Making significant investment through the Major Events Fund in events such as the 2015 and 2017 New Zealand Winter Games and the 2017 Women's Hockey League World Final, as well as infrastructure upgrades at Pukekohe Park Raceway for the V8 Supercars.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1.CONTINUE OUR INVESTMENT IN HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT FACILITIES
We will build on the National Training Centre in Auckland and the Cambridge hub of high performance sport facilities to provide more places for sportspeople to train and succeed.
Future plans for development include world- class high performance facilities for yachting and hockey, expected to be completed in the next two years.
2.STRENGTHEN THE PATHWAYS BETWEEN COMMUNITY SPORT TO OUR HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORT SYSTEM
We have begun reviews to link community sport to the high performance system through strengthened talent identification and enhanced training support.
3.HOST SUCCESSFUL MAJOR EVENTS
We will host a successful 2015 Cricket World up in conjunction with Australia,
including business leveraging activities
and diplomatic outreach.
We will pass legislation to protect New Zealand sport from match-fixing in time for the Cricket World Cup and other future major events.
Anyone who obtains a benefit or causes a loss by engaging in match-fixing will be liable to a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
TERTIARY EDUCATION AND SKILLS
RAISING EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND SKILLS
A skilled workforce is the engine room of a thriving economy.
In a competitive world, it's crucial we provide New Zealanders with the right skills to succeed.
It's also important that the education sector is closely linked with the needs of industry.
Over six years, we've improved the accountability, quality and focus of the tertiary education system.
We've focused spending away from low-value courses
and towards qualifications of real value to New Zealand.
After inheriting a mess of courses, qualifications and degrees, we've streamlined it down to consistent, quality tertiary education and training.
And we've transformed an education system that was all about "bums on seats", into one that emphasises performance and achievement.
We're not finished yet.
National's plan will continue to build New Zealand's skill base, especially in areas of high demand.
We're investing more so Kiwis can get the best from our tertiary education system.
We're setting up New Zealand - and New Zealanders - to succeed in a 21st Century world.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Investing an additional $40 million over four years in engineering courses at universities and polytechnics, to increase the proportion of students graduating with an engineering qualification to the OECD average.
Investing an additional $30 million over four years to increase the number of Maori and Pasifika Trades Training places from 3,000 to 5,000.
Setting a target to get 60 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds holding a Level 4 qualification or above by 2017.
Responding to the need for more skilled ICT graduates by launching ICT Graduate Schools in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Continuing to improve the information available to students by setting up a Rate My Qualification survey for employers, so students can see what courses and degrees employers really value.
NATIONAL IS...
BOOSTING FOUNDATION LEARNING
Set up the Youth Guarantee to help young people, who would otherwise drop out of education, get Level 1 and 2 qualifications.
14,500 15- to 19-year-olds now benefit from this programme each year, which is delivered through tertiary institutes and trades academies.
Embedded literacy and numeracy in all Level 1 and 2 qualifications and trebled adult literacy and numeracy learner places between 2010 and 2012.
Made foundation-level education (Levels 1 and 2) fees-free for anyone under 25 years old, to make sure all young New Zealanders have the opportunity to access basic skills and qualifications.
IMPROVING VOCATIONAL TRAINING
Got rid of the 100,000 'phantom trainees' who were listed as being in industry training under Labour, but who were not actually achieving any credits or qualifications.
Consolidated the industry training sector, reducing the number of Industry Training Organisations from 39 to 12, so each can deliver better services and value for students.
Simplified the confusing mass of trade qualifications, reducing the number from 4,610 to 1,400, so it's easier for learners and employers to understand their value and quality.
Developed New Zealand Apprenticeships, which improve the quality of apprenticeship programmes, set clear expectations on educators and increase the funding available for each apprentice.
Launched the Apprenticeship Reboot, which pays 20,000 apprentices $1,000 or $2,000 to cover costs such as tools and course costs, and the same amount to their employers.
Created 3,000 Maori and Pasifika trades training places,
with the support of iwi and church groups, to help young Maori and Pasifika people upskill and take advantage of the strong demand for tradespeople.
Reformed the governance of polytechnics and institutes of technology, to improve their financial and educational performance.
Set up Vocational Pathways to signpost careers from school to tertiary in six key areas: manufacturing and technology; construction and infrastructure; creative industries; primary industries; services industries; and social and community services.
STRENGTHENING TERTIARY EDUCATION
Shifted the focus from attendance to results by establishing performance indicators that measure course completion, qualifications, student progression and retention.
By linking this to performance we're now funding for success, not simply attendance.
Invested heavily in tertiary education, despite tough economic times - in 2012 we invested $2.2 billion in publicly-owned tertiary institutions, up 13.4 per cent since 2008.
Created the Occupational Outlook, to give young people and their families instant and easy access to the latest career and education information before they start their study.
Increased course funding for high-demand, high-value courses such as sciences and ICT, including almost $200 million extra in Budget 2014.
Used the Tertiary Education Strategy to clearly signal to providers the skills that industry wants.
Improved and simplified the Performance- Based Research Funding process, to better support tertiary institutes to by rewarding and encouraging tertiary education research.
We're increasing PBRF funding from $231 million in 2007/08 to $300 million in 2015/16 to encourage university- based research.
BETTER FOCUSING STUDENT SUPPORT
Stopped the blow-out in student support costs by focusing support where it's needed, such as young learners studying for their first qualification and those from low-income families.
We've done this in a responsible way,
to ensure our very generous student support scheme doesn't become unaffordable for taxpayers.
Ensured overseas-based student loan borrowers are meeting their repayment obligations, so we can provide the same level of support they enjoyed to the next generation of students.
PROMOTING INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
Developed and promoted the New Zealand Education Story to help boost international education by tying in with our strong global brand.
Streamlined visa processes and cut red-tape for high-quality international education providers, to help them attract international students to New Zealand.
INVESTING IN CHRISTCHURCH
Invested $107.5 million in rebuilding Lincoln University science facilities.
Invested $260 million to rebuild the science and engineering facilities at the University of Canterbury.
Invested $18.9 million in trades training at Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology, to support the Christchurch rebuild.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR...
Around 14,000 apprentices have already taken advantage of the Reboot scheme, with 69 per cent being in priority trades.
The total number of people in apprenticeship training increased to 33,000 in 2013, with 1,028 signing up each month – up 24 per cent from 2012.
In 2012, a record number of tertiary qualifications were achieved - up to 162,000, a 20 per cent increase over the last five years.
The number of domestic students completing bachelors' degrees has increased by 24 per cent, from 20,800 in 2008 to 25,800 in 2013.
More young people are now moving from school to degree-level study – up from 13,600 students in 2007 to 18,200 in 2013.
The number of Maori students enrolled in qualifications at bachelors level or higher has increased from 17,480 in 2008 to 22,080 in 2013 - a 26 per cent increase.
The number of Pasifika students enrolled in qualifications at bachelors level or above has increased from 8,935 in 2008 to 12,615 in 2013.
Investment in universities is up - nearly 19 per cent over five years.
• We have already reached our original goal of 55 per cent of 25- to 34- year-olds with a qualification at Level 4 or above.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1.TRAIN MORE ENGINEERS
-> Invest an additional $40 million over four years in engineering courses at universities and polytechnics, to increase the proportion of students graduating with an engineering qualification to the OECD average.
If New Zealand is to have faster economic growth, we need to invest in skills that will help grow the economy.
At current levels, the New Zealand tertiary education system produces 900 to 950 engineering graduates a year.
In 2009 just 6.6 per cent of all student enrolments were in engineering courses, compared to an OECD average of 13.2 per cent.
National has already provided additional funding and places to produce an extra 500 engineering graduates a year by 2017.
With this ne $40 million investment, we'll be on track to double the number of engineering graduates to around 1,800 to 1,900 a year within four years.
BOOST MAORI AND PASIFIKA TRADES TRAINING
-> Invest an additional $30 million over four years to increase the number of Maori and Pasifika Trades Training places from 3,000 to 5,000.
The Maori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative is getting young people successfully through trades training and into apprenticeships and stable employment while meeting the skills needs of regional employers.
The initiative brings together tertiary education providers, Maori and/or Pasifika organisations and employers.
National is already on track to provide 3,000 trades training places by 2015, through 12 consortia operating around the country.
National will expand the existing scheme to increase the number of trades training places from 3,000 to 5,000.
We will also expand the scheme to include agricultural trades.
This expansion will take our total investment in the programme to $73 million.
2.LIFT OUR QUALIFICATIONS TARGET
-> Set a target to get 60 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds holding a Level 4 qualification or above by 2017.
In 2012, National set measurable targets in 10 challenging areas to improve the lives of New Zealanders.
One of those targets was to have 55 per cent of 25- to 34-year-olds with advanced trade qualifications, diplomas and degrees - at Level 4 or above on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework.
We have already reached that target - three years early.
National is lifting the bar so we aim for even more improvement.
Our new target will be to get 60 per cent of people holding a Level 4 qualification or above by 2017.
3. CREATE ICT GRAD SCHOOLS
-> Launch three ICT Graduate Schools, to help address high-level skills shortages in the rapidly growing ICT industry.
National will invest $28.6 million over four years in establishing three ICT Graduate Schools, to be located in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
The new schools will be provided with funding for education, research and collaborative initiatives to attract top students and academics and connect them closely with high-value high-tech firms.
They will play a crucial role in lifting the number of people with ICT skills and knowledge,
so they can help drive innovation in the sector and build a more productive and internationally-competitive economy.
4. GET INDUSTRY AND INSTITUTIONS TALKING
-> Set up a Rate My Qualification survey for employers to provide direct feedback to institutions and students.
It is increasingly important that students receive the skills that industry needs in a growing and innovative economy.
To do that, it's essential that universities, polytechnics, wananga and other education institutions are engaging with employers to find out what skills they're looking for in graduates, both locally and nationally.
We'll set up a Rate My Qualification survey for employers to provide direct feedback to institutions and students on how employers rate their qualifications, so that students can see what courses and degrees employers value.
5.STRENGTHEN THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SYSTEM
-> Implement the Tertiary Education Strategy.
National will implement the Tertiary Education Strategy, to focus on six key areas over the next five years:
Delivering skills for industry.
Getting at-risk young people into a career.
Boosting achievement of Maori and Pasifika.
Improving adult literacy and numeracy.
Strengthening research-based institutions.
Growing international linkages.
Focusing on these six strategic priorities will help ensure that all people have the opportunity and encouragement to gain the skills they need to participate successfully in modern life.
Strengthen universities.
National will complete governance reforms to strengthen universities.
We will invest in the rebuild of Canterbury and Lincoln universities.
Retain interest-free student loans.
National will retain interest free student loans.
We will expand the Overseas-Based Borrowers Initiative to help improve the affordability of student loans.
Make second-chance foundation education free.
By 2017, National will make all second-chance foundation education at Levels 1 to 2 fees-free for all New Zealanders.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would...Go back to funding tertiary education based on attendance instead of results, and remove performance indicators to track results.
Between 2000 and 2008 the number of degree-level graduates did not improve despite huge increases in funding.
Return to the wasteful spending of the early 2000s on low-value courses that add little to New Zealand's productive skills base but cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Impose compulsory union membership on tertiary students.
Undo National's work to keep the student support scheme affordable and sustainable by opening up again the floodgates on student allowance eligibility - the same policies that blew out student support costs by 69 per cent at the end of the 2000s.
TOURISM
GIVING VISITORS THE BEST POSSIBLE EXPERIENCE
National has an unparalleled record when it comes to supporting the New Zealand tourism industry.
Tourism has a powerful advocate in its current minister, Prime Minister John Key.
We're working to grow our tourism sector through ongoing investment in the overseas promotion of the New Zealand tourism experience.
We are also committed to supporting our domestic tourism operators to provide the best possible experiences for international and domestic visitors,
and to create jobs.
Since 2008 National has invested an unprecedented $600 million in tourism and tourism promotion.
Our investment is getting results.
In the past year, 2.8 million people visited New Zealand, and total visitor spend was up 11 per cent to over $7 billion.
Growing visitor numbers
Tourism directly employs 5.7 per cent of the New Zealand workforce and indirectly employs another 3.1 per cent.
Our tourism industry is in good heart and Tourism New Zealand is widely regarded as world leading in its promotional and marketing work.
National will work to further grow the number of overseas visitors to New Zealand, particularly high-spending tourists, by capitalising on the investments we have already made.
We have supported the screen industry by keeping The Hobbit films in New Zealand,
which has led to higher visitor numbers.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Prime Minister John Key will retain the tourism portfolio, keeping tourism at the heart of Government.
2.8 million visitors in the last year spent $7 billion and directly employed 5.7% of our workforce.
$158 million over four years for promoting New Zealand to important tourism markets.
Supported the screen industry by keeping The Hobbit films in New Zealand, which has resulted in increased visitor numbers.
Completion and ongoing support for the New Zealand Cycle Trail Network and The Great Rides.
Continue promotion of New Zealand as a top international visitor destination.
Provide support to attract large international business conferences and conventions to New Zealand.
NATIONAL IS...BOOSTING NEW ZEALAND'S TOURISM PROMOTION
Provided support to the New Zealand screen industry to make sure The Hobbit films were made in New Zealand.
In Budget 2013 we invested an additional $158 million over four years for tourism promotion work and marketing in both established and emerging markets,
$34 million to expand our focus on international business events, including conferences, conventions and exhibitions.
$20 million to target very high-value, high- spending visitors.
$44.5 million to attract visitors from emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Latin America.
$24.5 million to boost tourism from existing markets - Australia, the US, UK, Germany and Japan
Made $32 million available to support innovative tourism projects to further grow the tourism sector through Tourism Growth Partnerships.
SUPPORTING CANTERBURY TOURISM
Provided funding to the Canterbury Tourism Partnership to oversee the implementation of the Visitor Sector Plan to encourage tourists to back the region.
IMPROVING OUR TOURISM OFFERING
Continuing to support our $47.5 million investment in the New Zealand Cycle Trail Network through the establishment of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail Inc. to govern and manage the New Zealand Cycle Trail Network.
Committed $8 million over four years to help maintain the quality of The New Zealand Cycle Trail's Great Rides.
Established a safety audit scheme to have all adventure activities operators audited and registered by 1 November 2014.
Supporting the construction of an International Convention Centre in Auckland
which will see a 3500 capacity facility built
with little or no taxpayer investment,
which is forecast to attract 33,000 extra high-value convention delegates to Auckland a year.
SUPPORTING CRICKET WORLD CUP 2015
Established a temporary programme with Australia to help facilitate international visitors between our two countries during next year's Cricket World Cup, including an integrated visa process and streamlined visa arrangements.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR...
GROWING INTERNATIONAL TOURISM
Despite the tough economic conditions experienced in many countries, visitor arrivals are growing.
They were up 6 per cent to 2. 8 million in the last year, this included growth from the US of around 11 per cent, Germany 16 perc cent, China 8 per cent,  Australia 4 per cent, and the UK 2 per cent.
National's investment in overseas promotion and marketing is having a considerable impact on the choice of people to visit New Zealand over other destinations.
By far the strongest single contributor to the growth in visitor numbers is the promotion of The Hobbit and New Zealand as Middle Earth.
Fourteen per cent of holiday arrivals are directly influenced by The Hobbit, illustrating the value of the Government's investments in both Tourism New Zealand and the screen industry.
THE CYCLE TRAIL SUCCESS STORY
Four more cycle trails will be finished by the end of December 2014, adding to the 23 Great Rides completed so far.
2554 km of trails have been built.
The build phase for four trails created 1100 new jobs alone
and developed tourism infrastructure
that will provide long-term boosts to regional economies.
All Great Rides are experiencing growth in trail usage - 56 per cent in the Past year alone.
REBUILDING CANTERBURY TOURISM
The number of Chinese visitor arrivals to Christchurch is increasing.
60 per cent more Chinese visitors arrived over the 2013/14 summer.
Meanwhile, international guest nights in Canterbury are up over 11 per cent in the year to June 2014.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1. CONTINUE TO ATTRACT HIGH- SPENDING VISITORS
National will support Tourism New Zealand's overseas promotion and marketing in both emerging and established markets.
Maintain a focus on high-value and special interest visitors.
This includes walking and hiking, cycling, golf, fishing and skiing, with targeted campaigns developed for all these activities.
These people generally spend more and stay longer.
Provide support for national and regional efforts to attract large international business conferences and conventions.
For a long time New Zealand has missing out on this segment of the high value visitor market because we lack international- standard convention centres and until recently have not been actively marketed as a business events destination.
National's support for an International Convention Centre in Auckland will see a 3500 seat facility built
with little or no taxpayer investment,
which is forecast to attract 33,000 extra high-value convention delegates to New Zealand a year.
Continue the Tourism Growth Partnership Fund
National will grow and support innovation
and create more jobs in the tourism sector.
Continue to build closer relationships with Chinese tourism authorities and work to further streamline visa processing to encourage more high value Chinese tourists.
It is important to remove unnecessary impediments that may prevent the further growth of this valuable market.
Support Maori Tourism
We will work to encourage Maori tourism initiatives through implementation of the Maori Tourism Action Plan.
National is keen to work with those involved in Maori tourism to further develop and promote this unique and valuable point of difference to international visitors.
2. KEEP TOURISM AT THE HEART OF GOVERNMENT
Keep the Prime Minister as Minister of Tourism
The Prime Minister, as Minister of Tourism, brings a high-level focus and advocacy to this important portfolio.
This has been invaluable to the industry and will continue if National is re-elected.
Having the portfolio as part of the Prime Minister's portfolios ensures that tourism is at the heart of the Government's economic thinking and Cabinet's decision-making.
The Prime Minister is also able to advocate effectively for the tourism industry when he undertakes official visits overseas.
3. COMPLETE AND HELP MAINTAIN OUR CYCLE TRAILS
Complete the remaining few kilometres of the Great Rides and continue to support New Zealand Cycle Trails through ongoing maintenance funding.
Four more rides are expected to open in time for summer - the West Coast Wilderness Trail, the start of the Great Taste Trail in Tasman, the Around the Mountain Trail in Southland and the Little River Trail in Canterbury.
4. PROMOTE NEW ZEALAND AS A MAJOR EVENTS DESTINATION
Support upcoming international sporting events to promote New Zealand as a major events destination to the world
The 2015 Cricker World Cup will promote New Zealand to both key established and emerging tourism markets.
It will showcase New Zealand to many parts of the world previously unfamiliar with our country.
5. PUT IN PLACE WORLD-CLASS SAFETY STANDARDS
Work to ensure our adventure activities meet world-class safety standards by having all operators audited and registered.
New Zealand has a fantastic reputation as a destination for tourists looking for adventure.
However, National also takes seriously our responsibility to provide the safest possible environment for visitors to enjoy those experiences.
All adventure activities operators will be audited and registered under the Health and Safety in Employment (Adventure Activities) Regulations by 1 November 2014.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would:
Impose additional costs on New Zealand tourism operators, many of which are small family-run businesses, through policies such as:
A capital gains tax on all businesses
An irresponsible increase to the minimum wage that will force employers to cut back on staff and future recruitment
Cancelling the 90-day trial period
A massive increase in employer KiwiSaver contributions
Block the construction of the New Zealand International Convention Centre
costing thousands of jobs
and robbing Auckland of the huge economic potential that comes with hosting major international conventions.
Unnecessarily tighten the current concession regime to further restrict commercial access to public conservation land, thereby reducing the experiences responsible tourism operators can provide to visitors.
TRADE
GROWING OUR EXPORTS
National recognises the importance of our export sector.
We have set a target to increase the ratio of exports to GDP from 30 per cent to 40 per cent by 2025.
That means doubling the value of our exports by 2025.
Growth in exports is critical to higher productivity and a more prosperous future.
It will give the next generation real choices and lock-in New Zealand as a small, but successful part of the global economy.
Despite the difficulties the Government has faced through the Global Financial Crisis and a strong New Zealand dollar, our exports have grown at an average annual rate of 5.6 per cent in the four years to March 2012 and last year accelerated to a growth rate of 8.5 per cent, driven by a phenomenal 51 per cent increase in exports to China.
Supporting an open economy
Continued growth in exports requires three things: opening up markets through a pro-active trade negotiations agenda focussed on fast-growing emerging economies;
working with our exporters to maximise their use of those opportunities;
and strengthening the capacity of New Zealand companies to compete by building world- class infrastructure,
removing unnecessary red tape
and getting the fundamentals of the economy right.
National will always favour an open economy,
a welcoming attitude to foreign investment
provided it's in New Zealand's best interests,
targeted immigration programmes to attract world-class talent to our shores,
backed by an independent minded foreign policy.
There is no future for our country by turning inwards and becoming defensive.
National will boost investment in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise by $69 million to substantially expand the number of companies it works with.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Continue to pursue high-quality free trade agreements.
Boost investment in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise by $69 million to expand the number of companies it works with.
Promote New Zealand companies in foreign markets through marketing campaigns and trade missions.
Increase the New Zealand Government's presence in growth markets to provide assistance to exporters.
OPENING UP MARKETS
Signed agreement on Economic Cooperation between New Zealand and the Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (ANZTEC) resulting in over $40 million of savings per year for Kiwi exporters through reduced trade barriers.
Signed Investment Protocol to the New Zealand-Australia Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement.
Signed free trade agreements with Hong Kong, Malaysia and ASEAN.
CONTINUING EFFORTS TO SECURE FREE TRADE
Working towards free trade agreements:Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership with Pacific countries including Japan and the United States.
New Zealand-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Agreement
Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with Asian and Pacific countries Pacific countries.
New Zealand-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
New Zealand-lndia Free Trade Agreement.
HELPING EXPORTERS MAXIMISE THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
Developed the 'New Zealand Story' project to assist companies to communicate New Zealand's distinct and unique attributes.
Implementing 'NZ Inc' strategies for India and China and begun developing strategies for Australia, US, ASEAN, Gulf Cooperation council, and the European Union
Conducted 31 minister-led trade missions to open doors and provide strategic opportunities in key markets for 345 different kiwi companies and organisations.
Provided New Zealand Trade and Enterprise with $69 million over four years to provide customised services for up to 700 international firms, and further engagement with another 4000 kiwi companies.
Increasing our representation in emerging markets such as China, the Middle East and South America.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR
MORE FREE-TRADE AGREEMENTS
MORE EXPORTS
• Merchandise exports exceed $50 billion for the first time in the March 2014 year in New Zealand dollar terms.
• Our terms of trade are the best they have been since 1973, meaning we can buy more with what we earn.
• In 2013, New Zealand exported $10 billion worth of goods to China - an increase of 15 per cent a year on average since 2008 when the NZ-China free trade agreement entered into force.
In 2008, New Zealand exported $2.5 billion worth of goods in China.
• 50 per cent of our merchandise exports are covered by free trade agreements, up from 46 percent in 2011/12.
• A further 27 per cent of merchandise exports are covered by free trade agreements currently under negotiation.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT ...
1. Deliver further free trade agreements
Advance the TPP
National will work to conclude a high quality TPP agreement
that is in the best interests of New Zealand.
The goal of the TPP is to negotiate an Asia-Pacific regional deal that will reduce trade barriers, & improve regional competitiveness.
Early estimates suggest TPP could be worth up to $5 billion in increased New Zealand exports.
Any deal must be in NZ's best interests.
Continue to work on other FTAs
While pushing forward with the TPP, National will continue to work towards concluding FTA agreements currently being negotiated and explore new FTA opportunities.
We will progress negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership countries, Korea, India and Russia.
2. Support New Zealand Exporters
Promote New Zealand
National will continue with its successful strategy of promoting New Zealand companies in foreign markets by presenting a compelling New Zealand story to the world.
National has got 'The New Zealand Story' project up and running and the Government is developing other tools and content to support offshore marketing of New Zealand companies.
Help New Zealand Companies do business in new markets
National will boost our investment in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise companies by expanding the number of businesses the agency works with.
With the $69 million announced in Budget 2014 NZTE will intensively engage with 700 companies by June 2016.
National will continue to increase our international footprint in growth markets by getting the right level of resources in the right places to assist our exporters in the markets they are operating in.
We will establish seven new NZTE staff in China on top of the 62 already there as well as new staff in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Papua New Guinea.
Grow New Zealand's exports
National will increase exports from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of GDP by 2025.
That means doubling the value of our exports by 2025.
We will also boost two-way trade with China to $30 billion by 2020.
3. Lead new trade missions
Ensure further trade missions led by Government Ministers
National will continue its successful trade mission campaign with at least 30 high-quality trade missions by sector ministers over the next three years.
Since January 2012 the Government has led 60 trade missions, including 31 that were led by government ministers.
The advantage of having ministers is that it opens doors to business at the companies in establishing connections in overseas markets.
These trade missions have proved to be very popular with over 345 separate entities (mostly private companies) participating, often on more than one occasion.
These occasions also provide additional contact between company executives and ministers.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would:
Threaten our world-leading free trade legacy.
Labour is only reluctantly committed to free trade despite pressure from the left wing of their caucus.
They are the fractured party of entrenched interests
while National is committed to making New Zealand part of a global economy.
Meanwhile, the Greens are ideologically opposed to free trade and it is unknown how a Labour-Green Government would advance free trade - if at all
Threaten nearly every measure that National has introduced to help Kiwi companies succeed.
Add costs to New Zealand business that would make them less competitive internationally.
TRANSPORT
KEEPING NEW ZEALAND MOVING
High-quality infrastructure underpins a strong economy.
National is investing in New Zealand's transport infrastructure
after years of neglect under Labour.
Over the past three years, National has spent nearly $11 billion on improving our transport infrastructure, and has earmarked another $38 billion over the next decade.
We will continue to invest in all types of transport infrastructure.
This includes pushing ahead with the Roads of National Significance programme, which is accelerating and prioritising New Zealand's most-needed roading projects.
Several of these projects have already opened, ahead of schedule.
We are investing in important regional roading projects, and we are supporting public transport with subsidies and investment in new and upgraded infrastructure.
National has invested over $2 billion to upgrade and electrify the Auckland and Wellington commuter rail systems.
National is making it easier for the public to use all types of transport.
Our investments are making travel quicker and safer.
We're modernising the Warrant of Fitness regime
and we've passed drink-driving legislation to lower breath and blood alcohol limits.
A safe, modern and efficient transport system is the lifeblood of any country.
National will continue to invest strongly in road, rail, marine and aviation transport systems to get goods to market, and people to work and leisure.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Building Roads of National Significance.
A new $212 million regional roading package of 14 projects around the country.
Accelerating important state highway projects in Auckland.
A $90 million fund for transport projects in the regions.
A new urban cycleways fund of $100 million.
Safer drivers on safer roads.
NATIONAL IS...
BUILDING ROADS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE
Completed several Roads of National Significance projects early
and under budget.
The return on investment can already be felt, with the NZ Transport Agency measuring travel time savings on sections of the Waikato Expressway, the Christchurch Southern Motorway and Victoria Park Tunnel.
Turned the first sod on Transmission Gully, north of Wellington – a project 95 years in the making.
INVESTING IN URBAN AND REGIONAL ROADS
Investing in an accelerated regional roading package worth $212 million.
Bringing forward $800 million of roading projects in Auckland, including parts of State Highway 1 and State Highway 20A to the airport.
Created a new fund dedicated to the regions of up to $90 million a year.
Roads of national significance. Progress
The Puhoi to Warkworth sectuib of the Puhoi to Wellsford road has been granted resource consent.
Completed the Te Rapa and Ngaruawahia sections of the Waikato Expressway on schedule and under budget.
The Auckland Western Ring Route is well underway, with great progress being made on the Waterview Connection, the SH16 causeway upgrade, the Lincoln Road Intercharge, the Te Atatu Road Intercharge and the St Lukes to Great North Road Section.
Completed the Victoria Park Tunnel Project on budget and ahead of schedule.
The Tauranga Eastern Link is six months ahead of schedule and expected to be open in late 2015.
Significant progress is being made on the Kapiti Expressway in the Wellington Northern Corridor.
The first sod has been turned on Transmission Gully.
The War Memorial Park Section of Buckle Street in Wellington is on track to be completed for Anzac Day 2015.
Completed Section 1 of the Southern Motorway in Christchurch on budget and ahead of schedule.
INVESTING IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WALKING AND CYCLING
Invested $1.6 billion to upgrade and electrify the Auckland commuter rail system, which included a loan and grant to Auckland Council for the purchase of electric trains.
Committed to jointly funding the City Rail Link, together with the Auckland Council for  a construction start in 2020
Invested $485 million to upgrade the Wellington commuter rail system.
Increasing the walking and cycling budgets in the National Land Transport Fund.
Continuing to support the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan with capital investment when needed.
MAKING TRANSPORT SAFER, CHEAPER & MORE EFFICIENT
Improved road safety – in the past 3 years the road toll has been the lowest in 60 years.
Tightened up on driver licensing, including a requirement for 120 hours of supervised driving practice.
Lowered the general breath and blood alcohol limits, and introduced a zero blood alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 20.
Increased the driving age to 16.
The number of 15- to 19-year-olds who died or were seriously injured on the roads has decreased by 16 per cent in just one year.
Identified the 100 riskiest intersections.
At least 22 of these intersections have safety improvements completed, with planning or investigation at various stages for the remainder.
Reformed and modernised Warrant of Fitnesses to move from six-monthly checks to yearly checks for cars first registered after 1 January 2000, which is estimated to save motorists $1.8 billion over 30 years.
Reducing compliance costs with a modern and simpler road user charges system.
Improving safety among domestic shipping and fishing companies and operators with the Maritime Operator Safety System.
Strengthening the operational response to marine incidents after the Rena incident.
Enabling more freight movement with fewer trucks, through investment in key freight routes as part of a High Productivity Motor Vehicle network across the country.
Reducing domestic and international airline passenger charges following the Aviation Security Service review,
and continuing to negotiate air service agreements with other countries to make trade and travel easier.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1.CONTINUE THE ROADS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE PROGRAMME
National is committed to completing the Roads of National Significance Programme.
These roads are located around New Zealand's five largest population centres and will encourage economic growth.
They are the Government's major commitment to addressing key capacity constraints on the country's road network.
When we were elected at the 2008 election we identified what amounted to a 30-year deficit in transport infrastructure investment.
We are turning that situation around.
National will continue to ensure enough money is allocated in the National Land Transport Fund to finish all Roads of National Significance.
2.KICK-START THE ACCELERATED REGIONAL ROADING PACKAGE
National's roading policies also ensure that New Zealand's regions – a key driver of our economy – have modern transport infrastructure.
The Accelerated Regional Roading Package is a suite of roading upgrades on critical regional state highways
that will boost productivity in the regions.
The $212 million for these projects is from the Future Investment Fund.
Five of the identified projects will begin in 2014/2015 with the remainder being progressed once final investigations and resource consents are completed
3.ACCELERATE IMPORTANT STATE HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN AUCKLAND
National will progress a package of roading projects in Auckland to reduce congestion, capitalise on the benefits of the Western Ring Route, and improve connections to the airport and neighbouring regions.
In our next term of government, we will begin construction on three major projects and complete an investigation into the next steps for the East-West Link.
4.START THE URBAN CYCLEWAYS PROGRAMME
Kick-start and promote investment in urban cycleways.
We recognise that commuting by bike has health benefits and takes pressure off other transport networks.
But cycleways in our cities are often fragmented and many people cite safety concerns, and a lack of infrastructure, as reasons for not cycling.
That's why the Government has announced $100 million in new funding for urban cycleways,
and the creation of a cycleways investment panel to identify the best projects.
The cycleway investment panel will include representatives from central government, local government and other organizations.
Building more comprehensive cycling networks will require new infrastructure to connect existing routes and expand the network into wider urban areas.
This will take a partnership between central and local government.
Cycleways will be built to a standard that delivers real incentives for people to make a change.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK...
Labour would:Abandon the Roads of National Significance programme by:
Cancelling the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance
Cancelling the Kapiti Expressway
Cancelling Transmission Gully as a Public Private Partnership,
which will again delay this vital piece of inrastructure
Cancel the accelerated regional road programme
even though these are roads the regions themselves want built.
Introduce tolls and congestion charges on existing roads - roads that New Zealanders have already paid for.
Re-introduce regional fuel taxes.
TREATY OF WAITANGI NEGOTIATIONS
FINISHING HISTORIC TREATY SETTLEMENTS
National recognises the importance of just and durable Treaty of Watangi settlements.
Settlements not only provide iwi with an economic base to build on, but also enable the resolution of historical grievances, which is good for iwi
and good for New Zealand.
National has a great track record in Treaty settlements.
We have significantly sped up the settling of historic Treaty settlements and are nearly there.
By 2017, all willing iwi should have deeds of settlement.
The financial proceeds of settlements can help iwi lay the foundations for economic success and grow their wealth.
They also make a valuable contribution to regional development,
delivering new educational initiatives,
stronger social services
and innovative business investment to New Zealand's regions.
Resolving historic grievances through the full and final settlement of historic claims will be a major achievement for New Zealand.
NATIONAL IS...DELIVERING ENDURING TREATY SETTLEMENTS FOR ALL WILLING AND ABLE IWI
Making huge progress in settling with iwi across the country, with 49 agreements in principle reached and 46 deeds of settlement signed.
Delivering a settlement with Ngai Tuhoe, including a historic apology by the Crown and a strong economic base to build upon.
Bringing high-level political leadership to settling historical Treaty claims.
Speeding up the passage of legislation so iwi who settle receive the benefits of settlement earlier.
ENSURING SETTLEMENTS ARE FULL, FINAL AND SUCCESSFUL
Set up a post-settlements office to ensure the Crown keeps its commitments
and Treaty settlements are final.
Working with iwi across government on regional development to ensure the benefits of settlement are enjoyed by all
Delivering significant growth opportunities for New Zealand's regions through an increase in the number of settlements finalised in the past six years.
TREATY OF WAITANGI NEGOTIATIONS
OUR NEXT STEPS
BY 2017, ALL WILLING AND ABLE IWI SHOULD HAVE DEEDS OF SETTLEMENT
Keep up the momentum and energy National has brought to Treaty settlements.
Maintain political leadership of Treaty settlements,
ensure the Crown keeps commitments made in Treaty settlements
and that settlements are full and final.
Continue to look for flexible solutions to long-standing grievances.
Deliver more investment into New Zealand's regions through settlements.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour would:Slow down Treaty settlements.
Under their previous record, they would not have been completed until 2060, if at all.
Stall settlement momentum.
They averaged fewer than two deeds of settlement each year they were in office between 1999 and 2008, compared to National's average of more than seven each year.
We can't let Labour's lethargy and lack of interest destroy momentum yet again.
Prolong grievances,
disadvantage iwi in negotiations
and hold up huge economic development potential in the regions.
Create, through delay, inequalities between settled and non-settled iwi.
Create modern grievances through unjust panicked political reactions,
such as the foreshore and seabed legislation, which denied Maori access to the courts
and legislated away property rights.
Veterans´Affairs.
HONOURING THOSE WHO SERVED
National honours the contribution of our veterans to the peace, freedom, and security New Zealand enjoys today.
We are committed to ensuring there is appropriate recognition of those who gave service to New Zealand, and to providing support for those who suffered ill-health effects as a result of their service.
National has passed the Veterans' Support Act, the first major re-write of veterans' legislation in 60 years.
This was a central part of a $60 million package for veterans.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Maintaining the Veteran´s Pension and Superannuation at 66 per cent of the average wage, meaning payments increase faster than inflation over time.
Passed the Veterans´Support Act – the first major re-write of veterans´ legislation in 60 years- as the central part of the $60 million package for veterans.
Provided a one-off 5 percent increase to the War Disablemet Pension and Surviving Spouse Pension on top of annual cost of living increases.
Extended eligibility for the Veteran´s Pension to all those with qualifying service, increasing eligibility from 8,000 to 25,000 New Zealanders.
Supporting Veterans
Passed the Veterans' Support Act – the first major re-write of veterans' legislation in 60 years - as the central part of a $60 million package for veterans.
Increased all Pension entitlements annually to keep up with the cose of living.
Provided a one-off 5 per cent increase to the War Disablement Pension and Surviving Spouse Pension, in addition to annual cost of living increases.
Paid grants worth $300,000 to the RSA to support its welfare activities.
ENSURING NEW ZEALAND WILL NEVER FORGET
Organised and funded World War II and Korean War Veterans to attend 70th and 60th anniversary commemorations overseas.
Funded eligible veterans who served in the RNZAF to attend the unveiling of an official memorial in Green Park, London.
Successfully ran the ballot for places to Gallipoli 2015, following a public consultation process that resulted in special places reserved for veterans and direct descendants of those who fought at Gallipoli
Announced a second national centenary service at Gallipoli on 8 August 2015.
Contributing to Sir Peter Jackson's vision of creating a special World War I exhibition to mark Anzac Day 2015 and run for the duration of the centenary period.
Dedicated plaques in the parliamentary debating chamber to commemorating our service in Afghanistan, East Timor
and Missions in Support of Peace.
Launched the annual Passchendaele multimedia competition.
Introduced the New Zealand Malayan Veterans´ Day
OUR RESULTS SO FAR
HELPED COVER LIVING COSTS
All rates of the Veteran's Pension and Superannuation have increased by 28 per cent since 2008, far ahead of inflation.
The married rate is up by $249 a fortnight, while the single living alone rate is up by $162 a fortnight.
We have expanded the Veteran's Pension - 17.000 more people now qualify, taking the total number of eligible recipients to around 25,000.
We've also increased the Travel Mileage Allowance rate by 20 per cent from 1 July 2014.
BETTER SERVICES FOR VETERANS
We have cleared the entire 11,000 claim backlog for War Disablement Pensions
that existed when Labour left government in 2008.
Veteran Affairs case managers handle more than 45.000 phone queries from individual veterans a year, process 72,000 invoices for veteran care and wellbeing, and ensure more than 16,000 veterans and surviving spouses receive their pension entitlements.
Some 2,500 files with 4,400 separate claims have been processed, and dozens of appeal decisions have been reached by the War Pensions Appeal Board.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT
1. HONOUR OUR VETERANS
Continue to work with our Turkish and Australian counterparts for the Gallipoli 2015 centenary commemorations.
Fund veterans to attend the major commemorative milestones associated with their service overseas.
This includes business class or RNZAF flights, meals and accommodation, medical assistance and support stuff.
Put in place a significant commemorative programme to mark the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's contribution to the Vietnam War.
Our Vietnam veterans were let down by the New Zealand government of the day when they returned from war.
It is important that we provide the appropriate recognition and commemorate their service as we mark 50 years.
2. MAINTAIN VETERAN'S PENSION AND TRAVEL GRANTS
Veterans have worked hard and deserve to enjoy their retirement.
Having financial security is a big part of this.
Maintain the Veteran's Pension and Superannuation at 66 per cent of the average wage.
Introduce indexing of the mileage allowance rate to ensure it reflects increasing costs.
This change comes on top of the 20 per cent rate increase implemented on 1 July 2014.
Increase the travel grant from $2,000 to $2,500 to help veterans with the cost of attending a commemoration associated with their service.
3.IMPLEMENT THE VETERANS' SUPPORT ACT
Service in defence of our nation, for freedom and democracy around the world, is a sacrifice that needs appropriate recognition in legislation.
National passed the Veterans' Support Act, the first major re-write of veterans' legislation in 60 years.
This Act was the central part of $60 million package designed to improve support for veterans.
The Act will help better meet the needs of both older veterans who require assistance to remain in their own homes, and veterans of modern- day deployments.
Most will benefit from changes that will see more support provided to veterans and their families through:
Increased entitlements, care and support.
A clearer decision-making process for applicants.
A better monitoring process, so veterans and their families can more easily track the progress of their application.
Top-up payments additional to the ACC programme to recognise military service.
New rehabilitation services
that are tailored to the individual.
Extended eligibility for the veteran's pension.
Scheme One will come into force on 7 December 2014, and Scheme Two (for those with post-1974 service) will follow on 7 December 2015.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would: Make people work two more years before collecting the Veteran's Pension or Superannuation, whereas National will keep the retirement age at 65.
WATER
IMPROVING WATER QUALITY
Freshwater matters to all New Zealanders.
It is central to the environment and the economy.
It is one of New Zealand's key economic assets.
Directly and indirectly, rivers, lakes and groundwater resources support the creation of wealth, whether growing crops and livestock, generating electricity, thrilling jet boating tourists, allowing minerals to be mined, or through a host of other activities.
National knows that managing water more efficiently through irrigation has the potential to increase agricultural exports by as much as $4 billion per year by 2026.
Our regions and the primary sector need strong infrastructure such as water storage and irrigation to help conserve water in times of plenty for use in times of need.
National is committed to building a stronger economy.
We are also determined to improve the quality of our environment at the same time, and we are confident we can achieve both.
Our approach involves working collaboratively with farmers, water users and communities.
New Zealand won't get good environmental results by aggressively penalising and taxing key industries.
There is significant potential for further irrigation, with several major schemes in development.
Irrigation infrastructure has the potential to improve freshwater quality as it allows more water into waterways at times of need.
National has taken significant steps to ensure we have a sufficiently rigorous system for managing freshwater quality,
including a scientifically backed national framework.
New Zealand's water quality is amongst the very best in the world.
To ensure New Zealanders have information on our rivers, lakes, and waterways, we have introduced a robust, independent environmental reporting regime.
National has a strong record on improving water quality - we've committed around $350 million to clean up iconic waterways like the Rotorua Lakes, Lake Ellesmere and the Waituna Lagoon.
Because Water is so precious, it is vital that it is looked after and used sustainably – for today and future generations.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Adopted a National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management.
Brought in national standards for freshwater and national bottom lines
to protect our freshwater quality.
Begun implementing the recommendations of the Land and Water Forum.
Committed $350 million to clean up waterways.
Introduced independent environmental reporting.
IMPROVING FRESHWATER MANAGEMENT
Adopted a National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management.
Developed proposals to deliver generational reform of freshwater management through a scientifically backed national framework to help councils and communities work together to improve water bodies.
Protected freshwater quality by implementing national bottom lines.
Established the Land and Water Forum, a collaborative approach to freshwater management,
and begun implementing its reccomendations.
Brought in regulations to improve monitoring of compliance with water consents, double penalties for noncompliance, and require metering of 98 per cent of water takes.
Introduced a requirement on councils to account for how much water is taken from water bodies and any contaminants that are discharged into them.
USING WATER TO MORE EFFICIENTLY GROW OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Invested $50 million into regional sustainability schemes through the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF).
The SFF invests in farmer, grower and forester-led projects that deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to New Zealand's primary industries.
Put $120 million of the $400 million committed from the Future Investment Fund towards Crown Irrigation Investment Ltd to work as an independent investor helping kick-start regional water infrastructure
Invested $28 million in 15 projects through the Irrigation Acceleration Fund to support the investigations, design and funding stages of regional irrigation projects.
Developed programmes to improve the application of fertilisers to increase efficiency through Primary Growth Partnerships.
CLEANING UP HISTORICAL CONTAMINATION
Spent $103 million on water clean-ups in the past five years
Committed a total of $350 million to cleaning up iconic water bodies like the Rotorua Lakes, Lake Ellesmere and the Waituna Lagoon.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR
CLEANER WATERWAYS
• Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti have reached their water quality targets and Lake Rotoiti has the best water quality since monitoring began in the 1990s, with other Rotorua Lake close to approaching their targets.
• Lake Taupo is 89 per cent of the way towards reaching its nitrogen reduction target.
• Water storage schemes are beginning to be built, which help us to conserve water in areas
• 103 of the Land and Water Forum's recommendations currently being progressed, with a further 30 to be considered as part of future work.
• Indicator reports on river conditions and swimming suitability show water quality is generally improving at most monitored sites, with overall concentrations of nutrients and bacteria are either stable or improving.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT.
Water has been the centrepiece of our environmental policy since National was elected in 2008 and we have a strong plan in place to ensure our water quality meets the needs of New Zealanders.
Buy and retire selected farmland next to important waterways
There are some strips of land that are particularly sensitive to intensive farming.
We will spend $100 million to buy and retire areas of selected farmland next to important waterways to create an environmental buffer which will help improve water quality.
This fund will add an option for councils to help manage freshwater by enabling these sensitive areas to be retired for environmental purposes and/or community recreation.
Retiring the land will bring benefits to the waterway, with the potential for additional benefits if the establishment of wetlands is possible.
This fund will complement existing measures to covenant land, and current practice from Ministers responsible for the Overseas Investment Office for relevant land sales to overseas investors to vest ownership of beds of waterways with the Crown as part of the sale process.
Introduce a requirement for dairy cattle exclusion from waterways by 1 July 2017
The dairy industry has made significant progress in voluntarily addressing some of the key environmental issues their industry faces.
However, to provide greater confidence to New Zealanders, we will make meeting this environmental protection a mandatory requirement for diary farmers.
We will work constructively with dairy farmers when developing the legislation to ensure practical solutions in areas of difficult terrain and/or which are subject to extreme weather events.
National will work with industry to exclude other cattle from waterways over time on intensively- farmed lowland properties.
Advance the Land and Water Forum's recommendations
National will continue water reform by advancing the Land and Water Forum's recommendations,
including addressing efficient use and allocation of freshwater.
We have taken significant steps to ensure New Zealand has a sufficiently rigorous system for managing freshwater quality,
including a scientifically-backed national framework.
National is implementing over 100 of the Land and Water Forum's recommendations to improve the way New Zealand manages freshwater, and has begun the multi- generational reforms required.
Invest up to $400 million in new irrigation projects
We don't have a shortage of water in New Zealand, we have a water storage problem.
We only capture and store around 2 per cent of our annual rainfall.
Research suggests that by irrigating a further 420,000 hectares, exports could be boosted by around $4 billion a year by 2026,
as well as providing positive environmental outcomes
and boosting jobs and productivity in our regions.
Continue our commitment to provide $400 million from the Future Investment Fund towards Crown Irrigation Investment Ltd to work as an independent investor to help kick- start regional water infrastructure projects.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would:Introduce a water tax on farmers that would reduce jobs and stall regional economies.
Not seek a balance in the Resource Management Act, but would look to increase its role as a handbrake on economic growth.
Further damage our regional economies by placing unreasonable expectations for rapid changes to freshwater management that would place high costs on ratepayers and businesses.
WELFARE REFORM
EXTENDING WELFARE REFORMS
National's welfare reforms have a sharp focus on getting people off a benefit and back to work.
For most beneficiaries, that is the best way to improve their life prospects, raise children out of poverty and reduce the long-term burden on taxpayers.
We have introduced a new work-focused system of benefits,
set work expectations for more beneficiaries,
and taken an investment approach based on the long-term costs of welfare dependency.
People who face the biggest barriers to finding work are supported through targeted, intensive case management.
National has also introduced a much more hands-on approach for 16- and 17-year-old beneficiaries, and for teen parents up to 18.
These young people have a mentor who works with them to get them engaged in education or training, and helps them manage their money and pay their bills.
We've set clear obligations for beneficiaries and we're clamping down on benefit fraud.
Our more active, work-focused approach is seeing real results.
Benefit numbers are falling, and the number of sole parents on a benefit is now the lowest it's been since 1988.
A total of 30,000 fewer children are living in benefit-dependent households compared to two years ago.
We are setting challenging new targets to reduce benefit numbers even further, including reducing the total number of people receiving a benefit by 25 per cent by 2017.
More young beneficiaries will get intensive support under National,
and we will trial a number of alternative welfare-to-work approaches.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
A welfare system that's focused on getting people back to work.
Setting clear obligations for people on a benefit.
Reducing the number of people on welfare by getting them into work.
Intensive management for teen beneficiaries.
Extending $3K to Christchurch to other regions.
Providing intensive support to meet a beneficiary's own particular circumstances.
Trialling alternative welfare-to-work approaches.
WELFARE REFORM
NATIONAL IS...REFORMING THE WELFARE SYSTEM TO MAKE WORK A PRIORITY
Increased the number of beneficiaries with obligations to look for, or prepare for, work
Simplified the benefit system to create three main benefits that make it clear who should be working, who should be getting ready to work, and who cannot work due to illness or disability.
People on the Jobseeker Support benefit have to be available for work, either full-time or part-time as their capacity allows, unless they are temprorarily exempt through sickness.
People on Sole Parent Support have to be available for part-time work when their youngest child is five years old, which lines up with the age that most children start school.
People on the Supported Living Payment are not expected to work, because of their long-term illness or disability.
Created a new assessment model for people with a health condition or disability that focuses on supporting them to get suitable work.
TAKING AN ACTIVE INVESTMENT APPROACH TO WELFARE
Completed the first-ever actuarial valuation of the welfare system so we understand the lifetime costs of different groups of people.
Targeting resources at those most at risk of long-term welfare dependence, who have the largest lifetime costs.
FOCUSING ON YOUNG PEOPLE AND TEEN PARENTS
Providing wrap-around support to 16- and 17-year-olds through the Youth Service to ensure they are in education or training, and are managing their money and paying their bills.
Providing wrap-around support to teen parents, including through budgeting and parenting courses.
Providing fees-free Youth Guarantee places for 10,100 16-19 year olds a year, 5,250 Trades Academy places a year, and 20,000 places for apprentices in the Apprenticeship Reboot scheme.
SETTING CLEAR OBLIGATIONS FOR BENEFICIARIES
Requiring sole parents to be available for part-time work when their youngest child turns five, and available for full-time work when their youngest child turns 14.
Requiring job seekers to be drug free and actively looking for work.
Supporting vulnerable children by introducing obligations for beneficiaries to have their children:
- Attending early childhood education from age three until starting school.
- Attending school, when they are old enough.
- Enrolled in primary health care and completing core WellChild/Tamariki Ora health checks.
ENSURING FAIRNESS FOR TAXPAYERS
Permitting greater information sharing between the Ministry of Social Development and Inland Revenue.
Ensuring beneficiaries on the run from the law have their benefits cut.
Tightened the rules around beneficiaries travelling overseas.
Greater scrutiny of beneficiaries who have previously commited fraud.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR.
WELFARE REFORMS ARE WORKING
Under our welfare reforms, and with an improving economy:1,600 people are coming off welfare each week because they have a job to go to
Nearly 60,000 fewer people on benefit since December 2010.
8,600 fewer people on the Sole Parent Support benefit than a year ago, and the number of sole parents on a benefit is now the lowest since 1988.
A 40 per cent reduction in teen parents on a benefit since 2009
30,000fewer children are living in benefit dependent households compared to two years ago.
The long-term liability of people on welfare has dropped by $4. 4 billion, as more people have moved off a benefit for longer, and less people have come onto a benefit.
The number of 15- to 19-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training is now down to 22,000 - the lowest since 2004.
Welfare fraud reforms have already recouped or saved over $47 million and stopped thousands of illegitimate or fraudulent benefits.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1.SET CHALLENGING TARGETS TO REDUCE THE WELFARE ROLL
Reduce the total number of people on a benefit by 25 per cent.
National will set a target to reduce the total number of people receiving a benefit by 25 per cent by 2017.
There are currently just under 295,000 people receiving a working-age main benefit – down 16,000 from just a year ago.
But there are still too many people on a benefit.
National will work to get more people off welfare
and into work.
Building on the success of our welfare reforms, we will reduce the total number of people on a benefit by a further 75,000 over the next three years – down to 220,000.
This would mean the lowest number of people dependent on benefits since 1988, and the lowest as a percentage of the working-age population since 1986.
Reduce the number of young people on a benefit by 40 per cent.
National will also set a target to reduce the number of young people – aged 16 to 24 -  receiving a benefit by 40 per cent by 2017.
There are currently 53,000 young people receiving a working-age man benefit.
We know that if someone is on a benefit as a young person they are far more likely to spend time on a benefit as an adult.
We will reduce the number of young people on a benefit by 21,000 over the next three years – down to 32,000.
Achieving these targets, and getting more people into work, will improve the lives of tens of thousands of New Zealanders,
and significantly reduce the number of children living in benefit- dependent families.
2.MORE INTENSIVE MANAGEMENT OF 18- AND 19-YEAR-OLDS
Extend the Youth Service approach to 18- and 19-year-olds.
National will extend the successful Youth Service approach to 19-year-old sole parents, and to many other 18- and 19-year-old beneficiaries who need more support,
or who are at risk of long-term welfare dependence.
We introduced the Youth Service approach in 2012 for 16- and the 17-year-olds, and for teen parents up to 18.
These young people have a capable adult from a community-based organisation to work with them, help them pay their bills directly, and have money loaded onto a payment card for groceries and essentials.
They get help to find an education or training course,
or to get a job and go off the benefit.
We will extend this approach.
All under-20s who are seeking a benefit will be assessed.
Self-motivated young people who are not likely to spend long on a benefit will continue to search for a job as they do now.
Others with more complex needs will be referred to a Youth Service provider, where they will receive intensive support and guidance, together with budgeting support and the use of a payment card.
There will be no change for young people receiving the Supported Living Payment.
3.EXTEND $3K TO CHRISTCHURCH TO OTHER REGIONS
Help beneficiaries move to take up job offers.
The $3K to Christchurch scheme gives beneficiaries a one-off payment of $3,000 if they have a full-time job offer in Canterbury and are ready and willing to move there.
This new scheme has already seen 350 beneficiaries take up the offer and move to Christchurch for a job - most of them in construction.
National will extend this scheme.
We will assist beneficiaries to move from areas where there are fewer opportunities to those where employers are looking to fill jobs.
As with $3K to Christchurch, the extended scheme will focus on young people aged 18-24 years.
4.PROVIDE MORE INDIVIDUALISED SUPPORT
Provide a full assessment when people first go on benefit.
A full assessment when people apply for a benefit means they can be steered in the right direction early on.
Every person's circumstances are different, and support needs to be tailored to those circumstances.
For some people, the right approach early on means they stay connected to the workforce or quickly return to work.
Others need more intensive support over a longer time.
Provide individual support based on the length of time a person is likely to be on benefit.
National's investment approach to welfare means we now have a good idea of how long someone is likely to stay on a benefit, based on their circumstances.
We can estimate how much they are likely to cost taxpayers over the longer term, unless something more is done to help them off a benefit and into work.
We will continue to ensure there is more personalised support for those at risk of long-term benefit receipt, to help identify and eliminate the barriers they have to get into the workforce.
While this can be more expensive,
it has an obvious pay-off over time.
Provide more flexible childcare support.
Under our welfare reforms, and with an improving economy, the number of sole parents on a benefit is now the lowest since 1988.
We will further support sole parents by providing more flexible childcare support.
There are a number of ways of doing this, including making a small payment to a family member to help with child care (which is already being trialled),
payments for out-of-school care,
or extended hours in early childhood education.
Help sole parents take up tertiary education.
From July 2015, sole parents taking up full-time study will receive at least the same level of accommodation support from the student support system as they do in the benefit system.
Currently they may receive up to $165 less per week, which is a disincentive to go off the benefit and into full-time study.
We will also amend the rules around child support and voluntary arrangements, which can be affected if sole parent students need access to a benefit during academic breaks.
Reduce basic barriers to employment.
Too many young beneficiaries are missing out on jobs because they don't have basic work skills, like the ability to drive a car.
We will provide practical and financial support to help young beneficiaries get a driver's licence, for example, so they can get off the benefit and into work.
Increase the use of external providers working with beneficiaries.
National will contract with more with external providers to work with long-term beneficiaries in breaking down the barriers they face to finding work.
External providers can often work faster and with more flexibility than a government department.
Contracts will be based on results - the more people providers can get into work, the more they will be paid.
5.TRIAL ALTERNATIVE WELFARE-TO-WORK APPROACHES
Provide incentives to beneficiaries to stay in work.
We will trial an incentive payment scheme where beneficiaries who have left a benefit for work, and stayed in work for a certain length of time, receive a financial reward for doing so.
This could help many beneficiaries establish a longer-term work connection, rather than cycling on and off the benefit.
Work skills programme.
There are around 6,000 20- to 24-year-olds who can work but have been on a benefit for longer than six months.
These young people often lack the good habits and work ethic to hold down a permanent job
and the longer they remain unemployed the greater risk they have of being a long-term beneficiary.
We will consider trialling, in certain regions, a work skills programme where younger beneficiaries will be asked to work part-time in the community, as a condition of receiving a benefit.
We will work with councils, iwi and community organisations to determine whether such a trial would be feasible.
Partnership with iwi.
In some parts of the country, iwi have indicated they would like to be involved in helping their unemployed young people get the right attitudes and work skills to get off a benefit and hold down a job.
We will consider trialling a scheme where an iwi administers the benefit for their young people (in a similar way to the youth service)
has the ability to place requirements on that benefit
and is paid on the basis of getting results.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
LABOUR AND THE GREENS WOULD...
Roll back National's welfare reforms that have seen more people coming off a benefit and into work.
Throw money at young parents
without providing the wrap-around support they need.
Incentivise beneficiaries to stay on a benefit, rather than look for full-time work.
WOMEN'S AFFAIRS
BACKING NEW ZEALAND WOMEN TO SUCCEED
Promoting the role of women in senior leadership positions and in governance roles is a key part of our agenda.
National is increasing the participation of women in the New Zealand economy,
investing in key areas such as education, health and justice
and ensuring women are engaged in their communities and succeeding in whatever they do.
Women are an integral part of National's plan to build a more competitive and productive economy.
We're taking active steps to ensure women have no barriers to achieving their aspirations and economic wellbeing.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Achieved a female labour force participation rate of 63.4 per cent - the highest in New Zealand history.
Continuing to narrow the gender pay gap to 10.1 per cent - down from 12 per cent in 2008.
New Zealand is ranked seventh out of 136 countries in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index - compared to Australia which ranked 24th.
Supporting a record number of women to reach their education goals.
More female school-leavers are achieving at least NCEA 2, while more women than ever before are graduating with bachelor degrees or higher.
31 per cent of senior management roles are filled by women - the highest proportion of any developed economy surveyed.
Introducing a cross-Government plan which will address the issue of violence,
better support victims
and work to reduce reoffending.
NATIONAL IS...
INCREASING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN WORK
Achieved a female labour force participation rate of 63.4 per cent - the highest in New Zealand history.
Working to lift female employment rates in Canterbury by working with key buiness leaders and launching the Building Back Better plan.
Addressing the projected shortage of heavy vehicle drivers by partnering with the Road Transport Forum to launch the Women in Trucking initiative and an action plan to attract, retain and train women.
Supporting a record number of women to reach their education goals.
More female school-leavers are achieving at least NCEA 2, while more women than ever before are graduating with bachelor degrees or higher.
Launching the joint education-science sector plan, Science and Society project, to lift engagement and achievement in science, technology, engineering and math's.
Investing $359 million in new roles in schools to lift student achievement.
PROMOTING WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT
31 per cent of senior management roles are filled by women - the highest proportion of any developed economy surveyed.
Continuing to work towards the goal of having female participation on state sector boards at 45 per cent.
Enhancing the Ministry of Women's Affairs fit-for-boards CV database, which feeds the Ministry's nominations service.
Supporting more women on boards through the development and launch of the online assessment tool, My Board Strengths.
Supporting the New Zealand Stock Exchange to publish data on women's participation as directors and officers in listed companies.
Addressing New Zealand's leadership pipeline by researching the barriers facing women in the workplace.
The report identified three key factors contributing to unconscious bias, career breaks and flexible working.
IMPROVING GENDER EQUALITY
Narrowing the gender pay gap to 10.1 per cent - down from 12 per cent in 2008.
New Zealand is ranked seventh out of 136 countries in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index - compared to Australia which ranked 24th.
New Zealand is ranked seventh out of 187 countries in the UN's Human Development Index – compared to 20th in 2000 and 2007.
Continuing to work to better understand the causes of the gender pay gap,
such as the need for more flexible workplaces,
eliminating unconscious bias,
good quality and affordable childcare,
and increasing the number of women in leadership and management positions.
SUPPORTING FAMILIES
Enhancing parental leave provisions - extending paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 18 weeks by 1 April 2016.
Increasing the parental tax credit from $150 a week to $220 a week, and increased the entitlement from eight weeks to 10 weeks, from 1 April 2015.
Introducing free doctors' visits and prescriptions for children under 13, from 1 July 2015.
Increasing immunisation, with 91 per cent of 8-month-olds fully immunised compared to just 67 per cent of two year-olds under Labour in 2007.
Continuing to support early childhood centres to remain accessible and affordable.
Increased participation rates to 96 per cent of children - rates have also increased for Maori and Pasifika to their highest levels.
INCREASING SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Introducing a package of initiatives to address family violence, to ensure home is a safe place for all women, children, and men, and ensure victims are not re-victimised.
Increasing the penalty for breaching protection orders.
Improving non-violence programmes for offenders.
Introducing new court support services for victims of sexual crime.
Introducing tougher bail laws for the worst offenders.
Progressing legislation to increase the maximum penalties for child sexual abuse online.
The Objectionable Publications and and Indecency Legislation Bill is currently awaiting its second reading in Parliament.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT...
1.SUPPORT WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE
Raise awareness of unconscious bias when it comes to gender and employment issues, and help businesses realise it does exist.
Unconscious bias based on stereotypical views about gender and leadership can negatively influence decisions about the recruitment and career progression of women leaders.
Women who take career breaks and become primary caregivers face challenges when reentering the workforce and getting their leadership career back on track.
National will continue to highlight unconscious bias in relation to employment issues.
We will work with business to help find practical solutions.
This includes developing a handbook for employers that assists them to identify barriers to career progression for women in the workforce.
We will also promote the benefits of flexible work arrangements and flexible workplaces.
National is committed to further examining the causes of the gender pay gap to ensure it continues to narrow.
Encourage women into education, training and career paths appropriate for our future economy.
Research shows that women are choosing a narrow range of careers.
This can lead to lower pay, reduced lifetime earnings, and reduced career opportunities.
National is keen to see women making career choices based on their skills, interests and their true potential.
We want to encourage women to consider a broader selection of careers.
We will support the development of skills with Youth Guarantee, Modern Apprenticeships and encouraging study of science and technology subjects.
Employers will be encouraged to connect with educators to ensure that training and education is more tailored to the needs of a particular region and provides skilled people who meet the needs of local businesses.
Almost two-thirds of our university graduates are women.
National will work with the tertiary sector to ensure the strength and quality of our higher education system.
National is also working to improve wireless connectivity for schools
and digital literacy training for low income families.
2.ENCOURAGE WOMEN ON BOARDS
Promote the role of women in senior leadership positions and in governance roles.
Board diversity is needed
to help maintain a competitive and vibrant economy.
Research increasingly tells us that there is a positive relationship between women on boards and organisational performance, particularly bottom- line financial performance.
National is committed to working towards the aspirational goal of having participation of women in governance at 45 per cent within the public sector, and increasing the level across the private sector.
We will continue to engage with business to promote more participation by women on boards and in senior management roles.
We will continue to highlight the economic and strategic advantage women can bring to governance and improved productivity.
3.PROTECT VICTIMS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
Implement our cross-Government plan to address the issue of violence,
better support victims
and work to reduce reoffending.
Crime is at a 35-year low, but we need to keep working to change attitudes towards violence to ensure women and all New Zealanders are safe in their homes and communities.
We will:Establish a Chief Victims' Advisor to the Minister of Justice, and introduce a Victims Code to ensure improved access to information and services for victims.
Review the Domestic Violence Act to ensure the system keeps victims safe and holds offenders to account.
Test an intensive case management service to provide specialist support for family violence victims at risk of serious harm or death.
Establish a nationwide home safety service to help people who want to leave violent relationships.
Explore the possibility of conviction disclosure which could allow people to ask whether their partner has a history of violence.
4.HELP FAMILIES
Provide free GP visits and prescriptions for children under 13.
From July 2015, National will extend free doctors' visits and prescriptions for children aged under six to all children under 13.
National brought in the policy of free GP visits for children under six, including free after-hours visits.
Thanks to our prudent management of the health budget,
we are extending this policy to all under 13.
This is an important prevention health measure, as parents will be more likely to take their child to the doctor for treatment before their condition becomes severe.
It will also help reduce pressure on our busy hospital emergency departments.
National will invest $90 million over three years to fund these changes.
More than 40,000 primary school-aged children and their families are expected to benefit from this investment.
Expand paid parental leave and increase parental tax credits.
National will increase the length of paid parental leave to 18 weeks, up from the current 14 weeks.
This will happen in two steps, to 16 weeks on 1 April 2015 and then to 18 weeks on 1 April 2016.
Each year, around 26,000 people take paid parental leave.
This initiative will cost $ 141 million over four years.
Family structures have become more diverse since paid parental leave was introduced.
We will expand the scheme to “Home for Life” parents and others with similar permanent care arrangements such as those with parenting orders.
This change means up to 600 more families will be eligible for paid parental leave.
National will also increase the parental tax credit from its current maximum of $150 a week to $ 220 a week.
Financial pressures are the main reason parents go back to work earlier than they would like after having a baby.
These changes will support families, help alleviate stress and improve child outcomes.
Increase participation in early childhood education.
National will invest a further $155.7 million over four years in early childhood education (ECE) services to help give all children a better start in life.
A $53.6 million boost in the subsidy rates will help keep fees affordable.
Keeping fees as low as possible is vital if we are to increase early childhood participation.
We will continue to work towards our target of 98 per cent participation rate in early childhood education.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour would:Talk but offer no plan to address the gender pay gap.
Measure success by how much they spend on public services, rather than the results they deliver.
Use quick-fix quotas to achieve a greater gender balance on boards, rather than seek sustainable change.
Drive New Zealand's economy downwards through low growth and anti-job policies.
Waste public money on backroom bureaucracy.
Offer no coherent strategy for delivering better support for victims of crime.
Under the previous Labour government, there was no improvement in services for victims.
Seriously damage our criminal justice system by introducing an inquisitorial process for sexual violence offences in our courts.
See our Police tied up in paperwork and bureaucracy
and not out on the streets preventing crime.
WORKPLACES
CREATING JOBS AND PROTECTING WORKERS
Flexibility, choice and fairness in the labour market help create jobs,
increase wages
and encourage innovation.
National believes a flexible workforce
supported by fair employment law
is critical for supporting a strong and productive economy.
We're bringing a better balance to labour market rules, enabling businesses to grow
while ensuring workers' rights are protected.
National will continue to improve employment law, especially in relation to employment standards,
flexibility and choice in the labour market.
We will pass the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to increase flexibility in the labour market.
And we will strengthen the enforcement of New Zealand's minimum employment standards to stamp out exploitation.
National will extend paid parental leave to 18 weeks, and increase eligibility to better reflect modern working arrangements and today's diverse family structures.
National has set in motion the most significant changes in health and safety at work in more than two decades, and will continue to implement these changes, helping to ensure we meet our target of reducing New Zealand's workplace death and serious injury toll by 25 per cent by 2020.
We established WorkSafe New Zealand and have boosted its funding by $30 million to strengthen education and enforcement.
POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
83,000 jobs created in the past year and unemployment down to 5.6 per cent.
Minimum wage increased responsibly every year since coming into office.
Starting-out wage and 90- day trial periods helping people into the workforce.
Passing the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to increase flexibility
and fairness in the labour market.
Strengthening the enforcement of New Zealand's minimum employment standards.
Progressing the most significant changes in health and safety at work in more than 20 years.
Paid parental leave increasing from 14 weeks to 18 weeks.
NATIONAL IS...
ENCOURAGING JOB GROWTH AND HELPING WORKERS GET A FOOT IN THE DOOR
Maintaining a flexible, yet fair, labour market that encourages firms to take on new staff.
Encouraging businesses to take on workers they may not otherwise have employed – with the voluntary 90-day trial period and the starting-out wage.
Kept the Hobbit movies in New Zealand
and saved thousands of highly skilled, high-value jobs.
Steadily increasing the minimum wage
Increased the minimum wage every year
and maintained it at the most generous level in the OECD, as a proportion of the average hourly wage.
We’ve been careful to do this incrementally so as not to price vulnerable workers out of the job market.
Increasing flexibility and fairness in the workplace
Increased flexibility in the Holidays Act to give employees more choice.
Reformed the personal grievance system to reduce delays, costs, and vexatious claims.
Making workplaces safer
Established WorkSafe New Zealand, the stand-alone agency dedicated to workplace health and safety – and boosted its funding by $30 million to strengthen education and enforcement.
Initiated the Working Safer reform programme, including an overhaul of New Zealand’s health and safety law.
Acted on all the recommendations of the Pike River Royal Commission.
Established the High Hazards Unit to oversee high hazard industries.
Implemented a dedicated health and safety programme for the Canterbury rebuild, and boosted the labour inspectorate in Canterbury.
Implemented new petroleum health and safety regulations, the first overhaul in 15 years, bringing us into line with the United Kingdom and Australia.
OUR RESULTS SO FAR
JOBS AND WAGE GROWTH
83,000jobs were created in the last year and unemployment has dropped to 5.6 per cent
– lower than in Australia.
1,600 people are coming off welfare each week because they have a job to go to.
Our careful and balanced approach to the minimum wage has seen it rise to $14.25 while ensuring jobs are not lost.
The starting-out wage is giving employers an incentive to hire young workers,
where they can gain essential experience and job skills.
The 90-day trial period encourages businesses to take on new staff
and is giving thousands of people the opportunity to prove themselves in a new job.
A third of employers who used trial periods in 2012 said they would not have hired new staff without it.
WHAT WE WILL DO NEXT ...
1.MAINTAIN A FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKET
Increase flexibility
and fairness in our employment relations framework.
National will pass the Employment Relations Amendment Bill to increase flexibility
and fairness in the labour market.
The Bill has a number of provisions that increase flexibility and choice,
ensure a balance of fairness for employers and employees,
and reduce compliance costs.
These include provisions to:Reduce overly protracted bargaining and give some certainty and balance to the collective bargaining framework.
Make it easier to establish flexible working arrangements.
Exempt small and medium enterprises from the provisions of Part 6A of the Act relating to continuity of employment.
Improve the timeliness of Employment Relations Authority decisions.
2.TACKLE EXPLOITATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Ensure all employers follow the rules.
National will strengthen the enforcement of New Zealand's minimum employment standards to stamp out exploitation.
Employment standards protect workers by setting out minimum employment rights and entitlements, such as minimum wage rates and annual leave.
The majority of New Zealand employers comply with these standards, but some do not.
National is committed to stamping out deliberate employment breaches, including practices that exploit vulnerable and migrant workers.
We will ensure sanctions are an effective deterrent, use labour inspectors more effectively to identify unscrupulous employers, and improve information on how to comply and deal with alleged breaches.
We are also ensuring that the Canterbury rebuild and recovery meets employment, quality and safety standards.
In particular, we are beefing up investigation and enforcement activity in Christchurch to combat potential exploitation during the city’s rebuild.
3.SAFER WORKPLACES
Progress the Working Safer reform package.
The Working Safer reforms represent the most significant changes in health and safety at work in more than 20 years, and are essential to meeting our target of reducing the serious injury and death toll in our workplaces by 25 per cent by 2020.
The reforms will include a new Health and Safety at Work Act, and more comprehensive regulations and guidance to support businesses.
We will invest $30 million in WorkSafe New Zealand to strengthen enforcement and education, employ more health and safety inspectors, focus on high-risk areas, and bring in stronger penalties.
Support the industry-led inquiry into forestry health and safety.
Forestry is New Zealand's most dangerous industry.
Our health and safety reforms will make a real difference in this industry, but we cannot change a safety culture on our own.
We therefore welcome, and are supporting, the independent, industry-led inquiry into forestry safety.
Work to ensure our adventure activities meet world-class safety standards.
We will ensure that adventure tourism operators undergo safety auditing to mitigate any unnecessary risk to customers.
4.EXTEND PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
Support parents by extending paid parental leave to 18 weeks.
National will extend the paid parental leave entitlement from 14 weeks to 16 weeks in 2015, and to 18 weeks in 2016.
This strikes the right balance between helping improve outcomes for families and children,
while also being fiscally responsible.
We will also make paid parental leave available to more people, and bring more flexibility to the scheme.
This includes extending eligibility to permanent carers and to more casual or seasonal workers.
DON'T PUT IT ALL AT RISK
Labour and the Greens would:Scrap the successful 90-day trial period, which would see opportunities lost for workers
and make businesses less confident about taking on new staff.
Scrap the starting-out wage, meaning young people are given less opportunity to get a foot in the door and gain the essential experience they need.
Hike the minimum wage to a level that would hurt businesses, cost jobs and reduce growth.
Bring back national awards, which would force all regional employers to pay the same pay rates as an employer in downtown Auckland.
INTRODUCTION TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICIES
BACKGROUND
New Zealand First was formed on 18 July 1993 to represent the views of all New Zealanders concerned about the country’s economic and social direction,
the sale of public assets to foreign control,
and the decline in employment and social services.
The party represents tens of thousands of New Zealanders wanting progressive policies and common sense decision-making in the best interests of all New Zealanders,
and has a proud record of achievement on a wide range of policy fronts.
This document sets out New Zealand First’s position on core policy issues.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all New Zealand First policies and plans but to set out the main policy theme in a clear and concise way.
OUR VISION
To put New Zealand and New Zealanders first through enlightened economic and social policies,
by placing control of New Zealand's resources in the hands of New Zealanders,
and by restoring faith in the democratic process.
FIFTEEN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR SOUND GOVERNMENT
New Zealand First was formed with the following 15 fundamental principles:1. PUT NEW ZEALAND AND NEW ZEALANDERS FIRST
2. OPEN ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT
WITH LESS GOVERNMENT
Parliament will reduce the number of MPs and the numbers of consultancies and Government advisors will be cut.
Only on a vote of confidence in a Government (in which New Zealand First is a member) will New Zealand First's Members of Parliament be required to vote with the party.
On all other issues not covered by party policy, an MP's first duty is to the electorate and the nation.
3. ECONOMIC POLICY
Economic policy will comprise a strategy for export-led economic development to add value to our resources,
relying on independent business expertise with Government support to encourage economic success.
4. EMPLOYMENT
The employment of New Zealanders is our first planning priority.
High unemployment is not acceptable.
We regard such human and economic waste as blight on this country's productivity.
5. EDUCATION
Money spent on education will be treated as an investment, not as expenditure.
Educational advancement is both in the national and in the individual interest.
Educational investment is critical for economic and social recovery.
6. HEALTH
Health will cease to be a balance sheet item.
Health will be a critical investment in New Zealand's human resource.
Our policies will rebuild New Zealand's public health service.
7. IMMIGRATION
Whilst this country, with such a small population, will continue to require an infusion of overseas skills and expertise, immigration will cease to be used as an excuse for our failure to train, skill, and employ our own people.
8. THE WELFARE STATE
The Welfare State must be an umbrella to meet genuine and deserving need.
Government has a duty to properly determine those needs and respond to them.
That said social welfare must no longer neglect assisting recipients to become independent of the State.
9. TAXATION
Our long-term objective is New Zealanders paying less tax.
We intend to simplify and enforce the tax laws so that they apply equally to all taxpayers.
Incentives for increased research and development and export growth are priorities.
10. ENVIRONMENT
Wise governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics.
All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages.
11. FOREIGN POLICY
Our foreign policy objective will be good government at home
and being a reliable neighbour in our region.
New Zealand foreign aid will focus on the region in which we live.
New Zealanders' desire for a non-nuclear future will be respected.
12. NEW ZEALAND RESOURCES
Strategic state asset sales will cease.
If considered appropriate and only where absolutely necessary, management by private contracts under public ownership will replace the policy of state asset sales.
13. HONEST GOVERNMENT
An independent anti-corruption commission will be established to enable New Zealanders to have the confidence that their institutions are working properly.
14. ELECTORAL REFORM
Electoral reform will be determined by the electors.
The Government's duty will be to ensure fair representation of all views
and the holding of appropriate referenda.
15. TOWARDS A BETTER DEMOCRACY
All policies not contained in the party manifesto, where no national emergency clearly exists, will first be referred to the electorate for a mandate.
ACC
New Zealand First believes that ACC is a state responsibility and should be maintained as such.
We oppose any concept of privatization
although private providers may be contracted in selected areas of treatment or retraining at the discretion of ACC.
We will strongly oppose any attempt to undermine the scheme.
New Zealand First's policy is based on the expectations that:At the time of paying their premium people are entitled to know exactly what income they would receive if they become incapacitated as a result of an accident.
The privacy of client information must be maintained to the highest standard.
The rules and regulations governing ACC claimants need to be easily understood and applied.
New Zealand First will:Appoint an Accident Compensation Ombudsman with similar power and responsibilities to those of the Health and Disability Commissioner
as well as a requirement to work closely with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to develop an educative approach to safer workplaces.
Provide for employers to purchase ‘set-rate’ accident cover for employees, particularly lower paid part-time and casual workers.
Develop an equitable process for dealing with claims from casual or seasonal workers.
Remove the upper age limit for vocational rehabilitation.
Monitor fully all claims and compensation for treatment injury (formerly medical misadventure and/or degeneration) to ensure claimants are treated fairly.
Reduce, and in some cases eliminate, part payments for medical treatment (cover in a ‘no fault/blame’ scheme should be comprehensive).
Amend rules relating to compensation payments to surviving spouses.
Amend legislation to provide cover for ‘loss of potential earnings’ for those injured whilst involved in temporary or casual work then enrolled in formal study for a future career.
Ensure adequate funding and support for family home carers.
Provide incentives, by way of reduced premiums, for employers with good safety records.
Provide incentives (such as improved abatement conditions) for partially incapacitated people to make a part time return to the workforce.
Maintain lump sum compensation and provide for a regular review of the level.
Oppose the entitlement to compensation for anyone injured whilst committing a crime.
Ensure that the victims of violent crime are appropriately covered by ACC
with no liability on employers, local authorities or other organisations with individual coverage unless there is proven and direct culpability.
Ensure that in the event of a dispute between a claimant and ACC which, whether by litigation or other settlement process, results in the claimant being paid entitlements going back beyond the current year, the claimant shall be taxed as if they had received the payment over the period claimed for, not based on a single lump sum.
Conduct a review of a full range of other professions that could contribute to injury rehabilitation with a view to expanding the services available within the scheme.
Review the operations of Dispute Resolution Services Ltd (DRS).
BORDER CONTROL
CUSTOMS
The New Zealand Customs Service is responsible for ensuring the security of our borders.
Customs protects the economy and other national interests from illegal imports and exports.
Customs is responsible for collecting excise and duties revenues on certain imported and locally manufactured goods, ensuring the smooth and efficient passage of lawful goods and passengers across New Zealand’s borders, and detecting and investigating illegal activities, prosecuting where necessary.
New Zealand First will:Resource the New Zealand Customs Service sufficiently in terms of staffing, vehicles, detection technologies and sniffer dogs, so that it can carry out its responsibilities adequately, including the detection and interception of illegal imports and exports such as drugs and other contraband.
Ensure compatibility of systems and procedures so that Customs can work with Police, Biosecurity, Defence, Immigration and other border agencies.
End reliance on the Smart Gate and ensure a human interface is always present for passenger arrivals and departures.
Ensure that contingency measures are available in the event of a failure of the Joint Border Management System.
BIOSECURITY
As a trading nation, New Zealand must take all practicable steps to protect its borders and export base from unwanted threats
and be a responsible international citizen by ensuring such threats do not leave our shores.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that our border protection agencies have sufficient resources to carry out their roles.
Facilitate greater international cooperation in order to control and eradicate animal and plant diseases.
Provide the necessary funding and technology needed to combat biological and other threats at our border.
Require effective co-ordination between relevant government agencies to ensure appropriate deterrents exist to poaching and trafficking of protected species.
Update instant fines and other means of providing effective deterrents against border breaches.
Require decontamination of every used vehicle at the point of export.
Ensure that appropriate protocols are in place for the decontamination of machinery and containers.
Ensure that the statutory framework surrounding our biosecurity practices are consistent with international best practice.
Ensure 100 per cent x-ray inspection and fumigation decontamination of all inbound freight and shipping containers.
Ensure 100 per cent x-ray inspection of all passenger luggage and hand luggage.
BROADCASTING
New Zealand First will promote diverse, innovative and quality programming,
including programmes reflecting New Zealand’s identity, character and cultural diversity.
It will also promote the development of a broadcasting industry that is responsive to audience needs,
respects community standards
and places a high priority on the protection of children from harmful material.
There is an important role for publicly owned television and radio networks to provide essential communications in the event of national emergencies.
New Zealand First will:Combine Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand under one state-owned enterprise known as New Zealand Broadcasting (NZB),
modelled on similar public broadcasting systems overseas,
and with clear aims that include promoting our nation's unique qualities,
and the coverage of significant national events.
Re-establish a non-commercial public service free-to-air channel with a concentration on quality programming based on the TVNZ 7 model.
Introduce lower dividend requirements to allow more expenditure on quality programming thus removing the need for low value programming with high advertising content.
Require TV One and Radio New Zealand to establish a common complementary administrative and logistical system.
Require TV One and Radio New Zealand to establish a common complementary news service that enhances coverage.
Set up a more secure system of funding for Radio New Zealand and remove it from the list of charitable trusts.
Ensure that all future appointments to the NZB board are made on the basis of experience, expertise, and appropriate representation from industry and consumers, and not political patronage.
Require that salaries paid beyond accepted public service bands, particularly but not exclusively in broadcasting, be cleared with and signed off by stakeholder ministers.
Improve Radio New Zealand's international services to the Pacific region.
Review the efficacy of the process of allocating digital channels and radio spectrum bands
and ensure that emergency facilities are protected.
Support community-based television and radio broadcasting.
Continue to work with the industry and the public to achieve and maintain a voluntary quota system to increase the New Zealand content of radio and television broadcasting.
Improve processes and funding mechanisms (including via New Zealand On Air) in order to develop the amount and quality of New Zealand content.
Raise broadcasting standards especially in relation to violence, obscenities, and pornography.
Strengthen the rating system for video games with a move towards restricting access by minors to graphically violent and sexually explicit video games.
Review the regulations and practices relating to the use and allocation of funds for the broadcasting of election programmes.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Free, open and affordable access to information and communication technology is the foundation of the democratic state.
The role of government should largely be confined to essential regulatory matters, thereby ensuring issues relating to community standards, access, impartiality and diversity are addressed.
New Zealand First supports and embraces new technology and understands the importance of ICT.
It provides opportunities as well as threats and risk to New Zealand and New Zealanders when mismanaged.
ICT AND BUSINESS
New Zealand First will:Develop a framework for ensuring greater sharing of telecommunications infrastructure between all companies operating in the New Zealand market.
Pursue the availability of wholesale broadband services at competitive prices to improve broadband uptake in New Zealand
which in turn will facilitate improved internet pricing and technology that will enhance access by Kiwi consumers leading to greater international competitiveness for Kiwi businesses.
Ensure that New Zealand business are given the first opportunity for all Government ICT tenders before a foreign owned company.
The work will go abroad if there is no New Zealand company offering the service.
Investigate Kiwi Share, its valuation, its application to internet services and consider its replacement and its application to Telecom’s competitors.
Continue to develop and use the appropriate regulatory powers to ensure fairness in the telecommunications sector which facilitates fair competition in the market and benefits New Zealanders.
ICT AND PRIVACY
New Zealand First will:Support New Zealanders right to privacy and support a review to ensure the right to privacy is included in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Promote and support the right of New Zealanders to see and know that their personal information held in all government agencies databases is correct.
Ensure that New Zealand citizen’s personal information required for use by the public sector agencies is stored in New Zealand.
Work with the industry to help develop guidelines for standardized implementation of digital privacy controls, education agency privacy and legal officials on options for addressing digital privacy, records retention and security issues.
ICT AND EDUCATION
Whilst schools face competitive and financial challenges in providing adequate technology tools and resources for learners, New Zealand First supports the use of open and transparent tender processes to ensure schools are receiving the best advice and price.
New Zealand First will:Provide all primary and secondary educational institutions, particularly those in rural areas, with access to up-to-date communications technology.
Improve access to the internet such as broadband in rural and isolated areas.
Ensure the costs of ICT to schools are fair and affordable.
Ensure effective school policies are in place to securely protect students from being able to access or have exposure to inappropriate content.
Review the Ministry of Education’s proactive role in working with schools when negotiating with technology organizations over ICT products and services to ensure the best solution for those schools and their communities.
Ensure ICT organizations do not use schools as marketing and advertising tools for their products.
ICT E-WASTE
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, in 2012 global spending on electronics is expected to surpass US$1 trillion.
As use of electronics increases around the world, the question of how to properly manage them when consumers are finished with them becomes more urgent.
Not enough of our electronics are re-used, recycled or refurbished and too many of them end up directly in landfills or recovered in an unsafe manner.
New Zealand First will:Work with the ICT sector to develop strategies to reduce e-waste and to incentivize the recycling of old devices such as phones and TVs.
Support research to help us understand how we can manage e-waste and discarded electronics to safeguard human health and protect our environment.
Work with industries to find better ways to manage our used and end-of-life electronics and avoid them ending up in landfills.
ICT AND TELCO
New Zealand First will:Consider setting up an independent regulator in the telecommunication industry to avoid pressure and influence from the government of the day.
Promote a safe and secure adoption of existing and new technologies.
Work with industry in addressing issues of cyber-safety and cyber-citizenship.
Promote and support those service providers who provide tools and approaches that help empower and enable people to deal with these issues.
Work with industry on a programme designed to bring improved broadband services to rural communities that would otherwise miss out on good internet connectivity.
Work with and support the industry in helping close the digital divide between rich and poor, urban and rural.
ICT SECURITY
New Zealand First will:Promote robust measures to deal with internet pornography and in particular child pornography, with both legislative and regulatory powers, including substantial jail terms.
Ensure that the social objectives in the wider telecommunications sector are safeguarded in the interest of both business and consumers.
Ensure that adequate anti-spam measures are put in place along with advance solutions for phishing and internet fraud.
Review the controls around the sale of private information by business and the sharing of information between government agencies to be certain it complies with the aims of the Privacy Act.
CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Key elements of a developed economy include the quality assurance of the goods and services sold and the fairness of the rules and regulations regarding market activities.
This requires ongoing vigilance from government regulators as it fills this role as a neutral 'referee' acting in the best interests of all consumers.
Governments also have a role to play in ensuring competitive pricing, especially in the provision of essential items like petrol, power, and telephones.
New Zealand First will:Ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the Consumers' Institute in filling its role as a consumer watchdog.
Expand the role of Consumer Affairs in product safety and ensure that there are adequate powers to enforce the withdrawal of unsafe products from sale;
Increase the monitoring of imported foods, with particular focus on rules of origin labeling.
Legislate for clear labeling of all genetically modified (GM) food products.
Require clear labelling of country of origin of all ingredients in canned or packaged food.
Introduce mandatory standards for products such as sunscreens.
Improve support of consumer education, budgetary and citizens advisory, and retirement planning services,
including supporting a register of approved financial planners.
Bring under the purview of Consumer Affairs the fee structures applying in the banking and finance sector, and ensure they are regularly monitored and publicized.
Promote and protect the interests of retail investors by regulating the financial advisory industry and by raising industry standards and accountability.
Monitor new Financial Planners’ legislation to ensure that it is effective in regulating the industry.
Ensure stronger protection for investors by putting in place a penalty system for investment companies that severely penalizes company directors who are found to have misrepresented their product or services.
Investigate the viability of a regime and fund, modelled on the EQC that could be used to reimburse investment losses under certain circumstances.
Such a fund should not reduce the onus on the investor to do due diligence before investing, nor on company directors to act in their client's best interests at all times.
Conduct an enquiry into the electricity industry to overcome consumer problems
and ensure that energy efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of Government.
Amend the Commerce Act and provide the resources to the Commerce Commission to protect New Zealanders from monopoly pricing and anti-competitive behaviour in communications, energy, transport, and other key industries, and ensure it can regulate where necessary.
Continue to support 'Buy New Zealand-made' campaign aimed at supporting Kiwi businesses and reducing imports.
Establish the office of a Consumers’ Ombudsman to maintain competition in the supermarket chains, ensuring that local growers and consumers are not disadvantaged by supermarket chain pricing policies.
DEFENCE
New Zealand First supports the axiom that the defence of the nation is the first responsibility of Government.
We believe in capable, credible, professional defence forces, and dependable security arrangements with like-minded nations and groupings.
The New Zealand Defence Force’s priorities must be:The defence of New Zealand’s territory, sovereignty, and interests.
To contribute to regional and global security in cooperation with regional and international partners.
To assist Government and civil authorities, both in New Zealand and regionally, in times of natural disaster.
New Zealand is a maritime nation with considerable maritime protection responsibilities and a significant role to play in the South Pacific and South East Asia in times of civil emergency or conflict.
New Zealand First is committed to building and maintaining a professional and effective Defence Force appropriate to our size and tasking requirements, that is self-sufficient, and capable of operating with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
New Zealand First is committed to providing better resourcing for Defence, in keeping with, and contributing to, the commitments of our regional allies and partners.
We will continue to honour, maintain, and build upon existing defence agreements, in particular the Closer Defence Relationship with Australia as the cornerstone of our bilateral security arrangements.
New Zealand First believes the most valuable asset in our Defence Forces is our personnel.
Accordingly we must protect their conditions of service and be innovative in improving recruitment and retention of personnel.
We recognise both the unique situation faced by Defence Force families and the inability of service personnel to advocate on their own behalf for improvements or adjustments to their levels of remuneration and other working conditions.
We believe in a well-equipped Defence Force capable of protecting our national and sovereign interests, to the full limits of our territorial and maritime resource claims, and areas of international responsibility.
New Zealand First will:Develop and maintain a marine-focused, professionally-orientated military, with a sufficient breadth of capabilities to provide operational independence, including Air Combat and blue-water naval elements.
We will restore New Zealand’s strike capability with a small advanced force of jet trainer and combat aircraft.
Prioritize combat-trained and orientated military forces that are best able to contribute to national and regional security, and to United Nations and other international peacekeeping and peacemaking initiatives.
Create a professional armed Coast Guard as a sub-service of the Navy, primarily tasked with non-military responsibilities such as Fisheries protection, SAR and Policing and Customs duties, allowing the Navy to focus on primary military tasks.
Provide improved resourcing for Territorial and Regular Forces and better integration with Civil Defence, to enable effective assistance and cooperation during natural disasters, here and throughout the Pacific.
Ensure capabilities to fully support and assist other Government agencies including Police, Customs, Fisheries, DOC, Coastguard, and Search and Rescue.
Ensure improved pay, conditions, and on-going training to ensure recruitment and retention of quality service personnel.
Establish an independent Armed Forces Remuneration Board to set pay levels.
Provide improved resourcing for the Defence Force to expand the Limited Service Volunteer scheme, and to actively encourage and assist with the Cadet Forces,
in order to build confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, and self-discipline,
and provide training and rehabilitation programmes for youth and for at-risk young people.
Maintain New Zealand's commitment to its Nuclear Free Policy.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY
The move to MMP was not the end of political reform -it was the start.
New Zealand First aims to make Parliament itself a more responsive and accountable institution, and to give greater power to the community.
New Zealand First wants to form a practical partnership with the New Zealand people by the judicious use of direct public referenda where there is neutrality and impartiality in the question; there is fair dissemination of all of the facts on both sides of the argument; there is certainty in the poll (i.e. the question can be clearly understood); there is appropriate time for debate to be conducted; and the referendum's objective is capable of being met within the country's fiscal constraints.
New Zealand First will:Introduce legislation to enable the holding of binding referenda on key issues.
In accordance with its 15 founding principles and to honour the result of the 1999 referendum, reduce the number of Members of Parliament to 99.
Reduce Cabinet and require greater accountability and performance.
Ensure greater contestability of policy advice
and require that social impact analysis accompany economic cost/benefit analysis in government decision making processes.
DISABILITY
New Zealand First recognizes the right of every New Zealander to equality of opportunity.
Twenty percent of our population has long term impairment.
In many cases, the real handicap to full participation in society by people with disabilities is not the disability itself, but environmental barriers, ill-informed attitudes, and inadequate support services.
New Zealand First will:Strengthen the advocacy role of the Minister for Disability Issues.
Develop leadership within the disability community.
Ensure that the Office for Disability Issues has the resources to monitor and report on the full implementation of the Disability Strategy in a timely fashion.
Benchmarks will be determined and monitored annually in conjunction with the consumer organizations of people with disabilities.
Compliance with the benchmarks will be a factor in the performance appraisals of all state sector chief executives.
Promote policies recognizing that people with disabilities are in the best position to identify and articulate their own needs, thus ensuring that the private sector is aware of its obligations.
Ensure that all agencies delivering services to people with disabilities meet standards and demonstrate a constructive relationship with their client group.
Promote disability support services that facilitate independence and that are delivered after informed self-assessment wherever possible.
Our vision for independence includes both physical and economic independence, thus recognizing the importance of ensuring improved access to work for those with disabilities.
Improve the oversight of quality of care and treatment of people with a disability living in residential settings.
Support the implementation of the “Carers’ Strategy” to improve support for unpaid carers of people with illnesses or disabilities.
Ensure adequate funding and support for family home carers under ACC.
Use a range of incentives to ensure that a ‘universally accessible’ New Zealand applies to infrastructure, transportation, information, and other services.
Review the Child Disability Allowance with a view to increasing the rates in acknowledgement of the enormous emotional and financial strain faced by parents and caregivers when raising a child with special needs.
Review current funding streams for disability funding with a view to better directing service delivery.
Ensure that there are separate accommodation facilities within rest homes for young disabled people.
The needs and care of this group are unique and different to those of seniors.
Further develop a strategy for meeting the needs of an ageing population and review specific ‘disability’ provisions and rest-home care.
Assure equality of access to disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for long stay geriatric hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care.
Review the Ongoing Reviewable Resource Scheme (ORRS) funding with a view to ensuring that more funding is made available to directly meet the needs of the child as documented through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process.
Review the student/teacher ratio for blind and vision impaired students from 1:35 towards 1:15.
Ensure resources are available to all students with disabilities on an equitable basis.
Ensure that the objectives of the New Zealand Sign Language legislation are fully carried out.
Support an independent review of current audit and monitoring provisions.
ECONOMIC PLAN
New Zealand First has an economic policy that will improve the lives of ordinary Kiwis and put New Zealand on a pathway to prosperity.
It is based on four key pillars:The need for a flexible monetary policy.
The need to protect New Zealand ownership of key infrastructural assets.
The need for an innovative and coherent export plan to rapidly grow our nation’s wealth.
A National Savings Plan to free New Zealand from its dependence on foreign savings.
New Zealand First’s economic policy is to capitalize on the natural assets and climate that New Zealand is endowed with
and the talent and enterprise of New Zealanders.
A new economic direction is needed because New Zealand is at an economic crossroads.
In spite of the terms of trade being at a 40 year high our economy is dangerously exposed.
Under the National Government we have failed to diversify the economic base and are now even more vulnerable to a shock.
Despite the Christchurch rebuild there is a massive waste of talent and ability with around 150,000 unemployed.
New Zealand First will:Support the primary sector and help it to grow in a sustainable way.
Give a high priority to maintaining and building the manufacturing sector.
Introduce a government procurement policy that gives preference for New Zealand firms.
Reform the Reserve Bank Act to reflect that New Zealand has an export – dependent economy and create a sensible exchange rate regime that serves New Zealand’s economic interests.
Reverse the loss of New Zealand’s strategic land and assets to foreign ownership.
Give priority to New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs.
Future tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and progress of our trading partners.
Continue to advocate a comprehensive compulsory savings plan.
Pursue policies to protect investors and improve regulation of and confidence in the finance industry.
Direct the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to prioritize the purchasing of shares in New Zealand infrastructure companies,
particularly when they are being sold by overseas investors.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
With such a large proportion of the funding of research in New Zealand coming from the government (and going directly to Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), clearly the state must play a key role in leading Research and Development (R&D).
However we are unsure how much benefit is derived from this investment.
The key to a successful research and development policy is the maintenance of balance between genuine blue sky research
and research activity which will directly lead to economic advancement.
New Zealand must focus its limited research funds where it has a competitive advantage,
primarily in expanding export potential.
However, public good science must also be supported through a dedicated funding pool
At present, New Zealand lags behind the rest of the world in terms of research and development.
New Zealand First will actively encourage strategic alliances between industry, the Crown Research Institutes and Tertiary Institutions.
New Zealand First will:Provide tax incentives for businesses to engage in research and development
leading to innovation and export growth
Increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates (e.g  science and technology).
Introduce further scholarships (especially at post-graduate level) to ensure that we keep our best students
and provide for research and development expertise.
Expand publicly-funded topo-culture research through rural New Zealand.
Assist New Zealand companies in developing new technology and facilitate technology transfer.
Provide improved lower cost intellectual property protection for New Zealand based innovators.
Provide and encourage venture capital sources for New Zealand innovations.
Provide assistance in the marketing of new or innovative products.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Too much of New Zealand’s wealth is going overseas.
New Zealand First will impose strict controls over foreign ownership and create a comprehensive register of overseas ownership of land and property.
New Zealand’s net overseas debt was $150 billion as at June 2013.
The vast majority of the profits of foreign companies are paid out to their overseas owners.
Tens of thousands of hectares of our land continues to be sold.
About 70 per cent of our forestry is in foreign ownership.
New Zealand First is not opposed to foreign investment so long as such investment stands the test of being to New Zealand's advantage.
New Zealand First stands firm against state asset sales to foreign ownership.
New Zealand First will:Base New Zealand’s foreign investment strategy upon the premise that such investment must be in the interests of New Zealand.
The private interest of foreign shareholders is not our concern, the public interest of New Zealanders is.
Establish Kiwi Fund as a state owned saving scheme
so New Zealanders can invest in New Zealand assets and infrastructure.
Establish priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand that require such investment to
bring new technology
and lead to employment and export growth or import substitution.
Create a comprehensive register of foreign ownership of land.
FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
New Zealand First holds that the transfer of ownership of land, assets, and businesses in New Zealand to non-resident foreign citizens and companies does not constitute investment.
It is simply the transfer of wealth, profits, and revenue streams to overseas interests.
This affects all New Zealanders, impacting negatively on our balance of payments, keeping interest rates for New Zealand borrowers unnecessarily high, increasing foreign debt, and inflating the New Zealand dollar exchange rate to the detriment of businesses and exporters.
The unrestricted sale of houses in New Zealand to non-residents is pushing prices up and driving home ownership out of the reach of New Zealand families and first home buyers.
New Zealand First is not opposed to new foreign investment so long as such new investment stands the test of being to New Zealand's advantage.
This may include such things as the building of new houses,
breaking in and conversion of new farmland,
establishment of new joint venture manufacturing and processing businesses,
establishment of new aquaculture ventures,
or the planting of new forests.
New Zealand First stands firm against the sale of State-owned and other strategic assets to foreign interests.
