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Leader's Letter
December 2005
New Zealand First’s Confidence And Supply Agreement With the Government
The confidence and supply agreement that New Zealand First has with the Labour-led government provides the opportunity for New Zealand to deliver to its supporters on a range of key policy initiatives heralded during the 2005 election campaign.
Amongst the agreed commitments are:
Senior Citizens:
- Increase New Zealand Superannuation to 66 percent of the Net Average Wage as from 01 April 2006;
- Develop a golden age card which, when fully implemented, will ensure that all public sector entitlements, as well as the range of commercial discounts, are able to be located in a single card; and
- Address the issue of elder care as a matter of priority in the 2006 Budget.
Police:
- Provide 1,000 more police staff in the next three years with a view to achieving ratios comparable with those in Australia by 2010;
- Evaluate the costs and benefits of de-merging traffic enforcement from police; and
- Involve the New Zealand First spokesperson in a review of the home detention scheme.
Economy:
- Annually increase the minimum wage with a view to having it set at $12 per hour by the end of this term of Parliament;
- Conduct a review of the current business taxation regimes to ensure that the systems provides better incentives to improve productivity, increase exports and increase competitiveness with Australia.(New Zealand First wants to see
New Zealand’s company tax rate on a competitive footing with that of Australia, and indeed of other developed nations);
- No further strategic asset sales;
- Review the appropriateness or otherwise of progressing a carbon tax policy as a response to Kyoto Treaty obligations; and
- Develop a new taxation regime for the racing industry to ensure that it is placed on a fairer tax footing compared with other gaming industries and that it can maximise its export potential.
Treaty:
- Ensure the Treaty settlements process is expedited both by additional resources for negotiations and the use of expert external negotiators and by using direct negotiations as far as possible, in order to avoid the need for expensive and lengthy claims before the Waitangi Tribunal; and
- Review the appropriateness of the Chair of the Waitangi Tribunal also holding an appointment as a Māori Land court judge.
Immigration:
- Conduct a full review of immigration legislation and administrative practices within the immigration service, to ensure the system meets the needs of New Zealand in the 21st century and has appropriate mechanisms for ensuring the system is not susceptible to fraud or other abuse.
Health:
- Actively work towards the objective of having free primary health care for all under sixes; and
- Work to ensure all New Zealanders have reasonable access to 24-hour emergency health care.
The Tauranga Harbour Bridge:
- New Zealand First is delighted that the Tauranga Harbour Bridge will be toll free. Over the course of a year that will save the public who use the bridge - particularly Tauranga and Mt Maunganui people but also others who use it regularly - several thousand dollars and over a lifetime a huge amount of money. They have paid for one bridge in Tauranga and we are determined that the second bridge, the Harbour Link project, will be toll free.
On behalf of New Zealand First, I would like to thank our supporters for all their hard work, patronage and encouragement over the last year.
2005 has been an interesting year. It has seen us through some big changes, and 2006 is shaping up to be a busy, exciting and successful year for us.
New Zealand First extends their best wishes to you and your families for a restful holiday season, and a happy and productive New Year. We look forward to seeing you again in 2006.
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