ACC. LABOUR’S VISION.  Nearly thirty years ago, New Zealand introduced an accident compensation scheme, which was a major extension of the previous workers’ compensation model. It extended coverage to all injured people, regardless of place of accident and regardless of fault, but on the basis that their right to sue in the Courts was removed. The ‘social contract’ entered into at that time was fair compensation in return for the removal of the right to sue. The founding principles were:  • Community responsibility.  • Comprehensive entitlement.  • Complete rehabilitation.  • Real compensation.  • Administrative efficiency.  The Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001, which came into force on 1 April 2002, reaffirms those principles. It provides for a fair and sustainable scheme that emphasises injury prevention, while minimising the impact of injuries (including economic, social and personal costs). Labour is committed to ensuring the long-term viability of the scheme.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Returned ACC workplace cover to state provision, away from the costly private insurance model and refocused the system on injury prevention.  • Rewarded employers for injury prevention through the voluntary Workplace Safety Management Practices Programme. Employers receive a discount on their levies if they demonstrate good safety management systems.  • Provided the CoverPlus Extra option for self-employed earners, so that they can tailor their cover to meet their individual requirements.  • Reduced the average cost of workplace cover from $1.20/$100 payroll during the period of privatisation to 90c/$100 payroll.  • Put the focus back onto injury prevention and rehabilitation through the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2001. Improved compensation provisions also include eligibility for lump sum payments to people who are permanently impaired as a result of their injury (up to $100,000).  • Provided improved access to compensation for seasonal and casual workers and for people on parental leave.  • Doubled the budget for injury prevention enabling funding of new injury prevention and safety promotion programmes.  • Launched partnership programmes with approved employers.  • Commenced work on developing a Code of ACC Claimants’ Rights. The Labour led government has delivered on Labour’s commitments. However, there are further goals Labour wants to achieve.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM.  LABOUR WILL:  • Establish a Ministerial Advisory Group on ACC to ensure that there is an independent and reliable source of policy advice from the relevant stakeholders.  • Complete the development of the New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy to ensure that New Zealand is a safe place to live and work.  • Extend the concept of discounts to reward safe practice, which currently exists for the employers’ account, to include the self-employed account.  • Undertake a detailed review of the medical misadventure provisions of the scheme.  • Work towards compliance with ILO Convention 17, which requires that the treatment costs of work-related injuries are not passed on to the injured worker.  • Develop a cross-agency response to funding counseling for individuals who experience or directly witness trauma and who are not covered by the ACC scheme.  ARTS AND CULTURE.  LABOUR’S VISION IS TO HAVE:  • Vibrant arts and cultural activities which all New Zealanders can enjoy and through which a strong and confident cultural identity can emerge.  • A strong and vibrant creative industry sector which provides sustainable employment and economic growth within an innovative environment.  THE LABOUR LED GOVERNMENT’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government gave priority to addressing years of government neglect of the arts and cultural sector. By taking the Arts and Culture portfolio, Helen Clark as Prime Minister emphasised its importance to the nation. In our first budget we introduced a cultural recovery package which injected over $80 million into the sector in the first year and provided for over $20 million additional funding a year in each of the next three years. These funds boosted many organisations, including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Film Archive, the Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa) and the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. There were also benefits for the regions, professional arts organisations, and for Maori and Pacific arts. As the sector thrives it in turn has a positive impact on New Zealand’s economic cultural and social life.  THE LABOUR LED GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO:  • Identified the creative industries as one of the three key sectors which can help drive New Zealand towards an innovative, high growth future.  • Established creative industries taskforces to ensure government and the sector work together to develop the full potential of the sector and to ensure the creative industries play a key role in the development of other sectors within the country.  • Established the Film Production Fund to boost development of the local film industry.  • Provided funding of over $4.5 million to maximise opportunities for the whole nation from the focus put on New Zealand by the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  • Developed a new Regional Museums policy to help fund significant regional museum and art gallery projects and thereby ensure the preservation and accessibility of our cultural heritage.  • Developed and launched the Mäori Made mark recognising Mäori art and artforms being created and delivered by Mäori.  • Provided an additional $1 million to boost support for authors and literature.  • Introduced a new Arts Curriculum, which enables students to develop skills in dance, drama, music and visual arts.  • Provided funding to establish the Music Industry Commission, to support the development of contemporary New Zealand music.  • Increased access for all New Zealanders to our history through funding of on- line projects such as the Dictionary of NZ Biography http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/.  • Returned 59 major artworks held in Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade offices and residence overseas to public galleries and museums nationwide and replaced them with works by emerging artists.  IN OUR NEXT TERM LABOUR WILL:  • Work with the Creative Industries taskforces to ensure that a strategic approach is taken to the development of the sector, barriers to development are addressed and the potential benefits to the economy are realised.  • Support industry training in the arts and creative industries and encourage Modern Apprenticeships in these areas.  • Work with the creative sector to identify and address skills shortages and professional development needs in the area of business support, administration, management and marketing.  • Ensure the Ministry of Economic Development, BIZinfo and Ministry of Development provide accessible information and business advice, to encourage artists to set up and develop their own businesses.  • Work with local and regional councils to enhance the co-ordination and promotion of culture and heritage and encourage local authorities to work regionally to take advantage of cultural tourism opportunities.  • Investigate collaborative funding between local and central government for arts and cultural projects of major regional significance .  • Support the ongoing development of the arts curriculum in schools.  • Continue to work with the Film Commission and the film industry to ensure that talented New Zealanders get the training they need to produce our stories and world-class films.  • Establish a ‘Signature Television’ scheme to provide funding for high-quality one-off television drama productions, targeted at the section of the market between short films and television series, and full length feature films.  • Work with government agencies to ensure New Zealand remains an internationally competitive location for New Zealanders and others to make films in.  • Continue to support the implementation of quota for New Zealand music on radio through the Voluntary Code of Practice on New Zealand Music and the Phase 4 initiative of New Zealand on Air.  • Continue to monitor the impact of parallel importing on the New Zealand music industry and develop measures to prevent piracy.  • Encourage creative sector organisations to make use of business grant opportunities to expand their reach.  • Enact new New Zealand Symphony Orchestra legislation to more appropriately reflect its organisational and financ ial structure.  • Finalise criteria for the distribution of the $1 million additional funding provided in this year’s budget to authors and literature in New Zealand.  • Work with the Historic Places Trust, local government and business to ensure heritage sites are preserved in a manner consistent with local needs.  • Complete reviews of the Historic Places and the Antiquities Acts.  • Work with the Historic Places Trust, Transit, Transfund and the Far North District Council to ensure protection from flooding and traffic vibration for the Keri Keri Mission Station.  • Ensure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Trade NZ and the Ministry of Tourism work together to better co-ordinate and promote New Zealand’s arts, culture and creative industries to the world.  • Continue to enhance New Zealand’s profile overseas with cultural diplomacy initiatives such as sponsoring New Zealand artists to international festivals and investigate the feasibility of establishing an artists touring fund.  BIOSECURITY.  Effective biosecurity is essential to New Zealand. Our borders are constantly being tested by organisms that could cause us severe environmental and economic damage, threaten our health and quality of life, and undermine our clean green image. Introduced animal and plant pests, example possums and gorse, have already degraded our biodiversity and natural heritage and caused costly problems for our primary industries. Preventing further incursions is far less expensive than eradicating, controlling or accepting pests once they are established in New Zealand. Biosecurity risks to New Zealand have grown significantly with increases in overseas travel, visitor arrivals, and trade volumes. Global warming may make the situation worse by expanding the range where potential pests can survive. When Labour formed a government in 1999, we found the biosecurity of this country in an appalling state. We have moved decisively to address this situation. Biosecurity is a collective responsibility of New Zealanders because it benefits us all. It is therefore appropriate that taxpayers share in the cost of that protection.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  In its first term, the Labour led government has:  • Significantly increased biosecurity funding.  • Upgraded border controls, so that New Zealand is now the only country in the world where all postal items, aircrew and passenger baggage are screened by xray and detector dogs.  • Commissioned research to improve biosecurity measures for sea freight, especially containers.  • Introduced $200 instant fines for biosecurity border breaches.  • Ensured that biosecurity videos are screened on all international flights entering New Zealand.  • Launched the Protect New Zealand biosecurity awareness campaign.  • Increased funding for pest control.  • Evaluated the risks associated with used vehicle imports and issued a new import health standard.  • Initiated development of a Biosecurity Strategy for New Zealand. A draft will be available for public consultation soon. The strategy is expected to identify areas where our biosecurity programme may be enhanced.  • Taken decisive action in response to new incursions and attempted eradication wherever technically possible (for example, red fire ants and crazy ants).  • Provided the Department of Conservation with $187 million over five years to protect New Zealand biodiversity.  • Initiated development of regulations to minimise risks associated with hull fouling and ballast water discharges.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to review and strengthen border control measures, our surveillance ability, and our capacity to fight incursions.  • Review the level of the $200 instant fine for making a false biosecurity declaration and raise it when and if we determine this will be effective in increasing public co-operation.  • Complete and act on the findings of the research project aimed at upgrading biosecurity measures for sea freight.  • Maintain an integrated educational programme to raise New Zealand public and overseas visitor awareness of the importance of biosecurity and biosecurity precautions.  • Seek to develop, in partnership with Australia and the South Pacific island states, a regional biosecurity programme to minimise the risk of new alien species invasions within the South Pacific-Oceania region.  • Ensure ongoing funding of the Biodiversity Strategy, including providing sufficient funding to the Department of Conservation to ensure effective control of pests across the public conservation estate.  • Ensure through the Biosecurity Council the development of a national biosecurity policy containing priorities and programmes for the eradication and sustained control of existing and potential pests and diseases by government agencies, to complement the biosecurity programmes of regional councils.  • Continuously review existing legislation and policy to identify deficiencies which may compromise biosecurity objectives, and put a greater emphasis on freshwater and marine biosecurity.  • Take strong action, especially in relation to standards for ballast water discharge and hull fouling, to prevent the biological pollution of our coastal waters by vessels.  BROADCASTING.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Broadcasting is an important factor in community-building. Labour believes that the community, through the government, has a role in broadcasting be it through ownership of Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand (RNZ), management of spectrum or support for smaller broadcasters who meet the needs of particular parts of the community. The government must also ensure that public broadcasting can benefit from advances in technology. Labour’s approach to broadcasting is based on the development of partnerships with all those involved in the sector. The maintenance and development of a healthy broadcasting sector will only occur if there is co-operation, and clarity of common goals. Labour will provide leadership and support to these partnerships. Labour also believes there are good reasons why the government should adopt a role in promoting public broadcasting.  DEMOCRACY.   Public broadcasting ensures that issues of national importance to the New Zealand community are reported, debated and explored from a variety of perspectives. Some issues will be important to some sectors of society and not to others. A public broadcaster has a responsibility to cover a wide range of issues, including minority issues.  CULTURAL IDENTITY.   In a global society it is important to recognise what makes us different from other peoples. Therefore we need to see and hear New Zealand stories and issues, New Zealand programmes for children, New Zealand faces and accents, New Zealand sport, New Zealand landscape and New Zealand music. These issues are unlikely to be adequately addressed in a competitive commercial environment. For these reasons Labour accepts the public broadcaster will require some form of state funding.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  In its first term Labour has:  • Developed a Charter that requires TVNZ to act principally as a public broadcaster with a focus on its role to inform, entertain and educate New Zealanders.  • Allocated funding of $12 million per annum to assist with implementation of the TVNZ Charter, increased funding for NZ on Air television programmes by $6 million a year to over $60 million per year.  • Introduced the Television New Zealand Bill to change the structure of TVNZ from an SOE to a Crown Company to assist in changing focus from solely on profit to being a public broadcaster. The Charter is part of the legislation.  • Provided increased funding to Radio New Zealand and New Zealand on Air to provide for additional programming.  • Developed a voluntary quota with the Radio Broadcasters Association to ensure at least 20 percent of all music played on commercial radio is New Zealand music.  • Formed a Television Local Content Group including broadcasters, producers, NZ on Air and other officials with the aim to substantially increase the amount of local content screened on television.  • Provided $7.7 million for the establishment of a nationwide FM Pacific Radio Network.  • Provided funding for a Mäori Television Service, broadcasting in Mäori and English.  • Reserved frequencies for a nationwide Mäori Radio Network, a Youth Radio Network and the migration of National Radio to FM.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM AND BEYOND.  TELEVISION NEW ZEALAND.   We remain committed to supporting TVNZ, and making it a special part of the lives of all New Zealanders. Labour wants TVNZ to focus on delivering a balanced, quality broadcasting service for all New Zealanders. At the same time the transmission services of TVNZ are to be encouraged to pursue commercial opportunities across the broadcasting and telecommunications sector.  LABOUR WILL:  • Give substance to our commitment to public broadcasting, in particular through continued public ownership of TVNZ.  • Closely monitor the implementation of the TVNZ Charter, including through the development of specific quantitative and qualitative performance measures.  • Provide financial support for TVNZ to implement the Charter.  RADIO NEW ZEALAND.   Radio New Zealand is an effective public broadcaster, operating within a wellestablished Charter accountability. It plays an important role in fostering democracy and promoting New Zealand’s cultural identity. We have provided increased support to Radio New Zealand to allow it to grow and expand its audience. Our objective remains to ensure that all New Zealanders are able to listen to Radio New Zealand through an easily accessible transmission.  LABOUR WILL:  • Give substance to our commitment to public broadcasting, in particular through continued public ownership of RNZ.  • Work with RNZ to ensure that it provides a service for New Zealanders of all ages and backgrounds.  • Maintain National Radio and Concert FM as non-commercial stations.  • Support the broadcast of National Radio on FM as well as AM, to potentially give more New Zealanders access.  • Encourage Radio New Zealand to investigate further use of new technologies and other broadcast media such as the internet.  • Provide secure and strengthened support for the work of Radio New Zealand International in providing a service to our Pacific neighbours.  NZ ON AIR.   NZ on Air plays an important part in promoting the New Zealand identity through the commissioning of a diverse range of programmes for broadcast on TV and radio, as well as supporting the production and broadcasting of New Zealand music. The Labour led government has provided certainty of funding for NZ on Air through increased government contributions.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue support for NZ on Air as a contestable funding pool for television programming.  • Work with the Chairpersons of New Zealand on Air, Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand to ensure the effective and efficient use of NZ on Air funding that they are allocated.  REGIONAL/COMMUNITY BROADCASTING.   While the TVNZ Charter places an obligation for the broadcasting of programmes of interest to all New Zealanders, including in the regions, it is important that this is supplemented by vigorous community television and radio broadcasts such as those provided by Access Radio and regional television stations.  LABOUR WILL:  • Give priority to finding ways of supporting the growth of regional and community broadcasting.  • Support growth of regional television, including through support by NZ on Air.  • Support spectrum allocation for community broadcasters as new spectrum becomes available.  MÄORI BROADCASTING.   Labour is committed to the development of a sustainable Mäori broadcasting strategy that builds on the Crown’s Treaty obligation to promote the Mäori language and culture and will provide a coordinated approach to Mäori broadcasting. The development of a Mäori television service and the reservation of a national FM frequency are major achievements. These were initiated following extensive engagement with key Mäori stakeholders.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support the full implementation of the Mäori Television Service.  • Ensure the ongoing viability of existing iwi radio stations.  • Assess whether current institutional and funding arrangements for Mäori broadcasting purposes can be further enhanced.  PACIFIC PEOPLES.   Labour believes that it is important that the languages and cultures of Pacific peoples are heard and seen to a greater extent on radio and television. The Labour led government has worked hard to lay a foundation for this through the development of the Pacific Radio Trust, and the funding allocated for a nationwide Pacific Radio Network.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to support and fund the development and operation of a national Pacific Radio Network aimed at reaching 80 percent of the total New Zealand population.  • Develop a co-ordinated strategy for Pacific broadcasting, including through the establishment of a Pacific Broadcasting Foundation.  • Encourage close links between the Pacific Radio Network and Radio New Zealand International.  QUOTAS.   Labour is committed to increasing the levels of local content on both television and radio. We recognise that increased levels of local content requires the development of partnerships between broadcasters, producers, government agencies, musicians and performers. There has been encouraging progress in this area, but it is important that concrete targets are agreed and met for increased local content. Our preference is for agreed targets, but we reserve the right to impose mandatory quotas if this is not possible.  LABOUR WILL:  • Closely monitor the Radio Code of Practice to ensure that the target of an average of 20 percent New Zealand music content on commercial radio is met.  • Encourage Radio New Zealand to set ambitious, but achievable targets for the broadcasting of New Zealand music.  • Work with the New Zealand Music Performance Committee to develop ways of promoting the broadcasting of New Zealand music.  • Further develop the partnership with television and production indus tries to achieve an increased level of NZ content on television.  MANAGEMENT OF THE SPECTRUM.   Labour strongly believes that the management of spectrum rights must remain under government control in order to maximise the benefit of the spectrum for society as a whole, to ensure access to spectrum for public and community purposes and ensure a level playing field for commercial broadcasters. It is also important that there is certainty for broadcasters whose rights are due to expire in 2010.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop the non-commercial services identified as priorities in the 100-108 FM band, namely, nationwide Mäori and Pacific Radio Networks and National Radio.  • Allocate or auction any remaining spectrum in the 100-108 FM band once the four priority needs above have been fulfilled.  • Ensure that, at least five years before expiry, holders of commercial spectrum rights are offered the opportunity to renew that right for a further 20 years on terms and conditions negotiated with the government.  • Ensure that discussion of the terms and conditions that would apply to the spectrum rights renewals begins before the end of 2002.  • Ensure that spectrum space for non-commercial broadcasters and educational purposes is maintained in either AM or FM bands.  DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY.   The broadcasting world is facing major technological changes, in particular the use of digital technology on radio and television, allowing for more channels per spectrum space, interactivity and better quality of reception. While this offers enormous opportunities, the growth of this technology has not been without its difficulties as demonstrated by the demise of major digital providers overseas. The government must also ensure that the regulatory framework set for digital broadcasting allows for orderly development to proceed while ensuring access for all to the technology.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop, in close consultation with the broadcasting industry, a policy and regulatory framework that aims to give all New Zealanders access to the benefits of digital technology.  YOUTH RADIO.   There has been considerable debate as to whether the issue of Youth Radio is best progressed through the establishment of a stand-alone network, or through supporting initiatives such as NZ on Air funded shows and existing youth-run radio stations. Labour is committed to supporting the provision of radio services for young people, and has reserved an FM frequency for this purpose. We will continue to investigate all options for providing these services.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to support NZ on Air to fund the production of programmes targeting young people.  • Work with commercial and non-commercial radio stations to ensure that these NZ on Air funded programmes are heard throughout New Zealand.  • Support the growth of community generated youth- focused radio services that involve young people at all levels of their operation.  • Monitor, in close consultation with young people, the provision of radio services for young people, including for children to ensure that young New Zealanders in all regions are able to hear programmes designed for them.  CONSERVATION.  LABOUR’S VISION: TURNING THE TIDE.  New Zealand has a wonderful natural and historic heritage. Our unique plants and animals make our country one of the most special places on earth. This is enhanced by New Zealand’s historic heritage, a result of one thousand years of human occupation of these islands. But people and introduced animals have eliminated over 30 percent of New Zealand’s endemic land and freshwater bird species, nearly 20 percent of our endemic seabird species, and greatly diminished our inheritance of native plants and wildlife. Today, about a thousand of our indigenous species are threatened with extinction. Labour is turning the tide and has already achieved a great deal. The New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy launched by the Labour led government in 2000 aims to halt the decline of New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity by 2020, with net gains compared with 2000. Labour will ensure that New Zealand’s natural heritage will be here for our children to see and enjoy. Despite past losses, New Zealand still has a rich heritage of archaeological sites, wähi tapu, and historic structures and buildings. They are an important link with our human past and a legacy that we hold in trust for future generations.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has put conservation centre stage. Achievements include:  • Ending the logging of 130,000 hectares of publicly-owned lowland rainforests on the West Coast of the South Island, and protecting them as conservation land. Nearly 18,000 hectares went to national park, including the famous Okarito forest.  • Creating Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island, and New Zealand’s first tussocklands park, the Korowai- Torlesse, in the Canterbury foothills.  • Launching the New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy, together with the most substantial funding commitment ever made by a New Zealand government to the conservation of our native species and ecosystems.  • Providing the largest-ever funding increase for outdoor recreation on public conservation land, effectively doubling the Department of Conservation (DOC) budget for upgrading huts, tracks and other outdoor facilities over the next 10 years.  • Establishing the Mätauranga Kura Taiao fund to support hapü and iwi initiatives to retain and promote traditional Mäori knowledge and its use in biodiversity management.  • Announcing a package for the protection of Mäori-owned South Island Landless Natives Act (SILNA) forests through conservation settlements, sustainable forestry and the application of the Resource Management Act 1991.  • Establishing five kiwi sanctuaries, almost certainly preventing the extinction of the North Island Brown Kiwi, Okarito Kiwi and Haast Tokoeka.  • Eradicating rats from Campbell Island, the largest island eradication achieved in the world.  • Protecting 19 seamounts – marine ecosystems of special importance – a great step in marine conservation.  • Initiating the development of an Oceans Policy and a Biosecurity Strategy.  • Making New Zealand once again a respected environmental advocate on the world stage.  BIODIVERSITY.  Most of New Zealand’s native plants, animals and birds are found only on these islands. Many ecosystems are also unique, for example, Northland’s kauri forests and the South Island’s braided river systems. The retention of our remaining indigenous biodiversity is crucial to the health of New Zealand’s environment, and in turn the nation’s economic future.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure ongoing funding of the Biodiversity Strategy, in order to achieve its goal of halting and reversing the decline of New Zealand’s indigenous biodiversity.  • Complete the development of a national policy statement (NPS) on indigenous biodiversity.  • Ensure that information on biodiversity and best conservation practice is freely available in the public domain so that sound ecological judgments can be made by land managers, local authorities, other decision-makers and environmental groups.  • Continue to upgrade biosecurity measures, in order to keep new pests out of New Zealand and deal effectively with those already here.  • Review the Wildlife Act 1953 to better ensure the protection of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biota.  • Continue the process of removing pests from offshore islands to protect threatened species, including giving priority to eradicating rats from Hauturu (Little Barrier Island) and Raoul Island and cats and pigs from the main Auckland Islands.  CONSERVATION ON PUBLIC LAND.  Although nearly 30 percent of New Zealand was protected in the conservation estate when Labour came into government, it consisted mainly of steep and mountainous terrain. The Labour led government has set out to redress this imbalance by actively protecting lowland forests, wetlands and tussock grasslands.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to make additions to the public conservation estate (e.g. through the Nature Heritage Fund and the high country tenure review), and upgrade the protective status of existing areas as appropriate.  • Ensure sufficient funding for weed and integrated pest control on the public conservation estate to maintain and improve ecosystem health of the estate, and to adequately protect threatened species from the impact of plant and animal pests.  • Continue progressing the establishment of ‘mainland islands’ as a means of protecting key threatened species or habitats.  • Ensure that the Conservation Act 1987 and the Crown Minerals Act 1991 provide adequate protection from mining activities for areas of significant conservation value.  • Amend the Crown Minerals Act and the Conservation Act to establish an appropriate public process for consideration of prospecting, exploration and mining applications on conservation land not covered by the mineral activity ban, as occurs with other commercial activities such as tourism and recreational concessions.  • Promote ecologically sustainable land use and protection of conservation and public recreation values under the Crown Pastoral Land Act 1998.  • Provide clear guidelines for the high country tenure review and freeholding process to ensure lands with predominant conservation values are restored to full Crown ownership and protection.  • Review the funding available to enable the Crown to buy out the lessee’s interest on those pastoral leases where the majority of the property has high conservation values.  • Establish a network of high country parks and reserves.  CONSERVATION ON PRIVATE LAND.  Promoting conservation on private land is a key part of Labour’s biodiversity strategy. Many New Zealanders have fenced and cared for patches of forest or wetlands on the private land that they manage. Others have opted instead to clear and damage natural habitats. Also, landscape quality has been lost in areas of outstanding scenic values.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage private landowners to protect conservation values on their land, support them through the Nature Heritage Fund, Ngä Whenua Rähui, Landcare, Queen Elizabeth II National Trust and other conservation trusts, and promote to local authorities the exemption from rating of areas legally protected through such organisations.  • Work with private landowners, the public, tangata whenua, and local government to identify and protect threatened ecosystems and habitats on private land.  • Ensure that the Resource Management Act remains an effective tool for the protection of conservation values on private land.  • Investigate whether landscape values need better protecting.  FRESHWATER CONSERVATION.  Freshwater ecosystems in New Zealand have been undervalued. Over 85 percent of our wetlands have been drained. Some rivers are polluted or have had too much water taken from them for irrigation. Yet these areas are often havens for wildlife, like the threatened wrybill – the only bird in the world with a sideways curved beak.  LABOUR WILL:  • Provide guidance and assistance to decision makers and management agencies on the protection of freshwater biodiversity, including freshwater fish, plant and other aquatic life.  • Improve the conservation of freshwater ecosystems by, for example, implementing recovery plans for threatened freshwater species and habitats.  • Protect priority representative freshwater habitats, using a range of protective mechanisms.  • Develop national standards to protect water quality and the natural character of rivers, lakes and wetlands.  • Support the identification and protection of Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance).  • Investigate whether Crown-owned land in South Island braided riverbeds with significant conservation value should be brought under DOC management.  MARINE CONSERVATION.  In relation to its land area, New Zealand has a very lengthy coastline. Our rich marine areas provide food and recreation. However, we have taken our marine and coastal ecosystems for granted. Historically, over-fishing has occurred. The marine environment has been impacted by soil erosion and urban and pastoral run-off, careless waste disposal and sewage pollution. Labour is committed to holistic, ecosystem-based management of the marine environment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop an integrated and comprehensive management framework for managing the marine environment, through the Oceans Policy process.  • Encourage public involvement in marine management, including promoting individual and community initiatives to care for our marine biodiversity.  • Aim to protect 10 percent of New Zealand’s marine environment (including the Exclusive Economic Zone) by 2010 in a network of protected marine areas.  • Enact the Marine Reserves Bill to better provide for the protection of marine biodiversity and with wider purposes including protection of representative marine ecosystems and areas of rare or unusual endemic life- forms (including in the Exclusive Economic Zone).  • Review other reserves legislation such as the National Parks Act 1980 and Reserves Act 1977 to ensure the interface between the land and the sea is appropriately protected.  • Ensure effective protection for marine mammals (including Hooker’s Sealion and Southern Right whale around the Auckland Islands, and South Island and North Island Hector’s Dolphin), by such means as reducing fisheries bycatch, and by creating or extending marine mammal sanctuaries.  • Develop a national plan of action to ensure sustained reductions in bycatch of seabirds, including various species of albatross and petrels at risk.  • Work through international organisations to achieve stronger protection for whales, in particular, ending ‘scientific’ whaling and advancing the South Pacific Whale Sanctuary proposal.  • Reform aquaculture legislation so that both the public and the industry have certainty as to where aquaculture can or cannot take place, with decisions being based on good ecological data, and with provision to allocate space by tendering.  • Retain Crown authority over fisheries management, enforcement and relevant research, while developing a more co-operative relationship with the fishing industry and other stakeholders.  • Require adequate observer coverage on fishing boats where information gaps on environmental effects hamper sustainable fishing.  ANTARCTICA AND THE SUB-ANTARCTIC ISLANDS.  The beautiful and unique continent of Antarctica has one of the world’s harshest climates, yet the surrounding oceans and Sub-Antarctic islands are rich in bird and marine life, including krill vital to the ocean food chain. Marine and bird species are under attack by uncontrolled or illegal fishing. Whales are threatened by so-called ‘scientific’ whaling being undertaken by Japan. The Antarctic Environmental Protocol has designated Antarctica and the area south of 60 degrees south as a nature reserve dedicated to science.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that New Zealand is an active member of the Committee for Environmental Protection under the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty.  • Protect Antarctic species through the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) and the Environmental Protocol.  • Advocate the protection of Antarctica as a world park, free from mining and other threats to its near pristine environment.  • Advocate the development of a network of specially protected marine areas around Antarctica, especially in the Ross Sea.  • Support scientific research initiatives so that New Zealand can learn from the unique scientific opportunities available in Antarctica.  • Establish marine reserves around the Sub-Antarctic islands.  • Support the listing of toothfish species in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to better control illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the Southern Ocean and support the CCAMLR catch documentation scheme.  MÄORI AND CONSERVATION.  Our first National Park, Tongariro, was made possible by a gift from Ngati Tuwharetoa to the Crown of the three peaks Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu. Mäori are concerned about the loss of species of particular value to Mäori because of their conservation and cultural significance. Effective consultation with Mäori is important both directly and through representation on statutory boards such as Conservation Boards and the Conservation Authority. Some areas of conservation land are of particular interest to Mäori because they are subject to Treaty of Waitangi claims.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to build and support co-operation between management agencies, iwi and hapü in the conservation management of habitats and native species within rohe or tribal areas, in order to give better recognition to the relationship of Mäori with the natural environment of New Zealand, as provided for in the Treaty of Waitangi.  • Involve Mäori in conservation management through consultation and representation on statutory advisory boards and participation in practical conservation management projects.  • Promote the conservation and restoration of valued species of significance to Mäori such as kereru, tuna [eel], harakeke, pingao and totara.  • Continue to promote conservation on Mäori land by appropriate funding for Nga Whenua Rähui.  • Facilitate the development of taiapure and mataitai reserves and the implementation of Mäori customary fishing.  • Develop a national policy on customary use of native plants and animals that promotes the conservation and restoration of native species and does not compromise the existing protected status of native wildlife.  • Promote protection of SILNA indigenous forest through conservation settlements, encouraging other owners to manage their forests sustainably, and the application of the Resource Management Act.  HISTORIC HERITAGE.  Like our threatened indigenous plant and animal species, many historic heritage places are endangered and irreplaceable. Central government has a responsibility wherever practicable to lead by example in the retention and maintenance of Crown-owned nationally significant heritage buildings and sites. Historic heritage is also an important economic resource. Adaptive re-use and heritagebased tourism make an important contribution to the economy and have significant potential to grow in importance. Protecting and restoring historic heritage requires fresh thinking and a partnership between central government, local government, iwi and private property owners.  LABOUR WILL:  • Recognise the national importance of retaining and protecting heritage buildings, places and objects and wähi tapu.  • Continue to encourage local communities, central and local government to protect, restore and enhance their historic heritage by economic and other incentives.  • Continue to fund the New Zealand Historic Places Trust so that it can continue to promote the protection of New Zealand’s historic places and to fulfil its statutory functions.  • Continue to acknowledge the tangata whenua and the Treaty of Waitangi by providing support for the development of protocols between Mäori groups and local authorities to protect Mäori taonga.  OUTDOOR RECREATION.  New Zealand’s unique natural heritage offers a wide range of exciting recreational opportunities from the mountains to the sea. Labour believes that these opportunities must be accessible to New Zealanders of all ages and lifestyles. Time spent in the outdoors can enhance physical and mental health, awareness of the environment and pride in our nation. Co-existence between the natural environment and recreational activities is essential if New Zealanders and overseas visitors are to gain maximum benefit from outdoor recreation.  LABOUR WILL:  • Protect the quality of outdoor recreational experiences for all New Zealanders, including those who are currently under-represented in outdoor recreation, such as people with disabilities or on low incomes.  • Promote outdoor recreation, and continue to improve the conservation infrastructure, including backcountry huts and tracks.  • Ensure that DOC’s visitor policy is consistent with the requirement to foster the use of natural and historic resources for recreation and allow their use for tourism where this is not inconsistent with their conservation.  • Monitor and manage visitor impacts on the conservation estate.  • Develop a public access strategy, including the extension of the Queen’s Chain and the provision of rural and urban walkways, to ensure New Zealanders have ready and free access to our waterways, coastline and natural areas.  • Ensure that New Zealand’s natural recreational resources are not captured for exclusive commercial use but remain freely available for reasonable public enjoyment.  • Protect public sports fishing and game bird hunting and, if necessary, amend the provisions of the Conservation and Wildlife Acts relating to the sale of fishing and hunting rights to close any loophole that permits the sale of access rights for these activities.  • Encourage the completion of Te Araroa, ‘the long pathway’ from North Cape to Bluff, and encourage public and community consultation on proposed routes.  NATURE-BASED TOURISM.  Tourism is a vital part of the New Zealand economy, providing jobs and economic growth for communities throughout the country. Tourism is largely based on our natural environment and beautiful scenery. Sustainable development of tourism is essential to protect the attractions that bring two million visitors to New Zealand each year.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work to ensure that New Zealand’s tourism strategy is ecologically sustainable.  • Encourage a broadening of tourism activities beyond their current emphasis on public conservation lands, including promoting nature-based tourism on private land, and historic heritage and cultural tourism.  • Investigate ways of mitigating any negative impacts of tourism activities on the natural quiet and the quality of the visitor experience at key tourist sites.  CONSERVATION ADMINISTRATION AND FUNDING.  Labour led the world by establishing the Department of Conservation in 1987 as the coordinator of the government’s conservation activities. DOC was consistently underfunded by National led governments in the 1990s, but has been improved and strengthened by the Labour led government.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that DOC is adequately funded to perform its core functions, including playing a leading role in maintaining New Zealand’s biodiversity, and advocating for the conservation of natural and historic resources.  • Welcome local government, community and corporate support for conservation projects, including, for example, community education and involvement in conservation.  • Continue to ensure DOC conservation management and policy is founded on the best ecological science and practical conservation management experience.  • Support DOC in increasing the diversity of its staff, including significantly improving the numbers and participation of women and Mäori in the department, especially in management positions.  • Develop a performance-based system to monitor DOC and other public funding (e.g. through Queen Elizabeth II National Trust) of private conservation initiatives.  • Ensure full public consultation in the review and development of comprehensive general policies for national parks and other public conservation areas. The aim is to provide national direction and consistency in the future.  DEFENCE.  BACKGROUND.  In June 2000 the Labour led government released the Defence Policy Framework, the formal statement of its defence policy. This was followed in May 2001 by the Government Defence Statement – A Modern, Sustainable Defence Force Matched To New Zealand’s Needs. These two documents identified the key components of the New Zealand Defence Force as being:  • A joint approach to structure and operational orientation.  • A modernised Army.  • A practical Navy fleet matched to New Zealand’s wider security needs.  • A refocused and updated Air Force.  • A funding commitment to provide financial certainty.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour believes that long-term local, regional and global security can best be achieved through working with our friends and allies, jointly and in partnership. Labour will continue New Zealand’s membership of the Five Power Defence Agreement and other appropriate permanent or short-term arrangements. Labour believes that contributions to the resolution of conflict and maintenance of stability through peace support operations are important international roles for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The NZDF will continue to be trained for combat with relevant additional training such as mediation for specific peace support deployments. Labour will meet UN Charter commitments to the maintenance of international peace and security and will contribute to United Nations and other appropriate multilateral peace support and humanitarian relief operations. Labour supports development of a permanent UN military capacity. Labour is committed to the concept of a defence force consisting of a motorized and readily deployable army; a practical navy working with other civilian interests (such as customs, coast guard and fisheries) in the area of maritime surveillance and having appropriate sealift and combat capabilities; and an updated air force with airlift, and air patrol capabilities. New Zealand’s defence force will be configured to meet New Zealand’s needs.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  IN ITS FIRST TERM THE LABOUR LED GOVERNMENT HAS:  • Developed the Defence Policy Framework (July 2000) which sets out the goals and priorities for defence and provides a framework for future decisions about military capabilities, resources and funding.  • Released the Government Defence Statement (May 2001) which outlines how a modern, sustainable defence force matched to New Zealand’s needs will be developed.  • Released the Long Term Development Plan (May 2002) detailing the defence acquisition projects that will enable the policy to be implemented.  • Established the Joint Forces Operational Headquarters at Trentham.  • Reactivated the Real Estate Review and committed to a sensible and logical consolidation of defence real estate.  • Reviewed and improved defence force pay and conditions.  • Released the Maritime Forces Review detailing the maritime force structure required to meet New Zealand’s sea lift and maritime surveillance requirements.  • Approved capital acquisition for modernising the defence force including light armoured vehicles for the army and communications equipment for the army and air force.  • Revised and modernised the appointment process for senior defence force personnel.  • Working to promote comprehensive security, particularly within the South Pacific region, through diplomacy, trade, aid, economic and environmental cooperation and, where appropriate, military co-operation.  • Maintaining a nuclear-free New Zealand, protecting the integrity of our nuclearfree policy and promoting a nuclear-free Southern Hemisphere.  • Except for UN operations, declining to engage in active military co-operation or exercises with those states which use their armed forces to suppress human rights or where that co-operation or those exercises could involve nuclear weaponry.  • Prioritising operations in New Zealand and the South Pacific such as disaster relief and resource protection, assisting with Overseas Development Aid delivery such as engineering and health projects, and UN peacekeeping or UN nonmilitary peace support. • Building our force structure to maximise our operational impact, by concentrating defence resources in a range of affordable and sustainable military capabilities that meet our requirements, our strategic interests, and our obligations.  • Providing opportunities for training unemployed people.  • Ensuring a whole-of-government approach on possible rationalisation of defence property holdings with due regard to the potential impact on local communities and economies.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM AND BEYOND.  LABOUR WILL:  • Actively commit to a modern defence force with appropriate structures to best fit New Zealand’s needs, which ensures accountability and which is open to new technological and conceptual advances, cultural change and modern ideas.  • Ensure that the acquisition and maintenance of essential modern defence force equipment is conducted through the 10-year capital development plan with due regard to overcoming block obsolescence over time.  • Ensure ongoing review of the defence force structure in order to maintain the best fit with New Zealand defence requir ements.  • Extend the concept of jointness in all areas where it is operationally feasible, to improve the ability of the defence forces to work together and to minimise unnecessary duplication of support functions.  • Ensure that the NZDF has the effective capability and resources to work with relevant authorities such as the Ministry of Emergency Management in support of civil defence roles when required.  • Maximise equipment interoperability with that of our defence partners where practicable.  • Enable the sustainable rapid deployment of a force up to battalion size, if necessary, without unduly compromising the safety of the personnel involved.  • Ensure that armed forces pay and conditions are kept under regular review so they reflect properly the value New Zealand places on the armed forces.  • Ensure that UN bonus payments are passed on to members of the New Zealand Defence Force on UN peacekeeping duties as increased remuneration.  • Formalise the role of the State Services Commission in senior appointments.  • Build on the successful limited services volunteers policy.  • Encourage links with the Modern Apprenticeships programme to ensure quality initial and on going training is provided and qualifications gained are properly recognised.  • Provide reserve force volunteers with employment protection when there is a ‘situation of national interest’ and assist employers with support during an employee’s absence.  • Establish a Ministerial Employer Support Council to promote the wider interests of reserve force service across all three Services.  • Ensure that necessary levels of training are provided for defence force elements both within and outside of New Zealand and, as appropriate, in co-operation with our defence allies and partners.  • Encourage the NZDF to review and address its personnel recruitment and retention practices to ensure that the personnel profile reflects the diversity of New Zealand society including improving the numbers of women and Mäori promoted on merit into senior positions.  • Actively engage with the Defence Industry Committee, the Ministry of Economic Development and other relevant parties prior to major military acquisitions in order to maximise the potential benefits to New Zealand.  DISABILITY ISSUES.  LABOUR’S VISION AND ACHIEVEMENTS.  Labour’s approach to disability issues is based on a commitment to human rights, partnership and inclusion. Significant progress has been made on implementing our 1999 Manifesto policies in relation to Disability Issues. The portfolio of Minister for Disability Issues was created and the Disability Strategy was released, with a comprehensive action plan. Our 2002 policy is based on the cont inued implementation of that Strategy.  HUMAN RIGHTS.   Labour believes that people with disabilities have equal rights to those of other New Zealanders and that these rights must be protected by the Human Rights Act, and throughout other relevant legislation.  TREATY PARTNERSHIP.   Labour recognises that the Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand’s founding document and is committed to fulfilling its obligation as a Treaty partner in government.  ATTITUDINAL CHANGE.   The key issue of concern raised in the Disability Strategy was that of negative attitudes. Labour will continue to promote a truly inclusive society, including specific actions to bring about attitudinal change.  THE STATE SECTOR.   Labour has established the Office for Disability Issues as part of its strong commitment to the whole-of-government approach of the Disability Strategy.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that a disability perspective is included in all relevant government policy proposals and that legislation and public information is available in appropriate formats.  • Continue to reduce the anomalies in services received by people whose impairments have different causes.  • Develop clear and consistent policies in relevant government departments and agencies in relation to paid family care-givers.  • Provide appropriate gender and ethnicity responses in service provision.  EDUCATION.  Labour believes that every child has the right to quality, inclusive education.  EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that children and their families receive co-ordinated responsive, holistic services, with the health/education interface being a priority.  • Help early childhood centres to become fully inclusive by providing specialist support and reviewing funding structures.  COMPULSORY SECTOR.   LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that resourcing policies are fair and that they, as well as policy development and operational decisions, support the development of inclusive education.  • Require all pre-service teacher education to include disability awareness.  POST COMPULSORY EDUCATION.   LABOUR WILL:  • Establish an advisory group to support the development and implementation of a Code of Practice for supporting people with disabilities within the Tertiary Education Strategy.  • Conduct a comprehensive review of the Special Supplementary Grant for tertiary students with disabilities to ensure that it continues to meet their needs.  EMPLOYMENT.  LABOUR WILL:  • Retain vocational services and Job Support funding as a key priority.  • Remove legislative barriers to participation in employment.  • Promote good practices in employment in both the public and private sectors to encourage more employment opportunities for people with disabilities.  INCOME SUPPORT.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that people with disabilities are included in any advisory structure on income support.  • Review the abatement regime to ensure that it does not operate as a financial barrier to paid employment.  • Reduce the compliance requirements for those with permanent impairments.  HEALTH.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that District Health Board Disability Advisory Committees are maintained to advise on health issues from a disability perspective.  • Promote disability awareness among all health care professionals, including researchers.  • Ensure that health information is accessible and appropriate.  DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the needs assessment and service co-ordination process so that it extends across relevant government departments and agencies.  • Ensure that equipment services are a priority in future funding increases.  • Maintain carer support/respite care as a priority for future funding increases.  HOUSING.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with local government to maximise living options in the community.  • Introduce changes, where necessary, to ensure that the Building Act and the Local Government Act are consistent with the Disability Strategy.  TRANSPORT.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure the progressive introduction of accessible public transport.  • Progress accessible air, sea and rail transport (including information).  • Review the Total Mobility Scheme to ensure equity.  ARTS AND CULTURE, SPORTS, RECREATION AND LEISURE.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that people with disabilities have opportunities to create, perform and develop in arts, culture, sports, recreation and leisure activities.  INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Play a leadership role in the development of a United Nations convention on the rights of people with disabilities.  • Support work on disability issues in the Pacific.  ECONOMY.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour believes that economic policy should aim to promote sustainable and balanced economic development in order to create full employment, higher real incomes and a more equal distribution of income.  LABOUR’S ECONOMIC RECORD.  The economy inherited by the Labour led government was fragile and somewhat unbalanced. The outlook for the economy now is much healthier. Growth is steady, job numbers are up and the unemployment rate has reached a thirteen year low. Inflation remains under control, and the balance of payments deficit has fallen dramatically. The economy has advanced on a broad front, and all the key indicators have improved. The economic profile is stronger and more balanced than at any time in the last thirty years. It is particularly pleasing to see the improveme nt in employment. Over 100,000 new jobs have been created. The bulk of those jobs are full time. The unemployment rate has fallen, and the better prospects for finding jobs have meant that more and more people are looking for them. The participation rate – the proportion of people in the working age population either in or looking for work – is now at its highest level since this survey started. The good news is that it is only this that is stopping the unemployment rate falling even faster. Despite better protections for workers through increases in the minimum wage and the passage of the Employment Relations Act, wages have not fuelled inflation. Instead, more people working their hours of choice in better-paid jobs have led to an increase in the total value of wages by more than ten percent above the rate of inflation. A lift in the real incomes of working New Zealand families of this order has not been seen in many decades. The taxes on incomes above $60,000 a year have gone a long way to enabling the government to raise the floor for New Zealand Superannuation, reintroduce income related rents for low income state house tenants and ease the burden of student loans. This is a very good story: sustainable, balanced economic development, generating jobs and lifting real incomes alongside greater equality in the distribution of the fruits of economic effort.  LOOKING FORWARD.  The economic record is good, but there is still plenty of room for improvement. Labour’s objective is to get New Zealand back into the top half of the OECD living standards. That will require us to lift the sustainable growth rate of the economy to make sure that New Zealand remains a desirable locality in which to live, raise families, work and do business. Labour knows that it is both possible and desirable to do that and at the same time protect environmental values and secure an equitable distribution of income and wealth.  LABOUR WILL:  • Progress incrementally on a broad front, within a framework of stable prices, sound public finances, even- handed regulation and effective partnerships between stakeholder interests in the private and public sectors.  • Strengthen the economic foundations to ensure that we grow from an established base and avoid another wave of disruptive restructuring.  • Grow through innovation and economic transformation, drawing on our natural aptitudes, attitudes and endowments.  STABLE PRICES.  The government has revised the Policy Targets Agreement (PTA) with the Governor of the Reserve Bank, and has reviewed the operations of monetary policy. It is now moving to implement governance changes consistent with increasing the accountability of the Governor while retaining the independence of the monetary authorities. The appointment of a new Governor means that the Policy Targets Agreement will be renegotiated. Labour’s intention in the present PTA was to enable the Reserve Bank to act flexibly within the full agreed target range for price inflation so as to minimise the effects on the volatility of output measures such as Gross Domestic Product. Labour believes that such flexibility is essential if the Bank is to be able to judge whether there has been a shift in New Zealand’s sustainable non- inflationary growth rate. Labour also believes that increasing the rate of productivity growth is the best method of improving confidence that the sustainable non-inflationary growth rate has increased.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure the revised PTA is expressed in a way which makes clear Labour’s intentions with respect to the flexible management of monetary policy, consistent with the maintenance of price stability, so as to be supportive of maximising sustainable economic growth.  • Initiate discussions between business, unions, and relevant government agencies to identify ways to lift the rate of productivity growth and to monitor and measure changes in productivity.  SOUND PUBLIC FINANCES.  Improved economic performance was not bought at the cost of weakening the government’s finances. At the time of the 1999 election, the outlook was for a balanced budget in the year to June 2000, alongside a gross debt of 34.1 percent of GDP and net debt of 22.4 percent. In the year to June 2003, the operating surplus is forecast at 1.8 percent of GDP, gross debt is scheduled to fall to 28.3 percent and net debt to 17 percent. The public accounts have been materially improved, and in addition money has been put aside to protect the future of New Zealand Superannuation: by 30 June next year there will be $1,890 million in the New Zealand Superannuation Fund. Sound economics and prudent finances have marked out this government as a highly successful manager of the economy. Labour does not believe that tax cuts lead to sustainably higher growth, and the evidence of the 1990s in New Zealand confirms this. The issue Labour will continue to address is what level of tax revenue is necessary to finance an appropriate level of government spending, and what is the fairest and most efficient method of raising that revenue. It is also important to address longer term fiscal pressures by partial pre-funding of New Zealand Superannuation and applying more resources towards rebuilding the capacity of the public sector. Labour believes that the challenges for fiscal policy are to:  • Finalise the role tax should play in boosting private saving.  • Finalise policy on the taxation of cross border investment and income flows.  • Manage gross debt in the light of the build- up of ‘deferred maintenance’ from the 1990s.  • Run operating surpluses, on average, over the course of the business cycle, sufficient to meet transfers into the Superannuation Fund and to make a contribution to capital spending programmes sufficient to keep the gross debt track sustainable.  • Respond to pressures for more spending on social assistance, tertiary education and economic transformation.  LABOUR WILL:  • Revise the methods used for establishing how much the government spends each year, consistent with meeting broader spending, operating balance and debt goals.  • Continue to develop public-private partnerships for the financing of infrastructure improvements.  • Focus on simplification of the tax system, especially for small business.  • Upgrade the capital budgeting framework.  • Extend the use of longer term funding paths in social policy areas to ensure both more certainty and a better capacity to reconfigure service delivery in more costeffective ways.  • Revise student support mechanisms (for further details see Labour’s Tertiary Education policy).  • Encourage the development of employment based, but portable retirement savings plans as a cost-effective way of leveraging higher levels of new saving.  • Examine the introduction of a dedicated health tax to replace an equivalent amount of income tax.  • Put more emphasis on extracting value for money from existing spending programmes.  • Complete the process of re-orienting state owned enterprises for long-term public ownership.  GROWTH AND INNOVATION.  Labour believes that innovation is the key to improving the long run sustainable growth rate and to reversing the relative decline in New Zealand’s standing in the developed world. Innovation is a process that starts with a good idea. The idea is refined through good science. It is incubated in a supportive business environment. Its commercialisation is financed through a combination of venture capital and more conventional equity investment. Its product is sold to best advantage in a more open world market. Labour believes that it is essential to strengthen every link in this innovation chain. In the past in New Zealand economic development has been spread too thinly and has not been sufficiently connected. The full potential of our economy will only be realised if we build on our sources of national advantage, and deepen the competencies that are associated with them. This means putting extra resource into enhancing capability and connectedness in the areas of biotechnology, information and communications technology and the creative industries. These sectoral competencies will have multiindustry applications and will interact with a strong chain of innovation to lift the economy onto a higher performance plane. Labour has identified the key barriers to an effective growth and innovation framework as:  • A ‘thinning’ of New Zealand capital markets with a resultant difficulty of attracting new investment.  • Vulnerability to sudden changes in the outflow of workers, particularly among scarce skill sets.  • Problems ‘connecting’ ideas and innovations with structures and processes that will grow them into successful businesses.  • Bottlenecks and delays in obtaining resource consents.  • Disadvantages of scale and distance.  • Limitations on the capacity of the telecommunications network to deliver sufficient coverage and quality of service to enable countrywide take-up of new technology opportunities and e-commerce. Labour is committed to addressing these weaknesses in the innovation environment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board to provide ongoing advice on initiatives needed for effective implementation of the growth and innovation framework.  • Support the work of taskforces in the three key strategic sectors: biotechnology, information and communications technology and creative industries.  • Establish an investment promotion agency, Investment New Zealand, as an independent unit reporting to the Board of Industry New Zealand, to attract more productive foreign direct investment.  • Continue to build up the NZ Superannuation Fund, and promote diversification of GSF and NDF, in order to deepen capital markets.  • Back up the new integrated investment agency with more targeted programmes designed to lure inbound greenfields investment, with a focus on the biotechnology, ICT and creative industries areas.  • Provide better resourcing for the Environment Court, and require Industry NZ to develop a capacity for whole of government approaches to overcoming administrative and regulatory hurdles.  • Work with local government to identify infrastructure bottlenecks and options in establishing partnerships for financing infrastructure upgrades.  • Roll out the innovation framework in the core areas of ‘vertical’ (skills, science, finance) and ‘horizontal’ (biotechnology, information and communications technology and creative industries) competencies and capacities.  • Enhance telecommunications coverage and capacity, and support the development of e-commerce and e-government.  • Modernise the regulation of commerce and reduce business compliance costs, especially for small business.  • Ensure that the pro-competitive regulatory framework of network industries and infrastructure is operating effectively.  EMPLOYMENT.  Labour believes that work is central to our lives. Paid or unpaid, it is the way we meet our needs, create wealth and distribute resources. It helps define who we are. It is at the heart of wealth and well-being. The Labour led government developed a comprehensive Employment Strategy that, for the first time, provided for a whole-of-government coordination of, and accountability for, a specific set of goals, activities and results. Labour believes that employment policy needs to focus on both the demand for labour, and ensuring that workers are in the right place, with the right skills, and the right incentives to take the jobs that are being offered.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to apply macroeconomic settings that are growth and job friendly by, for example, ensuring that monetary policy is operating in a way that is sensitive to its impacts on output and employment volatility and that fiscal policy allows the automatic stabilisers to work.  • Operate a public sector investment programme that develops and maintains infrastructural capacity consistent with the needs of a modern, sophisticated, growing economy.  • Create job opportunities through the growth and innovation framework.  • Ensure that industry and regional development programmes allow all industries and regions to realise their full employment creating potential.  • Work with local government to build on the base created by the agreement reached between the government and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs.  • Align social security and social assistance programmes that are designed to provide income security and build personal capacity with incentive systems that support the transition to self-sufficiency through employment.  • Enhance skills and employability through tertiary education and training reforms and active labour market programmes.  • Continue the regionalisation of employment service delivery with resourcing increasingly directed to front- line service provision.  • Focus on the particular employment needs of long-term job seekers, mature job seekers, youth and migrants.  INDUSTRY, REGIONAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  Labour recognises that, while new investment and innovative ideas will stimulate economic activity, change is at the margin: most people will continue to engage in the industries they are in, in the regions they now live in. Labour believes that there is a role for a smart and active government to protect existing industries, to facilitate their evolution in response to new opportunities and to maximise their potential contribution to exporting, to production, and to employment. Labour will develop and extend the industry and economic development programmes that have been initiated during this term of office.  LABOUR WILL:  • Evaluate Industry NZ’s programmes, and increase funding for the most effective.  • Involve diverse stakeholders in taskforces to identify ways of unleashing the potential of industries that might otherwise have limited development options (extending the model now working on the future for the forest sector).  • Further develop a specific entrepreneurial support strategy, including improved mentoring at firm level, the promotion of enterprise across society and a review of loan and grant policies.  • Advance existing and incipient industry clusters towards global presence and success.  • Improve the international connectedness of talented people in New Zealand through exchanges and missions under the World Class New Zealanders programme.  • Support the town and city centre movement and its promotion of regional economic development.  • Celebrate tenacity by creating awards for New Zealanders who, having failed in business, subsequently succeed.  EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.  Labour believes that for truly sustainable economic growth there needs to be public confidence that the products of growth are fairly distributed. A number of initiatives have improved fairness in economic life: an improved industrial relations framework (the Employment Relations Act, changes to ACC, an increase in the minimum wage and extension of the adult rate to 18 and 19 year olds, and occupational health and safety legislation), a more progressive tax structure, improved security for those in retirement, a more secure funding path for health, fees stabilisation and an improved student loan scheme, housing reform. Equally, economic activity cannot be sustainable unless it is within the capacity of the natural environment to support it. Labour’s environmental policie s, and policies for industrial, social and economic equity are detailed elsewhere, and are an integral part of our approach to economic management.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to develop analysis and measurement that recognises the wider aspects of sustainable development.  COMMERCE, COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.  The Labour led government has introduced a comprehensive programme of reform across the business-related portfolios. These reforms are aimed at creating an environment in which business can prosper and, in doing so, lift New Zealand back into the top half of the OECD. There has been a focus on improving competition law, tightening securities markets regulation, reducing compliance costs – particularly for small and medium-sized businesses, introducing a telecommunications regulatory regime, engaging in a highprofile campaign to champion the uptake of e-commerce and committing ourselves to a major upgrade of our telecommunications infrastructure to allow the delivery of broadband internet to regional New Zealand. The Labour led government has:  • Amended the Commerce Act to bring our anti-competitive barrier test in line with Australia’s.  • Introduced a Takeovers Code to ensure that all investors get treated equally during takeovers.  • Introduced a Securities Markets and Institutions Bill, to improve rules for detection, disclosure and enforcement.  • Initiated a fundamental review of insider trading laws.  • Passed the Telecommunications Act, which introduces a new regulatory regime and telecommunications commissioner, to resolve issues such as interconnection and number portability.  • Concluded a successful 3G spectrum auction to allow for the roll-out of high bandwidth mobile networks.  • Introduced the Electronic Transactions Bill to put paper-based and electronic transactions on an equal legal footing.  • Introduced anti-hacking legislation to make computer hacking a crime.  • Held a successful E-commerce Summit and followed this up with the development of an e-commerce strategy and eight regional e-commerce events attended by more than 1,600 people.  • Established an E-Commerce Action Team.  • Established an Information and Communication Technology Taskforce.  • Allocated tens of millions of dollars in Budget 2002 for the roll-out of regional broadband focused on schools and communities.  PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT TERM.  In our next term Labour will closely monitor the measures we put in place in our first term as well as embarking on significant new reforms aimed at creating an environment in which New Zealand business can thrive.  LABOUR WILL:  • Monitor the new Commerce Act regime.  • Review the Takeovers Code to see if any changes are required.  • Pass the Securities Markets and Institutions Bill.  • Complete the review of insider trading including definitions and issues of criminality.  • Monitor regulatory issues relating to the insurance and financial advice industries.  • Embark on the post 2005 tariff review.  • Introduce Phase 2 of the Compliance Costs Reduction Programme, including a tax simplification programme.  • Monitor the new telecommunications regime.  • Respond to the local loop unbundling review.  • Oversee the roll-out of broadband to regional schools and communities.  • Continue to promote the E-commerce Strategy and the work of the E-Commerce Action Team.  • Implement, where appropriate, the Information and Communication Technology Taskforce’s recommendations.  • Ensure that New Zealand keeps abreast of overseas developments in international best practice in accounting.  EDUCATION.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Quality education is a basic right. It must be available to all children without regard to wealth or income. It must provide opportunities for our young people to reach their potential, to go on to succeed in further education and employment, and to participate fully in society. A creative, innovative New Zealand will only become a reality if our young people receive a quality education. Our education system is internationally competitive, producing graduates that are sought after overseas. But we need to do better. We need higher literacy and numeracy levels, more children staying in the education system longer, and we need to challenge and foster the skills of the exceptionally talented so they can lead the way in the innovation stakes. Education is important not just for helping individuals flourish, but for helping our society and economy flourish as well. Labour will set high standards and expect achievement as the norm. In doing so, Labour also recognises that some students, and some institutions will find reaching those standards more difficult. We will continue to work with iwi, communities and education providers to ensure they have the support they need, in terms of resources, information and ideas to reach those higher goals. This will also involve working closely with other government agencies, especially those in the health and social services sectors.  PARTICIPATION AND TRANSITION.  Labour wants to give more children access to quality education and, once they are in the education system, to ensure the facilities and resources are there to keep them learning longer. We want young people to feel safe and affirmed as individual, and for schools and early childhood centres to be places where diversity is celebrated. Our aim is to create successful school leavers who have the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to contribute positively and actively to society.  EARLY CHILDHOOD SECTOR.  Children who experience high-quality early childhood education are more likely to thrive at school, and beyond. The benefits to children and their families are clear. However, if all New Zealand children begin their lifelong learning in high quality early childhood education, our whole society will benefit, both socially and economically. Labour in government has made significant progress in getting more children into early childhood education. Funding boosts to the discretionary grants scheme mean over 150 centres have new buildings, or have been able to upgrade their facilities. As well as providing the facilities, Labour has worked to make sure children are filling these new centres. Initiatives such as the ‘Promoting Early Childhood Education Participation’ programme have brought 3,500 more children into early childhood education. In addition, ongoing funding for ‘HIPPY’ has secured a future for this highly successful programme targeted at preparing 4 year olds for school. Although we have made progress, there is still more to be done.  LABOUR WILL HELP MORE CHILDREN TO PARTICIPATE IN QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION BY:  • Giving the Ministry of Education responsibility for mapping the network of early childhood services, and planning future provision, so communities have the facilities they need, when they need them.  • Extending the ECE participation initiative to more regions.  • Requiring parental involvement in the governance of all centres including those operating for profit, so we can help ensure centres are working in the best interests of the parents they serve.  SCHOOL SECTOR.  Although education is compulsory in New Zealand from age six to 16, the challenge of increasing participation in education does not end at the school gate. Too many children are lost to the education system as they move between schools and between phases of their education. Still more are suspended, or ‘drop-out’ of the system. Many, who have the potential to gain senior secondary school qualifications, bail out before they reach the later years of school. Others, particularly those in small and rural schools, are unable to participate in the range and type of education they would like, because of isolation. Labour has started to turn the tide on children being ‘lost’ to the system, through initiatives such as the introduction of a mentor programme for young Mäori and a high effective Suspension Reduction Initiative in Northland. A doubling of the places in Alternative Education centres has helped retain more than 1800 young people that would otherwise have dropped out of our education system. The funding of broadband internet services and provision of free Microsoft licences for all schools have increased connectivity and reduced barriers to resources and information for those who are isolated by geography. On a broader level, supporting the two Hui Taumata Mätauranga hosted by Ngati Tuwharetoa, and continuing to work in partnership with iwi around the country, has enabled the government to better engage with Mäori and work together with them to improve Mäori participation and achievement.  LABOUR WILL ENSURE CHILDREN PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN EDUCATION DURING THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL YEARS BY:  • Establishing a central records database to track children’s attendance at school.  • Extending successful initiatives, such as the Suspension Reduction Initiative, trialed in Northland that help fix the causes of suspension.  • Creating stronger collaboration between secondary schools, employers and tertiary providers and more intense focus on career guidance.  • Continuing to grow the use of information and communications technology (ICT)-based learning such as audio-conferencing, to ensure students in remote areas have access to specialist teaching which is not available locally.  ACHIEVEMENTS.  While increased participation is an important first step, numbers alone are not the key. Excellence matters. We need to raise learning outcomes across the board. Those who can reach the top should be encouraged to strive beyond traditional expectations – to set new, higher challenges. New Zealand needs every tall poppy it can get and we should not be afraid to help young people grow their talents through a high level of support. New Zealand children are ranked third out of 32 OECD countries for average performance in reading and mathematical literacy. That’s good – but it could be even better. Like those who have the ability to break the boundaries at the top of our education system, children who are struggling with the basics will be supported and nurtured so that everyone can reach his or her educational potential. Labour has worked with the early childhood sector over the last three years to enhance achievement in the early years. The introduction of equity funding and the annual increase to funding subsidies, as well as the development of an Early Childhood Education Strategic Plan are testament to this. At the school level, Labour has been piloting a wide variety of programmes to test what really works to lift achievement. Among those showing most promise, are the Early Childhood Primary Links project, Tamaki Achievement Pathway Initiative, AIMHI ‘fullservice education’ project, Otara Village of Learning, Count Me in Too, Computers in Homes, four digital opportunities projects, ICAN and homework centres. Significant resources have been invested in getting the important ‘basics’ of numeracy and literacy right. For example, the Numeracy Development Project was expanded to another 17,000 primary teachers, new literacy and numeracy assessment tools have been developed for students in Years 5-7 and the number of Resource Teachers of Literacy has been doubled.  LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO INVEST IN IMPROVING LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE BY:  • Improving staff:child ratios in early childhood settings, as well as reducing group sizes by 2006.  • Undertaking further policy work on rolling out the early childhood strategic plan.  • Rolling out initiatives such as the Early Childhood Primary Links project that has a proven impact on literacy achievement.  • Extending the Early Numeracy Project 2001.  • Ensuring the real value of core funding for schools is maintained.  • Expanding the use of literacy and numeracy assessment tools to years 8, 9 and 10.  • Achieving broadband access for all schools wherever they are in the country, to ensure they have access to online resources that will enhance learning outcomes.  • Increasing the use of sound research to determine what is working in our education system – and having the courage to discard practices and programmes which are not working.  • Establishing a Secondary Education Advisory Group – an independent body that will envisage what secondary schools might look like and how they might function 10, 15 or even 20 years from now, so we can shape our system to best help children achieve.  • Increasing support to refugee and new migrant communities.  • Increasing the number of teen parent support programmes.  • Carrying out research into transition issues for students moving between Mäori and English medium education settings.  • Adding a clause to National Administration Guideline 1 (iii) to identify gifted and talented students as a group who require identification and specific provision, effective from the 2004 school year.  • Establishing an Advisory Committee on Gifted Education to advise the Minister and Ministry of Education on areas related to gifted and talented education.  • Funding the Ministry of Education to support a professional development programme on gifted and talented educ ation, accessible to all schools over a three-year period.  • Funding production of a booklet to provide information for parents of gifted and talented children.  • Using current and future ICT initiatives as a vehicle to enhance and promoted learning opportunities and programmes for gifted and talented children.  • Communicating the new policy on school reorganisation processes, which shifts the focus from saving money, to retaining resources for educational benefit in the community.  PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ENRICHING OUR TEACHING FORCE.  Quality education requires quality teaching. Over the last 15 years, New Zealand has lost focus on the importance of professional development for staff. Early childhood services and schools need more staff, to improve time spent with each child, help share the workload and allow time for teachers to develop their skills. Although there are 550 more teachers in our schools now, than in 1999, we still need more. We need to take a proactive role in funding and facilitating staffing increases and professional development. If we are to reach the standards of excellence to which we aspire for our children, we must recruit more, quality teachers and assist existing teaching and management staff to reach the highest standards of professional excellence themselves. As a first step in raising professional standards in the early childhood sector, Labour introduced higher qualification requirements for people responsible for the education and care of children in early childhood education services – and provided grants for them to upskill. During this term of government, Labour established the New Zealand Teachers’ Council – an important catalyst for focus on profe ssional standards. The work of the Staffing Review Group helped identify the priority areas for additional teachers – and 550 of those additional teachers are already in our schools. Furthermore, the scholarship and incentive packages for trainee and returning teachers have started to make an improvement in the number of people studying to become teachers. Other people are also involved in the running of our schools – support staff, paraprofessionals and boards of trustees, not to mention principals. Their professional development and training needs are also important and need examination and support. Leadership and Management Development for principals has begun, with all first time principals being offered training before the y start the job–and a laptop to help them work effectively.  LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE STAFFING LEVELS AND PUT THE FOCUS BACK ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BY:  • Ensuring all staff in early childhood centres are qualified and registered teachers by 2012.  • Encouraging the newly formed NZ Teachers’ Council to enhance the quality of initial teacher education and ongoing professional development.  • Working with the NZ Teachers’ Council and teacher education providers to define specific areas of skill and knowledge that are required for registration of graduating teachers. These include, but are not limited to, currency of knowledge in literacy and numeracy teaching, special and gifted educatio n.  • Encouraging teacher education providers to develop advanced qualifications based on action-research in classroom settings.  • Offering an accelerated student loan repayment system for teachers as an alternative to government subsidies on superannuation contributions. This would be available on payments made above the minimum.  • Establishing international exchanges for teachers wanting to work overseas, in their profession. The exchanges would be for 1 – 2 year periods and involve assistance with fares and relocation grants.  • Providing training in ICT to improve the professional capability of teachers and principals throughout the early childhood and schools sector.  • Completing implementation of the recommendations of the Staffing Review Group, providing an estimated 3,000 extra teachers by 2007.  • Continuing to improve and develop resources for teachers working in Mäori and Pacific Islands languages.  • Giving the Ministry of Education a role in facilitating access to training for school support staff, in the same way they do for teachers.  • Discussing with the special education community and the school community generally, the place of teacher aides and para-professionals in the care and education of special needs children to ensure students are given the appropriate level of support.  • Working with providers to ensure that training undertaken by school trustees in governance and administration is recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.  • Working with providers to ensure that the induction package offered to all firsttime principals is recognised on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.  SPECIAL EDUCATION.  Schools and early childhood centres need to have the policies, structures and skilled staff to be inclusive of all students. They also require responsive, coordinated support from external agencies driven by strong national policies on inclusion. During this term of government, the review of certain aspects of the policy known as SE2000 has taken place. As a result of the Wylie Report, access to special education support has been improved, through changes to criteria for the Ongoing & Reviewable Resourcing Scheme (ORRS) and more flexible provision of the Severe Behaviour Initiative. Resources have been developed for Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLBs) and classroom teachers. In terms of structural support, the Specialist Education Service was disestablished and Group Special Education was set up within the Ministry of Education, showing Labour’s commitment to responsive, coordinated services. Labour in government has also commenced research on support for students with physical disabilities, and will undertake further research, linked to professional development, on best practice special education programmes in different settings.  LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO FACILITATE IMPROVEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION BY:  • Requiring the Ministry of Education to provide information to school managements and Boards of Trustees about their obligations under the Human Rights Act and ideas for making schools positive places for everyone.  • Reviewing resourcing policies to ensure that they are fair and they support the development of inclusive schools and early childhood centres.  • Developing collaborative seamless services that overcome fragmentation, gaps and overlaps, including support for collaborative approaches between schools, families, the Learning Support Network and outside agencies.  • Ensuring that policy development and operational decisions at all levels reflect a commitment to the core principle of ‘schools for all’.  • Providing support to schools to build their own capacity by developing school based problem-solving teams that provide immediate and ongoing structured support to individual teachers rather than relying solely on external support.  • Developing robust monitoring to ensure programmes benefit children’s learning.  • Ensuring specialist support strengthens early childhood service and school systems capacity to cater for all students as well as providing support to individuals.  • Providing training for special needs co-ordinators, teachers working with ORRS students, and mainstream teachers and teachers aides to ensure that the goal of ‘inclusion for success’ is able to be achieved.  • Reviewing the operation of school clusters to ensure that Learning Support Funding is allocated to meet the needs of students.  • Ensuring that strategic planning for special education provision is effective at national, regional and local level, and that key stakeholders (including representative groups) are involved at every level.  • Requiring all pre-service teacher education providers to train teachers to teach students with disabilities. This material will be compulsory and embedded throughout pre-service training.  • Supporting all early childhood services and schools to meet their obligations to disabled students.  EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS.  Labour believes that legislation governing employment relations should recognise the interdependence of workers and employers, promote and sustain economic growth, and assist in achieving a fair distribution of resources. Labour acknowledges tha t there is not an equal balance of power between workers and employers, and believes that the best way to redress that imbalance is to encourage the collective organisation of workers and to foster collective bargaining as the preferred means of establishing the rights and obligations of workers. In 1999 Labour promised to replace the Employment Contracts Act (ECA) with legislation that would promote collective bargaining, recognise unions, ensure voluntary union membership and be consistent with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. The Employment Relations Act (ERA) was passed in 2000, and implemented that policy. The ERA is working well. Union membership and the coverage of collective agreements have stabilised and are now increasing. The confrontational and litigious style of the ECA regime is being replaced by industrial relations practices that are underpinned by mediation and that reflect the principles of good faith in employment relationships. This has been widely welcomed by employers and employees Labour will review the operation of the ERA to identify if any fine-tuning is needed either in the law, or in administrative supports that operate to implement the law. The review will focus on giving effect to the aim of promoting, as opposed to simply permitting, the free association of workers and collective bargaining. Matters that will be covered in the review include:  • Whether more administrative support needs to be given to facilitate multiemployer collective bargaining, particularly where the size of employer units in particular sectors makes enterprise bargaining inefficient and ineffective.  • The adequacy of provisions in the ERA to discourage and prevent the undermining and avoidance of collective bargaining.  • Provisions allowing union fee deductions for union members not covered by a collective agreement.  • Improving monitoring and research into labour market practices.  • Whether compliance costs associated with the bargaining process can be reduced.  • Processes for accessing employment relations education leave (EREL), and the provision of EREL for union members not covered by collective agreements.  • The extent to which the intent of the Act and, in particular, the principles of good faith bargaining are given sufficient weight in the application of the Act.  • Whether the provisions of the Employment Re lations Act are consistent with ILO conventions 87 and 98 so as to enable ratification. Labour believes that effective employment relations involve much more than simply negotiating pay and conditions of employment. Therefore Labour will extend the social partnership model, as seen in our Industry Training policy, as appropriate in the wider state sector, and encourage more effective industry and workplace partnerships in the private sector. Labour believes that work is but one dimension of living, and should not crowd out or distort family life, recreation and personal development. Labour will work to develop an integrated and balanced family- friendly work/life programme and encourage employers and unions to have regard to its basic principles when negotiating collective agreements and designing work practices.  MINIMUM CODE OF EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.  In 1999 Labour advocated a new approach to employment rights. Minimum conditions of employment were scattered in many different pieces of legislation. The laws were outdated, difficult to understand and hard to enforce. Labour believes that workers and employers need fair and comprehensive laws that set out minimum conditions of employment for all. Laws must contain simple, clear, objective and enforceable rights. The minimum code must set a floor of rights, not a tradeable package. Labour has made substantial progress towards upgrading the floor of minimum employment rights.  LABOUR IN GOVERNMENT HAS:  • Increased the adult minimum wage from $7 to $8 per hour, and raised the youth minimum wage from 60 to 80 percent of the adult rate.  • Introduced Paid Parental Leave (PPL).  • Improved the basic entitlements of workers on individual employment contracts.  • Increased the resources available to the Labour Inspectorate.  • Convened Ministerial Advisory Groups to recommend improvements to the Holidays Act, to cons ider the rights of workers when the company for which they work is sold, and to promote equal employment opportunities.  LABOUR WILL:  • Amend the Holidays Act to provide for an additional payment for those who work on statutory holidays, to separate out rights to sick and special leave, and to bring the provisions of the Act into line with the realities of modern employment practices.  • Further review the Holidays Act to ensure that it contributes to achieving the aims of the work/life programme that will be promoted to union and employer groups.  • Introduce mechanisms to ensure regular increases in the minimum wage to ensure that its value is not eroded over time.  • Upgrade entitlements to Paid Parental Leave, as resources permit, and after the scheduled review of its first year of operation. In addition to a response to problems identified in that review, the priority for improvements will be extending:  entitlement to PPL to those who have had more than one employer in the previous year  entitlements to the self-employed  the period of leave to fourteen weeks.  • As a matter of priority, introduce a comprehensive measure (based on the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group) including legislative intervention to ensure there is protection of employment conditions and continuity of employment in the event of the sale of a business, transfer of undertakings, or contracting out.  • Review the effects of the casualisation of work and identify interventions that can mitigate adverse impacts of casualisation.  • Establish a Ministerial Advisory Group to examine the adequacy of redundancy law and provision.  • Introduce measures to address the gap between male and female wage rates.  • Develop a programme to promote equal pay for work of equal value.  • Introduce a minimum code of practice for state sector contractors to ensure observance of fair and ethical employment practices.  • Introduce legislation relating to how insolvency law affects employees.  OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY.  