Key Notes - Merry Christmas

25 Comments
22 December 2011
Key Notes - Merry Christmas

In this issue of Key Notes, I talk about the establishment of the new Government, thank you all for your support - and wish you a merry Christmas.

Click here to watch my latest video journal on YouTube

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I'd like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope you get the chance to enjoy some sunshine, take a break, and spend time with friends and family over the next couple of weeks.

I'm looking forward to taking a holiday with my wife Bronagh and our children after a very busy year. It'll be good to put my feet up and spend time with my family before getting back to work in January.

WELCOMING NEW MINISTERS

It was great to see our new Cabinet Ministers sworn in last week, and to see Parliament resume this week.

National's new Cabinet builds on the hard work and success that we've worked for over the past three years. Our line-up shows we're placing a strong emphasis on jobs and growth, welfare reform, and delivering better public services for New Zealanders.

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012

Next year will be another busy one. We campaigned on some important policies and our new Cabinet will get to work straight away. I'm confident our team has the right skills and experience to provide the strong and stable Government that New Zealand needs in the next three years.

We're going to halve the Budget deficit next year and return to surplus in 2014/15. We'll extend the mixed ownership model to four state-owned energy companies and free up $5 billion to $7 billion to invest in new assets, such as building schools equipped to meet the needs of students in the 21st Century.

We're going to comprehensively reform benefits and focus on getting New Zealanders who are able to work, into employment and away from long-term benefit dependence.

We're going to increase participation in early childhood education, use National Standards in primary and intermediate schools to target support where it's needed, and improve the quality of teaching.

National is also committed to staying tough on crime, building a health system you can rely on, and rebuilding Canterbury.

Click here to read the Speech from the Throne, delivered by Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae on behalf of the Government at the State Opening of Parliament yesterday. The Speech from the Throne outlines the National-led Government's agenda for the next three years.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT

I'd like to pass on my thanks to everyone who helped National win the election and enable us to form a Government. People all over the country supported our campaign and this is hugely appreciated. We had people putting up hoardings, delivering pamphlets, making donations, driving people to polling booths, and carrying out many other jobs. It wouldn't have been possible without your support - so thank you.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister

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#1 - John post 2011-12-22 18:42 - (Reply)

I wholeheartedly agree with your laudable sentiments to wean unemployed people off the benefit. I am a member of the National Party but The National party, like all others DO NOT TELL WHERE THE JOBS ARE COMING FROM........... Stop the rhetoric and introduce REAL unexplored Job opportunities........... Perhaps I can help........... Regards, John Post

#1.1 - Geoff Monks 2011-12-23 11:13 - (Reply)

Strongly disagree with your asset sale programme and Defence policy. Now is not a good time to further reduce defence capability.

#1.2 - Hugh Rose said:
2011-12-23 15:12 - (Reply)

Thank you for the Christmas wishes Prime Minister. I would really appreciate you reduced the bureaucratic night mare involved in employing people. Like most Farmers I am getting older, I could do with casual help but whilst I have to worry about PAYE, GST, ACC,OHS, ETC ETC then I am not employing anybody ever How about you get the Department of Labour to take responsibility for casual workers so I just pay for the hours and they do the paperwork! And please at $135 per kilo for raw possum fur we can't afford to use 1080! get the unemployed out there harvesting those possums. I do and it's a good part of my income! All the best for the new year.

#2 - Bruce Collingwood 2011-12-22 20:00 - (Reply)

I am very supportive of the following - Halve the Budget deficit next year - Return to surplus in 2014/15. - Comprehensively reform benefits - Employment and away from long-term benefit dependence. - Tough on crime - Building a health system you can rely on - Rebuilding Canterbury This is sensible government thank you

#3 - Dave Enting 2011-12-22 20:07 - (Reply)

Suggestions: Unemployed work one day a week for the dole:Treeplanting,recycling centres etc. Public sector salary freeze Gotta happen,outstripping private sector already.Look what happened to Greece. Stop crushing boyracer cars:There are too many people out there who need them.Remodify and sell. Merry Christmas and happy Hanukah Dave

#4 - Gary Westwood 2011-12-22 20:39 - (Reply)

Good evening PM, Congratulations on your victory - truly excellent news for our country and I shall look forward to to seeing your mandated initiatives put into place. Congratulations also on your superb speech yesterday that left the Opposition somewhat stunned. As a very happy constituent of Sam Lotu-Iiga I am delighted to see his good friend Alfred Ngaro join him in the House and privileged to hear one of the finest maiden speeches that I have heard. Good luck to you and your team and all the best for your term as our government. All the very best wishes to you and your family for a great Festive Season.