New Zealand First will:Impose strict controls over foreign ownership and create a comprehensive register of overseas ownership of land and property.
Restrict ownership of houses and land including farmland to New Zealand citizens and to permanent residents who are exercising their right to residence.
In the case of the purchase of existing houses, land, or businesses to corporate ownership, joint ventures, and overseas-based trusts and funds, require such companies or other legal entities to ensure a majority New Zealand shareholding before being permitted to gain freehold title.
Prohibit the further sale of strategic state assets to overseas buyers,
and institute programmes to restore New Zealand ownership of SOEs and other assets already sold.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
New Zealand First believes that Crown royalties, through a Royalties for Regions policy, should play a role in contributing to the development of regional communities and economies.
Under our proposal, over $80 million would have contributed towards regional development initiatives in the 2012/13 year.
New Zealand is more prosperous when the regions are thriving.
Developed, diversified regional economies create skilled jobs and encourage people to move to the provinces, thereby also easing urban housing pressures.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that the involvement of local people in decision making
and development of their areas through the proposed Royalties for Regions scheme
has the potential to help concerned resident and mineral extractors reach agreement over environmental issues.
Ensure the regional fund could contribute to local projects and developments upon advice from local authorities, interest groups and iwi.
Ensure that twenty five per cent of the royalties paid on extraction of minerals - whether it be coal, limestone, lignite, gold or others will be placed in a fund for use in regional development in the region of extraction.
Provide economic and social benefits conferred to regional communities through the scheme
which will allow local communities to plan and spend more efficiently and effectively.
MANUFACTURING
International research show that for every job created in manufacturing up to five further jobs are created elsewhere.
New Zealand First will:Introduce a lower (20 per cent) business tax rate for exporters.
Give preference to New Zealand firms in government procurement.
Reform the Reserve Bank Act so it can better manage our currency.
Have a capital guarantee scheme for small to medium enterprises.
Reintroduce tax credits for research and development.
Provide accelerated depreciation for plant and equipment.
Pursue policies to add value to raw materials.
STATE OWNED ENTERPRISES
State asset sales have been a swindle perpetrated on the public of New Zealand.
What New Zealanders already owned is being sold back to some of them at enormous cost and loss of government revenue.
Many of these strategic assets have ended up with a large proportion of foreign ownership.
The National Government had no mandate for its state asset sales programme.
New Zealand First opposed the sell-off of energy companies and Air New Zealand by the National Government.
New Zealand First will:Commit to buying back the shares at no greater price than paid by the first purchaser.
Stop further state asset sales.
If considered appropriate, and only where necessary, public assets currently in the hands of the government will be commercially managed in the public interest and ownership.
Bring the energy companies sold by the National Government back into public ownership
and put them back under a single generating entity.
Establish KiwiFund, a government owned KiwiSaver provider,
which will have a focus on investing in New Zealand assets and infrastructure.
Ensure that the government has first right of refusal on the resale of any former state assets, in particular 'infrastructure' assets.
Direct the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to prioritize the purchasing of shares in New Zealand infrastructure companies, particularly when they are being sold by overseas investors, with the aim of building a solid base of New Zealand ownership of these assets.
This shall be conducted at arm’s length, with no ministerial interference, and at the discretion of the guardians
so as not to distort the market
EDUCATION
What society asks of our public education system continues to change and intensify.
New Zealand First believes it is time to have an Education Hui alongside wider public conversations;
robust discussion between all stakeholders across all sectors – early years, early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary and trade training, adult and community education -that includes the voice of students, parents and caregivers, support staff, teachers, school leaders and school trustees.
The Education Hui would develop a collaborative 30 year strategic plan for New Zealand education.
This plan is timely after 25 years of Tomorrow’s Schools and would set an agreed direction for our nation’s education that is free from changes in governments and ministers.
It would include the development of regional educational strategies and enable seamless transitions between and across sectors.
In order to make and embed positive change, governments must first listen and then work in partnership with the sector.
New Zealand First recognizes that the intensification of teacher workload during constant and long-lasting periods of education sector change is significant and fast approaching an unsustainable level.
The Ministry of Education must address concerns raised within recent New Zealand research regarding teacher morale.
Our national curriculum documents have identified curriculum achievement levels that are progressive and overlapping – children are not expected to achieve at the same level at the same time.
Discussion on refocussing data collection, analysis and reporting using these levels would be part of any educational hui.
New Zealand First is strongly opposed to “charter” or “partnership” schools; public funding for these privately owned profit making opportunities would be ended by New Zealand First.
Te Whariki, The New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa should all be at the front and in the centre of our education system.
Our national curriculum documents provide our teachers and learners with wide success criteria
and key competencies that encourage and promote good citizenship.
Current government policy has narrowed the definition of success to the detriment of learners.
New Zealand First would abolish National Standards and re-establish professional learning and development support for the quality delivery of our New Zealand Curriculum with monitoring as to children’s progress based on curriculum levels.
We believe that “success for Kiwi kids as Kiwi kids” needs to be identified, agreed and implemented.
We, politicians, parents and community leaders, need to return to a high trust model partnering with the people in and around our classrooms, school grounds and campuses who share the responsibility for educating our children.
The often repeated phrase that public schools and our teachers are failing ‘1 in 5 learners’ is simplistic and does not address the real issue of the effect of economic and social conditions outside the school gate.
New Zealand First will introduce policies to ensure that every New Zealand kid is supported to be able turn up at school able to learn, and so that our teachers can get on with guiding all children’s learning.
New Zealand First is concerned that the Ministry does not require nor collect data around the numbers of students who schools have identified as being in the top academic band.
To simply have a cohort that is ‘Above’ this government’s current literacy and numeracy lines is not good enough if we are committed to raising the achievement of students at both ends of the learning continuum, ie., special needs and gifted & talented.
Our recent work on the Pasifika languages inquiry has reinforced the importance of heritage recognition to student achievement.
We will restore funding for Te Kotahitanga as this programme has positive outcomes for Maori learners and for all learners, no matter what their heritage background.
We see a greater role for Resource Teachers of Maori within mainstream classrooms throughout the compulsory sector.
While Export Education is a vital part of the New Zealand education system, New Zealand First believes it should be about enriching the education experience of both domestic and international students and not as a cover for under-resourcing.
We support the investment of additional funds to enhance teaching and learning
but it cannot be driven by the Minister’s sense of priorities.
New Zealand First commits to the $359 million that was announced in Budget 2014 and that this money should be available for professional development, building collaborative arrangements between schools, professional leadership opportunities, etc.
, but only following genuine consultation with the sector.
The money would be available to deliver on the outcomes of the Education Hui and the feedback from wider public consultation that we would convene within three months of being part of the next government.
EARLY YEARS OF EDUCATION
The importance of the early years of development is recognised by New Zealand First.
In particular, New Zealand First affirms the importance of the family for the optimum development of children and will look to increase support for programmes in the early years that involve parents directly in the education of their children.
Community education services such as Playcentre and Te Kohanga Reo, both unique to New Zealand, provide significant support networks and learning for parents and are often a focal point in communities where other local points have been removed, ie., post office, doctor, small school.
New Zealand First acknowledges the work done, the time given and the quality of the relationships within parent-led early childhood centres that strengthen the links between families, neighbourhoods and communities.
New Zealand First will:Give greater focus to the second strategic goal within Nga Huarahi Arataki  to improve the quality of all ECE services.
(Also see Early Childhood Education policy).
Conduct a funding review of parent-led early childhood education services to realistically fund Playcentre as a quality parent-led service for young children and their families.
Support the growth of Playcentre as a quality parent-led early childhood education service.
Currently 481 centres with 14,000 children and their families.
Review the special needs of Playcentre rural provision for group learning to provide realistic operational support.
Fund administration, compliance and structural support staff for Playcentres ($5m per year).
Liaise with NZQA to ensure that the pathway for Playcentre qualifications gained by parent teachers can be credited towards the Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
Liaise with Playcentre Federation to explore and fund new initiatives to increase participation within targeted communities. ($500,000)
Work with Te Kohanga Reo National Trust to develop a supportive and sustainable funding model that future proofs Te Kohanga Reo as an essential stakeholder in our early years and early childhood public education sectors.
Liaise with stakeholders to ensure that academic and professional value is assigned to, and inherent within, any Te Kohanga Reo qualification.
Explore the option of Te Kohanga Reo funding being re-allocated to the Ministry of Maori Affairs in recognition of its founding principle as a ‘language nest’.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
New Zealand First is committed to inclusive early childhood education (ECE) that is accessible to all within safe, nurturing and stimulating environments.
We would urgently and immediately review the funding model for kindergartens as these are the backbone of our public early childhood education system.
New Zealand First is most concerned about the loss of access to education providers for our rural and isolated communities.
New Zealand First will:Give greater focus to the second strategic goal within Nga Huarahi Arataki to improve the quality of all ECE services.
(Also see Early Years policy).
Review the adult to infant (under 2s) staffing ratio in ECE centres as an urgent health and safety matter.
Restore the requirement for all early childhood education providers to ensure that the 100 per cent registered teacher staffing ratio is achieved.
Support nationwide professional development for Te Whariki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum policy statement and Kei Tua o Te Pae, the best practice assessment resource linked to the four broad principles of Te Whariki -empowerment, holistic development, family & community and relationships.
Work with the sector to amend relevant criteria to ensure an increased ability of isolated rural communities to participate in early childhood education, e.g., mobile kindergartens.
Support the HIPPY organization in their provision of early childhood education opportunities for 4 and 5 year olds and their families.
Establish a fund for research into best practice and innovation in New Zealand early childhood education.
PRIMARY EDUCATION (YEARS 1 TO 8)
New Zealand First believes that we have a quality public education system.
New Zealand First acknowledges the importance of principals, teachers, support staff, parents, boards of trustees and the community in the delivery of a full and rich education for our young people.
New Zealand First believes that all students need to be literate and numerate but does not believe that the black and white National Standards imposed on our primary school children are fit for purpose.
Our national curriculum documents, the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa, have identified curriculum achievement levels that are progressive and overlapping – children are not expected to achieve at the same level at the same time.
New Zealand First is committed to a quality public education sector where the principles, values and key competencies of our New Zealand curriculum documents are at the centre of all teaching and learning.
New Zealand First will:Repeal the 2013 amendments to the Education Act 1989 that allowed the creation of Charter Schools.
Abolish National Standards in their current form and work with the sector to establish robust assessment measures for individual students and to identify nationwide goals for primary education.
Review the Ministry of Education reporting criteria so the bi-annual collection and analysis of school learning data, linked to agreed nationwide goals and New Zealand Curriculum levels, enables the Ministry of Education to make robust resourcing decisions across the curriculum.
Ensure that the education sector has the opportunity to elect its own representatives to sit around the table of the new Teachers Council.
Review Section 156 Designated Character Schools in the Education Act 1989.
Review Integration Act.
Review the implementation of the operations grant with a view to increasing it to address equity challenges and ‘outside of school’ factors that impact on student achievement.
Review the criteria for isolation funding eligibility.
Review transport funding criteria to ensure it is both equitable and affordable.
Strengthen School Entry Assessment tools and practices that teachers and school leaders use to identify those students most at risk in literacy and numeracy.
Work with the sector to establish a pilot programme in partnership with the early childhood education sector, initially in a defined area, for the collection and analysis of school entry baseline evidence to target staffing and resourcing to meet need (support or extension) and inform practice.
Establish an early intervention staffing component for identified new entrants at risk in literacy and numeracy across all schools with initial priority being one full-time teaching equivalent for every U1 to U3 school ($50m : 992 schools as at December 2013).
Work with the sector to develop funding and resourcing models to best meet the needs of all children including digital resourcing for those learners challenged by dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s and autism.
Support true choice for parents of special needs students inside our public education system.
Where possible, special needs units will be incorporated into mainstream schools.
Maintain the commitment to student and parent voices being an integral part of Individual Education Plans for learners.
Review the funding model and the quantum budget for Special Education to ensure equity and consistency for all learners and communities.
Review the Ongoing Reviewable Resource Scheme (ORRS) with a view to increasing funding to cover the 3 per cent of the school population identified by the Ministry of Education as high needs.
Seek to establish tagged funding for student extension and enrichment.
Establish nationwide teacher professional development and funding support for high ability and gifted students.
Re-establish funding support alongside national professional development for the roll out of the Te Kotahitanga initiative for all schools.
Work with Te Ropu Takawaenga Maori o Aotearoa, the national body of Resource Teachers and Advisors of Maori known as NARTAM, and the sector to develop a clear set of national guidelines for Resource Teachers of Maori similar to those for other resource teachers.
Review the 1996 Memorandum of Understanding which defined the prime purpose of the Resource Teachers of Maori service specifically around kaiako/teacher support to deliver quality teaching and learning Te Reo Maori in both immersion and English-medium schools Years 1 to 13.
Work with the sector to develop national curriculum guidelines and progressions for teaching and learning Te Reo Maori in immersion schools Years 1 to 13.
Work with the sector to re-establish curriculum and school support advisors alongside schools’ ‘teaching as inquiry’ practice.
Establish a national qualification and ongoing professional learning and development programme for Special Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCOs) with responsibility for full spectrum of special needs learners.
Create a nationwide professional development career pathway framework for teacher aides.
Create a consistent and required professional development and training programme for Boards of Trustees.
Provide professional learning and development opportunities for teachers
with fair and equitable access for all schools.
Work alongside the sector to explore the establishment of an independent Leadership and Education Research Centre where principals can access in-service training alongside tertiary qualifications and New Zealand based research can be supported to benefit leadership, teaching and learning.
Immediately review the effects of the centralization of truancy contracts on school communities and work with the sector and relevant stakeholders to decentralize and better meet local need.
Use the recent property review to identify schools in disposal that would better serve their communities by becoming community assets.
SECONDARY EDUCATION (YEARS 9 TO 13)
New Zealand First believes that we have a quality public education system.
New Zealand First acknowledges the importance of principals, teachers, support staff, parents, boards of trustees and the community in the delivery of a full and rich education for our young people.
New Zealand First is concerned that publication of data within league tables does not accurately reflect the quality of teaching and learning within individual schools.
New Zealand First is deeply concerned that the 85 per cent NCEA ministerial target risks undermining the credibility of the qualification and puts undue pressure on teachers and schools to achieve an arbitrary target.
There needs to be greater flexibility concerning successful pathways and positive outcomes for students after NCEA Level 1.
Secondary schools can be financially disadvantaged through recently introduced adjustments to operational funding based on quarterly roll returns which affect their ability to maintain the range of academic and cultural classes throughout the school year.
New Zealand First will reverse the requirement for quarterly adjustments.
New Zealand First will:Repeal the 2013 amendments to the Education Act 1989 that allowed the creation of Charter Schools.
Ensure that school learning data linked to nationwide goals and New Zealand Curriculum levels is collected by the Ministry of Education so schools can access resources to support pathways for identified groups of students in Years 9 and 10 to NCEA Level 1.
Support the nationwide use of the ‘HEADSS’ holistic assessment of Year 9 students to identify individual areas of concern and trends within these learners within communities, regions and across the country.
Ensure that the education sector has the opportunity to elect its own representatives to sit around the new Teachers Council.
Review Section 156 Designated Character Schools in the Education Act 1989.
Review Integration Act.
Review the implementation of the operations grant with a view to increasing it to address equity challenges and outside of school factors that impact on student achievement.
Work in partnership with schools and the Ministry of Social Development to expand the Social Sector Trials (area planning networks) focused on youth well-being with a view to a nationwide roll-out.
Work with the sector to develop funding and resourcing models to best meet the needs of all children including digital resourcing for those learners challenged by dyslexia, dyspraxia, Asperger’s and autism.
Work with students, parents, teachers and school leaders to truly provide choice for parents of special needs students inside our public education system.
Where possible, special needs units will be incorporated into mainstream schools.
Review the Ongoing Reviewable Resource Scheme (ORRS) with a view to increasing funding to cover the 3 per cent of the school population identified by the Ministry of Education as high needs.
Seek to establish tagged funding for student extension and enrichment.
Establish nationwide teacher professional development and funding support for high ability and gifted students.
Re-establish funding support alongside national professional development for the roll out of the Te Kotahitanga initiative for all schools.
Work with Te Ropu Takawaenga Maori o Aotearoa, the national body of Resource Teachers and Advisors of Maori known as NARTAM, and the sector to develop a clear set of national guidelines for Resource Teachers of Maori (RTM) similar to those for other resource teachers.
Review the 1996 Memorandum of Understanding which defined the prime purpose of the Resource Teachers of Maori service specifically around kaiako/teacher support to deliver quality teaching and learning Te Reo Maori in both immersion and English-medium schools Years 1 to 13.
Work with the sector to develop national curriculum guidelines and progressions for Teaching and Learning Te Reo Maori in immersion schools Years 1 to 13.
Review and implement a cohesive approach to training, support and ongoing professional learning and development of teachers of Te Reo Maori in secondary schools.
Provide opportunities through scholarships for secondary school teachers to access appropriate qualifications to complete in-service training in Te Reo Māori so they can support bilingual education.
Work with the sector to re-establish curriculum and school support advisors alongside schools’ ‘teaching as inquiry’ practice.
Establish a national qualification and ongoing professional learning and development programme for Special Needs Co-Ordinators (SENCOs) with responsibility for full spectrum of special needs learners.
Create a nationwide professional development career pathway framework for teacher aides.
Create a consistent and required professional development and training programme for Boards of Trustees.
Provide professional learning and development opportunities for teachers
with fair and equitable access for all schools.
Work alongside the sector to explore the establishment of an independent Leadership and Education Research Centre where principals can access in-service training alongside tertiary qualifications and New Zealand based research can be supported to benefit leadership, teaching and learning.
Support, and enhance, the work done by Activity Centres by funding nationwide co-ordinated professional development for all centre clusters, directors and staff to address identified areas of needs.
Increase the number of Teen Parent Units (TPUs) to extend opportunities for young mothers to remain in education and gain qualifications within a supportive school and community environment.
Immediately review funding levels for Careers NZ as this is a priority focus area for New Zealand First.
Work alongside Careers NZ and the sector to enhance parent engagement through wider roll out of successful models such as the PAVE Pasifika Families project and the NCEA and Whanau programme.
Provide resourcing support within the senior secondary school system to enable clearer provision of vocational pathways for students who wish to pursue options other than academic and university education post school.
Review the current staffing allocation model
and encourage New Zealand based research into the identification and measurement of relative impact, of the factors including actual class size, that impact on the ability of teachers to use the pedagogies and student focus embedded within the New Zealand curriculum and its effect on student outcomes.
Immediately review the effects of the centralization of truancy contracts on school communities and work with the sector to decentralize and better meet local need.
Re-allocate Aspire Scholarship funding to support students from low income families to attend public secondary schools.
Provide a dedicated fund to support voluntary participation of Y10 students of both genders in the Hestia ‘Stand Up’ Healthy Relationships Programme.
TERTIARY EDUCATION AND TRADE TRAINING
The key to our nation’s social and cultural future lies in education.
While its contribution to the economy cannot be overstated, skills for employment cannot be allowed to overwhelm the fundamental nature of education as a public good.
New Zealand First is committed to protecting the autonomy and academic freedom of tertiary education institutions
where students, staff and communities are all part of decision making processes.
Education works best if it is responsive to learners
and students and staff must have a voice in the governance of tertiary education providers.
New Zealand First will ensure that students have an independent collective voice, on their campuses and in their lives in order to express their views on matters affecting them as students and citizens.
New Zealand First will give students a fair go.
We reject the current model that requires students to borrow to live, limits opportunity and access, and imposes a mortgage on both individual students and our nation’s future.
New Zealand First acknowledges that employers want skill sets and learners want qualifications.
It is important to note that all levels of qualification have value and Level 2 industry qualifications are vital to positive transitions between secondary schooling, further education and training or employment.
Clear, well-designed and supportive pathways must be in place for all students whether they wish to access academic and university education or pursue other options.
New Zealand First is committed to improving transition for all young people from school to further study or work.
New Zealand First believes that alongside the expansion of ‘fees-free’ Youth Guarantee places for 16 to 24 year olds, there needs to be greater flexibility for rural youth who do not have easy access to a wide range of tertiary education providers’ classrooms.
New Zealand First supports the move towards greater use of in-business training outside the current New Zealand apprenticeship model.
New Zealand First will continue to highlight the importance of lifelong learning for an ageing population and in an era when career changes are routine.
New Zealand First will:Introduce sufficient funding so that the tertiary education sector can deliver on its goals, end its dependence on international students, promote collaboration and seamless transition between provincial and urban educational institutions, and achieve equivalent performance relating to our position in the OECD.
Work with sector stake holders, including the New Zealand Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA), to review the Student Loan Scheme with a focus on reducing the burden of debt and increased access and opportunity.
Introduce a universal living allowance which is not subject to parent means testing as a priority for all full-time students.
Immediately introduce a dollar-for-dollar debt write-off scheme so that graduates in identified areas of workforce demand may trade a year’s worth of debt for each year of paid full-time work in New Zealand in that area.
Review student support systems to ensure that they are adequate to support life-long learning and that they are fit for the purpose of encouraging students to devote themselves to their study free from financial pressures.
Introduce a one year repayment holiday for New Zealand based borrowers upon meeting certain application criteria to give equity with overseas based borrowers.
Review the Student Loan Scheme with a goal of reducing its burden on former students, in particular those on low incomes within the first years of leaving study.
Ensure that all students have a smooth and efficient engagement with Studylink including through improving links with the IRD
with appropriate privacy considerations in place.
Restore the rights of migrant and refugee students as ‘new New Zealanders’ to access student support.
Review the rules that permit institutions identified as ‘Category 1’ to issue their own visas for international students.
Enforce the rules for foreign fee paying students to ensure that they are here for an education as opposed to an attempt to bypass the Immigration Skills Processes.
Work alongside the sector, including NZUSA, to establish a project to build capacity for enhancing student engagement so students have a say in how, what and why they learn.
This would be based on the implementation of the Student Voice for Quality Enhancement report
and by funding a long-term programme to build capacity for student voice in the sector ($2m over 5 years).
While respecting institutional autonomy and diversity, require through the external review processes that institutions can demonstrate that they have independent, autonomous and well-resourced systems of student advocacy services and for genuinely engaging, through student representatives, with students.
Work with NZUSA and the sector to establish an expert reference group with a view to implement two thousand ‘First in Family’ scholarships per year.
These will create a step-change in educational aspiration by promoting fee-free education with wrap-around support from secondary, through transition and to completion for those who would be the first in their immediate family to achieve a degree.
($68m over first 3 years 2015 to 2017).
Consult with sector stakeholders including the Ministry of Education and the new Teachers Council the number of graduates for certain predictable career pathways to guarantee employment opportunities within New Zealand after graduation.
Review funding and attendance models that create barriers to achieving recognized NZQA qualifications through flexible individual training agreements and workplace internships.
Actively support secondary schools and tertiary providers to provide quality pathways and stair-casing for Level 2 through to full Level 3 and 4 qualifications through fees-free places alongside a move away from delivering employment based training under the Youth Guarantee Scheme.
Remove the ability of business to directly access industry training dollars and re-confirm that Industry Training Organizations have the responsibility for Skills Leadership.
Work alongside the sector to develop and resource a clear understanding of the Skills Leadership role and the roles of other stakeholders, ie., trainees, secondary schools, employers.
Minimise the “opportunity costs” (administration and compliance) and financial barriers for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to employ apprentices and provide flexibility for provincial and rural New Zealand students.
Encourage strategic alliances between industry crown research institutes and tertiary institutions to increase the number of scholarships and government funded research grants available to graduates, universities and employers.
ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
An opportunity to access second chance learning for New Zealanders of any and all ages is one of the keys to our nation’s economic, social and cultural future.
New Zealand First is committed to ensuring that quality lifelong learning opportunities are available in all communities, are responsive to the needs, wants and interests of those communities and include intergenerational learning.
Adult and Community Education (ACE) programmes and activities sit in the space between formal tertiary education and self-directed learning.
Lifelong learning happens everywhere at any time and at any age.
Research shows that people engaged in learning experience greater wellbeing and remain connected to their communities.
New Zealand First will:Support the development of an Adult and Communication Education Strategy.
Ensure that goals within the ACE Strategy have a sufficient budget attached.
Review student support systems to ensure they are fit for purpose and have adequacy for life-long learning.
Work with the sector to develop dedicated legislative amendments to the Education Act 1989 clearly stating that lifelong and intergenerational learning are necessary to ensure relevant skills are maintained or acquired as life circumstances and industry needs change.
Work with the ACE sector to develop and implement an appropriate and affordable quality assurance process for ACE programmes and activities.
ELECTRICITY AND POWER
New Zealand First will take steps to ensure that electricity is delivered to all New Zealanders at the lowest reasonable price that is consistent with the maintenance of a viable industry.
The first step will be the creation of a state owned company to acquire the assets of all state owned energy companies and to merge their operations.
New Zealand First will:Seek to re-establish New Zealand ownership of key infrastructure.
Seek to minimize the environmental costs of generating electricity
whilst facilitating continuity of supply.
Ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court.
Introduce a system of bulk purchase of electricity at wholesale prices to enable a 10 per cent discount for SuperGold cardholders.
This would operate on a similar basis to Powershop.
Support the introduction of energy savings products.
Provide incentives for ongoing investment in electricity generation, with a particular focus on local generation where feasible.
Ensure that barriers to competition are identified and removed within both the electricity retail and wholesale sectors
and support changes to the Commerce Act to strengthen the regulatory framework.
Consider a range of incentives for reducing energy demand in times of restricted low supply.
Evaluate the fixed line charging regime with a view to ensuring smaller domestic consumers are not disadvantaged.
Introduce greater transparency and require the full disclosure of line and other fixed charges on energy bills.
Ensure that energy efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of Government.
ENERGY
New Zealand First's energy policy is based on four basics aims: to guarantee security of supply;
to achieve greater investment in the industry in order to produce more electricity;
to facilitate energy efficiencies;
and, to ensure that energy is supplied at a fair and reasonable price.
New Zealand First will:Explore the ongoing feasibility of energy options as technology and availability makes them practicable.
Ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court.
Buy back and merge the three generating SOEs
and change their mandate to ensure the delivery of affordable electricity,
greater security of supply,
and vastly improved planning and development of capacity.
Introduce greater transparency and require the full disclosure of line and other fixed charges on energy bills.
Ensure that energy efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of government.
Amend the RMA to provide for a more rapid consents process for infrastructure projects,
while ensuring local input is preserved.
ENVIRONMENT
Our country’s natural environment has international significance and is a New Zealand First priority.
Wise governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics.
All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment
and sustainable wealth
whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages.
Serious environmental problems and risks need to be addressed.
The conservation of our country’s natural and cultural heritage has international significance and is a New Zealand First priority.
While our environment is envied internationally as clean, green and attractive, the image hides a number of serious environmental problems which need to be addressed.
These include pollution of streams and rivers and excessive water extractions from rivers in some regions, rehabilitation of erosion-prone land etc.
‘100% Pure’ must not be empty words, but must be backed by effective and enforceable environmental protection policies.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that the state strikes a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals.
Take account of the views of key stakeholders when making environmental policy.
Support consultative debate on the issue of extractive industries,
ensuring that core conservation values are maintained.
Seek higher Crown levies on minerals extracted
and return 25 per cent royalties to the source regions.
Make sure developers are responsible to their communities to avoid, remedy and mitigate adverse environmental effects.
Oppose the Emissions Trading Scheme which sees profiteering from our environment.
Advocate that the government and industry work together to address pollution.
Provide and promote conservation authorities with the necessary resources and legislative framework to ensure the protection of the environment.
Ensure that the Resource Management Act is stringently applied to all fracking operations.
Support an evidence based approach to environmental issues which are often complex, challenging with high degrees of uncertainty.
CONSERVATION
"Wise Governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics”.
This is a New Zealand First Founding Principle.
All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment
and sustainable wealth
whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages.
We have a genuine concern for the environment and its preservation.
We maintain that the role of the state must be to strike a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals.
New Zealand First will:Enhance and protect the rights of all New Zealanders to access their cultural heritage sites and clarify
and amend legislation associated with protecting these heritage sites, buildings, and objects.
The protection of our historic heritage is vital.
Encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities and for environmental activities including the beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides and measures to clean up pollution.
Develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas.
Require effective co-ordination between relevant government agencies to ensure appropriate deterrents exist to poaching and trafficking of protected species.
Support 'threatened species' recovery programmes and protection and restoration of the habitat.
Support the Historic Places Trust, Forest Heritage Fund, QEII Trust, Landcare, and Nga Whenua Rahui and explore other means of encouraging the voluntary protection of natural and historical resources in private ownership.
Rationalise pastoral leases, where grazing of value does exist, to promote ecologically sustainable land use, with special attention to 'protected natural areas’.
Encourage the development of 'eco-tourism' centres such as Kaikōura.
Ensure that wide public consultation occurs in the development of energy, sustainable land management and climate change policy.
Urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience).
Maintain the most stringent risk management processes emanating from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and its amendments by ensuring that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is sufficiently resourced to carry out its functions with the greatest rigour.
Continue the phasing out of organo-chlorides and facilitate the development of safe alternatives.
Where appropriate, provide funding to develop and promote organic farming options.
Provide financial support for the development of water harvesting schemes that have met feasibility, viability, and environmental requirements such as storage dams.
Approach GM/GE with extreme caution, and only under secure confined laboratory conditions.
Improve documentation of important Maori sites of cultural or spiritual significance with appropriate local councils,
thereby ensuring a 'no surprises' policy of where these sites exist.
Legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified (GM) food products and will continue the rationalisation of the administration of food safety via the Food Administration Authority.
CLIMATE CHANGE
A great majority of countries see climate change as a result of increasing greenhouse gases and as a major global challenge.
The most effective way to reduce the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (primarily carbon dioxide and methane) is to progressively phase out the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal, and instead use renewable energy eg windpower, photo-voltaic electricity from sunshine, wood fuels, etc.
In the last three years both wind and photo-voltaic electricity generation have become increasingly competitive with fossil fuel energy.
A progressive phase-out of fossil fuels is possible if society develops appropriate strategies and plans.
Other countries, notably Great Britain, and the Scandinavian countries are already doing this.
Each citizen, and each country, has a duty, and a self-interest, to work to this end to reduce damage to our planet.
The motivation for reducing carbon omissions is clear.
As well, major overseas companies that New Zealand trades with will increasingly require proof that our exports are produced sustainably.
As a trading nation we cannot afford to sit on our hands.
To do so would be to put our trade in primary products at risk, especially with countries that are doing their bit to reduce emissions.
New Zealand First Policies: Transitioning from Fossil Energy to Renewables
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
This is the standard position of the present Nationalled government, and should be recognised as such.
New Zealand First will:Oppose the New Zealand Emissions Trading System (ETS) as it has failed to deliver significant emissions reductions and there is no sign it is encouraging industry transition.
In addition, it is counterproductive to pay polluting companies large taxpayer subsidies with no requirements on them to reduce emissions.
Support the establishment of a formal planning process to develop strategies, plans, research programmes and targets to achieve fossil carbon reduction relevant to New Zealand (the UK already does this under the 2008 UK Climate Change Act).
This will involve consultation and debate between government, the business community, universities and other sectors to ensure that the process will be independent and non-partisan.
Support ‘net metering’ whereby electricity retailers will be required to purchase power generated by customers at the price it is normally sold to the customer.
This is because customer generation is becoming increasingly attractive as the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources falls such as solar power.
COASTAL / OCEANS POLICY
New Zealand is a maritime nation.
The marine environment with its ecosystem sustains thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in income each year from a wealth of industries – tourism, fisheries and energy being just some of them.
New Zealand has a unique association with the marine environment, dating back to the initial arrival of Maori and more recently Europeans.
Throughout the history of New Zealand, it has been a source of pleasure, of food and transport.
The oceans around New Zealand and around the world are being increasingly exploited for their huge mineral and food wealth.
Increasingly ships coming into New Zealand are not always compliant with New Zealand safety and/or environmental standards.
New Zealand has a reputation as a responsible member of the international community,
which is jeopardised by non-compliance with international standards
and failure to hold to account ship owners, charterers, crews and officials for negligent practices.
New Zealand First will:Protect and enhance our international reputation
by balancing economic demands with the needs of the physical marine environment.
Ensure that New Zealand maritime transport routes, ports and all shipping are aware of and fully compliant with New Zealand laws.
SUSTAINABLE OCEANS
New Zealand First will:Introduce interim standards for drilling and exploratory work in New Zealand waters designed to meet New Zealand maritime conditions, while more comprehensive standards are worked out – must include provisions for design of rigs.
Require that all drilling/exploration/extraction projects in New Zealand waters be subject to public consultation
– exploration must be subject to public concerns being mitigated.
Amend Resource Management Act 1991 to provide for emergencies involving marine-based extraction industry.
Set up and train appropriate to the risk rapid response teams to deal with maritime environmental emergencies that can be deployed at short notice in New Zealand or abroad.
MARITIME LAW
New Zealand First will:Examine all issues of compliance and supervision of foreign ocean going vessels that operate in New Zealand waters to ensure compliance with NZ labour laws.
Overhaul Maritime Safety Act 1994 to provide for more active enforcement of New Zealand’s labour laws and prosecution of shipping companies that are non-compliant in New Zealand waters.
FORESHORE AND SEABED
New Zealand First continues to oppose any attempt to privatise the Foreshore (i.e. below the mean high water springs mark) & Seabed.
WATER RESOURCE USE AND MANAGEMENT
Water is our most precious resource.
New Zealand First principles for water use and management:
Water is a common good and cannot be owned by any person or by the Crown.
The Treaty of Waitangi does not confer rights to take or use water upon Māori which are greater or lesser than the rights of any other New Zealander.
Maori have shared guardian status and therefore have a right to shared governance in some areas of water management.
Any such rights residing in any person must be established under the common law through existing legal processes.
Priorities for granting water rights must place public benefit before private benefit.
Requirements for domestic supply of water must prevail over all other takes and uses.
The current first in -first served approach for commercial water rights must be abandoned in favour of a strategic approach which places national needs in order of priority for the granting of water rights.
Requirements for the use of water for industrial purposes, electricity generation or agricultural irrigation (including forestry) must only be met to the extent that both the requirements of the RMA are met and sustainable agricultural outcomes are also met,
including optimisation of water use efficiency.
Rights to take and use water are available only to New Zealand people (citizens and permanent residents) and New Zealand owned companies, and must not be alienated to overseas persons or interests whether directly or indirectly.
Water must not be taxed or subjected to any charge beyond the recovery of capital, and the operational costs (including a fair rate of return) of taking storing and reticulating it for the uses intended.
The special character of New Zealand’s remaining wild and scenic rivers must be protected by clearly identifying and listing them and by adopting specific policies for this purpose.
Policy applications:
NATIONAL POLICY STATEMENT ON WATER RESOURCE USES
A comprehensive National Policy Statement on Water Resource Uses must be developed and implemented by the government consistent with the principles set out above.
CONSULTATIVE PROCESS
The proposed National Policy Statement on Water Resource Uses must be developed following a comprehensive public consultation process; and expert advice and recommendations from special interest groups including local government, farmers, commercial interests, and universities must also be sought.
ENGAGEMENT WITH MĀORI
The proposed National Policy Statement on Water Resource Uses must be developed following a comprehensive process of engagement with Māori for the purpose of meeting their cultural values as far as possible having regard to the principles set out above.
NATIONAL WATER USE STRATEGY
Subject to the principles set out above, including priority for domestic water supplies,
the government must be pro-active in encouraging and assisting the sustainable taking and use of water for agricultural irrigation (including forestry)
and electricity generation (including both hydro-generation and geothermal generation)
for economic development,
by developing a national water use strategy (the Strategy).
These takes and uses of water must only be met to the extent that the requirements of the RMA are met, and sustainable agricultural outcomes are achieved, and water use efficiency is optimised.
WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS
To ensure the protection of wild and scenic rivers the existing National Policy Statement on Renewable Electricity Generation and/or the existing National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management must be amended to recognize the value of wild and scenic rivers.
An investigation must be carried out into which wild and scenic rivers outside conservation land would be appropriate candidates for protection with water conservation orders.
An investigation must be carried out to identify important wild and scenic rivers running through stewardship land which should be reclassified to protect these rivers.
LEGISLATION
Legislation must ensure that the granting of RMA consents is consistent with the proposed National Policy Statement on Water Resource Uses and the Strategy.
REGULATION
The government must regulate to assist in the achievement of the outcomes indicated above, including the amendment of existing water conservation orders and the imposition of additional water conservation orders where required for those purposes.
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT
The government must invest over time in water schemes which are consistent with these policies, to assist and facilitate the establishment of such schemes where this is needed and appropriate.
STATE OWNERSHIP OF ELECTRICITY GENERATORS
Large scale hydro electricity generators, and large scale geothermal electricity generators, currently state owned enterprises, must remain exclusively in state ownership, and any shares sold in them under the Public Finance (Mixed Ownership Model) Amendment Act 2012 must be progressively bought back at a price no greater than they were first sold for by the state.
CROWN ENTITY TO HOLD ALL WATER STORAGE IN TRUST
All water storage facilities used for the purpose of hydro-electricity generation and/or agricultural irrigation held in any man-made storage reservoir, or in any lake or river consented for those purposes under the RMA, currently owned or held by any State Owned Enterprise, other Crown entity, or any local authority, will be transferred to a new Crown entity to be held permanently upon trust for the people of New Zealand.
The new entity will allocate and licence all water storage resources for hydro-electric power generation and agricultural irrigation in accordance with the Strategy.
SURFACE WATER TAKES
Takes of surface water must not result in the degradation of major lakes and rivers so that their natural character and biodiversity are reduced to the extent that fundamental and irreversible damage is caused.
GROUND WATER TAKES
Takes of ground water must not result in water mining or any practice which would make the takes unsustainable.
USES OF WATER
Consents for the use of water must be conditional upon the adverse effects of discharge of the water after use (including leaching), including both immediate and cumulative effects, being no more than minor.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
New Zealand First's approach to international relations is tough-minded, independent, and integrated.
It affirms and enhances our country's traditional relationships while recognizing the emergence of global,
and the realities of regional and international politics.
It recognizes the threat of international terrorism and regards the safety of New Zealand citizens as paramount.
New Zealand First will:Continue to enhance the special New Zealand association and interest in the Pacific region.
As a good neighbour, New Zealand will make the Pacific its major focus of attention.
Further develop relationships within the greater Asia-Pacific region in recognition of its growing importance to New Zealand's security and wellbeing.
Further review the level of Overseas Development Assistance and its global allocation, and ensure that it is focused on facilitating priority projects, and the alleviation of poverty, particularly in the Pacific region.
Provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the proper resources to promote New Zealand's trade interests internationally.
Promote diplomacy as the first option to resolve international conflict with the use of military force only to be used as a final resort when all other means have been exhausted.
Remain strongly committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy.
Continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica and for the cessation of all whaling.
Ensure that intelligence gathering is subject to greater and more transparent parliamentary control.
TRADE
Trade is New Zealand's lifeblood.
New Zealand's recent export performance has been disappointing.
There has been a low exports to GDP ratio, a slow rate of market diversification, a narrow concentration of our exports in a small number of firms (about 150 firms responsible for 75 per cent of exports), and serious exchange rate and current account difficulties.
The export and innovation focus of New Zealand First's plans provide the base from which a re-orientation towards high technology and further processing industries will lead the way to an export performance that builds on the best of the present and provides growth for the future.
However, New Zealand is entering a period of unprecedented impetus for bilateral trade agreements.
This must be viewed with caution as New Zealand's relative size leaves it particularly exposed to the inherent imbalances of bilateral trade.
New Zealand First maintains that in the absence of a truly even playing field for trade, we must always act in New Zealand's best interests and not naively pursue free trade simply to appease other nations.
New Zealand First will:Give priority to New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs.
Future tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and progress of our trading partners.
We aim to win the export and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal race.
Encourage businesses to engage in import substitution.
Support and develop the ‘buy New Zealand-made’ campaign
and, where practicable place ‘buy New Zealand’ purchasing requirements on taxpayer and ratepayer owned businesses and State Owned Enterprises.
Review all current and future bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the Closer Economic Relations (CER) process, to improve transparency and accountability and to ensure they are in New Zealand's interest.
We will support FTAs that are demonstrably in New Zealand's interests.
EXPORTS
New Zealand's recent export performance has been disappointing.
There has been a low exports to GDP ratio, a slow rate of market diversification, a narrow concentration of our exports in a small number of firms (about 150 firms responsible for 75 per cent of exports), and serious exchange rate and current account extremes.
The export focus of New Zealand First's plans provide the base from which a reorientation towards innovation, high technology and further processing industries will lead the way to an export performance that builds on the best of the present and provides growth for the future.
New Zealand First will:Aim to treble exports, in real terms, by 2025 and will set goals to reach that target building on the achievements of the party's innovative Export Year 2007.
Refocus the role of New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to better harness exporting prospects where we have a competitive advantage.
Properly resource the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that the facilitation of trade is a priority.
Implement a programme of thoroughly researching prospective markets, of facilitating ease of entry into these markets, and of ensuring that we have the best possible match between what we are producing and the demands of these markets.
Expand development banking and venture capital opportunities.
Develop, in conjunction with the export sector, an export credit guarantee scheme that works.
Expand the beachheads programme.
Co-ordinate and support the measurement of the impact on climate change of land-based primary production exports and advance arguments to debunk 'food miles' argument.
Follow up the reduction in company taxation with the implementation of tax abatement and concession policies to ensure that viable exporting opportunities and innovation are not lost (20 per cent tax rate on 'new export' net income).
Further promote innovation by tax-incentivised research and development comparative to other first world nations, and by ensuring that technology transfer occurs within both the public and the private sectors.
Support the development of limited partnerships to facilitate New Zealand firms attracting investment capital.
Improve broadband uptake in New Zealand
and facilitate improved internet pricing and technology
to improve international competitiveness for Kiwi businesses.
Increase the international competitiveness of New Zealand business by reducing red-tape and compliance costs
and improve information flows by continuing to develop a single information portal for exporters.
Support a commission to maintain ongoing independent inquiry into all Government red tape and compliance costs requiring that their existence be justified, and further requiring that the commission report regularly to the Government.
IMPORTS
New Zealand First will:Give priority to New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs.
Future tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and progress of our trading partners.
We aim to win the export and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal race.
IMPORT SUBSTITUTION
New Zealand First will:Encourage businesses to engage in import substitution.
Support and develop the ’buy New Zealand-made’ campaign
and, where practicable place purchasing requirements on taxpayer and ratepayer owned businesses and State Owned Enterprises.
FINANCE AND TAX
SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT
One of our fundamental economic failings as a nation has been allowing too much of our key infrastructure to fall into foreign ownership,
which has effectively turned New Zealand workers into cheap labour for these investors to exploit.
The same can be said for some of our key industries and New Zealand First has signalled clearly its opposition to proposals for Fonterra’s 'partial listing'
and to any sell off of Auckland International Airport.
The Government's primary concern must be the national interest -and this needs to be an actively pursued long-term goal.
Compounding the difficulties in offsetting this flow of funds overseas is the comparative lack of savings by New Zealanders when compared to other developed nations.
Government, in an economy the size of New Zealand's, must accept that as one of the larger players in the economy and in the absence of other large players domestically, it has a crucial role in securing our key infrastructure.
Government must also play a far greater role in facilitating the building of a long-term sustainable savings base.
Positive developments in this area have been stalled by Government which has added to our debt crisis.
New Zealand First has long advocated a comprehensive compulsory savings plan and New Zealand’s failure to take up this plan now sees New Zealand seriously exposed.
Security of savings is another key issue and New Zealand First will be actively pursuing policies to protect investors and improve regulation of and confidence in the finance industry.
Long-term secure investment is an essential element of achieving sustainable high economic growth.
However, investment must be viewed as a means to an end rather than an end in and of itself and must always be viewed in the national interest,
not just in the interests of profit-driven corporates.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that the government has first right of refusal on the resale of any former state assets, in particular infrastructure assets.
Stop state asset sales.
If considered appropriate, and only where necessary, public assets currently in the hands of the Government will be commercially managed in the public interest and ownership.
Direct the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to prioritise the purchasing of shares in New Zealand infrastructure companies, particularly when they are being sold by overseas investors, with the aim of building a solid base of New Zealand ownership of these assets.
This shall be conducted at arm’s length, with no ministerial interference, and at the discretion of the guardians
so as not to distort the market.
Require the fund managers to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and growth industries including making funds available at competitive interest rates to the New Zealand Transport Agency, ONTRACK, and local government for capital projects.
Establish the ‘New Zealand Fund’ for New Zealanders to invest in New Zealand assets and infrastructure.
Encourage investment in New Zealand by providing a government guarantee on the first $100,000 of investment in New Zealand-owned banks.
Limit foreign investment in strategic/infrastructural assets to 24. 9 per cent.
Ensure that any foreign investment must be in the interests of New Zealand.
Ensure that priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand will depend on whether this brings new technology and employment and export growth.
Review the process of local government sales of infrastructure assets.
Strike a balance between preserving the nation's infrastructure in New Zealand hands
and ensuring that New Zealand enterprises can enter partnerships with international agencies for their mutual benefit.
Promote the creation of an internal investment/savings base to provide a clear alternative to foreign credit for the development of New Zealand infrastructure and businesses.
Build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to drastically reduce the sales of land to foreigners each year.
Strengthen the foreign investment policy framework and operational requirements as they relate to the work of the Overseas Investment Office
to protect the national interest.
Ensure the O. I. O. understands the difference between genuine foreign investment and an overseas corporate raid on New Zealand assets.
KIWI FUND
New Zealand First will establish a new KiwiSaver option – KiwiFund.
This will be a state run KiwiSaver provider.
It will offer New Zealanders the option of a saving scheme with minimal fees and a guaranteed return of capital.
The main features of this innovation scheme are:KiwiFund will be a fund that invests much more in New Zealand land, assets, enterprises and infrastructure.
KiwiFund will offer minimal fees because its purpose is to maximize returns to savers not make profits for fund managers and owners.
KiwiFund will ensure that much of the projected flow of over $22 billion in fees into private providers over the next 30 years will instead go to boost the savings of New Zealanders.
KiwiFund will compel current KiwiSavers to raise their game because New Zealanders will in future have an attractive state run option.
KiwiFund will be open to all New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.
TAX
POLICY OBJECTIVES:
To assist narrowing the widening incomes gap in New Zealand.
A 2011 OECD report stated that the incomes gap in New Zealand was the worst for OECD countries over the previous 20 years.
New Zealanders currently spend 14 per cent of their household income on food at home (USA only half of our percentage) and pay the fifth highest prices for food in the world.
This is unacceptable for an efficient food producing nation and is grossly unfair to struggling low to medium income earners.
To tax only those activities which are appropriate for income taxation having regard to the wider social ramifications of the system.
To replace the existing tax system with a fair and equitable system based on people's capacity to pay, so that people and businesses who benefit from the higher incomes made possible by New Zealand’s economic potential will bear a greater portion of the tax burden than those with lower incomes.
To replace the existing tax system with one which is clear and easily understandable, thus minimising confusion and costs.
To ensure that the tax system is effective, raising only sufficient revenue to enable effective and efficient government programmes to be paid for without excessively burdening taxpayers and handicapping the economy.
GST OFF RATES
In addition, as part of a fair system, New Zealand First will remove GST from rates on residential property.
Rates are a major burden, particularly for those on fixed incomes.
This ‘tax on a tax deceit’ has to end, and it will.
TAX EVASION CRACK-DOWN
The total effect on tax evasion in New Zealand has been estimated at $7 billion per year.
New Zealand First will:Implement a system where tax evasion is treated seriously.
The black economy is a major drain on Crown revenue.
Crackdown on the e-economy and the new challenges they present to the tax base.
International corporates such as Google and Facebook are effectively paying minimal tax in New Zealand.
This will be urgently addressed by New Zealand First as a part of the tax evasion crackdown.
GST OFF YOUR FOOD
Food is an absolute necessity for life and is not an appropriate object for taxation;
and rising food prices over many years have been a major contributor to child poverty, to financial inequality and growing resentment, and many adverse health issues in New Zealand.
The exemption will not apply to food sold as part of a service in restaurants and takeaways, so that GST will be still be added to these food services, as is currently the case.
However the food purchased by those outlets will be free of GST, and therefore the end consumer will still benefit from reduced costs at restaurants and takeaways.
This policy is estimated to cost $3 billion per year and will be funded by clamping down on tax evasion and the black economy (estimated to run at $7 billion annually).
Australia and other countries such as the United Kingdom apply differential tax rates on food and many other products.
New Zealand First will:Exempt food from liability for GST as a way of helping families on low-medium incomes, who pay a much greater proportion of income on food than those on higher incomes, thus assisting the battle to reverse the widening incomes and wealth gaps in New Zealand.
The average household spends at least $200 per week on food (about 20 per cent of household expenditure on items that have a GST component).
The benefit for families from lower food costs will therefore be significant.
Ensure that most of the food an average family puts in their supermarket trolley each week will be GST exempt.
TAX ADVANTAGES TO HELP YOU SAVE
The current tax regime is acting as a disincentive to save.
New Zealand First will:Use the tax system to encourage savings,
especially for people saving for a deposit for a first home.
Ensure that earnings from approved saving schemes will carry a tax advantage.
BETTER WAGES, NOT MORE HAND-OUTS
New Zealand First believes the income support payment “Working for Families” needs a thorough rethink.
It has provided a cover for employers to not pay decent wages,
it discriminates against those without children,
and it complicates the tax/benefit system.
The reduction in GST on food will also reduce the need for ‘Working for Families’.
The cost of Working for Families is currently around $2.6m annually.
New Zealand First will review “Working for Families”
preferring that everyone gets at least a genuine living wage.
HEALTH
Health is a critical investment in New Zealand's human resource -not a balance sheet item.
New Zealand First believes a properly funded and resourced public health service will not only provide better for our country, but save money in the long run.
We must accept that health outcomes are a defining feature of our first world status.
Where once New Zealand was in the first five countries in the OECD, we are now in much inferior position – in the bottom third for infant mortality and we are busily importing third world diseases.
New Zealand First is committed to improving health statistics in areas of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and obesity, as well as stamping out third-world diseases such as rheumatic fever.
While there are no simple solutions to the many and varied difficulties confronting the health sector, we must face the realities of an ageing population and improving technology and medicines which will shape the health sector for the coming decades.
Neither of these driving factors are to be feared, rather, if they are embraced correctly both patients and health care professionals will reap the benefits.
When last in government New Zealand First undertook to remove the profit focus from the health system.
We promised to introduce new initiatives in the area of child health, and to reduce hospital waiting lists.
We delivered on these promises.
Five years ago New Zealand First ensured an additional $530m for eldercare and achieved improvements to the under sixes health scheme.
Major challenges remain.
Spending smarter must be a focus in the health sector in the coming years, as not all issues can be solved by increased spending.
We find it most disturbing that Treasury reports continue to show that despite increased spending in the health sector, health productivity has not kept pace.
Even more disturbing are the huge differences in need throughout the population that are becoming very apparent.
Māori health outcomes are not improving at the same rate as non-Māori and this must be rectified.
New Zealand First does not want to undertake whole-system reform and add to the ‘structural fatigue’ caused by successive government overhauls.
Our current system needs some refinements to ensure interoperability and a focus on patient needs.
Our ultimate aim must be to provide our citizens with certainty about their healthcare and ensure timely access to quality services.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
New Zealand First will:Review accessibility of affordable healthy foods, with the aim of ensuring all families can afford to eat nutrition rich meals.
Review accessibility of safe spaces in communities to exercise and play, with the aim of ensuring all New Zealanders can have somewhere to maintain physical fitness.
Continue to focus upon family health, and particularly early intervention, by expanding such programmes as ‘Family Start’ and home based support.
Ensure that essential health and safety products such as sunscreens being promoted to our community have undergone independent evaluation and/ or review.
Facilitate the improved co-ordination and integration through PHOs and other organizations of community health, dental health, disability support, family health, Maori health, maternity, mental health, and public health services and overcome the effects of a health system that lacks cohesion and common standards of delivery.
Restore emphasis on preventative measures and health education
and ensure the nationwide health screening of all children under one year.
Ensure that all New Zealand pre-school and school children receive adequate dental care
and fully implement a national strategy including implementing the recommendations of the Health Select Committee Report on Oral Health, including a review of the state funding for teenagers' dental treatment.
Increase the options of mental health services available, working towards a community view instead of a medical view of services.
Improve residential services for people who have severe illnesses or disabilities and/or substance abuse problems.
Commit to increasing the number of medical professionals choosing to be General Practitioners in line with the needs of the communities being served.
Ensure that there is adequate funding for, and improved access to palliative care services.
Ensure that safety considerations are paramount in funding decisions relating to maternity care services and require improved provision of ante-natal classes, maternity services for rural, Maori and Pacific Island women, and the improved monitoring of maternity services.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HEALTH
New Zealand First will:Establish and implement a national strategy for addressing cancer treatment, men's health issues including prostate cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma, obesity, dementia, and other diseases and health concerns where a national strategy is clearly needed and incorporating health education initiatives, improved screening programmes and strategies.
Immediately review funding of PHOs that fail to maintain adequate emergency services and establish a process whereby funding for emergency services must be ring-fenced by DHBs when distributing funding.
Introduce the Teen Health Check Bill to require DHBs to make provision for health checks on all Year 9 students and other measures to ensure no young person enters secondary school with health problems likely to be a barrier to their learning.
Improve access to high quality oral healthcare services.
Consult with the natural health industry and other stakeholders to ensure there is an appropriate regulatory regime for complementary medicines.
Provide additional resourcing for child and youth mental health services, and the necessary resources and funding to address the continuing appalling state of mental health services by completing the full implementation of the recommendations of the Mason report.
Increase rural health services and ensure good access to basic healthcare equitably throughout the country including the immediate development of a rural and provincial health services plan with a view to early injections of health funding to ensure the continuity of essential services.
Develop 'centres of excellence' for strategically placed specialist services.
Provide funding to assist the diagnosis of osteoporosis by DXA scan for women over 50 years who have experienced a low trauma fracture.
Adequately resource elective surgery and provide additional waiting times funding so as to firmly establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment.
ORGANISATIONAL
New Zealand First will:Confront the duplication of management and administration costs arising from the excessive number of District Health Boards (DHBs) to ensure they are appropriate for the demographic demands of health and efficiency of delivery of services,
and support the amalgamation of and/or the development of cooperative agreements between DHBs.
Redress the balance between health administration and health practitioners within DHBs, ensuring that extra money going into health is ring-fenced for the delivery of health services rather than growing the health bureaucracy.
Increase clinical engagement by medical staff in all DHBs to ensure the needs of the community are being met, and increasing the quality of patient care.
Increase the number of acute and non-acute beds and accommodation units for the mentally ill
and modify the process of judicial review of decisions to release mentally ill patients into the community.
Cap the number of places at medical training institutions which can be taken by foreign students
while increasing the number of places available in areas of need for New Zealand students.
Review the costs of gaining initial medical qualifications, including exploring the option of a 'bonding' system for medical students who are willing to tradeoff student loan abatements for staying in New Zealand.
Explore amending the recent changes to the Student Loan system to ensure Graduate Entry Medical Students are not disadvantaged compared to their peers.
Review the medical students pathway with a focus on future proofing the system, and ensuring it is set up in a way to service the future health needs of New Zealanders.
Use a range of measures to ensure the adequate recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas including: consideration of student loan abatements; fees reductions; scholarships and bonding schemes; amending the definition of ‘rural’ in relation to the rural GP premiums and lifting the levels of primary healthcare premiums; the development of a robust peer support programme for rural practitioners; an alternative route for the registration of family doctors; the supply of locums to enable ongoing training, support and a sustainable quality lifestyle; and resources for visiting specialists.
Ensure a high quality 'rural service' specialization is available in our medical schools.
Require consistency in the provision of emergency health services such as ambulance and helicopter services and ensure the adequate funding of a core of fulltime employees.
Review the funding of rest home care contracts, particularly in relation to costs imposed by legislative changes which impact on the cost of care.
Ensure that the subsidy paid to elderly in care is automatically adjusted for CPI inflation each year.
Conduct a review of the eldercare sector in order to facilitate long term planning in the sector.
Assure equity of access to health and disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for older people needing long stay aged hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care.
Implement national standards for aged home care that are appropriately monitored and enforced.
Review the National Travel Assistance Policy with the aim of ensuring it is adequately providing transport assistance to those who cannot easily access hospital medical appointments.
Conduct a review of the efficiency and efficacy of Pharmac's operations
and of the adequacy of pharmaceutical funding.
Review issues relating to the treatment of overseas patients within our public health system.
Legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified food (GMF) products.
FUTURE PROOFING
New Zealand First will:Review the processes and funding for the public purchase of essential equipment and new technology to ensure that decisions are timely and the New Zealand public have access to the best possible health services.
Establish a Commission of Inquiry into the public health system with the aim of establishing precisely what the public expects of the health system and what the system can deliver.
Our ultimate aim is to establish a public health compact with the public stipulating the guaranteed minimum services the public can expect from the public health sector.
It will also consider the overlap with the private sector.
Increase the use of technology to reduce isolation (e.g. mobile services, helplines, telemedicine, teleradiology) and consider the appropriate expansion of the health-centre model.
Further develop a strategy for meeting the health needs of an ageing population and review specific disability provisions and rest home care.
Incrementally work towards pay parity between eldercare nurses and DBH employed nurses.
Develop a specific Industry Training Organisation for the eldercare sector.
Ensure that planning for the eldercare sector incorporates the capacity for family home carers.
Introduce an independent perinatal database to ensure data being collected about New Zealand births is internationally comparable and used to inform future policy directions.
Ensure an on-going commitment to the funding of health research, research institutes, and for training.
Explore options associated with boosting uptake of private health insurance, including the provision of tax rebates for those with private health insurance.
Set up a separate pharmaceutical fund for sufferers of rare diseases administered separately to Pharmac.
Review implementation of Electronic Health Records globally to ensure New Zealand follows international best practice and avoids all known complications.
HOUSING
New Zealand First’s policy recognizes that different policy mixes are needed for regions with different problems.
Those unable to own their own home must have access to quality and affordable rental accommodation.
Existing National Government policy drives rental prices for low income earners up to crippling levels and do not provide for adequate, affordable accommodation in areas of low housing supply.
All New Zealanders who are working must have a genuine opportunity to buy their own home.
New Zealand First believes that this is only achievable by direct government intervention in New Zealand’s overheated housing market.
There is more than enough housing at the top end of incomes and serious shortages at the bottom end.
New Zealand First will:Provide government assistance for first home buyers.
Establish a new state agency to acquire land where Special Housing Areas have been designated under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013,
for sustainable residential development.
Sell residential sections under long term agreements for sale and purchase (up to 25 years) to first home buyers, on a cost recovery basis, so that first home buyers will have access to sections which are affordable, reducing the overall initial capital cost of a new home by about one-third.
Interest at 2% p.a. for at least 5 years, then rising to lowest market rates.
Purchasers would build their own homes using normal bank financing, with title to the section transferred to them and the amount owing for the section secured by a second ranking statutory land charge.
Encourage smaller and more affordable houses on smaller sections.
Require better building quality and sustainable housing objectives – including leak proofing, insulation and earthquake and landslip resistance.
Encourage greater use of New Zealand expertise in prefabricated houses.
Every home to have compulsory and adequate insurance cover.
All homes to be compulsorily insured including full earthquake, landslide, flooding and other disaster cover and a minimum of full indemnity insurance.
Home owners will be able to choose between a state insurance provider to be established or a private insurer.
Ensure that New Zealand’s housing stock is restricted to New Zealanders.
Non-residents who are not New Zealand citizens would be ineligible for home ownership
except if a genuine need to do so can be demonstrated.
The terms and conditions upon which existing approvals by the Overseas Investment Commission for the ownership of land by non-residents would be fully monitored and enforced.
Provide low cost government funding to local authorities for new elderly persons housing and public rental housing projects.
Long term two per cent loan finance would be made available.
Encourage private investment in upgrading rental housing through the taxation system.
Owners of rental houses could invest in specified qualifying home improvements and be able to expense them for income tax purposes in the year in which the expense is incurred, including home insulation, solar heating, heat pumps, HRV heating systems, wood pellet and other approved burners, earthquake strengthening, fire, food and other disaster protection.
A New Zealand Housing Plan will be developed to revamp the New Zealand housing market covering: housing availability and affordability, rental homes supply and affordability, housing-land development and redevelopment, home purchase finance, insurance cover and earthquakes/disaster cover, sustainable housing objectives (including energy efficiency), housing quality, integration of housing with sustainable transport systems, use of New Zealand expertise in prefabricated housing.
IMMIGRATION
New Zealand First is committed to a rigorous and strictly applied immigration policy that serves New Zealand’s interests.
Immigration should not be used as a source of cheap labour to undermine New Zealanders’ pay and conditions.
There have been numerous instances of administrative failure to apply immigration rules and standards.
New Zealand First will strengthen Immigration New Zealand to give it the capacity to apply immigration policy effectively.
New Zealand First will:Make sure that Kiwi workers are at the front of the job queue.
Ensure that immigration policy is based on New Zealand’s interests and the main focus is on meeting critical skills gaps.
Ensure family reunion members are strictly controlled and capped
and there is fairness across all nationalities.
Ensure that there is effective labour market testing to ensure New Zealanders have first call on New Zealand jobs.
Introduce a cap on the number of older immigrants because of the impact on health and other services.
Make sure effective measures are put in place to stop the exploitation of migrant workers with respect to wages, safety and work conditions.
In Christchurch and elsewhere there is evidence of exploitation of migrant workers.
Develop strategies to encourage the regional dispersion of immigration to places other than Auckland.
Auckland’s infrastructure is overloaded.
Remove the ability to purchase a pre-paid English lesson voucher to bypass the minimum English entry requirements.
JUSTICE
HUMAN RIGHTS
Instruct the Law Commission together with the Human Rights Commission to urgently review the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act to broaden its cover.
EFFICIENCY IN THE COURT SYSTEM
Accelerate the streamlining of courts systems by supporting the Modernisation of Courts legislation now before parliament, reducing delays and costs.
Review of the Disputes Tribunal to improve its performance by encouraging the appointment of legally qualified referees, and ensuring the adequacy of training for non-legally qualified referees.
A review of the jurisdiction of the District Court.
Much greater use of on-line documents must be achieved, using secure and trackable systems.
Greater use of technology to reduce the amount of court hearing time.
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Too many people are priced out of the legal system, and the costs of using the system must be reduced where feasible, including:
More use of alternative disputes resolution processes
, especially mediation and arbitration as a right.
Providing litigants with better means of avoiding delays such as the use of default procedures.
Providing litigants with improved means of reviewing the fees charged by lawyers and other providers.
IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT
The fundamental objectives of the Act are not the problem and the current Government’s attack on them is opposed by New Zealand First,
but the way the Act is administered commonly results in grossly excessive time and costs to obtain consents, especially for major projects.
The means to address this include:Dumping the ‘one size fits all’ approach.
Applicants for large projects having regional or national significance should be permitted to go directly to the Environment Court.
Submissions which substantially duplicate each other will be consolidated into one or fewer submissions, to reduce time and expense.
District and regional councils will be required to estimate the costs they intend to impose on applicants at the time the application is made, and to maintain those costs with increases only being permissible if circumstances change.
Costs will not be charged to applicants, which relate to public benefit issues rather than issues relating to effects on the environment.
REDUCE THE PRISON POPULATION
Prisons will always be necessary for people convicted of serious crime;
however New Zealand First supports greater use of alternatives where feasible.
These will include:Wider use of home detention with mandatory reporting for approved work or training during the day.
A greater range of non-custodial sentences such as the confiscation of specific property, larger and long term reparation payments and fines.
Short, sharp custodial sentences, with dedicated, stipulated, supervised and monitored work.
ENSURE THAT THE LEGAL AID SYSTEM WORKS FAIRLY
The recent review of the Legal Services Agency will be ineffective in curbing the rise in the cost of the legal aid system in the long term; and increased use of public defenders is unlikely to reduce costs either, but will limit the right of an accused person to have the representation of their choice and with appropriate expertise.
New Zealand First would reintroduce the right of accused persons to choose publicly funded private defenders for all cases of serious crime.
The best means of reducing costs is to streamline the process to determine who should receive legal aid and the quantum of it.
New Zealand First supports the use of more discretionary decision making which employs not only the well tried ‘prospects of success’ considerations but also better use of expert analysis involving direct consultation with the applicant’s lawyer.
THE FUTURE OF CRIMINAL LAW REFORM
Seek real and enduring solutions to offending.
These require programmes to curb anti-social behaviour
and remove economic deprivation, consistently over time.
The fundamental causes of crime relate to economic disparity, and especially the unavailability of jobs and adequate rates of pay for those at ‘the bottom of the heap’.
Attitudes which encourage rather than attack the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
New Zealand First has comprehensive policies on education and training, economic development, job creation, wage rates, and social development, and sees them as the best means of reducing crime.
THE FUTURE OF FAMILY COURTS AND THEIR OPERATION
Ensure that adequate counselling is made available, including state funding for parties not reasonably able to pay for their own, so that only those cases which have clearly developed into a dispute need to go to mediation or a court.
Where matters require decisions of the Court the parties must have access to expert advice and representation.
Legal aid will be available to all parties who are eligible under income/capital thresholds.
A lawyer must always be appointed for the child or children, except only those cases where the judge assesses that representation is unnecessary.
PROPERTY RIGHTS AND CANTERBURY EARTHQUAKE ISSUES
New Zealand First will:Amend the Public Works Act on the issue of Resumption of Property so that adequate and fair compensation is received by home and property owners whose properties are required for Public Works.
Amend the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act to ensure that it becomes human rights based rather than infrastructure and property based.
Housing provision
and appropriate regulation is the way forward.
Freeze rents across Christchurch City for the next 2-3 years.
Extend red zone deadlines so displaced homeowners can stay in their homes until their homes are repaired or rebuilt.
Appoint another EQC project manager – not just Fletchers.
Pressure Housing NZ and City Council to quickly repair social housing.
Regulate insurers to ensure the timely repair of homes and rebuilds.
Enable reviews of red zone compensation in special cases, and not stick rigidly to 2007 valuations.
Ensure urgent action for the remaining red zoning of the Port Hills areas with updated valuations to take account of the delay since the 2007 valuations we imposed.
Bare and uninsured land offers of 50 per cent will be withdrawn and replaced with 100 per cent offers, plus additional compensation for delay; and those who have already accepted the 50 per cent offer will be paid the remaining 50 per cent.
SENTENCING
New Zealand First will:Ensure an accused can be re-tried for a crime where it is proved that an acquittal, or a change to a lesser offence, has resulted from intimidation perjury or the bribery of a victim, witness or juror.
Remove concurrent sentences for those guilty of rape and for those who commit offences while on parole, on bail, or whilst in custody;
Strengthen monitoring requirements in relation to community-based sentences.
Review the adequacy of maximum sentences for serious criminal offences.
Investigate the implementation of degrees of murder sentencing regime.
Increase the use of mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders.
Require that upon conviction of a serious and/or violent crime non-citizens will be repatriated to the offender’s country of origin where possible.
VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
New Zealand First will:Establish a group within the Ministry of Justice to oversee the effective coordination, funding and delivery of victim support services.
Ensure that victim support groups receive adequate funding which reflects both the demand for and quality of the services they provide.
YOUTH JUSTICE
New Zealand First believes that the priority for reducing youth crime is ensuring all young people are engaged in full time employment.
New Zealand First will:Require greater parental responsibility for young offenders.
Ensure that young recidivist offenders are dealt with by an expanded and reconstituted Youth Court with improved guidelines.
Retain Family Group Conferences (FGC) for under 12 years offenders,
but any such offender will be dealt with under this provision only three times, and thereafter will be dealt with by the adult criminal courts.
Provide police with the powers and resources to address truant behaviour.
Introduce stricter controls on the ratings of, and restrictions to the access to violent or sexually explicit videos.
Raise the alcohol purchase age to 20 years.
LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
If the New Zealand economy is to grow sustainably over time, and thereby deliver the social and fiscal dividend we seek,
employers need skilled, dedicated, and flexible staff,
whilst employees require stability in employment and appropriate conditions and remuneration.
Lifting workers' productivity is identified as the key to improving New Zealand's international rankings.
The level of New Zealand’s unemployed is masked by illusory criteria which say that even one hour’s work per week means employment.
This must be replaced by sound criteria measurements.
An ideal industrial relations environment is one based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality between the parties.
New Zealand First will make it a priority to review all industrial relations law to ensure it is consistent with the preceding statement.
Employment of New Zealanders wishing to work is our first priority.
It is a government policy failure that New Zealand has a skills shortage in various occupations/professions and is currently offshore actively recruiting to fill these vacancies.
New Zealand should be training its own people in these areas.
The upskilling of New Zealanders
and improving both wages and productivity are major planning objectives.
Our vision is of a nation made up of well educated, determined, healthy, and innovative people,
with an expanding business programme geared around exports, regional development, job growth and harnessing the natural attributes of the country.
Addressing employment issues requires a collaborative effort between government, business and labour organisations.
Essentially employment creation is dependent upon wealth creation
and a system which efficiently distributes that wealth.
New Zealand is primarily a nation of small and medium size businesses.
Job and wealth creation are dependent upon these enterprises thriving.
Despite the Christchurch rebuild there is a massive waste of New Zealand talent and ability with around 150,000 unemployed.
New Zealand First has a range of economic policies designed to build the economic base and create jobs.
For example, export and employment objectives will be added to Reserve Bank targets.
Those policies are outlined in the Economic Policy section of this document.
New Zealand First will give priority for New Zealand jobs to New Zealand workers by a tight immigration policy.
It is the reflection on policy failure that New Zealand is currently offshore actively recruiting trades people for the Christchurch rebuild.
New Zealand should be training its own people as a priority.
New Zealand First will:Raise the minimum wage, to $17 in the first instance.
Review and amend employment laws to ensure that casualization employment practices are fair and just to all parties and work to achieve better job security for individuals now employed on a permanent ‘casual’ basis.
Disputes emerging over this practice would be referred to arbitration.
Review the practice of short term employment contracts.
Allocate sufficient resources so that there is greater emphasis on training (small employers/new entrants to workforce)
and WorkSafe NZ inspections;
Require that salaries paid beyond accepted public service bands be cleared with stakeholder ministers in a transparent manner.
Introduce a new system of subsidizing wages for employers who take on young, unemployed people for trade training and skills programmes.
Initially the young person would be assessed for literacy and numeracy skills.
These would be included as part of the training package including money from the Job Seeker support benefit for 12 months.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
For the New Zealand economy to grow sustainably and deliver the social and economic outcomes we desire,
employers need skilled, dedicated, and flexible staff,
whilst employees require job stability, safe working conditions and appropriate remuneration.
New Zealand First is committed to promoting an industrial relations environment based on fairness, flexibility and neutrality between the parties.
New Zealand First will:Raise the minimum wage to $17 per hour.
Change laws that allow individuals to be employed on a permanent ‘casual’ basis.
Train New Zealanders in areas of skill shortages,
instead of actively recruiting offshore.
Ensure that hiring New Zealanders is a priority.
Abolish the ‘starting out wage’ for young people.
Incentivise skilled New Zealanders to stay and work in New Zealand.
Ensure enough workers are being trained in the area of aged care to cope with New Zealand’s ageing population.
LAW AND ORDER
New Zealand First takes a strong line on Law and Order.
It is a basic right of all New Zealanders to live in a safe society.
New Zealand First believes in safe, secure communities where people and their property are respected and protected.
New Zealand First recognizes that the rights of the victims are paramount,
and that the offender's rights are subordinate to the rights of both the victim and the state.
New Zealand First will:Reintroduce the chargeable offence of being intoxicated and disorderly in public, to include intoxication from the use of drugs whether legal or illicit.
Introduce legislation to ban all criminal gangs, in line with those of several Australian States.
Institute a Castle Doctrine law, empowering New Zealanders to defend themselves and protect their homes and families with all necessary force.
Introduce cumulative sentencing for offenders convicted of more than one crime.
Recognize that Life should mean Life and set a mandatory minimum nonparole period of 40 years for premeditated murder.
Review bail, sentencing and parole laws including recent changes to these laws, in order to address public concerns and expectations.
POLICE
We believe that present level of resourcing for the police is insufficient and numbers of front-line staff too low, to provide adequate safety and security for law-abiding people.
New Zealand should at the very least have parity with Australia in terms of numbers of sworn police staff per capita.
During 2005-2008 New Zealand First brought in an extra 1,000 extra frontline police.
Pay and conditions for police officers and staff should be comparable to those in Australia to reflect the value of the service which police provide to the community and to assist in the recruitment and retention of good police officers in New Zealand.
New Zealand First will:End the use of sole-charge police stations.
We will provide minimum double staffing of all existing sole-charge stations.
Sufficient additional Police will be recruited and trained to meet such requirements.
Put extra police on the beat and more patrol cars on the road, day and night.
End the use of single-staffing of patrol cars on routine and scheduled patrol at night.
We will provide minimum double-manning of all such marked and frontline police vehicles.
Sufficient additional police will be recruited and trained to meet these requirements.
Ensure a clear focus on crime prevention and investigation.
Sufficient numbers of support staff will be employed so frontline officers are not tied up with paperwork.
Officially separate Traffic Police from General Duties Police.
Clarify rules around passing lanes, overtaking, and speed while overtaking.
Exceeding the speed limit for the purposes of executing an overtaking manoeuvre as quickly and safely as possible will be permitted as a defence in the contesting of speeding infringement notices, particularly with regards to passing lanes.
We will ensure the active enforcement of the speed limit for the left-hand lane of a set of passing lanes, and the enforcement of the requirement to use the left-hand lane when not passing unless there are no other vehicles using the passing lanes or attempting to pass.
Provide proper and adequate resourcing for Community Policing, including Māori Wardens, Pasifika Wardens, and Neighbourhood Watch.
Provide fast, easy access for police officers to all the tools and equipment required to do their jobs properly, including firearms as necessary.
Institute active engagement by police with our schools and communities to build trust and to help prevent and solve crime.
Review police pay and conditions with the goal of achieving parity with those in Australia.
BINGE DRINKING
There is an alarming binge drinking and drug culture in New Zealand.
This is causing serious anti-social and harmful behaviour in many communities.
Clearly, the current law is no disincentive.
It does not prevent people from doing harm to themselves or to others.
Without serious penalties there is no reason why things will change.
New Zealand First has drafted legislation to tackle binge drinking and the drug affected.
New Zealand First legislation will make it an offence to be drunk or drug affected in a public place or while trespassing on private property, to a degree that could cause serious harm to themselves or someone else.
This law will provide penalties of up to $2000, or up to three months in prison.
FIREARMS
New Zealand First's firearms policy is based on two important and complementary fundamental principles; firstly, that the public have a right to be protected from those with the potential to misuse firearms.
Secondly, that law-abiding firearms licence holders have the right to use firearms safely and responsibly for hunting, target shooting, recreation, pest control and other lawful purposes.
New Zealand First will:Restore the Lifetime Licence, with an amnesty for lifetime licence holders who did not renew when the licence was changed to a 10 year licence.
Scrap the MSSA classification, but retain the ‘E’ category licence for those permitted to use large capacity magazines.
Establish a separate Firearms Authority independent of the Police, to oversee the implementation and enforcement of firearms-related law.
Restrict the ownership of powerful and realistic replica airguns to FAL holders regardless of age.
Increase minimum strength standards for ‘A’ category gun safes including a requirement for steel construction.
Restore the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting in all gauges.
Provide police with the necessary resources and powers to scrutinize and vet the suitability of individuals to own firearms (including the right to access medical records).
Review the results of Firearm Law Reforms implemented in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Increase penalties (including minimum sentences) for firearm offences including improper possession and improper storage.
Resource increased random inspections of licensees premises to check the security of firearms.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local government, as the exercise of democracy at the local level, is a fundamental part of New Zealand's governmental structures.
However, the nature and scope of its role has changed significantly over time, primarily as central government has continued to devolve increased legislated responsibilities to councils.
New Zealand First will return elected local government to all parts of New Zealand
and oppose any undemocratic forced amalgamations.
New Zealand First believes that the role of local government must be aimed at achieving the best return for ratepayer and taxpayer money.
This must be based on the world-class provision of core local government services,
but with limits on noncore activities which add to the rates burden.
New Zealand First believes the time has arrived to ask the very serious questions of why do we rate, on whom and who benefits from these rates?
New Zealand First will:Build on the recommendations of the 2006 Shand Report, specifically around the drivers of local government expenditure and the various mechanisms for raising funds for local body councils.
Resolve the issues which have emerged since local body councils received the power of general competence.
Conduct a nationwide study into the inter-relationship between regional and local councils and community boards, exploring both their functions and relevance.
Encourage communities of interest to explore the feasibility of merging some local body entities
in the interests of getting better value for money for ratepayers.
Reduce the layers of bureaucracy which have increasingly been superimposed onto local government.
Review the legislative burden that central government has placed on local government and the impact of this on ratepayers, in particular, compliance costs imposed by central government.
Explore options to reduce the rates encumbrance on seniors with a fixed income.
Improve the promotion of the rates rebate scheme,
consider alternatives for the administration of the scheme to improve access and take-up,
annually index both the rates rebate and the income thresholds against average rates increases,
and consider extensions to the eligibility in relation to occupiers of retirement homes, papakainga etc.
Provide local authorities with sufficient powers and incentives to provide more affordable housing options
and to make more land available for housing.
Amend consents process to improve the timely provision of more affordable housing.
Ensure that water supply and waste-water charges levied by a territorial authority OR a council-controlled organization be eligible expenditure within the rates rebate scheme.
Fine tune the local government role in the Resource Management Act (RMA) process (See RMA policy for more detail).
Review the balance between statutory requirements and the discretionary decision-making processes.
Ensure that there is one single voting mechanism across all local authorities be it simple plurality or Single Transferable Vote (STV) to limit voter confusion.
Remove the provision of separate wards based on race in local government.
Establish an explicit programme of work aimed at addressing the entrenched problems associated with the rating of multiple owned Maori land and rates remission bringing together representatives of central government, local government and Māori.
Encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities, and for beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides.
Initiate policies and expectations to restrict rates to 50 per cent of revenue raised by local authorities.
Legislate that local government can only charge rating differentials to businesses if evidence of differential costs can be demonstrated.
Remove GST on rates, and review the rating of schools for sewerage disposal and the proportion of rates spent on roading and consider the removal of 'nonrateable' and '50 per cent rateable' status from Crown and non-Crown land listed in Schedule 1 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 with the exception of the conservation estate, roads, and Parliament and vice-regal residences.
Establish a new Infrastructure Equalization Fund of $100m per annum to assist councils in establishing water supply, waste water, and storm water infrastructure.
Encourage local government to make greater use of debt-funding for long-life assets and thereby reduce potential rates rises.
Enable councils to set their own fees for all regulatory responsibilities on an 'actual and reasonable' cost-recovery basis.
Clarify the status of local government in relation to Genetic Engineering issues and central government regulations of GE.
Integrate emergency services into a single Ministry of Emergency Services.
Civil Defence, Police, Fire, Ambulance will share facilities, stations, radio communication facilities, vehicles and civilian support staff.
Actively discourage local councils from selling off key strategic assets
including pensioner housing.
Develop sustainable national policies on water and air quality,
but with sufficient flexibility to address local circumstances.
Promote the use of the most up-to-date technologies and international experience in tracking water use patterns, thereby ensuring that policy decisions are based on sound science.
Encourage strategies for soil use, which both encourage their economic potential and limit their environmental impact.
Urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience).
Develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas.
Put in place adequate policy frameworks to deal with the issue of contaminated sites.
Ensure that local councils are able to adequately address the issue of aquaculture to ensure the industry is able to flourish within the legislative framework.
Examine the findings of the Royal Commission into the Governance of Auckland and act on recommendations which will lead to better co-ordination and harmonization of planning and development of facilities for the greater region.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT
If New Zealand's economy is to reach its potential
then it must have world-leading planning and resource consent laws.
After 19 years the Resource Management Act (RMA) clearly requires thorough revision to improve processes and procedures,
reduce compliance costs,
clarify expectations and responsibilities,
and to facilitate progress and protection.
Many of the problems that have arisen in relation to the RMA have been about delays in the consent process, costs, consultation requirements and lack of uniformity in how local councils approach the Act.
Therefore the remedy must be threefold: to more strictly define and clarify the processes required to effectively adhere to the Act; to remove many of the obstacles and present frustrations which have unnecessarily become part of these processes;
and to ensure that all affected parties have unhindered access to the consent process.
Changes to the RMA must be balanced against councils' publicly developed longterms plans and must also take cognizance of the substantial body of jurisprudence, as a consequence of the RMA.
New Zealand First will:Further enhance the value of the pre-hearing phase by empowering councils to ensure the attendance of relevant parties,
by requiring that specific and agreed timelines be established,
by ensuring that the necessary evidence be established along with the expertise required,
by requiring that those who facilitate the pre-hearings phase have a comprehensive understanding of the RMA
and, by ensuring that any costs required to change the pace or scope of the process be met by the party requiring that change.
Amend the RMA to require that, at the conclusion of the pre-hearings meeting, only those issues that have been defined as forming the basis of a hearing should be the subject of any further hearing.
Improve the hearings meeting process by requiring that applications be fully completed through a pre-hearings phase with agreed timelines.
Use only those with relevant qualifications and experience, preferably qualified Commissioners, during the hearings.
Conduct hearings in a ‘submitter friendly’ context, including wherever possible, holding hearings local to where the consent is being sought.
Identify vexatious litigants and treat them as such.
Amend the RMA to set out a process allowing the combining of several local body jurisdictions for one consent process in clearly defined circumstances.
Repeal clause 8 of section 2 and remove reference to the 'principles of Treaty of Waitangi' from this legislation.
We note here that in Part 2 of the RMA, where reference is made in clause 6(e) to Maori and their culture and traditions in relation to ‘matters of national importance’, and in clause 7(a) with regard to kaitiakitanga under ‘other matters’, that those issues of most importance to Maori are addressed.
Amend definitions, particularly the terms used in clause 6(e), relating to 'spirituality' which, as a matter of personal conscience, has no place in resource consents.
Whilst sacred sites and other tangible aspects of Maori culture ought to be taken into account in the resource consent process
there must be a thorough revision of consultation requirements.
Require authorities to maintain registers of those sites defined under section 6(e) (subject to further refinement of the definitions) and of recognized Iwi Authorities (or where applicable hapū) and appropriate personnel.
Best practice by local councils suggests that where a constructive dialogue and involvement by local Iwi occurs, both council planning and the RMA process run more smoothly and are less costly.
Those aspects of Maori culture and heritage values in clause 6(e), once they have been satisfactorily defined, and in section 7 will be protected.
Introduce greater certainty, transparency, and accountability and require that payment must always be for services rendered, with all transactions subject to appropriate auditing and accounting practices.
Ensure that the Environment Court is adequately resourced with sufficiently qualified people sitting on the Court.
Whilst noting a recent injection of funding, the resourcing of the Court must be monitored carefully to ensure that lack of resources never again interrupts the smooth running of the consent process.
Ensure that appeals to the High Court may be based on law only, once the facts have been established.
This is indelibly linked to our view that if the prehearing and hearing phases are improved, then the contestability of facts and law are greatly reduced.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
New Zealand First believes in the right of all New Zealanders to responsibly hunt, shoot, fish and enjoy the great outdoors and to take food from the bush, the rivers and the seas.
We support a sensible balance between the often overlapping requirements of outdoor recreational activities and those of industry, farming, conservation, tourism and the environment.
New Zealand First will:Guarantee free access to the conservation estate for all New Zealanders.
Implement properly and adequately resourced ground operations, including trapping and bait stations as a matter of urgent priority as an alternative to aerial 1080 everywhere where ground operations are possible
and at the same time immediately fund public good research into an alternative to aerial 1080 for use in areas where ground operations are not possible.
Continue to support the Game Animal Council formed to oversee the management of specific major game species
Ensure the maintenance of sensible firearms laws and provide active encouragement and support for the continued safe use of firearms in New Zealand.
Ensure the sustainable management and preservation of rivers, waterways, wetlands, and wilderness areas for all users.
Ensure the maintenance of sustainable fishing and guaranteed access for recreational fishers
and the protection of existing game fish species.
Oppose any licensing system for recreational saltwater fishers.
1080
New Zealand First absolutely supports the need to protect our native wildlife from predation by introduced animals such as rats and stoats and we absolutely support the need to protect our cattle and deer herds from Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB).
However we are opposed to the continued use of aerially applied 1080 poison as a means of controlling target animal species with regards to these concerns.
1080 is an inhumane and indiscriminate poison which kills all air-breathing organisms.
It is banned throughout most of the world.
New Zealand currently accounts for some 90 per cent of all 1080 utilised globally.
1080 poses serious risks to the health of New Zealand’s environment and biodiversity, water quality, and international reputation, as well as posing a real danger to the health of people, stock and domestic animals in areas where it is applied.
New Zealand First does not accept the argument that there is no alternative to the use of aerial 1080 for the control of possums and predator pest animals such as rats and stoats in our bush and conservation lands.
We hold serious concerns over the number of native birds and insects which are killed both directly and indirectly through the use of 1080 intended to protect them and we are also concerned that populations of fast-bredding pest animals such as rats regenerate far more quickly than populations of slow-breeding native birds, in areas where aerial 1080 has been applied.
We are concerned that bird repellents included in 1080 baits to date have not proven to be effective.
HUNTING
We hold that game animal species which were once introduced, such as deer, pigs, chamois, tahr, goats and wapiti are now endemic to New Zealand and are best controlled through sustainable hunting.
There is no logical reason to seek to eradicate these animals from our bush
and a powerful argument that to maintain hunting they should be retained as viable ongoing populations.
In addition, New Zealand’s native forests have evolved over time in the presence of browsing by moa.
In the absence of moa our forests are now browsed by introduced animals.
Without browsing, slow growing replacement larger trees will be progressively crowded and shaded out by fast growing undergrowth and over time the forest will die.
Sustainable populations of browsing quadrupeds are essential to the ongoing health and regeneration of our forests.
New Zealand First actively and positively supports hunting these animals and we oppose any moves which may endanger them, overtly or inadvertently.
New Zealand First is not persuaded by assurances on the efficacy of either bird repellent or deer repellent added to 1080 baits, and we do not accept the use of these provably ineffective repellents as a justification for the continued use of aerial 1080.
POSSUMS
New Zealand First regards possum fur as a valuable resource which should be harvested for the good of the nation, providing jobs and export earnings
as part of an overall strategy for the management and protection of our forests and bush as well as farmed cattle and deer.
FISHING
New Zealand First policy on recreational saltwater fishing is covered in detail in the Primary Industries section.
MĀORI AFFAIRS
Māori health status remains considerably lower than that of non-Māori across a range of health indicators including life expectancy.
These are conditions that demand action.
New Zealand First does not accept that any group of New Zealanders should face the prospect of enduring disadvantage.
We must directly address the issues outlined above regarding Māori performance against key social indicators.
Education, good health, sound housing and adequate employment opportunities are the keys to addressing disadvantage.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that all policy-making is based on need and not on race, creed or colour.
Ensure the future of the Maori seats is a decision for the people to make having examined the significant increase in representation numbers of Maori MPs under MMP.
Ensure that all of New Zealand First's gains over many years in the relation to the Māori Women's Welfare League and the Māori Wardens are built on and strengthened and not left vulnerable in relation to ongoing funding.
Establish an explicit programme of work aimed at addressing the entrenched problems associated with the rating of multiple owned Maori land and rates remission bringing together representatives of central government, local government and Māori.
Maintain areas as Zones of High Housing Need (e.g. Northland, East Coast, Eastern Bay of Plenty).
Such zones will have low deposit and low interest provisions made available to them.
Encourage Maori to build houses on collectively owned land.
Direct resources to where they are of the greatest benefit,
recognizing that education and training are the keys to success.
Without it, our citizens are condemned to a narrow range of options and certain failure to reach their potential.
Rather than pour resources into separate development
we should focus on providing high quality education for all our youth,
on the basis of need.
Ensure that Māori and non-Māori alike have access to apprenticeships and skills development thereby ensuring their active participation in a modern technologically driven economy.
Ensure that the role of the Māori Language Commission is focused on actively protecting Māori language and culture,
not under the guise of a Treaty obligation,
but rather because they are the indigenous language and culture of New Zealand.
TREATY OF WAITANGI
In relation to the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand First considers that:The Treaty should be a source of national pride and unity
and not used to expand the separate rights of Maori or anyone else.
Too often the Treaty now divides, polarizes and isolates us.
The Treaty is not part of the New Zealand Constitution.
It is not capable of supporting the extraction of so-called ‘principles’ for any legislative or government purpose.
Ill-defined and abstract ‘principles’ are a recipe for legal and constitutional misunderstanding and dispute.
The Waitangi Tribunal must fully, fairly and finally complete the settlement of all outstanding claims.
New Zealand First believes in the concept of a fair go for all New Zealanders
and this includes settling genuine historical grievances.
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Primary industries remain the backbone of New Zealand’s economy, with farming, fisheries, forestry, horticulture and viticulture directly or indirectly providing three-quarters of our export earnings.
New Zealand First is firmly committed to supporting the primary sector and our heartland communities who create most of our wealth.
Primary production depends not only on crop, livestock and dairy farmers or on orchardists and grape growers, but also on the provincial towns and rural communities which support them.
Fuel, transport, engineering, machinery and equipment, suppliers of work wear and chemical products, stock food, fertilizer, irrigation, and many other vital supplies, as well as workers and their families, are essential to the infrastructure which makes our primary sector possible and viable.
New Zealand First understands first-hand the demands of life in the provinces and the challenges of remoteness which they bring.
We recognize that many things which city people take for granted are not always readily available in rural New Zealand.
Sensible primary production policy must therefore take account of the needs of provincial people who operate in support of farmers and growers,
as well as the direct agricultural sector itself.
This includes workers and contractors in sawmills, freezing works, dairy factories, processing plants and other provincial industries on which the Heartland depends.
New Zealand First will:Introduce a system of Managed Float Control of the exchange rate, as is very successfully employed by Singapore.
This will ensure a certain and equitable trading environment for our producers and exporters.
End land sales to foreign interests and introduce policies to ensure the retention of the farming sector in the ownership of New Zealand resident farmers.
Properly resource government scientific agencies and assistance to industry groups to ensure that Research and Development continues to provide our farmers and other primary producers with a cutting edge advantage over competitors.
Provide assistance to the farming sector in continuing to promote environmental sustainability.
Give full resourcing for Biosecurity at all our ports of entry to protect against potentially devastating pests, diseases and biological organisms.
Provide active support for exporters in gaining fair access to overseas markets and in growing and promoting value-added New Zealand branded products.
Encourage the processing of raw materials in New Zealand rather than exporting them in the form of bulk commodities.
Provide proper and adequate resourcing to provincial road and rail infrastructure to ensure that farmers and other primary producers can easily and efficiently transport stock and produce to processing plants and to air and sea ports.
Recognize and resource vital rural infrastructure such as roads, schools, healthcare, cellphone coverage, reliable electricity supply and broadband.
Commit to supporting the primary sector, and the rural and provincial communities on whom our farmers depend.
Assist the farming sector to continue enhancing environmental sustainability,
and support on-going development of sustainably managed irrigation schemes.
FISHERIES
New Zealand First believes that going fishing is a birthright for New Zealanders.
In addition, our Exclusive Economic Zone, with the fisheries resource it contains, is one of this country’s most valuable assets.
New Zealand First’s Fishing Policy aims to sustainably manage all aspects of saltwater fishing,
to preserve the right and ability of New Zealanders to enjoy sport fishing and to catch food from the ocean,
and to maximize the fishing industry’s returns to New Zealand in terms of jobs, wealth, and export earnings.
The Quota Management System has worked well, but there is still scope for improvement.
New Zealand First’s Fisheries Policy is guided by a small number of simple fundamental drivers which are intended to ensure sustainability, fairness, and maximum return, from the management of our fisheries.
In order to guarantee these outcomes, fisheries management needs to ensure:
Best practice science and stock monitoring in support of sustainable harvest or Total Allowable Catch.
The accurate determination of customary and Recreational Fishers’ actual and reasonable needs, based on reliable surveys, and priority given to recreational and customary fishers’ allowance from maximum sustainable harvest, ahead of any commercial quota allocation.
The determination of the limit of a recreational inshore fishery and the exclusion of trawling and other bulk commercial fishing methods within that determined inshore limit.
The exclusion of all bulk commercial fishing methods from areas of high juvenile abundance and the preservation of existing marine reserves and species protection areas.
Consistent minimum legal size for recreational and commercial fishers and restrictions on commercial net size and type to ensure compliance with those parameters.
The reliable and accurate monitoring of commercial boat operations and locations, and the prohibition of dumping.
That there be no licencing system for recreational saltwater fishers,
and that the status of existing game species is to be preserved.
That all fish caught in New Zealand waters are to be landed and processed in New Zealand.
This includes territorial waters and the EEZ, and applies to local, foreign, and foreign charter vessels.
FISH STOCKS
Sustainable management of our precious marine resources is essential.
Our prime inshore stocks have been under pressure for a long time.
New Zealand First will ensure modern stock targets are set to restore stocks were necessary.
Best practice science and stock monitoring needs to be supported by adequate resources and clear government standards.
RECREATIONAL AND CUSTOMARY NEEDS
One of the most important and fundamental foundations of our society is the right of people to catch food from the wild.
The people of New Zealand and the needs of future generations will come first when setting allowances based on reliable surveys.
No-one wants to deny the commercial fishing industry the right to earn an honest living,
but the fishery belongs to the nation as a whole and the needs of ordinary people must come first.
INSHORE FISHERY
The extent of the inshore fishery will be determined by region through consultation with interest groups, but it is envisaged that in most regions it will typically be to the 12-mile territorial limit.
In some regions a depth limit such as the 100m line may be more appropriate than a distance limit.
This inshore fishery must be the primary preserve of recreational fishers.
Commercial fishers will be compensated for the loss of access to the inshore fishery.
No trawling will be permitted in the inshore fishery
and no commercial catch from the inshore fishery will be allowed to be exported.
Where commercial fishing inshore is required in order to supply local trade (for example coastal set netting for flat fish) this must be only in designated areas and only by approved methods.
BREEDING GROUNDS AND DESIGNATED MARINE RESERVE AND PROTECTION AREAS
To ensure sustainability, fish populations must be allowed to breed without interference.
Areas and seasons when target fish species are spawning must be identified and the risk of disrupting spawning activity assessed and avoided in those areas during those times.
Restrictions on certain types of fishing activities in determined areas will ensure that marine reserves and endangered species are protected.
FISH SIZE
Target fish species must have both a minimum and a maximum allowable catch size determined as necessary and appropriate.
Juvenile fish must be allowed to grow to maturity, and the biggest and oldest fish which are the best breeders must be preserved so that populations can continue to regenerate.
Size limits promote best use of the resource and must be the same for both recreational and commercial fishers.
Modern methods and technologies such as those required by the European Union, including smart nets which allow small fish to escape and restrictions on certain types of nets and certain types of trawling, will be hazed in to minimize the number of under and over-sized fish being caught.
The exclusion of trawling from the inshore fishery will help to ensure that a much greater proportion of fish available to commercial fishers beyond the 12-mile line are above minimum legal size, assisting with selectivity.
MONITORING AND DUMPING
Observers on large fishing vessels will be augmented with video surveillance and GPS monitoring on all commercial fishing vessels, to ensure that quota and regulations are adhered to by commercial fishers.
This will safeguard both the inshore fishery and fish breeding grounds against any potential illegal commercial fishing activity.
Schedule 6 will be abolished and all dumping of fish or parts of fish at sea by commercial fishers will be prohibited, as has been proven to be effective by the highly successful Icelandic fishing industry.
All fish caught must be returned to port, to prevent wastage and to ensure compliance with quota and size regulations.
Commercial fishers will be incentivized as well as regulated to ensure maximum compliance with quota, size and selectivity requirements.
SPORT FISHING AND LICENSING
Fishing is important to a wide cross section of New Zealanders.
New Zealand First will ensure that there will be no saltwater fishing licensing system put in place.
Our sport fisheries will be maintained and promoted as world class.
In addition, the value of the recreational  fishing sector, including sport fishing, to New Zealand, as a source of foreign exchange from across the entire tourism industry and as a measure of economic activity generated by the involvement of more than 25 per cent of the population in recreational fishing needs to be fully realized and maximized.
Suppliers of everything from boats and trailers, to tackle and bait, to accommodation, fuel, charter operations and many other requirements, derive a significant income from the activity of sport fishing.
It is a major contributor to the economics of many coastal towns and communities and must be safeguarded.
LOCAL PROCESSING AND FISHING INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
All fish caught in New Zealand waters, both territorial and the EEZ, by New Zealand, foreign, or Foreign Charter vessels, must be landed in New Zealand and any higher value processing must be carried out in New Zealand.
The greatest part of the value of the fishery is in processed and finished products.
New Zealand First is committed to maximizing the returns to New Zealand industry and the New Zealand economy, by ensuring that jobs are created in this country and that export earnings from this immensely valuable resource deliver as much as is possible to New Zealand.
New Zealand First supports moves to require all vessels fishing in New Zealand territorial and economic zone waters to be New Zealand flagged, and we aim to require and encourage maximum achievable crewing rates by New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.
FORESTRY
New Zealand’s plantation forests are a major store of wealth and a significant source of revenue for our country.
Generations of taxpayers have invested a great deal into growing the forestry sector over many decades, alongside farm foresters and other private entrepreneurs in more recent times.
New Zealand First policy is to maximize the returns to New Zealand as a whole from this vital sector, through employment opportunities, training, ancillary and support industries, processing and manufacturing, and export earnings.
As with any Primary industry, the greatest part of the value of the forestry is not in bulk commodities in the form of raw logs, but rather in the processed products, such as pulp and paper, sawn timber, plywood, particle board, MDF, beams and other laminates.
Manufacturing these products in New Zealand provides the economy with jobs and wages as well as value-added export receipts.
Wood and wood products are sustainable and versatile building materials which are in high demand in world markets, and being lighter and more flexible than concrete or steel, provide a valuable safer option for an earthquake-prone country like New Zealand.
Planting and harvesting a forest is a high value, slow return, long-term investment.
The benefits of this highly sustainable industry to the nation are both tangible and intangible, and include amenity value and direct benefits for tourism.
