A new Social Housing Unit will work with the third sector to grow the amount of niche, social, and affordable housing in New Zealand.
The third sector is non-governmental organisations that provide social housing, such as Habitat for Humanity. The unit will provide these groups with funding, land, or excess state housing stock. Some third-sector organisations have delivered up to $3 worth of housing for every government dollar invested.
We have allocated $40 million to grow social housing this year, and the unit will determine how it is spent. Moving responsibility for third sector funding out of Housing New Zealand means it can focus on providing housing for those most in need, for the duration of that need.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36243
Friday, June 17, 2011
Government increases funding to restorative justice
The National-led Government is increasing funding for adult restorative justice by $2 million over the next three years.
Restorative justice helps address the harm done to victims, holds offenders to account, and reduces re-offending. Increasingly evidence here and overseas highlights the positive benefits of restorative justice for both victims and offenders.
Offenders who plead guilty are eligible for restorative justice, but only about 5 per cent of them can participate in restorative justice conferences. The reprioritised funding will help increase the number of conferences, particularly in areas with high Maori populations and high offending.
Increasing restorative justice supports National’s commitment to addressing drivers of crime.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36254
Restorative justice helps address the harm done to victims, holds offenders to account, and reduces re-offending. Increasingly evidence here and overseas highlights the positive benefits of restorative justice for both victims and offenders.
Offenders who plead guilty are eligible for restorative justice, but only about 5 per cent of them can participate in restorative justice conferences. The reprioritised funding will help increase the number of conferences, particularly in areas with high Maori populations and high offending.
Increasing restorative justice supports National’s commitment to addressing drivers of crime.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36254
Eight new ECE services to be built
The National-led Government is investing $9.5 million to build eight new early childhood education (ECE) services in South and East Auckland.
The services will create 440 new places for children in communities where ECE participation is lowest, and where some of our most vulnerable families live. These follow the 1198 new ECE places already created for children in Counties-Manukau under National.
The new centres in Māngere, Manurewa, Otara, and Glen Innes are part of the Government’s $91.8 million participation programme that will create 3500 extra ECE places for children from Māori, Pasifika, and lower socio-economic families. Most of the new building projects will be completed by late 2012.
ECE is a priority for National. Budget 2011 allocated $1.4 billion for ECE this year, with an extra $550 million available over four years.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36260
The services will create 440 new places for children in communities where ECE participation is lowest, and where some of our most vulnerable families live. These follow the 1198 new ECE places already created for children in Counties-Manukau under National.
The new centres in Māngere, Manurewa, Otara, and Glen Innes are part of the Government’s $91.8 million participation programme that will create 3500 extra ECE places for children from Māori, Pasifika, and lower socio-economic families. Most of the new building projects will be completed by late 2012.
ECE is a priority for National. Budget 2011 allocated $1.4 billion for ECE this year, with an extra $550 million available over four years.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36260
Negotiations for a new convention centre to boost growth
The Government is negotiating with SkyCity to build a large international convention centre in central Auckland.
The New Zealand International Convention Centre will be a major boost to our economy. It will attract some 33,000 convention delegates, create around 800 new jobs, and pump $90 million in international visitor spending into the economy each year.
Under the proposal, SkyCity will pay the estimated $350 million to build the 3500-seat centre. SkyCity has asked the Government to consider some alterations to gambling regulations and legislation. There will be no discussion on reducing the age of entry to casinos, allowing SkyCity an internet gambling licence or additional casino licences.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36233
The New Zealand International Convention Centre will be a major boost to our economy. It will attract some 33,000 convention delegates, create around 800 new jobs, and pump $90 million in international visitor spending into the economy each year.
Under the proposal, SkyCity will pay the estimated $350 million to build the 3500-seat centre. SkyCity has asked the Government to consider some alterations to gambling regulations and legislation. There will be no discussion on reducing the age of entry to casinos, allowing SkyCity an internet gambling licence or additional casino licences.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36233
Wages rising faster than inflation
After-tax wages are continuing to rise faster than prices, helping New Zealand families get ahead.
The Government appreciates that things remain challenging for many families. But the real after-tax average wage increased 2.5 per cent in the past year, after taking into account all consumer price increases including food prices and the one-off rise in GST last October.
And since September 2008 real after-tax average wages have gone up 10 per cent. This compares with just 4 per cent over the previous nine years.
National is committed to helping New Zealanders get ahead and enjoy higher incomes and lower interest rates.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36242
The Government appreciates that things remain challenging for many families. But the real after-tax average wage increased 2.5 per cent in the past year, after taking into account all consumer price increases including food prices and the one-off rise in GST last October.
And since September 2008 real after-tax average wages have gone up 10 per cent. This compares with just 4 per cent over the previous nine years.
National is committed to helping New Zealanders get ahead and enjoy higher incomes and lower interest rates.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36242
Monday, June 13, 2011
Better protecting our oceans
New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an important part of our environment and needs protecting. That's why we're introducing new laws to manage the environmental effects of offshore activities such as petroleum exploration and mining.
