Key Notes: Helping young people get ahead

10 Comments
08 June 2010
Key Notes: Helping young people get ahead

In this issue I talk about the opening of the Limited Service Volunteer course, Budget 2010, the country's first container cell prison unit and more.

HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE GET AHEAD

On Friday I opened the new Limited Service Volunteer course in Auckland. The military-style residential course is an opportunity for unemployed 18- to 25-year-olds to challenge themselves. They finish with the skills to get a job, and the focus to build more positive lives for themselves.

Last year I announced our Youth Opportunities package and as part of this, we boosted spending on the successful Limited Service Volunteer course. The course began in Christchurch, and has been expanded to Auckland and Wellington. This year almost 2000 young people will take part nationwide.

National wants every young New Zealander to be able to find a way onto the path of success.

BUDGET 2010 - BUILDING THE RECOVERY

I've been getting great feedback on Budget 2010 as I travel throughout New Zealand.

The Budget is good for the economy and good for Kiwi families. It focuses on lifting long-term economic growth to create jobs, boost incomes, raise living standards, and provide world-class public services to help Kiwi families get ahead. It also keeps us on track to rein in debt and get the Government books back into surplus.

I encourage you to visit our tax calculator at www.taxguide.govt.nz to find out how much better off you'll be, if you haven't already.

See a one page summary of the Budget here .

KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE

Last week Corrections Minister Judith Collins opened the country's first container cell prison unit. The 60-bed unit at Rimutaka Prison was built in half the time of traditional prison cells, and it cost about 30 per cent less.

The National-led Government took urgent steps last year to make sure we had enough beds to cope with an increase in prisoners. With the new 60-bed unit at Rimutaka and our double-bunking initiative, we've created almost 800 new prison beds. This is a great result.

See photos from the container cell opening here.

FIXING LEAKY HOMES

National wants to help New Zealanders get their leaky homes fixed faster so they can get on with their lives. We've stepped up to tackle this issue, and we believe it's time to stop playing the blame game.

Under our financial assistance package, we're offering to share the repair costs with affected homeowners and local authorities. I'm pleased with the response from local authorities, which means the package can go ahead.

Now we're encouraging owners of leaky homes to lodge weathertight claims with the Department of Building and Housing as soon as possible, so they can stop the clock on the 10-year liability limit.

FROM MY DIARY

Reading a story to pupils at Samuel Marsden Collegiate Preschool in Karori, Wellington, on Wednesday.

On Thursday I enjoyed a day in the Waimakariri electorate with National MP Kate Wilkinson, including opening her new out-of-Parliament office in Redwood. On Friday I opened the new Helensville ambulance station.

This week Parliament is taking a break so I'm getting out and about. On Wednesday I'm in Wellington and on Thursday I'm in Christchurch.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister

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#1 - Mike Lowe 2010-06-08 20:19 - (Reply)

All this reasonably good work is absolutely destroyed, as far as I am concerned, by your insistence on the pointless unnecessary ETS scheme which will destroy many needy families' budgets for no worthwhile outcome. More lost votes, Mr.Key!!

#2 - Margaret Dynes 2010-06-08 21:12 - (Reply)

I wonder if we are going down the wrong path when you are saying how good it is to have 800 more beds for prisoners. Crime is increasing so fast in NZ that we are losing track of the reality which should be praising the fact that we should be 800 prison beds less because crime has decreased. Is it profitable for the government to provide more beds for prisoners? If so can we all go to prison and let the prisoners out to do the work. Change the demographics.

#3 - Evelyn Brown 2010-06-08 21:59 - (Reply)

At least you did not have the book upside down like Mr Bush did a few years ago! I do not agree with the Emissions Trading Scheme. Where does the money go? Do you really believe it will help our planet? I dont think it will. I know this is alienating your very good voters and supporters. Regards Evelyn Brown

#4 - Richard P. Gray, OBE 2010-06-08 22:16 - (Reply)

I know all about the LSVScheme, because I started it in Burnham Military Camp. It is an excelent method and opportunity for our youth to learn real principles about life, living with each other, accepting the other persons beliefs and values, and generally growing up into adulthood. I have personally witnessed what I could only term as 'yobbos' turn into real, responsible people who were set to go and make a life in our community. It was so refreshing and invigorating, a little bit like watching a crysalis turn into a butterfly. Well done and keep up the good work. Richard P. Gray, OBE Colonel (Retd)

#5 - Stuart Goudie 2010-06-09 09:28 - (Reply)

Hi John, In response to your comments regarding the leaky building syndrome-In the latest 66 page report from the DBH minister Maurice Williamson comments in future more responsibility will be placed upon the home owner in terms of tradespeople/product and maintenance utalized in the building of their homes. This policy is apparently being adopted to remove some of the onus from local body councils. As such I have asked the minister whether this government will therefore be promoting an advertising campaign (as currently being done to promote the purchase of electronic stability control vehicles)recommending that home owners only consider trades people and product that has undergone some form of certification? Our company imports a stone veneer for use in exterior cladding of homes, in an effort to give consumer some confidence with specifying our product and therefore taking the onus off local councils we have had our product tested (at great expense)by a government recognised testing laboratory. To date I have received no reply, so would you kindly reply to this question? Thankyou Stuart Goudie

#6 - Andrew Kirkpatrick said:
2010-06-09 10:15 - (Reply)

I'm sure that a number of leaky home claimants will accept the 50% joint offer in desperation . I'm equally sure that no claimant considers the offer remotely fair though . From my own side , I would have accepted a one third , one third , one third arrangement but really feel that 75%/25% offer would provide some fairness to the solution , not of our own making .

#7 - Michael Greene 2010-06-14 14:54 - (Reply)

From personal experience working with 16/17 year old disadvantaged boys for London's East End I do not think you can have any lasting effects if your military style training is under six months. Any shorter period and many of them will revert to their bad old days within twelve months of the end of their course. Regards, mchael Greene

#8 - IH said:
2011-05-30 20:44 - (Reply)

Get them out of the environment they are in, provide them with role models that will socialise them and provide them with a skill where they can earn money and feel good about themselves. Boot camp, I feel has a place.

#8.1 - George F said:
2011-07-30 13:26 - (Reply)

I tend to agree with IH. I think for most of these kids, they just need to be taken away from all the temptations and given the skills to start providing for themselves.

#9 - Heather Cox 2011-08-15 15:19 - (Reply)

This should include anyone on welfare. Why not use the Donkey & carrot idea & give Employers who take people off welfare a reward for doing so. This would help also if used with work training for anyone who has been on welfare for a long time.

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