National believes every young Kiwi should be able to find their way onto the path of success.
We’ve announced a number of initiatives to help young people make the best of themselves -
our future success relies on unlocking their potential.
Helping youth ‘break-away’
Our $12.1 million Break-Away Package is designed to increase opportunities for young
people on school holidays.
Our Holiday Activity Programmes will give kids from deprived communities a break away
during the school holidays to undertake exciting and meaningful activities they might not
otherwise get a chance to experience.
Our Residential Respite Camps will give foster caregivers and extended whanau a break
away from their responsibilities, while their wards are treated to a holiday camp.
Our Prime Minister’s Youth Programme will give selected young people a break away in
fun and challenging activities with high-profile role models as a reward for turning their lives
around.
Helping troubled youth get a Fresh Start
It’s vital we offer young people in trouble with Police, or who are before the youth justice
system, an effective range of opportunities – based on the severity of their offending – to turn
their lives around and give them a fresh start.
We want to ensure that judges, when faced with a young offender, are able to tailor a
package of measures to address that young person’s criminal behaviour.
The National-led Government is funding a range of initiatives. These include courtsupervised
camp programmes with a 10-day wilderness component for youth offenders at
the lower end of the scale, and additional military-style activity programmes and camps for
more serious youth offenders.
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/young+kiwis+%e2%80%9cbreak+away%e2%80%9d+sc
hool+holidays
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/3000+troubled+youth+get+fresh+start
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/holidays+amp+youth+justice+packages+announced
Friday, August 28, 2009
Folic Acid Fortification Deferred
Mandatory fortification of folic acid in bread will be deferred until May 2012.
National agrees with public health advocates that folic acid is beneficial to the health of
women and can prevent neural tube defects in babies, but we also understand consumers
overwhelmingly want to be able to choose whether or not the bread they buy is fortified.
Representatives of the baking industry have said they are prepared to develop a voluntary
code targeted at increasing women’s intake of folic acid, particularly at child-bearing age.
This approach will provide for consumer choice while also helping to address folate
deficiency and increase the protection for babies resulting from unplanned pregnancies.
During the consultation period, 124 submissions were received. To see a summary of the
submissions, visit: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consultation/folic-acid/index.htm
Unlocking
National agrees with public health advocates that folic acid is beneficial to the health of
women and can prevent neural tube defects in babies, but we also understand consumers
overwhelmingly want to be able to choose whether or not the bread they buy is fortified.
Representatives of the baking industry have said they are prepared to develop a voluntary
code targeted at increasing women’s intake of folic acid, particularly at child-bearing age.
This approach will provide for consumer choice while also helping to address folate
deficiency and increase the protection for babies resulting from unplanned pregnancies.
During the consultation period, 124 submissions were received. To see a summary of the
submissions, visit: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/consultation/folic-acid/index.htm
Unlocking
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Securing a brighter future
To build a job-rich and export-rich economy, New Zealand needs an electricity
market that delivers reliable, continuous electricity at competitive prices.
And residential consumers need to know they are not going to be hit with steeply
rising power prices as has been the case in the past 10 years.
As part of its strategy to deliver a reliable electricity system, we set up a
ministerial review into the power sector.
The review team issued a report last week and made 29 recommendations,
including compensating consumers when they are asked to save power during a
conservation campaign, allowing lines companies back into retailing, and
replacing the Electricity Commission.
We want your feedback on this discussion document and look forward to hearing
your views.
The report can be found at: www.med.govt.nz/electricity-market-review
market that delivers reliable, continuous electricity at competitive prices.
And residential consumers need to know they are not going to be hit with steeply
rising power prices as has been the case in the past 10 years.
As part of its strategy to deliver a reliable electricity system, we set up a
ministerial review into the power sector.
The review team issued a report last week and made 29 recommendations,
including compensating consumers when they are asked to save power during a
conservation campaign, allowing lines companies back into retailing, and
replacing the Electricity Commission.
We want your feedback on this discussion document and look forward to hearing
your views.
The report can be found at: www.med.govt.nz/electricity-market-review
Another Job Summit Initiative Underway
National is committed to making it easier for small and medium businesses to
grow and remain competitive. Better and less regulation is essential to boosting
New Zealand’s productivity, international competitiveness and living standards.
We have recently released the Government Statement on Regulation, which
contains two key commitments:
• Introduce new regulation only when the Government is satisfied that is
required, reasonable and robust
• Review existing regulation to identify and remove requirements that are
unnecessary, ineffective and excessively costly.