#5 - Michael York 2011-12-22 23:10 - (Reply)

Nice talk, but how can you encourage bennies to take jobs when there are none? Where are your proposals on job creation?

#6 - Arihia Ngaronoa 2011-12-23 01:30 - (Reply)

Merry Christmas. You deserve a holiday. Take care.

#7 - Lionel Wedge 2011-12-23 01:43 - (Reply)

Thank you Mr Prime Minister and like wise to You and your Family. You have certainly earned the right to a spend time with your family - who are the most precious support you will ever have unconditionally Good Luck for 2012 and do keep up your positive leadership and personal style to taking this great country back up to a debt free community. I certainly look forward to a major shake up in the address of crime in NZ. Being the nice guy and soft on crime is not conducive to the friendly atypical decent and openhearted Kiwi citizenry and that which makes us the envy of the world [ so go for it and please being unrelentless - it not about popularity but rather about removing the scourge that threatens the less aggressive members of this society] Kindest regards lionel wedge

#8 - Errol 2011-12-23 06:16 - (Reply)

On welfare reform. In the main organisations & individuals who go into business enterprise do so to make a legal & moral profit. Thus they provide jobs for others. The welfare safety net which National & all of us want to see to be fair, cannot be reformed morally until there are serious more jobs. Job creating policies must clearly show it worthwhile to be in business in NZ.

#9 - Carol Jahnke said:
2011-12-23 06:22 - (Reply)

Have a lovely Christmas and a prosperous New Year

#10 - Digby Green 2011-12-23 07:50 - (Reply)

Great to hear to you are going to remain tough on crime. But if so, why do you let judges give such weak sentences. And why do people get out on parole after serving a third of their sentence? It does not make sense. Don't let them out till they have rehabilitated and got a job to go to. Build cheap cold prisons. No tv or videos. Just good books. No heating (bring their own blankest)

#10.1 - Luis Westermeier said:
2011-12-23 11:55 - (Reply)

Im in the Gold Coast with family. A local Judge here that got taugh on young criminals had his harder than usual sentences dawngraded by the court of appeal and also reprimanded. How do you change this attitud from the older judges.

#10.2 - Peter Bacchus said:
2011-12-23 14:18 - (Reply)

Dear John and family I wish you quality family time over the summer break. Please when you consider the Food Safety legislation consider the benefits of the home garden and grandparents, often pensioners, growing vegetabales and fruit for themselves and their families. Good quality fruit and vegetables relates to better health and better health with less cost to government and taxpayers With best wishes, Peter Bacchus

#11 - Neg Henry 2011-12-23 08:35 - (Reply)

Happy Christmas.. enjoy the break.. you've earned it Mister Prime Minister ! Best wishes to you and your family. Meg and Murray henry

#12 - Eddie Ewing 2011-12-23 08:44 - (Reply)

Thank you John,for taking time to wish everyone a merry Christmas& a Happy New Year. I would also like to pass on the same to you and your family, And you a great new term as PM. Most of all I wish everyone a healthy 2012 because without you health you have nothing. May God bless you all . Eddie Ewing.

#13 - Mary Molloy 2011-12-23 09:13 - (Reply)

Hi John, I wish you and your new csbinet well for Xmas and the coming new year. I would appreciate meeting with both the Minister of Conservation and also Agriculture to discuss bovine Tb with them and its methods of control. Also the use of poisons in our wildlands. I am aware that the Local Gov. Select Committee on the Environment sat and deliberated on the subject of 1080 last year however those most closely affected by this poison use and genuine TB free farmers were not consulted. I represent the farmers group, Farmers Against Ten Eighty, as their spokesman and as such know that there are better options for farmers to be proactive dealing with disease. I am aware that all mammals can be infected with TB but that in NZ we test only two species of farm animals - test failures as high as 20% either way are common. I am also aware that TB is a bacterium and that there are many ways of dealing with it - eradication should have occurred many years ago. This is a very serious issue and should be discussed openly. I respect the AHB vets on the whole but not those staff involved in spin or poisoning. Farmers Against Ten Eighty has a lot of knowledge, can help rid NZ of disease through education and awareness that it is possible to farm without TB and live in possum country sharing bush-boundaries (we have for 40 years) - we know that by spreading by air in particular 1080 poison, that sooner or later our exports will be affected. It is essential that we stop papering over the cracks and re-presenting poison as the panacea for all things - it is a huge risk to our economy both the farming sector and tourism. In spite of constant assurances to the contrary, it has adverse effects on our native species and all our biota, much of which has not been identified as yet. I sincerely hope you read this and respond with an open mind.It does concern the viability of New Zealand's economy. Yours sincerely Mary Molloy, Farmers Against Ten Eighty.