Forestry and forest products have proven over time to be profitable prior to the presence of a global trade in carbon credits, and New Zealand’s regulatory framework must not work against that profitability in this regard.
We must ensure that replanting harvested forests is not discouraged by adopting internationally-driven climate policies which put New Zealand producers at a material disadvantage, in spite of non-participation in such schemes by competitor nations.
New Zealand First will:Institute a Minimum Domestic Log Price to discourage the export of raw logs.
This will ensure that local sawmills have access to sufficient supplies, and further encourage the processing of timber and wood products in New Zealand.
Implement a regulatory and taxation regime which recognizes the long-term nature of returns from forest plantings, and further incentivises both replanting, and local manufacturing of finished products.
Encourage the use of wood and wood products in building through Buy New Zealand-made for Government procurement, and other initiatives intended to maximize sustainability and returns to the domestic economy.
Maximize New Zealand ownership of forests through restrictions on overseas ownership of lands and cutting rights.
Delay the imposition of any form of Carbon Tax or Emissions Trading Scheme on our primary producers and processors until such time as our major trading partners have implemented their own such measures.
Genetically Modified / Genetically Engineered Organisms
New Zealand First understands that some benefits are made possible by GM/GE procedures which are otherwise unobtainable.
These include medical benefits and the creation of plant strains able to withstand certain environmental conditions or which have resistance to various pests and diseases.
However we do not support the trialling of GM/GE crops or other plants in the field, as there may be downstream consequences which are unknown and irreversible.
GM/GE plants which have been proven safe under controlled conditions may be permitted for proliferation in New Zealand under certain circumstances.
New Zealand First’s approach to GM/GE is therefore to proceed with extreme caution, and only under secure confined laboratory conditions.
RACING
Racing in New Zealand directly and indirectly accounts for well over $1. 6 billion worth of GDP, employs tens of thousands of people, has the potential to rapidly expand its export earnings, and is an integral part of the Kiwi lifestyle.
In 2006, New Zealand First recognised the export potential of the New Zealand breeding industry and the need for improved international marketing,
and achieved a much improved taxation regime through a reduction in totalisator duty and an accelerated write-down regime for bloodstock.
The strongly supported decision to permit racehorses sold for export to remain in New Zealand for up to 24 months without attracting GST was a further fillip to the industry and to the New Zealand economy.
In addition, New Zealand First implemented a policy of internationally competitive stakes for racing codes, and an industry safety plan.
These achievements provided the industry with the momentum to bolster its economic contribution, creating more jobs, more exports, and more income for New Zealand.
Sadly, much of the impetus to revive the racing industry has been lost under the present Government’s neglect.
Also of alarm are recent IRD and Treasury departmental attempts to re-interpret clearly established statutory provisions against the industry’s health and interests.
New Zealand First will:Return a greater proportion of industry taxation to the racing codes.
Introduce a new (below Premier Meeting) category of meeting where every race will be for $15,000 minimum, with relativity across the codes.
Enhance employment and export opportunities by working with the industry to improve the international status of New Zealand Group 1 races to attract greater international interest.
Restore marque racing plans and prize money initiatives in line with New Zealand First policy implementation 2005 –2008
Return New Zealand racing to what it was good at.
Racing needs breeding programmes to re-establish New Zealand as a first tier country in racing.
That means policies assisting importation of quality mares, and properly using the sire cost write down.
Urgently review the operations and costs of the New Zealand Racing Board
Continue to support projects and initiatives, e.g. the Racing Safety Development Fund (a contestable fund of $1. 5 million per annum, matching dollar for dollar contributions from racing clubs) that enhances safety and improves the quality of facilities in the racing industry, including the safety of riders, handlers, spectators, officials and others involved in racing codes,
as well as the health and safety of animals.
Direct IRD and Treasury to respect the spirit of the laws passed to assist racing so we do not have specious departmental interpretations of laws that are clear to the industry.
Further improve the appeal of the racing industry to a wider audience by encouraging the promotion of “family-friendly” activities in conjunction with race meetings in all codes.
Defend the historic, modest share of the racing industry, to lawful gambling proceeds, against unreasonable attacks.
This is a Ten-Point Plan designed to maximise New Zealand's internationally recognised advantage in the development of race horses and to rebuild our country's reputation as a race horse breeding country of most interest to the world.
This plan supports the industry's objectives to increase its economic contribution, creating more jobs, more exports and more income for New Zealand.
SENIOR CITIZENS
New Zealand First is committed to empowering senior citizens to remain independent for as long as they wish.
Our seniors must be treated with respect and not as a burden on society.
We maintain that our treatment of our seniors sends a clear signal of our status as a developed nation.
We know our seniors have a valuable contribution to make to society through their experience and knowledge gained over the years.
This should be viewed as a valuable resource to be utilised.
New Zealand First repealed the surtax on Superannuation,
legislated for New Zealand Superannuation to be 66 per cent of the net average wage
and introduced the SuperGold Card, with benefits and discounts for senior citizens.
We want to broaden the benefits that are available.
New Zealand First will:Keep the age of eligibility for Superannuation at 65, non-contributory entitlement with no means-testing.
Ensure that SuperGold Card holders receive three free doctor’s visits a year.
Promote a ten per cent discount on power bills for SuperGold Card holders during the winter months.
Plan for the future of the eldercare sector and ensure that New Zealand is prepared to care for the older generation.
Enforce national standards for rest homes and home care.
Ensure that adequate funding and direction is put into Alzheimer's, dementia, and osteoporosis research.
Commit to extending the benefits of the SuperGold card.
Revise the mechanism for calculating New Zealand Superannuation to ensure that the minimum base level cannot fall below 66 per cent of the net average wage to redress any financial loss incurred through the application of the current mechanism.
Change the rebate for non-qualified spouse in receipt of New Zealand Superannuation and the 55 plus benefit to bring it into line with the widows and domestic purposes benefit.
Raise the rebate threshold for a non-qualified spouse from $80 per week to $100 and index it to the CPI.
Cement in place the age of entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation at 65 years.
Provide that (on a pro rata basis) receipts of superannuation at a death that is notified will form part of the deceased estate with no requirement for repayment.
Ensure that any new scheme would not affect any person who at the time of introduction was aged 55 years or older and thus maintain certainty for that group currently closest to retirement.
Provide for regular inflation adjustment of benefits (and abatement levels).
Broaden the benefits available to seniors included in the SuperGold Card to include energy and medical benefits.
Support the development of accommodation initiatives for pensioners.
Explore options to reduce the rates encumbrance on seniors.
Further develop a strategy for meeting the health needs of an ageing population.
Assure equity of access to health and disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for older people needing long stay geriatric hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care.
Implement national standards for geriatric home care that are enforced, and require an adequate inspection of rest homes to ensure standards are met.
Review specific 'disability' provisions and rest-home care.
Review the funding of rest home care contracts, particularly in relation to costs imposed by legislative changes which impact on the cost of care.
Ensure that staff ratios in aged residential care facilities are set at appropriate levels for safety and care,
while ensuring staff receive appropriate ongoing training and professional development.
Update the Grant Thornton 2010 report into aged care services
and ensure all future planning with the eldercare industry is done in consultation with all stakeholders.
Put in place a long term planning strategy for the eldercare sector thereby ensuring that the huge cost of the aging population bubble will be adequately planned for.
Smooth the funding pathway between the Ministry of Health and eldercare providers to ensure that the cumbersome negotiations at the DHB level are less intrusive.
Review lottery funding criteria for community transport for seniors groups.
Develop close working relations with seniors' advocacy groups.
Scope the free provision of hearing aids and spectacles to qualifying citizens.
Complete the nationwide network of Elder Abuse and Neglect Co-ordination Services.
Ensure that adequate funding and direction is put into Alzheimer's, dementia, and osteoporosis research.
Ensure that a pilot study is undertaken to provide a formula for the timely provision of operations for cataracts and hip replacements.
Guarantee the maintenance of core hospital services and timely access to acute emergency services.
Ensure that the subsidy paid to elderly in care is automatically adjusted for CPI inflation each year, like New Zealand Superannuation, and ensure DHBs fully pass this funding on.
Incrementally work towards pay parity between eldercare nurses and DBH employed nurses.
Develop a specific Industry Training Organisation for the eldercare sector.
Ensure that planning for the eldercare sector incorporates the capacity for family home carers.
Adequately resource elective surgery and establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment.
Ensure that senior citizens receive greater recognition for the thousands of hours of voluntary service they perform in the community and provide opportunities for paid contributions.
Provide a range of measures in support of the safety and security of all New Zealanders by properly resourcing the police, providing stiffer sentencing, and greater community involvement.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
FAMILY
New Zealand First recognizes that employment is paramount for shifting from dependence to independence
and that our welfare system should not be seen as a hand out but a hand up in time of real need.
The employment of New Zealanders remains a priority.
New Zealand First is committed to ensuring that social policy closes unfair loopholes, provides more social good than harm and is accountable and transparent.
Fairness, justice, timeliness and consistency are the universal principles of state welfare payments.
New Zealand First will:Promote initiatives and schemes that up-skill and train New Zealanders for greater independence from the State.
Continue fighting to protect our social fabric and traditional family values which underpin our society.
This includes opposing the liberalization of laws relating to issues such as prostitution, cannabis and other drug use.
Any changes to these laws must only occur following a comprehensive public debate and a referendum on the relevant issue.
These issues should no longer be decided by a so called ‘conscience vote’ of politicians but by the people upon whom they impact.
Direct government resources to where they are of the greatest benefit
while ensuring they are based on need, not race.
Ensure greater scrutiny of the benefit system for those moving from the unemployment system on to the sickness benefit.
This will include random cross-checking of doctors' recommendations and greater monitoring of Work and Income staff who may recommend such a shift.
Ensure that benefits (and abatement levels) are inflation adjusted.
Legislate to require greater parental responsibility from those receiving benefits and to ensure that social agencies provide the services that help achieve this.
Combine all parent-caregiver support programmes under the umbrella of a single agency.
Ensure the needs of retired New Zealanders are met through a sustainable superannuation scheme.
In giving people certainty (and thus security) such a scheme also gives New Zealand a desperately needed expanded savings base.
Increase funding to Women's Refuge.
Improve and lift living standards for vulnerable families and at-risk children by implementing policies that emphasis equality.
Maximize employment prospects so that fewer New Zealanders travel abroad in search of work.
Provide real opportunities for young people to gain quality education and skills that will enable greater involvement in the economy.
Remove barriers that prevent New Zealanders from accessing social service providers and ensure that these providers are effective.
Remove secondary tax and protect New Zealanders having to work more than one job to make ends meet.
YOUTH AFFAIRS
The path our future takes is often decided in our formative years between the ages of 15-24.
Successful transitions from school to tertiary study, further training and employment are an important part of that process.
Ensuring the labour force has the right mix of skills and knowledge is linked with the country's prosperity.
Young people who are able to fulfil their educational potential have positive social and cultural outcomes.
New Zealand First believes that improving youth participation strengthens community capacity.
Giving young people a place in decision-making builds a broader base of citizen involvement and creates stronger, more inclusive communities.
Youth participation helps to develop active citizenship because it encourages balancing young people's social rights with their responsibilities.
New Zealand First will:Work to remove barriers for internships inside willing businesses that provide opportunities for young people to gain industry standard qualifications without incurring debt and with no cost to business.
Remove charges to sit on-line computerised Driver’s License theory tests until a pass is achieved.
Look to increase resourcing of driving simulators to assist in removing cost barriers for learner drivers as they work towards completing the recommended 120 hours of practical driving.
Alter the culture of the Driving Test providers to one of assisting to create safe young drivers as opposed to a policy of failing young drivers to keep them off the roads.
This is having unintended consequences especially in rural and semi-rural areas.
Minimize the opportunity costs (administration and compliance) and financial barriers for small and medium enterprises to employ apprentices and provide flexibility for provincial and rural New Zealand youth.
Increase funding defence services to expand the provision of Voluntary Cadet Corps as an extra-curricular activity at secondary school.
Increase funding to Careers New Zealand
and work to implement the JK McKenzie trust community link successful trial in more communities.
Remove the so-called ‘Starting out Wage’ that permits young people to be paid below the minimum wage.
Increase the number of Teenage Parents Units to extend opportunities for young mothers to remain in education and gain qualifications within a supportive school and community environment.
Immediately introduce a dollar-for-dollar debt write-off scheme so that graduates in identified areas of workforce demand may trade a year’s worth of debt for each year of paid full-time work in New Zealand in that area.
Review student support systems to ensure that they are adequate to support life-long learning and that they are fit for the purpose of encouraging students to devote themselves to their study free from financial pressures.
Introduce a one year repayment holiday for New Zealand based borrowers upon meeting certain application criteria to give equity with overseas based borrowers.
Review the Student Loan Scheme with a goal of reducing its burden on former students, in particular those on low incomes within the first years of leaving study.
Develop specific enterprise investment programmes to support entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 24.
Provide additional resourcing for youth mental health services with a particular focus on those regions currently without appropriate access to these services.
Promote apprenticeships and internships as a concrete means of addressing youth unemployment, with particular focus in industries where there is a skills shortage.
Introduce greater funding support to organizations such as Family Planning to increase their area of coverage providing advice and assistance at no or minimal cost for youth health issues, including public campaign strategies aimed at youth.
Work alongside youth to better support and resource the current school based civics programme aimed at enhancing national pride and addressing the responsibilities of a New Zealand citizen.
Ensure adequacy and evaluate funding a nationwide Anti-Bullying Campaign and Restorative Justice programme in schools.
Introduce a universal living allowance, which is not subject to parental means testing, as a priority for all full time students.
Immediately review the application of the $62 million announced in the 2013 budget to address Youth Suicide and ensure this money is being spent on face to face solutions and interventions in all geographical areas of New Zealand.
Revise the legal minimum age of marriage to 18 years by removing any exceptions including with parental consent.
Encourage the use of temporary special measures, such as targeted scholarships, to encourage young women and young men into non-traditional industries.
SUPERANNUATION
New Zealand First’s objective is to preserve the entitlement of New Zealanders to retire and receive New Zealand Superannuation (NZS) as it now is with eligibility at 65 years and as a universal non-contributory publicly funded pension scheme with no means-testing.
At 4. 3 net per cent of GDP, NZS is affordable and there is no reason why that should change,
especially if Kiwisaver is made compulsory, and provided some sensible changes are made concerning immigrants and overseas pensions.
New Zealand First’s Superannuation policy responds to:Pressure to raise the age of eligibility above 65 years without considering the social effects of this and the inability of many people to obtain and maintain employment when approaching retirement.
Inaccurate and misleading claims about the financial viability of NZS with its eligibility age at 65 years.
The 65,000 migrants who have entered New Zealand under parent reunification in the last 15 years, who will qualify for NZS after 10 years residence without any requirement to have worked and paid taxes in New Zealand.
Migrants and expatriate New Zealanders who have worked overseas and who have earned overseas pensions, which are currently deducted from their NZS under Section 70 of the Social Security Act 1964.
The unfairness of the current system to New Zealand citizens and taxpayers who have lived and worked in New Zealand their entire lives.
New Zealand First will:Maintain NZS with eligibility at 65 years and as a universal non-contributory publicly funded pension scheme with no means-testing.
Introduce Pro Rata Entitlement (PRE) to New Zealand Superannuation based on residency in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65 (45 years) so that a person with:
Residency of 10 years would get 10/45th of NZS Residency of 25 years would get 25/45th of NZS Residency of 35 years would get 35/45th of NZS
Ensure that all applicants for NZS with overseas pensions will retain their overseas pensions without any deduction from their NZS or from their spouse’s NZS under Section 70 of the Social Security Act 1964.
Bring the labyrinth of bureaucratic complexities and unfairness caused by existing reciprocal agreements with other countries to an end,
and will not interfere with or inquire into the overseas pensions held by applicants for NZS.
Allow New Zealander Superannuitants from the Cook Islands, Tokelau and Niue to keep their pensions should they wish to return home to live on their heritage island.
TOURISM
Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in New Zealand, is a key earner of foreign exchange, and is increasingly becoming a major employer.
New Zealand First recognizes that tourism provides significant opportunities to contribute to economic growth and employment.
This means ensuring that New Zealand is appropriately marketed internationally as a tourist destination,
that access to New Zealand is secured through the increased capacity for airline access
and that the quality of the industry is always improving.
New Zealand First will:Enhance the New Zealand Tourism Board's destination marketing strategies, focusing in particular on adventure tourism, eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
Maximize tourism leverage from major events.
Ensure that maximum benefit can be garnered from complementary activities such as major cultural events, Fashion Week, sporting and other activities for the tourism industry through a more fluid exchange of information and ideas.
Promote New Zealand tourism in both traditional and non-traditional markets to both broaden and deepen the tourism market.
Ensure that Air New Zealand remains in government ownership,
thereby securing the necessary aviation access to New Zealand to grow the tourism industry.
Retain important gateways for tourists such as ports and airports in New Zealand hands.
Treat our tourism industry as an export industry specifically for the application of venture capital funding, research and development incentives, and technology transfer.
Improve the research and statistical collection methods in consultation with major industry players with the aim of a more targeted industry focus.
Continue joint venture tourism marketing projects with stricter guidelines and accountabilities.
Facilitate the development and maintenance of transport and tourism infrastructure.
Encourage internal tourism through a 'see New Zealand first' campaign.
Support regional tourism developments and macro-region initiatives to stimulate economic growth in the provinces.
Promote the development of aviation links with focus on increasing access to New Zealand from Asian and other emerging markets.
TRANSPORT
New Zealand First will ensure development of a comprehensive New Zealand Transport Strategy to guide transport planning and investment,
with the goal of building an integrated transport system which will be cost effective, efficient, safe, secure and future proofed,
and which will be economically socially and environmentally sustainable,
with costs fairly charged to users and others who benefit,
and using positive incentives
as well as supporting regulation
to ensure that New Zealand’s long term transport needs are met.
NEW ZEALAND’S ROADS
New Zealand First will:Not allow our roads to be privatised or corporatised.
See that whole road network is properly maintained so that farmers will be able to get their produce to the ports or processing plants on well-maintained roads,
and so that regional New Zealand does not lose out in favour of the insatiable demands of the main centres.
Balance the roading needs of the main centres with the need to reduce the ever growing dependence on the motorcar.
We will support practical and socially supportive and economically feasible demand management options, including affordable and convenient park and ride facilities, road space prioritisation measures, parking management and pricing incentives and disincentives, and differentiated road pricing options on major arterial routes.
Seek to increase funding for well-designed cycling and walking commuter routes in the cities, and to and from schools and tertiary institutions.
Remove charges to sit on-line computerized Driver’s Licence theory tests until a pass is achieved.
Look to increase resourcing of driving simulators to assist in removing cost barriers for learner drivers as they work towards completing the recommended 120 hours of practical driving.
Alter the culture of the Driving Test providers to one of assisting to create safe young drivers as opposed to a policy of failing young drivers to keep them off the roads which is having unintended consequences especially in rural and semi-rural areas.
ROAD TRANSPORT FUNDING
New Zealand First will:Ensure that all the funds raised through fuel excise taxes and Road User Charges go into the National Land Transport Programme.
Replace Road User Charges with a diesel excise tax for all light diesel vehicles less than 12 tonnes, to be added at the pump in the same manner as for petrol.
Introduce road pricing measures over time, especially for motorways and major arterials, while phasing out fuel taxes where possible, so that the economic viability of the Land Transport Fund is maintained at an adequate level in the long term.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
New Zealand First will:Make excellent quality public transport for people in all major population centres, and in regional areas where there is a need, a major priority.
Seek to encourage the greatest possible use of public transport, especially at peak times, for people to commute to work, to school, to hospitals, and to meet their other transport needs.
Make greater use of the Land Transport Fund and other sources of revenue to ensure that public transport is well resourced.
Subject every major new urban roading project to a requirement that its transport objectives cannot better be achieved partly or wholly through an alternative public transport option or options taking account of regional or national transport strategy criteria as well as a wide range of cost/benefit considerations including externalities and socio-economic considerations, as well as city/district and regional plans.
Light rail, ferries, buses with traffic propriety measures, and off road and on road cycling and walking routes must form a part of these considerations.
Prioritise public transport vehicles and services in favour of electrification over liquid fuel powered vehicles and services, and in favour of high capacity vehicles and services, and in favour of high frequency services at peak times.
ROAD SAFETY
New Zealand First will:Put strong emphasis on driver competence, so that the right to use our roads will be conditional on a higher standard of licensing to be achieved through better driver education and testing, and a good driving record.
Prioritise 200km of median barriers or safety treatments to be implemented on high volume, high speed roads over the next three years.
Require the NZTA to develop a National Safer Cycling Strategy aimed at reducing the number of serious cycling accidents.
Require the NZTA to develop a national strategy for speed limit setting that sets out guidelines for local authorities to follow.
Make it compulsory for repeat drink drivers or offenders caught at a BAC of 1.5+ to have an alcohol interlock installed in their vehicle immediately.
Introduce random saliva-based roadside drug testing.
Introduce safety ratings and safety features of cars being required to be displayed by dealers.
RAILWAYS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
New Zealand First will ensure that none of New Zealand’s railway lines and other strategic railways infrastructure will be privatised.
New Zealand First’s vision includes passenger train services along all rail routes between the main centres, with connecting coach services linking outlying areas or running services between centres which don't have a railway line.
New Zealand First will develop a programme of railways of national importance (RONI) to ensure that better use of our railway network and services is achieved, with improvements and extensions where there is opportunity to significantly reduce dependence on the roading network, especially for heavy freight and bulk freight services, but also where passenger services can be redeveloped to attract sufficient demand over time.
New Zealand First will not require the whole cost of development of new railway tracks and services, and of electric reticulation, to be met by revenue generated by railway service charges.
These will be met by a combination of Land Transport Fund funding and crown grants.
The rail routes listed in the principal policy document would form the basis of the core transport network.
SHIPPING
New Zealand First is committed to the expansion of our Merchant Fleet.
We will provide a favourable fiscal regime for coastal shipping
provided the companies are New Zealand resident, register their vessels here, employ New Zealanders, and commit to officer training.
CIVIL AVIATION
New Zealand First will:Retain the crown investment in Air New Zealand.
Support a transparent process for the establishment of airport pricing by airport companies, and ensure that they maintain a pricing regime which recovers no more than a fair rate of return.
Amend the Commerce Act to entrench 5 yearly reviews of all airport charges to airlines, and to require airport companies to establish a fair rate of return by independent assessment.
Review the CAA’s 2013 increases in charges to pilots and training organizations to ensure that the charges are fair and appropriate.
Ensure that the current subscription based access to MetService meteorological information for General Aviation users is replaced by a service which is free to the users.
VETERANS' AFFAIRS
New Zealand First will consult closely with the Defence Force, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RNZRSA) and other veterans associations to ensure that our veterans are properly recognized for their special contribution to New Zealand’s security.
New Zealand First places great value and recognition on the service given by our veterans.
Our nation has a special obligation to them – particularly those who suffered as a result of their service.
New Zealand First will:Ensure that all military veterans who meet the eligibility criteria receive a veteran’s pension.
Support claims by veterans and their children who have been affected by Agent Orange, nuclear testing and such issues.
Work with the RNZRSA towards providing veterans with a sustainable health care package.
Support the completion of the National Memorial Park in Wellington to be a place which properly recognizes the service and sacrifices of our veterans.
Ensure veterans pensions maintain relativity PLUS an additional 10 per cent in recognition of their sacrifice.
Implement with due speed the recommendations in the Law Commissions review of the War Pensions Act.
Renew full annual government funding to RSA support services to help veterans gain access to health and social services.
Increase the radiation related health conditions listed on the Veteran’s Affairs Presumptive List, to include all cancers.
Māori Party Kaupapa Here - Policy Direction for Election 2014
Whānau Ora -creating opportunities for whānau to determine their own pathways
Whānau Ora is an holistic approach that lays the foundations for the kaupapa of the Māori Party.
In 2010 we launched the Whānau Ora approach so that whānau and families could be empowered to take back control of their own lives and make decisions for themselves.
Whānau Ora is making a difference in the lives of our whānau and families.
The Whānau Ora approach requires agencies to work together in an holistic way enabling familes to make life changing choices
and ensuring access to any support and services needed to make those changes.
Our Co-leader, Tariana Turia, was appointed Minister for Whānau Ora
and funding was managed through Te Puni Kōkiri.
The agency worked with Whānau Ora providers and collectives to establish networks with a range of health and social service organisations and government agencies.
Now three Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies will manage the distribution of funding to providers and collectives.
The Māori Party views Whānau Ora as a key priority for government.
The future
Whānau Ora is about self-determination and independence.
It is about our health -our homes and communities -our schools and the prospect of jobs.
The future of our families lies in our own hands - that’s Whānau Ora.
Whānau Ora is a holistic approach that enables whānau and families to take back control of their own lives and make decisions for them.
Whānau Ora is about self-determination and independence.
It is about our health - our homes and communities - our schools and the prospect of jobs.
The Whānau Ora approach requires agencies to work together in an integrated way
enabling families to make life-changing choices
and ensuring access to any support and services needed to make those changes.
We will build whānau capability through the three commissioning agencies - Te Pou Matakana, Pasifika Futures and Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu.
Going Forward
Whānau Ora Approach
The Māori Party will:negotiate increased support and investment to ensure Whānau Ora remains a key government priority
establish the Whānau Ora Partnership Group -bringing together iwi and stakeholder Ministers in a partnership group to provide strategic overview of how best to advance Whānau Ora outcomes
increase opportunities for Whānau Ora commissioning in a broader range of portfolios across government agencies (e.g. Whānau Ora has previously been supported in health, Māori Affairs, social development.
We would like to see the Whānau Ora approach supported more by education, justice, housing and other portfolios).
formalise ongoing commitment to evaluate, monitor and review development within Whānau Ora by an independent agency.
invest in the creation of 300 Navigator positions to be available for hapū and iwi, Pasifika church communities and migrant collectives.
Whānau Ora Initiatives
The Māori Party will:reconvene the Ministerial Committee on Poverty and review progress on implementation of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty in the first 100 days of the new Government including establishing specific poverty reduction targets
provide ongoing funding of He Pūnanga Haumaru (prevention of bullying)
and Te Rā o Waka Hourua (Māori and Pasifika suicide prevention initiatives)
and to invest in small scale whānau innovation
support financial literacy and budgeting capability programmes for whānau, as well as expanding the micro-financing model introduced in Budget 2013.
apply the investment approach to the Family Tax Credit, to target more support where is matters most – for younger children and larger families.
resource community groups to proactively address homelessness and the needs of people who are most vulnerable, and
engage with whānau living in Australia to look at ways in which they can be supported to achieve their aspirations.
Building on the gains since 2008
As partner in Government, the Māori Party has:created a new Ministerial role and appointed Māori Party Co-leader, Tariana Turia, Minister for Whānau Ora.
The funding for Whānau Ora was managed through Te Puni Kōkiri.
Te Puni Kōkiri worked with Whānau Ora providers and collectives to establish networks with a range of health and social service organisations and government agencies.
invested another $30 million in Whānau Ora in Budget 2011 adding to the $134 million over four years.
In addition in Budget 2014 another $15m was invested in being able to ensure whanau could access Whanau Ora Navigators.
since its inception in 2010, focused on the Government’s investment in Whānau Ora on achieving outcomes for 8916 whānau and families, made up of 41952 individuals, through service and organisational transformation, and whānau integration, innovation and engagement.
established ten Whānau Ora Regional Leadership Groups around the country to provide strategic leadership
established three Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies to manage the distribution of funding to providers and collective - Te Pou Matakana, Pasifika Futures and Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu.
initiated Te Pūnanga Haumaru in 2012 through a community action fund ($2.8 million pa) to build community capability to lead social change regional hui and online resources
in Budget 2012, secured $8 million over the next four years to support communities to work together and develop their own solutions to suicide, and access informed advice and support to implement local community action plans ( Waka Hourua).
References
Whānau Ora research, toolkits, resources and researchers as well as whānau success stories are being showcased www.whanauoraresearch.co.nz
The Māori Party recognises eliminating family violence is a priority for Whānau Ora.
We have a separate Family Violence policy which you can view online at www.maoriparty.org /policies/family-violence
Environment Policy
Water is a taonga and we must do everything we can to protect its quality and vitality and ensure its availability for all New Zealanders.
He taonga te wai.
Me kaha tātau ki te tiaki te mana me te mauri o te wai kia wātea ai ki ngā tāngata katoa o Aotearoa.
Going Forward
Water – Te Mana o Te Wai
The Māori Party established Te Mana o Te Wai - the health and well-being of our water - as a driving policy for freshwater management.
The three elements of Te Mana o Te Wai are:te hauora o te wai – the health and mauri (quality and vitality) of water
te hauora o taiao – the health and mauri of the environment and
te hauora o te tangata - the health and mauri of the people.
The Māori Party will:ensure that Te Mana o Te Wai remains as the overarching objective for freshwater management
introduce legislation that gives the status of taonga to freshwater including safer targets for water where food is gathered and where we swim
ensure that communities are able to restore their local freshwater bodies through initiatives such as planting riparian buffers to protect waterways and establishing wetlands through the Te Mana o Te Wai Fund
prioritise action to counter the effects of pollution caused by nitrogen and phosphorus that are leaching into our waterways
support funding for the capturing of rainfall and better clean water storage systems, and
continue to lobby Government to ensure that the Resource Management Act protects te mana o te wai.
Kaitiakitanga – Reviving the role of kaitiaki for whānau, hapū and iwi
As Māori we have a role as kaitiaki of our natural resources based on the spiritual and cultural relationship we have always had with the environment.
Māori therefore have a crucial role in the management of these resources including our rivers, mountains and national parks.
It is our responsibility and right to protect, restore and enhance the environment.
The Māori Party will:redirect resources in the Department of Conservation to restore the role of kaitiaki for whānau, hapū and iwi
continue to support iwi to demonstrate their role as kaitiaki in their tribal regions
promote robust consultation with mana whenua for all oil and mineral exploration permits
introduce tax breaks for renewable energy research institutions and businesses
enhance biodiversity within the marine area
and prevent the extinction of the Māui dolphin and other marine species
Environment Policy (cont.)
Going Forward (cont.)
promote transition from net setting and trawling to more selective sustainable fishing methods
retain the management of recreational fishing outside the Quota Management System.
Climate Change Solutions
The Māori Party recognises the urgency in establishing alternative sources of energy that are environmentally friendly and do not depend on fossil fuels.
The Maōri Party will:promote innovative ways to support the development of alternate fuel from raw materials
develop a trial with the Māori Centre of Research Excellence and the Government to test viability of a locally focused alternative fuels project
develop grants to fund Generation Zero mentors to support whānau to develop alternative energy sources
champion solar panels for government agencies, hospitals and schools.
subsidize solar heating and expansion of energy hubs for rural communities
establish whānau friendly cities
encouraging young people to have a voice in the design and planning of their cities starting with green spaces in urban centres
create more kura taiao and enviro-schools
support a proposal that will see the planting of 100,000 hectares of new forests over the next 10 years
WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED SO FAR
As a partner Government, the Māori Party has:secured $5 million over two years for Te Mana o Te Wai for restoration of waterways in Budget 2014
restored funding to the value of $12.45 million over three years starting 2015 for the Māori Centre of Research Excellence in Budget 2014 to cover a wide range of research projects
secured $5 million over the next two years for Māori Science and Innovation to develop the potential of Maōri people, resources and knowledge in Budget 2014.
supported the development of kura taiao – enviroschools programmes including the Te Aho Tū Roa network which now includes 960 schools, kura and early childhood centres with a combined roll of 250,000 students.
supported iwi to have their role of kaitiaki acknowledged and formalised in their Treaty settlements.
Education Policy
Education should be driven by whānau aspirations
so that learning is meaningful, relevant and creates a foundation for self-determination, entrepreneurial skills and opportunities for a positive future.
Going Forward
Early Childhood
■  increase access to kōhanga reo and universal early childhood education by increasing free 20 hours to 30 hours
Compulsory Schooling
provide free after-school care for children at primary school level up to 10 hours per week
establish ten experiential learning pilots in Māori medium and general education schools, to grow entrepreneurial skills
maintain ongoing investment in Computers in Homes, Reading Together, iPads in Schools, Tataiako (Cultural Competency)
ensure Māori histories will be a compulsory component of the curriculum, designed and delivered jointly with mana whenua.
introduce civics education as a compulsory area of learning,
including the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
we will promote the concept of self-managing schools which focus on whānau achievement and success
invest in opportunities to migrate Māori educational content into the digital environment (te reo versions of digital publications and books re-versioned in a Māori framework)
integrate Kickstart Breakfasts fully into the school system, and introduce Food for Thought in all decile 1-4 schools.
ensure Mātauranga Māori to be one of the National Science Challenge priorities
implement ‘first language first’ policy in literacy instruction and learning for Pasefika students; a bilingualism – biliteracy position where skills and knowledge can later be transferred to English.
provide further support for the implementation of Te Aho Matua in Kura Kaupapa Māori
Adult and Community Education
■  increase adult literacy programmes to include community-based whānau literacy programmes which address the literacy needs of adult caregivers while providing them opportunity to support child learning
Education Policy (cont.)
Going Forward (cont.)
■ create learning hubs that target whānau engagement in learning and stimulate whānau members’ curiosity and knowledge acquisition.
■ establish ten more High Tech Youth Networks (formerly known as Computer Clubhouse) as a vehicle for whānau to create technological capability
■ help whānau to create their own teaching and learning models
■ increase the wānanga cap from three to five,
and support them with standalone legislation which requires mana whenua and Māori stakeholders to be part of the review and monitoring processes.
Building on the gains since 2008
As partner in Government, the Māori Party has:negotiated 20 hours free early childhood education to all kōhanga reo from 1 July 2010
reinstated funding for Enviroschools and Te Aho Turoa (the Maori-immersion approach) in 2012
launched a new education initiative to support and strengthen the teaching of Māori history in Years 1-13 in schools and kura, Te Takanga o te Wā.
expanded the Reading Together Programme, a research-based programme that helps parents to support their children’s reading at home which is now available in all decile one to four schools (Budget 2014 announced an extra $2.4 million of operating funding over the next four years).
announced the establishment of a new Year 1-13 designated character school for Christchurch, Te Pā o Rākaihautū,
which will have a designated character that offers a place-based curriculum for the 21st century founded on tikanga and te reo Māori.
announced 265 Teach NZ scholarships for trainees for Māori-medium education and secondary te reo Māori.
This package of scholarships, worth $4.7 million over four years, helps to strengthen Māori-immersion education
and supports the Māori language strategy.
announced 30 new scholarships to attract highly talented Māori and Pasifika candidates into teacher education from 2014
and $12 million of operating funding over four years to fund a programme to support new teachers in Māori immersion education
announced Puawaitanga scholarships to provide financial assistance to cover all boarding and school fees of an individual student for their chosen school
launched the Te Aho Matua curriculum for Kura Kaupapa Māori
secured funding of $1.5 million to archive precious Māori language broadcasting content in line with best industry practice
increased the operational funding for iwi stations nationwide by $13.5 million over the next four years
secured $30 million funding for Māori ICT Development Fund to support Māori economic development
and te reo Māori and culture.
Tertiary education Policy
Tertiary education should be accessible to all whānau.
It should provide opportunities for students to acquire skills and knowledge that can be used to their economic, social and cultural advantage.
The tertiary sector in Aotearoa should be learner-centred and whānau-driven.
Me whai huarahi ngā whānau katoa ki te mātauranga matua.
Me tuku huarahi e whiwhi mātauranga ai e whiwhi pūkenga ai ngā tauira katoa hei oranga ā-ohanga, ā-hapori, ā-ahurea hoki.
Me noho te tauira ki te manawa o te rāngai mātauranga matua o Aotearoa, me urupare anō hoki ki ngā hiahia me ngā wawata o te whānau.
Going Forward
The Māori Party will:develop a four year zero fee scholarship to target the “First in Whānau to engage in a Bachelor level qualification” programme
amend the Education Act 1989 to reflect a definition of education that promotes and is consistent with the principle of lifelong learning
lift the cap on the number of students able to take level one to four programmes (foundational and trade training level programmes) in Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs)
ensure ITPs develop key performance indicators to ensure that training provided at ITPs aligns with industry demand
increase the wānanga cap from three to five,
and support them with stand-alone legislation which requires mana whenua and Māori stakeholders to be part of the review and monitoring processes.
reinstate student allowances for post-graduate students (scrapped in 2012)
support a universal student allowance
provide free public transport for students
retain interest-free loans
reduce the repayment levels on a student loan starting at 4% ($40,000), 6% ($50,000) and 8% (for $60,000 and over).
The current rate is 12% ($19,080).
investigate the viability of writing off student loans for students who work in a job equivalent to their qualification for more than five years
repeal the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Act 2011 which undermines the student voice and find a more workable solution
support strong representation of tertiary students particularly Māori tertiary students at local, regional, national and international levels
establish a biennial tertiary summit for students, and relevant ministers (Education, Māori Affairs, Science and Innovation) to collaborate on student achievement.
Tertiary Education Policy (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008
As partner of the Government, the Māori Party has:secured 3000 Māori and Pasifika trade training placements per annum with zero fees for the next four years (the Māori Party plans to double this number to 6000)
provided 350 cadetships for unemployed Māori in which employers recruit, train, mentor and provider at least six months’ paid employment to Māori cadets.
secured $12.45 million to establish a Māori-focused Centre of Research Excellence that will produce research beneficial to whānau, hapū and iwi
supported the retention of interest-free loans
advocated on behalf of tertiary students including referring the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill to the Waitangi Tribunal before it was passed in 2011
supported strong representation of tertiary students in particular Māori tertiary students at local, regional, national and international levels.
HEALTH Policy
The Māori Party health policy is focused on creating and enabling wellness.
Hauora embraces the physical health, mental health and spiritual health of an individual, their whānau, hapū and iwi.
Going Forward Going Forward
The Māori Party will build on the gains made by:supporting families to grow their own gardens (maara kai) and harvest other natural foods such as kai o te awa (freshwater food) and kaimoana (seafood)
revisiting the scrapping of GST on healthy foods such as fruit and vegetables.
investigating introduction of tax of sugar-sweetened beverages
increasing the number of bariatric (weight reduction) surgeries to at least 1000 per annum to address obesity, heart disease and diabetes
reviewing the Health Act to ensure implementation of rongoā Māori
increasing the number of kaupapa Māori Youth and Whānau services that address alcohol and drug addiction and mental health
advocating for free GP visits and free prescriptions for children aged under 18 years
increasing the investment in rheumatic fever such as insulating low income homes, ensuring Housing NZ homes have a bach or extra rooms to address over-crowding and reduce power bills by 50 percent for whānau who have rheumatic fever
initiating a door-knocking campaign to educate aiga on the causes of rheumatic fever and other skin diseases
prioritising oral health including instigating an annual health check for low income families and advocating for free dental care for all students and community service card holders
extending the pathways to Smoke-free Aotearoa by 2025 Innovation Fund to fund innovative projects to help reach the Government’s goal of being Smoke-free by 2025
completing the introduction of plain packaging legislation
and introduce a promotion campaign to prevent smoking in cars with children
establish a health workforce project for pay parity to retain Māori nurses in iwi providers
and review the work conditions, pay and training opportunities for those working in the aged care, disability and home care sector
investigating a co-management model for Māori statutory representatives on DHBs to increase their influence.
New DHB representatives to be appointed by Minister responsible for Māori Health
supporting the move for all ambulatory services to be managed by nongovernment agencies
investing in enabling disabled people and their whānau, more choice, control and flexibility over supports and funding in their everyday lives
reviewing the appeal process for ethics committee decisions, established out of the recommendations made from the Cervival Screening Inquiry 2011.
Health Policy (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:secured $90 million 2014 to provide free GP visits and free prescriptions for children aged under 13 years
secured $65.3 million for rheumatic fever prevention and treatment since 2010
secured $18 million since 2010 to ensure the funding of 300 bariatric (weight reduction) surgeries per year until 2018.
secured $10 million to fund Māori sporting and cultural activities, and capacity development
and support for sports and cultural bodies in 2014
Budget called “Moving the Māori Nation”
secured $10 million in 2014 to ensure children are enrolled with their free local dental service and that they are supported to develop and maintain good oral hygiene
responded to the Maori Affairs Select Committee Report, which introduces the goal of a smoke-free Aotearoa/New Zealand by 2025
supported the passing of the Smoke-free Environment (Controls and Enforcement) Act 2012, meaning tobacco products were banned from being displayed in all shops.
lobbied for 25.4 percent tobacco tax increase on loose tobacco in May 2010 and a 10 percent increase on factory made cigarettes in 2010, as well as excise rises of 10 percent at the beginning of 2011 and 2012.
In October 2012, legislation was passed to bring a series of four annual 10 percent rises in tobacco excise.
secured $20m in 2012 to fund innovative projects to help reach the Government’s goal of being Smoke-free by 2025
secured $3.1 million to assist New Zealand Customs Service to implement a new rule that wills see the number of permitted cigarettes allowed in to New Zealand reduced from 200 to 50
introduced a new model for disability support services in 2010.
The new model focused on giving disabled people and their whānau more choice, control and flexibility over support services and funding in their everyday lives.
launched Faiva Ora -National Pasifika Disability Plan 2014-2016 in October 2010
launched Whaia Te Ao Marama Māori Disability Action Plan in October 2012
secured $20 million over four years in 2009 for the Te Ao Auahatanga Māori Health Innovation Fund
secured $6 million over four years for a Pacific Innovation Fund in 2013 to improve the health of Pasifika people
by supporting them to develop Pasifika solutions to the issues they face as distinct communities
secured $4.5 million for Pasifika Health Provider Development aimed at strengthening providers to deliver primary care services to their local population
launched ‘Ala Mo’ui Pathways to Pacific Health and Wellbeing 2014-2018 in July 2013
supported the review on National Cervical Screening Programme Parliamentary Report.
Enabling Good Lives
Disability Policy
We will invest in enabling disabled people and their whānau, more choices, control and flexibility over supports and funding in their everyday lives.
Whānau need to know that government supports them to care for their own.
Going Forward
The Māori Party will:extend the Enabling Good Lives approach nationwide, with associated investment in Thinking Differently, Individualised Funding and Supported Living
ensure baseline funding is provided for the Independent Monitors of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability
provide targeted funding to the Convention Coalition Monitoring Group
we will review the work conditions, pay and training opportunities for those working in the aged care, disability and home care sector.
repeal the sections of the NZ Public Health and Disability Amendment Act which limit the circumstances in which family members can be paid as caregivers
develop the policy interventions that will ensure agencies and families are able to respond appropriately to abuse and violence directed at disabled persons
develop a work plan and roll it out nationally to address barriers to accessibility particularly with respect to buildings, transport, education and housing.
establish an annual Disability Summit to commit to dedicated employment opportunities for disabled persons
establish sustainable funding to build on the Vocational Services (Very High Needs Scheme) announced in Budget 2014
promote captioning across media to ensure that disabled people can access information and communications on an equal basis with others
investigate ongoing investment in an online platform for access to information on disability issues
commit funding for training of sign language interpreters
create incentives to invest in marae accessibility.
Enabling Good Lives
Disability Policy (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:established the Ministerial Committee on Disability Issues to improve leadership, coordination and accountability across government (2009)
in conjunction with Disabled People’s Organisations, co-designed a new Disability Action Plan.
The Disability Action Plan 2014-2018 provides a framework focused on increasing access, transforming disability support, promoting employment and ensuring personal safety.
established an Independent Monitoring Mechanism including the Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Convention Coalition Monitoring Group of Disabled People’s Organisations
advocated for the first dedicated Human Rights Commissioner responsible for disability issues (2011)
submitted the first New Zealand report to the UN on implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2011)
invested in Budgets 2010 and 2013 in supporting Lifetime Design to make homes accessible
introduced Video Remote Interpreting to improve access for Deaf people
agreed to establish the NZ Sign Language Advisory Board
created the Enabling Good Lives approach to supporting disabled people as a long-term direction for change to the disability support system and announced demonstration pilots in Christchurch and Waikato
introduced the Think Differently campaign to promote positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people, with the Making a Difference Fund
invested in Be.Accessible to promote accessibility of the physical environment and communication.
Economic development Policy
“He kai kei aku ringa” tā mātau moemoeā mō the whanaketanga ā-ohanga o te iwi Māori.
E hiahia ana mātau kia ngākau hihiko ngā whānau, ngā hapū, ngā iwi me ngā whakahaere Māori ki te kimi huarahi e āta whanake ai ā rātau rauemi (ā-tangata, ā-taiao hoki) mō te wā roa.
Mā reira e kaha ake ai te ohanga Māori.
Ki tā mātau titiro, me mana e te Kāwana te whānau me te tohu Māori Inc. ki te whakatipu ohanga.
Our vision for Māori economic development is “He kai kei aku ringa”
“Within my hands I have the means to sustain myself ”.
We want whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori enterprises to actively seek opportunities to sustainably develop their own resources (human and natural) to improve Māori economic performance.
We see whānau and Māori Inc being empowered to create economic growth, enabled by Government.
Going Forward
The Māori Party is committed to implementing the Māori Economic Development Strategy “He Kai Kei Aku Ringa”.
Key goals in the Māori Economic Development Action Plan (2012-2017) are:
A. greater educational participation and performance
B.  skilled and successful workforce
C.  increased financial literacy and savings
D.  government in partnership with Māori, enables growth
E.  active discussions about the development of natural resources
F.  Māori Inc. as a driver of economic growth.
These goals are strongly connected to the Māori Party’s employment, education (compulsory), tertiary education, Whānau Ora and environment policies.
Other key policies include:providing ongoing funding for research and innovation so Māori businesses can offer higher end products and services
advocating for a Māori Trade Expert Desk in New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) that protects the integrity of the Māori Inc. brand
ensuring NZTE has Māori representation in all of their national and international offices
creating a network of champions for the Māori economy to find opportunities to maximise collaboration, scale and commercial development.
supporting Māori business mentoring programmes
supporting existing whānau, small and medium Māori enterprises to grow.
implementing a one-off exemption on Māori land ratings to enable unproductive land to be developed
expanding financial literacy programmes targeting Māori.
Economic develoment Policy (cont.)
Gains made since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:secured $8 million to a fund to support Māori Innovation and investment readiness
secured $30 million for a Māori ICT Fund to support Māori economic development and Māori language and culture in the ICT sector
secured $6 million to enable New Zealand Māori Tourism to continue operating
established a Māori Economic Taskforce
commissioned BERL to do an independent report on the value of the Māori economy which it estimated to be worth around $37 billion in 2011
completed the Māori Economic Development Strategy “He Kai Kei Aku Ringa”
secured significant Māori participation in the Rugby World Cup 2011
secured funding for Waka Māori to showcase Māori culture during the Rugby World Cup 2011 and the America’s Cup in San Francisco in 2013
supported a review of the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1983 so Māori land owners can make better use of their land
secured 20 percent Māori interests in aquaculture fisheries
secured $1 million for a Māori-Chinese stage production “Xin and Tāne” to develop cultural and economic relationships between New Zealand and China
facilitated trade missions for Māori enterprises to China, Malaysia and Chile.
Housing Policy he whare āhuru he oranga tāngata
Whānau, hapū and iwi should be able to acquire warm, safe and dry housing so they can flourish in their community wherever that might be.
He Whare āhuru He Oranga Tāngata recognises the economic opportunities in housing by working together in partnership to help address social housing needs.
The Māori Party will:make Warrant of Fitness compulsory for all rental properties within three years
allow whānau to capitalise their family support allowance as a deposit for a home
establish a Māori Partnership Group in the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment to advance housing opportunities for Māori as part of He Whare Ahuru He Oranga Tāngata Māori Housing Strategy
transfer state housing to hapū and iwi
increase the number of homes to be insulated every year ( Warm up NZ Healthy homes has a target of 46,000 low income homes by 2015/16).
support sustainable housing schemes on Māori land
reduce the number of substandard rural homes through the Rural Regeneration Fund
and increase uptake of Kāinga Whenua loans for home ownership
increase the number of qualified Māori in construction through trade training
provide support to Māori organisations to register as community housing providers
Housing Policy he whare āhuru he oranga tāngata (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:launched He Whare Āhuru He Oranga Tāngata – The Māori Housing Strategy – a long-term strategy to improve Māori housing and respond to the housing aspirations of whānau, hapū and iwi.
secured $16m for a Māori housing fund to support the repairs and rebuild of rural housing, housing on the Chatham Islands and the development of Māori social housing providers (Budget 2014)
secured $12 million over four years for Māori organisations to assist with the infrastructure work required for new greenfield development on their ancestral land (Budget 2014)
introduced new criteria for Kāinga Whenua loans, to make building on multiple-owned Māori land easier (Dec 2012)
provided funding for social housing including kaumatua flats
secured Social Housing Unit (SHU) funding for Māori and rural segments, from the $37.35 million Social Housing Fund.
supported new social housing funding to Māori and rural whānau with housing challenges in Northland and the East Coast.
Whānau as the catalyst to prevent family violence
It is estimated that family violence costs New Zealand $8 billion per year.
The social and cultural costs are even greater.
Going Forward
The Māori Party has pledged a commitment to the provision of adequate and sustainable funding for domestic violence services, which is immediately accessible by survivors of domestic violence as well as to enable prevention of family violence.
The Māori Party will:Continue to support the strategy introduced by Associate Minister of Social Development Tariana Turia, Achieving Intergenerational Change which is about addressing violence issues that families face
and weaving the strands of work together into an integrated, cohesive approach to ensure people are given the support they need to turn their lives around.
introduce a direct resourcing pathway that expands E Tū Whānau and the Pasifika Proud campaigns
seek to introduce new legislation (the Prevention and Protection from Family Violence Act) reflecting the view of the Government and the community that family violence/domestic violence in all its forms is unacceptable and is an intolerable violation of human rights
push for the prevention of and response to family violence as a stated Government priority, with two Cabinet Ministers sharing responsibility and with one of those Ministers being the Minister of Finance
invest funding in frontline services at Women’s Refuges throughout Aotearoa to enable them to address the huge numbers of police callouts
enable sustainable funding for specialist services to continue to provide information, first response and long-term support and treatment for those affected by sexual violence.
want to see a much greater commitment into migrant and refugee services to provide culturally competent services to their own communities
want to see a much greater commitment from ACC into responding to the deep impacts of sexual and domestic violence
Achieving Intergenerational Change is an over-arching, whole-of-Government approach that will include a suite of activity to strengthen the family violence system, and build on existing initiatives that are making a real impact in communities.
Whānau as the catalyst to prevent family violence (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:supported the E Tū Whānau principles and framework which empowers whānau, hapū and iwi to respond to family violence by identifying solutions and implementing them.
The focus is on Māori-led solutions grounded in tikanga and based on whānau strength; responsibility and accountability for positive change – from iwi, government and Whānau; and community discussion and action, led and modelled by Kahukura (community thought leaders);
supported the Pasefika Proud principles and framework which encourages and supports Pacific communities to take ownership of the issue of family violence
supported the It’s not OK campaign which has been successful in raising attention to the issue of family violence and preventing violence.
The It’s not OK campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviour that tolerate any kind of family violence, and encourages and supports New Zealanders to seek help
Employment Policy
Whānau aspire to be self-reliant
so creating a range of job opportunities and implementing a living wage are critical steps in realising this aspiration.
E whai ana ngā whānau
ki te tū motuhake nā reira mā te hanga i te huinga o ngā tūranga mahi me te whakamana i te utu ora nei e ea ai te wawata.
Going Forward
The Māori Party will:build on the gains made by doubling Māori and Pasifika Trade Training from 3000 to 6000 placements per annum
secure $2.5 million per annum for 250 Māori Affairs cadetships for unemployed Māori
create an annual Ministerial Summit on the Māori economy to advance the Māori Economic Strategy
introduce a living wage of $18.80 per hour
establish a working party to calculate tax credits for people who make regular contributions to our economy through volunteering, unpaid or community work.
Creating real jobs since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:secured 3000 Māori and Pasifika Trade Training placements
invested in sustainable partnerships with iwi, industry and training providers to identify employment opportunities
and education pathways
trialed and secured the funding of the highly successful Māori Affairs cadetships for unemployed Māori
supported Community Max -a $40 million work-place scheme targeting 16 to 24 year olds in partnership with local councils, iwi, Pasifika groups and the Mayors’ Taskforce.
Employment Policy (cont.)
Creating real jobs since 2008 (cont.)
completed a stock-take of the Māori economy which is estimated to be worth $37 billion and growing
developed a Māori Economic Strategy to advance Māori business growth
and create real jobs
supported an increase in the minimum wage to $14.25 per hour
Outcomes for Māori
Trade Training schemes, like He Toki ki te Rika in Christchurch, are producing fantastic results.
Graduates are in paid employment or undertaking further study.
Partnerships between iwi, industry and training providers are “game changers” resulting in industry and training providers reviewing the way they work with Māori.
96 percent of the graduates from the Māori Affairs cadetship programme have remained in paid employment or gone on to further studies.
The Māori Economic Strategy, He Kai Kei Aku Ringa, provides a longterm plan for maximising Māori potential
including creating more real jobs.
The Māori unemployment rate (11 percent) is the lowest it has been for seven years.
Te Reo Māori Policy
Te reo Māori is the window to the Māori world.
Whānau, hapū and iwi have a critical role in leading its revival.
The Crown has an ongoing responsibility to protect and promote te reo Māori as a taonga and as an official language of Aotearoa.
Everyone living in Aotearoa should be encouraged to learn and speak te reo Māori.
Ko te reo Māori te matapihi ki te ao Māori.
He wāhanga matua tō te whānau, tō te hapū, tō te iwi ki te ārahi i te whakarauoranga o te reo Māori.
Ka noho haepapa tonu te Karauna ki te tiaki, ki te whaktairanga anō hoki i te reo Māori hei taonga, hei reo mana o Aotearoa.
Me whai wāhi ngā tāngata katoa e noho nei ki Aotearoa ki te ako, ki te kōrero anō hoki i te reo Māori.
Going Forward
The Māori Party will:support the passing of the Māori Language (Te Reo Māori) Bill.
The Bill will give an independent entity, Te Mātāwai the authority to drive the Māori Language Strategy on behalf of iwi, hapū and Māori.
make te reo Māori compulsorily available in all early childhood centres, primary and secondary schools
support fees-free reo programmes for whānau and communities
increase funding for Māori language teacher trainees
continue to support the development of Māori medium education from kōhanga reo/puna reo to wānanga
establish a Reo Centre of Excellence focused on language research priorities including language acquisition and professional development for teachers.
Building on the gains  since 2008
As partner in Government, the Māori Party has:released a new Māori Language Strategy in July 2014 that recognises the leadership required to revitalise the language rests with whānau, hapū and iwi
increased funding for Te Taura Whiri i Te Reo Māori four-fold in the last two years, mainly for community-based language initiatives like $12.5 million for the Mā Te Reo fund reo Māori in homes and on the marae.
Te Reo Māori Policy (cont.)
Building on the gains since 2008 (cont.)
developed legislation to provide for iwi and Māori language stakeholder organisations to appoint 10 members to Te Mātāwai, and for the Crown to appoint two members
established 265 scholarships for teacher trainees in Māori medium education and Māori language teacher trainees at the secondary level
secured funding of $12 million over four years to support and retain new teachers in Māori immersion education
secured funding of $3 million to develop the national Te Aho Matua curriculum for kura kaupapa Māori
secured funding of $8 million to research better ways of regenerating te reo
secured funding of $1.5 million to archive precious Māori language broadcasting content in line with best industry practice
increased the operational funding for iwi stations nationwide by $13. 5 million over the next four years
secured $30 million funding for Māori ICT Development Fund to support Māori economic development and te reo Māori and culture.
Te tiriti o waitangi & justice policy
WHĀNAU-CENTRED & TREATY-DRIVEN
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the founding document of our modern nation
reflecting the partnership between Māori as tāngata whenua and the Crown.
The government in exercising its kāwanatanga or governance has an obligation to also honour and support the partnership and ensure that Māori retain rangatiratanga or self-determination.
The Māori Party advocates for a restorative justice system
based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi
which is whānau-centred
and free of discrimination.
Going Forward
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
The Māori Party will:introduce the Oaths and Declarations (Upholding the Treaty of Waitangi) Amendment Bill to enable anyone taking any oath the option of stating that they will uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi
establish a Parliamentary Commissioner for Te Tiriti o Waitangi
establish a new convention by which every cabinet paper, regulatory statement and bill must include a Treaty clause.
ensure more constructive and timely responses by the Government to recommendations from the Waitangi Tribunal, including WAI 262.
review the Office of Treaty Settlements and the Post Settlement Commitments Unit so that they meet expectations of Iwi and the Crown
establish a regime for quarterly reports to the Iwi Chairs Forum and an annual report to Parliament from the Post Settlement Commitments Unit on progress with implementing Treaty settlements
support an independent enquiry taking into account the examination conducted by the United Nations Special Rapporteur into New Zealand’s Climate Change policy that stated it is discriminatory in respect of the rights of Māori.
hold local government to account over treaty relationships with hapū and ensure they are representative of mana whenua
maintain state sector focus on enacting outcomes from the Constitutional Review to ensure it gives effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
include cultural competency training programmes and certification for any services delivered by government agencies and introduce cultural competency as an employment standard into the HR systems of the state sector.
Te tiriti o waitangi & justice policy WHĀNAU-CENTRED & TREATY-DRIVEN (cont.)
Going Forward (cont.)
A justice system that works with whānau to solve problems
The Māori Party will:initiate a review into the entire Justice System aligned with tikanga Māori and with a focus on eliminating institutional racism.
repeal the three strikes legislation
repeal the Electoral (Disqualification of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill
establish an anti-corruption commission to absorb the investigative functions of the State Services Commission, Serious Fraud Office, the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Conduct Panel and the Parliamentary Privileges Select committee
dis-establish the Independent Police Conduct Authority and transfer its functions to the Anti-Corruption Commission
emphasise a community justice approach to criminal justice and re-direct investment to support that approach
review funding of Community Law Centres to enable community legal services to be sustainable and improve access to legal information, expertise and knowledge and extend to a further six regions
support whānau-focused alcohol and drug addiction, recovery and restoration programmes and services including in prisons.
initiate Computers in Cells to assist with literacy and numeracy
introduce Whānau Facilitators to ensure whānau are informed and are able to discuss all their choices and the consequences (legal and non-legal) in the family court system
ensure Whānau Facilitators work closely with iwi and hapū within the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agencies.
Building on the gains since 2008
As a partner in Government, the Māori Party has:negotiated for New Zealand to be a signatory to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which was signed by Hon Pita Sharples in 2010.
established Whare Oranga Ake -a programme for training and repatriating prisoners to life outside, and also preparing the community to receive and support offenders at the end of their sentence.
lobbied to have the injustice of the Operation Eight raids recognised in a formal apology by the New Zealand Police.
Vision Statement
A strong, independent Māori voice with influence in the New Zealand Parliament
What We Do
We protect Māori rights and promote Māori interests,
for the advancement of the nation.
How
By being a stabilising political influence
that advocates for the interests and wellbeing of Māori
and the nation.
Our Strategic Goals
Protect Māori Rights
The Māori Party was born of the dreams and aspirations of tangata whenua to achieve self-determination for whānau, hapū and iwi within their own land; to speak with a strong, independent and united voice and to live according to kaupapa handed down by our ancestors.
Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of this nation and to its whakapapa is steadfast
The Māori Party grew out of protecting Māori rights under threat by the 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act of the Labour-led government.
[This legislation was repealed on 1 April 2011, by section 5 of the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011].
- The Māori voice was stifled
Supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which had been adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 September 2007.
The Declaration seeks to establish recognition of the rights enjoyed by indigenous peoples around the world, both collectively and individually.
New Zealand was one of only four countries to vote against the adoption of the Declaration.
On 20 April 2010, the Government reversed that position and announced New Zealand’s support for the Declaration.
- The strong Māori voice needed to be heard
- The strong independent Māori voice needed to influence Parliament
Opposed any legislation that threatened or undermined the rights and interests of Māori.
[In the 50th parliament the Māori Party voted against 42 Government bills,
including legislation on a proposed ‘starting out wage’;
the government communications security legislation,
the state owned assets legislation (the Mixed Ownership Model);
and adjustments to the student loan scheme].
- The independent voice has to have its say
Promote Māori Interests
Whānau Ora created a platform from which other whānau-focused initiatives can be launched, so we will promote and extend Whānau Ora.
We will uphold and revitalise the expression of te reo me ona tikanga
We will advocate for Māori economic development across the public, private and Māori sectors.
We will encourage partnerships between Māori and the Crown, private and community sectors
Focus on whānau as the centre of everything
We are particularly mindful that■ one in seven people (598,605 or 14.9%) in New Zealand in 2013 are Māori
■ one-third (33.1%) of people of Māori descent were aged under 15 years,
■  The median age of Māori (half are older, half are younger, than this age) was 23.9 years in the 2013 Census compared with 38 years for non-Māori.
Whānau is our single priority, but within that context critical areas of concern are health, education, housing, environmental prosperity, employment, enterprise, innovation, business development and economic strategy.
We add value to the debate by focusing on policies that bring real benefits to whānau, Māori and the nation, but enduring change can only come at the whānau level.
When combined with the values of the Māori Party, whānau as the centre of everything means:
recognising whānau as the proper foundation for social cohesion, economic advancement, business success, and cultural leadership and security
focusing on whānau-centred solutions
engaging whānau in collaborative efforts with the public, private and Māori sectors
ensuring whānau lead the way in creating a legacy of environmental richness
defending and promoting indigenous representation in local, regional, national and international decision-making bodies
Strategic Drivers
Whānau influencing everything
Whānau creating their own prosperity and success
Whānau enjoying the benefits of the increasing prosperity and success of Aotearoa - New Zealand
Whānau fulfilling their obligations and responsibilities properly
Whānau planning for their future
Whānau leading and supporting economic development
but without cost to the environment
Whānau celebrating their history, identity and points of difference as New Zealanders
Accident Compensation Policy
ACC needs to be a fair system that is there for all New Zealanders to get help when they need it.
The Green Party supports equitable and adequate rehabilitation and compensation as part of a system that focuses on promoting good health, reducing the risk and impact of illness, impairment and injury, and improving quality of life.
It is vital that all of ACC remains a public body.
Privatisation will lead to reduced services for accident victims and increased costs.
To help restore consistency with the community responsibility principle upon which ACC was founded and protect ACC from privatisation, ACC should be funded on the pay-as-you-go model where funding is designed to meet annual costs.
Key Principles
Equitable rehabilitation for all people suffering impairment caused by injury, illness or other disability.
The retention of public provision of rehabilitation and compensation for personal injury, funded through an equitable mix of levies on employers, employees, motor vehicle usage and general taxation.
Specific Policy Points
ACC Cover for Personal Injury
The Green Party will:Ensure that all people who have a genuine work-related gradual process injury, disease or infection, including occupational overuse injuries and chemical poisoning, can obtain ACC cover.
Ensure that all people who receive unexpected and unintended injuries as a consequence of medical treatment can access ACC cover.
Restore cover to all people who suffer mental injury by accident regardless of whether they were at work or whether there was a physical injury.
Adequate Rehabilitation and Fair Compensation
The Green Party believes that rehabilitation to the greatest extent practicable, rather than theoretical work capacity, ought to be the main focus of ACC.
The Green Party will:Ensure Vocational Independence Assessments are reoriented so that their primary purpose is to help claimants plan how best to return as much as possible to their pre-injury life.
Ensure a fairer assessment of income earned by temporary and seasonal workers.
Ensure ACC payments are treated the same way as earned income when considering eligibility for income tested benefits e.g. working for families.
Culture of ACC
The Green Party will:Put the emphasis back on obtaining the best outcome for clients, rather than the best financial outcome for ACC.
Support the development and funding of a strong network of skilled claimant advocates operating across the country to ensure that claimants receive their entitlements.
Agriculture And Rural Affairs Policy
A strong, healthy and diverse agricultural sector is essential to an economically viable and environmentally sustainable New Zealand.
Our Agriculture and Rural Affairs Policy is about future-proofing our economy by protecting our environment.
The Green Party will prepare for the future by reducing our agricultural dependency on oil, agri-chemicals, and imported feedstock.
We will also protect our soils and our water quality.
New Zealand has a clean, green image; our Agricultural and Rural Affairs Policy would keep it real.
Key Principles
All rural production land must be managed in ecologically sustainable ways
New Zealand must live up to its reputation as "Clean and Green" and an exporter of high quality products to maintain its export reputation
Rural communities should be able to provide for the economic, educational, health and social needs of their residents.
The New Zealand environment must be kept GE free.
Specific Policy Points
Ensuring a Fairer Approach to Trade
Strongly support mandatory country of origin labelling for all single-ingredient imported agricultural products
Address "food miles" by supporting farmers to reduce emissions during production and by educating overseas consumers to shift the debate from 'food miles' to 'ecological footprints'
Reducing Dependency on Oil, Agrichemicals and Imported Grains
Support the development of economically and ecologically viable biofuel production, especially from waste products
Fund more research, education and support in transition away from industrialised, fossil fuel supported agriculture.
Increase New Zealand's self-sufficiency in basic foodstuffs, especially grains
Growing the Organic Sector
Promote the target of half of New Zealand's production becoming certified organic by 2025.
Short-term loans and guarantees to producers making the switch to organics.
Redirect funding for research into the development of organic systems, design and practice.
Promote and encourage the establishment of educational opportunities in organic production.
Further Sustainability on Rural Land
Limit urban sprawl
to prevent loss of prime agricultural land
Promote and encourage diverse farm forestry and woodlots on agricultural land
Investigate the benefits of an agrichar/biochar industry.
Encourage licensed cultivation of industrial hemp in economically depressed rural areas.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farming
Promote organic agriculture to increase carbon sequestration, nutrient buffering, and healthy animal gut condition.
Place the liability for any increased emissions over 1990 levels from the dairying and deer farming sectors with the large processing companies rather than with individual farmers.
Support ways of reducing methane and nitrous oxide production per hectare and per animal
(See climate change policy)
Reducing GE and Biosecurity Threats to Agriculture
Keep genetic research organisms completely contained in a secure indoor laboratory,
Prohibit genetically modified and transgenic organisms that are intended for release into the environment or food chain.
Maintaining "zero" tolerance for all live GE derived imports.
Develop a Biosecurity Strategy based on a precautionary approach.
Please see our full policy here
Animal Welfare Policy
Animals in our care must be treated humanely.
Farm animals have a right to lives free from cruelty where they can express a range of natural behaviours.
Clear labelling means consumers can make informed decisions when purchasing animal related products.
Battery hen cages and other cruel farming practices must be phased out.
Key Principles
Humans must ensure that all animals in their care are free from disease, discomfort and distress and can express a range of natural behaviours
The most humane methods of controlling exotic pests should be used, so long as they are effective
Consumers should be able to make informed purchasing decisions based on a desire to avoid contributing to animal suffering
Non-violence and empathy towards all animals should be promoted
Experiments on animals should only be used where they are overwhelmingly beneficial and do not cause animal suffering
Animals must not experience suffering for economic or entertainment reasons
Specific Policy Points
Oversight and Advocacy for animal welfare
Establish a Minister for Animal Welfare to advocate for the interests of the welfare of animals, without having the current conflict with primary industries
Establish an Office for Animal Welfare to work with the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) to develop, implement, and monitor animal welfare codes.
Establish a Commissioner of Animal Welfare, independent of political parties and Ministries, which will report to parliament.
Animals in Agriculture
Phase out methods that cause suffering to agricultural animals, including reducing confinement of sows in farrowing crates, prohibiting new factory farming of animals, and phasing out painful techniques such as debeaking of hens.
Ensure that all agricultural animals are provided with shade, shelter and comfortable resting areas.
Require animals to be slaughtered as near as possible to the point of production and require specific transport conditions to minimise stress for animals.
Animals in Entertainment
Support a ban on the use of animals in rodeo events, as these events rely on inflicting pain and distress to animals to get them to perform.
Require all racing codes that use animals to make publically available the numbers of animals bred, raced, injured, euthanised, and re-homed, or retired from racing through birth to death reporting.
Companion Animals
Incentivise responsible pet ownership.
Increase funding to the RNZSPCA so that it is adequately resourced to undertake its animal welfare enforcement work.
Support measures such as microchipping and desexing of companion animals, particularly for cats and dogs.
Supporting understanding of animal welfare issues
Promotion of respect and empathy towards animals through education programs.
Require all producers to label their animal products according to strict criteria concerning the methods by which the animals were raised.
Require all products to carry labels indicating whether they contain animal products, have been tested on animals or contain ingredients which have been tested on animals.
Animal Experimentation
Make a legal presumption that non-animal methods of testing will be used.
Ensure that animal ethics committees have strong guidelines, are committed to minimising animal use and have a thorough knowledge of non-animal methods of research.
Require animal ethics committees to make records of all their deliberations available to the public.
Support the development of non-animal methods for testing products, and develop a public database of alternatives to animal testing.
Note: For the purposes of this policy, animals are defined as being all vertebrates, plus octopus, squid, crayfish, lobsters and crabs (consistent with the Animal Welfare Act 1999).
Read our full policy here
Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy
Art – it all its many forms – inspires, innovates, challenges, and contributes to our collective social, economic, and cultural wellbeing.
We commit to foster the arts, culture and heritage at all levels.
New Zealand has a strong creative sector.
With the right support, the arts have the potential to become a significant, non-agricultural export industry for New Zealand.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, our unique heritage includes the taonga of toi Maori and Te Reo Maori, and we support these taonga,
including the retention of Maori TV and the promotion of iwi radio.
Our heritage, especially heritage buildings and sites, have taken on even more significance since the Canterbury earthquakes.
We will facilitate the preservation of our heritage sites us much as possible.
Key Principles
Society should facilitate affordable access to the Arts.
Public funding of the Arts must be transparent
and sustainable.
Historically and culturally significant places and buildings should be protected.
The unique taonga of toi o Māori must be valued and protected.
Specific Policy Points
Communication and Co-ordination
Promote improved communication and co-ordination between government ministries and stakeholders involved in the Arts.
Support an overhaul of the arts infrastructure and funding provisions with a focus on increasing participation in community arts, arts education and the professional arts.
Tangata Whenua and the Arts
Support and promote the right of Māori to protect both traditional and contemporary Māori art.
Remain committed to a dedicated Māori Television broadcasting service.
Support Iwi Radio throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to be an independent, secure and successful Māori broadcaster.
Media and the Arts
Support strategies to ensure the production of quality Aotearoa New Zealand music, films and programmes.
Extend economic incentives currently offered only to large overseas film productions to locally written and produced smaller budget films.
Education, Community and the Arts
Recognise the value of community arts and community arts organisations through central government funding of community arts projects.
Provide funding for Arts Education officers (from the Ministry of Education) to support the Arts Education strategy and ensure it’s accessibility and implementation.
Economic Development and the Arts
Establish an arts and cultural promotion unit within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Make contributions to bona fide artist organisations tax deductible along the same lines as charity donations.
Ensure that copyright of a commissioned work is retained by the artist, not the commissioner.
Re-launch the Authors’ Fund under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.
Establish a Literature Commission to act as a champion for New Zealand writing and writers, examine issues such as copyright and digital rights and examine ways of raising remuneration for writers.
Protecting and Preserving Heritage
Support the creation of a National Policy Statement for heritage under the Resource Management Act.
Support central and local government funding schemes for owners of heritage buildings.
Establish a well resourced national funding scheme for the earthquake strengthening of heritage buildings.
Read our full policy here
Broadcasting Policy
Vision
We need a strong, diverse and independent media that contributes to the maintenance of effective democracy and Aotearoa New Zealand's social, cultural, economic and environmental well-being.
We acknowledge that the media plays a key role in:Entertaining us all, so that we may enjoy each others' achievements, triumphs and laughter; share our hopes, dreams and sorrows; and through story, song, documentary and drama, learn to respect and appreciate our common humanity and develop our sense of shared identity and purpose.
Educating the peoples of Aotearoa New Zealand, so that they can understand their own and each others history, place in the world, and possible futures;
Informing the citizens of Aotearoa New Zealand, so they will know whom they are voting for, be able to assess political parties' visions for the future, and judge for themselves whether their elected representatives are acting in New Zealand's best interests.
Key Principles
We recognise the place of Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document of New Zealand, and the special place of Maori broadcasting.
Citizens need timely and accurate information about their rights and responsibilities, knowledge of our political institutions
and an appreciation of each others' needs, interests and aspirations,
these matters must be universally and freely available through broadcast media.
The media should inform, educate and entertain in a manner that supports citizens to participate effectively in democracy.
A vigorous, independent and diverse media is the cornerstone of a free society:
the media are none of these things if they are predominantly controlled by the state, or owned and controlled by international media conglomerates, or dominated by local commercial monopolies.
The media wield significant social, cultural and economic power, which must be used responsibly.
An independent media should responsibly self-regulating
- but self-regulation does not imply an absence of regulation: it must rest on the foundation of a strong regulatory framework that reinforces responsible self-management.
There is no place for excessive levels of gratuitous violence, presented as "entertainment", on free-to-air television.
Non-violent resolution of political and social conflict is based on knowledge, acceptance and understanding of diverse communities; and of their needs, interests and aspirations.
Introduction
Broadcasting is a key element in how we, as a community, talk to each other, forge our collective identity and satisfy our need for information and desire for entertainment.
New Zealand has one of the most deregulated broadcasting environments in the world.
Since 1991, when the current regulatory framework was introduced, Labour and National governments have both pursued a policy of maximising the sale of broadcasting rights to commercial interests, removing restrictions on both the aggregation of media ownership and foreign control.
As a result we now have:The lowest amount of local programming on television of any OECD country.
The failure to see ourselves adequately reflected on television undermines our self image and identity as a nation.
Foreign control of our media: four companies, all overseas-owned, dominate the New Zealand news media.
There is a near duopoly of print and radio, a monopoly in pay television, and only three significant competitors (including the state-owned channels) in free-to-air television.
Radio and television channels have reduced high-cost programming, including investigative journalism, documentaries, local news, New Zealand drama and children's television.
News-gathering and reporting has become more centralised, and the same stories are channelled into radio, television, the internet and print media.
News reporting has become increasingly dramatic, emotive and sensationalised, as broadcasters compete for audience attention.
Increasing competition for advertising revenue can result in pressure on journalists and editors to not pursue stories that advertisers might dislike.
Our state television broadcaster has contradictory objectives to maximise profits and provide public service television.
Television New Zealand (TVNZ) has become virtually indistinguishable from other commercial television channels.
We have various Codes of Conduct for television channels, but nobody is monitoring to see if they are implemented, and the penalties for breaching them are minimal.
We have the lowest levels of state funding of public service television in the world.
Read our full policy here
Children's Policy
Let’s give our children the best possible start in life.
Let’s keep our children safe and guarantee them the essentials – like a warm, dry home, food to grow healthy and strong, and a quality education – and guarantee their opportunities for life.
The first step to supporting all kids is to help every family cope financially
and give all parents the chance to spend time with their children.
When we protect our environment we give our children a safe place to grow and to play.
Key Principles
Good antenatal and early childhood care provide the best start in life.
Parents and family need to be able to provide emotional and material support to develop self confidence and self-esteem.
Parents are first teachers but education from early childhood on should assist each child to make the most of their own natural abilities.
All children deserve to be treated with consideration and fairness.
Specific Policy Points
Giving Every Child the Best Possible Start in Life
Introduce a Consumer Price Index-adjusted Universal Child Benefit ($18.40 for the first child and $13.00 for each subsequent child).
Extend paid parental leave to a total of 13 months paid leave.
Make the first $10,000 of everyone's income tax-free.
Work towards setting benefit amounts at a level that is sufficient for all basic needs.
Work towards full employment that provides a decent income.
Making Sure Parents and Children Can Spend Time Together
Work towards a shorter working week.
Support the right of parents with young children to work flexible hours which meet family needs.
Creating a safe, nurturing, non-violent environment for children.
Oppose the reversion of Section 59 of the Crimes Act to pre 2007 status.
Promote non-violent positive parenting, and education.
Support early, pre-school intervention programmes working with children at risk.
Work towards making it safe for children to explore the world outside the front gate,
firstly by reducing the speed and volume of motorized traffic.
Supporting quality television programming for children.
Prohibit commercial advertisements during pre-school and school age children's television.
Require TVNZ, as the publicly owned broadcaster, to take a lead in screening locally produced children's television programmes.
Improving childhood health
Work towards free healthcare for all children, including dental care.
Encourage breastfeeding as the ideal nutrition for babies.
Work with Maori and all other ethnic and cultural groups to ensure that their children are able to access culturally appropriate care and treatment.
Create drier, warmer, well-insulated homes through an expanded household energy efficiency program.
Reduce respiratory diseases in children by reducing pollution from vehicles.
Ensure nutrition, cooking and gardening are taught in all schools.
Amend National Educational Goals to ensure that only healthy food and drink is sold in schools (See health policy for full details).
Adoption
Protect the right of every young person to their name, nationality, and preservation of identity.
Ensure that legislation relating to adoption meets the national and international Human and Children's Rights laws.
Creating a Safe Natural Environment for Children to Learn and Play
Ensure beaches, rivers and streams are clean and safe for children to swim and play.
Create marine reserves and mainland sanctuaries near towns and cities
so that children can enjoy their natural heritage.
Make sure children have access to parks, playgrounds and other challenging activities.
Supporting quality and appropriate services to children and families in need
Create an integrated framework to monitor the development of every child and young person through co-ordinated assessments at key life stages.
Ensuring the interests of children are protected and promoted
Adequately resource Office of the Children's Commissioner
Ensure that programmes for children are based on helping children to develop strengths.
Amend the Education Act to require school boards to consult with pupils, including pupil representation on secondary school boards.
Special protection areas: Rangatahi, Pacific Peoples, Child Refugees
Establish effective systems for the development and co-ordination of services for tamariki and rangatahi Maori.
Work with Pacific peoples to develop robust policies that secure the rights of Pacific children in the context of family, church and culture and work.
Involve children of different ethnic groups and communities in the development of plans and strategies.
Oppose the incarceration of child immigrants.
Ensure refugee and asylum seeker children enjoy equal rights with New Zealand children
Read the full policy here
Climate Change Policy
Our Climate Change Policy is about improving the way we live and do business.
We can reduce emissions and enhance our quality of life.
We can avoid the worst of dangerous climate change if we act now.
We can reduce emissions and enhance our quality of life.
It’s also about adapting to climactic changes that are already locked in,
and doing our part to help other nations, especially our vulnerable Pacific neighbours.
Key Principles
The Green Party believes that:We must act according to credible science on climate change, which demands urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, and sustained action to safely remove excess greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
Māori economic, environmental and cultural interests, as provided for in Article II of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, must be protected to ensure that the effects of climate change and our response to it do not disproportionally impact upon the tangata whenua.
We have an obligation to act for the sake of vulnerable people, the wellbeing of current and future generations, the integrity of diverse ecosystems and the retention of a viable biosphere.
We must think long term and start now because of the extensive lag time in climate effects.
A global agreement is crucial as a step towards concerted global action and we will play a constructive role in achieving a fair, effective, binding and ambitious agreement.
We must accept our responsibility to reduce emissions
and we will advocate an approach of ‘contraction and convergence’ of emissions internationally, towards broadly equal shares of emissions per person.
Social equity and ecological sustainability must be inherent in the way we respond to climate change.
A range of instruments is needed to meet the requirements of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
These include legislation and regulations, economic instruments and policies supporting public investment, community action, and voluntary initiatives by both business and organisations.
Pricing mechanisms will seek to ensure that polluting sectors will, within a short time, pay for the environmental and societal costs of their emissions, with no free riders.
Pricing and other mechanisms will take into account New Zealand's international obligations
and be designed so as to manage fiscal risk to the Crown in a responsible manner.
Greenhouse gases differ in their origin, chemical nature, climate changing effects, persistence and assimilation by natural systems.
Management of emissions ideally should recognise these differences.
Adaptation measures should develop resilient economies and communities,
and minimise the impacts of climate change on low income and vulnerable sectors of society.
Transparency, credibility and education are essential if all stakeholders are to accept the policy framework
and change their behaviour as a result.
Government must invest in research and development into the production methods and mitigation technologies to enable a successful emissions reduction programme (especially in energy production, forestry, and agriculture).
Read our full policy
Community and Voluntary Sector Policy
A strong, independent Tangata Whenua, Community & Voluntary sector contributing to enhance our social, environmental, cultural, physical, spiritual and economic wellbeing.
The community and voluntary sector (including tangata whenua) plays a key role in our economic, social, cultural, and environmental life.
We would fund a sector-led review to strengthen the relationship between the sector and the government.
Advocacy is important, including political advocacy, and we would ensure that advocacy doesn’t prevent community groups from receiving funding or gaining charitable status.
We would increase grants funding
and decrease reliance on profits from pub pokies, which cause huge harm in our communities.
We’d also work towards a tax regime that better allows community organisations to thrive.
Key Principles
Government recognises and respects the Tangata Whenua, Community and Voluntary sector
All Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations related to the Sector are honoured
A best practice model for funding and accountability relationships is enacted
The tax regime assists the sector to thrive while reducing compliance costs
Specific Policy Points
Encouraging Government Support
Strengthen the role of the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector
Reduce the functions of the Charities Commission so that it focuses on registration and associated tax issues
Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi Obligations
Recognise cultural differences around concepts of 'volunteering'
Support hapu and iwi based initiatives through COGS and Lotteries
Creating and Enacting a Best Practice Funding and Accountability Model
Fund a sector-led review with Government of all funding and contracting relationships with the sector, with a view to developing a Code of Practice endorsed by the sector and Government.
Increase Community Organisations Grants Scheme (COGS) funding to $34m per annum
Have a limit on tax-deductible donations to registered charities, initially to be set at $20,000
Recognise the Community and Voluntary Sector's Independence
Require all Government departments and agencies to independence of NGOs without prejudice in regards to funding, contracting or tax status
Supporting Research, Education and Training
Substantially increase Government investment in research about and for the sector
Support quality education and training programmes which increase sector capacity
Recognising and Supporting the Role and Worth of Volunteers
Ensure Government recognizes the contribution of volunteers, and foster a culture which promotes and supports volunteering as a key part of community life
Ensure that voluntary work is not used to replace paid work
Oppose compulsory work schemes as these are counter-productive and destroy real jobs
Reducing Dependence on Gambling
Remove pokies from our communities by working towards getting rid of all pub non casino gaming machines
Establish a special fund of $150 million to mitigate the impact of ending pub pokie grants to community and voluntary sector organizations
Supporting community economic development
Create and maintain an enabling environment for community banks and credit unions
Support the development of local currency and time banking schemes
Support local community development and transition town initiatives aimed at dealing with the impacts of climate change and peak oil
Support the maintenance and development of local markets including crafts and farmers' markets.
Read the full policy here
Conservation Policy
The Green Party will protect Aotearoa's wild places and the unique animals and plants that live there.
Our kiwi, our albatross, and our mountain kea are amongst some of the greatest living treasures on earth and shape our national identity.
But our iconic birds and wildlife are in serious trouble with more than 3,000 species at risk of extinction.
The Green Party will properly fund DOC to protect nature and ensure our birds and wildlife thrive and flourish.
We will support conservation practices to extend beyond the DOC estate so that it is an integral part of communities we live in, our farms, cities, rivers, and the sea.
Caring for nature also creates worthwhile jobs for New Zealanders.
By looking after our natural environment, we look after our water, soil, air, and food resources.
Key Principles
Aotearoa New Zealand's indigenous plants, animals and ecosystems must be protected.
Community enthusiasm for protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s indigenous plants, animals and ecosystems will be fostered.
Support must be given to whānau and hapū in carrying out kaitiaki responsibilities in conservation management.
The health of natural areas must not be compromised by economic activity.
Specific Policy Points
Improve DOC Funding
Develop DOC’s core capacity.
Increase funding to the Nature Heritage Fund to purchase private land under threat.
Protect Threatened Indigenous Species
Ensure there is a connected network of protected areas with all ecosystem types represented; this means conserving the areas we have already protected and providing greater protections to new areas.
Ensure all threatened species have a recovery plan in place.
Establish new, larger ‘mainland islands’ for intensive pest management.
Research the impacts of climate change on indigenous biodiversity and develop strategies for adaptation.
Prohibit new prospecting, exploration, and mining on or under conservation land.
Te Tiriti
Return conservation areas of significant value to whānau, hapū and iwi.
Implement co-governance and other power sharing arrangements with whānau, hapū and iwi.
Support customary use by tangata whenua within the conservation estate.
Conservation on Private and Māori Land
Increase funding to help private and Māori landholders actively manage and protect indigenous habitats and ecosystems.
Support the use of the Resource Management Act (RMA) to identify and protect important habitats on private land.
Foster and support local urban and rural nature conservation initiatives by community groups and local authorities.
Reduce Pest Threats to Biodiversity
Develop and fund national pest management strategies.
Significantly increase funding for pest eradication and control.
Support replacing poisons with humane and safe biological and physical animal pest controls wherever practical.
Public Access
Support walking right of access along waterways.
Ensure paper roads remain open and adequately marked.
Ensure that DOC has sufficient resources to protect and maintain back country huts and bivs.
Tourism
Introduce a levy on overseas visitors to help fund pest control work and new regional tourism infrastructure.
Reduce the impact of high tourist numbers in some areas.
Marine Conservation
Identify and protect areas of the marine environment for conservation purposes, including through the development of a network of marine reserves and sanctuaries.
Read our full policy here
Constitutional Reform Policy
Vision
The Green Party envisions a world in which recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equitable and inalienable rights and responsibilities of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.
We envision a world where everyone is able to contribute meaningfully to decisions which impact on ourselves, our communities, our environment and the generations which will follow us.
In such a world, Aotearoa New Zealand exemplifies transparent, inclusive and consensus-based decision-making
based on Te Tiriti o Waitangi
and Maori are able to exercise tino rangatiratanga.
Principles
A democratic Aotearoa New Zealand:
Recognises the constitutional centrality of both Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the Declaration of Independence.
Empowers all its citizens to participate and contribute to communal well-being and be involved in local decision-making
Respects the rights and needs of all its citizens
Cultivates collective decision-making through informed, inclusive, structured consensus-seeking dialogue, giving due weight and effect to the voices of the many and of the few
Safeguards its political and economic autonomy, including the right to set its own standards
Institutes protections against abuse of power and privilege
Reduces the potential for conflicts of interest in the exercise of authority
Avoids exploitation and advantaging of any group at the expense of any other.
Supports gender balance in decision-making bodies.
Facilitates workplace democracy
and collective organization
Read the full policy
Defence and Peacekeeping Policy
Our Defence Force should be used for peacekeeping, search and rescue, disaster relief, and fisheries protection.
The ANZAC frigates should be phased out and replaced by more appropriate boats, like the Multi-Role Vessel our navy now has.
More resources need to be devoted to maritime surveillance of our EEZ and that of our Pacific neighbours.
New Zealand’s armed forces must only be deployed in accordance with international law,
and with the explicit sanction of Parliament.
Key Principles
Priority must be given to non-violent means of resolving conflict.
When armed forces are deployed this must be sanctioned by the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.
The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) should be capable of performing across a range of operations: from peacekeeping, disaster relief and resource protection through to defensive combat operations
The NZDF must not maintain or use weapons that create long lasting risks to civilian populations and/or the environment
The work carried out by the armed service personnel, and the sacrifices they are required to make must be recognised and respected
Enlistment in the armed forces must be on a voluntary basis
Specific Policy Points
The Roles of the NZDF
The promotion and protection of peace, justice and the environment
The protection of the territories of Aotearoa/New Zealand
Supporting the security of the territories of our Pacific neighbours
Assisting in civil defence emergencies, disaster relief and search and rescue both within New Zealand and overseas.
Transforming Our Capabilities
Review the structure and governance of the NZDF
Support developing a centre for the training of international peacekeepers in New Zealand
Ensure that New Zealand has sufficient capabilities for peacekeeping, search and rescue, disaster relief, fisheries and border control tasks.
Phase out any equipment that is not optimal for such tasks.
Subordinate Capabilities
Phase out the ANZAC frigates and replace with more appropriate equipment.
Human Resources
Ensure that veterans receive appropriate support, treatment and compensation for injuries and health problems acquired as a result of their service
Support and actively promote a policy of equal opportunity within the armed services
Investigate the feasibility of exempting NZDF personnel serving on overseas operations from income tax while they serve on such operations
Armament
Prohibit the development or use of nuclear, cluster bombs, depleted uranium weapons, landmines and biological weapons
Prohibit the development or use of lethal or long term harmful chemical weapons
Civilian Based Defence
Investigate extending the reserve forces and reserve training to a wider section of the population
Investigate the development of civilian based defence where some citizens are trained to resist aggression or usurpation by withholding cooperation and by active non-cooperation rather than military force
Read our full policy here
Disability Policy
In an inclusive society, everyone has their full rights recognised and actively participates in their communities.
We will ensure that New Zealanders with impairments have access to quality education, essential services, and suitable employment.
We will also ensure that people with impairments can participate fully in our democracy and in decisions affecting them, are safe from discrimination, and have support to maintain their autonomy.
Key Principles
That people living with impairments have:Access to education in an appropriate form.
Access to and information on citizen rights and are involved in decision-making affecting them.
Services that are responsive, flexible, assessable and culturally appropriate.
Barriers to their active participation in society removed.
Specific Policy Points
Human Rights
Immediately establish a process to implement the recommendations of United Nations Convention on the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Inclusion, Access & Affirmative Action
A national awareness-raising project on disability issues.
Affirmative action on barriers to inclusion so people with impairments can be active in their communities.
Ensure public transport is accessible to all.
Include disability awareness in public sector induction courses and continuing education.
Enact legislation similar to the U.K. Disability Discrimination Act to close existing loopholes in our legislation.
Ensure all new houses and buildings fully comply with disability access requirements unless specifically exempted.
Leadership
Design and use processes that enable and empower people with impairments to become leaders at all levels.
Include tangata whenua in auditing all services.
Work & Education
Bring schools into the NZ Disability Strategy, and ensure they are fully resourced to educate children with impairments.
Increase support for people with impairments to gain paid work.
Provide assistance to employers of people with impairments for adaptations and special equipment.
Service Provision
Take steps to integrate and ensure services work for the users.
Establish a Disability Issues Commission.
Services are based on level of need
and culturally appropriate.
Better support for families with high needs children.
Protection & Advocacy
Provide free, accessible advocacy services
while supporting the right to self-advocate.
Encourage a culture that speaks out against and works to eliminate abuse.
Reinstate Parent Advocacy phoneline.
Reproductive Rights
Ensure those who are competent to make informed decisions on their sexual and reproductive rights have the freedom to do so.
No sterilisation of anyone under 18 unless necessary to save the person's life.
Ensure screening for foetal abnormalities is not biased toward termination.
Ensure full information must be given where an abnormality is diagnosed before the family makes their decision on whether to proceed with the pregnancy or not.
Read the full policy here
Drug Law Reform Policy
Key Principles
The Green Party recognises that:Drug policy should be rational and based on credible and scientifically-valid evidence.
There can be adverse health, social and economic consequences from the use of drugs for both individuals and society.
Not all drug use is problematic.
Some individuals in society will choose to use drugs, regardless of their legal status.
Prohibition of drugs can cause more harm that it prevents.
Drug policy should have a primary focus on improving public health instead of trying to punish users.
Specific Policy Points
Health promotion and reducing harm
Evidence-based and age-appropriate drug education in schools; and non-judgemental evidence-based information available through health services and point of sale.
Implement recommendations of the Law Commission on the review of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
Re-evaluate the relative harms and appropriate legal and regulatory status of psychoactive substances.
Support policies to minimise harm caused by drug use – for example needle exchange schemes.
Sufficient resources for rehabilitation services and other programmes that provide help rather than punishment for people with drug problems.
Cannabis (including medicinal cannabis)
Make cannabis legal for personal use, including possession and cultivation.
Introduce a legal age limit for personal use.
Assess evidence from overseas jurisdictions with legal cannabis markets to determine the best model for New Zealand.
While waiting for broader law change for cannabis, remove penalties for any person with a terminal illness, chronic or debilitating condition to cultivate, possess or use cannabis and/or cannabis products for therapeutic purposes, with the support of a registered medical practitioner.
Accelerate the process by which medical cannabis products are licensed for use.
Lower barriers for manufacturers to submit new cannabis products for funding applications to PHARMAC.
Alcohol and Tobacco
Retain blood alcohol limit at 50mg per 100ml for adults aged 20 and over (the currently-recognised medical definition of intoxication).
Phase out all broadcast, billboard and print advertising of alcoholic beverages, and sponsorship by alcohol brands.
Keep purchase age for alcohol at 18.
Set a minimum price for alcohol and replace the current alcohol tax regime with a tax that is directly proportional to the quantity of pure alcohol in a drink.
Commitment to the Smokefree Aotearoa goal, supported by further extension of the Smokefree Environments Act, plain packaging of tobacco products, and further taxation increases.
See the full policy here
Cannabis - it's time to change our cannabis laws
New Zealanders deserve a positive and solutions-focused discussion on access to medicinal cannabis, which should be legal, and affordable.
Green MP Julie Anne Genter has a members’ bill before parliament which would legalise access to cannabis products for New Zealanders suffering from terminal illness or any debilitating condition.
Find out more here
Economic Policy
The Green Party has a plan to create a smart economy that will deliver real prosperity for everyone
and help the environment.
We will live within our means, sustaining our natural capital through measures like a commercial levy on the use of water.
We will create a fairer, more equal society through a strongly progressive tax system, raising the minimum wage, and by building more state houses.
We will create a more productive economy through measures like a capital gains tax (excluding the family home).
We’ll create jobs that are good for the environment and good for people through business incentives and direct government investment.
Purpose
A Green economy will improve the quality of life of all New Zealanders
by growing our reputation as a producer of high value, clean green products which sustain our natural resources and environment.
It will grow the knowledge, basic science and technological research
on which a sustainable economy can be based,
and shrink waste, pollution and the overuse of scarce resources.
It will be known for smart business,
good education
and meaningful work offering well paid jobs.
It will take more control over our own economic destiny,
while trading fairly with the rest of the world.
Specific Policy Points:
Measuring Success Differently
Growth in GDP is not an adequate measure of the success of our economy.
It counts as a positive growth in “bads” like crime, pollution and waste, but does not measure at all the depletion of our resources, or the sustainability of our economy.
We will draw on various international models, such as the Genuine Progress Index, to measure our economic success better.
The Greens will develop:A modified set of national accounts, to measure real national achievement and wellbeing by including positive activities such as voluntary work and unpaid childcare; and deducting negatives such as smoking and drinking related health costs, car accidents and pollution clean ups.
A set of natural resource accounts that will measure the degradation or restoration of resources such as forests, clean water and energy reserves.
We will use these to ensure that economic management achieves a decrease in the overall rate at which resources are turned into waste.
An expanded set of social indicators to be reported and considered alongside the national accounts.
They will build on what Government has done with the MSD Social Report.
Better resourcing for Statistics New Zealand to collect and process the additional data needed for this work.
Assistance for business to report on environmental and social performance, as well as financial performance.
Investment
The Green Party will invest in the social and physical capital we need for a future that uses resources sparingly and provides for the wellbeing of people.
We will:Introduce ethical investment guidelines for all Government investment funds
Invest in leading edge science and technology, with collaborative basic research,
and focussing applied research on sustainable production and care of resources
Properly fund environmental and Treaty education
Wipe one year’s student debt for each year worked in New Zealand
Invest in preventative health care, to keep people well rather than wait till they are sick
Invest in better urban planning, making cities more liveable
with enough public housing,
integrated with better public transport
to reduce fuel use.
Supporting sustainable business
Make sustainability a key goal of all business support programmes provided through government funded organizations
Support businesses to adopt sustainable certification programmes
Value our manufacturing base, continue to promote Buy Kiwi Made and support the initiatives of manufacturers to work collaboratively to improve the manufacturing sector in New Zealand.
Encourage business-to-business local procurement practices.
Improve funding and support delivered through the Ministry of Economic Development by focusing on clustering that increases energy efficiency and use of transport hubs
Raise the current cap on age and numbers of apprentices.
Introduce an 0800 and online ‘champion’ service for small businesses who are having problems dealing with the bureaucracy of government departments.
The Tax Shift
We will reform the tax system so everyone pays less income tax,
clean businesses are rewarded and wasters and polluters pay more.
All sources of income will be taxed in the same way, so that speculation is not rewarded compared with genuine wealth creation.
Income Tax
Introduce a tax-free threshold at the bottom of the income tax scale first and then reduce and simplify rates in the middle bands of the tax scale.
Ensure beneficiaries receive the benefits of the proposed changes by passing tax cuts on to those on benefits and adjusting benefit abatement rates.
Capital Gains Tax
In order to treat all income the same, introduce a comprehensive capital gains tax on inflation adjusted capital gains at the time the capital gains are realised.
Exempt the family home from capital gains tax.
Eco-taxes
Empower central and regional government to introduce a water levy on commercial use of all water used on a volume basis.
This would not apply to households
or stock drinking water.
Begin a phased process of ecological tax reform by setting up an Ecological Tax Reform Commission to examine all existing taxes and possible new eco-taxes.
They would consider levies on resources such as minerals mined, commercial fish caught, and various forms of pollution and waste.
Tobin Tax
Join the group of countries working to agree on a tax on international currency movements, to set up a fund to provide capital for poor countries to improve their social and environmental wellbeing.
This would discourage currency speculation without being high enough to impede genuine trade.
Monetary Policy
Inflation is now being driven by new factors such as the world prices of oil and food, a carbon price to address climate change, and shortages of key resources.
These cannot easily be controlled by changing interest rates, the one tool available to the Reserve Bank.
The Green Party proposes:Better coordination of monetary and fiscal policy.
Economic policies to minimise the effects of resource shortage driven price shocks.
Measures to limit future asset (especially house) price inflation.
Consideration of a more actively managed exchange rate through measures designed to reduce the attractiveness and profitability of currency speculation.
Trade
The Green Party will:Encourage fair trade with developing countries
that supports sustainable development.
Develop a Code of Corporate Responsibility for all corporations operating in New Zealand.
Require all international treaties to be voted on in Parliament before being signed,
must give full effect to our Treaty of Waitangi obligations,
and must put the rights of peoples and governments before those of multinational company investors.
Uphold international labour and environmental agreements through an International Trading Organisation
and regional trading agreements to replace the WTO).
