NEWSLETTER: Key Notes No.34

18 Comments
24 July 2008
NEWSLETTER: Key Notes No.34

VALUING FAMILIES

Supporting parents and families is hugely important. It's one of National's core principles and it's something I'm absolutely committed to. That's why, in June, I outlined how National will help get kids back into sports at school. And that's why, in the past few weeks, we've launched policies to improve the quality and choice of early childhood education and to help families make the most of our great outdoors.

In the months ahead, you'll see more policies from National that focus on parents and families and help build opportunities for children from all backgrounds.

Early Childhood Care and Education

National will keep the 20 hours early childhood education (ECE) scheme for 3 and 4-year-olds. We'll also retain existing subsidies and fee controls. Thousands of families are now using the scheme and we don't want to cause them financial uncertainty.

We are, however, determined to improve the quality and choice of early childhood education. Parents know what's best for their families and what their preschoolers need to get a good start in life. National trusts parents to make the right decisions for their children and their futures.

National will make the 20 Hours ECE scheme more flexible by:
• Removing the six-hours-a-day limit.
• Including playcentres and kohanga reo in the scheme.
• Extending 20 Hours ECE to 5-year-olds.
• Investigating more frequent payment methods.

We will also improve staff ratios, tackle the early childhood teacher shortage, cut bureaucracy, and boost participation rates in ECE. For more details, see our policy summary at http://national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=28202

Encouraging Outdoor Recreation

Making the most of the great outdoors is part of our heritage. National wants to make sure all Kiwi families have the chance to camp, hunt, fish, tramp, picnic, and make the most of New Zealand's wild and beautiful places.

We will create new affordable campsites for families where there is demand. We will change the focus of conservation boards so they better reflect a wide range of recreation interests. And we'll achieve public access to streams, lakes, and rivers through negotiated agreements with landowners.

We're also determined to give hunters more say in the management of game animals, and protect the right of every Kiwi family to go fishing and catch a meal of seafood without a licence. Click here to see our Outdoor Recreation policy summary http://national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=28246.

A GLOBALLY-COMPETITIVE ECONOMY

National wants to get our economy growing again. To do that, we've got to get the right incentives into our tax system through an ongoing programme of tax cuts. We've got to boost investment in our overstretched infrastructure. And we've got to relentlessly focus on lifting education standards. We've also got to cut bureaucracy and red tape, and give people more say in making decisions that best suit their needs, as well as bringing discipline to government spending so taxpayers get better value for their money.

Over the past few weeks, we've released several policies that follow through on these ideas.

Employment and Workplace Relations

National believes that employment law should do four things:
- Treat employees and employers fairly
- Expand opportunities for those having difficulty getting work
- Increase flexibility
- Let businesses grow

That's why we want to introduce a 90-day trial period for new employees in businesses with fewer than 20 staff. This trial period will be by agreement between the employer and the employee. It will give those having difficulty getting work – such as young inexperienced jobseekers or new immigrants – a better chance at getting a job.

For more details on our proposed 90-day trial period, as well as our policies on resolving employment disputes, annual leave, and the right of workers to bargain collectively without joining a union, see our policy summary here: http://national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=28271

ACC

National supports a comprehensive, 24/7, no-fault accident insurance scheme that delivers certainty of coverage for all New Zealanders, but we think the existing scheme, provided through a single state insurer, can be improved.

We want a more flexible scheme that rewards employers with good workplace safety records, penalises those with poor records, and encourages employers to buy more than the basic cover. To achieve this, we support the introduction of competition and choice to the ACC Work Account (covering employees and the self-employed at work).

We believe this will result in safer workplaces and a more efficient and effective accident compensation system that benefits all New Zealanders. Read more about our policy here: http://national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=28234.

Other policy releases

We have recently released our Broadcasting, and our Arts, Culture & Heritage policies, as well. These can both be found on our website, at http://www.national.org.nz/policies/policies.aspx .

John Key MPLeader of the National Party

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#1 - Eric Ball 2008-07-24 21:06 - (Reply)

Having lived in New Zealand for the past seven years and as a citizen for the past five, I can't wait to see the back of this present Labour governenment and see National as the obvious successor. However, the past few days have left me more than a little disappointed. Now is the time for John Key to put his faith in the NZ electorate and state publicly that he will NOT be looking to do any deals with Winston Peters and NZ First. The man is an absolute travesty to decency and I believe that National making a stand that says 'enough and no further' to the secret deals and old pal arrangements that have dominated NZ politics ever since MMP would really hit a chord with all decent people. Make the break, state that National want to Govern without minority party support and let the electorate do what they know is best.

