Key Notes – Opening Ohakune’s Cycle Trail

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02 July 2010
Key Notes – Opening Ohakune’s Cycle Trail

In this edition of Key Notes, I talk about opening the Ohakune Cycle trail, the spectacular effort by the All Whites, National Standards, improvements in the criminal justice system, our efforts to tackle climate change, the voluntary bonding scheme for doctors, nurses, and midwives, the change in Australia's leadership, my impending trip to Asia, and more.

Watch and comment on my latest video

OPENING OHAKUNE'S CYCLE TRAIL

Today I've been in Ohakune to open stage one of the Ruapehu-Whanganui cycle trail. It's just one part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail project I announced last year.

The 200-kilometre Ruapehu-Whanganui trail will pass through some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery. It's a great example of New Zealand making the most of our natural assets and showcasing the very best we have to offer.

CONGRATULATING THE ALL WHITES

I'm really proud of the All Whites. They came home from the Football World Cup unbeaten. The team has inspired a whole new generation of footballers in New Zealand.

It was a privilege to be in South Africa for their game against Italy, and I enjoyed catching up with Ricki Herbert, Ryan Nelsen, and the team afterwards.

LIFTING ACHIEVEMENT IN OUR SCHOOLS

It's been great to see primary and intermediate schools continuing to roll out National Standards in Term Two. Parents deserve clear information about their child's progress in reading, writing, and maths, and that's what National Standards is delivering.

Education Minister Anne Tolley is getting positive feedback from many parents throughout New Zealand about the standards.

Find out more about National Standards here.

PUTTING VICTIMS FIRST

National is improving the criminal justice system for victims. We want to help them move on with their lives sooner. New services for victims and their families came into force yesterday.

First, every convicted offender will pay a $50 levy from now on, which will go directly towards supporting victims.

Second, on-the-spot safety orders for victims of domestic violence are in place, which means a potentially violent person can be removed from a home by Police for up to five days.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

National believes New Zealand must do our fair share on climate change. Our moderate Emissions Trading Scheme balances our environmental responsibilities with our economic opportunities.

The majority of New Zealanders will be better off over the next few years. After the tax cuts and GST rise on October 1, the average family will be about $25 a week better off. That's considerably more than the cost of the Emissions Trading Scheme to the average household, which is estimated to be $3.17 a week - half what Labour's scheme would have cost.

There are ways families can save on increased costs. They could take advantage of the Government's home insulation scheme or make sure the tyres are set correctly on their car.

Come 1 October, New Zealanders will have had three rounds of tax cuts in two years, meaning the average family will be just under $100 a week better off compared to August 2008.

BOOSTING DOCTORS, NURSES, AND MIDWIVES

National's voluntary bonding scheme for graduate doctors, nurses, and midwives has been hugely popular. This week Health Minister Tony Ryall announced that about 1400 graduates have been accepted into the scheme in the first two years.

Under the scheme, graduates who work in hard-to-staff communities or medical specialties for three to five years are eligible for student loan write offs or cash incentives.

WELCOMING NEW AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER

I phoned new Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week. It was good to congratulate her and let her know that I look forward to continuing the strong relationship between our countries. I also spoke to Kevin Rudd to wish him all the best.

STRENGTHENING TIES WITH ASIA

On Saturday I'm heading to Asia for 10 days. I'll be visiting the Republic of Korea, China, and Viet Nam. New Zealand has a strong relationship with the Asia region, and this trip will be a chance to build on that.

I've got a busy schedule, including talking to Korea's President Lee Myung-bak about a possible free trade agreement between our two countries, and visiting New Zealand's pavilion at the Shanghai Expo in China.

FROM MY DIARY

Yesterday I was in Christchurch to mark the 50,000th home insulated under National's Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart Scheme.

Check out my videos from my visits to Fieldays and Tauranga last week.

Regards,

John Key
Prime Minister

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#1 - Jim 2010-07-02 18:30 - (Reply)

This is an excellent newsletter. I like this one.