These commitments respond to the Job Summit's recommendation that the
Government delay introducing regulations that impose extra substantive costs on
business during the current difficult economic conditions.
This initiative complements National’s $484 million business assistance package
- announced in February - aimed at improving cashflows and reducing
compliance costs for small and medium-sized firms.
For more information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cutting+red+tape+create+better+smarter+eco
nomy
grow and remain competitive. Better and less regulation is essential to boosting
New Zealand’s productivity, international competitiveness and living standards.
We have recently released the Government Statement on Regulation, which
contains two key commitments:
• Introduce new regulation only when the Government is satisfied that is
required, reasonable and robust
• Review existing regulation to identify and remove requirements that are
unnecessary, ineffective and excessively costly.
These commitments respond to the Job Summit's recommendation that the
Government delay introducing regulations that impose extra substantive costs on
business during the current difficult economic conditions.
This initiative complements National’s $484 million business assistance package
- announced in February - aimed at improving cashflows and reducing
compliance costs for small and medium-sized firms.
For more information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cutting+red+tape+create+better+smarter+eco
nomy
Making New Zealand’s roads safer
National is taking action to make New Zealand's roads safer. Texting while
driving is a no-brainer. So from 1 November, drivers caught talking or texting on
a handheld cellphone will be fined and given demerits.
Other driver distractions need to be addressed so we have made this a priority
for the Safer Journeys discussion document, which is out for public consultation.
Feedback from road users will be used to develop a national road safety strategy
for the next 10 years.
For more information: www.saferjourneys.govt.nz
driving is a no-brainer. So from 1 November, drivers caught talking or texting on
a handheld cellphone will be fined and given demerits.
Other driver distractions need to be addressed so we have made this a priority
for the Safer Journeys discussion document, which is out for public consultation.
Feedback from road users will be used to develop a national road safety strategy
for the next 10 years.
For more information: www.saferjourneys.govt.nz
Encouraging young Kiwis into sport
National is committed to increasing opportunities for young Kiwis to play sport.
That’s why we’ve launched Kiwisport to deliver $82 million over the next four
years to ensure more children have the chance to play sport.
We’re directly funding all schools, giving them the freedom to spend the money in
a way that ensures more of their pupils can play sport.
Funding will also go to regional sports trusts, helping link community groups and
sports clubs with schools to provide programmes to keep kids active.
For more information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwisport+initiative+good+young+people
That’s why we’ve launched Kiwisport to deliver $82 million over the next four
years to ensure more children have the chance to play sport.
We’re directly funding all schools, giving them the freedom to spend the money in
a way that ensures more of their pupils can play sport.
Funding will also go to regional sports trusts, helping link community groups and
sports clubs with schools to provide programmes to keep kids active.
For more information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwisport+initiative+good+young+people
Putting Patients First
Patients should be at the centre of all health services. Whether you’ve got a broken bone, the winter flu, or a baby on the way, it’s important you get the care you need.
The National-led Government inherited a public health system with significant staffing, service and financial problems. The health budget doubled in nine years, but there was little improvement in services. This is unacceptable so we asked some of the most experienced doctors and managers in the health sector to recommend how to best improve our public health system.
The independent group’s report recognises that to improve frontline health services we need more input from frontline staff. There are also recommendations to strengthen clinical leadership and clinical networks. It’s vital that our doctors and nurses are involved in running the health system.
The report proposes consolidating back office functions across the 21 District Health Boards to harness the power of bulk buying. We don’t need 21 payrolls, 21 approaches to IT, and 21 procurement systems. It also proposes cutting by two thirds the number of committees that advise the Health Ministry.
The Government will not accept anything that increases bureaucracy and takes resources away from frontline health services. We’re going to do what’s best for patients. We’ll ensure District Health Boards have the same autonomy they’ve always had to plan and fund local health services within the Government’s priorities.
We want your feedback – people should write to the Health Minister’s office by 18 September. Cabinet will consider the report’s recommendations over the next couple of months.
National is committed to delivering better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for you and your family. To do this, we’re building a strong and enduring public health system based on need.
Just as families and businesses are tightening their belts and economising in the current economic times, the health system needs to do the same. But this won’t be done at the expense of frontline services. We need to deliver greater efficiency and productivity, so we need to take suggestions that could deliver that seriously. Any savings we make in health will be reinvested into health.
