A FUTURE BUILT ON VALUES    This October will mark six years of National government. They have been years of rapid change, economic expansion and vigorous social reform.  The result is a new sense of self-worth coupled to an enterprise culture replacing the confrontations of the past with a new climate of trust and co-operation.  The Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update released on September 12 confirms that with the continuation of the National Government's policies, the '90s will be the golden decade of the 20th Century for New Zealand.  New Zealand has evolved from what was described as "one of the most suffocating and dreary economies in the western world" to one the OECD now calls "among the most dynamic and competitive anywhere".  That marvellous transformation was achieved by the determination and conunitment of New Zealanders who recognised the realities of the world in which we now live.  It was also assisted by National's commitment to spend wisely, promote life-long education, and rid New Zealand of the restrictions that strangle individual initiative.  The programme of wide-ranging social reform has brought a sense of justice, self-help and new hope to those who are served by our welfare programmes.  What sets our Government apart is our commitment to family, our sense of community and our optimism for the future.  There is still much to be done and National alone has the energy, experience and vision for the task.  We believe that in all major areas of activity - the economy, social support, health, education, employment, agriculture, conservation, foreign affairs and trade - we must build on what we have already achieved.  Our economic programme has been based on promoting growth, maintaining stable prices, repaying public debt, and reducing taxation. Its success is internationally recognised.  The family is the cornerstone of civilised society. We will keep it strong by helping families where needed, preventing family violence, protecting the young and by respecting and providing security for the elderly.  The momentum of new medical knowledge and technology is leading our health and medical services into new realms of health care and corrective surgery. This is expensive, but with National's economic policies we can afford to meet the cost.  We've identified four critical areas where real improvements can be made in the health services - child, mental and Maori health, together with prevention programmes - and we're acting on each.  One of the outstanding successes of our Government has  been job creation. Our stronger economy has created more than 200,000 new jobs which means that unemployment has been reduced from 10.9% to 6.1% today.  Each new job means that another New Zealander can stand tall with a new sense of self-worth and the ability to provide for themselves and their families.  Knowledge will be a defining characteristic of successful societies in the future.  Thus we are building an education system which guarantees opportunities in the early years, sets high standards in schools, assists those with special needs, and offers life-long education.  New Zealand has a superb physical environment but we must remain vigilant. We've isolated five priority areas for action: the quality of water, pests, endangered species, foreign organisms and C02 reduction.  The decisions we make on issues affecting the environment require we take a long-term view, not one just driven by short-term considerations or popular demand for the least costly options.  Internationally New Zealand is now at the forefront of the free trade agreements that are battering down world trade barriers.  We are also a highly respected international peace-keeper. We believe we have an obligation to help our `neighbours', whether they be just over the back fence or on the other side of the world.  "In this document we explain the values  and principles that guide us.  We explain National's approach, highlight what has already been achieved, and explain  what will happen next."  With progress to date we can with confidence take the next steps towards the 21st Century, sure in our ability to play our part in the community of nations.  New Zealand is prepared to be heard on big issues like nuclear disarmament, and we are equally determined that we must leave New Zealand a better place for those who follow us.  A society with strong enduring values is a society that survives and prospers. New Zealand is such a society.  These then are our policy objectives. They are written in the knowledge that after the election it may well be necessary to work with other parties to form the next Government.    Rt Hon j B Bolger  Prime Minister of New Zealand  ECONOMY  New Zealand under the National Government, as we approach the second millennium, stands at the brink of a new era of prosperity without parallel in the last 30 years.  Since 1990, the present Government has set in place a policy framework that almost trebled the rate of national development and growth in this country.  Our economic progress over the last six years has enabled us to dramatically reduce both overseas debt and taxation.  On 1 July this year the first of those tax cuts came into force.  Next,year, under National, there will be more. At the same time our net foreign currency debt will be eliminated.  We will also be making substantial new investments in health and education, and bedding-down a fairer, more sustainable social welfare system.  National will continue this economic programme of promoting growth, maintaining stable prices, investing in social policy prioritites, repaying public debt and reducing taxation.  This year, the World Economic Forum ranked  New Zealand third in the world for international competitiveness. The United States came fourth and Australia twelfth.  The World Economic Forum predicts (on a basis of current policies and conditions) that the fastest growing countries in the world in the next five to ten years will be, in order, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.  Five Fundamentals  New Zealand's achievement in the last six years relies on five simple, strong and enduring fundamentals to set a sound policy framework for national prosperity:  • An open economy, so that the best in the world flows into this country to give our people choice, and improve our competitive edge in global trade.  • Stable prices, because inflation steals from savers, creates uncertainty round the return on investment, and inhibits the growth needed to improve incomes. The Reserve Bank Act makes an important contribution to national prosperity.  • Flexible job-markets that help employer and  employee work together more efficiently for the development of the business and the growth of their incomes. The Employment Contracts Act plays a key role in helping them achieve that.  • Responsible fiscal management. New Zealanders cannot perform well if they labour under a mountain of public debt. Governments should deliver goods of genuine value to the public, and do so at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayer.  • A low-rate broad-based tax system. Tax inevitably penalises effort and initiative. The revenue necessary to fund government objectives should be collected with minimum damage to the incentives that drive the progress of the nation.  We do not claim this framework is perfect, and we intend to continue to enhance it further in the future.  Promoting National Growth  That framework has enabled the nation to achieve average growth of 3.8% a year in the four years 1992-3 to 1995-6 under this National Government.  That is more than three times faster than the 1.2% average of previous governments in the 15 years from 1977-91.  New Zealand exporters have boosted their earnings by 34.3% from $15 billion to $20 billion in 1991-96.  They gained 44.1% in Australia and 92.4% in the nine crucial major Asian markets excluding Japan.  Employment Among Best in OECD  Jobs are central to personal and family well-being. Under previous Governments, unemployment in New Zealand rose continuously from 1973 onwards, to peak at 10.9% in 1991.  But this Government has created 209,100 jobs in the last four years. Unemployment has been slashed to 6.1%.  Thanks to the Employment Contracts Act, New Zealand is now among the top half-dozen countries in the OECD for employment performance. A further decline in unemployment is expected during the three years ahead.  Price Stability for Consumers  Nothing damages the interests of the consuming public faster than rising prices. The uncertainty created by inflation is equally damaging to investment. The Reserve Bank Act has thus played a central role in the achievement of faster sustainable growth.  Inflation averaged 12.3% a year in the period from 1975 to 1990. Since September 1991 it has averaged 1.9%, one-sixth of its earlier level.  Under this Government, New Zealanders have begun to claw back some of the large income losses they sustained in the previous 15-year period.  National is fully and firmly cormnitted to price stability.  Fiscal Responsibility  A very tight rein has been kept on low-priority expenditures. About $1.5 billion has been freed up for social purposes by a major debt repayment programme. Money has been continuously redirected into areas that give high value to the public.  