The number of New Zealanders who are killed, injured or develop illness as a result of their work environment is a matter of serious concern. Labour attaches high priority to the achievement of a healthier and safer work environment. Labour believes that the traditional approach to workplace health and safety was paternalistic: the government set the standards and enforced the rules. A more effective occupational health and safety regime augments the traditional approach by increasing the requirements on the government to consult more widely in setting national and industry OSH standards and by improving employee involvement in setting standards and monitoring their implementation. Labour has upgraded the input of all stakeholder groups in developing codes of practice and regulations by changing the way OSH policy is administered. It has also diluted the potential conflict between a single agency educating and encouraging on the one hand, and policing and prosecuting on the other but separating these roles and entrusting the education function to the Accident Compensation Corporation.  LABOUR WILL:  • Implement the provisions in the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill. • Inquire into the effect of chemicals on employees.  ENERGY.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour is committed to a sus tainable energy future for New Zealand. This requires a balanced portfolio of energy efficiency improvements and a transition to renewable energy sources. By 2012 Labour aims for New Zeala nd to:  • Have at least a 20 percent improvement in national energy efficiency.  • Increase renewable energy supply to provide a further 30PJ of consumer energy.  • Be on a long-term downwards trend in greenhouse gas emissions enabling New Zealand to easily meet its Kyoto Protocol commitment. This is a long-term strategy that will enable New Zealand to achieve these ends. Labour’s policy will also deliver a more productive, internationally competitive and environmentally sustainable economy.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  In this first term, the Labour led government has:  • Released New Zealand’s first National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (NEECS). The overall aim of the strategy is to improve New Zealand’s energy efficiency by at least 20 percent by 2012 and increase the amount of renewable energy used.  • Introduced minimum energy performance standards for a range of household appliances, and mandatory energy performance labeling.  • Updated the New Zealand Building Code energy efficiency requirements for houses.  • Required the disclosure of any hydro spill.  • Passed legislation to deal with those aspects of previous governments’ illconceived electricity reforms that were able to be reversed.  • Issued a policy statement on the future governance of the electricity industry and overseen its progressive implementation.  • Required electricity retailers to offer a low fixed charge tariff to help small domestic consumers control their power bills. Pensioners and those on low incomes in particular can now take advantage of a low fixed charge tariff to save money on power.  • Required power companies to appoint an independent Electricity Complaints Commissioner to deal with electricity consumers’ problems.  • Introduced a timetable to implement higher quality fuel specifications over the next three years bringing New Zealand’s fuel quality into line with international standards.  • Taken a lead in encouraging fuel efficiency by ensuring government fleet vehicles use LPG where feasible. Several hundred vehicles (for example, police cars) have been purchased.  • Launched a nationwide consultation process on New Zealand’s response to climate change.  • Taken a decision in principle to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change, and introduced legislation to that effect.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM AND BEYOND.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to ensure that no state-owned electricity generator is sold and that no community is pressured to sell its electricity assets.  • Continue to deliver a fairer deal for consumers including providing for regulation of the prices charged by electricity line companies.  • Implement the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy including:  providing leadership from central and local government in their own operations and in promoting sustainable energy outcomes increasing renewable energy production and improving energy supply efficiency, working with the energy supply sector to these ends, and improving institutional arrangements to support sustainable outcomes industry energy efficiency programmes - relaunching the successful EnergyWise Companies, with a stronger focus on sector initiatives including benchmarking, best practice opportunities and data analysis upgrading the performance of existing building stock, achieving best design practice in new homes, and improving appliance energy efficiency to best practice enhancing transport programmes - including demand management and promotion of efficient transport networks, vehicles and fuels.  • Keep energy efficiency standards under review so that standards remain abreast of improvements in technology.  • Lift the proportion of New Zealand’s energy production that is renewable by encouraging new technologies in wind power, solar, biomass and other sources of renewable energy.  • Use a variety of mechanisms to increase renewably produced energy, including direct promotion of New Zealand produced solar hot water systems.  • Encourage the rapid dissemination of energy efficient transport technology such as advanced electric and fuel cell vehicle technology, hybrid technologies, and purpose-built gas vehicle technology, primarily through Government procurement policies, as they come into mass production overseas.  • Ensure that New Zealand’s response to climate change is supported by adequate research including into methane mitigation and renewable energy.  ELECTRICITY.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to work with the industry to ensure an adequate and secure electricity supply at fair prices consistent with environmental sustainability.  • Require the electricity sector to address serious transmission constraints.  • Ensure that the wholesale electricity market allows for full demand side participation.  • Ensure that distributed (usually small-scale renewable) generation can freely inject into the local lines network at commercial rates.  • Introduce a model contract so that one retailer can offer service on all distribution networks without embarking on a multitude of negotiations.  • Oversee the establishment of an Electricity Industry Governance Board composed entirely of independent members.  GAS.  LABOUR WILL:  • Further reform the gas sector to allow for the fully flexible use of the many small gas- fields that are replacing the now depleting Maui gas- field.  • Ensure that the Maui pipeline can be used by non-Maui gas producers.  ENVIRONMENT.  Labour believes New Zealanders want relatively simple things in their environment – being able to swim at a clean beach, to see the horizon on a fine day, to live in healthy and pleasant cities, to hear native birds singing in their backyards, to have access to clean rivers and streams and to enjoy our native bush. If we do not take an active and coordinated approach to protecting and enhancing our environment these things are under threat. Labour will implement environment policy and initiatives that:  • Motivate and empower people to own the problems and solutions.  • Reduce risks to people and the environment.  • Promote environmentally friendly economic growth – growth that does not damage the environment.  • Forge a strategic alliance with ‘clean green’ business to promote sustainable development.  • Cement a close working relationship with local government and iwi.  • Streamline rules and regulations (without compromising the above). The previous National led governments had a hands-off approach to our environment – minimal central government intervention. Labour’s approach is based on partnership underpinned by strong government leadership.  ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.  Sustainable Development is the only realistic path for New Zealand. It is the cornerstone of Labour’s policy across all portfolios. Our country has a wonderful endowment of natural resources and a mild climate that is the production engine of its economy. Both the resources and the climate are at risk without policies to protect them. New Zealanders want a country that is clean and green and want government to act towards that end. The Labour led government has:  • Begun development of a New Zealand Sustainable Development Strategy based on the key principle that the government should take account of full environmental, social, cultural and economic opportunities and consequences in making decisions affecting the well-being of current and future generations.  • Undertaken policy work on triple bottom line reporting and sustainable development indicators. In its next term Labour will further incorporate sustainable development approaches into policy-making.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop and trial sustainable development assessment and implementation tools to be applied to the central and local government policy process.  • Encourage central and local government agencies and the business sector to adopt stakeholder management initiatives such as triple bottom line reporting.  ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND INSTITUTIONS.  Protecting and enhancing the environment is the responsibility of all New Zealanders. Within government this responsibility is increasingly built into the roles and responsibilities of all departments and into all legislation. Labour is also committed to building and maintaining relationships with local government, the private sector and the community to ensure their effective role in delivering good environmental outcomes. The Labour led government has made a particular point of ensuring communities and individuals have access to information and resources to exercise that responsibility. To strengthen and extend the legislative and institutional base for environmental management the Labour led government has:  • Broadened the Ministry for the Environment’s functions to advise on the environmental implications of other government policies; to work on biological diversity, marine environmental issues, energy and transport; and to consult with and provide information to stakeholders and local government.  • Increased environmental funding for the Ministry for the Environment, the Bioethics Council, the clean up of contaminated sites, environmental legal aid, and ERMA’s implementation of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act.  • Brought into effect the hazardous substances part of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.  • Initiated the development of an Oceans Policy to better manage New Zealand’s marine environment. However, the end-of-pipe approaches of the Resource Management Act are struggling to contribute to overcoming some of the more pressing problems. For example, difficulties have been experienced with regional scale planning in large metropolitan areas such as Auckland and Christchurch and lowland water quality is an extremely serious issue in a number of regions.  LABOUR WILL:  • Initiate a review of environmental administration and decision-making processes.  • Work with local government to develop a review function to monitor environmental management performance of central, regional and local government.  THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT.  The RMA is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s environmental management legislation. It is our only legislative vehicle for spatial planning. It is a piece of process legislation – setting out the rules and tools for managing resources and the effects of their use. It is important that the public has confidence in the way the Act works. For almost a decade National under-resourced the operation of the Act. This has cost New Zealand dearly in inefficient consent procedures and delayed plans, some of indifferent quality. Under-resourcing of the Environment Court has caused massive delays and put costs on all parties. In less than three years the Labour led government has taken important steps to improve the operation of the Resource Management Act. The Labour led government has:  • Increased funding for the Environment Court.  • Provided funding for additional Environment Court Judges.  • Worked closely with local government to ensure improvements and greater consistency in the implementation of the Act.  • Established the best practice quality planning network. Labour has increased the opportunity for public understanding of and involvement with Resource Management Act processes by:  • Providing funding for Environment Centres to provide RMA education and advisory services.  • Increasing funding for environmental legal aid.  • Producing accessible guides to the RMA and to the mediation process.  • Running training sessions for local councillors on their role in the RMA process. These changes are flowing through into improved practice by all participants in the Act. This will result in lower costs and greater certainty for business, much reduced delays, improved plans, and better environmental outcomes for local communities. Further work is needed to reduce delays, eliminate unnecessary costs and ensure full opportunities for participation by affected parties. The Resource Management Amendment Bill currently before Parliament includes provisions to:  • Expand the scope of National Policy Statements and simplify the process for their preparation.  • Specify biodiversity functions for local authorities.  • Make historic heritage a matter of national importance under the Act.  • Provide for limited notification of resource consents applications with minor effects.  • Give iwi planning documents greater weight.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass a Resource Management Amendment Bill that makes the resource management process more efficient while maintaining the integrity of the Act, and the rights of public consultation and participation.  • Provide the support needed to improve the processes of the Environment Court.  • Establish a network of specialist environment support centres, working alongside Community Law Centres. Labour will continue to monitor the performance of the Act, and will consider and research further issues to enhance the Act’s effectiveness and efficiency. Issues include the consistency and efficiency of decision-making by councils, the use of the RMA for commercial advantage, whether parties should be permitted to question and crossexamine at local authority resource consent hearings, and the adequacy of assessments of environmental effects. More than legislation is needed to help reduce participation costs and to ensure good environmental outcomes. This means moving beyond a focus on the Act to focus on good resource management in practice. This will only happen with a greater level of understanding of the processes associated with the Act and the role of those who manage its implementation on a day-to-day basis. Labour is committed to building the capacity of local authorities and local councillors and to providing accessible and clear information for resource users.  ACTION ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.  BIODIVERSITY (SEE ALSO LABOUR’S CONSERVATION POLICY).  Our indigenous biodiversity — our native species, their genetic diversity, and the habitats and ecosystems that support them — is of huge value to New Zealand and its citizens, to our economy, our quality of life, and our sense of identity as a nation. Since humans arrived in New Zealand, our biodiversity has been in decline — through species’ extinction, loss and disruption of natural areas and ecosystems, and the effects of an increasing number and variety of introduced plant and animal pests. This trend of decline continued throughout the 20th century, slowed only in part by more active conservation and natural resource management over the last three decades. Without increased and more targeted management efforts, driven by clear biodiversity goals, the decline in biodiversity will continue, with irreversible consequences. The Labour led government has:  • Implemented the Biodiversity Strategy for endangered native species with funding of $187 million over five years.  • Brought an end to native timber logging on Timberlands West Coast land.  AIR QUALITY.  Air pollution is harmful to people’s health. The young and the old are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. A recent study estimates that 970 premature deaths are caused every year in New Zealand from inhaling air pollution from sources such as vehicles, home heating fires and industries. Premature deaths are just the tip of the iceberg. Air pollution causes others harmful effects including headaches, coughing and asthma attacks. The Labour led government has:  • Issued new ambient air quality guidelines.  • Brought in new regulations that reduce the sulphur levels in fue l.  • Released an action plan for reducing discharges of dioxin to air, including a recommendation for a national environment standard to set a limit on dioxin emissions.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop, in consultation with the public, a national environment standard to limit dioxin emissions into the air.  • Monitor the implementation of the air quality guidelines, and if necessary work towards appropriate national environment standards for air quality.  WATER QUALITY.  Being able to go swimming in the river or at a beach is widely regarded as an essential element of the New Zealand lifestyle. We expect to have clean water at our rivers and beaches, but this is no t always the case. It is particularly important that land users actively manage streams, rivers and lakes by taking care of the adjoining land. The Labour led government has:  • Worked with health authorities and regional councils to manage fresh and coastal waters to protect human health.  • Updated guidelines for managing beaches.  • Produced guides for managing waterways on farms.  • Worked with local government and farmers to agree on national standards for water quality adjoining dairy farms.  LABOUR WILL:  • Finalise agreed national standards to minimise the impact on streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands of dairy farming and other forms of intensive land use.  • Develop a water allocation policy to ensure fair and equitable allocation.  WASTE MINIMISATION AND MANAGEMENT.  Reducing our waste and managing it better is vital to New Zealand’s long-term environmental, social and economic well-being. It is a cornerstone of Labour’s commitment to sustainable deve lopment. Every year New Zealand dumps around 3.4 million tonnes of solid waste into landfills. This volume has been growing steadily. Older landfills are a threat to the environment and public health. New landfills are not wanted in any community. Our clean, green image is threatened but most of all disposal this way is an astounding waste of resources. Accordingly, the Labour led government has:  • Produced the New Zealand Waste Strategy in partnership with Local Government New Zealand.  • Set clear targets and guidelines for the phased reduction of solid and liquid wastes.  TO ENSURE THE REDUCTION TARGETS ARE MET LABOUR WILL:  • Review existing institutional and legislative arrangements for minimising and managing waste to ensure a sound basis for implementing the strategy.  • Assist councils, communities and businesses to better co-ordinate waste minimisation and management activities.  • Work with industry to develop mechanisms, possibly including product levies and deposit schemes, to remove from the waste stream materials that are hazardous, voluminous, and/or valuable.  • Develop and introduce extended producer responsibility arrangements to secure the involvement of the manufacturing sector in waste minimisation.  • Review government purchasing policy with the aim of moving towards more sustainable resource utilisation.  CONTAMINATED SITES.  Contaminated sites, including closed landfills, are the legacy of poor management of hazardous substances and waste. The Labour led government has provided greater funding and support for clean-ups of contaminated sites, such as Mapua and the Tui Mine. Yet, there are many more contaminated sites around the country. This is a problem that urgently needs to be addressed. As part of the NZ Waste Strategy, the Labour led government has:  • Set an explicit timeframe for the Ministry for the Environment to identify all contaminated sites and implement management and remedial programmes for those that are considered high risk.  • Increased funding for the clean-up of contaminated sites.  Labour aims to have implemented remediation or instituted a clear management programme for all high risk contaminated sites by December 2015. A timeframe will also be developed to address the management or remediation of remaining sites.  SEWERAGE.  Sanitary works are the most effective and usually the most efficient means of managing the risks to public health associated with drinking water and inadequate sewage treatment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Provide financial assistance for the upgrading and building of sewage treatment plants, particularly in small to medium-sized communities with high measured rates of water-borne communicable disease, significant health inequalities and a limited ability to fund their own scheme.  • Provide financial assistance to communities who choose to initiate new works to add fluoride to community drinking-water supplies.  SUSTAINING THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT.  BETTER CITIES, BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE.   New Zealand is becoming increasingly urbanised. More than 80 percent of us now live in cities. As this occurs, population pressures are testing the effectiveness of the tools we use to manage our cities. Traffic congestion, sewage overflows, stormwater pollution, air pollution and solid waste disposal are all big problems. In addition, there is growing community dissatisfaction with the loss of urban amenity – that sense of pleasantness and well-being that comes from having an outlook, clean air, quietness and privacy in the places that we live. In some places, buildings have been constructed within metres of existing apartments, blocking views and sunlight. Labour is committed to sustainable cities. There is a clear need to strengthen the ability of local and regional councils to provide for sustainable urban form. Labour believes that we should rethink the way we want our cities to grow. We should investigate ways of improving the tools available to achieve sustainable cities. Sustaining the quality of life and the environment within our urban areas must again become the key imperative. We need to develop innovative ways of intensifying residential development while maintaining high quality living environments. We need to manage water and energy demand and provide adequate infrastructure to dispose safely of wastes. We need to concentrate urban development around transport nodes so as to encourage the use of public transport And we need to ensure better public transport is provided. Considerable emphasis has been properly put into resource management practice on nonurban biophysical issues. Labour is also committed to a new emphasis on urban form and developing better ways of ensuring our cities are healthy, attractive, well-designed, people-oriented, pleasant, convenient, efficient, safe and sustainable places to live.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with local and regional government leaders, planning experts and communities and non-government organisations to develop more effective models for regional scale planning.  • Consider establishing an expert panel in partnership with local government to examine ways of improving the sustainability of our cities.  CLIMATE CHANGE.  Human-induced greenhouse gases accumulating in the upper atmosphere are leading to changes in the world’s climate. This is likely to lead to sea level rises, changes in average rainfall patterns and more extreme weather events. New Zealand’s economy, with its reliance on agriculture, is uniquely vulnerable to changes to our equable weather patterns. The Labour led government has worked constructively with other countries to address global warming and will continue to do so. Only concerted international action on global warming will have any effect. Accordingly, we are committed to ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. The preferred domestic policy framework proposed to allow us to achieve the objectives of the Protocol is as follows:  • Confirmation of the foundation policies already in place (National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, New Zealand Waste Strategy, and the evolving New Zealand Transport Strategy) which together should reduce the projected increase in emissions by about one-third.  • A low level emissions cha rge on general energy users from 2007, capped at $25 per tonne of CO2, with revenue recycled into the economy, for example, through tax reductions.  • Exemption from such charges for those industries deemed to be at competitive risk internationally, in return for Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements whereby they move to world’s best practice in emissions management.  • A research programme examining ways of reducing methane emissions from agriculture.  • The government retaining forest sink credits and liabilities and incentivising new sinks including permanent indigenous forests.  • Offering incentives for projects aimed at emission reductions. Ratification of the protocol by New Zealand will not require us to introduce the charges referred to above unless the protocol comes into force. Labour will continue to press for the Kyoto Protocol to be widened to progressively involve other nations.  LABOUR WILL:  • Complete the cons ultation process with sector groups and the community on the preferred policies to give effect to our Kyoto obligations.  • Informed by that consultation, make decisions on the preferred policy package and enact any required legislation to give effect to it.  • Continue to monitor the evolution of the Kyoto Protocol and adjust policy settings where appropriate.  • Assist business to identify new opportunities arising from the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  • Offer Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements and the Projects mechanisms as ways of achieving further reductions.  • Support research aimed at achieving emission reductions from agriculture.  • Promote energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy resources, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  • Develop and implement new transport strategies, to address the problem of transport being a large and rapidly growing emitter of CO2.  • Target transport infrastructure investment into roading alternatives, including walking, cycling and public transport.  OZONE LAYER PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT.  New Zealand has ratified international agreements on the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances. It is imperative that we remain at the forefront of this issue because, by our geography, we are so much at risk from the ultra-violet radiation resulting from the ‘ho le’ in the ozone layer.  LABOUR WILL:  • Strongly promote an accelerated phase out of the production and release of ozone depleting chemicals, including hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and methyl bromide.  • Work with industry and local government to achieve a high rate of capture of the chemicals currently in use, and introduce a mandatory training course to ensure that those handling the chemicals avoid their inadvertent release.  OCEANS.  In 2000 the Labour led government began developing an Oceans Policy to better manage New Zealand’s marine environment. Extensive public consultation was held to define a vision for New Zealand’s oceans and identify the goals, principles and common values that should inform decision making about the marine environment. The vision that the Labour led government has adopted for New Zealand’s oceans is: Healthy Oceans: New Zealanders understand marine life and marine processes and, accordingly take responsibility for wisely managing the health of the ocean and its contribution to the present and future social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of New Zealand.  LABOUR WILL:  • Deliver this vision, implementing appropriate tools, policies, legal and institutional frameworks.  ANTARCTICA AND THE SOUTHERN OCEAN.  The Labour led government has launched a Statement of Strategic Interest in Antarctica aimed at better protecting the fragile environment of the Ross Sea Dependence in Antarctica that New Zealand has jurisdiction over, and conserving and sustaining marine life in the Southern Ocean.  NUCLEAR NON–PROLIFERATION.  Under Labour, New Zealand became one of the first nuclear free nations in the world. Labour remains resolutely committed to a policy of no nuclear weapons, nuclear powered ships or nuclear power stations in New Zealand territory, including its waters and air space.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work to extend the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone by linking it with other Nuclear Free Zones to cover the whole Southern Hemisphere.  • Promote universal ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and actively work for a treaty to completely eliminate nuclear weapons.  • Strongly oppose plutonium shipments and the industry it supports.  TRADE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.  Environmental issues transcend national boundaries and must be addressed through international cooperation and resolve. The Labour led government has aimed to harmonise its objectives for trade and the environment, with both serving the overall objective of sustainable development. For further details see Labour’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Disarmament Policy.  SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.  New Zealand imports only a tiny fraction of the timber traded in the world. But we have an important role to play in assisting nations to move towards sustainable management and harvesting of their timber, and the creation of a regime of protected areas. New Zealand practices many silviculture and harvesting techniques in planted forests that can be of use internationally. Our forestry industry has already attracted much international attention.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to participate actively in international forums seeking to develop international standards for sustainable management of forestry.  • Work towards ensuring that only sustainably produced timber is imported into New Zealand. To this end, we will continue to work with timber importers and environmental groups.  • Develop a timber procurement policy aimed at ensuring that timber products used by the New Zealand government can be verified as coming from sustainably managed forests.  ETHNIC AFFAIRS.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour recognises that New Zealand is now home to many different ethnic and cultural groups. We have acknowledged this profound demographic change in our society by being the first New Zealand government to appoint a Minister for Ethnic Affairs. Labour believes that ethnic and cultural diversity enriches New Zealand society, but also presents government with specific challenges. Issues such as English language tuition, access to employment, and the availability of government services to new migrants are all challenges that need to be addressed pro-actively by the government. Labour believes that:  • Ethnic communities are a vibrant and valuable part of New Zealand society. They contribute in many ways to the economic, social and cultural development of our nation.  • Ethnic communities need to have a voice in government, policy-making, provision of social services, and immigration and settlement policy.  • The government needs to actively assist the development of ethnic communities by providing support and services.  • Members of ethnic communities need to be adequately represented at all levels of our society. As a sign of this commitment to recognising and celebrating ethnic and cultural diversity Labour has put forward a party list for the 2002 General Election which contains strong ethnic representation, including Pacific Island, Chinese and Indian candidates.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Appointed a Minister for Ethnic Affairs to give New Zealand’s ethnic communities a voice in government.  • Set up a settlement branch within the New Zealand Immigration Service to provide post-visa approval assistance and support to migrants.  • Created a fairer and broader system of family reunion, including the Family Quota System, which allows migrants to sponsor their relatives to settle in our country.  • Expanded career support services for members of ethnic communities and provided funding for new web sites, for example www.newkiwis.co.nz, which link new migrants with potential employers.  • Supported and encouraged local communities to establish and expand their own migrant services relevant to their needs.  • Encouraged co-operation between government agencies and ethnic communities, for example through the establishment of a Chinese community liaison with West Auckland Police.  • Ensured that the NZ Immigration Service works with the Auckland and Manukau City Councils on researching the need for and the design of a Migrant Resource Centre to be located in Three Kings, with a satellite service in Manukau.  • Ensured that the Ministry of Education employs refugee education coordinators, themselves former refugees, in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch, to assist refugee children in our schools.  • Provided $11.8 million to assist overseas trained doctors gain registration in New Zealand.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to develop the Ethnic Affairs portfolio and strengthen the Office of Ethnic Affairs.  • Consult with ethnic communities and incorporate their views into the formation of policy affecting ethnic communities in New Zealand.  • Ensure that members of ethnic communities fairly represented in appointments to boards and other agencies.  • Establish an appointments database in the Office of Ethnic Affairs.  • Maintain a fair and equitable immigration policy that recognises the value of migrants to New Zealand and preserves family-based migration.  • Continue to rigorously enforce New Zealand human rights legislation and the ban on discrimination on the basis of race or ethnic origin.  • Promote co-operation within government that benefits new migrants and members of established ethnic communities – such as increased capacity for English tuition, migrant settlement support and the settlement of refugees.  • Develop an Adult ESOL Strategy relevant to new migrants and speakers of English as a second langua ge.  • Continue to assist new migrants to find suitable jobs in New Zealand.  • Develop New Zealand-wide telephone interpreter services.  • Cooperate with regional and local government, and with the private sector to expand the range of services available to new migrants, particularly in the main urban centres where ethnic communities are clustered.  • Develop a policy framework relevant to all government departments when dealing with ethnic communities. This framework will provide guidelines in three important areas: policy development, consultation, and responsiveness to the needs of ethnic communities.  FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TRADE AND DISARMAMENT.  NEW ZEALAND IN THE WORLD.  Labour considers that the goal of New Zealand’s foreign policy should be to advance our interests as a nation and the ideals and values of our people. Through the United Nations, other international and regional organisations and our bilateral relationships with other nations, we seek to advance the cause of a more stable, secure and prosperous world. Our peacekeeping and regional security role is vital for promoting a peaceful world in which we are safe. Promoting access for our trade is vital to enhancing our living standards. Supporting human rights, environmental standards, disarmament and sustainable development both advances our interests and those of people everywhere and is part of our obligations as a good international citizen. Labour considers that the priorities for New Zealand’s international affairs policy include the following:  • Strengthening bilateral and multilateral relationships with a wide range of nations.  • Promoting sustainable world economic growth and trade opportunities including the progressive reduction of tariff barriers and the elimination of subsidies, which distort agricultural production.  • Advancing human rights and good governance, democracy and the rule of law.  • Protecting and enhancing the world environment.  • Maintaining New Zealand’s nuclear free status and promoting the elimination of weapons of mass destruction.  • Promoting disarmament, conflict prevention and the peaceful and just resolution of international disputes.  • Supporting developing countries with an emphasis on eliminating poverty by promoting sustainable economic development, social justice and good governance.  • Supporting peacekeeping and regional and international security measures, including the campaign against terrorism. Labour’s foreign policy is based on traditional New Zealand values: opportunity, security, fairness, justice, respect for the environment, and the desire to live in a world without the threat of war. New Zealand has a reputation for being an independent, principled and fair-minded nation. Labour’s international relations policy builds on the respect in which New Zealand is held internationally. The Labour led government has taken an active and responsible role in building stronger international relations and protecting the interests of New Zealand and our friends. The Labour led government has:  • Actively supported the new round of WTO trade negotiations that focuses on development and provides a mandate for market access negotiations in agriculture, non-agricultural products and services.  • Established a Closer Economic Partnership Agreement with Singapore and begun negotiating for a similar partnership with Hong Kong.  • Supported UN peacekeeping operations.  • Taken an active role in bringing and maintaining peace in Bougainville, the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Fiji.  • Supported the international campaign against terrorism.  • Launched a Pacific Strategy that makes the Pacific a priority in our international relations and charts New Zealand’s future engagement in the region.  • Launched an e-commerce initiative which is connecting New Zealand with potential customers around the world.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to make an effective contribution to international diplomacy.  BUILDING STRONG INTERNATIONAL LINKAGES.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade together with Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand all have key roles in making the links to key overseas markets, scientific partners, investors and individuals that will help us achieve an innovative, creative and successful country.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that these organisations work closely together and that they are adequately resourced to deliver the outcomes we want to move New Zealand forward.  ATTRACTING INVESTMENT is essential to New Zealand’s future economic development. Investment plays an important role in building up domestic capacity by bringing technology and contacts, spreading knowledge and creating links within a sector.  LABOUR WILL:  • Expand the overseas operations of Investment New Zealand in key target investment markets to facilitate increased investment especially into key industries such as biotechnology, information and communication technology and creative industries.  • Continue the proactive approach of Ministers at home and abroad in encouraging and facilitating investment.  • Strengthen coordination between the activities of Investment New Zealand and agencies that support investment growth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Trade New Zealand, to improve New Zealand’s profile as a country with good investment potential.  MORE ACTIVE EXPORT PROMOTION will also strengthen New Zealand’s connections with the world. Considerable ministerial and diplomatic effort has gone into new market development. More open trade agreements have been advanced with Singapore and Hong Kong and through the Doha Round launched by the WTO initiative. In our next term of government we will build on the extensive wo rk we have already done.  LABOUR WILL:  • Monitor and evaluate existing programmes to ensure they are meeting the needs of the market.  • Establish a ‘beach head’ programme in targeted overseas markets to:  o create incubators for small or medium sized businesses trying to establish themselves in offshore markets  o create forward marketing bases for new exporters in strategic offshore markets.  • Ensure closer coordination of the services of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST), Industry New Zealand and Trade New Zealand to ensure their services are delivered seamlessly.  • Further increase government support for overseas trade delegations or missions.  • Evaluate information collection and flows in and between all government organisations with trade responsibilities to ensure that policy makers and the business community are receiving relevant and timely trade information from key markets and industries.  • Work with New Zealand’s Pacific Island neighbours to develop export markets for their goods and services.  • Strengthen the economic relationship between New Zealand and Australia, and continue to work to increase harmonisation of the two economies to the benefit of both countries, in both the Trans-Tasman and global marketplaces.  • Progressively integrate Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand operations into one.  • Implement fully the opportunities of e-commerce in the export sector.  • Review the new Export Credit Office to maximize the value of the service and investigate the possibility of introducing some form of short-term export insurance for small exporters.  BRAND NEW ZEALAND is an important concept in promoting awareness and understanding of New Zealand overseas. The current offshore perceptions of New Zealand need updating. While the ‘clean green’ image of New Zealand assists in promoting tourism and agricultural products, we need more awareness of New Zealand as an innovative country at the leading edge of knowledge.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop and promote a contemporary and future-focused Brand New Zealand which projects New Zealand as a great place in which to invest, live and visit.  • Continue to commit resources in conjunction with events such as the America’s Cup and Lord of the Rings to help promote an image of New Zealand as technologically advanced, creative and successful.  • Ensure that our overseas diplomatic and trade posts in targeted markets are properly resourced to promote Brand New Zealand and to undertake expanded outreach and constituency building activities in the areas of trade, investment and immigration.  TRADE PROMOTION UNDER FAIR INTERNATIONAL RULES.   Labour is committed to a global trading system that is fair, free, and transparent. Labour recognises that trading and economic systems do not exist in a vacuum and that they have an impact on social, environmental and human rights issues.  LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO:  • Seek fair access for small countries to the markets of industrialised countries.  • Ensure that the rules of free and fair trade are consistent with the objectives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), with decent environmental standards, and with human rights standards.  • Seek recognition that differential treatment for developing economies may be necessary in any global or regional trading system in order to allow environmentally and economically sustainable development.  • Seek to achieve the aims of international agreements, such as the Basel Convention, to prevent the trade and export of hazardous substances, particularly where developing countries are used as dumping sites.  • Seek stronger interna tional guidelines and disciplines on both dumping and antidumping regulations, and other trade remedies.  • Investigate the development of initiatives to promote ethical trade through partnerships with business and non-government organisations.  HUMAN RIGHTS.  Labour gives high priority to the promotion and extension of human rights in its international relations and in its internal policies for New Zealanders.  LABOUR WILL:  • Promote and seek to further the ideals expressed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights, through constructive engagement with regional partners and multilateral organizations.  • Give a high priority to ratifying human rights treaties with a minimum of reservations and ensure that New Zealand’s obligations under ratified treaties are met.  • Continue to actively promote the world-wide practical extension and application of human rights principles with particular emphasis placed on enhancing human rights and effective democracy in the Asia-Pacific region. New Zealand will be an advocate for human rights and democracy where they are under threat.  LABOUR WILL:  • Promote, where appropriate, the use of smart sanctions through the United Nations as a means of targeting the power structure and military infrastructure of countries that have repressive regimes.  • Seek inter-governmental dialogue on human rights through regular ministerial meetings and communication between Human Rights Commissions in our region.  • Promote more widespread observance of basic UN human, civil, economic and social rights standards and the development and strengthening of standards on such issues as cultural and group rights, labour rights, the rights of the child and the rights of indigenous peoples.  • Promote commitment to the rights of women internationally – including access to education and health services, political participation, the elimination of violence against women and freedom from international trafficking in women and children.  • Encourage international co-operation on initiatives to prevent or address major refugee flows  PACIFIC FORUM COUNTRY RELATIONS.  Labour will continue to ensure that New Zealand plays a major role in regional advocacy and as a leader in sustainable regional development and democratic governance in the South Pacific. We will establish a New Zealand/Pacific Foundation, as a non-profit, apolitical organisation dedicated to promoting greater understanding between New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours. Labour’s Overseas Aid and Development policy affirms that New Zealand Official Development Assistance will continue to be primarily focused on the Pacific.  LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO:  • Highlight the interests of Pacific Island nations in international fora such as the United Nations. The threat to Pacific Island nations from poorly addressed environmental problems, such as global warming, is acute.  • Work to ensure that adequate solutions to such problems are given high priority on the international agenda.  • Participate in, and support, the development of the Pacific Forum and South Pacific Commission as strong regional organisations.  • Work with Pacific governments to strengthen the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.  • Work closely with Pacific nations to help resolve conflict, establish good governance and promote economic and social progress.  • Promote the Biketawa Declaration as the framework for regional action to address security and governance issues.  • Assess all development projects for their contribution to reducing poverty and inequality, and promoting human rights.  • Ensure New Zealand Official Development Assistance to the Pacific complies with the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.  • Support the development of sustainable industries, such as eco-tourism.  • Support the New Zealand Defence Force’s contribution to infrastructure projects in the Pacific and the role it plays in the event of disasters in the region.  • Adequately fund Radio NZ International to provide an efficient and professional service to the South Pacific, and to ensure adequate coverage of Pacific news in New Zealand, well co-coordinated procedures for disaster response based on forward planning, early warning, and rapid response.  • Place special emphasis on education to assist partner countries to develop their own knowledge and skills resources focusing on the provision of basic education, complemented by scholarships to tertiary institutions.  • Focus on provision of primary health care, health education and provision of basic hospital services in health programmes supported by New Zealand Official Development Assistance.  INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS.  Labour strongly believes in working actively, creatively, and co-operatively with other countries through effective international organisations.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue New Zealand’s active involvement in the United Nations, the Commonwealth, the Pacific Forum, the WTO, APEC, and other international bodies to which New Zealand belongs.  • Promote greater co-ordination between the major international institutions, such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the ILO, the WTO and the World Bank and encourage decisive action by them to develop a better climate for more equitable policies for world trade and development.  • Actively contribute to the work of the ILO and the OECD, and support the universal application of ILO conventions.  • Promote the establishment of clear international disputes resolution mechanisms in international agreements.  • Encourage decisive action by international institutions to investigate and prosecute crime across international borders.  UNITED NATIONS.   Labour believes that the United Nations is essential to achieving lasting global security and stability, and of ensuring environmental and economic sustainability. Labour supports greater democratisatio n of the United Nations and strengthened powers for the General Assembly. The current veto power of the five permanent members of the Security Council should be abolished. The size and membership of the Council should also be reviewed to better reflect the post Cold War world. Labour supports peacekeeping as a vital means for maintaining world security and stability, and believes that New Zealand, like all member states, has a moral obligation to make as full a contribution to such actions as is reasonably possible.  THROUGH NEW ZEALAND’S PARTICIPATION IN THE UNITED NATIONS, LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY PURSUE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:  • Promotion of the rule of international law.  • Promotion of democratic principles in international relations and the pursuit of democratic ideals and human rights for member states.  • Environmentally sustainable development and fair standards of living for all the world’s people.  • Global stability, peace, and disarmament.  • Effective enforcement of United Nations principles.  INTERNATIONAL LAW AND TREATIES.   LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO:  • Promote the development of international law and international legal jurisdiction, including disputes resolution procedures for international agreements.  • Promote greater use of the International Court of Justice and universal acceptance of its compulsory jurisdiction.  • Support and seek to strengthen adherence to the jurisdiction of, and effectiveness of, the International Criminal Court, to cover all war crimes and crimes against humanity.  DISARMAMENT AND ARMS CONTROL.  Labour will ensure that New Zealand remains at the forefront of the drive for international disarmament, both nuclear and conventional.  NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.   LABOUR WILL:  • Maintain New Zealand’s Nuclear Free status.  • Promote a nuclear free Southern Hemisphere and support the strengthening and extension of nuclear free zones in other parts of the world.  • Promote and take a lead in negotiations to prohibit all nuclear weapons and provide for their elimination under strict and effective international control.  • Work actively with the New Agenda group of like-minded governments to achieve disarmament.  • Promote bringing into force the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.  • Promote the principle that nuclear powers that have tested in the Pacific must be required to fully restore the environment and compensate for ill-effects on human beings.  • Continue to work with nuclear transport states to keep shipments of nuclear waste outside of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone and to promote acceptance by those states of full liability and payment of compensation in the event of any accident.  • Seek a treaty to establish an enforceable and verifiable ban on the reprocessing or exporting of weapons-capable fissile nuclear material, and place all such materials under secure international control.  • Work through the United Nations to achieve disarmament and the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction.  • Support an enhanced role for the United Nations Secretary-General and for the Under-Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs to initiate and expedite disarmament initiatives.  NON-NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.   LABOUR WILL:  • Promote universal adherence to the Anti-Personnel Land Mines convention and provide adequate resources for de-mining initiatives and victim rehabilitation and education in afflicted countries.  • Promote an international initiative for stronger international monitoring and stricter end-user certification for conventional arms transfers.  • Advocate reduction of research and development funding for conventional armaments technologies.  • Promote international respect for, verification of, and compliance with, the Chemical Weapons Convention.  • Seek to strengthen the verification procedures of, adherence to, and respect for, the Biological Weapons Convention.  • Continue to make full declarations each year to the United Nations of New Zealand’s arms purchases and exports.  • Actively discourage arms exports to organisations or regimes that use arms for oppressive purposes.  • Promote strengthened United Nations talks and treaty negotiations on conventional arms reduction.  • Support initiatives, including United Nations resolutions, to prevent the militarisation of space and implement international controls on missile technology.  • Promote peace and disarmament education and research initiatives and work closely with New Zealand’s peace and disarmament groups.  ENVIRONMENT.  Environmental issues transcend national boundaries and must be addressed through international cooperation and resolve. The Labour led government has aimed to harmonise its objectives for trade and the environment, with both serving the overall objective of sustainable development and will continue to work through international organisations and instruments to achieve our goals. (For details see Labour’s Environment policy).  WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.   Labour is committed to New Zealand’s active participation in the World Summit on Sustainable Development and wants to see practical and focused outcomes from the summit which respect all three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. Our priority areas include trade and market access, attention to issues facing Small Island Developing States, energy, health, including reproductive and population health, and oceans and fisheries management.  BIODIVERSITY/ CONSERVATION.   LABOUR WILL:  • Support the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which addresses the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms that may have an adverse effect on the biodiversity with a specific focus on transboundary movements.  • Continue to advocate the moratorium on whaling and for the absolute protection of whales in the International Whaling Commission other than for subsistence whaling by indigenous communities.  • Promote the concept of a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary.  GENETIC MODIFICATION.  LABOUR'S VISION AND PRINCIPLES.  Labour believes that New Zealand should proceed cautiously with respect to genetic modification in line with the recommendations of the Roya l Commission. We must take a smart, safe and sensible approach to genetic modification. In 2000 the government established a Royal Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of all the issues relating to genetic modification. It recommended that New Zealand should proceed cautiously, ensuring that all appropriate safeguards are in place. The government accepted those recommendations and adopted an approach that preserves opportunities, proceeds with caution and makes the health and safety of New Zealanders paramount. We reject extreme approaches that would, on one hand, expose New Zealanders to unnecessary risk, or, on the other hand, close off potential benefits in medicine, agriculture pest control and other sectors. We need a balanced, long-term approach to secure potential benefits for New Zealand while minimising risks. We need to take into account the range of ethical and spiritual beliefs of New Zealanders in our future work, and in particular take into account the concerns of Mäori. Genetic modification in containment has been happening in New Zealand for 15 years. Over that time we have developed the strictest and most transparent safety regime in the world. In the wake of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification we are moving to make that system even stronger by introducing further mandatory controls on research.  LABOUR'S ACHIEVEMENTS.  IN OUR FIRST TERM THE LABOUR LED GOVERNMENT HAS:  • Put in place a labelling scheme for any food, food ingredient, food processing aid or flavouring that contains genetically modified ingredients. The scheme will be fully operational by December 2002.  • Established the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. The Commission was the most thorough examination of GM anywhere in the world. It conducted public opinion surveys, held dozens of meetings and hui, received more than 10,000 submissions and heard more than 300 witnesses. Its message was clear: preserve opportunities, proceed with caution.  • Agreed with the biotechnology industry a moratorium on applications for research on and release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) while the Commission undertook its work.  • Put in place a further two year restraint period on applications for release of GMOs until October 2003 so that polic y work and analysis recommended by the Royal Commission can be undertaken, to allow time to make necessary legislative changes and to establish research programmes.  • Strengthened the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to put in place further mandatory controls on contained research, including clean up and monitoring arrangements.  • Allocated an additional $2.5 million per annum for research to improve understanding of the socio-economic, ethical and environmental impacts of genetic modification and other emerging biotechnologies.  • Agreed on Terms of Reference for Toi te Taiao: The Bioethics Council, to advise, guide and promote dialogue on the cultural, ethical and spiritual issues associated with biotechnology.  • Begun development of a Biotechnology Strategy, and appointed a Biotechnology Industry Taskforce.  PRIORITIES FOR SECOND TERM: PRESERVING OPPORTUNITIES.  Labour will pursue a strategy broadly in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission aimed at preserving opportunities, proceeding with caution and ensuring that the health and safety of New Zealanders is paramount. The Labour led government took a more cautious approach than the Royal Commission in one key area. The Royal Commission recommended that applications for release should be able to be made and that a Ministerial call-in power be exercised when the first application for release of a GMO was made. We did not feel this was the appropriate method to deal with a decision of such complexity and sensitivity. Instead we chose to put in place a further two-year restraint period on applications to release GMOs. This was designed to ensure there would be time to enhance the regulatory and legislative system for controlling genetic modification and to get better information on a range of environmental, economic and social issues surrounding GM. In this period there will be significant public consultation on a number of recommendations that have been made by the Royal Commission. The key elements of that work are outlined in this policy.  BIOTECHNOLOGY STRATEGY.  The Royal Commission noted that the 21st century has been dubbed the biotechnology century. Genetic Modification is but one example of the emerging importance of biotechnology. Labour recognises the enormous potential for growth in biotechnology in New Zealand and it is identified as a key industry within the Growth and Innovation Framework. It is vital that our approach to biotechnology is coherent and coordinated, and that New Zealand keeps abreast of developments in biotechnology. It must also ensure that essential social, cultural and environmental values are taken into account.  LABOUR WILL:  • Adopt a Biotechnology Strategy that outlines the vision and goals for biotechnology in New Zealand, education needs and any regulatory changes.  ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES.  The Royal Commission noted that there were a large number of environmental, economic and social issues surrounding genetic modification that require further investigation. This includes research on the economic risks and opportunities of the release of GMOs, public perception and work on issues such as co-existence. It is vital that we as a nation understand genetic modification and its impacts better to enable us to make more informed decisions. The need to do this research was part of the reason that the restraint period on applications to release GMOs was put in place. Much of this research is underway, and the government has given additional funding to FRST to further this work.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support research into social, environmental and economic impacts of genetic modification.  • Support public awareness programmes to increase understanding of genetic modification.  LIABILITY.  The Royal Commission concluded that there was no need to change the liability regime in respect of genetic modification, but it suggested the issue warranted further consideration. Genetic modification does raise some particular liability issues which is why the government commissioned further work to be done on this issue.  LABOUR WILL:  • Undertake further work to identify if there is a need for a specific liability regime with respect to genetic modification, and take action on the basis of the outcome of that work.  FOOD SAFETY AND LABELLING.  There is currently no fresh produce or meat grown in New Zealand that is genetically modified. Some imported processed foods may contain genetically modified ingredients. These foods are assessed for safety by the Australia/New Zealand Food Authority before they can be sold in New Zealand. Such foods may have been entering New Zealand for the past decade. However, until now there has been no requirement to label them. Labour believes it is essential the consumers have confidence that their food is safe, and that there is a labelling scheme in place that enables them to make informed choices. The Labour led government developed such a scheme so that any food, food ingredient, food additive, food processing aid or flavouring which contains genetically modified DNA or protein must labelled accordingly. This scheme will be fully operational by December 2002.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that labelling standards for GM food are met, and take action against any producers who do not meet the standards.  • Support the creation of a labelling system for food that is GE Free.  MÄORI AND TREATY ISSUES.  Labour recognises that our approach on genetic modification needs to take into account the differing world-views of New Zealanders. Genetic modification raises important issues for Mäori. Its impact on natural resources and on spiritual values attached to natural resources may have significant effects for Mäori. The significance increases if the GMO is created using indigenous flora and fauna or traditional Mäori knowledge. This has been recognised in HSNO and through the creation of Ngä Kaihautü Tikanga Taiao, a statutory advisory committee advising the Environmental Risk Management Authority on how best to incorporate Mäori interests in its processes and decisions. The Royal Commission made a number of recommendations specific to Mäori, all of which are being implemented.  LABOUR WILL:  • Amend the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act to more appropriately reflect the Treaty of Waitangi relationship, in the light of advice from Mäori.  • Establish a Mäori Consultative Committee for the Intellectual Property Office.  • Ensure that the membership of the Bioethics Counc il has an understanding of Tikanga Mäori, particularly with respect to biotechnology, and that the Council engages with and consults Mäori in manner that specifically provides for their needs  • Work to resolve the WAI 262 and WAI 740 claims as soon as possible.  • Ensure appropriate representation by Mäori on Institutional Biological Safety Committees.  TOI TE TAIAO: BIOETHICS COUNCIL.  Ethical, cultural and spiritual concerns underlie much of the debate around genetic modification. The Royal Commission noted that these concerns were not being adequately addressed in the case-by-case decisions that are made by ERMA. The government accepted the recommendation of the Commission to establish the Toi Te Taiao: The Bioethics Council, and has appointed former Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves to be its Chair. The Council has replaced the Independent Biotechnology Advisory Council. The goal of the Bioethics Council is to enhance New Zealand's understanding of the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology and ensure that the use of biotechnology has regard for the values held by New Zealanders. The Bioethics Council will be a ministerial advisory committee to:  • Provide independent advice to Government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions.  • Promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council’s activities.  • Provide information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that Toi te Taiao: The Bioethics Council is fully operational by the end of 2002.  RESEARCH AND TESTING.  Research involving genetic modification holds the potential for significant advances in medicine, agriculture, horticulture and pest control. It is vital to do this research so that we can better understand GM, and make decisions based on science rather than supposition. It is also important that sufficiently strict controls are placed on all research to ens ure that the health and safety of New Zealanders is being protected. The Royal Commission noted that the agencies and procedures governing research involving genetic modification, including field trials, were appropriate and thorough. The government accepted this, but also concluded that a number of the controls that ERMA had discretion to impose, should be made mandatory. Legislation to this effect was passed in May 2002. The Royal Commission recommended that the approval process for low-risk genetic modification that occurs in laboratories should be reviewed and simplified. In particular they recommended group approvals for the development of low-risk GMOs and delegation of approval of importation of low-risk GMOs to Institutional Biological Safety Committees.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to support the case-by-case analysis by ERMA of applications to undertake research and testing involving GMOs, including the mandatory controls specified under the HSNO Act.  • Investigate the simplification of the assessment and approval process for low-risk laboratory GM research in line with the recommendation of the Royal Commission.  HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AND NEW ORGANISMS ACT.  There has never been an application to commercially release GMOs in New Zealand, nor do any applications appear likely in the near future. The Labour led government has already amended the HSNO Act to allow for the two- year restraint period on applications to release GMOs and to strengthen the controls on research and testing. The Royal Commission also recommended a range of other changes to the HSNO Act to cover gaps in current legislation and emerging issues. These include streamlining GM medicine approvals, expanding the grounds for Ministerial call- in, bringing genetic modification of human cell lines and new organisms generated from tissues within the Act, and investigating the possibility of establishing a new category of conditional release. The Royal Commission also proposed investigating legislating for a category called conditional release. This would be an intermediate stage between testing of an organism and allowing for a full release and would be aimed at providing a further assurance of safety and enhancing the management of risk. Such a category would enable research outside strict containment, but would require intensive monitoring of impacts of released organisms and controlling where and how the organism exists. Work is currently being undertaken on the feasibility of such a release category, and the related issue of coexistence between different forms of agriculture, and progress will be reported on before the restraint period expires in October 2003.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue investigating and consulting on proposals to amend the HSNO Act as recommended by the Royal Commission, including consideration of a new category of conditional release.  • Introduce legislation based on the outcome of this investigation and consultation.  • Investigate and research the potential for the co-existence of conventional, organic and GM crops.  ENVIRONMENTAL RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY.  ERMA was established under the HSNO Act 1996. It considers applications to introduce hazardous substances and monitors compliance. Its role is the protection of the environment and the health and safety of people. ERMA assesses all applications on a case-by case basis, including requiring a public submissions process for each application. The Royal Commission judged the processes followed by ERMA as being the most rigorous anywhere in the world  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to ensure that ERMA remains transparent and accountable, and is fulfilling its legislative functions.  • Ensure that ERMA is properly resourced to decide on applications, commission research, monitor controls and promote public awareness of its role.  HEALTH.  INTRODUCTION.  Labour’s vision for a healthier New Zealand is being realised. We are putting resources, staff, funding and infrastructure into rebuilding a public health system that people can trust, and that will be there for them regardless of their ability to pay. We will continue to implement the Mental Health Blueprint as quickly as development of a trained mental health workforce allows. Most importantly, Labour is committed, through its vision for primary health care, to keeping people well within their communities. We do not believe it makes sense to treat people in hospitals when they could have been kept well and out of hospital in the first place. We will continue to work to reduce inequalities in health status, and to take an approach that recognises that poverty, poor housing, unemployment and the environment all have a considerable impact on health. Labour will continue to rebuild a healthier socie ty in the widest possible sense. Labour will work with communities and the health sector to take a strategic, planned approach to improving the health of New Zealanders. It will take some time to turn around all the negative consequences of the market approach to health in the 1990s, but we are already seeing the benefits of our new approach in terms of reduced waiting lists, more health professionals in training, and better relationships and morale in the health workforce. Labour’s top priorities for its second term will be to:  • Improve access to quality primary health care.  • Continue to reduce waiting times for elective surgery.  • Further improve mental health services.  • Implement the New Zealand Health Strategy, concentrating on its 13 population health goals.  ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE.  In its first term the Labour led government has pieced together the building blocks to restore a public health system that works again for all New Zealanders. Our major achievements include:  • Keeping our promises by reducing waiting times and providing a health service that focuses on patients, not profit. Elective surgery figures for October to December 2001 show 16,478 patients were waiting more than six months for treatment, less than half the 33,736 people who were waiting in the same period in 1999.  • Developing a comprehensive strategic and planned approach in key areas of health. The most important strategies and plans are the New Zealand Health Strategy, the New Zealand Disability Strategy, the Primary Health Care Strategy, He Korowai Oranga Mäori Health Strategy, the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan, the Palliative Care Strategy, the Positive Ageing Strategy, the Health of Older People Strategy, the Youth Development Strategy, the Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy and the Oral Health Strategy.  • Passing the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act, restoring local democracy to health decision-making through elected District Health Boards (DHBs).  • Establishing a three-year funding path of more than $3 billion in new baseline money to allow DHBs to plan health and disability services with certainty. Elements of new funding include:  o ongoing funding for implementation of the Mental Health Blueprint.  o $400 million over next three years to begin implementing the Primary Health Care Strategy.  o more than $32 million over next three years in rural health initiatives.  o overdue adjustment of funding of GP services for children under six to cope with inflation since 1997.  • Tackling workforce issues by:  o establishing the Health Workforce Advisory Committee.  o reinstating enrolled nurses, with the first course beginning in July 2002.  o investing more than $8 million in developing new models for nursing in primary health care.  o sharply increasing the number of radiation therapists in training, up from 16 in 1999 to 38 this year.  o establishing the overseas doctors bridging programme at a cost of $11.8 million.  o creating more than 800 additional positions in community mental health services.  • Committing up to $200 million over five years to develop a vaccine to beat New Zealand’s Group B Meningococcal epidemic.  • Funding Plunketline as a free, 24-hour a day, nationwide telephone service.  • Increasing provision of pharmaceuticals, including beta-interferons for Multiple Sclerosis sufferers and cholesterol- lowering drugs.  • Introduction of the mobile surgical bus.  • Establishing the diabetes ‘Get Checked’ programme. So far 40,000 New Zealanders have had a free check.  • Providing $17.8 million so far to improve access to, and uptake of, oral health services for all children and teenagers up to the age of 18.  LABOUR’S TOP PRIORITIES IN THE SECOND TERM.  PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.  LABOUR WILL:  • Improve access to quality primary health care by implementing the Primary Health Care Strategy. This will provide affordable primary health care to all New Zealanders over the next eight-ten years.  It is estimated that up to a third of hospital admissions for people under 75 are avoidable, and of those two thirds could have been avoided with earlier access to effective primary health care. The number of hospital admissions per 1000 each year for Mäori people could drop from about 115 to 85, and for European and other ethnic groups from around 85 per 1000 to 70. Initially, Labour will reduce the cost of primary health care for high health need, low income people. This will be followed by the extension of cost reduction to all New Zealand children and to older people. Elements of the policy include:  • Allocation of $400 million of new money over the next three years. In the next year alone, we will reduce the cost of access to primary health care for at least 300,000 New Zealanders.  • Phasing out the Community Services Card over the next eight to ten years, but retaining it as long as it is necessary to protect vulnerable New Zealanders.  • Establishment of Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) as the key mechanisms for District Health Boards to meet the needs of their populations.  • Encouragement for all health professionals to work together within PHOs to provide quality coordinated care for enrolled population. This will help ensure the full range of health professionals like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, mental health workers and others are able to contribute effectively in new and innovative ways.  • Support for the development of services by Mäori and Pacific providers.  ELECTIVE SURGERY.  Good progress has been made in reducing waiting times for both elective surgery and first assessments, but more still has to be achieved. In the next three years, Labour will ensure that there is consistency across New Zealand, that no-one waits for more than six months either for first assessment or for surgery following assessment.  TO ACHIEVE THIS, LABO UR WILL:  • Promote nationally consistent clinical assessment procedures.  • Encourage better liaison between primary and secondary sectors to ensure patients receive appropriate priority.  • Promote preventative services to reduce the need for elective surgery.  • Actively manage the sector’s performance and publish on a regular basis up-todate information on the performance of each DHB.  MENTAL HEALTH.  The Mental Health Commission’s Report on Progress 2000-2001 towards implementing the Blueprint for Mental Health Services in New Zealand says: “With continuing Government support and the first year of additional funding announced in the Budget of 2000, services have increased in many areas and quality initiatives have been consolidated. Further funding increases over the next two years will bring services closer to the levels established by the Blueprint so as to ensure that in the future the country will be able to meet people’s needs when they have a serious mental illness.” Labour is investing $257 million over four years for mental health services to continue implementing the Blueprint and will ring fence all mental health money, including both baseline funding and Blueprint money.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to implement the Blueprint by:  o rebuilding the mental health workforce.  o developing regional mental health networks to coordinate and plan services on a regional basis.  o ensuring a fair distribution of mental health funding across regions.  o continuing to meet the housing needs of mental health consumers.  • Continue the new funding of Drug- Line to go alongside the alcohol information line and, over the next three years, more than $20 million will be spent on public information and treatment services for problem gamblers.  RURAL HEALTH.  Labour is now clearly the rural health party in New Zealand. Labour introduced the rural locum scheme and the rural practitioner support scheme, the mobile surgical bus and other mobile services, and the Healthline service. Over the next three years, GPs, nurses and other health workers serving rural communities will receive extra funding of more than $32 million in new money. The money is in addition to the $4 million allocated to the rural bonus scheme and $1 million in each of the next two years for the rural locum scheme. It is also in addition to funding for primary health care to be delivered through Primary Health Organisations (PHOs). The new rural primary health care premium will be in two parts. The first will enable extra payments to support primary health care workers to stay in rural areas, and the second will enable those practising in such areas to maintain reasonable on-call rosters.  LABOUR WILL:  • Extend Healthline throughout New Zealand following successful evaluation of the pilot programmes.  • Extend the overseas doctors bridging programme for another three years, amending future Deed Bonds to require the doctors to work in rural New Zealand and other areas of greatest need.  • Develop a similar bridging programme for overseas dentists.  • Provide a sewage treatment subsidy scheme from 1 July 2003, to help small to medium communities upgrade or build new treatment plants. The scheme also covers new works to add fluoride to community drinking-water supplies where communities choose to do so.  • Co-operate with local authorities to enhance the provision for rural health services.  HEALTH.  PROMOTING A POPULATION HEALTH APPROACH.  The New Zealand Health Strategy identifies a number of public health goals essential to improving the health of New Zealanders. Labour will ensure these goals are a priority for District Health Boards and Primary Health Organisations, which will be expected to work closely with their local communities. The goals are:  • Reducing smoking.  • Improving nutrition.  • Reducing obesity.  • Increasing the level of physical activity.  • Reducing the rate of suicides and suicide attempts.  • Minimising harm caused by alcohol and illicit and other drug use to individuals and the community.  • Reducing the incidence and impact of cancer.  • Reducing the incidence and impact of cardio- vascular disease.  • Reducing the incidence and impact of diabetes.  • Improving oral health.  • Reducing violence in inter-personal relationships, families, schools and communities.  • Improving the heath status of people with severe mental illness.  • Ensuring access to appropriate child health care services including Well Child and family health care and immunisation.  OTHER PRIORITY AREAS.  CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES.   The Labour led government has delivered Plunketline as a 24 hour, 7 day a week telephone help and information service; increased funding for doctors’ visits for children under six years; improved child and youth (school-age up to the age of 18) access to free dental services; launched the Integrated Approach to Infectious Disease Action Plan 2002-2006, which aims to fully vaccinate 95 percent of all children by age two by 2005; and increased funding for Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy. An additional $3.3 million was provided for mental health services for children and young people in 2001-2002, providing 30 more full-time equivalents (FTEs) in the child and youth mental health workforce, on top of 100 additional FTEs funded in 2000-2001. A Perinatal database has been established using data from primary maternity services with hospital data; and a High and Complex Needs Unit has been situated within Child, Youth and Family to provide improved services for children and young people with high and complex needs.  LABOUR IN ITS NEXT TERM WILL:  • Adopt a Youth Health Action Plan to ensure better co-ordination of policies and services addressing youth health issues.  • Continue to provide comprehensive and affordable child and youth health services, to develop Well Child services through primary health care funding, and to deliver these services to more New Zealanders.  MÄORI.   LABOUR WILL:  • Implement He Korowai Oranga Mäori Health Strategy, which includes strengthening the partnership with iwi and Mäori communities.  PACIFIC PEOPLES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Implement the Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan and will engage in a major new research project with the Welcome trust on the health of Pacific peoples.  WOMEN.   LABOUR WILL:  • Implement the recommendations of the Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry and the National Breast Screening Programme recommendations, including consideration of extending the age of eligibility to older women.  • Continue to provide free maternity services, and address issues raised in the CEDAW report.  MEN.   LABOUR WILL:  • Consult with men and develop and Men’s Health Policy to address the health needs of men not accessing existing health services.  HOUSING.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Adequate housing is fundamental to the health and well being of families and communities. For this reason all New Zealanders must have access to quality, affordable housing. Where the market does not adequately provide, Labour will work in partnership with community organisations, local government, iwi and other agencies to improve the delivery of social housing for low and modest income families in all areas of the country. Labour will work with institutions involved in the housing industry to remove impediments to the development of innovative housing projects, both urban and rural. Through encouragement of planning, research, training and partnerships, Labour will promote improved housing for New Zealanders. Labour recognises there is no ‘one-size fits all’ answer to social housing. We are working not only to improve the quantity and quality of state houses but also to provide a range of housing solutions to better meet the needs of tenants. Nationally, about 20 percent of Housing New Zealand’s tenants are Pacific people and approximately 25 percent are Mäori. Labour is committed to providing specific housing solutions to meet the needs of these tenants. Labour sees housing as one of a number of closely inter-related components (such as education, health care, land use planning, urban design and transportation) that contribute to quality of life. Housing initiatives will be increasingly integrated with these other policies.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Restored income-related rents for state housing so that low-income tenants pay no more than 25 percent of their income in rent. More than 52,000 families (representing about 156,000 people) are benefiting. As a result, turnover in state houses has nearly halved, contributing to greater stability for families and communities. About 89 percent of all state tenants now pay an income related rent.  • Stopped the bulk state house sale programme of the previous government and increased the stock. There will be 1600 more state houses by the end of this year than there were when the Labour led government took office. Under National about 11,500 houses were sold and they had plans to sell another 10,000.  • Improved thousands of state houses through intensive maintenance and modernisation programmes. An energy efficiency programme to improve insulation of state houses was also begun this year.  • Changed the system for allocating state houses to one based on need, not ability to pay. The social allocation system based on criteria including affordability and suitability has been developed in consultation with community groups.  • Changed the focus of Housing New Zealand from profit to people, to reflect the government’s social housing objectives. By creating a ‘one stop shop’ for those with housing needs, we are ensuring those most in need get greater access to housing.  • Tackled meningococcal and other infectious diseases spread by overcrowded living conditions, by introducing the Healthy Housing project. This project is a joint venture between Housing New Zealand in partnership with the District Health Boards of Counties-Manukau and Auckland, to improve living conditions by building new houses, extending existing homes to accommodate large families and modifying houses to improve ventilation and insulation. An extra $30 million allocated in Budget 2002 means total spending on Healthy Housing over the next four years will be nearly $63 million.  • Introduced the State Housing Appeals Authority so Housing New Zealand tenants can appeal a waiting list priority or rent setting decision they feel is unfair.  • Introduced the Special Housing Action Zone (SHAZ) pilot scheme to target housing assistance to communities in greatest need by providing interest- free bridging finance and suspensory loans. Major work underway as part of the programme includes the Torere project in the Eastern Bay of Plenty where Housing New Zealand is working in partnership with Ngai Tai and Habitat for Humanity to build 20 homes.  • Tackled substandard housing in rural Northland, East Cape and Bay of Plenty, in collaboration with local iwi. Budget 2002 included an extra $53.3 million for this. In total the Labour led government has committed more than $115 million to address substandard housing in these areas.  • Extended the low deposit rural lending scheme from Northland and Bay of Plenty/East Cape, to six other regions including Waikato and Central North Island. It includes home ownership workshops, and support for applicants to apply for their loan, negotiate their purchase, or go through planning process for building or renovating their home.  • Promoted the development of Housing Design guidelines to ensure more appropriate housing for Mäori and Pacific households.  • Built the first state rental homes on Mäori land in nearly a decade. The four new homes at Takou Bay in Northland are the first state houses to be completed on Mäori land since 1992.  • Provided community groups with rent relief of nearly $4.5 million a year and provided an extra 280 community houses. Additional funding of $11 million provided in Budget 2002 will take the total number of community houses to about 1400. These houses are used by groups helping some of the most vulnerable members of our community – including women and children seeking refuge, people with physical or intellectual disabilities, and those with a mental illness.  • Worked in partnership with the community and local authorities on Community Renewal projects, to upgrade areas with a high state housing concentration and poor amenities. These projects involve local communities, councils and other Government agencies in building projects that promote safe, healthy and confident communities. These have been developed in Christchurch, Clendon in Manukau City and Fordlands in Rotorua.  • Indicated that it would amend the Local Government Bill to include localauthority owned pensioner housing as a strategic asset. The Bill requires community consultation about any proposed sale of strategic assets.  • Continued to provide the Accommodation Supplement to those in private accommodation. This year approximately $767 million will be spent on the Accommodation Supplement to assist low- income private sector tenants, boarders and those who require mortgage assistance.  • Introduced legislation to amend the Residential Tenancies Act to better protect boarding house tenants, who are often among some of the most vulnerable of our community.  • Introduced legislation to protect the interests of residents and intending residents of retirement villages, and enable the development of retirement villages under a legal framework readily understandable by residents, intending residents and operators. The aim is to promote understanding on the part of residents and intending residents and to protect their interests.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to build up the state housing stock. Another 2529 houses are planned for our next term.  • Modernise and upgrade existing state housing stock to better meet the needs of tenants. This includes making houses more suitable for changing family configurations and those with special needs.  • Work with local government to develop partnerships in housing provision and also encourage retention of local authority-owned housing stock.  • Continue to support third sector housing initiatives that provide local remedies for housing issues, including rent-to-buy, tenant management, shared equity, and cooperative ventures.  • Review and further enhance the Special Housing Action Zones initiative.  • Promote energy efficiency and the use of alternative housing materials in housing design and refurbishment.  • Improve processes for dealing with the problem of substandard rental housing.  • Provide more community housing to meet the needs of mental health providers and find a more permanent solution for rent relief for community housing tenants.  • Continue to implement urban renewal programmes in areas with a high state housing concentration.  • Complete the review of the Building Act and implement, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Building Industry Authority inquiry into Weathertightness.  HUMAN RIGHTS.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour believes that an effective domestic and international human rights framework is essential for the well-being of citizens and for a fair and just society. Labour is committed to embedding human rights principles in domestic law and promoting stronger international human rights law.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has heightened the profile of human rights, and will continue to do so. In particular, it has reformed matrimonial property legislation to ensure fairer division of family property when a marriage or de facto relationship ends. In addition, the Labour led government revived the Consistenc y 2000 Project that was cancelled under the previous National led government and took it through to completion resulting in changes to the Human Rights Act which came into force on 1 January 2002.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  COMPLETION OF THE FIRST HUMAN RIGHTS NATIONAL PLAN OF ACTION.   Through the Human Rights Amendment Act 2001, the Labour led government created the basis for the production of a National Plan of Action. Labour expects the first Plan to be finalised in 2004 and implemented from then. For the first time government, business and the community will together agree and develop plans to achieve our national human rights goals.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support the creation of an achievable plan focusing on the short-medium term.  PARLIAMENTARY SCRUTINY.   Many comparable Parliaments have a stand-alone Human Rights Committee.  LABOUR WILL:  • Investigate the merits of such a committee within the context of New Zealand’s current parliamentary processes.  PEOPLE-CENTRED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANISATIONS.   The Labour led government merged the Race Relations Office and the Human Rights Commission in 2001. The process of simplifying structures and demystifying agencies needs to go further.  HUMAN RIGHTS.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage practical co-ordination of the work of the human rights agencies such as the Human Rights Commission, Commissioner for Children, and the Privacy Commissioner.  • Encourage the growth of partnerships with on-the-ground agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, and Community Law Centres, so that people can easily access human rights education, information and advocacy.  STRONGER HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.   We are aware that there is a need for some additional grounds to be added to the Human Rights Act.  LABOUR WILL:  • Look to the National Plan of Action, and the consultative process preceding it, for guidance about further reform of our human rights law.  • Work towards addressing the inconsistency in legislation that bans incitement to hatred on the basis of race but is silent of other potential areas of discrimination.  • Include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Human Rights Act.  • Amend all remaining laws that cause unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.  • Ensure that the Human Rights Commission’s National Plan of Action fully addresses issues for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people.  DELIVERY OF HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES.   Labour promised in 1999 that it would legislate to make the Human Rights Act apply to government. We delivered on that, and are now co-ordinating a vigorous process to ensure compliance by all government departments. Law reform and fundamental change in policy and practice will result from this.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue law change in areas such as employment of people with disabilities and the law relating to different-sex and same-sex relationships.  MEETING AND PROGRESSING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS.   New Zealand has a proud record of ratification of and compliance with international human rights standards.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to work towards 100 percent compliance with such standards and will also progress implementation of ratified conventions.  • Support development of the draft United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights and of a United Nations Convention on the rights of people with disabilities.  PROMOTING REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS.   Through the work of the Human Rights Commission, our provision of overseas aid and our involvement in regional structures, Labour is committed to promoting human rights in the South Pacific. In particular we welcome the growth of the Asia Pacific Forum of national human rights institutions and its advisory council of jurists.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage moves towards a regional charter of human rights.  • Further strengthen the human rights perspective in New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) decision-making, and improve liaison between the Foreign Affairs and Justice human rights functions.  SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION The Labour led government has undertaken a significant refocusing of the work of the Commission towards a strategic and education-focused response to our domestic human rights challenges. This reform will take time to find full expression.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage the Commission to report on key areas of systemic human rights concern, alerting government and others to emerging human rights concerns and developing ways of delivering information on human rights that is cutting-edge, multi-media compatible and high impact. We welcome the new emphasis on empowerment training by the Commission.  HUMAN RIGHTS IN EDUCATION Labour seeks to boost the human rights content of the school curriculum.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support moves by the Human Rights Commission and others to develop new curriculum material.  IMMIGRATION.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour’s vision for New Zealand is for a society that is outward looking, tolerant, accepting, interesting and dynamic. To implement this vision, the Labour led government introduced the New Zealand Immigration Programme, with its emphasis on increasing New Zealand’s talent and skill base and improving settlement and resettlement outcomes. This approach is designed to ensure that the benefits of immigration are shared by all. The New Zealand Immigration Service is now firmly focused on facilitating entry to New Zealand for those qualified to do so, while managing risks of irregular migration and non-compliance.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  SKILLS AND TALENT HELPING TO GROW AN INNOVATIVE NEW ZEALAND.  A shortage of skills has been identified as a factor holding back economic growth and the government has made changes to immigration policy to help employers find the skilled people they need more quickly. In its first term the Labour led government has:  • Ensured that business and skilled migrants make up at least 60 percent of the annual NZ Immigration Programme.  • Made open work permits available to spouses and partners of work permit holders (including Long Term Business Permit holders) to enable them to work in New Zealand.  • Identified occupational shortages and enabled the work permit application process to be speeded up by waiving the labour market test for identified shortages.  • Put more emphasis on programmes to improve settlement of migrants after their arrival.  • Introduced settlement pilots through the Migrant Levy, and base- lined the successful employment related programmes (e.g. Auckland Chamber of Commerce’s www.newkiwis.co.nz website, matching skilled migrants with skilled jobs).  • Introduced the Work-to-Residence Programme to assist New Zealand employers to recruit talent from overseas. The policy simplifies existing immigration rules for skilled migrants applying to work and live in New Zealand and is part of the government’s strategy to further boost economic performance. The programme provides for a Talent Visa through Accredited Employers, and a Priority Occupations Work Visa which enables employers to offer work to people in occupations that the government identifies as priorities because of critical skill shortages in those occupations. Both visas provide for a two year work permit followed by residence, and hinge around a salary minimum of $45,000 and an offer of ongoing employment.  • Established a pilot project in two regions (Southland/Clutha and Wellington) for a government initiative aimed at boosting regional economic growth through immigration, by attracting the specific skills and investment needed in those regions. The project fosters close collaboration between central government agencies, economic development agencies and local government. If the pilot initiatives are successful they will be expanded to other regions.  • Limited premium points under the General Skills category to relevant job offers.  • Adjusted points for a relevant job offer to reflect changes in General Skills points.  FAMILY SPONSORED STREAM.  Family reunification remains an important component of the NZ Immigration Programme representing 30 percent of the total programme. Specific changes to this stream include:  • A requirement that family members have at least three years’ residence in New Zealand, so that they are well-settled before sponsoring wider family members.  • Extending the definition of dependant child to include those up to the age of 24 years.  • Tightening sponsorship to include a statutory declaration creating liability for any benefits claimed by a family member within the first two years of arrival.  • Imposing restrictions on serial spousal applications to prevent abuse of the system.  • Allowing that the last remaining adult child or sibling no longer needs to be single and without children; however, they must have a job offer.  • Creating a Family Quota (250 places this year), which can be adjusted depending on numbers in the whole category. This makes the family sponsored stream the residual category and ensures that the majority of residents come under the Skilled/Business Stream.  HUMANITARIAN/INTERNATIONAL STREAM.  New Zealand has a number of regional and international obligations that it meets through this stream, which makes up 10 percent of the NZ Immigration Programme. It includes:  • The UNHCR refugee resettlement programme of 750 refugees a year.  • Asylum Seekers who are granted refugee status.  • Refugee Family reunion of 300 a year.  • Samoan Quota in accordance with the Treaty of Friendship of 1100 a year.  • Pacific Access Category (Tonga – 250; Kirbati – 50; Tuvalu – 75) – new policy implemented from 1 July 2002.  • Domestic Violence Category.  • Ministerial Discretion, recommendations of the Residence Appeal Authority, decisions of Removal Review Authority and those granted residence under the October 2000 Transitional Policy. Labour has made refugee resettlement a priority, as well as addressing concerns around asylum seekers.  The Labour led government has:  • Reduced the backlog of over 3000 asylum seekers waiting to have their claims determined when the Labour led government took office to less than 600 today.  • Worked on new claims so that the wait for a first level hearing has reduced from up to 3 years to an average of 3 months.  • Suspended the Thai visa waiver, which has reduced border turnaround and manifestly unfounded refugee status claims.  • Provided funding for the Auckland Refugee Council Hostel for asylum seekers.  • Provided additional funding for resettlement projects based on the successful pilots established last year.  • Increased funding for the Refugee & Migrant Service, the first increase in 9 years, as well as funding the co-ordinator of Refugee & Migrant Service’s NZQA approved volunteer training programme.  • Allocated funding in this year’s budget to introduce off-shore health screening of UN-mandated refugees.  COUNTER-TERRORISM AND PEOPLE – SMUGGLING.  Since September 11, New Zealand has had to take a more rigorous approach to security measures to ensure that New Zealand is not exposed to terrorism, and also to ensure that we play our role in counteracting the activities of people-smugglers.  The Labour led government has approved:  • Funding to implement the Advanced Passenger Processing (APP) System already used in Australia which allows New Zealand to receive details of all passengers before they board planes.  • Fingerprinting people claiming refugee status after entering New Zealand to minimise abusive multiple claims.  • Immigration Act amendments included in the Transnational Organised Crime Bill which increase penalties for those involved in people-smuggling or irregular migration, as well as introducing a three tier set of penalties for employers from those who employ people without lawful authority through to those who exploit such workers. • The Labour led government has already delivered most of the goals set at the beginning of this term. However, there is still more to do to ensure that immigration policy achieves its potential to contribute to growth in our economy, strengthen migrant families and communities and ensure that the benefits of immigration are shared by all.  LABOUR WILL:  • Further develop New Zealand’s capacity to actively recruit talented and skilled migrants to New Zealand.  • Review Business Migration categories, including an evaluation of how to improve opportunities for making investor funds available to local economic development initiatives.  • Review the Immigration Act 1991, to ensure that it is modernised in the light of changes to policy, and the location of and criteria applied by the immigration appeal authorities.  • Develop an Adult ESOL Strategy to complement the Adult Literacy Strategy.  • Review immigration policy relating to students to ensure that international students are able to continue to access quality education and appropriate pastoral care (e.g. guardians’ visas, extended working visas for students).  • Review the effectiveness of Limited Purpose Permits and Bonds in managing risks of non-compliance with temporary entry policies.  • Broaden consideration of ways the proposed register of Immigration Consultants could be managed.  • Establish an appointments database in the Office of Ethnic Affairs.  • Develop New Zealand-wide telephone interpreter services.  • Maintain close relationships with the Pacific region in terms of immigration and settlement policy.  INDUSTRY TRAINING. LABOUR’S VISION.  A skilled workforce is one of the drivers of growth and innovation. Skills lift productivity, and they lift the competitiveness of our enterprises and our industries. Skills, together with knowledge, information and creativity, are becoming the main drivers of a country’s competitive advantage. These attributes also make a significant contribution to social development. Workplace learning in particular provides a financial return on the investment, and provides the kinds of personal rewards that grow selfesteem and independence.  If New Zealand is to actively participate in the knowledge economy and society, then our people must be able to enhance their skills throughout their lifetime. Employers will need an increasingly flexible workforce to deal with the ever-changing environment in which they operate. New Zealand must become a nation that values and encourages innovation, recognises and capitalises on our unique qualities and strengths, and competes confidently and successfully in the global marketplace. Strengthening learning in the New Zealand workplace is critical for achieving this. In its first term the Labour led government has:  • Increased the funding available through the Industry Training Fund by over 50 percent. There are now more people participating in industry training than at any time in our history.  • Brought back apprenticeships, creating work-based learning opportunities for nearly 3000 young people, making it easier than ever before for employers to take on apprentices, and ensuring that industry and enterprise have the skills required to grow the economy.  • Reviewed the industry training system and introduced a number of changes to ensure Industry Training Organisations are better placed to anticipate, and respond to, emerging skill needs in industry.  • Introduced legislation to amend the Industry Training Act to provide for a balloted levy mechanism that will allow industry to contribute to the cost of maintaining an effective Industry Training Organisation.  • Introduced the Gateway programme, designed to build pathways for senior secondary school students into work-based learning, and to encourage better partnerships between schools and local businesses.  • Given industry training the status of an equal partner along with the other education and training pathways in the tertiary system.  • Entered into agreeme nts with the social partners – through Business New Zealand and the NZ Council of Trade Unions – to work jointly and cooperatively to lift participation and performance in workplace and life- long learning.  LIFTING PARTICIPATION IN INDUSTRY TRAINING.  Labour’s goal is to significantly lift access to, and the quality and relevance of industry training, whether that training occurs in the workplace, or through off-job learning.  LABOUR WILL:  • Set the goal of having 250,000 people participating in industry training by 2007.  • Work with employers, unions, employees, Industry Training Organisations and training providers to significantly increase not only participation in industry training, but also the quality and relevance of that training.  • Work with the social partners to lift participation in training by employers and employees in small to medium sized enterprises.  MODERN APPRENTICESHIPS.  Labour will build on the success of Modern Apprenticeships as a prestige pathway for young men and women into high quality, mentored work based learning.  LABOUR WILL:  • Double the number participating in Modern Apprenticeships to 6000 by the end of December 2003.  • Increase the number of Modern Apprentices to 7,500 by June 2006.  GATEWAY.  Gateway is providing opportunities for senior secondary school students to include unit standard based learning in the workplace as part of their normal course work, bridging school and post school education and training, and building pathways to Modern Apprenticeships.  LABOUR WILL: • Expand Gateway to all decile 1–5 state high schools by 2007. This will give Gateway opportunities for some 12,000 senior secondary school students.  MÄORI IN TRADE TRAINING.  Labour recognises the importance of building pathways for young Mäori from school to workplace learning and into employment opportunities like Modern Apprenticeships.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage more Mäori to participate in trade training initiatives with the objective of having 300 more Mäori trainees a year.  AN EDUCATION AND TRAINING LEAVING AGE STRATEGY.  Labour believes that all young people under the age of 19 should be either participating in education or training, or in employment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Commit to the goal of ensuring that by 2007 all 15–19 year olds will be engaged in appropriate education, training, work, or other options which will lead to longterm economic independence and well-being This goal will be met by putting in place a range of education and training pathways, and by ensuring that the social assistance system balances the need for income support, where appropriate, with the opportunity to participate in education, training, or a job.  LABOUR WILL:  • Fully implement an Education and Training Leaving Age strategy by 2007. This will involve:  • The expansion of Gateway to all decile 1–5 state high schools by 2007. This will provide Gateway opportunities for some 12,000 senior secondary school students.  • Purchasing post training support services for all Youth Trainees by 2007. This will mean some 13,000 youth trainees will receive some post training support per year.  • Expanding Modern Apprenticeships to 7,500 by June 2006. This will mean some 4,500 young people aged 15–18 will be Modern Apprentices.  • Encouraging more Mäori participation in trade training initiatives with the objective of having an additional 300 Mäori trainees a year This represents a spread of interventions suitable for different achievement levels.  A NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESEARCH.  The development of a vibrant and supportive culture of industry training within the workplace and by education and training providers depends, in large part, on a supportive partnership with government. Labour is committed to working with stakeholders–business, unions, employees, Industry Training Organisations, and education and training providers–to ensure that industry training is properly resourced, that programmes are of the highest quality and relevance, and that opportunities are created to ensure access on the part of the present and the future workforce to vocational education and training. Labour is committed to working in partnership with industry training stakeholders to ensure that vocational education and training policies are underpinned by robust and sustainable research.  LABOUR WILL:  • Initiate discussions with industry training stakeholders about the resourcing and establishment of a National Centre for Vocational Education and Training Research tasked with undertaking applied research, particularly evaluation research, and working with stakeholders on policy development, implementation, and evaluation.  JUSTICE AND LAW AND ORDER.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Government has a fundamental responsibility to protect the rights of its citizens, safeguard their security and ensure that the justice system is fair. New Zealanders have the right to have their security safeguarded by adequate policing and effective justice and corrections systems. Victims of crime have the right to have their needs fully addressed.  TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR SERIOUS OFFENDERS AND INMATES WHO POSE RISKS TO PUBLIC SAFETY.  Labour has passed the Sentencing Act and the Parole Act, which took effect from 1 July 2002. These statutes, which together provide tougher regimes for serious repeat offenders:  • Increase minimum periods before parole for those convicted of murders with aggravating factors from 10 to 17 years.  • Require judges to impose the maximum sentences under law for the worst offenders.  • Allow judges to impose minimum periods before parole of up to two thirds of sentence for serious offenders.  • Abolish automatic release at two thirds of sentence and allow that inmates who pose a risk to society serve the full length of their sentence.  • Make community safety the paramount consideration for the Parole Board so they must not release inmates before the end of their sentence if they pose any undue risk.  Labour will: monitor closely and review the implementation of this legislation by the judiciary and, if necessary, make changes to ensure that the way the legislation works responds to public concerns expressed in the 1999 referendum. The Labour led government has:  • Developed a new Victims’ Rights Bill, which makes the recognition of the rights of victims mandatory.  • Provided an extra $165 million over four years for policing, increased police numbers and cracked down on burglary. Crime resolution rates are also at an alltime high. Overall crime is at a 13 year low and the number of burglaries has dropped significantly to a 20 year low.  • Developed a Youth Offending Strategy to ensure better coordination of our youth justice system.  • Invested an extra $90 million over four years in a Youth Justice package to help reduce youth crime through more specialist help, more Police Youth Aid workers, and continued funding to Child, Youth, and Family to reduce serious persistent re-offend ing by young people and turn them from a life of crime.  • Improved human rights protections by reorganising the Human Rights Commission and ensuring government compliance with the Human Rights Act.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM.  While we have made good progress in reforming our justice system we still have a great deal more to do. In a second term Labour will address the following key issues.  CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGY.  LABOUR WILL:  • Implement the Crime Reduction Strategy, which takes an integrated approach to crime through recognising and tackling its root causes. It targets family violence and child abuse; other violence, including sexual violence; burglary; theft of and from cars; organised criminal activity; serious traffic offending; youth offending and re-offending.  • Continue to crack down on burglary because it is an ‘entry-point’ offence and reducing burglaries is one way of reducing violent offending further down the track.  • Focus on youth offending to ensure that effective programmes are in place to prevent rather than simply respond to such behaviour.  YOUTH OFFENDING.  CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Establish youth offending teams to ensure that the Police, Child, Youth and Family Services, Health and Education work together to address and resolve the issues that lead to youth offending such as drug and alcohol abuse. This will ensure a co-ordinated service is delivered at a local level.  YOUTH OFFENDING STRATEGY.   LABOUR WILL:  • Implement the Youth Offending Strategy, which is a wide-ranging plan to reduce youth crime and turn young offenders into productive members of society away from a life of adult crime.  • Establish new programmes to change the behaviour of high-risk serious young offenders. These include:  o a pilot residential programme.  o day reporting centres and the Youth Drug Court.  o early intervention programmes for children and youth at risk.  o improvements in the effectiveness of family group conferences.  o establishing a Youth Crime Information database to provide information on the case histories of individual offenders and research data to inform policy development.  YOUTH AID.   LABOUR WILL:  • Fund more youth aid officers, increase their training and support and strengthen the role they play in intervention programmes targeted at youth offenders.  DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.   The Youth Drug Court pilot places repeat youth offenders who have alcohol and/or other drug dependence problems in treatment programmes under intensive judicial supervision with coordination of all agencies involved in dealing with the offender.  LABOUR WILL:  • Evaluate this programme and expand it if the results are positive. . DRUG RAPE.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the law, police protocols, public education and drug rape reporting procedures to ensure the strongest possible response to this offending.  DNA TESTING.  DNA is proving an increasingly effective tool for investigation and evidence gathering, which results in conviction of criminals. The Labour led government has introduced legislation allowing DNA testing by mouth swabs, and police to seek compulsion orders for DNA testing of burglary suspects. The legislation also has provisions requiring all inmates who have serious convictions to provide DNA for the DNA database. This will facilitate police apprehension and conviction of offenders, and help clear unresolved serious offences.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass this legislation to ensure DNA testing can be used effectively.  POLICE.  The Labour led government increased the Police budget by $165.5 million over four years in Budget 2001. Police and other support staff numbers are now at their highest level ever, having increased by around 450 since 1999. National’s plans to cut police numbers in 1999 were scrapped. Crime resolution rates are also at an all-time high. This has contributed to a 20 year low in burglary, a key ‘entry point’ offence, and a 13 year low in all crime. However, we cannot afford to be complacent. Violent crime continues to be a problem, although it is trending down in the latest statistics.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure greater investment in operational roles such as ‘scene-of-crime’ staff, case management staff and general police enquiry staff. Frontline police must be able to focus on policing on the beat, rather than sit behind desks filling out forms.  • Establish a Modern Cadet scheme. A career in the police must be an attractive vocation option. Allowing 17–21 year olds to gain skills with experienced police staff will encourage more young people to consider a career with the New Zealand Police.  LOCAL POLICE.   LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to work closely with territorial local authorities and in partnership with the police to build on the good work that is already taking place. Wellington’s ‘Safer Cities’ initiative can provide a model for other authorities to consider adopting.  • Develop district police standards so that police in each district reflect the areas of law enforcement that are particularly relevant to the local community. District police standards could be developed in partnership not only with the police, but also in conjunction with territorial local authorities.  • Encourage all district and city councils to establish a formal liaison with the police and to involve the wide range of community organisations and interests in the liaison structures.  SECOND HAND DEALERS AND PAWNBROKERS BILL.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass the Second Hand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill, which will make it harder for thieves to sell stolen goods. The Bill cracks down on burglary by tightening up licensing provisions, implementing stricter ID requirements when selling goods to businesses, tightening recording and retention requirements and by giving the police greater inspection rights.  POLICE COMPLAINTS AUTHORITY.  The Labour led government has made funding and law changes to ensure that serious cases can be investigated independently to ensure greater confidence in the Authority’s conclusions.  CONSISTENCY IN CRIMINAL CASES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the provisions of the Crimes Act which relate to sexual crimes, to promote consistency in treatment for men and women. Currently only men can be charged with crimes such as inducing indecent acts with children. This leaves children without protection against female sex offenders.  CORONERS.  LABOUR WILL:  • Modernise and restructure the current coronial system largely along the lines proposed by the Law Commission. This will include setting up an Office of the Chief Coroner and improving processes to ensure the least amount of distress is placed on bereaved families.  VICTIMS’ RIGHTS.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass the Victims’ Rights Bill by the end of this year to ensure that victims of crime are given rights by law. This Bill extends victims’ rights, gives victims greater rights at parole board hearings and gives greater protection to victims’ privacy. Court services for victims are also extended.  • Continue with the Target Hardening initiative which provides people on low incomes, who have been repeat victims of burglaries, with security information and security equipment such as locks and alarms to make their homes safer.  • Ensure the security needs of victims at court are met.  • Extend the Court Services for Victims programme.  • Ensure continuity of service between initial victim support and court assistance/advocacy services.  • Consult Victim Support when formulating policy that is relevant to their public role.  COURTS.  RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.   Labour recognises the potential of the restorative justice approach to provide healing for victims and progress out of criminality for offenders. The Labour led government has extended the restorative justice pilot programme to 6 new areas.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to focus on Restorative Justice schemes that reduce re-offending and place the needs of the victim at the centre of the justice process.  • Learn from the experiences of the pilot restorative justice projects and reform criminal justice law to enhance our restorative justice response.  REFORM OF JURY TRIALS.   Labour is committed to ensuring our jury system meets the needs of the 21st century.  LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce procedural changes to make evidence easier for juries to understand.  • Introduce majority verdicts of 11 to 1 in place of unanimous verdicts to reduce the increasing rate of hung juries.  • Allow judge-alone trials in limited circumstances if the Court is satisfied that the trial will be long and complex, such as in computer fraud cases. This will not restrict the request for trial by jury for serious charges such as murder, grievous injury and sexual violation.  • Allow the public to defer jury service for up to 12 months.  • Make it an offence to terminate or otherwise prejudice an employee’s job because of his or her absence for jury service.  • Increase the penalty for failing to answer a jury summons.  FAMILY/CIVIL.  DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.   Family violence in all its forms is unacceptable. Labour is committed to a future where every family lives free from violence. The government’s Te Rito, the New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, emphasises early intervention and prevention initiatives such as raising public awareness through education.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support implementation of Te Rito, the New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, ensuring that initiatives are culturally relevant, and recognise and provide for diverse needs and circumstances.  ADOPTION.   The need to modernise our approach to adoption has been highlighted in the Law Commission Report, Adoption and Its Alternatives, published in 2000 and by the Government Administration Select Committee Inquiry on Adoption in 2001.  LABOUR WILL:  • Reform the 1955 Adoption Act and other related statutes, taking into account the findings of these recent reports, for example, on modern attitudes to adoption and principles on the rights of the child.  FAMILY COURT PROCEDURES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Make the Family Court more user-friendly and promote outcomes that assist families in settling their disputes in a timely manner to the benefit all concerned.  • Give favourable consideration to proposals in the Law Commission discussion paper Striking the Balance to make the Court more transparent and less legalistic.  HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGIES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Pass legislation relating to human reproductive technologies, consistent with legislation currently before the House and with international precedent.  ENDURING POWERS OF ATTORNEY.   The introduction of the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act in 1988 provided for the creation of enduring powers of attorney.  LABOUR WILL:  • Undertake a review of these powers and introduce amendments to the Act to protect against the misuse of those powers.  GUARDIANSHIP.   New Zealand has not had a review of the laws governing guardianship, custody and access for thirty years. During this time there have been significant changes in societal values regarding family relationships. The law needs to support these societal values and protect the interests of children and their families, and give effect to human rights standards.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the legal framework for the laws relating to guardianship, custody and access.  RECOGNISING RELATIONSHIPS.   LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce legislation to give legal recognition, incorporating rights and responsibilities, to de facto, same-sex and different-sex couples. This will be in line with the Government’s adoption of human rights standards for its own work.  ACCESS TO JUSTICE.  LEGAL AID.   The Labour led government has reformed the structures for allocating legal aid, bringing more efficiency and consistency to the system.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review eligibility for legal aid to ensure the most effective use of the funds available and to address areas where lack of funding impedes access to justice.  COMMUNITY LAW CENTRES.   The Labour led government has supported the growth of the Community Law Centre network. Such centres have an integral and fundamental role in ensuring access to justice.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work to achieve full coverage of New Zealand’s population, and to stabilise Centre funding at an adequate and sustainable level.  LEGAL PROFESSIONALS.   Labour has been working with representatives of the legal profession to reform its structures and rules.  LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce a Lawyers and Conveyancing Bill. Among other things this will remove the lawyers’ monopoly on conveyancing and ensure that people aggrieved with the service provided by their lawyer have access to an independent high quality complaints system.  • Work with the Association of Justices of the Peace (JPs) to overhaul and modernise the legislation governing JPs.  CONSTITUTIONAL.  SUPREME COURT.   LABOUR WILL:  • Establish a final court of appeal in New Zealand to improve access to the appeal system and ensure that decisions are relevant to the New Zealand context.  JUDICIAL COMMISSION.   LABOUR WILL:  • Establish an independent judicial commission to investigate complaints brought against the judiciary.  ELECTORAL AGENCIES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Seek increased cooperation between the electoral bodies, which govern our democratic process.  • Extend the responsibilities of the Electoral Commission to cover aspects of local authority elections, including the promotion of turnout.  ELECTORAL LAW.   LABOUR WILL:  • Review the 2002 General Election with a view to recommending changes that will improve the efficienc y and quality of future elections.  • Consider the introduction of new technology, the simplification of special voting procedures and further removal of barriers to election participation as priority areas.  • Review the legislation and practice surrounding the funding of political parties with the objective of improving transparency and clarity.  • Implement the recommendation of the 2001 Justice and Electoral Select Committee Inquiry into MMP to improve understanding of and participation in our democratic process.  OTHER.  SERIOUS FRAUD.   Mortgage refinancing scams and pyramid selling rackets pose a real threat to New Zealanders, particularly low- income families encountering financial problems.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the situation and work with the Serious Fraud Office, and other relevant agencies, to address the problem.  OFFICIAL INFORMATION.   The Official Information Act has now been in place for twenty years, during which time there have been significant changes in both technology and the electoral system.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the Act with a view to updating provisions to ensure the objectives of the Act are able to be met effectively.  LOCAL GOVERNMENT.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour’s vision is of a local government system that works in partnership with central government to promote economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being for New Zealanders in their communities. Labour wants both local and regional councils to have the powers and flexibility to fulfil their role, and to be responsive and accountable to their communities. The Labour led government has made changes to strengthen local government and to ensure it has the flexibility, authority and accountability to work effectively and responsibly, both with central government and with their own local communities.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS AND COMMITMENTS.  EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS.  Labour is committed to a constructive, co-operative relationship between central and local government. The Labour led government:  • Established a strong partnership with local government through the central- local government forum (the first time such a forum has been created).  • Promoted a positive working relationship between central government and Local Government New Zealand through working parties on the Local Government Bill, the Local Government (Rating) Act, the development of transport policy, the development of the New Zealand Waste Strategy, and other issues.  • Entered into partnerships with local authorities on a range of projects including local and regional economic development.  • Signed a Memorandum of Understanding in September 2001 between central government ministers and the leaders of the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs agreeing that central and local government will work in partnership on their shared employment objectives.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to hold forums jointly chaired by the Prime Minister and the President of Local Government New Zealand twice a year.  • Work closely with local government across all areas of policy development and in particular on initiatives relating to crime prevention, safer community initiatives, local economic development, provision of quality, affordable housing (including with the use of alternative building materials), enhanced rural and urban health services, environmental sustainability, and cultural, social and community development).  LEGISLATION.  The Labour led government recognised the need to address a number of legislative issues to ensure that the powers of local government were modernised, that legislation was streamlined and not overly prescriptive, that local government was strengthened and local democracy improved. To this end the Labour led government:  • Reformed the local electoral system with the enactment of the Local Electoral Act 2001.  • Passed the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002.  • Introduced the Local Government Bill in December 2001 following extensive public consultation. The Bill represents the first major overhaul of the Local Government Act in 25 years. The Bill reflects a coherent overall strategy on local government and a commitment to put in place a more broadly empowering legislative framework under which local authorities can meet the needs of their communities. In addition, the Bill clarifies local government’s responsibilities in relation to Mäori participation in local authority decision-making and provides a new mechanism for Mäori representation.  • Carried out a review of the Resource Management Act (RMA) as part of our commitment to reducing compliance costs without undermining sound environmental protection and community participation.  The Labour led government also recognised that a number of other pieces of legislation relating to local government activities needed revision. The process of revision included the following initiatives:  • Promulgation of HSNO regulations.  • Review of aspects of the Building Act.  • Enactment of legislation creating the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.  • Introduction of stronger provisions to protect biosecurity.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass the Local Government Bill 2001.  • Pass the Resource Management Amendment Bill to make the resource management process more efficient while maintaining the integrity of the Act, including the rights of public consultation and participation.  • Pass the Civil Defence Emergency Management Bill.  • Pass new land transport management legislation consistent with the new local government legislatio n.  • Review further aspects of the Building Act.  • Complete a review of the Public Works Act.  • Continue to work with local government to ensure the depreciation regime is flexible enough to achieve its long-term asset management objectives without penalising particular councils.  • Progressively work towards establishing a fairly assessed compensation regime for loss of rates on significant holdings of government and other publicly owned land.  COMMITMENT TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY.  Labour seeks to strengthen local government so that it is an effective component of New Zealand’s system of democratic government. Through the Local Government Bill 2001 the Labour led government has sought to clarify the role and purposes of local government and to give local authorities broad discretion over the activities in which they can become involved.  LABOUR WILL:  • Enact a new Local Government Act to improve accountability through better reporting and auditing.  • Promote wider involvement of community boards.  • Ensure resources are available to assist those local authorities that wish to examine the option of introducing STV, or implement STV.  • Promote awareness and encouragement of participation in local authority elections.  PROMOTING PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF ESSENTIAL LOCAL SERVICES.  High quality water supplies are essential to public health, as are efficient sewerage systems in all built-up areas. In some parts of the country both water supply and sewage disposal fall below appropriate national standards, often because the local council has an insufficient rating base to meet the high capital expenditure required to install new systems. The Labour led government established the Sanitary Works Subsidy Scheme to assist small and medium sized communities to fund new or upgrade existing sewage treatment plants to Public Health and Resource Management Act requirements. As well as improved sewage treatment the scheme also covers new works to add fluoride to community drinking-water supplies where communities chose to do so.  LABOUR WILL:  • Investigate the establishment of a similar subsidy scheme for public water supplies.  The Local Government Bill 2001 contains provisions to protect against the privatisation of essential services. While Labour believes that local government should be able to exercise a power of general competence we will ensure that provisions remain in legislation to protect essential infrastructure and require full community consultation when there is a proposal to sell strategic assets. The stock of local authority-owned social housing, especially pensioner housing, has been built up over many years as a result of generous subsidies from central government and the income stream from the rents of tenants. The Labour led government has indicated that pensioner housing would be designated a strategic asset for which there is a requirement for full consultation with communities in the event of a possible sale.  LABOUR WILL:  • Seek to restore the partnership between local and central government with respect to the provision of social housing to ensure that vulnerable communities are guaranteed access to quality affordable housing.  ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.  Local government, through its role in preparing, implementing and enforcing regional, city and district plans under the Resource Management Act, is the principal guardian of the environment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with local government to promote environmental sustainability through a variety of mechanisms including:  o the development of national policy statements.  o the promulgation of best practice guidelines.  o greater use of pre-hearing conferences before resource consent applications are heard, and formal mediation processes to explore outof- court settlements before appeals are heard by the Environment Court.  The Labour led government has substantially increased funding for the Environment Court to speed up RMA decisions, and in our next term we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Court to eliminate unnecessary delays. Local government is also the principal agent for the management of solid waste and wastewater. The Labour led government developed the New Zealand Waste Strategy that emphasises the need for reduction at source. Labour recognises that if recycling is to be facilitated and incentives to create waste removed, in order to meet the targets set out in that strategy, there will need to be co-operation between central government, local government and industry. Small local authorities, in particular, will require assistance to adopt modern trade waste bylaws and economic small-scale recycling projects. Labour recognises the need to build the capacity of local authorities to meet the challenges of implementing government strategies such as the New Zealand Waste Strategy and the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and also to carry out their role in responding to climate change. A further aspect of sustainability is the preservation of historic sites and buildings. Local authorities have discovered that the classification of historic buildings provides very little protection for them if demolition offers the owner a much better return than retention. In these circumstances purchase by the local authority, or subsidy to a buyer committed to retention, is often the only way of preserving the building. New Zealand could learn much from the example of European countries, which have a longer history of successful preservation of historic buildings.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass the Resource Management Amendment Bill.  • Work with Local Government New Zealand to provide best practice guidelines for the administration of the Resource Management Act, including the wider use of pre-hearing conferences and formal mediation.  • Liaise closely with Local Government New Zealand and other key stakeholders in developing and implementing a New Zealand Sustainable Development Strategy.  • Resource a public education campaign as part of the New Zealand Waste Strategy.  • Hold regular forums for industry and local government to develop mutually agreed measures to achieve waste reduction targets.  • Facilitate the adoption by smaller local authorities of modern trade waste bylaws and viable recycling schemes.  • Build the capacity of local authorities to cope with and contribute to the implementation of the climate change programme.  • Continue to give financial support through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to energy efficiency projects.  • Investigate and, where appropriate, implement world best practice models for securing the retention of historic buildings.  • Continue to promote and assist initiatives to enhance urban design and the quality of the built environment.  • Strengthen the community leadership role of local government in ensuring sustainable development at the local level.  • Recognise and disseminate good practice by local government in relation to sustainable development (e.g. awards for best practice in the development of Long Term Community Council Plans proposed in the Local Government Bill).  MÄORI AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.  The Labour led government introduced the Local Government Bill which provides principles and mechanisms to facilitate participation by Mäori in local authority decisionmaking. There is also provision for the creation of Mäori electoral wards. As the proportion of Mäori in the population varies greatly over the country, it is appropriate for different solutions to be adopted in different areas. For many years the rating of Mäori land has been a problem both for Mäori and for local authorities, principally because of the multiple ownership and the low productive capacity of much of the land. New provisions in the Rating Powers Act allow local authorities to implement policies for rates remission on Mäori land. The provisions are permissive, not mandatory, because circumstances vary greatly from one area to another. Labour will support the development of guidance for local authorities on the preparation of policies for such rate remissions.  LABOUR WILL:  • Monitor the effectiveness of the new provisions for Mäori participation and representation.  • Work with Local Government New Zealand, on developing guidance for the development of policy on rates remission policies on Mäori land.  TRANSPORT.  The Labour led government has begun tackling a legacy of neglect by previous governments by making structural changes and investing extra funding to improve transport infrastructure. Major problems such as congestion in our larger cities and poor rural roading networks are being addressed. Labour believes it is necessary to take a long-term approach to meeting these transport challenges and has developed New Zealand’s first transport strategy that provides a long-term plan for achieving an integrated, sustainable, affordable and responsive transport system. Labour appreciates the need for co-operation between the public and private sectors and will strengthen the partnership between local and central government in implementing the New Zealand Transport Strategy. Labour is committed to local authority ownership and management of local roads, but will encourage local authorities to form clusters with other road controlling authorities where this would provide efficiency gains. The Labour led government provided a major funding boost for addressing key land transport priorities. These priorities include reducing severe congestion, improving road safety, assisting regional development and alternatives to roads, improving passenger transport and promoting walking and cycling. Increases in the numbers travelling on buses has flowed from the Labour led government’s injection of assistance in the form of patronage funding. The purchase of the Auckland rail corridor has also demonstrated Labour’s commitment of public transport. It is clear that, if New Zealand is to achieve the reductions in energy consumption required by the Kyoto Protocol, there must be some move away from reliance on the private car towards use of public transport, whether bus, ferry or rail, and other non-car modes such as cycling, as the chief means of personal transport.  LABOUR WILL:  • Pass new land transport management legislation.  • Encourage the adoption of innovative solutions to transport challenges (including the use of technology for such things as integrated ticketing).  • Continue to work with local authorities to achieve efficiencies in road construction and maintenance.  • Promote partnerships between various road safety stakeholders, including local authorities, to ensure that reductions in the road toll continue.  MÄORI SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  NATIONHOOD.  Labour recognises the Treaty of Waitangi is New Zealand's founding document and the basis of constitutional government in this country. It is the relationship between the Crown and tangata whenua which makes our country unique. By signing the Treaty, the Crown guaranteed the rights of hapü and undertook to protect them. The Crown also recognised Mäori as co-signatories under the articles of the Treaty. Labour values and remains committed to strengthening its tangata whenua relationship. Labour in government has been, and will remain, committed to fulfilling its obligations as a Treaty partner to support self-determination for whänau, hapü and iwi. Labour believes the Treaty of Waitangi provides a basis from which strong, mutually respectful relationships can be developed and strengthened. Labour leads a nation in which whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities have had the opportunity to make their own decisions about their development aspirations. Labour is committed to leading a nation where the Treaty of Waitangi is well understood by all. Labour has demonstrated its commitment to affirming the Treaty of Waitangi relationship through engaging directly with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities. Ten regional visits by Helen Clark, senior government Ministers and MPs have been made throughout the country over the last year and a half. Labour in a second term in government will continue to support whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to reach their full potential. Government policies have, over the last century and a half, created a situation where the indigenous language has been pushed to the brink of extinction. Te reo Mäori embodies and conveys the unique and specific concepts, knowledge and belief systems of tangata whenua most accurately and genuinely. Labour acknowledges that the government has a responsibility to play a positive and proactive role in supporting the restoration and revitalisation of the indigenous language – te reo Mäori – in homes, schools and communities. There has been progress made in this term in finding an allocation model for the fisheries asset and there is also a need to progress issues concerning Crown forests. Labour recognises that only through full participation by all members of society will the potential of all in society be realised, therefore realising the full potential of the nation.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue with a regional visit programme by Helen Clark and her senior Ministers and MPs, to engage directly with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities around the country.  • Ensure that Treaty of Waitangi clauses are implemented in relevant legislation.  • Establish and implement a Treaty of Waitangi education programme to improve the understanding of all New Zealanders.  • Ensure the co-ordination of resources and programmes to continue the revitalisation of te reo Mäori.  • Work to ensure that all Mäori have the opportunity to learn te reo Mäori.  • Continue to progress the allocation of the fisheries asset to its conc lusion.  • Progress work on Crown forests.  REFOCUSING BUREAUCRACY.  Labour recognises that one aspect of the Treaty of Waitangi relationship is to ensure the state equitably resources services and initiatives that contribute to and strengthen whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori community development. The Labour led government actively encouraged an extensive range of development initiatives designed and implemented by whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori. We also completed significant unfinished business from previous governments, such as the tax reforms for Mäori organisations which hold assets in communal ownership; Te Ture Whenua Mäori Act amendments improving land development opportunities; negotiated a one-off payment to compensate Mäori Reserved Landowners; getting the Mäori Television Service up and running, and making significant progress on the allocation of the fisheries asset. The Labour led government also put in place a Mäori development programme within Te Puni Kökiri that includes:  • The Capacity Building fund providing over $17 million to support whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities empower themselves by developing and implementing their own solutions.  • The Mäori Business Facilitation Service which has seen over 300 new Mäori owned businesses created and provided with ongoing support.  • Local Level Solutions which are designed and delivered by whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities, to meet their priorities and provide a foundation from which they can move forward.  • Direct Resourcing, which creates the opportunity for whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to purchase services to meet self identified priorities and solutions which improve development progress and contribute to fair and equitable allocation of resources. It also includes a range of capacity-building and development initiatives across the whole of government, for example, strengthening iwi and Mäori social service provision, improving housing through income-related rents and specific relationships between iwi and government to build or improve homes, and implementing the regional economic development programme, the Sustainable Farming Fund and the Farm Improvement Advisory Scheme. Labour expects Te Puni Kökiri to provide strong and robust advice on issues affecting whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities. This will include strengthening the involvement of iwi, Mäori communities and their organisations at a regional level in policies designed to accelerate growth and development. In our second term of government, this work will be consolidated and a firm base built as a platform upon which the shared goals of government and whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities can be achieved.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to develop programmes across the whole of government to support, facilitate and fairly resource whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to manage their own social and economic development.  • Ensure that whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori community capability and capacity is resourced and supported so they can engage constructively with the full range of government agencies.  • Make public service chief executives of all government agencies accountable through purchase agreements, statements of intent, and performance agreements for achieving effective spending on programmes that impact on Mäori.  • Encourage all levels of the bureaucracy to develop the culture of working collaboratively and constructively to achieve the goals set by whänau, hapü, iwi, and local communities.  • Ensure monitoring and evaluation includes dual accountability mechanisms to evaluate performance and process towards shared development outcomes.  CUSTOMARY RESPONSIBILITIES.  