Stepping in to fix leaky homes

Many thousands of New Zealanders and their families are stuck in the dreadful bind of owning a leaky, rotting home.

There are tens of thousands of homes affected across the country. The leaky homes issue is on a similar scale to a major natural disaster.

In human terms, it adds up to thousands of damaged lives. It’s New Zealanders and their families who are suffering health problems caused by stress or by inhaling foul air from their rotting homes.

National is not prepared to stand by and let this awful situation continue. We believe it’s time to stop playing the blame game.

We have taken leadership on this major, long-running problem and stepped up with a financial assistance package to help Kiwis get their homes fixed faster.

The package centres on the Government and local authorities each contributing 25 per cent of agreed repair costs, and affected homeowners funding the remaining 50 per cent backed by a government loan guarantee.

This package is a fair and effective package that will spread the costs as evenly as possible.

This is a major commitment from the Government, especially in today’s tough economic environment. The Government’s 25 per cent contribution towards agreed repair costs is expected to cost about $1 billion over five years.

Our priority is getting homes fixed so owners and their families can move on with their lives. It’s the right thing to do.

Local authorities most affected by the leaky homes problem have already voted to support the package.

The eight major retail banks have been briefed and have indicated their willingness to work with the Government on the detail of the package.

Now the Government has received local authority support, we can continue to work through the operational detail with the parties involved, including councils and banks.

We hope to have the package up and running early next year.

In the meantime, we are encouraging owners of leaky homes to lodge a weathertight claim as soon as possible with the Department of Building and Housing so they can stop the clock on the 10-year liability limit.

It is also important to emphasise that nobody has to take up this package – it is simply another option for owners to get their homes fixed.

If you want for information visit http://www.dbh.govt.nz/ or phone 0800 116 926.

Three strikes bill passed by Parliament

National has fulfilled its election pledge to take away eligibility for parole for the worst repeat violent offenders with the passing of the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill this week.

The bill, which includes aspects of ACT’s three strikes policy, denies parole to repeat serious violent offenders and to offenders who are guilty of committing the worst murders. In addition, it enforces maximum sentences on those repeat offenders who persist on carrying out serious violent offences.

National is sending a clear message with this bill that parole is a privilege, not a right.

This bill upholds National’s commitment to put victims at the heart of the justice system by ensuring that the rights of victims and their families are put before the rights of those offenders who choose to continue to offend.

National is serious about taking the tough steps needed to tackle violent crime, and make families safer in their homes and communities.

For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/three+strikes+bill+passed+parliament

Hot demand for home insulation scheme

More than 43,000 houses across New Zealand have been insulated under our scheme to make Kiwi homes warmer, healthier, and drier.

We have committed $347 million over four years to retrofit 188,500 homes with insulation and clean heating.

This is a good programme. More people than ever before are getting their homes insulated and that is good for them, and good for the country.

The 43,430 households insulated in the first 10 months of the programme have far exceeded the first year target of 27,500 homes.

In addition, about 2000 jobs will be created over the four-year lifetime of the scheme, providing a significant boost to regional economies across New Zealand.

From the outset, demand has been exceptionally high, especially from households on lower incomes.

In December, we added $24 million over four years to increase the number of low-income households that could benefit from the scheme by at least 8500. To date, 22,365 low-income households have taken part in the programme.

For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/hot+demand+government+insulation+scheme

Green light for PGP projects

This week we announced more than $45 million in government-industry partnerships under this Government’s Primary Growth Partnership. These partnerships will invest in primary sector innovation projects, and will significantly boost New Zealand’s economy.

The successful projects fund a diverse range of work, including a major supply-chain programme to expand the production of merino fine wool, a programme to develop better harvesting technologies for forestry on steep country, and a project to develop bird-deterrent grasses.

National has always supported our primary sector, and these projects are just the beginning. We can expect a number of further significant announcements around the Primary Growth Partnership in coming months.

For more information visit:
http://beehive.govt.nz/release/green+light+primary+growth+partnership+projects

Budget 2010: More funding for community law centres

National recognises the important role community law centres play in providing access to justice. Budget 2010 provides an additional $5.9 million in operating funding over the next two years in order to top up community law centre funding to the same level as last year.

Community law centres provide an extremely valuable service, ensuring all New Zealanders can access legal services, which are even more vital in tough economic times

National is committed to ensuring the long-term viability of community law centres.

For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more+budget+funding+community+law+centres

Private Management of Prisons Offers New Opportunities

Contract management of prisons provides an opportunity to inject new ideas and innovations into the corrections sector, enhancing public safety, improving rehabilitation, and reducing costs.

The joint Mt Eden-Auckland Central Remand Prison (ACRP) has been selected to operate under a private contract manager. While under private contract in 2004, ACRP had one suicide and only three serious assaults – a low level of serious incidents for an institution of this type with 360 inmates. Only 5.5 per cent of inmates returned positive drug tests, compared with over 20 per cent in public sector prisons.

Contract management will provide opportunities for businesses to participate in managing prisons either as advisers, business partners, or sub-contractors.

More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/mt+eden-acrp+set+private+management

Budget 2010: Customs Gets Boost to Fight Illicit Drugs Trade

Progress is being made in the fight against ‘P’, but it is still early days. This week’s six-monthly update report shows progress in areas such as border seizures, the recovery of criminal assets, and the uptake of treatment places.

