POLICIES

INTRODUCTION TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICIES

NEW ZEALAND FIRST

BACKGROUND

New Zealand First was formed on 18 July 1993 to represent the views of all New Zealanders concerned about the economic and social direction of New Zealand, the sale of public assets to foreign control, and the decline in employment and social services. By 1996 New Zealand First had 17 Members of Parliament and was in Government.

Today, the party continues to represent tens of thousands of New Zealanders wanting progressive policies and commonsense decision-making in the best interests of all New Zealanders, and has a proud record of achievement on a wide range of policy fronts.

OUR VISION

To put New Zealand and New Zealanders first through enlightened economic and social policies, by placing control of New Zealand's resources in the hands of New Zealanders, and by restoring faith in the democratic process.

FIFTEEN FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES FOR SOUND GOVERNMENT

New Zealand First was formed with following 15 fundamental principles

PUT NEW ZEALAND AND NEW ZEALANDERS FIRST

OPEN ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT WITH LESS GOVERNMENT
Parliament will reduce the number of MPs and the numbers of consultancies and Government advisors will be cut. Only on a vote of confidence in a Government (in which New Zealand First is a member) will New Zealand First's Members of Parliament be required to vote with the party. On all other issues not covered by party policy, an MP's first duty is to the electorate and the nation.

ECONOMIC POLICY
Economic policy will comprise a strategy for export-led economic development to add value to our resources, relying on independent business expertise with Government support to encourage economic success.

EMPLOYMENT
The employment of New Zealanders is our first planning priority. High unemployment is not acceptable. We regard such human and economic waste as a blight on this country's productivity.

EDUCATION
Money spent on education will be treated as an investment, not as expenditure. Educational advancement is both in the national and in the individual interest. Educational investment is critical for economic and social recovery.

HEALTH
Health will cease to be a balance sheet item. Health will be a critical investment in New Zealand's human resource. Our policies will rebuild New Zealand's public health service.

IMMIGRATION
Whilst this country, with such a small population, will continue to require an infusion of overseas skills and expertise, immigration will cease to be used as an excuse for our failure to train, skill, and employ our own people.

THE WELFARE STATE
The Welfare State must be an umbrella to meet genuine and deserving need. Government has a duty to properly determine those needs and respond to them. That said social welfare must no longer neglect assisting recipients to become independent of the State.

TAXATION
Our long-term objective is New Zealanders paying less tax. We intend to simplify and enforce the tax laws so that they apply equally to all taxpayers. Incentives for increased research and development and export growth are priorities.

ENVIRONMENT
Wise Governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics. All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages.

FOREIGN POLICY
Our foreign policy objective will be good government at home and being a reliable neighbour in our region. New Zealand foreign aid will focus on the region in which we live. New Zealanders' desire for a non-nuclear future will be respected.

NEW ZEALAND RESOURCES
Strategic state asset sales will cease. If considered appropriate and only where absolutely necessary, management by private contracts under public ownership will replace the policy of state asset sales.

HONEST GOVERNMENT
An independent anti-corruption commission will be established to enable New Zealanders to have the confidence that their institutions are working properly.

ELECTORAL REFORM
Electoral reform will be determined by the electors. The Government's duty will be to ensure the fair representation of all views and the holding of appropriate referenda.

TOWARDS A BETTER DEMOCRACY
All policies not contained in the party manifesto, where no national emergency clearly exists, will first be referred to the electorate for a mandate.

Our Top Ten Priorities to
Protect and Save Your
New Zealand

Security in Retirement

New Zealand First will:

Increase NZ Superannuation to 68% of the Net Average Wage for married couples (an extra $20 a week);

Secure funding and planning for the eldercare sector and expanding SuperGold Card entitlements;

Provide a government guarantee of funds up to $100,000 in New Zealand owned banks, while changing investment laws to support investors not directors;

Set up a New Zealand Fund for New Zealand investors to buy back key assets and stop the sale of all strategic assets

Safe Secure Communities

New Zealand First will:

Ban criminal gangs and resource the police to target gangs and drugs;

Target at risk children at primary school and involve more women and community organisations in finding solutions;

Implement a civics education programme based on New Zealand values for all immigrants.

A Fair Go

New Zealand First will:

Lower GST to 10% and introduce a tax free threshold of $5200 (first $100 earned per week);

Introduce a universal student allowance and a $15 an hour minimum wage;

Re-write the Reserve Bank Act to deal to interest rates, with tax incentives to grow exports.

2008 POLICY - TOWARDS 2020

New Zealand First is providing a clear outline of the party's key plans.
This is an ongoing process.

Further policies will be added as they are released.

ACC

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First believes that there needs to be a stronger 'insurance' component in accident compensation. The original intention of the 1972 Accident Compensation Act was that ACC should carry forward the common law indemnity principle and reimburse injured people in full for their losses (less 20% of their earnings) and costs. The Woodhouse Commission based its recommendations on five key principles:

community responsibility;

comprehensive entitlement;

complete rehabilitation;

real compensation; and,

administrative efficiency.

In return for embracing the Woodhouse scheme the right to sue for negligence or loss of earnings was waived by employees. However, since that time there have been significant changes to the Act and to employment structures and conditions. The Act now requires people on workplace compensation, when assessed, to be fit only for a job which is judged as suitable and in which they can work for 35 hours or more per week and then compensation is terminated completely. There is no requirement for the earnings in this new job to be in any way similar to the earnings of the former occupation. In addition, injured people are often compelled to meet a substantial proportion of medical treatment, rehabilitation costs, travelling costs and some other charges associated with injury and/or disability.

Employers also have concerns about the ACC structure believing it to be too costly with only limited incentives for achieving a good safety record. There has been a trend in some areas towards more casual employment and short-term contracts. Many people are still employed on such a basis and have little or no job security with such employment often regarded as a "stepping stone" whilst they search for a more secure job.

New Zealand First's policy is based on the expectations that:

at the time of paying their premium people are entitled to know exactly what income they would receive if they became incapacitated as a result of an accident;

the entitlement to receive that level of income should remain even if they are unable to return to their original occupation and thus have to take on lesser paying employment;

the entitlements of the self-employed need to be made fairer and include, if stipulated, the costs of a replacement worker; and,

the rules and regulations governing ACC claimants need to be easily understood and applied.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

appoint an Accident Compensation Ombudsman with similar powers and responsibilities to those of the Health and Disability Commissioner as well as a requirement to work closely with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to develop an educative approach to safer workplaces;

provide for employers to purchase 'set-rate' accident cover for employees, particularly lower paid part-time and casual workers;

develop an equitable process for dealing with claims from casual or seasonal workers;

remove the upper age limit for vocational rehabilitation;

monitor fully all claims and compensation for treatment injury (formerly medical misadventure) to ensure claimants are treated fairly;

reduce and in some cases eliminate part payments for medical treatment (cover in a 'no fault/blame' scheme should be comprehensive);

amend rules relating to compensation payments to surviving spouses and allow aggregation of weekly payments;

amend legislation to provide cover for 'loss of potential earnings' for those injured whilst involved in temporary or casual work when enrolled in formal study for a future career;

ensure adequate funding and support for family home carers;

provide incentives, by way of reduced premiums, for employers with good safety records;

provide incentives (such as improved abatement conditions) for partially incapacitated people to make a part time return to the workforce;

maintain lump sum compensation and provide for a regular review of the level;

remove the entitlement to compensation for anyone injured whilst committing a crime;

ensure that the victims of violent crime are appropriately covered by ACC with no liability on employers, local authorities or other organisations with individual coverage unless there is proven and direct culpability;

encourage employers to offer a broader insurance package, which must include an ACC component, but would extend to a wider range of health cover. In such circumstances, ACC will stipulate the minimum standards and allow the employer to deal direct with an ACC approved insurance company.

ensure that in the event of a dispute between a claimant and ACC which, whether by litigation or other settlement process, results in the claimant being paid entitlements going back beyond the current year, the claimant shall be taxed as if they had received the payment over the period claimed for, not based on a single lump sum;

ensure that changes are made to the way in which physiotherapy services are funded and accredited in accordance with the results of the New Zealand First - instigated review which took place in 2007;

conduct a review of a full range of other professions that could properly and efficaciously contribute to injury rehabilitation with a view to expanding the services available within the scheme;

require that the Dispute Resolution Services Ltd (DRS

BIOSECURITY

INTRODUCTION

As a trading nation, New Zealand must take all practicable steps to protect its borders and export base from unwanted threats and be a responsible international citizen by ensuring such threats do not leave our shores.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that our border protection agencies have sufficient resources to carry out their roles;

facilitate greater international cooperation in order to control and eradicate animal and plant diseases;

provide the necessary funding and technology needed to combat biological and other threats at our border;

require effective co-ordination between relevant government agencies to ensure appropriate deterrents exist to poaching and trafficking of protected species;

update instant fines and other means of providing effective deterrents against border breaches;

require decontamination of every used vehicle at the point of export;

ensure that appropriate protocols are in place for the decontamination of machinery and containers while addressing the issue of ballast water and hull fouling; and,

ensure that the statutory framework surrounding our biosecurity practices are consistent with international best practice.

BROADCASTING and COMMUNICATIONS

INTRODUCTION

Free, open and affordable access to information and communication technology is the foundation of the democratic state. The role of government should largely be confined to essential regulatory matters, thereby ensuring issues relating to community standards, access, impartiality, and diversity are addressed. There is, however, an important role for publicly owned television and radio networks to reflect national identity and cultures and to provide essential communications in the event of national emergencies.

PLANS

BROADCASTING

New Zealand First will:

combine Television New Zealand (TVNZ) and Radio New Zealand under one state-owned enterprise known as New Zealand Broadcasting (NZB), modelled on similar public broadcasting systems overseas, and with clear aims that include promoting our nation's unique qualities, and the coverage of significant national events;

continue to develop the re-establishment of TV One along the lines of a public service channel with limited advertising and a concentration on quality programming;

lower dividend requirements (to allow the establishing of digital capacity, reductions in peak time commercials, the maintenance of transmission capacity and better quality programmes);

run TV2 on a commercial basis to help fund TV One and Radio New Zealand, and return dividends to the taxpayer;

require TV One and Radio New Zealand to establish a common complementary administrative and logistical system;

require TV One and Radio New Zealand to establish a common complementary news service that enhances coverage;

ensure that all future appointments to the NZB board are made on the basis of experience, expertise, and appropriate representation from industry and consumers, and not political patronage;

require that salaries paid beyond accepted public service bands, particularly but not exclusively in broadcasting, be cleared with and signed off by stakeholder ministers;

broaden the scope of the Concert FM network to make it more accessible to a wider range of New Zealanders and to promote our nation's uniqueness by broadcasting a wide range of indigenous music as well as the best loved of the classics. It should cater for all age groups;

improve Radio New Zealand's international services;

review the efficacy of the process of allocating digital channels and radio spectrum bands and ensure that emergency facilities are protected;

support for community-based television and radio broadcasting;

continue to work with the industry and the public to achieve and maintain a voluntary quota system to increase the New Zealand content of radio and television broadcasting;

improve processes and funding mechanisms (including via New Zealand On Air) in order to develop the amount and quality of New Zealand content;

raise broadcasting standards especially in relation to violence, obscenities, and pornography;

strengthen the rating system for video games with a move towards restricting access by minors to graphically violent and sexually explicit video games; and,

review the regulations and practices relating to the use and allocation of funds for the broadcasting of election programmes.

COMMUNICATIONS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that social objectives in the wider telecommunications sector are safeguarded in the interests of both business and consumers. We will investigate Kiwi Share, its valuation, its application to internet services, and consider its replacement and its application to Telecom's competitors;

develop a framework for ensuring greater sharing of telecommunications infrastructure between all companies operating in the New Zealand market;

continue to develop and use appropriate regulatory powers to ensure fairness in the telecommunications sector which facilitates fair competition in the market and benefits New Zealanders;

continue to remove obstacles to competition in the mobile telecommunications market and regulate as necessary to ensure that the costs of mobile phone calls are reduced;

provide all primary and secondary educational institutions, particularly those in rural areas, with up-to-date communications technology;

require the availability of wholesale broadband services at competitive prices to improve broadband uptake in New Zealand and facilitate improved internet pricing and technology to improve access by Kiwi consumers and international competitiveness for Kiwi businesses;

guarantee access to communications technology and especially broadband in rural and other isolated areas;

ensure that adequate anti-spam measures are put in place and advance solutions for phishing and internet fraud; and,

promote robust measures to deal with internet pornography and in particular child pornography, with both legislative and regulatory powers, including substantial jail terms.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION

Key elements of a developed economy include the quality assurance of the goods and services sold and the fairness of the rules and regulations regarding market activities. This requires ongoing vigilance from government regulators as it fills this role as a neutral 'referee' acting in the best interests of all consumers.

Governments also have a role to play in ensuring competitive pricing, especially in the provision of essential items like petrol, power, and telephones.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure the ongoing effectiveness of the Consumers' Institute in filling its role as a consumer watchdog;

expand the role of Consumer Affairs in product safety and ensure that there are adequate powers to enforce the withdrawal of unsafe products from sale;

increase the monitoring of imported foods, with particular focus on rules of origin labelling;

legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified (GM) food products;

introduce mandatory standards for products such as sunscreens;

improve support of consumer education, budgetary and citizens advisory, and retirement planning services, including the establishment of a register of approved financial planners;

bring under the purview of Consumer Affairs the fees structures applying in the banking and finance sector, and ensure they are regularly monitored and publicised;

promote and protect the interests of retail investors by regulating the financial advisory industry and by raising industry standards and accountability;

monitor new Financial Planners legislation to ensure that it is effective in regulating the industry;

ensure stronger protection for investors by putting in place a penalty system for investment companies that severely penalises company directors who are found to have misrepresented their product or services;

investigate the viability of a regime and fund, modelled on the EQC, that could be used to reimburse investment losses under certain circumstances. Such a fund should not reduce the onus on the investor to do due diligence before investing, nor on company directors to act in their client's best interests at all times;

conduct an enquiry into the electricity industry to overcome consumer problems and ensure that energy efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of Government;

amend the Commerce Act and provide the resources to the Commerce Commission to protect New Zealanders from monopoly pricing and anti-competitive behaviour in communications, energy, transport, and other key industries, and ensure it can regulate where necessary; and,

continue to support 'Buy New Zealand-made' campaign aimed at supporting Kiwi businesses and reducing imports.

DEFENCE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand's Defence Forces have a proud tradition in fulfilling their responsibilities. They have conscientiously served to protect our people, our borders, our values, and our sovereignty and have played an active and responsible part in the maintenance of international law, freedom, stability and peace.

Our defence objectives are best achieved through trade, diplomacy, economic and technical aid, continuing support for the United Nations, and in peace-keeping and peace-making operations.

We must focus on the reality that New Zealand is a maritime nation with considerable maritime protection responsibilities and a role to play in the South Pacific and South East Asia in times of civil emergency or war. New Zealand First is committed to building and maintaining a professional and effective Defence Force appropriate to our size that is self-sufficient, and capable of operating with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

While New Zealand has not generally used combat Navy and Air Force units these elements, along with Special Force Troops, have become the mainstays of successful peace-keeping operations. Such deployments are easier to support and more effective.

Many of the problems that have plagued our Defence Force in recent times have resulted from the competing needs of different services. More can be done to achieve greater cohesiveness and efficiency to maximise the application of funds.

We will continue to honour, maintain and build upon existing Defence agreements and particularly the Closer Defence Relationships with Australia as the cornerstone of our bilateral security arrangements. New Zealand First recognises the new threats posed by international terrorism and rogue nations. We also remain committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy and are equally opposed to the possession and use of chemical and biological weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

The most valuable asset in our Defence Forces is our personnel. Accordingly we must protect their conditions of service and be innovative in improving recruitment and retention of personnel. We recognise both the unique situation faced by Defence Force families and the inability of service personnel to advocate on their own behalf for improvements or adjustments to their levels of remuneration.

Our Defence Forces need security in planning which will be enhanced if there is cross party consensus. Accordingly New Zealand First is committed in principle to the long-term development plan.

New Zealand First also values the positive part that our Defence Forces have played in teaching and guiding young New Zealanders through the Limited Service Volunteer Scheme, cadet corps and High School Service Academies which enables those young Kiwis to go on to lead productive lives as valued members of the community.

We also place great value on the service given by our veterans and accept that the nation has a special obligation to them, particularly if they have suffered as a result of their service.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

put in place programmes to address the exodus of Defence Force personnel at all levels and to attend to staffing issues in general;

establish an independent armed forces remuneration board to set pay levels that are able to contribute to improved recruitment and retention;

continue to structure policy as closely as possible around the recommendations that we supported and developed through the Select Committee enquiry;

review entry standard requirements to ensure that suitable candidates are not excluded from joining the Defence Forces;

establish plans to rebuild the territorial forces, in particular programmes which encourage them to reconnect with their communities;

actively pursue peace and stability through diplomacy, economic and technical aid, trade and the use of international forums and associations including the United Nations;

contribute to global security through the provision of Defence Force elements as and when appropriate, and ensure New Zealand's forces are never pawns being manipulated for political gain;

make greater use of our Defence Forces including Regular and Territorial/Reserve elements both in New Zealand and in the South Pacific region in civil assistance and civil aid programmes;

honour, maintain and build upon existing Defence agreements including the Five Power Defence Agreement and the Closer Defence Relationships with Australia. We will seek to strengthen relationships with the United States, Britain, France and all South Pacific island nations with the aim of extending opportunities for military training at all levels;

expand the Limited Service Volunteer and cadet core schemes in order to provide training for youth at risk aimed at building confidence, self-esteem, responsibility, and self-discipline;

ensure the early procurement of essential modern equipment for our Defence Force to avoid obsolescence and to enhance a high level of interoperability with our closest allies;

require land at Heretaunga, currently leased to New Zealand International Campus, be transferred to the New Zealand Defence Force should they require it for expansion purposes;

maintain New Zealand's commitment to its Nuclear Free Policy; and,

work towards funding our Defence Forces at a level of 2% of GDP.