The sale of Crown forest cutting rights demonstrated National's conviction that available taxpayers' money should be spent in social areas like health and education, not timber processing, which can safely be left to the private sector.  Better Public Health Care  Economic and Social Role of Debt Reduction  The present National Government, between 1993-4 and 1998-9, was boosting public health care by more than $1 billion, from $4.6 billion to $5.63 billion a gain of 22.3% in six years.  That increase has been boosted by an extra $353 million that has already been committed to population based health funding and for mental health care in the three years to 1998-99.  Better Public Education  Similarly, education spending, already half a billion dollars up on 1992-3, would be more than $1 billion ahead, at  $5.6 billion, by 1998-9. Increases total $492 million since May including $275 million for the post primary teachers' pay settlement and $217 million more in capital expenditure for new schools, classrooms and facilities this year.  Protecting the Environment  National is committed already to a Green Package which will boost spending on the environment, including endangered species, by $110 million over the next three years, including $68.4 million more for the Department of Conservation.  Low-Rate Broad-based tax system  National is committed to a more broad-based lower-rate tax structure, as the fiscal position permits, and to not increasing taxes.  Reductions in Taxation  From 1 July this year, National reduced the 28% middle income tax rate to 24%.  On 1 July next year, we will reduce it further to 21%.  The threshold is also being raised at the same time in two stages, from $30,875 to $38,000.  These are among the many dividends for New Zealanders already delivered through better economic performance. By maintaining a sound growth platform, National will be able to deliver more on-going benefits in the future.  National will reduce compliance costs for the vast bulk of New Zealanders by tax simplification making it unnecessary to file tax returns on earnings up to $45,000, if they comprise wages and interest only.  Family Assistance  From 1 July this year substantial additional assistance has been delivered to families. From 1 July next year, that gain will double.  A further $2.50 a week per child will be paid in Family Support to all eligible families, including beneficiaries.  A further $7.50 a week per child in Independent Family Tax Credit will be paid to eligible low and middle income working families.  The tax and family assistance changes will mean a family with two children on $25,000 will be $61 a week better off on 1 July next year than they were on 30 June this year.  The same family, but with three children, will be $81 a week better off.  Net public debt as a percentage of GDP rose from single figures in the 1960s to 52% by 1991-92. Excessive debt means all New Zealanders face unacceptable risks if there is a major international economic shock. Those risks hold our social programmes hostage, and threaten the cohesion of our communities.  Under National, net foreign currency public debt is eliminated this year. Total net public debt will fall to less than 20% of GDP by 1998-99. The savings on debt servicing are being used to fund priority social spending like health and education.  Surplus track  Through growth and good management, National has given the Government accounts a fiscal strength without parallel in recent New Zealand history.  Treasury forecasts show that, given fiscally responsible policies, a strong and growing surplus extends right through to 1999-2000 and beyond.  Importance of Continuity  If the same five fundamentals drive policy after the 1996 election, then the promise of actual and projected figures is that New Zealand, in the seven years to 1999, will average 3.8% growth a year, with every prospect of sustaining it into the 21st century.  EMPLOYMENT  In the 1980s a baffling new phenomenon presented itself in many western countries - rising economic growth combined, for the first time, with rising unemployment.  The reasons for this were complex.  The use of computer technology on a mass scale, the lack of suitable skills in emerging industries, the aspirations of women to return to the work force, and many other factors.  The result was not just unemploymen but burgeoning social problems in many countries.  New Zealand, while far from free of these forces, has been almost uniquely successful in countering them. Over the past three years we have witnessed unprecedented job growth.  An average growth rate of 4.7%' over the past three years has brought unprecedented job growth.  Over 209,100 new jobs were created in the lastt four years. Employment growth is now rising more than three times faster than the OECD average.  Over 1.6 million people are now in work - more than at any time in New Zealand's history.  Unemployment fell from 10.9% in 1991 to 6.1% in 1996. Four out of every five of the new jobs created last year were full-time.  We are now increasing both the incentives and the opportunities to work for those New Zealanders who are still unemployed.  Employment Task Force  Following the 1993 General Election, the Government set up a multi-party approach to employment policy.  Working with the multi-party group - comprising National, Labour and the Alliance - we established a Prime Ministerial Employment Task Force to search for practical and sustainable solutions to the problem.  As a result of the Task Force report in 1994, the Government set in place a package of initiatives called Focus on Employment to reduce unemployment.  The package focuses on four particular groups of job seekers: youth, the long-term unemployed, Maori and Pacific Island people.  Focus on Employment  This outlines more than 30 initiatives designed to ensure that every New Zealander has the chance to find a job.  We have invested more than $495 million, to be spent over  the next three years, to provide more opportunities for people to get jobs. This includes:  • improved incentives for those on benefits to get involved in work opportunities or training to improve their skills  • encouraging those on benefits to take advantage of the training and educational opportunities on offer.  Youth Initiatives  National's Youth Employment Strategy was released in November 1994. The strategy aims to see that every young New Zealander aged 16 to 20 goes into work, training or formal education.  The central component is Youth Action.  Young people on this programme, who have been unemployed for 13 weeks or more, receive intensive personal help to find work.  We have introduced job Intro, a work experience programme where young job seekers spend up to four weeks in the workplace, and the Youth Service Corps which combines work experience in the social services sector with life skills training.  We've also expanded the Training Opportunities Programme, Limited Services Volunteers, the Conservation Corps, Job Search seminars and job Plus Careers Advice programmes.  Long-term Job Seeker Initiatives  National has been extremely concerned about people caught in the trap of long-term unemployment.  Job Action, which offers intensive personal help to each long-term unemployed person to find work has been extended.  It now covers all people registered as unemployed for two years or longer, as well as 5,000 job seekers each year who are identified as at risk of remaining long-term unemployed after one year's unemployment.  For the very long-term unemployed, Job Connection is a fully-subsidised employment programme. It gives job seekers registered as unemployed for four years or more the opportunity to get back into paid work.  Since January 1996 job seekers unemployed for two years or more have been able to participate in Taskforce Green projects for up to one year. The previous limit of six months was not long enough for some long-term job seekers to readjust to the demands of work and gain useful work skills and experience.  Additional opportunities for short periods of pre-employment or on job training linked to specific job vacancies are now provided through the job Plus Training programme. Job Plus Training enables the Employment Service to purchase short training courses for disadvantaged job seekers, and link the training to a specific job vacancy.  Local Employment Co-ordination  We are seeking to improve the co-ordination of government and community agencies working on local employment initiatives.  A series of new initiatives includes:  • the appointment of local employment co-ordinators to establish local employment co-ordination groups where these groups do not already exist  • a greater emphasis by the Community Employment  Group of the Department of Labour on assisting priority groups: Maori, disadvantaged rural and urban communities, Pacific Island groups, and women  • the establishment of a new Employment Innovation Fund within the New Zealand Employment Service to help job seekers by way of small-scale local initiatives.  