We are giving Customs more money to fight 'P' and other illegal trade at our borders. Budget 2010 will provide $5.9 million of capital funding over the next two years.

The money will buy Customs new technology. It will move our border control into the digital age with new, more advanced tools to detect the activities of drug criminals. Tools like these are vital if we are to clamp down on criminal gangs and the 'P' trade.

More information: http://beehive.govt.nz/release/more+resources+fight+illicit+drugs+trade

Budget 2010: More Tourism Funding to Help Grow Our Economy

We know investing in tourism is worthwhile. The tourism industry has huge potential, and will play an important role in helping to grow our economy.

That's why the National-led Government is boosting tourism funding by $30 million for the next year. Most of the extra funding will be used to better market New Zealand as a tourist destination internationally.

We already have outstanding scenery, a unique culture, delicious food and wine, and a world-class tourism industry. Now we have more funding to sell that message around the world, and encourage more tourists to visit New Zealand.

More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/speech+2010+new+zealand+hotel+industry+conference

Budget 2010: $321m for Science and Innovation

Budget 2010 will focus on building faster and more sustainable economic growth – it’s the only way we can create the jobs, higher incomes, and better living standards families deserve. Science and innovation will help us achieve that goal.

The Budget allocates $321 million for new initiatives over the next four years including $225m of new funding and $96m reprioritised funding. The centrepiece of the funding increase is a $234m boost over four years to support business research and development.

This major investment will help keep New Zealand competitive, and is at the heart of our strategy to boost our economy. National is taking science investment seriously.

More information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget+provides+321m+rsampt+activities

Budget 2010: Helping Families Get Ahead

As we prepare for Budget 2010, it’s a good chance to look at what we’ve done over the past year.

In last year’s Budget, we protected New Zealanders from the sharpest edges of the recession by safeguarding their entitlements. We poured billions into infrastructure to unclog the arteries of growth. We pushed resources to the frontline across the public service. And we took steps to keep the country’s debt under control.

New Zealand has weathered the worst of the global crisis. We have emerged from recession more quickly than most of our trading partners. A sign of that is the recent fall in the unemployment rate from 7.1 per cent to 6 per cent.

But we have a lot more work to do. National’s focus is on achieving faster economic growth. Budget 2010 will take some important steps towards that goal.

Get Budget information here: http://www.national.org.nz/budget/

More time for mining stocktake submissions

New Zealand is mineral rich and it is National’s goal to unlock the potential of our mineral resources for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

Much of that mineral potential is concentrated in public conservation areas. In March, we released a paper identifying a very small area of Schedule Four conservation land rich in minerals that could be responsibly developed.

We asked New Zealanders for their views. There has been considerable public interest in the proposals so the Government has extended the submission period to allow as many people as possible to have their say.

Submissions on the Government's proposals will now close at 5pm on Wednesday 26 May.

The discussion document and information on making a submission is available at www.med.govt.nz/schedule4

Government looks to recover student loan administration costs

The Government is looking to recover more of the $40 million it costs to administer the interest-free student loan scheme every year.

We’re considering extending the annual administration fee to all those with a student loan. Currently, only $10 million is recovered through the annual $50 charge, from students who are drawing a loan. That charge has not been changed since 1992.

Once borrowers leave tertiary education, they do not pay any part of the administration costs. It is only fair that borrowers who receive the benefit of interest-free loans cover more of the actual costs of loan administration, so more people can take part in tertiary education.

For more information visit:
http://beehive.govt.nz/release/govt+investigating+recovery+student+loan+administration+costs

Three strikes law a step closer

Keeping the public safe is one of the most fundamental obligations of any government.

This week we took another step to ensure the worst repeat serious violent offenders stay in prison for longer. The Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill passed its second reading in Parliament, and should be in force by the end of the year.

The bill will deny parole to repeat serious violent offenders and those who are guilty of the worst murders. It will impose maximum jail terms for those who continue to commit serious crime. This bill is specifically focused on those offenders who show no regard for victims, their families or the community, and who are repeatedly convicted for serious violent and sexual crimes.

For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/three+strikes+bill+passes+second+reading

Fighting bowel cancer

Funding of $24 million is to be put towards a bowel cancer screening pilot, in an effort to combat what is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in New Zealand.

In 2007 almost 3000 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer and 1252 people died from the disease.

A nationwide bowel cancer screening programme could ensure earlier treatment and reduce the death rate by more than a third, saving up to 270 lives each year. The four-year pilot is expected to start next year.

For more information visit:
http://beehive.govt.nz/release/budget+2010+funding+bowel+cancer+screening+pilot

Budget 2010: Investing in families

The Government is putting more than $134 million over the next four years towards Whānau Ora. This policy is designed to help families in need take control of their future. It is recognisably Maori, but will be available to all.

At the moment, thousands of Kiwi families get support from many government agencies such as the Police, Work and Income, schools, or Child, Youth and Family. Too often this help isn’t getting the results these families need. We need to take a more coordinated approach and make better use of taxpayer money.

A Whānau Ora provider will work with a family as a whole, rather than with an individual and his or her problems. We know that with a bit of help, all families can take responsibility for themselves.

National is committed to better results for all families in need, value for taxpayer money, and strong accountability in the way Whānau Ora is run.

For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget+2010+-+whanau+ora+launches+1343m