the breeding industry through tax incentives to allow the importation of frozen semen, breeding stock and shuttle stallions;  * review breeding exemptions, stallion and brood mare depreciation rates;  * review the requirements relating to GST imposition where bloodstock has been purchased by overseas buyers;  * not support the privatisation of the TAB (which is owned by the clubs), or the privatisation of racing clubs which belong to members; or bookmaking; or the lowering of the betting age to 16;  * provide clubs with the opportunity to further increase their revenue base;  * encourage but not force the centralisation of racing;  * concentrate primarily on making the breeding and ownership of horses attractive and within the reach of many New Zealand racing enthusiasts;  * require Bloodstock Agents to sign declarations covering past experience and require their licensing;  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Research And Development  INTRODUCTION  Currently New Zealand taxpayer and producer levies provide around  $600 million annually for public science research. 83% of New  Zealand government research funding goes to CRIs.  However we are unsure how much benefit is derived from this  investment.  "At the moment New Zealand is actually world best on a per capita  basis at producing scientific papers.  But we're low on the scale of creating saleable intellectual  property and/or products and services from our R & D"  [Peter Kerr, New Zealand Sheep Research Foundation].  The key to a successful research and development policy is the  maintenance of balance between genuine blue sky research and  research activity which will directly lead to economic  advancement. New Zealand First believes that Public Good Health  Science funding needs to be more sharply focussed.   PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * Provide tax incentives for businesses to engage in research  and development leading to export and employment growth;  * Focus Public Good Research funding more tightly on job growth  and increased export earnings;  * Encourage the merge of tertiary institutions to ensure degree  teaching is being undertaken in a genuine research  environment;  * Increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for  specific courses to increase the number of appropriately  qualified graduates (eg science and technology);  * Introduce further scholarships (especially at post-graduate  level) to ensure that we keep our best students and provide  for research and development expertise;  * Separate out the research component from EFTS funding and  require institutions to report on the use of research  funding;  * Expand publicly-funded topo-culture research through rural  New Zealand;  * Assist New Zealand companies in developing new technology and  facilitate technology transfer;  * Provide improved lower cost intellectual property protection  for innovators in New Zealand;  * Provide and encourage venture capital sources for New Zealand  innovations; and  * Provide assistance in the marketing of new or innovative  products.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Rural Policy  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand's rural and farming communities continue to suffer  from a combination of failed Government economic policies, poor  commodity prices, and the withdrawal of social services.  New Zealand First has, from its inception, had a commitment to  provincial New Zealand. The party continues to promote policies  that value our rural communities to restore confidence and vigour  to the farming and land-based sectors.  Our country cannot raise its living standards without rapidly  growing exports. The rural heartland is vitally important.  Land-based industries are still the backbone of our economy.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * continue to promote a balanced and flexible monetary policy  of low inflation, interest, and exchange rates that are  conducive to real export and employment growth. The policy  target agreement between the new Government and the Reserve  Bank will include export and employment growth objectives;  * introduce other export-friendly economic policies including:  o the establishment of a development banking utility to  provide venture capital and export guarantees;  o active negotiation of improved trade access;  o ensuring that New Zealand's Trade Board (TRADENZ)  focuses increasingly on the development of emerging  markets, and on the promotion of industries where we  have a clear competitive advantage;  * re-establish a Rural Affairs Unit. This Unit will act as a  central information-gathering office and help co-ordinate and  integrate the information available to Government on all  issues affecting rural communities. The Unit will also be  responsible for advising Government on how proposed economic  and social policies will affect the rural community;  * establish working relationships with rural advocacy groups to  ensure that rural and provincial views and issues are heard;  * promote policies that recognise that because of lower  international commodity prices, it is essential that the  domestic environment does not unduly add to production costs  or impede efficiency of our primary producers, eg, New  Zealand First supports the Resource Management Act review  process and will support amendments which reduce compliance  costs, and which facilitate the application of the Act. New  Zealand First advocated and supported the removal of stamp  duties related to the conveyancing and lease of farmland as  they were an impediment to the rural sector organising and  structuring itself in the most cost-effective and productive  manner.  * introduce a Mortgage Guarantee Scheme - to encourage younger,  more aggressive people to attain farm ownership;  * recognise that the Livestock Tax requires farmers to  establish a value and pay in advance for a sale. New Zealand  First will work with farming groups to find a more equitable  means of meeting valuation requirements;  * apply incentives to business activities that add value,  create employment, provide export growth (or import  substitution) and/or contribute to regional development;  * give priority to the needs of New Zealand industries and  communities in setting any programme on tariffs. Future  tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and  progress of our trading partners. We aim to win the export  and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal  race;  * ensure that any Producer Board reform will be considered on a  case by case, board by board basis within the following  framework:  o if a substantial majority (at least 75%) at the core of  the industry agree on directions and aspirations then  the status quo should remain;  o each industry should provide its own long-term plan to  the Government;  * amend insolvency law to provide solutions for situations such  as those where farmers who supply stock or produce for  processing are treated as unsecured creditors if the  processor goes into receivership prior to paying the farmer;  * reintroduce our Farm Debt Mediation Bill which establishes a  clear and defined mediation process, which must be followed  before a bank can take possession of property to satisfy  ''farm debts''. It will not rescue deficient farmers from  insolvency, but will ensure that all options are fully  considered in front of an independent and skilled mediator;  * build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to reduce the  sale of land to overseas interests. New Zealand cannot  maintain our land as a heritage for future generations if  foreign ownership continues to occur. Landcorp land should  not be sold to overseas owners, but be used to settle young  New Zealand farmers;  * New Zealand First's taxation policies will focus on taxation  incentives for key developmental initiatives leading to rapid  export growth;  * acknowledge that investment in scientific research is crucial  if the New Zealand primary and export sectors are to maintain  their international competitiveness into the future.  Accordingly New Zealand First will ensure that agriculture  and horticulture receive the emphasis and priority in science  funding and strategy that they deserve;  * increase funding for technology transfer;  * ensure that the resources, funding, and technology are  available to combat any biological threats to our primary  industries; and where possible to meet these threats at, or  outside, our borders;  * commit additional research funding for opossum and other pest  eradication programmes;  * extend the Community Wage scheme so that participants may be  employed to clear unwanted vegetation, gorse, broom, and  blackberry etc, from farms which are struggling to clear  these weeds. Workers will also be used for tree planting  where appropriate, and will assist pest control teams;  * provide base funding to develop and promote organic farming  options. New Zealand First recognises international concerns  regarding pesticides and artificial fertilizers. The natural  advantage of New Zealand's environment must be supported by  research and by marketing;  * ensure that appropriate topoculture programmes are supported  to provide a database and advisory service on alternative  land use proposals and diversification;  * extend the farm cadet scheme;  * financially support the development of water harvesting  (irrigation) schemes that have met feasibility, viability,  and environmental requirements. (Water supplied by these  schemes would be sold on a commercial basis to farmers for  irrigation and livestock. Electricity generation would add  commercial viability);  * ensure that "Heartland" New Zealanders are not unnecessarily  handicapped by their location; that reductions in access to,  and the quality of health services, schooling, and transport  are arrested and reversed;  * improve access to quality early childhood education; extend  parent support programmes and an 0800 advice line; redefine  "rural" schools to secure staffing and funding; and modernise  "distance education" provision;  * increase use of technology to improve rural access to health  services and introduce a range of innovative measures (such  as student debt write-offs) to ensure the adequate  recruitment and retention of health professions in rural  areas;  * give planning priority to the provision of enhanced social  and infrastructural services, eg, New Zealand First does not  support the privatisation of roads, and will regulate as  necessary to ensure cheaper and competitive power, and  telecommunications prices; and  * ensure the implementation of policies that incrementally and  progressively bring transparency to road transport taxation  and duties so that in the long-term taxes and duties  collected for road construction, maintenance, and road safety  are expended for those purposes.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Senior Citizens  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand First is committed to empowering senior citizens to enable them to remain independent for as long as they wish within their communities.  