Maori Employment  Although Maori and Pacific Island peoples have seen their unemployment levels fall dramatically in the last three years, they are still over-represented in the unemployment figures.  The Government aims to ensure that employment policy responds to the needs of these groups and leads to falling unemployment. Initiatives include:  • From June 1996 Job Action workshops have been contracted out to Maori providers to improve their content and delivery to Maori.  • The Wahine Pakari programme, a business training and self employment programme for Maori women, has been re-established  • Communities are being assisted through the successful Mahi a Iwi initiative to identify their own resources, strengths and opportunities, and to develop a communityowned strategy for moving towards self-reliance  • The effectiveness of the Maori Women's Development Fund has been reviewed and, due to its success, will be funded to become self-sufficient in the future  • Business Development Boards are refocusing their activities so they are more responsive to the needs of Maori  • Flexible use of the job Plus wage subsidy is being piloted to allow Maori communities to use subsidies for temporary work related to the development of Maori-owned assets and provide long-term unemployed Maori with work experience. The pilot began in July 1996, and will be evaluated after a year.  Pacific Island Employment  The Government has also developed a Pacific Islands Labour Market strategy, Vaka Ou (New Canoe) to address Pacific Island unemployment.  New initiatives include:  • Job Action workshops will be contracted out to Pacific Island providers in order to improve their content and delivery to Pacific Island peoples  • Beginning this year, at-risk Pacific Island youth aged  15-18 years, will be targeted.Young people who have dropped out of school, and are not in work or training, are registered as unemployed or on a benefit, will be linked up with the most appropriate form of education, training or employment assistance  • A new job information programme aimed at Pacific Island men aged 35 years and older will he introduced from late 1996. The seminar-based programme will provide job seekers with information and advice to improve their chances of finding employment or moving into training  • A Pacific Island employment co-ordinator has been appointed within the New Zealand Employment Service. Based in South Auckland, the co-ordinator has responsibility for improving the responsiveness of Employment Service programmes and services to Pacific Island job seekers.  EDUCATION  If there is one factor that sets the modern, progressive, and secure nations of the world apart from the backward, poor, and unstable, it is the Equality of education they enjoy.  Since taking officee in 1990 National has increased education funding by over $1.5 billion. Total spending this year will top $6 billion; over $16 million every day.  More people are involved in education than at any time in the nation's history, but we must go further.  We need a system which guarantees opportunities, in the early years, sets high standards for the school years, deals with special needs and offers life-long education.  Wyatt Creech, Minister of Education  The Early Years  The early years determine a child's future chance of success. Children with support from parents and high quality early childhood education services are better equipped to make the most of life's opportunities. National will continue to ensure all families who want access to early childhood education have it and are encouraged to participate.  Parents As First Teachers  Since 1992, National has piloted the Parents As First Teachers programme which supports parents in the first three years of their children's lives.  This scheme will expand to cover 9,000 families in 1997.  Research on children in the pilot programme in South Auckland shows them to be ahead in almost every area of child development.  Funding  Between 1990 and 1996, early childhood education funding increased by over 75%; more than 90% of three and four year olds are now involved.  Te Whariki - Early Childhood Curriculum  Te Whariki is a curriculum with guidelines for early childhood development. The first of its kind in the world, it was launched by the Prime Minister earlier this year. National will provide training for teachers in this curriculum.  High Standards in School  School is the heart of the education system. It is here that every New Zealander learns the basics and the correct attitude to continue learning throughout their lives.  New Zealand has a high quality school system and we're working to make it even better.  • the school leaving age has been raised to 16 and planning has begun to raise it to 17 so that young people get the skills they need to enter the work force  • we've reduced class sizes by providing an extra 1,014  new teachers; now no junior primary class needs to be  bigger than 23 students  • to house the smaller classes, as well as cater for growth  in rolls, more than 2,300 new classrooms have been approved  in the last two Budgets  • New Zealand's schools are also now in much better condition with $360 million spent on deferred maintenance since 1990  • a new programme to ensure we have sufficient well-trained teachers to meet the demands of roll growth has been announced  • 50 new schools will be built over the next decade.  This is the biggest school construction programme since the post-World War II baby boom. Having reduced class sizes, and built new classrooms and new schools, we must now focus on achieving higher standards in our school system.  A new school curriculum is being introduced:  • we've introduced an English curriculum emphasising grammar and spelling, a maths curriculum emphasising arithmetic, and a science curriculum which brings the basics of physics and chemistry into junior primary school.  • a draft new technology curriculum has been released. Students will become much more skilled in problem-solving and learn how to use technology.  Moves towards a new, modern National Qualifications Framework have been initiated. Over 30,000 students are now doing courses leading towards the new National Certificate Qualification.  Finally we need top teachers and National is going to pay good teachers more. Payments will be based on merit, not just length of service.  We are also committed to working towards a unified pay system for primary and secondary teachers. We will continue the teacher development programme to support the new curriculum.  The Government has also given greater local control to Boards of Trustees for staff salaries. We will continue to provide the option for schools to become directly resourced.  Children with Special Needs  We have an obligation to ensure the school system caters for students with special needs.  Between 1990 and 1996 National quadrupled discretionary special education funding. But demand has continued to exceed the provision.  We have now embarked on the first phase of a new programme Special Education 2000 providing an extra $55 million over three years to help children with low and moderate special needs. Greater special needs will be addressed in phase two which will give individual entitlements and more parental choice.  Life-Long Education and Training  We now plan to provide for and fund at least 17,000 more students at tertiary institutions.  In addition we will work with the tertiary sector to improve governance and management to minimise tertiary fees while maintaining quality.  Skill New Zealand  We've also built up workplace and vocational training with the Skill New Zealand scheme. This ensures that ongoing systematic workplace training meets the needs of a modern economy.  Around 70% of the occupations in our work force are now covered by Industry Training Organisations which are part-funded by Government and by industry, at present on a voluntary basis.  By the end of this year there will be 30,000  New Zealanders in structured employment-based training (apprenticeships) - the highest level since the 1970s.  In addition, all of those trainees are working towards the same nationally-recognised qualifications (National Certificate), as students at senior school or in a polytechnic.  Education Spending  Education can no longer end when the school gates are left behind. Everyone must have the opportunity to up-skill and re-skill as needs change.  There have never been more opportunities for school leavers and other New Zealanders to pursue a tertiary education at university or elsewhere.  Tertiary Education  National has:  • increased the number of Government funded equivalent full-time students places from 108,716 in 1990 to 142,962 in 1996, a 31.5% increase resulting in a huge increase in tertiary participation  • funded the expansion of Maori participation in tertiary studies: up by 158%, with participation by Pacific Island peoples up by 119%  • the number of women participating in tertiary education has also increased. They are now the majority.  HEALTH  Nowhere must our sense of community be more evident than when it comes to caring for people who need health or disability support services.  Every New Zealander has an interest :in health and disability support services because everyone at some stage in their lives is likely to need these services for themselves or their families.  