New information has revealed Amazon wanted to keep filming the Lord of the Rings television series in New Zealand, but the Government’s unwillingness to hear them out forced the series offshore, costing the economy billions, National’s Economic Development spokesperson Todd McClay says. “Despite Amazon petitioning hard to keep
Reports of people who believed they could go into work but instead have been sent home demonstrates why a more rational and pragmatic approach is needed for alert level border rules, National’s Social Development and Employment spokesperson Louise Upston says. “It doesn’t make sense that a business is
Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand Inc. sportingshooters.nz Recent statements attributed to the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Coster, have repeated previous allegations from police that gangs acquire their firearms from licensed firearms owners. That is a significant distortion of the truth and by implication Coster maligns a quarter of
The Prime Minister has more questions to answer on the Mongrel Mob meth programme as it’s revealed the time the project would run each year decreased as the overall funding increased, National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says. In the 71 days between the initial funding application and
New Zealanders should demand the debate on Labour’s Three Waters plans which amount to stealing local water assets and stripping control from communities, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins and National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon say. “The Government’s Three Waters plans are nothing short of a
Health Minister Andrew Little has serious questions to answer over New Zealand’s Intensive Care Unit capacity, National’s Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says. Hospital ICU capacity was so under-prepared for this Delta outbreak that the Auckland DHB was forced to issue an urgent callout for 30 ICU
The Government claiming it’s on track to deliver its mental health promises is a kick in the guts to all those New Zealanders desperate for mental health support and can’t access it, National’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention spokesperson Matt Doocey says. “Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s
The shortage of veterinarians in New Zealand is reaching critical heights and is now compromising animal welfare, National’s Animal Welfare spokesperson Tim van de Molen says. “Three months ago the Government attempted to show it was taking the issue seriously by granting a token 50 border exemptions for vets
The Reserve Bank’s revised loan-to-value restrictions have made it even harder for first-home buyers to get on the property ladder, says National’s Shadow Treasurer Andrew Bayly. “LVRs are supposed to be a tool that reduces risks to financial stability – not to shift house prices at
Transport Minister Michael Wood needs to urgently clarify who will be exposed to his Car Tax, National’s Transport spokesperson David Bennett says. “When Minister Wood launched his Car Tax he said it would focus on the highest emitting vehicles. But he also took a paper to Cabinet showing that
The Government’s announcement it will deploy Tactical Prevention Teams is a clear admission that firearms violence and gang membership in New Zealand is out of control, National’s Police spokesperson Simeon Brown. “The Government has wasted months refusing to agree with National that our police need more support. It’
Thousands of New Zealanders have lost their jobs with the closure of many hospitality businesses, and many more will join them if the Government doesn’t provided targeted support, National’s Economic Development and Small Business spokesperson Todd McClay says. According to the restaurant sector 1000 hospitality businesses have been
Amazon Web Services’ investment of $7.5 billion to develop a world-class Cloud Computing Data Centre in New Zealand is a huge vote of confidence in our digital future, says National spokesperson for Digital Economy and Communications Melissa Lee. “As more business is done online and our tech sector
A law change that will prevent any future government funding being granted to organised criminal groups and gangs will be debated in Parliament, National’s Police spokesperson Simeon Brown says. The Public Finance (Prohibition on Providing Public Funds to Gangs) Amendment Bill will ensure that any person responsible for the
New Zealand is in the midst of a mental health crisis, what is needed now is action not more vision statements, working groups and nice words, National’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention spokesperson Matt Doocey says. “After four years in Government, Labour has today released another strategy, set up
Using the Covid Response and Recovery Fund to increase Radio New Zealand’s operating budget by $7 million is yet another example of money borrowed on behalf of taxpayers to fund pet projects unrelated to the pandemic response, says Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins. “Yesterday, the Prime Minister defended