Labour accepts that whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori must be able to retain the ability to access and protect traditional resource areas including those of cultural significance. Labour recognises the right of whänau, hapü and iwi, as kaitiaki, to participate in the decisions of government affecting those areas.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure whänau, hapü and iwi retain their ability to access, use, and participate in the protection of traditional resource areas.  • Ensure whänau, hapü and iwi retain access to and use of areas that have cultural significance.  SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.  The Labour led government has been committed to a programme that accelerates Mäori social and economic development and is aligned with Mäori development needs and aspirations.Mäori social development will provide a strengthened foundation within whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities from which to take up existing opportunities and create new ones. Progress has included strengthened iwi and Mäori social services, access to appropriate health care when needed and improved access to adequate housing. Labour intends to build on the progress to date and will continue to facilitate and ensure equitable resourcing for whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to engage in and further strengthen that foundation, to achieve their social deve lopment goals. Improving living conditions and creating opportunities for whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to work with government to achieve their goals has created the forward momentum that Labour will build on in its second term and beyond.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities are able to identify their own needs, goals and objectives and are supported to meet these through their own mechanisms (tikanga) of delivery.  • Ensure equitable and fair allocation of resources to enable whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to achieve positive social development outcomes.  • Ensure that the full range of government agencies work constructively to facilitate this process.  • Ensure that the social security system achieves shared goals of social participation and social equity by facilitating and supporting whänau as they move into sustainable, quality employment.  • Ensure that the education and training systems are responsive to Mäori needs and aspirations and provide a wide range of opportunities to access education and skills training, which will enable Mäori to gain sustainable, quality employment.  HOUSING.   Improving housing for whänau has been a major achievement of the Labour led government. More than 15,000 Mäori households are in state housing and able to benefit from Labour’s income-related rents. There are programmes to improve the homes of whänau living in difficult situations in Northland, Bay of Plenty and the East Coast and relationships and partnerships are being developed and strengthened with iwi that are addressing their specific housing situations.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to implement policies that will lead to all whänau having adequate homes.  • Continue to work with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities who identify housing as a significant issue for them.  HEALTH.   Labour has worked to ensure that whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities are able to participate at every level of the decision making process in health. This includes ensuring representation on all District Health Boards (DHBs), making DHBs responsive to the health needs of Mäori, encouraging participation in decisions on the services to be provided within DHB regions, and strengthening iwi and Mäori health providers. The Labour led government has also consulted on He Korowai Oranga, the Mäori Health Strategy. The inclusion of references to the Treaty of Waitangi in relevant social legislation, such as the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000, is important to ensure partnership and participation of all citizens.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to ensure He Korowai Oranga is implemented and the goals within the strategy are met.  • Focus on quality primary health care provision to ensure services are available when they are first needed.  • Work with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to focus on wellness as part of the treatment strategies.  • Ensure that the new Primary Health Organisations include Mäori health provider and consumer participation so that equitable access to resources and quality services is achieved.  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.  Labour believes social and economic development must be balanced in progressing towards shared goals. All government agencies have been expected to work constructively to make this a reality. Progress on Mäori economic development has included:  • Strengthened participation and achievement across the education sector including through Hui Taumata Mätauranga.  • A significantly reduced Mäori unemployment rate with over 24,000 more Mäori in jobs now than when Labour entered government.  • Increased employment and training opportunities leading to more jobs.  • Support for innovative business creation and growth, and a significantly increased number of tangata whenua running their own businesses. Accelerating and sustaining economic development within whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities remains a priority and goes hand in hand with achieving self- identified socia l and cultural development goals.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities are full partners in socially responsible economic development.  • Ensure that there are adequate opportunities for whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to participate in this country’s drive to innovation and economic transformation.  • Actively encourage Mäori businesses to access the full range of economic and business development funding available as well as ensure that all government agencies managing these funds provide appropriate and accessible information that will encourage and foster successful Mäori participation.  • Ensure venture capital funding supports Mäori business creation and development.  • Continue to provide funding for successful Mäori business creation and development.  • Actively engage whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities in regional economic and social development planning. • Ensure that government agencies work constructively with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to achieve development goals.  EDUCATION.   Labour delivered on its promise to hold a Hui Taumata Mätauranga, which was hosted by Ngati Tuwharetoa. The national and regional Hui Taumata Mätauranga have created opportunities for whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities to get invo lved and have their say in shaping the future of the education system in New Zealand. As a result, Labour is working in partnership with iwi and communities around the country, enabling the government to better engage with whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities and work together with them to improve Mäori participation and achievement.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to encourage whänau to participate fully in education and life long learning – from early childhood and compulsory education to tertiary, wänanga or training.  • Increase the number of Mäori teachers, by various means including scholarships, and provide quality professional development for new and existing Mäori teachers.  • Improve professional development opportunities for Boards of Trustees, principals and those involved in running schools, and continue to work with them in developing those opportunities.  • Continue to improve and develop resources for teachers working in bi- lingual and te reo Mäori immersion education.  TREATY SETTLEMENTS.  The Treaty settlement process for historical claims is important in the development and maturity of our nation. The process must maintain its integrity. It is possible, however, to improve the process. Labour will not compromise the integrity of the settlement process by speeding it up beyond the capacity of those involved, to a point where the fullness and finality of settlements must be brought into question. The settlements, along with progress on social and economic development, have demonstrated a move from grievance to development mode.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the process for reaching fair and just, full and final settlements for wellresearched, evidence-based Treaty of Waitangi claims, in a way which will support both Treaty partners progress through to settlement, with the aim of improving it.  CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.  Labour recognises the importance of the unique indigenous identity of whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities and the impact it has on social, economic and cultural development and well being. Labour also recognises the importance of that unique identity to the development of this country and its significance in the international arena. Labour supports the preservation, development and promotion of whänau, hapü, iwi, and Mäori communities’ unique indigenous identity and the expression of that identity.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to work on strengthening the co-ordination of the work to revitalise the language, especially within the homes of whänau, which includes improving access to the language, developing resources for all levels and promoting the language within whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities, and across the public sector.  • Continue to support the promotion of all forms of indigenous art development happening within whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities and continue to create opportunities to showcase indigenous art to the country and the world, including identifying quality and authenticity standards.  • Support Mäori sports, arts and cultural initiatives which nurture our sporting and artistic talents and create opportunities to gain further education, training and qualifications.  • Promote opportunities for Mäori involvement in sports, as a way of improving the health and well being of whänau, hapü, iwi and Mäori communities.  • Support, strengthen and promote quality iwi and Mäori broadcasting, including through mainstream broadcasters, and continue to move towards the coordination of long term sustainable broadcasting that includes radio, internet, and the Mäori Television Service. Mäori broadcasting has its own unique style and will be an important vehicle for innovative and creative broadcasting involving Mäori language and Mäori perspectives, having a positive impact on this nation’s life and culture.  • Continue to increase iwi and Mäori input into national and international tourism strategies, help strengthen existing Mäori tourism organisations at a regional level, encourage better co-ordination between the regions and between iwi and Mäori tourist operators and foster the development of new, quality tourist ventures.  OVERSEAS AID AND DEVELOPMENT.  LABOUR’S VISION.  The principal purpose of New Zealand’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme is to contribute to the international effort to eliminate poverty and help development based on equitable economic, social and environmental policies tha t benefit present and future generations. Labour has established a new specialised agency, the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID), that will develop expertise and experience in best development practice. The primary focus of NZAID is to eradicate poverty. Programmes will be promoted which most directly impact upon poverty at both the macro-economic and local level. New Zealand’s assistance will primarily be focused on the Pacific and then on the South/South East Asian countries. Labour will develop its relationship with the Pacific, to ensure that its policy best assists future development needs.  GUIDING PRINCIPLES.  SOCIAL JUSTICE.   All development projects will be assessed for their contribution to reducing poverty and inequality, and promoting human rights.  EQUALITY AND EQUITY.   Support will be given for economic initiatives that reduce the disparities between people by improving the position of the poor. Labour believes in building equitable partnerships with developing countries and with other donor governments, multilateral funders, civil society and the private sector, both in developing countries and in New Zealand. Labour supports policies that address gender issues and achieve the active inclusion of women in all aspects of development activity. Such policies will encourage and support the entry of women into public life through awareness campaigns designed to foster the rights of all women, and support for initiatives to address violence against and abuse of women. NZAID will focus on participatory development processes where possible ensuring that people in partner countries are an integral part of the decision-making processes.  FAIRNESS.   There must be policy coherence in our approach to international development and other related policies, particularly trade. The social impact of such policies, proposed at a domestic or an international level, should be analysed for their impact on partner countries and any detrimental effects will be appropriately addressed.  SUSTAINABILITY.   Development activity must contribute to lasting improvement in people’s lives. Strategies will maximise local control and decision- making. Recipient partner countries will be assisted to strengthen the institutions of government, business and civil society to support their ability to develop. The principles in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development must be an integral part of development assistance strategies.  PEACE.   Development assistance plays an important part in building, rebuilding and maintaining a peaceful world. Poverty and deprivation, breaches of basic human rights, disease and ignorance can cause massive dislocation of people and aggression by or against them. Development assistance should be regarded as a key security strategy. Development education has an important role to play in disseminating information about development to New Zealand people. Non-governmental organisations working in New Zealand also have an important role to play in building links between people in New Zealand and people in countries overseas.  PARTNERSHIP.   Recognising New Zealand’s small size and also that sustainable deve lopment is only achievable when it is owned and driven by the people at the centre of development, NZAID will build partnerships to achieve effective development outcomes and to attempt to minimise imbalances in partnership relationships. To achieve these guiding principles Labour will work in partnership with the international community to ensure that New Zealand’s ODA policies address the UN Millennium Development Goals:  • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.  • Achieve universal primary education.  • Promote gender equality and empower women.  • Reduce child mortality.  • Improve maternal health.  • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.  • Ensure environmental sustainability.  • Develop a global partnership for development.  In particular Labour will focus on poverty, education and health.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES FOR ITS NEXT TERM.  POVERTY.   The new millennium should be a time to give hope to the impoverished people of the world. Unpayable debts of these nations are making it impossible for them to build their economies and improve their living standards.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure that New Zealand works with agencies at the international level to develop macro-economic policies that improve the position of the poorest people and address issues such as economic management, infrastructure development and the distribution of wealth within countries. Within the Pacific region New Zealand will work within the Pacific Forum to pursue these policies and to provide assistance for their implementation.  • Encourage NZAID to place particular emphasis on institutional development at both government and civil society level.  • Ensure that NZAID provides, where necessary, technical assistance and training to enable partner countries to participate effectively in multilateral fora, particularly trade fora.  • Ensure that NZAID focuses on programmes that address basic health and education, capacity-building, advocacy and income-generation. All programmes will ensure the increased participation of women, competence and skill-building.  • Work with international agencies and governments to encourage leaders of lending nations to write off impoverished nations’ debts subject to savings being invested in measures to improve the quality of life of ordinary people.  EDUCATION.   LABOUR WILL:  • Place special emphasis on education to assist partner countries to develop their own knowledge and skills resources.  • Ensure that NZAID works with other donors to fund the comprehensive provision of basic education, complemented by scholarships to tertiary institutions. In order to provide high quality education at all levels, development of local and regional institutions will be the priority of such programmes. Scholarships to New Zealand institutions will be maintained where they can be shown to contribute to an integrated programme of development in partner countries.  HEALTH.   LABOUR WILL:  • Work with other donors in the Pacific to develop a regional health strategy that addresses access to appropriate health care for people in Pacific Island countries. The focus of this programme will be on provision of preventative primary health care and health education in-country, provision of basic hospital services within each country and the region and, where appropriate, negotiation of agreements for equitable access to New Zealand hospitals for conditions requiring more specialised treatment.  • Work with other donors and voluntary agencies in other countries to fund health care programmes that will achieve the targets set out in the OECD strategy.  GENERAL.   LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage improved understanding of development issues by New Zealanders and support their involvement in effective development processes.  • Give increased support for development education, particularly programmes run by community and private sector organisations that aim to reach a wider cross section of the public.  • Support specific research programmes that improve knowledge of key development issues, with particular emphasis on the Pacific region.  • Support New Zealand non-governmental organisations and private sector organisations whose work meets Labour’s goals and whose method of operation recognises the importance of local ownership, partnership building and sustainability.  • Support domestic and international efforts to halt exploitative practices.  • Ensure that all development work is effectively monitored and evaluated.  • Ensure that we meet our international commitments on funding for development and achieve maximum effectiveness of our development effort.  • Work towards achieving the ultimate goal of 0.7 percent of GNP devoted to aid.  • Ensure that programmes are consistent with the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the recommendations from the Fourth World Conference on Women and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.  • Play an active role in the multilateral funding agencies such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asia Development Bank to encourage the policies of those agencies to be based on principles of environmentally and economically sustainable development. These agencies will be encouraged to implement debt relief policies for the poorest countries to encourage peoplecentred growth.  • Give particular support to multilateral organisations that focus on poverty relief and eradication. Other organisations will receive support where their goals are commensurate with the principles of Labour’s policy.  • Work to enhance the institutional capacity of partner governments, and the institutions of business and civil society within partner countries, with a view to reducing the amount of technical support required from external sources.  • Require New Zealand government departments, where appropriate, to work together to assist with meeting our development goals. In particular the New Zealand Defence Force will continue to be involved in infrastructure projects in the Pacific where necessary and will continue to play a role in the event of disasters in the region. Targets will be set to achieve progressive realisation of this policy.  PACIFIC ISSUES.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour recognises the special relationship New Zealand has with its Pacific neighbours and those who live here. Labour believes Pacific communities in New Zealand should be able to participate fully in the life of the country. Pacific peoples have contributed significantly to New Zealand’s labour force and cultural diversity. They have an essential contribution to make to our economic and social development. Labour seeks to address the particular needs and aspirations of Pacific peoples. Labour recognises the inherent value and opportunities presented by the richness and diversity of Pacific peoples in New Zealand. We want full participation of all Pacific peoples, especially women, in all aspects of New Zealand society. Labour believes that economic independence for Pacific individuals and communities is vital to New Zealand’s success. Labour will provide support and encouragement for Pacific peoples to realise their potential to contribute to, and be reflected in, New Zealand’s economic, social, and cultural fabric. This will involve a whole-of-government approach, supporting Pacific peoples to identify, create and seize opportunities.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has implemented many initiatives that have benefited Pacific peoples.  HOUSING.   The Labour led government:  • Reintroduced income-related rentals for state house tenants. Approximately 20 percent of state house tenants are Pacific peoples. 53,000 low-income state house tenants now receive an income-related rent. Approximately 11,400 of this total are Pacific families.  • Introduced the ‘Healthy Housing’ programme, aimed at reducing overcrowding which contributes to the spread of infectious illnesses such as meningococcal disease, and provided $63 million for this programme over the next 4 years. Pacific families, especially infants, are particularly at risk of meningococcal disease.  • Increased the total stock of Housing New Zealand houses and increased the numbers designed to cater for larger families.  HEALTH.   The Labour led government:  • Increased the representation of Pacific peoples on District Health Boards, so they have a stronger voice in the development of our health system.  • Provided an extra $5 million a year for Pacific health providers. There are now about 30 Pacific health provider organisations providing ‘for Pacific by Pacific’ services.  EDUCATION.   The Labour led government:  • Created over one thousand extra places in Pacific early childhood centres and licensed and chartered 32 new Pacific early childhood centres.  • Released the Pasifika Education Plan outlining the government’s goals and targets for Pacific education.  • Provided extra funding in this year’s Budget for Pacific education including:  o $1.2 million over four years to increase the New Zealand Qualifications Authority’s (NZQA) work with Pacific peoples  o $126,000 over two years for the professional development of Samoan teachers  o an extra $412,000 over four years for Anau Ako Pasifika, providing home-based early childhood education and parental development for Pacific families with young children.  • Increased the number of Pacific teachers. Forty Pacific TeachNZ scholarships are now available each year for Pacific peoples entering early childhood education teacher training, and 75 are available each year for those entering primary and secondary training.  LANGUAGE.   The Labour led government:  • Provided $7.4 million funding to establish a national Pacific radio network, expected to be on air in September 2002.  DEVELOPMENT.   The Labour led government:  • Has lowered the rate of unemployment amongst Pacific peoples by over 20 percent since taking office.  • Allocated $3.1 million over four years to develop social services to meet the needs of Pacific families.  • Provided the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs with a 20 percent increase in funding - the first increase the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs has ever had.  • Funded the Pacific development assistance programme that is budgeted to provide more than $106 million to assist Pacific countries in the next year. The main areas of focus will be education, health and community development initiatives.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  IN OUR SECOND TERM LABOUR WILL CONTINUE TO:  • Support the development of capacity and capability in ‘of Pacific for Pacific’ organisations in the delivery of social services, health and education with particular emphasis on workforce development issues to ensure more education and training opportunities for Pacific people.  • Support and promote capacity-building for Pacific communities and encourage representation of Pacific peoples at all levels of government decision-making.  • Promote improved monitoring and evaluation of policy in terms of the outcomes for Pacific peoples.  • Promote appropriate representation of Pacific peoples at all levels including on government-appointed boards and taskforces, and within government departments.  • Ensure appropriate monitoring and accountability regimes in the public sector to enable transparency of processes and evaluation of outcomes achieved for Pacific peoples.  • Ensure that New Zealand’s Official Development Assistance continues to have a major focus on the Pacific and places special emphasis on education to assist partner countries develop their own knowledge and skills, so increasing their ability to become self-sufficient.  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.   LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure the economic development aspirations of Pacific peoples are appropriately incorporated into future regional development strategies funded and supported by the Ministry for Economic Development.  • Promote the involvement of Pacific peoples in science and technology so they can actively participate in the knowledge economy.  • Support the development of strategies to increase the numbers of Pacific peoples taking up Modern Apprenticeships, fellowships and formal workplace training to better position Pacific peoples to participate in the labour market.  • Look to expand assistance for Pacific people to develop their own businesses through the Pacific Business Trust and other regional economic initiatives.  • Develop initiatives to foster the growth and showcasing of Pacific music, fashion, visual and performing arts and culture, and other employment and entrepreneurial initiatives.  HEALTH AND DISABILITY ISSUES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to reduce inequalities in the health status of Pacific peoples by working to ensure accessible and appropriate services.  • Ensure there is Pacific peoples’ representation at all levels of the health service.  • Attack the diseases of poverty like meningitis, rheumatic fever, whooping cough and TB.  • Promote programmes that specifically address the health needs of Pacific women and children.  • Actively encourage Pacific women to participate in the national breast and cervical cancer screening services.  • Investigate screening programmes for diabetes in conjunction with programmes for hepatitis B screening.  • Increase access to, and the quality of, both Pacific and mainstream providers that deliver disability services to disabled Pacific peoples, their families and communities.  • Encourage Pacific communities to consider disability issues and perspectives and further their own understanding of disability through the development of community-based plans for disability issues.  SUPPORT FOR PACIFIC PEOPLES’ LANGUAGES.   The growing Pacific population in New Zealand highlights the need for appropriate recognition of and support for Pacific peoples’ languages.  LABOUR WILL:  • Investigate the potential for a Pacific Language Commission to assist in the fostering of Pacific languages in New Zealand, particularly for the 60 percent of Pacific peoples who were born here.  • Develop a coordinated strategy for Pacific broadcasting.  • Explore initiatives for increasing the numbers of Pacific programmes on mainstream television.  EDUCATION.   Labour supports access to educational opportunities at all levels for Pacific peoples.  LABOUR WILL:  • Help more children to participate in quality early childhood education by:  o giving the Ministry of Education responsibility for mapping the network of early childhood services, and planning future provision, so communities have the facilities they need, when they need them  o extending the Early Childhood Education participation initiative to more regions.  • Continue to implement the Tertiary Education Strategy 2002-2007. The Strategy provides a five-year blueprint covering all forms of tertiary learning, including foundation skills training, workplace learning and all forms of academic study. One of the six strategies underpinning the Strategy focuses on Pacific peoples, with an emphasis on participation and achievement.  • Support greater participation of Pacific peoples as tertiary and compulsory education and training providers.  • Continue working to achieve the goals of the Pasifika Education Plan released last year. The plan includes a range of initiatives and capacity-building strategies to ensure these goals are achieved.  HOUSING.   Recognising the importance of housing to health, education attainment and other aspects of well-being, Labour will continue to address the particular housing needs of Pacific peoples, using a whole-of-government approach where appropriate.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure more state rental houses designed for larger (extended) families are available along with appropriate housing options for Pacific older people.  IMMIGRATION.   Labour has delivered on its immigration policies. Of particular importance to Pacific peoples was the October 2000 Transitional Policy that allowed over 6000 well-settled people to remain in New Zealand, over half of whom were from Pacific nations. In July 2002 the Pacific Access Category was introduced, providing access for 250 residents from Tonga, 75 from Tuvalu and 50 from Kiribati.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to work very closely with Pacific governments to ensure that our special relationship is reflected in our immigration policy.  RACING.  INTRODUCTION.  New Zealand racing has many natural, competitive advantages. We have one of the best climates; our people having an outstanding reputation for skill; and we now have one of the biggest international markets, Asia, on our doorstep. New Zealand’s economic strength is built on the independence and innovative ability of its agricultural sector. Sharing as it does many of the same competitive advantages, racing can align itself with this successful primary industry culture. However, the racing industry is struggling to survive let alone grow. Labour is committed to working with the racing industry to realise its potential.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Taken the industry’s Racing Bill (five years after the industry first drafted it) through to its final stages in the House. This will streamline the statutory administrative structures.  • Improved broodmare depreciation rates.  • Removed longstanding, inappropriate tax liabilities such as GST on dead horses and offshore stake money.  • Worked with the Equine Training Organisation to identify opportunities and barriers in the areas of industry education and employment including facilitating a deal between the Education Trust and the Hong Kong Jockey Club to send their young people to New Zealand to train.  • Confirmed the TAB’s monopoly on sports and race betting and offered racing a new monopoly on interactive betting through the gaming review.  • Recognised racing’s unique status as a community purpose by allowing the industry to operate gaming machines while emphasising the commercial importance of the industry through the Racing Bill.  • Recognised the achievements of Group One winners as part of racing’s drive to highlight success.  • Commissioned an economic development study for the racing industry.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  Labour wants to help the industry to modernise itself toward sustainable growth through maximising strengths and opportunities.  STRUCTURES.   Statutory structures will be streamlined when the new Racing Act is passed. There is urgent and immediate work that could be done internally.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with the industry to identify its commercial opportunities by providing advice and facilitating links to other industries that have worked through similar issues.  DOMESTIC DEVELOPMENT.   Racing’s well-being depends on a thriving domestic industry. As well as encouraging the industry to modernise its internal regulatory environment, Labour will encourage racing to become a strong industry through fostering links with other industries.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage and facilitate a working relationship between racing and other industries such as tourism to help mainstream racing as a modern entertainment and hospitality industry.  EXPORTS.   As noted, New Zealand has certain competitive advantages. These are often shared by other land-based industries and Labour believes that there is much to be gained from working with these existing models.  LABOUR WILL:  • Help the industry develop its export markets, bloodstock and services, through the promotion of the New Zealand racing brand.  • Encourage and assist the industry to access existing trade network opportunities such as Trade New Zealand, Education New Zealand and its own, numerous people currently working abroad.  EDUCATION.   Labour recognises the vital role industry training plays in providing career pathways for young people and in delivering a skilled workforce to the industry.  LABOUR WILL:  • Establish an ‘away from home allowance’ pilot scheme in equine education for 16–18 year-olds to allow young people to develop careers in racing.  • Help the industry to implement the recommendations made in the Equine Industry Training Report (September 2001).  • Continue to promote New Zealand as a place for other countries to train their people.  TAXATION.   After ten years of lobbying by the industry, the issue of whether racing is fairly taxed as a non-profit organisation rather than as an industry has not been resolved. The right to operate gaming machines has been conferred on racing because the code’s bodies, organisations and clubs are incorporated societies. This does not always sit comfo rtably with the commercial needs of the industry and taxation is one aspect that has had a negative impact. Because it does not pay income tax, racing is subject to a high gaming duty, but with its multitude of incorporated societies an income tax regime would become complex and compliance costs would be too high. The taxation review did not cover this complex issue so the Labour led government asked officials to work toward ensuring that racing’s taxation is fair in comparison with other gaming sectors, including considering reducing the duty rate to reflect racing’s unique situation. Labour will ensure that this work is completed.  LABOUR WILL:  • Complete the investigation into taxation options for racing.  • Assist the industry in analysing other taxation models and the economic implications of change.  RAINBOW ISSUES.  Every person is entitled to equal rights under the law. Labour believes that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender New Zealanders are entitled, equally with all other New Zealanders, to fairness and equality under the law. Sometimes it takes a person who has been affected by discrimination to identify it properly, and explain it, so others can understand. Labour believes that awareness of and meeting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people’s policy needs is best done by GLBT people themselves. Throughout this policy document, the term ‘GLBT’ or ‘LGBT’ has been used to refer to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, fa’a’fine, takataapui, and intersex communities.  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.  Labour recognises GLBT communities are diverse but with many experiences and needs in common.  LABOUR WILL:  • Actively support and foster development of GLBT organisations that provide voices for the GLBT communities New Zealand-wide.  • Ensure that GLBT organisations do not face barriers accessing central and local government resources.  HUMAN RIGHTS.  Labour is committed to a human rights framework that upholds and protects the rights of all people.  LABOUR WILL:  • Include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Human Rights Act.  • Amend all remaining laws that cause unfair discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.  • Ensure that the Human Rights Commission’s National Plan of Action fully addresses issues for GLBT people.  FAMILY LAW.  Labour values the diversity of family structures and relationships that exist in New Zealand today. We will ensure full equality in law for GLBT relationships and family structures.  LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce legislation for civil unions, incorporating rights and responsibilities equivalent to those of marriage, to give recognition to same sex (and different sex) relationships.  • Remove the aspects of adoption and guardianship law that discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity and place the primary focus in adoption and guardianship on the needs of the child.  YOUTH.  Labour recognises GLBT youth are entitled to equality and respect, whether they be at school, tertiary institutions, or the workplace.  LABOUR WILL:  • Require educational institutions to ensure GLBT students are safe and face no barriers to being open about their sexuality, or gender identity.  • Ensure that the Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy recognises the importance of preventive work amongst GLBT youth.  HEALTH.  It is a core Labour policy that the well-being and health of any community is improved by taking a holistic and inclusive approach to health care and service delivery. This is just as true for the GLBT communities as for any others.  LABOUR WILL:  • Raise awareness of the barriers and discrimination experienced by members of the LGBT communities in trying to meet their health needs.  • Improve and develop access to services by educating health, education and social work professionals.  • Implement the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, the Primary Health Strategy, and ensure GLBT issues are included in strategy documents as appropriate.  • Improve the delivery of HIV/AIDS treatment and health promotion.  GOVERNMENT EXPERTISE.  Labour has seen the value in policy development of advisory bodies and Ministerial units for different groups whose voices might otherwise not be heard.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure there is a desk officer within the Ministry of Social Development to liaise with GLBT communities and develop policy on relevant issues across the wholeof- government.  RURAL AFFAIRS.  At the core of Labour's rural policy is the conviction that vibrant rural communities, thriving land-based industries, and a healthy rural environment are profoundly interdependent. Unless each of these elements is sustained, the others will not be sustainable in the long term. Labour in government will continue to strengthen the partnership between central government and rural communities to ensure that people living in rural communities have the same opportunities as their urban counterparts. Key areas in this will be the provision of telecommunications services, health, education, and law and order. The Labour led government has done more for the land-based industries and rural communities in its first term than the previous National government did in nine years. It has worked, and will continue to work, in partnership with rural communities and landbased industry to ensure the best outcomes for all stakeholders. In its first term, the Labour led government has:  • Established a voice for rural people by appointing a Minister for Rural Affairs, backed by a team within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry which ensures the effects of government policies on rural communities and industries are taken into account.  • Facilitated industry-supported restructuring in the kiwifruit, pipfruit and dairy industries.  • Established Heartland Service Centres, which have restored face to face access to a range of government services for rural communities and provided support to local voluntary groups through access to resources.  • Set up the Sustainable Farming Fund, which has driven innovation in rural communities, helping to make them economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.  • Kept open courts in provincial centres, and increased traffic patrols and targeted road safety campaigns to save rural people’s lives by decreasing accidents.  • Provided $32 million for paying a premium to attract medical practitioners to rural and provincial areas, as well as introducing the Rural Locum Support Scheme and the Rural Practice Support Scheme to help GPs in isolated areas.  • Funded mobile surgical units to provide services in rural areas.  • Implemented industry development strategies in sectors such as wood processing and biotechnology.  • Revitalised provincial economies and boosted employment through the Regional Partnership Programme.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to facilitate producer-driven industry reform where the majority of producers support it, it is fair to minority interests, and where it is in the national interest. We anticipate restructuring in the wine, hops, deer, wool, and meat industries.  • Expand the resources available to the hugely successful Sustainable Farming Fund, as long as projects demonstrate good value for the taxpayer.  • Improve water management processes to ensure the wise balancing of recreational, economic, and environmental needs.  • Clarify public rights of access to high country and other land.  • Improve rural people’s access to services, such as health, education, employment, and telecommunications.  • Further expand the scope for the Rural Affairs support within MAF to undertake research and assessment of the impact of government policy on rural communities and land-based industries.  THE ECONOMIC FRAMEWORK.  Some 60 per cent of New Zealand’s exports are sourced from our primary sector – from farming, forestry, horticulture and fisheries. Our objective is to support the movement of New Zealand's exports and economy upmarket, so that success is driven less by good luck (including good weather) and more by educated and skilled people; science, research and technology; innovation and productivity and entrepreneurial skill. The agricultural sector remains critical to that success and will remain central to the new economy of the future. Labour understands the deep disquiet in rural New Zealand surrounding the fact that large businesses have grown around the Resource Management Act (RMA) administration and determination.  LABOUR WILL:  • Help local government adopt best practice in RMA administration.  • Continue to make the RMA processes more user-friendly.  ACCESS TO MARKETS.  A healthy export sector is crucial to the prosperity and economic well-being of New Zealand. Labour has worked hard to secure greater access to international markets for our primary industry products advocating along the way for trade that takes into account environmental considerations and development for less developed countries. Labour is a strong advocate on behalf of our export sector, actively pursuing market access for New Zealand products and services. The Labour led government has:  • Played a significant role in launching the recent Doha round of multilateral WTO trade negotiations and advocated strongly for the phasing out of agricultural export subsidies, enhancing market access, and reducing trade-distorting domestic subsidies by industrial economies.  • Established the Closer Economic Partnership trade agreement with Singapore, begun negotiating a similar partnership with Hong Kong, and actively explored and advanced further similar initiatives.  CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RURAL SECTOR.  Human-induced greenhouse gases accumulating in the upper atmosphere are leading to changes in the world’s climate. This is likely to lead to sea level rises, changes in average rainfall patterns and more extreme weather events. New Zealand’s economy, with its reliance on agriculture, is uniquely vulnerable to changes to our equable weather patterns. Labour is committed to fostering economic growth and recognises that success in the primary industries is crucial for New Zealand’s continued economic prosperity. The Labour led government has designed its preferred climate change policy package with the objective of preserving opportunities for future generations while maintaining New Zealand’s international economic competitiveness (for further details see Labour’s Environment policy). Greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture present New Zealand with a particular challenge. Labour recognizes that the current state of knowledge and technology are insufficient to provide us with any economic means of reducing such methane emissions. Labour therefore proposes to proceed with a research programme funded jointly between government and the sector to investigate technologies which may produce economically viable emissions reductions in the future. Until that time, credits available to New Zealand from forestry sinks will be used to offset our agricultural emissions.  LABOUR WILL:  • Complete the consultation process with sector groups and the community on the preferred policies to give effect to our Kyoto obligations.  • Assist business and agriculture to identify new opportunities arising from the commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  • Support research aimed at achieving reductions in agricultural emissions.  FORESTRY.  LABOUR WILL:  • Attract new investment into wood processing to ensure maximum economic advantage to New Zealand from its plantation forestry resources.  • Promote international recognition of the role of plantation forestry in helping meet world demand for forestry products.  • Negotiate tariff barrier reductions for processed forestry products on international markets.  • Pay close attention to forestry biosecurity issues, with more emphasis on actively anticipating and dealing with new incursions.  • Require best practice in indigenous sustainable forest management.  • Develop a timber procurement policy aimed at ensuring that timber used by the New Zealand Government can be verified as coming from sustainably managed forests.  • Work towards ensuring that only sustainably produced timber is imported into New Zealand.  ANIMAL WELFARE.  Animal welfare is important, for its own sake, and in preserving the good image of New Zealand as a food producer. Consumers in both the domestic and major export markets are concerned about the treatment of animals associated with the products they consume. Animal containment and research practices are coming under increasing public scrutiny. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 came into force on 1 January 2000 providing for the preparation of codes of welfare for different species of animals and different farming practices but there is still the need for government to provide leadership and direction on the issue.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage New Zealand farm producer groups, to take leadership on issues of animal welfare and be in the forefront of instituting appropriate animal welfare standards.  • Encourage labelling/consumer information schemes for animal products (along the lines of SPCA egg accreditation scheme) which create a commercial incentive for improved animal welfare standards.  ORGANIC.  Organic agriculture is a valid and important ma rket sector for New Zealand farmers. Considerable funding for organic primary production projects has been allocated through Public Good Science funding and the Sustainable Farming Fund. A new standard for organic products has been formulated and will be issued shortly.  LABOUR WILL:  • Facilitate the further development of the organic sector, in response to market demand.  • Publish a new standard for organic products.  SCIENCE AND INNOVATION.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Science and innovation are key to Labour’s vision of an innovative economy in the 21st century. This vision is described in the Growth and Innovation framework released earlier this year. A key goal of this policy is to actively promote economic transformation. It also aims to further our understanding of our environment, and effectively contribute to solving the social challenges we face. Labour recognises basic research as a wellspring for a modern economy and a salient feature of a modern society. Taxpayer funded basic research is a vote of confidence in the quality of New Zealand scientists, a source of serendipitous discovery and a key ingredient in the development of innovative human capital. Labour will continue to take a strong leadership role to encourage greater partnership with industry and local communities. Labour will continue the growth in public science funding, measured as a percentage of GDP, that has occurred over the first term of the Labour led government. Increasing our commitment to science and innovation funding signals to the sector, and wider communities, that Labour is serious about developing a knowledge-based society. A key to the future knowledge economy is to enhance the status of science and innovation. As a country we need to foster greater respect for scientific and technical knowledge, education and research. The Labour led government established a range of measures to take a lead in this, including the high- level Science and Innovation Advisory Council and its successor the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board. Improving career structures in science, and attracting more young people to science and technology was also a priority. We will continue to enhance the work we have begun.  LABOUR’S RECORD.  The Labour led government has:  • Established the Science and Innovation Advisory Council and folded its findings into the growth and innovation framework.  • Funded strong growth in the basic sciences through the Marsden fund and the New Economy Research Fund.  • Made record increases in public/private partnership R&D funding through the Grants for Private Sector R&D fund and Technology New Zealand.  • Taken a measured approach to the GM issue and to the Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change.  • Set up the New Zealand Venture Investment Fund of $100 million to address the gap in the seed capital end of the venture capital spectrum.  • Enhanced the development of business incubators to commercialise good ideas.  • Eased the tax treatment of R&D so that it is all now immediately tax deductible.  • Created a new Science output class: Mäori Knowledge and Development.  • Established a Biotechnology Industry Taskforce to pick international trends on which New Zealand’s biotechnology sector might capitalise, develop strategies for building high- value technologies, and identify areas where Government action might enhance the sector’s development.  • Established an Information and Communications Industry Taskforce with similar objectives.  • Enhanced Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowships.  • Increased the ‘Graduates in Industry Fund’.  • Engaged in a major new research project with the Welcome Trust on the health of Pacific peoples.  • Increased tertiary funding, including the Centres of Research Excellence programme.  • Increased RS&T funding by 18 percent over three years. There is more to do in these areas and in new areas. However, our commitment to the future is clear.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR.  LABOUR WILL:  • Increase basic research funding through further increases in the Marsden Fund, the New Economy Research Fund, and support for Centres of Research Excellence.  • Review, improve and increase support for promising individuals through various scholarship programmes.  • Increase consortium funding, in partnership with the private sector, to materially improve the level and strategic quality of industry research, and to promote an increase in private sector research at the sector or industry level.  • Increase Technology New Zealand funding to promote technology shifts and R&D expenditure commitments at the firm level.  • Promote deeper international linkages at all levels of New Zealand’s innovation system; official, institutional, sectoral, firm and individual.  • Continually review the taxation system to address any impediments to the emergence of a vibrant, internationally focused innovation system.  • Support and promote continued excellence in environmental research, with increased emphasis on sustainable development, climate change, and marine issues  • Support and promote rapidly emerging capacity in Mäori research.  • Support better co-ordination and focus of social research, including deeper dialogue between the research community and the Government as a major ‘client’ of this research.  • Augment the already exciting role played by Crown Research Institutes by exercising the government’s ownership role imaginatively, flexib ly, and assertively.  • Maintain a lead in the research of biologically based systems where New Zealand already has an established scientific reputation.  • Improve purchaser or investor evaluation of publicly funded research, and encourage a more co-operative funding approach rather than a pure contestable model.  • Identify and address remaining capital market or funding gaps in the innovation system, including perhaps pre-seed funding, venture capital, issues concerning stock options and the like.  • Evaluate and further promote the role of incubators in high value business formation.  • Promote the role of science and innovation in progressing New Zealand’s economic and social future.  • Celebrate scientists, prospective scientists and science teachers by expanding awards, scholarships, honours and role modeling activity.  • Engage and address the various tensions or challenges that society and science present one another, openly, proactively and broadly.  SOCIAL SECURITY.  INTRODUCTION.  Labour’s vision is of an effective social security system that works in harmony with our investments in education, health, housing and job-rich growth, to help build strong families and communities. For most people social security is a short-term need as they move between jobs or experience short periods where they cannot work due to ill-health or family circumstances. Social security provides others with vital assistance while they raise children, or help to people with disabilities to fully participate in their communities. Whatever the individual situation, social security in the modern world is about much more than the passive payment of a benefit. Our vision of social security is one where we support people in times of need but also assist them to lift their skills and abilities so they can build a better future for themselves and their families. That is why we have taken a social development approach to social security – one where we invest in people so that they can secure a job, build a better life for their children, and participate more fully in their community. Social development also drives our vision for social services and social policy, ensuring that services and policy work together to assist New Zealanders fulfil their potential.  FROM SOCIAL SECURITY TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.  Our vision is of a social security system that supports people in times of need and helps them to improve their situation through skill development and employment or, if work is not currently an option due to childcare or disability, increases their ability to participate in their community and improve their future prospects. This vision will help to build a decent future for all New Zealanders and to see an end to National’s legacy of long-term unemployment and child poverty. The social security system impacts on the living standards and employment prospects of many New Zealand families. Michael Joseph Savage and the first Labour government saw the need for a system that would protect New Zealanders against predictable crises such as loss of income through ‘age, illness, unemployment, widowhood or other misfortune.’ Most of the needs were short-term and the system was essentially based on limited, passive income assistance. Today’s world is far more dynamic and challenging, with many more people working part time and moving job or changing career path several times through their working lives. This places even more importance on us building a more active social security system that responds to today’s needs and circumstances and fully realises the capacity of people to participate in the economy and society. We have already achieved much in this regard but there is more work to do. For most people the best form of social security is a well paying, sustainable job. And our social development approach has seen record numbers of New Zealand families achieve just that.  LABOUR’S RECORD.  The Labour led government has been rebuilding social security to ensure it provides the support and assistance required in a modern economy. Our social development approach recognises that, while for most families the best form of security is a well-paying job, many people need to gain additional skills to get that job and positive income support is required in the meantime. That is why we have invested in better support and services, such as case management, training and skill development and adjusted the system to make work pay. We have also improved the way people on income support are treated and the support provided to people who cannot work due to temporary sickness, disability or family care responsibilities.  The Labour led government has:  • Driven unemployment driven to a 14 year low, with more New Zealanders working now than at any time in our history.  • Reversed National’s cuts to New Zealand Superannuation, restoring to older couples the right to receive a guaranteed 65 percent of the average wage at 65 years of age.  • Established the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to place superannuation on a firm footing for the future.  • Re-introduced income-related rents for low-income state house tenants – with most families saving between $20 and $80 a week.  • Abolished the wasteful Community Work scheme (which the evaluation proved actually worked against people getting a real job) and instituted the voluntary Activity in the Community programme.  • Restored separate Unemployment and Sickness benefits so that different needs can be well catered for.  • Achieved record numbers of job placements to help people move from benefit into work – for example, between October 2001 and April 2002 57,590 placements were made, compared with just 18,275 between October 1998 and April 1999.  • Reduced numbers receiving the Unemployment benefit from over 193,000 when we came into office to just under 124,000 in May 2002.  • Introduced ‘Making Work Pay’ changes to ensure that there are real rewards to taking a job and that supports are in place to help people get and keep a decent job.  • Worked to address particular problems faced by seasonal workers and instituted schemes to better support them, for example when weather conditions affect their ability to work. There are also strategies and programmes in place to assist the mature unemployed, Mäori and Pacific people to gain meaningful work.  • Restored the public service ethic in social security delivery–creating the Ministry of Social Development, incorporating the Work and Income service, and ensuring services follow sound policy principles.  • Focused the Work and Income service on ensuring people get full access to income support assistance and on responding to local labour market needs and opportunities.  • Removed the $5 standard deduction from the Special benefit and improved the way the benefit system, including hardship provisions, are administered.  • Changed the system to acknowledge that people who are job seeking, but cannot find employment right away, have a right to undertake voluntary work or activities to the benefit of their community.  • Introduced legislation to remove the work test from the Domestic Purposes and Widow’s benefits. New funding has also been provided to assist clients through more active case management, development activities and Pathways to Work payments that improve their current circumstances and future employment prospects.  • Increased childcare and out-of-school care (OSCAR) assistance including providing more hours of subsidised care and help to develop and strengthen services.  • Ensured officials work with community groups and beneficiary advocates to improve income support policies and services.  • Worked with business, local leaders and mayors to promote job-rich growth and opportunities for those currently on benefit. We are proud of our record on social security, but there is more to do to ensure every New Zealander has the opportunities they deserve.  INVESTING IN FAMILIES, SIMPLIFYING THE SYSTEM AND MAKING WORK PAY.  Labour’s vision is of a social security system that supports individuals and families in times of need, assists them to achieve their potential and makes for smooth transitions back into paid employment. Labour has demonstrated its commitment to support families and children through measures such as income-related rents for low income state tenants, improved access to free primary health care, more education resources, lifting the minimum wage, increases in subsidised childcare and out of school care, and the development of the Agenda for Children which places children’s needs at the heart of what we do as a government. Labour will continue to make the needs of families and children a key focus in the next term. Over the coming years our improvements to social assistance will focus on better supporting families and children, simplifying the system and improving opportunities to move into paid employment.  LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce changes that provide more assistance for families with children; simplify the system, making it easier to understand and deliver; and ensure the system supports transitions into employment. Priorities will include:  o annual reviews of Family Support and Family Tax Credit rates and thresholds.  o an increase in the maximum number of subsidised childcare hours to support parents moving into employment.  o the introduction of an ‘abatement- free zone’ for people receiving income support and Accommodation Supplement, encouraging and rewarding movement into employment.  • Implement our Social Security Amendment Bill that improves case management support for sole parents, introduces a ‘Personal Development and Employment’ planning process and creates a pathway into paid employment that will increase family income.  • Further improve programmes to he lp people moving into work through assistance with work-start grants and in- work costs.  • Continue to improve case management and employment programmes to assist people to gain skills and move into employment.  • Build on current pilot programmes to improve support for people who cannot work due to sickness or disability, ensuring they can participate as fully as possible.  • Improve the process for reviewing benefit decisions, establishing a central review and appeals function in the Ministry of Social Development making the review system simpler, faster and more consistent.  • Undertake work over the next three to four years to ensure the tax and benefit systems work well to support families, ensure adequate income, and help people make a successful transition to paid employment, in order to make the system fairer and simpler to administer, remove anomalies and inequities, and ensure support is adequate and geared towards making work pay.  SUPPORTING PARENTING.  Our future as a nation is reliant on the skills, attributes and creativity we instill in our children today. So it is vital that our children receive the nurture and support they need to equip them well for the future. This reinforces that positive parenting needs to be a central plank of our innovation strategy. While most parents do a wonderful job, children unfortunately do not come with a handbook. Positive parent support can make a significant contribution to the well-being of both parent and child, and lead to better long term outcomes for our children.  LABOUR WILL:  • Establish a Parenting Council, drawing on expertise from government, community and academic sectors, to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to the critical issue of parenting. Following a review of current parenting programmes and initiatives, the Council will:  o promote the importance of the parenting role.  o guide the development and implementation of new programmes supporting parenting.  • Implement relevant recommendations of the Agenda for Children, Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, and Te Rito, the New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, and expand key programmes such as Family Start and Social Workers In Schools.  CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.  When it took office, the Labour led government found that child protection and youth justice services had been significantly under funded, placing services at risk. The Department of Child, Youth and Family Services makes a vital contribution to the safety and well-being of young New Zealanders, intervening when children are at risk and supporting the work of community organisations that help families and children. Labour’s vision is of a strong state sector providing high quality child protection and youth justice services, backed by increased investments in community services that support parents, families and communities. The Labour led government has:  • Commissioned Judge Mick Brown to undertake a comprehensive review of care and protection and actioned every area raised in that review.  • Introduced Social Worker Registration legislation to improve the quality of social work services available to children and families.  • Made significant new investments in services to care for children and support families with an additional $216 million over four years provided in the 2001 Budget alone and further resources since. Initiatives include:  o changes to improve the quality of Child, Youth and Family Services staff, including professionalisation of Social Workers and a recruitment and retention package to attract and keep the best staff – increasing the number of frontline staff employed in the Department.  o more social workers in schools.  o mobile social work teams to respond to local needs.  o a significant funding injection for care services where children need to be cared for away from their immediate family.  o a joint project with health and education to help children with high and complex needs such as mental health, educational and care and protection issues.  o funding for new child and youth residences.  o improvements in youth justice.  o day reporting centres for young offenders.  o a clearer focus on local community needs through local services mapping.  o the first funding increase for community social service providers in a number of years.  o establishing Stronger Communities Action Fund Pilots to give local communities the ability to decide local social service needs and fund programmes that meet those needs.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure care and protection and youth justice services are adequately resourced.  • Establish the Social Workers Registration Board and move to ensure statutory social workers are on a path to professional registration.  • Expand successful programmes such as Social Workers in Schools and Stronger Community Action Funds.  • Improve the ability of the Department to make children safe and secure within family/whänau, by expanding the pool of kin-carers and investing in positive parenting programmes and resources.  • Support community-based initiatives to recruit and train caregivers and foster parents, and ensure their work is supported by dedicated caregiver liaison social workers.  • Invest more funding in community-based services directed to the needs of children and families.  SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR.  Labour’s vision is of a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector, backed by excellent public services. Labour recognises the vital contribution the community and voluntary sector makes to the strength, health and well-being of communities throughout New Zealand. The community and voluntary sector covers a huge range of activities – from arts, heritage and environment, to sports, culture and social services. Perhaps most importantly, the community and voluntary sector provides an avenue for people to get involved in their local communities and to support local activities and special interests. The networks and connections fostered through participation serve to strengthen the fabric of our communities and have a major impact on their social, cultural and economic strength and vitality. This is social development in action. Many community and voluntary sector activities gain direct funding support from Government, others are supported through charitable status and tax breaks, and many receive Lottery funding or other philanthropic support. Labour is committed to a healthy and vibrant community and voluntary sector and for citizens to become increasingly involved in their communities. The Labour led government has:  • Established a Community and Voluntary Sector Portfolio to ensure the sector is well represented at the Cabinet table.  • Established a Community and Voluntary Sector Working Party to improve the relationship with government, which had suffered over the last decade.  • Produced a statement of intent to strengthen and support the community and voluntary sector and improve the way government agencies enga ge – signed by the Prime Minister.  • Held a series of regional meetings with community and voluntary sector representatives, hosted by the Prime Minister.  • Increased funding available to community groups in areas from arts and culture to social services and backed the sector with capacity building funding. Building the capacity of Mäori and Pacific providers to provide relevant and effective services has been a particular focus.  • Provided funding for volunteer centres and to establish a web-based volunteer opportunity database.  • Agreed to establish a Charities Commission to promote and enhance the strength and credibility of the charitable sector.  • Backed community leaders with pilo t social entrepreneur funding, which allows them to get on with their mission of making a difference in their community or area of interest.  • Assisted the sector to take advantage of information technology and digital opportunities by supporting ‘Flaxroots technology’ conferences.  • Piloted community-based approaches to social service funding, which empower local communities to make decisions about local services.  • Established a whole-of-government funding pilot - where resources from a range of agencies are to be provided to a community under a single outcomes focused agreement.  • Restored central government presence and face-to-face access to services in provincial centres by opening Heartland Service Centres.  LABOUR WILL:  • Establish a Social Development Fund, to enable local leadership and coordination of social services consistent with a ‘whole-of-community’ approach to social issues. Funding will depend on a local representative agency being accountable for the funding and on their ability to demonstrate community support and gain local partnership funding, for example from community trusts, local government and business. The Social Development Fund will support local people to:  o identify local community regeneration and development opportunities.  o broker and co-ordinate current community development investments.  o develop links with local state and community agencies, local government, employers, and training providers, to promote and foster sustainable community development.  o work with local agencies to create stronger, more vibrant and cohesive communities  o advocate effectively for the voluntary sector and its clients.  • Institute a Citizen’s Service pilot programme to enable young people to participate in community-focused projects and be recognised and rewarded for their contribution.  • Establish a Community and Voluntary Sector Office in the Ministry of Social Development as an accessible central contact point between the community sector and government and to provide expert advice on sector concerns.  • Implement the Community and Voluntary Sector Working Party suggestions to improve funding arrangements including:  o providing multi- year funding where appropriate.  o eliminating unnecessary approvals or monitoring compliance costs.  o using a grant rather than contract approach where possible.  o simplifying arrangements where organisations deal with more than one government funder.  • Build on the current whole-of-government funding pilot and explore the application of this model in other areas.  • Maintain and grow the network of volunteer centres.  • Continue the work started in 2001, International Year of Volunteers, to ensure a consistent and positive approach by government departments to recognising and supporting volunteering.  • Ensure broad community and voluntary sector interests are well represented at a national level.  • Continue to build the capacity of the community and voluntary sector to take advantage of new digital opportunities, through initiatives such as communitybased training, information exchange, and on- line resources.  SOCIAL POLICY AND RESEARCH.  Labour’s vision is about smart investments in people and communities, based on excellent research and information, with more high quality social policy and research information accessible to the public. Social development works in harmony with economic development – building the capacity of people and communities to make the most of opportunities. For example, an investment in basic literacy training can make the difference between a lifetime on a benefit with no job prospects and decent employment. Training and skill development while on a benefit can build a secure future in a sustainable job. Rather than simply responding to problems with short-term ‘sticking plaster’ fixes we need to think about how, why and where we invest. As with any investment, social development is based on quality research and evaluation. The Labour led government has:  • Strengthened the capacity of the public service to provide sound social policy advice backed by quality research and evaluation – through the establishment of the Ministry of Social Development.  • Published the first Social Report raising the profile of social indicators and reinforcing the linkages between social development and economic performance.  • Involved communities and academic experts in policy development through genuine consultation and input – in areas such as child and youth policy, family violence prevention, social security reform and social research.  LABOUR WILL:  • Publish a regular and comprehensive Social Report, raising the status of social and community well-being indicators, and informing public debate on social issues.  • Promote a strong evidence base for social policy development, by working with the academic community, coordinating research, sponsoring a social research conference, and supporting investment in social research.  • Build the capacity of the Ministry of Social Development to provide whole-ofgovernment advice on strategic social policy issues.  • Explore the establishment of an independent Research Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Development to ensure robust information is available and people are well informed on social issues.  SPORT, FITNESS AND LEISURE.  Sport and recreation are part of the every day lives of New Zealanders. They are an integral part of our history and heritage, of our culture and self-image. Sport and recreation is about physical activity, and the contribution a fit and healthy lifestyle makes to our individual well-being, to social cohesion, and to achieving broader economic and social goals. Our environment offers huge opportunity to pursue our sport and recreation interests - as individuals, as families, school groups, clubs and teams. Labour wants to acknowledge and encourage this interest by people of all ages, as well as support those who aspire to participate in elite and high performance sports.  The Labour led government’s key achievements include:  • Establishment of the Graham Taskforce in 2000 to review sport, fitness and leisure.  • Establishment of Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SRNZ) - a new structure which brings together the functions of the Hillary Commission, the New Zealand Sports Foundation and the policy arm of the Office of Tourism and Sport.  • Development of programmes focussed on improving physical activity in schools such as Sportfit – a secondary school sport programme – and the Primary Schools Pilot Project.  • Introduction of the Prime Minister’s Sports Scholarships to assist athletes to achieve both their education and sporting goals. Since 2001 when the scholarships were introduced, 729 athletes have been presented with the award. • Introduction of the Prime Minister’s Coach Scholarships to increase the capability of coaches. High Performance Scholarships of $50,000 are available as well as Coach Professional Development Scholarships of between $2,500 and $10,000.  The Labour led government increased direct government funding to sports and recreation from $3 million in 2000/01, to $17 million in the current year. Labour is committed to increasing that to $51 million within the next three years. There are large numbers of organisations and groups involved in sport and recreation. Local clubs, regional trusts and national organisations are involved in different ways. Labour believes we need better planning and co-ordination between organisations and groups at local, regional and national levels, and between – and within – local authorities and central government agencies in partnership with business and community organisations. Working in collaboration provides the opportunity to better target resources and support, and a more effective way of promoting the wider benefits of participating in sport and recreation to all age groups. Labour is committed to supporting greater collaboration.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with Sport and Recreation New Zealand to develop and promote national strategies for recreation and sport, including targeted strategies for various groups within the population.  • Encourage education, health and sports agencies to work together on the implementation of national strategies.  • Encourage partnerships at the local and national level between local and central government agencies to identify community interests and needs, and to better target and use resources.  • Facilitate joint ventures with regional trusts and community or private organisations to identify and support current and emerging endurance and adventure events.  Children are naturally drawn to physical activity in one way or another, from climbing a tree at a young age to participating in team sports at primary school. Often the first introduction to organised sports is through the junior sports programme at school. This introduction can provide the foundation for a lifelong love of sport and recreation, and pursuit of the more high performance sports in later years. A variety of positive experiences and opportunities during the school years engenders a sense of enjoyment, achievement and well-being that stays with young people throughout their lives making it more likely they will continue to engage in physical activity well into their adult years. Labour wants to encourage more involvement of young people in sporting and recreational activities.  LABOUR WILL:  • Promote appropriate physical activities for young children in early childhood education services.  • Actively promote junior sports and recreational activities through the curriculum.  • Resource schools to provide a variety of sporting and recreational activities for children throughout their school years.  • Build and recognise sport and recreational knowledge and expertise within the teaching profession.  • Encourage more people to become coaches and mentors. The new pressures young people experience moving from school to post-school education and training or employment, can often result in a reduction in physical activity. Labour wants to make sure young people have the opportunity and support to continue their sporting and recreational interest.  LABOUR WILL:  • Extend the number of scholarships to enable people to undertake study and continue their sporting careers, including those who need to travel overseas to pursue their training and study.  • Broaden the number of sports that gain support from high performance academies.  • Promote participation in university sports to students enrolled in post-school training and education programmes.  New Zealanders participate in sport and recreation in different ways. A single sport may be pursued throughout childhood and into adulthood, as a social activity or on a more competitive basis. Many people play a variety of sports at different times in their lives depending on their ability or interests. The same can be said of pursuing recreation activities. People’s interests can change over time – as they grow older, as family circumstances change, as time or location allows. Whatever the reason, we want more New Zealanders to take up and keep up physical activities.  LABOUR WILL:  • Continue to promote programmes such as Push Play, which aim to increase the physical activity of all New Zealanders.  • Target programmes to different age groups and to different groups within the community to reflect the interests of those groups, for example, supporting waka ama.  • Encourage organisations and groups to explore new programmes to support emerging interests or to take advantage of new opportunities. New Zealand has a proud tradition of succeeding in high performance sports both on the national and international stage.  LABOUR WILL:  • Support potential elite athletes to maintain and improve our sporting capabilities. Many people give hours of volunteer time in organising and administrating sports and recreational activities. Traditionally, many sporting and recreational activities have started out as a community of interest, and a keenness and determination for people to participate. But as events grow and wider interest places greater demands on organisers, many find they do not have the support they need. Labour wants to support those people.  LABOUR WILL:  • Include in the Sport and Recreation NZ purchase agreement an obligation to support and develop volunteers.  STATE SECTOR.  Labour regards an effective public service as an essential part of civilised society. The public service has made a significant positive contribution to the lives of New Zealanders and Labour is committed to ensuring that the public service continues to do so. Years of public sector restructuring have resulted in fragmentation – both in terms of individual departments and agencies operating in isolation from each other, and of policy development being split from service delivery. Public sector reform sometimes resulted in a narrow focus on efficiency and financial performance rather than effectiveness, quality and service. It sometimes led to duplication and wastage. As a result citizens were passed from one agency to another to access the information and help they needed. Public sector reform also led to a number of government functions being contracted out of the public service, and the loss of longterm operating capacity within the public service. Labour aims to rebuild a cohesive, effective, quality public service that delivers for its citizens, provides quality advice to government and is seen as a desirable place to work. Achieving this goal will require the involvement of citizens, voluntary organisations, unions and public sector officials. It will require building partnerships and working in collaboration to find solutions and encourage innovation. It will require leadership and vision from government and from Chief Executives. The Labour led government’s key achievements include:  • The establishment of the State Sector Standards Board in 2000 to advise on appropriate standards for the state sector.  • The establishment of the Review of the Centre in 2001 to recommend ways to strengthen the management and improve the co-ordination of the public sector, with a view to ensuring a whole-of-government focus is adopted and maintained by all agencies.  • Implementation of the recommendations of the Review of the Centre which aim to integrate service delivery, promote greater collaboration between agencies and develop public service leadership and capability by investing in people.  • The development of the Partnership for Quality agreement with the Public Service Association (PSA) promoting an active partnership between the PSA and public service employers to achieve high-quality public services.  • The establishment of the Tripartite Forum chaired by the Minister of State Services comprising five chief executives and representatives from the PSA, advancing issues relating to the public service.  • The development and roll-out of the E-government Strategy which aims to better meet the needs of citizens, business and government, and create greater opportunities for public participation in government and democratic processes. Labour aims to create a whole-of-government approach to public sector policy development and service delivery.  LABOUR WILL:  • Reduce fragmentation between, and within, government departments and agencies, and engender a collaborative culture within the public service.  • Integrate service delivery across departments and agencies, both centrally and regionally.  • Establish common understandings about government’s key policy directions and standards for some systems, processes and policies across the whole of government.  • Ensure citizens have access to the information and help they need, in a timely and effective way.  • Review the Vote structure for funding to public services to ensure departments and agencies can be more responsive to policy and community initiatives across departments and agencies.  For too long, the work of public sector employees has been confined to delivering a narrow set of outputs, creating an insular and individual perspective of their role and their place within the public service. Front-line staff are the ‘face’ of the public service in communities throughout New Zealand. They have a unique perspective of the needs of local communities, the relationships between citizens and the public service, and how citizens can best engage with government and participate in a democratic society. We need to draw on this experience. Labour aims to restore confidence in the public sector as a desirable place to work, with opportunities for public service training, and career development and advancement.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage central planning and delivery of training across departments and agencies, especia lly at middle and senior levels.  • Promote ‘best practice’ process and management approaches, where employees’ contributions are valued.  • Promote transparent remuneration systems and collective bargaining.  • Support public sector employers to offer retirement savings schemes to employees.  • Require departments and agencies to develop and report on equal employment opportunities policies.  • Ensure that the provisions relating to employer responsibilities in bargaining apply evenly across the state sector.  Technology is changing the way the public service engages with, and delivers to, its citizens. It will change the way government interacts with business. Ensuring access to, and exchange of, information, anytime, anywhere and from any device will characterise service delivery in the future. The next generation of technology will require public sector employees to engage with the public, with business, and with the government in ways different from today. Staff will need to be confident in the use of technology, and continue to develop their skills as demand increases, trends change, and new technologies emerge. Effective communication will be critical.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure citizens have the opportunity to access information and communications technology within a close distance to their homes.  • Engage with business to establish effective and efficient ways to provide information, and undertake transactions.  • Ensure departments and agencies have the capability to use and make use of technology in the delivery of their services.  • Provide initial and ongoing training and resources to support staff to be competent users of technology.  • Encourage staff to contribute to the development of new ways of using technology to best advantage. In its role as employer, the government must take the lead in promoting good employment practices including ensuring employees have appropriate employment conditions within a fair legislative framework.  Labour is committed to supporting employees’ rights to be covered by collective agreements negotiated in good faith. Maintaining a fair and effective bargaining environment is a key objective for Labour.  LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure appropriate bargaining parameters to encourage employers to promote collective agreements and the inclusion in them, of wider employment issues such as retirement savings or student loan repayments.  • Ensure that relevant provisions of the State Sector Act apply across the whole sector.  • Ensure employers have the appropriate legislative support they need in order to meet their responsibilities and obligations.  • Introduce a minimum code of practice for state sector contractors to ensure observance of fair and ethical employment practices.  TERTIARY EDUCATION.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Our tertiary education and training system must support New Zealand’s economic and social development, and environmental sustainability. The tertiary education system the Labour led government inherited had many strengths, not the least of which is the dedication of its staff. But, there were also weaknesses: it lacked a clear strategic direction, it was fragmented and underfunded, and there was inadequate cooperation and collaboration across the sector. In its first term the Labour led government moved the tertiary education system away from an excessive concentration on enrolments and market share. Our tertiary education system will be driven by, and rewarded for, a focus on excellence, relevance and access. This includes a commitment to removing barriers to participation. Labour takes an integrated approach to tertiary education. This encompasses all postschool learning throughout life, from adult and community education, literacy and training opportunities/youth training, through industry training, to teaching and research at universities, polytechnics, wananga and colleges of education.  LABOUR’S RECORD.  In its first term, the Labour led government has drawn on the work of the tertiary education Advisory Commission (TEAC) to provide the basis for a tertiary education system that underpins and builds on New Zealand ’s comparative advantages through the creation and application of knowledge. This is being achieved through:  • The establishment of a Tertiary Education Commission.  • The use of Charters and Profiles for all publicly- funded tertiary education organisations to steer the system.  • The development of a Tertiary Education Strategy, which incorporates the views of stakeholders such as communities, industry and unions, iwi, and the sector.  • A new funding system that rewards performance and reflects strategic priorities. The Labour led government has also undertaken fundamental reform to ensure that research funding is better accounted for, more closely connected with excellence, and less subject to fluctuation due to changing student preferences. Five Centres of Research Excellence have been established to support world-class research. Predictability has been restored to the cost of tuition. Fees in 2001 and 2002 have remained at the same level that they were at in 2000, and all indications are that the same thing will occur in 2003. At the same time, the Labour led government has ended a decade of funding rate cuts under National, and has begun the process of reinvestment.  The Student Loan Scheme has been made fairer by removing interest on student loans for full-time and other low-income students while they are studying and maintaining the student loan interest rate. Our initiatives to support students have reduced predicted Student Loan repayment times and have contributed to a fall in the average amount of student loan debt for the first time since the Loan Scheme began. Other achievements in the first term include:  • A ‘Students Work’ package of summer employment and assistance initiatives and the removal of the one-week gap in income support each summer for sole parents.  • Special grants to improve support to Mäori and Pacific tertiary students.  • Tertiary Teaching Excellence Awards, to recognise the best teachers.  SECTION 1: STUDENT SUPPORT.  LABOUR WILL:  • In the first year of its second term undertake a thorough Review of Student Support.  o involving key stakeholders, and in particular students.  o including analysis of international models.  o informed by much better information about student debt as a result of the current ‘data integration’ initiative.  o leading to a comprehensive and sustainable set of policies for student support  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES ARE:  STUDENT ALLOWANCES.   • Widen student allowance eligibility for single full-time students aged 18–24, beginning by progressively raising the parental income thresholds.  • Widen eligibility for the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship in step with this.  • Extend student allowances, on the basis of parental income, to those tertiary students aged 16 and 17 who have finished year 13 at school (parents would not be eligible for family assistance for children in receipt of an allowance).  • Design, as part of the development of an Education and Training Leaving Age strategy (for further details see Labour’s Industry Training policy), living support arrangements for 16 and 17 year olds in training for whom continuing at school is no longer appropriate.  • Develop fairer provisions for non-custodial parents and parents with more than one dependent child in tertiary education.  TUITION COSTS.   • Develop the system of maximum fees in close consultation with the tertiary education sector, including institutions, students and staff.  • Set out in the 2003 Budget the fee maxima that will be in place for courses of study for the 2004 academic year, and indicative fees for both 2005 and 2006.  THE STUDENT LOAN SCHEME.   • Extend Student Loan Scheme eligibility to part-time, part-year students in approved courses.  • Review provisions to discourage loans being taken up for non-educational purposes.  SCHOLARSHIPS AND BONDING.   • Introduce scholarship and bonding arrangements, which can be used to address pressing recruitment and retention issues (such as current issues with the retention of doctors) as they arise, in partnership with the industry (and /or the relevant government portfolio).  SECTION 2: TEACHING, LEARNING AND RESEARCH.  INVESTING IN CAPABILITY.   The Labour led government in its first term has ended a decade of cuts to tertiary institutions’ funding levels, and has begun the process of reinvestment.  LABOUR WILL:  • In its 2003 Budget, set out funding levels for tertiary education institutions for the 2004 academic year and indicative levels for a further two years, to increase investment to levels that will allow tertiary institutions to maintain and enhance standards, and retain quality staff, while ensuring predictability and stability of costs to students.  • Review the number of funded places for courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, and increase the current caps where appropriate.  • Progressively increase the Strategic Development Component of the integrated funding framework, so the Tertiary Education Commission can support initiatives to advance the Tertiary Education Strategy.  • Initiate an independent review of the governance of tertiary education institutions, to propose measures to improve the contribution that governing councils can make while guaranteeing stakeholder representation and democratic processes.  ENSURING QUALITY AND RELEVANCE.   LABOUR WILL:  • Review the systems that support and ensure quality in tertiary education.  • Focus attention on the training and development of tertiary- level teachers, in both teaching and research as relevant.  • Initiate a strategic review and plan for the tertiary education workforce.  • Develop graduate employability through workplace experience within qualifications, and by promoting holiday work that better reflects students’ skills.  • Continue to develop and promote the Register of Quality-Assured Qualifications, and strengthen systems of credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.  • Evaluate the Learning and Assessment Centre pilots, with a view to expansion.  • Improve post-compulsory education options for disabled people, including promoting best practice, providing career guidance, increasing life long opportunities for learning, and better aligning financial support with educ ational opportunities.  SUPPORTING RESEARCH.   LABOUR WILL:  • Maintain the existing five Centres of Research Excellence and oversee the selection of new centres, through the additional funding provided in the 2002 Budget.  • Work with the sector and the Tertiary Education Commission to develop and implement criteria for the Performance-Based Research Fund.  • In accordance with commitments in the 2002 Budget, increase the new funds available for the Performance-Based Research Fund to $20 million a year by 2006, on top of funding transferred from degree ‘top-ups’.  • Introduce a pool of funding to enable new researchers to begin their research career.  LIFE LONG LEARNING.  ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION (ACE).  Labour is committed to the concept of lifelong learning and the recognition and support of the adult and community education sector In 1999 Labour set out its policy for Adult Education and Community Learning in a document entitled Pathways and Networks, this included a commitment to set up a shortterm working party to make recommendations on a ‘blueprint’ for the future. In September 2000 the Adult and Community Learning Working Party was established and its report Koia Koia Towards a Learning Society was presented to Government in July 2001.  The Report was welcomed by the Labour led government and in October 2001 a reference group was established to work closely with the Ministry of Education to implement Cabinet's decisions in relation to the Working Party Report.  SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE THROUGH:   • The appointment of a Chief Adviser of Adult and Community Education.  • The piloting of ACE Networks.  • Significant input into the Tertiary Education Strategy.  • Development of a communications strategy.  • The commencement of relevant research projects.  Labour recognises that a strengthened Adult and Community Education sector has an important role to play within the new tertiary struc ture in contributing to the country’s educational, social and economic objectives. Adult and Community Education also provides learning opportunities to a wide range of people for whom the formal system can be inaccessible and inappropriate. It has the capacity to meet the learning needs of local communities, to introduce people to the joy of learning, to be flexible and inclusive and to offer pathways back into the formal education system.  LABOUR WILL:  • Take account of the recommendations of the Adult and Community Education Working Party Report and ACE Reference Group when developing policy.  • Appropriately resource adult and community education as an integral part of tertiary education.  • Develop a range of strategies to increase Mäori participation in Adult and Community Education.  • Increase the capacity of the sector through:  o a planned approach to professional development.  o collection and collation of meaningful data.  o development of research programmes.  • Support the transition of Adult and Community Education into the Tertiary Education Commission.  • Make provision for statutory recognition of the adult and community education sector.  • Recognise the need for national leadership through the establishment of an ACE Board and/or an Advisory Committee of the Tertiary Education Commission.  • Resource an Adult and Community Education unit within the Tertiary Education Commission.  • Retain a capacity to support the sector within the Ministry of Education.  FOUNDATION SKILLS.  The Tertiary Education Strategy recognises the need to raise foundation skills so that all people can participate in our knowledge society. Foundation skills generally refer to a group of skills such as literacy, numeracy, technology skills, communications skills, knowing how to learn, self-confidence building.  While ideally these skills are learnt within the compulsory education sector Labour recognises that the tertiary sector must provide for adults and young people who have not acquired sufficient skills in the school system or who require their skills to be updated. A range of high quality providers are needed, offering different modes of learning in a variety of settings including the workplace, local communities, marae, churches, tertiary institutions, schools, etc.  LABOUR WILL:  • Build on the Literacy Strategy developed in the first term of government.  • Strengthen and support the position of Adult Literacy Chief Adviser.  • Develop a funding structure that recognises different modes of delivery.  • Increase the capacity of providers of Foundation Skills through:  o a planned approach to professional development.  o development of appropriate quality assurance tools.  o research.  TOURISM.  