#2 - david holland 2010-07-02 19:02 - (Reply)

John, Thanks for opening the Bike trail today, trusting you enjoyed yourself and the Ohakune welcome. It was also good to speak to Chester in a buggy ride to the start of the Old Coach Road. Trusting you and your family can get yourself away in summer and enjoy the many (largely unknown0 other bike trails in area - as Kate said it is a largely unspoilt area of NZ. Regards David Holland

#3 - John Lawson 2010-07-02 20:27 - (Reply)

We keep hearing what the ETS will cost us, but we never seem to hear what will happen to the money. Where does it go and what does it pay for?

#4 - andy 2010-07-02 20:27 - (Reply)

cycle ways - really good stuff - I will look forward to using them in future. However - and a big BUT - more resources for cycling safety where many 1000's of New Zealanders ride bikes every day - not just on holidays. So much money going to RONS with appalling B:C ratios means less money to other transport initiatives including cycling. Football - All Whites were fantastic ! Climate change - congratulations on taking leadership role but as I understand the system ongoing subsidies to many polluters is not good

#4.1 - James Pettengill 2010-07-03 07:48 - (Reply)

Following on form Andy’s comment, cycle safety and general road safety is an increasingly neglected issue. More and more parents fear letting their children negate the nations streets on pushbike to school simply for a childhood ride. Over time this dampens cycle use in general and environmental, economic and health issues are likewise influenced. Until our traffic police and courts are truly empowered to tackle delinquent use of city streets as race tracks, I consider a culture of healthy cycle use will remain on the back burner.

#5 - Elton 2010-07-02 23:57 - (Reply)

I am very disappointed in you John Key. I think you have put the international feel good factor above the well being of your voters. While I agree the National party version of the ETS is 'lighter than the labour party model' you are still hurting low to middle income NZers. You are an intelligent man, why couldn't you spend the money on research and development.... somewhere where we could actually have a tangibale effect. Unlike the ETS.

#6 - John Fisher 2010-07-03 07:54 - (Reply)

I am fully supportive of a victims levy. For too long the victims have been left in misery. Secondly the schools are long overdue for an overhaul in order to get consistency in our education system. The Principals need a lot more pressure put on them to perform to a much higher standard, particularly at primary school level. I had a former classmate who went teaching at an intermediate school and he was getting children from primary schools arriving in Form One and still did not their alphabet and nor their time tables and was having to teach these children by rote these two elements in their first term each year. These children should have never reached form one. Thirdly we need to get rid of the polytechnics running worthless courses at the taxpayers expense. Things like Barista courses that produce awful coffee, diploma in Netball and rugby etc need to be gone before Monday. Fart taxes being applied to farmers need to be scrapped along with ETS. As a country in the world's precarious economic environment we desperately need to be extra competitive and so unwanted costs being put into the productive sector is plain stupid. The farmers (particularly meat and wool) need all the financial help they can get. To reduce pollution by dairy farmers they need to have limits placed on the levels of nitrogen being applied as this is making the pastures toxic to their stock causing the dairy cows to scour badly and as a result lose body condition. I would like to see the resource management act scrapped and in its place have minimum standards put in place applying as a standard right across New Zealand for the subdivision of land. At present some councils are requiring a minimum of 350 square metres sites and others are 400. Some require a circle as an outside living are when house plans are submitted and some don't and as a result there is no uniformity and one is playing "Rafferty's Rules".

#6.1 - Ronald A Palmer said:
2010-07-06 14:52 - (Reply)

You make excellent sense John and I'm sure the vast silent majority of NZder's would support you to the hilt. One other item that should be considered is Capital Punishment for heinous crimes of murder and rapes. It is idiotic to keep these animals locked up in top grade accommodation with all mod cons at the Tax payers expense.

#7 - Meg Henry 2010-07-03 08:27 - (Reply)

Mr Key PLEASE repeal the ETA legislation ! Let's wait to see what Australia does. We may be one of 38 countries with a scheme, but almost ALL of those have HUGE populations and MASSIVE pollution..we are minnows.. and cannot afford it. We will continue to vote for you, but would feel much happier if we were voting for an "ex ETA" party. Thanks for the anticipated increase in Super.. our gas company has already put charges up 20 %.. so that's one increase gone ! We don't look for handouts ..but life can be a bit tough sometimes. However.. keep up the good work.. Meg H.4

#7.1 - allan 2010-07-07 12:51 - (Reply)

Agree Meg. ETS a sham.What a backward move to pass this legislation. Economy is in bad shape already and this will make worse.

