Legislation to ensure financial advisers meet minimum standards of competency has been passed unanimously in Parliament.
The Financial Service Providers (Pre-Implementation Adjustments) Act amends the regulatory framework established under Financial Advisers Act and the Financial Service Providers (Registration and Dispute Resolution) Act.
These changes greatly simplify compliance while still providing a higher level of consumer protection. The new law strengthens the Securities Commission's power to police financial advisers.
Meanwhile, the Government has called for public submissions on a discussion document on securities law. The document picked up many of the recommendations of the Capital Market Development Taskforce, and builds on the establishment of a new market regulator, the Financial Markets Authority.
The proposed changes will contribute to strengthening and improving our financial markets, as well as restoring mum and dad investor confidence.
More information:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/financial+service+changes+passed+unanimously
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister+welcomes+discussion+document+securities+law
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Democracy restored for Police
Police will now be able to serve their communities in local government. The Policing (Involvement in Local Authority) Amendment Bill, passed this week, allows police to stand for local councils without having to be on special leave during the campaign.
Previously, police had to be on special leave during the campaign, and had to resign from the force if they were elected.
National is committed to supporting our police and their rights as private citizens. This change ensures that police are not treated differently to other state servants who are not prevented by legislation from standing for election and serving on local bodies.
Removing the restrictions on police was an election promise for National, and the bill has been passed in time for this year's local government elections.
More information
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/democracy+restored+nz+police
Previously, police had to be on special leave during the campaign, and had to resign from the force if they were elected.
National is committed to supporting our police and their rights as private citizens. This change ensures that police are not treated differently to other state servants who are not prevented by legislation from standing for election and serving on local bodies.
Removing the restrictions on police was an election promise for National, and the bill has been passed in time for this year's local government elections.
More information
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/democracy+restored+nz+police
Victims' rights over prisoner compo assured
We have taken another step in putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system with the passing of a new law this week.
The Prisoners' and Victims' Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Act ensures that victims continue to have access to compensation awarded to prisoners.
If compensation is awarded, the Act allows prisoners’ victims to claim against it before prisoners. Anything remaining after the victim has claimed will be used to fund additional services and entitlements for victims of crime generally.
For more information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bill+ensure+victims039+rights+over+prisoner+compo+passes+law
The Prisoners' and Victims' Claims (Expiry and Application Dates) Amendment Act ensures that victims continue to have access to compensation awarded to prisoners.
If compensation is awarded, the Act allows prisoners’ victims to claim against it before prisoners. Anything remaining after the victim has claimed will be used to fund additional services and entitlements for victims of crime generally.
For more information: http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/bill+ensure+victims039+rights+over+prisoner+compo+passes+law
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Protecting public access to the Foreshore and Seabed
The National-led Government has agreed on a new approach to ownership of the foreshore and seabed. We are determined to resolve the foreshore and seabed issue for once and for all.
Our new approach is in the best interests of all New Zealanders. We are making sure the foreshore and seabed cannot be sold, protecting public access, and restoring iwi’s ability to test their customary rights through the courts.
The 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act will be repealed and replaced with new legislation which will:
- Remove Crown ownership of the public foreshore and seabed, and replace it with a non-ownership model.
- Ensure that the foreshore and seabed cannot be sold.
- Protect public access, and existing navigation and fishing rights.
- Restore the ability of iwi to test their customary rights to the foreshore and seabed through the courts.
- Exclude privately-owned land.
National wants to settle the foreshore and seabed issue, so it does not remain as a weeping sore that would have to be addressed by a future government.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/repeal+foreshore+and+seabed+act+announced
Our new approach is in the best interests of all New Zealanders. We are making sure the foreshore and seabed cannot be sold, protecting public access, and restoring iwi’s ability to test their customary rights through the courts.
The 2004 Foreshore and Seabed Act will be repealed and replaced with new legislation which will:
- Remove Crown ownership of the public foreshore and seabed, and replace it with a non-ownership model.
- Ensure that the foreshore and seabed cannot be sold.
- Protect public access, and existing navigation and fishing rights.