Tourism supports one in ten jobs in New Zealand. Total expenditure by domestic and international tourists in New Zeala nd exceeds $13 billion a year and almost 10 percent of New Zealand's GDP is directly or indirectly contributed by tourism. International visitor arrivals for 2001 exceeded 1.9 million and this number is forecast to reach 2.7 million by 2007.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour in government will continue to work in partnership with the tourism industry stakeholders to:  • Secure and conserve a long-term future.  • Market and manage a world-class visitor experience based on a commitment to quality.  • Work smarter.  • Promote and assist the development of a sustainable, prosperous and profitable tourism industry.  ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Developed the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010, in partnership with sector interests, which provides a framework for sustainable tourism development over the next decade.  • Formed MTAG (the Mäori Tourism Advisory Group) to provide advice and input into the strategy process and ongoing advice on Mäori tourism.  • Approved an additional $9 million over three years for implementing tourism strategy initiatives.  • Enhanced the partnership approach to marketing New Zealand, by ensuring the private sector is formally consulted on Tourism New Zealand's proposed strategies, plans and projects and is directly involved in nominations for the Board.  • Formed a new Ministry of Tourism from the Office of Tourism and Sport, to enhance the whole-of-government approach to tourism policy.  • Established and funded the Tourism Research Council to produce research information that will enable better quality forecasting for tourism operators.  • Provided $2.5 million over the next three years for a ma jor expansion of the Qualmark quality grading system for tourism businesses.  • Provided $1 million over three years to establish Mäori regional tourism organisations.  • Provided specific project funding to support:  o Local Government New Zealand to respond to the recommendations of the Tourism Strategy.  o the establishment of the Green Globe 21 environmental standards programme.  o regional tourism organisations advance their response to the Tourism Strategy recommendations.  o new research into the development of cultural tourism.  o the development of the Visitor Information Network.  • Funded numerous tourism infrastructure projects through the Tourism Facilities Development Grant Programme including: World of Wearable Arts, Otago Central Rail Trail, Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, Lake Pukaki Visitor Centre, restoration of the historic wharf at Tolaga Bay, Nelson’s Wakefield Quay Promenade, New Zealand National Maritime Museum, Napier's Art Deco Trust, Hanmer Forest, Cape Foulwind Seal Colony, Otago Museum, Canterbury Art Gallery, Tongariro Trout Centre, Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre.  • Responded to the post-September 11th decline in Japanese travel, by providing an additional $2 million and other support for marketing in Japan through Tourism New Zealand.  • Actively promoted New Zealand as a tourist destination through providing $12 million of additional funding for major promotion around the release of the Lord of the Rings film and the America’s Cup regatta.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR’S SECOND TERM AND BEYOND.  Labour will continue to implement, in partnership with tourism sector stakeholders, the recommendations of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010. This will include the creation of a dedicated function in the Ministry of Tourism to monitor the implementation of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 and report regularly to government and industry on progress.  SECURE AND CONSERVE A LONG-TERM FUTURE FOR TOURISM.  An on-going active partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and tourism industry stakeholders to ensure the sustainable development of the tourism industry is necessary.  LABOUR WILL:  • Work with the Department of Conservation to monitor and manage visitor impacts on the protected environment.  • Develop greater tourism utilisation of the artistic and cultural wealth and diversity of New Zealand.  • Extend support for Mäori Regional Tourism Organisations and their partnerships with Regional Tourism Organisations.  • Develop and promote resource efficiency initiatives and environmental systems to meet international standards.  • Support and promote quality in the tourism industry, including the further development of the Qualmark quality rating system.  • Promote a whole-of-government awareness and understanding of tourism as a key driver of economic, regional and cultural development.  MARKET AND MANAGE A WORLD CLASS VISITOR EXPERIENCE.  LABOUR WILL:  • Build the New Zealand Brand for promoting New Zealand as a leading tourism destination in our offshore markets.  • Provide accessible, accurate information for visitors through the Visitor Information Network.  WORK SMARTER.  LABOUR WILL:  • Partner with Industry and with the government’s e-Commerce Action Team (ECAT) to develop a sector-wide technology strategy.  • Investigate and develop niche tourism markets and products including cultural tourism, eco-tourism and ethno-tourism.  • Implement the recommendations of the Tourism Research and Development Strategy 2002 to ensure the industry has credible and authoritative information from which to make decisions.  • Continue to assist local and regional facilities development initiatives through the Tourism Facilities Grants programme.  • Work with local government and the private sector to agree on roles and responsibilities in relation to tourism infrastructure needs.  PROMOTE AND ASSIST THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SUSTAINABLE, ROSPEROUS AND PROFITABLE TOURISM INDUSTRY.  LABOUR WILL:  • Actively work with sector interests to optimise yield, seasonality and regional spread.  TRANSPORT.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour is committed to developing a sustainable transport system that is safe, affordable, responsive to the needs of users, and which contributes to New Zealand’s economic development, as well as social and environmental goals. Achieving those goals depends on having a strong, integrated transport sector and good infrastructure. The Labour led government has begun tackling a legacy of neglect by previous governments by making structural changes and investing extra funding to improve infrastructure. Major problems such as congestion in our larger cities and poor rural roading networks are being addressed. Labour believes it is necessary to take a long-term approach to meeting these transport challenges. We will encourage technological and other innovations (for example, innovations in funding arrangements) and will seek to integrate different transport modes. We also want to make the transport system more responsive to the diverse needs of different transport users. Labour appreciates the need for co-operation between the public and private sectors and will strengthen the partnership between local and central government to achieve a sustainable transport system. Our vision for the transport sector is reflected in the draft New Zealand Transport Strategy (NZTS) developed by the Labour led government. The strategy states: “By 2010, New Zealand will have an affordable, integrated, safe, responsive and sustainable transport system.” This is the first government with a long-term vision across all transport modes (land transport, air and maritime) in New Zealand. The Strategy will provide a clear direction for the transport sector and it will also play a major role in ensuring that New Zealand achieves sustainable development.  The Strategy’s objectives for transport are:  • Assisting economic development.  • Assisting safety and personal security.  • Improving access and mobility.  • Protecting and promoting public health.  • Ensuring environmental sustainability.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Taken a more balanced approach to land transport. While roading continues to be the main focus we have widened the mix to include passenger transport, rail, walking and cyc ling.  • Announced a major funding boost for land transport of $227 million over 16 months for addressing the following key land transport priorities:  o reducing severe congestion.  o improving road safety.  o assisting regional development and alternatives to roads.  o improving passenger transport.  o promoting walking and cycling.  • Earmarked land transport funding specifically for regional development – the first time this has happened.  • Allocated the first ever dedicated funding for walking and cycling initiatives.  • Begun making changes to ensure government priorities are better reflected in spending decisions.  • Doubled funding for public transport, removed the previous government’s funding cap and introduced Kickstart and patronage funding schemes. Under these schemes the more people who use public transport, the more money local authorities receive from the government for buses, trains and ferries. This has led to a resurgence in public transport use. The number of Aucklanders entering the central business district using public transport increased by a massive 21.3 percent in the last year on top of two consecutive years of significant growth in public transport use.  • Concluded a deal to buy the rail corridors in the Auckland region for $81 million. The deal, done in partnership with local government, will provide Auckland with the rail corridors it needs for an efficient passenger transit system, and preserves the integrity of the rail network and the freight link to Northland.  • Begun to tackle Auckland’s traffic congestion, which is estimated to cost more than $800 million a year to New Zealand as a whole by providing increased roading and public transport funding. Construction on the Grafton Gully to Port link has begun to improve access to and from the Port of Auckland and work is progressing on other major projects including improvements to the Central Motorway Junction (Spaghetti Junction), the Puhinui interchange, the extension to State Highway 20, and the North Shore busway. Using the bus lane, buses at peak-times are saving about 10 minutes, and savings of up to 17 minutes have been recorded.  • Increased road safety funding for the first time in nearly six years with a $152 million plus road safety package announced in 2000.  • Conducted major public consultation on possible strategies for significantly reducing the road toll by 2010. Announcements on decisions are to be made later this year.  • More than doubled community road safety project funding to more than $6 million this year. About 500 projects are being funded, including many Mäori and Pacific Island local education initiatives.  • Put an additional 225 police officers on the roads, working exclusively on road safety. There are more police on our roads than at any time in our history, giving us all a very visible reminder that speed and other offences won’t be tolerated. Last year’s road toll was the lowest in 40 years, and this year’s is on track to better that.  • Made changes to the rules governing truckloads to cut the number of rollover crashes.  • Introduced a new $9 million programme this year to incorporate road safety messages into all aspects of the school curriculum. The programme will ultimately be available to every primary and intermediate school in the country.  • Introduced new rules to improve the safety of vehicles on New Zealand roads.  • Reviewed the driver licensing system and nearly halved the cost of driver licences for older drivers.  • Taken the lead role in saving New Zealand’s national airline by agreeing to an $885 million rescue package.  • Signed an ‘open skies’ agreement with Australia – New Zealand’s most important bilateral economic partner – which means the barriers to our airlines operating services through Australia have been removed.  • Signed the world's first multilateral ‘open skies’ agreement with four other APEC members: Brunei-Darussalam, Chile, Singapore and the United States, putting New Zealand at the forefront of a new era in international air services.  • Tackled air quality issues associated with transport emissions. Changes requiring most imported vehicles to meet international vehicle emission standards have been proposed, and owners of smoky vehicles now face fines of up to $150 under the ‘10 second rule’.  • Changed fuel specifications to ensure higher quality petrol and diesel, including a progressive reduction in allowable sulphur levels in diesel over the next three and a half years. The changes will result in a significant lowering of pollutants in fuel over time.  PRIORITIES FOR LABOUR IN ITS NEXT TERM.  LAND TRANSPORT.  The Labour led government has adopted a smart and balanced approach to investment in land transport infrastructure. The Moving Forward package announced in February 2002 provided a much-needed boost for land transport. The $227 million funding package provides more money for roads but widens the mix to include passenger transport, rail, regional development, cycling and walking. The land transport funding system is also being changed to give it more flexibility and to ensure government priorities are reflected in spending decisions. Changes planned include greater use of tolling and partnerships with the private sector to provide finance for appropriate projects. Labour believes that local roads should continue to be owned and administered by local councils. However, some local authorities have taken the initiative of entering formal agreements for co-operation with Transit New Zealand, which manages the state highways. Other councils have expressed interest in forming ‘roading clusters’ with other councils and with Transit New Zealand. These voluntary agreements are to be encouraged where they lead to better management of roads and more efficient use of resources.  LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce legislation to implement major changes to land transport, as already signposted. The legislation will include provisions allowing partnerships between the public and private sectors, where appropriate, to finance large projects.  • Change the mandate of Transit and Transfund to require both organisations to take a longer-term view of land transport, and ensure government priorities are better reflected in their funding decisions. Both agencies will be required to review all major projects currently planned to ensure they meet the government’s strategic objectives.  • Introduce legislation to consolidate and update road management powers, remove legislative barriers to greater cooperation between road controlling authorities and allow regional councils to fund and, under certain circumstances, both own and operate public transport infrastructure and services.  • Implement the New Zealand Transport Strategy.  • Publish a New Zealand Walking and Cycling Strategy.  • Develop a new road management regime that will recognise the importance of the road corridor to all users, including pedestrians.  • Promote the integration of transportation and land-use planning.  PUBLIC TRANSPORT.  It is clear that, if New Zealand is to achieve the reductions in energy consumption required by the Kyoto Protocol, there must be a greater move towards use of public transport, whether bus, rail or ferry. The Labour led government has already made good progress towards this goal. For the first time for many years passenger numbers on public transport have increased significantly. This can be attributed to the doubling of government funding under the ‘Kickstart’ and patronage funding schemes. The increased numbers are traveling mainly on buses, but the purchase of the Auckland rail corridors for $81 million demonstrates Labour’s commitment to improving rail commuter services as well. The Total Mobility Scheme has been instrumental in enabling those with disabilities to travel more freely and participate in a greater range of activities but various changes to the scheme are required to make it more effective.  LABOUR WILL:  • Review the Total Mobility Scheme to ensure national consistency where appropriate, greater integration and improved quality.  • Encourage the development of an efficient public transport system with integration of bus, rail and ferry services as appropriate.  • Ensure that people have choices about the transport they use and, given the environmental benefits of public transport; promote public transport as a viable option for many of the journeys that are made each day.  • Work with local authorities and operators to ensure they have confidence to make the investments necessary to progressively strengthen the public transport system.  ROAD SAFETY.  The Labour led government’s road safety policies have been extremely successful. An extra $152 million has been put into curbing road trauma, including 225 extra police officers working exclusively on safety on our highways. Police credit the introduction of the highway patrol with the drop in speeds on the open road. Drink driving has declined and the road toll in 2001 was the lowest since 1964. Funding for community road safety projects has more than doubled from $2.5 million to over $6 million. About 500 projects are being funded, including many Mäori and Pacific peoples local education initiatives. Greater efforts are being made to take the road safety message into schools, with a $9 million programme for primary and intermediate schools to incorporate road safety messages into all parts of the curriculum. Vehicle safety is being boosted by new requirements, including new standards for frontal impact systems for cars.  LABOUR WILL:  • Implement a strategy for road safety to 2010 that will include more resources to police rural drink driving and heavy vehicle enforcement, piloting a novice driver training programme and developing safety management systems for use by road controlling authorities.  • Encourage Transfund to continue to support both Transit New Zealand and local authorities as they deal with accident black spots and carry out safety engineering on local roads and state highways.  TRANSPORT AND THE ENVIRONMENT.  There is a need to reduce vehicle emissions, most obviously in the congested parts of cities, but also throughout the country to minimise the production of ‘greenhouse’ gases. This problem can be tackled by a combination of reduced consumption of fuels, cleaner alternative fuels and cleaner engines. Public transport has an important role to play in reducing vehicle usage in cities, but given the importance of cars to most New Zealanders it is important also to reduce fuel consumption in cars. The greater use of CNG and LPG, which are cleaner and more efficient fuels, needs encouragement.  LABOUR WILL:  • Develop fuel consumptio n labelling and reporting for selected road vehicles and educate the public on fuels and vehicle fuel-consumption.  • Continue working on a new requirement for most imported vehicles to meet international vehicle emission standards.  AIR, RAIL AND SEA TRANSPORT.  Air, rail and sea are to be distinguished from road transport in that they are largely dominated by private sector ownership. However, their importance to the economy to people, and often to the environment as well, is such that the Government cannot remain indifferent to market outcomes. Hence the Labour led government rescued Air New Zealand to retain a national carrier essential to the tourist indus try and to certain exporters. Earlier the government had negotiated an ‘open skies’ agreement with Australia and a multilateral ‘open skies’ agreement with the United States, Brunei, Chile and Singapore. Concern has been expressed that Tranzrail has allowed parts of the rail infrastructure to deteriorate and may intend to withdraw rail services from less profitable lines. Such a withdrawal could put intolerable stress on some highways and handicap industries such as forestry. The Labour led government has recognised the need to retain rail services for economic and environmental reasons and has undertaken discussions with Tranzrail aimed at securing their future. The September 11th crisis and subsequent international disturbances have raised the possibility that New Zealanders may be subject to terrorist acts, especially in the air. At a lower level, unruly passengers are reported to engage in ‘air rage’ from time to time. Maintaining safety and a sense of security on aircraft is a priority for Labour.  LABOUR WILL:  • Implement policies to improve the long-term management of the New Zealand rail network.  • Develop long-term safety strategies for the rail, aviation and maritime sectors.  • Ensure that access opportunities to international markets and services are enhanced for New Zealand businesses by negotiating appropriate air services arrangements.  • Monitor airline and airport security measures to ensure the safety of air travellers.  • Take an active role in international efforts to improve port and shipping security.  • Participate in work with the International Civil Aviation Organisation to develop access guidelines for international services to ensure improved access to aircraft for the mobility impaired.  VETERANS’ AFFAIRS.  LABOUR’S VISION.  Labour believes that the nature of military service places a special obligation on the government, as agent of the Crown; to safeguard the well-being of service personnel who have to act as directed to meet the interests of the country and its citizens. We owe a special debt to our veterans who have served our country around the world.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Strengthened the Office of Veterans’ Affairs, given it new responsibilities and reestablished it as Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand (VANZ).  • Established a ‘one-stop shop’ approach of case management through VANZ.  • Centralised the day-to-day management of war pensions and associated allowances within a dedicated unit, the War Pensions Central Processing Unit, in Hamilton.  • Restructured War Pensions Claims Panels so that medically-qualified staff now make decisions about veterans’ claims and entitlements.  • Restored the level of New Zealand Superannuation to where it was before being cut by the previous National led government.  • Introduced new services for the children and families of Vietnam and Operation Grapple Veterans.  • Introduced individual and family counselling services.  • Introduced legislation to include the Veterans’ Pension in the War Pensions Act and establish an abatement regime to allow those veterans under the retirement age to work.  • Honoured its promise to provide $200,000 to the Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association to further the aims of the Association.  • Addressed many outstanding medallic recognition grievances spanning more than five decades.  • Made available payments of $30,000 to ex-prisoners of war and civilian internees of Japan.  • Extended the eligibility criteria for burial in Service Cemeteries.  • Established a fund within VANZ to provide support for commemoration activities and given VANZ responsibility for co-ordinating New Zealand representation at significant military anniversaries.  • Launched education packs for schools to provide information on the background to ANZAC day.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  LABOUR WILL:  • Establish a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as a symbol of remembrance of the nation’s sacrifice in overseas wars.  • Work with the Royal Returned Services Association and other ex-service organisations to ensure the effective implementation of the extensive raft of new initiatives for veterans introduced since 1999.  • Ensure that the legislation to include the Veterans’ Pension in the War Pensions Act and establish an abatement regime to allow those veterans under the retirement age to work is passed and implemented.  • Maintain an ongoing programme of research into Veterans’ health issues and work with the Royal Returned Services Association and other ex-service organisations to address those issues and the further needs of the veteran community.  • Continue working to resolve long outstanding medallic grievances in association with the New Zealand Defence Force and the Royal Returned Services Association.  WOMEN’S ISSUES.  LABOUR’S VISION AND ACHIEVEMENTS.  Labour is committed to creating opportunities for women of all ages to reach their potential. Labour will continue to rebuild high-quality public health and education systems that ensure access for all, regardless of wealth or income. Labour will work to close the income gap between men and women and create security and opportunity for all women. The Labour led government has:  • Introduced Paid Parental Leave. From July 1 2002, new mothers who have worked for at least one year with the same employer will qualify for 12 weeks paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child. The leave can be transferred to her partner.  • Increased the adult minimum wage to $8.00 an hour and lowered the age of eligibility from 20 to 18. The youth minimum wage for 16 and 17 year olds increased from 60 percent to 80 percent of the adult minimum wage.  • Restored balance to workplace relationships with the Employment Relations Act.  • Increased the subsidy hours of out-of-school care (OSCAR) and increased funding to improve resourcing for services primarily used by children from Mäori, Pacific and low-income families.  • Amended the matrimonial property legislation to provide for fair division of relationship property if the relationship breaks down.  • Established an EEO Commissioner in the Human Rights Commission to provide advice and leadership on equal employment opportunities, including pay equity.  • Convened a Ministerial Advisory Group on Equal Employment Opportunities.  • Reversed National’s 1999 superannuation cuts, and set up the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to guarantee superannuation at current rates to future generations.  • Funded Plunketline as a free, 24 hour a day, nationwide telephone service.  • Begun development of a Women’s Health Strategy.  • Made study more affordable for women by freezing fees, not charging interest on loans while in full-time study, and maintaining the student loan int erest rate. Together these changes have reduced predicted loan repayment times and have contributed to a fall in the average amount of student loan debt for the first time since the Student Loan Scheme began.  • Introduced a ‘Students Work’ package of summer employment and assistance initiatives and removed the one-week gap in income support each summer for sole parents. Labour’s policy is to continue to build on its track record of building opportunities for women of all ages. Key policy initiatives for Labour in its next term in office are set out below.  LABOUR’S PRIORITIES.  HEALTH.   LABOUR WILL:  • Continue the process of implementing the Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry Report recommendations.  • Implement the National Breast Screening Programme recommendations including consideration of extending the age of eligibility to older women.  • Continue to provide free maternity services.  • Implement the breast- feeding strategy.  • Continue to give priority to mental health.  • Promote equitable health care for women.  • Pass legislation relating to human reproductive technologies, consistent with legislation currently before the House and international precedent.  • Increase awareness of fetal alcohol syndrome and move towards introducing alcohol labeling that informs pregnant women of the dangers of drinking, especially during the early stages of pregnancy.  • Implement the Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy.  EDUCATION.   LABOUR WILL:  • Extend the Early Childhood Education participation initiative to more regions.  • Undertake a Review of Student Support that will take into account the differential impacts of student loans and their repayment that result from women’s different employment patterns.  • Identify ways of removing barriers to women’s participation in tertiary education (including advanced qualifications) where they exist.  • Promote the opportunities provided in new industry training programmes such as Modern Apprenticeships, and increase the number of women taking advantage of these training opportunities.  PAID EMPLOYMENT.   LABOUR WILL:  • Review the effects of casualisation of work and identify interventions that can mitigate the adverse impacts of casualisation.  • Introduce a comprehensive measure, based on the work of the Ministerial Advisory Group, including legislative intervention to ensure there is protection of employment conditions and continuity of employment in the event of the sale of a business, transfer of undertakings, or contracting out.  • Upgrade entitlements to Paid Parental Leave (PPL) as resources permit, and after the scheduled review of its first year of operation. In addition to a response to problems identified in that review, the priority for improvements will be extending entitlement to PPL to those who have had more than one employer in the previous year, and to the self-employed, followed by extending the period of leave to fourteen weeks.  • Develop a programme to promote equal pay for work of equal value.  • Develop an integrated and balanced family- friendly work/life programme and encourage employers and unions to have regard to its basic principles when negotiating collective agreements and designing work practices.  • Introduce measures to address the gap between male and female wage rates.  • Encourage strategies or incentives for women to participate in traditionally maledominated occupations such as the armed forces.  • Further improve programmes to help people moving into work through work-start grants and assistance with in-work costs.  • Implement the Social Security Amendment Bill that imposes case management support for sole parents, introduces a ‘Personal Development and Employment’ planning process and creates a pathway into paid employment that will increase family income.  CHILDCARE.   LABOUR WILL:  • Ensure the social security system supports transitions into employment through an increase in the maximum number of subsidized childcare hours to support parents moving into employment.  SMALL BUSINESS.   LABOUR WILL:  • Continue with initiatives for Mäori women’s economic development.  • Encourage the provision of capacity-building programmes for women in business.  • Encourage women to utilise Industry New Zealand economic development initiatives, and monitor and publicise the uptake of these.  OLDER WOMEN.   LABOUR WILL:  • Introduce legislation before the end of 2002 phasing out the asset test for residential care.  • Implement the Positive Ageing Strategy and the Health of Older People Strategy that promote health and well-being for older people.  JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.   LABOUR WILL:  • Make the Family Court more user- friendly and promote outcomes that assist families in settling their disputes in a timely manner to the benefit of all concerned.  • Review the Adoption Act 1955 and laws relating to guardianship, custody and access to ensure they properly reflect modern societal values, protect the interests of children and their families, and give effect to human rights standards  • Resource the implementation of Te Rito, the New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy.  • Introduce legislation to give legal recognition, incorporating rights and responsibilities, to de facto same-sex couples and different-sex couples.  • Implement appropriate recommendations from relevant Law Commission Reports, in particular the Women’s Access to Justice Report.  • Extend the Restorative Justice pilot to new areas and draw on the lessons of the pilot projects when reforming criminal justice law.  • Review the law, police protocols, public education and public health programmes, drug rape reporting procedures to ensure the strongest possible response to this offending.  • Ensure that Parliament addresses the issue of legislative provisions that criminalise prostitution.  • Consider implementation of changes to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act recommended by the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into pornography.  YOUTH AFFAIRS.  INTRODUCTION.  Investment, Identity, and Independence were the touchstones of Labour’s 1999 policy on youth affairs. The Labour led government has kept its word and delivered on its commitment to young people. Over the past two years, the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa has been developed following wide consultation with young people and the agencies dealing with them. Strategies for children and for youth health, combine with the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa to provide the best policy foundation for young people New Zealand has ever seen. The task for the next three years is implementation. “Building the Future” sums up Labour’s approach. Our commitment to young New Zealanders will be delivered, and it is unmatched by any other party as can be seen from the achievements of the Labour led government and Labour’s commitments for the next three years.  LABOUR’S ACHIEVEMENTS.  The Labour led government has:  • Launched the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa that requires a whole-ofgovernment approach to improving policy responsiveness to the needs of young people.  • Increased the youth minimum wage from $4.20 to $6.40 (i.e. increased it from 60 percent to 80 percent of the adult minimum wage) and extended the adult rate to include 18 and 19 year olds.  • Introduced the SNAP programme aimed at matching up to 1000 students with short-term job shortages, with an allocation of $484,000 for the 2002/2003 summer in Budget 2002.  • Provided a $1.673 million boost for Youth Suicide Prevention programmes.  • Made the Student Loan Scheme fairer by removing interest on student loans for full-time and other low-income students while they are studying and other modifications which have contributed to a fall in the average amount of student loan debt for the first time since the Loan Scheme began.  • Improved support to Mäori and Pacific tertiary students.  • Introduced and expanded the highly successful Modern Apprenticeships Scheme which has created work-based learning opportunities for over 3000 young people (increasing to 6000 by the end of 2003).  • Introduced the Gateway programme, designed to build pathways for senior secondary school students into work-based learning, and to encourage better partnerships between schools and local businesses.  BUILDING THE FUTURE.  Key themes in Labour’s policy for young people into the future are voice, purpose and protection. Ensuring young people are heard in public life is a vital part of building a better future for New Zealand. Making sure every young person has the chance to develop their talents and build creative, satisfying lives is vital to New Zealand’s economic and social development. Protecting the rights of young people, who are often among the most vulnerable people in society, is important too. These three ideas provide the context for Labour’s approach to youth policy.  YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AOTEAROA.   For the first time, New Zealand has a plan of action around youth policy. The full implementation and monitoring of the Strategy will form the core of our commitment to young New Zealanders.  LABOUR WILL:  • Commit to the implementation of the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, and monitor progress towards achieving its goals.  • Retain a separate Minister of Youth Affairs responsible for the implementation of the Strategy.  • Investigate whether the Strategy can be more effectively monitored within a separate Ministry, or whether Youth Affairs should become a semi-autonomous division of the Ministry of Social Development reporting directly to the Minister of Youth Affairs.  • Ensure that the Strategy remains a live document, by engaging in active consultation and dialogue with young people around the country as part of the implementation and monitoring process.  • Ensure that the Strategy guides policy for young people across the whole of government.  EDUCATION AND TRAINING.   Education and training are key to well-being. Labour will continue to build on its track record of improvements in access to education and training.  LABOUR WILL:  • Undertake a Review of Student Support and move to widen eligibility for single full-time students aged 18-24, beginning by progressively raising the parental income thresholds.  • Widen eligibility for the Unemployment Benefit Student Hardship in step with this.  • Extend student allowances, on the basis of parental income, to those tertiary students aged 16 and 17 who have finished year 13 at school (parents would not be eligible for family assistance for children in receipt of an allowance).  • Design, as part of the development of an Education and Training Leaving Age strategy, living support arrangements for 16 and 17 year olds who choose to undertake tertiary study rather than continue at school, without advantaging these students over those at school.  • Double the number participating in Modern Apprenticeships to 6000 by the end of December 2003.  GROWING A VOICE.   Labour believes that having a voice is important for young people. This is a key theme underlying the Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa.  LABOUR WILL:  • Encourage territorial local authorities to develop forums such as Youth Councils that provide young people with an opportunity to have a voice in decision-making at that level of government.  • Encourage and extend initiatives in civics education within the school curriculum.  • Investigate developing and funding a national-level representative body for youth, in line with other population groups.  • Support the growth of community generated youth focused radio services that involve young people at all levels of their operation.  • Monitor, in close consultation with young people, the provision of radio services for young people, including for children to ensure that young New Zealanders in all regions are able to hear programmes designed for them.  • Develop a Youth Appointments Register to ensure that talented young people are identified as suitable for appointment to statutory boards and other public bodies.  • Investigate ways of enhancing the Youth Parliament.  • Promote the use of the Internet by public agencies, recognising that this is a medium many young people prefer to use when interacting with government.  • Encourage the Ministry of Youth Affairs to make better use of online consultation methods, to keep in touch with young people who have Internet access (e.g. a Youthspeak website).  ACHIEVING POTENTIAL AND DEVELOPING TALENT.   Labour is committed to ensuring that young people have opportunities and resources to achieve their potential and develop their talent, whether it is in sporting activity, involvement in community organisations, academic success or cultural pursuits.  LABOUR WILL:  • Commit to the goal of ensuring that by 2007 all 15 to 19 year olds will be engaged in appropriate education, training, work, or other options which will lead to long-term economic independence and well-being.  • Continue to develop employment programmes that address the particular needs of young people.  • Establish a database of scholarships and grants available to both individuals and groups, for education, training, or community activities focused on young people. This will be published in an easily accessible and searchable form.  • Promote youth volunteering and institute a Citizen’s Service pilot programme in the Ministry of Social Development to enable young people to participate in community-focused projects and be recognised and rewarded for their contribution.  PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF WELL-BEING OF YOUNG PEOPLE.   With vulnerable groups in the population it is particularly important to ens ure that their rights are respected and where necessary enforced, along with the development of policies that promote well-being. Labour believes that young people should have access to services, including opportunities for social and cultural development, no matter what their background or resource base. Labour will support a range of initiatives to enhance the well-being of young people:  LABOUR WILL:  • Commit to the implementation of the Youth Health Strategy, and the Agenda for Children with appropriate monitoring and evaluation.  • Implement the Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy ensuring it takes note of the importance of sexuality and gender identity issues in this area.  • Promote enhanced availability of legal services for young people in trouble.  • Support development of youth music and arts, largely through current policy settings.  • Retain the youth minimum wage, with reviews to ensure it maintains its value relative to the adult minimum wage.  • Encourage work by Housing New Zealand to improve the range and quality of housing options available to young people who are not living at home.  INDEX  ACC, 3, 4, 39  Accommodation Supplement, 95, 162  Adoption, 114, 198  adult and community education, 177, 180, 181  Adult Literacy Strategy, 104  Agenda for Children, 161, 163, 202  agriculture, 64, 65, 72, 81, 85, 86, 153, 154  Air Force, 25  Alternative Education, 42  Antarctica, 21, 66  aquaculture, 21  armed forces. See Defence Force  arts, 5, 6, 7, 32, 131, 139, 164, 165, 202  Asylum Seekers, 102  Auckland rail corridor, 124  Australia/New Zealand Food Authority, 83  aviation, 192  Biodiversity Strategy, 10, 17, 18, 60  Bioethics Council, 84, 85. See also Toi Te Taiao  biosecurity, 9, 10, 18, 120, 153  Biotechnology Strategy, 82  boards of trustees, 45  border control, 10  Breast Screening, 92, 196  Broadcasting, 11, 13, 14  Building Act, 31, 95, 120  business incubators, 155  Centre for the Study of Socia l Exclusion and Development, 167  Centres of Research Excellence, 156, 177, 180  cervical cancer screening, 140. See also Gisborne Cervical Screening Inquiry  Charities Commission, 165  child health, 91  child poverty, 159  childcare, 159, 161, 162, 197. See also out-of-school care  Citizen’s Service pilot, 165, 202  Civil Defence Emergency Management Bill, 120  civil unions, 148  climate change, 54, 122, 123, 153, 156  collective bargaining, 49, 174  commerce, 36, 37, 39, 40, 72, 73  community and voluntary sector, 164, 165, 166  community boards, 121  Community Services Card, 89  INDEX  204 LABOUR: WORKING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY  compliance costs, 37, 39, 49, 120, 145, 165  compulsory education, 130, 140, 180, 181  Computers in Homes, 43  Conservation, 10, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 53, 54, 60, 64, 79, 122, 123, 184  Coroners, 113  Counter-Terrorism, 103  Courts, 3, 151. See also Family Courts and Supreme Courts  creative industries, 5, 6, 7, 36, 37, 72  crime prevention, 119  Crime Reduction Strategy, 110  day reporting centres, 110, 163  Defence, 25, 26, 27, 76, 120, 136, 194  Defence Force, 25  dioxin emissions, 61  disability issues, 29, 32, 140  Disarmament, 66, 71, 78  District Health Boards, 88, 89, 91, 94, 128, 138  DNA testing, 111  early childhood education, 41, 42, 44, 138, 140, 170  e-commerce, 40  E-Commerce Action Team, 40  Education and Training Leaving Age, 107, 178, 200  EEO, 195  E-government Strategy, 173  elective surgery, 87, 89  Electricity Complaints Commissioner, 53  Electricity Industry Governance Board, 55  Electronic Transactions Bill, 40  enduring powers of attorney, 115  energy, 53, 54, 58, 63, 64, 65, 79, 93, 95, 123, 124, 190  energy efficiency, 53  environment, 5, 11, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 36, 39, 40, 51, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66,  71, 78, 79, 86, 87, 105, 122, 123, 144, 151, 155, 164, 169, 175, 184, 192  Environment Court, 37, 59, 60, 122  environmental administration, 58  environmental legal aid, 58, 59  equal pay for work of equal value, 51, 197  ERMA, 58, 84, 85, 86  ESOL, 70, 104  Ethnic Affairs, 69, 70, 104  Export Credit Office, 73  Family Court, 114, 198  Family Quota, 69, 102  Family Start, 163  Family Tax Credit, 162  family- friendly work/life programme, 50, 197  Film, 5, 6  fiscal policy, 35, 37  fisheries management, 21, 79  Food Safety, 83, 120  INDEX  LABOUR: WORKING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY 205  foreign direct investment, 37  foreign policy, 71  forestry, 18, 67, 152, 153, 192  foster parents, 164  fuel consumption labelling and reporting, 192  gaming, 143, 145  gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender, 98, 147  genetic modification, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86  Gifted Education, 44  Growth and Innovation Advisory Board, 36, 155  guardianship law, 148  Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act, 58, 82, 84, 85  He Korowai Oranga, 87, 92, 129  Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill, 51  Health of Older People Strategy, 88, 198  Health Workforce Advisory Committee, 88  Healthy Housing, 94, 137  heritage, 5, 6, 9, 17, 22, 23, 24, 59, 164, 169  high country, 19, 152  HIPPY, 42  Historic Places Trust, 5, 6, 7, 23  Holidays Act, 50  homework centres, 43  hospitals, 87, 136  housing, 39, 87, 90, 93, 94, 95, 119, 121, 122, 126, 128, 141, 159, 202  human reproductive technologies, 115, 196  human rights, 26, 29, 70, 71, 74, 75, 76, 77, 97, 98, 99, 110, 115, 133, 134, 147, 198  ILO, 4, 49, 74, 76  immigration, 69, 70, 74, 101, 102, 103, 104, 141  income-related rents, 93, 126, 128, 160, 161  industry development. See also Regional Development  Industry New Zealand, 37, 72, 73, 197  Information and Communication Technology, 40  Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 3  Intellectual Property Office, 84  International Whaling Commission, 79  Investment New Zealand, 37, 72, 73  judicial commission, 116  jury system, 114  justice, 71, 109, 110, 113, 115, 116, 163, 164, 198  Kickstart, 188, 190  kin-carers, 164  Kyoto Protocol, 53, 54, 64, 65, 124, 155, 190  land transport, 120, 124, 187, 188, 189, 190  land use planning, 93  Lawyers and Conveyancing Bill, 116  Learning Support, 46  liability regime, 83  literacy, 41, 43, 45, 166, 177, 181  local authority-owned housing, 95  INDEX  206 LABOUR: WORKING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY  Local Electoral Act, 120  local government, 6, 19, 22, 23, 24, 31, 37, 38, 54, 57, 58, 59, 61, 64, 65, 70, 93, 95, 102,  119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 147, 152, 165, 185, 188  local services mapping, 163  Long Term Community Council Plans, 123  Maori participation in trade training, 107  Maori Regional Tourism Organisations, 184  Maori social and economic development, 127  Maori Television Service, 12, 14, 126, 131  Marine Reserves, 20  maternity services, 91, 92, 196  matrimonial property legislation, 97, 195. See also Relationship Property  Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, 38, 119  Men’s Health, 92  Mental Health, 87, 88, 89  migrants, 38, 69, 70, 101, 104  Minimum Code of Employment Rights, 50  minimum wage, 33, 39, 50, 51, 161, 195, 199, 202  MMP, 117  mobile surgical bus, 88, 90  Modern Apprenticeships, 6, 27, 106, 107, 139, 196, 199, 201  Modern Cadet scheme, 112  monetary policy, 34, 37  National Centre for Vocational Education and Training Research, 108  National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, 53  Negotiated Greenhouse Agreements, 64, 65  New Zealand Agency for International Development, 99, 133  New Zealand Disability Strategy, 87  New Zealand Health Strategy, 87, 91  New Zealand Immigration Programme, 101  New Zealand on Air, 6, 12, 13  New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act, 88, 129  New Zealand Superannuation, 33, 35, 160, 193, 195  New Zealand Sustainable Development Strategy, 57, 123  New Zealand Teachers’ Council, 44  New Zealand Tourism Strategy, 183, 184  New Zealand Transport Strategy, 64, 124, 187  New Zealand Waste Strategy, 62, 64, 119, 122, 123  Oceans Policy, 18, 20, 58, 65  Official Development Assistance, 75, 76, 133, 139  Official Information Act, 117  Organic agriculture, 154  OSH, 51  out of school care, 161  outdoor recreation, 17, 23  Overseas Aid and Development, 75, 133  Pacific Foundation, 75  Pacific Health and Disability Action Plan, 88, 92  Pacific Issues, 137  Pacific languages, 140  INDEX  LABOUR: WORKING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY 207  Pacific Radio, 12, 14, 15  Paid Parental Leave, 50, 51, 195, 197  Parenting Council, 162  passenger transport, 124, 188, 189. See also Public Transport  patronage funding, 124, 188, 190  pay equity, 195  people-smuggling, 103. See also Transnational Organised Crime Bill  Policy Targets Agreement, 34  Positive Ageing Strategy, 88, 198  primary health care, 76, 87, 88, 89, 90, 92, 129, 135, 161  Primary Health Organisations, 89, 90, 91, 129  public transport, 31, 63, 65, 124, 188, 190, 191. See also Passenger transport  Public Works Act, 120  racing, 143, 144, 145  Radio New Zealand, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15  rail, 31, 124, 188, 189, 190, 192  refugees, 70, 102, 103  regional development, 38, 75, 124, 139, 188, 189  regional tourism, 183, 184  relationship property, 195. See also matrimonial property  renewable energy, 53, 54, 65  Resource Management Act, 18, 19, 22, 58, 59, 120, 121, 122, 123, 152. See See also  RMA  restorative justice, 113  retirement villages, 95  Rio Declaration, 76, 134  RMA, 59, 60, 120, 122, 152. See also Resource Management Act  roading, 65, 124, 187, 188, 189  Rural Affairs, 151, 152  rural health, 88, 90  Rural Practice Support Scheme, 151  Science and innovation, 155  Serious Fraud, 117  Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy, 148, 196  small business, 35, 37  SNAP, 199  Social Development Fund, 165  social housing, 93, 94, 121, 122. See also State housing  social policy, 35, 159, 166, 167  Social Report, 166  social security, 38, 128, 159, 160, 161, 166, 197  Social Workers, 163, 164  South Pacific Whale Sanctuary, 21, 79  Southern Ocean, 21, 66  special education, 45, 46  Special Housing Action Zone, 94  spectrum allocation, 14  sport, fitness and leisure, 169  state housing. See also Social housing  Stronger Community Action Funds, 164  INDEX  208 LABOUR: WORKING FOR TOMORROW, TODAY  student allowances, 178, 200. See also Student Support  student loan scheme, 39  student support, 35, 178. See also Student Allowances  STV, 121  Superannuation, 35, 37  Sustainable development, 24  taxation, 35, 145, 156  Te Rito, the New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, 114, 163, 198  teacher education, 30, 45, 46  telecommunications, 12, 36, 37, 39, 40, 151, 152  telephone interpreter services, 70, 104  tertiary education, 30, 35, 38, 140, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 196  Toi te Taiao, 82, 85. See also The Bioethics Council  Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 194  Total Mobility, 32, 190  tourism, 6, 19, 22, 23, 24, 73, 76, 131, 144, 183, 184, 185  Trade, 6, 7, 21, 66, 71, 72, 73, 74, 106, 144  transfer of undertakings, 51, 197  Transnational Organised Crime Bill, 103. See also people-smuggling  transport, 31, 54, 58, 63, 65, 78, 119, 124, 187, 188, 189, 191, 192  Treaty of Waitangi claims, 22, 131  TVNZ, 11, 12, 13  urban development, 63  Veterans’ Affairs, 193  victim support, 113  Victims’ Rights Bill, 109, 113  waiting lists, 87  waste, 20, 62, 63, 78, 122, 123  water quality, 20, 58, 61  Women’s issues, 195  work/life programme, 50  youth affairs, 199  Youth Development Strategy Aotearoa, 163, 199, 200, 201  Youth Drug Court, 110, 111  youth justice, 163  Youth Radio, 12, 16  Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, 88, 91, 148, 202