Councils should be worried by Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta refusing to guarantee they won’t be forced into the new water entities, National’s Local Government spokesperson Christopher Luxon says. “Despite saying from the start that the Three Waters reforms would be voluntary for councils, the Minister has repeatedly
The Government has tried to down play Minister for Maori Development Willie Jackson’s announcement yesterday as a simple consultation process, but in truth it is an indication of what is to come, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins says. “Minister Jackson has called the He Puapua report a ‘starting
Labour promised to deliver 10,000 new homes in three years, instead, they have delivered 1058. That means this Government, with 2660 new gang members since 2017, has managed to produce more new gang members than homes, National’s Police spokesperson Simeon Brown says. “Gang violence continues to increase under
National is welcoming the news that two new oil and gas exploration permits have been granted, National’s Energy and Resources spokesperson Barbara Kuriger says. “Labour’s banning of offshore exploration in 2018 came without warning and severely undermined industry confidence. “Such was the shock to confidence that in just
Labour’s underhand last-minute move to shut down debate on my members Bill (Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill) is a disaster for victims’ rights, Louise Upston MP for Taupo says. “Victims of insane offenders have had their suffering diminished for too long in our criminal justice system
National is committed to ensuring New Zealand shares the same diplomatic tools and capabilities as its Western counterparts, National’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Gerry Brownlee says. Mr Brownlee’s Autonomous Sanctions Bill would allow a New Zealand government to impose sanctions on foreign individuals, entities or regimes responsible for situations
Prior to Covid-19, New Zealand enjoyed an unprecedented tourism boom, generating foreign exchange earnings, investment and jobs but it has left popular destinations struggling with the impact of freedom campers, National List MP based in West Coast Tasman Maureen Pugh says. Ms Pugh’s Member’s Bill, the Freedom
After nearly a year of charging for MIQ, it’s staggering the Government hasn’t made paying for MIQ easier and made more of an effort to go after those who aren’t paying their fees, National’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop says. Answers to written questions show
This Government is proposing a significant tax on Mum and Dad landlords despite promising prior to the election that they would impose no new taxes, National’s Shadow Treasurer Andrew Bayly says. “According to advice from Treasury, IRD, and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development dated February 2021, the
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has not been shy about his aim to rapidly reduce the prison population by 30 per cent and it is perhaps the only target this Government is actually going to meet. However, Labour’s ‘Hate-Speech’ law changes might put a spanner in the works, National’
Bruce Welsh New Conservative Board Member Let’s think again about lockdowns and their widespread impact. After one couple caused 500,000 people in the wider Wellington region to be in level 2 lockdown for a week, it is time to ask “are lockdowns the best response to Covid?” The
Free Speech Union Dr David Cumin The Free Speech Union is pleased to welcome aboard its newest member, National Party Leader, the Hon Judith Collins, and believe it is the first time a serving leader of the National Party has joined a registered trade union. Free Speech Union spokesman, Dr
The Labour Government’s reset of poverty targets three years later describes an admission of policy failure under rising costs, especially housing, National’s Children spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says. “Of the three targets that the Government has announced, the new ‘before-housing-costs target is unchanged from three years
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins’ comments that ‘there’s no major downside’ to New Zealand’s slow vaccine roll out are staggeringly naïve, National’s Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop says. “There are two ‘major downsides’ to being the slowest in the developed world to roll out the
While there’s a clear case for change in our Three Waters sector the Government’s plan isn’t compelling, and the model of four regional entities comes with several problems, National’s Water spokesperson Simon Bridges says. “The problems with Three Waters are complex, National recognises that, and we
The Prime Minister did not rule out yesterday that potential hate speech crimes will have a more severe maximum prison sentence than the crime of ‘assault on a child’, Leader of the Opposition Judith Collins says. “This is consistent with her Government’s ongoing trend of poor prioritisation and complete