DEFENCE FORCE STRUCTURE AND CAPABILITY

New Zealand First will:

create a new maritime focused Defence Force along the lines of the British Royal Marines and the US Marine Corps that concentrates our Defence Force elements;

ensure that this Marine Force has fully integrated combat elements including an Air Combat Capability, capable of providing close air support, deploying across sea gaps, and landing ashore in the absence of port facilities;

maximise efficiencies by streamlining command, control, training, administration and support;

concentrate Officer training into a single Officer Training facility in order to develop an integrated core culture within the new organisation. This will eliminate inter service competition and the likelihood of dysfunctionalism at senior levels;

refocus the Infantry Battalions into three Marine Battalions (two regular and one territorial) capable of deployment by air, land or sea, by foot or by vehicle with their primary area of operations being the South Pacific and South East Asia but with the ability to operate with Coalition Forces anywhere;

expand the size of the New Zealand Special Air Service and have them work more closely with British, Australian and US Defence Forces in order to improve their experience base and unit/force interoperability;

review the purchase, use, maintenance, and viability of light armoured vehicles;

review disposal of surplus and obsolete military equipment and ensure contracts allow for processes that maximise the return to the taxpayer; and,

ensure we have the right vehicles for this new Marine focus.

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

New Zealand First will:

consult closely with the Defence Force, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RNZRSA) and other veterans' associations to ensure that our veterans are properly recognised for their special contribution to New Zealand's security and that their pensions maintain relativity plus an additional amount of 10% in recognition of their sacrifice;

review the definition of 'veterans';

actively work towards a resolution for Vietnam Veterans and their children who have been affected by Agent Orange with the aim of taking positive action for those in need of medical assistance;

take positive action to assist the veterans of the nuclear testing at Christmas Island and their families in their legal action to achieve compensation for the negative effects on their health;

work with the RNZRSA towards providing veterans of World War II, the Korean War, Malaya and Vietnam with a sustainable health care package; and,

build a National Memorial Park to provide a suitable place of beauty, and of peace and tranquillity in recognition of the service and sacrifices of our veterans in all theatres of war.

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

INTRODUCTION

Those who have the most to lose from political and democratic reform continue to occupy the positions of power. The introduction of the Mixed Member Proportional system (MMP) has not created any real institutional and attitudinal change. Political domination is still the basis of power-seeking by the old parties. Vested interests have worked to cripple the MMP process. There has been little change in political behaviour and the review of MMP was a sham.

Important decisions with far reaching implications for the future of our country have been rammed through parliament with little reference to constituents.

The move to MMP was not the end of political reform - it was the start. New Zealand First aims to make parliament itself a more responsive and accountable institution, and to give greater power to the community.

To achieve this aim, New Zealand First advocates:

GREATER USE OF PUBLIC REFERENDA

New Zealand First wants to form a practical partnership with the New Zealand people by the judicious use of direct public referenda where:

there is neutrality and impartiality in the question;

there is fair dissemination of all of the facts on both sides of the argument;

there is certainty in the poll (i.e. the question can be clearly understood);

there is appropriate time for debate to be conducted; and,

the referendum's objective is capable of being met within the country's fiscal constraints.

Consultation on major constitutional changes, on the ownership of assets, on important social policy, on significant economic strategies, and on New Zealand's relations with the world is fundamental to a healthy democracy.

'People power' by means of referenda should, where possible and practicable, replace MPs' conscience votes.

Binding referenda will be triggered by petitions achieving support of 10% of the electorate. Both government and members' bills that have the support of parliament can, where stipulated, also trigger a binding referendum.

Referenda will be conducted either on the first Saturday of November each year or in conjunction with a general election.

Referenda qualifying before March 1 will be conducted in the following November to provide sufficient lead-in time.

A revamped Electoral Commission provided with greater resources will conduct up to four citizens initiated referenda, as well as any government or parliament designated referenda each year, and will also be responsible for ensuring that balanced dissemination of all of the facts on both sides of the argument occurs in timely fashion.

A successful referendum result will be achieved by simple majority and may only be vetoed by the vote of 75% of all Members of Parliament within one calendar month of the result being declared.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

introduce legislation to enable the holding of binding referenda on key issues;

in accordance with its 15 founding principles and to honour the result of the 1999 referendum, reduce the number of Members of Parliament to 99;

reduce cabinet and require greater accountability and performance; and,

ensure greater contestability of policy advice and require that social impact analysis accompany economic cost/benefit analysis in government decision-making processes.

DISABILITY

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First recognises the right of every New Zealander to equality of opportunity. Twenty percent of our population have a long-term impairment. In many cases the real handicap to full participation in society by people with disabilities is not the disability itself but environmental barriers, ill-informed attitudes, and inadequate support services.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

strengthen the advocacy role of the Minister for Disability Issues;

develop leadership within the disability community;

ensure that the Office for Disability Issues has the resources to monitor and report on the full implementation of the Disability Strategy in a timely fashion. Benchmarks will be determined and monitored annually in conjunction with consumer organisations of people with disabilities. Compliance with the benchmarks will be a factor in the performance appraisals of all state sector chief executives;

promote policies recognising that people with disabilities are in the best position to identify and articulate their own needs and thus ensure that the private sector is aware of its obligations;

ensure that all agencies delivering services to people with disabilities meet standards and demonstrate a constructive relationship with their client group;

promote disability support services that facilitate independence and that are delivered after informed self-assessment wherever possible. Our vision for independence includes both physical and economic independence, thus recognising the importance of ensuring improved access to work for those with disabilities;

improve the oversight of quality of care and treatment of people with a disability living in residential settings;

support the implementation of the "Carers' Strategy" to improve support for unpaid carers of people with illnesses or disabilities;

ensure adequate funding and support for family home carers under ACC;

use a range of incentives to ensure that a 'universally accessible' New Zealand applies to infrastructure, transportation, information, and other services;

review the Child Disability Allowance with a view to increasing the rates in acknowledgement of the enormous emotional and financial strain faced by parents and caregivers when raising a child with special needs;

review current funding streams for disability funding with a view to better directing service delivery;

Ensure that there are separate accommodation facilities within rest homes for young disabled people. The needs and care of this group are unique and different to those of seniors.

further develop a strategy for meeting the needs of an ageing population and review specific 'disability' provisions and rest-home care;

assure equity of access to disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for long stay geriatric hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care;

review the Ongoing Reviewable Resource (ORRS) scheme funding with a view to ensuring that more funding is made available to directly meet the needs of the child as documented through the Individual Education Plan (IEP) process;

review the student/teacher ratio for Blind and Vision Impaired students from 1:35 towards 1:15;

ensure resources are available to all students with disabilities on an equitable basis;

ensure that the objectives of the New Zealand Sign Language legislation are fully carried out; and,

support an independent review of current audit and monitoring provisions.

ECONOMIC PLAN

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand is at economic crossroads. We have witnessed, on the surface, what appeared to be strong economic conditions and yet most of our people are seeing little or no real benefit from this. Per capita GDP is about 14% below the OECD average. And now we are headed for what could be a severe global recession and New Zealand is exposed as a vulnerable trading nation.

There are three fundamental reasons why this situation occurs. First is the ongoing effect of a blind commitment to free market economics by many key decision-makers, which ignores the social and real life consequences experienced by average New Zealanders. The second is the ongoing effect of New Zealand having sold off so many key assets, which has resulted in increasing amounts of our productivity and growth being paid as dividends to overseas investors. The final reason for the limited returns for average New Zealanders is that despite being an open trading nation,

New Zealand has for far too long lacked a coherent export plan which combines the efforts of government and business and is ambitious and innovative.

New Zealand needs to pay particular attention to infrastructure, investment and innovation.

New Zealand First's economic plan is based on three key pillars: the need for a flexible monetary policy, the need to protect New Zealand ownership of key infrastructural assets, and the need for an innovative and coherent export plan.

MONETARY POLICY

The more flexible monetary policy prescription promoted by New Zealand First in 1996 contributed to a substantial lowering of both exchange and interest rates. For too long interest rates have been used as a blunt instrument to control inflation with little consideration of their detrimental impact on other aspects of the economy.

New Zealand First will:

promote a balanced and flexible monetary policy of lower exchange and interest rates conducive to real export and employment growth;

amend the Reserve Bank Act and make export, growth, and employment objectives part of the policy targets agreement between the new government and the Governor of the Reserve Bank; and,

create acceptable 'bands' for the New Zealand dollar, economic growth and unemployment which will operate in conjunction with inflation bands within the policy targets agreement.

TRADE POLICY

EXPORTS

New Zealand's recent export performance has been disappointing. There has been a low exports to GDP ratio, a slow rate of market diversification, a narrow concentration of our exports in a small number of firms (151 firms responsible for 75% of exports), and exchange rate and current account difficulties.

The export focus of New Zealand First's plans provide the base from which a re-orientation towards high technology and further processing industries will lead the way to an export performance that builds on the best of the present and provides growth for the future.

New Zealand First will:

aim to treble exports, in real terms, by 2025 and will set goals to reach that target building on the achievements of the party's innovative Export Year 2007;

refocus the role of Trade and Enterprise New Zealand to better harness exporting prospects where we have a competitive advantage;

resource the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that the facilitation of trade is a priority;

implement a programme of thoroughly researching prospective markets, of facilitating ease of entry into these markets, and of ensuring that we have the best possible match between what we are producing and the demands of these markets;

expand development banking and venture capital opportunities;

develop, in conjunction with the export sector, an export credit guarantee scheme that works;

expand the beachheads programme;

co-ordinate and support the measurement of the impact on climate change of land-based primary production exports and advance arguments to debunk 'food miles' argument;

follow up the reduction in company taxation with the implementation of tax abatement and concession policies to ensure that viable exporting opportunities and innovation are not lost (20% tax rate on 'new export' net income);

further promote innovation by tax-incentivised research and development comparative to other first world nations, and by ensuring that technology transfer occurs within both the public and the private sectors;

support the development of limited partnerships to facilitate New Zealand firms attracting investment capital;

improve broadband uptake in New Zealand and facilitate improved internet pricing and technology to improve international competitiveness for Kiwi businesses;

increase the international competitiveness of New Zealand business by reducing red-tape and compliance costs and improve information flows by continuing to develop a single information portal for exporters; and,

conduct a full scale independent inquiry into all Government red tape and compliance costs requiring that their existence be justified, and further requiring that the Committee of Inquiry report to the Government within one year of the next election.

IMPORTS

New Zealand First will:

give priority to New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs. Future tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and progress of our trading partners. We aim to win the export and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal race.

IMPORT SUBSTITUTION

New Zealand First will:

encourage businesses to engage in import substitution; and,

support and develop the "buy New Zealand-made" campaign and, where practicable place purchasing requirements on taxpayer and ratepayer owned businesses and State Owned Enterprises.

SAVINGS AND INVESTMENT

One of our fundamental economic failings as a nation has been allowing too much of our key infrastructure to fall into foreign ownership, which has effectively turned New Zealand workers into cheap labour for these investors to exploit.

The same can be said for some of our key industries and New Zealand First has signalled clearly its opposition to Fonterra's plans for a 'partial listing' and to any sell off of Auckland International Airport. The government's primary concern must be the national interest - and this needs to be an actively pursued long-term goal.

Compounding the difficulties in offsetting this flow of funds overseas is the comparative lack of savings by New Zealanders when compared to other developed nations. Government, in an economy the size of New Zealand's, must accept that as one of the larger players in the economy and in the absence of other large players domestically, it has a crucial role to play in securing our key infrastructure.

Government must also play a far greater role in facilitating the building of a long-term sustainable savings base. While there have been positive developments in this area there is still a long way to go.

Security of savings is another key issue and New Zealand First will be actively pursuing policies to protect investors and improve regulation of and confidence in the finance industry.

INVESTMENT

Long-term secure investment is an essential element of achieving sustainable high economic growth. However, investment must be viewed as a means to an end rather than an end in and of itself and must always be viewed in the national interest, not just in the interests of profit-driven corporates.

New Zealand First will:

ensure that the government has first right of refusal on the resale of any former state assets, in particular infrastructure assets;

stop state asset sales. If considered appropriate, and only where necessary, public assets currently in the hands of the Government will be commercially managed in the public interest and ownership;

direct the guardians of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to prioritise the purchasing of shares in New Zealand infrastructure companies, particularly when they are being sold by overseas investors, with the aim of building a solid base of New Zealand ownership of these assets. This shall be conducted at arms length, with no ministerial interference, and at the discretion of the guardians so as not to distort the market;

require the fund managers to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and growth industries including making funds available at competitive interest rates to the New Zealand Transport Agency, ONTRACK, and local government for capital projects;

establish the "New Zealand Fund" for New Zealanders to invest in New Zealand assets and infrastructure;

encourage investment in New Zealand by providing a government guarantee on the first $100,000 of investment in New Zealand-owned banks.

limit foreign investment in strategic/infrastructural assets to 24.9%;

ensure that any foreign investment must be in the interests of New Zealand;

ensure that priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand will depend on whether this brings new technology and employment and export growth;

review the process of local government sales of infrastructure assets;

strike a balance between preserving the nation's infrastructure in New Zealand hands and ensuring that New Zealand enterprises can enter partnerships with international agencies for their mutual benefit;

promote the creation of an internal investment/savings base to provide a clear alternative to foreign credit for the development of New Zealand infrastructure and businesses;

build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to drastically reduce the sales of land to foreigners each year; and,

review and strengthen the foreign investment policy framework and operational requirements as they relate to the work of the Overseas Investment Office to better protect the national interest.

SAVINGS

New Zealand First will:

facilitate the transition from the pay-as-we-go scheme through the cost smoothing mechanisms of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to a new save-as-we-go scheme, with the ultimate aim of achieving individualised accounts;

add to the dedicated fund through tax-incentivised personal savings in the name of the saver and thus ensure that the national interest for enhanced domestic savings is maximised;

require that the contributory scheme must contain portability provisions over time and between jobs;

ensure the needs of retired New Zealanders are met through a sustainable superannuation scheme. In giving people certainty (and thus security) such a scheme also gives New Zealand an expanded savings base;

support the development of KiwiSaver and introduce further programmes which promote a savings culture throughout the community; and,

encourage the development of good savings habits for our children.

TAXATION

To protect our nation's tax base New Zealand First has supported the ongoing reform of the taxation system, the simplification of tax processes, and the clarifying of tax legislation. We will continue to ensure that the taxation laws of New Zealand are upheld and that all, large or small, pay their taxes. Our long term objective is New Zealanders paying less tax.

New Zealand First will:

introduce a tax-free threshold on the first $5200 earned annually;

incrementally reduce GST to 10% over three years;

follow up the reduction in company taxation with the implementation of tax abatement and concession policies including a 20% tax rate on 'new export' net income;

introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified industries and selected approved investments so as to assist business development;

provide tax incentives for research and development;

develop, in partnership with strategic cluster groups, a range of tax incentives for business activities which add value, create employment, provide export growth and/or new technology development. Such measures will include tax abatement on value added and start-up tax concessions;

investigate a range of incentives to facilitate the growth of domestic savings;

actively oppose any increase in general taxation;

reduce the personal tax burden on New Zealanders by raising tax thresholds and, over time, by adjusting tax rates to achieve greater equity whilst maintaining a progressive tax system. New Zealand First will achieve this by applying budget surpluses and not by reducing social services;

support the development of investment-friendly tax rules to encourage venture capital investment;

ensure that the Inland Revenue Department's (IRD's) application of the compliance and penalties regimes is fair and equitable;

reduce tax compliance costs by monitoring, evaluating (and amending as necessary) the measures introduced during our time in Government. Priorities remain streamlining of taxation analysis and preparation of returns processes; and making the tax system as neutral and equitable as possible. Our ultimate aim is to reduce red tape;

require disclosure of tax schemes that affect the incidence of tax payable by more than $50,000, be mandatory;

ensure that any failure to disclose (or the falsification of material facts) by a person experienced in taxation matters is treated as a serious criminal offence. If a sum of greater than $5 million revenue is involved, it will carry a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment;

establish a tax ombudsman to investigate taxpayer complaints; and,

amend requirements and implement practices to enable the IRD to more appropriately remit tax liabilities or enter into arrangements for deferred payments.

ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

New Zealand First will take steps to ensure that electricity is delivered to all New Zealanders at the lowest reasonable price that is consistent with the maintenance of a viable industry.