Oppose trade deregulation in public goods, services and utilities, and where desirable, roll back GATS commitments.
Stop importing goods produced by slave, prison or child labour.
Building the Local Economy
The Green Party will:Support NZ businesses by committing to Government procurement of local goods and services wherever we can.
Allow only New Zealand citizens and residents to buy NZ land.
Create an enabling environment for community banks and credit unions.
Support local community development and transition town initiatives aimed at dealing with the impacts of climate change and peak oil.
Insist on country of origin labelling so people who wish to can support local producers
Meaningful, well-paid work
Increase the minimum wage and ensure it cannot fall below 66% of the average wage.
Ensure government policy recognises the contribution of unpaid work to society and the economy, including the work of parents and caregivers.
A greater commitment to proactive job creation,
including more public sector support for self-employment, small businesses, co-operative and community-owned enterprises, and for employment resource centres and agencies that train and support people going into business.
Promote and ensure equal opportunities and pay equity.
More resources for vocational advice and employment support,
including for women, Maori and Pacific Island peoples, disabled and other statistically lower-paid groups.
Access to careers advice and job search support for all registered unemployed (and other beneficiaries should they so choose) as soon as they register as jobseekers.
Please read our full policy here
Education Policy
Our education system should give everyone the best possible start on a life-long journey that happens inside and outside the classroom.
Public education needs to be free, and include every child;
those with disabilities and special needs,
children from diverse cultures and backgrounds,
and Tangata Whenua.
We value our teachers and want to ensure that every child has a positive experience in education.
We would increase funding to the sector to reflect these priorities.
We would hold a commission of inquiry into the New Zealand education system to assess how well we're doing, and remove National Standards.
Key Principles
A free education system that fosters participation, sustainability, equality and peace.
High quality teaching, learning environments, and curriculum that fosters peace in our communities.
Specific Policy Points
Ensure state schools are fully funded such that high quality education is not dependent upon fees, private donations, fundraising, nor private investment.
Increase the Operations Grant to reflect the real cost to schools of educating children.
Change the staffing formula to enable incremental reductions in class sizes, and improved teacher-child ratios in early childhood services.
Centrally fund all teacher and key support staff salaries.
Review the governance structure in Tomorrow’s Schools and trial alternative models of school governance.
Support pay parity for early childhood, primary and secondary educators.
Support the continued improvement of the NCEA, and work with teachers to review the three levels of NCEA assessment.
Retain and support local and rural schools.
Better and safer transport services to rural schools.
Set standards and guidelines for healthy food provided in schools.
Incorporate ecological sustainability into the core curriculum at all levels.
More funding for Maori language, immersion and bilingual programmes.
Introduce universal teaching of Te Reo Maori in all public schools and provide the resources necessary to enable this.
Work towards tikanga Maori being available to all learners.
Ensure that Correspondence School has the capacity to deliver quality education to its diverse students.
Use an independent authority for appeals in the case of enrolment, stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions.
Allocate Special Education Grants based on numbers of enrolled children with special needs, and increase ORS funding.
Resource schools and Group Special Education to fulfill government obligations to children with special education needs.
Ensure schools have adequate provision to meet the needs of their ESOL students.
Establish support for networks of 'not for profit' early childhood services, including playcentres, kohanga reo, and Pacific Island language nests.
Read our full policy here
Energy Policy
We are lucky to live in a country rich in renewable energy sources, and we want to make the most of our natural assets.
By living and doing business in smarter ways, we can use less energy.
What electricity we do use can be from almost 100% renewable sources.
Our Energy Policy is about minimising the impact of climate change,
and enabling all Kiwis to enjoy a high quality life in a clean green Aotearoa New Zealand.
Vision
The Green Party envisions a New Zealand in which all reasonable energy needs are reliably and affordably met from renewable energy, and there is much smarter use of energy.
Specific Policy Points
Climate Change and Peak Oil
In order to reduce greenhouse emissions and move away from reliance on dwindling oil supplies, the Green Party supports:
Investigating the role of renewable energy for public transport, other essential transport services, air and marine transport, and our main industries.
Developing fuel efficiency standards for motor vehicles entering New Zealand.
Introducing a carbon charge on fossil fuels,
and using the revenue to reduce income tax on the bottom band, for everyone.
Improving Energy System Planning and Co-ordination
The Green Party will:Redesign the Electricity Commission as a Sustainable Energy Commission with regulatory responsibility for all fuels.
Require an urgent independent review of Transpower's planned grid upgrade with a view to developing alternatives that have less impact on the environment
and better facilitate a sustainable energy system.
Ensure that all major capital projects are tested against sustainable alternatives such as energy efficiency, fuel switching, renewable generation, load shifting and distributed generation.
Investigate introducing 'progressive pricing', whereby the more energy you use, the more you pay, above a certain base level.
Energy Efficiency
The Green Party will encourage energy efficiency and conservation in a number of ways including:
Teaching it in schools.
Providing funding to accelerate domestic retrofits.
Encouraging passive solar design in new houses.
The Transition to Renewables
The Green Party will:Require energy retailers to buy or generate a proportion of their sales from renewable resources.
Help district and regional councils plan for wind farm sites.
Support a programme to install solar water heating panels on government and private buildings.
Investigate the potential of woody biomass, biofuels, and energy from waves, tides and currents.
Read the full policy here
Environmental Protection Policy
We love Aotearoa and we want to protect it.
Our kids have a birth right to swim in clean rivers, fish in the sea, and walk in pristine forests.
Our Environment Policy protects New Zealand’s natural heritage from exploitation of finite resources for short term profit, such as industrial dairying & open-cast mining.
Real prosperity means clean rivers and air, rich biodiversity, and protected marine areas.
Vision:
A society that lives within the limits of the natural world,
where people understand the impacts of their way of life on the environment,
and are involved in decision making about sustainable development.
Sustainability will take precedence over growth in GDP, and will be measured and reported.
Specific Policy Points:
Rivers and Freshwater
Amend the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management and develop national environmental standards to limit pollution from nutrients, sediment and other contaminants.
Require as a minimum that all water bodies be maintained to contact recreational standard, in other words ensure that all rivers and lakes are safe for swimming.
Require resource consents for intensification of land use (because intensification of land use is the main cause of   water quality degradation in New Zealand).
Air Quality
Review the standards for contaminants in the National Environmental Standards for Air Quality to ensure they reflect the latest international research.
Set comprehensive emission standards for all ages and classes of vehicle.
Require transport policy and cost benefit evaluations of new transport infrastructure to consider the effects on air quality from vehicle emissions.
Resource Management Act
Uphold the core principles of environmental protection
and public participation.
Ensure better enforcement of consent conditions by councils.
Support local decision making
with National Policy Statements
and Environmental Standards.
Environmental Reporting and Information
Introduce regular nationwide state of the environment reporting by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Complete the development of sustainability indicators and make these widely available to the public, and use these to measure progress towards sustainability.
Read the full policy here
Food Policy
Food should be safe, healthy, affordable and cruelty free.
Consumers have a right to know what’s in their food, where it comes from and how it has been produced.
Good food is the basis of good health – especially during our formative years.
Healthy eating must be promoted in the education system
and healthy food should be accessible and affordable.
Let’s encourage buying local and supporting New Zealand growers and producers.
See our full policy here
Forestry Policy
Our forests sustain us, our environment and our economy.
Our Policy promotes a viable, stable and sustainable commercial forestry industry of both native and exotic timber species.
It also recognises the spiritual,
cultural (including rongoa Maori),
and recreational value of our forests.
Our forests also clean our water, protect our soils, provide habitat for a range of plants and animals, as well as storing huge amounts of carbon, and our Policy is to protect these services.
We want to protect, maintain and expand the 30 per cent of New Zealand that is in forest.
We also want to contribute to the sustainable management of the world’s forests by ensuring that all wood products used or sold in New Zealand are sourced from legal, sustainably certified forests.
Key Principles
Protect, maintain, enhance and increase our indigenous forests.
Significantly expand diversity of species in our plantation forests,
and manage and use them sustainably.
Protect soil, water and associated dependent indigenous ecosystems.
Develop and maintain a viable, innovative, and environmentally and socially responsible commercial forestry sector.
Retain and expand government ownership of state forests,
unless they are required for treaty settlements.
Ensure that all timber and other wood products used or sold in New Zealand are sourced from legal sustainably certified forests.
Specific Policy Points
Ensure Wood Products are Sustainably Sourced
Ban the sale and import of all illegally harvested timber and wood products.
Require within 5 years that all wood products from indigenous forests be certified as sourced from sustainably managed forests.
Require all timber and wood products to have clear country of origin labeling.
Provide support to a national standard setting process for the Forest Stewardship Council certification scheme.
Work in partnership with both NZ and foreign companies on an international marketing program for New Zealand wood products
that are certified as sustainably grown.
Protect, Maintain and Increase Indigenous Forests
Require a review of the performance of the harvesting plans and permits approved by MAF.
Increase the level of funding to DoC, MfE and MAF for pest control
Ensure that the Q E II Trust and Nga Whenua Rahui are adequately resourced
Increase incentives for private landowners with indigenous forest on their property to protect, maintain and expand their forests.
Research and Development
Support research & development beneficial to the forestry industry, including:
Projects on the use of wood and wood waste as an energy source;
Promoting wood as an alternative to energy intensive building products; and
Funding research and development into converting lignin and cellulose from wood into fuels, chemical feedstock and other products to replace oil and coal derived materials.
Increasing Genetic and Species Diversity in Plantation Forests
Work with industry to have at least 30% of plantation forestry in superior high value species in 10 years.
Investigate ways of restoring genetic diversity to our plantations, to make them less vulnerable to climatic and biosecurity threats.
Protect Biosecurity
Maintain a high level of biosecurity protection (as outlined in our Conservation policy).
Ban the commercial release and growth, development and field-testing of GE trees.
Support and Encourage Regional Based Forestry
Promote farm forestry on agricultural land, especially lower productivity, erosion prone land and sensitive catchments.
Encourage the establishment of collaborative marketing strategies for small lots of high value timber species.
Work with industry to address the need for new investment in large-scale manufacturing, to move away from low value log exports.
Assist development of local businesses doing nursery work, planting, environmental assessment, training, pruning, logging, processing and marketing.
Support the use of State pension funds to invest in NZ forestry as opportunity arises including buy back of forests.
Support Sustainable Management of Overseas Forests
Advocate for international initiatives to:Assist developing countries to establish economic alternatives to forest clearance; and
Provide training opportunities in sustainable forestry for developing countries.
Read the full policy here
Gambling Policy
Introduction
The proliferation of gambling opportunities and the associated increase in spending by New Zealanders on gambling is socially and economically unsustainable.
Strong measures, including regulation, are needed to prevent and minimise the harm caused by high-risk gambling.
The use of gambling proceeds to fund community and sports groups need to be reduced.
Key Principles
Public policy will operate to reduce the harm caused by gambling and to protect our communities and public services from gambling harm.
The most harmful forms of gambling should be regulated.
Specific Policy Points:
Conduct a full social, economic and environmental impact study on the effect of gambling in New Zealand.
Monitor the impacts of gambling, supported by an independent research programme.
Amend all gambling legislation to ensure the primary focus is the elimination of gambling harm.
Support the government moratorium on issuing new casino venue licences.
Support the right of communities to hold binding referenda about the future of casinos when their licences come up for renewal.
Give local government the power to reduce or phase out the number of pub gaming machines in their area
after appropriate consultation and impact assessments.
Genuine consultation with local residents before new gambling venues are established in their neighbourhood (or changes to existing gambling venues made).
Impose a levy on gambling turnover to be paid to independent problem gambling support services.
A fair and transparent process for distributing gaming proceeds.
Mitigate the impact of ending pub pokie grants to community and voluntary sector organisations by establishing a special transitional fund.
Provide more education about the risks of gambling so people can make informed decisions.
Review gambling advertising standards, particularly their impact on children.
No advertising or promotion of harmful forms of gambling.
Read the full policy here
Global Affairs Policy
New Zealand can promote an independent foreign policy which champions
peace-making,
human rights,
democracy,
social justice
and sustainability.
We must work for a strong binding international agreement on climate change.
We need to establish a timetable for New Zealand to give 0. 7% of GNI in overseas development assistance within four years.
We need to oppose foreign military interventions such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Instead we can promote nuclear disarmament
and wealthier countries giving priority to investment in development rather than military spending.
Key Principles
New Zealand's foreign policy will be consistent with universal human values including freedom,
equality,
tolerance and respect for human rights
and also our national values such as egalitarianism, self-reliance and tolerance.
To work towards global sustainability, justice, peace and security.
Specific Policy Points
Global Sustainability
Climate Stabilisation
Support the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
and work for stronger binding international agreement post-2012
Ensure that all our international trade agreements uphold the principles of Kyoto
Place a carbon tax on energy intensive imports from OECD countries which have not accepted binding targets
Grant NZ$1 million annually to the UN ‘Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign’
Ozone Depletion
Contribute NZ$1 million, over a five-year period, to the Montreal Protocol Multilateral Fund
to support accelerated phase-out of all ozone-depleting substances
Biodiversity
Encourage universal membership and full implementation of the Biodiversity Convention and the CITES agreement governing trade in endangered species
Support measures to ensure protection of all native species in New Zealand
Work for a legally-binding, enforceable prohibition on all whaling
Work for universal membership of the International Whaling Commission
and a broadened mandate to protect other species (such as dolphins)
Sustainable Living
Work with the UN
towards ensuring a globally-sustainable ecological footprint by 2030
Support policies that measure genuine ‘progress’ through sustainability indicators rather than solely economic indicators
Negotiate for genuinely sustainable global and regional fishery quotas in each species-catch within four years
Support global negotiations towards integrated sustainable tropical and temperate forestry
Global Justice
Fair Trade and Investment
Ensure that we do not import any goods that have been produced and/or harvested illegally
Promote a global trading system that respects all of thehuman rights
and labour standards
environmental standards and ecologically-sustainable practices
local values and cultures
the right of all to equal access to water for basic needs
the right of all countries and peoples to produce and grow their own food
Debt Relief
Support reducing the indebtedness of poor countries including the cancellation of ‘odious debt’ that should never have been granted.
Ensure that debt cancellation or reduction is not subverted by World Bank and/or IMF conditions.
Appropriate and Ethical Investment
Promote ethical international investment
Open crown investments such as the 'super fund' to public scrutiny
Ensure that all crown investment agencies do not invest in any entity that has investments involved in the following unethical behaviours:Manufacture or sales of any nuclear, chemical or biological weapon or any other weapons contrary to international humanitarian law
Manufacture or exports of addictive substances (including tobacco) which have little or no medicinal use.
Any illegal activities such as illegal harvesting of tropical timber
Gold mining and oil extraction where these involve unacceptable environmental damage.
Support for unconstitutional and/or repressive regimes that do not respect human rights.
Support for groups that deny climate change is occurring
Overseas Development Assistance (ODA)
Investigate ways of increasing new multilateral funding for ODA such as charges on international flights and currency transactions.
Increase New Zealand’s ODA budget to 0.7% of GNI within four years
Ensure that this is used to support projects which are:sustainable and conducive to climate stabilization
promotes local participation
and gender equality, and
enhances the economic and social rights of the recipient countries.
Population, Immigration and Refugees
Endorse an objective of a sustainable global population level and work to achieve that goal.
Ensure that our ODA programme on population planning activities is doubled and designed to meet the needs of poor countries in family planning and reproductive health services.
Identify humanitarian and refugee quotas consistent with national sustainability
Human Rights
Work for a stronger understanding and advocacy of human rights
Ensure that criticism of human rights violations is not muted for economic, political or military reasons.
Promote human rights in Asia (particularly China, Burma and North Korea).
Oppose indefinite and arbitrary detention and collective punishment techniques (such as house demolition and land defilement).
Insist that terrorist suspects be subject to normal judicial process
Support and implement the Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Rights.
Global Peace and Security
Collective Security
Building Peace
Oppose New Zealand involvement in United States-led coalition military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
(but support UN peace-building there);
and oppose any intelligence assistance to these wars by closing down the satellite communications interception station at Waihopai.
Expand New Zealand's resources to do international peacemaking
Explore ways in which governments and civil society can work together to detect, and prevent, impending conflict.
Support the establishment of a conflict prevention unit, a mediation unit and a peacekeeping unit within both the UN Secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Support New Zealand continuing to specialize in regional peacekeeping.
Undertake, as a legally-binding obligation in domestic law, never to commit armed forces for military action beyond our national territory without a UN Security Council authorisation.
Promote the doctrine of ‘responsibility to protect’
in cases of genocide or gross and systematic violations of human rights.
Propose to the UN General Assembly that the six criteria for justifying intervention under the ‘responsibility to protect’ doctrine be adopted by the Security Council.
Prohibit New Zealanders serving as mercenaries in any armed conflict anywhere
Counter-Terrorism
Work to address the legitimate economic and social grievances felt by many groups which foster non-state terrorism, through positive economic, social and political policies.
Support efforts to reach agreement at the UN on the definition of ‘terrorism’, to include terrorist acts by both states and non-state actors.
Call for the closure of any detention camps including these incarcerating ‘unlawful combatants’ (a phrase without validity in international law), and for the fair trial in civil courts of any such detainees within three months of capture or their unconditional release.
Refuse to hand over prisoners of war or other detainees to other countries if it is likely that they will be detained in detention camps or subject to illegal interrogation or torture.
Control of Weaponry
Support a Comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention in which all nuclear weapon states accept a binding legal obligation to eliminate all nuclear weapons from their national arsenals, in negotiated phases leading to total elimination by 2020.
Vote on all resolutions at the UN General Assembly in a manner that is strictly consistent with our national nuclear-free policy and the objective of elimination of nuclear weapons from national arsenals.
Work for a verification protocol for the Biological Weapons Convention.
Work for a stronger and verifiable legal regime governing the ban on weapons in outer space, including a ban on space-based ballistic missile defence systems.
Ratify the 2001 UN protocol banning the illicit manufacture of, and trade in, small arms and light weapons.
Work for the completion of treaties banning the manufacture and use of depleted uranium weapons, cluster munitions, white phosphorous and the use of defoliants in warfare.
Global Community
Cultural Dialogue/ Civil society
Initiate a national-regional ' Meeting of Pacific Cultures’ as part of inter-cultural dialogue at the United Nations.
Support inter-faith dialogue among all religious and spiritual movements in NZ,
with a view to gaining insights into our common spiritual heritage.
Actively work with and support, the various NGOs and other civil society organizations (labour, business, cultural, disarmament, humanitarian, religious) which are committed to sustainability, justice, peace and security and community on a global basis.
Support good governance around the world through effective and legitimate multilateral channels, recognizing that there are a variety of models of participatory governance.
Strengthening Global Governance
Support reform of the UN security council to ensure fairer decision making.
Oppose any attempts to claim national sovereignty of the Arctic seabed that is inconsistent with international law.
Support relinquishing our annexation-based territorial claim (of 1923) to the Ross Dependency, and call for Antarctica to be placed under an appropriate universal jurisdiction.
Strengthening International Law
Encourage universal compulsory jurisdiction of the World Court (ICJ), and universal adherence to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Seek a UN Security Council declaration guaranteeing impartial enforcement of ICJ / ICC decisions.
Propose that the General Assembly call upon the Security Council to ensure the observance of all decisions by the World Court through enforcement procedures.
Read the full policy here
Health Policy
Health Policy Implementation Summary
Funding
Match increasing need for health services with increased funding to enable us to keep pace with the growing need for all kinds of health services.
National has prioritised new motorways and tax cuts for the rich over maintaining the capacity of health services.
Prioritising prevention and early treatment
Focus especially on increasing investment in services, based on evidence, aimed at preventing illness and on community-based treatment and support services.
These have sustained funding cuts under National despite providing the most efficient health gain.
We have already announced that visits to nurses or doctors and prescription charges will be free for under 18’s, and there will be a nurse for every decile 1-4 school.
The Big Three: Tobacco, Alcohol and Obesity
Re-introduce comprehensive programmes, including regulation and legislation where supported by the evidence, to prevent illness caused by tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, and unhealthy food and drink.
For more information, see our Diabetes Action Plan and our Health Heart Action Plan.
Effectively Improving Unhealthy Environments
Recognise the interaction between a person’s health outcomes and other sectors like housing, education, employment and income support.
We would require government agencies to work together to help people improve outcomes in all these aspects of their lives, and to work in partnership with communities.
Making Primary Care More Affordable for Those in the Most Need
Adjust the funding formula for primary care (general practice) to ensure there is no financial barrier to people accessing the care they need, and to ensure that services are proactive in taking care to those who are not currently getting the services they need.
Community Involvement
Provide for more community involvement in health decisions, with greater freedom for DHBs to focus on local needs
and a national conversation about how decisions should be made about what services are funded, and for whom.
Improving Service Quality, Not Cost-cutting
Make services better for patients and increase the efficient use of resources by improving service quality.
We need a culture that encourages quality improvement cycles where evidence is used to drive experimental innovations, and those that work become standard across the whole of our system.
Workforce Solutions
Commit to implementing solutions to health workforce problems that have been jointly developed by health professionals.
Their unions and professional and regulatory organisations, district health boards, consumers, training institutions and other stakeholders.
Care At Home
Properly fund services aimed at providing the kind of support that enables people to have their treatment and rehabilitation needs met in their own homes.
Aged Care
Implement all recommendations of the Human Rights Commission’s ‘Caring Counts’ report, to ensure quality of life for older people
and fairness for those who care for them.
End of Life
Enable everyone to access to high quality palliative care regardless of their location.
Encourage advanced care and end-of-life planning, and support public education to raise awareness of end-of-life issues.
Support a law change that allows an adult diagnosed with a terminal illness to access medical-assistance in dying.
Integrating Services
Continue to drive service integration, so that a person’s interaction with health services is seamless across the entire system, rather than fragmented duplication of interactions with more or less independent silos.
This is particularly important in the relationship between community-based and hospital-based care, and in the relationships between more specialised services (such as maternity or mental health services) with general healthcare services.
Whānau Ora
We would continue to support and strengthen Whānau Ora
Child and Youth Health
The Green Party has a special focus on providing the best possible start for children, with the aim that every child thrives.
You can read our full package here.
See the full policy here
Housing Policy
All New Zealanders, deserve a sustainable and affordable home, whether renting or owning
Safe, secure, sustainable housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
How and where we build homes has a major impact on the environment and we are committed to promoting housing that is energy efficient, close to transport and is designed to be sustainable.
Key Principles
Housing is a social good and a basic right.
No one should be prevented from establishing a decent home because of low income.
All people should have secure tenure of appropriate housing.
Housing developments should optimise land use, reduce car use and be built to sustainable building principles.
Energy-saving and resource-conserving technologies must be promoted for all buildings.
Specific Policy Points
Providing Secure and Affordable Social Housing
Increase acquisition and building of state housing units by at least 3000 units a year for the next 3 years.
Maintain an income related rental policy of 25% of income for Housing New Zealand Corporation tenants.
Expanding the Third Sector
Provide funding to third sector housing organisations for a minimum of 1000 units a year for the next 3 years,
prioritising those with commitment to environmental and social sustainability.
Remove legal and institutional barriers to the development of co-operative housing, eco-villages, self-built, sweat equity housing, shared ownership, and papakainga housing
Supported housing for those in need.
Ensure appropriate housing and support for those living with, and recovering from, mental illness and addictions.
Support older people and people with physical or intellectual impairments so that they can remain in their own homes, or move into suitable housing .
Nobody Left Homeless
Create a legally binding duty on the public sector to ensure housing needs are met.
Support third sector organisations working for homeless people.
Housing Affordability
Reduce speculative investment in the housing market by tightening the rules around loss attributing qualifying companies and introducing a capital gains tax on all but the family home.
Increase peoples ability to save for a deposit and service a mortgage by increasing the minimum wage to no less than 66% of the average wage.
Introduce a Universal Child Benefit
that can be capitalised towards the child's first home.
Increase provision of low interest financing for low-income households seeking home ownership
Shift the standard tenancy conditions towards more secure and predictable tenure arrangements.
Rural Housing
Increase funding and support to repair and renovate rural housing.
Ensure access to basic water, sanitation and cooking requirements, wherever these are lacking
Recognising Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Ensure that central government works with iwi, hapu and urban Maori on housing issues.
Support papakainga and local iwi and hapu third sector housing.
Sustainable Buildings
Develop a sustainable building strategy, which sets standards for use of building materials.
Require, as part of a National Policy Statement on Sustainable Energy, district plans to facilitate the use of solar and/or wind energy.
Introduce national technical qualifications for administration of the Building Code at local level and require that NZ building inspectors are trained to this standard.
Ensure that all new buildings conform to sustainable building principles.
Support and expand programmes to make existing homes more energy and water efficient.
Building for Sustainable Transport, Healthier Communities, and Individual Wellbeing
Develop a National Policy Statement on housing to streamline consent processes
and incorporate sustainability standards.
Ensure housing development and subdivision provisions of district plans minimise car use and increase ability to use public transport.
Support mixed-use zones where small business and residential living can both be accommodated.
Provide matched funding for local authorities that take active measures to support social housing or low income retrofitting programmes.
Revise the building code so that new houses and building premises are required to be accessible by design unless specifically exempted.
Work with local authorities to develop urban density guidelines to avoid both sprawl and overcrowding.
Read the policy here or view the policy in sign language
Human Rights Policy
We stand opposed to any discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, gender, political belief, sexuality, marital status, age, disability or socio-economic background.
New Zealand human rights legislation can be improved to make it consistent with international law.
We can promote a tolerant and diverse society, and in doing so give additional assistance to new migrants and refugees.
We can ensure New Zealand is a good international citizen, by championing the human rights of people in other nations.
The Green Party believes that all people should be free and have equal opportunities,
and that our inherent human rights must be protected and upheld by the rule of law.
We oppose discrimination on the basis of nationality, ethnic origin, religion, political belief, gender, sexuality, marital status, family, age, disability, or socio-economic background.
We believe that everyone deserves a fair go.
Promoting Tolerance and Valuing Ethnic Diversity
Our country benefits from the presence of many migrant communities.
Not only do migrants add to the richness of our experience and understanding of the world, but they also provide much need professional skills and contribute to the economy.
For example, 40 per cent of doctors working in New Zealand are foreign-born; our health system depends on their skills and experience.
We believe that creating inclusive, tolerant communities is good for all New Zealanders.
The Greens will:Work with ethnic communities to combat prejudice and to develop fair, compassionate, and effective immigration and migrant settlement processes.
Provide assistance for all new migrants to learn English.
Establish a stand-alone Ministry of Ethnic Affairs, in line with the establishment of a Minister of Ethnic Affairs.
Ensure greater availability of bridging courses for immigrants who have professional skills which Aotearoa/New Zealand needs.
Provide all new immigrants with a copy of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act
and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their preferred language.
Our Special Responsibility Towards Refugees and Asylum Seekers
The Green Party acknowledges that there are people who cannot safely remain in their countries of origin.
Humanitarian disasters, both natural and human-made, leave thousands of people homeless every year.
We believe that New Zealanders want to help those in need.
The Greens will:Increase our annual refugee quota, providing adequate resources.
Offer English as a second language courses that are affordable to all adult refugees who need them.
Ensure that all refugees and asylum seekers are treated humanely, with detention only used in exceptional cases where a genuine security risk can be identified.
Abide by the provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention and related international agreements,
including upholding the independence of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority, and abide by the convention that the government cannot overturn its decisions.
Remove the ability for Government Ministers to overturn decisions by judicial bodies, for example, decisions relating to the Security Risk Certificate procedure.
Increase the resources government makes available for successful resettlement.
The Root of Human Rights in the Home
Fundamental human rights are the framework for a fair and just society.
It is important for New Zealanders to know their rights, acknowledge their responsibilities and respect the rights of others.
The Greens will:Ensure that government itself is bound by any human rights legislation, including the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Review the exceptions in the Human Rights Act to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability.
Resource the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Commissioner for Children sufficiently to fulfil their mandates.
Develop a framework for human rights education to empower people to understand their citizenship, human rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Ensure that our human rights legislation and practises are in accord with our international obligations.
Work with the Human Rights Commission to implement the New Zealand Action Plan for Human Rights.
Our Role as an International Citizen
We have a responsibility to use our wealth and influence to promote peace, sustainability and human rights within the international community.
The Greens will:Campaign for more far-reaching debt relief for poorer countries.
Finalise a timetable to reach the United Nations' overseas aid target of 0. 7% of Gross National Income within four years.
Maximise the effectiveness of aid by delivering a higher proportion of it through Non Governmental Organizations, with a strong human rights dimension.
Complete the ratification and legislative implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and its Protocol,
the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
and the ILO Conventions
and the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Ensure that in any dealings with countries in which human rights violations occur, including economic and trade negotiations, the interests of disadvantaged and disempowered communities are paramount.
ICT Policy
Key Principles
Benefits of ICT need to be shared among everyone
ICT should be used to enhance productivity
and reduce resource use
Development of ICT must be socially responsible and sustainable.
The use of Free and Open-Source software should be encouraged.
Specific Policy Points
Equity and Access
Support the establishment of community ICT hubs in schools, public libraries and community centres.
Support research into the feasibility of municipally owned free wireless Internet systems
Ensure that all government websites are accessible to people with disabilities
Aim to provide world-class hi-speed Internet access at reasonable cost to every community
Ensure that all government databases, where possible, are made freely available to the public.
Free Open-Source Software (FOSS)
Require government departments to consider FOSS where appropriate.
Encourage a level playing field between commercial vendors of software and FOSS
ICT and Education
Support the balanced use of ICT in education
Encourage the development of educational ICT service providers.
Ensure that the Ministry of Education provides information and support to schools about the benefits and advantages of FOSS.
Taxation and Software Business Issues
Support the development of independent software ventures in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
Modify patent laws to specifically exclude software from being patented (software can still be copyrighted), unless it is part of a larger development involving non-software components.
Ensure that our information systems are developed and maintained by New Zealand companies.
Work with industry to:Improve the availability of venture and seed capital for local commercial software companies.
Develop a Research and Design industry to encourage graduates to stay here to help build our capacities.
Privacy
Support review of the Privacy Act 1993 and the Official Information Act 1982, to improve the public access to information.
Support amending the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 to include a right to privacy.
Publicize the right of people to see and correct personal information held on them.
ICT and Worker Issues
Ensure that workers are protected from unreasonable employer demands on their non-work time.
Monitor the health of workers for known harms of ICT.
E-Waste and ICT Energy Efficiency
Develop strategies to reduce e-waste that includes a public education programme
Use a combination of incentives and regulation to ensure that the negative environmental effects of e-waste and ICT products are internalised by the industry.
Set a timetable for the transition to mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Promote the development and use of energy efficient ICT products.
Fund organisations that collect, process; reuse and resell used ICT products.
Ensure that e-waste is not exported to regimes with weaker environmental and occupational standards than our own.
ICT Obligations and Protocols for State and Industry
Encourage public scrutiny of any ICT system that is responsible for the safety of human life or for democratic processes.
Develop professional registration for ICT personnel working on safety critical applications
Review software used in the state sector, on an ongoing basis, for security issues.
Support legislation that increases the reliability of the Internet.
Ensure that copying, as defined in Intellectual Property (IP) law, applies to digital works.
Prohibit the removal of identifying data and distribution of altered digital work.
Ensure that ISPs are not liable for anything done via email, or via their service provision.
Read the full policy here
Immigration Policy
We support a progressive and humane immigration system which acknowledges the right to live in Aotearoa New Zealand derives from Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Our United Nations refugee quota can increase and we need to prepare for people displaced by climate change.
New migrants need increased support such as better funded settlement services and language training.
We need to ensure that temporary migrants have decent working conditions and pathways to residency appropriate to their skills.
Key principles
Treat all migrants with dignity, compassion, and respect in accordance with international conventions on human rights.
Ensure that new immigrants are welcomed and included in Aotearoa New Zealand society.
Tangata whenua have a partnership role in determining Aotearoa New Zealand’s immigration policy.
Effects of population growth on the environment, economy and infrastructure need to be actively managed and planned for.
Specific Policy Points
Assisting Refugees
Increase our refugee quota.
Increase the resources government makes available for refugees' successful resettlement.
Change the system for refugee family reunification from a lottery to a fair process with published priorities and standards.
Commit to comprehensive resettlement support for asylum seekers.
Climate Migrants
Ensure our immigration legislation makes provision for people displaced by climate change based on need.
Voluntary Immigration
Give priority to skills needed to build a low-carbon economy
that lifts living standards.
Tighten up the process for the investor visa category and ensure better oversight of business development promises.
Closely monitor the labour market impact of skilled migrant workers.
Temporary Migrants
Grant temporary migrant workers full labour rights.
Allow temporary workers who possess valuable skills to apply for residency.
Language Tuition for Immigrants
Make adult English courses available outside Auckland and the other main centres.
Work towards making Aotearoa New Zealand’s other official languages – Te Reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language – available to immigrants.
Te Tiriti Education
Make learning about Te Tiriti o Waitangi compulsory
as part of the induction of all new immigrants.
Ensure that iwi and hapū have the opportunity for input into Te Tiriti induction, and are adequately resourced by Government to do this.
Positive Resettlement Experience
Provide new immigrants in all categories with information about Aotearoa New Zealand civics, culture and environment.
Work towards a culture of acceptance in Aotearoa New Zealand so that new immigrants are able to participate in all aspects of society.
Adaptation Support for Immigrant Professionals
Provide professional bodies with funding support to help immigrants reach the standards needed to practise their professions.
Provide student loans for skilled migrants undertaking bridging courses for entry to any regulated profession on the long-term skill shortage list.
Encourage the use of practical supervision of those with recognised qualifications as an available route to registration.
Immigration Services and Administration
Ensure Immigration New Zealand is funded and administered to achieve a transparent, consistent and expeditious application process.
Determine how Māori want to work with the Crown on immigration decisions and reviews as a Te Tiriti based process.
Impose more vigorous regulation on the immigration consultancy industry.
Oppose granting Immigration officers increased search and detention powers.
Immigration Policy Review
Take an evidence-based approach to regularly reviewing the government’s immigration policy.
Read the full policy here
Income Support Policy
Everyone deserves decent work, a living wage, and to be treated with respect.
Work includes paid work, but also the vital, unpaid work of caring for children and family members, and volunteering in our communities.
Everyone should have enough income to fully participate in their community, and to live safe, healthy lives.
We support welfare policies that are sufficient to ensure this, simple to understand and access, and universal in their application.
We are committed to moving New Zealand back to a state of full employment – in which there is enough work for everyone who needs it.
We support welfare policies that help to achieve this.
Key Principles
Everyone has a standard of living that enables them to participate in their community.
People have sufficient income for their personal and whanau/family's well-being.
People are actively involved in meeting their potential and creating a fulfilling life.
Greater emphasis on sufficiency, simplicity, universality.
Specific Policy Points
Work with other parties and the public to develop a proposal(s) for the introduction of a UBI and the changes needed to fund and implement it.
Set benefit amounts at a level sufficient for all basic needs of the individual/family.
Protect all benefit levels by linking rates to a fixed percentage of the average wage (like superannuation).
Replace the current Social Security Act 1964 with a simple two-tier benefit system consisting of a universal base rate that is enough to live on, with add-ons for specific circumstances, such as dependants, disability or chronic illness.
A Universal Child Benefit
with the ability to capitalise it towards a home deposit.
Abolish stand-down periods,
treat people aged 18 and over as adults for benefit purposes;
no forced work for the dole.
Support urgent Government action to address the problem of benefit abatement for those moving into employment, and the removal of the poverty trap created by high marginal tax rates that exist for people on low incomes.
Introduce a tax-free zone at the bottom end of the income scale.
DPB to be protected; no compulsory work-testing.
Appropriate training, vocational advice and support for sole parents.
Remove discrimination from tax credit regimes such as the In Work Payment component of Working for Families.
Support an allowance to beneficiaries who carry out a minimum number of hours of voluntary work per week.
Improve the culture of Work and Income so that people are treated with dignity and respect and are enable to access their full entitlements promptly.
Read the full policy here
Industrial Relations Policy
Industrial law needs to protect workers bargaining rights, ensure workplace safety, and guarantee an adequate income.
The minimum wage should be increased to 66% of the average wage.
The Employment Relations Act should be reviewed to enable multi-employer collective bargaining and the right to strike on social issues.
A Pay and Employment Equity Commission needs to be established, and legislation passed, to reduce inequalities based on gender, ethnicity and disability.
Key Principles
Pay and employment equity for all workers,
including Maori.
Workers, employers and unions all involved in decision-making about the workplace.
Workplace democracy and collective organisation are essential to address the inherent potential for inequality of power between employers and employees.
Workers need protection under the law and should be paid a living wage.
Workplaces that are safe, healthy
and free from discrimination.
Specific Policy Points
Living Wage and Job Security
Increase the minimum wage and ensure it does not fall below 66% of the average wage.
Make the minimum wage the same for all workers, including youth and employed trainees.
Support workers' calls for fair wages.
Improve rights and protection for casual, seasonal, fixed term and temporary workers.
Work/Life Balance
Require employers to consider, in good faith, requests for flexible working arrangements from the parents of young children.
Industrial Democracy
Support a complete review of the Employments Relations Act.
Improve workplace democracy
and improve workers’ union representation and participation in the future of their work.
Implement international standards on the right to strike, worker accident compensation, pay equity and breastfeeding breaks.
Collective Organising and Bargaining
Support initiatives for multi-party bargaining, including multi-employer collective bargaining, and collective bargaining for contractors.
Support the right of unionised workers to prevent freeloading by non-union workers.
Pay and Employment Equity
Better access to information on employment rights for vulnerable workers.
Support equal pay for men and women workers for work of equal value.
Increase workplace access to subsidised early childhood and after school care.
Healthy and Safe Workplaces
Stronger laws for key health and safety areas including hazardous substances, harrassment, occupational cancer, pregnancy, lone working, stress.
Where employers are prosecuted and fined for breaches of workplace safety, a portion of the fine will be paid to workers injured as a result of the breach.
State Sector
Support a review of the State Sector Act and the Public Finance Act to provide greater collaboration across government agencies to:
Promote a strong public sector, operating as a single entity.
Lessen competition between departments.
Promote better employment practices.
Promote multi departmental collective bargaining of consistent wages & conditions for state sector workers.
Justice Policy
Our commitment to ensure a fair, transparent judicial and legal system
together with community-based mediation, restoration and rehabilitation, is at the heart of our justice policy.
The best way to keeping families and communities safe is to address the causes of crime and where possible prevent it from happening in the first place.
Prison needs to be the last resort as the evidence shows us that putting people in jail is often an expensive way of creating more crime.
We recognise that victims of crime have every right to be angry and to see offenders punished.
This needs to be done in a way that does not create more crime and more victims.
To help keep communities safe we believe there needs to be a greater focus on victims’ rights, restorative justice, crime prevention and rehabilitation.
Key Principles
A greater focus on mediation, restorative justice and community-based justice.
Crime prevention and the rehabilitation of offenders is as important in sentencing as punishment of crime.
Victims, offenders, families and communities are supported in taking an active and meaningful role in restorative justice.
Specific Policy Points
Restorative Justice
Increase funding and support for restorative justice in the criminal justice system.
Support for restorative justice after sentencing, particularly in prisons.
Adequately fund victim support services to pay for victims to attend restorative justice processes.
Compensating Victims
Provide counselling and compensation for victims.
Support provisions to deduct unpaid restitution and court fines through the IRD or Income Support.
Prisons and Sentencing
Increase the options available to judges in criminal cases.
A moratorium on all new prison construction except for the purposes of replacement.
No private prisons.
Increase provision for rehabilitation of prison inmates.
Increased access to programmes in prisons focused on education, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and mental health.
Ensure sufficient 'family houses' for pregnant women and mothers in prison to ensure good bonding with infants and continuing attachment with young children.
Access to Courts and Justice
Publicly funded mediation services for civil proceedings.
Legal aid available for community organisations.
Maori Justice
Maori tikanga and reo programmes in prisons and youth justice centres.
Iwi and hapu collaboration in prison management.
Funding to explore Maori justice approaches.
Youth Justice
Maintain the current age of criminal responsibility at 14.
Increase resources for Family Group Conferences and training for their convenors.
Please see the full policy here
Local Government Policy
Key Principles
The activities of local government should enhance the social, environmental, cultural and economic wellbeing of the communities it serves.
Under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tangata whenua will work in partnership with local government on economic, environmental, social and cultural issues within their rohe.
Decisions should be taken at the level closest to the citizens, town, city or region and only those tasks that the local level cannot effectively carry out alone should be referred to higher levels.
Local and central government should recognise that they are distinctive but interrelated and inter-dependent spheres of government and work together to promote the best outcomes for communities and the environment.
Only voters should determine who governs local authorities.
There should be no taxation without representation.
Commercial activities undertaken by local government should prioritise the needs of its communities
Māori Issues Policy
The Green Party envisions a nation where Te Tiriti o Waitangi is accepted and celebrated as a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand, the status of Māori as tangata whenua is recognised and respected, and the many dynamic aspects of Māori life and culture are enhanced for the benefit of us all.
We seek a future where tikanga is respected and enabled,
where racism is eliminated,
and where the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effects of colonisation on our people are healed
to create a healthy society where everyone thrives.
Key Principles
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a fundamental constitutional document.
The rangatiratanga of tāngata whenua is a collective human right protected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Resolution and restitution for all outstanding breaches of Te Tiriti must be found.
Māori are entitled to equitable access to secure employment and decent income.
Local economic development by, with and for mana whenua is essential.
Tāngata whenua must be recognised and supported both in their role as kaitiaki and in protecting their taonga and tikanga against negative impacts.
The kaitiakitanga of hapū, and shared decision making with mana whenua must be supported and respected.
The status of health as a taonga to Māori must be recognised.
Elevate and celebrate unique taonga of toi o Māori and the contribution it makes to the identity of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Specific Policy Points
Respect for Rangatiratanga
Support and implement the Declaration of Indigenous Peoples Rights.
Support the entrenchment of the Māori seats.
Enable Māori voters to change from the General to the Māori roll, or vice versa, at any time.
Support guaranteed tangata whenua participation in local governance.
Support all Te Tiriti o Waitangi claimants having the opportunity to have their land and resources returned to them.
Make funding, resources and expertise available for claimants to properly prepare their claims.
Reaffirmation and Support for Kaitiakitanga
Recognise ancestral land ownership and kaitiakitanga in rural areas.
Support an increased role for mana whenua as kaitiaki of their rohe.
Support the return to iwi sites within the Conservation Estate that are of high value to tangata whenua, such as waahi tapu.
Reject the use of the Conservation Estate as a cheap source of land for Treaty settlements.
Fund a process to enable tangata whenua to exercise their kaitiakitanga over the marine environment, including their customary and commercial fishing resources.
Require regional councils to recognise the kaitiaki role of hapū when developing regional coastal plans and aquaculture management areas.
Recognise the cultural heritage value of traditional Māori plants and animals.
Respect Māori concepts of the sacred nature of mauri and of whakapapa.
Ensuring Access to Economic Prosperity
Support equitable access for Māori to secure employment and decent wages.
Encourage research to identify discriminatory workplace practises.
Support effective equal employment opportunities programmes, training and support to encourage Māori into higher-paid areas of employment.
Support Māori protection of cultural and traditional knowledge, and intellectual property rights, from misappropriation.
Work with iwi and hapū to facilitate the use of iwi-owned forests and forestry waste for biomass
Facilitate iwi and hapū involvement in the development and use of geothermal energy
Support papakainga and local iwi and hapū third sector housing
Provide support for Māori service providers to provide free or low cost small business training and to assist students to access start up capital for their ventures.
Support for Matauranga Māori
Support Māori to have control of their education and contribute to the education of all New Zealanders.
Introduce universal Te Reo Māori in all public schools
and provide the resources necessary to enable this.
Work towards tikanga Māori being taught in all schools
Increase funding levels so that there are adequate resources in te reo for kura, kohanga reo, and other full immersion and bilingual learners.
Increase the number of places and scholarships available for the training of Māori teachers and teachers in te reo.
Increase the number of Māori advisers and resource teachers.
Support the critical role that kuia and kaumatua have within matauranga Māori.
Remain committed to a dedicated Māori Television broadcasting service.
Māori Justice
Ensure that tikanga and to reo programmes, delivered by Māori, are available in all prisons and youth justice centres.
Facilitate hapū and iwi collaboration in prison management.
Fund the development of Māori focus units in all prisons and youth justice centres.
Wahine Māori
Resource a series of nationwide hui of wahine Māori to determine their priorities and needs for the future.
Implement programmes and policies to reduce existing social and economic disparities between Māori and non-Māori women.
Health as Taonga
Support research partnerships between Māori and non-Māori
to meet the urgent need for research that benefits Māori health.
Increase accessibility of health services to Māori through increased community and marae-based services.
Ensure Māori representation and consultation at all levels of the health service.
Support rongoa Māori, including traditional breastfeeding and birthing practices.
Accelerate the training and development for Māori healthcare workers.
Support and extend targeted smoking cessation programmes for Māori women.
Support tangata whenua initiatives to supply high quality mental health care.
Read the full policy here
Open Government and Democracy Policy
Government and democracy must be clean, transparent and fair.
New Zealanders have the right to information used to make decisions that affect their lives, so we must make it easier for people to actively engage as citizens in our democracy.
This means cleaning up politics to ensure the influence of money is not allowed to distort our democratic system.
It also means increasing transparency, so New Zealanders know what is going on and who is influencing the decision-makers.
Specific Policy Points
Electoral Reform
Maori fairly and effectively represented in Parliament through guaranteed representation
Support Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) .
Support a fixed election date
Official Information Act
Ensure the Ombudsman has the resources needed to respond to all OIA complaints in a reasonable timeframe, and greater powers to censure agencies for non-compliance or lack of co-operation
Support legal responsibilities and penalties for public servants to keep good records and ensure staff training on proper implementation of OIA
Lobbyists
Introduce a statutory register of lobbyists
Introduce guidelines for MPs on handling lobbying communications
Election Financing
Initiate a review of the overall operation of campaign finance rules, including rules around donations and spending caps and non-political party election activities
Introduce tigher limits on anonymous donations, place an annual limit of $35,000 on total donations from any single person or entity, and introduce a ban on overseas donations
Local Government
Require Local Government to publish all resource consent applications and decisions, council minutes and order papers, and video of all council meetings and committee meetings
Introduce a pecuniary interests register for councillors, similar to that used in parliament, and the source of all campaign donations over $500
Please see the full policy here
Population Policy
We love Aotearoa New Zealand, and we want to look after it and all of its people.
We can do this by living and doing business in smarter, greener ways.
Our Population Policy is about understanding the optimal population for Aotearoa,
planning for the future,
and enabling parents to make informed choices about family size.
Key Principles
Māori have a partnership role in determining the population policy.
New Zealand's population should not exceed the ecological carrying capacity of the country
Informed decisions about family size and spacing will be made by the parents concerned
A stable population is desirable to minimise negative impacts on infrastructure and resources
Specific Policy Points
Ensuring Sustainablility of Aotearoa New Zealand's Population
Support continuing development of the Ministry for the Environment's Ecological Footprint modelling to incorporate best practice
Seek to reduce New Zealand's per capita ecological footprint by supporting practices that curb unnecessary production and consumption
Retention of spare population capacity
Regularly review NZ's immigration policy to retain population capacity to absorb climate change refugees and returning NZ citizens
An optimum population and quality of life
Raise awareness about the need for sustainable population levels
Research what an optimum population level could be in order to maintain both spare capacity and an acceptable standard of living
Aotearoa New Zealand as a responsible global citizen
Accept our share of climate change refugees particularly from Pacific Island countries
Work cooperatively with other countries to address problems of over-population and environmentally unsustainable lifestyles
Read the full policy here
Recreation and Sport Policy
Vision
People of all ages and abilities have easy access to a range of recreational and sporting opportunities.
Participation in recreation and sport is viewed positively and there is increasing involvement by all New Zealanders
regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability.
Recreation and sport assist people in maintaining mental and physical health, active lifestyles and contribute to their social wellbeing.
Key Principles
The provision of recreational and sporting facilities should be sufficient to meet the diverse needs of local communities and support a range of activities for all age groups, now and into the future.
Recreation and sport should be accessible to all, and encourage participation by groups whose participation rates are traditionally lower.
Equity is needed between women's and men's recreation and sport with respect to funding, promotion, participation, and prominence in the media.
Communities need access to the natural environment and public open space for a range of recreational opportunities, whilst ensuring sensitive ecological habitats are protected.
Recreation and sport should be provided and promoted in a way that encourages healthy lifestyle choices and behaviours.
The contribution of volunteers, coaches, officials and administrators should be recognised and supported.
Read the full policy here
Research, Science and Technology Policy
We can use research, science and technology to help us achieve clean, green prosperity.
Research and science are tools that can help boost our quality of life.
Research and science should always be ethically based and conducted in light of the precautionary principle.
The Green Party promotes the development and use of clean, green technology that delivers green jobs − jobs which are good for the environment
and good for people.
We would use research, science and technology to create a smart, green economy.
Specific Policy Points
Funding
The Green Party will change the funding model for research so that:'Public good' research is split into base and contestable pools.
Base funding to only be available to the public sector.
Multi-disciplinary environmental and social issue projects are emphasised.
Fundamental and applied science research is publicly funded,
whilst private funds develop the resultant technologies.
Clear ethical investment guidelines exist for venture capital funds.
Businesses are encouraged to invest in R&D.
Pooling of the R&D funds of SME's are facilitated.
Structures
The Green Party will advocate for a new science community structure to:Increase the career security of scientists.
De-bureaucratise the administration system
Establish greater links between researchers and society
Widen the range of stakeholder groups influencing the direction of research in CRI's.
Allow independent researchers to access contestable science funding.
Maintain core support services.
Encourage innovation and the development of small-scale appropriate technologies.
To hold publicly funded research results in the public domain, with proceeds reinvested in research.
What Research?
Some of the Green's research priorities include climate change, environmental issues, biotechnology (non-GE), organics, renewable and efficient energy, sustainable transport, waste minimisation, conservation, alternative economics, work and technological change.
Technology
The Green Party will encourage the development of ethically acceptable technology by:Requiring grant schemes to include sustainability as a key criterion for funding.
Creating an agency to dispense information about sustainable technologies.
Providing financial encouragement for the adoption of new technologies.
Encouraging the use of open source software.
Supporting agricultural and horticultural advancements
without patenting of life forms.
Supporting the development of genetic technologies based on ethical screening and the precautionary principle on a case by case basis, so long as they are contained within the laboratory and are not applied to food production.
Te Tiriti and Science
The Green party will respect and support:Maori concepts of mauri and whakapapa as relevant ethical guidelines.
Opposition to patents over life
and genetic mixing across species barriers.
The retention, with Maori, of intellectual property rights in the development of study of Maori knowledge, in partnership with local Maori in the public science system.
Science Education
The Green Party will focus on holistic science by:Requiring the inclusion of environmental science and ethics in all study programs.
Encouraging integrated study.
Expanding opportunities for primary & secondary teachers to undertake research.
Encouraging interaction between researchers and school children.
Seas and Ocean Policy
We can protect our children’s birth right to swim, fish and collect kaimoana in our waters.
We can adopt a precautionary approach to marine activities, charging those that use resources commercially and prohibiting them from degrading those resources and so ensure greater protection for marine species and the oceanic commons.
To maintain the viability of our fisheries for the future, the Green Party would move to an integrated fisheries management system, ban damaging fishing methods and expand marine reserves.
We would also work towards healthy oceans by eliminating or reducing pollution sources.
Key Principles
The sea's ecosystems must be protected from pollution, alien species, over-utilisation.
Marine ecosystems are complex; we need a precautionary approach to marine activities.
Mana whenua and the public must be involved in making decisions about the sea.
Those using the sea commercially should not degrade it, and should pay to use it.
Specific Policy Points
Oceans Strategy
The proposed Oceans Strategy, which would integrate all uses of the sea, should:Maintain the integrity, functioning and biodiversity of marine ecosystems.
Ensure consistent processes and goals of all marine activities under the RMA.
Ensure consistency of our obligations under international marine agreements.
Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Management
Integrated marine ecosystem management (rather than single species management).
Propose a return to resource rentals.
More vigorously control long lining.
Observers on all significant vessels.
Environmental impact assessment and best practice for fishing methods.
Set national standards under the RMA to guide regional councils on marine farms.
Minerals Extraction and Industrial Activities
Strengthen environmental management framework for Exclusive Economic Zone.
Ensure those involved in industrial activities pay to clean up any pollution they cause.
Support resource rentals on minerals, oil and gas extraction (see Economics Policy).
Marine Conservation
Pass Marine Reserves Bill and create a network of protection areas.
Set near zero limits for threatened by-catch species in all fisheries.
No seabed mining in significant habitats, eg Maui dolphin.
Support an international moratorium on bottom trawling.
Step up marine biosecurity efforts.
Oppose all commercial and so-called 'scientific' whaling.
Research and Education
A major increase in research into marine ecosystems, environmental effects of fishing.
Develop urgently needed biosecurity risk assessment and control protocols.
Marine Pollution
Require oil tankers to be double-hulled.
Passage restrictions to protect sensitive areas.
Read the full policy here
Security Services Summary
We’ll work to stop our intelligence agencies spying on legitimate, peaceful, political dissenters
We support an inquiry as to whether the SIS should be abolished and responsibility for detecting politically motivated crime returned to the Police.
New Zealand should close the Waihopai spy base, which operates in the interests of other countries rather than our own.
To enable better oversight, a regular parliamentary select committee should replace the government-dominated Intelligence and Security Committee, and the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security should become an Officer of Parliament.
Please see our full policy here.
Sexual Orientation and Identity Policy
Key Principles
Rainbow communities are entitled to equal opportunities in law and in practice.
Rainbow and heterosexual partnerships are equally entitled to respect and support.
Parenting skills are distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity.
Community development is crucial
for the empowerment of rainbow communities.
All people, no matter what their health or partnership status, have the right to adequate medical care and protection from discrimination within the health services.
The interests and identity of rainbow students in schools and tertiary institutions need to be protected.
Rainbow communities are entitled to fair and just treatment in their dealings with police, penal institutions, courts, and the military.
Read the full policy here
Sustainable Business Policy
Smart sustainable business delivers real prosperity for everyone.
By supporting New Zealand’s small business and manufacturing industries we can
create jobs that are good for the environment
and good for people.
Through educating businesses to adopt sustainability as a core value
we can create a more prosperous
and equal society.
Business is not just about profit but about people too.
Key Principles
Support and educate businesses to adopt sustainability as a core value.
Seek to promote a fair competitive environment for NZ businesses that removes outright competition with products and services from countries
with poor human
and worker rights records
and with poor environmental practices.
Encourage public and private investment in sustainable businesses.
Promote public recognition and pride in New Zealand companies.
Support New Zealand's manufacturing base.
Make it easier for businesses to invest in appropriate technology and research.
Make compliance easier, especially for small and medium enterprises.
Policy Points
Supporting Sustainability
Make sustainability a key goal of all business support programmes provided through government funded organisations.
Support businesses to adopt sustainable certification programmes.
Require all government owned enterprises to adopt sustainable procurement practices.
Ensure appropriate funding for NGOs working to assist operational and behavioural change in businesses.
Investigate preferential tax treatment for green technologies, low emission vehicles and other sustainable practices.
Educating for Sustainability
Promote the inclusion of sustainable practices in all relevant courses purchased by the Tertiary Education Commission.
Continue and increase funding for professional and business advisory bodies for sustainability education.
Addressing Externalisation of Costs
Support trialling industry accords for specific issues, monitoring for effectiveness, refining as necessary and backing up with legislation if required.
Investigating Clustering
Fund urgent research into the environmental/social impacts of clustering.
Improve funding and support delivered through MBIE by focusing on clustering that increases energy efficiency.
Support locating clusters near transport hubs (rail lines, ports etc).
Protecting Businesses from Unfair Competition
Require mandatory country of origin labeling for all imported products.
Promote the value and importance of buying New Zealand made products.
Support mandatory product insurance for all imported manufactured goods.
Investigate other pre-market methods that will help address unfair competition.
Supporting Research and Development
Investigate tax breaks for spending on research and development that meet sustainability criteria in key target sectors including organics, information technology and sustainable energy.
Increase funding to government research organisations.
Promote strategies for efficient resource use and replacement of non-renewable resources.
Support research and development of new energy systems, transport systems, housing materials, organic production, information systems and technology.
Finding and Keeping the Right Staff
Promote life long training and apprenticeships.
Raise the current cap on numbers of apprentices.
Encourage businesses to employ skilled post graduates for research and development.
Support employer of choice programmes.
Work with and support local economic development agencies to further improve coordination of local employment strategies.
Supporting New Zealand's Manufacturing Base
Support the initiatives of manufacturers to work collaboratively to improve and transform the manufacturing sector in New Zealand.
Ensure the interests of manufacturing are represented at Cabinet with a Minister whose portfolio includes responsibility for this sector.
Encourage business-to-business local procurement practices.
Supporting Small Businesses
Promote simplifying compliance requirements for small businesses.
Explore ways of increasing access to capital for small businesses, including providing tax deductions for investors.
Improve small business awareness of currently available angel investor opportunities.
Increase funding for the Be Your Own Boss scheme so it is available to anyone starting a business for the first time and new migrants.
Support for Māori and Pasifika Businesses
Provide ongoing support for Māori and Pasifika service providers.
Ensure that all government information on business compliance is available in Māori and key Pasifika languages.
Read our full policy here
Tertiary Education Policy
A vibrant tertiary sector is vital for the social, cultural, environmental and economic wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.
We believe that access to tertiary education is primarily a public good.
We will work towards a tertiary education system in which fees are lowered, student debt is phased out, and the eligibility to student allowances is extended.
We will ensure that funding for research and institutions takes the public interest into account
and is accountable and transparent.
Specific Policy Points:
Loan Repayment
Support keeping the current zero interest scheme
Ensure that repayment rates reflect borrowers' ability to repay by adjusting the repayment thresholds to start at a higher income level, and introduce a progressive repayment scheme
Student Support
Review levels of student support to ensure they are at an equitable and liveable level
Work towards a universal student allowance by progressively reducing the age at which students cease to be means tested on their parents' income and continue to raise the parental income threshold
Reinstate access to the Student Allowance for those studying postgraduate courses
Fees
Work towards a public 'fee-free' tertiary education system by capping and then progressively reducing student fees
Review funding mechanisms to explore alternatives to EFTS funding
Ensure Tertiary Institutions are adequately funded
Read the full policy here
Tiriti o Waitangi Policy
We are committed to honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi
as the living constitutional document of Aotearoa.
We recognise Te Tiriti is important for all New Zealanders as it gives Pakeha a right to stand in this land, and it guarantees the protection of Maori rights and autonomy.
We support restitution for historical and contemporary breaches of Te Tiriti.
Changes to our constitution should only happen with the agreement of both Tiriti parties.
Key Principles
The Green Party:Affirms that te Tiriti o Waitangi remains a living and fundamental constitutional document.
Acknowledges the indigenous language version of te Tiriti as the legitimate text.
Supports the resolution of, and restitution for, all outstanding historical and contemporary breaches of te Tiriti by the Crown and its representatives.
Believes there is a need for an ongoing dialogue around te Tiriti.
Specific Policy Points
The Green Party would:Support a public information and awareness programme on te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Develop of a timeframe for the lodging of settlement claims, with the intention of vigorously moving the process forward
without sacrificing fairness.
Ensure adequate resources, people, money and information for the claims process, and for claimants to properly prepare their claims.
Require widespread Maori support for any deadline for lodging and settling claims, and if a deadline is set, there must be mutual agreement between Maori and the Crown.
Ensure all claimants to have the opportunity to have their land and resources returned to them.
Increase resources for the Waitangi Tribunal; increased transparency and accountability.
Support Maori initiatives in the areas of justice, health and education.
Ensure that Maori have a partnership role in determining immigration policy.
Entrench of the Maori seats so there is guaranteed representation for Maori in Parliament.
Enable Maori voters to change from the General to the Maori roll, or vice versa, at any time.
Guarantee tangata whenua participation in local governance.
Initiate an ongoing dialogue on how shared guardianship can be developed
to protect and enhance our natural heritage.
Ensure the role of hapu as kaitiaki of their rohe must be recognised and strengthened.
Please see the full policy here
Tourism Policy
An Aotearoa New Zealand where tourism contributes positively to national and local economic development.
Key Principles
That we find ways to ameliorate the impacts of tourism on climate change and the environment.
That people coming to New Zealand for holidays enjoy their experiences.
That New Zealanders are encouraged to holiday close to home.
Specific Policy Points
Promoting Domestic tourism
Direct Tourism New Zealand to encourage domestic tourism.
Develop a promotional campaign to encourage people to 'get out into the great outdoors'.
Support the ongoing development of distinct reputations for particular regions.
Support and promote schemes for domestic tourists to learn organic farming skills.
Ensure that tourism training includes strong environmental and cultural components.
Managing the Pressure of Tourism
Work with local authorities to resolve issues with waste disposal.
Establish a community development fund, providing start up capital for ecologically sustainable small businesses and community enterprises.
Develop domestic tourism and eco-tourism, especially those based in less well known locations.
Eco-tourism
Support current initiatives by DOC to make available more land for camping grounds.
Require DOC to prioritise recreation over tourism.
Expand the nationwide network of cycle/pedestrian trails.
Promote rail as a great way to travel and seek to make it more available and reliable.
Take real action to reduce climate change and its impacts on sensitive tourism destinations.
Maori Tourism
Support a brandmark system to authenticate tourism products and services based on tikanga Maori.
Include Maori tourism operators in all initiatives relating to climate change and care for the environment.
Promote educational/cultural tourism.
Cultural tourism
Support both local communities and the tourism sector to protect ‘at risk’ cultural and historic landscapes and townscapes.
Support a brandmark system to authenticate tourism products and services based on NZ cultural heritage,
aligned with any similar tangata whenua system.
Maintaining high standards
Work with industry to develop a code of practice and brandmark levels for eco-tourism.
Develop workable and effective safety standards and codes, particularly in relation to adventure tourism.
Ensure increased education on safety for visiting tourists.
Read the full policy here
Trade and Foreign Investment Policy
We support fair trade,
which is free trade
that respects human rights
and looks after the planet.
Fair trade upholds environmental standards that will protect and restore the biodiversity and biosecurity of our planet.
We seek trade solutions that promote sustainable forms of development
and protect overseas workers from exploitation.
Fair trade is a shared pathway towards greater global prosperity—one that doesn’t sacrifice our sovereignty to multinational giants.
Ownership of land in Aotearoa/ New Zealand is a privilege that should be for citizens and permanent residents only
We welcome new investment that creates jobs in sustainable enterprises.
Foreign investment must meet sustainability criteria,
and needs to be closely monitored to avoid the expatriation of profits from our productive asset base.
Key Principles
The ecological limits to production and trade need to be understood and respected.
We must promote sustainable and just ways to economic development and prosperity.
Human rights and fair labour standards must be promoted and respected.
The environment must be protected.
Specific Policy Points
Trade Agreements
All international treaties must be voted on in Parliament before being signed,
must give full effect to our Treaty of Waitangi obligations,
and must put the rights of peoples and governments before those of multinational company investors.
Uphold international labour and environmental agreements through an International Trading Organisation and regional trading agreements to replace the WTO).
Human rights
Stop importing goods produced by slave, prison or child labour.
Preserve the right of tangata whenua to protect themselves and their taonga from trade and investment related exploitation.
Ecological sustainability
Ban trade in GMOs except under strict biosecurity controls for contained use.
Full labelling of the contents and country of origin of all goods.
Reduce the introduction of unwanted exotic species (eg by more public education, six-sided inspection of cargo containers, more staff training and technology. )
Just and sustainable production and trade
A government commitment to 'buy local'.
Reduce our dependence on imported goods, eg food we can grow here.
All goods and services produced or sold in New Zealand to meet quality and sustainability standards (eg energy and recycling standards).
Encourage fair trade with developing countries that support sustainable development.
Retain or impose tariffs, quotas or bans to stop unfair competition from unjust or unsustainable production (eg forced labour, unsustainable logging).
Oppose trade deregulation in public goods, services and utilities, and where desirable, roll back GATS commitments.
Investment safeguards
Land ownership for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents only.
More stringent conditions on overseas investment.
A Code of Corporate Responsibility for all corporations in New Zealand.
Read the full policy here
Transport Policy
A sustainable transport system that supports liveable, people-friendly towns and cities,
and enables the movement of people and goods at the least social, environmental and financial cost.
We can give people more choices,
and make our streets safer.
Smarter transport will be better for the economy and our environment.
We can have healthier and more vibrant communities
as well as cheaper, easier and greener ways of getting around
Key Principles
A sustainable transport system for New Zealand will:Take into account both the needs of future generations
and the urgent need for immediate improvements.
Prepare for and adapt to constraints imposed on travel and transportation by peak oil and climate change.
Serve all New Zealanders
and support vibrant and liveable communities.
Minimise harm to people.
Safeguard all aspects of the environment and minimise greenhouse gas emissions.
Use energy and other resources efficiently and sustainably.
Be financially responsible.
Read the full policy here
Women's Policy
We value women: at home, at work, and in the community.
We want to see all women’s experience, knowledge, work (including unpaid work), and contributions to society properly recognised and valued.
We want all women to be safe from violence, abuse, and ill health.
We have a vision of a New Zealand free from all forms discrimination against women – including economic, political, social, direct, and indirect discrimination.
Our Vision
The Greens envision a world where there is equality between men and women.
We wish to ensure that all New Zealand women can enjoy their human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination on the basis of sex,
and that needs and experiences that are specific or common to women are valued and recognised along with the needs and experiences of men.
We also wish to dismantle negative compounding effects of gender, ethnicity, disability, and class so that the diversity and uniqueness of all women can be recognized and celebrated as a strength.
Key Principles
The Green Party affirms that:Structural discrimination against women must be undone.
Women are not a homogenous group and, to achieve equality, programmes and policies will need to be tailored to meet the needs of diverse groups of women.
Acknowledging and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is an essential step towards equality.
Women offer unique and valuable perspectives, and the economy and society does better where women and men share leadership roles.
Women's participation in such positions must be encouraged.
Women should receive equal pay for work of equal value
and women's unpaid work should be valued.
Women with family responsibilities should not be discriminated against,
and they should be supported in negotiating the tensions between their paid employment and family responsibilities.
Women's sovereignty over their own bodies should be protected and enhanced and their specific health needs addressed.
Women must be safe from violence, and their freedom must not be restricted by the threat of violence.
Work and Employment Policy
We are committed to full employment with dignity and a living income.
We can provide more state assistance for skills training and apprenticeships,
and job search support.
We can help new migrants into jobs, including through providing bridging courses for those with professional backgrounds.
Government policy can recognise the contribution of volunteering and unpaid work to society and the economy,
including the work of parents and caregivers.
Key Principles
The ability to participate in the paid workforce is essential for self esteem, physical, mental and spiritual well-being, and for a sense of contributing to society.
The Green Party is committed to full employment with dignity and a living income, and rejects the idea that economic stability requires either a significant level of unemployment or a low level of protection for those in the paid workforce.
Everyone needs time to relax, pursue personal interests, and nurture their family and friendships.
We value the dignity and worth of volunteering
and of the work involved in nurturing children and other dependents.
Specific Policy Points
Improve the ways we measure paid and unpaid work and unemployment so that we can gain a more accurate picture of what's going on.
Establish a high-level commission into the future of work.
Increase the minimum wage and ensure it cannot fall below 66% of the average wage.
Shift tax from work and enterprise onto pollution and wasted resources.
Ensure government policy recognises the contribution of unpaid work to society and the economy,
including the work of parents and caregivers.
A greater commitment to proactive job creation,
including more public sector support for self-employment, small businesses, co-operative and community-owned enterprises, and for employment resource centres and agencies that train and support people going into business.
Expand the apprenticeship programme.
Greater availability of bridging courses for immigrants in professions that New Zealand needs.
Promote and ensure equal opportunities and pay equity.
More resources for vocational advice and employment support, including for women, Maori and Pacific Island peoples, disabled and other statistically lower-paid groups.
Access to careers advice and job search support for all registered unemployed (and other beneficiaries should they so choose) as soon as they register as jobseekers.
Read our full policy here
Youth Affairs Policy
Young people are our future.
Their abilities, creativity, and contribution to our society both now and in the future should be recognised and valued.
It is today’s young people who will be charged with overcoming many of the challenges created by previous generations – economic, social, and environmental.
We need to equip and support our young people to do this.
We recognize and support the rights of young people – including the right to be safe from violence,
to be included in decision-making,
and to be receive equal pay for work of equal value.
Rangatahi Maori in particular deserve to have their rights as indigenous youth respected, and their access to their reo, tikanga and culture upheld and supported.
Key Principles
Young people’s intelligence, abilities and talents must be acknowledged and respected.
They should be safe from violence,
fully supported by their family
and be an integral and valued part of our society.
Young people deserve a secure base from which they can express their creativity and discover life as an adventure.
They must be encouraged and supported to take on positions of responsibility and decision-making.
Young people should receive equal pay for work of equal value and discrimination against young people must be dismantled.
Rangatahi should be able to readily access their reo and tikanga; and their indigenous rights should be respected and recognized.
Specific Policy Points
Conflict Resolution Promotion
Work with schools and communities to eliminate prejudice, bullying, intimidation and violence.
Promote the teaching of conflict resolution skills to encourage young people to avoid violence and to think in terms of justice and reconciliation.
Work and Income Support
Reintroduce a benefit for unsupported unemployed and sick young people aged 16 and 17,
extend the adult minimum wage to 16 and 17 year olds
and introduce a student emergency benefit over the summer holidays.
Provide greater opportunities for student work experience.
Enable NZ to sign International Labour Organisation Convention 138 by deciding the most appropriate age to start working, and what is safe work for young people.
Education
Support the introduction of an optional "gap year" to aid young people in their transition between school and further education and employment.
Support supervised extra-curricular activities as part of the standard education for young people
and encourage participation by young people in the arts and crafts.
Incorporate environmental education into the core curriculum at all levels
and encourage teaching of civics education in order to better equip young people for life.
Work towards te reo and tikanga Maori being available to all young people.
Increase the number of teen parent support programmes.
Support human rights education as a core part of the curriculum
and protect the interests and identity of gay, lesbian and other queer students in schools and tertiary institutions.
Assist schools to develop and review strategies to ensure schools are safe for young people in New Zealand as international students,
and that adequate English for Speakers of Other Languages services are provided.
Work to ensure that no student misses out on education through exclusions, suspensions or prolonged or persistent absenteeism.
Introduce a universal student allowance, at the level of the unemployment benefit, for full-time students, including 16 and 17 year olds in tertiary education.
Immediately cap student fees at $1,500 per annum;
progressively phase out the student fee system;
and, for people who are contributing in paid or unpaid work in New Zealand, each year write off the student debt that it took them one year’s worth of study to accrue.
Make study costs tax-deductible for part-time students who do not qualify for an allowance.
Civic Participation
Amend the Local Government Act to ensure young people are represented or have a voice on local body committees/community boards.
Develop and promote new models of participation promoting civic engagement.
Health and Wellbeing Promotion
Promote health initiatives specifically for young people and work towards free healthcare for all young people including primary health care and dental care.
Make young people’s mental health services an urgent priority.
Ensure the inclusion of comprehensive health, sex and drug education at intermediate and secondary levels
and improve access to family planning and sexual health services to young people, in particular young women.
Ensure the gender-appropriate teaching of self-esteem, self-defence and sexual health to 10 to 14 year olds.
Require the Education Review Office to audit implementation of the health education curriculum.
Review the explosive growth in the prescription of some drugs to young people.
Research and advocate for policies to reduce the underlying economic, environmental and social issues causes of ill health in young people.
Identify and promote culturally appropriate programmes
to address the public health needs of young Maori, Pasifika and other cultures’ children.
Support a partnership with schools and "rainbow" (gay, lesbian etc) youth organisations to reduce the unacceptably high level of suicide and drug abuse.
Reduce alcohol and drug harm
Ban broadcast alcohol advertising and require compulsory health warnings on all alcohol products.
Introduce a legal age limit of 18 years for personal cannabis use (to be consistent with alcohol).
Establish a Ministerial Advisory Group on Drug Education,
ensure that a comprehensive and effective drug education programme is available to schools and communities,
and treat parental substance abuse as primarily a health issue.
Provide rehabilitation programmes specifically designed for young people who are already addicted or dependent on alcohol and other drugs.
Youth Justice
Raise the age of criminal responsibility in line with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and include 17 year olds in the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act.
Ensure young people under 18 deprived of their liberty are not held in police cells or mixed with adults outside of their family.
Support the establishment of smaller scale, dispersed Youth Rehabilitation Centres.
Implement the Government’s 2002 Youth Development Strategy through all youth justice facilities and youth prison units.
Ensure increased resources for Family Group Conferences and training for FGC convenors.
Ensure Maori tikanga and reo programmes are included in prisons and youth justice centres, enable iwi and hapu collaboration in prison management, and support models of Maori justice systems for young offenders.
Driver responsibility
Review the system for obtaining a drivers licence to ensure there has been adequate supervision, experience and defensive driving skills education before obtaining a full drivers license.
Support a review of the use of high-powered motor vehicles by young people.
Refugees
Ensure refugee and asylum seeker young people enjoy equal rights with their New Zealand counterparts,
and also have access to well-resourced appropriate mental health and well-being systems.
Appoint guardians for refugee and asylum seeker young people separated from their families, to ensure that their rights and well-being are protected.
Read the full policy here
Economic policies
Love New Zealand: Fiscal Plan
We have provided a fully costed plan to deliver on our bold goals that we have committed to for New Zealand’s future.
Voters have every right to be sceptical about the hope and inspiration their political leaders sell them at election time.
The goals of our plan are:To make New Zealand a world leader in the global fight against climate change.
To restore and replenish our forests, our birds and our rivers.
To end poverty and create an inclusive Aotearoa.
Goals for a Green government
The Green Party in government will:Reduce debt to responsible levels, taking core Crown debt to below 20 percent of GDP by 2021;
Raise a new tax on capital gains,
excluding the family home.
Use the current fiscal headroom to restore health and education funding and run a $600 million annual operating allowance;
Restart payments to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund immediately.
Our Green Plan
The promise of a cleaner economy, a healthy environment, and a fairer society is 100 percent possible.
Here is our plan to achieve that:
Fully-costed Plan
Fiscal Impact Analysis by Infometrics
Climate Protection Plan
We’re the first generation that will feel the effects of climate change, and the last that can stop it.
We have a responsibility to act.
Climate change is not just the biggest challenge of our time, it’s also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform our economy and society for the better.
Tackling climate change means investing in better transport in our major cities.
Fast, electric rail lines eliminate pollution and create healthier, congestion-free cities.
It means giving our farmers a head start in the race to supply the world with truly sustainable, high-value food, fibre, and other materials.
It means stabilising the climate to protect the fragile eco-systems that our native birds depend on and regenerating native forests to help cool the planet.
Honest food labelling
We have a right to know where our food comes from and under what conditions it was produced, so we can make informed decisions about what we buy and eat.
The Green Party will:Require “free range” to mean what it says, by developing a mandatory consumer information standard under the Fair Trading Act.
Introduce mandatory country of origin labelling for fresh and single ingredient food so people know where their food comes from.
There are many reasons why people want to know more about how their food is produced and where it comes from.
Some people want to support local producers and the local economy.
Some are concerned about the environmental costs of transporting food long distances.
Others are concerned about animal welfare or food safety standards.
Whatever the reason, people want and deserve to make fully informed decisions about the food they buy.
That’s what better labelling on food means, and that’s what the Greens will deliver.
Free range should mean what it says
Eggs and meat labelled as “free range” should come from animals living happy lives who spend a large proportion of their time roaming outside.
But currently, there’s no standard definition for what can be labelled free range and in reality, conditions differ hugely between producers.
Many eggs labelled free range can be from hens on farms where the majority of their hens do not get to spend time outside.
Some food producers do the right thing by their animals and ensure they are able to express their natural behaviours.
Unfortunately, some don’t.
The Green Party will develop a mandatory consumer information standard under the Fair Trading Act to require food producers who label their food as free range to disclose information about their animal welfare standards.
Country of origin labelling
Clothes and shoes already have mandatory country of origin labelling – why not food?
The Green Party’s Consumers’ Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill is currently before Select Committee.
This Bill makes it compulsory to label fresh or single-ingredient food products, such as fruit, vegetables, meat and fish, nuts, grains, oils, with the country where the food was grown or produced.
In government, we will progress the goals of this Bill with mandatory country of origin consumer labelling requirements under the Fair Trading Act, as many submitters to the Select Committee have recommended.
For more on how we'll ensure a fair deal for consumers:
Policy Summary paper
Green Infrastructure Fund
Kick-start the green economy
and create good jobs
It’s time to speed up investment in the big projects that will kick-start the green economy
and create good jobs.
Responding to the challenge of climate change is an opportunity to shift New Zealand’s economy onto a cleaner path.
The Green Infrastructure Fund will help fund transformative projects that move New Zealand towards a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
In our first term of Government, the Green Party will:Establish a government-owned, independent, for profit Green Infrastructure Fund with a social and environmental purpose, to act as a magnet attracting private finance to transformational low carbon, climate resilient projects.
The Fund will kick-start new clean infrastructure projects like solar and wind power installations, energy efficient buildings, biofuels, and other clean technologies.
The Fund will have a minimum target rate of return of 5 percent,
an annual emissions reduction goal of one million tonnes of CO2,
and generate thousands of new jobs.
It will cost $110 million over three years to be initially paid for by raising oil royalty rates from 46 percent to the international average rate of 70 percent.
In time, the Fund will see billions of dollars of (mainly) private sector finance funding new renewable energy plants, solar panel installations, energy efficiency retrofits, the development and production of significant volumes of biofuels, and other clean technology projects.
Similar green investment funds and banks can be found in Europe, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Six states of America — California, New York, Hawaii, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Connecticut — have newly established green banks.
With the help of green banks and funds, these countries are achieving greater economic prosperity
while at the same time reducing their contribution to climate change.
New Zealand can too.
How does it work?
The government kick-starts the Green Investment Fund with an initial injection of $100 million.
The government investment acts as a magnet to attract other private investors, such as pension and Kiwisaver funds, iwi, and other long-term investors.
Overseas, similar funds have raised up to $10 for every $1 of government contribution.
The Fund provides finance or equity to organisations that have strong plans to build infrastructure or other projects
that help to reduce New Zealand’s contribution to climate change.
A project gets funded and built.
Over time, the organisation that built the project pays back the Green Infrastructure Fund or the Fund’s stake in the project gets sold off for a profit.
More information
Green Party Infrastructure Fund Overview
Green Party Infrastucture Fund Full Policy
A Minister for Manufacturing
To better represent the interests of manufacturers and ensure they thrive.
The Green Party will establish a Minister for Manufacturing in Cabinet, to better represent the interests of manufacturers and ensure they thrive.
This announcement is about creating well-paid, clean-tech jobs for the future, right here in New Zealand.
Manufacturing innovation is a critical part of our transition to a clean, low-carbon economy.
For manufacturing to thrive and take advantage of new technologies like 3D printing, we need leadership across the whole sector now.
National hasn’t shown this leadership.
We hear more from National about deep sea oil drilling and dairy farming than we do about clean-tech, high value-added manufacturing.
High-value manufacturers create well-paid jobs
and enable us, as a country, to earn our way in the world.
Kiwibank can get low rates for all of us
The Green Party has a plan to strengthen Kiwibank
When the Reserve Bank recently cut interest rates again, many Kiwis wondered why the big banks didn't pass the savings along to us, their customers.
Part of the problem is the National Government has limited Kiwibank’s ability to compete with the big four Aussie-owned banks leaving them free to make unnecessarily large profits off Kiwi households and businesses.
We’ve got a plan to change that.
We’d strengthen Kiwibank so it can properly compete with the big four Aussie banks,
and drive them to cut lending rates for all of us, no matter who we bank with.
To achieve better bank interest rates, the Green Party will:
Inject a further $100 million of capital in Kiwibank to speed its expansion into commercial banking;
Allow Kiwibank to keep more of its profits to help it grow faster; and,
Give Kiwibank a clear public purpose to lead the market in passing on interest rate cuts.
Under our plan, a first home buyer in Auckland with a $500,000 mortgage could save $690 per year*, meaning they pay off their mortgage earlier.
Across the entire economy, these mortgage savings alone translate into savings of $312 million per year.
That’s a massive saving for NZ Inc.
A stronger Kiwibank would lead a change in New Zealand banking.
It’s the smartest solution to ensure all the banks pass on the best interest rates to Kiwis.
*If their bank passed on a 20 basis point interest rate cut
Safe to School
Safe walking and cycling for kids.
Today, most kids travel to school stuck in the backseat of a car, creating congestion and pollution in our cities.
Safety is the number one concern that stops parents from sending their child to school on foot or by bike.
When parents wave goodbye to their child in the morning they should know they’re going to be safe when riding their bike or walking with their friends to school.
Kids walking, biking or riding their scooter to school are healthier, happier and more engaged at school.
We will:Reduce the speed limit outside urban schools to a much safer 30 km/h
Reduce the speed limit outside rural schools to 80 km/h, with the option of a 30km/h limit during drop-off or pick-up times
Allocate $50m a year for four years to build modern, convenient walking and cycling infrastructure around schools: separating kids and other users from road traffic, giving a safe choice for families
Get half of kids walking or cycling to school by 2022: reducing congestion; improving health and learning; saving families time and money
Research shows that we can get up to $20 of gains for every dollar spent.
That's a billion dollars of gains for each year's $50 million investment.
For more information:
Take our Safe to School survey
Warning signs to slow traffic near Auckland schools reduce student injury rates
Op Ed by Julie Anne Genter - Give Kids back their freedom
Business Tax Breaks for Clean Transport Options
The Green Party will incentivise businesses to choose clean transport options for staff.
The Income Tax (Clean Transport FBT Exclusions) Amendment Bill will: 1. Exempt electric vehicles provided by employers from fringe benefit tax
The Green Party will incentivise businesses to purchase electric vehicles by making electric vehicles exempt from fringe benefit tax.
Lowering the cost of electric vehicles will stimulate demand for electric cars and their charging infrastructure, and create a second hand market for electric cars in a few years’ time when businesses replace their fleets.
2. Exempt public transport passes provided by employers from fringe benefit tax
The Green Party will also incentivise businesses to provide their employees with public transport passes to get to and from work.
What is Fringe Benefit Tax?
Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT) is a tax on non-cash benefits that employees receive as a part of their salary package.
The most common benefits are cars and health insurance.
By removing the FBT on business purchases of electric vehicles, we’ll provide a major cash incentive for companies to swap their fossil fuel-burning vehicles for a more efficient, cost effective, and clean fleet.
Removing FBT on public transport passes will make it cheaper for companies to subsidise public transport instead of carparks, because FBT doesn’t apply to carparks on company property.
Why do we need this?
Electric cars are an important part of the solution to our transport pollution problem.
Pollution from transport makes up 20 percent of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, and road transport is the cause of 90 percent of this.
To play our part in the global effort to prevent climate change, we must reduce emissions from road transport.
Between 75 and 80 percent of New Zealand’s electricity is generated from clean, local sources.
Yet we spend over $6 billion every year importing petrol and diesel for our vehicles.
There are enough new renewable power plants like windfarms consented and ready to be built to provide the extra electricity needed to power millions of electric cars in New Zealand.
But there aren’t many second hand electric cars around and buying a brand new car is too expensive for most people.
This bill will help to create a second hand market for electric cars in New Zealand, putting them in the financial reach of families and individuals in a few years’ time.
How can the Government lead the way?
The Green Party has often said that the Government should replace the fleet of Crown limousines with electric cars.
Now we’re going further.
Businesses and the Government can transition to electric cars together.
We think that within 7 years, at least 20 percent of all cars the Government buys should be electric.
We’ll increase this target if there are more affordable and fit-for-purpose electric cars available by then.
How will it work?
The exemption for public transport passes is forever.
There is very little cost associated with this, because the number of businesses who currently provide free public transport passes that are subject to fringe benefit tax is very low.
The exemption for electric vehicles is for seven years,
after which a sustainable market for new and used electric cars will have developed.
The cost varies depending on how successful the policy is.
A one percent uptake rate would decrease the amount of tax revenue the Crown received by up to $4.77 million in the first year.
In the seventh and final year of the policy, under a low uptake scenario the Crown’s tax revenue would be reduced by $24 million (5 percent of eligible vehicles), under a medium uptake scenario it’d be reduced by $47 million, and by $95 million in a high uptake scenario (20 percent of eligible vehicles).
There are already more than 120 public electric vehicle charging stations in New Zealand, but many of these take hours to charge a vehicle.
The Green Party already has a policy to invest $10 million to support the development of more fast-charging stations, which can charge a car in 30 minutes.
The $10 million investment in 480-volt direct current fast-charging stations was costed in 2014.
It is estimated to pay for at least 30 fast charging stations along key road routes.
How can clean transport choices aid economic development?
Electric vehicles could be a game-changer not just for the transport fleet, but also for the electricity network.
The ways in which electricity is generated and distributed are changing.
At the heart of next generation electricity networks are sophisticated IT systems.
If the Government shows leadership around changing transport and electricity network technologies,
New Zealand companies will embrace new opportunities to create jobs
and world-leading expertise.
New Zealand has the fourth worst road traffic intensity in the OECD.
There is a significant economic cost in terms of lost productivity,
and also damage to public health and the environment.
In big cities like Auckland, public transport is the cleanest and most efficient way for people to get around, especially at peak times.
Better public transport options can also lead to people repurposing carparks for more productive land use, including housing.
Consumers Right to Know Country of Origin of Food Bill
Country of origin labelling for fresh fruit, meat, fish and vegetables, and other single component foods.
Sign our Country of Origin Labelling petition
Consumers have the right to know the country from which the food they are purchasing originated so that they can make informed purchasing decisions.
There is already a requirement to identify where footwear and clothing comes from, and this bill extends this requirement to fresh fruit, meat, fish and vegetables, and other single component foods such as grains, nuts, bulk flour and oil.
People should be able to find out where their food comes from, so they can make informed choices about what they eat, and what the feed to their children.
There are many reasons why consumers want to know which country their food comes from, and why consumers may wish to avoid consuming foods from certain countries.
Some consumers want to support local producers and the local economy.
Some are concerned about the adequacy of food safety standards in some countries we import food from.
Some are concerned about the environmental and other costs of transporting food long distances.
Some are concerned about the use of post-harvest fumigation and other treatments on imported produce or the potential residues of pesticides and other contaminants in imported foods.
Many consumers assume, in the absence of country of origin labelling, that traditional foods such as meat, fruit, fish, and vegetables are produced in New Zealand.
As more and more food is imported into New Zealand, accurate and consistent country of origin labelling is even more important for consumers.
Budget Responsibility Rules
The Budget Responsibility Rules will allow us to govern responsibly.
Economic sustainability goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability.
Both are about living within our means and leaving the world better than we found it.
Our Budget Responsibility Rules show that the Green Party and the Labour Party will manage the economy responsibly while making the changes people know are needed,
like lifting kids out of poverty,
cleaning up our rivers,
solving the housing crisis,
and tackling climate change.
Deliver sustainable surpluses
Reduce debt
Prioritise long-term investments
Be careful with expenditure
Build a fairer tax system
Read the full Budget Responsibility Rules here.
We will judge the success of our policies by improvements in the living standards of New Zealanders,
improvements in key environmental indicators,
and improvements in the economy.
We will establish a body independent of Ministers of the Crown who will be responsible for determining if these rules are being met.
The body will also have oversight of government economic and fiscal forecasts, shall provide an independent assessment of government forecasts to the public, and will cost policies of opposition parties.
For New Zealanders to have enduring quality of life, prosperity, and security, governments need to manage revenue and spending decisions carefully.
Good fiscal management is a core part of what it means to be a good government.
The Budget Responsibility Rules enable us to govern responsibly and transparently with Labour, while we invest in our priorities.
Keep up to date with the Green Party plan and sign up to email updates here.
Environment policies
Christchurch Transport Plan
Christchurch can become our most liveable, sustainable city,
but it needs a supportive Government
willing to work with councils and communities.
The Green Party will invest over $400 million in Christchurch transport to make it easier for people to get around cheaply and quickly, by bike, bus, and train.
Better funding will enable more frequent buses on existing routes.
As part of our nationwide commitment to invest $1 billion over ten years to create safe cycling networks nationwide, especially around schools, we commit to at least $135 million for cycling investment in Christchurch.
The Green Party will: 1. Establish three new rapid transit lines in Christchurch by 2022:
The Northern Line – passenger rail from Rangiora to the city
The Southern Line – passenger rail from Rolleston to the city
The Airport Line – bus rapid transit from the city to the Airport
2. Invest $1 billion nationwide, including $135 million in Christchurch, to create safe, city-wide cycling networks for all ages and abilities.
This will prioritise:The completion of Christchurch’s 13 major cycle routes
Investment into safe cycling infrastructure around schools
3. Work with Christchurch City Council (CCC) to establish a city-wide bike share agreement.
4. Provide free public transport, all the time, to all young people 18 and under via a Youth Green Card.
And free public transport, during off-peak hours, for all tertiary students and apprentices via a Student Green Card,
as well as for people living with a disability on the Supported Living Benefit.
Read more
Christchurch transport summary
Full Christchurch transport plan
More about our other transport plans
Our Wellington transport plan
Our Auckland transport plan
Free buses and trains for young people, students, apprentices, and people with disabilities
Safer, cleaner freight using rail and coastal shipping
The Ruahine Runner from Palmerston North to Napier and the Capital Connection
Tax breaks for electric cars
Safe to School investments in safer walking and cycling
Our commitment to rail from Auckland to Hamilton and Tauranga
Clean water, great farming
New Zealanders want rivers we can swim in, and that means tackling the causes of pollution
The Green Party has a plan to support farmers to move to less polluting, more environmentally sustainable and more profitable ways of farming so that our rivers and lakes are safe to swim in and our drinking water from aquifers is protected.
It is not enough to address the symptoms of dirty rivers, we must also address the causes.
The simple fact is that we need fewer hooves on the land, creating less pollution for our waterways.
Ten million dairy cows and beef cattle produce the same amount of waste as 141 million people, but without the same standards of waste treatment.
We will put a levy on nitrate pollution from agriculture, starting with intensive dairying, and use the revenue raised to fund a package of game-changing support measures that farmers can use to reduce their impact on our environment.
We will: Help farmers move to more sustainable and profitable farming by
Extending the Sustainable Farming Fund with an extra $20 million every year.
Creating a Transformational Farming Partnership Fund of around $70 million a year.
Increasing funding for the Landcare Trust to $16 million over three years.
Rewarding tree planting by farmers and landowners.
Allowing accelerated depreciation on dairy farm equipment.
Support organic farming by introducing national standards, and new funding of $5 million a year.
Implement a levy on nitrate pollution to help protect our rivers, lakes and aquifers, which will raise around $136.5 million in the first year.
This will fund the programmes listed above, and an additional $20 million a year for freshwater clean-up projects.
Put a moratorium on new dairy farm conversions.
Wind up Crown Irrigation Investments Ltd and stop providing subsidies for big irrigation projects.
Transition away from Palm Kernel Expeller/Extract (PKE) to alternative feed stocks, from 2018.
Establish a ‘Good Food Aotearoa New Zealand’ national sustainability accreditation scheme for food products, processors and farmers, so those who work with the land, not against it, can prove it to consumers at home and overseas to fetch a higher price and are more attractive to export markets.
The Good Food Aotearoa New Zealand brand
Our exports and consumers at home trust New Zealand’s clean, green brand, but the reality of our environment isn’t true to that.
By creating an independent, sustainable farming accreditation system, farmers can leverage the good work they’re doing to achieve higher prices in export markets and give integrity to our clean, green brand.
The nitrate pollution levy
The levy will initially be set at $2 per kilogram of nitrate that is lost to land and water per hectare of farm, per year.
Dairy intensification over the last three decades is directly linked to rapidly declining water quality.
Initially, the levy will apply only to dairy farms but we will extend a fair pollution levy to all forms of agriculture and horticulture over time.
For more information about how we’ll ensure clean water for future generations:
Read the policy summary
Read the policy paper
See our plan to protect drinking water and charge commercial water users
See our plan for increased conservation funding
South Taranaki Whale Sanctuary
The Green Party will create New Zealand’s largest marine mammal sanctuary to protect endangered blue whales from destructive mining.
The South Taranaki Bight is an important feeding ground for critically endangered Antarctic blue whales and is a habitat for 37 other species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.
Their existence is under threat from destructive seabed iron sands mining and other exploration for fossil fuels and minerals.
The Green Party will: Create a marine mammal sanctuary off the South Taranaki coast, working with iwi, affected communities, the Department of Conservation, and other experts.
Prohibit any seabed mining permits and new petroleum and mineral prospecting permits in the sanctuary.
The Green Party will create a new marine sanctuary, that will prevent destructive seabed mining and phase out existing extractive activity, under the Marine Mammals Protection Act 1978.
The sanctuary would be New Zealand’s largest at around 30,000 square km, to cover the area where blue whales have most commonly been sighted.
The exact boundaries would be confirmed following negotiation with iwi and affected communities,
and advice from the Department of Conservation (see map).
Iron sand seabed mining vacuums up the entire seabed, filters out minerals, and dumps everything back.
Sediment generated from seabed mining can affect whales’ ability to find and capture krill, their primary food source, and the disruption caused by ships and other mining activities including seismic blasting may drive the whales away.
Ngāti Ruanui, alongside other iwi and hapū from South Taranaki, and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining (KASM), have been campaigning for a moratorium on seabed mining.
The Green Party supports the kaitiaki rights of Ngāti Ruanui and other iwi.
By creating the South Taranaki Whale Sanctuary we can stand up to the mining industry, help protect whales and dolphins,
and create sustainable local jobs through eco-tourism ventures.
Preventing more fossil fuel exploration will also help protect our beaches from the risk of oil spills,
and uphold our commitment to transitioning to clean energy.
Turning trash into cash
The Green Party has a plan to clean up our beaches, create jobs, and transform trash to cash.
We love New Zealand and we love our beaches, our oceans, and our waterways.
That’s why we’re committed to protecting them from pollution.
By 2050, oceans will carry more plastic mass than fish, and an estimated 99 per cent of seabirds will have ingested plastic.
Because Kiwis love the beach and most of us live close to the ocean, we increase the risk of single use plastics ending up in the marine environment, even by mistake.
Our plan will introduce refunds on drink containers, ban plastic bags, phase out unnecessary plastic packaging and commit to a zero-waste New Zealand.
Refunds on drink containers
Establish a nationwide network of refund programmes to encourage people to recycle plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans.
A container deposit scheme has helped make South Australia the cleanest state in Australia, and has the support of 90 percent of local and regional councils in New Zealand.
Ban plastic bags
Phase out single-use plastic grocery bags by the end of 2020.
In the meantime, immediately introduce a 20 cent levy on plastic bags.
Levy revenue will fund community-led environmental clean-ups and research and development into alternatives to plastic.
In Australia, the two biggest retailers (Coles and Woolworths) have announced that they’re banning plastic bags from their stores.
China, France, Italy, India, and other countries have banned single use plastic bags.
It’s time for New Zealand to step up and protect the places we love by banning the bag.
Phase out unnecessary plastic packaging and products
Reduce unnecessary plastic packaging in supermarkets and shops, by declaring plastic packaging a “priority product” under the Waste Minimisation Act.
Set targets for reducing and phasing out plastic cutlery, plates, and cups.
Too much plastic packaging is either unrecyclable or hard to recycle because it is a mix of different plastics.
We will declare plastic packaging, cups, cutlery and plates as priority products requiring mandatory "product stewardship".
This will allow targets to be set so that we can reduce and ultimately phase them out as alternatives like bamboo and paper become more available.
Zero waste New Zealand
Commit to a zero waste New Zealand by 2050.
Increase the waste levy and reprioritise waste minimisation fund.
We are committed to a bold, transformative vision for the waste sector in New Zealand with no waste going to landfill by 2050 – the same year we have set a goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions.
Reducing waste to landfill will reduce pollution in our waterways and beaches,
and generate jobs.
Wellington Transport Plan
The Green Party will save families and students money, reduce pollution, and make it easier to get around Wellington.
We will fast track light rail to Newtown and the Airport,
help deliver a fully electric bus fleet,
and make Wellington safe for cycling.
Wellington is at a crossroads.
Our population is growing, our buses are at capacity, and traffic is getting worse.
Wider motorways and more flyovers will bring more traffic into the city.
The Green Party has a different vision,
where people have real choices about how to travel,
high capacity, modern public transport allows thousands more people to access the city centre,
and more space is provided for people to walk and cycle safely.
Make it affordable: the Green Card
free buses and trains, all the time, for everyone under the age of 19
free off-peak buses and trains for tertiary students and apprentices
free off-peak buses and trains for people living with a disability
continuing the SuperGold Card for people over 65.
A major part of Wellington’s morning traffic is made up of the morning school run.
Getting more kids on buses and trains will help free up the roads for everyone else.
Students and parents will have one less cost to worry about.
See more about free public transport in Our Transport Plan.
Make light rail happen
by 2025 light rail from the train station to Newtown
by 2027 light rail extended to Kilbirnie and the airport
commission a scoping study to extend light rail routes to Miramar, Island Bay, and rail into Lower Hutt.
Make buses cleaner and cycling safer
support councils to deliver a fully electric bus system, by 2030
invest $30m - $50 million to help retain and improve trolley buses and infrastructure
$135 million over 10 years to help councils to build safe city-wide cycling networks, including the Wellington to Hutt Valley cycleway.
Regional rail improvements
Commit to funding the Capital Connection commuter service to Palmerston North
Improve services on the Wairarapa line by providing consistent funding and double tracking the line between Trentham and Upper Hutt.
The Green Party’s Wellington transport plan can be fully funded by re-prioritising existing spending away from low-value and non-urgent transport projects.
Read the full policy or the policy summary
Read about our other transport policies:
Free public transport and our plan for Auckland
Safer, cleaner freight using rail and coastal shipping
The Ruahine Runner from Palmerston North to Napier and the Capital Connection
Tax breaks for electric cars
Safe to School investments in safer walking and cycling
Our commitment to rail from Auckland to Hamilton and Tauranga
Auckland Transport Plan
The Green Party will save families and students money, reduce pollution, and make it easier to get around the city.
Make it affordable
Free buses and trains, all the time, for everyone under the age of 19, with a new Youth Green Card.