National has been determined to see that as much healthcare as possible can be offered for the health dollars available.  Over the past six years the National Government has been modernising the health system to make it more responsive to the needs of New Zealanders.  Developments in medical technology mean that more people are able to be diagnosed and treated than ever before, either by surgical means or by new pharmaceuticals. We want New Zealanders to benefit from these advancess  jenny Shipley Minister of Health  The system now in place means that more services can be purchased to provide  more health care. These improvements need to continue to constantly update the health care of New Zealanders.  New Zealand, like many developed countries, has an ageing population. The health needs of our cider people will take an increasing proportion of the Health vote in future years.  This is to be expected and is being planned for.  In recent years a lot of effort has been made to ensure that we have a health system that will provide  New Zealanders with a world class service while, at the same time getting more health care from our resources.  Today New Zealand has a publicly funded health system that delivers more services than ever before. And we are spending much more on health than at any other time. Spending has increased by $1 billion in five years.  The number of operations carried out nation-wide since 1990 has increased by 51 per cent in four key areas: heart and lung procedures (77 %), knee surgery (54 %), cataract surgery (31 %), and hip surgery (12 %).  Over three years $130 million will be committed to reduce the waiting times for people needing non-urgent hospital treatment, and to introduce a booking system. Many people are now getting the benefit of this initiative.  We've also identified four critical areas where real improvements can be made: child, mental and Maori health, together with prevention programmes.  Child Health  Improving child health has been and will continue to be, a health goal for National. Significant advances have been made in this area of health care with a number of programmes and initiatives being purchased by RHAs to keep children well.  Immunisation  The National Immunisation Strategy released in March 1995 aims to increase the percentage of fully immunised children at age two years to 95%.  Well Child/Tamariki Ora National Schedule  The development of the Well Child/Tamariki Ora National Schedule recognises the priority National places on child health.  The schedule, which is integrally linked to the immunisation strategy, describes the services to which every child and their family are entitled to improve and protect child health.  The schedule covers the first five years of life and brings together the key public health concepts of supportive environments, disease prevention, health protection and promotion.  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome  Since 1989 New Zealand's post-neonatal mortality rate has declined sharply from 6.2 per 1,000 live births to 3.7 per 1,000 in 1994. This reduction has been directly related to  the decline in sudden infant death syndrome (cot death). Information to parents on the sleeping position of babies, breast feeding and not smoking has contributed to this decline.  The number of Maori babies who die as a result of sudden infant death syndrome is still higher than that of non-Maori. This is an area of concern that will continue to be a focus for public health.  Mental Health  Mental health has been an area that has received particular attention from National.  In response to a stock take of mental health services, which showed that there were gaps in service provision in certain areas, National has put in place a ten year strategy.  The focus of the strategy is to improve the quality of services, develop more community-based and comprehensive mental health services, and encourage Maori involvement in the planning, development and delivery of services for Maori.  Included in the strategy is the development of a drug and alcohol policy, which is currently under way.  $70 million over a three year period has been set aside for the strategy.  RHAs are continuing to develop a range of services to improve the care of people who have psychiatric disabilities.  National also initiated an inquiry into mental health services in response to a number of specific concerns.  The inquiry covered the rights of family members in the treatment and care of people with semi-acute and acute mental disorders, the co-ordination and provision of mental health services, the role of cannabis and other substances, and privacy and legislative concerns.  National has welcomed the report from the Ministerial Inquiry into Mental Health Services which highlighted the need for leadership and for more resources to be made available to improve services for people with mental health problems. Government has established a Mental Health Commission to oversee the introduction of the Mental Health Strategy. In addition, Government has made available $142 million to implement this strategy.  Maori Health  National has moved to ensure that Maori have far more grass-roots involvement in providing health services for their people.  The focus is on achieving health gains by addressing the disparities in health between Maori and non-Maori. RHAs have entered into a number of contractual arrangements with Maori health providers to improve the delivery of health services to Maori.  In the area of service delivery RHAs are continuing to fund innovative arrangements with Maori such as the Tipu Ora Trust which provides as facilitators (kaitiaki) between existing health services and Maori caregivers and their children. Kaitiaki give health education, provide instruction on parenting and advice on how to get help.  Prevention Programmes  The promotion of an environment which improves and protects the public health is an ongoing priority for Government.  Important initiatives have been developed in recent years  to improve the health of New Zealanders. These include the smokefree campaign, the immunisation strategy and the national breast screening programme.  Smokefree Campaign  National continues to make every effort to reduce the level of smoking to counter the negative effects tobacco use and addiction have on health.  Smokefree legislation has been introduced which raises the age at which people may be sold tobacco products from 16 to 18 years, bans the sale of single cigarettes, and sets a minimum pack size of 10 cigarettes.  An increase in the tobacco levy has also been introduced to deter the purchase of tobacco products.  Immunisation 2000  The immunisation strategy introduced last year has as its principle aim the full immunisation of 95% of two year olds by the year 2000. As part of this strategy National announced a new immunisation schedule which reduces the number of visits to the doctor or health nurse for immunisations from eight to five.  A strategy for Maori has also been developed to improve the immunisation rate of Maori children which is considerably lower than that of non-Maori.  From next year all people over the age of 65 years will be able to receive free flu injections. Breast Screening  National has announced that it intends spending $40 million over the next three years to implement a nationwide, free breast screening programme.  Currently around 600 women die of breast cancer each year making it the leading cause of death among women.  National has adopted a strategic approach to breast cancer control in New Zealand which includes establishing the screening programme and improving existing education, information, diagnostic and treatment services in a comprehensive, step-by-step process.  `National is committed to continually improving the quality  and access to healthcare for all  New Zealanders:  PERSONAL SECURITY  National's approach to law and order is broadly based with crime prevention and law enforcement going hand-in-hand. The approach is to prevent crime by:  • targeting at-risk families with assistance and early intervention  • demonstrating that society will not put up with violent crime by severely punishing those who offend  • assisting victims m recovering from their ordeal and in helping with prosecution  • ensuring the number of hours our police spend out in our communities continues to increase  • using information technology to aid police response to crime and road safety  • developing the skills of inmates in institutions so they become equipped to work and contribute to society when they are released  • rapidly expanding the DNA database to include samples for any person convicted of the most serious crimes.  Our plans for the future concentrate on five key areas: crime prevention, corrections, victim support, policing and sentencing.  Already the Government's strategic approach over the last five years has seen a evelling off in the increase of reported crime and a fall in serious crimes of violence.  Crime Prevention  National has developed the first ever comprehensive, longterm crime prevention strategy which is being implemented through a special Crime Prevention Unit, located in the Prime Minister's Department.  