New Zealand First will:

seek to re-establish New Zealand ownership of key infrastructure;

seek to minimise the environmental costs of generating electricity whilst facilitating continuity of supply;

ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court;

not privatise Meridian, Genesis, Mighty River Power, Transpower, or Solid Energy;

conduct a feasibility study on the merging of the three generating SOEs and changing their mandate to ensure the delivery of affordable electricity, greater security of supply, and vastly improved planning and development of capacity;

provide incentives for ongoing investment in electricity generation, with a particular focus on local generation where feasible;

ensure that barriers to competition are identified and removed within both the electricity retail and wholesale sectors and support changes to the Commerce Act to strengthen the regulatory framework;

consider a range of incentives for reducing energy demand in times of restricted low supply;

evaluate the fixed line charging regime with a view to ensuring smaller domestic consumers are not disadvantaged;

introduce greater transparency and require the full disclosure of line and other fixed charges on energy bills;

ensure that Energy Efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of Government;

ensure that the roading administration structure, the New Zealand Transport Agency, is flexible, caters for the input and concerns of local government, and has the ability to borrow against future roading income, including through infrastructure bonds. We will ensure that in the short term borrowing is utilised to meet the shortfall in roading infrastructure funding, which has been run down over many years;

upgrade highways and rail tracks, particularly those serving ports, to accommodate freight movement;

develop improved information disclosure regimes for infrastructural businesses with monopolistic characteristics;

where appropriate designate roads as state highways to ensure that they receive the requisite funding and prioritisation;

specify a programme to improve rural roading;

change the Resource Management Act (RMA) to provide for a more rapid consents process for infrastructure projects, while ensuring local input is preserved; and,

implement an electricity rebate for SuperGold Card holders.

LABOUR MARKET

If the New Zealand economy is to grow sustainably over time, and thereby deliver the social and fiscal dividend we seek, employers need skilled, dedicated, and flexible staff, whilst employees require stability in employment and appropriate conditions and remuneration. Lifting workers' productivity is identified as the key to improving New Zealand's international rankings. Much of our recent economic growth has been achieved by high employment and that cannot be relied on for the future.

An ideal industrial relations environment is one based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality between the parties.

New Zealand First will make it a priority to review all industrial relations law to ensure it is consistent with the preceding statement. Employment of New Zealanders wishing to work is our first priority.

New Zealand First will:

continue to raise the minimum wage, to $15 in the first instance;

establish an Industrial Relations Advisory Group;

follow up the inquiry into casualisation achieved by New Zealand First and amend industrial laws to ensure that casualisation employment practices are fair and just to all parties;

review the practice of short term employment contracts;

conduct research into the makeup of the labour market to ensure that labour market decisions are linked to an accurate reflection of the types of work being undertaken;

allocate sufficient resources to enable the Labour Department to give greater emphasis to education (small employers/new entrants to workforce) and OSH inspections;

require that salaries paid beyond accepted public service broadbands be cleared with stakeholder ministers in a transparent manner; and,

introduce a new system for establishing the pay and conditions of teachers.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

With such a large proportion of the funding of research in New Zealand coming from the government (with over $300m going directly to Crown Research Institutes (CRIs)), clearly the state must play a key role in leading Research and Development (R&D). However we are unsure how much benefit is derived from this investment.

The key to a successful research and development policy is the maintenance of balance between genuine blue sky research and research activity which will directly lead to economic advancement. New Zealand must focus its limited research funds where it has a competitive advantage, primarily in expanding export potential.

Total R&D expenditure in New Zealand has hovered under 1.2% of GDP (compared with an over 2.2% average for the OECD) and further incentives and investment are required.

New Zealand First will:

provide tax incentives for businesses to engage in research and development leading to innovation and export growth;

focus Public Good Research funding more tightly on innovation and on increased export earnings;

increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates (e.g. science and technology);

introduce further scholarships (especially at post-graduate level) to ensure that we keep our best students and provide for research and development expertise;

expand publicly-funded topo-culture research through rural New Zealand;

assist New Zealand companies in developing new technology and facilitate technology transfer;

provide improved lower cost intellectual property protection for New Zealand-based innovators;

provide and encourage venture capital sources for New Zealand innovations; and,

provide assistance in the marketing of new or innovative products.

EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION

"The quality of the future we leave to our children is determined by the quality of the children we leave for our future".

New Zealand First believes that education is a critical social and economic investment. We will continue to deliver policies that develop an education system fit for the 21st century and that enables each and every New Zealander to achieve his or her greatest potential.

The foundation of education lies in the family. New Zealand First will focus on programmes that assist families to provide the best environment of care and educational development. The framework for early childhood education established under the "Before Five" policy, will be maintained and early childhood education will be advanced within this framework.

A successful early childhood education policy will help achieve education development in all sectors of society and reduce the number of those with low literacy levels in the present population.

Within the compulsory sector, New Zealand First believes a less adversarial industrial relations framework is essential for a healthy schooling system.

At the tertiary level, New Zealand First believes that there is a degree of private good which should be funded by students. However, the existing regime is too harsh, particularly on middle income families.

Priorities for New Zealand First will be to:

implement policies which will increase participation rates and quality provision of early childhood education, ensuring that kindergarten, Playcentre and Kohanga Reo requirements are given full recognition;

develop a comprehensive package of parent support and guidance programmes;

increase the amount of discretionary funding available to decile 3-10 schools by flattening the distribution curve;

undertake a review of teachers' workload and minimise bureaucratic requirements;

strengthen and improve education provisions in all sectors for rural areas;

implement a human resource planning component to policy development;

introduce a non-repayable student allowance (also known as the universal student allowance);

develop a new, non-adversarial system for establishing pay and conditions of teachers;

increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to at least that of the 1998 Budget.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

The importance of the early years of development is recognised by New Zealand First. In particular, New Zealand First affirms the importance of the family for the optimum development of children and will develop and fund programmes which will provide all families with support and guidance in this role.

Moreover, for formal early childhood education, New Zealand First will continue to pursue the joint goals of increased participation rates and enhanced quality provision, in particular, for those groups which have least access to high quality programmes.

New Zealand First will aim to improve social and economic results for whānau, hapū and iwi by steering appropriate government and other agencies to work together.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

encourage Family Start Programmes across the country aimed at those children at greatest risk of less than optimal development;

make available "Home Instructional Programme for Pre-schoolers and Youngsters" (HIPPY) programmes to all families with low levels of educational capital;

support genuine New Zealand models of governance that exist in Maori-run early childhood centres within the context of kaupapa Maori based whānau involvement;

develop Parents as First Teacher (PAFT) programmes across the country;

combine all parent-caregiver support programmes under the umbrella of a single agency;

explore and establish new funding options in early childhood education which would enable Nga Huarahi Arataki to remain neutral with multiple pathways in early childhood education;

increase the discretionary grants available to communities for building or upgrading early childhood facilities in order to increase participation rates;

explore the possibilities of enabling early childhood centres to be funded more than six hours per day and for weekend sessions;

develop a set of principles defining which languages will be supported, and to what degree;

establish a fund for research into best practice and innovation in early childhood education.

COMPULSORY SCHOOLING

New Zealand First remains committed to the concept of "Tomorrow's Schools" and will pursue policies and programmes to enable it to fully function, so that all children will leave school with the skills to undertake higher education and/or vocational training.

New Zealand First recognises the importance of Boards of Trustees, principals, teachers, and other staff members, parents and community members in the schooling process and will continue to provide policy which will support them in their endeavours.

New Zealand First believes that further steps are required to assist the teaching profession perform its duties and in its day to day operations. Accordingly, we will provide for professional development of teachers. We would also reduce compliance requirements and bureaucracy confronting the teaching profession.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

review the implementation of the operations grant with a view to increasing it and creating a separate structure for support staff with separate funding;

review the Ongoing Reviewable Resource Scheme (ORRS) funding with a view of ensuring more funding is made available to directly meet the needs of the child as documented through the Individual Education Programme (IEP) process;

review the student/teacher ratio for Blind and Vision Impaired students from the current 1 specialist teacher to 35 students (1:35) with a view of bringing the ratio down to 1:15;

ensure adequate resources are available to Blind and Vision Impaired students in a timely fashion, as is available to sighted students;

provide all primary and secondary educational institutions, particularly those in rural areas, with up-to-date communications technology; ;

ensure adequate and on-going resourcing and teacher education will be made available to gifted and talented children. A review will be undertaken of funding that is available for gifted and talented education with a particular focus on ensuring classroom space is made available free of charge (without jeopardising any rental which would normally be receive by the provider of such classroom space);

review the salary levels of teachers of special education to bring them up to date;

reformulate the decile funding component to lift the amounts available to those in decile 3-10 schools;

increase the pool of funds available for Isolation Funding to reflect additional costs facing all rural schools;

promote a programme of 'values' education in schools;

not pursue a system of bulk-funding of teacher salaries unless there is an acceptance by the teaching force of its merits;

create a co-ordinated system of school support building on the Learning Support Centres;

universalise the sabbatical provisions for teachers;

increase resources and funding to revitalise the National Anti-Bullying Campaign in schools;

not tolerate failing schools and introduce a Ministry school provision in those cases where the "Tomorrow's Schools" model is not working;

maintain an ongoing review of the National Certificate of Education Achievement (NCEA) assessment systems, in particular the New Zealand Qualification Authority's (NZQA's) setting of standards and management of the assessment process to ensure the focus is on high standards in each scholastic discipline and thus providing students with a seamless transition to further education or the workforce;

consider the practical implications of removing unit standards from NCEA;

establish a taskforce to identify the particular factors relating to the underachievement of boys and make recommendations to the government;

reduce class sizes for lower decile schools in the first three years of schooling;

develop para-professional workers with the school system;

place limits on the number of foreign fee-paying students each school can enrol, based on their circumstances;

restore New Zealand's international reputation by implementing clearer guidelines and stricter regulations for institutions providing education to overseas students;

re-introduce technical classes at Year 9 as a pathway to professional trades;

re-evaluate the ability of the Correspondence School to deliver learner-centred, digitally-minded education to meet the very different needs of full-time, dual-enrolled, adult, and international students by using the latest technology, and by allowing 'teaching' to take place from throughout the country with a view to utilising the many talented teachers who are unable to work full-time or to travel to a school centre;

develop a languages policy so that all children develop full competence in English plus one other language;

refocus attention within our educational institutions on the multicultural dimension of our nation; and,

deliberately foster a sense of national pride and unity through our educational institutions.

TERTIARY EDUCATION

The key to our nation's economic and social future lies in education. While tertiary education cannot be allowed to be solely focused on skills for employment, such a focus must be a significant element of any system. The tertiary system must be designed to maximise both economic and social objectives, enhancing needed vocational skills and academic acumen.

New Zealand First supports the general principles of the tertiary reforms.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

in its first year introduce the first step towards a non-repayable student allowance (i.e. a universal student living allowance) and proceed over three years to full implementation by progressively increasing the family income levels at which the abatement commences and when allowances disappear;

increase the proportion of the tertiary tuition subsidy to at least that of the 1998 Budget, in real terms;

increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates (e.g. science and technology);

review the costs of gaining initial medical qualifications, including exploring the option of a 'bonding' system for medical students who are willing to trade-off student loan abatements for working in New Zealand;

consider expanding the 'bonding' system to other areas of particular demand in the workforce;

introduce further scholarships (especially at post graduate level) to ensure that we keep our best students and provide for research and development expertise;

introduce a system that encourages graduates to provide a professional service for areas of New Zealand that suffer from a shortage of such services by way of student loan abatements;

retain the recently introduced system relating to interest rates on student loans;

review the funding of private training establishment so that it is based on quality and relevant educational outcomes (including an extension of funding to equity and disability funding) to reflect at least the basis of funding at 2007 levels;

require all tertiary institutions to provide pre-enrolment information on potential local and national vocational opportunities as an outcome of any course or qualification;

ensure that young people who are enrolled for the community wage are engaged in one of the following activities (a) seasonal employment (b) industry training (c) extended conservation or youth service corps or (d) for those at risk, military-type discipline training;

continue to work towards developing a new class of tertiary institution - a University of Technology; and,

provide for a differential funding regime for provincial polytechnics.

EMPLOYMENT

INTRODUCTION

The upskilling of New Zealanders and improving both wages and productivity are major planning objectives.

Whilst unemployment is currently low any failure to employ our potential workforce not only limits our labour market capacity, it imposes a huge fiscal cost to the nation, while indirectly contributing to the level of crime, and adding demands to our health system.

Addressing employment issues requires a collaborative effort between government, business and labour organisations. Essentially employment creation is dependent upon wealth creation and a system which efficiently distributes that wealth. New Zealand is primarily a nation of small and medium size businesses. Job and wealth creation are dependent upon these enterprises thriving.

As a relatively small market in global terms, business development and wealth creation must be export-led and the government must play a facilitating role in this. Maximising the value-added content of our exports is a priority.

It is also to the nation's advantage to encourage commercially driven initiatives and regional development. New Zealand First is firmly committed to policies which will achieve these objectives.

Export and employment objectives will be added to Reserve Bank targets.

Arising out of economic growth is the opportunity to lift the level of wages and help retain our skilled workforce. This is an increasing imperative.

The industrial relations environment that facilitates economic and employment growth must be based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality.

It is also important that people obtain and retain a sense of worth and self-esteem through making a contribution to their society. New Zealand First is committed to the concept of a community wage, and to ensuring that people move from dependence on the state, to a state of independence.

Our vision is of a nation made up of well educated, determined, healthy, and innovative people, with an expanding business programme geared around exports, regional development, job growth, and harnessing the natural attributes of the country.

A) BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION

Enhanced prosperity is dependent upon high sustainable economic growth. New Zealand First is firmly committed to the pro-active support of business. Successful business means increased employment.

To achieve and maintain this there needs to be innovation and co-operation, research and development, appropriate incentives, good management and sound practices, minimum compliance costs, and, a highly skilled labour force.

New Zealand First believes that total taxation should primarily be used to help New Zealanders, and so should the tax structures.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

reduce business compliance costs;

place greater emphasis on developing partnerships between the private sector and central and local government. This includes encouraging regional development, and research and development;

apply incentives to business activities which add value, create employment, provide export growth (or import substitution), and/or contribute to regional development;

remain opposed to any increase in general taxation;

in the short to medium term provide for the goal of increased competitiveness via reduced companies taxation, tax incentives for research and development, and lower compliance costs;

introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified industries and selected approved investments so as to assist business development;

support the Tertiary Education Commission in enhancing the relationship between employers and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) in the development of programmes which upskill labour to meet employers' needs;

improve transportation infrastructure;

ensure accident compensation is made fairer, more efficient, and more cost effective;

further develop export guarantees to encourage export growth;

facilitate technology transfer to ensure that developments can be readily transferred between sectors;

expand venture capital funding to encourage innovation and export and/or employment growth;

develop Business Angel Networks to improve co-ordination between entrepreneurial opportunities and investment preferences; and,

ensure Trade and Enterprise New Zealand increases its focus on the development of emerging markets.

B) REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First is supportive of regional development where it creates real growth, not where it represents corporate welfare and greater dependency. Where real sustainable jobs have been created this should be lauded, but it is not the role of central government to try and pick winners when redistributing taxpayer funds.

Regional development requires a holistic approach, aimed at maximising the potential of the people and natural resources of a region to lift the overall well-being of those living in the region.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

empower regions to develop local initiatives, which meet local needs and utilise local talents;

survey those programmes currently undertaken by the government to assess their value in generating real growth;

redirect regional development funding into projects linked to infrastructure, communications and transport;

enhance the role of tourism within the purview of regional development, particularly within regions that already have a strong tourism base;

facilitate industry clusters where feasible to maximise growth potential; and,

encourage regions to focus on capitalising on their natural resources, and in industries where they have a natural competitive advantage.

C) INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

INTRODUCTION

For business to succeed there needs to be a co-operative industrial environment.

An ideal industrial relations environment is one based on fairness, flexibility, and neutrality between the parties. New Zealand First will make it a priority to review industrial relations law to ensure it is consistent with the preceding statement.

New Zealand First policies are supportive of such an environment and recognise that this is essential to achieving high sustainable economic growth.

Employment of New Zealanders wishing to work is our first priority.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

raise the minimum wage to $15 in the short term;

establish an Industrial Relations Advisory Group;

follow up the inquiry into casualisation achieved by the party and amend industrial laws to ensure that casualisation employment practices are fair and just to all parties;

review the practice of short term employment contracts;

designate the 50-years plus age group as a 'target group' under Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) laws;

allocate sufficient resources to enable the Labour Department to give greater emphasis to education (small employers/new entrants to workforce) and OSH inspections;

require that salaries paid, within the public service, beyond broad bands, be cleared with stakeholder ministers; and,

introduce a new system for establishing the pay and conditions of teachers.

D) INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First remains committed to industry training managed by industry itself.

New Zealand is facing a skills shortage across many industries, hence the need for urgent action on industry training.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

continue to refine and develop industrial training with the ultimate aim of ensuring that all young people are either in work or participating in industry training or education;

maintain and expand industrial and vocational training programmes;

support 'computers in homes' programmes to upskill socially and economically disadvantaged households to improve their employment prospects;

ensure that farmers and other rural workers are able to access industry training funds;

develop a "community wage" scheme to allow businesses to offer apprenticeships and other training schemes through a 'topped up' weekly wage system;

review ITOs, with a view to using successful organisations as a model to establish best practice across the sector;

extend the Modern Apprenticeship Scheme to older trainees; and,

recognise the particular difficulties of displaced workers in the 50-plus age bracket and develop programmes to meet their particular needs and to combat 'ageism';

E) COMMUNITY WAGE

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First is firmly committed to the concept of mutual obligations. Where a person is unable to obtain paid employment, the state will pay that person on the understanding that that person makes a contribution back to the community.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

reintroduce the community wage policy requiring recipients to make a contribution to their communities;

determine a range of activities deemed to be community work;

require WINZ regional offices to design programmes to meet the specific needs of their region;

encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities, and for beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides; and,

ENERGY

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First's energy policy is based on four basics aims: to guarantee security of supply; to achieve greater investment in the industry in order to produce more electricity; to facilitate energy efficiencies; and, to ensure that energy is supplied at a fair and reasonable price.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

provide incentives for ongoing investment in electricity generation, with a particular focus on local generation where feasible;

explore the ongoing feasibility of energy options as technology and availability makes them practicable;

seek to minimise the environmental costs of generating electricity whilst facilitating continuity of supply;

ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court;

not privatise Meridian, Genesis, Mighty River Power, Transpower, or Solid Energy;

ensure that barriers to competition are identified and removed within both the electricity retail and wholesale sectors and support changes to the Commerce Act to strengthen the regulatory framework;

consider a range of incentives for reducing energy demand in times of restricted low supply;

evaluate the fixed line charging regime with a view to ensuring smaller domestic consumers are not disadvantaged;

introduce greater transparency and require the full disclosure of line and other fixed charges on energy bills;

ensure that energy efficiency measures are encompassed by the wider energy policies of government; and,

amend the RMA to provide for a more rapid consents process for infrastructure projects, while ensuring local input is preserved.

ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION

INTRODUCTION

"Wise Governments view the preservation and enhancement of the environment as sound economics. All environmental policies will be proactive with a view to creating employment and sustainable wealth whilst improving one of our few competitive advantages." (New Zealand First Founding Principle)

New Zealand First believes in sensible environmentalism. We have a genuine concern for the environment and its preservation, but we are not captured by the extremist fringe of the environmental movement. We maintain that the role of the state must be to strike a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals. This can only be achieved through a partnership between government, industry, and community groups.

While our environment is envied internationally as clean, green, and attractive, the image hides a number of serious environmental problems, which need to be addressed. The conservation of our country's natural and cultural heritage has international significance, and is a New Zealand First priority.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

enhance and protect the rights of all New Zealanders to access their cultural heritage sites and clarify and amend legislation associated with protecting these heritage sites, buildings, and objects. The protection of our historic heritage is vital;

improve documentation of important Maori sites of cultural or spiritual significance with appropriate local councils, thereby ensuring a 'no surprises' policy of where these sites exist;

ensure the conservation of indigenous biodiversity;

provide conservation authorities with the necessary resources and legislative framework to ensure that the role of protecting the conservation estate is not at odds with commercial ventures which utilise that estate including the tourism industry, or outdoor recreational groups;

commit additional funding for possum and other plant and animal pest control, and for management programmes including the development of alternatives to 1080, initially with a regional pilot programme. It is recognised that until an adequate cost-effective replacement for 1080 exists it remains a necessary part of the battle against tuberculosis and other animal transferred diseases;

require effective co-ordination between relevant government agencies to ensure appropriate deterrents exist to poaching and trafficking of protected species;

support 'threatened species' recovery programmes and protection and restoration of the habitat;

ensure the completion of, and public access to, the Queen's Chain. The Queen's chain is a 22-yard (20-metre) strip at the edge of our rivers, lakes and the sea, owned by the Crown or a local authority and usually available to the public for recreational purposes. However, at no stage has New Zealand law established that the public has full rights of access to, or use of, land alongside all our rivers, lakes and sea shores.

introduce an appropriate and consultative process for locating (and marking) access tracks where access to public land is restricted along with a fair mechanism for making compensation;

encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities and for environmental activities including the beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides;

rationalise pastoral leases to promote ecologically sustainable land use, with special attention to 'protected natural areas';

support the Historic Places Trust, Forest Heritage Fund, QEII Trust, Landcare, and Nga Whenua Rahui and explore other means of encouraging the voluntary protection of natural and historical resources in private ownership;

support consultative debate on the issue of extractive industries and their roles in local economies. In principle, New Zealand First believes that mining could take place on conservation land, providing that core conservation values are maintained;

continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica, and for the cessation of all whaling;

develop sustainable national policies on water and air quality, but with sufficient flexibility to address local circumstances;

promote the use of the most up to date technologies and international experience in tracking water use patterns, thereby ensuring that policy decisions are based on sound science;

encourage strategies for soil use which maximise economic potential and limit their environmental impact;

review all environmental legislation with the intention of redressing the drift toward mandatory regulations (enforced by the Ministry for the Environment) from voluntary arrangements;

ensure that the views of key stakeholders, including local councils, are considered when making environmental policy, rather than just consulting interest groups;

promote a region-by-region approach when implementing environmental policy;

encourage the development of 'eco-tourism' centres such as Kaikoura;

ensure wide public consultation occurs in the development of energy, sustainable land management and climate change policy;

give urgent priority to the development of the Oceans Policy to provide a coherent and overarching policy framework;

promote a marine park concept that ensures that the measures needed in the preservation, protection and sustainable management of an area begins with the local community and develops integrated management of the total marine area;

urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience);

advance work on a full range of measures that will contribute to New Zealand meeting its Kyoto obligations including regulations, research and technological advancement, education and awareness-raising, negotiated industry agreements and incentives as well as the further development of detail for the Emissions Trading Scheme;

give priority to climate change policies that minimise the long-term cost of reducing emissions while being durable, practical and successful. New Zealand First acknowledges that New Zealand's emissions mainly come from agriculture, deforestation, transport, and thermal energy, but supports the view that we can both provide international leadership and reduce emissions without arresting or threatening development;

explore the feasibility of all practical energy options with the aim of developing a sustainable long-term energy plan that is compatible with desired environmental standards;

maintain the most stringent risk management processes emanating from the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 and its amendments by ensuring that the Environmental Risk Management Authority is sufficiently resourced to carry out its functions with the greatest rigour;

amend the Companies Act to require statutory disclosure of environmental impacts by companies in annual reports and amend the Public Finance Act and Local Government Act also requiring reporting of environmental impacts;

continue the phasing out of organochlorides and facilitate the development of safe alternatives;

where appropriate provide funding to develop and promote organic farming options;

support topo-cultural programmes with a view to the provision of a database and advisory service on alternative land use proposals and diversification;

provide financial support for the development of water harvesting schemes that have met feasibility, viability, and environmental requirements;

support a policy of 'proceed with extreme caution' on genetic engineering. That is, the safety of New Zealanders and the protection of our environment are paramount and the risks of developments in this technology need to be appropriately assessed. There are as many risks to the health and well-being of New Zealanders in ignoring this issue as there are in proceeding hastily;

legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified (GM) food products;

continue the rationalisation of the administration of food safety via the Food Administration Authority;

ensure that all reasonable action is taken to reduce genuine threats to life and property, such as the risk posed by lahars;

seek to minimise the environmental costs of generating electricity whilst facilitating continuity of supply;

ensure that applications for energy projects undergo a streamlined process directly through the Environment Court;

not privatise Meridian, Genesis, Mighty River Power, Transpower, or Solid Energy;

develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas.

FAMILY

INTRODUCTION

FAMILY, YOUTH AND SOCIAL

INTRODUCTION: THE WELFARE STATE

The welfare state was created to meet the needs created by the social and economic devastation of the Great Depression last century.

New Zealand First believes social welfare should now exist to provide a safety net to protect the most vulnerable in our society. It must never become a "trap" for recipients that keeps them dependent on the state. We believe in universal eligibility for state assistance to those in need. We do not subscribe to policies based on racial differences.

We are firmly committed to the concept of mutual obligations and will restore the "community wage" policy. This means that if a person is unable to obtain paid employment the state will pay a wage on the understanding that the recipient makes a contribution back to the community

Problems facing New Zealand in the provision of social services and financial support include:

ad hoc mass immigration, which has changed the structure of our population;

an ageing population;

families under threat through liberal social policies;

one million New Zealanders relying on a Community Services Card;

large numbers who are benefit-dependent. Almost 100,000 New Zealanders receive the Domestic Purposes Benefit, increasing numbers are on sickness or invalids benefits, and over 470,000 young people have student loans totalling $9 billion. The Working For Families package is costing taxpayers an additional $1.6b per year.

There is little incentive and many bureaucratic obstacles to moving people away from their dependence on the State.

The importance of the early years of development is recognised by New Zealand First and we promote policies aimed at the optimum development of children. We will develop and fund programmes that provide families with support and guidance to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children.

FAMILY POLICY

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

explore the possibility of a Minister for Children to co-ordinate a whole-of-government approach to policy development for children;

implement policies which will increase participation rates and quality provision of early childhood education;

develop a comprehensive package of parent support and guidance programmes;

initiate Family Start Programmes across the country aimed at those children at greatest risk of less than optimal development;

continue to focus upon family health, and particularly early intervention, by expanding such programmes as "Family Start" and home based support;

make available Home Instructional Programme for Pre-schoolers and Youngsters (HIPPY) programmes to all families with low levels of educational capital;

develop Parents as First Teacher (PAFT) programmes across the country;

make truancy an indicator of 'neglect' and focus on early intervention with families of truants;

introduce the Protection of Children from Criminal Offending Bill to make criminal offending in the presence of a minor an aggravating factor at sentencing. Children are often innocent parties to criminal offending by adults and deserve protection from adult offending that exposes them to potential adverse effects from that offending (such 'P' labs in homes);

introduce the Parental Responsibility Bill to require applicants for the DPB to sign an agreement with WINZ to the effect that they will agree to meet with a nominated social worker regularly to provide any assistance needed by the parent and for health and welfare checks for the child;

introduce policies that are fair and supportive of grandparents raising their grandchildren;

support the role of community-based organisations, such as Plunket, in their work with families;

ensure ongoing support for and development of 0800 advice line services;

introduce the Teen Health Check Bill to require DHBs to make provision for health checks on all Year 9 students and other measures to better co-ordinate health and social services within the school system; and,

consider the expansion of the role of the Families Commission into issues more pertinent to families, rather than just policy development.

YOUTH AFFAIRS POLICY

INTRODUCTION

Young people today face a far more complex and challenging social environment than past generations.

Gaining full-time paid employment can be extremely difficult, as a result of the economic policies of successive governments and the casualisation of some sectors of the workforce. Youth are pressured through the media by a multitude of stereotypes which they sometimes feel the need to copy. There are many factors that drain the motivation of our young people to participate in the community. They also have easier access to harmful substances such as drugs and alcohol than other generations. A far greater range of choices are available.

Most youth are equipped with the attitudes and aptitudes to deal with the pressures that life brings. However, for some the challenges are too bewildering to cope with. Levels of youth suicide are too high and there is too much harm caused by risk-taking and substance abuse.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

launch a campaign against youth recidivist offending, and aggressively target 'entry level' crime by those seeking to enter the crime industry;

aggressively target "P" and other dangerous drugs through co-ordinated education and police programmes aimed at reducing both access to and the appeal of these types of drugs;

ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to children;

introduce stricter controls on the ratings of, and restrictions on the access to violent or sexually explicit videos;

oppose all efforts to legalise cannabis and any other form of illicit drugs including party pills;

raise the drinking age;

introduce improved Ministry of Health guidelines for dealing with youth health issues, including public campaign strategies aimed at youth. For example, on sexual health and the option of abstention, the risks of HIV/AIDS and other serious sexually transmitted disease, and teenage pregnancies whilst also encouraging parental/guardian participation in the process;

ensure Youth Suicide Prevention Services Programme resources are made available from additional health funding;

provide additional resourcing for youth mental health services;

promote apprenticeships as a concrete means of addressing youth unemployment, with particular focus in industries such as building, construction and other industries where there is a skills shortage;

encourage local councils to establish a consultative mechanism with youth;

develop a civics programme aimed at enhancing national pride among our youth;

provide a policy and legislation framework that requires greater parental responsibility for young offenders;

ensure that young recidivist offenders are able to be dealt with by an expanded and reconstituted Youth Court;

provide improved guidelines to the Youth Court on the treatment of young recidivist offenders;

retain Family Group Conferences for those who choose to offend under the age of 12 years but even then, any offender under the age of 12 years will be entitled to be dealt with under this provision only three times and should they choose to offend again, will be dealt with by the Youth Court;

provide the Youth Court with guidelines as to when anonymity of proceedings should be removed to reinforce the offender's accountability to the community;

evaluate and ensure adequacy of funding and programmes within the National Anti-Bullying Campaign in schools;

promote values education in schools;

introduce a universal student living allowance;

increase the proportion of tertiary tuition subsidies for specific courses to increase the number of appropriately qualified graduates (e.g. science and technology);

introduce further scholarships (especially at post-graduate level) to ensure that we keep our best students and provide for research and development expertise; and,

introduce a system that encourages graduates to provide a professional service for areas of New Zealand that suffer from a shortage of such services by way of fees and/or loan abatement.

SOCIAL POLICY

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that the employment of New Zealanders remains our first planning priority. While New Zealand has experienced relatively low unemployment in recent years, still too many long-term unemployed, youth, Maori and Pacific people fail to find employment. This must be addressed;

invest in our nation's future by developing a comprehensive 'under sixes' policy that focuses on the health, educational, and social wellbeing of our youngest citizens and addresses the serious issues, including family violence, confronting our society;

direct adequate funding to providers of Well Child and other approved programmes that achieve the policy aims noted above;

focus on the pursuit of policies that promote social cohesion;

direct government resources to where they are of the greatest benefit while ensuring they are based on need, not race. Recognise education (in all its various forms) as the key to upward mobility without which our citizens are condemned to a narrow range of options and certain failure to reach their potential;

resurrect the policy of a community wage, paid to those who are unable to reasonably find paid employment but who will be expected to make a contribution back to the community which is paying them;

ensure greater scrutiny of the benefit system for those moving from the unemployment system on to the sickness benefit. This will include random cross-checking of doctors' recommendations and greater monitoring of Work and Income staff who may recommend such a shift;

ensure that benefits (and abatement levels) are inflation adjusted;

legislate to require greater parental responsibility from those receiving benefits and to ensure that social agencies provide the services that help achieve this;

encourage greater independence and facilitate the transition to work for beneficiaries by regularly reviewing abatement of benefit levels;

put an end to the aimless restructuring of government departments and services, remove all unnecessary rules and regulations within the bureaucracy based on misguided political correctness, and ensure that the public service focuses its efforts on people as the term implies, not just rules and regulations;

continue to fight to protect our social fabric and traditional family values which underpin our society. This includes opposing the liberalisation of laws relating to issues such as prostitution, cannabis and other drug use, and other issues that undermine traditional family values. Any changes to these laws must only occur following a comprehensive public debate and a referendum on the relevant issue. These issues should no longer be decided by a so called 'conscience vote' of politicians, but by the people whom they impact on;

cease to use immigration as an excuse for our failure to train, skill, and employ our own people or to put New Zealand families first. The notion of a so-called 'skills shortage' is in reality an admission that we have failed to adequately train and upskill our population. We must address this issue, not take the short term option of mass immigration;

combine all parent-caregiver support programmes under the umbrella of a single agency;

further develop the SuperGold card to broaden the benefits available to seniors and to help them achieve an active and dignified retirement;

ensure that fairness, justice, timeliness and consistency are universal principles of state welfare payments; and,

increase funding to Women's Refuge.

FISHERIES

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand fisheries are one of our most valuable natural resources and seafood is one of our major exports, with earnings valued at over $1.35 billion per year.

Sustainability is the key issue: just as we can't continue to deplete our farmland neither can we plunder our fisheries. International concerns, fishing patrols, and (ideally) voluntary conformity with an agreed quota management regime need to be dealt with.

