Key Notes No.53 - Rt Hon John Key

16 Comments
17 July 2009
Key Notes No.53

Pacific Visit Watch my latest video diary here.

STRENGTHENING TIES WITH THE PACIFIC

We had a busy but successful trip to Tonga, Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands last week – and our delegation had some very useful meetings with government and business leaders in the region.

Beyond the formal events, one of the highlights was a visit to Poutasi Village in Samoa.

More than 240 people from Poutasi have taken part in our Regional Seasonal Employment scheme over the past two years. The scheme has given young people from the village an opportunity to work in Hawke’s Bay picking and thinning apples in the busy season.

They are really appreciative of the income this work brings them, and are investing in the development of their community.

The locals put on a show for our delegation. They fed us fresh coconuts and breadfruit while we watched a fantastic performance by children in the church hall. Then the New Zealand boys from Prestige Dance Crew did a brilliant routine in reply. It was a great visit, a fun show, and a real sign of how our ties with the region benefit New Zealanders and the people of the Pacific.

LIFTING OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

On Wednesday I made an important speech about our economic objectives.

I pointed out that we can’t magic this recession away, but we can protect New Zealand from its sharpest edges, and that’s been our focus over the past eight months.

We’ve maintained entitlements to income support and boosted spending on frontline services in education, health, and justice. We’ve also kept government debt from skyrocketing, which would have only pushed up interest rates and cost jobs in the longer term.

We aren’t out of the woods yet, but there are some signs that we may start emerging from the recession soon.

In the meantime, the Government is working on three longer-term objectives to boost economic growth:
- Increasing New Zealand’s productivity growth.
- Maintaining high levels of employment.
- Reducing New Zealand’s vulnerability to adverse events.

New Zealand has many economic advantages. We are experts at food production. We are close to the emerging centres of growth in Asia. Tourists want to come here and see our beautiful scenery. And ultra-fast broadband is a breakthrough technology that will give our firms the ability to reach customers around the world.

But to make the most of these opportunities we need an environment where the private sector can thrive. We are working on six main policy drivers to help create that environment and lift our economic performance over the longer term. These are:

1. Regulatory reform
2. Investment in infrastructure
3. Better public services
4. Education and skills
5. Innovation and business assistance
6. A world-class tax system

Read about these policy drivers and comment on my speech here.

GETTING AUCKLAND MOVING AGAIN

Boosting infrastructure investment is one area where we are making real progress.

On Monday I was in Auckland for the announcement of the successful tenderer for the Victoria Park Tunnel project. Earlier this year, National identified the Victoria Park bottleneck – State Highway 1 just south of the Auckland Harbour Bridge – as one of seven roads of national significance.

The project is expected to start later this year, cost $340 million to build, and create about 300 jobs. It will boost motorway capacity in the area from two lanes in each direction to three lanes northbound (in a new tunnel under Victoria Park) and four lanes southbound (on the existing Victoria Park Viaduct). It will also unlock the benefits of nearby motorway improvements.

The Victoria Park project is one of the first to benefit from our decision to boost funding for state highway construction by $1 billion over the next three years.

FROM THE DIARY

I was in Christchurch on Wednesday. The children at the Plunket Centre in Addington gave me expert advice on how to improve my drawing skills. I also met with a group of school principals and visited the Linwood Community Link.

I had a lively time in Invercargill yesterday among the earthquake aftershocks. It’s a great relief that there doesn’t seem to be any major damage.

Today I’m in Hawke’s Bay looking around the Heinz-Wattie’s factory and catching up with the locals.

Parliament is sitting again next week. I’ll be back in the House before heading to Auckland to inspect progress at the New Lynn train station and to announce the Prime Minister’s Social Heroes Awards.

Best wishes,

John Key
Prime Minister

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#1 - Kirsty Wilson 2009-07-17 17:31 - (Reply)

I must say, I am very disappointed ...... you have recently axed the funding for ACE (Adult Community Education), which means over 200 co-ordinators, including myself, will lose our jobs, and another 2000 tutors!!! You include in todays newsletter that Education and skills are important, quote "But to make the most of these opportunities we need an environment where the private sector can thrive. We are working on six main policy drivers to help create that environment and lift our economic performance over the longer term. These are: 1. Regulatory reform 2. Investment in infrastructure 3. Better public services 4. Education and skills 5. Innovation and business assistance 6. A world-class tax system" How on earth, does that work???? You now have 200 plus now unemployed, and 200000 adults missing out on education and skills???? Come on John Key ... I voted you in, and now you have made me redundant - I'm pretty annoyed!!! Kirsty Wilson WHS ACE Co-ordinator