The strategy enables national and local communities to improve the management of resources to further reduce criminal behaviour and make our communities safer. It focuses specifically on `at risk' families and individuals.  Support is provided for local communities through Safer Community Councils and specific policy initiatives in seven key areas:  - supporting at risk families  - dealing with white collar crime  - diversion for casual offending  - targeting youth at risk of offending - addressing drugs and alcohol abuse  - helping victims of crime - reducing family violence.  Additional key initiatives include:  • financing the Safer Community Councils programme. Four pilot schemes were so successful that we now have 52 Safer Community councils covering 86% of New Zealand's population  • pilot schemes to prevent child abuse in co-operation with the Department of Social Welfare's Children and Young Persons Service  • a second special sex offenders rehabilitation unit at Te Piriti in Auckland following the success of the first unit at Kia Marama in Christchurch  • habilitation centres are now being established to help reintegrate offenders back into the community while still under strict control, with the aim of preventing re-offending.  Funding:  The $65 million crime prevention package announced in the 1996/97 Budget provides for:  • $11 million for 12 initiatives focusing on crime prevention over the next three years  • $33 million over the next three years for the Children and Young Persons Service  • $21 million extra over the next three years for family violence protection programmes  • $650,000 over the next three years for the Commissioner for Children's office.  Legislation Introduced:  • new censorship laws to control violence and pornography (Films,Videos and Publications Act 1993)  • new financial reporting requirements for companies to control white collar crime and to prevent abuse of the financial system by criminals (Financial Reporting Act 1993 and Financial Transactions Reporting Act 1996)  • legislation against overseas child sex activities, sex tours and paedophiles (Crimes Amendment Act 1995).  We have also:  • supported pilot schemes on child abuse, anger management, drug abuse and gambling  • expanded and strengthened education aimed at our youth, including the Keeping Ourselves Safe and the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programmes.  Sentencing:  National has:  • established the Department for Courts  • increased the maximum sentences for rape and sexual violation from 14 to 20 years. Where the risk of re-offending is high, preventive detention for an indefinite term is available for certain violent, sexual offenders  • courts can impose non-parole periods for certain offences  • bail eligibility tightened - no police bail for violent offenders in domestic situations  • proceeds of criminal activity can be forfeited to the Crown  • enabled our courts to prosecute for sexual offences against children committed overseas.  Corrections  National has established the Department of Corrections to specifically focus on this area:  • in prisons a work ethic is being promoted and aims to have all inmates working at least six hours a day, five days a week. At the same time educational programmes have been expanded  • we are tackling the drug and alcohol use by inmates by new legislation to strengthen the ability of prison authorities to test inmates for substance abuse  • Prisoner's Aid and other community organisations are supported and encouraged  • habilitation centres are being established - four are now approved. These centres provide a safe half-way house for people at the end of their sentence and help them reintegrate into society  • through intensive counselling, the centres aim to address the reasons for a person's offending and find ways to reduce the likelihood of them re-offending following release from prison  • innovative penal programmes involving the private sector in prison management are being encouraged, particularly in the area of employment  • we have also introduced home detention.  Victim Support  National has:  • established in law the importance of reparation for victims  • passed the Domestic Violence Act 1995 which aims to significantly reduce domestic violence by extending the categories of behaviour for which protection orders may be sought  • established and recently extended the Victims Court Assistance Scheme to advise victims during the court process  • provided counselling services for victims of sexual offending through the Accident Compensation Corporation  • established a compensation scheme for victims and witnesses who suffer financial loss assisting in the administration of justice.  Police  National has:  • trained and deployed 900 extra front-line police  • invested an extra $200 million in police services since 1990 - from around $600 million to nearly $800 million for 1996/97  • merged the Traffic Safety Service of the old Ministry of Transport with police making road safety an integral part of policing  • supported police in the development and implementation of the 5 Year Strategic Plan which has contributed significantly to lowering the level of crime and reducing deaths on our roads  • improved road safety with a decline in the road toll from 729 in 1990 to 581 in 1995 and substantially increased enforcement of traffic offences  • provided new fingerprint technology enabling data matching for all crime within minutes  • introduced compulsory DNA sampling and established a DNA databank under the Criminal Investigations (Blood Samples) Act 1995  • tightened firearms laws with the Arms Amendment Act 1992 and introduced a new firearms licensing regime in response to the tragedy at Aramoana  • initiated an independent review of firearms control legislation in response to concerns over access to firearms. The report is due in February 1997  • undertaken extensive publicity campaigns to change attitudes towards the unacceptability of violence and to enhance safer driving practices  • invested $100 million in the Integrated National Crime Information System (INCIS), which aims to free police from time-consuming paperwork and administration to provide extra hours in our communities undertaking front-line policing  • introduced new police powers to question juveniles (Children,Young Persons and Their Families Amendment Act 1994)  • introduced Harassment and Criminal. Associations Bill to target more effectively criminal activities of gangs and provide protection from harassment by gangs.  We are committed to:  • continuing to increase the availability of frontline police in our communities to deal with crime and road safety  • further promoting the combined crime prevention and enforcement approach developed through the Police Strategic Plan  • continuing to increase police productivity levels through the introduction, use and implementation of leading edge information technology  • maintaining community policing.  SOCIAL WELFARE  The family is the cornerstone of all civilised societies. It is within the family structure that tomorrow's citizens are nurtured, raised and mature. Strengthening that structure is crucial.  Currently about 358,000 New Zealanders receive some form of income support, and a further 460,000 receive New Zealand Superannuation.  There will always be a need to assist those who are unable to help themselves. But welfare must offer a genuine second chance, not a way of life by default.  The `safety net' provided by the State must provide opportunities and incentives to move from dependence to contribution.  Over recent years we have reformed our social welfare structures to meet the changes in age profile, family structure and work habits that will occur in New Zealand in the next decade.  We have also restored fairness to the welfare system. But we must continue to move forward.  We can do this by moving families off welfare, preventing family violence, providing security for the elderly and guaranteeing access to housing for all.  Welfare to Well-Being  This programme, launched in 1994, is designed to move -ge numbers from welfare to self reliance by giving them al incentives to return to the work force.  The Welfare to Well-Being strategy has three major thrusts:  oving People Towards Self Reliance:  • benefits have been structured to provide incentives for ople to move back into work. The new Tax and Social dicy programme allows Domestic Purposes Benefit,  idows or Invalids beneficiaries to keep 46 cents, instead of rents, per dollar earned between $80 and $180 a week. :her beneficiaries can now earn $80 a week, up from $50  single beneficiaries and $60 for those with children, thout losing any of their benefit.  • a youth income support package has been introduced it encourages young people into education and training  • a special needs grant has been introduced to cover urn-to-work costs  • funding of budgetary advice and voluntary support )ups who support beneficiaries' development towards selfoance has increased  • introduced programmes such as First Steps and  mpass for sole parents, that offer practical advice to sole ents who wish to make the transition from the Domestic rposes Benefit to work. These programmes address the riers to breaking the cycle of dependency such as lack of rk experience, few qualifications, low self-esteem, ldcare problems or discrimination  • an individual case management approach is being eloped by the Income Support Service. Each customer is gned a dedicated staff member to manage their tionship with the service, ensuring correct entitlements assistance are provided and to encourage customers to ve towards self reliance wherever possible. Income ,port Services will soon provide each customer with an ividual case manager.  Alleviating Hardship:  • special benefit criteria have been changed to make it more accessible to people whose outgoings exceed their income  • a major research exercise to establish the effectiveness of the Accommodation Supplement in helping low income families with housing costs has been completed and a response implemented.  Protecting Children:  • children must be safe within their families. Legislative changes now promote preventive work with children and their families. Iwi-based support services are giving Maori greater responsibility for at-risk Maori children  • Family Service centres have been established to support at-risk families  • the Children and Young Persons Service has placed greater emphasis on frontline social work  • The Children,Young Persons and Their Families Act has been reviewed and amending legislation passed.  Strengthening Families as Key Players  Whatever their form, families are the heart of our communities, providing support and security.  But some families are vulnerable. Violence, crime and unemployment undermine a family's ability to make the most of opportunities. Our policies therefore must support the family.  These policies include:  • ensuring the Government agencies - such as education, health, welfare and justice - that touch on the well-being of families work together to help families under stress and in need. The Government has started to analyse their work to establish how they can better co-ordinate their approaches. The Strengthening Families Project is likely to result in the - expansion of Parents As First Teachers, healthy homes projects and the Family Service centre concepts  • The Tax and Social Policy programme will provide a fairer deal for working families:  - all Family Support rates will increase by $5 per child per week (by $2.50 from 1 July 1996 and by a further $2.50 a week from 1 July 1997)  - there is a new Independent Family Tax Credit  to assist working families- initially $7.50 per child per week, rising to $15 from 1 July 1997  • additional resourcing of the Children andYoung Persons Service (CYPS) has been provided. CYPS acts for the community in dealing with neglect and abuse of children and offending by young people. The Government is committed to seeing it has the resources to do its job  • family structures are changing and the population is ageing. The contribution older people can make, and the support we offer them, needs to be reviewed in light of changes in family structures. A Prime Ministerial Task Force on Positive Ageing has been established to explore the issues of the aged and options for promoting positive ageing  • community-based Family Service centres have been introduced to help parents with a variety of issues in a co-ordinated way  • the Parents As First Teachers programme has been introduced to assist parents to encourage early language development and to identify health problems which can impede their children's learning. This programme will be expanded to include all parents requiring this assistance.  Family Violence  National's Crime Prevention strategy - an integrated approach between government agencies, individuals and communities - means New Zealand is now leading the world in dealing with violence in the home.  Family violence services are now provided in health clinics and marae and many other situations, so that families at risk may readily receive the help they need.  The Domestic Violence Act will now allow more  people to seek court orders to protect the victims of domestic violence.  It is vital that we give special consideration to the most vulnerable group of all - the young.  We are doing this by ensuring government agencies - education, health, welfare and justice - work together to help families under stress and in need.  And we have established a Commissioner for Children to promote the interests of the young, investigate complaints and monitor services for children.  Security for the Elderly  As our population ages, society must take special care to ensure that the elderly feel neither isolated nor alienated.  In August 1993, the Parliamentary representatives of  the National, Labour and Alliance parties entered into an historic Accord on Retirement Income Policies (United has since joined).  The Accord aims to encourage individuals to save for their retirement and provide cross-party consensus so  that people can be assured of on-going state superannuation support.  This year the Accord parties agreed to significantly increase the weekly income thresholds at which the superannuation surcharge applies.  National and United, supported by Labour, have now further decided to make a substantial revision of the surcharge thresholds from 1st April 1997.  It has been decided that surcharge threshold levels should be benchmarked against average ordinary time earnings on the grounds of equity both for present and future superannuitants. Married couples will be able to earn 110% of ordinary time earnings, or $34,900 annually (including NZ superannuation) before the surcharge applies. The threshold for single people will be two-thirds the married rate, or $23,300 (including NZ superannuation) before they will be paying any surcharge.  HOUSING  Once having a sound roof over the family was considered a fundamental right by every New Zealander. But over the years this became increasing expensive and hard to guarantee.  The old system concentrated the bulk of State support in the hands of a relatively small number of people in subsidised State rental houses. The fact that only one third of low income New Zealanders were housed by the State made reform inevitable to achieve fairness.  A deep divide emerged between those who had State assistance, who may or may not have required it, and those who definitely did need it but were effectively locked out.  National has moved to addresss this anomaly by targeting resources to areas of highest priority and guaranteeing fairness to all who require assistance.  Murray McCully, Minister of Housing  Housing Assistance  In mid-1995 the transition to a new system of delivering housing assistance was completed. This provides a cash subsidy for those who need support to meet their housing costs.  This is paid regardless of whether they rent a State house, rent in the private sector, are boarders, or own their own home. In 1996/97 we will spend over $630 million on Accommodation Supplement payments. Over 280,000 persons will receive the Accommodation Supplement compared with 70,000 who received subsidised rental in the past.  The Accommodation Supplement has been set at three different levels, and has been increased annually to reflect changes in housing costs and income levels, and the Special Benefit criteria has been relaxed for those with unexpectedly high accommodation costs for a short period.  Now that a general system of housing support has been established, we are taking stock of areas into which we should target additional resources.  Community Housing  We will give the highest priority to the community housing area, providing accommodation for those with physical or psychiatric disabilities, as well as into women's refuge and emergency housing.  To ensure community housing is afforded the high priority it deserves, the Government established Community Housing Limited as a stand alone company in July 1995.  A programme has been established to identify and meet the demand for community housing, especially for those with psychiatric disabilities, that has not been met for many years.  This financial year, Community Housing Limited will provide another 250 houses for these groups. Last year it provided over 180 community houses. Next year it will provide approximately another 250 houses.  We have spent over $500 million refurbishing State housing, so that families have well maintained homes.  Home Buy Programme  In 1994 the Government introduced the Home Buy Programme which provided state housing tenants with an opportunity to buy their own properties.  To date, 1000 tenants have already purchased their own home from Housing New Zealand.  AGRICULTURE  Agriculture, in its widest sense, has always been the backbone of the New Zealand economy. The economy is changing, the range of exports is growing, but the importance of agriculture is undiminished.  Right now; farm-gate returns are decidedly mixed. While dairy and deer farmers are earning record returns, and sheepmeat is on its way back up, beef and wool are stuck in the doldrums. On my beef property, I'm currently receiving around $600 per head of cattle, down from close to $1,000 two or three years ago.  A whole lot of reasons are put forward for the low returns in some industries.  