More than a million New Zealanders fish for fun and food every year - a right that needs to be clearly established for all New Zealanders, and responsibilities that need to be similarly clear if we are to maintain our uniquely Kiwi heritage.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

work towards the New Zealandisation of our fishing industry and resources by supporting New Zealand fishing crews and seafood processors and through industry training initiatives;

legislate that at least 75% of each 'foreign crew' be New Zealand nationals and further amend the Fisheries Act to ensure that there is a level playing field between foreign charter and local vessels operating in New Zealand waters;

develop a national policy statement on integrated marine fisheries management;

foster shared management arrangements with recreational, customary, and commercial fishers whilst maintaining government control of management research and enforcement;

facilitate the development, administration and enforcement of food-gathering regulations that devolve customary management responsibility, including conservation of species, to local communities, iwi and hapu where practicable with the aim of rebuilding Valued Recreational and Maori Customary Fish species to Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) and above;

review current fisheries consultation processes to ensure that public consultation on fisheries issues is meaningful and encourages effective communication and collaborative problem solving;

implement clear accountability systems and auditing programmes of fisheries management performance by public and private management;

introduce permit fishery species into the quota management system and the consequential discharge by the Crown of its statutory obligations to Maori;

overhaul the cost recovery regime to ensure the rules are simple and fair to all;

carefully monitor the post-settlement Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission to ensure it fulfils its legislative obligations;

require that, prior to the government entering into any shared management arrangements with recreational, customary or commercial fishers, the Minister of Fisheries will have to be satisfied that: a 'sustainable level of fish stocks' is clearly defined through appropriate research; fish stocks will be maintained at or above the sustainable level; the negative effects of fishing on the aquatic environment will be avoided; and proposed management plans will not hinder other fishers. New Zealand First needs to be convinced that the practices and processes of the Ministry are robust and transparent;

ensure that recreational and customary fishing rights are protected and enhanced. Funding for research and development will be supported to ensure that these practices are understood from a scientific, social equity, and cultural basis and subsequently appreciated and preserved;

amend fisheries legislation to enable public participation when setting catch limits, environmental controls, and management strategies;

ensure the representation of recreational fishers on the National Fisheries Advisory Committee;

focus research on recreational, customary, and commercial fisheries to ensure sustainability;

consider allocating a quota species which could be leased to finance the administration of recreational fishing (this quota would never be sold);

oppose licensing of salt-water fishers;

encourage recreational fishers to join in partnership with the Crown to administer and regulate recreational fishing in the interests of sustainability. All recreational fishers should help police the system to ensure that there is no room for poachers and quasi 'recreational' fishers who sell or raffle their catches. This system should be managed regionally under a national umbrella organisation such as the Recreational Fishing Council;

promote a marine park concept that ensures that measures needed in the preservation, protection and sustainable management of an area begins with the local community and develops integrated management of the total marine area;

create a third tier of marine reserve that allows for recreational and customary fishing, but which excludes commercial fishing;

provide that "no take" be included within inshore zones of marine parks;

introduce tougher penalties, improve education and other measures to better protect the coastal marine environment. Education on catch limits and protocols should be aimed at new immigrants and information should be made more readily available to the public;

significantly reduce fishing industry compliance costs; and,

ensure that the aquaculture industry's legislative needs are met by the fisheries and resource management legislation. This growth industry, aiming at annual sales of $1b by 2025, will be reviewed with particular emphasis on the potential for developing marine farms. Also the review will, as a priority, define the nature and extent of aquacultural rights relative to the Quota Management System, the Sealord settlement, and clearly define recreational rights.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand First's approach to international relations is tough-minded, independent, and integrated. It affirms and enhances our country's traditional relationships while recognising the emergence of a global economy, and the realities of regional and international politics. It recognises the threat of international terrorism and regards the safety of New Zealand citizens as paramount.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

continue to enhance the special New Zealand association and interest in the Pacific region. As a good neighbour, New Zealand will make the Pacific its major focus of attention;

further develop relationships within the greater Asia-Pacific region in recognition of its growing to New Zealand's security and wellbeing;

sustain momentum and build on developments in New Zealand's traditional international relationships;

further review the level of Overseas Development Assistance and its global allocation, and ensure that it is focused on facilitating priority projects, and the alleviation of poverty, particularly in the Pacific region;

continue to be a strong supporter of the United Nations. We will work within the organisation to make it more democratic, accountable, and effective;

provide the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade with adequate resources to promote New Zealand's trade interests internationally;

focus on facilitating New Zealand's trading performance: seeking improved trade access, developing emerging markets, and promoting industries where there is a clear competitive advantage;

give primary importance to the needs of New Zealand industries and communities. Tariffs will be adjusted at no greater pace than that of our trading partners;

promote diplomacy as the first option to resolve international conflict with the use of military force only to be used as a final resort when all other means have been exhausted;

maintain Defence Force roles in international affairs especially in regional peace-keeping;

remain strongly committed to New Zealand's anti-nuclear policy;

advocate disarmament and oppose the possession and use of anti-personnel mines, chemical and biological weapons, and other weapons of mass destruction;

continue to advocate against the exploitation of Antarctica and for the cessation of all whaling;

maintain Radio New Zealand's international services;

ensure that immigration is in New Zealand's best interests;

review 'family reunification' policies across both the immigrant and refugee categories. In the case of refugees 'family reunification' will be limited to spouses and immediate dependent children only and will be incorporated into the 750 annual quota; and,

ensure that intelligence gathering is subject to greater and more transparent parliamentary control.

FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND STATE ASSETS

INTRODUCTION

New Zealand continues to become ever more dependent upon foreign capital and foreign credit. New Zealand's net foreign debt of over 59% of GDP is higher than that of our trading partners despite asset sales and takeovers.

Thirty-nine state assets were sold under the pretext of reducing this debt - for a total of $19 billion. Now we are involved in the process of buying some of them back.

The vast majority of the profits of foreign companies are paid out to their overseas owners. Our land continues to be sold. About 70% of our forestry is in foreign ownership.

New Zealand First has signalled clearly its opposition to Fonterra's plans for a 'partial listing' and to any sell off of Auckland International Airport. The government's primary concern must be the national interest - and this needs to be an actively pursued long-term goal.

New Zealand First is not opposed to foreign investment so long as such investment stands the test of being to New Zealand's advantage. New Zealand First also stands firm against state asset sales to majority foreign ownership.

PLANS

New Zealand First's foreign investment strategy will:

be based upon the premise that such investment must be in the interests of New Zealand. The private interest of foreign shareholders is not our concern, the public interest of New Zealanders is;

oppose the partial listing of Fonterra;

oppose the control of Auckland International Airport and other strategic assets falling into overseas hands;

limit foreign investment in strategic assets to 24.9%;

establish the "New Zealand Fund" for New Zealanders to invest in New Zealand assets and infrastructure;

establish priorities for foreign investment in New Zealand that require such investment to bring new technology and lead to employment and export growth;

promote the creation of an internal investment/savings base to provide a clear alternative to foreign credit for the development of New Zealand infrastructure and business, and develop the superannuation fund as one means of achieving this;

ensure that the government has first right of refusal on the resale of any former state assets, in particular 'infrastructure' assets;

stop state asset sales. If considered appropriate, and only where necessary, public assets currently in the hands of the Government will be commercially managed in the public interest and ownership;

review the process of local government sales of infrastructure assets;

build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to drastically reduce the sales of land to foreigners each year; and,

review and strengthen the foreign investment policy framework and operational requirements as they relate to the work of the Overseas Investment Office to better protect the national interest.

HEALTH

INTRODUCTION

Health is a critical investment in New Zealand's human resource - not a balance sheet item. New Zealand First wants a properly funded and resourced public health service. As a starting point we must move toward health expenditure of 10% of GDP. This is achievable if we also have an economic plan to improve our national income.

We must accept that health outcomes are a defining feature of our first world status, and their continued decline affects our quality of life. Where once New Zealand was in the first five countries in the OECD, we are now in a much inferior position - in the bottom third for infant mortality and we are busily importing third world diseases.

While there are no simple solutions to the many and varied difficulties confronting the health sector we must face the realities of an ageing population and improving technology and medicines that are increasing life expectancy. This places unique demands on both the funding and provision of health services.

When last in government New Zealand First undertook to remove the profit focus from the health system. We promised to introduce new initiatives in the area of child health, and to reduce hospital waiting lists. We delivered on these promises and provided $1.5 billion additional funding for public health. Over the past three years New Zealand First ensured an additional $530m for eldercare and achieved improvements to the under sixes health scheme. Major challenges remain.

Getting the greatest amount of health and disability support from our health spending is critical as not all problems can be solved by increased spending.

We find it most disturbing that Treasury reports continue to show that despite increased spending in the health sector, health productivity (such as the number of operations performed) is declining. Even more disturbing are the huge discrepancies in surgery rates across the 21 district health boards and the loss of essential services in some areas. It is increasingly 'health by postcode'.

We also understand that the health sector has been through 'structural fatigue', with successive governments undertaking major reforms. The sector does not need wholesale changes but there are a number of refinements that would improve health outcomes.

Our ultimate aim must be to provide our citizens with certainty about their healthcare and ensure timely access to quality services.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

commit to incrementally raising spending on health to reach our target goal of 10% of GDP;

review the processes and funding for the public purchase of essential equipment and new technology (e.g. PET scanners) to ensure that decisions are timely and the New Zealand public have access to the best possible health services;

establish a Commission of Inquiry into the public health system with the aim of establishing precisely what the public expects of the health system and what the system can deliver. Our ultimate aim is to establish a public health compact with the public stipulating the guaranteed minimum services the public can expect from the public health sector. It will also consider the overlap with the private sector;

review the number of District Health Boards (DHBs) to ensure they are appropriate for the demographic demands of health and efficiency of delivery of services, and support the amalgamation of and/or the development of co-operative agreements between DHBs;

redress the balance between health administration and health practitioners within DHBs, ensuring that extra money going into health is ring-fenced for the delivery of health services rather than growing the health bureaucracy;

increase representation and input by medical staff into administrative matters at Board level for all matters that directly affect patient welfare or the availability of treatment;

develop 'centres of excellence' for strategically placed specialist services;

reduce the proportion of places at medical training institutions which can be taken by foreign students while increasing the number of places available in areas of need (such as radiologists) for New Zealand students;

immediately review funding of PHOs that fail to maintain adequate emergency services and establish a process whereby funding for emergency services must be ring-fenced by DHBs when distributing funding;

extend New Zealand First's initiative (of 1997) of free doctors visits and prescriptions to include all primary school-aged children;

establish and implement a national strategy for addressing cancer treatment, men's health issues including prostate cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, asthma, obesity, dementia, and other diseases and health concerns where a national strategy is clearly needed and incorporating improved screening programmes and strategies, and health education initiatives;

support the introduction of a nationally co-ordinated immunisation register as part of a strategy to stamp out third world illnesses;

continue to focus upon family health, and particularly early intervention, by expanding such programmes as "Family Start" and home based support;

ensure that essential health and safety products such as sunscreens are subjected to independent evaluation and/ or control;

expand the services and family support of the 0800 advice line, including over the Christmas period;

restore emphasis on preventative measures and health education and ensure the nationwide health screening of all children under one year;

ensure that all New Zealand pre-school and school children receive adequate dental care and fully implement a national strategy that includes a shake-up of the state funding of teenagers' dental treatment;

improve access to high quality oral healthcare services;

provide additional resourcing for child and youth mental health services, and the necessary resources and funding to address the continuing appalling state of mental health services by completing the full implementation of the recommendations of the Mason report;

redress the inadequate treatment and professional support provided to mentally ill patients and their families;

increase the number of acute and non-acute beds and accommodation units for the mentally ill and modify the process of judicial review of decisions to release mentally ill patients into the community;

improve residential services for people who have severe illnesses or disabilities and/or substance abuse problems;

facilitate the improved co-ordination and integration through PHOs and other organisations of community health, dental health, disability support, family health, Maori health, maternity, mental health, and public health services and overcome the debilitating effects of a health system that lacks cohesion and common standards of delivery;

use a range of measures to ensure the adequate recruitment and retention of health professionals in rural areas including: consideration of student loan abatements; fees reductions; scholarships and bonding schemes; amending the definition of "rural" in relation to the rural GP premiums and lifting the levels of primary healthcare premiums; the development of a robust peer support programme for rural practitioners; an alternative route for the registration of family doctors; the supply of locums to enable ongoing training, support and a sustainable quality lifestyle; and resources for visiting specialists;

maintain rural health services and ensure good access to basic healthcare equitably throughout the country including the immediate development of a rural and provincial health services plan with a view to early injections of health funding to ensure the continuity of essential services;

increase the use of technology to reduce isolation (e.g. mobile services, helplines, telemedicine, teleradiology) and consider the appropriate expansion of the health-centre model;

ensure a high quality 'rural service' specialisation is available in our medical schools;

require consistency in the provision of emergency health services such as ambulance and helicopter services and ensure the adequate funding of a core of fulltime employees;

further develop a strategy for meeting the health needs of an ageing population and review specific disability provisions and resthome care;

review the funding of resthome care contracts, particularly in relation to costs imposed by legislative changes which impact on the cost of care;

ensure that the subsidy paid to elderly in care is automatically adjusted for CPI inflation each year, like New Zealand Superannuation, and ensure DHBs fully pass this funding on;

conduct a review of the eldercare sector, along the lines of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report of 2001, in order to facilitate long term planning in the sector;

incrementally work towards pay parity between eldercare nurses and DBH employed nurses;

develop a specific Industry Training Organisation for the eldercare sector;

ensure that planning for the eldercare sector incorporates the capacity for family home carers;

assure equity of access to health and disability services across generations by removing income and asset testing for older people needing long stay geriatric hospital care services and asset testing for long stay geriatric private hospital care;

implement national standards for geriatric home care that are appropriately monitored and enforced;

increase resources to achieve objective of the National Travel Assistance Policy to provide transport assistance to those for whom, for reasons of cost and/or distance, cannot easily access hospital medical appointments;

ensure that there is adequate funding for, and improved access to palliative care services;

ensure that safety considerations are paramount in funding decisions relating to maternity care services and require improved provision of ante-natal classes, maternity services for rural, Maori and Pacific Island women, and the improved monitoring of maternity services;

conduct a review of the efficiency and efficacy of Pharmac's operations and of the adequacy of pharmaceutical funding:

provide funding to assist the diagnosis of osteoporosis by DXA scan for women over 50 years who have experienced a low trauma fracture;

adequately resource elective surgery and provide additional waiting times funding so as to firmly establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment;

ensure an ongoing commitment to the funding of health research, research institutes, and for training;

legislate for clear labelling of all genetically modified food (GMF) products and ban all imports that do not meet these requirements;

consult with the natural health industry and other stakeholders to introduce an appropriate regulatory regime for complementary medicines;

ensure that the application of the Privacy Act does not impinge upon public health and safety, particularly in relation to national databases where appropriate;

review issues relating to the treatment of overseas patients within our public health system; and,

explore options associated with boosting uptake of private health insurance, including the provision of tax rebates for those with private health insurance.

HOUSING

INTRODUCTION:

A PROPERTY OWNING DEMOCRACY

New Zealand First believes that all New Zealanders should have quality, affordable accommodation. The home, the basis of family life, is fundamental to New Zealand. Private ownership provides an underlying social stability - a "Property Owning Democracy". There has been a 10% fall in homeownership in recent years which is clearly not the Kiwi way.

Existing policy provides housing for landlords' needs, and is failing: driving rental prices for low income earners up to crippling levels, and not providing adequate, healthy accommodation in areas of low housing supply. New Zealand First's policy package recognises that different policy mixes are needed for regions with different problems.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

address the supply-side pressures of the housing market by building or buying sufficient low income houses to address New Zealand's current rental housing crisis;

review the Residential Tenancy Act and ensure that it is equitable to both the landlord and the tenant;

provide incentives for state housing tenants to maintain their residences to an agreed standard;

provide better consumer protection and improved complaints processes in relation to real estate transactions, and realistic sanctions against transgressors;

ensure that the appropriate regulatory powers, processes, and resources are in place to address the issues raised in the 'leaky homes' crisis in timely fashion;

ensure that the Housing New Zealand Corporation provides a better match between the size and locality of houses and the requirements of tenants;

require Housing New Zealand to meet the housing needs of New Zealand citizens first when allocating state housing;

provide incentives and mechanisms which encourage New Zealanders to save for their future long-term accommodation needs;

provide local authorities with sufficient powers and incentives to provide more affordable housing options and to make more land available for housing;

amend the consents process to improve the timely provision of more affordable housing;

establish policy variations (through purchase agreements) that reflect the nature of housing needs within each housing region, and that allow for forward planning in relation to the meeting of those needs;

maintain areas as Zones of High Housing Need (e.g. Northland, East Coast, Eastern Bay of Plenty). Such zones will have low deposit and low interest provisions made available to them;

encourage saving by excluding balances in dedicated home savings accounts from asset calculations when considering emergency benefit grants;

develop a 'home buy' plan, including rent-to-own schemes to encourage private ownership including the use of low deposit and low interest provisions;

provide a framework for the development of shared equity housing options;

broaden the eligibility criteria set by Housing New Zealand so as to increase the number of members of KiwiSaver or an approved alternative superannuation scheme, who will be entitled to a first home deposit subsidy from the government;

provide finance facilities for self-build organisations to use as a revolving fund to assist low income earners into affordable homes;

provide for the development of cheaper and more flexible mortgage packages for first home buyers;

include government housing assistance schemes in Treaty of Waitangi settlements;

introduce peppercorn rentals for Community Housing through contractual agreements between Housing New Zealand Corporation and approved community organisations;

develop policies to improve energy efficiencies in all new dwellings, and as refurbishment is required, in the existing housing stock;

review the sale of state rental properties to private developers and re-develop existing rental sites where commercially appropriate; and,

encourage local government to retain existing housing stocks for pensioners.

IMMIGRATION

INTRODUCTION:

"Whilst this country, with such a small population, will continue to require an infusion of overseas skills and expertise, immigration will cease to be used as an excuse for our failure to train, skill, and employ our own people" (New Zealand First founding principle).

New Zealand must combat the dual problem of significant numbers of our brightest and best young people emigrating overseas. Almost half a million Kiwis are now living across the Tasman as the gap in average wages reaches up to $300 a week. This continues to be a drain on our society, while we face the huge structural and cultural difficulties of failed policies of trying to replace those leaving with immigrants. Many of our new immigrants have used New Zealand as a 'backdoor' entry into Australia. This also raises serious questions as to the speed and success of integrating new immigrants into the New Zealand workforce, and as to whether many of our recent immigrants have either the skills or the networks to serve this country's domestic or international interests.

New Zealand First makes no apology for wanting our people back, or for placing strict limits on immigration into New Zealand.

Our priorities on this front are clear and are based on the premise that coming to New Zealand is not a right but a privilege which the government must guard. Clear obligations and responsibilities must be placed upon new migrants before they are able to gain New Zealand citizenship, including proficiency in English and a clear understanding of our culture.

New Zealand First intends to concentrate upon lifting the living standards of those New Zealanders here now, rather than adding new pressures through unrestricted immigration. This cannot be achieved through importing cheap labour which only places downward pressure on New Zealand wages.

According to the 2006 Census there were almost 900,000 overseas-born people living in New Zealand. Many were recent arrivals, one third of overseas-born residents had lived in New Zealand for less than five years, while a further 17% had lived here between five and nine years.