#1.1 - Silver 2009-07-17 19:40 - (Reply)

What were you teaching RJ

#1.2 - Ann Harrison 2009-07-17 21:27 - (Reply)

In support of Kirsty Wilson regarding Adult Education - So many of the Adult Learners have fallen through the cracks at school because they had or have undiagnosed learning difficulties. If a focus in the Adult Courses emphasis was placed on diagnosing these learning difficulties and addressing them then much could be improved both in the learner's life and in productivity for the country. Even better, in depth funding made available for diagnosis, training of specialist learning difficulties tutors and opportunities for these tutors to work in the early learning centres and junior primary schools to identify the problems and facilitate and tutor help for these children. I am given to understand that over 50% of prison inmates have learning difficulties - the result of very intelligent children receiving no trained assistance at school and finding self esteem in gangs and crime. Simple answer - prevent the loss of esteem rather than trying to cure it by being proactive with specialist training available to all low decile schools - many of the higher decile schools already have specialist teachers on their staff or the parents of their pupils can afford specialist tutoring.

#2 - WY Kam 2009-07-17 17:56 - (Reply)

Dear John, While i applaud your government is looking into cutting cost and reducing expenses of running the government, nevertheless, recession is always a high time to invest on your public - which means fundamental research, tertiary education, adult educations etc. Pumping money into infrastructure is great, but it is absolutely necessary to spend on CRITICAL infrastructure - not just high profile projects. I don't buy your 7-national-importance projects idea. Regards, Kiwi-to-be

#3 - Peter Boylan 2009-07-17 18:25 - (Reply)

John, have followed yr news letters from the beginning. What is going on with criminal justice? i refer to 2 central issues that are of late causal of considerable unrest among counsel et al. 1 - Legal aid - Legal; Services Agency (LA); and, 2 - the Public Defense agency (PD). The latter first: I am told by legal aid reliant counsel that you are either about to or considering seriously to expand the PD in the lower categories of crim offending?If correct, this will effectively force young (young = in age and experience or experience) independent Barristers to either abandon the profession or apply for with with the PD. I want to know this; since when did National suddenly believe in growing Govt - what's more growing Govt to compete (with guaranteed legal aid clients) against the private professional who is struggling to gain experience, (in many cases) provide for a family and repay student loans? This cannot be true; has National descended to this? If so, who has advised the Govt that this will work? How can it; the PD will likely become identified as a low wage Lawyer employer who the poor are stuck with (whether true or not); natural competition between the independent bar and the State outfit will ensue; its the way it is. Is it possible that this turn of events is based on advice from the Crown / bureaucrats within the Courts and covert studies by way of observing the Courts operate; i ask bc such a shift has a short-sighted superior bureaucratic taint to it. The concept of a process where the poor and unlucky (legally aided) are trapped within a framework where the State arrests; the State prosecutes; the State defends etc etc is surely a huge target for critique? The legal aid issue of unrest is based on the above coupled to fundamental objective unfairness; why are 'providers' the target for hourly rate reductions whilst the Crown roll on untouched by any of this re-shuffle? John if the above (1) is going to happen in any form; please specifically announce it and stop the underlying but growing uneasiness that already burdens counsel by the very nature of the work - let it start. regards, Peter Boylan Barrsiter

#4 - Wal Gordon 2009-07-18 06:15 - (Reply)

You talk about regulatory reform and that Rodney Hide is watching for the infuriating laws that people often complain about. I complained to Mr Hide not long after you were voted in (with the assistance of my vote)about the actions of the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers board and the implementation of competency based licencing in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry. I've recieved no responce and the PGDB is still pushing ahead along this track for the implementation of the new Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers act. A mere cost of 25-30 million dollars to the industry and the public. Back up what you talk about with action.

#5 - Paul 2009-07-18 11:46 - (Reply)

Strengthening ties with the Pacific? Why don't you go out and strengthen ties with someone who will be of use to us, such as: Europe, USA, China, Russia, Japan etc?

#6 - Raenis Williams 2009-07-18 19:14 - (Reply)

Totally away from present discusions, I have not have time to read this update, but, is anyone selling 'Country Calender' overseas, this is such a great program?