Your health, and the health of your family, is an important priority for National. We are committed to putting patients first and building a healthier future for all New Zealanders.
The National-led Government inherited a public health system with significant staffing, service and financial problems. The health budget doubled in nine years, but there was little improvement in services. This is unacceptable so we asked some of the most experienced doctors and managers in the health sector to recommend how to best improve our public health system.
The independent group’s report recognises that to improve frontline health services we need more input from frontline staff. There are also recommendations to strengthen clinical leadership and clinical networks. It’s vital that our doctors and nurses are involved in running the health system.
The report proposes consolidating back office functions across the 21 District Health Boards to harness the power of bulk buying. We don’t need 21 payrolls, 21 approaches to IT, and 21 procurement systems. It also proposes cutting by two thirds the number of committees that advise the Health Ministry.
The Government will not accept anything that increases bureaucracy and takes resources away from frontline health services. We’re going to do what’s best for patients. We’ll ensure District Health Boards have the same autonomy they’ve always had to plan and fund local health services within the Government’s priorities.
We want your feedback – people should write to the Health Minister’s office by 18 September. Cabinet will consider the report’s recommendations over the next couple of months.
National is committed to delivering better, sooner, more convenient healthcare for you and your family. To do this, we’re building a strong and enduring public health system based on need.
Just as families and businesses are tightening their belts and economising in the current economic times, the health system needs to do the same. But this won’t be done at the expense of frontline services. We need to deliver greater efficiency and productivity, so we need to take suggestions that could deliver that seriously. Any savings we make in health will be reinvested into health.
Your health, and the health of your family, is an important priority for National. We are committed to putting patients first and building a healthier future for all New Zealanders.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Defence of Provocation
National believes there is no place for the partial defence of provocation on the statute books. The defence wrongly enables defendants to besmirch the character of victims, and effectively rewards a lack of self-control.
That's why this week we introduced the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill to Parliament, which removes the defence from the statute.
This follows two reports by the Law Commission, both of which recommended its abolition. We're hoping to have this legislation passed by the end of this year.
To read more about National's justice agenda visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/national039s+justice+agenda+keeping+our+word
That's why this week we introduced the Crimes (Provocation Repeal) Amendment Bill to Parliament, which removes the defence from the statute.
This follows two reports by the Law Commission, both of which recommended its abolition. We're hoping to have this legislation passed by the end of this year.
To read more about National's justice agenda visit: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/national039s+justice+agenda+keeping+our+word
Better access to medicines, sooner
National has increased the amount of money in the Community Pharmaceutical Budget by $31 million this year. The budget is managed by Pharmac and pays for the subsidised medicines we pick up from the local pharmacy.
On top of this, District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health are getting another $9 million for cancer drugs including Herceptin. National has made the commitment to a significant increase in funding to ensure better access to medicines.
Pharmac is well advanced in its planning on how it will spend the extra money, with greater access to drugs for some people suffering from cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B, leukaemia, and auto-immune disorders.
For more information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health+minister+confirms+new+medicines+spending
On top of this, District Health Boards and the Ministry of Health are getting another $9 million for cancer drugs including Herceptin. National has made the commitment to a significant increase in funding to ensure better access to medicines.
Pharmac is well advanced in its planning on how it will spend the extra money, with greater access to drugs for some people suffering from cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B, leukaemia, and auto-immune disorders.
For more information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/health+minister+confirms+new+medicines+spending
‘Great Kiwi Invite’ tourism campaign
Tourism is a major economic driver in New Zealand, and increasing our number of overseas visitors has the potential to help get our country through the recession in good shape.
The "Great Kiwi Invite" campaign, run by Tourism New Zealand, was launched by the Prime Minister on 31 July and encourages New Zealanders to invite their overseas relatives and friends to visit New Zealand.
More than 30,000 people have already accepted the challenge and visited www.thegreatkiwiinvite.co.nz to send a personal animated invitation to someone overseas. When the invitation is accepted, the person goes in the draw to win one of 15 trips for two to New Zealand.
National knows Kiwis can play a part in getting people to visit New Zealand, boosting tourism numbers, and providing positive spin-offs for many businesses, from hotels and attractions to cafes and taxis.
The "Great Kiwi Invite" campaign, run by Tourism New Zealand, was launched by the Prime Minister on 31 July and encourages New Zealanders to invite their overseas relatives and friends to visit New Zealand.