The value of the dollar is the most common. But the fact is, our dollar declined right through the 1970s and 1980s, and is still much lower than in the mid 1980s. If a falling dollar is the answer, then we should all be sitting pretty right, now. And, if the recent rise in the dollar is the source of all our problems, then why is it that the dairyand deer industries are doing so much better?  National says the difference is marketing. While the dairy, deer and many  horticulture industries have moved into the marketing of branded consumer products, beef, wool and, to a lesser extent sheepmeat, are still stuck in commodity trade.  What we know about commodity trade is that prices will swing widely up and down. But, over time, the trend is down. Trading commodities has no future. In the retail market, as everyone who does the shopping knows, prices are more stable, but over time, they move up. We've got to get out of trading our beef and wool as commodities. We've got to get them into the retail market. National has a plan to do just that.  Better Marketing  National has identified three fundamentals of international marketing which we're promoting for all our primary industries:  • greater investment in the marketplace  • greater control over distribution lines  • paying farmers for producing what the market wants.  These three fundamentals must be underpinned by longterm relationships, between exporters and users, and exporters and farmers.  To promote the three fundamentals, National is providing leadership and putting pressure on meat companies and wool exporters to respond.  We're planning to take the carcass classification system out of legislation to encourage companies to develop more market orientated ways of paying farmers.  And we're passing legislation to allow for closer relationships between producers and the industry.  Market Access  Even the best marketing plans won't work unless we first have access to our overseas markets.  National is committed to the speedy removal of tariffs and their eventual elimination.  We're working hard, particularly in Asia, to get the improved market access our agriculture industry needs. Because we don't subsidise our industries, or run protectionist policies, we have a strong position around the negotiating table when we seek better access.  Border Control Strategy  To protect our primary industries, and to maintain market access, we need to ensure we protect our environment from pests like fruit fly and diseases like foot and mouth.  National will spend $20 million over the next three years to introduce high-tech X-ray machines at airports, expand the quarantine detector dog programme and improve information for incoming passengers.  War on Possums & Rabbits  Pests like possums and rabbits destroy good land and carry diseases like Tb. National plans to eliminate them.  Over $90 million will be spent over the next five years on a possum control strategy. Another $6 million over three years is being spent researching new, cost-effective, ways of controlling possums, like an immuno-contraceptive.  National will ensure a speedy decision on whether to introduce the Rabbit Calicivirus Disease as soon as possible after the end of public consultation.  MAORI  Doug Graham, Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations  The National Government is committed to working with Maori so that they achieve full and active participation in all areas of New-Zealand society  Our commitment extends in particular to addressing and resolving Treaty ofWaitangi grievances.  It is by working together that we will see Maori achievement levels increase to match the rest of the community. Since 1990 we have worked with Maori to see that mainstream policies better meet their needs in all areas.  As a result, we are seeing significant improvements for Maori in key areas such as health and education.  Settling Historical Grievances  The Government wants to settle claims under the Treaty of Waitangi in order to address and remove the sense of grievance caused by historical injustices.  The Government has worked successfully with the Waikato-Tainui people to settle their raupatu claim. That claim was one of the most significant Treaty claims against the Crown. Its settlement is an outstanding achievement for both the Waikato-Tainui people and the Government. The Government is continuing to work with other claimants to seek resolution of their claims.  Improving Opportunities for Maori  The Government is committed to improving opportunities for Maori, particularly in employment, education and health.  Employment  The National Government has developed the Maori Labour Market Strategy which aims to eliminate labour market disadvantage for Maori. The strategy combines initiatives specifically designed for Maori in the employment area with education initiatives as a long-term approach to improve Maori employment opportunities. Between March 1994 to March 1996, the number of employed Maori increased by 12.6%.  Education  We have seen Maori education grow significantly in the last few years. In 1995, we committed an extra $30 million to be invested in Maori education over three years to maintain and encourage this growth. The excellent results include:  • Kohanga Reo now operate over 800 centres for nearly  15,000 children  • Kura Kaupapa Maori have increased from only 6 in 1990, to currently 43 schools educating over 3,000 children. With our commitment, the Government is increasing this to 53 schools by 1998  • Maori medium education enrolments in state primary schools since 1990 have increased by 8,000 to over 19,000 students  • the number of Maori students enrolled in tertiary education has increased by 158% since 1990 and Maori graduates from universities has increased by 227%.  The Government will also be introducing school, community and iwi liaison projects in Northland, East Coast and South Auckland, to focus resources, community and whanau support on schools to improve Maori student achievement levels.  Health  Our aim is to continue to reduce barriers to health care so that Maori have the opportunity to enjoy the same level of health as non-Maori. Many new initiatives have been developed as Maori providers are contracted to deliver health services to Maori. They include:  • two Maori Health Research Centres established to provide quality research  • mobile health clinics increasing access to health services for rural areas, and Marae based health clinics  • whanau well-being projects aimed at delivering health services to the whanau collectively. Already health improvements have been achieved in dealing with Maori asthma and raising immunisation levels.  National's Commitment  We are committed to focusing on:  • negotiating the settlement of Treaty of Waitangi claims  • Maori development which aims to establish an environment in which Maori can secure their own futures  • maintaining the impetus and success in education and  employment and continuing to raise the average achievement levels of Maori  • enabling Maori to take more responsibility for developing solutions to Maori issues.  THE ENVIRONMENT  New Zealand has the reputation of being one of the cleanest, greenest places on earth, but the challenge of maintaining that reality demands constant vigilance.  To ensure our reputation is protected and that the quality of life we enjoy is maintained for future generations, we have formulated Environment 2010 Strategy to guide the development of policies and priorities.  This document states our vision for the New Zealand environment to the year 2010 and beyond as "a clean, healthy and unique environment, sustaining nature and people's needs and aspirations".  The Environment 2010 Strategy doesn't stand' alone. Many of its strands rely on sound, state-of-the-art environmental legislation.  Simon Upton, Minister for the Environment  A genuine commitment to implement the Environment 2010 Strategy has been demonstrated with the 1996 Green Package. This package, which sets out funding of $110 million, is for the first three years of a 15 year plan designed to address this country's environmental and conservation issues.  National has passed several world-first pieces of environmental legislation including the Resource Management Act 1991; and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 (leading to the establishment of the Environmental Risk Management Authority). National has also reviewed the Ozone Layer Protection Act, improving the way it operates and inserting a number of new commitments to phase out ozone depleting substances.  Through existing commitments and new Green Package funding, Environment 2010 Strategy is being implemented on a number of broad fronts:  Sustainable Management of Resources  • enshrining the concept of sustainability into environmental legislation  • developing a $2.55 million sustainable land management strategy including a $1 million programme to help fund Landcare groups  • an additional $15.2 million over the next three years to protect and enhance recreational and Maori customary fisheries  • passing legislation requiring the sustainable management of indigenous forests on private land, also banning the export of indigenous timber and woodchips and halting the export of native wood chips  • initiating a major reforestation project in the extensively eroded East Cape/Gisborne region  • producing the country's first National Coastal Policy  Statement.  