The world has agreed to ramp up climate action after the two-week UN climate summit in Glasgow ended in a joint compromise from nearly 200 countries. What were the most significant measures agreed in your view and is New Zealand doing enough? Information Opinion Stuart Smith National MP Kaikoura It
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture The primary sector has been working with Government on how they might lower greenhouse gas emissions outside of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The Government plans to have the primary sector pay for emissions by 2025, which will
The Productivity Commission says pre-pandemic rates of immigration are “unsustainable” with migration outstripping the ability of public infrastructure to cope with it, adding to “burdens for the wider community”. It wants a law change to require governments to “explicitly consider how well New Zealand can support and settle more people”
Information Op-Ed Covid-19 targets people who are unvaccinated, and you only need to look at the evidence which shows that a large percentage of the current cases we have in New Zealand right now are unvaccinated. That being said, everyone does have a choice about whether they want to be
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture The announcement that the Government will mandate Three Waters reform, was summed up by the headline in the Wairarapa Times-Age, “A deceitful, lying pack of bastards.” That was a direct quote from Masterton Councillor Tania Nixon, and it
Stuart Smith National MP Kaikoura Information Op-Ed A major review of New Zealand’s electoral law is being launched which will consider changes to the voting age, funding of political parties, and length of parliament’s three-year terms. What are your views on lowering the voting age to 16 and
The Government’s decision to commit $1.3 billion over four years to support poorer countries to deal with climate change is the wrong one, given New Zealand is still struggling with lockdowns that have no end in sight. The $1.3 billion contribution is a four-fold increase to what
Stuart Smith National MP Kaikoura Information Op ed It has become abundantly clear that the only way to stop lockdowns and effectively and safely open up New Zealand to the rest of the world, is to have as many people as possible vaccinated. It is a shame that we find
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture Information Opinion In 1918, they closed bars across the country at six o’clock, in an attempt to curb the drinking problem. The idea was that if we shut the supply of alcohol off, people simply won’t
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture If you were hoping for some clarity about the Government’s COVID plan this week, you will have been disappointed. While I welcome the relaxation of the restrictions in Auckland, Delta is here to stay and it is
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture Information Opinion Last week I wrote about the significance of Te Reo as a language in New Zealand. There is also no doubt that Maori culture should be valued and cherished in New Zealand. But it should come
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture I was invited by Climate Change Minister, James Shaw, to attend COP 26 in Glasgow later this year and indicated that I was interested in attending, subject to suitable travel arrangements being available. At that time it looked
Information Opinion When the Maori Language Act 1987 was passed, it meant that Te Reo Maori became an official language of New Zealand, I welcome that, but I also welcome choice. I have taken regular classes in Te Reo and I quite genuinely enjoy the language. My ability does not
Stuart Smith MP for Kaikoura Spokesperson for Climate Change, EQC and Viticulture There has been a noticeable awakening in the last couple of weeks; more of the public is becoming aware of the implications of the pernicious He Puapua plan that the Labour Party sought to keep secret. It seems