#13.1 - Judy Arnold 2011-12-23 14:38 - (Reply)

Dear Prime Minister - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. Please read and note Mary Molloy"s comment about poisoning our environment. Possum's could provide a lucrative income for unemployed with meat and fur products, instead of lying dead in our forests polluting our streams.

#13.2 - Lewis Hore 2011-12-26 19:25 - (Reply)

A Merry Christmas to you and your family. I have only one wish for the New Year that the use of toxins in our so called clean green country country be severly curtailed especially 1080, we cannot continue with toxins without having some severe repercussions in the near futuredjmo

#13.3 - Animal Health Board said:
2012-01-19 14:22 - (Reply)

For the record, Mary Molloy published a version of this post as a letter in the Marlborough Express. The Animal Health Board's Technical and Farm Services Manager (and vet) Dr Stu Hutchings provided the following response, which you may be interested to read: In response to Mary Molloy (Express, January 13), some 27 cattle tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB) in the Harihari area last year and were slaughtered. When infected cattle are directed to slaughter, owners are compensated 65 per cent of the animal's fair market value. In New Zealand, some 4.62 million cattle were tested last year and 722 reacted to either the skin or blood test. Combined, these tests accurately diagnose up to 95 per cent of TB cattle tested in New Zealand. In comparison, United Kingdom authorities tested a similar number of livestock last year, but 23,000 were sent to slaughter. Native badgers are the main source of TB in UK livestock, giving a real view of what could happen in New Zealand if we fail to effectively control the non-native and invasive possum. Scientific analysis indicates around 70 per cent of new herd infections can be traced back to possums or, in some instances, ferrets. Wild animal control and extensive TB testing has played a key role in the drop in infected herd numbers across the West Coast from a peak of 250 to around 30. All new herd owners are sent extensive information, explaining how and why TB is controlled and how they can help protect their stock from the disease. This includes meeting their tagging and TB-testing obligations, making wise stock purchasing decisions and ensuring Animal Status Declaration forms are correctly completed. Local TB-free committees, mainly consisting of farmer representatives, provide valuable advice and assistance to herd owners. DR STU HUTCHINGS, Technical and Farm Services Manager, Animal Health Board

#14 - Gary Pipke said:
2011-12-23 09:36 - (Reply)

We are extremely pleased to see you and you colleagues back in Government and look forward to the next three years. You have many tasks to accomplish and many challenges ahead. We do know that we have the right people in Government after the Election and do wish you all well. Gary and Pauline Pike.

#15 - Gen Teirney 2011-12-23 11:47 - (Reply)

My one objection to your selling assets is the fact you claim ordinary NZ'ers can buy shares. This is untrue as unless one had a regular pattern of buying & selling shares with a broker one has NO CHANCE of getting shares when they are released.You must be as aware of that as anyone yet you continue to say that. I know they will be able to buy them at a higher price AFTER the wealthy have had their profit.

#16 - Colleen Williams 2011-12-23 13:24 - (Reply)

Have a good break John and family...we need you to be refreshed and ready for 2012 PLease don't sell the Crafar land to overseas people though. Land is heritage

#17 - Andrew Kennedy 2011-12-24 23:45 - (Reply)

We do feel for our family in Ch CH. Why won't you really help them by moving everything to a safe location? Ch CH city is not safe nor are the alluvial sludge lands. The old city has to be passed over and a new Ch CH needs to be built in a safe location. I could be blunter but that is inappropriate in such a tragic time for our family. John, really help them, please

#18 - Russel 2012-01-01 10:50 - (Reply)

Hi all Wishing you a very happy new year 2012.Hopefully it is less turbulent than 2011. I want to comment on the Alcohol issue in New Zealand. I believe it is the culture than has to change rather than changing laws etc. A more effective way of getting around Alcohol issues I believe is through Education , Advertisement and most importantly changing drinking alcohol culture. My Advert on TV would be something like(MY IDEA) DRINKING ALCOHOL SPOILS LOOKS. This will target the youth as all want to look good. Hopefully my idea could be implemented. I wish you all the best. Russel

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John Key

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22 December 2011
Key Notes - Merry Christmas

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25 Comments 22 December 2011 Key Notes - Merry Christmas

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22 December 2011
Key Notes - Merry Christmas