The Student Green Card, providing free off-peak buses and trains for all tertiary students and apprentices.
Free off-peak buses and trains for people living with a disability,
and continuing the SuperGold Card for older people.
Free buses and trains for kids will halve the price of a family day out from Albany or Papakura to central Auckland,
all for less than the cost of building 1km of new motorway.
With one in every three cars at rush hour taking someone to school, getting more kids on buses and trains will free up the roads at peak time for everyone else.
Students and parents will have one less cost to worry about.
Make the buses and trains better
We’re committed to building the Congestion Free Network.
Finish the City Rail Link quickly
Build light rail from the city, through Mt Roskill, Māngere, and to the airport by 2021
Build light rail towards Helensville and dedicated rapid busways to Howick and Botany
A new track on the southern rail line to speed up commuter and freight trains
We’ll fund our plan by reprioritising existing low-value and non-urgent transport spending, a modest new regional fuel tax, and innovative new funding options like land value uplift capture.
Rail from Auckland to Hamilton and Tauranga
The Green Party is committed to passenger rail from Auckland to Hamilton five times daily, and Tauranga once daily, beginning in 2019.
This will enable people to work and rest on the train, and avoid city traffic.
The train would take around two hours and 15 minutes from Auckland to Hamilton, and three and a half hours from Auckland to Tauranga.
We would trial this service for five years, at a cost of $20 million,
reprioritised from existing transport spending.
If the trial is successful we will look at creating a premium, fast rail service between the three cities.
Make it cleaner
Transport is New Zealand’s third largest source of the carbon emissions that are causing climate change and they’re going in the wrong direction, rising 60 percent since 1990.
To do our fair share as a country to keep global climate change under two degrees, as we committed to in the Paris Climate Agreement, we need to get transport emissions under control.
For example, travelling by train is on average 11 times more efficient than travelling by car.
Green Party transport policy
Green Party transport policy overview
Read about our other transport policies
Our Wellington transport plan
Safer, cleaner freight using rail and coastal shipping
The Ruahine Runner from Palmerston North to Napier and the Capital Connection
Tax breaks for electric cars
Safe to School investments in safer walking and cycling
Our commitment to rail from Auckland to Hamilton and Tauranga
Thriving Nature
The Green Party will double the number of rangers working on the front lines to defend nature and double the amount of pest control on conservation land.
Our kiwi, our kōkako, and our mountain kea are some of the greatest living treasures on Earth.
Nearly half our birds are found nowhere else on the planet.
Millions of tourists come here every year to see our pristine wild spaces.
But our native birds and wildlife are in serious trouble.
One-third of our birds are facing extinction and many could disappear within our lifetimes.
To save our native birds and threatened species and see them thrive, we need to invest a great deal more money into conservation and pest control.
The Green Party will:Restore the Department of Conservation’s (DOC) role as nature’s primary defender.
By doubling DOC’s baseline conservation budget within five years we can double the number of DOC rangers and the technical staff and scientists who support them, and double the amount of pest control on conservation land.
Cost: $192 million in 2023.
Stop all new mining on the conservation estate, strengthen legal protection for threatened species and the places where they live, and create a strong, overarching conservation action plan.
Support community-based conservation and conservation on private land by doubling the government funding they can receive and better co-ordinate the great work of conservation volunteers nationwide.
Cost $24 million in 2021.
Increase funding for Predator Free 2050 through a $20 levy on international tourists entering New Zealand, raising $65 million per year for Predator Free New Zealand by 2021.
Doubling DOC’s budget for conservation will be phased over five years meaning that, by 2023, DOC will receive an additional $192 million in baseline funding per year.
From this, DOC will be able to fund an additional 720 frontline rangers, scientists and senior rangers.
It will also enable DOC to double the pest control it does.
An additional $17 million by 2021 will enable doubling of funding for conservation work on private, QEII, and Māori land.
We estimate the new $20 tourism levy will, by 2021 raise $65 million per year for Predator Free New Zealand.
Under a Government with a Green heart, New Zealand’s natural treasures — our wildlife, forests, rivers, and oceans — will finally be in safe hands.
More Information
Thriving Nature full policy document
Thriving Nature summary document
Protecting drinking water
New Zealanders can’t take clean drinking water for granted anymore, but the Green Party will fix that.
No one should have to worry that the water coming from their taps isn’t safe to drink.
Water bottling companies profit from some of our purest and cleanest water, but pay only minimal administration fees for the privilege, while some communities around the country have to boil water before they drink it.
The Green Party will put an immediate 10 cent/litre levy on water bottling and exports.
Revenue will go to mana whenua and the wider community through local councils.
Local councils will be expected to use it to clean up waterways, and protect drinking water sources and infrastructure.
In government we will develop a new way of allocating and pricing all commercial uses of water, based on shared values of protecting fresh water,
honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi,
and upholding mana whenua rights.
This will involve nationwide meetings and hui to involve all New Zealanders in the process.
We expect tangata whenua will play a critical role in this process.
New water bottling consents will be banned until we have the regulation in place to ensure priority is given to good supplies of clean drinking water for all New Zealanders.
We will protect drinking water sources from the activities that pollute them with pathogens, sediment, run off and nitrates.
And, we’ll reinstate funding for programmes that help small communities and marae upgrade their drinking water systems, so everyone has access to clean, drinkable water.
More information:
Bottled Water petition
Protecting Water two-page summary
Protecting Water leaflet
Empowering NZ
There are huge opportunities in the electricity sector to improve people’s quality of life and help stop climate change.
But without leadership, we could miss the opportunities
that new technologies provide and be stuck with decades of rising power prices
and burning fossil fuels.
Cheaper
The Green Party will make electricity more affordable with winter energy payments for more than 500,000 lower-income households, to smooth out spikes in winter power bills.
These will cover 75% of the average extra cost of power in winter.
Power companies will be required to offer smarter pricing structures that encourage conservation and efficiency.
And we’ll lift the lid on power companies’ accounts and the murky wholesale market to make sure everyone’s getting a fair deal.
Cleaner
The Green Party will help combat climate change and embrace the 21st century with solar, electric vehicles, large batteries, and other new technologies.
We’ll enable people to use data and technology to get a better deal for themselves
and the planet.
We’ll ban dirty new power plants, replace the old ones with renewable energy, and set a goal of 100% clean renewable electricity by 2030.
Smarter
The Green Party will encourage lines companies to work together to save their customers money,
and we’ll help communities generate their own power and share it with their neighbours.
New Zealand can be a global leader at the cutting edge of energy systems,
creating high tech jobs
and exporting our clean energy expertise to the world.
Empowering NZ Policy
Empowering NZ Two Pager
Towards 100% - Technical Paper
Tourism Levy
Protecting our precious environment
We believe our National Parks, rivers, beaches, and wildlife are our taonga and are worth fighting for.
The Tourism Levy, a small contribution paid by international visitors, will bring in tens of millions of dollars to help protect our environment for generations to come.
The Tourism Levy is a $20 increase on existing border charges for international visitors only.
When added to existing border charges, $50 total levy to visit New Zealand will still be lower than Australia’s $58 to $85 charge and the United Kingdom’s $127 long-haul passenger charge.
Unlike many other countries, entry to our National Parks and public buildings will continue to remain free.
The National Government failed to back up its glitzy predator-free promise with the money to get the job done,
this levy will help make it actually happen.
People who live in New Zealand will not have to pay the Levy.
Visitor numbers are expected to reach 4.5 million within six years.
This levy will enable tourist hotspots to cope with the strain and keep New Zealand’s environment beautiful.
More information
This new revenue will be split 75:25 between conservation and tourism, i. e. $15 of the levy is for conservation
and $5 is for tourism infrastructure.
It will generate $58 million in its first year Predator Free NZ, with revenue rising with tourist numbers to over $1.5 billion by 2050.
It will generate about $80 million over four years ($20 million per annum on average) for the Regional Tourism Facilities Fund.
Safer, cleaner freight
We can make roads safer
and the air cleaner
The Green Party is setting a target to get half of New Zealand’s freight moving by rail and sea within 10 years, which will dramatically reduce the number of dangerous trucks clogging up New Zealand’s roads.
Instead of demanding that rail return a profit, which has set rail up to fail, we’ll fund it from the transport budget in the same way roads are, providing the investment needed to move freight in the most effective and clean way.
Every year, an average of 55 people are killed in crashes involving trucks, and over 850 are seriously injured.
We know that a single train can remove 70 heavy trucks from the road.
We will electrify rail between Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga to move freight safely off the road,
and create a zero emissions freight service between those centres – the “Golden Triangle”.
National’s obsession with diesel, and prejudice against rail and shipping, is forcing more and more trucks onto New Zealand roads.
In just 10 years we can expect to see another 1.7 million truck trips on our roads, making roads dangerous for all of us, and driving up pollution.
By investing in rail and shipping, we can make roads safer,
the air cleaner and create a safer climate for future generations.
2015 Climate Action - Yes we can!
A plan that shows New Zealand can take strong action on climate change now.
We can be leaders and reach an ambitious emissions reduction target that New Zealanders can be proud of.
We can have a more prosperous New Zealand now,
and leave a stable climate for the future.
This plan shows that with real leadership and a bit of Kiwi ingenuity, New Zealand can reduce our emissions by a respectable 40 percent.
The Government can also implement sector specific policies to cut emissions in electricity, transport, industrial processes, waste, and forestry.
We need cuts of 28 Megatonnes (Mt) below 2015 levels in order to meet a 40 percent target.
We can cut 4. 8 Mt from our electricity emissions.
We can cut 7.7 Mt from our transport emissions.
We can cut 3. 7 Mt from other combustion of fossil fuels.
We can cut 2.1 Mt from our industrial process emissions.
We can cut 3. 6 Mt from our waste sector.
We can exempt agriculture from any emissions obligations until 2020
and then cut 2. 2 Mt.
Through forestry, we can sequester the remaining emissions needed to meet our 40 percent target.
One Page Summary of the full plan.
Full Plan
Appendices
Electricity
Transport
Other combustion of fossil fuels
Industrial processes
Waste
Forestry
QELRO and emissions budget
Some of our other climate change policies include:
100% renewable electricity
Testing all new legislation for its impact on the climate
Our transport plan
The Green Infrastructure Fund
Changing the Public Finance Act to measure environmental sustainability
Climate Impact Disclosure Statement
Ensuring every new piece of legislation acknowledges the reality and costs of climate change.
Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has released a Member’s Bill to require all Government legislation to have a Climate Impact Disclosure Statement - a report, prepared by the Ministry for the Environment, that outlines the likely impact of the legislation on the climate.
This means that when a bill is introduced, all MPs, and the public, will get to learn the likely implications of the legislation on New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions and/or New Zealand’s ability to meet its international greenhouse gas reduction target.
It will also detail any relationship between the legislation and the Climate Change Response Act.
It’s a way to ensure that in the development of legislation, climate is a key consideration.
It will also give opposition parties good information to hold the Government to account on climate issues.
Climate change is the biggest issue.
We need to be thinking about it when we’re introducing new laws.
We need to know the cost of legislation on our climate.
By ensuring every new piece of legislation acknowledges the reality and costs of climate change, we will see a cumulative, gradual effect - having parliament thinking about our climate all of the time.
Public Finance (Sustainable Development Indicators) Amendment Bill
Requires environmental measures to be reported on alongside GDP.
This bill will ensure that New Zealand governments balance economic opportunity with environmental responsibility.
It does this by providing a framework for parliamentary scrutiny of sustainable development indicators of New Zealand as a context for guidance for decisions on the Government’s expenditure proposals and the Government’s management of its assets and liabilities
; and specifies the principles of sustainable development for New Zealand as a context for the conduct of fiscal policy.
Simply put, the way we define and measure progress goes to the very core of how we run our economy.
Our singular focus on growing GDP has concealed the related decline in other measures of our prosperity, like the rapidly declining quality of water in our rivers and lakes,
or the record growth in inequality within New Zealand.
If we change the measure, we’re likely to change the outcome.
This bill proposes 39 environmental indicators that can be included in our national set of accounts.
The indicators fall into seven key subcategories relating to our biodiversity, air & atmosphere, water quality, land use, energy use, waste, and population.
Clean Groundwater Bill
The Green Party will make aquifers a matter of national importance to protect our springs, groundwater and underground water sources.
This Members’ Bill will keep our water from underground sources safe from pollution, contamination, and over-extraction.
New Zealanders are hugely concerned about the state of our fresh water – whether it’s the degradation of our swimming spots or our drinking water.
When in government, the Green Party will continue the fight to protect our rivers and lakes from polluters, and from those who see them as a resource to be easily and cheaply exploited, rather than treasured.
By making the protection of groundwater a matter of national importance, as this bill does, we’ll ensure that Ministers and councils give greater weight to its protection in their decision making.
It’s the very least our waterways – and generations of New Zealanders – deserve.
Read our Q+A on the Clean Groundwater Bill
Regional rail: connecting Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay
Trains can help people and freight in regional New Zealand travel safely and efficiently,
taking trucks and cars off the road,
and reducing the pollution that causes climate change.
The indefinite closure of the Manawatū Gorge is an opportunity to revitalise passenger trains in this part of New Zealand.
The Green Party will: Establish a new twice-daily passenger train service between Palmerston North and Napier: the Ruahine Runner.
Bring fares down on the existing Capital Connection commuter service between Palmerston North and Wellington, with ongoing, stable funding.
Open up the land transport budget to allow more investment in rail throughout the country.
This is part the Green Party’s commitment to connecting the regions and expanding regional rail services across the country.
The Ruahine Runner – a new Palmerston North to Napier rail line
The Ruahine Runner is a new rail service that will depart both Palmerston North and Napier twice daily, with services running in both directions in the morning and evening.
It would stop at Woodville, Dannevirke, Waipukurau, and Hastings, and take 2. 5 hours – faster than the existing freight trains on this route, about the same as by car, and quicker than the current bus service.
If successful, this service could be extended to Wellington, providing a second daily service between the capital and Palmerston North.
This is a simple and affordable solution in response to the Manawatū Gorge closure that should accompany roading improvements around Ashhurst and on the Saddle Road.
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The Capital Commuter line
Fares on the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington have risen by up to 17 percent since 2012.
Unsurprisingly, passenger numbers have dropped to around 250 people a day.
The Green Party is committed to reducing fares on the Capital Connection
and providing it with consistent funding from the National Land Transport Fund.
Opening up the transport budget for rail
The Green Party will ensure a more balanced approach to transport funding by opening up the transport budget to invest in improving the rail network, and by increasing investment in regional roads.
Only by having genuinely reliable and competitive alternatives to the state highway network will we have a more resilient transport network overall.
Social policies
Every house a home
The Green Party will make life better for the thousands of New Zealanders who rent their homes.
Our plan will bring balance to the landlord-tenant relationship, improve rental security for tenants, and make sure that all homes are warm, dry and healthy.
Te reo Māori in all schools
The Green Party in government will revitalise te reo Māori in Aotearoa
by giving all our kids the opportunity to learn it at school.
Our goal is that all New Zealand school children will be able to learn te reo Māori at school by 2030, and we have a plan to achieve that.
Student fair deal
Supporting students creates a fairer society and a stronger economy.
The Greens have got your back.
Students are the only group in society expected to borrow just to get by.
We believe that students should be supported so that they can focus on learning the skills they need to contribute to a smart, innovative economy and a fairer society.
It’s difficult to do that when you are constantly worried about making ends meet.
Tertiary study should be a way out of poverty, not a way into it.
The Green Party will: Make all post-graduate students eligible for student allowances, as a step towards a truly universal student allowance.
Increase all student allowances by 20 percent.
Make buses and trains free off-peak for all tertiary students and apprentices.
Increase funding for tertiary institutions to make sure they are resourced to support students with disabilities.
Restore the ability of students in long courses to access loans and allowances beyond seven years.
As well as these Green Party promises, we support Labour’s three free years of tertiary education plan.
A universal allowance for post-graduate students
The Green Party will make all post-graduate students eligible for a student allowance, as a first step towards making all students eligible.
New Zealand needs smart tertiary policy that values the contribution of higher education to our economy and society.
Making all post-graduate students eligible for allowances is estimated to cost $300 million a year.
Raising student allowances
The Green Party will increase all student allowances by 20 percent.
A student under 24 years old not living with their parents would receive $39.50 more every week, and a student over 24 not living with their parents would receive an extra $47.50 a week.
A single parent who is studying will be around $130 better off every week.
This is part of our Mending the Safety Net welfare and tax reform policy that will make everyone who earns less than $150,000 better off than they are now.
This policy also includes raising the minimum wage to $17.75
and restoring the Training Incentive Allowance to help people on benefits gain new skills and qualifications.
More info on our fair deal for students
Read the fair deal summary paper
Read about our transport plan to provide students free public transport
Read about our winter energy payments to all households earning under $50,000
Read about our mental health package that includes free counselling to everyone under 25
Youth mental health plan
All New Zealanders will, at different times in their lives, face ups and downs.
The Green Party will help equip people with the skills and resources they need to make it through the tough times, as well as support the mental health system for when people need more acute intervention.
New Zealand has some of the worst rates of youth suicide in the world, with serious impacts on people, families, schools, and communities.
There is an urgent need to address the despairs and hopes within young people, and save lives.
The Green Party will: Introduce free counselling for under 25s, and work towards extending this to all adults.
Increasing funding for youth mental health services.
Fund more community initiatives in the health and education sector.
Begin a mental health inquiry and re-establish the Mental Health Commission.
The Green Party will increase funding to youth mental health services by $263 million a year.
Every suicide is a tragedy.
The Green Party believes that suicide is preventable and we want to work towards zero suicide within our health care system.
Integrating a zero suicide philosophy is a bold goal, and an aspirational challenge.
It is time to take practical steps towards reducing New Zealand’s suicide rate by properly funding our mental health system,
implementing effective policies to help,
and destigmatising and normalising talking about mental health.
With a well-funded and better-coordinated strategy, we can do this.
For more information:
Mental Health summary
Mental Health full policy
A plan to pay women more
New Zealand was the first country where women won the right to vote,
and now we can be the first country to have pay equity for women.
The Green Party has a plan to ensure that women and their families are treated fairly and paid better than they are now.
We will:Introduce pay transparency, by requiring employers to collect data on what they pay men and women.
Make public sector chief executives responsible for achieving equal pay for employees of core Government departments.
Amend the equal pay laws, to include agreed principles and an onus on employers to prove they are paying women fairly.
Fund an expert body to assist women so all pay equity claims are progressed efficiently.
Double the funding for the Ministry for Women to get a better deal for women.
Fund social marketing and education aimed at eliminating bias in employment.
Ensure the Minister for Women sits in Cabinet, not outside it,
and ensure gender balance amongst Green Party ministers.
The gender pay gap for median hourly earnings is 9. 4 percent, and for average hourly earnings is 13. 1 percent.
For Māori women, the gender pay gap is 24. 5 percent, and for Pasifika women, it is 26. 8 percent.
Being underpaid has serious consequences.
Over a year or a lifetime, the difference in women's ability to participate in society, put a roof over their heads or feed themselves and their kids is profound.
Equal pay can be thought of as equal pay for men and women doing the same job, whereas pay equity is equal pay for doing different jobs of the same value, with similar skills, experience, and responsibility.
For more information:
Read the policy summary
Read the full policy paper
Inclusive Education
Every child has a right to be fully included and thrive in the education system.
The Green Party is passionate about improving inclusive education services so that every Kiwi kid gets to fully participate in school life.
In government, the Green Party will increase education funding by $315 million to build a more inclusive education system.
We will:Properly fund a full-time Children’s Champion for every 400 children to coordinate support for children with high needs (currently called a Special Education Needs Co-ordinator).
Create a $5 million annual School Camp fund to support students with additional learning needs to attend camps and other activities that should be enjoyed by all kids.
Double funding for the Ongoing Resourcing Scheme and the Early Intervention Service to increase the number of students who can access these services.
Invest $25 million over three years in targeted learning support professional development for teachers.
Ensure every child can be included at their local school, by strengthening the child rights provisions in the Education Act.
Establish new processes to reduce the number of children who get suspended or excluded, especially those with learning support needs.
Centrally fund school support staff to ensure that all students get the help they need.
Freeing up support for children
The Children’s Champion for every 400 children would ensure that students are properly supported.
Currently, many staff in these roles are part-time and untrained in the specific learning support needs of individual students.
They often do not have the time, training or resources that they need to do a good job.
This will cost $70 million over three years.
School camp fund
School camps are a key part of the curriculum and something that many kids appreciate and enjoy.
Children with high and moderate learning support needs have often been excluded from camps due to funding pressures and attitudinal barriers to their full participation.
The Green Party will create a $5 million annual School Camps Fund to provide financial assistance to include all students in school camps.
This will help pay for the support staff, equipment, and infrastructure required to make sure that school camps are more accessible.
Keeping kids in schools
The Green Party will establish new processes to reduce the number of children who get suspended or excluded, especially those with learning support needs.
Around 1,000 students with disabilities (high learning needs) are suspended from school every year.
And we will strengthen the Education Act with a child rights focus to ensure all children with all levels of needs have a legal right to be educated alongside everyone else.
Working with staff
Funding to support children with additional learning needs is currently taken from schools’ operations grants.
This means some schools have to choose whether to fund their students’ needs, or pay their power bills.
The Green Party is committed to centrally funding staff so that every child who needs help can get it.
We are also committed to invest $25 million more into professional development for teachers for additional learning needs.
More information
Full Policy Paper
Policy Summary
Mending the Safety Net
No one in New Zealand should live in poverty.
Whether they are working or on a benefit, everyone has different life circumstances and everyone is entitled to support for as long as they need it.
The Green Party will repair the holes that have been torn in New Zealand’s social safety net by making major changes to income support – changes that will bring people out of poverty and provide independence, dignity, and choices.
We will: Increase all core benefits by 20 percent
Increase the amount people can earn before their benefit is cut
Increase the value of Working For Families for all families
Create a Working For Families Children’s Credit of $72 a week
Remove financial penalties and excessive sanctions for people receiving benefits
Reduce the bottom tax rate from 10. 5 percent to 9 percent on income under $14,000
Introduce a new top tax rate of 40 percent on income over $150,000 per year.
Raise the minimum wage to $17.75 in the first year and keep raising it until it's 66 percent of the average wage.
Our welfare system should provide effective support for people who need it, while they need it.
The social safety net should stop families from falling into poverty and guarantee a basic, liveable income.
That’s what it means to live in a decent, compassionate society.
Punishing people through benefit sanctions, cuts, and investigations has not worked.
Rather than giving people ‘incentives’, it traps them in a cycle of poverty and puts children’s wellbeing at risk.
Children suffer when the welfare system punishes their parents, and in the long term, so does society.
It is never ok for the government to use poverty or the threat of poverty as a weapon.
In contrast, the Green Party’s simple and stable incomes system will provide parents with the support they need to raise their kids and improve their lives.
Here are some examples of how much better off people will be with the Green Party:
A family of two parents who both earn the median income and have three children: $130 better off every week.
A family of two parents, one working for $70,000 a year, with two children: $88 better off every week.
A single parent who is studying and receiving the Student Allowance, with two children and part time, low wage work: $176 better off every week.
A single parent on a benefit with no paid work and two school-age children: $179 better off every week.
The Green Party’s plan will ensure the people on the highest incomes pay their fair share
and those that need help are treated with respect and dignity.
Everyone who earns less than $150,000 a year will be better off.
This plan sits alongside our Budget for All Mothers which will give all children, and their parents, the best start in life.
More information
Green Party Family Incomes Full Policy
Green Party Family Incomes Policy Overview
Budget for All Mothers
Helping parents when they need it the most
The Green Party wants to help parents when they need it the most, by ensuring they have time and money to focus on raising happy, healthy kids.
Too many parents in Aotearoa are struggling to pay the bills and juggle work and family commitments.
We want every single Kiwi kid to have a great start in life – regardless of what their parents earn or whether they work or not.
To make that a reality, their parents need more time, more financial support, and more flexible work arrangements.
Well-supported kids turn into happy and healthy adults.
Our Budget for all Mothers will help by:Making the $220 per week Parental Tax Credit available to all families who don’t get paid parental leave.
This ensures every baby born in New Zealand gets the same support and makes the system simpler.
Extend sick leave to be a minimum of 10 days a year,
so that parents and whanau have time to look after sick kids
Ensuring the OSCAR subsidy for after school and holiday programmes is available to all kids from low-income families.
Give every new born baby a Wahakura - Baby Pod, which includes a safe sleeping place as well as clothes, nappies and bedding
The Green Party believes that parenting is one of the hardest and most important jobs in the world.
As a country, we all benefit when parents are supported to give their kids the love and attention they deserve.
We know that something as simple as raising a family’s income can be transformative for a child’s life prospects.
It’s crucial that we support every Kiwi kid in their early years, rather than pick and choose the kids that get Government support, as successive Governments have done with damaging consequences for our poorest children.
We all want to live in a society where every child gets a great start to life.
This is just the first step towards a better, fairer New Zealand.
More information
Green Party Budget for All Mothers Policy
Green Party Budget for All Mothers Overview
Survey:  What would make your life easier?
Home For Life
The Green Party’s vision is a country where safe, secure, warm, and dry housing is an affordable reality for everyone.
Our Home for Life plan will help New Zealanders get into their own homes by establishing a rent-to-buy programme
and by creating new opportunities for community housing providers to play a bigger part in solving the housing crisis.
This will give more New Zealanders a fair shot at owning their own home
– even when the market is stacked against them
– and make sure the community housing sector has the financial and political support to help solve the housing crisis.
For much of Aotearoa New Zealand’s history, governments used their low cost of borrowing to finance affordable homes for New Zealanders.
It is time for government to pick up its tools again.
1) Progressive home ownership
As a part of a government-build programme, the Green Party will make 10,000 new homes over ten years available to people who can’t afford a deposit or a normal commercial mortgage, through progressive ownership rent-to-buy arrangements.
Progressive home owners will pay a weekly payment of no more than 30 percent of their income.
Part of each payment will be rent to cover the Crown’s costs.
The rest will purchase equity shares in the home.
Over time, with each regular payment, ownership of the home will transfer from the government to the people who live in it.
Our plan will save people more than $100 a week compared to a commercial mortgage.
This programme will work alongside any government plan to build more affordable homes.
It will provide access to affordable, stable housing and get people out of expensive rentals and into their own homes.
2) Working with community housing providers
Community and social housing providers, including iwi, have the skills and experience to play a big part in ending the housing crisis.
Community housing providers will be able to purchase an additional 5,000 newly built, energy efficient homes from the government through the progressive ownership programme.
Community housing providers may choose to use these as emergency housing,
rent them out as social housing,
or sell them to tenants over time using their own rent-to-buy programmes.
Community housing providers will provide a deposit or use private sector finance to pay for part of the initial cost of building new, highly energy efficient homes.
The government will fund the remaining stake through Housing New Zealand.
Community housing providers will make regular payments to buy out the government’s stake.
3) Innovative housing finance
Investors who want safe, socially responsible investment options can help fix the housing crisis.
To enable the community housing sector to grow and help solve the housing crisis, the government will issue low-interest loans to community housing providers to build new, energy efficient homes.
We’ll fund these by supplying long-term partially-guaranteed housing bonds to investors who want to see their money put to use to solve the housing crisis.
This will be in addition to existing community housing funding programmes.
Homes Not Cars
There aren’t enough houses in New Zealand.
We need to fix that.
The Green Party has a plan to build hundreds of state homes to help deal with the emergency housing crisis facing thousands of vulnerable New Zealanders right now.
The Green Party plan would allow Housing New Zealand to retain its dividend and, in addition, would refund its tax, freeing up $207 million in the next financial year to spend on the emergency building of around 450 new state homes.
Despite New Zealand being one of the wealthiest countries in the world, families are sleeping in cars, under bridges and in garages.
This requires an urgent and direct response from the Government.
There aren’t enough houses in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland, and this policy is another step in trying to fix that.
Faster into Homes
A First Home Student Loan Repayment Diversion Bill
This First Home Student Loan Repayment Diversion Bill help young people to save faster for a deposit for their first home.
Home ownership is becoming a distant dream for thousands of people from ‘Generation Rent’ with rapidly rising house prices, LVR deposit requirements and low wage growth.
We want to help by giving people more choice.
This Bill will:Create a scheme which allows student loan borrowers to defer paying back their student loan to help them save for a house.
Allow anyone who is earning over the repayment threshold of $19,000 to defer part or all of their mandatory 12 percent student loan repayment into a housing deposit savings account.
Establish a fund, held by the IRD, which would approve student loan diversion savings (combined with KiwiSaver and other savings) to be spent on buying or building a first home.
Give people the option of saving for a home deposit now and paying off their student loan once they have secure housing.
Ensure that any savings not allocated towards a first home are transferred back to student loan balances.
Why a student loan diversion?
Many New Zealanders struggle to save for a first home deposit, particularly when 12 percent of their income before tax goes on compulsory Student Loan repayments.
Getting a deposit together has become even harder with LVR restrictions across the country.
The Government has made it harder for graduates to get into their first home by failing to act quickly to stop the housing crisis.
National has also made a number of negative changes that have made it harder for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders with Student Loans to save, like increasing the repayment threshold from 10 to 12 percent, halving the Government’s annual KiwiSaver contribution, and removing the bonus incentive for lump sum student loan repayments.
Helping young people into homes will also encourage them to stay in New Zealand,
improving student loan repayment levels in the long run.
Currently borrowers can receive a Student Loan repayment holiday when travelling overseas for one year and it is an issue of fairness that those who stay, work and save in New Zealand can’t access a repayment break too.
We want to allow Kiwis the choice to prioritise paying off their loan faster or get into a home faster.
Faster into Homes calculator
Use our calculator to find out how much money you could save under this scheme
Faster into Homes Overview
Honouring Te Tiriti
Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi means making New Zealand a fairer place for everyone who lives here.
Te Tiriti o Waitangi is the basis of peace and justice in Aotearoa.
It is an ongoing agreement, not something to be settled.
Policy Costings Unit
The formation of the Policy Costings Unit (PCU) to cost the policy of political parties.
New Zealanders deserve more transparency from their politicians so they can better engage in the political system.
Having party policies independently costed will help to cut through the noise of political party promises and deliver New Zealanders unbiased information.
The PCU would be an independent unit within the Treasury and be available to all parliamentary parties.
Further details of the Policy Costings Unit (PCU):The PCU will function within the Treasury and will run like all other divisions within Treasury.
However, the PCU will be exempt from reporting to the Minister to maintain confidentiality of Party policies.
Once a policy has been released by the political party, the costings prepared by the PCU will be proactively released.
The PCU will be subject to OIA requirements unless the policy is to be released publically by political parties in the near future, in which case it will be exempt under s18 (d) of the OIA Act.
The PCU will be open to all parties within Parliament initially, with hopes of expansion to parties outside Parliament in the future.
The PCU will be a permanent fixture in the Treasury with extra resources added during election years to meet demand.
The cost is estimated to be $1-2 million per year, increasing to $2-3 million a year during election year to account for increased staff.
The ability for political parties to get policy costed already exists in the Treasury, but permission must be obtained from Ministers.
Public Journalism Fund
Reading, hearing, and watching stories about New Zealanders, by New Zealanders, is critical to our democracy and our national identity.
Traditional media are facing financial and technological disruption.
There’s a lot of great journalism in New Zealand, however, recent years have seen a cut to staff numbers and proposed mergers.
The government needs to step-up to ensure the future of public interest journalism on paper, on our screens, and on the radio.
To help make that happen, the Green Party will:Establish a New Zealand Public Journalism Fund to support public interest journalism and help tell New Zealand stories across a range of platforms.
Restore Radio New Zealand’s funding, which has been frozen since 2008.
Cannabis
It's time to change our cannabis laws
New Zealanders deserve a positive and solutions-focused discussion on access to medicinal cannabis, which should be legal, and affordable.
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick has has a members’ bill (originally written by Julie Anne Genter) before parliament which would legalise access to cannabis products for New Zealanders suffering from terminal illness or any debilitating condition.
We’ve seen a sea change in public attitudes about medicinal cannabis in recent years, thanks to the many brave people who have spoken out about their experiences with chronic pain and terminal illness.
The most recent Ministry of Health study found that of 400,000 New Zealanders who use cannabis, a whopping 42% do so for medicinal purposes, to alleviate pain or nausea.
It’s time for our laws to catch up with what is already happening - so those suffering don’t risk jail for no reason other than archiac, cruel laws.
Going down a pharmaceutical route is going to price cannabis out of people's hands.
Until people can legally grow their own cannabis or designate someone to grow it, patients across Aotearoa are likely to remain criminals.
We can do better than this.
Current cannabis laws are out of date and causing harm, including the criminalisation of individuals and families at a significant cost to the economy.
We still don’t have affordable access to medicinal cannabis in New Zealand.
Unless lawful medicinal cannabis is made reasonably accessible, current strong demand will continue to be met largely by an unregulated black market.
The Green Party has always campaigned for a compassionate approach to medicinal cannabis, and as a partner of the Government we want to see this done right.
Supporting this bill through to Select Committee will ensure the best range of options for medicinal cannabis law change are debated by the public.
Drug Law Reform Policy
The Green Party recognises that:Drug policy should be rational and based on credible and scientifically-valid evidence.
There can be adverse health, social and economic consequences from the use of drugs for both individuals and society.
Not all drug use is problematic.
Some individuals in society will choose to use drugs, regardless of their legal status.
Prohibition of drugs can cause more harm that it prevents.
Drug policy should have a primary focus on improving public health
instead of trying to punish users.
For more details on drug law reform, please take a look at our Drug Law Reform Policy.
Welcoming more refugees
We can change the lives of thousands of people who are forced to flee their homes because of conflict, persecution, and climate change.
New Zealanders want to do more to help people around the world affected by the global refugee crisis.
The Green Party will:Progressively increase New Zealand’s refugee quota to 4,000 people per year after six years,
and properly fund asylum seeker and refugee services.
Establish a programme for church and community groups to sponsor an additional 1,000 refugees per year.
Create a new humanitarian visa for people displaced by climate change in the Pacific.
Climate change will only make the global refugee crisis worse.
We’re committed to providing new homes for some of the people who are forced out of their own communities and countries by rising seas and extreme droughts, particularly in the Pacific.
To help pay for refugee resettlement, we will require high net worth immigrants who gain New Zealand residency under the Investor and Investor Plus categories to invest a portion of their required investments into building, maintaining, and running the refugee resettlement services.
Accepting more refugees now, from the parts of the world where the need is greatest, will make a significant difference for thousands of families.
At this moment in global history, it is the right thing to do.
More information
Green Party Refugee Policy - Two pager
Green Party Refugee Full Policy
Residential Tenancies (Safe and Secure Rentals) Amendment Bill
This Bill will bring incremental, positive changes to the lives of New Zealand renters.
Renting is a reality for more than a million New Zealanders – we need new, modern laws that recognise that renters aren’t second-class citizens,
and which will allow families to put down roots in their communities.
This Bill will:Remove the obligation on tenants to pay leasing fees
Set a default of three years for fixed-term tenancies on the standard tenancy form, while maintaining the provision for both parties to opt out and set the term of their choice
Remove the ability of landlords to give a reduced notice period of 42 days in the event that they decide to sell their tenanted property, and restore the standard 90-day notice period
Limit rent increases to no more than once a year, regardless of tenancy type or term
Require that the formula for calculating any future rent increase be included in tenancy agreement forms
Allow tenants right of renewal on rental agreements
Why are long-term tenancies better?
Long-term tenancies enable people to put down roots in a community, safe in the knowledge that they won’t be forced to look for a new place to live sometime soon.
Multiple-year tenancies are particularly helpful for families – it means kids do better at school, parents have better job security and stronger community ties are built.
Do other countries have different tenancy laws to New Zealand?
Tenancy laws are different around the world.
Some countries, particularly in Europe, have well-developed rental cultures where long-term tenancies in high-quality, warm homes are the norm.
This Bill seeks to find the best solution for New Zealanders and New Zealand-built houses.
Read the Safe and Secure Rentals Bill
Domestic Violence - Victims' Protection Bill
Supporting victims of domestic violence
Domestic violence has a damaging, yet often hidden, impact on victims' lives.
Providing workplace protections for victims of abuse so they can stay in work is critical to reducing the effects of violence, and Jan Logie’s Bill would help that to happen.
Staying in employment is critical to reducing the effects of violence.
Secure employment enables victims to maintain domestic and economic stability and assists them to a pathway out of violence and to successfully rebuild their lives.
The bill would extend leave provisions to include domestic violence leave as when women leave a violent situation it can be very hard for them to juggle court, counselling, housing and the needs of their children without extra leave.
We know that work at a regular time and place can make work a target for the abuser, but with a little employer support through flexible working arrangements that can be changed to support the employee.
With the Human Rights Commission currently campaigning for businesses to introduce a family violence policy, the Bill would provide tangible guidance for businesses about what needs to be done to address domestic violence.
This Bill provides legislation that signals domestic violence is unacceptable.
This Bill will create a system to support businesses to respond effectively.
Q+A on the bill
Equal Pay Amendment Bill
Supporting equal pay for all women
It’s time for Parliament to make real change for women in New Zealand by supporting Jan Logie’s member’s bill on pay transparency.
This bill would require all employers to collect information about how much men and women are paid, to make it easier to find out where there is discrimination.
Ensuring transparency around pay is an easy way to ensure women get paid fairly – this bill will make that a reality
Women in New Zealand work hard every day, in every job – they deserve real action on pay equality.
The Bill on parliament website
Equitable Process for Establishing Māori Wards and Māori Constituencies Bill
He pire tēnei ki te whakakore i tērā ārai ki te whakatū rohe poti Māori.
E tika ana kia whakarahi ake ngā kanohi Māori hei māngai mā tātou i runga i ngā kaunihera.
This Members’ Bill will ensure that the process for establishing Māori wards at a local government level is equitable and fair,
and honours our commitments under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
At the moment, establishing Māori wards can be put to a referendum, but general wards can’t be – they’re decided on by councils.
This is an unfair double standard,
and works to limit Māori representation at a local government level throughout the country.
This bill removes the double standard by making the process for territorial authorities and regional councils to establish Māori wards and constituencies the same as the process for general wards and constituencies.
It will require councils to consider, at least once every 6 years, whether to establish Māori wards and Māori constituencies.
Mai rā nō ka whawhai Te Rōpū Kākāriki ki te whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Ka tū anō te Rōpū Kākāriki me tō mātou kaha ki te hāpai i ngā kaupapa Māori me te mana o Te Tiriti.
Joint Aged Care Report
Our seniors deserve a high standard of care.
Labour, Greens and Grey Power collaborated on a comprehensive inquiry in 2010, and have followed up in 2017.
New challenges have emerged since our 2010 report.
While improvements have been made, this inquiry has found that many of the problems remain.
The following recommendations signal the direction of travel both political parties agree to pursuing in aged care.
This is an aspirational vision to improve the standard of aged care services for our older New Zealanders, ensure the sustainability of service providers and improve the health of the population.
Recommendations
Improve the quality and consistency of care through the use of a common assessment tool, a consistent level of care across all DHBs and updated care standards.
Improved accountability throughout the aged care system through the establishment of an Aged Care Commissioner, reporting and performance measures based on health outcomes and improved complaints mechanisms.
Investigate affordable and appropriate housing options for seniors to provide a transition between living at home and residential care.
Encourage innovation in the delivery of aged care to cater to the needs of a growing and diverse population.
Increase funding for aged care providers and ensure that the funding model provides viable aged care services for specific communities, including small towns and rural areas.
Read more
The 2017 Recommendations Summary
The Full 2017 Report
Labour's Plan
How we'll fund our policies
In its first term, Labour will introduce policies to make New Zealand an even better place to live…
Labour’s plan will invest in making New Zealand a better place to live, work, visit, and do business.
Our policies will see major investments in housing
health,
education,
police,
and infrastructure,
while creating more jobs.
and lifting the incomes of families
These investments will be made while running surpluses and paying down debt.
by tackling the housing crisis and restoring the Kiwi Dream of homeownership…
In the first term, the Labour Government will:Ease the housing shortage by building affordable homes
and selling them at cost to first home buyers,
building state houses,
and implementing modern rules around urban limits and density controls
Crack down on speculators by banning overseas speculators from buying existing houses
and tightening the tax rules speculators exploit
Increase our building capacity by investing in our young people, encouraging them into building trades, and investing in modern manufacturing techniques
Improve the quality of housing by requiring all rentals to be fit to live in,
and invest in insulation and heating grants paid for by closing the speculators’ tax loophole
Increase Māori homeownership by establishing a Māori Housing unit, reforming the Kāinga Whenua and Welcome Home Loans schemes,
and partnering with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations
to develop affordable and social housing.
These policies will see thousands more homes being built
while removing speculative demand from the market.
Kiwi families will have a fair go
at buying a place of their own.
By the end of our first term, we expect to see more families owning their own home
and a significant reduction in homelessness, on the path to our target of making sure every Kiwi has a warm, dry, safe place to live.
addressing chronic underfunding of health, education, and police…
In the first term, the Labour Government will:Reverse National’s health cuts and begin the process of making up for the years of underfunding that have occurred.
This extra funding will allow us to invest in mental health services, reduce the cost of going to the doctor, carry out more operations, provide the latest medicines, invest in Māori health initiatives including supporting Whānau Ora, and start the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital.
By the end of the four year forecast period, Labour will invest $8 billion more in health than was proposed in PREFU 2017
Work towards the goal of free education by making tertiary education more affordable and tackling school donations.
We will fund schools and early childhood education centres properly, so they can deliver world class education to our children.
We will introduce a School Leavers’ Toolkit to equip young people for adult life.
By the end of the four year forecast period Labour will invest $6 billion more in education than was proposed in PREFU 2017
Support Māori educational achievement through dedicated professional development programmes,
and increased support for Te Reo Māori including dedicated scholarships to increase the number of Te Reo Māori teachers
Increase funding to Police to recruit 1,000 additional officers to make our communities safer.
These policies will mean our public services are able to give us the service we need, when we need it.
By the end of our first term, we will have more doctors and nurses in our hospitals,
more teachers in our schools,
better educated young people,
and more police keeping our streets safe.
investing in infrastructure, our future, and jobs…
In the first term, the Labour Government will:Restart contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, as part of maintaining the superannuation age at 65
Begin the construction of a light rail network in Auckland,
invest in passenger rail for Hamilton and Tauranga,
and restart commuter rail in Christchurch as part of a nationwide increase in investment in modern transport
Introduce a clean water royalty on major commercial users of water to fund making our rivers and lakes swimmable again
Boost growth and jobs through our Regional Development Fund
and R&D tax credits
Establish a Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund
Target reducing New Zealand’s unemployment to 4% by backing apprenticeships,
getting young people off the dole and Ready for Work,
investing in regional development opportunities that will create jobs,
and creating employment through KiwiBuild and our infrastructure programme.
By the end of our first term, we expect to see unemployment in New Zealand among the lowest in the OECD, from the current position of 13th.
The New Zealand Superannuation Fund will be growing rapidly again and worth around $63 billion.
The infrastructure projects to get our cities moving will be underway.
We will be making progress in cleaning up our water.
While these investments are being made, we will take a breather on immigration until our cities can keep up with rapid population growth.
and boosting incomes to families while helping those in need.
In the first term, the Labour Government will:Boost wages by introducing Fair Pay Agreements,
increasing the minimum wage on the path to making it two-thirds of the average wage,
and paying the living wage to core government employees, and — over time — contractors to government agencies
Increase family incomes with higher Working For Families payments and a Best Start payment to families with babies and toddlers
Help older New Zealanders and low-income families stay warm and healthy in winter with a new Winter Energy Payment
Reinstate the Independent Earner Tax Credit for single low-income people.
By the end of our first term, we expect to see a significant increase in incomes, especially for working families and those in need.
This will help to reduce inequality and poverty and create a New Zealand where everyone shares in prosperity.
Over the four year forecast period Labour will spend an additional $5 billion lifting the incomes of middle-income families and those in need.
Our plan to start fixing the housing crisis
Crack down on speculators
Ban foreign speculators from buying existing homes
Labour will ban foreign speculators from buying existing New Zealand homes.
This will remove from the market foreign speculators who are pushing prices out of reach of first home buyers.
Tax property speculators who flick houses within five years
Labour will extend the bright line test from the current two years to five years.
This will target speculators who buy houses with the aim of making a quick capital gain.
Current exemptions from the bright line test will continue.
Create a level playing field for first home buyers
Speculators will no longer be able to use tax losses on their rental properties to offset their tax on other income which gives them an unfair advantage over people looking to buy their first home.
Build more affordable houses
Build 100,000 affordable homes across the country
Labour’s KiwiBuild programme will build 100,000 high quality, affordable homes over 10 years, with 50% of them in Auckland.
Standalone houses in Auckland will cost $500,000 to $600,000, with apartments and townhouses under $500,000.
Outside Auckland, houses will range from $300,000 to $500,000.
Create an Affordable Housing Authority to fast-track development in our cities
Labour will establish an Affordable Housing Authority to work with the private sector to cut through red tape and get new homes built fast.
It will partner with private developers, councils and iwi to undertake major greenfields and revitalisation projects, building affordable homes with KiwiBuild and the private market.
These homes will be part of great communities
built around parks,
shopping centres and transport links.
Growing the building workforce
Increased house-building will require a larger workforce.
Labour’s Dole for Apprenticeships policy will subsidise employers to take on around 4,000 young people for on the job training in fields including building and construction.
Labour’s policy of three years free post-school education will see tens of thousands more people study in all fields,
including building and construction.
KiwiBuild is projected to create 5,000 new jobs at its peak.
Remove barriers that are stopping Auckland growing up and out
Labour will remove the Auckland urban growth boundary and free up density controls.
This will give Auckland more options to grow,
as well as stopping landbankers profiteering and holding up development.
New developments, both in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, will be funded through innovative infrastructure bonds.
Support for those in need
Focus Housing New Zealand on helping people, not making a profit
Labour will make Housing New Zealand into a public service rather than an SOE, and will substantially increase the number of state houses.
Unlike the current government, Labour will not milk state housing for a dividend, and will end its programme of state house sales.
Take serious action to end homelessness
Labour will take serious action to end homelessness in line with the recommendations of the Cross-Party Homelessness Inquiry.
Require all rental homes to be warm, dry, and healthy.
Andrew Little’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is currently before Parliament.
It will set standards that will require all rental properties to meet proper standards in: insulation, heating, ventilation, draught stopping, and drainage.
This will ensure people who live in them don’t get sick.
Invest in warm, dry homes
Labour will invest the money from ending the tax loophole for speculators in grants to help 600,000 families insulate their homes or install a clean, fixed form of heating.
Making life better for renters
Labour will:Increase 42 day notice periods for landlords to 90 days to give tenants more time to find somewhere else to live
Abolish “no-cause” terminations of tenancies
Retain the ability of landlords to get rid of tenants who are in breach of the tenancy agreement with 90 days’ notice, or more quickly by order of the Tenancy Tribunal
Limit rent increases to once per year (the law currently limits it to once every six months)
and require the formula for rental increases to be specified in the rental agreement
Give tenants and landlords the ability to agree tenants on a fixed term lease of 12 months or more can make minor alterations, like putting up shelves, if they pay double bond and on the basis the property is returned to the state it was in at the start of the tenancy
Ban letting fees
Require all rentals to be warm, dry, and healthy for families to live in by passing the Healthy Homes Bill
Give landlords access to grants of up to $2000 for upgrading insulation and heating.
Better homes for Maori
Labour’s vision is that all New Zealanders have a fair shot at owning a place of their own,
and all of our families have a warm, dry, safe home to live in.
Working with iwi and other Māori organisations will be crucial to making that vision a reality.
Specific Housing Development Announcements:
We'll build 50,000 affordable homes in Auckland
We'll build 400 affordable homes in the Hutt Valley
We'll build 200 affordable homes in Hamilton
We'll build 1000 affordable homes in Queenstown
We'll build 149 affordable homes in Palmerston North
We'll build 240 affordable homes in Napier and Hastings
With more to come.
Health
Additional $8 billion investment in health over four years
Cut GP fees by $10 a visit with $8 GP visits for Community Services Card holders
From 1 July 2018, Labour will lower the cost of GP visits by $10 through:
Lowering the VLCA fee cap by $10 to $8 for adults and $2 for teens (under 13s are already free), with a funding increase to VLCA practices to cover this
Increasing government funding for all practices that lower their fees by $10, lowering the average non-VLCA fee from $42 to $32 and the maximum fee from $69 to $59
Increasing funding for GP training places, taking the intake to 300 per year
Carrying out a review of primary care funding to further reduce barriers to primary care and ensure the financial sustainability of practices.
Free mental health care in the community
Labour will:•Make it easier for those in our community with mental health problems to get the help they need by increasing resources for frontline health workers.
Mental health services in Canterbury schools
Labour will:Provide eighty health professionals to provide mental health services in primary and intermediate schools in Christchurch and other earthquake-affected parts of Canterbury, including Kaikōura, for an initial three years.
Review of mental health services
In Labour's first 100 days, we will initiate a review of mental health and addiction services to identify gaps in services.
Health services in every secondary school
Labour will:Extend School Based Health Services to all public secondary schools so all schools have a comprehensive youth health service.
Rebuild Dunedin Hospital
Labour will:commit to beginning construction of the new Dunedin Hospital within our first term
fund the rebuild out of the Government’s normal capital allowance,
and rule out using a PPP
commit to a central city site for the new hospital, not the Wakari site
immediately form a group of Southern DHB, Ministry of Health, Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, and the University of Otago to agree the vision for the new hospital and what each of those organisations will do to help realise it.
Make sure all Kiwis get world-class cancer treatment
Labour will:Make sure all New Zealanders get the same standard of cancer care no matter where in the country they live
Ensure New Zealanders get world-class cancer care through Labour’s $8 billion investment in health
Streamline cancer care in New Zealand by establishing a National Cancer Agency
Fund the latest medicines to end HIV
Labour will:help achieve the goal of ending HIV in New Zealand by 2025 by: increasing access to sexual health services, testing, and early treatment; funding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP); and supporting education, research, and community groups which help achieve this goal
Fund and support healthy eating and nutrition for children
In Government, we will provide a clear time-frame for industry to reduce added sugar content in all processed food
We'll roll out the Project Energize programme from the Waikato, nationally
We'll introduce an actual childhood obesity reduction target
We'll implement clear front-of-package labelling that is easy for everyone to understand
We will develop policy around advertising unhealthy food to children, school food requirements, etc.
Disability Issues Policy
One in four New Zealanders identify as having a disability.
Labour believes that a truly inclusive society is one in which disabled people have meaningful lives within their communities based on respect and dignity, have their diversity recognised, and their human rights supported.
Disabled people should be involved in every aspect of decision-making about their lives, with support where needed, from families.
This is reflected in the motto ‘Nothing about us without us’.
New Zealand has been recognised for its leadership on disability issues internationally.
However, there is still a long way to go before all disabled people enjoy a fully inclusive society that values them and enhances their participation.
Each disabled person must be recognised as an individual person with their own set of needs as aspirations – no two people with a disability are the same.
We believe that disabled people should be supported and encouraged to follow their aspirations, make their own choices, and to lead a quality life.
Inquiry into Aged Care
This inquiry was initiated by the Labour Party, Green Party and Grey Power.
The initial impetus was to review implementation of the recommendations from the A Report into Aged Care (October 2010), but it was also agreed to update the analysis to take account of significant changes in the aged care system and the health sector since 2010.
The process of gathering views and evidence was undertaken between February and June 2017, drawing on eleven public meetings across New Zealand, interviews, research and analysis.
Older New Zealanders still have significant concerns about the standard and availability of aged care in New Zealand which must be addressed, along with new challenges.
While much has changed since our 2010 Report, and some improvements have been made, this inquiry has found that many of the problems remain.
Many of the recommendations have not been implemented, others only partially implemented and some not implemented at all.
The recommendations in the report signal the direction of travel both political parties agree to pursuing in aged care.
This is an aspirational vision to improve the standard of aged care services for our older New Zealanders, ensure the sustainability of service providers and improve the health of the population.
Clean rivers for future generations
Our water is New Zealand’s most important natural treasure.
Clean water is the birth-right of all of us, and vital to our continued prosperity.
Our rivers and lakes are a taonga of huge significance to Māori, a favourite place of recreation for New Zealanders.
Water underpins our agriculture.
Our fresh water resource needs to be protected and restored,
and that can only happen if all water users and the Government work together.
The Government will assist in this work by employing young people who are stuck on the dole and getting them working on improving the health of waterways.
Everyone owns our water, but some have interests in it that others don’t.
Large commercial users who profit from our water should pay a fair and affordable royalty – for example, water bottling companies.
This revenue can help councils restore our waterways for future generations.
Labour will:Restore our rivers and lakes to a truly swimmable state within a generation
Help farmers and other owners of waterways with fencing and riparian planting through our Ready for Work programme
Give the regional councils the resources to clean up their waterways through a water royalty.
Labour will set strong nationwide freshwater quality standards, including for pathogens, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, periphyton a.k.a. slime, and macroinvertebrate health.
The National Policy Statement will stop water quality getting worse straight away.
Water quality will begin improving within five years.
Within a generation, we will reverse the damage that has been done to our fresh water, and make our rivers and lakes swimmable.
This will require more sophisticated farming methods that rely less on ever higher stocking levels and are more focused on value-add.
Within five years, all intensively stocked land near waterways will need to be fenced with setbacks for riparian planting to filter and absorb silt and nutrients before they can flow into the water.
Labour will help with the workforce for this task through the Ready for Work policy.
This programme will employ young people off the dole, and give the opportunity to gain work experience and income
while helping to improve the environment.
The young people employed through Ready for Work will be able to work on fencing waterways, riparian planting, and other work to improve water quality.
Riparian planting will qualify for carbon credits under the Emissions Trading Scheme.
A royalty on the commercial consumption of water will assist with the cost of keeping our water clean.
Households and councils will not pay any water royalty.
The royalty will be flexible to reflect the scarcity or abundance of water in different regions, the different quality of water, and its use.
The royalty for bottled water will be based on per litre and the royalty for irrigation water will be based on per 1000 litres.
It will be proportionate and fair.
Levels will be set following consultation
and the revenue will largely be returned to regional councils.
Labour will work with iwi to resolve Treaty water claims in a manner that respects iwi’s mana, and restores the mauri of our rivers and lakes.
Investing in clean water will be good for all users of our water resource, from farmers to families, and ensure it is there for future generations to enjoy.
Transport
Auckland Transport – Making Auckland a world-class city
Labour will:Build light rail from the CBD to Auckland Airport.
This will be part of a new light rail network that will be built over the next decade with routes to the central suburbs, the airport, and West Auckland, and will later be extended to the North Shore
Build a new Bus Rapid Transit line from Howick to the airport, starting with a bus service which will connect Puhinui and Manukau train stations to the airport in one year
Invest in more electric trains, electrification to Pukekohe, and building a third main trunk line urgently between Westfield and Papakura
Build a range of significant cross-town bus priority routes including New Lynn-Flat Bush, Point Chevalier-Botany, Silverdale-Whangaparoa, and Howick-Glenfield
Allow Auckland Council to collect a regional fuel tax to fund the acceleration of these investments,
along with infrastructure bonds and targeted rates to capture value uplift.
Rapid Rail in the Golden Triangle
Labour will:create a passenger rail service linking Auckland, Hamilton, and Tauranga and, if justified by demand, upgrade it in stages to a rapid rail network throughout the Golden Triangle.
Investing in public transport for Greater Christchurch
Labour will:Commit an additional $100m from the National Land Transport Fund in capital investment to Greater Christchurch multi-modal public transport, including commuter rail from Rolleston to the CBD as a first step.
We’ll work with local authorities and other partners on a 21st century strategic multi-modal transport plan for Greater Christchurch.
Wellington network plan
Labour will:Develop a Congestion Free Network plan and fast-track a feasibility study on rapid transit to the airport, which considers light rail.
Regional and long-distance rail
Labour will:Instruct Kiwirail to retain an electrified network between Hamilton and Palmerston North and work on an evidence-based plan to progressively electrify other key parts of the network.
Re-open moth-balled railway lines where community and business support exists, and there is evidence that the service would be sustainable, notably the Napier to Gisborne rail line.
investigate a rail line to Marsden Point and Northport and upgrading the North Auckland Line to take pressure off the roads in Northland.
Regional Transport Funding
Labour will:make more funding available for transport projects of regional importance by doubling the funding range of $70-$140m to $140-$280m.
A fresh solution to the Manawatu Gorge
Labour will:commit to funding a permanent, resilient replacement for the Manawatu Gorge Road.
This is most likely to be the proposed Te Apiti route, subject to the final decision being made by NZTA
make the process of building a new road as quick as possible to restore a quality link.
Ports and Coastal Shipping
Labour will:As part of a national freight strategy, develop a national ports strategy with a particular focus on the upper north island.
Refresh and move to implement the ‘Sea Change’ strategy to revitalise Coastal shipping.
Mode neutrality
Labour will:Make investments from the National Land Transport Fund on a mode neutral basis,
meaning that rail and walk/cycle projects will be eligible for funding where evidence shows clear benefits to the transport system and local communities.
Investing in walking and cycling
Labour will:make it easier and safer to walk or cycle in our communities by committing more funding to urban cycleways, active neighbourhoods projects, and the Skypath on Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Labour's Vision for Education
Labour believes education gives our young people the freedom and opportunities to be the best they can be and contribute to making New Zealand an even better place to live.
National has chosen to undermine quality as a cost-saving measure.
After nine years of being under resourced and overstretched, our education sector is under immense pressure and the quality of education is suffering.
The result is a narrowing of the curriculum, more burnt out teachers, and falling tertiary education participation.
More costs are being pushed on to parents and students.
ECE fees have risen by an average of 25 per cent under National, while so called voluntary school donations have risen by 50 per cent.
Tertiary fees are up over 40 per cent and student debt has topped $16 billion.
Labour will:Invest an extra $6b over four years to deliver a modern education system
This funding includes $1.8b to deliver more teachers, better professional development, more learning resources, and help the sector meet the rising costs they face each year.
In addition to this, Labour will invest in initiatives to improve the quality of education and make it more accessible and affordable. These include:
Early Childhood Education
Reinstate extra funding for ECE centres that employ 100 per cent qualified and registered teachers
Require all ECE centres to employ at least 80 per cent qualified teachers by the end of our first term
Actively support establishing new public early childhood centres in areas of low-provision through targeted establishment grants.
Schooling
Ensure that schooling is genuinely free by offering an extra $150 per student to state and state integrated schools that don’t ask parents for donations
Establish a comprehensive plan to ensure that all school students have access to mobile digital devices
Abolish National Standards
Rebuild out-dated and worn out school buildings so that every school has modern classrooms by 2030.
To increase the number of people pursuing trades qualifications and employment, Labour will Offer a $2,000 Prime Minister’s Vocational Excellence Award for the top Year 12 or 13 student in vocational courses in each public secondary school, as selected by the school.
Protect and promote our quality public education system by among other things:
Scrapping the use of Public Private Partnerships for the build of new schools and the re-building of existing school facilities
Repealing the legislation allowing for Charter Schools
Tertiary Education
Increasing living costs support with both a $50 a week boost to student allowances and a $50 a week lift to the maximum that can be borrowed for living costs.
Restoring post-graduate students’ eligibility for student allowances.
Restoring the eligibility of students in long courses, such as medicine, to access student allowances or loans beyond seven years FTE study.
Accelerating the three years' free policy, starting with one year fees free full-time equivalent for everyone starting tertiary education or training for the first time from 1 January 2018, and extending this to three years’ free by 2024.
Encourage employers to take on unemployed young people as apprentices by giving them a wage subsidy equivalent to the unemployment benefit.
Reinstate funding for programmes - like night classes - that support adult learners to adapt to the changing world.
Introduce a Young Entrepreneurs Policy, allowing New Zealanders aged 18 to 23 to trade in their 3-years-free and apply for up to $20,000 to start a new business based on an innovative idea.
They must have been through an accelerator business training programme, which will be paid for under the policy, have a business mentor and a business plan accepted by an independent panel of business experts.
School Leavers' Toolkit
Labour will create a School Leavers’ Toolkit to equip school leavers with vital life skills including:
learning to drive and getting a licence
having key workplace competencies
having financial literacy and budgeting skills
knowing their democratic rights
and responsibilities
Ensure every student has professional personalised career advice before leaving high school.
This investment will mean more teachers in front of our kids, better classrooms, and less cost for parents.
More of our young people will go on to tertiary education and get the skills they need for work, with less debt.
By investing in education, the next generation of Kiwis will be better qualified and ready to take on the rapidly changing world.
They will be equipped to help build a better New Zealand.
In total, Labour will invest an extra $6b in education over the next four years above what National has committed.
This funding will come from the money saved by cancelling National’s tax cuts, which would deliver $400m a year to the top 10 per cent of earners, and the unallocated operating and capital allowances in each Budget.
Jobs and Innovation
Labour will run a surplus and pay down debt
End secondary tax
Labour will:Abolish secondary tax as it denies many New Zealanders access to wages they need to make ends meet.
Help young entrepreneurs to start their business
Labour will:Introduce a Young Entrepreneurs Policy, allowing any New Zealander aged 18 to 23 to apply for up to $20,000 to start a new business based on an innovative idea.
They must have been through an accelerator business training programme, which will be paid for under the policy, have a business mentor and a business plan accepted by an independent panel of business experts.
Make multinationals pay their fair share
Labour will:Collect an extra $200m per year from multinationals currently avoiding their New Zealand tax obligations by resourcing IRD with an additional $30m per year to crack down on multinational tax avoidance.
If multinationals aren’t prepared to pay their fair share, Labour will introduce a diverted profits tax, to enable New Zealand tax authorities to impose tax at a penalty rate if they believe that tax has been deliberately avoided.
Dole for apprenticeships
Labour will:Encourage employers to take on unemployed young people as apprentices by giving them a wage subsidy equivalent to the unemployment benefit.
Employ 10,000 young people off the dole to improve the environment
Labour will:Give unemployed young people a job for six months doing work of public value, so they can gain work experience and avoid long-term unemployment.
Raise the minimum wage to $16.50
Labour will:Boost the minimum wage to $16. 50 an hour and base future increases on the real cost of living for people on low incomes.
Over time, we will work towards lifting the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage as economic conditions allow.
Be a good employer in government.
All core public sector employees will be paid at least the Living Wage, at a cost of $15m, and this will be extended to contractors over time.
A workplace relations policy for higher wages and fairer conditions
Labour’s workplace relations package includes:Replacing the current National Government’s ‘fire at will’ law with fair trial periods that provide both protection against unjustified dismissal and a simple, fair, and fast referee service.
Introducing Fair Pay Agreements that set fair, basic employment conditions across an industry based on the employment standards that apply in that industry.
Promoting the Living Wage by paying it to all workers in the core public service, and extending it to contractors over time.
Doubling the number of Labour Inspectors.
Tax back for companies doing research and innovating
Labour will:Introduce an R&D tax credit at the rate of 12.5%, to lift New Zealand’s lagging R&D expenditure by encouraging businesses to research and innovate.
Make sure the Government buys Kiwi-made whenever possible
Labour will ensure the Government focuses on creating more jobs:
When Government organisations issue large contracts, they will have to choose the winning bid based on which creates jobs in New Zealand.
When Government organisations issue contracts, they will have to design them so that companies focused on creating jobs in New Zealand have a fair chance of winning them.
$300m for priority infrastructure in Christchurch
Labour will:Establish a $300m capital acceleration facility to develop the red zone, contribute towards a new stadium and deal with the gaps in the horizontal infrastructure programme in partnership with the Christchurch City Council as part of the Global Settlement.
Safely re-enter Pike River Mine
Labour will:Allow safe re-entry to the Pike River Mine to allow the families to recover recover some of the men and find evidence of the cause of the explosions.
That will help deliver justice and answers, and bring the men home to their families.
Flexible Tax for Business
Labour will:Introduce an entirely flexible voluntary withholding tax, to let businesses meet their tax obligations at a rate of their choosing and on their own timetable, rather than the current rigid system of provisional tax.
Raise the threshold for businesses to pay provisional tax from $2500 to $5000.
Remove late payment penalties on provisional tax.
Regional Development Fund
Labour will:Introduce a $200m to unlock the economic potential of as many regions as possible.
Projects include:Working with Whanganui Council to repair and redevelop the city's port.
Investing up to $20m to local development of a prefabricated housing factory and associated infrastructure in Gisborne.
Rebuilding the Maniototo Base hospital in Ranfurly.
Establish a Centre of Digital Excellence in Dunedin.
See below for details.
Support the growth of software businesses in Dunedin
Labour will:Set up a Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) in Dunedin.
The Centre will build on existing gaming and digital businesses and the existing academic centres.
CODE would cost around $10m over ten years and would have three main elements:
set up a new Chair of Computer Gaming at Otago University
accelerate existing digital start-ups with an incubator space that includes a motion- capture studio, access to publishing software & mentorship programmes
establish a funding pool administered by private industry aimed at attracting young talent to the industry with post-school digital pathways and scholarships.
Future of Work Commission
Commerce
Labour will:Review the Commerce Commission to ensure it is adequately resourced and fit for purpose
Develop a Code of Practice in the supermarket industry to increase transparency and better protect consumers
Criminalise cartels in line with other developed economies.
Monetary Policy - The Need for Modernisation and Reform
Labour will:Undertake a review of the Reserve Bank Act that protects its independence
but ensures that monetary policy plays its part in meeting our economic goals
Broaden the objectives of the Reserve Bank to include a commitment to full employment
Change the decision making processes of the Reserve Bank to include external appointees
and improve the transparency of the process.
Consumer Finance and Predatory Lending
Labour will:Conduct a Review of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act
Support and facilitate financial education in schools to ensure that all students leave school with an adequate standard of financial capability
Increase funding to Community Law to make sure borrowers can access legal advice.
Information & Communications Technology
Labour will:Aim for ICT to be our second-largest contributor to GDP by 2025
Aim to achieve digital equality across all divides by 2020
Speed up access for all New Zealanders to world class broadband and telecommunications services, whether they live on the fringes of Auckland or rural New Zealand
Build a more connected economy by updating legislation to give certainty to digitisation for industry, businesses and consumers
Introduce a digital bill of rights to protect on-line rights, modernising our copyright laws and empowering digital citizenship
Establish the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Tourism
Labour will:Establish a $75m a year Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund to pay for projects that will improve the experience of visitors to New Zealand
and enhance our natural environment
Provide this $75m a year of investment through a $25 per visit levy on international visitors who are not citizens or residents of New Zealand.
Small Business
Labour will:Develop a seed investment scheme to support investment in small business.
Introduce legislation to improve contractual protection
Introduce legislation to provide protection for small businesses operating as franchises
Create an assistance bureau as a single point of advice for small businesses
Work with IRD, Department of Labour, to ensure that compliance requirements are reasonable and fit for purpose.
A Families Package that delivers
Labour’s Families Package will deliver more money to the pockets of low and middle income Kiwi families without unaffordable tax cuts for the well-off.
Labour has designed a Families Package that delivers more money to families with children and reduces child poverty
while freeing up more than $2 billion over four years to contribute to our investments in housing, health, education, and other priorities.
Labour will:Boost Working for Families to all those who currently receive it and extend it to 30,000 more families, in addition to the Working for Families changes announced in Budget 2017.
Introduce a Best Start payment to help families with costs in a child’s early years.
Introduce a Winter Energy Payment for people receiving superannuation or a main benefit.
Reinstate the Independent Earners’ Tax Credit.
Implement the Accommodation Supplement increases announced in Budget 2017.
Introduce 26 weeks paid parental leave to ensure that families are provided with vital support at a crucial stage in their children’s lives.
Now is not the time for tax cuts.
The top 10 percent of income earners get $400 million from National’s tax cut, which is as much as the bottom 60 percent receive combined.
So Labour will eliminate National’s tax cuts, saving $1.5 billion a year.
Making this choice provides Labour with the opportunity to reduce inequality and boost family incomes.
Labour’s targeted Families Package costs $890 million in 2018/19, against savings from not implementing National’s tax cuts of $1,522 million.
This creates more than $2 billion over four years of net savings.
These savings, together with new spending to be set out in Labour’s Fiscal Plan, will be prioritised towards rebuilding New Zealand’s social foundations by investing in essential public services
and our future infrastructure needs.
Through the introduction of the Best Start scheme, and our increase in Working for Families payments, Labour has targeted money at babies and toddlers, and at low and middle income families.
Labour believes that every Kiwi child deserves the best start in life regardless of their background.
Labour will complement our existing Healthy Homes Guarantee and insulation grants policies with a Winter Energy Payment aimed at improving the health of older New Zealanders and our poorest families over winter.
Labour’s Families Package will deliver more money than National’s to over 70 percent of families with children.
Families on middle incomes will receive as much as $48 a week more, plus Best Start payments for children under three.
Unlike National’s package, no families will be worse off and the wealthiest households do not get a disproportionate benefit.
This package will replace the Budget 2017 tax and families package, and will come into force on 1 July 2018.
Working for Families changes
Labour will:Increase the Family Tax Credit base rate for the eldest child to $5,878.
This is currently $5,303 for eldest children aged 16-18 and $4,822 for eldest children aged 0-15 (due to be increased to $5,303 according to Budget 2017).
Adopt the Budget 2017 changes to the Family Tax Credit base rate for subsequent children and new abatement rate.
Raise the abatement threshold for Working for Families to $42,700, currently $36,350 (due to be cut to $35,000 according to Budget 2017).
The combination of these changes will increase the amount of Working for Families payments for every family currently receiving them, and increase the number of families receiving Working for Families payments by over 30,000.
Labour’s Working for Families boost will cost $370 million in 2018/19.
Best Start
Labour will:Introduce a Best Start payment of $60 a week for each child in the first year after Paid Parental Leave ends, and for low to middle income families up to age three.
Best Start gives nearly 60,000 families a year extra support in the first year of their child’s life.
For low and middle income earners, that support will continue until their child turns three.
We have focused on these years given how important they are for a child’s development, but also because this is the time many families struggle to manage care and often work responsibilities.
We want families to have more choice when it comes to the first three years of their child’s life.
All families will receive the payment in their baby’s first year.
For families receiving Paid Parental Leave, Best Start payments will begin after PPL payments end.
Best Start will replace the Parental Tax Credit.
For families on low and middle incomes, Best Start will continue until age three.
When children are aged one to two, the payment will abate above $79,000 of household income at a rate of 20. 8c/$1.
If a family has more than one eligible child, it will receive one payment per child.
Where household income exceeds the abatement threshold, the Best Start payments for children aged one to two will be abated as a sum, rather than each being abated concurrently.
Best Start will cost $303 million in 2018/19.
Some family examples:
An Auckland family with a six year old and a 10 year old with a single income of $90,000:
•With Labour, this family gets $49 more a week (plus up to $80 in Accommodation Supplement)
•The same family gets only $22 a week under National (plus up to $80 in Accommodation Supplement)
$27 a week better off with Labour compared with National.
A Hamilton family with a four year old and a baby on an income of $55,000:
•With Labour, this family gets $129 more a week (plus up to $55 in Accommodation Supplement)
•The same family gets only $39 a week under National (plus up to $55 in Accommodation Supplement)
$90 a week better off with Labour compared with National.
A Wellington sole parent with a two year old and an income of $45,000:
•With Labour, this family gets $107 more a week (plus up to $55 in Accommodation Supplement)
•The same family gets only $9 a week under National (plus up to $55 in Accommodation Supplement)
$98 a week better off with Labour compared with National
Comparison between Labour and National family packages
Labour’s Families Package is better targeted
and more affordable.
By eliminating National’s tax cuts, $1. 5 billion a year is saved.
Nearly $900 million a year of these savings are invested in boosting Working for Families, creating the Best Start payment and the Winter Energy Payment, and lifting the benefit abatement thresholds.
Because Labour’s package doesn’t give hundreds of millions of dollars to high-income people,
more money will be available to invest in priorities for Kiwi families like housing, health, education, and other priorities.
Mental Health
Primary Mental Health Teams
Labour will make it easier for those in our community with mental health problems to get the help they need by increasing resources for frontline health workers.
Youth Mental Health
Labour will extend School Based Health Services to all public secondary schools so all schools have a comprehensive youth health service.
Better mental health care for Canterbury kids
Labour will provide eighty health professionals to provide mental health services in primary and intermediate schools in Christchurch and other earthquake-affected parts of Canterbury, including Kaikōura, for an initial three years.
Mental Health Review
In Labour's first 100 days, we will initiate a review of mental health and addiction services to identify gaps in services.
Labour's tax plan
Introduction
Labour is committed to a progressive tax system, where taxpayers contribute to government revenue according to their means, and where all forms of income and wealth are taxed fairly.
Tax is important because it funds the public services and infrastructure that all New Zealanders rely on.
Community expectations about living in a fair and decent society with first world public services rely on the tax system delivering adequate revenue.
Labour will:Reverse National's proposed tax cuts and re-invest that money in a fairer package of support for families
and in core public services such as health, education, housing and police
Crack down on housing speculation by extending the bright line test to five years.
This taxes the sale of properties other than the family home
Create a level playing field for families to buy their first home by removing a tax loophole that speculators use to avoid paying tax – as recommended by both the IMF and the Reserve Bank
Set up a Tax Working Group, to ensure that there is a better and fairer balance between the taxation of income and assets, in particular the capital gain associated with property speculation.
The outcomes of this Working Group – if any – will not take effect until the 2021 tax year
Introduce tax incentives to encourage research and development
Eliminate Secondary Tax as part of IRD’s Business Transformation Programme
Take strong action to ensure that multi-national companies pay their fair share of tax, including consulting on the introduction of a Diverted Profits Tax.
Overview
Our tax system was developed to work efficiently in an economy where workers were employed full time in long term jobs, business transactions were recorded manually, and most transactions were located entirely in New Zealand.
Now, many people work in a variety of jobs, business records are recorded in computers and processed in real time, and transnational transactions are commonplace.
We need to ensure that our tax systems are fit for the 21st century.
A tax system should serve New Zealand’s broad social and economic objectives.
The tax system should be progressive, with those who are more able to pay tax contributing a greater share, and it should be fair and balanced across income, consumption and wealth to pay for the needs of our society.
Income and Corporate Taxes
Labour is not proposing any changes to current personal income or corporate tax rates.
We will reverse National's proposed package of future tax cuts that would cost $2 billion per annum
and see $400 million go to the top 10% of earners.
Instead, Labour will reinvest that money into families and core public services – such as health, education, and police.
Our alternative Families Package will see 70% of families with children better off than under National’s tax cut package.
Please see our Families Package and Fiscal Plan for more details.
Reducing Incentives for Speculation
Our current tax system taxes some forms of income but not others, and creates incentives for some forms of investment, particularly housing speculation.
This results in unfairness between taxpayers, and it enables some to avoid paying their fair share of tax.
New Zealand is one of only three OECD countries that does not have some form of tax on capital gains.
This situation has contributed to the current housing crisis,
and the lowest home ownership rate in 66 years.
Housing affordability has become a critical issue for many New Zealanders.
Rising house prices are being driven by a variety of factors, including tax rules that favour investment in housing and discourage investment in other activities.
As a first step Labour will minimise the tax benefits that can be gained through speculation on houses.
Labour will remove the current loophole that allows losses from rental properties to reduce the taxation paid on other sources of income for which the landlord is liable (so-called ‘negative gearing’).
Labour will also extend the ‘bright line test’ that taxes the profits made on the sale of properties other than the family home from two years to five years.
This was the original recommendation of the Treasury that was ignored by National and will capture more people who are flipping investment properties for capital gain.
Tax Working Group
In addition to these immediate actions, Labour will set up a Tax Working Group.
The terms of reference of the Working Group will be to consider possible options for further improvement in the structure, fairness and balance of the tax system.
The Working Group will have a primary focus on measures that will address the imbalance in taxation on gains from speculation in property and income from other sources.
The Working Group will examine how the taxation system promotes the right balance between supporting the productive economy and the speculative economy.
The Working Group will be asked to look at options that are forward looking, not retrospective.
The Working Group will not consider increases to personal income or corporate taxes, or GST rates.
The Working Group will not consider any proposals for an inheritance tax or any other tax changes that would apply to the family home or the land under it - regardless of its ownership structure.
The Working Group will be comprised of tax experts, academics, and economists and those with knowledge of the impact of the taxation system on individuals, communities, and businesses.
The appointment of these experts will be made by Cabinet, and will be supported by recommendations from the Treasury, MBIE, the Reserve Bank, and Inland Revenue Department.
The Working Group will be supported in its work by officials from Treasury and the Inland Revenue Department.
The Working Group’s recommendations will be made to the Ministers of Finance and Revenue in the form of a report or reports which will be public and for which there will be several rounds of public consultation.
Final decisions will be made by Cabinet.
Labour is committed to a high level of expert and public input into the Working Group at every stage of the process, including the Cabinet response to them.
We understand the importance of the voices of New Zealanders being heard when changes such as this are being considered.
We appreciate the importance of certainty with regard to the taxation system.
We are also mindful of the need to give IRD time to adjust their systems and for any changes to commence at the beginning of a new tax year.
The implementation of any changes associated with the Working Group will be for the 2021 tax year, and therefore the mandate to implement the changes will tested at the 2020 election before anyone is affected by changes.
The anticipated timeline for the Working Group is:Working Group established and mandated by Cabinet (By December 2017)
First meeting of Group and call for public submissions (February 2018)
Interim report released for feedback (September 2018)
Final report issued with recommendations for Government (February 2019)
Cabinet decisions finalised (April 2019)
Public Consultation on detailed changes (if any) (April –August 2019)
If necessary, Bill introduced (September 2019)
Parliamentary Process (including full Select Committee process) September 2019 – July 2020)
Legislation passed and enacted (July 2020)
Implementation of changes in the next tax year, commencing (1 April 2021)
Supporting Research and Development
Tax incentives can be used to promote behaviour that serves New Zealand’s social and economic goals.
New Zealand’s businesses spend around a third of the developed world average on R&D, which constrains the level of innovation and resilience in our private sector.
Labour will reintroduce a tax credit for research and development, to encourage greater investment by the private sector.
Removing Secondary Tax
Labour supports the Business Transformation Project being carried out by Inland Revenue.
As part of this project, Labour will ensure that the need for Secondary Tax is removed.
Around 75,000 New Zealanders work in multiple jobs according to Statistics New Zealand.
Due to limitations with the current tax system, employees need to pay tax at a different rate on one of their income sources.
Tax on one income source is charged in the normal way while tax on the other source is charged at a flat rate.
This means many employees pay a higher rate of income tax during the year than they need to.
For example, a worker making $50,000 a year through two $25,000 jobs would face a tax bill of $10,893 - $2,873 more than necessary.
Whilst employees can claim this overpayment back as a refund at the end of the tax year, many workers would prefer the income during the year.
Labour is committed to abolishing Secondary Tax so that these workers have the ability to make ends meet.
To avoid people getting a large tax bill at the end of the year we will ensure that they are taxed at the appropriate rate through the year.
We will direct IRD to make it a priority to deliver this change.
This is an issue National have been dragging their feet on.
We will finalise a timetable for this once in office, in consultation with IRD.
In the meantime, Labour will also make the refund process for secondary taxation workers automatic – meaning that they would no longer need to apply for a refund for that year.
Multinational Tax
For our tax system to have integrity, everyone needs to pay their fair share.
Increasingly, New Zealanders are concerned that some large multinational companies are using aggressive tax practices to avoid their obligations to our country.
The government has estimated that $300 million of revenue per year is being forgone, while the Tax Justice Network puts the figure at over $500 million.
Labour will take strong action to ensure that multinational companies pay a fair share of tax, based on their genuine activities in New Zealand.
At the international level we support the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) programme of work.
At the bi-lateral level, we will review our tax treaties to identify areas in which new technology or business practices may have resulted in tax shifting out of New Zealand, and where appropriate will work with our international partners to resolve these issues.
Labour will collect an extra $200m per year from multinationals currently avoiding their New Zealand tax obligations by resourcing IRD with an additional $30m per year to crack down on multinational tax avoidance.
If multinationals aren’t prepared to pay their fair share, Labour will introduce a diverted profits tax, to enable New Zealand tax authorities to impose tax at a penalty rate if they believe that tax has been deliberately avoided.
Other Levies and Charges
In addition to these changes to the tax system, Labour is proposing some levies and charges to create funding for specific programmes – helping to ensure the sustainability of the New Zealand economy,
develop long term infrastructure
and enhance the environment.
Regional Fuel Tax
Auckland faces transport gridlock on a daily basis.
It costs $2b in lost productivity every year according to the EMA and wastes huge amounts of precious time for hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders.
If we carry on with the same approach things will get worse.
The only way to unclog our roads is by investing in an integrated, first world public transport network.
Our package will create a linked up congestion-free network across Auckland, moving people and freight freely.
As a priority we will build Light Rail to Auckland Airport.
The total package we have proposed costs approximately $15 billion over ten years.
This compares to the current government’s $13 billion plan over the same period.
Labour has responded to the request of the Auckland Council to give it the ability to use new methods of funding infrastructure, like infrastructure bonds and targeted rates.
It will also give Auckland Council the ability to implement a regional fuel tax.
The regional fuel tax for Auckland is estimated to generate $150 million a year for transport improvements.
Labour does not have plans for any other regional fuel taxes.
Clean Water Royalty
Clean water is the birthright of all of us, and vital to our continued prosperity.
Our rivers and lakes are a taonga of huge significance to Māori, a favourite place of recreation for New Zealanders.
Water underpins our agriculture.
Our fresh water resource needs to be protected and restored,
and that can only happen if all water users and the Government work together.
The Government will assist in this work by employing young people who are stuck on the dole and getting them working on improving the health of waterways.
Everyone owns our water, but some have interests in it that others don’t.
Large commercial users who profit from our water should pay a fair and affordable royalty – for example, water bottling companies.
This revenue can help councils restore our waterways for future generations.
Labour will give regional councils the resources to clean up their waterways through a water royalty.
A royalty on the commercial consumption of water will assist with the cost of keeping our water clean.
Households and councils will not pay any water royalty.
The royalty will be flexible to reflect the scarcity or abundance of water in different regions, the different quality of water, and its use.
The royalty for irrigation water is expected to be around 1-2c per 1000 litres.
The royalty for bottled water is expected to be charged on a per litre basis.
It will be proportionate and fair.
Levels will be set following consultation
and the revenue will largely be returned to regional councils.
Tourism and Infrastructure Fund
Labour will establish a $75m a year Tourism and Infrastructure Fund to pay for projects that will improve the experience of visitors to New Zealand
and enhance our natural environment.
We will provide this $75m a year through a $25 levy on international visitors.
Citizens or residents of New Zealand will not pay the levy.
60 percent of the fund ($45m per year) will be used to grow our tourism industry
and 40 percent ($30m a year) will be used to protect our biodiversity and ensure conservation is properly resourced.
It is only fair that the cost of these important projects is recouped from the international visitors that enjoy them.
This will help take pressure off local communities and councils from increasing visitor numbers.
Alcohol, Petrol and Tobacco Levies
will be adjusted as per normal government practice and as set out in Budget documents.
Taking action in our first 100 days
Labour will hit the ground running in government, with a programme of work across housing, health, education, families, the environment and other priority areas.
Make the first year of tertiary education or training fees free from January 1, 2018.
Increase student allowances and living cost loans by $50 a week from January 1, 2018.
Pass the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, requiring all rentals to be warm and dry
Ban overseas speculators from buying existing houses
Issue an instruction to Housing New Zealand to stop the state house sell-off
Begin work to establish the Affordable Housing Authority and begin the KiwiBuild programme
Legislate to pass the Families Package, including the Winter Fuel Payment, Best Start and increases to Paid Parental Leave, to take effect from 1 July 2018
Set up a Ministerial Inquiry in order to fix our mental health crisis
Introduce legislation to make medicinal cannabis available for people with terminal illnesses or in chronic pain
Resume contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to help safeguard the provision of universal superannuation at age 65
Introduce legislation to set a child poverty reduction target and to change the Public Finance Act so the Budget reports progress on reducing child poverty
Increase the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour, to take effect from 1 April 2018,
and introduce legislation to improve fairness in the workplace.
Establish the Tax Working Group
Establish the Pike River Recovery Agency and assign a responsible Minister
Set up an inquiry into the abuse of children in state care
Hold a Clean Waters Summit on cleaning up our rivers and lakes
Set the zero carbon emissions goal and begin setting up the independent Climate Commission
This 100 day plan was released as part of Labour's policy during the 2017 election campaign.
Place in the world
Our Vision
New Zealand prides itself as a country which thinks independently, has strong values and, notwithstanding our small size, makes a significant contribution to the world community as a good international citizen.
Our vision is for a world which is peaceful, secure, prosperous, democratic and socially just.
We support an international system which is rules-based rather than one where countries impose their will on others by virtue of their size and power.
We believe the path to achieve this must first and foremost be a multilateral one, working through and seeking to improve organisations such as the United Nations and World Trade Organisation.
We are committed to acting collectively to deal with problems which increasingly transcend national boundaries.
Foreign Affairs
Labour will:Reaffirm our proactive and independent foreign affairs policy
Build on New Zealand’s specialist capability as a peace builder
Strengthen our links with our traditional partners while developing strategic new alliances.
Trade
Labour will:Expand our export markets through trade agreements
Preserve regulatory sovereignty, including the right to ban foreign buyers of NewZealand homes and farmland
Diversify our export base
Support our exporters to add value to exports.
Overseas Development Assistance
Labour will:Ensure the central objective of the development programme is the elimination of poverty
Ensure the primary focus of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Pacific Division is on its development programme
Work cooperatively with the NGO sector (in New Zealand and overseas) and with governments in assisted countries to ensure development programmes best implement the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Veterans' Affairs
Labour will:Ensure veterans receive the appropriate care and support
Review government funding relationship with RNZRSA focusing on greater certainty
Promote greater engagement of veterans with the community
Disarmament
Labour will:Reinstate the Cabinet position of Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control
Work through the UN towards a world free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction
Defence
Labour will:Ensure that the New Zealand Defence Force has the skilled and well-trained personnel and modern equipment to perform effectively
Undertakes missions that uphold and promote New Zealand’s values.
Strengthening our National Identity
Quality New Zealand programming and journalism is crucial to New Zealand’s national identity.
Labour has long supported our local film production industry and well-resourced public media to tell our stories and inform our democracy.
Labour will:Transform Radio New Zealand into RNZ+, a truly multi-platform provider dedicated to quality New Zealand programming and journalism, including a free-to-air non-commercial television service
Provide $38m a year in additional funding for quality New Zealand programming and journalism, independently apportioned between RNZ+ and NZ On Air.
NZOA could use this funding for content promoting New Zealand’s national identity or investigative journalism
Establish a Public Media Funding Commission to oversee funding for RNZ+ and NZOA, including supporting investigative journalism initiatives
Create a ten-year strategy to grow the New Zealand screen industry
Continue to review the screen incentive regime to ensure it remains internationally competitive
and delivers maximum benefits to New Zealand,
including domestic employment opportunities.
Supporting quality programming and journalism
New Zealand is fortunate to have high quality journalism and major media outlets that are politically non-partisan.
New outlets are springing up in the digital age with a focus on investigative reporting.
Yet, funding for public interest journalism is a constant struggle, exacerbated by a fast-changing media landscape driven by rapid technological change.
New Zealand has one of the lowest levels of public service media funding of any developed country.
Support for independent public interest and investigative journalism will ensure greater scrutiny of the Government and the institutions that govern New Zealand.
Labour also recognises that as a nation we also need to be able to tell our stories,
including those of our diverse communities.
The $38m a year in additional funding for quality New Zealand programming and journalism will be apportioned by an independent Public Media Funding Commission between RNZ+ and NZ On Air.
NZ On Air would be able to consider bids for independent investigative journalism from this fund.
This will ensure funding decisions are made at arm’s length from the political interests of the Government of the day.
RNZ+
Radio New Zealand has made great strides in becoming a multi-media platform in recent years, but its growth has been constrained by the nine year funding freeze imposed by the National Government.
Labour will transform RNZ into RNZ+, a truly multi-platform provider dedicated to quality New Zealand programming and journalism modelled on the ABC in Australia.
With more resources, RNZ+ will be able to continue the work that has started, including producing more long-form investigative work, video content and a free to air non-commercial television service.
This multi-platform public broadcaster will deliver content in different formats and devices.
We expect RNZ+ to grow content services for special interests and needs, such as Children’s, Pasifika, other ethnicities and those with disabilities.
NZ On Air
NZOA’s general mandate and role would not change — that is, to provide funding support to the independent commercial production sector and the commercial networks for the production of content valued by citizens.
However we would review its charter and scope and look at how we can support more quality content through it.
Public Media Funding Commission
In order for a publicly-funded commercial free media service to contribute to a stronger democracy it must be editorially and operationally independent of any government.
This requires a process to identify opportunities and allocate funding on a sustainable and long-term basis and ensure the objectives, plans and public purposes of RNZ+ and NZOA are met.
The Public Media Funding Commission will also engage with both commercial and not-for-profit media outlets to identify ways to support new independent and investigative journalism initiatives across all media platforms.
Bids would be made via NZOA.
Supporting the growth of our film industry
Our film industry strongly contributes to our economy and our national identity, yet the unpredictable nature of film productions makes it difficult to plan for growth.
This unpredictability means the film industry loses experience and talent overseas, and misses out on opportunities.
The screen industry is an ecosystem.
The international projects that come in help feed our domestic industry and vice-versa.
We need a long-term strategy for the industry to ensure its growth is sustainable and is more resilient to booms and busts.
This will need to include continuing to review the New Zealand Screen Production Grants Scheme and screen incentive regime on an ongoing basis to make sure we are internationally competitive
and delivering maximum benefit for New Zealand.
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Labour recognises that participating, creating, growing, and achieving in arts and culture are basic parts of human expression and identity.
We have a shared responsibility to ensure all New Zealanders can participate in the arts.
A strong cultural and creative sector is vital to our national identity and economic development.
Labour believes that the sector deserves support and certainty from government to maintain its sustainability.
Labour will:Ensure all New Zealanders have access to and can actively participate in artistic and cultural opportunities which enrich their lives
Deliver stable sustainable funding to the arts and culture sector, as well as galleries, libraries, archives, and museums
Support the film industry by creating a ten year strategy to grow the New Zealand screen industry.
Real Action on Climate Change
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world.
If we do not urgently reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, warming will disrupt the climates our agriculture and other industries depend upon, sea-level rise will affect our coastal cities, and ocean acidification will affect the marine food chain.
We have built our infrastructure, our society, and our farming practices around a certain set of climatic conditions.
Abrupt change would carry with it huge costs.
The cost of doing nothing is far higher than the cost of mitigating climate change.
In fact, many of the actions that reduce climate pollution also have other positive impacts and create jobs.
New Zealand must do its part, along with the rest of the world, in reducing climate pollution.
It is not good enough to say we are too small to matter – most countries individually could claim the same.
We must take our share in the effort however small, just as we did when dealing with CFCs, or opposing apartheid, or fighting fascism.
Kiwis are not shirkers.
New Zealand’s net emissions have risen 64% since 1990 and 21% since 2008.
In 2013, National promised to reduce emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2020 but, with no actual plan to achieve that, emissions have continued to rise.
Making pledges for emissions reductions is not enough.
There needs to be meaningful policy to back it up.
Labour will:set a target of net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with legally binding emissions reduction targets, and carbon budgets to keep New Zealand on track to this goal
establish an independent Climate Commission to recommend interim emissions reduction targets and provide advice on the ramifications of not achieving them
encourage young people to take part in the effort to end our climate pollution through a Youth Climate Change Challenge
show government leadership by requiring state-owned enterprises and other government organisations to actively pursue low-carbon options and technologies including all future purchases of all Government vehicle fleets to be electric vehicles unless there is an exceptional reason otherwise
restore the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), including bringing agriculture into the ETS by the end of our first term, with 90% of emissions free
ensure that farmers operating at best practice are recognised so they can be directly credited for emissions reductions they achieve
support a just transition for workers in industries that need to reduce emissions and the creation of jobs in sectors that are carbon-free or carbon sinks, such as forestry
establish a Transitions National Science Challenge to consider the science, research and development required for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Labour will do more than set targets.
The Climate Commission will look at what can practically be achieved by each sector and recommend emissions reductions targets.
The Government will then set emissions reductions targets in law.
The Commission will publish emissions budgets so that business can know what each sector needs to achieve for New Zealand to meet its goals.
Government will need to take a leadership role in favouring low-carbon options in its investment and purchasing decisions.
Agriculture is able to do its part in reducing emissions.
As our largest source of climate pollution, it is essential that it does.
Over the last decade, agriculture’s emissions have been stable, even as the sector has continued to grow.
Agriculture’s emissions intensity (dollars of GDP per tonne of CO2 equivalent emissions) has improved by 33% since 1990 and 17% since 2008, but progress has stalled recently.
Government-backed science has made impressive advances in methods to reduce farm emissions without reducing output.
A gradual introduction of the price signal from the ETS, starting with giving the sector 90% of emissions free, will help bring emissions down
without hurting agriculture’s contribution to the economy.
We will take a farm-level approach where possible so that low-emissions farmers are rewarded with a lower cost through the ETS, rather than the current approach that assumes each cow, for instance, has the same emissions on every farm.
It’s important that the next generation is involved in the effort to tackle climate change – they are the ones who will inherit what we leave.
Labour’s Youth Climate Change Challenge will see children from Year 7 upwards, who want to take part, develop ideas for addressing climate change.
The children from around the country who develop the best ideas each year will be invited to meet the Prime Minister to discuss climate change.
With a plan, and with all of New Zealand working together, we can do our part to fight climate change.
Paid Parental Leave
In order to give all children the best start possible and to reduce stress on parents, paid parental leave needs to be extended in coverage and longevity.
Despite the majority of Parliament voting to increase Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks the Government vetoed the change in 2016.
Labour will:Extend Paid Parental Leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks.
Labour will pass the legislation to implement this within our first 100 days in Office.
The policy will be phased in over three years: 22 weeks from 2018 and 26 weeks in 2020.
Getting to 26 weeks is an important goal.
As well as the direct financial benefits to households, extending paid parental leave has a range of positive impacts in terms of child development and fostering parent-infant attachment.
Extending Paid Parental Leave to twenty-six weeks (six months) would also align its duration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age.
Making tertiary education and training affordable for all
"Labour’s objective is that every person, whatever their academic ability, whether they be rich or poor, whether they live in town or country, has a right, as a citizen, to a free education of the kind for which they are best fitted.
" – Peter Fraser, Labour’s First Minister of Education.
Education creates opportunity.
It lets our children and young people be all they can be, and contribute fully to our society and economy.
As the economy has become more sophisticated, so we have needed our people to have a higher level of education.
In 1904, it was expected that only 30 per cent of children would need an education beyond primary level, and they had to pass an exam to get free secondary education.
The First Labour Government saw the need for the next generation to be better educated, and made secondary school free and universal.
Now more and more jobs need tertiary level education or training.
By 2020, it is estimated two-thirds of jobs will require qualifications above high school level.
We need more apprentices, people with specialist industry certifications
and more university graduates.
Yet we have gone backwards in the provision of post-school education and training.
Government investment in tertiary education and training has fallen and so has participation.
In 2010, 40 per cent of 18-24 year olds were in tertiary education or training, but by 2015 (the latest data) that had dropped to 35 per cent.
Despite Labour’s interest-free loans, cost remains a major barrier to post-school education.
65 per cent of parents list cost as a reason young people do not go into post-school learning, and 44 per cent of students report they do not have enough money to meet their basic needs.
The cost barrier comprises both fees, which are up over 40 per cent since 2008, and rising living costs such as rent.
Study debt holds people back for years after they leave education.
On average, people take eight years to clear their debt.
Repayments make it harder to save and this is a contributing factor in plummeting home ownership among under 40s.
Labour will make tertiary education and training affordable for all by:
Increasing living costs support with both a $50 a week boost to student allowances and a $50 a week lift to the maximum that can be borrowed for living costs
Restoring post-graduate students’ eligibility for student allowances
Restoring the eligibility of students in long courses, such as medicine, to access student allowances or loans beyond seven years FTE study
Accelerating the three years' free policy, starting with one year fees free full-time equivalent for everyone starting tertiary education or training for the first time from 1 January 2018, and extending this to three years’ free by 2024.
This policy will mean that young people can better afford to live while studying and will leave study with less debt.
The $50 increase to the maximum for student allowances and living cost loans, along with the increase in Accommodation Benefit payments of $20 a week in Budget 2017, will make it easier for students to get by while studying, lowering a significant barrier to education.
In particular, it will help to offset the rapid increase in rents that many students have faced in recent years due to the housing crisis.
Reversing the current Government’s short-sighted decision to exclude post-graduate students from student allowances will mean more talented people can afford to go on to attain the very high skill levels New Zealand needs to lead our innovation.
With our population’s growing need for healthcare, it makes sense to restore access to student support for students in the medical, dental, veterinary, auditory and ophthalmological sciences.
The three years’ free tertiary policy will be accelerated from the previous timeframe, which would have begun with one year free in 2019, and an additional year every three years.
Now, one year free will start in 2018, and this will be extended to two years’ free in 2021, and three years’ free in 2024 or more rapidly if conditions permit.
This isn't just for university students.
It's also to cover the costs for students in apprenticeships, industry training or studying at a polytechnic.
The entitlement is available for anyone who has not previously studied at tertiary level and can be taken throughout their life, either all at once or spread across more than one qualification.
To be eligible for the second and third years, students will need to pass more than half their courses in the previous year.
The investment in student support will cost $270m per year, and the first year of three years' free post-school education, which we are bringing forward, will cost $340m.
Together, these initiatives will help reverse the worrying decline in tertiary participation seen under the current Government, so that we can better equip the younger generation for the jobs of the future.
Along with our policy to increase funding for education at all levels, abolish school donations and introduce a dole for apprenticeship subsidy, this package advances Labour’s vision of world-class, free education for all.
Making immigration work for New Zealand
New Zealand is a country built on immigration.
Migrants bring to New Zealand the skills we need to grow our economy and vibrant cultures that enrich our society.
We have always welcomed migrants to our country, and will continue to do so.
But in recent years our population has been growing rapidly as record numbers of migrants arrive here.
This has happened without the Government planning for the impact immigration is having on our country.
After nine years, National has failed to make the necessary investments in housing, infrastructure, and public services that are needed to cope with rapid population growth.