New Zealand First is committed to empowering senior citizens to enable them to remain independent for as long as they wish within their communities.  New Zealand First believes senior citizens are the foundation on which our communities are built.  Policy designed to impoverish our senior population is destructive and short-sighted. Their ability to contribute to those communities and the families that they are made up of is dependent on government policy recognising that value and supporting it.  New Zealand First recognises the value that senior citizens bring to their families and communities and undertakes to support that value in all policy that impacts on senior citizens.  PLANS  A New Zealand First-led government will:  * raise the base minimum level of New Zealand superannuation for a married couple to no less than 67.5% of the net average wage. The base level will be raised to no less than 70% in the long term;  * subsequently adjust rates for single persons;  * increase war veterans pensions and allowances by ten percent;  * establish a statutory body charged with the purpose of establishing a two-tier long-term superannuation scheme, incorporating incentives for saving;  * pass legislation which ensures that any modifications to the scheme can only be made with a 75% majority in the House of Representatives;  * ensure that any new scheme would not affect any person who, at the time of introduction, was aged 55 years or older;  * introduce a 'Home Equity scheme, run by the Government, that allows retirees to finance additional expenditure by utilising their home as a secured asset;  * assure equity of access to health and disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for older people needing long stay geriatric hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care;  * review the criteria, eligibility and benefits of community cards to ensure access to adequate health care especially for our senior citizens;  * replace the Seniors Card with a Golden Privilege Card as part of a consumer package for senior citizens aimed at maximising spending power;  * ensure that a pilot study is undertaken to provide a formula for the timely provision of operations for cataracts and hip replacements;  * guarantee the maintenance of core hospital services and timely access to acute emergency services;  * adequately resource elective surgery and increase waiting times funding so as to firmly establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment;  * support the development of accommodation initiatives for pensioners;  * provide a range of measures in support of the safety and security of all New Zealanders by properly resourcing the police, providing stiffer sentencing, and greater community involvement;  * undertake to investigate the anomalies surrounding the 55 plus benefit to devise fairer conditions for its payment;  * scope the free provision of hearing aids and spectacles to qualifying citizens;  * complete the nationwide network of Elder Abuse and Neglect Co-ordination Services;  * review lottery funding criteria for community transport for seniors groups.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Superannuation Policy  INTRODUCTION  New Zealand First is determined to deliver a long-term,  sustainable superannuation scheme, secure from political  tampering. The principles upon which such a scheme will be devised  will be fairness, sustainability, that it delivers a secure and  dignified living standard and that it is within the national  interest.  The abolition of the surtax was always one of New Zealand First's  core policies. We delivered on our promise. We budgeted for and  prepared legislation to remove income and asset testing for  long-stay geriatric hospital care from 1 October 1998. The  challenge now is to maintain immediate certainty whilst planning  for longer term security. A compulsory contributory scheme is part  of this strategy.  PLANS  * New Zealand First has prepared legislation which will restore the  base minimum level of New Zealand superannuation for a married  couple from 60% to no less than 67.5% of the net average wage. The  base level will be raised to no less than 70% in the longer term.  This plan will be pursued in the interests of the dignity and  security of our retired citizens and all New Zealanders who expect  to retire with dignity in the future;  * A subsequent adjustment of rates for single persons will be made;  * War Veterans' pensions and allowances will be increased by 10%;  * Receipts of superannuation at death will form part of the  deceased estate - there will be no requirement to make repayments.  * New Zealand First will establish a statutory body charged with  the purpose of establishing a two-tier, long-term scheme  incorporating the following features:  + purchasing power is to remain constant;  + the age of entitlement will be cemented in, commencing at 65  years;  + the scheme must contain portability provisions over time and  between jobs, and it must be able to be drawn upon if the  recipient is outside of New Zealand;  + a smooth transition from the existing pay-as-we-go scheme to  an additional second-tier save-as-we-go scheme;  + the creation of a dedicated fund from savings at 3% of gross  earning, rising to 8%, and accompanied by equivalent  reductions in income tax rates;  + the first $5,000 of gross income to be exempt from this  savings requirement;  + individual entitlements will be tagged for an individual,  guaranteed by the state, and will untouchable by future  generations of politicians; and  + national interests for enhanced domestic savings are  maximised.  * Incentives for saving should be part of any lasting scheme;  * New Zealand First will pass legislation which ensures that any  modifications to the scheme can only be made with a 75% majority  in the House of Representatives;  * Any new scheme would not affect any person who at the time of  introduction was aged 55 years or older; and  * New Zealand First will introduce a "Home Equity" scheme, run by  the Government, that allows retirees to finance additional  expenditure by utilising their home as a secured asset.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Taxation Policy  INTRODUCTION  The Government collects over $30 billion in taxes. We all have an  interest in protecting our nation's tax base.  New Zealand First will continue to reform the taxation systems by:  simplifying processes; clarifying legislation; ensuring that the  taxation laws of New Zealand are upheld; and that all - large  corporate or private individual - pay their taxes.  New Zealanders deserve a good tax system.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * act against incompetence and corruption within the Inland  Revenue Department (IRD);  * ensure that the IRD's application of the compliance and  penalties regimes is fair and equitable;  * reduce tax compliance costs by monitoring, evaluating (and  amending as necessary) the measures introduced during our  time in Government. Priorities remain: streamlining of  taxation analysis and preparation of returns processes; and  making the tax system as neutral and equitable as possible;  * remain opposed to any increase in general taxation;  * require that disclosure of tax schemes that affect the  instance of tax payable by more than $50,000, be mandatory;  * ensure that any failure to disclose (or the falsification of  material facts) by a person experienced in taxation matters  is treated as a serious criminal offence. If a sum of greater  than $5m revenue is involved, it will carry a maximum penalty  of 10 years imprisonment;  * establish a tax ombudsman to investigate tax payer  complaints;  * enact legislation to give effect to select committee and  minority reports recommendations from the enquiry into the  IRD;  * amend requirements and implement practices to enable the IRD  to more appropriately remit tax liabilities or enter into  arrangements for deferred payments;  * introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified  industries and selected approved investments so as to assist  business development.  * provide tax incentives for research and development; and  * apply tax incentives to business activities which add value,  create employment, provide export growth and/or new  technology development.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    New Zealand First Policy Summary  New Zealand First Tertiary Education Policy  BACKGROUND INFORMATION:  79,072 students enrolled at university (March 1999)  43,698 at polytechnics  7,446 at Colleges of Education  1,360 at Maori universities  TRENDS:  * More students are enrolling at polytechnics rather than universities. Student enrolments at universities this year are down by half of one percent while polytech student numbers are up by just under five per cent.  * Overall participation in tertiary education and training has increased but the average funding per student has decreased. This means that tertiary institutions are under pressure to achieve efficiencies or to increase revenue.  * Revenue pressures can result in courses that are “sold” more with the finances of the institution in mind than the employment outlook of the individual.  THE NEW ZEALAND FIRST PHILOSOPHY   * Education is an investment in the future. Ideally a fair proportion of education investment should be excluded from the calculation of budget deficits or surpluses.  * New Zealand’s future depends on the skills, adaptability and ideas of its workforce. There are great social benefits from having an educated and involved citizenry.  * Education is a public "good "which also accrues private benefit.  * The market model is deficient for areas of social policy such as education.  * Although more New Zealanders are receiving tertiary education or training, New Zealand First is concerned at our inability to supply sufficient numbers of scientists, technologists, researchers and skilled trades people.  * It is essential that skills training and continual upgrading programmes be accessible, affordable, and appropriate.  * Market force 'bums on seats' policies do not necessarily deliver courses that are good for students or meet our social and economic needs.  * To achieve the essential goal of increased numbers of people in tertiary training the previous governments have demanded unacceptable sacrifices from tertiary students.  * The existing policy of high fees and student loans indicates,  mistakenly, that education is a marketable commodity and that burdening young people with high debt levels is acceptable.  THE IDEALS   * Education is one of the foundation stones that an enlightened society is built on.  * It must help the individual realise his or her human potential,  * It is also the key to a nation's social and economic future.  * Tertiary education cannot focus solely on employment but it must be an important element of any system.  * It must enhance needed vocational skills,  * It must include research.  New Zealand First is committed to the ideal that every young New Zealander is entitled to the best possible start to their working career.  