Changes in immigration policy have meant that almost two thirds of the overall growth in the "new immigrant" population since 1986 has come from Asia. The 2006 Census showed the number of people of Asian descent increased by 48.9% since 2001. This dramatic increase has seen those of Asian ethnicity overtake Pacific peoples as the third largest ethnic group, and demographers believe those of Asian ethnicity will overtake Maori as our second largest ethnicity within 20 years.

Recent immigration has also had a significant impact on the makeup of our cities. More than half of all new immigrants were living in the Auckland area, where one in three residents was born overseas.

New Zealand First's immigration policy has one clear aim: to ensure that immigration is in New Zealand's interests.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

develop a population policy that integrates immigration policy and economic policy;

establish Immigration New Zealand as a standalone department;

drastically reduce the inflow of migrants. We will end the blind commitment to bringing in up to 52,000 migrants annually and ensure that migrant numbers are matched to true gaps in the labour market that New Zealanders are not able to fill;

ensure that our immigration streams are more directly matched to the skills and qualifications necessary to further regional economic and social goals;

review 'family reunification' policies across both the immigrant and refugee categories which have rapidly become an open door for large numbers of unqualified migrants. In the case of the refugee policy, the family reunification category will be limited to spouses and immediate dependent children only and will be incorporated into the 750 annual quota;

in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention, amend the Immigration Act to ensure that those with a serious criminal conviction from an overseas jurisdiction cannot be considered for refugee status;

modify the refugee programme to ensure all refugee claims are considered on a case-by-case basis and that refugee numbers are not solely dictated by overseas jurisdictions;

implement high quality settlement programmes for refugees;

strengthen the capacity of immigration fraud detection agencies to ensure that New Zealand's citizenship and passports are protected;

introduce a probationary period for new immigrants requiring all new immigrants to keep an unblemished record for five years before becoming eligible for citizenship (serious breaches of the law will see residency approvals cancelled and deportation ordered);

ensure, where appropriate, health screening of overseas visitors to stop the current abuse of our public health system and to protect our citizens. Health screening for migrants and refugees will be bolstered;

offer approved immigrants citizenship (with full rights) or permanent residence (and be subject to foreign ownership restrictions). Those who attain the status of citizenship will obtain the same rights as if born here;

ensure the appropriate induction of immigrants into New Zealand society with a civics programme which has due importance given to an understanding of New Zealand customs and an acceptance of New Zealand culture and values;

require professional bodies to accept overseas qualifications that have been recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority;

base all immigration policy on the premise that all immigrants must have a sound command of English, have a job, be of good character and sound health, and be willing to integrate into New Zealand society; and,

ensure that asylum seekers will not gain priority entry to New Zealand.

JUSTICE

INTRODUCTION:

The foundation of New Zealand First's justice policy is based on the dual premises that we must adhere to the rule of law and that all New Zealanders must be equal before the law.

New Zealand First strongly believes that the principles of freedom and rights of New Zealanders are protected and enhanced by a justice system which provides easy access to the courts, the unbiased and efficient delivery of justice to all New Zealanders, and the protection of all New Zealanders from oppression.

The New Zealand system of justice is based on the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, Habeas Corpus, Trial by Jury and the English Common Law and enhanced by the development of Statute law for the benefit of all New Zealanders.

New Zealand First is determined to ensure that the New Zealand justice system can provide these rights to the public of New Zealand.

JUSTICE AND LAW REFORM

The cornerstone of New Zealand First's justice and law reform policy is to enhance the public confidence in the judicial system, and to ensure that the system reflects principles of openness, accountability, independence, and integrity. New Zealand First also has some concern at the disposition of this current government to make significant constitutional change with little or no reference to the people.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that all issues of moral and social import such as prostitution, civil unions, and constitutional issues, cannot be changed except by way of referendum;

reduce the cost of all court fees to as close as possible to pre-2001 levels in real terms;

ensure that all persons are treated equally before the law and that no privileges will be granted to any sector of the community arising from their race, culture, or any other reason;

review family legislation with a view to simplifying the provisions of the Care of Children Act and establishing a Protection of Families Act which will incorporate the provisions of the Domestic Violence Act 1995 and the Care of Children Act 2004 with a view to giving the Family court more flexibility in dealing with family violence situations and removing the rigidity which exists in the current system, a rigidity which results in the more difficult family break-ups becoming extreme situations; and even fatal;

provide the resources necessary to ensure that High Court jury trials are conducted without undue delay;

conduct a review of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner and the Judicial Conduct Panel Act 2004 and ensure adequate resources for the judiciary;

retain the system of Depositions Hearings as a Preliminary Hearing before trials in criminal cases;

review the system of land ownership by way of cross-lease title to make it easier for existing owners of cross-lease titles to have clearer title to their property;

continue to promote an independent judicial commission to recommend the appointment of judges, oversee the administration of the courts, provide training for judges, and process and report on complaints; and,

require that any future major constitutional change occurs only following a positive referendum.

SENTENCING

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

restrict eligibility for, and strengthen supervision of, home detention;

allow that the accused can be re-tried for the original crime where there is clear evidence that an acquittal or change to a lesser offence has resulted from intimidation, perjury, or bribery of a victim, witness, and/or juror. These offences will be elevated to the status of a most serious crime and will carry an automatic sentencing upon conviction, of a minimum 10-year sentence without any form of remission. Similarly, new evidence will be treated on the same basis;

remove concurrent sentences for those guilty of serious crime and for those who commit offences while on parole, on bail, or whilst in custody;

strengthen monitoring requirements in relation to community-based sentences;

support the full implementation of a Sentencing Council charged with providing guidelines for consistent sentencing;

review the adequacy of maximum sentences for serious criminal offences;

investigate the implementation of a degrees of murder sentencing regime, for the most repugnant and abhorrent of violent crime;

deter recidivist offending by introducing the principle of 'three strikes and you're out'. This will mean that offenders convicted for three crimes for which they have been sentenced to any period of community service, or incarceration in a prison or correction centre, will be required to serve a substantial minimum period in prison;

increase the use of mandatory minimum sentences for violent offenders with no automatic rights to sentence reduction;

replace the Parole Board with a Rehabilitation Board with a primary objective of minimising recidivism. The Board will be required to consider the actual duration of imprisonment and to ensure a serious violent offender has demonstrated remorse and a positive attitude to rehabilitation, before considering any parole;

require that, upon conviction for a serious and/or violent crime non-New Zealand citizens will be repatriated; and,

provide the legislative framework to ensure that fines are collected and reparations made.

VICTIMS' RIGHTS AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

Victims of crime must not become the forgotten people in our criminal justice system. At present there is a lack of coherent and organised delivery of victim support services in the overall government response to crime.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

establish a group within the Ministry of Justice to oversee the effective co-ordination, funding and delivery of victim support services by various agencies through every phase of the criminal justice system;

give the new unit responsibility for raising public awareness of the availability of victim support services;

ensure that victim support groups receive adequate funding which reflects both the demand for and quality of the services they provide;

make certain victims of crime will be given a permanent representative on the Rehabilitation Board;

not support convicted criminals being able to profit from their crime through compensation payment;

ensure that families of victims will have mandatory rights to full information on rehabilitation hearings, to appear in person, to have an advocate, or to make written submissions;

require disclosure of criminal history of violent offenders released on home detention or parole;

support amendments to the law so that victims of offenders sentenced to psychiatric hospitals will be told when the offender is discharged from hospital, and introduce the legal test of 'guilty but insane';

also ensure that offenders are made accountable for their actions to the victims of their crimes, and that they are made to pay for the emotional and physical damage they cause;

enhance the use of reparation orders by requiring courts to give them preference over fines;

help ensure victims receive court ordered reparations (deductions from income or benefits may be ordered as appropriate);

expand the use of reparation orders beyond the current focus on property crimes;

introduce a regime of fixed-term sentencing for specified crimes where the degree of involvement or other claimed contributory factors will be given no regard; and,

pilot a system whereby those convicted of serious crimes will be offered remission in exchange for completing their time to be served under a regime of hard labour.

YOUTH JUSTICE

New Zealand First believes that a priority for reducing youth crime is ensuring that all young people are engaged in full time employment. Unemployment means that this group in particular, do not have the finances to participate fully in society, have little or no self esteem and too much time on their hands. A person's occupation is largely the basis of their standing in our community.

Young people (and their parents) will be made more accountable to the community for their crimes. New Zealand First will focus on entry level crime to put a stop to young people entering a life of crime.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

provide a policy and legislation framework that requires greater parental responsibility for young offenders;

ensure that young recidivist offenders are able to be dealt with by an expanded and reconstituted Youth Court;

provide improved guidelines to the Youth Court on the treatment of young recidivist offenders;

retain Family Group Conferences (FGC) for those who choose to offend under the age of 12 years but even then, any offender under the age of 12 years will be entitled to be dealt with under this provision only three times and should they choose to offend again, will be dealt with by the adult criminal courts;

ensure that parents of those children subject to the FGC process are tasked with completing appropriate parent training;

provide the Youth Court with guidelines as to when anonymity of proceedings should be removed to reinforce the offender's accountability to the community;

provide police with the powers and resources to address truant behaviour and prevent it from escalating into habitual truancy, which itself almost guarantees the truant's involvement in the youth justice system and a graduation into serious crime;

ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit video games to minors;

introduce stricter controls on the ratings of, and restrictions to the access to violent or sexually explicit videos;

oppose all efforts to legalise cannabis and any other form of illicit drugs;

raise the drinking age;

make it clear that violent young offenders should indeed be treated differently from non-violent offenders through special 'secure training order' sentences involving supervised control and intensive rehabilitation, and other secure and military-type training options; and,

extend the range of offences for which youths are automatically subject to adult processes, e.g. attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, and serious repeat offending.

LAW AND ORDER

INTRODUCTION:

It is a basic right of all New Zealanders to live in a safe society.

New Zealand faces three fundamental issues in restoring the safe society we expect. The first is the need to restore public confidence in the police force. The second, which is linked to the first, is to dramatically increase police numbers to allow them to do their duty more effectively. The third issue relates to the prioritisation of the police force, and in this regard New Zealand First advocates the separation of traffic and policing duties.

We simply must target burgeoning violent crime, which has been underpinned by the insidious gang and drug cultures which are increasingly becoming entrenched. An immediate campaign against lawlessness is needed now, while longer-term strategies are required to deal with the root causes of crime and with the scourge that is organised crime.

New Zealand First recognises that the rights of the victims are paramount, and that the offender's rights are subject to the rights of both the victim and the State.

New Zealand First acknowledges that unemployment, poor parenting, inappropriate peer group pressure, and other socio-economic factors contribute markedly to our crime rate. We advocate a balanced policy prescription containing the elements of prevention, apprehension, punishment, and rehabilitation. Frequently prison inmates come out worse than when they went in. This is not acceptable.

New Zealand First will introduce a category of outcome sentences which put the onus on the criminal to show that he or she is ready for release. New Zealand First's policies are tough, but fair and non-restrictive for law-abiding citizens.

We will integrate emergency services into a single Ministry of Emergency Services. Civil Defence, Police, Fire, and Ambulance will share facilities, stations, radio communication facilities, vehicles and civilian support staff. Information will be shared amongst these services to better co-ordinate services.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

introduce legislation to ban all criminal gangs;

continue to increase police numbers over the next five years to bring the ratio of police to population in line with that of Australia with the aim of creating safer communities;

develop the Organised Crime Agency under the auspices of the police to crack down on organised crime, particularly gangs, and on crimes such as drug trafficking, fraud, and money laundering;

give local police and community groups greater power and ability to deal with local problems, and, in particular ensure that Neighbourhood Watch has the resources to maintain and expand its community coverage;

ensure that appropriate emergency services are available to meet the needs of all communities;

introduce new measures designed to prevent crime 'at the source' and aim to eliminate the reasons young people enter into a life of crime;

overhaul current legislation relating to the sentencing of serious, violent offenders to provide greater protection for the public. If there is not genuine rehabilitation the offender will serve the full sentence;

make offenders more directly accountable to their victims and communities;

make greater use of Limited Service Volunteers as diversion for young offenders and to promote the use of the cadet corps for at risk youth; and,

extend the range of sentencing options for violent young offenders including: 'secure training order' sentences involving supervised control and intensive rehabilitation; other secure and military-type training options; and; widening the range of offences for which young offenders are automatically subject to adult processes, e.g. attempted murder, aggravated sexual assault, serious repeat offending.

RESOURCING OF POLICE

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

increase the ratio of police to population by arresting the current exodus from our police force of both experienced and recently recruited officers, providing incentives for former officers to return to the force (including in non-sworn roles where their expertise will be valued) and providing additional frontline police (and non-sworn support);

require a focus on community policing including foot patrols and the regaining of the lost conduit of valuable information about offenders and offending from citizens and business people;

ensure that necessary police numbers are engaged in frontline duties by providing the requisite level of administrative support;

rationalise the top tier of the police hierarchy by requiring the deployment of more of the experienced sworn police officers out of the Office of the Commissioner of Police (Police National Headquarters as it is otherwise known) and place them back out into operational areas for which they have been extensively and expensively trained. This will result in better supervision of younger constables and improved oversight of cases involving serious crimes;

restore confidence in the police and (in particular) declare war on gangs to make it impossible for them to operate legally;

instigate a zero tolerance regime of abuse and crimes against police officers in the discharge of their duties;

provide police with new powers to conduct random searches in designated public areas at designated times if there is a reasonable belief that individuals could be carrying dangerous weapons;

expand the current legislation to ensure all people arrested are DNA tested and the records stored (there must also be the facility for voluntary swabs). This will occur at the same time and in the same manner as applies at present for finger printing of all those arrested and will simply form an electronic record of detainees as opposed to a database of prints. Mouth swabs will generally be used as opposed to blood samples;

adequately resource the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) to ensure it can cope with the increased demand for DNA testing;

dramatically increase the number of trained police dogs and dog handlers;

establish a compulsory register for all convicted paedophiles, with a legal requirement that they notify police of any change in address. Police will have the power to warn schools and community groups about the presence of convicted child sex offenders; and,

better connect the community with the police force by expanding dedicated squads for community policing, serious crime/fraud, burglary, drugs, gang liaison, organised crime and other major crime fighting initiatives.

BAIL LAWS

New Zealand First believes that the granting of bail must be fair and embrace both the needs of the victims of crime and the concerns of the community.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

amend bail laws to ensure public safety is given priority;

amend the law so that suspects or offenders may have the right to remain silent or the right to apply for bail, but not both;

ensure police have the time and resources to put all relevant information before the court;

give the judiciary clear guidance on how those with previous convictions should be dealt with on bail applications; and,

amend bail laws so that in a prima facie case, warranting trial for serious violent offences, bail will not be granted.

CORRECTIONS

The current rate of imprisonment in New Zealand is too high and reflects on the ineffectiveness of sentencing and rehabilitation regimes as well as on the levels of crimes being committed. New Zealand's corrections system has been in disarray and in need of a radical and fundamental overhaul. Some improvements have been made but serious deficiencies remain.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

place the Prison Service within the Ministry of Justice with a focus on co-ordination of services and objectives;

ensure that upon entry into a corrections facility all inmates with a sentence of six months or more will receive a psychological, medical and educational aptitude test and all rehabilitation programmes will be based on the outcomes of these tests;

where evidence exists of drug and alcohol abuse the inmate will immediately embark on a detox programme, a requirement which will need to be supported by the better provision of addiction treatment services;

segregate inmates with mental illnesses from all other inmates and ensure that they receive appropriate treatment;

ensure that the pay and conditions of prison service guards aid in maintaining morale, assist recruitment and retention;

develop improved prison officer training and foster a return to a service culture;

tighten up parole laws and repeal 'community service', with the aim of reinstating periodic detention; and,

conduct a study into recidivism with the aim of assessing exactly which rehabilitation programmes actually work and which are token gestures and a waste of taxpayer money. Based on this New Zealand First will institute those programmes proven to reduce recidivist crime.

FIREARMS

New Zealand First's firearms policy is based on the belief that the public have a right to be protected from those with potential to misuse firearms.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

provide Police with the necessary resources and powers to scrutinise, and vet the suitability of individuals to own firearms (including the right to access medical records);

review the results of Firearms Law Reforms implemented in Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom;

increase penalties (including minimum sentences) for firearm offences including improper possession and improper storage; and,

resource increased random inspections of licensees' premises to check the security of firearms.

TRAFFIC OFFENCES (also see transport policy)

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

extend roadside 'impairment' testing to remove drivers under the influence of drink or drugs from our roads;

legislate so that it is an offence to carry an open container of liquor in the seating compartment of a vehicle;

ban the use of cell phones while driving;

ensure there is automatic loss of driver's licence for any person convicted of highway assault (road rage);

remove recidivist drunk drivers from our roads. A second offence should lead to the clamping of the vehicle and a consequence of a third offence should be the confiscation of the vehicle; and,

ensure that any person using a motor vehicle in committing a serious crime will automatically suffer loss of licence and in some circumstances their vehicle.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

INTRODUCTION:

Local government, as the exercise of democracy at the local level, is a fundamental part of New Zealand's governmental structures. However, the nature and scope of its role has changed significantly over time, primarily as central government has continued to devolve increased legislated responsibilities to councils.

New Zealand First believes that the role of local government must be aimed at achieving the best return for ratepayer and taxpayer money. This must be based on the world-class provision of core local government services, but with limits on non-core activities which add to the rates burden. New Zealand First believes the time has arrived to ask the very serious questions of why do we rate, on whom and who benefits from these rates?