This has contributed to the housing crisis, put pressure on hospitals and schools, and added to the congestion on roads.
Labour will invest in housing, infrastructure, public services, and in training New Zealanders to fill skills shortages.
At the same time, we will take a breather on immigration.
We will do this by making sure that work visas are not being abused to fill low-skill, low-paid jobs,
while ensuring that businesses can get the skilled workers they need.
Labour will:Ensure that businesses are able to get genuinely skilled migrants when they need them.
This will include introducing an Exceptional Skills Visa for highly skilled or talented people and introducing a KiwiBuild Visa for residential construction firms who train a local when they hire a worker from overseas.
Strengthen the Labour Market Test for work visas so they are not being used for jobs Kiwis can do,
and make our skills shortage lists more regional so migrants coming in under them can only live and work in areas where there is a genuine skills shortage.
Require courses for international students to be high-quality,
remove the ability to work for international students in low-level courses except where the work is approved as part of their study,
and remove the ability to get a work visa without a job for those who have completed study below university level.
These changes won’t affect the Refugee Quota, the Pacific Quotas, Working Holiday Schemes, or the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme,
although monitoring will be increased to prevent exploitation.
There will be no direct changes to family visas,
although there will likely be a flow-on decrease from the other changes.
No person currently in New Zealand will have their visa status changed by these decisions
but new visa applications will be under the new rules.
Existing students who came in good faith on the basis of the post study work visa being available will be able to access this visa
but subsequent visas will be under the new rules.
In total, these changes are estimated to reduce net migration by 20,000-30,000.
Without these changes there would be up to 10,000 more houses needed and up to 20,000 more vehicles on our roads annually.
Our immigration system will be regularly reviewed to ensure it is functioning well.
Visa CategoryChangeConsequence
Student VisaLimiting visas and ability to work for low value coursesA fall of 6,000-10,000
Post Study Work Visa - OpenRemove work visas without a job offer for lower level qualification graduatesA fall of around 9,000-12,000
Work VisasRegionalise the occupation list and ensure that employers hire Kiwis firstA fall of around 5,000-8,000
Estimated Reduction20,000-30,000
While the settings for them are not being changed it is expected there will be consequential reductions in family and partner visas in the thousands as a result of these changes.
Closing off backdoor immigration via study
Student Visas
Labour will stop issuing student visas for courses below a bachelor’s degree which are not independently assessed by the TEC and NZQA to be of high quality.
Labour will also limit the ability to work while studying to international students studying at Bachelor-level or higher.
For those below that level, their course will have to have the ability to work approved as part of the course.
Currently it is only assessed whether a course or provider is suitable to offer education and training.
These changes will add additional consideration for courses below a bachelor’s degree of whether approved courses are eligible for student visa applications and, where they are, whether the ability to work should be attached to that.
MBIE will be involved in this process.
In recent years there has been a substantial increase in low-level study and reports of sham courses being used as a route to work and eventual residency.
Many stories have emerged of people being exploited both in their home countries and in New Zealand by people offering study as a backdoor to residency.
Labour is focussed on our international education system delivering high-quality education
that delivers a real return for New Zealand and does not put unnecessary pressure on our infrastructure.
Quality education must stand on its own merits.
Making these changes is expected to reduce net migration by around 6,000 to 10,000 a year in returning the number of international students in low level courses at Private Training Establishments closer to their previous level.
Using the Government's own modelling, 10,000 fewer Private Training Establishment enrolments will reduce fee revenues by $70m and have a potential wider economic impact of up to $250m.
These changes will not affect providers who are delivering high quality courses for international students.
We do not expect them to adversely impact universities, polytechnics, or schools.
We estimate our plan to introduce three years free post-school education will see domestic enrolments grow 15%, reversing the projected decline under National.
Work visas after study
Labour will limit the “Post Study Work Visa - Open” after graduating from a course of study in New Zealand to those who have studied at Bachelor-level or higher.
Currently any international student who has completed a course long enough is able to apply for a one year work visa without having a job.
This work visa and the prior qualification have become a loophole to gain a longer term work visa and residency.
As with the ability to work while studying, this avenue into work after study has fostered an industry of low-value courses that don’t deliver real education but serve as a backdoor route for immigration.
It is damaging our international reputation and places pressure on our infrastructure.
Labour’s proposed approach is a middle ground.
It does not remove the visa entirely, as occurred in the UK in 2012.
Changing this is expected to reduce net migration by around 9,000-12,000.
Ensuring genuine skills needs are met
Since 2011/12, the number of low-skill (ANZSCO 4 and 5) work visas issued has surged from 14,000 to 22,000.
For example, the number of “retail supervisor” work visas has increased from 700 to 1,700.
Labour will work with firms to train New Zealanders to fill skills gaps so we don’t have to permanently rely on immigration.
A developed nation should be able to train enough retail staff to meet its own needs.
Immigration should be a stop-gap to meet skills shortages, not a permanent crutch.
Labour will make changes that preserve and enhance the ability of businesses to get skilled workers to fill real skills gaps
but which prevent the abuses of the system that currently happen.
Labour will ensure that, where there are real skills shortages, businesses will be able to get the workers they need by regionalising and rationalising skills shortage lists.
Currently, few skill shortages are regionalised.
This makes it hard for a region with a skills shortage in a specific occupation to get on the list if the shortage is not nationwide.
Importantly it means that work visas are issued for jobs in regions where there is not actually a shortage which puts unnecessary pressures on housing and transport infrastructure there.
Labour’s regionalised system will work with local councils, unions and business to determine where shortages exist and will require that skilled immigrants work in the region that their visa is issued for.
This will prevent skills shortages in one region being used to justify work visas in another,
while also making it easier for regions with specific needs to have those skills shortages met.
Where skills shortages are identified, Labour will develop training plans with Industry Training Organisations so that the need for skilled workers is met domestically in the long-term.
We will invest in training through Dole for Apprenticeships and Three Years Fees Free policies.
For jobs outside of skills shortages lists, Labour will ensure visas are only issued when a genuine effort has been made to find Kiwi workers.
This will involve more active enforcement of the Labour Market Test to make sure that employers have offered rates of pay and working conditions that are at least the market rate
and have a plan for training people.
Labour will remove the Skilled Migrant Category bonus points currently gained by studying or working in New Zealand and will standardise the age points to 30 for everyone under 45.
Currently older, higher-skilled and experienced workers from overseas are at a disadvantage to recent graduates and temporary workers already in New Zealand.
This change will ensure skilled migrants are chosen on the basis of the skills and experience they offer not where they have most recently lived.
Based on the recent increases in low-skill visa numbers we expect these changes will reduce net migration by 5,000-8,000.
Additional measures
Attracting the exceptionally talented
Labour will introduce an Exceptional Skills Visa.
This visa will enable people with exceptional skills and talents that will enrich New Zealand society — not just its economy — to gain residency here.
It will be available to people who can show they are in an occupation on the long-terms skills list and have significant experience or qualifications beyond that required (for example, experienced paediatric oncologist) or are internationally renowned for their skills or talents.
Successful applicants will avoid the usual points system requirements for a Skilled Migrant Category visa and would be able to bring their partner and children within the visa.
This visa will help grow high-tech new industries, meet the increasingly complex needs of the 21st Century and enrich our society.
Exceptional Skills Visas for up to 1,000 people, including partners and children, will be offered every year.
KiwiBuild Visa and training Kiwis
There are 90,000 young people who are not in work or education, and the number of people in training is falling.
The opportunity exists to train these young people and get them into work, rather than leaving them on benefits.
Labour will introduce the KiwiBuild Visa to help address the growing shortages in skilled tradespeople and facilitate Labour’s KiwiBuild housing programme.
Residential construction firms could hire a skilled tradesperson on a three-year work visa without having to meet the Labour Market Test
if they pay a living wage
and take on an apprentice for each overseas worker they hire.
The number of places will be limited to 1,000 to 1,500 at a given time, which we expect will be additional to the construction work visas issued under the existing rules.
Labour will assist with the cost of the apprentices through our Dole for Apprenticeships scheme which will pay the employer the equivalent of the unemployment benefit to take on an apprentice.
The increase in training this creates will reduce our reliance on migration
and increase the productivity of the sector.
No Changes to Pacific quotas, RSE, or working holidays
Labour will continue to recognise the special relationships with our Pacific neighbours.
There will be no cuts to the levels of Pacific quotas and the Recognised Seasonal Employer schemes.
We will investigate ways to ensure that the Pacific Access Quota and Samoan Quota which are currently underutilised are fully met.
However, there will be greater enforcement to ensure workers are not exploited.
We will not make changes to the working holidays schemes which are negotiated under bilateral agreements with other countries.
Looking after victims of war and disaster
Labour will increase the refugee quota to 1,500.
This will continue Labour’s proud tradition of welcoming victims of war and disaster to our shores, which extends back to taking in refugees during World War II and is just as needed today, with conflicts such as in Syria creating the largest number of displaced persons since 1945.
Community Safety
Police
We believe police must be properly resourced to achieve their stated objectives and meet our diverse communities’ expectations.
Labour recognises that properly resourcing community policing is a major factor to successfully implementing a ‘prevention first’ operational strategy and is vital if the Police is to retain the trust and confidence of the general public.
Labour supports NZ Police’s transformation programme ‘Policing Excellence The Future’, their vision ‘To have the Trust and Confidence of all’ and the Prevention First operating model.
Labour will:Increase the number of sworn police officers by 1,000 over three years
Extend Police Safety Orders to a maximum of 10 days unless a Protection Order is applied for
Widening the Police’s ability to take action against organised crime activities.
Family Violence
Labour will:Increase funding for the sector to meet the needs of their clients
Increase contracting periods for providers,
remove gagging clauses,
and remove the requirement to collect individualized data
Take a long-term strategic approach to ending violence and invest in early intervention and prevention
Support children who witness and experience violence to overcome their trauma
Review the family court reforms and support the statutory agencies to meet the objectives for safety in our communities.
Justice
Labour’s vision is of a just society with safe, secure and inclusive communities.
A humane and effective justice system – which protects our rights and public safety – is critical to that vision.
Labour takes a prevention-first approach to crime.
Labour will tackle the root causes of crime to reduce offending and make our communities safer.
Labour’s policies in health, education, social development, housing, police and corrections all reflect that commitment.
When crime occurs, the justice system needs to protect the public and victims,
and take a long-term focus on reducing re-offending.
Another cornerstone of our approach to justice is our belief that everyone should have access to the justice regardless of their financial means.
That principle is under threat from constant erosion by National.
Labour will restore and enhance it.
Labour will:Set a target of reducing the number of people in prison by 30% over fifteen years, and undertake our comprehensive plan to reach that target
Uphold the right of all New Zealanders to access justice by increasing the income threshold so access to legal aid is available to more people, funding the public defence service and community law centres, and comprehensively reviewing other access to justice issues
Review and replace National’s Family Court reforms to ensure a modern and accessible system that resolves disputes fairly and efficiently.
Unlocking Potential – Labour’s Plan for Canterbury
Labour has a vision for a better, fairer New Zealand.
We’ll prioritise investments in our schools,
hospitals,
transport infrastructure
and the environment.
With the right investments in the right places, our country will be the envy of the world.
Christchurch is the gateway to the South Island, the heart of its economy and vitally important to New Zealand, so it’s only right that we have a comprehensive plan to show Cantabrians before they vote.
We want Christchurch to thrive again so that’s why our plan focuses on unlocking the potential of our city with urgency, breaking the existing deadlocks that have been slowing down the regeneration of this great place.
Labour will begin implementing our plan immediately, achieving key milestones within our first 100 days, and provide certainty and transparency for the people of Canterbury.
Our plan has eight crucial components, each demonstrating Labour’s commitment to get the region moving – and thriving.
Labour will:Offer certainty to residents, developers and investors about exact plans for the CBD through a Global Settlement with the Christchurch City Council that settles the long term ownership, liabilities, opportunities and ongoing funding for all anchor projects.
Establish a $300m capital acceleration facility to develop the red zone, contribute towards a new stadium and deal with the gaps in the horizontal infrastructure programme in partnership with the Christchurch City Council as part of the Global Settlement.
Address the immediate need for mental health services with funding for an extra eighty mental health professionals across primary and intermediate schools in the city and fund primary mental health teams in the area to work with GPs, PHOs, the DHB and mental health NGOs.
Repair the relationship with the Canterbury District Health Board with urgency, to ensure services are properly resourced to reach the people who need them.
This will be the first step in a broader review of the funding model.
Commit an additional $100m towards multi-modal public transport in Greater Christchurch, including commuter rail from Rolleston to the CBD as a first step with a view to expand north following that.
Establish a new governance group to accelerate the 10 year rebuild programme of Christchurch schools, bringing together the Ministry of Education, local representatives and external expertise.
Restore full democracy to Environment Canterbury
Help people still experiencing frustration with residual issues from the earthquakes move forward by:
committing to the continued operations of the Residential Advisory Service for as long as necessary with an initial $400k injection and an additional $500k to enable direct access to legal advice from Community Law;
establishing a $1m fund for test cases to offer clarity on major issues such as the Limitation Act;
establishing an arbitration tribunal with an inquisitorial focus as an alternative pathway for claimants, EQC and insurers to resolve disputes.
The principles by which it will operate include:Fast track; no delays at request of insurance companies
Decide claims based on equity and good conscience
Allow compensation for distress caused by undue delay by insurance companies
Limited appeal rights will be preserved.
Thousands of people are still dealing with faulty repairs and unresolved claims with their insurers.
The arbitration tribunal will be an important mechanism for helping people get on with their lives.
Claimants will face no costs to access the tribunal and the adjudicator will appoint experts.
There will be a three week deadline on all participants following filing to supply the tribunal with relevant documentation to ensure a fast resolution.
We expect the tribunal will be made up of senior members of the legal profession and for it to be up and running as soon as possible in 2018.
Labour will be transparent and accountable.
By the end of our first 100 days we'll report back to the people of Canterbury on our progress and establish a clear timeline of achievements to be met before the end of our first term.
Labour has also promised a number of other policies that will help the people of Canterbury, for example our commitment to extend school based health services to all public secondary schools so every school has a comprehensive youth mental health service.
We’ve also committed to a Royal Commission on EQC to get to the bottom of many issues Cantabrians have faced in recent years,
we will support the redevelopment of New Brighton in partnership with Council and Stakeholders to deliver on the New Brighton Masterplan (by reinstating schedule 4 into the Greater Christchurch Regeneration Act 2016)
and we’ll underwrite the risk of projects such as the East Frame, to accelerate quality and affordable housing in the heart of Christchurch.
These commitments, along with our other people-focused policies that apply to the whole country, will put the regeneration of Christchurch back on the fast track and allow this great region to be everything it can be.
Let’s do this.
Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund
More than three million people a year come from all over the world to visit New Zealand.
They enjoy our unique natural beauty, culture, and Kiwi hospitality.
International tourists spent $10b here last year, supporting more than 300,000 jobs.
Tourism’s success means we need more infrastructure to serve all these visitors, especially if we want to attract high-spending tourists who will increase the value-add of the sector to the New Zealand economy.
The strain on infrastructure and the funding problem are clear.
Councils and the Department of Conservation receive little of the financial benefit of tourism, but have to supply the infrastructure tourists use,
and smaller councils often do not have the rating base to fund the necessary investment.
From Northland to Southland, councils are facing increasing pressure to support growing numbers of tourists without the funds to do it.
It is time for the Government to help ensure we deliver a world-class experience to tourists,
without unfairly burdening local communities.
Labour will:Establish a $75m a year Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund to pay for projects that will improve the experience of visitors to New Zealand
and enhance our natural environment
Provide this $75m a year of investment through a $25 per visit levy on international visitors who are not citizens or residents of New Zealand.
Excluding New Zealand citizens and residents, three million people visited New Zealand last year, meaning a $25 Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund Levy will raise $75m a year.
60 per cent of the Fund ($45m per year) will be used to grow our tourism industry
and 40 per cent ($30m per year) will be used to protect our biodiversity and ensure conservation is properly resourced.
The $45m per year for growing the tourism industry will be split with 60 per cent going towards funding tourism infrastructure projects ($27m per year), 20 per cent to training ($9m per year) and the remaining 20 per cent for support in high demand areas like Queenstown ($9m per year).
The $30m per year for conservation will be used to increase biodiversity funding and for conservation infrastructure.
It’s only fair that the cost of these important projects is recouped from the international visitors that enjoy them.
This will help take pressure off local communities and councils from increasing visitor numbers.
With international visitor numbers projected to grow each year by 5 per cent or more than 150,000, this approach means funding will automatically be created to meet the growing need.
There is no evidence to support the claim that a small tourism levy will affect tourist international numbers.
International visitors spend, on average, more than $3,000 each in New Zealand and more than $1,000 on international airfares.
The $25 Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund Levy will add less than 1 per cent to this and is far less than the variability in airfares.
After the current Government introduced a $22 border levy, visitor numbers were not impacted at all – in fact, they rose more quickly than expected.
The Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund will ensure New Zealand has the infrastructure and attractions needed to support tourism,
and our natural treasures that bring so many visitors here are protected and enhanced for future generations.
Sport and Recreation
Sport and Recreation
Sport and recreation is an ingrained part of the Kiwi psyche.
At the grassroots level, participation in sport and recreation helps create community cohesion and social integration.
At the top level of sport, New Zealanders achieving on the world sporting stage lifts our national pride.
Labour is committed to ensuring all New Zealanders, including those with disabilities and ethnic backgrounds, have opportunities to participate and excel in their chosen sport and recreation activities.
Labour is committed to fostering a competent, connected sport and recreation sector and a healthy, active nation.
Labour will:Continue to invest in community sport and recreation to encourage widespread participation and to help our local clubs thrive
Commit to supporting volunteers in the sport and recreation sector by providing resources to assist them in their roles and giving them opportunities to up skill
Bring back a focus on physical activity as part of our Health policy
Continue to support specialised training for our top athletes, and increase the focus on pre-elite athlete identification so that our pool of high performance athletes can grow.
Racing
Labour will:• Pass legislation to stop betting websites that are based offshore avoiding tax in New Zealand and denying revenue to the New Zealand racing industry.
Abundant, sustainable fisheries in a healthy marine environment
Labour’s primary focus will be on ensuring that our fisheries are sustainable and abundant
and that ocean habitats are protected from the impacts of terrestrial and marine activities.
Our current fisheries system lacks transparency and accountability – it has too many confusing and conflicting laws, regulations and rules, and not enough clarity about how all those measures are supposed to be achieved.
Support for older New Zealanders
Labour recognises and values the skills, knowledge and experience older people contribute to the nation.
Here are some of our policies that will help out older New Zealanders:
Super will stay at 65
Winter Energy Payment
Restart Super Fund contributions
Reduce GP fees by $10
Ensure all Kiwis get world-leading cancer care
Undertake a review of the differences in government assistance provided to foster carers and to kin carers (including grandparents) with a view to ensuring that both groups are treated equitably.
$8 billion more for health
1,000 more police
No inheritance tax.
No increase in GST
600,000 grants of up to $2,000 to install insulation or heating
Require all rentals to be warm, dry, and healthy to live in
To see how we’ll pay for all our policies, see our independently verified fiscal plan
Building Strong Regions & Primary Industry
Regional Development Fund
Labour will:Introduce a $200m Regional Development Fund to unlock the economic potential of as many regions as possible.
Projects include:Working with Whanganui Council to repair and redevelop the city's port.
Investing up to $20m to local development of a prefabricated housing factory and associated infrastructure in Gisborne.
Rebuilding the Maniototo Base hospital in Ranfurly.
Establish a Centre of Digital Excellence in Dunedin.
Support the growth of software businesses in Dunedin
Labour will:Set up a Centre of Digital Excellence (CODE) in Dunedin.
The Centre will build on existing gaming and digital businesses and the existing academic centres.
CODE would cost around $10m over ten years and would have three main elements:
set up a new Chair of Computer Gaming at Otago University
accelerate existing digital start-ups with an incubator space that includes a motion- capture studio, access to publishing software & mentorship programmes
establish a funding pool administered by private industry aimed at attracting young talent to the industry with post-school digital pathways and scholarships.
Establishing a clear strategy and vision for our primary sector
Labour will:Progress the development of a Primary Industry Council and pan-sector strategy to fuel value-added growth for the sector and our economy
Re-establish robust, independent authority for food safety and biosecurity
Invest in the capability development, attraction and retention of talent for primary industries
Set baseline environmental standards that achieve social, environmental and economic outcomes for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
Abundant, sustainable fisheries in a healthy marine environment
Labour’s primary focus will be on ensuring that our fisheries are sustainable and abundant
and that ocean habitats are protected from the impacts of terrestrial and marine activities.
Our current fisheries system lacks transparency and accountability – it has too many confusing and conflicting laws, regulations and rules, and not enough clarity about how all those measures are supposed to be achieved.
Growing our forestry sector
Wood and wood products are our third largest export industry.
Our wood sector is innovative, from better forestry practices, to new manufactured products.
Recently, however, there has been a trend away from value-added wood processing and manufacturing towards simply shipping raw logs overseas.
Since 2008, the wood processing and manufacturing industry has lost 3,000 jobs.
Wood processing and manufacturing exporting has fallen in real terms, while raw log exports have tripled.
Local wood processers often say they struggle to get the logs they need while raw logs are sent overseas, with the jobs and value-add being captured in other countries.
The shift away from value-added to raw exports has led the chairman of the Wood Council to say the goal of lifting exports to $12b by 2022 isn’t going to be achieved.
Government can do its part to help coordinate the needs of foresters with the processing and manufacturing industry.
Increasing both commercial and native forest area in New Zealand is an important part of doing our bit to combat climate change.
Labour will:Establish a New Zealand Forest Service in Rotorua to help coordinate forestry companies and manufacturers by developing a National Forestry Strategy.
The Forest Service will also:Plant commercial forests itself on Crown land and other land to provide certainty of supply to businesses investing in processing and manufacturing
Provide consultancy services for iwi and private owners to help them establish forests on their land
Be co-located with Scion, renamed the Forest Research Institute
Establish regional offices where required
Support wood manufacturing and processing by favouring wood for new government building projects, including KiwiBuild
Allocate up to $20m to help construct a new prefabricated housing plant in Gisborne
Help keep forestry in New Zealand hands by requiring the sale of logging rights on land over 50 hectares to be approved by the Overseas Investment Office for overseas purchasers
Work with the tertiary education sector to get more young people qualified to work in the forestry sector
Employ young unemployed people under the Ready for Work programme to carry out riparian tree planting to block run-off and serve as a carbon-sink.
Rural Affairs
Labour will:Restore a voice for Rural Affairs at the Cabinet table by re-establishing the Rural Affairs ministerial portfolio
Reinstate a Rural Proofing policy to proactively assess government initiatives on rural communities
Engage with rural health professionals to ensure adequate access to emergency and acute treatment for all rural New Zealanders
Engage with rural support trusts to review the increasing level of dependence on these voluntary organisations for the provision of vital social support services in rural areas.
Backing fair pay and conditions
After nine years of National, working people’s share of the economy is falling.
Less than 40 per cent of economic growth under National has gone into working people’s wages.
If working people’s slice of the economy hadn’t shrunk under National, workers’ pay packets would have been $23 billion larger.
When 40 per cent of children in poverty live in a working household and two-thirds of workers’ pay fell in real terms last year, despite the economy growing, working people are not sharing in economic prosperity.
The problem is set to continue.
The Budget forecasts no real growth in the average wage in 2017 or in two of the next four years.
Weak employment law has created avenues for some businesses to undercut good employers by driving down wages and minimising costs.
Labour’s workplace relations package includes:Increasing the minimum wage to $16. 50 an hour.
Replacing the current National Government’s ‘fire at will’ law with fair trial periods that provide both protection against unjustified dismissal and a simple, fair, and fast referee service.
Introducing Fair Pay Agreements that set fair, basic employment conditions across an industry based on the employment standards that apply in that industry.
Promoting the Living Wage by paying it to all workers in the core public service, and extending it to contractors over time.
Doubling the number of Labour Inspectors.
Implement the changes to the Equal Pay Act as set out in the report from the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles to give all women in female-dominated workforces access to collective bargaining and court processes to settle their claims.
Working for fair pay
Labour will boost the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour
and base future increases on the real cost of living for people on low incomes.
Over time, we will work towards lifting the minimum wage to two-thirds of the average wage as economic conditions allow.
Labour is committed to being a good employer in government.
All core public sector employees will be paid at least the Living Wage, at a cost of $15m, and this will be extended to contractors over time.
Labour will also double the number of Labour Inspectors to 110 to help ensure working people’s rights are protected.
This will cost $9m.
Fair trial periods
Labour has always supported trial periods for new employees, as a way of giving a person a chance.
National’s ‘fire at will’ law is unfair because it denies employees any recourse against unfair treatment and unjustified dismissal.
This means an employer can sack an employee without a fair reason, denying that person and their family a livelihood.
Treasury has found ‘fire at will’ has created no jobs and not increased hiring of disadvantaged jobseekers.
Instead, it has allowed some bad employers to exploit employees.
Labour will replace the existing law with trial periods that include recourse for employees in the event of unjustified dismissal.
Employers, particularly small businesses, have legitimate concerns that resolving employment disputes can be time-consuming and expensive.
So Labour will establish a new referee service for claims of unjustified dismissal during trial periods.
The referee will hold short hearings without lawyers and be able to make decisions to reinstate or award damages of up to a capped amount.
This simple, fast, and fair service will be provided free for the parties involved, at a cost to the Government of $4m.
Fair Pay Agreements
Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) will be agreed by businesses within an industry and the unions representing workers within that industry.
FPAs will set basic standards for pay and other employment conditions within an industry, according to factors including job type and experience.
The recent care and support workers’ settlement is an example of how employers, employees, and government can come together to create an agreement that sets base conditions across an industry.
By setting a floor, FPAs will prevent the ‘race to the bottom’ seen in some industries, where good employers are undercut by some bad employers who reduce labour costs through low wages and poor conditions.
FPAs will create a framework for fair wage increases where good employers are not commercially disadvantaged for doing the right thing.
FPAs will cover all employees and workplaces within the relevant industry.
Negotiations on FPAs will begin once a sufficient percentage of employers or employees within an industry call for one.
This threshold and the precise implementation of FPAs will be developed in government in consultation with all stakeholders.
Māori Development
Unlocking Whānau Ora's Potential
Labour’s vision for whānau and families is to ensure Whānau Ora provides a strengthened service providing better outcomes in the community to respond to diverse needs.
Labour will establish a new and independent position of Whānau Ora Reviewer to ensure success, and increase funding to ensure Whānau Ora delivers for all whānau and families that need assistance.
The current Whānau Ora service delivery model has the potential to be better and change the lives of whānau and families.
Labour will review the service delivery model and commissioning agency approach to ensure Whānau Ora provides strong measurable outcomes and the best outcomes for as many as possible, and is transparent.
Labour will:Support Whānau Ora to be successful by investing an extra $20 million over four years to achieve Whānau Ora outcomes.
This is double the additional funding provided in Budget 2017.
Further funding will be considered once a comprehensive review has been undertaken and as resources allow
Review the Whānau Ora service delivery model and Commissioning Agency approach to assess the social return on investment, ensure transparency, measurable outcomes, and best practice monitoring and evaluation
Support Whānau Ora and community NGOs to work together to uplift the wellbeing of their communities without competing against each other
Appoint an Independent Whānau Ora Reviewer responsible to Parliament tasked with monitoring the performance of, and expenditure on, commissioning agencies and Whānau Ora as well as to highlight excellent Whānau Ora practice.
The position would have a wide scope monitoring the Whānau Ora Māori spend of not just the Māori commissioning agencies but also mainstream agencies who have been tasked with distributing targeted Whānau Ora and Māori funding.
These policies will support an additional 5,000 whānau and families over four years to have better access to services to improve their lives.
Labour recognises Whānau Ora strengthens whānau and families
and will ensure that its approach is best structured to deliver better outcomes.
Better homes for Māori
Labour’s vision is that all New Zealanders have a fair shot at owning a place of their own,
and all of our families have a warm, dry, safe home to live in.
Working with iwi and other Māori organisations will be crucial to making that vision a reality.
Supporting Māori educational achievement
Our education system must recognise the place of Maori as Tangata Whenua
and provide opportunities for Māori to succeed and thrive.
Throughout the system, Māori culture and identity should be respected and celebrated.
Labour will fund dedicated professional development programmes that have proven success in raising educational achievement for Māori students such as Te Kotahitanga
Labour will ensure that all early childhood and primary school teachers are provided with an opportunity to undertake lessons in Te Reo Māori
Labour will provide dedicated scholarships to increase the number of Te Reo Māori teachers
and ensure that Te Reo Māori is available as an option in all secondary schools
Labour will relaunch Ka Hikitia – Accelerating Success with professional development to support its implementation
Labour will pilot the establishment of traditional Wānanga Māori to provide an opportunity for Māori to succeed as Maori through traditional learning that is steeped in karakia, whakapapa, whaikōrero, history and esoteric knowledge that was once usual practice
Labour will investigate the establishment of a unique Wananga Tohu Matauranga qualification at secondary school level
to better reflect increasing opportunities for Māori to succeed as Māori.
Supporting Te Reo Māori in schools
The survival and future of Te Reo Māori as a thriving language is a core value for Labour because we believe it is a unique taonga for New Zealanders.
It is also fundamental to our national identity, and it provides an important gateway to better understanding the rich history and culture of Aotearoa.
The Māori language forms part of the broader cultural identity and heritage of New Zealand.
Since 1987 the Māori language has enjoyed a national resurgence after Te Reo Māori was given status as an official language of Aotearoa by Labour.
Te Reo Māori can today be heard in everyday conversation.
But we can do better.
The Government has an important role in protecting and promoting Te Reo Māori.
Labour will create more opportunities for the learning of Te Reo Māori for everyone and will be the first major party to make Te Reo an integral part of all students’ education.
This will mean the fundamentals of the language are integrated throughout learning, so that children have the foundation to confidently learn Te Reo to a fluent level,
and be supported to do so.
Labour’s policies will support a future where New Zealanders from every background will have the ability to use Te Reo Māori in everyday conversations.
Labour will:Commit to a target that by 2025:Every child during ECE, primary school, and intermediate school has Te Reo Māori integrated into their learning
Every student at high school, once at the point they become able to choose their own subjects, has the opportunity to choose Te Reo Māori as a subject
Ensure that all early childhood, primary school, and intermediate school teachers are provided with an opportunity to undertake lessons in Te Reo Māori
Provide dedicated scholarships to increase the number of Te Reo Maori teachers and ensure that Te Reo Maori is available as an option in all secondary schools.
These policies will mean that by 2025 every child has Te Reo Māori integrated into their learning
and secondary students have the ability to learn Te Reo Māori.
Labour will start work towards achieving this target by immediately doubling the number of scholarships per year for Te Reo Māori secondary school teachers.
We will also enable 3,000 ECE, primary, and intermediate teachers a year to undertake Te Reo Māori courses.
This will allow them to strengthen their understanding of the language to a position where they can confidently integrate Te Reo into children’s learning.
This package will be supported by an initial $14 million of funding over four years.
Labour will be regularly reviewing these provisions to ensure we meet our 2025 target.
Labour will also continue to invest in wider professional development programmes as part of our $6 billion investment in education.
Ending Secondary Tax
Labour will:Abolish secondary tax as it denies many New Zealanders access to wages they need to make ends meet.
Around 75,000 New Zealanders work in multiple jobs according to Statistics New Zealand.
Due to limitations with the current tax system, employees need to pay tax at a different rate on one of their income sources.
Tax on one income source is charged in the normal way while tax on the other source is charged at a flat rate.
This means many employees pay a higher rate of income tax during the year than they needed to.
For example, a worker making $50,000 a year through two $25,000 jobs would face a tax bill of $10,893 - $2,873 more than necessary.
Whilst employees can claim this overpayment back as a refund at the end of the tax year, many workers would prefer the income during the year.
The overpayment was estimated to be around $750m in 2016.
Labour is committed to abolishing secondary tax so that these workers have the ability to make ends meet.
To avoid people getting a large tax bill at the end of the year we will ensure that they are taxed at the appropriate rate through the year.
This will be possible through the IRD Business Transformation/computer system upgrade process.
We will direct IRD to make it a priority to deliver this change
rather than dragging their feet as National have done.
We will finalise a timetable for this once in office, in consultation with IRD.
Ethnic Communities
New Zealand is a diverse and tolerant country.
Our ethnic diversity is a source of strength, bringing new insights, skills, and opportunities to our society.
Ethnic communities in New Zealand also strengthen our connections with the international community, helping us to build stronger diplomatic and economic relationships with other nations.
To fully harness all of these benefits, we need to provide a supportive environment for New Zealand’s ethnic communities to settle and prosper.
Every person should be able to reach their full potential in life, while retaining a connection to their heritage, culture, and language.
We recognise in particular that ethnic communities in New Zealand seek opportunities to live in safe communities,
to succeed and contribute back to New Zealand,
to be treated fairly and on their merits,
and to build lives in a respectful and tolerant community.
Labour will:Deliver a package of initiatives to create safer communities
Run a voluntary trial civic engagement course for new and recent migrants to support engagement in community and public life
With the state sector, establish a two year trial programme to create more equitable opportunities for migrants to advance into senior positions including structured mentoring, pro-active promotion of opportunities to multicultural communities, and a ‘blind’ job application process for senior positions
Protecting our environment
A healthy economy depends on a healthy environment.
All things are interconnected, and we are kaitiaki of land, sea, freshwater and air.
Labour rejects the notion of “balancing” the economy and the environment, an equation in which the environment always loses.
There are environmental bottom lines that must not be crossed.
Labour will uphold high environmental standards.
Labour will future-proof the New Zealand economy by transitioning away from our reliance on fossil fuels to a high-tech, low carbon economy – one that creates jobs by taking full advantage of renewable resources and existing and emerging technologies.
Labour will urgently address issues around water quality, deal more effectively and efficiently with waste, and ensure Kiwis are breathing clean air.
And we will safeguard the right of local communities to have their say on proposals that affect their environment, regardless of wealth or status.
The Earth is warming rapidly, biodiversity is being lost at an alarming rate, and acidification is pushing the oceans close to their ecological limits.
Under Labour, New Zealand will be part of the global solution to these problems.
The United Nations has a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the period to 2030, within which environmental goals are integrated – clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and communities, climate action, life below water, and life on land.
Labour’s approach to the environment is similarly all-embracing.
It includes our policies in such key areas as Climate Change, Conservation, Economy, Energy, Water, Primary Sector and Transport.
This Environment policy covers subjects not dealt with in those policies.
Labour will:Uphold high environmental standards, recognising that a heathy economy depends on a healthy environment
Future-proof New Zealand by transitioning to an environmentally sustainable, low-carbon economy and society
Retain the Resource Management Act,
while improving processes
and ensuring that local communities can have their say.
Our water is New Zealand’s most important natural treasure.
Clean water is the birth-right of all of us, and vital to our continued prosperity.
Our rivers and lakes are a taonga of huge significance to Māori, a favourite place of recreation for New Zealanders.
Water underpins our agriculture.
Our fresh water resource needs to be protected and restored,
and that can only happen if all water users and the Government work together.
The Government will assist in this work by employing young people who are stuck on the dole and getting them working on improving the health of waterways.
Everyone owns our water, but some have interests in it that others don’t.
Large commercial users who profit from our water should pay a fair and affordable royalty – for example, water bottling companies.
This revenue can help councils restore our waterways for future generations.
Labour will:Restore our rivers and lakes to a truly swimmable state within a generation
Help farmers and other owners of waterways with fencing and riparian planting through our Ready for Work programme
Give the regional councils the resources to clean up their waterways through a water royalty.
Climate Change
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world.
If we do not urgently reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, warming will disrupt the climates our agriculture and other industries depend upon, sea-level rise will affect our coastal cities, and ocean acidification will affect the marine food chain.
Labour will:set a target of net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with legally binding emissions reduction targets, and carbon budgets to keep New Zealand on track to this goal
establish an independent Climate Commission to recommend interim emissions reduction targets and provide advice on the ramifications of not achieving them
encourage young people to take part in the effort to end our climate pollution through a Youth Climate Change Challenge
show government leadership by requiring state-owned enterprises and other government organisations to actively pursue low-carbon options and technologies including all future purchases of all Government vehicle fleets to be electric vehicles unless there is an exceptional reason otherwise
restore the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), including bringing agriculture into the ETS by the end of our first term,
with 90% of emissions free
ensure that farmers operating at best practice are recognised so they can be directly credited for emissions reductions they achieve
support a just transition for workers in industries that need to reduce emissions and the creation of jobs in sectors that are carbon-free or carbon sinks, such as forestry
establish a Transitions National Science Challenge to consider the science, research and development required for the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Conservation
Conservation is the preservation and protection of New Zealand’s unique natural environment, as a good thing in and of itself – not just as a resource for the tourism industry, as the current government seems to think.
Labour will:Aim that in 10 years’ time New Zealand’s indigenous wildlife population is stabilised and increasing, with species coming off the threatened list regularly.
Introduce a Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund to improve DOC biodiversity funding and tourism infrastructure.
Keep the critically threatened Maui’s dolphin safe from being harmed by activities such as fishing or petroleum exploration.
Tourism
More than three million people a year come from all over the world to visit New Zealand.
They enjoy our unique natural beauty, culture, and Kiwi hospitality.
International tourists spent $10b here last year, supporting more than 300,000 jobs.
Labour will:Establish a $75m a year Tourism and Conservation Infrastructure Fund to pay for projects that will improve the experience of visitors to New Zealand
and enhance our natural environment
Provide this $75m a year of investment through a $25 per visit levy on international visitors who are not citizens or residents of New Zealand.
Energy
New Zealand’s plentiful renewable energy resources – hydro, wind, geothermal and solar – mean we are ideally placed to build an energy system that is affordable, sustainable and reliable.
Labour’s Energy and Climate Change policies overlap in the need to improve energy use and slash greenhouse gas emissions.
The challenge is to ensure a just transition swiftly but smoothly towards a fully renewables-based energy system and a low-carbon economy.
To keep the global average temperature rise well below 2°C – in order to meet the Paris Agreement commitment and so avoid the worst effects of climate change –most known fossil fuel reserves must be kept in the ground (in the absence of widely-deployed, and still unproven, carbon capture and storage technology).
New Zealand has a significant petroleum production industry in a world still heavily reliant on oil and gas.
But we and the rest of the world must nonetheless transition rapidly to renewable energy.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency make great sense economically and will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
Huge investments are being made in renewable energy internationally with the cost of solar generation in particular dropping dramatically in the recent years.
Local energy solutions with distributed generation are becoming a viable part of the renewables mix.
Labour will ensure that New Zealand is at the forefront of this renewable energy revolution and the economic, social and environmental benefits it will bring.
A restored Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) will underpin this by putting a serious price on the use of fossil fuels.
See Labour’s Climate Change policy for further detail on the ETS.
Social Development
Labour believes that New Zealand should be a place where everyone is able to live with dignity.
We have enough resources to ensure no one has to live in poverty.
However after nine years of a National Government our social security system has been eroded.
Alongside low wages and employment insecurity, New Zealand now has unprecedented levels of inequality and child poverty.
There are 125,300 more people living in relative poverty when taking into account housing costs than when National took office nine years ago.
A third of New Zealand children, or 295,000 children, live in income poverty, while 90,000 children are living in severe poverty.
It is a sign of failure that so many of our children are living in hardship.
Labour wants to address the hardship that has been left behind in National’s wake
and make sure our welfare system is working to provide real support for New Zealanders.
We willimplement a real social investment approach by ensuring our children get the best start in life,
they have access to education
and healthcare,
everyone has a safe home to live in
and our welfare system doesn’t let any families fall through the cracks.
Labour will:Ensure all New Zealanders have the support they need to live with dignity
Provide children with the best start in life
Invest in our people so they can realise their potential
Modernise our welfare system so it aligns with the employment market
and is fair and accessible for all
Value all forms of work that positively contribute to New Zealand including volunteering and parenting
Support communities by investing in quality social services delivering for New Zealanders
Prioritise warm, dry and affordable housing for all New Zealanders.
Youth
Labour will:Provide three years of free post-school education over a person’s lifetime
and ensure every student has a personalised career development plan.
Support youth health (especially mental health) by extending School Based Health Services to all public secondary schools and developing funding models that will allow Youth One Stop Shops to be financially sustainable.
Ensure all young people who are able, are in work, training or education, through expanding apprenticeships,
grants for young entrepreneurs,
and offering valuable job experience in environmental and community projects.
Pacific Island Affairs
HIGHLIGHTS
Labour will:•Act, including through the New Zealand education system, to officially recognise the five main Pacific languages used in New Zealand
•Establish an Immigration Pacific Plan that recognises Pacific Climate Change refugees
•Create a new collective Pacific Vision for Pacific people in New Zealand
•Invest in Pasifika Youth so they achieve their aspirations and fullest potential
•Strengthen and enhance New Zealand’s special relationship with the Pacific region
Introduction
For New Zealand to do well, Labour believes Pacific people must also do well.
Labour’s vision is for Pacific people and their families to succeed and prosper in an inclusive New Zealand society
and to reach their fullest potential.
New Zealand’s future is inextricably connected to Pacific people’s socio-economic well-being, achievement, leadership and strength.
Pacific people are not only one of the fastest growing populations in New Zealand, but they are also the most youthful and diverse population who’ll make up the future workforce of New Zealand.
Pacific people have created strong permanent communities and families in New Zealand.
The depth of these family connections and Pacific people’s contribution to New Zealand – in the workforce, sports, the arts, academia, religion, local government, business and politics – has weaved its way to influence the creation of a new fabric of modern New Zealand society.
The close and special nature of New Zealand’s relationship with Pacific peoples in New Zealand as well as in the Pacific region is encapsulated in statements made by former New Zealand Governor Generals, Prime Ministers, and Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
It prompted Prime Minister Helen Clark’s 2002 reconciliation apology to Samoa for the inept and incompetent administration of Samoa by New Zealand during the colonial period.
Policy area 1: Pacific Languages
Labour will protect Pacific identity by promoting cultural literacy with youth.
We are committed to preserving and promoting Pacific languages, cultures, traditions, art and music, to ensure that children of Pacific origin have the opportunity to retain the language, culture and history of their forebears.
Pacific people will lose their languages and cultural heritage without deliberate support and political will to protect and promote these treasures and support the community to pass onto the next generation of Pacific children.
New Zealand’s Pacific communities have a right to hear and see their own voices, stories, legacy and music in their own languages.
These cultural elements reflect not only New Zealand’s national cultural identity but also a platform for the economic and social development of Pacific peoples.
Cultural literacy enables Pacific children in New Zealand not only to learn to read, write and speak the words, but also enables them to learn the values that shape identities, life, quality decision-making and communities.
The foundation for this work must be a strong commitment to Pacific languages now and into the future of New Zealand.
Labour will:Recognise the following five Pasifika Languages as Official Community Languages in Aotearoa New Zealand: Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Niuean and Tokelauan.
Enhance the use of these five Official Community Languages in the compulsory education system
Work with the tertiary education sector groups to encourage and support research by Pacific researchers and academics into appropriate models and curricula that enhance Pacific language bilingual education at all levels of the education system, including teacher exchanges with Pacific countries
Resume the publication of Tupu and Folauga series of reading books and journals and other appropriate resources for teaching Pacific language bilingual education.
Reinstate the goals for Pacific literacy, research, and bilingualism in the Pacific Education Plan which were removed by the National Government in 2009
Develop a Pacific Language Policy wrapping support around the Pacific community initiatives such as the Pacific language weeks and the organisations driving these initiatives.
Policy area 2: Immigration, Settlement & Pacific Climate Change
New Zealand has long-standing ties and a unique set of relationships with the Pacific Island nations including the three realm countries of Niue, Tokelau and the Cook Islands; the Samoan Quota, the Pacific Access Quota, the Treaty of Friendship with Samoa, the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme, and its sizeable Pacific population who have made Aotearoa their permanent home.
Due to these strong and deep relationship, New Zealand is expected to take a leadership role and to be seen to be doing so in the promotion, fostering and strengthening of these unique set of relationships.
Labour also recognizes that Pacific Island nations are at the frontlines of rising sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming.
People from the island nations of Tuvalu and Kiribati face real threats of being displaced from their home island and becoming climate change refugees through no fault of their own and will need to find new homes in future years.
Labour will:Work with regional partners and organisations, and review migration policy to establish an Immigration Pacific Plan that recognises Pacific Climate Change refugees who have been displaced by climate change and global warming to ensure they have real and timely options for mobility across the region
Establish a Ministerial Advisory Group to examine the outstanding immigration issues with Pacific countries with a view of recommending lasting solutions reflective of our special relationship with Pacific Island states
Review the family reunification categories and Pacific quota to ensure they are accessible for Pacific people, are working effectively,
and are consistent with wider Pacific development commitments
Retain the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme,
monitor its effectiveness and contribution in New Zealand and the wider Pacific,
and ensure that people working under the RSE scheme are free from exploitation
Establish a modern fit-for-purpose settlement programme based on international best practice and which is designed with local communities and government agencies and which will be required to address the adjustment needs of migrant as well as local communities.
Policy area 3: A new Pasifika vision
The make-up of the Pasifika population in New Zealand is changing, the number of Pasifika pioneers is declining, and the population of New Zealand-born Pasifika people is growing.
Unlike the vision of the pioneers which included returning to their home islands, the 60% of Pacific people born in New Zealand know no other home but New Zealand.
This is firmly their place and home now.
A new Pasifika vision is needed.
The Samoan words tofa (wisdom) mamao (further away) when combined means the wisdom to envision or to visualise the future.
This captures the growing desire to undertake le tofa saili or the wisdom to search for a new meaning of what lies ahead for Pasifika in New Zealand’s modern society.
Pasifika people need to develop a vision that explores what it means to be Pasifika in New Zealand today: our future role; our values, beliefs, culture, language, and religion; what successful Pasifika New Zealand looks like; and what our aspirations are for ourselves and for New Zealand.
Labour will:Establish an annual Pacific Futures forum to support Pacific communities to create and build a new collective vision for Pacific people in New Zealand, to provide the framework and long-term goals to guide how government will work with Pasifika community, funded within existing baselines of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples
Quantify the Pacific people’s contribution to the New Zealand economy so we can measure that experience, monitor it, and develop policy that enhances and grows the Pasifika economy.
Policy area 4: Investing in Pasifika Youth
New Zealand has an ageing population.
The Pasifika population, however, is young and combined with Māori, New Zealand will increasingly depend on this group as the future workforce.
Investing early in the education and training of this group is an investment in the socio-economic future of New Zealand.
Our priority should be to prepare them for a high-value, highly skilled, high-earning workforce.
We will need this workforce to be prepared for the future of work for their own sustainability and to support the aging population in future years.
Investing in Pasifika youth must include working with Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative project, Local Government New Zealand, and businesses prepared to recognise the vision for a highly skilled workforce by giving young people the opportunity for cadetship, apprenticeships, or on-job experience and training.
Labour will:Support the Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative project, Local Government New Zealand, businesses and NGOs which provide work opportunities on the basis of earning while learning with a focus on lifting achievements for young or long-term unemployed Pacific NEETs
Implement recommendations of the Future of Work programme that a enables New Zealand to provide security and opportunity to Pacific youth and to celebrate their individual successes and achieves collective outcomes for all.
Policy area 5: New Zealand’s special relationship with the Pacific
Many New Zealand political leaders and officials over the years have promoted and advocated the special relationship we have with the Pacific Island countries of the South Pacific region.
Their statements reaffirm this special and unique relationship.
Combined with growing intermarriages, business, educational and cultural links this relationship is deep and strong.
Labour will continue to strengthen and grow this special and unique relationship.
Labour will:Improve the portability of New Zealand Superannuation payments to Pacific people retiring in the islands
Work with Pacific Governments, the Pacific Islands’ Forum and transport service operators in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific to ensure secure air, land and sea transport services to Pacific countries, especially to Niue, Tokelau and the Cook Islands
Improve and extend Radio New Zealand International and Television New Zealand services to the Pacific
Examine supply and access issues to facilitate the availability of products from the Pacific to New Zealand consumers
while ensuring that New Zealand’s biosecurity needs are met
Discuss with the Governments of Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands the scope for progressively raising public-sector pay rates to a level comparable with those in New Zealand
Organise an annual Speakers tour in the Pacific for New Zealand Members of Parliament to learn about the effects of climate change in the Pacific region and its people
Following on from the last Labour Government’s apology to the people of Samoa for the harm done by previous New Zealand Governments during the period of colonial rule from 1914 to 1962, Labour will follow through and support responsible community discussions on appropriate acknowledgement of such wrongs so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Inclusiveness and dignity for all Rainbow New Zealanders
Labour will:take real action so that every young person has a safe place to learn and thrive
and a warm dry home to live in
ensure our health system is inclusive and works for everyone
lead an active Government which empowers people and ensures formal equality under the law, especially for trans and intersex New Zealanders.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and human rights.
This means all people should have the same basic rights, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sex characteristics.
Future Labour Governments will continue to work towards equality by eliminating remaining areas of discrimination in our law, and ensuring that Rainbow* New Zealanders can live in safety and dignity.
Freedom to Thrive
Every New Zealander should be able to live a life of safety and dignity.
Real action so we have safe schools for our youth
No young person should be subject to verbal and physical abuse
and made to feel inferior.
Labour will take action to eradicate discrimination,
violence and bullying,
and to combat suicide and self-harm.
Labour will:ensure intensive intervention and adequate levels of support for Rainbow youth in the compulsory education system
support schools to develop comprehensive policies and actions to deal with bullying on the grounds of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and intersex status
implement the Ministry of Education’s Sexuality Education Guidelines as part of the Health curriculum
strengthen the Education Review Office’s remit to include looking at Rainbow student well-being and anti-bullying reporting requirements as indicators in their review of schools.
Ensure an inclusive health system which works for everyone
Our health system needs to improve in several ways to protect the wellbeing of every Rainbow New Zealander.
We need to eliminate disparities
by having excellent public health and prevention initiatives
and ensuring practitioners and providers give respectful effective service and treatment.
Alongside our overall health policy:Labour will:help achieve the goal of ending HIV in New Zealand by 2025 by: increasing access to sexual health services, testing, and early treatment;
funding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP);
and supporting education, research, and community groups which help achieve this goal
improve access to affordable primary care
based on the informed consent model,
particularly for younger, trans, and intersex New Zealanders.
This also includes training and resources for health professionals about sexual orientation and gender diversity
provide targeted suicide prevention funding to build capacity of rainbow community support organisations and mainstream crisis support and services.
increase resourcing for youth mental health
support and ensure all district health boards reduce barriers for trans and gender diverse people to access gender affirming healthcare, transition related medical support (including hormones, social support and other cosmetic interventions),
and an assessment of the need for gender reassignment surgery
as an elective service
ensure fair access to publicly funded gender affirming surgical options for trans and gender diverse people based on need.
Security and dignity for all
As well as positive health and education policies, we will ensure everyone has a safe warm home to live in.
Tackling youth homelessness
Homelessness has grown in New Zealand over the past eight years, and young Rainbow people make up a significant proportion of people sleeping rough because they have left home due to an unsafe environment.
Labour will:ensure the needs and specific circumstances of young Rainbow people are actively addressed
in our strategies to reduce homelessness
Supporting positive ageing
Growing numbers of Rainbow New Zealanders are now approaching retirement and may face issues which are not faced by heterosexual people at this age.
Some lack family support networks and live away from their families where they have been subjected to homophobic/transphobic treatment.
Rest homes and aged care services may not fully understand the medical and sexual needs of older Rainbow residents.
We don’t want people to ‘go back into the closet’ as they approach retirement as this can affect their health and well-being.
Labour will:support initiatives which ensure Rainbow New Zealanders approaching retirement can continue to live safely and openly in supported living environments like retirement homes and aged care facilities.
An active Government which empowers people and ensures formal equality under the law
There are still hurdles to achieving full equality for Rainbow New Zealanders.
We will build on the progress made with Homosexual Law Reform, the Human Rights Act, Civil Unions, and Marriage Equality.
We will also look to models of international good practice, such as Malta’s Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act.
Labour will:end formal discrimination
review laws and policies that interfere with the right to be free from discrimination under section 19 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990
include gender identity as a prohibited ground of discrimination under the Human Rights Act 1993.
promote freedom and equality for Rainbow people internationally
Labour in Government will express our values internationally as a leading voice ensuring all Rainbow people internationally are free and equal in rights and dignity, including as an advocate on individual cases.
Labour will:maintain and grow strong New Zealand participation in international bodies dealing with Human Rights, especially at the United Nations level
oppose the criminalisation of consensual adult same-sex activity, and other instances of discrimination against GLBTI people
use refugee and asylum seeker policy as a way to address humanitarian needs of GLBTI global citizens
count and engage everyone
accurately collect statistical data on Rainbow communities so that we take an evidence-based approach to policy formation and programme development in areas such as health, social development, and justice
fund research on the health and well-being of rainbow communities, for example, research on adolescent youth and on sexual health
engage trans, gender diverse, and intersex persons and communities to support a ‘whole of life’ approach to their well-being when developing policy and laws
support adoption by same-sex partners
modernise the law relating to the care of children to ensure that the widest possible pool of suitable adults, including same-sex couples, is available to provide care (being foster care, short-term guardianship and other forms of custody) to children in need
improve access to services and rights for transgender and intersex New Zealanders
implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission’s To Be Who I Am: Kia Noho au Ki Toku Ano Au Final report of the Inquiry into Discrimination experienced by Transgender and Intersex People.
This includes (but is not limited to):amending the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 1995 to allow the Registrar General to amend birth certificates on submissions of appropriate declarations and evidence (rather than medical examination or family court processes)
ensuring fair access to justice for trans people and fair treatment by law enforcement and corrections staff and facilities to avoid misgendering and risk due to gender identity
develop and implement a child rights-based health care protocol for intersex children so that no one is subjected to unnecessary medical or surgical treatment during infancy or childhood.
* We use Rainbow as an inclusive word to welcome people who have a diverse sex, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Some of the words that people in rainbow communities in Oceania use to describe themselves may include:
•gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex
•akava’ine, fa’afafine, fa’afatama, fakafifine, fakaleiti, fakaleiti (leiti), mahu, palopa, takatāpui, tangata ira tane, vakasalewa, whakawahine
•agender, asexual, brotherboy, gender diverse, gender fluid, genderqueer, nonbinary, pansexual, queer, sistergirl, trans feminine, trans masculine, transexual, trans
Public Services
Our vision is for:A public service which is valued for its role in an active participatory democracy, that is, serving the democratically elected government of the day with free and frank advice,
and protecting NZ citizens from the excessive use of Executive power.
A public service which consists of equally paid women and men
with skill and experience to advise Ministers on the implications of their decisions
and deliver constant improvement in services to the public.
A public service with institutional memory, capacity and capability to serve Ministers and the public efficiently with high quality policy advice and effective administration.
A public service which is always open to change and modernisation for the sake of better public service delivery,
is responsive to diversity,
and recognises that the users of public services are entitled to the best customer services and respect.
A public service which is characterised by integrity, courage, a sense of self-worth and a clear understanding of the importance of their role in protecting and delivering on services which underpin our care of citizens.
Community and Voluntary Sector
The community and voluntary sector is an important part of our democracy.
It is a place where ordinary citizens can develop the organisations that create our rich and diverse civil society.
For over 100 years voluntary sector organisations have worked beside government to respond to social need in New Zealand by developing their own organisations and their own, often highly innovative, social services.
Our history and small size has meant that the organisations have often been dependent on government funding.
This dependency worked because government saw that it had a role to play in supporting the development of civil society.
Labour will:Work with the sector to establish long-term funding cycles and transparent processes so that sector organisations have some certainty in their planning and delivery of services
Ensure that community and voluntary organisations can engage in advocacy without fear of losing government contracts or their charitable status
Recognise and honour the vital role of volunteers in building a resilient community and nation.
Accident Compensation
Labour will:Maintain ACC as a publicly administered and delivered social insurance scheme which provides comprehensive and universal personal injury coverage for all New Zealanders
Make the ACC system fairer and more transparent for claimants, by implementing the findings of the Dean report
Relieve legislative restrictions to allow for fairer compensation and better rehabilitation.
Internal Affairs
Labour will:Protect the independence of Archives New Zealand and the National Library
Conduct a thorough review of gambling law, regulation, policy and provision to reduce harm
Maintain the role of licensing trusts.
Civil Defence
Labour will:Lead, and implement the findings of, a Cross-Party Review of Civil Defence
Ensure recovery planning is embedded in our preparedness planning and training
and develop a more sustainable volunteer base.
Establish a 24/7/365 Day warning system for tsunamis and other emergencies and ensure consistent informed communications about emergencies.
Health
ACT BELIEVES
Rising government expenditure on health has failed to deliver improved health outcomes for our society, or improved results for patients.
We need to make structural changes to the way health is delivered, before we consider spending more money for little gain in service levels.
There is too much bureaucracy in health, and the model of having twenty DHBs of 11 members is broken.
ACT WILL
Maintain the health budget at per capita levels.
We will not cut the health budget.
Reform the DHB system, reducing the number of health districts from 20 down to 5, and ensure that Board Members are appointed for their expertise and experience, rather than elected to make political points.
Raise awareness of mental health services.
An estimated 70% of people who commit suicide never had contact with a mental health service provider.
Only around 1% of people who have been formally diagnosed with a mental health condition will commit suicide.
Raising awareness of mental health services is the best way to ensure people who need it, get it.
This will reduce suicide rates.
We will allow more innovation in health, by getting government out of the way.
This will enable more New Zealanders to access new treatments from overseas, sooner.
Education
ACT BELIEVES
New Zealand kids should be taught by highly skilled professional teachers.
Education is the most important gift we can give our children, to give them a head-start in life.
It is wrong that the best teacher and the worst teacher are paid the same.
Incentives matter, it’s wrong that the only way for teachers to increase their pay, in many cases, is to take management hours and spend less time teaching kids.
Teachers, as salaried professionals, are undervalued.
To attract the best school leavers and graduates into teaching as a profession, we have to lift the overall salary range.
ACT’S RECORD ON EDUCATION
ACT’s proudest achievement is in introducing choice into education.
We championed Partnership Schools which are seeing Iwi, Pasifika Groups, community groups and others running new-model schools which are changing kids lives.
We don’t believe that one size fits all in education.
Our policy has been to increase support for independent schools
– they save taxpayers money,
and provide parents with choice in the type of education they get for their children.
OUR POLICY IS TO PAY GOOD TEACHERS MORE
This policy will add $1 Billion into the funding that is available for teacher salaries.
On average we will increase teacher salaries by $17,700 per teacher.
This will enable the best teachers to stay in the classroom, and elevate teaching as a profession.
The Government surplus sits at $3.7 Billion.
That means this policy is affordable
and we can deliver improvements in teacher quality
alongside tax cuts, while maintaining all core government spending.
We will enable schools to opt out of union contracts.
This will mean they gain the flexibility to recognise great teachers by paying them more and rewarding their achievement.
Schools will be able to pay more to attract teachers to fill specialist skills shortages – in areas like science, technology, Te Reo and international languages.
Tax.
It’s your money.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPEND LESS OF YOUR MONEY.
You earned it, and you are the best person to decide how to spend or invest it.
The Government’s accounts show surpluses rising every year.
In the next few years they’ll add up to over $20 billion.
Only ACT will give that money back to you, and deliver a tax cut with no cuts to core services like health, education or police.
ACT will cut every income tax rate:
CURRENTACT’S PROPOSAL
(from 1 April 2018)
0-14,00010.5%10%
14,000-48,00017.5%15%
48,000-70,00030%25%
MORE THAN 70,00033%25%
SEE YOUR TAX CUT BY ENTERING YOUR BEFORE-TAX INCOME HERE:
EXAMPLES OF TYPICAL KIWIS’ TAX CUTS UNDER ACT’S POLICY:
IF YOU EARN…UNDER ACT YOU’LL SAVE…
$32,760
Full time on the minimum wage. $539
$59,920
Average wage at the end of 2016. $1,516
$70,000
The current top tax rate kicks in. $2,020
$96,300
Average income for a Financial Accountant$4,124
ACT WILL CUT COMPANY TAX TO 25%, SO THAT BUSINESSES CAN GROW AND CREATE NEW JOBS.
We would cut corporate welfare to fund company tax cuts.
We would promote growth by cutting tax on all businesses.
ACT WILL DELIVER TAX CUTS IN A BALANCED BUDGET.
Our tax cuts would take effect on 1 April 2018.
They are fully costed and funded in a balanced budget.
We would use the Government’s surpluses to fund income tax cuts,
and make $1.1 billion in cuts to corporate welfare to fund company tax cuts.
15/1616/1717/1818/1919/2020/21
TOTAL COST OF TAX CUTS  1. 526. 076. 076. 07
Forecast Surplus1. 80. 53. 35. 46. 88. 5
Cuts to corporate welfare––1. 1251. 1251. 1251. 125
4. 4256. 5257. 9259. 625
NEW SURPLUS UNDER ACT  2. 910. 461. 863. 56
In the long term, we will save even more by raising the age of entitlement to Superannuation to 67, sooner than National.
ACT is the party of spending restraint.
Read more on our proposals here: Tax Policy Explainer
Principles
ACT BELIEVES
The ACT Party was founded upon classical liberal principles which form the basis for free and prosperous communities.
Free speech, free trade, limited and smarter government, the rule of law and secure property rights are at the core of these principles.
New Zealand needs to reconnect with the values of civic society, which include honesty, compassion, enterprise, community service, personal responsibility, tolerance and civility.
ACT’S VISION
A free society: free trade, free speech, and personal and religious freedom
A nation that values personal responsibility, tolerance, civility and compassion
Smaller, smarter government, low taxes,
secure property rights,
and the law applied equally to all citizens
ACT WILL
Unleash the creativity, energy and enthusiasm of New Zealanders by removing petty regulation, reducing tax burdens, fostering entrepreneurship and a culture of aspiration
Empower individuals and households by expanding their options for educating their children, accessing quality healthcare,
and obtaining support from our social services in times of need
Reduce poverty by
stronger economic growth,
more jobs and higher incomes,
affordable housing,
and better access to education
Create safe communities through effective policing,
with rehabilitation for young offenders
but uncompromising sentencing for repeat and violent offenders
Protect our natural and built environment with Smart-Green policies
Ensure security in retirement and fairness across generations
Be responsible economic managers with balanced budgets, low inflation
and a free and open market economy
Law and Order
ACT BELIEVES
ACT believes that protecting the safety and property of its citizens is the government’s most basic job – and the rights of victims should trump the rights of criminals.
People should feel safe at home, in public, and at work.
Even non-violent crimes like burglary have a traumatising effect on victims, an effect which is too often ignored by politicians and the legal fraternity.
ACT says we need to be both tough and smart on crime.
Firstly, we need to ensure the worst offenders are put behind bars.
But secondly, we need to stop the offenders who leave prison from returning to criminal activity.
That means giving prisoners incentives to complete educational programmes that will equip them with the basic qualifications to lead a productive, normal life.
Non-government groups such as the Howard League have volunteers wanting to help prisoners learn to read
– we just need to break down the administrative barriers.
Finally, we need to be smarter at using police resources.
Too much police time goes into chasing minor traffic offences and petty drug use.
Taxpayers fund police to actually solve burglaries and prevent violence
– not to play nanny state.
ACT HAS
Introduced Three Strikes for Violent Crime in 2010, deterring reoffenders and ensuring the worst violent recidivists are kept off the streets.
Watch David’s conference speech
Read ACT’s detailed Law and Order Policy
ACT WILL
Introduce Three Strikes for Burglary, meaning someone convicted of a third burglary offence gets three years in prison.
Reward prisoners who complete literacy programs and driver licensing tests with reduced sentences.
Do the same for prisoners who volunteer to teach in these programs.
Scrap red tape that stops ordinary New Zealanders from volunteering in prison education and rehabilitation programmes.
Housing
ACT BELIEVES
The cost of housing is unacceptably high.
Auckland (and some other cities), have a significant housing shortage.
The high cost of housing is widening the gap between people who own houses, and who don’t.
The high cost of housing is pushing costs on to taxpayers as the government increases spending on emergency housing, Income-Related Rent subsidies, and Accommodation Supplements.
ACT HAS
Advocated for reform to the Resource Management Act, and included this as a priority in our confidence and supply agreement with National.
Withdrawn our support from RMA reform that has not gone far enough to remove red tape from the housing and construction sector.
Watch David’s State of the Nation Speech on Housing
Read ACT’s detailed Housing Affordability Policy
ACT WILL
Remove New Zealand’s large cities from the Resource Management Act,
and create separate urban development legislation, prioritising land supply
and reducing red tape on developers.
Incentivise councils to consent more land for development
and build more infrastructure,
by sharing a portion of GST levied on construction.
Get Councils out of the building standards process, by replacing council building inspections and compliance with a mandatory private insurance regime for buildings.
Economy
ACT BELIEVES
National and Labour’s overly cautious economic tinkering has delivered very modest economic performance.
National, in particular, campaigns from the right just as surely as it governs from the left.
This is not good enough, our economy is growing because more people are coming here and putting in more hours, but productivity growth and therefore real wage growth remains flat.
ACT promotes more efficient government spending with lower flatter taxes and no new taxes.
Less tax leads to a more productive economy
with high growth
and low unemployment.
ACT’s opponents promise higher taxes while continuing wasteful spending.
Successful businesses are good for New Zealand, but it’s not the government’s job to prop up the ones that aren’t.
Corporate welfare costs us too much with little or no benefit to everyday New Zealanders.
ACT HAS
Kept the political left out of power for the past eight years, sometimes with a single vote in parliament.
Made the 2009 tax cuts possible by providing a working majority in Parliament.
Criticised stealth taxation the form of bracket creep – where inflation is pushing New Zealanders into higher tax rates despite no real change in income.
Advocated for an end to corporate welfare, arguing that Government should cut tax for all businesses instead of picking winners.
ACT WILL
Lower personal income tax and end stealth taxation.
People should be allowed to spend their money as they choose: starting their own business, investing in their education, paying off their mortgage or supporting their favourite charity.
Cut the company tax rate
by abolishing corporate welfare.
This will allow all New Zealand businesses to grow;
encourage entrepreneurs to start new businesses by reducing the cost of capital to New Zealand businesses.
Scrap the ‘charitable purpose’ tax loophole to level the playing field for New Zealand businesses.
Cut wasteful spending of taxpayer’s money such as Government trying to pick winners by giving money to favoured businesses.
Champion free trade agreements so New Zealand businesses have access to large overseas markets where they can sell more of their goods and services
Reduce red tape and reform the Resource Management Act to make it easier for New Zealand businesses to operate and grow.
Maintain spending on core services (like Health, Welfare and Education)
Superannuation
ACT BELIEVES
The current Superannuation scheme is unsustainable.
The longer the delay in taking measures to restore the long-term affordability of super the worse the problem will become.
According to Statistics NZ, up to 24 percent of New Zealanders will be receiving superannuation by 2036, compared to only 14 percent in 2012.
The Government currently spends 12.9 billion a year on superannuation, or around 16% of all expenditure.
With an ageing population, this cost will hugely increase.
ACT believes this increasing cost will be unaffordable, with no matching revenue increase to fund it.
ACT HAS
Advocated for raising the retirement age since 2011.
We are the only party with a policy to bring down the cost of superannuation for future generations of taxpayers.
ACT WILL
•Raise the retirement age.
Starting in 2020 we will raise the age of entitlement to Super from 65 to 67, at a rate of two months per year, finishing in 2032.
Conservation and the Environment
ACT BELIEVES
ACT values the environment.
Clean water, fresh air, efficient disposal of waste and the preservation of natural and historical features are all important for quality of life.
We believe that free markets, far from being incompatible with good environmental custodianship, are essential to it.
It is wealthy countries (Prosperity), where people take ownership (Property Rights), people pay the true costs of valuable resources and pollutants alike (Pricing), and communities have opportunities to get out and make a difference (Private Initiative) that make the difference, that have the best records on the environment.
These are ACT’s four P’s of smart environmentalism.
In future Governments ACT will push to better price roads and water,
and set up more wildlife sanctuaries.
ACT HAS
ACT included reforming the RMA as one of its 3 priorities for confidence and supply with the current government.
Proposed an ambitious 100 year plan to bring back New Zealand’s original birdsong with at least one wildlife sanctuary in every town.
Fought for better ridesharing laws to reduce congestion and emissions.
Promoted road use pricing to reduce congestion and emissions from vehicle
Read David’s Sanctuary Trust Speech
Transport
ACT BELIEVES
Transport is an area where New Zealand needs to do much better.
We suffer from massive underinvestment in transport infrastructure, in the cities and the regions.
Congestion is not only a major frustration, but also an economic growth killer as people and goods sit stuck in traffic and winding along sub standard roads.
ACT favours an increase in the use of funding options that better reflect the principle of user pays, such as tolls on new and existing roads, congestion charges, peak time charges and preferential lanes.
Any revenue generated from these tolls should be offset by cuts in petrol tax.
Proper pricing and reduced congestion will make public transport much faster and more attractive.
At present fifty people on a bus sit behind fifty single occupancy vehicles, because we do not price road use accurately.
ACT believes that the use of technology and entrepreneurship should be encouraged in transport.
Ride-sharing, car-sharing, congestion charging and high occupancy toll lanes should be introduced and/or encouraged.
ACT HAS
Lobbied the government for regulation to enable ride-sharing not stifle it.
Supported the continued use of Public Private Partnerships to fund and maintain infrastructure.
Promoted road pricing as fairer, more efficient, and better for the environment.
ACT WILL
Encourage private sector investment in road construction, both through direct ownership and partnerships with central and local government.
Reduce or abandon petrol tax and introduce road pricing on new and existing roads, congestion charging, peak time charges and preferential lanes.
Encourage ride-sharing and car-sharing to further reduce congestion.
Review regulation to ensure the viability of autonomous vehicles.
Immigration
ACT BELIEVES
Immigration policies affect what sort of society we want to create for our children and grandchildren.
New Zealanders value equality, free speech and the rule of law.
ACT believes immigration policy should reflect these values.
ACT believes immigrants should be willing to adapt to and endorse New Zealand’s values.
We are a nation of immigrants and openness to newcomers is part of our national DNA.
Today many of our businesses and public services, such as hospitals and universities, either couldn’t function or would be much poorer without the infusion of new people and new ideas.
ACT HAS
Advocated for robust immigration policy by arguing that immigrants should go where they want to go, not where a points system tells them to.
Supported the increase in the refugee quota
and welcomed individuals who share the same tolerance and fairness that makes New Zealand unique.
Stood up to racism and persecution of immigrants by political opportunists.
ACT WILL
Continue to be a pro-immigration party, honouring our heritage as a nation of immigrants,
while trimming back overly generous entitlements such as pensions after only ten years’ residency.
Maintain New Zealand’s values of free speech,
free assembly,
freedom of conscience,
freedom of religion,
property rights
and the rule of law
as non-negotiable conditions that all immigrants must accept.
We should require new citizens to explicitly sign up to these values, as required in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Pursue a free trade and free movement area between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom (CANZUK).
Charge international school fees to parents who cannot show they were a tax resident for one of the last three years.
Foreign Affairs
ACT BELIEVES
New Zealand is a trading nation.
Our wealth depends on buying things we can’t produce cheaply and selling things we can produce for high prices to large markets.
ACT has always been the strongest supporter of free trade in New Zealand Parliament.
ACT believes that protecting citizens from outside aggressors is the first and most important job of any government.
As a small country we should favour rule-based international relations instead of a ‘might is right’ approach.
New Zealand has often been at the forefront of advocating this approach.
However we cannot rely on faith alone.
We  need strong alliances with like-minded countries backed up by adequate investment in our own defence capabilities to ensure New Zealand’s security.
ACT HAS
Been a reliable supporter of free trade agreements, giving governments of all stripes the numbers to confidently negotiate them.
Opposed meddling in the Middle East through the United Nations, particularly the misguided Resolution 2334.
ACT WILL
Maintain and strengthen our traditional alliances, while leading the world with our relationships in Asia.
Alliances, such as the Five Eyes and the Commonwealth are more important than ever and ACT will continue to support these alliances.
Emphasise our role as a leading country in the South Pacific.
Aid should be focused and directed into the South Pacific.
Continue to support opening up trade through bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements, as these are the basis of New Zealand’s prosperity.
Pursue a free trade and free movement area between Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom (CANZUK).
Welfare and the Family
ACT BELIEVES
ACT believes the state should play a limited but necessary role in protecting our vulnerable.
It is unacceptable that over 300,000 working-age adults, or one in nine of all working-age adults, are on a benefit of some kind.
ACT recognises that while the intention of reducing hardship is noble, bad incentives have led to dependency and indignity for hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders.
To reduce welfare dependency, New Zealand must seek economic growth
and full employment.
ACT considers that an important part of the state’s role is to act as insurance for those who fall on hard times,
but recognises that it is only to provide to those who could not otherwise provide for themselves.
ACT HAS
Supported the current government’s initiative to provide welfare for those who need it,
while helping New Zealanders back into work.
Negotiated for extended parental leave for parents of pre-term babies for each week the baby was born prior to the 37 week gestation period.
ACT WILL
Advocate that all welfare recipients of working age who are able to work either work full time, engage in full-time training, or undertake part-time work.
Push for a life-time limit of five years for support under the Sole Parent Support programme, and a life-time limit of three years for support under the Jobseekers Benefit, with “income management” being applied to beneficiaries when those limits are reached.
Extend income management to any parent who has additional children while on a benefit.
Cut working for families and paid parental leave payments to upper income earners
to better fund more effective, targeted programs for those truly in need of help.
Make contraceptive more available to those who need it.
Continue to advocate for continued and more generous state support for those with physical or mental conditions who require support, including improved access to supported living arrangements for those with serious mental illness.
Rural New Zealand
ACT BELIEVES
ACT knows that rural and regional New Zealand are where our wealth is created.
We will make National take rural issues seriously and address the problems they’ve ignored for far too long.
ACT has supported the National-led government since 2008, because the opposition is too great a risk.
Labour, Green and New Zealand First policies will harm rural businesses.
ACT HAS
Opposed the most recent reform of the Resource Management Act, and put up our own changes that would have recognised private property rights
and removed iwi participation agreements.
Opposed the scapegoating of irrigation and dairying.
Pushed for less regulations and rules and committed to lowering the cost of complying with regulation.
Been the strongest supporter of trade in Parliament.
Proposed personal and company tax cuts without a reduction in spending on core services.
See our Rural Policy Explainer here
ACT WILL
Keep the government off your farms and out of your businesses.
Reform the Resource Management Act.
The RMA is one of the greatest obstacles to economic development in New Zealand.
Even small-scale consents cost too much in fees, and take too long in processing and consultation.
Continue to oppose the scapegoating of irrigation and dairying to score votes.
This tactic, employed by Greenpeace and the Green Party, ignores the economic and environmental benefits of irrigation.
Their solutions are simplistic and aimed more at punishing our primary industries than encouraging sustainable use of resources.
Reform water use rights, moving away from fixed limits and first-in-first-served arrangements, to a more economically efficient market-based system of pricing tradeable water use rights.
Get the government out of the way.
There are too many legislative barriers in front of businesses at every stage: production, processing, marketing and distribution.
ACT is committed to lowering the cost of complying with regulations.
Continue to oppose proposed changes to the firearm registration process as they are expensive and unenforceable.
ACT is also against giving Police new powers to enter the property of firearm license holders, and the plan to create blunt new categorisations of firearms.
Arts, Culture & Heritage
A vibrant cultural sector
National is committed to building a vibrant cultural sector that tells New Zealand’s stories and showcases our creativity to the world.
We also recognise the growing importance of the sector to the economy.
Arts and culture were together worth more than $3.8 billion in 2016, providing 41,000 jobs.
We value the role theatres, art galleries and museums play in our communities
and the importance of heritage buildings to the character and identity of our towns and cities.
We understand the importance of our history to our sense of nationhood and identity as New Zealanders, and we are ensuring we celebrate that history and share those stories.
And we’re backing our arts sector to continue producing world-class work through greater funding for the sector.
Policy highlights
Marking the 250th anniversary of Cook’s Endeavour voyage, through the First Encounters 250 commemoration in 2019
Expanding the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme to showcase more of our historically and culturally important places and events
More financial support for the arts sector
Our results
Supported regional museums and art galleries through the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund
Provided $12m support for earthquake-prone heritage buildings to help preserve our history
Funding increases for Radio NZ, the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Royal NZ Ballet and Te Matatini
Supported the thriving screen sector through our $300m grants package, with funding worth $190m provided in 2016
National is...
Supporting important cultural facilities with the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund
Energising New Zealand film through our $300m New Zealand Screen Production Grants
Investing in our wider arts sector through Creative NZ and Crown-funded arts agencies, at an average of $62m a year
Continuing to develop Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington as part of the ongoing 100th anniversary of the First World War
Piloting the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme in Northland to attract more visitors to heritage sites
Helping strengthen earthquake-prone heritage buildings through the Heritage EQUIP fund
Increasing funding to support Radio NZ
What we will do next...
Boost the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund with $30m new funding
and allow places of worship to access it
Expand the successful Landmarks Whenua Tohunga brand to more regions to better showcase our history and attract tourists to less visited destinations
Housing – Building and Construction
Our comprehensive plan
National has a comprehensive housing plan which will see 200,000 homes built over the next six years – that’s the equivalent of building four Dunedins.
We’re pulling every lever possible to get the job done.
We’re streamlining planning rules and the RMA, to make it easier for more houses to be built faster.
And we’ve created the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund to help councils build the roading and other infrastructure to support new developments.
This is all adding up, and we are now in the biggest residential building boom in New Zealand’s history, with prices in many parts of the country either flat or falling.
We’re helping first home buyers get through the door by increasing the support we provide them, with HomeStart Grants to provide up to $30,000 for a couple buying their first home.
And our Government Building Programme will deliver 34,000 new houses over the next ten years on government land.
Policy highlights
200,000 new houses to be built over the next six years – the biggest residential building boom in New Zealand’s history
$1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to get 60,000 houses built faster by helping councils build the roads and water infrastructure needed for new developments
Changing planning and RMA rules to make it easier to get more houses built faster
Committed to building over 34,000 social, affordable, and market houses on government land in the next 10 years in Auckland
More support for first home buyers, with HomeStart Grants providing up to $30,000 for a deposit on a house – helping 80,000 more first home buyers over the next four years
Providing Government-backed Welcome Home Loans, which mean many first home buyers need only a 10 per cent deposit
Allowing first home buyers to draw down on their Kiwisaver funds to help them with a deposit
National is...
Helping build more houses
Creating 213 Special Housing Areas nationwide to get more houses built faster, expected to result in more than 70,000 houses
Launching the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund – which provides funding for infrastructure for 60,000 houses to be built faster in Tauranga, Auckland, Waikato, Hamilton City, and Queenstown Lakes
Building 34,000 social, affordable, and market houses on government land in the next 10 years in Auckland
Helping councils access capital through Crown Infrastructure Partners to roll out much needed infrastructure
Refocusing the Resource Management Act to deliver simpler consenting, faster planning and better environmental management
Supporting the new Auckland Unitary Plan, which allows for 420,000 extra houses to be built
Passing the Point England Development Act – to prioritise housing supply in this part of Auckland over grazing for cows
Requiring councils to use timely and efficient consenting procedures – helping reduce the proportion of resource consents granted late from 80% to 2%
Building houses on Crown land
In Auckland earlier this year we announced the Crown Building Project, which will see 34,000 new warm, dry houses replacing 8,300 old, run down state houses
20,000 will be a mix of affordable and market housing, with between 20% and 50% priced under $650,000 and aimed at first home buyers
The remaining 13,500 of these houses will be new social housing, providing safe, secure, and healthy homes for some of our most vulnerable New Zealanders
With assistance from our Special Housing Areas, we have seen over 2000 homes completed through our Crown Land programme in Hobsonville,
with over 20% affordable
National is...
Supporting first home buyers
Every New Zealander should be able to buy their own house if they want to, so we have a number of measures to support first home buyers
Welcome Home Loans, which allow first home buyers to access Government-backed mortgages with a 10 per cent deposit
Kiwisaver FirstHome Withdrawals, which allow New Zealanders to access all of their Kiwisaver funds to put towards a deposit
HomeStart Grants, which provide upfront support to first home buyers who are in Kiwisaver to help them get a deposit
National will increase HomeStart Grants from 1 January 2018, meaning a couple will be eligible for up to $20,000 for an existing home or $30,000 for a new build.
For individuals, the new rates will be $10,000 and $15,000 respectively
31,000 first home buyers have accessed Homestart Grants since the scheme began two years ago – and we will help a further 80,000 people over the next four years
Over $1.5 billion has been withdrawn from Kiwisaver accounts to help individuals and families get into their first homes.
In the last two years, lending to first home buyers has increased 10 per cent, while lending to investors has dropped 45 per cent
What does our support mean for first home buyers?
Take a couple on the average wage in Auckland who have been in KiwiSaver for five years and are looking to buy their first home
Between the $20,000 HomeStart Grant and their KiwiSaver withdrawal, they will have around $60,000 for a deposit for an existing home
Add in a Government-backed Welcome Home Loan, which means they only need a 10 per cent deposit, and they have enough for a house worth up to $600,000
If that couple lived in Palmerstin North, they would have enough for a 20 per cent deposit on a $300,000 house, without the need for a Welcome Home Loan
National is...
Supporting renters
Insulating over 300,000 homes through the $500m Warm-Up New Zealand programme and our insulation of 30,000 social houses
Requiring warmer, dryer and safer rental homes through minimum insulation standards
Requiring all rental properties to have smoke detectors, and increased electrical safety requirements
Strengthening the law to ensure landlords who let unsuitable properties like garages or warehouses can be prosecuted
Introducing clear standards for meth testing and contamination, and making it easier for tenants to end a tenancy if a property has unsafe meth levels.
Protecting landlords where a tenant intentionally damages a property to ensure they aren’t left out of pocket
What we will do next...
Make it easier for low and middle income New Zealanders to buy their first home by increasing HomeStart Grants for a couple from $10,000 to $20,000 for an existing house, or from $20,000 to $30,000 for a new house
Build 34,000 houses through the Crown Building Programme
Support the faster delivery of 60,000 houses through our $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund
Reform urban planning laws, separate from the RMA, to encourage more responsive planning,
faster development,
and better protection for the environment in our growing cities
Improve the operation of body corporates to make apartment and townhouse investments more secure
Provide a new structure for redeveloping existing urban areas based on international experience
Update building standards systems to encourage competition and innovation
Provide web based access to standards to minimise cost and increase accessibility
Climate Change
Transitioning to a low carbon economy
National takes climate change seriously and we are committed to New Zealand doing its fair share.
We want to protect our country and its landscapes for our grandchildren and their children.
Under the Paris Agreement, we have signed up to a fair and ambitious target of reducing emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
Our challenge now is reaching that target
while still growing the economy
and creating jobs.
New Zealand’s emissions have fallen eight per cent per person since National took office, meaning we are growing more efficiently, but we need to do more.
With more than 85 per cent renewable electricity generation already, we are off to a good start.
We are now looking at how we can reduce emissions in other sectors such as agriculture.
We will not place unnecessary costs on business
and will ensure the actions we take will lead to better environmental outcomes.
There is no point in shutting down businesses here,
only for them to go offshore to less environmentally friendly places.
Policy highlights
Signed and ratified the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, ensuring we are doing our bit
Set an ambitious target to reduce our emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030
Reached more than 85 per cent renewable electricity, and targeting 90 per cent by 2025
$4m investment in transitioning to a low carbon economy
Spending a record $2b on public transport
to help people out of cars and into buses and trains
Target of 64,000 electric vehicles by 2021
An urban cycleway fund of $100m to promote cycling
Set up working groups to advise on how we adapt to climate change,
encourage more forestry
and make our agriculture more sustainable
Investigating the economic opportunities of different ways of reducing emissions
National is...
Focused on agriculture
Agriculture is New Zealand’s biggest challenge when it comes to climate change, but National backs our farmers
Our farmers are some of the most efficient and environmentally sustainable in the world - our country of 4.5 million feeds ten times that around the globe
We are spending more than $20m a year on world leading research into reducing agricultural emissions
We contributed $65m to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions and we are a leading member
We are supporting industry efforts to improve farming practices across the country
Investing in modern transport
We have invested a record $2b in public transport,
giving people a lower-carbon alternative to cars
Put incentives in place to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles, with a target of 64,000 by 2021
Electrified Auckland’s rail network
Paying 50 per cent of the cost of the City Rail Link to boost rail in Auckland
Invested $100m in urban cycle ways to promote cycling
Strengthening the ETS
We have a world leading Emissions Trading Scheme that is our key tool for reducing emissions and will help us reach our 2030 target
We undertook a comprehensive review of the scheme to ensure it is fit for purpose going to the 2020s
We are phasing out 2:1 so emitters pay the full cost of their emissions
We have signalled several changes to the scheme well in advance so businesses have certainty about the direction we are taking
National is...
Playing Our Part Internationally
Signed and ratified the Paris Agreement
More than $200m in climate-related support, mostly for the Pacific, because low lying Pacific countries are being affected by rising sea levels
Helped raise more than $1b from private donors for renewable energy projects in the Pacific to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel power generation
Supporting Fiji to host a Pacific-focussed international climate conference, helping ensure Pacific countries have a voice internationally
Used our seat on the UN Security Council to host an international debate on the challenges faced by small island developing states, with a focus on climate change
Focusing on the economic transition
We have tasked the Productivity Commission with looking at how we can minimise the costs and harness the opportunities of transitioning to a low carbon economy
We have invested $4m in an economic transition hub at the Ministry for the Environment
We have set up working groups to advise on adaptation,
forestry and agricultural emissions issues
Promoting forestry
Forests offset 29 per cent of emissions and have other environmental benefits
We have invested in the Afforestation Grants Scheme and the Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative to encourage more planting
Our changes to the ETS will help incentivise more forest planting through a higher carbon price
The Ministry of Primary Industries is looking at the potential of manuka trees to store carbon
What we will do next...
1 in 3 public sector vehicles to be electric
With more than 85 per cent renewable electricity generation and more than 90 per cent of transport emissions coming from road transport, EVs are a great way for us to reduce emissions
There are around 15,500 vehicles across the Government fleet, and we will introduce a target of a third of those being electric or electric hybrid by 2021
The Government will lead, using its buying power to get EVs here at scale
This builds on a range of incentives already in place to encourage the wider uptake of EVs
A plan to lower emissions
We will use the findings of the Productivity Commission report to initiate a plan of action to reduce emissions
while still growing the economy and jobs
We will continue to invest in our world leading scientists so they can find ways to reduce emissions from livestock
We will meet our target of 90 per cent renewable electricity by 2025
We will continue to invest in public transport
and maintain incentives for people to buy electric cars
We will implement changes to the ETS to make it fit for purpose for reducing emissions
Don’t put it all at risk
- Labour have said they would bring agriculture into the ETS “very fast” with no time for farmers to prepare or adjust.
This, combined with their water and capital gains taxes, would severely damage our agriculture industry and drive up prices
- The Greens would want us to do far more than our fair share.
They want to scrap the ETS and introduce a a carbon tax, which would impose costs on New Zealand businesses that their overseas competitors don’t face.
This could force them overseas and jobs would be lost here
Communications
Our plan
National believes in connecting New Zealanders to each other and to the world.
A more digitally connected New Zealand supports a growing economy and jobs, safer and healthier communities, our children and young people’s educations and our ability to get information more easily.
So we‘ve invested more than $2b to roll out world-class communications infrastructure, like Ultra-Fast (UFB) and Rural Broadband (RBI) to ensure faster, more widespread and more reliable coverage.
By the end of 2022, our UFB programme will extend to more than 390 towns, providing more than four million New Zealanders with access to faster, more reliable internet – among the most comprehensive coverage in the world.
National will not let distance stop New Zealanders from succeeding.
In an increasingly internationally-connected and high-tech world our commitment to world class communications infrastructure will lift our productivity and ensure New Zealanders can continue to get ahead.
Policy highlights
UFB
Nearly 1.2 million households and businesses in 34 towns have access to UFB
Extending UFB to another 60,000 households and businesses in 190 new towns
Completing the network by the end of 2022, meaning 87 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to UFB
Once the UFB programme is complete, New Zealand is on track to be one of the top five in the OECD
RBI
Over 300,000 rural households and businesses can access new or improved broadband services through RBI
Extending rural coverage to another 74,000 rural households and businesses
Delivering mobile coverage on 1000 kilometres of rural highways and more than 100 tourist areas
Supporting our growing IT sector and the uptake and smart use of ICT across the economy
National is...
Delivering world-class infrastructure
Rolling out faster, more reliable internet is a vital part of our plan to
develop a productive and competitive economy,
improve health and educational outcomes
and create more jobs for Kiwis and their families
UFB is one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever undertaken in New Zealand
We’ve invested over $2b through UFB and RBI, which are expected to directly generate $5.5b in economic benefits
The way that New Zealanders use this improved connectivity is projected to generate a further $33b in economic growth over 20 years
We’ve also helped speed up the rollout of faster broadband to all New Zealanders, through new legislation and environmental standards which will ensure faster rollout while ensuring the right checks are in place
Getting Kiwis connected
UFB, Phase One
The first phase of the UFB rollout is now 80 per cent complete, bringing fibre to more than 34 towns
Over 1.2m households and the vast majority of our businesses, schools and health centres can now access UFB
UFB, Phase Two
National is investing a further $300m to extend UFB to an additional 151 towns across New Zealand
UFB will also be extended to an additional 43 fringe areas on the outskirts of centres already covered by fibre
UFB2 will provide 423,000 more New Zealanders with access to better broadband and the benefits it brings
87 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2022
National is...
Getting rural New Zealand connected
Rural connectivity is a core part of National’s plan to support our regional economies
Access to fast and reliable broadband will help grow regional economies and connect rural communities with the rest of New Zealand and the world
National committed over $400m to RBI to deliver faster broadband to priority users and rural communities not already covered
Through RBI, national mobile coverage has increased from 38 per cent geographic coverage, to over 50 per cent
RBI, Phase One
The first phase of RBI is complete, with over 300,000 rural households and businesses now able to access new or improved broadband services
1,034 rural schools and 39 hospitals and health centres are now able to access speeds of at least 100Mbps
We partnered with Chorus and Vodafone to deliver 154 new cell towers, and the upgrade of 1,242 rural cabinets and exchanges
RBI, Phase Two and the Mobile Black Spot Fund
National has committed an additional $290m to extend improved rural broadband into even more rural and remote areas, and to fix mobile black spots along main highways and at major tourist sites
This will benefit some of the most prominent tourism locations in the country, such as Milford Sound and Cape Reinga, as well as remote State Highways on the West Coast and in North Taranaki
National is...
Building a Digital Nation
Improving connectivity right across New Zealand is just one part of the picture – it’s what we’re doing with our connectivity that matters
National is focused on supporting the development of New Zealand’s fast growing digital economy and to working with businesses to become a leading digital nation
Under National, the digital technology sector is growing fast, with ICT service and software exports doubling between 2008 and 2014
We’ve established a Digital Economy Work Programme to focus efforts on the right initiatives, in the right areas, to support the growth of New Zealand’s Digital Sector
and the uptake and smart use of ICT across the economy
Taking action on Cyber-Security
National is committed to ensuring New Zealand’s online environment is secure, resilient and prosperous
We’ve invested $22m in establishing CERT NZ – a new cyber security unit that supports businesses, organisations and individuals respond to online threats
We’ve launched New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy, which will help the public and private sectors improve New Zealand’s cyber security
We’ve established a Cyber Security Skills Taskforce to focus on closing the cyber skills gap
We’ve invested more in our intelligence agencies to better protect New Zealand against cyber threats
Growing our Digital Economy
National developed the Digital Economy Work Programme to support the growth of New Zealand’s Digital Sector
and the uptake of ICT across the economy
The Programme covers eight areas that are critical to ensuring that New Zealand is able to take advantage of the opportunities driven by technological change:
Supporting the growth of a competitive, export-focussed digital sector
Supporting New Zealand businesses to use ICT to raise their productivity and drive innovation
Ensuring New Zealanders can fully participate in a digital world
Driving the public sector to use ICT more efficiently, transforming the way services are delivered
Ensuring New Zealand has the digital skills it needs to grow
Enhancing domestic and international connectivity
Achieving a balance and gaining competitive advantage through our innovation, security and privacy settings
Ensuring regulation supports the development of technological change
What we will do next...
Deliver a $270m communications package
National will invest an additional $270m to fast-track the UFB rollout and extend it into more rural areas
This will help bring forward the completion of the UFB rollout to the end of 2022 – two years earlier
National will invest more in regional economic development priority areas to ensure businesses operating in rural New Zealand can benefit from the productivity improvements that better connectivity offers
National’s comprehensive package will complete our ambitious communications programme
Fibre broadband was not available to most New Zealanders when we took office in 2008 – by the completion of our programme in 2022, New Zealand will be ranked in the top five in the OECD for access to fibre
Fast-track and extend UFB
National will invest an additional $130m to deliver UFB to 190 more towns – 60,000 households and businesses – by the end of 2022
National will bring the overall UFB rollout forward by two years, completing the entire network by the end of 2022, delivering fibre to more than 390 towns
Once complete, more than four million New Zealanders will have access to faster, more reliable internet
Provide a $140m boost to rural broadband
National is committed to ensuring that rural New Zealand is not left behind as broadband and mobile connectivity is increasingly relied on in health, education and online business services
We will invest an additional $140m to roll out highspeed broadband to a further 74,000 rural homes and businesses
Through the MBSF we will also provide mobile coverage on around 1,000 kilometres of black spots on State Highways and more than 100 remote tourist areas
Better connectivity in these remote areas will mean people can call for help if they need it, potentially saving lives, and also enhance visitor experiences
National’s ambitious programme will take New Zealand from 50 per cent to around 70 per cent geographic coverage
Community and Voluntary Sector
Our priorities
Volunteers make a huge contribution to New Zealand, from training our young sportspeople through to looking after our elderly and protecting our environment.
They improve lives and communities, and contribute around $9.4b to our economy every year.
National is committed to the community and voluntary sector and will continue to work with it to ensure New Zealanders benefit from the generosity, expertise and goodwill of our volunteers.
We have increased trust in the sector, through new, more transparent reporting standards
and we are promoting it through removing barriers to volunteering and giving.
We will streamline the funding application process to reduce time and cost and ensure that the Government procurement practices for social services are consistent, and as easy as possible to navigate.
National is also committed to innovation and will continue to provide better access to seed funding for social enterprise.
Policy highlights
Encouraging volunteering and giving,
growing social enterprise,
and improving trust and confidence in the sector
Reviewing the Government Policy on Volunteering to ensure it remains relevant and affirms National’s commitment to the sector
Continuing to support social enterprise through contestable capability-building seed funding
Streamlining funding and procurement processes
Ensuring accountability and transparency while allowing charities and not-for-profits to get on with their important contribution to New Zealand
Our results
Each year 1.2m volunteers donate 157 million hours of their time
An additional $11.5m invested this year in the sector
and in growing social enterprises which benefit communities
New reporting requirements for charities to improve public trust and confidence
National is...
Encouraging community leadership: Budget 2017 provided an extra $4m over four years to support community-led development projects
Valuing volunteering: Budget 2017 provided a $2m boost over four years to the volunteering sector
Supporting volunteers: by working with the sector to understand what is needed to better support volunteering
Growing social enterprise: by removing regulatory barriers that adversely impact on social enterprises.
We’ve also added $5.5m to the sector over the next four years to support social enterprise
Improving trust and confidence in the charitable sector: new financial reporting standards for registered charities provide greater transparency
What we will do next...
A strong community and voluntary sector contributes to a strong economy and improved social outcomes so we will continue to invest in it
We will continue to support and encourage volunteers and volunteering and to grow the sector
We will work with the sector to formalise the rights and obligations of volunteers and volunteer organisations, supporting stronger relationships
We will establish a contestable seed fund for promising social enterprises to allow them to build capacity to ensure success
We will streamline funding processes to reduce the administrative burden on community organisations and ensure Government social procurement practices are standardised and easy to navigate.
We will continue improving trust and confidence in the charitable sector
We will more than double the amount of funding available through the Department of Conservation Community Fund, from $4.6m to $10m a year,
teaming DOC expertise with community enthusiasm to achieve goals neither could manage alone
Conservation
Supporting our environment
New Zealand has an incredible natural environment and National is committed to protecting it for future generations.
National’s smart, modern, BlueGreen approach to conservation
is about getting the entire country involved, combining the energy of thousands of committed volunteers and the backing of business with the expertise and resources of the Government.
We’ve launched Predator Free New Zealand 2050, backing New Zealanders to achieve something once thought impossible - eradicating introduced rats, stoats and possums threatening our native wildlife with extinction.
We are committed to restoring our native wildlife populations, bringing back more kiwi, kea and kaka to our forests.
And with tourism booming, supporting jobs and businesses in our regions, we’re investing in tourism facilities to help ensure our environment can cater to increasing numbers of visitors.
Policy highlights
Predator Free 2050 – a plan to eradicate rats, stoats and possums and protect native species
11 new marine reserves since 2009
Higher fees for tourists using our Great Walks to support conservation
New Zealand’s first Threatened Species Strategy
$76m investment in DOC’s visitor facilities and infrastructure to support tourism
A plan for 100,000 wild kiwi by 2030
Battle for our Birds – largest predator control operation in history
60 new huts and 1000km of track built since 2009
$21m kauri dieback response programme
Wilding conifer control of more than 1 million hectares a year
$26m support for community conservation work
More than $100m in funding from partnerships with business, philanthropists and the community
National is...
Backing predator free
Implementing Predator Free 2050 with major large-scale pest control and science investment, backed up by community support
Wellington, Dunedin and Picton have become the first communities to commit to Predator Free status
A network of DOC rangers is helping to coordinate efforts on the ground
Predator Free 2050 Ltd has begun investing in the breakthrough science we need to make it happen
Supporting tourism
Budget 2017 committed $76m in new funding for DOC to support tourism
and create jobs for New Zealanders
We’re building three new Great Walks and expanding the range of opportunities for everyone to enjoy New Zealand’s conservation land
We’re introducing higher fees for overseas visitors using DOC facilities to ensure their upkeep is paid for fairly,
and all New Zealanders can enjoy them
Increased revenue for DOC will maintain world-class visitor experiences,
and allow it get on with the work of protecting our natural environment and enabling New Zealanders to enjoy it
Our results...