THE REALITY (DEBT)   New Zealand students have to climb a growing mountain of debt that is now $3.24 billion dollars high. It is growing at the rate of $1.5 million a day - at $62,500 an hour - at more than a thousand dollars a minute.  THE EFFECTS   * We are concerned that many young people, who seek qualifications are crushed under a debt burden for a large part of their working lives.  * It will impact on every decision they make about their lives.  * It will affect their credit rating, their future relationships and their opportunities to set up in business.  SOME ANSWERS FROM NEW ZEALAND FIRST  * New Zealand First has already announced that it will reduce the interest rates on student loans.  * The cost of the loan while a student is involved in full time study will cover the inflation rate - so that students repay what they borrow in real terms.  * The threshold income at which the loan starts to be repaid will be reviewed.  * When the study course is complete and students are earning over the threshold income, the interest rate will be set at only two per cent interest above the inflation rate.  * The additional two per cent will apply only after the threshold income limit has been reached.  This plan cuts existing interest rate by nearly two thirds. Today's rates include a loading of one per cent on all students to cover those who default. This unfair practice means that honest students pay for those who don't repay their loans.  The New Zealand First plan is a realistic debt repayment system. It is more likely to achieve debt repayment and less likely to send young people overseas.  New Zealand First also believes that the loan burden could also be reduced by introducing a system that allows the individual to "work off" part of the debt.  * A teacher, a doctor, or a nurse, could volunteer to work in a specific area for a set period of time in return for a reduction in their student loan by a set amount.  * This system would allow these graduates to provide a professional service for areas of New Zealand which struggle to attract applicants.  * For example, there is a shortage of rural doctors and some of rural schools find it difficult to attract suitable graduates.  * The other benefit would be to individuals. The loan would be reduced and he or she would gain some practical experience.  * New graduates would not work in difficult areas without proper  supervision.  * The individuals selected would have their debt reduced by an agreed amount for each year of approved service.  * This system could be extended to other graduates in other disciplines and it could work with various forms of trade training.  SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY   There are too few highly qualified graduates in the areas of science and technology.  * New Zealand First will increase the proportion of government funding (from the present 72%) towards the costs of some science and technology courses.  * This funding could be lifted to eighty or even ninety per cent for some courses where there is a shortage of graduates, and where there is direct economic benefit.  * At postgraduate level, New Zealand First will introduce more  scholarships in selected courses to ensure the best students are not lost to New Zealand. As well as qualifying the student to the highest level, the country would benefit by any research or development work that was undertaken.  OTHER MEASURES  New Zealand First will:  *Re-establish the proportion of tertiary tuition course costs to that of the 1998 budget, and require greater accountability by institutions in arriving at course costs.  * Reinstate access to the Emergency Unemployment Benefit for students not receiving allowances.  * Work towards a universal student allowance by progressively increasing the family income levels at which the abatement commences and when allowances disappear.  * Clearly define the status of wananga along iwitanga lines and provide initial capital funding.  * Create a new class of institutions, namely Universities of Technology.  NEW ZEALAND FIRST STUDENT LOANS SCHEME ESTIMATED COSTS  Year One: $340million. Year Two: $341million. Year Three: $342million.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Tourism Policy  INTRODUCTION  Tourism is a key earner of foreign exchange. Many New Zealanders  are employed in tourist related activities.  New Zealand First recognises the opportunities for economic growth  and employment through tourism ventures and will continue to  reduce barriers to growth and actively promote New Zealand as a  tourist destination.  In order to improve our Current Account, we must maximise our  tourism opportunities as well as improve our export performance.  PLANS  A New Zealand First led Government will:  * treat our tourism industry as an export industry specifically  for the application of venture capital funding, research and  development incentives, and technology transfer;  * review research and statistical requirements, in consultation  with major industry players;  * promote Trans-Tasman tourism with emphasis on major  Australasian events;  * continue funding for New Zealand Tourism Board's destination  marketing strategies, focusing in particular on adventure  tourism, eco tourism and cultural tourism;  * continue joint venture tourism marketing projects with  stricter guidelines and accountabilities;  * promote greater opportunities for Maori participation in  tourism;  * encourage internal tourism for its job creation by 'see New  Zealand first' campaign;  * encourage regional tourism developments and macro-region  initiatives to stimulate economic growth in the provinces;  * promote the development of aviation links with focus on  increasing access to New Zealand from Asian and emerging  markets;  * oppose full cost recovery of border control costs from  tourists; and  * conduct a full review of the functions, accountabilities, and  appointments processes of the Tourism Board.