#2 - Gordon McCallum 2008-07-24 21:07 - (Reply)

I fully agree with what you are doing. But this comment in tuesdays 22 July Marlborough Express by Colin King has taken my vote away from National. " If I was in a neighbourhood where I'd had worked hard to buy a nice house in a nice area, then I'd be equally coincerned"

#2.1 - Kate said:
2008-08-19 14:33 - (Reply)

you should make better bio oil :)

#3 - George Atkinson 2008-07-24 22:48 - (Reply)

There has recently been critical comment by a NZ lawyer committee. They said that in Australia ACC type insurance caused the collapse of several insurance companies with the an expensive bad result for many. They said the problem is that private insurers are inexperienced in longrunning claim management - they are used to single settlements, National needs to address how they would protect the public so this will not happen. It's no good just saying it would be carefully proceed - that's what the Austrailians did with most unfortunate consequences.

#4 - Jo Symon 2008-07-25 09:34 - (Reply)

Re: outdoor recreation. Has the National Party considered a change to the charging system currently in use by DOC where NZers and tourists all pay the same price for access to our huts and walks? I feel that tourists should pay a higher amount than NZers. At the moment they get an exceedingly good deal and I am sure that they are aware of that. There is plenty of justification for charging them more than we pay, after all, that is what happens in most places in the world. Regards, Jo Symon.

#5 - Steve Turner 2008-07-25 10:13 - (Reply)

You say National "trusts parents to make the right decisions for their children and their futures" and yet you are not clear about repealing Sue Baradford's Bill if a referendum wants that to be done. This is a far more important isssue than child-care which in essence is the State intruding further into family affairs.

#5.1 - Derek and Margaret Cahill 2008-08-01 13:37 - (Reply)

We agree with you Steve. JOHN KEY- we want to believe you care very much about families. What we can't understand is why you are ignoring the fact that 80% of Kiwis don't want the anti-smacking law. If you want to be elected to serve the NZ people as their Prime Minister - shouldn't you be listening to them NOW? If you're not listening now, then we guess, if elected, there's very little chance you'll be any different from the rest who consistantly ignore public majority vote. Pledge to set good parents (who know a smack is not child abuse) free from being criminalised, persecuted and prosecuted. Free them up to get on with doing a good job bringing up good kids, without having to live with the terrible fear that their precious children might be taken from them. Then we will know you really care about families.

#6 - Nathan McCluskey 2008-07-25 10:55 - (Reply)

If 'freeing up' electricity in the 1990s using the same rhetoric which has been used relative to introducing competition for ACC is a taste of what 'choice' will provide in accident compensation and rehabilitation provision, then I'm not interested.

#7 - Laurie Bell said:
2008-07-25 11:09 - (Reply)

I am interested to read this section and hope National reduce Company and personal taxes to encourage not only manufacturing here in NZ and also encourage the Young Brain drain we have had, back to NZ.If companies had a lower tax to pay they would re-invest back into their staff and also into R&D.I don't think we need to go as far as Ireland did when they lowered their Company tax to 10% but we certainly need to go between 20 to 25%.Lower the personal tax really low as well and then increase GST to 15% which then becomes a fairer tax.It also catches the Tourist as well which then helps the over all tax collection.With our currency which will continue to fall when the interest rates fall,this will also make NZ a destination holiday country to visit giving greater value for the overseas visitor.

#8 - Ross Drummond 2008-07-25 11:25 - (Reply)

I support your 90 day new employee trial period but was wondering the rationale behind the 20 employee threshhold

#9 - Callum Masters 2008-07-25 12:19 - (Reply)

I am concerned that you state that you will keep almost everything Labour have brought in and done during the last 9 years. You need better policy and points of differences. Otherwise we have 2 left of Centre parties. We now have the ridiculous situation, where 40+% of our economy is Goverment, with 4 million people. We are a small inefficient Socialist country,relying on a Dairy boom and over taxes to fund inefficent systems and unproductive and unneccessary enterprises.