Overseen the three largest predator control operations in New Zealand history – Battle for our Birds 2014, 2016 and 2017 – to protect native species
Developed a Threatened Species Strategy to set out a course to a safe, secure future for our native species, focused on increasing populations
Empowered DOC to access commercial and community partnerships worth $100m over the last six years
Funded an $11.2m kiwi recovery programme to save our national bird from extinction in the wild
Tackled kauri dieback with a $21.6m programme of track and facility upgrades to prevent the spread of the disease
Invested in conservation research and technology through the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge and the Conservation and Environment Science Roadmap
Launched a War on Weeds and the wilding conifers smothering our native landscapes
Created 11 new marine reserves since 2009
Introduced robust laws for ensuring economic activities in the EEZ meet world’s best practice
Built 60 new huts and 1000km of track – including the Paparoa Great Walk
Launched the Landmarks pilot project to promote natural and cultural heritage sites in Northland
Good to Grow partnership with Corrections enables prisoners to contribute to conservation
and learn new skills
What we will do next...
Build on the early success of Predator Free 2050 by investing $69.2m over the next four years to boost community groups and expand DOC’s operations
Double the size of the DOC Community Fund to support community conservation initiatives
Implement the Threatened Species Strategy to expand native wildlife protection
Build two new Great Walks and complete the under construction Paparoa Great Walk
Launch a network of Great Day Walks and Great Short Walks
Increase charges for foreign visitors using our Great Walks to ensure they continue to be a world-class experience
and provide additional resources for DOC
Don’t put it all at risk
The Opposition would...
Labour and the Greens will take DOC back to the Stone Age
by turning away partnerships with the community
and private sector
The Greens will force DOC to focus on writing endless plans and policies rather than getting on with the job
Anti-science NZ First will stop DOC from using the proven, effective tools
it needs to protect native species, putting their very survival in doubt
Corrections
Breaking the cycle of reoffending
National is committed to a prison system which keeps dangerous offenders locked away and communities safe.
We have invested significantly to boost prison capacity to meet a rising prison population.
We are also committed to putting offenders on a better path in life and ensuring they don’t reoffend.
The Government is making a record investment in rehabilitation and reintegration – with a focus on education and employment.
Getting prisoners off drugs and alcohol,
giving them an education
and providing them with practical skills so they can find a job
will reduce their chances of reoffending.
This means safer communities, less crime and fewer repeat offenders clogging up our courts and prisons.
Policy highlights
$190m more in rehabilitation and reintegration this year – a 60 per cent increase since 2008
With working prisons the number of offenders in rehabilitation programmes has risen from 9,300 in 2008 to over 33,500
Those who complete rehabilitation programmes and can prove they no longer pose a danger to society will be able to leave prison slightly earlier
26 per cent fewer reoffenders since 2011, meaning 38,000 fewer victims of crime
Passed legislation to detain high-risk sexual or violent offenders until they no longer pose a threat to public safety
Opened a new facility to hold our highest-risk offenders once their sentence has ended
New powers to require offenders to undergo drug and alcohol testing, with positive results at an all-time low
Introduced alcohol anklets to monitor our highest-risk offenders
Cameras, pepper spray and body armour for Corrections staff to keep them safe
National is...
Investing in rehabilitation and reintegration
$64m for more rehabilitation, reintegration and staff in Budget 2017
$25m to support offenders when they leave prison and return to the community to increase their chances of reintegrating successfully in Budget 2016
$8.6m to provide ongoing support for 8,000 offenders who have completed drug and alcohol treatment programmes to ensure they stick to it in Budget 2016
We have also invested $19.8m in a kaupapa-Maori reintegration unit to help prisoners secure employment and accommodation in Budget 2010
$14m to help offenders and their families cope with mental health challenges from the Justice Sector Fund
Supporting our staff
We’ve provided better access to pepper spray for staff to ensure a safe prison environment
They also have access to body armour and on-body cameras
$51.6m for Community Corrections to properly and safely manage the growing number and complexity of community-based offenders
Investing in technology
Greater use of GPS monitoring of offenders including investing $8.8m for 24-hour monitoring of our highest risk offenders
Provided audio-visual links between courts and prisons to free up more time for other court business,
improve public safety
and reduce the opportunities for prisoners to escape or introduce contraband
Rolled out 1000 on-body cameras for prison staff to help reduce violence in prisons
Introduced alcohol anklets to monitor our highest-risk offenders
Piloting alcohol interlock devices in offenders’ cars to help reduce recidivist drink driving
Our results...
Modern prisons
We have a comprehensive programme to ensure our prison system is fit-for-purpose
Completed a new 960-bed prison in South Auckland which has a rehabilitation and reintegration focus to help prisoners onto a better path after release
Opened a new facility to hold our highest-risk offenders once their sentence has ended
We’ve made greater use of double-bunking at Mt Eden, Christchurch Men’s, Arohata, Hawke’s Bay, Whanganui, New Plymouth and Northland prisons
Record numbers in rehabilitation
We’ve increased investment in rehabilitation programmes by 60 per cent since 2008 because this helps reduce reoffending and the amount of crime
More than 3,500 prisoners in education and over 4,600 achieved qualifications
Almost 9,000 prisoners in employment activities, equipping offenders with practical skills for life after prison
Drug and alcohol treatment delivered to almost 22,000 offenders in the community and over 6,400 prisoners
– 50 per cent of crime is committed by those under the influence of alcohol or drugs,
so treatment is critical to tackling offending
What we will do next...
Reduce offending through rehabilitation
Rewarding self-improvement
Rehabilitation programmes can have a big impact on a prisoner’s chance of reoffending - programmes for violent offenders and those with drug and alcohol issues can reduce a person’s chance of reoffending by up to 16 per cent
We will allow suitable, low-risk offenders to leave prison slightly earlier if they successfully complete rehabilitation programmes
We will also invest $48m in more treatment and training programmes for prisoners
Parents and children
Having a parent in prison leads to poorer outcomes for children.
They are more likely to offend, achieve no school qualifications, go on to a benefit or receive a prison sentence themselves
We will expand a programme which allows parents who are in prison to have healthy contact with their young children,
as long as it is in the best interests of the child
and supports the reintegration of the parent
Upgrading our prisons
Complete a new 1500-bed facility at Waikeria
Build a new wing at Mount Eden prison
Rebuild Auckland Prison’s maximum security wing to provide a secure, modern facility
to improve staff safety
and mental health services
Improving outcomes for first-time remandees
We don’t want people who are on remand for the first time to return to prison - first-time remandees are often lower risk and have drug and alcohol or mental health issues
We will expand alcohol, drug, literacy and numeracy programmes for this group to improve their outcomes and reduce their chances of returning to prison
Extended Supervision Orders
ESOs are used to monitor and manage high-risk violent or sexual offenders who are back in the community
We will work to ensure there are tougher sanctions for the small number of offenders who repeatedly breach their ESO conditions
Upgrade New Zealand’s oldest prisons – Invercargill, Whanganui, Tongariro and Rolleston
Completing small-scale builds at Hawke’s Bay, Arohata, Christchurch Men’s, Rolleston and Tongariro prisons
Defence and National Security
Protecting our interests
National is proud to be globally-minded and outward looking.
That’s why we’re continuing to invest in our world-class Defence Force and security services.
We live in an insecure world, and National believes New Zealand should play our part in keeping it safe.
We have a direct interest in ensuring our partners enjoy the same peace and prosperity we do, both for global stability and the safety of New Zealanders at home and abroad.
And in an age where our lives are so intertwined with digital tools, it’s vital we are protecting our cyber-security.
Our Defence Force also helps at home – they’re vital in responding to natural disasters, and helping secure our borders.
New Zealand has the world’s fourth largest exclusive economic zone, covering almost 10 per cent of the planet’s surface.
As a nation of traders, it’s critical we police our borders.
Policy highlights
Delivered a comprehensive defence investment plan covering $20b in upgrades out to 2030
Boosted defence spending in Budget 2017 by $982m over four years
Trained over 26,000 Iraqi soldiers in the fight against ISIS,
supporting 1.7m Iraqis to return home and over 200,000 Iraqi children back into school
Committed $1.7b to rejuvenate Defence buildings, infrastructure and facilities – and recommitted to no camp or base closures
Assisted thousands of New Zealanders affected by the Kaikoura earthquakes, Edgecumbe floods
and our Pacific neighbours in the aftermath of devastating storms
Significantly increased funding for our intelligence agencies to ensure New Zealand is protected in a rapidly changing security environment
National is...
Contributing to global security
Our partners are quick to praise our service personnel for being among the world’s best.
New Zealand troops are respected because they are professional and get the job done without fuss and to an exceptional standard.
Our partners know they can rely on us.
We’re backing friends and allies with deployments such as the Building Partner Capacity Mission in Iraq
and search and rescue missions in Australia.
We’ve seen the value of this relationship here at home, with the significant foreign naval support we received following the Kaikoura earthquake.
Doing our bit
Deploying over 500 Defence Force personnel to pursue our interests across the globe – from the Middle East to Antarctica
Training Iraqi soldiers in the fight against ISIS
Deploying engineers to the Sinai to build key infrastructure projects for the Multinational Force & Observers peacekeeping contingent
Supporting our United States allies by deploying the HMNZS Te Kaha to support the Seventh Fleet
Delivering at home
Responding to the Kaikoura and Canterbury earthquakes, evacuating people by air and sea and bringing in vital supplies like food and fuel
Deploying to Edgecumbe to assist the flood-ravaged town with evacuation, manning cordons, filling sandbags and welfare checks
Assisting with search and rescue and dive efforts,
as well as providing counter-explosive hazard support
Supporting our Pacific neighbours with training
and responding to natural disasters like Cyclone Winston
National is...
Modernising our Defence Force
National is rebuilding our Defence Force to be the high- performing, focussed, and well-equipped military New Zealand needs to respond to modern challenges.
Our strong economic management means we have been able to afford to invest in new and upgraded capabilities for the three services (Air Force, Army, and Navy).
We’ve bought new vehicles, new ships, new helicopters and new weapons and started an ambitious plan to upgrade our bases.
Giving our soldiers what they need
Committed to a comprehensive defence investment plan covering $20b in upgrades out to 2030
There will be no camp or base closures – we’ve committed $1.7 billion to rejuvenate Defence buildings, infrastructure, and facilities
Upgraded the mission systems aboard the P-3 Orion, and completed a life extension programme for the C-130 Hercules
Completed the entry into service of the eight NH90 helicopters, replacing the old Iroquois fleet
Invested in new weapons so our NZDF personnel have the right tools to carry out their work
Backing our people
Our Defence Force is only as strong as its people.
That’s why we’ve placed such a high priority on making sure our service personnel and civilians have outstanding working conditions.
This means better pay, better health and safety conditions, tackling concerns around housing costs, and ensuring families feel involved – especially for those on deployments abroad.
We’re also working hard to make sure the NZDF represents and welcomes all New Zealanders.
We’re investing in programmes to get more women into the services.
National is...
Reforming our security and intelligence services
Boosting the effectiveness of our intelligence agencies with $299m of extra funding.
Upgrading the Government’s cryptographic infrastructure
Introducing tougher oversight, increased transparency and greater accountability for our security agencies
Passing the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 - the most significant reform of the legislation governing the intelligence agencies and their oversight in New Zealand’s history
What we will do next...
Countering violent extremism
Work closely with our Five Eyes partners and other partners in the Asia-Pacific to keep our neighbourhood safe
Enhance cooperation with close neighbours like Indonesia by signing new bilateral military agreements so we can share skills, experience and intelligence
Support nations on the frontline to combat extremism and terror, for example through our training of Iraqi soldiers to help them combat ISIS
Ensure we have a clear focus and work together on countering violent extremism, reducing the risk of terror attacks here at home
Invest in the Defence Force
Replace the ANZAC frigates with modern combat vessels
Replace our aging P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft, which have served us well for over 50 years
Continue rolling purchases of modern weapons and protective equipment
Upgrade our bases and camps
Invest in a simulator for our NH90 helicopters, so they spend more time on missions
Focus on cyber-security
Protect New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses from cyber-attacks through the work of the CERT NZ, a new cyber security unit that will help respond to online threats, the GCSB’s CORTEX programme and the National Cyber Security Centre
Develop New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy to ensure New Zealand’s online environment is secure, resilient and prosperous
Continue to develop Defence Force cyber capacity
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Labour and the Greens will not commit to following through on the 2016 White Paper’s clear plan to upgrade our Defence Force
The Green Party has a long-standing policy of slashing NZDF’s combat capabilities and prioritising ‘non-violent means of resolving conflict’.
This shows how out of touch they are with some of the dangerous threats we face
NZ First does not understand how infrastructure planning works, remaining critical of our plan of sensible, fully-costed future investments and instead promising expensive programmes like fully restructuring the Navy.
Disability Issues
More choice, more control
Around one in four New Zealanders are thought to have some form of disability and National is committed to supporting them.
We believe in giving every person with disabilities greater opportunities
and more choice and control over their own lives.
Around $4.5b is invested each year in helping achieve this.
We are always striving to do better so we are overhauling the way we provide support.
We are putting in place the Enabling Good Lives programme which gives those living with disabilities more control over their lives and the way they interact with the Government.
It also provides better support.
National will continue to focus on breaking down barriers to employment by helping employers become disability confident and helping people with disabilities to find work.
Together we are building a country where everyone has an equal opportunity to choose their paths, chase their goals and achieve their potential, and to live fulfilling lives.
Policy highlights
Budget 2017 invested an extra $205.4m in improving disability support services, taking our total investment to $4.5b a year
$27.1m will be invested in expanding the Enabling Good Lives programme which gives disabled people more choice and control over their lives
Overhauling the New Zealand Disability Strategy to improve the way we support those living with disabilities
Supporting disabled people and those with health conditions into employment
Expanding cheap GP visits to 600,000 more New Zealanders– taking the total number of people receiving free or cheap GP visits to around 1.4 million
Expanding access to the Community Services Card to provide more New Zealanders with cheaper health services
Record investment in health to ensure world class services to those who need it
Creating more job opportunities for New Zealanders with disabilities
National is...
Enabling good lives
Through Enabling Good Lives, we’re helping disabled people and their whanau to increase the choice and control they have in their lives
We are working with the disability sector to transform the current system and give disabled people more flexibility over the funding they receive
This means they will have choice over the services they receive,
which will allow for tailored and more effective support
We’re also supporting people with disabilities into work through EmployAbility, the LEAD toolkit and the Disability Confident Campaign which work with employers and people with disabilities to improve employment opportunities
What we will do next...
Continue to overhaul the way we support disabled New Zealanders, ensuring they have greater flexibility and choice and lead better, more independent lives
Complete the Disability Action Plan and set challenging targets to ensure we get results and complement the work driven by the New Zealand Disability Strategy
Expand the Disability Confident Campaign to include more employers and to create more job opportunities for disabled people
Expand cheap GP visits to 600,000 more New Zealanders
Expand access to the Community Services Card to an additional 350,000 people with low incomes and high housing costs
Economic Development
Growing our economy
National’s vision for the economy is ambitious and it is delivering real results.
We know our future lies in being open and outward looking.
We need international markets and partnerships to grow and ensure more jobs and better opportunities and public services for New Zealanders.
Our focus is on building ties that will grow our economy.
We will continue to encourage businesses to grow and to support ongoing diversification of the economy.
We will continue to support our exporters and we will aggressively promote New Zealand to the world.
Regional New Zealand will continue to be critical contributors to our plan and national economy.
We will continue to ensure that our regions are as productive and innovative as they can be to improve regional living standards, but also lift our national exports and increase wealth throughout New Zealand.
Policy highlights
We have one of the fastest growing economies in the developed world
12 of New Zealand’s 15 regions have grown in the last year
National is working closely with the regions on economic action plans to create jobs and opportunities
Building a digital nation to ensure we are more connected
Our Business Growth Agenda has hundreds of specific actions to help businesses grow
Delivering a more diverse and resilient economy with strong export-led growth
Making it easier for businesses to interact with the Government
New Zealand is now one of 11 countries to launch into space from their own territory
The Māori economy is growing strongly
Getting Kaikoura businesses back on their feet after this year’s quake
Attracting major events to New Zealand
National is...
Delivering the business growth agenda
National’s Business Growth Agenda (BGA) sits at the core of our economic development programme
The BGA creates an environment where businesses can continue to grow and thrive
To date there have been 585 actions across the six BGA workstreams that businesses tell us they need for growth: investment, export markets, innovation, skilled and safe workplaces, natural resources and infrastructure
The BGA is delivering results - New Zealand’s economy is growing at around 3 per cent a year which puts us in the top 10 in the developed world
Growing our regions
Under National the regions continue to grow strongly
12 of our 15 regions have grown in the last year by around 4.1 per cent on average
We are working closely with 10 regions on economic action plans
which aim to increase jobs, incomes and investment in regional New Zealand
They are: Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne /Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Canterbury, West Coast and Southland
Investing in key regional infrastructure to link with the rest of New Zealand and global markets
National is...
Diversifying the economy
Under National the economy has diversified in the range of goods and services it produces and the markets it sells those goods and services to
Economic diversification is delivering a more resilient economy which has the ability to respond to changes in the international environment
It meant for example that when international dairy prices declined we continued to grow strongly
National is committed to the ongoing diversification of the economy and supporting the growth of all sectors and industries
Supporting businesses to grow
Making it easier and faster for businesses to deal with the Government, ensuring they spend more time focused on doing business
Investing in the New Zealand Business Number so businesses only need to give information to government once, transforming how they share information and interact with government
Enhancing the Business.govt.nz website to bring together all business support information into one place
Supporting businesses with expert advice through Business Mentors NZ
Offering services through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise to businesses looking to grow and export
Supporting business research and development through Callaghan Innovation
Investing in skills for a growing workforce
Having the right immigration settings to give growing businesses the workforce they need to grow and expand
National is...
Supporting our exporters
Under National exports continue to rise
Between 2008 and 2015 the value of New Zealand merchandise exports grew eight times faster than the global average
Wine exports continue to grow very strongly and are on track to hit $2b by 2020
Our ICT industry is growing at a great rate.
The top 200 technology companies exported $6.8b last year, up 13 per cent year on year
Export of services continues to grow
In just the past three years, export values of kiwifruit are up 40 per cent and growing
New Zealand’s film industry now employs 14,000 people, earns $3.3b and has a reputation for being one of the best in the world
Promoting New Zealand on the world stage
National has made sure that New Zealand has competitive policy settings to ensure we are competitive on the world stage and encourage new investment and growth
We continue to improve New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to invest and do business
National is investing $53m for New Zealand to take part in World Expo 2020 in Dubai to open us up to new export markets
National is...
Developing New Zealand’s space industry
National has implemented a future-focused regulatory regime that realises the economic potential of space and protects our national interests
New Zealand is now one of 11 countries currently able to launch satellites into space from their own territory
New Zealand is the first country in the world to launch from a fully private orbital launch range
Growing the Māori economy
National has set ambitious targets for Māori economic growth. We will:
Increase Māori median income by 20 per cent
Reduce Māori unemployment from 11.9 per cent (Dec 2016) to 7.5 per cent
Increase the number of SMEs by 30 per cent
Increase Māori exports by 9 per cent per annum
Improve NCEA level 2 and NZQA Level 4 attainment by Māori
Under National the Māori economy is on the rise and is expected to continue to grow strongly
We are working with Māori to promote enterprises and offer investors an opportunity to be involved in a new wave of development and expansion of the Māori economy
A new guide has been launched for potential investors highlighting opportunities in the Māori economy
National is...
Getting Kaikoura businesses back on their feet
National has committed significant resources to getting businesses in the most affected communities back on their feet following the 2016 earthquakes
National has provided $17m in earthquake support subsidies
We’ve launched the $1m Business Recovery Grants programme to eligible business in Kaikoura, Hurunui and Marlborough until State Highway 1 re-opens
What we will do next...
Expand the regional growth programme
National will expand the Regional Growth Programme
We will add Wellington, Tasman /Nelson, Marlborough and Otago to the programme
We will invest up to $6m to make the Whanganui Regional Velodrome redevelopment project a reality
What we will do next...
Disruptive technologies
Disruptive technologies are developing at a rapid rate
National believes the Government has a central role in preparing for, and responding to, disruptive technologies
We will set up a Technology Advisory Group to advise Government on emerging issues and opportunities presented by disruptive technologies
36th America’s Cup
National will work with Auckland Council to deliver a successful America’s Cup event in 2021
We will ensure the event has the infrastructure it needs to be a success
We will leverage the event to deliver business opportunities to promote New Zealand and our technology and innovation on the world stage
1 in 3 public sector vehicles to be electric
There are around 15,500 vehicles across the Government fleet, and we will want a third of those to be electric or electric hybrid by 2021
The Government will lead by example by using its buying power to get EVs here at scale
Build a digital nation
National will put a real emphasis on accelerating the transition to the digital economy by:
Engaging with Small to Medium Sized Enterprises about the opportunities of digital technologies
Completing the roll-out of Ultra-Fast Broadband by 2022 so that our businesses and people can connect with each other and the world online
Implementing a Government ICT Strategy and Action Plan to accelerate the transition to digital government
Support businesses
Extend the New Zealand Business Number to unlock its potential to save businesses time and money
Supporting E-Invoicing to make payments easier
Unlock international markets and grow consumers of New Zealand products through Trade Agenda 2030
Complete the roll-out of Ultra-Fast Broadband to connect business to government, each other, their customers and the world
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition have committed to:
Slow economic growth through new taxes including a potential land tax, capital gains tax and water tax – that we know of so far
Borrow more, causing interest rates to rise and imposing higher costs on businesses and homeowners
Refuse to back the TPP11 meaning New Zealand businesses would miss out on significant benefits like access to Japan – the third-largest economy in the world
Going back to industry- regulated pay rates, reducing flexibility for employers and their confidence to hire new staff
Slash migration by up to 30,000 people a year, making it harder for businesses to find staff
Education
Every child succeeding
We want to ensure that our education system gives all young New Zealanders the skills they need for the future.
We are one of the fastest growing economies in the developed world
and we need to make sure that every child is able to share in the benefits of our growing and diverse nation.
We are focused on making sure all young Kiwis can read, write, do maths and be digitally fluent.
We also understand the importance of young people being healthy and well-rounded.
Over the next five years our plan willcontinue to improve and better track how our learners are progressing, and upskill young New Zealanders for the digital world.
We will improve access to languages,
boost health and learning support services,
and continue to invest in modern learning environments by upgrading school buildings.
Policy highlights
Record investment in schools and early childhood education
Scrapping the decile system and replacing it with a system that better targets students at risk of not achieving
Providing real-time online reporting of National Standards achievement and progression for all parents by 2021
Updating the curriculum and providing a $40 million package to secure a digitally fluent nation
Ensuring every primary school student has the opportunity to learn a second language
Continuing to modernise and upgrade school buildings
Providing better support for children with additional health or learning needs through increased funding for mental health services, teacher aide hours, and faster and more flexible assessments
Investing in reading, writing and maths to meet employer demand
National is...
Providing record investment in schools
Funding for school operational grants have gone up over 37 per cent since 2008
Replacing the decile system to remove unfair labels and ensure schools have the resources they need
Completing the funding review, examining better ways to guarantee every New Zealand child is set up for success
Lifting the quality of ECE
Since 2008 we have more than doubled the investment in early childhood education to $1.8 billion
Under this Government, nearly 98 per cent of children starting school have participated in ECE
We’re increasing the quality of ECE by introducing a new curriculum and increasing funding for early intervention services
Building modern classrooms to improve learning
$577 million has been invested in redeveloping 33 schools to address complex property issues, including 17 in Auckland
Nearly $850 million has been allocated to build or expand 49 schools since 2009
Since 2014, nearly $300 million has been invested in adding over 450 classrooms across New Zealand, with 324 in Auckland
$4.8b budgeted for school property over the next four years
National is...
Increasing the supply & quality of teaching
Delivering a long-term workforce strategy to bring more teachers into the profession
Addressing teacher supply through, the Voluntary Bonding scheme, scholarships, investment in mentoring programmes, relocation grants from overseas, and extending the Auckland beginning teacher project
Freeing up teachers’ time by reducing administration in areas such as assessment
Investing $359 million over four years for additional career pathways
Supporting the Education Council to improve initial teacher training
Learning Support
Support for young people with special education needs has increased by over a third since National came to government
We have provided in-class support for an additional 4000 students with high needs
We have invested in more funding for behaviour and early intervention services
We continue to make it easier for schools and parents to access support by introducing a single point of contact across 30 Communities of Learning
Our results...
Almost 98 per cent of children starting school have participated in ECE
Approximately 85 per cent of 18 year olds now have NCEA Level 2 or higher
We have invested over $5b in school property to ensure our young people have the best learning environments
Our $359m Educational Success Initiative is creating career paths for teachers, helping them to share best practice across schools, and providing expert skills to help raise student achievement
What we will do next...
Introduce real-time online progress reporting for parents by 2021
We know that making progress information readily accessible enables parents and teachers to make sure students are getting the support they need
Information is power and will mean all children are given the opportunity to achieve their potential
That is why a National Government will provide real time online reporting of learning progression – not just achievement – by 2021
This record of learning will travel with the child throughout their education pathway
We will provide at least $20m to support the development of this
Enable all primary school children to learn a second language
We believe New Zealand is a better nation for its diversity and increasing international connections
We want every primary school student to thrive in this global environment and take advantage of those connections
We will ensure every primary school student can learn a second language by investing $160 million to provide additional teachers, language assistants and curriculum resources
The priority languages will include Mandarin, Spanish, French, and Korean – alongside Te Reo and NZ Sign Language
What we will do next...
Lift achievement in maths
We have set a target of 80 per cent of all Year 8 students achieving at or above the National Standard in maths or Ngā Whanaketanga Rumaki Māori by 2021
A National Government will invest $120m over four years to grow the maths skills of up to 1200 primary school teachers, and provide intensive support and additional curriculum resources to students that need it
Strengthening digital fluency
We have already made digital technology a core part of the curriculum and invested over $40m to support its uptake
We will build on our $700m investment in online learning access and resources by ensuring all schools have uncapped high speed data
We will provide more opportunities for young people to engage in the IT sector, with digital academies for 1000 students and 500 digital internships to build a pathway between school and work
Don’t put it all at risk...
Labour would scrap National Standards and remove parents’ ability to understand how their child is doing in reading, writing and maths
Labour would put at risk the futures of tens of thousands of young people by repealing partnership schools legislation, freezing funding for private schools and reviewing the funding of integrated schools
Labour would get rid of the delivery of school buildings by public private partnerships which will cost the taxpayer millions more and reduce the option for schools to manage the property
Labour’s education policy is to spend more on devices, rather than the digital skills our children need, and they are opposed to communities of online learning
Energy and Resources
Realising our energy potential
An affordable and secure energy supply and competitive electricity market ensures the well-being of New Zealand households and supports a thriving economy.
Our renewable energy resources are among the best in the world,
and we’re constantly improving energy efficiency and productivity.
We need to take full advantage of our abundant natural resources,
while maintaining the strong environmental and safety provisions that we have developed.
Our focus is on extracting premium export value from petroleum and mineral development,
increasing the quality and quantity of regional resource sector jobs
and building on our position as a world-leader in renewable energy.
Policy highlights
We are now third in the world for renewable electricity, at over 85 per cent
We are improving energy efficiency and productivity
90 per cent of electricity generation will be renewable by 2025
We will decrease industrial emissions by at least 1 per cent a year on average, over the next five years
2 per cent of all vehicles will be electric by 2021
A third of government vehicles will be electric by 2021
We’re fostering a competitive energy market, ensuring choice and innovation
We have insulated more than 300,000 homes, ensuring they are warm and dry
We are promoting petroleum and minerals development
with a strong environmental and safety focus,
and creating jobs
We’re keeping downward pressure on fuel prices
National is...
Fostering a strong energy sector
We know that markets function best with minimal government intervention,
but we’re also committed to ensuring the settings are right to allow the sector to thrive
In a recent review the International Energy Agency said that New Zealand is a world leading example of a well-functioning electricity market, which continues to work effectively thanks to appropriately targeted government intervention
We rank 9th out of 125 countries in the World Energy Council’s Energy Trilemma Index which measures performance in energy security,
equity
and sustainability
Focusing on efficiency
Our new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy will improve our energy productivity, leading to lower cost, more competitive businesses
and more renewable energy
We have set challenging targets: /90 per cent of electricity will be generated from renewable sources by 2025
We will decease industrial emissions by at least 1 per cent a year for the next five
Electric vehicles will be 2 per cent of our vehicle fleet by the end of 2021, doubling EV registrations each year to reach 64,000
By 2021 a third of the Government vehicle fleet will be electric
Encouraging oil and gas to grow responsibly
We want to keep New Zealand an attractive and environmentally sound destination for exploration
We are encouraging investment in petroleum and minerals
while maintaining and enhancing the quality of our environmental
and safety regime
We are developing a framework for decommissioning offshore petroleum assets like oil rigs
We are developing a regime to manage possible risk from inactive onshore petroleum wells
Monitoring fuel prices
We commissioned a fuel market study over concerns about how much New Zealanders are paying at the pump
The report validated those concerns and we’re looking at what we can do next
In the meantime, we’re keeping a close eye on fuel margins and encouraging companies to think about consumers
Our results...
Warmer, drier, healthier homes
Since 2009, we have insulated over 300,000 homes, making them warmer, drier and healthier under Warm Up New Zealand programmes
Benefitting from our resource wealth
Petroleum and minerals add huge value nationally and regionally through royalties, exports and jobs
Petroleum producers have contributed $3.2b in royalties and levies since 2008
In 2016, petroleum and minerals accounted for 1.6 per cent of GDP, which equates to $3.5b
National’s Block Offer process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits has seen 45 permits awarded
It’s attracted five new international entrants to New Zealand, and led to $7.7b being invested in oil and gas exploration and production here
Efficient, renewable energy
We’re well on our way to achieving our goal of 90 per cent renewable electricity by 2025
At over 85 per cent, we’re third in the world for renewable electricity, behind Norway and Iceland
We have passed the Energy Innovation Amendment Bill to help reduce our emissions,
and boost energy productivity and innovation
A competitive market
National’s electricity reforms have helped ensure New Zealanders pay less for power
There are now 40 electricity retail brands to choose from, double the number in 2008
Consumers are taking advantage of competition to get the best price.
More than 500,000 people have switched providers since 2015
What we will do next...
Enable an energy sector that works for consumers
The sector is working well, and operates best with minimal intervention,
but we will make sure the settings are right to encourage innovation and ensure consumers get what they need
We will keep the lights on by ensuring security of supply.
Big promises of 100 per cent renewable electricity might sound good, but the reality is we have dry years and we need a back-up.
Our goal is 90 per cent renewable by 2025 and we’re getting there, at over 85 per cent already
We will remove potential barriers to emerging technology and innovation.
The sector is changing incredibly fast and National will ensure the settings are right for New Zealand to make the most of it
We will encourage efficiency, meaning less resource and investment wastage
and improvements in the coordination of electricity production
We will look at the low fixed charge, a Labour policy which is not working.
Instead of offering affordable and sustainable energy, it is subsiding the cost of power for high-income users and slowing innovation.
We’ll review it and come up with an alternative that works for low income users
Ultimately it’s about consumer choice so we will make sure the settings are right so that consumers can get the energy they want in the way they want it – whether from the grid, or a solar tiled roof on their neighbour’s house
We will continue to insulate homes to make them warmer, drier, healthier and cheaper to heat
A competitive market
We will continue our successful Block Offer process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits
We will ensure that New Zealand is seen as a favourable and environmentally responsible global destination for exploration companies
We will continue to collect high-quality geophysical data to provide to industry, public and research stakeholders, together with associated geochemical studies.
This gives us a better understanding of our resource wealth and how to get the most benefit from it, as well as a better understanding of geological risk
Don’t put it all at risk
Power prices went up 72 per cent under Labour - prices fell in real terms for the first time in 15 years in the year to March 2016, meaning our policies are working
Unrealistic promises of 100 per cent renewable electricity risk the power turning off
– we have a goal of 90 per cent by 2025 and we’re already almost there with renewable electricity generation growing from 65 per cent in 2008
Our oil and gas potential is huge – we could be the richest little country in the world.
Parties who write-off well-regulated exploration and extraction are not focused on the best outcomes for New Zealand
Environment
Our Bluegreen approach
New Zealand’s environment is at the core of our quality of life, our national identity and our competitive advantage.
Good environmental practice is not only important to protect our natural heritage, but crucial in securing the type of future we want for our children and grandchildren.
That’s why National is providing real leadership on environmental issues
in a sensible, Bluegreen way
that also supports increased employment, better jobs
and a growing economy.
National’s environmental priorities are improved freshwater quality,
cleaner air,
a reduction in harmful waste,
better management of our oceans
and the facilitation of urban development.
To achieve this we are working together with all New Zealanders
on science-based solutions
that enhance our environment
while working for our economy.
Policy highlights
Reforming the Resource Management Act to improve environmental management
and deliver more homes and infrastructure at pace
Investing a record $400m in freshwater clean-ups
Introducing new standards for ecological and human health that limit nutrients and E-coli in waterways
Producing robust, independent information on New Zealand’s environment to enhance the integrity of our clean green brand and direct our focus
Having the cleanest air quality on record, saving hundreds of lives
Making kerbside recycling accessible to 97 per cent of New Zealanders
Establishing New Zealand as a world leader in managing our oceans
Working alongside all New Zealanders to ensure progress on our environmental goals
National is...
Improving freshwater management
Committed to improving our water quality and invested a record $400m to do so
Introduced an ambitious new target of 90 per cent of rivers and lakes being swimmable by 2040
Implemented New Zealand’s first National Policy Statement on Freshwater, requiring regional councils to set limits on nutrients
Developed national regulations requiring stock exclusion from waterways, achieved through 56,000km of new fencing
Required 95 per cent of water takes to be measured, compared to 20 per cent in 2008
Improving marine protection
Passed the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act to better protect New Zealand’s oceans
Created 11 new marine reserves, protected 17 surf breaks and banned shark finning
Successfully negotiated with the US the largest marine protected area in the world, in the Ross Sea
Committed to establishing the Kermadec Marine Sanctuary, one of the world’s largest and most significant fully protected marine areas
Addressing harmful waste
Implemented an ambitious programme to expand New Zealand’s recycling infrastructure and minimise waste to landfill
Approved 13 new industry product stewardship schemes, ensuring more products are recycled
Funded over 130 recycling projects through the Waste Minimisation Fund
Funded a comprehensive work plan to progressively clean-up New Zealand’s most contaminated sites
Invested $4m in new technology to recycle over 200 million plastic drink bottles a year into food-safe packaging and introduced national collection of soft plastic
Banned plastic microbeads to safeguard our aquatic environment
Improving air quality
Struck a careful balance between improving air quality
and the impacts on household costs
Halved the number of air quality standard breaches from 360 to 170 per year, saving 400 lives a year
Toughened vehicle exhaust standards to reduce pollutions by 90 per cent
National is...
Improving monitoring & reporting
Passed the Environmental Reporting Act, requiring robust, independent reporting on air, freshwater, land, marine, atmosphere and climate
Improved the consistency of environmental data collected from councils on key issues, such as health of waterways and metered use of consented water takes
Reforming resource management
Amended the RMA to deliver simpler consenting,
faster plan changes
and better environmental management
Introduced national planning standards to reduce complexity and cost
New streamlined and collaborative planning processes to help councils respond to growth
Introduced national consenting
to ensure projects of national significance like the Waterview Tunnel and Transmission Gully are processed in a timely fashion
Limited the right to be consulted on a consent to those parties immediately affected and removed the right of parties to lodge frivolous, vexatious or anti-competitive objections to consents
Given councils discretion to waive the need for consent for minor activities or to shorten processes
Made significant natural hazards a matter of national importance to allow councils to respond better
Provided more generous compensation for homeowners affected by the Public Works Act
Required councils to maintain adequate land zoned for new housing development in line with predicted population growth
Clarified the existing requirements in the RMA for council engagement with iwi to assist both parties to meet their obligations
What we will do next...
Planning and development
National will review existing urban planning legislation to assess the benefits of integrating the Local Government Act, Land Transport Act and Resource Management Act
Provide greater central Government leadership over the provision of storm water, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure
Introduce legislation similar to that adopted internationally to enable the establishment of Urban Development Authorities to facilitate redevelopment of existing urban areas
Freshwater management
National will work with regional councils and communities to deliver on our target for 90 per cent of rivers and lakes to be swimmable by 2040
Implement practical regulations to ensure stock are excluded from waterways
Improve the allocation of freshwater and introduce a system to allocate nutrient discharges to ensure the system is fair and equitable for all New Zealanders
Implement national Best Practice Management Standards for our agricultural sectors
What we will do next...
Waste and contamination
Continue to provide leadership to increase recycling and reduce harmful waste
Set up a nationwide network for tyre recycling and provide funding assistance to implement disposal options
Continue the clean-up of contaminated sites such as Calwell Slipway in Nelson and Kopeopeo Canal in Whakatāne
Introduce tougher fines for illegal dumping
Refresh the successful Keep New Zealand Beautiful and Be a Tidy Kiwi campaigns
Air quality
Consult on changes to our air quality standards
to align with international science based policy while balancing home heating needs
Tighten fuel standards for petrol by July 2018 to reduce pollutants
Resource management
National will provide stronger direction through national standards to get consistent environmental and economic outcomes
Deliver new National Environmental Standards for waste tyres, aquaculture and dam safety
Align air quality standards with international trends
while achieving an economic balance for home heating
Develop new National Policy Statements on biodiversity protection and natural hazards
Marine environment
National will advance world leading marine management through improved fisheries monitoring and integrated marine protection legislation
Consult on changes to the Marine Protected Areas Act
Work to resolve the commercial
and Treaty issues that arose when we announced our intention to legislate for the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary to be no-take
which is necessary to ensure protection of this unique 620,000 km2 area of ocean
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition have committed to:
Introducing a water tax that unfairly discriminates between different types of users
and will drive up prices
Taxing our agricultural sector for livestock emissions when no other country in the world does
Reversing our pragmatic RMA changes, increasing cost and delaying projects including the building of new affordable homes
Undoing the collaborative work of all stakeholders who have participated in the Land and Water Forum and reverting back to sectoral conflict
Politicising the environmental regulations controlling tools such as 1080,
which the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has stated is the only option available to save our threatened native birds from extinction
Replacing our science-based environmental policy with political ideology
Opposing the creation of the Kermadec Marine Sanctuary because they believe it impacts upon the property rights of fishing companies even when they don’t fish in the area
Damaging economic growth by creating mammal and /or marine sanctuaries to prohibit the development of resources like iron sands, oil and gas even when the environmental impacts have been assessed independently as minor
Supporting Families
Supporting Kiwi families
National is helping New Zealand families to get ahead.
Our growing economy means we are creating more opportunities than ever before
and we are providing more support to families that need it.
First, we’re increasing family incomes and delivering more jobs.
The average wage has increased by $13,000 since we took office and on 1 April 2018 someone on the average wage will receive a tax cut of $1060 per year.
Second, we’re building the infrastructure like houses and better, safer roads.
We are in the middle of the biggest residential housing building boom in decades.
Third, we’re growing our economy, ensuring there are more jobs
and that New Zealanders have the education and skills to do them.
Fourth, we’re getting the Government’s finances in order, ensuring lower borrowing costs for households
and that we can continue to support New Zealanders through the next GFC or Christchurch earthquake.
Fifth, we’re investing more than ever in public services, ensuring New Zealanders get the world-class education
and healthcare they deserve,
that our communities are safe,
and we are helping the most vulnerable.
We also know one of the best ways to ensure families and businesses get ahead is through ensuring more money in their back pockets.
So the sixth point of our plan is what we won’t do – we won’t introduce any new taxes.
Policy highlights
Our Family Incomes Package will increase incomes for 1.3 million families by $1350 per year on average
Wages and available jobs are growing – the average wage has increased by $13,000 to $59,000 and 181,000 jobs have been created in the last two years
Record investment in health and education
Free or cheap GP visits and prescriptions for 2.5 million young and low income New Zealanders
Increased benefits for families with children
- 60,000 fewer children live in benefit dependent homes
Extending paid parental leave from 18 to 22 weeks
94 per cent of 8 month olds are now fully immunised
Children are doing better in school
1125 more police staff and cracking down on gangs and drugs to keep communities safer
Overhauled our child protection system, creating the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki
Raising family incomes
Family Incomes Package
National’s Family Incomes Package will benefit 1.3 million families by $1350 per year on average
Tax threshold changes mean someone on the average wage will gain an extra $1060 per year from 1 April next year
– we’ve legislated that already with the support of all parties except Labour
We’re increasing Working for Families for around 310,000 low to middle income families with children under 16
Around 750,000 superannuitants will also benefit from the package.
The NZ Super rate for a married couple will go up by $680 per year – in addition to the normal increases
Rising wages and jobs
Under National wages are rising and there are more jobs – 181,000 jobs have been created in the last two years alone
The average wage has increased by $13,000 to $59,000 since National took office
If we stay on track it’s forecast to grow to $65,700 by 2021
Once you adjust for cost of living increases, after tax wages have increased twice as fast in New Zealand as in Australia since 2008
Unemployment is down to 4.8 per cent - the lowest it has been since 2008
It increases the Accommodation Supplement for 136,000 families with low incomes and high housing costs.
They’ll benefit by an average of $36 per week – with some high needs households receiving more than $100 extra
In total, the package is expected to lift 50,000 children out of poverty by one OECD measure
And we can do it all again.
If we stay on track, there is room to do another Family Incomes Package in 2020
– but only under National because we are getting debt down, as opposed to Labour who are already proposing a huge spending spree
World class healthcare
Healthier families
Health is our top funding priority, with a record $16.8b to be invested this year - that’s $5b a year more than when we took office
We’ve delivered free GP visits and prescriptions for under 13s
We will cap the cost of going to the GP at $18 for an extra 600,000 New Zealanders
There are record numbers of doctors and nurses working in our DHBs, caring for those who need it
Around 3.5 million New Zealanders receive a funded medicine each year as a result of our record investment in PHARMAC
We’ve increased the number of elective surgeries for things like joint replacements, cataracts, cancerous skin lesions and cardiac surgeries from 118,000 per year when we came into office to 178,000 now.
And we’ll reach 200,000 over the next few years
Kiwis are receiving better, faster cancer treatment and support
We are investing in new hospitals, like in Dunedin, as well as building more hospital facilities like operating theatres
93 per cent of 8 month olds are now immunised, compared to 67 per cent of 18 month olds in 2007
More investment and more treatment for those with drug and alcohol issues than ever
Better mental health support
National has increased funding for mental health services from $1.1b a year to over $1.4b
We are better at understanding need and working with people to help them overcome mental health and addiction issues
Budget 2017 included an extra $224m, including a new $100m social investment fund that supports innovative new proposals to tackle mental health issues
New Zealanders with mental health and addiction issues are receiving help faster
Building infrastructure
Building houses
National has a comprehensive plan to build more houses - we are in the middle of the biggest residential housing building boom in New Zealand’s history
Our plan will see 200,000 houses built in the next six years – that’s the equivalent of four Dunedins
We are also committed to building over 34,000 social, affordable and market houses on Crown land in Auckland over the next 10 years
Our $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping build the roads, waterways and other infrastructure needed to get more houses built faster
Better, safer roads
New Zealand’s transport infrastructure underpins our economy – we are committed to helping New Zealanders get to where they need to be faster and more safely
We are delivering through our Roads of National Significance and Regional Roading Packages
We are making our roads safer and reduce the road toll
And we are providing more options through our record investment in public transport
Supporting first home buyers
National believes every New Zealander should be able to own their own house if they want to
We are supporting young and low income New Zealanders into their first home by helping them build a deposit
Eligible couples are now able to get a $20,000 grant from the Government for an existing home or $30,000 for a new build
That’s on top of our Welcome Home Loans which allow first-home buyers to buy with a 10 per cent deposit, and allowing New Zealanders to access all of their KiwiSaver funds to put towards a deposit
This will help a further 80,000 people into their first home over the next four years, on top of the 31,000 people the scheme has already helped
Supporting our children
Parents and Newborns Package
National’s Parents and Newborns Package is designed to help new families grow and stay healthy. It will:
Progressively extend Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks, with added flexibility to allow both parents to take some of the time off together so they can both be at home with their baby
Support women to take care of their own health by offering them one free dental course during pregnancy and up to their baby’s first birthday
Give more families a chance to have a baby by providing a third free IVF cycle, and speeding up access to fertility treatment for eligible couples
Ensuring our children get the best education
National is ensuring our education system gives all young New Zealanders the skills and knowledge they need for the future
We are upgrading National Standards so that parents can see the progress their children are making at school throughout the year
We will ensure all primary students have the opportunity to learn a second language
We’re making a major investment in maths at primary schools, with greater training for teachers and more classroom support for students
We want our young people to have the best opportunity to take advantage of new technology, so we’ll invest $48m to introduce digital academies and digital internships for Year 12 and 13 students
We have invested record amounts in schools and early childhood education – up 41 per cent since 2008 to over $11.6b
Nearly 98 per cent of children starting school have participated in ECE
Approximately 85 per cent of 18 year olds now have NCEA Level 2 or higher.
Three out of four Māori students now achieve NCEA Level 2, compared to just over half when we came into office
We are training more apprentices, with a target of 50,000 by 2020.
And we have ensured tertiary study remains affordable – investing around $4.2b a year
Since 2008 the number of Pasifika students completing a bachelors degree has increased 84 per cent
Supporting communities
Safer communities
National is committed to making our communities safer – in fact we want to make New Zealand the safest country in the world
We’re rolling our an extra 1125 Police staff, with the first recruits at Police College right now
We are targeting organised crime and drugs, and are providing an extra 80 specialists to target organised crime
We will also introduce a range of new measures to clamp down on gangs and drug dealers – including suppliers of P and synthetic cannabis
We will give Police new powers to search the homes of gang members with serious offending histories and we will ban those offenders from owning firearms
We are putting more Police in rural areas and small towns
We are delivering more ethnic liaison officers to reach out to a range of communities
Protecting our environment
National is the party of practical environmentalists and we are proud of protecting our natural heritage
We have invested a record $400m in freshwater clean-ups and introduced new standards to guide our efforts to improve water quality
New Zealand is established as a world-leader in oceans management, and we have created 11 new marine reserves
We’ve set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions to tackle climate change, by signing up to the Paris Agreement
Supporting the vulnerable
We are focused on helping vulnerable New Zealanders lead more prosperous, independent lives
We are the first government in 40 years to raise benefits for families with children
Our social investment approach means we are working with individual families to help them improve their lives
There are 60,000 fewer children now living in benefit dependent households than in 2011
Don’t put it all at risk
Labour would be impose a raft of new taxes on New Zealanders, but they are refusing to be up front
Carbon, regional fuel and water taxes are all are all on the table so far, and they’ve confirmed they would cancel National’s income tax cuts (which are already in law)
And Labour will set up a working group to progress a capital gains tax and a land tax
They are refusing to support free trade - meaning New Zealanders would miss out on the massive benefits of TPP11 and other new agreements
Centralised, industry by industry wage bargaining would take New Zealand backwards and cost jobs
Cancelling National Standards means parents wouldn’t be able to see how their children are doing in schools
Labour want to increase Government debt by $11b over the next four years - and they’ve allocated almost all of the cash so their unrealistic budgets will lead to even more borrowing and higher interest rates for businesses and families
Health
Delivering a healthy NZ
The National-led Government is helping New Zealanders to stay healthy, as well as delivering world class health services.
Health is our top funding priority, with a record $16.8b to be invested this year - an extra $888m on last year.
We are helping families to take better care of themselves through living healthier, more active lives, reducing preventable hospitalisations and ensuring our houses are warmer and drier to help keep preventable illnesses at bay.
We are investing in primary care, screening and early interventions because catching issues earlier helps increase our chances of successful treatment.
We have increased free and cheap GP visits and prescriptions,
there are more doctors and nurses than ever,
and we are tackling mental health and addiction issues.
We’re delivering thousands more elective surgeries and specialist assessments,
and lifted Pharmac funding to record levels, meaning more access to world-class medicines.
Policy highlights
Free GP visits and prescriptions for under 13s
We will cap the cost of going to the GP at $18 for an extra 600,000 New Zealanders
Record numbers of doctors and nurses working in our DHBs, with 6,900 more than when we took office
56,000 more elective surgeries each year – and we will raise that further to 200,000
94 per cent of ED patients are seen and discharged within six hours
Kiwis are receiving better, faster cancer treatment and support
Rolling out national bowel screening
Investing in new hospitals
55,000 workers benefitting from the $2b pay equity settlement
Keeping kids out of hospital for preventable conditions
Double-crewed ambulances and more paramedics
National is...
More investment and lifesaving drugs
We’ve invested an extra $5b in health since 2008, taking our total investment to a record $16.8b this year
That increase has covered population growth and inflation, and ensured better access to world-class healthcare for New Zealanders
$220m since 2008, meaning more funding for more life-saving drugs
Around 3.5 million New Zealanders receive a funded medicine each year – 100,000 more than in 2013 /14
More surgeries and assessments
174,000 elective surgeries are delivered each year – up 56,000 since National took office
The number of patients seeing a hospital specialist has increased to 552,423 a year so far
We are building more operating theatres to help continue to lift our elective surgery rates
Our $63m investment in faster cancer treatment, is getting people treated faster
Access to radiotherapy has been improved with 12 new linear accelerators
National is...
Providing more mental health support
National has increased funding for mental health services from $1.1b a year to over $1.4b – meaning more and better support for those who need it
More New Zealanders with mental health and addiction issues are receiving help and they’re getting it faster
Budget 2017 included an extra $224m including a new $100m social investment fund that supports innovative new proposals to tackle mental health issues
We are moving to an emphasis on mental wellness, resilience and new ways of providing access to the services needed
There are more drug and alcohol services and treatment beds than ever
Backing people with disabilities
Investing an extra $205m to improve disability support services, benefiting around 32,000 New Zealanders each year
Expanding the successful Enabling Good Lives programme to give disabled people more choice and control over their lives
Focused on community-based care
Supporting family health hubs to provide a range of services such as GPs, nurses and dentists under one roof
Enabling qualified nurses and pharmacists to prescribe certain medicines, benefiting patients with long-term conditions
Bringing key phone helplines together into one to make it easier for New Zealanders to get immediate advice and responding to around 500,000 calls in 2016
Healthy Families NZ encourages people to make good food and lifestyle choices, benefiting around one million New Zealanders
National is...
Ensuring healthier kids
Free GP visits and prescriptions for under 13s, benefiting around 800,000 children
93 per cent of 8 month olds are now immunised, compared to 67 per cent of 18 month olds in 2007
Reducing sudden unexpected death in infants by providing safe sleep pods and helping expectant mothers quit smoking
Fewer avoidable hospitalisations for dental, respiratory and skin conditions, as well as head injuries among under 13s
Delivering a world-leading plan to address childhood obesity
90 per cent of pregnant women will have a Lead Maternity Carer in their first trimester by 2021, ensuring healthier mothers and babies
Delivering warmer, drier and healthier homes for thousands of families a year
104,000 kids benefit from the Fruit in Schools programme each year
Over 90 per cent of four-year olds get free B4 School Checks, helping find and address health or development problems
Providing more bowel cancer screening
Around 3,000 Kiwis are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year and more screening will save lives
National is rolling out a $78m national bowel screening programme
700,000 people aged between 60 and 74 will get screened every two years
Cutting smoking rates
Around 15 per cent of New Zealanders now smoke daily, down from 25 per cent in 1997
Introducing plain packaging on tobacco products to deter smokers
Legalising the sale of e-cigarettes to provide a less harmful alternative
What we will do next...
Cheap GP visits for 600,000 low income Kiwis
National will make it easier for 600,000 low-income New Zealanders to visit their GP before a condition deteriorates by offering Community Services Card holders cheap GP visits capped at $18
These changes will increase the total number of New Zealanders who can access either free or very cheap GP visits to 2.5 million
As well as getting access to cheap GP visits, thousands more New Zealanders with lower incomes and high housing costs will also receive the other benefits of the Community Services Card, which includes cheap prescriptions, free emergency dental care and free glasses for children
Implement our new mental health and addiction plan
Our understanding of mental health and addiction issues has evolved in recent times
Coupled with this, demand for mental health and addiction services has increased across the western world
In the last few decades the focus in mental health has moved from deinstitutionalisation, to de-stigmatisation, and now we are moving to an emphasis on mental wellness, resilience and new ways of providing access to the services needed
So we have launched a new, modern mental health and addiction approach, supported by $224m in funding meaning better, broader and more targeted support
What we will do next...
Supporting mums & babies
We will continue to support the 60,000 pregnant women and new mothers each year to be healthy and raise healthy babies
We will offer a free dental course for pregnant women and mothers of under 1s
Make a third free IVF cycle available to eligible couples who don’t fall pregnant after their first two funded fertility cyles, and speeding up access to publicly funded fertility treatment to ensure eligible couples are seen sooner
Encourage pregnant women to register with a Lead Maternity Carer in their first trimester to ensure the right care
Continue work towards reducing Sudden Unexpected Infant Death by 86 per cent over the next eight years
Extend Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks to funded cycles
To ensure parents can spend more time at home with their babies
Invest in hospital infrastructure
Complete the redevelopment of the $463m Acute Services Building and the new $72m Outpatients facility in Christchurch
Complete the new $78m Grey Base Hospital in Greymouth
Build Dunedin a new $1.2b - $1.4b hospital
Provide additional mental health facilities at the Mason Clinic in Auckland
Establish a School of Rural Medicine to support rural New Zealand
What we will do next...
Even more electives
Continue to provide more elective surgeries and First Specialist Assessments
Ensure patients are seen by a specialist within four months of referral, and receive operations within four months of booking
Increase the number of elective surgeries to 200,000 a year over the next four years, at a cost of 30m a year rising to $120m in year four
Adult cochlear implants
National will substantially increase the number of adult cochlear implants, from 40 to 100 per year
This builds on our investment which has already seen the number of people receiving cochlear implants grow significantly
We will also provide more audiology and rehabilitation to those who need it
That’s tens of thousands more life changing operations such as joint replacements, cataracts, cancerous skin lesions and cardiac surgeries
Elective surgery makes a real difference to patients and their families – it reduces pain, restores independence and improves quality of life
We’ve made real progress and we will continue to build on that
Immigration
Securing skills & investment
New Zealand’s openness to the world is an important part of our economic success – through trade, new ideas
and attracting talented people from around the world.
National embraces that.
Migrants bring skills, capital and connections and they make New Zealand an even better place, providing opportunities and creating jobs for all New Zealanders, and helping our economy to grow.
We are focused on ensuring highly skilled and talented individuals are prioritised for work visas,
and that the quality of inward migration supports the economy and labour market.
We are attracting workers for growing industries like horticulture and viticulture, IT, and construction.
Immigration also underpins tourism and export education – two of our biggest export industries.
We have recently raised the standard for gaining residence and prioritised access for higher-skilled migrants, ensuring we strike the right balance between attracting skilled workers and managing demand in a period of strong growth and low unemployment.
Policy highlights
Fewer Kiwis leaving and more coming home because the opportunities are here
Attracting migrants with the right skills and capital to invest in New Zealand
Provided a one-off pathway to residence for long term temporary migrants filling a genuine labour shortage in the South Island
Streamlined the immigration system through the roll out of the Immigration Online Service
Improved outcomes for refugees by rebuilding the Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre and implementing the Refugee Resettlement Strategy
Introduced the Global Investment Visa to encourage young, successful entrepreneurs to set up here
Raised the points required under the Skilled Migrant Category to ensure we are attracting the people we need
Reinforced the ‘temporary’ nature of temporary work visas for lower-skilled / lower-paid migrants
Helping ensure more migrants move to the regions to fill jobs there
National is...
Targeting immigration to benefit New Zealand
Attracting migrants with the skills and talent we need to support our growing economy
Growing investment into New Zealand through the Investor and Entrepreneur Visa categories
Working with businesses to streamline visa processing for priority applicants
Helping provide skills for the rebuild of Christchurch and support for our most in need industries through the Skills Shortage Lists
Providing seasonal workers for our growing horticulture and viticulture industries through the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme - increasing the cap from 5000 in 2007 to 10,500 in 2017
Managing expectations around the conditions and length of time that lower-skilled /lower-paid migrants are able to come and work in New Zealand
Addressing exploitation
Migrant workers have the same employment rights as all other workers in New Zealand
We do not tolerate employers who exploit migrant labour for their own commercial advantage
Providing authorities with the ability to impose heavy penalties on employers who exploit migrants
Removing access to international labour for employers who breach employment standards
Supporting refugees
Improving refugee outcomes through our Refugee Resettlement Strategy, helping ensure they can settle well and contribute here
Increasing the size of the Refugee Quota from 750 to 1000 places from 2018 /19
Piloting a new community based sponsorship programme for refugees with a view to allowing more refugees to come here while ensuring they are well supported
Our results so far
Kiwis are coming home
The biggest contribution to the rise in net migration over the past four years has been the movement of Kiwis
Kiwis are voting with their feet, fewer are leaving for Australia and more are coming home
Five years ago a net 40,000 people were leaving for Australia.
Now, net migration has turned around to a net 800 people returning to New Zealand
150,000 more Kiwis now live and work here, instead of on the other side of the Tasman
This is a huge vote of confidence in New Zealand’s direction because New Zealanders know there are real opportunities for them and their families here
Addressing border risk and people trafficking
We have passed tough laws to combat people smuggling, which is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and /or a $500,000 fine
We secured New Zealand’s first conviction for people trafficking in December 2016 to a total of nine and a half years jail and $28,000 reparation
Refused entry to 1,211 people at the border from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017
Prevented 3,578 high-risk individuals from boarding planes destined for New Zealand in the same period
Attracting skills and investment
We’re getting more Kiwis into work,
but still allowing employers access to the international labour market where there is a genuine need
Our economy is growing strongly and created 181,000 jobs in the past two years - with unemployment at 4.8 per cent, we need to match immigration with the needs of businesses
International visitors spent $14.5b in 2016, with the tourism sector directly employing 188,000 people, and almost double that indirectly
Export education is worth $4.5b to the economy per year and employs 33,000 people
Investment from Investor and Investor Plus migrant categories totalled over $1b for the first time in the 2016 /17 year
What we will do next...
Expand the global impact visa
Enable younger, successful and well-connected entrepreneurs at the start of their career to establish their ventures in New Zealand
This new visa will help lift innovation and create jobs through the establishment of new business ventures and access to global networks
Increase the pool of smart capital in New Zealand
The visa will target younger entrepreneurs at the start of their journey who may not fit into any of the investor /entrepreneur categories
Support business and investment
Continue to look at ways to encourage high value tourists, international students and business visitors to New Zealand
Continue to back our employers and make sure access to the international labour market is available when there is a genuine need
Encourage investment that provides greater economic benefits for New Zealand through our Entrepreneur and Investor migrant categories
Attract migrants with the skills and experience we need for our growing economy
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Slash immigration by “tens of thousands” which would decimate some industries and grind others to a halt
Their proposed cuts would result in job losses and a slow down of the economy
They don’t support the idea of New Zealand as a confident, growing country so they want to put the handbrake on
Infrastructure
Investing in a growing economy
Whether it is roads, rail, broadband, hospitals, or schools, New Zealanders all rely on high quality public infrastructure.
Without it we simply can’t function.
National is the only party that understands just how important infrastructure is to the public and our economy as a whole.
Our track record is marked by investments in transformative projects like the Roads of National Significance, City Rail Link and the Ultra-Fast Broadband network.
These are projects that enable New Zealanders to get on with their lives, encourage our economic growth and connect our communities.
That is why Budget 2017 is committing $32.5b over the next four years to major public infrastructure projects – an unprecedented level of investment.
We want to see this investment go even further.
By partnering with the private sector, local government, and investors, National will ensure we have the right infrastructure for the 21st century.
Policy highlights
Lifting the overall investment in core infrastructure to $32.5b over the next four years - a 40 percent increase on the previous four years
Fast-tracking the construction of 60,000 homes through the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund
Making New Zealand’s infrastructure investment stretch even further through greater use of PPP models for major projects
Establishing a specialist infrastructure  team, charged with applying PPP models at all levels of government
Committing $11b to infrastructure spending in 2017, $4b higher than the previous year
Getting growth to pay for growth by setting up new models of local infrastructure funding to speed up home construction
National is...
Ramping up critical infrastructure investment
Budget 2017 commits an extra $4b to infrastructure projects, taking total capital spending to $11b over the 12-month period, the biggest increase in decades.
This includes: $150m additional investment in new health facilities to meet the needs of a growing population
$392m for new schools and classrooms across New Zealand, totalling 304 classrooms nationwide
$812m to reinstate State Highway 1 between Picton and Christchurch following the Kaikōura earthquakes
$984m investment to support rail, including $436m for phase one of the City Rail Link
Investing in long-term economic success
Overall we are investing $32.5b in core infrastructure over the next four years, a 40 per cent increase on the last four years. This includes:
$4.85b investment in new schools and classrooms, with additional Private Public Partnership funding to deliver 11 schools by 2021
$2.72b investment in housing to deliver 34,000 houses over the next 10 years through the Auckland Housing Programme
$9.17b investment in critical roading projects to free up congestion in our fastest growing cities and regions
$2.39b investment by the Crown and DHBs in health facilities around the country
Our results...
Helping build 60,000 homes
Funded by Budget 2017, the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund is helping build critical infrastructure in five of New Zealand’s fastest growing areas
It accelerates the supply of residential sections by bringing forward the construction of local roading and water projects by several years
Land opened up for development by the fund’s investment in local infrastructure will accommodate 60,000 new houses
The fund eases the financial pressure on the high growth areas of Auckland, Hamilton, Queenstown, Tauranga and Waikato
Developing innovative funding models
We are repurposing the Ultra-Fast Broadband company as Crown Infrastructure Partners, whose new job is to develop new funding models for housing infrastructure
Crown Infrastructure Partners will co-invest $600m alongside local councils and private investors in network infrastructure for big new housing developments
Two of the first projects being assessed have the potential to accelerate the development of 23,300 homes
It will increase the supply of development- ready land
so more Kiwis can achieve the goal of home ownership
What we will do next...
Use PPPs to make our investments go further
We will turbocharge Budget 2017’s $32.5b infrastructure investment by creating the National Infrastructure Commission to lead more PPP projects
PPPs are very effective at getting quality long-lasting infrastructure built more quickly and stretching the country’s capital budget even further
The first projects the Commission will consider for a PPP will be the $1.2b Dunedin Hospital, the biggest hospital rebuild in New Zealand history,
and a $60.4m rebuild of Whangarei Boys High School
The Commission will be made up of highly specialised skilled people drawn from the private sector and the government
Don’t put it all at risk
Labour has no comprehensive infrastructure plan
to keep the economy growing
Labour and the Greens are focused on urban commuter rail, ignoring the need to invest in the regional roading network that is the backbone of our economy
Labour is opposed to finding innovative ways of funding infrastructure investments, meaning Kiwis will have to wait longer and pay more for the new roads, hospitals and schools they need
Local Government
Strong local communities
National believes strong local representation is the foundation of prosperous regions and communities.
We have a strong track record of working with local government to
ensure regions have growing economies
and are investing in vital infrastructure.
We are helping fast growing councils to build the infrastructure they need to meet the demands of their growing economies and communities
and we are supporting the regions through our regional growth programmes.
National will champion the rights of ratepayers and communities, ensuring the costs and benefits of growth are shared fairly.
We will support councils to deliver high quality services that continue to support growth and development.
Policy highlights
Established the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund to assist high growth councils to fund infrastructure to increase housing supply
Committed up to $600m in co-investment alongside councils and businesses to bring forward vital infrastructure projects
Rolling out UFB to 85 per cent of New Zealand by 2024
Funded 42 tourism infrastructure projects in regional New Zealand and set up the $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund
Put ratepayers first by ensuring councils focus on their core business such as basic infrastructure
Launched regional growth programmes in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu-Whanganui, Canterbury, West Coast and Southland
Ensured the Auckland Unitary Plan was completed to allow the city to build for growth
Reformed the RMA to allow sensible growth and development
National is...
Addressing housing supply and affordability
Making $1b available to assist high-growth councils to advance infrastructure projects that will significantly increase the development of new housing
Setting up Crown Infrastructure Partners to co-invest $600 million in infrastructure for housing developments, starting with 23,300 new homes in Auckland
Requiring councils to oversee and ensure land supply for housing keeps pace with growth,
and making it easier to get houses consented and built
Growing the number of social houses available, from 66,000 to 72,000 over the next three years
Ensuring better value for ratepayers
Making sure ratepayers can get clear information about their council’s finances and performance
Identifying and removing frustrating, ineffective rules to make it easier to do things like renovations around the home
Improved efficiencies by reviewing the Local Government Act
Helping where it’s needed
We are providing specialist management and support when councils need help or expert advice
Helping with tourism infrastructure in regions with lots of visitors but few ratepayers through our $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund
Helping with housing-related infrastructure through the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund and the $600m Crown Infrastructure Partners programme
Rolling out Ultra Fast Broadband to 85 per cent of New Zealand by 2024
What we will do next...
Working with and for your region
National is committed to working with your local Mayor, Council and Community Boards
Each region has its challenges, pressures and areas of focus and we believe locals know what is best for their region
We will ensure the support is there, with access to advice and technical expertise when needed
We will continue to stand back when preferred,
support when needed
and lead when required
Making sure you’ve got the tools needed
We will work together to develop a clear plan for the efficient management of your storm, waste and drinking water
We will partner with local government and the private sector, and use all available financing and funding mechanisms to get more infrastructure projects done, rather than get hung up on who does it
We will help regions explore innovative and different ways to fund their growth
Māori Development
Realising Māori potential
National recognises the significant gains to be made for New Zealand when Māori do better.
Under National, Māori are doing better in schools and becoming more skilled.
Māori businesses are increasingly influential and internationally connected and they are an important part of New Zealand’s story and economic success.
Te Reo Māori and Māori culture are significant assets that promote the unique identity and place of Māori in New Zealand and our presence in the global community.
We are working with Māori to address social challenges and making significant progress on Treaty settlements.
National’s relationship with the Māori Party and the Iwi Chairs Forum is pragmatic and has enabled us to resolve longstanding issues and make real progress.
We are building a more tolerant and prosperous country by working together.
Policy highlights
Refreshed the Crown-Māori Economic Growth Partnership, with a focus on Māori economic development
Implemented youth employment initiatives like Pathways to Life to help young Māori into jobs
Investing in helping more of our young people not in employment, education or training into long-term jobs
Our regional growth plans include a focus on growing Māori businesses
Increased funding for Māori arts and culture from $1.2m to $1.9m
The Māori economy is growing, from $9b in 1991 to $42b in 2013
Supported Māori land reform to promote jobs and growth
Supported legislation which transferred guardianship of Te Reo Māori to Iwi
Over 50,000 more Māori in work since 2012
17.6 per cent increase in Māori 18 year olds attaining NCEA level 2, in the last five years and the number of Māori completing a bachelors degree has increased by 64 per cent
What we will do next...
Ensure Te Ture Whenua legislation is enacted in 2018.
Continue at pace to complete all remaining historic Treaty settlements by 2020
Improve Māori education achievement and transition to work including, ensuring young Māori have the skills to contribute to a highly-skilled and productive workforce
Increase Māori and Pasifika Trades Training delivery to 5,000 learners by 2019
and focus intensive support on Māori youth who are not in employment, education or training
Develop Social Investment tools to support iwi and the Government to make better, informed investment decisions and change lives
Support sustained increases in median income for Māori, contributing to higher standards of living for whānau
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Fail to reform Te Ture Whenua Māori Act, stunting regional economic and social development
Fail to complete Treaty settlements.
Only 16 deeds of settlement were signed under the last Labour government, compared to our 58
Fail to understand that iwi are increasingly future focussed and aspirational.
Labour think they know what Māori want better than Māori do
Pacific Peoples
Creating opportunities for Pacific peoples
The Pacific community is young, vibrant and growing fast.
National is committed to making sure our Pacific families and communities thrive.
We’re focussed on the areas that they tell us are important.
Pacific families are now leading the country in vaccination uptake
and we’ve seen an almost 30 per cent increase in NCEA Level 2 achievement.
More of our young people are entering and succeeding in tertiary education.
We’re recognising our young people’s success through the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards, the Toloa STEM scholarships and support for Polyfest.
It is important that Government services reflect the communities they serve, so National is also working with key agencies to grow Pacific talent in the public sector and challenge the private sector to do the same.
We’re working to ensure Pacific families are healthier and that our young people are prepared for the opportunities of the future.
We’re also committed to supporting Pacific businesses to grow and reach their full potential.
Policy highlights
Supporting Pacific business and entrepreneurship
Supporting Pacific housing, health and wealth creation
Since 2008 the number of Pacific students completing a bachelors degree has increased by 84 per cent
Growing Pacific talent in the public sector
Allowing all primary school children to learn a second language
Family Incomes Package will increase incomes for 1.3 million families by $26 a week
Free GP visits and prescriptions for under 13s
80 per cent of Pacific children now earn NCEA Level 2, up from 51 per cent in 2008
93 per cent of Pacific children in early childhood education
Tertiary education rates are on par with the national average
96 per cent of Pacific children are vaccinated, up from 63 per cent in 2007
National is...
Putting Pacific learners and their parents at the centre of the education system
Continuing the Pacific Health strategy so the Pacific community lead healthier and more independent lives
Celebrating success through the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards
Providing $25,000 for Toloa Scholarships for Pacific students to pursue tertiary studies in science, technology, engineering and maths
Encouraging more Pacific groups to become Community Housing Providers so they can work for and represent our communities
Encouraging better Pacific trade opportunities through PACER Plus
Celebrating the Pacific by supporting initiatives like language weeks
What we will do next...
Pilot Project Tatupu to help Pacific families move to the regions to and establish new lives and communities there
Support the academic success of our young people through the Prime Minister’s Youth Awards and the Toloa STEM scholarship programme
Supporting Pacific business and entrepreneurs by expanding the focus of the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Young Enterprise Scheme
Help more Pacific groups to become community housing providers
Grow more Pacific talent in the public sector and challenge the private sector to do the same
Continue to support the health and wellbeing of the Pacific community
All primary school children will be able to learn a second language
Primary Industries
The backbone of our economy
National believes that the strength of our economy depends on a healthy and prosperous primary sector.
Over the last nine years we’ve worked alongside our farmers and growers through natural disasters, commodity price fluctuations, and the naysayers.
We have backed and supported them to succeed.
We know it’s possible to grow the sector, creating jobs and opportunities,
as well as protect our environment
– because working with farmers we’re doing just that already.
And we don’t need a water tax to do it.
We continue to believe in free trade and we are committed to forging even greater access to international markets for our exporters.
National is the only party with a record of partnering with industry through any challenges to ensure we maintain a globally competitive primary sector.
Policy highlights
$759m Primary Growth Partnership which means Government working with industry to create opportunities and solve challenges
$280m for new irrigation and water storage projects
Leading the international push for more free trade to help our products into more markets
Record levels of biosecurity funding
Modernised the Animal Welfare Act
and enacted new regulations to help protect our reputation
Initiated Future of our Fisheries programme with cameras to be installed on all commercial vessels
We will invest alongside our farmers in new technology to help create the future of farming
We will allow young farming families to buy their first farm through the sale of Landcorp farms
We are growing...
Primary Growth Partnership
We’ve partnered with industry through 22 R&D programmes in the $759m Primary Growth Partnership
These programmes will help us achieve our goal of doubling the value of our exports to $64b by 2025
We’re developing new and innovative ways of doing things – from faster ways to make mozzarella, to breeding mussels, to building forestry harvesters for steep land
An independent study shows that Primary Growth Partnership programmes could help us return an additional $6.4b in exports per year
Irrigation and Water Storage
We’ve put around $280m into irrigation and water storage projects – a programme Labour opposes
We only collect 2 per cent of the rainfall in New Zealand – the rest flows out to sea
More water security means farmers and growers have more certainty about the amount and kinds of food they can grow
Not only do these projects help the sector grow,
they also have environmental benefits such as better summer river flows and flushing out algae
Irrigation and water storage could return $2.2b a year to our economy
Time to flush the myths
Opponents of irrigation incorrectly argue it’s all about environmental pollution through more intensive dairy
The reality is that dairy is only 48 per cent of irrigated land – and with more water security many farmers will be able to convert to land uses like horticulture
Farmers have to comply with regional council rules about nutrient losses from their farms
It’s hypocritical of opponents of farming to lecture about the impacts of climate change, and then deny farmers a tool to help with better food security
We are protecting...
More for biosecurity
Keeping out unwanted pests and diseases is a critical part of ensuring our primary sector stays healthy and competitive
Biosecurity funding has grown under National to record levels of almost $250m a year
We’ve also launched the Biosecurity 2025 strategy that encourages everyone to play their part in biosecurity
We’re reviewing our import rules to make sure we get rid of pests and diseases before products even reach our border
Modernising our fisheries
We’ve initiated the Future of our Fisheries programme – a widespread review which is strengthening our fisheries management system
Cameras and electronic monitoring will now be installed on all commercial boats to help increase transparency of our fisheries
An extra $30.5m will also help us get better information on the health of our fisheries to protect them for future generations
Our results so far...
Primary Sector exports are forecast to grow to record levels of $41.8b next year – that’s over $8000 for every man, woman, and child in the country
We’re rolling out faster internet to our rural communities and improve mobile coverage in black spot areas through our rural broadband programmes
Investing $9.2b into New Zealand’s state highway network over the next four years
Rural communities will be better served by our Safer Communities package which will mean a total of 1125 new Police on the beat
We’ve supported the sector through droughts, earthquakes, and floods
We’re maintaining our commitment to free trade with a refreshed trade strategy
We’ve signed the mandate to negotiate the new TPP11 – this will mean major tariff savings for exporters and better market access
Negotiations on a China FTA upgrade are underway and we are progressing opportunities with a number of countries including Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru
We’re backing farming...
More young farmers
National will direct Landcorp to sell some of its farms to young farming families and invest the proceeds towards developing world-leading innovative farming systems
The farms will be awarded on a ten year, lease-to-buy arrangement with the leasee being required to work the farm for the duration of the lease in order to buy it
The sales are expected to take over a decade to complete and at least 100 young families will benefit from the sales
Future of Farming Fund
National wants our farmers and growers to lead the world in sustainable food production
We will turbo-charge the Sustainable Farming Fund, renaming it the Future of Farming Fund and boosting its funding from $7m to $20m per year
The fund will invest in projects which improve the way we farm and grow, ensuring we are more productive and sustainable
and it will develop technology for export
We will set a target of doubling the value of our agritech industry to $6b by 2025.
We want the latest soil sensors, farm management software, and diagnostic tools all developed here, and exported to the world
A cross-sector Future of Farming Panel to oversee the Fund’s direction and to drive the investment in innovation and science
We’re backing farming...
Tougher on biosecurity
Our Biosecurity Act is almost 15 years old and it’s time to modernise it in line with our Biosecurity 2025 strategy
We’ll create stronger rules around imports to ensure that pests and diseases don’t even make to the border
Biosecurity isn’t just about farmers and growers – we need to educate and encourage the whole country to play a part
Tough on stock rustling
Stock rustling is not just an inconvenience – it has a big emotional impact on farmers and resonates through the local community
We need to send a stronger deterrent to stock rustlers that if they’re caught, there’ll be serious consequences
National will put the Stock Rustling Bill high on the legislative agenda
We’ll also work with Police and local community groups to prevent rustling happening in the first place
Smarter regulation
Overseas consumers place a lot of confidence in the assurances our Government makes about products
We want better support industry by authenticating higher standards of production
This will help reward those producers who are going above and beyond to create more value for their products
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Labour would impose a raft of new taxes on our primary industries, imposing huge added costs on hard working New Zealand farmers and growers and driving up food prices
They’re considering capital gains, carbon, water, land and death taxes – and they are leaving it to a “working group” to come up with the details
Labour would slash immigration, making it harder for businesses to attract the right staff to help them grow
Centralised, industry by industry wage bargaining would take New Zealand backwards
Labour would scrap our irrigation programme, meaning less certainty and security for farmers, and reducing our production and economic growth
Labour, New Zealand First, and the Greens have all opposed trade deals, including TPP11, that would mean $100’s of millions for our primary sector
Racing
Securing racing’s future
National is committed to seeing New Zealand’s racing industry flourish.
Racing is an important part of New Zealand’s economy, particularly in rural New Zealand.
It is responsible for sustaining 15,000 jobs and contributing around $1.6b to the economy.
A further $130m comes from exporting thoroughbred horses.
We want to encourage innovation and growth in the industry, bringing racing into a new era.
New Zealand produces world-class trainers, jockeys, and breeds some of the world’s top racehorses.
We are perfectly positioned to capitalise on the growing racing markets in Australia and Asia, both in terms of our proximity and our industry capabilities.
Racing is defined by the passion and commitment of the people involved at every level.
New Zealand has a strong history of racing, and we will ensure it has a strong future.
Policy highlights
Recognition that racing is an important part of the community and has an exciting future
Pushing for the completion of the Racing Amendment Bill, so the ‘Racefields’ legislation reforms are passed into law
Maintaining a strong economic environment
that has the financial conditions to allow racing to grow
Encouraging the racing industry to invest in modern infrastructure and deliver new products
Our results so far
The Racing Amendment Bill had its first reading, with cross-party support
The Bill enables the NZRB to take a share from overseas internet betting providers operating in New Zealand
It also has a charge for the use of information from New Zealand events, and a charge for New Zealanders using these betting forums
The Bill modernises NZ betting, allowing people to make an in-race bet
National is...
Ensuring the industry receives more than $8m in revenue from the non-casino gaming machines
Supporting race course safety with the annual $1m Racing Safety Development Fund
Working with the Police, the SPCA, and MPI to ensure animal welfare is a priority for the industry
Committed to progressing the Racing Amendment Bill
What we will do next...
Promoting our racing industry globally to leverage the value offered by the large Australian market and growing market in Asia
Passing the Racing Amendment Bill with cross-party support, providing another valuable revenue stream for the industry
Maintaining the best economic environment possible for owners, investors, and the wider industry
Starting a conversation on the development of sector infrastructure changes, including the development of an intermediate stake-funding tier
Racing Amendment Bill
The Racing Amendment Bill, which modernises racing and sports betting in New Zealand, passed its first reading with cross party support
The Bill seeks to return money to New Zealand racing through information and consumption charges from offshore betting operators
An information use charge will be imposed on offshore operators taking bets on New Zealand racing and sporting events
A consumption charge will be imposed on offshore operators taking bets from people living here
The Bill enables in-race betting
and allows the NZRB to offer betting on a wider range of sports
National’s plan for regional New Zealand
Backing our regions
New Zealand is a nation of opportunities
– and that’s all because of the hard work and enterprise of New Zealanders,
backed by National’s six-point plan for the future.
First, we are raising family incomes and delivering more jobs.
On 1 April someone on the average wage will receive a tax cut of $1000 per year.
Second, we’re building infrastructure to support growth in our regions with Accelerated Regional Roading Projects, new Roads of National Significance and broadband expansions throughout New Zealand.
Third, we’re helping regional businesses to grow by negotiating new trade agreements
and investing in regional economic development.
And we’re building skills and innovation with new regional research institutes and by developing the skills of our young people.
Fourth, we’re getting the finances in order.
By their own numbers, Labour would borrow an extra $11b over the next four years
at a time we should be paying down debt to prepare for the next financial crisis or natural disaster.
Fifth, we are investing even more in world-class public services for regional New Zealand.
We’re delivering cheaper GP visits
and investing in education.
And our social investment programme is helping vulnerable New Zealanders change their lives one by one.
The sixth point of our plan is what we won’t do.
We won’t create new taxes – we won’t raise income taxes, or introduce an inheritance tax, or a regional fuel tax.
We also won’t hit farmers with new taxes that would slow down regional New Zealand – a capital gains tax, a water tax, a land tax or adding farmers to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
Policy highlights
One of the fastest-growing economies in the developed world
Lower taxes for families
and businesses and making it easier for businesses to pay the right amount of tax
Working with our farmers and growers, rather than imposing punitive taxes on hard-working New Zealanders
Wages are rising and jobs are growing – the average wage has increased by $13,000 to $59,000, and 181,000 new jobs have been created in the last two years
Ultra-Fast and Rural Broadband are better connecting our regions to each other and to the world
Better transport infrastructure to connect our regions to main centres, and ensuring our roads are safer
Ensuring our immigration settings encourage migrants to the regions to support local economies
Building access to international markets through more and better free trade agreements
Working with regions on economic action plans
National is...
Growing regional economies
New Zealand has come a long way since National took office,
and regions are growing strongly
We built from a recession to what is now one of the fastest-growing economies in the developed world
181,000 new jobs have been created in the last two years, and unemployment is the lowest it has been since the GFC at 4.8 per cent and falling
We are selling more to the world – our exports are now worth over $70b a year and we are continuing to build on our access to international markets
Our success means we are investing record amounts in world-class public services
and we are ensuring more money for family budgets
Delivering lower taxes
National wants to reward hardworking New Zealanders by ensuring they pay less tax,
while still providing world-class public services
National will reduce income taxes – so that from 1 April someone on the average wage will pay $1000 less tax per year.
Our Family Incomes Package means 1.3 million New Zealand families will be $26 a week better off on average
Under National, regional businesses will have the confidence to start and grow, to hire more staff and to invest in becoming more productive and environmentally friendly because they will know how much tax they will pay
We’re helping develop the skills we need in a modern economy – 85 per cent of students now get NCEA Level 2, compared to 70 per cent in 2008
We are working closely with regions
to develop economic action plans
which aim to increase jobs, incomes and investment in regional New Zealand
So far we’ve released plans with Northland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne /Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui, Canterbury, West Coast and Southland
We are helping regional New Zealand build on its strengths, attract people and capital and investing in the projects we know will contribute to growth
National is...
Building regional infrastructure
Our growing economy means we can invest more in the infrastructure needed for New Zealand to continue to grow
We are investing $32.5b in core infrastructure over the next four years into new roads, schools, hospitals and venues like the new stadium in Christchurch and covered velodrome in Whanganui to attract more visitors
New Zealand is also seeing record numbers of tourists so we are investing in the facilities to help our smaller towns and communities cater to them
Our Ultra-Fast and Rural Broadband is connecting New Zealanders with each other and the world, making it easier to learn, stay in touch and do business right around the country
By 2022, 87 per cent of New Zealanders will have access to UFB and 99 per cent will have access to high speed internet through the Rural Broadband Initiative
We’re investing in transport links to ensure our regions are better connected – through our Roads of National Significance and Accelerated Regional Roading projects
We’re making great progress on the first seven Roads of National Significance, with some already completed, so we have committed to ten more to make our roads faster, safer and more reliable
The Accelerated Regional Roading Projects are speeding up roading upgrades that are important for regional development and growth
Investing $600 milllion to fix the worst 90 black spots around the country, reducing deaths and serious injuries by 900 over 10 years
National is...
Supporting our exporters
Our regions are built on trade, and under National exports continue to rise – we’re now selling $70b of our products to the world every year
Our economy is diversifying, and we are seeing strong growth in newer industries like wine, ICT, film and high tech manufacturing – in addition to our traditional strengths in agriculture, horticulture and tourism
National has set an ambitious goal of having 90 per cent of our exports covered by a trade agreement – when we open the door for exporters they create opportunities for Kiwis back home
We will focus on pursuing agreements like the TPP11, which will increase access to markets like Japan and Mexico – an agreement Labour opposes
Supporting tourism
Tourism is now our biggest exporter, worth $14.5b to the economy, employing more than 180,000 people and showing us off to the world
We are ensuring those benefits are spread around NZ throughout the year, supporting regional economies
National is funding vital tourism infrastructure around the country such as toilet blocks and rubbish compacting facilities
We now have 22 national cycle trails all around New Zealand, in addition to 54 urban cycleway projects in 15 centres across the country
National is cracking down on freedom camping – ensuring this only happens where councils have the infrastructure to support it
Japan has a tariff on our beef exports of 50 per cent – we have a great opportunity to help our exporters by getting TPP11 over the line, and reducing this significantly
We will also pursue agreements with the UK, EU and Sri Lanka while improving our agreements with China
Our trade agenda over the next three years means we will work to unlock markets with 2.5 billion new consumers for the benefit of large and small exporters and their workers in every region of New Zealand – because we won’t get rich selling to ourselves
National is...
Working with our primary sector
National will work with our farmers and growers to tackle environmental challenges, and invest more in the new science and technology to help them
We won’t raise taxes or impose new ones
We will continue to invest in irrigation to give our farmers and growers more certainty
We will continue to provide greater access to international markets
We will ensure our immigration settings allow employers to find the right staff
and train our young people to take up jobs in the primary industries
Improving the environment
Our opponents believe we have to choose between the economy and the environment
National believes you can do both - and in fact a strong economy can help us deal with environmental challenges better
National is working with comunities to cleanup our waterways, and we’ve set world-standard swimmability targets
We are committed to making New Zealand predator free.
And we have signed up to the Paris Climate Accord, which sets challenging targets for emissions reductions over the next decade
Supporting families
Our Family Incomes Package benefits around 1.3 million families in New Zealand by, on average, $26 per week
We are investing record levels in health – it’s now $17b per year compared to $12b when we came into office
We introduced free GP visits for under-13s, and will expand $18 GP visits to a further 600,000 lower income New Zealanders – meaning it is either cheap or free for 2.5 million New Zealanders to visit the doctor
We will expand Paid Parental Leave from 18 to 22 weeks, having already extended it to 18 weeks and widened eligibility
Around 85 per cent of 18-year olds now get NCEA Level 2 – up from 70 per cent in 2008.
There’s even better improvement for Māori and Pasifika
The married rate of NZ Super has gone up from $24k a year to $31k a year under National – and will go up further next year as a result of our Family Incomes Package
We will double the support for first-home buyers buying a home, and increase it for those building a home
We will continue to support our most vulnerable while also ensuring they work with us to turn their lives around
We will work towards our goal of making New Zealand the safest country in the world by adding an extra 1125 police staff and cracking down on drugs and gangs
Don’t put it all at risk
Labour would impose a raft of new taxes on New Zealanders,
but they are refusing to be up front
Capital gains, land, inheritance, carbon, regional fuel, tourist and water taxes are all on the table,
and they’ve confirmed they will cancel National’s income tax cuts (which are already in law)
They are refusing to support free trade - meaning New Zealanders would miss out on the massive benefits of TPP11 and other new agreements
Labour would slash immigration, making it harder for businesses to attract the right staff to help them grow
Centralised, industry by industry wage bargaining would take New Zealand backwards
Cancelling National Standards means parents won’t be able to see how their children are doing in schools
Labour want to increase our debt by $11b over the next four years.
And they’ve allocated almost all of the cash so their unrealistic budgets will lead to even more borrowing and higher interest rates for businesses and families
Seniors
Valuing our seniors
National recognises and respects the contribution older people have made to New Zealand and we have a proud record of achievement for seniors in our society.
Under National the couple rate of New Zealand Superannuation has increased by more than $7000 a year from $24,062 in 2008 to $31,216 in 2017 – an increase of 29.7 per cent, more than twice the rate of inflation.
With National’s Family Incomes Package 750,000 superannuitants will receive a further increase on April 1 next year on top of their normal annual increase, with the couple rate going up by a further $680.
We’re making it easier for seniors to access the healthcare they need.
Health funding is set to reach a record $17b this year - an increase of around $5b since 2008.
And we are rolling out $18 GP visits to an extra 600,000 lower income Kiwis.
And we’re keeping our communities safer, with an extra 1125 police staff over the next four years.
Policy highlights
NZ Super married rate up by $7,000 per year since 2008 – with further increases to come as a result of National’s Family Incomes Package
SuperGold Card discounts available at nearly 9000 businesses with 13,300 outlets
SuperGold transport concession backed with an extra $41m investment
Major investment in health, with a record high of 178,000 hip, knee and other elective operations – and we’ll increase that to 200,000 per year
$18 GP visits for an extra 600,000 lower income New Zealanders
Meaningful and effective action against elder abuse and social isolation
Certainty for superannuitants and those approaching retirement – with the Superannuation age increasing to 67 in 2037
National is...
Increasing the weekly Superannuation rate
We’ve increased the Superannuation rate well ahead of inflation, with the married rate up 29.7 per cent or $7000 a year since 2008
The Family Incomes Package will deliver further increases on 1 April 2018 – an extra $680 per year for a married couple, on top of the normal adjustment
In addition 15,000 superannuitants with high housing costs will benefit by an average of $1508 a year from 1 April 2018 from the changes to the Accommodation Supplement from the Family Incomes Package
Continuing to invest in the SuperGold Card
SuperGold Card discounts available at nearly 9000 businesses with 13,300 outlets
SuperGold transport concession backed with an extra $41m investment
The SuperGold card now delivers over 10 million free trips of public transport every year
We will continue to expand the services and discounts accessed through the SuperGold Card
National is...
Ensuring older people get the services they deserve
We’re rolling out $18 GP visits to an extra 600,000 lower income New Zealanders – meaning 300,000 over 65s will now be eligible for cheap GP visits
And we’ve already rolled out free GP visits to under-13s, so in total 2.5 million Kiwis will have cheap or free doctor’s visits from 1 July next year
We’re improving aged care - 55,000 care and support workers are receiving their share of the historic $2b pay equity settlement
We’re committed to meaningful and effective action against elder abuse and social isolation, and have launched the new Elder Abuse Response Service and 24 /7 phone line
We’ve increased the number of elective surgeries for things like joint replacements, cataracts, cancerous skin lesions and cardiac surgeries from 118,000 per year when we came into office to 178,000 now.
And we’ll reach 200,000 over the next few years
Implementing a national bowel screening programme, which will screen 700,000 60 to 74 year olds every two years
Kiwis are receiving better, faster cancer treatment and more support during their care
Over the last eight years DHB support for older people’s health, including residential care and in-home support, has increased from $1.1b to $1.6b
Keeping our communities safe
We’re funding an additional 1125 police staff over the next four years, with the first of these recruits already in Police college
Police will prioritise burglaries at houses and commercial properties, and will attend 98% of calls within 48 hours
We are making sure 95% of New Zealanders live within 25km of a Police base that is available around the clock by 2022
We are replacing more than 300 different local station numbers with a national single non-emergency number from 2018
What we will do next...
Continue to increase support for older people
Rolling our Super-Gold card benefits to more retailers around New Zealand
National’s Family Income Package will deliver further increases on 1 April 2018 – an extra $680 per year for a married couple, on top of the normal adjustment
In addition 15,000 superannuitants with high housing costs will benefit by an average of $1508 a year from 1 April 2018 from the changes to the Accommodation Supplement from the Family Incomes Package
Provide certainty in retirement
We’ll increase the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation from 65 to 67, starting in 2037
We’re getting on top of debt,
and are committed to resuming NZ Superannuation Fund contributions, so that everyone has certainty about saving for their retirement
Average life expectancy in New Zealand has increased by 12 years over the past 60 years, including by four years since 2001, when the age for NZ Super was increased to 65 – this will continue, so it is fair to increase the age
We’ll also tighten residency requirements, so that migrants moving to New Zealand from 2018 have to live here for 20 years before being eligible for Super
Sport and Recreation
Supporting sport
National has significantly advanced the profile of New Zealand sport, both domestically and internationally.
We are supporting grassroots sport to encourage healthy, more active living.
As part of this, we have brought sports and health closer together in recognition of their mutual benefits.
We are also supporting our top athletes on the world stage through our high performance sport system, which is consistently delivering world leading results.
National has focused on delivering world-class infrastructure and support to sports identified as prospects for international success.
The Rio Olympics and Paralympics showed the approach is working, with significant success at both events.
National recognises the value of bringing major events to New Zealand.
They bring visitors, boost our economy and showcase us to the world.
With major events like the America’s Cup and Rugby League World Cup coming here soon those benefits will continue.
Policy highlights
Continuing our investment in grassroots sport, and getting more kids active
Delivering the Community Sport Strategy to get more people participating
Implemented the Childhood Obesity Plan to ensure healthier kids
Supporting the successful hosting of major sports events in New Zealand
Creating a world-class high performance system to help Kiwi athletes succeed on the world stage
Our results so far
We’re trialling a new way to deliver sport in schools through Play.Sport
Record 18 medals at the Rio Olympics and top in medals per capita at the Rio Paralympics, with 21
Hosted Cricket and FIFA Under-20 world cups, World Masters Games and Lions rugby series
Championed integrity in sports by passing anti-match-fixing laws and representing Oceania at the World Anti-Doping Association
National is...
Supporting kids to live healthy, active lives through the Childhood Obesity Plan.
We are one of the first countries to have such a plan
Encouraging community sports through our Community Sport Strategy.
We have also continued to release Lottery Grant money to support clubs and other sporting organisations
Supporting our high performance sportspeople to gain education or professional qualifications while continuing in sport through Prime Minister’s Scholarships
Investing in world-class high performance facilities for our athletes
Taking an active role in championing integrity in sports through strengthening anti match-fixing laws and representing Oceania at the World Anti-Doping Association
What we will do next...
Further strengthen the relationship between sport, health and education.
Use sport as a vehicle to improve social outcomes
Continue to champion our grassroots community sports sector
Invest in our high performance sport facilities
Contribute a further $120m to help build a Multi-Use Arena in Christchurch
Strengthen the pathways between community sports and our high performance sport system
Amend the Racing Act to account for the growth in sports betting and provide a greater return to sports organisations
Host more successful major events here in New Zealand
Looking ahead to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, and to the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in PyeongChang
National’s plan for tax and government finances
Managing the books, without new taxes
National has worked hard to get the government’s finances back in order while investing in new infrastructure and public services without raising taxes – and we’ve got a five-point plan for the future.
First, we are building surpluses and paying down debt – because now is the time to put money away for the next financial crisis or natural disaster.
By their own numbers Labour would borrow an extra $11b over the next four years.
Second, we are raising family incomes by cutting income taxes and lifting Working For Families and the Accommodation Supplement.
On 1 April 2018 someone on the average wage will receive a tax cut of $1060 a year.
In total, 1.3 million families will benefit by an average of $1350 per year.
Third, we’re investing in the infrastructure and public services our growing country deserves with new schools and hospitals,
cheaper doctors visits,
Roads of National Significance and broadband expansions throughout New Zealand.
And our social investment programme is helping vulnerable New Zealanders change their lives one by one.
Fourth, we are simplifying the tax system and making it easier to do business.
We’ll roll out real time provisional and terminal tax for all businesses,
and we are cracking down on multinationals to make sure everyone pays their fair share.
Fifth, we will support business confidence by maintaining our broad-based tax system
which is fair to all businesses.
We won’t raise income taxes, or introduce a water tax, or a regional fuel tax, or a tourist tax, or add farmers to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
And we won’t create uncertainty by investigating a capital gains tax or a land tax.
Policy highlights
Family Incomes Package will provide a boost for 1.3 million families by $1350 per year on average
Delivering surpluses and reducing debt to prepare for the next Global Financial Crisis or natural disaster
Making tax simpler for businesses, such as a new pay-as-you-go option for provisional tax
Cracking down on multi-nationals to ensure they pay the correct amount of tax
$32.5b investment in infrastructure over the next four years - a 40% increase on the previous four years
New operating allowances over the next four years will total $17.3b and go towards improving public services like health,
education
and conservation
We won’t introduce any new taxes
We’ll resume contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund in 2020 /21
National is...
Building surpluses and paying down debt
National increased debt to support New Zealanders through the worst of the Global Financial Crisis and Canterbury earthquakes
Since then we’ve kept a responsible reign on new spending,
while prioritising key public services like health and education
This approach means we’ve turned around the government’s books from a $18b deficit in 2011 to an expected $2.9b surplus this year
We’ve got a strong economy and good finances – now is the time to start paying down debt to prepare for the next international economic shock or natural disaster
We’ve got debt on track to fall below 20% of GDP by 2020, and we’re meeting our long-term goal of having debt down to 10-15% of GDP by 2025
Labour on the other hand would borrow an extra $11b over the next four years – now is not the time to be building up more debt
National will resume contributions to the New Zealand Super Fund in 2020 /21,
after we’ve got debt down to 20% of GDP because we don’t believe in borrowing to invest in the share market
National is...
Delivering more jobs and higher wages
The average annual wage has increased $13,000 since we came into office – twice the rate of inflation.
In fact, New Zealand’s real after-tax wages have risen twice as fast as Australia’s over this time
We’ve added 181,000 new jobs over the last two years, so now 2.5 million New Zealanders have a job, the highest level ever
Unemployment has fallen to 4.8% – the lowest rate since 2008 – and is forecast to keep falling
Increasing family incomes
National’s Family Incomes Package will benefit 1.3 million families by $26 per week on average.
Around 750,000 superannuitants and 41,000 students will also benefit
Tax threshold changes mean someone on the average wage will gain an extra $1060 per week from 1 April next year – we’ve legislated that already with the support of all parties except Labour
We’re increasing Working for Families for around 310,000 low to middle income families with children under 16
Superannuitants will also benefit from the package, with the NZ Super rate for a married couple increasing by $680 per year – in addition to the normal increases
The Package also increases the Accommodation Supplement for 136,000 families with low incomes and high housing costs.
They’ll benefit by an average of $36 per week – with some high needs households receiving more than $100 extra
In total, the package is expected to lift 50,000 children out of poverty, by one OECD measure
And we can do it all again.
If we stay on track, there is room to do another Family Incomes Package in 2020
– but only under National because we are getting debt down, as opposed to Labour who already proposing a huge spending spree
National is...
Investing in better public services
We’re investing in world-class public services that are delivering real results for New Zealanders
Health is our top funding priority, with a record $16.8b to be invested this year - that’s $5b a year more than when we took office
And we’re delivering better results from education, with 85% of students now gaining NCEA Level 2
Our programme of social investment is helping vulnerable New Zealanders to change their lives, by working with them one by one
There are currently 60,000 fewer children living in benefit dependent households than in 2011
Delivering infrastructure
National will invest to $32.5b in infrastructure over the next four years - a 40% increase on the previous four years
We are fast tracking the construction of 60,000 homes through the $1b Housing Infrastructure Fund – in total 200,000 houses will be built over the next four years
We’ve committed to 10 new Roads of National significance, the City Rail Link and we’re rolling out Ultra-Fast Broadband around the country
We’re delivering the schools and hospitals we needs as a growing country – including a $5b investment in our classrooms
Providing for future spending
Our budget allowances for the next four years provide for an extra $17b of spending over the next four years
Through the 2017 election, we’ve allocated around $2b of that new spending
Labour on the other hand have spent so much already that their own numbers show they need to run two Budgets with no new spending outside health and education – that’s despite them borrowing $11b more than National
That means no money for police wages,
or vulnerable children,
or conservation initiatives,
or support for beneficiaries
National is...