This area of ocean, 20 times bigger than New Zealand's land area, offers significant economic opportunities. But robust laws must be in place to protect the environment.
National will introduce new legislation to make the Environmental Protection Authority responsible for monitoring activities and enforcement. All consents will require public consultation and an environmental impact assessment. Most of all the new law will put responsibility on consent holders to avoid, or remedy, adverse environmental effects of any activity in the EEZ and the Extended Continental Shelf.
This is part of National’s plan to grow the economy while protecting the environment.
For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36166
This area of ocean, 20 times bigger than New Zealand's land area, offers significant economic opportunities. But robust laws must be in place to protect the environment.
National will introduce new legislation to make the Environmental Protection Authority responsible for monitoring activities and enforcement. All consents will require public consultation and an environmental impact assessment. Most of all the new law will put responsibility on consent holders to avoid, or remedy, adverse environmental effects of any activity in the EEZ and the Extended Continental Shelf.
This is part of National’s plan to grow the economy while protecting the environment.
For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36166
SuperGold discount extended to Australia
New Zealand SuperGold Card holders and Australian Seniors Card holders are now able to use their commercial discounts in both countries thanks to a reciprocal agreement.
Around 100,000 New Zealand seniors head to Australia each year, and 70,000 Australian seniors come here. This initiative will help their tourist dollars go further in both countries.
Discounts offered by the scheme will be met by the businesses involved, and they must opt-in to the agreement. The agreement does not include initiatives funded by the Government, such as the free off-peak travel subsidy in New Zealand. The Ministry of Social Development will be encouraging businesses to enter the scheme over the next few months.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36168
Around 100,000 New Zealand seniors head to Australia each year, and 70,000 Australian seniors come here. This initiative will help their tourist dollars go further in both countries.
Discounts offered by the scheme will be met by the businesses involved, and they must opt-in to the agreement. The agreement does not include initiatives funded by the Government, such as the free off-peak travel subsidy in New Zealand. The Ministry of Social Development will be encouraging businesses to enter the scheme over the next few months.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36168
Fewer people reliant on welfare
Benefit figures for May show the number of people on welfare fell by 2295. More than 9000 beneficiaries found work, including around 3000 young people. The number of people on the Unemployment Benefit also fell by 3000.
Our Future Focus changes, which were part of National's 2008 election policy, are delivering positive results. Our requirement that someone on an Unemployment Benefit must reapply after one year has seen more than 5000 people cancel their benefit.
We’ve also seen more than 1000 people leave the Domestic Purposes Benefit to go into work within a month of getting intensive support from Work and Income.
However, as was clear from the Welfare Working Group's report, we’ve got to do more to tackle long-term welfare dependency. The special ministerial welfare group is leading further work on this, which will be announced later this year.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=36208
Our Future Focus changes, which were part of National's 2008 election policy, are delivering positive results. Our requirement that someone on an Unemployment Benefit must reapply after one year has seen more than 5000 people cancel their benefit.
We’ve also seen more than 1000 people leave the Domestic Purposes Benefit to go into work within a month of getting intensive support from Work and Income.
However, as was clear from the Welfare Working Group's report, we’ve got to do more to tackle long-term welfare dependency. The special ministerial welfare group is leading further work on this, which will be announced later this year.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=36208
Path to surplus and job growth
The National-led Government is doing everything it can to give businesses the confidence to invest, grow, and create new jobs. This includes mapping a faster path back to Budget surplus, investing heavily in infrastructure, and getting better results from the public sector.
The latest forecasts from the Reserve Bank suggest the pace of growth is picking up. The central bank is predicting 4.6 per cent growth in the year to March 2013, somewhat higher than Treasury’s 4 per cent forecast in the Budget.
The bank also has a strong outlook for job growth, forecasting an additional 180,000 people employed by March 2014.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36028
The latest forecasts from the Reserve Bank suggest the pace of growth is picking up. The central bank is predicting 4.6 per cent growth in the year to March 2013, somewhat higher than Treasury’s 4 per cent forecast in the Budget.
The bank also has a strong outlook for job growth, forecasting an additional 180,000 people employed by March 2014.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36028
Encouraging savings and investment to build a stronger economy
The mixed-ownership model that National is proposing for five companies will help reduce government debt, increase investment opportunities for Kiwi mum and dad investors, and improve the companies' financial performance.
Over the three to five years from 2012, we plan to extend the mixed-ownership model to four state-owned energy companies, and reduce the government’s shareholding in Air New Zealand while keeping majority control.
We'll be putting New Zealanders at the front of the queue, and we're confident there will be strong local take up. We'd rather pay dividends to Kiwis than interest to foreigners.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36031
Over the three to five years from 2012, we plan to extend the mixed-ownership model to four state-owned energy companies, and reduce the government’s shareholding in Air New Zealand while keeping majority control.
We'll be putting New Zealanders at the front of the queue, and we're confident there will be strong local take up. We'd rather pay dividends to Kiwis than interest to foreigners.
More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=36031
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