#7 - Don Hurst 2009-07-19 09:31 - (Reply)

Thank you for newsletter #53. I want to comment on another matter - ie the smacking referendum: What is the point of having expensive referendums if the Govt. ignores the result?... that is not democracy! Will you introduce a law which automatically converts the wishes of the majority into law??

#7.1 - Ben Murphy 2009-07-25 22:48 - (Reply)

I think that is a good point Don. I think we all know the referendum will be won by the "No" vote. The question John Key seems very evasive on is whether he will ignore it and continue with the Govt knows best approach or listen to the people?

#8 - Ronald A Palmer said:
2009-07-19 09:43 - (Reply)

Congratulations John for the commonsense that the Government has shown in the Folic Acid added to bread saga. This was clearly another example of the last nanny administration and the no brainer cabinet ministers of the last Labour lead government. It was unacceptable to state that it would upset diplomatic relations and the CER agreement with Australia if NZ opted out. I assume the advice that nothing could be done until the next formal meeting with Australian officials (which was months away) was the advice of some "died in the wood" civil servants. They are the stamp lickers that need cleaning out and also Kate Wilkinson needs a reprimand for listening to them. Remind her that she runs her ministry not those left over toadies of the last government. Get rid of them.

#9 - Ross Eion Tought 2009-07-21 12:47 - (Reply)

You want to save money for this country? Stop giving it away to Maori, Solo mothers and Elaborate jails for Criminals. Granted, there have been some legitimate claims by Maori but much of it is just a bandwagon scam, (get one dream up another). Solo Mothers have become professional users of the welfare system with strong support from the Justice Department. Making Prisons luxurious for criminals is not the solution to keeping the criminals out. For most they are better than their own homes. When will we wake up in this country?

#10 - At du Plooy 2009-07-21 22:33 - (Reply)

It is very refreshing to see your very personal involvement with everyday issues. I commend you for that. I sincerely hope that you and your government will listen to the voice of the New Zealand majority when the results of the coming referendum on the Anti-smacking law becomes public. It will restore my faith in democracy. What is the use of a referendum if the government fails to execute the wish of the majority? Please sir, don't fail us in this case. It is matter of principle.

#11 - Pramen Singh 2009-07-26 20:06 - (Reply)

I was initially very pleased with National government coming in with their policies, however it seems it is no better than Labour at making pre election promises than retracting: 1.Tax cuts, never happened but MP still get to travel to Pacific Islands for "holiday" and giving out our hard earned money. On the contrary saying to us we are in recession and we cannot afford tax cuts but we can afford to dish out money, to buy votes. 2. Promising not to do anything or selling or assets off like labour but here Bill English is already talking about making changes to overseas investor rules. 3.Pre election promise on Radio Tarana by John Key to help/work with Bainimara on the road to democracy, again cutting all ties with the interim government and going to other Pacific countries to buy their support. Lastly it is time for you and your comrades to take a pay cut in times of recession and use the pay we give you more wisely for NZ as a whole and not your personal agendas if you have any decency in you. At least The fiji Interim government had the decency to cuts pays of all current MP's, dare you to do the same?

#12 - Vicki 2009-07-29 22:37 - (Reply)

Hi John, You say that you want to develop an environment where the private sector can thrive. If this is the case how come we are still talking about reducing carbon emissions and implementing carbon emission schemes? The scientific community is definitely divided on whether or not we are actually experiencing warming. It would seem that based on the current temperature readings we may be talking about global cooling within a short time. I was hoping that with the removal of labour we would go back to looking at well supported research to support decisions on implementing policy. Are you really going to give in to scaremongers and introduce a trading scheme?? That would be devastating for our economy. I have heard that you at one time made the suggestion that global warming is a bit of a myth. Here is hoping that you go with the research rather than taking the politically correct decision. I think the environment is a hugely important issue and that it needs to be protected - charging a carbon tax is a bogus way to do this. I look forward to hearing your future views on the carbon emissions - and how this is relevant to NZ.

#13 - Gavin Beales 2009-08-04 18:32 - (Reply)

Hi John, I think you are on the nail with your youth programme. I employ a 20 year old who was looking for an opportunity to work but was being rejected at interviews and became very demoralised. Since starting he has proven to be a great asset and I think more youngsters given the chance could benefit many employers.Keep up the vision.

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