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Trade Policy  INTRODUCTION  Trade is New Zealand's life-blood.  New Zealand First's economic policy prescription is based on a  partnership with the people in promoting sustainable export led  economic growth that will lead to job creation and enable the  savings that will facilitate our social progress.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * aim to treble exports, in real terms, by 2020 and will set  goals to reach that target;  * promote a balanced and flexible monetary policy of low  exchange and interest rates that are conducive to real export  growth (export and employment objectives will be made part of  the policy targets agreement between the new government and  the Governor of Reserve Bank);  * focus on facilitating New Zealand's trading performance;  * create a development banking utility to provide venture  capital and an export credit guarantee scheme to ensure that  the viable exporting opportunities and innovation are not  lost;  * ensure that New Zealand's Trade Development Board - TRADENZ -  focuses increasingly on the development of emerging markets,  and on the promotion of industries where we have a clear  competitive advantage;  * further promote innovation by exploring all possibilities in  encouraging research and development, and in ensuring that  technology transfer is facilitated within both the public and  the private sectors;  * increase competitiveness of New Zealand business by reducing  red-tape and compliance costs;  * actively seek improved trade access;  * encourage business to engage in import substitution;  * place a "buy New Zealand first" requirement on taxpayer and  ratepayer owned businesses and state owned enterprises;  * give priority to the needs of New Zealand industries and  communities in setting any programme on tariffs. Future  tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and  progress of our trading partners. We aim to win the export  and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal  race; and  * in association with the 'partnership' strategies listed  above, it is recognised that a sound basis for such economic  activity should be provided by:  o reducing the social and economic costs of unemployment  through job creation in a growing economy; and  o improving participation in a high performance education  system.      NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY   Transport Policy  INTRODUCTION  Transport is fundamental to exporting, commercial, social, and  political activities. It is the key to our rural lifestyles, and  to our place in the world.  In its widest form it is the biggest employing industry in the  country. Nevertheless, its importance has often been  underestimated.  There are problems both with our roads and on our roads. There are  problems with drivers and vehicles. Our overseas shipping industry  is shrinking fast and we have many areas where public transport is  far from satisfactory.  New Zealand First is committed to a comprehensive workable  transport policy that promotes cost effectiveness, efficiency, and  safer transport systems.  PLANS   ROAD TRANSPORT  New Zealand First will put a strong emphasis on driver competence.  It will become more a privilege to drive on our roads as against  an automatic right.  New Zealand First will:  * Establish a Road Safety Review committee to specifically  receive and respond to submissions on road, and road  transport problems;  * Establish designated traffic squads within every Police  district to make sure traffic work receives a higher  priority;  * Ensure that revenue obtained through speed cameras (about $20  million per year) is used to design better driver education  programmes and promote safer driving practices;  * Trial roadside drug testing using technology currently  available overseas;  * Legislate so that it is an offence to carry an open container  of liquor in the seating compartment of a vehicle.  * Ensure there is automatic loss of Driver's Licence for any  person convicted of highway assault (road rage);  * Ensure that any person using a motor vehicle in committing  serious crimes will automatically suffer loss of licences and  in some circumstances their vehicle;  * Implement 'two strikes" (repeat offences within two years)  and you are out policy" (for a minimum of five years) to  drunk drivers;  * Review licence charges for the elderly, new entrants, and all  endorsement fees; and  * Provide Accident Compensation insurers with the right to sue  'drunk' drivers  * Competent driving is dependent upon five factors; namely, the  individual's knowledge, skill, experience, fitness and  attitude. Driving qualifications to reflect continuous  measured competence and ability in all these areas. To  achieve this simulator training to be investigated and if  where practical instigated.  