More than 30,000 people have already accepted the challenge and visited www.thegreatkiwiinvite.co.nz to send a personal animated invitation to someone overseas. When the invitation is accepted, the person goes in the draw to win one of 15 trips for two to New Zealand.
National knows Kiwis can play a part in getting people to visit New Zealand, boosting tourism numbers, and providing positive spin-offs for many businesses, from hotels and attractions to cafes and taxis.
Trustpower Community Awards
Last Monday night it was my pleasure to attend the annual Trustpower sponsored Community Awards.
These awards are given to voluntary organisations in our region that work tirelessly to improve their communities.
It was a real privilege for me to hear the stories of these organisations and individuals who contribute so much to our communities.
Congratulations to all the nominees, the winners and in particular the overall winner – the Dunedin English Language Programme. The very best of luck to them as they head to Nelson for the National awards.
These awards are given to voluntary organisations in our region that work tirelessly to improve their communities.
It was a real privilege for me to hear the stories of these organisations and individuals who contribute so much to our communities.
Congratulations to all the nominees, the winners and in particular the overall winner – the Dunedin English Language Programme. The very best of luck to them as they head to Nelson for the National awards.
Youth Employment Initiatives Applauded
It’s been terrific to note the widespread support for the government’s recently announced initiatives around youth employment.
The Prime Minister has announced a raft of issues, including:
- Six month job placements for low skilled young people in business;
- Jobs for up to six months in community programmes plus one supervisor per four jobs;
- Jobs for young people on national cycleway projects;
- New industry-specific job and training opportunities for young people;
- 2000 new places for 16 and 17 year olds not engaged in school;
- 1,250 new places in six week military style training programmes;
- 700 extra study places in polytechs and technical institutes;
- 1,600 new places in summer research scholarships for university students.
All in all, nearly 17,000 new job opportunities are available through this initiative.
It is a clear sign the government is not prepared to sit on its hands regarding youth unemployment.
Already the phone is ringing off the hook from businesses looking to take advantage of this and that can only be positive for our youth.
Pete Scores an Own Goal
The decision by the National government to withdraw the funding offer for the Otago Institute of Design at the Otago Polytechnic has drawn sharp criticism from Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson.
Pete continues to throw barbs in the direction of the government including his offering in a July issue of the Dunedin magapaper DScene (22/7/09).
It’s worth bearing in mind (and Pete knows this all too well) that the reason the offer was withdrawn was that the terms of the suspensory loan came with conditions that were deemed unacceptable to the Polytechnic.
Who imposed those conditions?
None other than Pete Hodgson himself in his capacity as Tertiary Education Minister in the last months of the previous Labour government.
Therefore, in criticising the government’s decision, Pete’s doing nothing more than criticising his own decision!
Me thinks it’s time for Pete to shut up and stop shooting himself in the foot.
Pete continues to throw barbs in the direction of the government including his offering in a July issue of the Dunedin magapaper DScene (22/7/09).
It’s worth bearing in mind (and Pete knows this all too well) that the reason the offer was withdrawn was that the terms of the suspensory loan came with conditions that were deemed unacceptable to the Polytechnic.
Who imposed those conditions?
None other than Pete Hodgson himself in his capacity as Tertiary Education Minister in the last months of the previous Labour government.
Therefore, in criticising the government’s decision, Pete’s doing nothing more than criticising his own decision!
Me thinks it’s time for Pete to shut up and stop shooting himself in the foot.
Flu HitsHome
Last weekend I had every intention of enjoying the victory conference: the National Party’s 2009 annual conference in Christchurch.
Sadly however, I spent the weekend caring for sick family members who have been stricken with influenza. Whether its seasonal flu or swine flu is not known but what I do know is that it has hit them pretty hard.
I have managed to stay clear of it which is probably a testament to the flu vaccination. I was the only member of the family to have it.
Based on my first hand experience I wouldn’t wish this flu on anyone and the primary prevention strategies being promoted by the Ministry of Health and health authorities should be carefully heeded.
Sadly however, I spent the weekend caring for sick family members who have been stricken with influenza. Whether its seasonal flu or swine flu is not known but what I do know is that it has hit them pretty hard.
I have managed to stay clear of it which is probably a testament to the flu vaccination. I was the only member of the family to have it.
Based on my first hand experience I wouldn’t wish this flu on anyone and the primary prevention strategies being promoted by the Ministry of Health and health authorities should be carefully heeded.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