#10 - david 2008-07-25 13:05 - (Reply)

yes thats all very well but dont forget we are sick of labours social engineering. instead of giving families more handouts allow the parents to benefit from doing more work to try and get ahead. and dont forget who the new poor are, these are the ones leaving in their droves for aus, single males between 30 and 45, these are the ones who have been turned into worker drones for the nanny state

#11 - Cheryl Wood 2008-07-25 14:39 - (Reply)

ACC - Certainly needs some competition and flexibility too. Like the idea of small businesses having 90 day trial periods for new employees - gives the employees a chance to prove themselves without a good C.V. etc. Families. - I believe a commitment to families in the right way is helping to prevent many problems at the grass roots. Education is good but stable committed families are even better. Why not some incentives for marriages to stay in tact rather than incentives (as Labour gives) for them to dissolve! Our crime rates, poverty, education, health, work ethic, fulfilment and even our carbon footprint would all improve substantially if families were expected to stay together and be committed to one another! What else can National come up with in order to support the foundations of our nation and thus reduce our many problems? Keep up the good work John and I would like to hear even more ideas on how you are committed to keeping families together. Some kind of incentives/disincentives are necessary for this to happen. Tertiary Education. No way do our tertiary students need more money - I think Labour was suggesting a further accommodation allowance. We have had 2 through Victoria and we know first hand how they throw their money away! They actually have much much too much at their disposal! Yes, some need help to get to Uni - we all know that - but Labour is all our to win the vote with no thought for what the end effect will be in our society. Why don't young people save ? Because they have heaps of loans at their disposal. Hopefully the economic recession will wake some up.

#12 - DESMOND GATE 2008-07-25 14:42 - (Reply)

RE BROADCASTING POLICY. Most of the policy I read refers to TV. In regard to radio coverage in Auckland I feel National Radio is the No.1 source for news and current affairs but when it comes to music for the older listeners only saturday evening meets our wishes. We have many stations in Auckland offering pop music and also stations catering for non-English members of the Community. I understand there is a non-commercial frequency on FM to be allocated and it would be of great relief if it could be offered to a Senior Citizens Organisation. I would appreciate advice that National would give its support to this request. Our Unforgetable Music Society in Auckland has not the funding to hire time on any existing frequency.

#13 - Jan & Georgina Marshall 2008-07-25 15:30 - (Reply)

In reply to your open spaces and activities for families. Living in Rodney you will be well aware what is happening to OUR open spaces and we are refering to HAMMERHEAD at GULF HARBOUR MARINA.That the council is just in progress of giving it away to DEVELOPERS. We would like to draw your attention to a meeting being held at WENTWORTH COLLEGE Thursday 31st July at 7-00pm. This space is very well used every day by comuters to Auckland fishing and general public for their picnics, etc. Kind regards J & G Marshall

#14 - Anna Macnaught 2008-07-25 15:51 - (Reply)

Hi John, Re: Your new ECE Policies are excellent overall, with one major weakness: The current Government policy is that by 2012, 100% of ECE teachers must hold a formal ECE qualification, whereas your policy sets a 2012 target of only 50% - which is the PRESENT DAY minimum that came into effect at the end of 2007. I'm involved in ECE and think it is a dangerous backward step to reduce the targets for %qualified teachers. Please reconsider this aspect of your policy. Kind regards, Anna Macnaught

#15 - Dave Smith 2008-07-28 13:41 - (Reply)

I am disappointed in the reported statement over the weekend regarding *working for families*. I am looking for the National party to provide a strong leadership towards an energetic social and economic environment, where individual responsibility is encouraged and valued. Expecting handouts from the Government to replace missing income that has been overtaxed is not the way to do this. While I wouldnt expect a change on day one - It will be a sign of strength, purpose and strategy to signal that you will replace worksing for families with a tax and social security system that rewards effort and values families and those who may be struggling.

#16 - Jan & georgina Marshall 2008-07-30 11:15 - (Reply)

we sent a letter on 24th regarding open spaces re HAMMERHEAD GULF HARBOUR. We were contacted by telephone from a reporter on 29th, Unfortunatly the telephone No we gave the person is on holiday. We urgently need to contact reporter can you help. Regards G J Marshall

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