#8 - Anne Nickless 2010-07-03 08:36 - (Reply)

My four children have their children in the public high school system. My children have been so frustrated over the years not being able to get definite information on the pluses or minuses of their children's ability. Therefore they found it difficult to put in appropriate support when needed. This year the parent of the youngest who is 10 1/2 was able to discuss fully where achievement was good and where the support was needed. Consequently in one term he is up a reading level and is doing homework with his parents who now know where the input is needed. (I have 4 children. 2 daughters with degrees 1 a scientist 1 a BCA 1 sons l an engineering and computer background and 1 with his own business also with an IT programming background. But I can tell you with the confusion that has happened over the last few years that is going to be more difficult for my grandchildren. Just keep going to get the support out in the public arena that the parents are with you.

#9 - Anne McNeil 2010-07-03 08:43 - (Reply)

John you are doing an excellent job but as for MP's getting such a pay increase at this time when so many of us are struggling to keep our heads above water I think it's obscene! It needs to be stopped!!

#10 - Barry Thomson 2010-07-03 11:28 - (Reply)

Congratulations on the opening of the Ruapehu-Whanganui leg of the National Cycle trail.

#11 - Carolyn 2010-07-03 14:41 - (Reply)

We are all proud of the All Whites. Tell the teacher Unions that you are running this country, and the taxpayers pay their salaries. The $50 levy is a joke - they do not pay their reparation now. As for the ETS - shame on you - kowtowing to the Maori who have already been paid twice for the Kaiangaroa Forest and now are collecting huge millions in carbon credits. Do you have any conscience re electricity prices, with people going to bed to keep warm rather than burn a heater? I am really disappointed in you Mr. Key.

#12 - Ben Sintes 2010-07-04 14:44 - (Reply)

Thankyou Mr Key for keeping people informed on just what is happening in the corridors of power. On another topic I would like to ask the question Why is it that the government can shoot from the belt when it comes to raising taxes on Tobacco and yet wants to look into and conduct a raft of committees to decide what to do regarding what is nearly an epidemic with problem alcohol drinking. It effects just as many (if not more) people than smoking and with deaths attributed to binge drinking at 1000 approx per yer and then theirs the driving fatalities to add and the domestic fatalities to add, I would suggest that it rivals if not beats smoking into the number one death cause in NZ that is self inflicted. How many domestic callouts did the Police attend as a result of the hubby spending a heavy night of smoking then beating up the wife?? Because of the seemingly unwillingness of politicians to do anything about it at the same time as smoking suggests that the problem is rife throughout the country and at all levels of the political, economic and racial sphere and no-one wants to stop it. Alcohol can be a very dangerous drug easily as unacceptable as smoking but it seems that it is semi-protected. I can see no good reason why taxes were not raised with urgency at the same time. I would love to hear from you in regard to this matter. Regards Ben Sintes

#13 - Brian Batie 2010-07-04 15:38 - (Reply)

I am very dissappointed in the introduction of the ETS and certainly cannot agree with your estimate of cost per week as $3.17. It is time you were more honest with your supporters off which I currently am one of them.I am finding it most difficult at present to support Nationals policies.

#14 - Frank McGuckian 2010-07-06 14:22 - (Reply)

Congratulations on the opening of the Ruapehu to Wanganui Cycle track. Sorry but there can be no congratulations for the ETS fiasco.The concept of climate change (global warming) is a complete fabrication as current scientific info confirms.I believed Nick Smith when he opposed ETS while in opposition, do we the voters have to return him and yourself to that position again to get an honest comment. I have supported National for a long as I can remember but maybe I have to do a Nick Smith,ie a 180 degree turn.

#15 - Brendan Lawler 2010-07-14 14:54 - (Reply)

Dear Sir, I like what this Govt is doing generally but I am strongly opposed to sales of farmland to foreigners;and yes I do know something about economics and more to the point history. Yours etc

#16 - JohnW 2010-07-25 20:06 - (Reply)

Lots of common sense ideas and decisions being made, I like it so far.

#17 - Anne Senior said:
2010-11-06 03:00 - (Reply)

Good Morning can we have It explained on how the people on Super are to benefit!!! from the gst increase price rises. how much extra in our benefit $15 a week is that correct. Kind Regards Anne

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