- Restore the ability of iwi to test their customary rights to the foreshore and seabed through the courts.
- Exclude privately-owned land.
National wants to settle the foreshore and seabed issue, so it does not remain as a weeping sore that would have to be addressed by a future government.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/repeal+foreshore+and+seabed+act+announced
Measures to improve Education
We are introducing measures to enable secondary-tertiary programmes and remove red tape.
The Education Amendment Bill (No 2) highlights National’s commitment to the Youth Guarantee by allowing students to take part in a secondary-tertiary programme while still enrolled at school.
Students will then be able to begin studying at the planned Trades Academies in 2011. Trades Academies will keep young people engaged in learning by giving them more options for study.
National is committed to bringing out the best in our young people. We want to see more students gain qualifications and help them achieve in their chosen field.
The legislation also removes red tape for crèches at gyms and shopping malls.
Currently these creches need to be licensed as an education provider. The bill will remove this compliance burden. They will have to meet legislative requirements to ensure the safety and welfare of children.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/education+bill+promotes+secondary-tertiary+reduces+red+tape
The Education Amendment Bill (No 2) highlights National’s commitment to the Youth Guarantee by allowing students to take part in a secondary-tertiary programme while still enrolled at school.
Students will then be able to begin studying at the planned Trades Academies in 2011. Trades Academies will keep young people engaged in learning by giving them more options for study.
National is committed to bringing out the best in our young people. We want to see more students gain qualifications and help them achieve in their chosen field.
The legislation also removes red tape for crèches at gyms and shopping malls.
Currently these creches need to be licensed as an education provider. The bill will remove this compliance burden. They will have to meet legislative requirements to ensure the safety and welfare of children.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/education+bill+promotes+secondary-tertiary+reduces+red+tape
Supporting our world-class athletes
New Zealanders want to see our top sportspeople succeeding internationally, and we are proud of them when they do.
National has announced a major investment in high performance sport to ensure we are consistently one of the most successful sporting nations in the world.
The multi-million dollar funding boost will help expand and develop world-class sporting facilities, including the Millennium Institute, which will become the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport.
Our goal is to help our world-class athletes become world-beaters.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt+boost+high+performance+sport
National has announced a major investment in high performance sport to ensure we are consistently one of the most successful sporting nations in the world.
The multi-million dollar funding boost will help expand and develop world-class sporting facilities, including the Millennium Institute, which will become the National Training Centre for High Performance Sport.
Our goal is to help our world-class athletes become world-beaters.
For more information visit:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt+boost+high+performance+sport
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The power of performance reporting
Florence Nightingale once said “if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” This is as true today of our health care systems as it was 130 years ago.
Last year Minister of Health Tony Ryall introduced a simple performance reporting system for our DHBs. They are required to report every three months against the Government’s six priority areas for health:
- Shorter stays in ED;
- Improved access to elective surgery;
- Shorter waits for cancer treatment;
- Increased childhood immunisation rates;
- Better help for smokers to quit; and
- Better diabetes and cardiovascular services.
It’s been amazing to watch how simply setting an achievable target and asking DHBs to report to their communities about how they are going against those targets has resulted in improvements.
In Otago and Southland the improvement between the second and third quarters of last year in five of those six target areas was very encouraging. Southland has also shown improvement in a number of areas. I expect the new Southern DHB will continue that focus on these priority areas.
Last year Minister of Health Tony Ryall introduced a simple performance reporting system for our DHBs. They are required to report every three months against the Government’s six priority areas for health:
- Shorter stays in ED;
- Improved access to elective surgery;
- Shorter waits for cancer treatment;
- Increased childhood immunisation rates;
- Better help for smokers to quit; and
- Better diabetes and cardiovascular services.
It’s been amazing to watch how simply setting an achievable target and asking DHBs to report to their communities about how they are going against those targets has resulted in improvements.
In Otago and Southland the improvement between the second and third quarters of last year in five of those six target areas was very encouraging. Southland has also shown improvement in a number of areas. I expect the new Southern DHB will continue that focus on these priority areas.
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