New Zealand First will also consider:  * vehicle confiscation for serious repeat offenders;  * review all possible alternatives including vehicle  registration fees for the introduction of compulsory third  party insurances;  * reduce and graduate Accident Compensation levies (higher for  motorcycles and vehicles of higher power and/or greater risk,  lower for types with good protective safety features;  * increase amount of fuel tax allocated to accident  compensation;  * full review of motor vehicle fuels incorporating the effects  of Premium unleaded petrol, diesel and gas. Consideration to  promotion of incentives for environmentally friendly fuels;  and the implementation of daytime running lights; and  * review vehicle safety standards and inspection arrangements.  ROADING  New Zealand First will not allow our roads to be privatised.  However, we recognise that our roads have not kept pace with  traffic numbers and vehicle types and that there is a need to  address many roading issues. We will:  * upgrade highways, particularly those serving ports, to  accommodate heavier trucking (widening/strengthening);  * specify a programme to improve rural roading;  * implement programmes which progressively reduce the cost  benefit ratio;  * phase down (and out) the excise tax which goes into the  consolidated account;  * consider means for reducing traffic congestion;  * implement a programme which identifies and provides for  environmental costs;  * implement a roading administration structure which is  flexible, caters for the input and concerns of local  government, and has the ability to borrow against roading  income  PUBLIC TRANSPORT  There is an urgent need for the development and enhancement of  public transport in many regions throughout New Zealand.  New Zealand First is committed to address this issue in a  comprehensive manner in which the best value is obtained for the  travelling public.  We will:  * subsidise from regional charges  * subsidise from parking fees;  * develop a transport voucher system; and  * appoint a 'Transport Commissioner' to ensure progress.  SHIPPING  New Zealand is an island nation which is largely dependent upon  exports to expand our economy.  There is a need for our trade to be served by efficient shipping  services. Currently we have only one ship and a tug and barge  service trading internationally. All other vessels servicing our  exports and imports are foreign owned.  New Zealand First is committed to the expansion of our Merchant  Fleet.  To that end we will establish a Shipping Reform Group to implement  a second register and/or a tonnage tax regime.  PORTS  New Zealand First will conduct a review of waterfront employment  structures, operational practices and charging regimes.  RECREATIONAL BOATING  As New Zealanders increasingly participate in this leisure  activity, we need to widely consult on issues such as:  - the registration of leisure craft;  - the inclusion of a contribution to Coastguard services by way of  a Search and Rescue Insurance;  - the certification of operators; and  * Provide for approved Coastguard vessels to have excise tax on  fuel refunded.  AVIATION  Conduct a full review of Civil Aviation Authority, its structure,  responsibilities, administration and funding levels. Such a review  will also embrace pilot training, requirements, tuition fees, and  fee structures.    NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY SUMMARY  Youth Affairs Policy  INTRODUCTION  Young people today face a more complex and challenging social  environment than past generations. Gaining paid full-time  employment is extremely difficult, as a result of the economic  policies of successive governments. Youth are pressured through  the media by a multitude of stereotypes which they sometimes feel  the need to copy. They also have easier access to harmful  substances such as drugs and alcohol. A far greater range of  choices is available.  Most youth are equipped with the attitudes and aptitudes to deal  with these pressures. However, for some, the challenges are too  bewildering to cope with. Levels of youth suicide are too high,  and there is too much harm caused by risk-taking and substance  abuse.  New Zealand First recognises the diversity of our youth and their  different cultures. Most of all, New Zealand First recognises the  need for youth to have a voice able to express youth concerns and  to have input into local and national decision-making.  PLANS  New Zealand First will:  * Run a public campaign aimed at youth about sexual health  including the option of abstention and the risks of HIV/Aids  and other serious STDs.  * Update Ministry of Health guidelines for dealing with youth  health issues.  * Allow nurses to prescribe contraception to young people where  appropriate and accompanied by adequate counselling.  * Amend the Local Government Act to require local councils to  establish a consultative mechanism with youth in their  regions.  * Address concerns over the interest rates on tertiary loans,  access to the Emergency Unemployment Benefit and the  proportion of tertiary course fees paid by the Government.  * Make genuine government investment to stimulate the economy  to reduce unemployment levels.  * For youth leaving school, reduce the stand-down period for  entering the Community Wage scheme from 13 weeks to 4.  * Review the minimum wage for youth.  * Introduce a probationary period of employment for youth  during which period a personal grievance could not be taken  against an employer, to help get an employment start for  young people.  * Expand the Job Plus scheme, particularly for youth.  * Ensure youth suicide prevention programme resources are made  available from additional health funding.  * Run a national anti-bullying campaign.  * Encourage young people to develop a sense of purpose and  direction in their lives by involvement in Serving New  Zealand.  Contact: Frank Perry  phone: (04) 471 9606  mobile: 021 890 307