Making tax easier for businesses
National is working to make tax a normal part of running a business – rather than a separate compliance process
We are modernising and simplifying the tax system so businesses and individuals receive their correct entitlements and spend less time filling in forms
Businesses grossing less than $5m will have a new pay-as-you-go tax option from 1 April 2018.
This means 110,000 businesses will not have to worry about paying provisional and terminal tax if they choose to take up this option
Next term, we extend this option to all businesses – making provisional tax a thing of the past for all business that want a change
Businesses can now manage their GST online when they file – no need to switch to internet banking or mail cheques
Contractors are now able to choose a withholding tax rate that suits their needs, rather have one set for them
The 1% monthly penalty for new debt has been scrapped, and use-of-money interest has been eliminated or reduced for the vast majority of taxpayers
We’re making changes to improve tax treatment for feasibility and black hole expenditure
We’re focused on making tax easier for business.
A recent IR survey shows the median time SMEs spent within their business on tax compliance is down 25% since 2013
Cracking down on multinationals
We’re making sure everyone pays their fair share of tax, including multi-national companies
We’re changing the law and working with the OECD to clamp down on base erosion and profit shifting, which can allow multi-nationals to pay little or no tax in New Zealand
Imported services are now subject to GST, and we have strengthened non-resident withholding tax requirements
We’ve reformed the foreign trust disclosure rules to ensure they are fit for purpose
National is...
No new taxes
National wants to reward hardworking New Zealanders by ensuring they pay less tax,
while still providing world-class public services
We won’t create new taxes that would slow New Zealand down
We won’t raise income taxes, or introduce a water tax, or a regional fuel tax, or a tourist tax, or add farmers to the Emissions Trading Scheme.
And we won’t investigate a capital gains tax, a land tax or an inheritance tax
Under National, businesses will have the confidence to start and grow, to hire more staff and to invest in becoming more productive and environmentally friendly because they will know how much tax they will pay
Don’t put it all at risk
We have a growing economy, rising wages, government surpluses, and falling debt; yet Labour believe there is never a good time to cut taxes
Labour would impose a raft of new taxes on New  Zealanders,
but they are refusing to be up front
Capital gains, land, inheritance, carbon, regional fuel, tourist and water taxes are all on the table,
and they’ve confirmed they would cancel National’s income tax cuts (which are already in law) - taking away $1060 a year from someone earning the average wage
Labour have spent so much in this election that their own numbers show they need to run two Budgets with no new spending outside health and education – that’s despite them borrowing $11b more than National
That’s no money for police wages,
or vulnerable children,
or conservation initiatives,
or support or beneficiaries
And higher government debt means higher interest rates for businesses and families with a mortgage
Tertiary Education, Skills & Employment
Preparing Kiwis for success
A strong tertiary education sector ensures New Zealanders have the opportunity to participate in our growing economy.
The National Government is investing heavily to ensure more Kiwis get the right education and training for their careers and the opportunity to follow their dreams and to gain knowledge about themselves, our society and the world we live in.
The tertiary sector is now a big part of our economy - driving innovation, attracting talent from around the world and providing research and intellectual leadership.
It is also a major export earner, providing and supporting jobs for thousands of families.
National will ensure our tertiary sector remains strong and effective, helping equip Kiwis with the skills they need to take on the world.
Policy highlights
181,000 jobs created over the past two years,
and more skilled Kiwis to do that work than ever
Increased accommodation support for students who need it most through the Family Incomes Package
Increased access to cheap GP visits and Community Services cards for low income New Zealanders
Improved access to better information to help students decide where and what to study
Training more apprentices, with a target of 50,000 by 2020
Increased funding for science, technology, engineering and maths courses
An 8.9 per cent increase in students studying a qualification at bachelors level or higher since 2008
A 170 per cent increase in the past two years in the number of employers delivering workplace numeracy and literacy training
National is...
Boosting education New Zealanders
More young New Zealanders have tertiary qualifications than ever before
Since 2008 the number of Maori and Pacific students completing a bachelors degree has increased by 64 per cent and 84 per cent respectively
We‘re training more engineering graduates than ever
Since National came into office the number of domestic students completing a qualification at a tertiary provider has increased 11 per cent
Five years after graduation, Kiwis with a bachelors degree earn, on average, 39 per cent more than the national median income and those that stay in New Zealand pay off their loan around six and a half years on average
Creating opportunities
Under National, we are better connecting educators and employers to ensure it’s easier for young people to move into the right careers
In 2017 alone, 9,200 fees-free places were offered by a range of polytechnics, wānanga and private training establishments, ensuring more choice
There are now over 43,000 people in apprenticeships and apprentice-like training and we’ll increase this to 50,000 by 2020
Creating more jobs
The best way we can help young people is to deliver an economy that creates jobs
Under National, 181,000 jobs have been created in the past two years – that’s 248 jobs per day
The unemployment rate has dropped to 4.8 per cent - the lowest since the GFC
Wages continue to rise, with the average annual wage now at $59,362
New Zealand has the second highest rate of employment for everybody over the age of 15 in the OECD
The international education sector is now worth $4.5b to the economy, supporting over 33,000 jobs
National is...
Supporting students
The National-led Government has ensured tertiary study remains affordable, investing about $4.1b a year, with about $1.2 b of that covering student loans and allowances
Under National 71 per cent of the cost of tuition is funded by taxpayers, rising to around 80 per cent when interest-free student loans are taken into account
Budget 2017 delivered increased accommodation support for students who need it most - up to $20 more per week for eligible students
We are also ensuring we are fair to taxpayers and that those who borrow pay it back.
So we have cracked down on overseas-based borrowers and collected an estimated $412m in additional student-loan repayments
Our results so far
More young New Zealanders have tertiary qualifications than ever before
Currently 57.1 per cent of New Zealanders aged between 25 and 34 hold a tertiary qualification at level 4 or above
The number of domestic students completing a tertiary qualification continues to grow, with an increase of 11 per cent since 2008
The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.8 per cent, the lowest since the start of the GFC
Supported 2,572 learners in the past year through the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training programme
What we will do next...
Ensure more flexibility
We are committed to creating a more flexible and responsive tertiary sector which prepares New Zealanders for the future. We will:
Create a more student-centred system, for example by improving credit transfers between institutions
Better meet the needs of employers by exploring responsive teaching environments that encourage high quality research and industry informed teaching
Enable and encourage innovative new models and providers
by more responsive regulation
Support for students
National is committed to supporting students
We are increasing accommodation support for students who need it most through accommodation benefit increases in the Family Incomes Package
National has also pledged to expand cheap GP visits to 600,000 more New Zealanders
We will also expand access to the Community Services Card to an additional 350,000 New Zealanders with low incomes and high housing costs, to ensure they can access a range of cheaper health services
A school of Rural Medicine
Every New Zealander deserves quality healthcare and we want to make it easier for those in rural areas to see their GP and access other health services
We will establish a new School of Medicine to increase the number of doctors and medical professionals in our rural communities
This builds on National’s promise to expand cheap GP visits to 600,000 more New Zealanders and our commitment to world class health services
What we will do next...
Enhance our world class tertiary system
Our tertiary education system is already recognised as world class and National will build on this by:
Investing in science to drive quality research at our universities
Attracting the best academics from around the world to ensure high quality research and ensure our students learn from the best
Working to ensure at least one New Zealand University is ranked in the top 50 worldwide
Grow the international education sector
National’s goal is to increase the value of international education in New Zealand to $7b by 2025
We will focus on quality over quantity – to maximise the net-benefit to New Zealand
We will ensure we attract high-quality students to high-quality courses,
while ensuring those who come here to study do so on the right visas and with the right intentions
International education provides jobs and incomes in our regions and helps to diversify our export markets
Strengthen foundation education
National backs the considerable investment made in foundation education platforms such as Youth Guarantee and Dual Pathways
These courses are designed to upskill and further educate young people and adults
National will focus on the execution of these programmes – further invest and strengthen the successful ones
and drop those that aren’t effective
It is National’s goal to have 60 per cent of 25 – 34 year olds with a qualification at Level 4 or above by 2018
What we will do next..
Micro-credentials rollout
Rapid technological change and the ongoing globalisation of work is continuously reshaping occupational and skills demands so our tertiary system must be adaptive and innovative
We are piloting three micro-credential courses in our tertiary system to make it easier for people to upskill or retrain without committing to longer, formal qualifications
National will approve the addition of micro-credentials into New Zealand’s tertiary education sector
We will establish a $3m Innovative Tertiary Fund for tertiary providers to seek funding for new micro-credential course development
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Take us back to the failed policies of the past, when government deficits were out of control
Labour would taxpayers to pay the full cost of tertiary studies for all students - Labour will tax plumbers to train more lawyers
Nearly triple the cost of student support, through a universal living allowance policy which could cost anywhere from $1b to $3.5b per year
Limit Post Study Work Visas when we need more skilled workers such as engineering technologists and technicians
Put thousands of New Zealand jobs at risk by making drastic cuts to our international education sector
Stop issuing student visas for courses below a bachelors degree which are not independently assessed to be of high quality
but making no assurance about what high quality is
Reverse National’s plans for whole-of-life career advice and install advisors in just secondary schools, who would be expected to advise secondary students across the entire spectrum
Trade
Ambitious and outward looking
National knows that international trade is vital to our economic success.
It underpins our businesses, it creates jobs and it lifts wages.
National will pursue an ambitious, outward-looking trade policy that fights for better and fairer access to international markets for our goods and services exporters.
We will push for a Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States, because we know that our producers are the best in the world – when we open doors for them they walk through and create opportunities for New Zealanders.
National will provide leadership as a consistent and reliable champion of free and fair trade in a changing world.
Trade priorities
National will pursue the ambitious goal of 90 per cent of New Zealand’s goods exports being covered by Free Trade Agreements by 2030
In the next term we aim to complete FTA negotiations with the Trans-Pacific Partnership 11, the Pacific Alliance grouping (Mexico, Chile, Colombia and Peru), and RCEP countries including Southeast Asia
Give priority to negotiations with India, Russia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
We will also launch FTA negotiations with the European Union, United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, and the Mercosur countries including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay
We will upgrade our current FTA arrangements with China, Singapore, and Southeast Asia
Free trade is vital to our future – exports now account for more than $70b of our national income, and more than 620,000 New Zealanders depend on exports for their jobs
National is...
Providing leadership on trade
Under National, New Zealand has been a trusted, consistent and reliable advocate for free trade
We have improved trade access for New Zealand businesses,
and enforced strong trade rules so that our businesses are treated fairly
We have successfully concluded the PACER Plus Agreement, providing Pacific countries a model to develop their economies through trade
We have concluded trade agreements with ASEAN, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, and Korea
Free trade agreements now cover 53 per cent of our goods exports – but we want to go further
Supporting New Zealand businesses to succeed
We are providing support to innovative New Zealand businesses to understand the new markets they operate in, so that they can succeed offshore
We are encouraging Māori and iwi-owned businesses to grow by participating in the global economy
We are investing in tourism infrastructure so that New Zealand tourism businesses can continue to grow
We are continuing to invest more in innovation, skills and talent
so that New Zealanders are better prepared to expand their offerings in the international marketplace
The Primary Growth Partnership has invested over $750m in innovation programmes to increase the market success of the primary industries
We are investing in ICT and broadband infrastructure so that businesses can sell their services internationally in the digital economy
The National Government has committed billions to major transport and infrastructure projects, such as the Roads of National Significance to help exporters get their product to market faster
Our results...
Trade is boosting growth
Our two-way trade with China grew from $8b a year in 2008 to $23b in 2016.
This insulated us from the worst effects of the Global Financial Crisis
Goods exports to countries we have FTAs with have increased by 82 per cent since 2008.
Service exports now deliver $21b to the economy
We had a trade surplus of $3.7b last year, earning $70.1b in export revenue
Immediate priorities...
We’re backing TPP
TPP11 will:
Add $2.5b to our economy annually
Create tens of thousands of new jobs
Save New Zealand companies $222m in tariffs each year
Be our first FTA with four new countries, including Japan – the world’s 3rd largest consumer market
Expand our FTA coverage from 53 per cent to 63 per cent
National will continue to show leadership and work towards a successful conclusion for TPP11.
This is a hugely valuable agreement for New Zealand both strategically and economically
New Zealanders have a right to know where political parties stand on TPP
Immediate priorities...
FTA road-map - over the next three years we will...
Launch
The European Union: We have $20b of two-way trade with the EU and are one of only six WTO members without a deal on the table
United Kingdom: Our largest market in Europe, we are well placed to launch a trade deal with the UK post-Brexit
Sri Lanka: A growing market for New Zealand dairy
Mercosur: Countries including Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay
Complete
The Trans-Pacific Partnership 11
Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru)
RCEP (Southeast Asia, Australia, China, India, Korea and Japan)
Upgrade of our current FTA arrangements with China, Singapore, and Southeast Asia
Advance negotiations with India, Russia, and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
What we will do next...
We know we’ll have to work hard to achieve our goal of reaching 90 per cent coverage of goods exports included in Free Trade Agreements by 2030
We will fight unfair non-tariff barriers that our producers face in offshore markets
We will continue to improve engagement with the public, business, Māori and civil society on the benefits of trade to New Zealanders
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Refused to back TPP11.
TPP11 will have huge benefits.
Not being part of it will harm our exporters, destroy jobs, and reduce our access to tariff reductions overseas
Labour and the Greens will not fight for better opportunities for our exporters.
Only National will do so
The opposition is incapable of showing leadership on trade liberalisation because they do not believe in it.
A consistent, reliable commitment to champion an open global trading system builds trust.
That trust will be damaged by a Labour /Green Government
Transport
Our plan
National is committed to building the world-class infrastructure to ensure New Zealand continues to grow.
New Zealand’s transport system underpins our economy, whether its people moving around, the movement of freight from farm to town or exporters getting their products to international markets.
Since 2008, National has invested more in transport infrastructure than at any other time in New Zealand’s history.
This reflects our commitment to building a more efficient transport system for a more competitive and productive economy.
We know that strong transport connections are critical for our growing regions and support New Zealand’s economic prosperity.
That’s why we’ll continue to invest in all modes of transport to keep New Zealand moving forward
– and when we have high quality infrastructure, we’ll make sure New Zealanders see the benefits, like through raising the speed limit on our safest roads.
National is committed to ensuring New Zealanders get around and get ahead.
Policy highlights
Record investment in transport
Delivering the Roads of National Significance – our safest and most efficient roads
Accelerating the next generation of State Highway projects across Auckland
$600m invested in fixing the worst black spots to make them safer
Restoring the pre-earthquake transport links to Kaikoura and its surrounding communities
Spending a record $2b on public transport
Delivering the $3.4b City Rail Link in Auckland
$267m investment in commuter rail
Target of 64,000 electric vehicles by 2021
One in three cars in the government fleet to be electric by 2021
Delivering 54 projects in 15 centres under the $333m Urban Cycleways Programme
Growing our air links with the rest of the world
National is...
Building Roads of National Significance
The Roads of National Significance programme is an important part of our National Infrastructure Plan
They are the most important routes in the country and also our safest roads, with no fatalities on them to date
We invested $12b to build the first seven projects to reduce congestion, improve safety and support economic growth
They are also lead infrastructure projects meaning we are investing now to encourage future economic growth, rather than waiting until the strain on the network becomes a handbrake
The focus is on moving people and freight between and within these centres more safely and efficiently
The programme has been a significant creator of jobs across the country – around 35,000 construction jobs in the regions
Benefits:
Boosting and unlocking economic growth and productivity
Providing safer and more reliable journeys on our State Highways
Reducing congestion and travel times
Providing better access to key domestic and international markets through stronger and more reliable connections to major ports and airports
Provide better access to employment opportunities and connecting freight with to economic development
National is...
Investing in Auckland
Auckland is the country’s major centre of population and economic activity and its transport network plays a vital role in the city’s success
National has lifted central government investment in Auckland to records levels of $1.2b a year to ensure the city has the infrastructure it needs
We want to ensure it is easier for people and freight to get around the city – by car, bus, train, bike or on foot, to ensure the city continues to grow and Aucklanders can take full advantage of the growing opportunities it offers
Alignment on priorities
In 2016 the National-led Government and Auckland Council released the final report of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project
We know we can do better by working together and that’s exactly what we are doing
We now agree on how and where Auckland is likely to grow, what the transport priorities are and when they need to be addressed, as well as how they will be paid for
The refreshed approach was released in 2017 and signals nearly $26b in investment in the city’s transport infrastructure over the next 10 years
Our results so far
Victoria Park Tunnel completed
Newmarket Viaduct completed
Western Ring Route nearly complete
Waterview Tunnel now open
City Rail Link construction underway
Puhoi to Wellford Road of National Significance construction underway
Improvements to State Highway 20A to Auckland Airport nearly complete
Widening and improvements on the Southern Motorway underway
Consenting for the Northern Motorway widening and improvements underway
Consenting for the East West Link project underway
Route protection for Mass Transit to Auckland Airport underway
Construction on Urban Cycleway projects underway
National is...
Accelerating regional roading projects
National is committed to delivering the infrastructure the regions need to support New Zealand’s growing economy
To date we have invested $212m to accelerate 16 projects across the country
That investment means we are constructing more projects sooner
Projects have been selected because they are priorities for the region that will improve safety, resilience, economic growth and productivity
Keeping roads users safe
We lowered the blood alcohol limit and introduced legislation to make the use of alcohol interlocks mandatory for serious and repeat drink-driving offenders
We have invested $600m in the ‘Safer Roads and Roadsides’ programme to improve safety at 90 blackspots on rural State Highways across 14 regions
We issued the Speed Management Guide giving local authorities the tools to decide safe and appropriate speeds for roads in their district
Rebuilding Kaikoura
National will restore the pre-earthquake transport links to Kaikoura and its surrounding communities
We will rebuild State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Christchurch and re-open it before the end of 2017
National will rebuild the South Island’s Main North Line and re-open it before the end of 2017
National is...
Strengthening our air links
We know our success lies in being open and better connected to the world
So we are ensuring that our international air services offer New Zealanders more travel, tourist and trade opportunities than ever before
We have helped build an open, competitive market that is delivering lower air fares and more flights and visitors to New Zealand
International visitor arrivals set a new record in 2016 with 3.5 million visitors
We’ve signed air service agreements with 61 countries and territories, with 20 awaiting signature
Investing in rail
National has invested over $5b in rail infrastructure and services
This includes $2.5b to electrify the Auckland and Wellington commuter networks
National is rebuilding the South Island’s Main North Line following the November 2016 Kaikoura earthquake
We continued the Capital Connection service between Palmerston North and Wellington
Supporting Maritime
National will ensure coastal shipping continues to play a part in New Zealand’s transport system
National will lead work on controlling air pollution from ships
National is changing the law to require commercial maritime operations to have drug and alcohol management plans
National is...
Growing public transport
Over $2b has been invested since 2015 in publictransport, providing options for commuters
and a lower-carbon alternative to cars
Under National:Investment in public transport is at record levels
Public transport use is at record levels
New services, stations and facilities are being delivered
More electric vehicles
National is delivering a package of measures to increase the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). We have:
A target of 64,000 EVs by 2021
Put in place an exemption from Road User Charges for EVs
Rolled out a nation-wide electric vehicle information and promotion campaign
Issued national guidance to support the development and roll-out of public charging infrastructure
Changing the face of cycling
National is leading the way on cycling in New Zealand
$333m is being invested in Urban Cycleways, the single biggest investment in New Zealand’s cycling history
54 projects in 15 centres across the country
More than $90m is being invested in provincial centres
What we will do next...
Roads of National Significance
National will complete the original Roads of National Significance and invest $10.5b to build 10 more
Strong transport connections are critical for our growing regions and support New Zealand’s economic prosperity
The next 10 projects are a part of our record infrastructure investment of $32.5b over the next four years
Roads of National Significance are our most important routes and also our safest, with no road fatalities to date
$267m for commuter rail
National will invest $267m over the next three years in the Auckland and Wellington commuter rail networks to support future passenger growth in our biggest cities
In Auckland, National will: Electrify the Southern Rail line to Pukekohe
Build the Third Main Rail Line in Auckland
In Wellington, National will:Double track the Hutt Valley Line between Upper Hutt and Trentham
Build a third platform at Porirua Station and a turn-back facility at Plimmerton
Upgrade bridges and slopes on the network
Upgrade ‘Park and Ride’ facilities on the Kapiti and Hutt Valley Lines
Complete a programme to integrate and optimise rail and bus services
What we will do next...
Support Auckland’s growing transport needs
National will declare Mill Road a State Highway and start construction in the next three years at a cost of nearly $1b.
National will accelerate construction on the next generation of State Highway projects identified in Decade 1 of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project and recent refresh. They are:
Northwestern Busway
An interchange connecting State Highways 16 and 18
Southern Motorway widening between Papakura and Drury
Widen State Highway 20B to improve eastern access to Auckland Airport
Airport-Manukau bus priority on State Highway 20, including Puhinui interchange
Penlink
National will also:Make substantial progress on the construction of the City Rail Link
Start construction on the East West Link State Highway Project
Work with Auckland Council on a mass transit solution between the CBD and Auckland Airport and complete route protection
Make ongoing investments to improve Auckland’s rail network, including constructing the Third Main Line and extending electrification to Pukekohe
National will work with Auckland Council to bridge the current funding gap of approximately $6b to accelerate high priority projects the Council has responsibility for. They are:
AMETI Eastern Busway and associated Reeves Road flyover
The earlier purchase of new electric trains
Earlier completion of key city centre bus lanes and interchanges
Road Safety
National will complete our $600m investment to fix the worst 90 black spots around the country, reducing deaths and serious injuries by 900 over 10 years
We will roll out the Visiting Drivers Programme to key tourist routes around the country
What we will do next...
1 in 3 public sector vehicles to be electric
National knows that electric vehicles are the future – and we want to encourage the switch to low emission transport sooner
That’s why we will set a hard target of 1 in 3 electric or electric hybrid vehicles in the Government fleet by 2021
There are around 15,500 vehicles across the Government fleet, and National will use the buying power of government to get EVs here at scale
Don’t put it all at risk
Labour takes a piecemeal approach to investing in our transport system
Labour will scale back or even cancel key roading projects like the East-West Link and the Warkworth to Wellsford Road of National Significance
Labour will use the National Land Transport Fund as a slush fund for non-roading projects
Labour will impose a regional fuel tax in Auckland and may extend that to Wellington and Christchurch, pushing up prices at the pump
Labour haven’t done their homework
and have no plan as to how they will fund their transport promises
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Settling Treaty claims
New Zealand is a world leader in its approach to the resolution of historic grievances.
National understands that recognising the full potential of the Crown-Iwi relationship will have significant social, educational and economic benefits for New Zealand.
So we have continued to increase the pace of resolving claims and, have now completed settlements for the majority of New Zealand.
By the end of 2017, there will only be around 10 negotiations yet to start.
By 2020, the remaining willing and able claimant groups should have deeds of settlement.
Treaty settlements provide a foundation for future prosperity and enable the resolution of historic grievances.
This is good for Iwi and for New Zealand as a whole.
They help Iwi unlock their economic potential,
provide a boost to the regions and build a more competitive and productive economy.
We have led the way internationally
with innovative approaches to settlements, such as the Whanganui River legislation.
We replaced the divisive and discriminatory Foreshore and Seabed Act with the Marine and Coastal Area Act
which guarantees free public access for all New Zealanders,
and ensures the public foreshore and seabed can never be sold.
National recognises the importance of just and durable settlements.
In 2011 we set up the Post Settlements Commitments Unit to safeguard the durability of settlements and to ensure the Crown keeps its commitments.
National is...
Nearing completion of the settlement process
Since National started settling Treaty claims in the 1990s, over 80 deeds of settlement have been signed, close to 60 of these under this National-led Government
91 per cent of claimant groups are now mandated and settlements represent claims covering the majority of New Zealand
All willing and able Iwi are now engaged with the Crown
Ensuring settlements are full, final and durable
The Post Settlements Commitments Unit has enhanced the Crown-Iwi relationship
Established the Post Settlement Advisory Group to advise the Attorney-General and safeguard the durability of settlements
Settlement legislation continues to progress quickly so Iwi and the regions can receive the full benefits of settlement earlier
Delivering opportunities for Maori economic development
and investment in the regions
What we will do next...
Maintain the high level of momentum National has brought to Treaty settlements
Achieve deeds of settlement with the few remaining willing and able groups by 2020
Progress settlements in regions with groups that have not yet received the benefits of settlement
Continue to deliver investment into New Zealand’s regions through settlement
The Treaty relationship is evolving rapidly-through the Post Settlement Commitments Unit, we will work with iwi to build capability and protect the intergenerational investment of Crown and Iwi
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Labour would fail to complete Treaty settlements
- only 16 deeds of settlement were signed over nine years under the Labour government, compared to close to 60 by National since it has been in government
Treaty settlements would lose the momentum they have had under National
The regions would suffer from a decline in investment
Historic grievances would be prolonged, not resolved
Tourism
Spreading the benefits
Under National tourism is thriving and is delivering jobs and opportunities for New Zealanders.
We have championed the industry which champions New Zealand.
It is now our biggest exporter and worth $14.5 billion to the economy, employing more than 180,000 people and showing us off to the world.
The growth is set to continue.
International visitors are set to spend $15.3 billion in 2023, up from the $10 billion they spend now, and from the $7.2 billion they spent in 2006.
National’s focus is on ensuring all regions realise the benefits of increasing tourist numbers and that tourists visit all year around, not just in the peak seasons.
We are investing a significant amount in local infrastructure so those small towns with few ratepayers but high numbers of tourists can cope with, and benefit from, increasing visitor numbers.
We are also focussing our marketing of New Zealand to high value visitors, with a clear strategy of value over volume.
Policy highlights
Established the $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund to boost regional tourism infrastructure
Investing in infrastructure projects in regional New Zealand, with 42 funded so far
Built 22 of the immensely popular National Cycle Trails around the country
Invested $76m in upgrading DOC’s tourism facilities
Delivering the $400m New Zealand International Convention Centre to help attract more major events
Funded 33 innovative tourist attractions through the Tourism Growth Partnership
Ensured the Hobbit films were made in New Zealand to further capitalise on the international exposure and boost to our tourism sector the films have provided
Secured 2019 as the China New Zealand Year of Tourism, with a focus on attracting high-value Chinese visitors who stay longer, spend more and travel independently
National is...
Investing in infrastructure
Funded 42 projects in regional New Zealand to help provide vital tourism infrastructure such as toilet blocks and rubbish compacting facilities
Set up a $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund to fund more regional projects
Provided $76m to the Department of Conservation to upgrade tourist facilities
Invested in the Hundertwasser Arts Centre in Whangarei
Attracted new hotel investment to cater to the booming tourism industry
Invested in road safety to make sure they are safer for tourists and New Zealanders
Marketing the shoulder seasons
Spreading visitors throughout the year makes business more sustainable for our tourism operators
Tourism New Zealand now markets New Zealand only in the shoulder seasons - autumn and spring
It’s working because the number of visitors is growing faster in the shoulder seasons than in summer
In spring 2016 the number of tourists grew by 16 per cent, outstripping summer’s 12.5 per cent growth
Attracting the right visitors
We are attracting high value tourists with visitor spend growing by 40 per cent over the last 10 years
Since 2007 international airline capacity into New Zealand has grown by 54 per cent
We are attracting value over volume, with visitor spend forecast to grow faster than visitor numbers.
We have secured 2019 as the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism to keep attracting tourists from our fastest growing market
Our results...
Tourism continues to grow
All regions are seeing an increase in spending from tourists
Tourist spend is forecast to grow to $15.3b by 2023, up from $10b now
An increasing number of secondary school students are studying travel, hospitality and tourism and around 17,000 are studying it at tertiary level
We supported the set-up of the Queenstown Resort College in Northland
Cycle trail popularity booming
We now have 22 national cycle trails all around New Zealand
In 2015 the cycle trails provided more than $37m in economic benefits
We have invested $8m in maintaining the quality of the Great Rides
What we will do next...
Focus on the regions
We will continue our focus on getting more tourists out to the regions that need them
We will work with regional tourism organisations to help emerging regions attract new tourists
We will roll out our $100m Tourism Infrastructure Fund and prioritise regions for funding
We will continue to invest in roads that will make it easier for New Zealanders and visitors to travel to new regions
Crack down on freedom camping
While New Zealanders love to camp, people aregetting increasingly frustrated with the poor behaviour and environmental impact of some campers
We will make the rules about where you can camp more consistent and easier to follow
Those in non-self-contained vehicles will no longer be able to camp in areas with no toilet facilities
We will also make sure those who break the rules pay their fines
Don’t put it all at risk
Labour and the Greens would introduce a travel tax that risks putting people off coming to New Zealand and might impose the same fee on New Zealanders returning from living or holidaying overseas
Opposed the International Convention Centre and filming the Hobbit movies in New Zealand – both of which bring huge benefits to New Zealand
Want to drastically reduce immigration numbers, making it harder for our businesses to find the staff to support our tourism industry
Women
Backing women to succeed
National backs women to succeed.
New Zealand women are better educated than ever and getting into more leadership positions.
One of our top priorities is to close the gender pay gap.
We believe men and women should be paid the same for doing the same job.
New Zealand currently has one of the smallest pay gaps in the OECD – but that’s not enough.
We want to eliminate it altogether.
National has a track record of backing women, with 45 per cent of senior leadership positions in the public sector held by women, and we are challenging the private sector to lift its game.
Women are participating in the economy more with the highest ever labour force participation rate.
More women are training and working in traditionally male dominated fields such as engineering and technology, but we need to lift that further.
We are reducing rates of family and sexual violence
and we are backing families through better public services,
better healthcare for mothers and their children,
more paid parental leave
and more flexible workplaces.
Policy highlights
$2b pay equity settlement for some our lowest paid women in the home care sector
Introduced Pay Equity legislation so claims can be resolved fairly and cost effectively
Extending Paid Parental leave to 22 weeks – up from 14 when we took office – and making it more flexible and widely available
Appointed more women to state sector boards
Our results
For the first time, 45 per cent of people on public sector boards are women
Highest ever labour force participation rate for women – 64.6 per cent
Girls are doing even better in schools – the proportion of girls achieving NCEA Level 2 has grown from 70.5 per cent in 2008 to 81.7 per cent in 2016
We’re the fourth-safest country in the world
and we’re focused on making communities even safer for families by funding an extra 1125 more Police staff
National is...
Reforming family violence laws to better protect victims, who are predominately women, and making it easier for them to get the help they need
Publishing guidance for the private sector showing them how they can measure and begin to close their gender pay gaps
Encouraging women to get into science, maths, technology and engineering by setting up our STEM directory which identifies opportunities in the sector
What we will do next...
Further increase Paid Parental Leave, from 18 to 22 weeks – up from 14 when National took office
Lift family incomes for around 1.3 million families by an average of $26 a week
Make cheap GP visits available to an extra 600,000 New Zealanders, taking the total receiving free or cheap visits to 2.5 million – part of our record investment in health
For many couples having difficulty conceiving, fertility assistance is their only chance of having a baby.
We’ll increase the number of funded IVF cycles to three and speed up access to publicly funded fertility treatment
We will offer one free dental course for pregnant women and mothers of under 1 year olds, at a cost of $23m a year
Make it easier to track your child’s progress at school through expanding National Standards
Ensure all primary children can learn a second language if they choose
Have the public sector lead the way on tackling the gender pay gap with each department to develop a plan to close their gender pay gap
Continue to work with the private sector to eliminate the gender pay gap
Continue to promote more women to public sector boards and encourage the private sector to do the same
Workplace Relations & Safety
Better workplaces
National is delivering more jobs and higher wages for New Zealanders.
We’ve brought a better balance to labour market rules, enabling businesses to grow
while ensuring the rights of workers are protected.
We’ve significantly improved workplace health and safety legislation and we are well on our way to meeting our target of reducing New Zealand’s serious injury toll by 25 per cent by 2020.
New Zealand has the lowest gender pay gap in the OECD, and National is committed to eliminating it altogether.
We will take a major step toward that through the passing of new pay equity legislation.
We have raised the minimum wage every year in Government
and we are committed to finding the right balance between supporting employers
and ensuring workers are paid fairly.
We are also working with employers to ensure they meet minimum workplace standards and holding them to account when they don’t.
Policy highlights
Extending Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks – following changes we’ve already made to widen access and increase PPL from 14 to 18 weeks
Increased minimum wage every year since coming into office, from $12 in 2008 to $15.75 now
Clamped down on bad employers
Over 180,000 jobs created in the last two years
Ensured our workplaces are more flexible
The average annual wage is up $13,000 – that’s twice the rate of inflation
Delivering on our commitment to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries by 25 per cent by 2020
Introduced new pay equity legislation, making it easier for women to file pay equity claims
New Zealand currently has the lowest unemployment rate since the GFC
Eliminated zero hour contracts
National is...
Increasing flexibility and fairness
Eliminating unfair employment practices
and maintaining a flexible labour market that encourages businesses to grow and take on new staff
Progressing pay equity legislation to help employers and employees resolve claims fairly and faster
Increasing the minimum wage in a gradual and sustainable way – it is now the second highest in the OECD relative to the average hourly wage
Strengthening enforcement of minimum employment standards through more inspectors
Enabling councils to decide whether shops open on Easter Sunday
while maintaining employee rights not to work on Easter Sunday
Safer workplaces
Reducing the serious injury and death toll in workplaces by 25 percent by 2020
Driving changes in workplace culture by working with businesses and supporting independent, industry-led workplace health and safety reforms
Investing an additional $36.6m in WorkSafe New Zealand to ensure an effective, risk targeted regulator
Rolling out the new Workplace Health and Safety Performance Improvement Toolkit, to provide information on how to ensure safe workplaces
Better work conditions
Balanced and careful approach to the minimum wage has seen it rise to $15.75 an hour
Paid Parental Leave entitlements have been extended to more workers, including casual and seasonal workers, and primary carers other than biological and formal adoptive parents
Eliminated unfair employment practices such as zero hour contracts
90 day trials are giving employers more confidence to take on new workers
Our results so far
More jobs, higher wages
Over 180,000 jobs have been created in the last two years
The average annual wage is now $59,000 a year – up $13,000 since we came into office.
It is expected to reach almost $66,000 over the next four years
Our unemployment rate is now 4.8 per cent – the lowest since the GFC
The minimum wage is now $15.75 an hour – the second highest relative to the average wage in the OECD
Safer at work
Passed the Health and Safety at Work Act - the first significant reform of health and safety laws in more than 20 years
Fatalities in risk industries forestry, construction, and manufacturing all trending down
On track to deliver on our commitment to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries by 25 percent by 2020
Launched the Harm Reduction Plan – Reducing Harm in New Zealand’s Workplaces
Launched Safer Farms programme, designed by the horticulture and agriculture sectors, WorkSafe, and ACC to reduce death and injury rates on farms
What we will do next...
National will...
Extend Paid Parental Leave to 22 weeks – after already increasing it from 14 to 18 weeks.
Add flexibility to Paid Parental Leave by allowing parents to take some of it together, ensuring they can spend more time at home with their families
Take a major step toward pay equity through the passing of legislation which will make it easier and faster to resolve pay equity claims
Continue to raise the minimum wage at a sustainable rate
to ensure fair pay for workers while not costing jobs
Focus on educating and training our young people
and on ensuring our immigration settings are right
to allow employers to find the right staff to help them grow
Continue to ensure our laws and regulations are flexible and reflect the changing nature of work
Replace existing regulations with more modern and fit-for-purpose requirements that target risk appropriately as part of our Working Safer reforms package
Work with employers to meet our 2020 target of reducing workplace fatalities and injuries by 25 per cent
Support businesses through managing the Government’s books,
investing in infrastructure to support a growing economy
and ensuring we work with businesses to help them grow
Don’t put it all at risk
The opposition would...
Bring back national awards and return us to the 1970s, forcing all regional employers to pay the same rates as in downtown Auckland
Hike the minimum wage to a level that would hurt businesses, cost jobs and reduce growth
Scrapping the 90-day trial period which would see opportunities lost for workers and make businesses less confident about taking on new staff
TRANSPORT
“New Zealand First will ensure development of a comprehensive New Zealand Transport Strategy to guide transport planning and investment, with the goal of building an integrated transport system.
That starts by keeping our transportation assets, our roads, rail, ports and airports in Kiwi hands and not those of foreigners.
This is about ensuring New Zealand’s long term transport needs are met. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
BETTER ROADS
Ensure that all the funds raised through fuel excise taxes, Road User Charges and their successors go into the National Land Transport Programme.
Expansion of median barriers.
Restore the Manawatu Gorge road connection to reinstate SH3.
Restore road Funding Assistance Rate levels (FARs) and regionally distributed funding.
Rebalance metropolitan spending so that the regions get equality.
Build a national network of fast EV charging points in service areas.
SAFER DRIVERS
Driver license training for every secondary school student.
Require that foreign licensed drivers be restricted to cars equipped with safety aids.
Hold rental agencies responsible to vet the driving competence of foreign licensed drivers against an established objective standard.
Phase-in mandatory third-party insurance as part of vehicle registration.
IMPROVED TRANSPORT
Require government and council vehicles to be 100% zero emission by 2025/26 (with exemptions for emergency services and NZDF).
Initiate a Public Inquiry on the future of conventionally powered motor vehicles — to put in place what we need to have mostly zero emission vehicles by 2050.
Electrify rail with a spur to Auckland International Airport connecting it to the network.
Establish accessible public transport for people in all major population centres with accessible ‘flexible transport services’ operating in smaller centres.
Public transport, walking and cycling to be factors in urban spatial development plans.
Offer travel enhancements to SuperGold Card holders.
RAIL FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Develop Railways of National Importance (RoNI) backed by full electrification.
Build a rail spur to Auckland International Airport connecting it to the main trunk line.
Complete the rebuild of Northland’s rail network and build a spur to Northport.
Reinstate the Gisborne to Wairoa rail line and upgrade other lines.
MODERN PORTS AND SHIPPING
Legislate for the Port of Auckland to relocate to Northport by the end of 2027.
Require KiwiRail to purchase purpose built road and rail ferries and not cast-offs.
Boost New Zealand’s mercantile marine fleet with tax and fiscal incentives.
Integrate our Ports, roads and Railways of National Importance.
AIR TRAVEL
Support a transparent process for the establishment of airport pricing by airport companies, and ensure that they maintain a pricing regime which recovers no more than a fair rate of return.
Entrench five-yearly reviews of all airport charges to airlines, and to require airport companies to establish a fair rate of return by independent assessment.
Fund local authority airports
via GST from foreign tourists and Royalties for the Regions.
Implement airport recommendations for funding by the New Zealand Airports Association.
Labour and Employment
Bottom of Form
“Our vision is of a nation made up of well educated, determined, healthy, and innovative people, with an expanding business programme geared around exports, regional development, job growth and harnessing the natural attributes of our country.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE
Increase the minimum wage to $20 per hour over three years starting in 2018
(with tax assistance for employers).
Remove secondary tax for workers with more than one job.
Abolish the ‘starting out wage’ for young people.
Set Minimum Redundancy provisions based on twice the normal contractual notice period up to a maximum of 13 weeks.
Amend the Companies Act so that wages and salary, including holiday pay, have equal priority with Secured Creditors.
PATERNITY AND MATERNITY LEAVE
Introduce paid paternal leave of two weeks rising to four weeks.
Support increasing paid maternity leave to 26-weeks.
BETTER LABOUR RELATIONS
Review and amend employment laws to ensure that casualisation employment practices are fair and just with a review of short term employment contracts.
Train New Zealanders in areas of skill shortages, instead of actively recruiting offshore.
Put New Zealanders first for jobs by sensible immigration policies.
Pay the Job Seekers Benefit to approved employers when taking on an apprentice.
Paid internship programme to provide work experience.
Introduce literacy and numeracy skills package for workers.
Introduce the Ministry of Social Development funded and NZ Defence Force operated Youth Enterprise and Training Initiative to offer trade training to students not suited to conventional education.
Establish workforce planning, career advice and competitive course entry for post-secondary education.
Require transparency when public service salaries exceed accepted public service bands.
BETTER HEALTH & SAFETY
Amend the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 to remove its bureaucratic excesses.
JUSTICE
“To ensure human life and property are respected our society relies heavily on the lawful authorities to do their job appropriately and responsibly.
Many of the New Zealand public now believe our criminal justice system is weak.
Youth justice has become a kind of "tag and release", because young offenders caught by police are being released back in to the community and allowed to continue offending.
We need to do things differently and New Zealand First will. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND MORE EFFICIENT COURTS
Improve Legal Aid funding and systems.
Explore and introduce greater use of alternative disputes resolution processes, especially mediation and arbitration as a right.
Provide litigants with better means of avoiding delays such as the use of default procedures.
Provide litigants with improved means to review the fees charged by lawyers and other providers.
Review the operation of the Disputes Tribunal to improve its performance.
Review the jurisdiction of the District Court.
Require greater use of technology to reduce the amount of court hearing time including e-document filing.
VICTIMS' RIGHTS
Better co-ordinate, and fund the delivery of state-funded and privately funded victim support services.
SENTENCING
Instruct the Law Commission together with the Human Rights Commission to urgently review the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act to broaden its cover.
Ensure an accused can be re-tried where any acquittal, or a change to a lesser offence, was as a result of intimidation, perjury, or bribery.
Remove concurrent sentences for those guilty of rape and for those who commit offences while on parole, on bail, or whilst in custody.
Strengthen monitoring requirements in relation to community-based sentences.
Review the adequacy of maximum sentences for serious criminal offences.
Investigate the implementation of degrees of murder sentencing regime.
Increase the use of mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders.
Require that upon conviction of a serious crime, non-citizens will be deported to their country of origin.
ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING
Use home detention only for non-violent offenders.
Introduce a greater range of non-custodial sentences such as the confiscation of property, larger and long term reparation payments and fines.
Implement short, sharp custodial sentences, with dedicated, stipulated, supervised and monitored work.
YOUTH JUSTICE
Reverse National’s raising the age of criminal responsibility (supported by Labour) to 18.
Require greater parental responsibility for young offenders.
Overhaul the youth justice system and introduce Demerit Points to be scaled with the current Seriousness Scale.
The more serious the crime, the more Demerit Points which will accrue (ranging from 0-100).
With lower level crimes for first-time offenders (offences or offenders), the focus is on assessment, support and guidance for the youth (including learning needs) as well as their parents.
With higher level crimes, or multiple re-offences, a higher number of Demerit Points will accrue leading to a far more serious response including Family Group Conferences, Youth Court or District Court.
When any youth offender has accrued 80 or more points, and/or committed a serious enough offence, they will go directly to Youth Court.
Any subsequent offending at any level will be heard in District Court.
THE ENVIRONMENT COURT
Permit applicants for large projects, which have regional or national significance to go directly to the Environment Court.
Consolidate submissions which substantially replicate each other in order to reduce time and expense.
Require District and Regional Councils to estimate and then maintain the costs they intend to impose on applicants at the time the application is made.
Require that costs that relate to public benefit issues will not be charged to applicants.
THE FAMILY COURT
Provide state-funded counselling
so that only those cases which have clearly developed into a dispute need to go to mediation or a court.
Make Legal Aid available to all eligible parties.
Ensure the child’s interests are represented by a lawyer unless deemed unnecessary.
PROPERTY RIGHTS AND EARTHQUAKE ISSUES
Amend the Public Works Act on the issue of Resumption of Property to provide adequate and fair compensation.
Make future earthquake recovery human rights based.
Regulate insurers to ensure the timely repair of homes and rebuilds.
For bare and uninsured land provide 100% offers plus compensation and for those who have accepted 50% offers, payout the remaining 50%.
RACING
“Racing in New Zealand directly and indirectly accounts for well over $1. 6 billion worth of GDP, employs tens of thousands of people, has the potential to rapidly expand its export earnings, and is an integral part of the Kiwi lifestyle. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
OUR PLAN FOR RACING
Return a greater proportion of industry taxation to the racing codes.
Introduce a new (below Premier Meeting) category of meeting where every race will be for $15,000 minimum, with relativity across the codes.
Enhance employment and export opportunities by working with the industry to improve the international status of New Zealand Group 1 races to attract greater international interest.
Restore marque racing plans and prize money initiatives in line with New Zealand First policy implementation 2005–2008.
Return New Zealand racing to what it was good at.
Racing needs breeding programmes to re-establish New Zealand as a first tier country in racing.
That means policies assisting importation of quality mares, and properly using the sire cost write down.
Urgently review the operations and costs of the New Zealand Racing Board.
Continue to support projects and initiatives, e. g. the Racing Safety Development Fund, which enhances all-round safety while improving the quality of facilities in the racing industry.
Direct Police, IRD and Treasury to respect the spirit of the laws passed to assist racing so we do not have specious departmental interpretations of laws that are clear to the industry.
Further improve the appeal of the racing industry to a wider audience by encouraging the promotion of “family-friendly” activities in conjunction with race meetings in all codes.
Defend the historic, modest share of the racing industry, to lawful gambling proceeds, against unreasonable attacks.
COMMERCE AND TAX
“Listen to the media broadcasting from Auckland or Wellington and it is all sweetness and light.
But go to the rest of New Zealand it is a very different picture.
Around the provinces Kiwis are busting a gut just to stand still.
While some politicians’ talk of trams for Auckland, its metal roads for the regions.
Others talk up world-class cities while underinvestment is turning parts of New Zealand into the Third World.
There’s a dangerous policy disconnect between big city and country that New Zealand First will correct. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
Stop taxing the growth of the NZ Superannuation Fund (National plans raise $4. 3bn in taxes from it up until 2021).
Direct the Guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to prioritise the purchase of shares in New Zealand infrastructure companies when they become economically available.
Establish a new low fees state-run KiwiSaver option – KiwiFund
– to invest in New Zealand land, assets, enterprises and infrastructure.
Make KiwiBank the government’s official trading bank.
Re-establish a state-owned insurer to be called KiwiSure to operate at a retail and commercial level.
Introduce Government-backed deposit guarantees
for majority New Zealand-owned banks.
Stop the sale of land and farmland to foreigners.
Seriously strengthen the Overseas Investment Act to prevent vertical integration or the loss of strategic business assets.
A FAIRER DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS
Establish automatic inflation adjustment for PAYE tax thresholds to end ‘bracket creep.
Remove secondary tax for workers with more than one job.
Remove GST from basic food items.
Remove GST from the non-service component of Council Rates.
Initiate a review into the double-taxation of ‘tax like’ instruments.
BETTER BUSINESS TAXATION AND REGULATION
Amend (from 1 April 2018) Capital Limitation rules in the Income Tax Act to treat seismic strengthening as “repairs and maintenance”.
From 1 April 2019:Reduce Company Tax rates over three years to 25%.
Introduce an Export Tax rate of 20% on export generated income.
Introduce a 100% depreciation rate for business equipment worth up to $20,000 for each item (exclusive of GST).
Introduce Research & Development Tax Credits starting at 125% in the second year when a company invests 2% of its revenue on research, rising to 150% for the third consecutive year and 200% from year four onwards.
Give shareholders of Large companies, including cooperatives, a ‘Say on Pay’ for directors and CEO’s, introduce minimum holding periods for executive share schemes and crack down on ‘golden hellos’ and ‘golden parachutes’.
Amend legislation, such as the Prudential Supervision Act 2010, to stop boards using loose and unreviewable “fit and proper person” tests to lock out potential candidates.
CLOSE LOOPHOLES
Require all government contractors to pay their fair share of tax.
Crack down on corporate tax avoidance and base erosion especially with e-commerce providers like Uber and Amazon.
Impose stiffer penalties for evasion and similar offences.
Introduce, as the UK has recently done, two new criminal offences ‘failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion’ – whether done domestically or offshore.
Double the criminal penalty for evasion offences to ten years per-offence.
Increase the fine for evasion offences ‘from up to’ $50,000 to $5 million per-offence.
MAORI AFFAIRS
“In today’s Parliament are a number of Māori who are the match for anyone else there and most of them do not hold a Māori seat.
Despite having Māori seats, most Māori yearn for the same thing as most New Zealanders do - a safe, affordable home; an easily accessible health system; an education system with escalators onto which any child can step, and go as far as they wish; and First World jobs and incomes.
In 1986, the Royal Commission on the electoral system recommended the Māori seats be abolished should MMP be adopted.
New Zealand First will bring forward a referendum to given Kiwis that decision”.
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
MĀORI SEATS REFERENDUM
Māori don’t need the Māori seats.
They don’t need tokenism.
That is why we commit to a referendum of all electors to retain or abolish the Māori seats.
SERVING MĀORI INTERESTS
Ensure that all policy-making is based on need and not on race, creed or colour.
Restructure the Ministry for Māori Development.
End Whanau Ora
and redirect resources into programmes that work for all Māori.
Encourage Māori to build houses on collectively owned land.
Strengthen the structures of the Māori Women's Welfare League, Māori Wardens and Te Kōhanga Reo.
Address entrenched problems associated with the rating of multiple owned Māori land and rates remission.
Ensure that the role of the Māori Language Commission is focused on actively protecting Māori language and culture, not under the guise of a Treaty obligation, but rather because they are the indigenous language and culture of New Zealand.
THE TREATY OF WAITANGI
The Treaty should be a source of national pride and unity
and not used to expand the separate rights of Māori or anyone else.
The Treaty is not part of the New Zealand Constitution.
It is not capable of supporting the extraction of so-called ‘principles’ for any legislative or government purpose.
Ill-defined and abstract ‘principles’ are a recipe for legal and constitutional misunderstanding and dispute.
The Waitangi Tribunal must fully, fairly and finally complete the settlement of all outstanding claims.
New Zealand First believes in the concept of a fair go for all New Zealanders
and this includes settling genuine historical grievances.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE
TRADE
New Zealand First's approach to international relations is tough-minded, independent, and integrated.
It affirms and enhances our country's traditional relationships while recognizing the emergence of global, and the realities of regional and international politics.
It recognizes the threat of international terrorism and regards the safety of New Zealand citizens as paramount.
New Zealand First will:Continue to enhance the special New Zealand association and interest in the Pacific region.
As a good neighbour, New Zealand will make the Pacific its major focus of attention.
Further develop relationships within the greater Asia-Pacific region in recognition of its growing importance to New Zealand's security and wellbeing.
Further review the level of Overseas Development Assistance and its global allocation, and ensure that it is focused on facilitating priority projects, and the alleviation of poverty, particularly in the Pacific region.
Provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with the proper resources to promote New Zealand's trade interests internationally.
Promote diplomacy as the first option to resolve international conflict
with the use of military force only to be used as a final resort when all other means have been exhausted.
Remain strongly committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy.
Continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica and for the cessation of all whaling.
Ensure that intelligence gathering is subject to greater and more transparent parliamentary control.
TRADE
“New Zealand First's approach to international relations is tough-minded, independent, and integrated.
It affirms and enhances our country's traditional relationships while recognizing the emergence of global, and the realities of regional and international politics”.
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
FOREIGN POLICY
Provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with resources it needs.
Promote diplomacy as the first option to resolve international conflict.
Remain strongly committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy.
Oppose the National-led government’s sponsorship of UNSC2334.
Continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica and for the cessation of all whaling.
FREE AND FAIR TRADE
Oppose investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) provisions in bilateral and multilateral agreements and by extension the Trans Pacific Partnership-11, which offers little for our exporters.
Revise current FTA deals being negotiated to make sure they are real and are in our interests (such as protection of land and strategic assets).
Renegotiate existing poor-quality deals to increase their quality and benefit.
Conclude the Russia-Belarus Kazakhstan Customs Union Free Trade Agreement as a priority – that bloc being the world’s number two dairy and beef importer.
Initiate public diplomacy in countries we want Free Trade Agreements with in order to win their public over and secure a better deal for their country and especially, ours.
Prioritise free and fair trade deals with Japan, United Kingdom, EU and the United States.
Initiate Closer Commonwealth Economic Relations (CCER) to deepen existing bilateral deals with Commonwealth countries.
BOOSTING EXPORTS
Refocus NZTE to supporting small and medium sized exporters with practical research, translation services and effecting commercial introductions.
DEFENCE & VETERANS' AFFAIRS
“New Zealand is a maritime nation with considerable maritime protection responsibilities and a significant role to play in the South Pacific and South East Asia in times of civil emergency or conflict.
New Zealand First is committed to building and maintaining a professional and effective Defence Force appropriate to our size and tasking requirements, that is self-sufficient, and capable of operating with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
New Zealand First also places great value and recognition on the service given by our veterans.
Our nation has a special obligation to them – particularly those who suffered as a result of their service. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
DEFENCE 2017
Develop a full-spectrum defence force capable of expeditionary warfare and Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) within New Zealand’s vast Maritime Area of Responsibility (one of the largest on earth).
Work within the fiscal parameters of the Defence Capability Plan to return offensive capabilities to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and enhance offensive capabilities of the Army and Navy.
Establish as a minimum the 1:1 replacement of major defence materiel.
Reverse falling numbers and increase budgets for recruitment, pay, operations, training and live-fire.
Prioritise combat-trained forces as best able to contribute to national and regional security, United Nations and other peacemaking initiatives.
Ensure the regular forces have all the necessary capabilities to support and assist other agencies.
Establish a tri-service Cyberwarfare Special Operations Unit.
Re-equip the Royal New Zealand Naval Reserve with its own vessels for inshore patrol, maritime SAR, pollution control and anti-mine warfare.
Re-establish and expand the Territorial Force of the NZ Army
and return it to its regional roots to, among other things, provide bodies of trained personnel to support Civil Defence, Police and other agencies throughout the country.
Legislate for a Defence Force Covenant outlining the States’ obligations to those who served and the rights of those who have served and their families, including the ending of discrimination on matters such as life insurance.
Establish an independent Armed Forces Remuneration Board to set pay and conditions.
Replace the five-yearly Defence White Paper with a four-yearly Strategic Defence and Security Review to take into account geopolitical factors.
Provide improved resourcing to return and expand the Limited Service Volunteer scheme to each of the main centres.
Actively encourage and assist the Cadet Forces including its expansion.
SUPPORTING VETERANS
Legislate for a Defence Force Covenant that will define the obligations of the State to those who served and establish the rights of those who have served and their families including the ending of discrimination on matters such as life insurance.
Ensure that all military veterans who meet the eligibility criteria receive a veteran’s pension with full relativity PLUS, in recognition of their service and sacrifice an enhancement over the standard national superannuation rates of 10 percent.
Support claims for and the provision of health services to veterans and their children who have been affected by Agent Orange, nuclear testing and suffer such health issues as cancer.
Work with the RNZRSA towards providing veterans with a sustainable health care package.
Support RNZRSA services to veterans.
Review the operations of Veterans Affairs New Zealand to ensure the client (i. e. the veteran) focused service operating model is maintained and optimised and that the onus of proof is on VANZ and not the veteran.
Ensure key dates in New Zealand military history are commemorated.
Broadcasting and ICT
“New Zealand First will promote diverse, innovative and quality programming, including programmes reflecting New Zealand’s identity, character and cultural diversity.
It will also promote the development of a broadcasting industry that is responsive to audience needs, respects community standards and places a high priority on the protection of children from harmful material.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
BETTER PUBLIC BROADCASTING
Create a new crown entity named the "Public Media Commission of New Zealand" as an umbrella organisation for TVOne/TVOne+1, Radio New Zealand and related online content.
Ensure that all appointments to the Public Media Commission of New Zealand Board are made on experience and expertise,
with appropriate representation from both industry and consumers.
De-commercialise TV One and TV One+1 and separate it from TVNZ’s remaining commercial channels (which would remain an SOE).
Require that salaries paid above public service bands be cleared with, and signed off by the responsible Ministers.
Support community-based television and radio broadcasting by requiring NZ on Air to prioritise regional/community radio and television media among its other priorities.
Establish a five-year external review cycle for NZ on Air with the purpose of improving processes and funding mechanisms to develop the amount and quality of New Zealand content.
Work with Netsafe and InternetNZ to address the area of public concern around broadcasting standards especially in relation to violence, obscenities, and pornography (including a rating system for video games).
Amend the Broadcasting Act to recognise sport as part of the New Zealand identity and to broadcast Games of National Significance live and on free-to-air television.
Improve Radio New Zealand's international services to the Pacific region.
A CONNECTED NEW ZEALAND
Develop a framework for the sharing of telecommunications infrastructure to enhance seamless consumer and business access – especially with next generation networks.
Ensure that social objectives are safeguarded in the interest of both business and consumers.
Support a review to ensure the right to privacy is included in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
Promote the right of New Zealanders to have full access to their personal information held on government databases to ensure it is correct and require that information be held in New Zealand.
Standardise digital privacy controls, records retention and security issues.
Address issues of cyber-citizenship including cyber-safety and preventing cyber-crime.
Restore "Computers in Homes" and directly support Digital Literacy for senior citizens via SeniorNet.
Local Government
“Local government, as the exercise of democracy at the local level, is a fundamental part of New Zealand's governmental structures.
However, the nature and scope of its role has changed significantly over time, primarily as central government has continued to devolve increased legislated responsibilities to councils.
New Zealand First will return elected local government to all parts of New Zealand and oppose any undemocratic forced amalgamations. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
RESPONSIVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Reduce the rates burden and boost service provision by giving local government all the GST from foreign tourism ($1. 5 billion p. a. ) and a 25 percent share of royalties from water bottled for export and from Crown Minerals.
Remove racial separatism from the Local Government Act
and provide for a single voting mechanism across all local authorities.
Ensure that when governmental functions are devolved to local government the financial resources needed to implement the devolution are also provided.
Extend rates rebates to those who hold ‘occupation rights agreements’ in retirement villages
and remove GST from the non-service component of council rates.
Ensure rating differentials can only be put on businesses if evidence of differential costs can be demonstrated.
Require the Local Government Commission to cease its operating model of forcing local authority amalgamations and reinstate into the Local Government Act, a requirement for proposed amalgamations to consider the social and economic imperatives of affected communities.
Require the Local Government Commission to allow communities faced with amalgamation to decide their own futures by binding local (i.e. to that community) referenda.
Require the Local Government Commission to develop a mechanism allowing communities to secede from amalgamated authorities,
such as, for example, our commitment to a binding referendum for North Rodney to leave Auckland Council.
Legislate for the relocation of the Port of Auckland from Auckland to Northport in Northland and free up 77-hectares of Auckland’s iconic waterfront.
Eliminate the debt burden on Kaipara District Council ratepayers caused by the Mangawhai Community Wastewater Scheme.
Restore road Funding Assistance Rate levels (FARs) and regionally distributed funding.
Initiate a public inquiry “A decade after Shand” to examine the drivers of local government expenditure, the mechanisms for raising funds for local body councils and community boards.
IMPROVING THE RMA
Repeal all race-based provisions and ensure the Resource Management Act is based on the concept of one law for all.
Enhance the value of the pre-hearing phase by empowering councils to ensure the attendance of relevant parties;
requiring that specific and agreed timelines be established;
ensuring that the necessary evidence be established along with the expertise required;
requiring that those who facilitate the pre-hearings phase have a comprehensive understanding of the RMA;
and, by ensuring that any costs required to change the pace or scope of the process be met by the party requiring that change.
Amend the RMA to require that, at the conclusion of the pre-hearings meeting, only those issues that have been defined as forming the basis of a hearing should be the subject of any further hearing.
Amend the RMA to set out a process allowing the combining of several local body jurisdictions for one consent process in clearly defined circumstances.
Amend definitions and require authorities to maintain registers of sacred sites defined under section 6(e) and of recognized Iwi Authorities (or where applicable hapū) and appropriate personnel.
Develop a ‘National Coastal Policy Statement – Aquaculture’ to provide certainty for existing and future farmers.
Introduce greater certainty, transparency, and accountability and require that payment must always be for services rendered.
Ensure that the Environment Court is adequately resourced with sufficiently qualified people sitting on the Court.
Ensure that appeals to the High Court may be based on law only, once the facts have been established.
This is linked to our view that if the pre-hearing and hearing phases are improved, then the contestability of facts and law are greatly reduced.
“Success for Kiwi kids as Kiwi kids needs to be identified, agreed and implemented.
Therefore, 25 years after Tomorrow’s Schools it is time to bring the education sector, parents and the wider public together in order to develop a collaborative 30-year strategic plan for New Zealand education.
By setting a 30-year direction for our nation’s education, we free it from changes in governments and ministers.
This is about enabling seamless transitions between and across sectors to make to embed positive change.
New Zealand First is committed to a high trust model based upon partnering with the professionals in and around the classroom, who share responsibility for educating our children.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
FUTURE FOCUS
Hold an Education Hui between all stakeholders across all sectors alongside wider public conversations to develop a collaborative 30-year strategic plan for New Zealand education.
EARLY YEARS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Give greater focus to the second strategic goal within Ngā Huarahi Arataki to improve the quality of all ECE services.
Review the special needs of Playcentre rural provision.
Work with Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust to develop a funding model that future proofs Kōhanga Reo.
Look to re-establish Parents as First Teachers.
Review the adult to infant (under 2s) staffing ratio as an urgent health and safety matter.
Immediately review the funding model for kindergartens.
Restore the requirement for all ECE providers to ensure that the 100% registered teacher staffing ratio is achieved.
Establish a fund for research into best practice and innovation in New Zealand early childhood education.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
Review the implementation of the operations grant to address equity of opportunity challenges that impact on student achievement.
Replace National Standards at Years 1 to 8, with children’s progress and achievement being assessed against level bands within the New Zealand Curriculum.
Repeal the amendments to the Education Act 1989 that allowed the creation of Charter Schools at the same time as reviewing Section 156 of the Designated Character Schools section within the same Act.
Strengthen School Entry tools and practices to better identify the specific support each student needs to attain their academic best.
Rework the PACT tool to ensure it is an educational tool for the sector and not a monitoring tool for the government.
Establish an early intervention staffing component for identified new entrants at risk in literacy and numeracy within initial priority being U1 to U3 schools.
Re-establish funding support alongside national professional development for the roll-out of the Te Kotahitanga initiative for all schools.
Work with NARTAM and the Resource Teachers of Māori to expand their numbers by clarifying their role and enabling appropriate induction, training and professional development.
Work with the sector to re-establish curriculum and school support advisors.
Nationwide professional learning and development to support our teachers and ensure quality curriculum delivery which meets the needs of all students.
Ensure the education sector can elect its own representatives to sit on the Education Council.
Immediately review the effects of the centralisation of truancy contracts on school communities with the view to better meet local need.
Create a consistent and required professional development and training programme for Boards of Trustees.
Immediately review funding models supporting Alternative Schools and the establishment of Teen Parent Units.
For separate policy statements below, contact tracey.martin@parliament.govt.nz.
Inclusive Education
Māori Achieving Success
as Māori
Pasifika Success
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
“New Zealand First recognizes that employment is paramount for shifting from dependence to independence and that our welfare system should not be seen as a hand out but a hand up in time of real need.
The employment of New Zealanders remains a priority.
New Zealand First is committed to ensuring that social policy closes unfair loopholes, provides more social good than harm and is accountable and transparent.
Fairness, justice, timeliness and consistency are the universal principles of state welfare payments.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
PUTTING FAMILIES FIRST
Ensure New Zealanders have the means to have independence from the State
with an emphasis on parental responsibility.
Ensure any government support is based on need and not race or any other factor.
Require greater scrutiny of the benefit system, adjustment benefits and abatement levels.
Re-introduce “Work for the Dole”
– to help people of all ages and ability to get out of bed, develop self-confidence and a sense of pride in having a job.
Protect our social fabric and traditional family values from temporarily empowered politicians,
by requiring so-called ‘conscience issues’ be put to comprehensive public debate and referenda.
Ensure the needs of retired New Zealanders are met through a sustainable universal superannuation scheme with a retirement age of 65.
Introduce flexible state support for grandparents raising grandchildren including the provision of personalised MSD case managers for the first three-months.
Increase funding to Women's Refuge and similar organisations working in the voluntary sector.
Lift living standards by raising the Minimum Wage to $20 per hour over the next three-years.
Provide real opportunities for young people to gain quality education and skills that will enable greater involvement in the economy.
ENGAGED YOUTH
Introduce the philosophy that every young New Zealander can expect to be trained for careers and not left to rot on the dole.
Introduce workforce planning and better careers guidance in schools.
Provide driver license training for every secondary school student.
Abolish the ‘starting out wage’ for young people.
Pay the Job Seekers Benefit to approved employers when taking on an apprentice.
Introduce the Ministry of Social Development funded and NZ Defence Force operated Youth Enterprise and Training Initiative that will provide formal trade training to students not suited to conventional education.
Establish a dollar-for-dollar debt write-off scheme so that graduates in identified areas of workforce demand may trade a year’s worth of debt for each year of paid full-time work in New Zealand in that area.
Increase the number of Teenage Parents Units to extend opportunities for young mothers to remain in study.
Introduce, as a priority for all full time students, a universal living allowance which is not subject to parental means testing.
“Immigration should not be used as a source of cheap labour to undermine New Zealanders’ pay and conditions.
New Zealand First’s view is simple – we welcome the people we need and not those who need us.
New Zealand First will strengthen Immigration New Zealand to give it the capacity to apply immigration policy effectively. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
BETTER IMMIGRATION
Make sure that Kiwi workers are at the front of the job queue.
Attract highly skilled migrants by reducing numbers to around 10,000 per annum.
Ensure that immigration policy is based on New Zealand’s interests
and the main focus is on meeting critical skills gaps.
Ensure immigration under ‘family reunion’ is strictly controlled.
Increase the residency rules around NZ Superannuation from the current 10 years to 25 years.
Increase, the Permanent Residency qualification period from the current two-years.
Make sure effective measures are put in place to stop the exploitation of migrant workers with respect to wages, safety and work conditions.
In Christchurch and elsewhere there is evidence of exploitation of migrant workers.
Develop strategies to encourage the regional dispersion of immigration to places other than Auckland and the main centres.
Substantially increase the minimum English requirement.
HEALTH
“When last in government New Zealand First undertook to remove the profit focus from the health system.
We promised to introduce new initiatives in the area of child health, and to reduce hospital waiting lists.
We delivered on these promises.
New Zealand First ensured more money for eldercare and introduced free doctors’ visits for under-6’s that was always planned to be extended to under-13’s.
Major challenges remain but we are alert to them and we deliver. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
BETTER COMMUNITY HEALTH
Establish a public health compact stipulating the guaranteed minimum services the public can expect from the public health system and its overlap with the private sector.
Ensure the nationwide health screening of all children under one year.
Provide dental care to every pre-school and school child.
Improve residential services for people who have severe illnesses or disabilities and/or substance abuse problems.
Support the investigation of a third Medical School at Waikato University
and increase the number of medical professionals choosing to be General Practitioners, especially in rural areas.
Fully fund palliative care services.
AGED CARE
Introduce three annual SuperGold Health Checks with a GP.
Conduct a review into aged-care sector, including the funding of rest homes particularly after pay-equity.
Remove income and asset testing for older people needing long stay aged hospital care services.
Ensure that subsidies are automatically adjusted for CPI inflation.
Implement national standards for aged home care that are appropriately monitored and enforced.
GP'S AND HOSPITALS
Review funding of Primary Health Organisations.
Establish and implement a national strategy for addressing cancer treatment.
Fully fund and provide world leading maternity-care services (especially in the regions).
Develop a national rural and provincial health services plan.
Provide funding to assist modern diagnostic equipment like DXA scans for women over 50 years who have experienced a low trauma fracture related to osteoporosis.
Adequately resource elective surgery and provide additional waiting times funding so as to firmly establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment.
THE HEALTH SYSTEM
Review the number of District Health Boards (DHBs) and establish a ratio of practitioners to administrators to keep the focus on health not bureaucracy.
Increase mental health service options and treatment bed numbers especially around child and youth mental health services.
Re-establish the Mental Health Commission to fund, control and direct mental health services.
Commit to a suicide reduction target.
Cap the number of places at medical training institutions which can be taken by foreign students at the expense of New Zealand students.
Use a range of measures to ensure the adequate recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas.
Require consistency in the provision of emergency health services such as ambulance and helicopter services
and ensure the adequate funding of a core of fulltime employees and support for volunteers.
Review the National Travel Assistance Policy with the aim of ensuring it is adequately providing transport assistance to those who cannot easily access hospital medical appointments.
Review Pharmac's funding policy.
Make foreign patients within our public health system pay their fair share.
TAKING HEALTH FORWARD
Provide equality of funding for all family home carers.
Increase longitudinal data collection in health like a perinatal database.
Increasing Research & Development to 2% of GDP over 10-years will help to boost biomedical research.
Explore options associated with boosting uptake of private health insurance, including the provision of tax rebates for those with private health insurance.
Change Pharmac’s legislation and provide funding to treat people with life-limiting and rare conditions (1:10,000 persons).
Ensure the transition to Electronic Health Records so that PHO’s, DHB’s and private providers have access to patient records.
LAW AND ORDER
“New Zealand First takes a strong line on Law and Order.
It is a basic right of all New Zealanders to live in a safe society.
New Zealand First believes in safe, secure communities where people and their property are respected and protected.
New Zealand First recognizes that the rights of the victims are paramount, and that the offender's rights are subordinate to the rights of both the victim and the state. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
BOOSTING POLICE
Recruit 1,800 Sworn Police (920 more than National).
Establish a temporary Police Training College at Waiouru in partnership with the New Zealand Army to get these extra officers on the streets within two-years.
Recruit 256 extra civilian support staff over what National has pledged to free frontline officers from necessary paperwork.
Form a 70-person Flying Squad of 56-experienced officers and 14-support staff to target criminality and gangs.
Review the Serious Fraud Office.
Trial Police Volunteer Support in Northland as volunteer sworn police (similar to volunteer firefighters and armed forces reserves).
Ensure that Police are funded to be on duty when crime happens instead of peak-police generally happening in the early afternoon.
Make sure speed cameras are placed only at proven accident blackspots.
Provide proper and adequate resourcing for Community Policing, including Māori Wardens, Pasifika Wardens, Community Patrols and Neighbourhood Watch.
Institute active engagement by police with our schools and communities to build trust and to help prevent and solve crime.
Review police pay and conditions with the goal of achieving parity with those in Australia.
SAFER COMMUNITIES
Reintroduce the chargeable offence of drunk and disorderly to include drugs.
Introduce Australian style legislation to crack down on criminal gangs and organised crime.
Introduce cumulative sentencing for offenders convicted of more than one crime including white collar crime.
Adopt and implement the philosophy that “Life will mean Life” with a mandatory minimum non-parole period of 40-years for premeditated murder.
Ensure that meaningful minimum sentences for ‘King-Hit’ and Looting are established and implemented.
Review bail, sentencing and parole laws including recent changes to these laws, in order to address public concerns and expectations.
Set up a publicly accessible sex offender’s register.
FIREARMS
Protect the interests of license holders recognising that New Zealand has some of the world’s lowest rates of gun-crime despite high rates of legal gun-ownership.
Establish a separate Firearms Authority independent of the Police, to oversee the implementation and enforcement of firearms-related law.
HOUSING
“All New Zealanders must have a genuine opportunity to buy their own home.
New Zealand First believes that this is only achievable by government intervention with affordable housing defined by some politicians as being half a million dollars.
That is not the New Zealand way and we will address this and other critical issues with the New Zealand Housing Plan. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
PLACES TO CALL HOME
Initiate the New Zealand Housing Plan to revamp the New Zealand housing market covering housing availability and affordability as well as rental homes supply and affordability.
Reduce pressure on housing by slashing 72,400 foreign migrants net, who entered New Zealand over the past year with most settling in Auckland.
Ensure that only New Zealand citizens and Permanent Residents can buy freehold land.
Recognise that there is a housing crisis by establishing a new state agency to acquire and develop land for residential development:
Provide first home buyers with affordable residential sections under long term low interest sale and purchase agreements of up to 25 years.
Purchasers would build their own homes using normal bank financing, with title to the section transferred to them and the amount owing for the section, secured by a second ranking statutory land charge.
BETTER HOUSING
Provide subsidies to insulate 53,000 houses ever year.
Review building standards to ensure better building quality including earthquake and landslip resistance.
Require compulsory and adequate insurance cover be acquired by all building owners.
Fully monitor and enforce the terms and conditions of existing approvals by the Overseas Investment Commission for the ownership of land by non-residents.
BETTER RENTAL STOCK
Assist local authorities to develop aged-care housing and public rental housing projects.
Provide accelerated deprecation for landlords to invest in energy efficient housing from insulation to HRV systems.
ECONOMIC PLAN
“New Zealand First’s economic policy is to capitalize on the natural assets and climate that New Zealand is endowed with and the talent and enterprise of New Zealanders.
A new economic direction is needed because New Zealand is at an economic crossroads.
New Zealand First has an economic policy that will improve the lives of ordinary Kiwis and put New Zealand on a pathway to prosperity.
It is based on four key pillars:
The need for a flexible monetary policy.
The need to protect New Zealand ownership of key infrastructural assets.
The need for an innovative and coherent export plan to rapidly grow our nation’s wealth.
A National Savings Plan to free New Zealand from its dependence on foreign savings. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
KEY POINTS
Seriously cut immigration to sustainable levels.
Put in place the tax settings to grow Kiwi companies
that employ and pay world-class wages.
Support the primary industries and related industries to add value and grow sustainably.
Give a high priority to maintaining and rebuilding manufacturing.
Give preference for majority-owned New Zealand firms in government procurement (centrally and locally).
Reform the Reserve Bank Act and regain economic sovereignty over banking and financial services.
Stop the loss of New Zealand’s land and assets to foreign ownership.
Put the interests of New Zealand exporters into trade agreements.
Protect investors and improve regulation of and confidence in the finance industry.
Direct the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to invest in New Zealand-owned infrastructure, especially privatised or part-privatised SOE’s
when the share price is right.
MONETARY POLICY AND FINANCE POLICY
Replace Inflation Targeted Monetary Policy with monetary policy based on the Singaporean model.
Grow KiwiBank by making it the Government’s banker.
Introduce a Deposit Guarantee Scheme
for majority-owned New Zealand registered banks.
Establish a state-owned insurer to offer retail and commercial services, especially for large assets.
Establish KiwiFund, a government owned KiwiSaver provider,
which will have a focus on investing in New Zealand assets and infrastructure.
GROWING THE ECONOMY
Provide a lower business tax environment with a special tax rate for export derived income.
Establish Special Economic Areas adjacent to Northport (Northland) and South Port (Southland).
Increase public research investment to 2 percent of GDP over a 10-year period.
Review the current science research ecosystem to remove competition and foster cooperation.
Redirect the $1.4 billion currently going into the ETS into research and adaptation.
Provide tax incentives for long-term private research and development.
Increase course funding to increase the number of qualified graduates in the fields that will add value to the economy (e. g. science, engineering and technology).
Introduce scholarships (especially at post-graduate level) to keep our best students here and to attract the world’s best.
Protect our unique exports in terms of geographic and product indicators from rip-offs and copies.
Redirect NZTE to assist small and medium sized exporters with the services they need to export.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT
Welcome foreign investment so long it is in the interests of New Zealand and not in the private interests of foreign shareholders.
Establish priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand that require such investment to
bring new technology
that leads to employment and export growth or import substitution.
FOREIGN OWNERSHIP
Impose strict controls over foreign ownership.
Create and maintain a comprehensive register of foreign ownership of land.
Prevent vertical integration and foreign control of key export industries.
Restrict ownership of residential land and farmland to New Zealand citizens, permanent residents who are exercising their right to residence and majority New Zealand-owned companies.
Prohibit the further sale of strategic state assets to overseas buyers.
Require foreign companies operating in New Zealand to pay their fair share of taxation.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Establish regional funds to receive revenue from the return of GST from foreign tourism and Royalties for Regions.
Ensure the involvement of local people in decision making over the use of these funds.
Provide economic and social benefits conferred to regional communities through the scheme which will allow local communities to plan and spend more efficiently and effectively.
MANUFACTURING
Ensure that export-derived income is subject to a maximum 20 percent tax rate.
Give preference to majority-owned New Zealand firms in government procurement.
Reform the Reserve Bank Act so it can better manage our currency.
Investigate a capital guarantee scheme for small to medium enterprises.
Reintroduce tax credits for research and development.
Provide accelerated depreciation for plant and equipment.
Investigate a capital guarantee scheme for small to medium enterprises.
Pursue policies to add value to raw materials here and not abroad.
OUTDOOR RECREATION
“New Zealand First believes in the right of all New Zealanders to responsibly hunt, shoot, fish and enjoy the great outdoors and to take food from the bush, the rivers and the seas.
We support a sensible balance between the often overlapping requirements of outdoor recreational activities and those of industry, farming, conservation, tourism and the environment.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Guarantee free access to the conservation estate for all New Zealanders.
Review the Game Animal Council’s management of major game species.
Permit the sustainable hunting to control introduced game species, such as deer, pigs, chamois, tahr, goats and wapiti.
Acknowledge the lawful use of firearms and maintain sensible firearms laws.
Ensure the sustainable management and preservation of rivers, waterways, wetlands, and wilderness areas.
Ensure the maintenance of sustainable fishing
with guaranteed access for recreational fishers
and the protection of existing game fish species.
Oppose any licensing system for recreational saltwater fishers.
BEYOND 1080
Plan for New Zealand to move beyond 1080 by phasing out its use.
Implement, wherever it is feasible properly resourced ground operations, including trapping and bait stations as a matter of urgent priority as an alternative to aerial 1080.
Require comprehensive and accurate surveys to ascertain both native and pest populations in areas being considered for the aerial application of 1080 as a pre-requisite before such aerial applications will be permitted, especially in areas currently regarded as "inaccessible".
Research and develop an effective replacement for 1080 (Sodium Fluoroacetate) as part of public research and development being lifted to 2 percent of GDP within 10-years.
ECOFUR
Establish a Crown Company to develop “ecoFur” as the world’s only ecologically friendly fur label to support a value-adding New Zealand fur industry (wild possums, stoats and ferrets).
PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
“The Primary Industries are the backbone of New Zealand’s economy with fishing, forestry farming, horticulture and viticulture providing the bulk of our export earnings.
Our primary industries further provide the backdrop for our burgeoning tourism industry as well.
New Zealand First is fully committed to the success of the primary industries and our heartland.
With a focus on quality over quantity we can have both a first-rate environment and economy.
Yet none of this will matter unless we keep Kiwi control over our farmland and processing assets.
We must own our future to have a future. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
KEEPING IT KIWI
Only permit farm sales to those privileged to be, or become New Zealanders.
End foreign vertical integration in the primary industries (farms to the supermarket shelf).
Ensure value-add processing is done in New Zealand and not overseas.
BOOSTING THE HEARTLAND
Match rural infrastructure, health and social equality with the cities.
Save provincial centres by treating seismic-strengthening as repairs and maintenance.
Require Landcorp to be opened up to sharemilking and sharefarming.
Reintroduce the Farm Cadet Scheme under the Primary ITO.
Institute wage-subsidies for employers in rural New Zealand
to help people to get off benefits.
Refine the NZ First introduced RSE scheme and widen it to other primary industries.
Appoint 1,800 new Police officers and increase the level of rural policing.
Initiate trials of volunteer Rural Police Support.
Establish stiffer penalties for rustling.
Explore initiatives to end a growing rural-urban divide.
ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND POLICY
Create a monetary policy that works in the interests of exporters instead of importers.
Oppose resource rentals such as the Labour Party’s proposed water tax.
Repeal the separate race-based planning that has been put into the Resource Management Act.
Fully calibrate the nutrient tool Overseer against all soil and farm types.
Support water efficient irrigation and economically viable water-storage schemes.
Ensure that Regional Plans are based on sound science not supposition.
Protect our world-class LUC Class 1 and 2 farmland from residential developers.
Use the tax system to drive environmental improvements
and export growth.
Introduce commonsense reforms to workplace health and safety.
Require debt Mediation with strong curbs on the powers of receivers.
TRADE AND INNOVATION
Negotiate free and fair trade agreements in the interests of farmer-exporters
Boost publicly funded Research & Development to 2% of GDP.
Protect the integrity of food products from synthetic copies such as ‘dairy free milk’.
Put natural floor coverings like Kiwi wool into publicly funded buildings.
BOOSTING OUR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Repeal the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act.
Establish new liquid milk supply guarantees for consumers and New Zealand majority-owned processor start-ups.
Review the Commodity Levies Act to ensure Industry Good Bodies deliver what is required.
Review the NAIT scheme (National Animal Identification & Tracing) to ensure that it meets its stated purpose.
Transfer Government Industry Agreements from farmers to importers.
Put biosecurity at the heart of government policy.
FORESTRY
Re-establish the New Zealand Forestry Service.
Re-establish the Crown’s direct ability to create state forests on Crown land and, with the co-operation of landowners, on private land.
Require the cessation of deforestation trough the felling of immature trees.
Ensure that the vast majority of our raw forest products are processed here in New Zealand.
WILD FISHERIES
Best practice science and stock monitoring in support of sustainable harvest or Total Allowable Catch.
The accurate determination of customary and Recreational Fishers’ actual and reasonable needs.
The determination of the limit of a recreational inshore fishery and the exclusion of trawling and other bulk commercial fishing methods within that determined inshore limit including areas of high juvenile abundance.
Consistent minimum legal size for recreational and commercial fishers and restrictions on commercial net size and type.
The reliable and accurate monitoring of commercial boat operations and locations and the prohibition of dumping.
No licensing system for recreational saltwater fishers,
and preserve the status of existing game species.
That all fish caught in New Zealand waters to be landed and processed in New Zealand.
AQUACULTURE
Enable aquaculture development through a ‘National Coastal Policy Statement – Aquaculture’ to provide certainty for existing and future farmers.
Given Aquaculture’s immense economic potential, deliver a suite of other policies to ensure it is advanced.
MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES
Review MPI Food Safety and the Food Act 2014 to remove unnecessary red-tape and bureaucratic meddling.
Immediately cease MPI’s interference with Manuka Honey, adopt Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) and put in place a marketing plan to correct the damage it has caused.
Revert to the traditional Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) name after forestry’s separation.
ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION
“Our country’s natural environment has international significance and is a New Zealand First priority.
Wise governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics.
All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages.
Serious environmental problems and risks need to be addressed.
‘100% Pure’ must not be empty words, but must be backed by effective environmental policies. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
KEY POINTS
Ensure that the state strikes a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals.
Make rivers and lakes fully swimmable
by town and country working together.
Take account of the views of key stakeholders when making environmental policy.
Support the extractive industries
while ensuring core conservation values are maintained.
Make sure developers are responsible to their communities to avoid, remedy and mitigate adverse environmental effects.
Replace the Emissions Trading Scheme with a Carbon Budget framework.
Advocate for government at all levels to work with industry to address pollution.
Provide and promote conservation authorities with the necessary resources and legislative framework to ensure the protection of the only environment we have.
Remove race-based provisions from Resource Management Act.
Support an evidence-based approach to environmental issues.
CONSERVATION
Protect our historic heritage by amending legislation to clarify the protection of heritage sites, buildings, and objects.
Ensure local government uses Work for the Dole on conservation and weed and pest control activities and for environmental activities.
Ensure appropriate deterrents exist to deter poaching and trafficking of protected species.
Increase support 'threatened species' recovery programmes.
End race based Conservation like Ngā Whenua Rahui scheme
and better support those entities that voluntary protect land and resources in private ownership.
Rationalise pastoral leases where grazing exists to promote ecologically sustainable land use, with special attention to 'protected natural areas’.
Encourage the development of 'eco-tourism' centres such as Kaikōura.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Ensure that wide public consultation occurs in the development of energy, sustainable land management and climate change policy.
Advance the development of alternatives to landfill disposal including better product stewardship to collect, manage and recover toxic but valuable electronic waste.
Ensure that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is sufficiently resourced.
Phase out organo-chlorides and 1080 facilitating the development of safe alternatives.
Provide financial support for the development of water harvesting schemes that have met feasibility, viability, and environmental requirements such as storage dams.
Require protected customary rights, sites of cultural or spiritual significance to be either established or proven before they are written into policy to ensure 'no surprises'.
GENETIC MODIFICATION
Proceed with extreme caution, and only under secure confined laboratory conditions, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as regulator.
Maintain stringent risk management of genetically modified organisms and ensure all new genetic engineering techniques continue to be regulated under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act.
Recognise that there are benefits from GM/GE, such as medicines like Herceptin and insulin.
That said, we do not support GM/GE crop field trials unless plant varieties have been proven to be absolutely safe under strictly controlled conditions.
New Zealand First supports Country of Origin labelling,
including, the labelling of food containing genetically modified material.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Exit the Emissions Trading Scheme and replace it with a UK/Norwegian style Climate Change Act.
Establish a new Parliamentary Commission for Climate Change (PCCC) as an Office of Parliament.
Make the PCCC legally responsible for reporting against both the Kyoto and Paris Agreements setting three-yearly ‘Carbon Budget’ designed to reach these commitments (first Budget to become operative in 2021).
Provide for the PCCC to provide independent advice to central and local government on meeting the Carbon Budget and preparing for climate change.
Fund the PCCC from current administrative costs for the Emissions Trading Scheme making it is cost neutral.
Redirect the $1.4 billion of annual savings from the ETS, as it winds down, into applied research and development and climate change adaptation.
COASTAL AND OCEANS
Protect and enhance our international reputation by balancing economic demands with the needs of the physical marine environment.
Oppose any attempt to privatise the Foreshore and Seabed.
Ensure that New Zealand maritime transport routes, ports and all shipping are aware of and fully compliant with our laws.
Introduce interim and permanent standards for drilling and exploratory work in New Zealand waters designed to meet New Zealand maritime conditions.
Make all drilling/exploration/extraction projects in New Zealand waters subject to public consultation.
Amend the Resource Management Act to provide for emergencies involving marine-based extraction industry.
Establish rapid response teams to deal with maritime environmental emergencies.
WATER RESOURCES
New Zealand First believes that by town and country working together
and with good science,
we can achieve fully swimmable rivers and lakes.
Hold that water is a common good and cannot be owned by any person,
including the Crown,
and that the Treaty of Waitangi does not confer rights to take or use water upon Māori which are greater or lesser than the rights of any other New Zealander.
Develop both a National Policy Statement on Water Resource Uses and a National Water Use Strategy that is consistent with New Zealand First’s policy approach.
Put public benefit before private benefit in the granting water rights.
Affirm that rights residing in any person must be established under the common law through existing legal processes.
Require domestic supply of water must prevail over all other takes and uses.
Place national needs in order of priority for the granting of commercial water rights as opposed to the current first in - first served approach.
Provide for sustainable outcomes in water for commercial purposes (including electricity and irrigation) in addition to meeting RMA requirements.
Ensure rights to take and use water must not be alienated to overseas persons or interests.
Reject the taxation of water used within New Zealand beyond the recovery of capital and the operational costs of taking, storing and reticulating it.
Introduce a Royalties regime for water exported as drinking water.
Protect the special character of New Zealand’s remaining wild and scenic rivers by clearly being identified with policies adopted for this purpose.
Establish a Crown Entity to hold all publicly owned water storage in trust for the people of New Zealand
that will allocate and license water resources in accordance with the National Water Use Strategy.
Ensure surface water takes must not result in the degradation of major lakes and rivers
and protect ground water from any practice or takes that are unsustainable.
Make consents for the use of water conditional upon the adverse effects of discharge of the water after use (including leaching), including both immediate and cumulative effects.
SUPERANNUATION
“New Zealand First is committed to universal superannuation at age 65.
The net cost of superannuation in New Zealand is 3. 8 percent of GDP, which is low by international standards and well below the OECD average of 7 percent.
Only one party, New Zealand First, has during its existence sought to correct attacks on NZ Super by repealing the Surtax which Labour brought in in the late 1980s, and which National increased after having promised to repeal it.
National also reduced NZ Super from 65 percent of the net average weekly wage down to 60 percent – another thing New Zealand First successfully changed to be the 66 percent it is today.
New Zealand First also introduced the SuperGold Card to make that 66 percent go further in thousands of business discount outlets, as well as the travel concession for retirees. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
SUSTAINABLE SUPERANNUATION
Maintain New Zealand Superannuation entitlement at 65 years, as a universal, non-contributory, publicly funded pension scheme with no means-testing.
Raise the minimum residency requirement for full New Zealand Superannuation from 10 to 25 years after age 20.
Abolish Section 70 of the Social Security Act 1964 ensuring all New Zealand Superannuation applicants retain their overseas pensions without any deduction from their New Zealand Superannuation, or from their spouse’s, New Zealand Superannuation.
End the labyrinth of bureaucratic complexities and unfairness caused by existing reciprocal pension agreements with other countries; overseas pensions are no business of the New Zealand Government.
Restart taxpayer contributions to the NZ Superannuation Fund and end its taxation.
BOOSTING SUPERGOLD BENEFIT
Ensure that SuperGold Card holders receive three free doctor’s visits a year.
Continue to extend the benefits and features of the SuperGold Card.
Promote a 10 percent discount on power bills for SuperGold Card holders during winter
and hold an Inquiry into high retail power prices.
Investigate 100% subsidised hearing aids and spectacles for SuperGold Card holders.
SECURITY IN RETIREMENT
Remove income and asset testing for long stay aged hospital care services.
Review lottery funding criteria for community transport for senior groups and provide transport options in rural New Zealand.
Provide a formula for the timely provision of operations for cataracts and hip replacements.
Maintain core hospital services ensuring that senior citizens have timely access to acute emergency services.
Ensure senior citizens receive recognition for the thousands of hours of voluntary service they perform in the community and provide opportunities for paid contributions.
ELECTRICITY AND POWER
“New Zealand First can export green electricity in the goods and services we export, so it is ludicrous that we pay high ‘world prices’ for something that ought to be a core competitive advantage for us.
New Zealand First will take steps to ensure that electricity is delivered to all New Zealanders at the lowest reasonable price while maintaining a viable industry.
The first step is to completely review the failed electricity market, which sees retail prices out of any proportion to wholesale prices. ”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters
ELECTRICITY PRICES & INDUSTRY ISSUES
Establish four basic aims for policy: guarantee security of supply;
achieving greater investment in the industry to produce and distribute electricity;
facilitate energy efficiencies;
and, to ensure that energy is supplied at a fair and reasonable price.
Conduct a full Inquiry into high retail electricity prices – recent reviews in the UK and Australia have found major issues with similar ‘market reforms’ we adopted here.
Review the Electricity Authority with regulatory functions to be transferred to the Commerce Commission.
Cancel the Transmission Pricing Methodology and require Transpower to socialise transmission grid costs across New Zealand.
Require Transpower to fund future transmission grid upgrades from its profits.
Restore public ownership of the part-privatised generators (and WEL Networks) over time, by buying back shares
when the market price for them is right.
Review the number of local lines companies
but leave any decision on amalgamation to the communities they serve
while retaining full community ownership.
ENERGY GENERATION
Use New Zealand First’s boost of private and public Research and Development to develop new forms of energy generation.
Adopt alternate energy options as technology and availability makes them practical to minimise the environmental impacts while guaranteeing continuity of supply.
Ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court.
Provide incentives for ongoing investment in electricity generation, with a particular focus on local generation where feasible.
Drive carbon and energy efficient policies throughout local and central government by way of Carbon Budgets.
TERTIARY AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
“New Zealand First’s upfront investment in post-secondary education will get rid of the student loan for Kiwi students who stay and work in New Zealand once their studies are completed.
We will introduce a Universal Living Allowance which will not be subject to parental means testing.
This is about encouraging our best to fulfill their full potential.
The only requirement is that they work for the same number of years as they have studied.
New Zealand First will also change the system for those with student loans, retiring debt on a dollar-for-dollar basis if they work in the regions and in a field directly related to their qualifications.
This could be a teacher in Auckland or an electrician in Southland.
For those who opt to work overseas then they will be expected to pay back some of their tertiary education costs.
We need our best and brightest to remain in New Zealand where they can invest their energies into building our country’s future.”
— Rt Hon Winston Peters.
POST-SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION
Introduce the complete Up Front Investment policy which includes a universal living allowance which is not means tested and access to the full accommodation supplement for all full-time students.
Immediately introduce a dollar-for-dollar debt write-off scheme so that graduates in identified areas of workforce demand may trade a year’s worth of debt for each year of paid full-time work in New Zealand in that area.
Ensure the student voice is heard at all institutions through well-resourced systems for student advocacy.
Work with NZUSA and the sector to establish the feasibility of implementing two-thousand ‘First in Family’ tertiary scholarships each year to help those who would be the first in their immediate family to achieve a degree.
Review funding and attendance models that create barriers to achieving recognized NZQA qualifications through flexible individual training agreements and workplace internships.
Work alongside the sector to develop and resource a clear understanding of the Skills Leadership role and the roles of other stakeholders, ie. trainees, secondary schools, employers.
Minimise the “opportunity costs” (administration and compliance) and financial barriers for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to employ apprentices and provide flexibility for provincial and rural New Zealand students.
Encourage strategic alliances between industry crown research institutes and tertiary institutions to increase the number of scholarships and government funded research grants available to graduates, universities and employers.
ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Restore "Computers in Homes" and directly support Digital Literacy Training for Older New Zealanders via SeniorNet.
Support the implementation of the ACE Aotearoa Draft Strategic Plan 2016-2036.
Review student support systems to ensure they are fit for purpose and have adequacy for life-long learning.
Work with the sector to develop legislative amendments to the Education Act 1989 clearly stating that life-long and intergenerational learning are necessary to ensure relevant skills are maintained or acquired as life circumstances and industry needs change.
Work with the Adult and Community Education sector to develop and implement an appropriate and affordable quality assurance process for ACE programmes and activities.
ARONGA RAUTAKI
VISION AND STRATEGY
VISION
Whāia te pae orange
MISSION
Our purpose is inspired by the whakatauki: He aha te mea nui o tēnei Aō? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata (What is the most important thing in this world?
It is people, it is people, it is people).
VALUES
The Māori Party is born of the dreams and aspirations of tangata whenua to achieve self-determination for whānau, hapū and iwi within their own land;
to speak with a strong and independent, unified Māori voice
and to live according to kaupapa handed down by our ancestors.
We place whānau at the centre of everything we do because whānau/fanau/family is the foundation on which Aotearoa thrives.
We are driven to advance the interests of our people, and to protect and defend their rights.
Our role in parliament is to provide a strong, independent voice that influences Parliament.
We acknowledge our whakapapa connections to the Pacific
and look towards uniting us all under a consolidated political movement.
We have achieved so much since our party was formed in 2004 when Māori rights were under threat by the Foreshore and Seabed Act and we have so much more to do.
We place whānau at the centre of everything we do
As our founding President Whatarangi Winiata said in the Rua Rautau Lecture Series in 2005:
"It is my prayer that, well within the next 35 years, significant numbers across the electorates will recognise, and want to express support for, the legitimacy of the determination of their whānaunga Māori and their hoa tata Māori to achieve the tino rangatiratanga over taonga provided for in Article Two. They will discover that through the exercise of their vote under the current voting system they are able to give support to any political party that is committed to bring to an end the disadvantage suffered by Māori since the Tiriti/Treaty; in particular, the denial of rangatiratanga. The nation will discover that relief for rangatiratanga can be delivered without the initiative coming from kāwanatanga. Moreover, they will see that the action to achieve the relief will not require a majority of voters to lead it. A critical ingredient in here is the MMP voting system that the nation adopted slightly less than a decade ago."
All that we do is underpinned by the guiding principles, philosophies and values of Te Ao Māori:  Manaakitanga
Rangatiratanga
Whānaungatanga
Kotahitanga
Wairuatanga
Mana Whenua
Kaitiakitanga
Whakapapa / Mana Tupuna
Te Reo Rangatira
We will advance our political, institutional and legislative aspirations on behalf of all peoples.
We all have a right to be healthy, well educated, and live in a warm, safe, affordable home;
enjoy drinkable, swimmable water that kai can be collected from
and a safe environment to enjoy for all who call Aotearoa home.
We recognise that identity, connection and belonging is the hallmark of cultural competence and confidence to live in this nation we all call home.
We will advance our political, institutional and legislative aspirations on behalf of all peoples
KEY GOALS
Through Taataki Kaupapa 2017, we will further advance our long-held commitments and priorities:
To honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi
To achieve self-determination for whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori communities
To protect and revitalise our language, cultural history and traditions
To uphold our commitment to social justice
and protection of the environment
To speak with a strong, independent and united voice
To embrace and reaffirm the whakapapa bonds that unite us through Te Moana Nui-ā-Kiwa
POLICY DIRECTION
Our policy approach is based on whānau-centred and community-led solutions.
Within the context of housing, education, health, the environment, employment and enterprise we are focusing on policies that bring real benefit to whānau.
Our strategic drivers include: Whānau designing their own pathways to be self-reliant
Whānau creating their own prosperity and success
Whānau celebrating their identity, history and culture
Whānau planning their own future
Underpinning this approach is:Working from a strengths-based development model
Moving funding and resources from service delivery to community-led development
Taking a whole systems approach for longer term sustainable change
Empowering local flaxroots leadership and community enablers
Promoting central, local government, community, business and iwi collaboration
Homelessness, poverty, unemployment and high imprisonment rates are symptoms of a wider systemic problem and until we address the root causes of these issues the disparities between Māori and non-Māori will continue to exist.
We all have a right to quality health and education, affordable homes, clean water and a safe environment.
WHĀNAU
We believe in:Whānau designing their own pathways to be self-reliant
Whānau creating their own prosperity and success
Whānau celebrating their identity, history and culture
Whānau planning their own futures
We want: Whānau working from a strengths-based development model
To move funding and resources from social service delivery to whānau designed
and community-led development
To take a whole systems approach for longer term sustainable change
To empower local flaxroots leadership and community enablers
To promote central and local government, community, business and iwi collaboration
WHĀNAU ORA
The Māori Party will: Implement a range of policies that embody a Whānau Ora approach to addressing social, economic and cultural needs and aspirations.
Advance whānau-centred, community-led development projects in health, housing, employment, Marae, education, rangatahi, environment and justice.
Expand the Whānau Ora approach to support a greater number of whānau
Significantly increase opportunities for Whānau Ora commissioning, right across government, as it was always intended to, with specific appropriation tagged to Whānau Ora Commissioning in justice, education, housing, social development, environment and business, innovation and employment