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

build on the recommendations of the 2006 Shand Report, specifically around the drivers of local government expenditure and the various mechanisms for raising funds for local body councils;

resolve the issues which have emerged since local body councils received the power of general competence;

conduct a nationwide study into the inter-relationship between regional and local councils and community boards, exploring both their functions and relevance;

encourage communities of interest to explore the feasibility of merging some local body entities in the interests of getting better value for money for ratepayers;

reduce the layers of bureaucracy which have increasingly been superimposed onto local government;

review the legislative burden that central government has placed on local government and the impact of this on ratepayers, in particular, compliance costs imposed by central government;

explore options to reduce the rates encumbrance on seniors with a fixed income;

improve the promotion of the rates rebate scheme, consider alternatives for the administration of the scheme to improve access and take-up, annually index both the rates rebate and the income thresholds against average rates increases, and consider extensions to the eligibility in relation to occupiers of retirement homes, papakainga etc;

provide local authorities with sufficient powers and incentives to provide more affordable housing options and to make more land available for housing;

amend consents process to improve the timely provision of more affordable housing;

ensure that water supply and waste-water charges levied by a territorial authority OR a council-controlled organization be eligible expenditure within the rates rebate scheme;

fine tune the local government role in the Resource Management Act (RMA) process (See RMA policy for more detail);

review the balance between statutory requirements on, and the discretionary decision-making processes of

ensure that there is one single voting mechanism across all local authorities - be it simple plurality or Single Transferable Vote (STV) to limit voter confusion;

remove the provision of separate wards based on race in local government;

establish an explicit programme of work aimed at addressing the entrenched problems associated with the rating of Maori land and rates remission bringing together representatives of central government, local government and Maori;

encourage local government use of the community wage scheme for conservation and weed and pest control activities, and for beautification and maintenance of waterways, beaches, parks and roadsides;

initiate policies and expectations to restrict rates to 50% of revenue raised by local authorities;

legislate that local government could only charge rating differentials to businesses if evidence of differential costs can be demonstrated;

review GST on rates, the rating of schools for sewerage disposal and the proportion of rates spent on roading and consider the removal of 'non-rateable' and '50% rateable' status from Crown and non-Crown land listed in Schedule 1 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002 with the exception of the conservation estate, roads, and Parliament and vice-regal residences;

establish a new Infrastructure Equalisation Fund of $100m per annum to assist councils in establishing water supply, waste water, and storm water infrastructure (and funded from ear-marked GST);

encourage local government to make greater use of debt-funding for long-life assets and thereby reduce potential rates rises;

enable councils to set their own fees for all regulatory responsibilities on an 'actual and reasonable' cost-recovery basis;

clarify the status of local government in relation to Genetic Engineering issues and central government regulations of GE;

integrate emergency services into a single Ministry of Emergency Services. Civil Defence, Police, Fire, Ambulance will share facilities, stations, radio communication facilities, vehicles and civilian support staff;

actively discourage local councils from selling off key strategic assets including pensioner housing;

develop sustainable national policies on water and air quality, but with sufficient flexibility to address local circumstances;

promote the use of the most up-to-date technologies and international experience in tracking water use patterns, thereby ensuring that policy decisions are based on sound science;

encourage strategies for soil use, which both encourage their economic potential and limit their environmental impact;

urgently advance work on the development of rubbish disposal alternatives (including exploring international experience);

develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas;

put in place adequate policy frameworks to deal with the issue of contaminated sites;

ensure that local councils are able to adequately address the issue of aquaculture to ensure the industry is able to flourish within the legislative framework; and,

examine the findings of the Royal Commission into the Governance of Auckland and act on recommendations which will lead to better co-ordination and harmonisation of planning and development of facilities for the greater region.

MĀORI AFFAIRS

INTRODUCTION:

Despite many years of programmes such as 'closing the gaps' and reducing inequalities, Māori health status remains considerably lower than that of non-Māori across a range of health indicators including life expectancy. Māori are concentrated in lower paid occupations and while the country is currently enjoying a relatively low rate of unemployment Māori unemployment remains relatively high. Māori continue to be disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system and, despite some improvement, lag behind in educational achievement.

These are conditions that demand action. They must be confronted. We cannot accept that any group of New Zealanders should face the prospect of enduring disadvantage - and let's not forget that one in seven New Zealanders is Māori, a proportion growing with each generation.

We must directly address the issues outlined above regarding Māori performance against key social indicators. This aspect of the policy acknowledges the origins within "Ka Awatea" that the people must be able to fully participate in the future development of our country. Education, good health, sound housing and adequate employment opportunities are the key to upward mobility. Many of these policy fronts fell through the cracks with the disestablishment of the old Department of Maori Affairs which had many sound programmes aimed at addressing these issues. Many Maori though have taken on a more entrepreneurial mindset, engaging in a wide range of business activities, which is too be supported, enhanced and actively encouraged as it is a pathway to success.

Fifty years ago nearly two-thirds of Māori lived in rural areas, now more than 8 in 10 live in urban areas. The demands of changing life styles need to be considered by policy developers and the implications for housing and on social support systems acknowledged.

Policy planning must acknowledge the changing Maori demographic and it impact across all policy fronts. The size of the Māori population aged under 15 years has continued to grow and the proportion of Māori in this younger age group is still high (35.4%).

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that all policy-making is based on need and not on race, creed or colour;

put an end to the grievance industry;

promote the position that while New Zealand First supports the proposition of one single franchise, that none-the-less the decision to abolish Māori seats is a decision for the people to make;

remove the provision of separate wards based on race in local government;

ensure that all of New Zealand First's gains over many years in the relation to the Māori Women's Welfare League and the Māori Wardens are built on and strengthened and not left vulnerable in relation to ongoing funding;

establish an explicit programme of work aimed at addressing the entrenched problems associated with the rating of Māori land and rates remission bringing together representatives of central government, local government and Māori;

maintain areas as Zones of High Housing Need (e.g. Northland, East Coast, Eastern Bay of Plenty). Such zones will have low deposit and low interest provisions made available to them;

encourage Māori to build houses on collectively owned land;

direct resources to where they are of the greatest benefit, recognising that education is the key to success. Without it, our citizens are condemned to a narrow range of options and certain failure to reach their potential. Rather than pour resources into separate development we should focus on providing high quality education for all our youth, on the basis of need;

ensure that the Māori and non-Māori alike have access to apprenticeships and skills development thereby ensuring their active participation in a modern technologically driven economy; and

ensure that the role of the Māori Language Commission is focused on actively protecting Māori language and culture, not under the guise of a Treaty obligation, but rather because they are the indigenous language and culture of New Zealand.

RACING

INTRODUCTION:

Racing in New Zealand directly and indirectly accounts for $1.5 billion dollars worth of GDP, employs more than 18,000 people, has export earnings per year of more than $130 million, and is an integral part of the Kiwi lifestyle.

New Zealand First recognises the export potential of the New Zealand breeding industry and the need for improved international marketing, and has achieved a much improved taxation regime through a reduction in totalisator duty and an accelerated write-down regime for bloodstock. The strongly supported decision to permit racehorses sold for export to remain in New Zealand for up to 24 months without attracting GST is a further fillip to the industry and to the New Zealand economy.

These achievements have provided the industry with the momentum to bolster its economic contribution, creating more jobs, more exports, and more income for New Zealand.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

support the industry's objectives to increase its economic contribution, creating more jobs, more exports and more income for New Zealand;

continue to support projects and initiatives, e.g. the Racing Safety Development Fund (a contestable fund of $1million per annum, matching dollar for dollar contributions from racing clubs) that enhances safety and improves the quality of facilities in the racing industry, including the safety of riders, spectators, officials and others involved in racing, as well as the health and safety of animals;

further improve the appeal of the racing industry to a wider audience by encouraging the promotion of 'family-friendly' activities in conjunction with race meetings;

enhance employment opportunities and export opportunities by working with the industry to improve the international status of New Zealand Group 1 races with a view to attracting greater international interest and involvement; and,

aim to maximise New Zealand's internationally-recognised advantage in the development of race horses and to build our country's reputation as the race horse breeding country of most interest to the world.

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT

INTRODUCTION:

If New Zealand's economy is to reach its potential then it must have world-leading planning and resource consent laws. After 16 years the Resource Management Act (RMA) clearly requires thorough revision to improve processes and procedures, reduce compliance costs, clarify expectations and responsibilities, and to facilitate progress and protection.

Many of the problems that have arisen in relation to the RMA have been about delays in the consent process, costs, consultation requirements and lack of uniformity in how local councils approach the Act. Therefore the remedy must be threefold: to more strictly define and clarify the processes required to effectively adhere to the Act; to remove many of the obstacles and present frustrations which have unnecessarily become part of these processes; and to ensure that all affected parties have unhindered access to the consent process.

Changes to the RMA must be balanced against councils' publicly developed long-terms plans and must also take cognisance of the substantial body of jurisprudence, as a consequence of the RMA.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

further enhance the value of the pre-hearing phase by empowering councils to ensure the attendance of relevant parties, by requiring that specific and agreed timelines be established, by ensuring that the necessary evidence be established along with the expertise required, by requiring that those who facilitate the pre-hearings phase have a comprehensive understanding of the RMA and, by ensuring that any costs required to change the pace or scope of the process be met by the party requiring that change;

amend the RMA to require that, at the conclusion of the pre-hearings meeting, only those issues that have been defined as forming the basis of a hearing should be the subject of any further hearing;

improve the hearings meeting process by requiring that: all applications for a hearing should be fully completed through a pre-hearings phase with all required information and agreed timelines established, only the use of those with relevant qualifications and experience, in particular the use of qualified Commissioners, should be permitted during hearings, provision for orderly cross examination should be included in the hearings phase to tease out all necessary facts, hearings should be conducted in a 'submitter friendly' context including, wherever possible, ensuring that hearings be held local to where a consent is sought; and vexatious litigants to be identified and treated as such;

amend the RMA to set out a process allowing the combining of several local body jurisdictions for one consent process in clearly defined circumstances;

repeal clause 8 of section 2 and remove reference to the 'principles of Treaty of Waitangi' from this legislation. We note here that in Part 2 of the RMA, where reference is made in clause 6(e) to Maori and their culture and traditions in relation to "matters of national importance", and in clause 7(a) with regard to kaitiakitanga under "other matters", that those issues of most importance to Maori are addressed;

amend definitions, particularly the terms used in clause 6(e), relating to 'spirituality' which, as a matter of personal conscience, has no place in resource consents. Whilst sacred sites and other tangible aspects of Maori culture ought to be taken into account in the resource consent process there must be a thorough revision of consultation requirements;

require authorities to maintain registers of those sites defined under section 6(e) (subject to further refinement of the definitions) and of recognised Iwi Authorities (or where applicable hapū) and appropriate personnel. Best practice by local councils suggests that where a constructive dialogue and involvement by local Iwi occurs, both council planning and the RMA process run more smoothly and are less costly. Those aspects of Maori culture and heritage values in clause 6(e), once they have been satisfactorily defined, and in section 7 will be protected; and,

introduce greater certainty, transparency, and accountability and require that payment must always be for services rendered, with all transactions subject to appropriate auditing and accounting practices.

limit the scope for de novo hearings by the Environment Court to exceptional circumstances and matters of law and the role of the Environment Court largely to rehearing Council decisions and thus remove many of the bottlenecks that currently impede the process;

ensure that the Environment Court is adequately resourced with sufficiently qualified people sitting on the Court. Whilst noting a recent injection of funding, the resourcing of the Court must be monitored carefully to ensure that lack of resources never again interrupts the smooth running of the consent process; and,

ensure that appeals to the High Court may be based on law only, once the facts have been established. This is indelibly linked to our view that if the pre-hearing and hearing phases are improved, then the contestability of facts and law are greatly reduced.

RURAL

INTRODUCTION:

For far too long the vital contribution of New Zealand's rural sector has been under valued by successive governments. New Zealand First believes this is a travesty which must be redressed through a policy prescription that values our rural communities and restores confidence and vigour to the farming and land-based sectors.

The rural sector accounts for around 10% of our GDP (or more than $13 billion annually) and while much may be made of the knowledge economy our country cannot raise its living standards without rapidly growing agricultural exports. The rural heartland remains vitally important and land-based industries are still the backbone of our economy.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

ensure that monetary policy takes cognisance of the impact of high interest and exchange rates on the rural sector and will ensure the policy target agreement between the new government and the Reserve Bank will include export and employment growth objectives;

establish working relationships with rural advocacy groups to ensure that rural and provincial views and issues are heard;

promote policies that recognise that because of varying international commodity prices, it is essential that the domestic environment does not unduly add to production costs or impede efficiency of our primary producers;

give priority to the needs of New Zealand industries and communities in setting any programme on tariffs. Future tariff removal will be consistent with the policies and progress of our trading partners. We aim to win the export and employment stakes, not some artificial tariff removal race;

build on the 1997 New Zealand First initiative to reduce the sale of land to overseas interests. New Zealand cannot maintain land as a heritage for future generations if poorly regulated foreign ownership continues to occur. Landcorp land should not be sold to overseas owners;

focus taxation policies on incentives for key developmental initiatives leading to rapid export growth with a 20% tax rate on 'new export' net income;

ensure that agriculture and horticulture receive the emphasis and priority in science funding and strategy that acknowledges that investment in scientific research is crucial if the New Zealand primary and export sectors are to maintain their international competitiveness;

provide base funding to develop and promote organic farming options. While New Zealand First recognises international concerns regarding pesticides and artificial fertilizers, and the natural advantage of New Zealand's environment, developments must be supported by research and marketing;

ensure that appropriate topo-culture programmes are supported to provide a database and advisory service on alternative land use proposals and diversification;

ensure that Heartland New Zealanders are not unnecessarily handicapped by their location by guaranteeing access to broadband and modern communications technology and ensuring that access to quality health services, schooling, and transport is maintained and developed;

ensure social equity for rural New Zealand (social impact analysis to accompany cost/benefit analysis in government decision-making processes);

increase use of technology to improve rural access to health services and introduce a range of innovative measures (such as student debt write-offs) to ensure the adequate recruitment and retention of health professions in rural areas;

amend the funding mechanism for rural based polytechnics to take into account their unique circumstances;

ensure that property rights are protected as access issues are considered in relation to the maintenance of the Kiwi lifestyle and New Zealanders' rights to enjoy the country's natural environment;

develop plans and procedures to handle waste water in rural areas;

ensure that farmers and other rural workers are able to access industry training funds;

increase funding for technology transfer;

ensure that the resources, funding, and technology are available to combat any biological threats to our primary industries and where possible to meet these threats at, or outside, our borders;

commit additional research funding for opossum and other pest eradication programmes;

develop a Community Wage scheme so that participants may be employed to clear unwanted vegetation, gorses, broom, and blackberry, from farms which are struggling to clear these weeds. Workers will also be used for tree planting where appropriate, and will assist pest control teams; and,

improve access to quality early childhood education, extend parent support programmes and the 0800 advice line, redefine 'rural' schools to secure staffing and funding, and continue to modernise 'distance education' provision.

SENIOR CITIZENS

INTRODUCTION:

New Zealand First is committed to empowering senior citizens to enable them to remain independent for as long as they wish within their communities, and maintains that our seniors must be treated with respect and not as a burden on society. We know our seniors have a valuable contribution to make to society through their experience and knowledge garnered over the years. This must be viewed as a valuable resource to be utilised.

New Zealand First believes senior citizens are the foundation on which our communities are built. Policy designed to impoverish our senior population is destructive and short-sighted. Their ability to contribute to those communities and the families that they consist of is dependent on government policy recognising that value and supporting it.