Biodiversity and Habitat Protection  • investing an additional $20 million over three years to combat pests and weeds that threaten the environment  • $91.6 million for the control of possums and other carriers of bovine tuberculosis over the next five years  • investing $20 million over the next three years for pest control in the Conservation Estate - more than doubling the annual amount of two years ago  • investing an additional $18 million over the next three  years for the protection and recovery of threatened New Zealand species. This will help fund recovery programmes for most of the 403 threatened species  • creation of the Kahurangi National Park in the North West of the South Island, raising to 13 the number of our National Parks  • creation of 10 new marine reserves  • protection ofWaitutu Forest  • the preparation of a national biodiversity strategy to promote the protection and sustainable management of our country's unique biological diversity.  Better Environmental Information, Risk Assessment and Standard Setting  • $5.35 million to measure the country's environmental risks and set minimum standards  • developing a national environmental education strategy  • new research into greenhouse gases and carbon storage in our soils and forests  • new research into biological control of possums  • consumer labelling of environmental friendly products called `Environmental Choice'  • financial support for "Project 98" - a new eco-labelling initiative for food products, currently under development  • development of environmental indicators to help measure environmental performance  • a state of the environment reporting project  • an extra $3.5 million over the next three years to assess organochlorines in our environment and develop standards and  guidelines for management (the programme also investigates new destruction technologies).  Improving Access to our Environment  • visitors services/facilities on conservation lands will receive a $30 million upgrade over the next three years  • the public will enjoy more secure access to the `Queen's Chain' under new legislation than previously.  Other Areas of Activity  • focus on progressing the collection of environmental indicator information and on monitoring the impact of the Resource Management Act. This will provide better and more reliable environmental information to measure the progress towards meeting our environmental goals.  • develop a consistent risk analysis protocol for use among government departments, and examine a framework for comparing environmental risks. This aims to improve environmental priority settings  • put in place a strategy for sustainable land management, including the co-ordination of research and information and making this relevant and available to land users  • tackle the key problem of runoff from agriculture and  urban areas and progressively put in place guidelines and standards for key aspects of water quality  • fund the Department of Conservation to carry out National's objectives for priority areas such as pests, weeds and threatened species, and to maintain its extensive network of tracks and facilities around the Conservation Estate, which are being used by an increasing number of visitors  • develop a national biodiversity strategy, and take steps to  protect species from habitat loss and predation by pests  • continue to promote energy efficiency and renewables, through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), through the energy sector reforms and through frunding research and science in this sector.  • address the threat of climate change through effective measures at least cost to the economy  • regulate the dumping of hazardous waste in landfills  • initiate an inquiry into the Radiation Protection Act with the aim of improving the accountability of the National Radiation Laboratory and enabling proper public involvement in the setting of standards  • develop regulations under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to control introduction and use of hazardous substances and new organisms into our environment and bring in a new comprehensive regulations regime to address risks to the environment  • reform the Land Act and the tenure review system through the Crown Pastoral Lands Bill to protect conservation values and provide sustainable management of the South Island high country pastoral lands.  INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS  Geographically we are one of the most isolated nations on earth, but we are no longer alone. Technology, trade and global politics are increasingly binding us into the global community.  As a result of this and our growing self-confidence on the world stage New Zealand is now playing a highly visible and increasingly effective role in world forums.  We are fast becoming a true international player - in the affairs of nations, in world wide disarmament efforts, and in matters of commerce - we're poised to play a bigger role yet.  International Forums & Assistance  Our two years on the Security Council enabled us to expand the range and depth of contacts with other countries on political, security and humanitarian issues.  In the past year we have hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), the Asian Development Bank conference and the APEC Trade Ministers meeting.  As the host of the Auckland CHOGM meeting, we helped set up the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on Good Governance to confront human rights abuses.  As a member of this group New Zealand played a key role encouraging Nigeria towards democracy and greater respect for human rights.  We are also involved in significant international negotiations on environmental protection, arms control and disarmament, women's rights and indigenous peoples.  Our reputation as an international citizen has also been enhanced by peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, Kuwait, Somalia, Haiti, Mozambique, Angola and Cambodia. We will continue to support international peacekeeping activities where there is a clear mandate for action by the international community, through maintaining an effective defence force.  In regional security we are firmly committed to closer defence relations with Australia, to the Five Power Defence Arrangement and the ASEAN Regional Forum.  Restoring a good relationship with the United States of America has been an important goal. Apart from what is known as `some unfinished business' positive diplomatic links have been restored.  We are also very conscious of the important role of our  Overseas Development Assistance programmes and have increased our spending on these, particularly in the Pacific Basin. In 1994 the Government announced that funding for the programme would increase by $60 million over the years to 1996/97. National will continue to build New Zealand's Overseas Development Assistance Programmes.  Disarmament  We rigorously opposed French and Chinese testing and used the World Court, the United Nations and other international meetings to record our opposition.  There is little doubt that the widespread condemnation which we helped to lead had a significant impact on the French administration's decision.  We will now strive for a comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, international disarmament and the elimination of nuclear weapons.  And we will build upon our positive action to eliminate land mines; pushing for other countries to stop their production, sale and use.  World Trade  A country's size, location and natural resources are no longer crucial factors in international commerce; more important are our skills, knowledge, and ability to respond to events.  The globe is now divided into three major trade areas - Europe, North America and Asia.  We have historical ties with the first and strong links with the second, but we are in fact a nation of the Asia-Pacific.  This region will lead with the strongest growth as the world moves into the 21st century. Thus Asia, in which we include Australia, is our top priority.  New Zealand's economic success is being driven by our export growth into Asia - since 1990 our exports to Asia have increased by 73%. To foster this we have established the Asia 2000 Foundation.  We recently opened a new embassy and trade office in Viet Nam - our 12th in the Asian region.  We will also pay special attention to Latin America, a region with tremendous potential, and are currently exploring a free trade agreement with Chile.  We're also working to build trade and political relationships with South Africa.  New Zealand's relationship with Australia is moving from strength to strength. The deepening of political, economic and defence ties with Australia will be a priority.  Environment  We are playing an important role in a number of international environmental organisations, including climate change organisations, the protection of whales and the Antarctic Continent. In 1997 we will host the International Antarctic Conference.