New Zealand First recognises the value that senior citizens bring to their families and communities and undertakes to reflect that in its policy-making. We maintain that our treatment of our seniors sends a clear signal of our status as a developed nation. There is little point in pursuing economic growth and other objectives if our seniors are not looked after adequately.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

immediately, upon entering office, revise the mechanism for calculating New Zealand Superannuation to ensure that the minimum base level cannot fall below 66% of the net average wage to redress any financial loss incurred through the application of the current mechanism;

continue to incrementally raise the level of New Zealand Superannuation to 68% of the net average wage in the first instance (calculated on married couples with a similar adjustment of rates for single persons), rising to 72.5% over time;

change the rebate for non-qualified spouse in receipt of New Zealand Superannuation and the 55 plus benefit to bring it into line with the widows and domestic purposes benefit;

raise the rebate threshold for a non-qualified spouse from $80 per week to $100 and index it to the CPI;

cement in place the age of entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation at 65 years;

provide that (on a pro rata basis) receipts of superannuation at death will form part of the deceased estate with no requirement for repayment;

pass legislation which ensures that any modifications to the scheme can only be made with a 75% majority in the House of Representatives;

ensure that any new scheme would not affect any person who at the time of introduction was aged 55 years or older and thus maintain certainty for that group currently closest to retirement;

provide for regular inflation adjustment of benefits (and abatement levels);

work towards a formula for those receiving overseas pensions, based on a pro rata, 1/45 year entitlement (or the appropriate working life span) for years worked in overseas jurisdictions and New Zealand, while ensuring that anybody who qualifies for New Zealand superannuation receives no less than the base New Zealand rate;

broaden the benefits available to seniors included in the SuperGold Card;

support the development of accommodation initiatives for pensioners;

explore options to reduce the rates encumbrance on seniors;

further develop a strategy for meeting the health needs of an ageing population;

implement national standards for geriatric home care that are enforced, and require a more than cursory inspection of rest homes to ensure standards are met;

review specific 'disability' provisions and rest-home care;

review the funding of resthome care contracts, particularly in relation to costs imposed by legislative changes which impact on the cost of care;

ensure that staff ratios in aged residential care facilities are maintained at appropriate levels for safety and care, while ensuring that staff receive appropriate ongoing training and professional development;

update the PricewaterhouseCoopers report which is now more than ten years old and ensure all future planning with the eldercare industry is done in consultation with all stakeholders;

ensure that all future funding of the eldercare sector is based on a minimum CPI adjustment annually;

put in place a long term planning strategy for the eldercare sector thereby ensuring that the huge cost of the aging population bubble will be adequately planned for;

smooth the funding pathway between the Ministry of Health and eldercare providers to ensure that the cumbersome negotiations at the DHB level are less intrusive;

review lottery funding criteria for community transport for seniors groups;

develop close working relations with seniors' advocacy groups;

scope the free provision of hearing aids and spectacles to qualifying citizens;

complete the nationwide network of Elder Abuse and Neglect Co-ordination Services;

ensure that adequate funding and direction is put into Alzheimer's, dementia, and osteoporosis research;

ensure that a pilot study is undertaken to provide a formula for the timely provision of operations for cataracts and hip replacements;

guarantee the maintenance of core hospital services and timely access to acute emergency services;

conduct a review of the eldercare sector, along the lines of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report of 2001, in order to facilitate long term planning in the sector;

ensure that the subsidy paid to elderly in care is automatically adjusted for CPI inflation each year, like New Zealand Superannuation, and ensure DHBs fully pass this funding on;

incrementally work towards pay parity between eldercare nurses and DBH employed nurses;

develop a specific Industry Training Organisation for the eldercare sector;

ensure that planning for the eldercare sector incorporates the capacity for family home carers;

adequately resource elective surgery and establish guaranteed maximum waiting times for a range of surgical and specialist treatment;

ensure that senior citizens receive greater recognition for the thousands of hours of voluntary service they perform in the community and provide opportunities for paid contributions; and,

provide a range of measures in support of the safety and security of all New Zealanders by properly resourcing the police, providing stiffer sentencing, and greater community involvement.

SUPERANNUATION

INTRODUCTION:

New Zealand First is determined to deliver a long-term, sustainable superannuation scheme, secure from political tampering. The principles upon which such a scheme will be devised will be fairness, sustainability, that it delivers a secure and dignified living standard, and that it is within the national interest.

The abolition of the surtax was always one of New Zealand First's core policies. We delivered on our promise. We budgeted for and prepared legislation to remove income and asset testing for long-stay geriatric hospital care from 1 October 1998.

We supported the establishment of the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, not because it provides the ultimate solution, but because it was a step in the right direction. Fifty years ago, 9% of New Zealand's population was 'elderly'. In fifty years time 26% of the population will be over 65. Half a million New Zealanders currently receive some form of retirement income, in thirty years time that number will have more than doubled.

The challenge now is to maintain immediate certainty whilst planning for longer term security. An additional contributory scheme in individual accounts is part of this strategy.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

support the development of KiwiSaver and introduce further programmes which promote a savings culture throughout the community;

cement in place the age of entitlement at 65 years;

ensure that purchasing power remains constant;

facilitate the transition from the pay-as-we-go scheme through the cost smoothing mechanisms of the newly established fund to a new save-as-we-go scheme, with the ultimate aim of achieving individualised accounts;

amend the legislation relating to the Superannuation Fund to tag individual entitlements, guaranteed by the State, and to make them untouchable by future generations of politicians;

work towards a formula for those receiving overseas pensions, based on a pro rata, 1/45 year entitlement for years worked in overseas jurisdictions and New Zealand, while ensuring that anybody who qualifies for New Zealand superannuation receives no less than the base New Zealand rate;

require the New Zealand Superannuation Fund managers to invest in New Zealand infrastructure and growth industries including making funds available at competitive interest rates to the New Zealand Transport Agency, ONTRACK, KiwiRail and local government for capital projects;

provide that (on a pro rata basis) receipts of superannuation at death will form part of the deceased estate - there will be no requirement to make repayments;

add to the dedicated fund through tax-incentivised personal savings in the name of the saver and thus ensure that the national interest for enhanced domestic savings is maximised;

require that the contributory scheme must contain portability provisions over time and between jobs, and that it must be able to be drawn upon if the recipient is outside of New Zealand;

pass legislation which ensures that any modifications to the scheme can only be made with a 75% majority in the House of Representatives;

ensure that any new scheme would not affect any person who at the time of introduction was aged 55 years or older and thus maintain certainty for that group currently closest to retirement; and,

investigate the costs and benefits of a trade-off between tax cuts and the implementation of compulsory superannuation.

TAXATION

INTRODUCTION:

The Government collects over $1 billion in taxes every week. Creativity in tax matters has centred on avoidance rather than the provision of incentives for export and economic growth or for increasing domestic savings.

New Zealand First will apply taxation abatements, concessions and other incentives to activities that contribute to increasing the rate of economic growth. For too long New Zealanders have accepted low projected growth rates as being adequate while most of our trading partners continue to outstrip us.

Major objectives include maximising the benefits of well-directed government spending, reducing the tax burden, and protecting the tax base.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

introduce a tax-free threshold on the first $5200 earned annually;

incrementally reduce GST to 10% over three years;

introduce an accelerated depreciation regime for specified industries and selected approved investments so as to assist business development;

provide tax incentives for research and development;

investigate a range of incentives to facilitate the growth of domestic savings;

actively oppose any increase in general taxation;

support the development of investment-friendly tax rules to encourage venture capital investment;

ensure that the Inland Revenue Department's (IRD's) application of the compliance and penalties regimes is fair and equitable;

require disclosure of tax schemes that affect the incidence of tax payable by more than $50,000, be mandatory;

explore the feasibility of using tax incentives to expand the take-up of private health insurance;

review GST on rates;

put in place a tax regime which guarantees that overseas corporates are treated the same as New Zealand companies for tax purposes;

protect our investment in Air New Zealand by ensuring its long-term viability by such measures as an accelerated depreciation regime on aircraft and tax incentives similar to those made available to Singapore Airlines by its Government;

set up an inquiry to establish the best favourable fiscal regime for the shipping industry to improve its viability;

ensure that any trust that can demonstrate that the majority of membership is in the 19% tax bracket receives the same tax treatment as Maori trust;

establish a tax ombudsman to investigate taxpayer complaints; and,

amend requirements and implement practices to enable the IRD to more appropriately remit tax liabilities or enter into arrangements for deferred payments.

TOURISM

INTRODUCTION:

Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in New Zealand, is a key earner of foreign exchange, and is increasingly becoming a major employer.

New Zealand First recognises that tourism provides significant opportunities to contribute to economic growth and employment. This means ensuring that New Zealand is appropriately marketed internationally as a tourist destination, that access to New Zealand is secured through the increased capacity for airline access and that the quality of the industry is always improving.

PLANS

A New Zealand First led Government will:

enhance the New Zealand Tourism Board's destination marketing strategies, focusing in particular on adventure tourism, eco tourism and cultural tourism;

maximise tourism leverage from major events such as the 2011 Rugby World Cup;

ensure that maximum benefit can be garnered from complementary activities such as major cultural events, Fashion Week, sporting and other activities for the tourism industry through a more fluid exchange of information and ideas;

promote New Zealand tourism in both traditional and non-traditional markets to both broaden and deepen the tourism market;

ensure that Air New Zealand remains in government ownership, thereby securing the necessary aviation access to New Zealand to grow the tourism industry;

retain important gateways for tourists such as ports and airports in New Zealand hands;

treat our tourism industry as an export industry specifically for the application of venture capital funding, research and development incentives, and technology transfer;

improve the research and statistical collection methods in consultation with major industry players with the aim of a more targeted industry focus;

continue joint venture tourism marketing projects with stricter guidelines and accountabilities;

facilitate the development and maintenance of transport and tourism infrastructure;

encourage internal tourism through a 'see New Zealand first' campaign;

support regional tourism developments and macro-region initiatives to stimulate economic growth in the provinces; and,

promote the development of aviation links with focus on increasing access to New Zealand from Asian and other emerging markets.

TRADE

INTRODUCTION:

Trade is New Zealand's lifeblood.

However, New Zealand is entering a period of unprecedented impetus for bilateral trade agreements. This must be viewed with some caution as New Zealand's relative size leaves it particularly exposed to the inherent imbalances of bilateral trade.

New Zealand First maintains that in the absence of a truly even playing field for trade, we must always act in New Zealand's best interests and not naively pursue free trade simply to appease other nations.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

aim to treble exports, in real terms, by 2025 and will set goals to reach that target building on the achievements of the party's innovative Export Year 2007;

refocus the activities of Trade and Enterprise New Zealand to better harness New Zealand's exporting prospects where we have a comparative advantage;

resource the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that the facilitation of trade is a priority;

amend the Reserve Bank Act and make export growth part of the policy targets agreement between the new government and the Governor of the Reserve Bank;

expand development banking and venture capital opportunities;

develop, in conjunction with the export sector, an export credit guarantee scheme that works;

expand the beachheads programme;

co-ordinate and support the measurement of the impact on climate change of land-based primary production exports and advance arguments to debunk 'food miles' arguments;

support the development of limited partnerships to facilitate New Zealand firms attracting investment capital;

improve broadband uptake in New Zealand and facilitate improved internet pricing and technology to improve international competitiveness for Kiwi businesses;

encourage businesses to engage in import substitution;

support and develop the "'buy New Zealand-made" campaign and, where practicable place "buy New Zealand" purchasing requirements on taxpayer and ratepayer owned businesses and State Owned Enterprises; and,

review all current and future bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the Closer Economic Relations (CER) process, to improve transparency and accountability and to ensure they are in New Zealand's interest. We will support FTAs that are demonstrably in New Zealand's interests.

TRANSPORT

INTRODUCTION:

New Zealand is a trading nation and requires a dynamic world class transport sector. Transport is fundamental to exporting, commercial, social, and political activities and is the key to rural lifestyles, and to our place in the world. A fundamental rethink needs to occur in relation to the funding of transport infrastructure and New Zealand First believes this must begin with a review of the tax revenue drawn from the various transport sectors (from road transport through to shipping), and how this is being returned to them.

As an industry transport is the largest employer in the country (the road transport industry alone employs over 45,000 people directly and indirectly). It is an industry which is essential to us all. Without the ability to freight goods and transport passengers this country would come to a standstill. Yet it is an industry which has been largely overlooked by recent governments. The simple fact is, that a direct correlation exists between funding transport infrastructure and economic growth, and for New Zealand to realise its growth potential it must invest more in this area. There are problems both with our roads and on our roads. There are problems with drivers and vehicles. Our overseas shipping industry has disappeared, our rail transport system has serious problems, and we have many areas where public transport is far from satisfactory. In 10 years the amount of freight that must be moved around New Zealand is expected to double - the infrastructural and strategic challenges are substantial.

New Zealand First is committed to a comprehensive workable transport policy that promotes cost effectiveness, efficiency, and safer transport systems.

ROADING INFRASTRUCTURE

New Zealand First will not allow our roads to be privatised. Government proposals for toll roads must be viewed as an option of last resort, not the solution to our roading infrastructure ills. However, we recognise that our roads have not kept pace with traffic numbers and vehicle types and that there is a need to address many roading issues.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

implement a roading administration structure which is flexible, caters for the input and concerns of local government, and has the ability to borrow against roading income;

upgrade highways, particularly those serving ports, to accommodate trucking (widening/strengthening). We will designate, where appropriate, roads (primarily those linked to strategic assets) as state highways to ensure that they will receive the requisite funding and prioritisation;

ensure that changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) provide for a more rapid consents process for roading projects, while ensuring local input is preserved;

ensure major new road projects not able to be accommodated by the National Land Transport Fund are funded either through direct government borrowing or the issue or infrastructure bonds;

specify a programme to improve rural roading;

implement programmes which progressively enhance our roading infrastructure; and,

put in place a cycling network in metropolitan areas where appropriate.

ROAD TRANSPORT

New Zealand First will put a strong emphasis on driver competence. It will become more a privilege to drive on our roads as against an automatic right.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

establish a Road Safety Review committee to specifically receive and respond to submissions on road and road transport problems, and make recommendations to the appropriate authority;

change the status of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission so that it is a stand-alone body with powers as an officer of Parliament;

ensure that revenue obtained through speed cameras is used to design better driver education programmes and promote safer driving practices;

extend roadside 'impairment' testing to remove drivers under the influence of drink or drugs from our roads;

provide a link between car registration and motoring fines and require that where the owner of a vehicle has unpaid fines in excess of $300 then that vehicle cannot be registered. Further, that if such fines are not accommodated within three months after registration is due then require that the vehicle be confiscated;

legislate so that it is an offence to carry an open container of liquor in the seating compartment of a vehicle;

ban the use of cell phones while driving;

support the introduction of compulsory third party insurance;

ensure there is automatic loss of driver's licence for any person convicted of highway assault (road rage);

remove recidivist drunk drivers from our roads. A second offence should lead to the clamping of the vehicle and a consequence of a third offence should be the confiscation of the vehicle;

ensure that any person using a motor vehicle in committing a serious crime will automatically suffer loss of licence and in some circumstances their vehicle;

ensure that driving qualifications reflect (by way of continuous measured competence) ability in the areas of the driver's knowledge, skill, experience, fitness and attitude. To achieve this, simulator training will be investigated and where practical instigated; and,

with the advent of new vehicle technologies (including electric cars), undertake a study to determine the best way or providing ongoing security or revenue for the National Land Transport Fund.

RAIL

New Zealand First will ensure that since the government again owns the tracks they will never again be allowed to fall into the state of disrepair that successive government's allowed them to.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

adequately fund ONTRACK to ensure it fulfils its functions;

ensure that the tracks and KiwiRail are never able to be sold again;

provide incentives for cargo movers to direct more of their freight to rail or coastal shipping by introducing a Rail Freight Grant scheme that will allow expansion of the network; and,

ensure that funding for rail safety standards is maintained at an adequate level.

SHIPPING

As an island nation New Zealand is largely dependent upon exports to expand our economy. There is a need for our trade to be served by efficient shipping services. Currently we have a coastal fleet which is struggling to survive. All other shipping servicing our exports and imports is foreign owned.

New Zealand First is committed to the expansion of our Merchant Fleet. We will provide a favourable fiscal regime for coastal shipping provided the companies are New Zealand resident, register their vessels here, employ New Zealanders, and commit to officer training.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

conduct an inquiry into which favourable fiscal regime is best as a means of improving the viability of New Zealand's shipping industry;

establish equally favourable fiscal regimes as appropriate for Australasian/Pacific shipping provided that the company is resident in New Zealand, and that they similarly register their vessels here, employ New Zealanders, and commit to officer training; and,

provide a favourable fiscal regime for those operating on other international routes so long as the company is resident in New Zealand, its vessels are also registered in New Zealand, a stipulated minimum number of New Zealand crew is employed, and where there is a commitment to officer training.

AVIATION

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

support a transparent regime for the regulation of pricing by airport companies.

TREATY OF WAITANGI

INTRODUCTION:

The Treaty of Waitangi is an important historical document, but over the past few decades its status has changed as a result of political interference, Maori radicalism and judicial activism. Instead of binding us as equal citizens under one rule of law for all, the Treaty now divides, polarises and isolates us.

New Zealand First believes in the concept of a fair go for all New Zealanders and this includes settling genuine historical grievances.

Parliament created many of the problems associated with the Treaty and it is time for Parliament to solve them.

Three fundamental issues are at the core of Treaty discontent:

lack of progress in expeditiously addressing historical grievances;

lack of clarity as to the contemporary status of the Treaty; and,

the influence of a new ethos based on the so-called 'Principles of the Treaty' which has imbued the public service and beyond with counter productive political correctness.

Too often the focus on the Treaty has had the effect of diverting attention and resources away from the real path to prosperity and social progress for Maori - sound education, well paid employment, adequate health and improved housing.

The three organisations central to the settlement process - the Waitangi Tribunal, The Office of Treaty Settlements and the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, require refinement and refocusing of their intent and a reinvigoration of their activities by amending their empowering legislation. In particular, the Tribunal in 'rewriting' history has detracted from its primary task of gathering facts for recommendatory reports to the Crown, and this rewriting of history will cease.

For New Zealand First, the intention of this policy is to ensure that the Treaty becomes the instrument to bind us that our forefathers had intended it to be.

PLANS

New Zealand First will:

remove, where appropriate, references to the 'principles of the Treaty' and associated terms from legislation and regulations. In reality we face two choices in the relation to the term "the principles of the Treaty", either we find an adequate definition or the term is deleted;

replace the Waitangi Tribunal with a Waitangi Commission, refocusing its role according to the Act as a 'Commission of Inquiry'. The term 'permanent' (in relation to the Commission in clause 8 of the current Act) will be removed. These changes will occur in two stages: in the first instance, the Commission will continue to research and report on historical claims and will be staffed accordingly. Tribunal members will become Commissioners and will serve three-year terms (renewable on review) until the completion of all historical claims. While the number of Commissioners will fluctuate according to need, the appointments process will change - with the Ministers of Finance and Treaty Settlements directly responsible for their appointment along with the Ministers of Maori Affairs and Justice. These ministers will have greater oversight in the functioning of the Commission and be more transparently accountable for progressing settlements.

following the conclusion of all historical claims being settled, the Commission will be restructured again, and will consist of three Commissioners, to be appointed by the Crown for a five year tenure, and given sufficient support staff to carry out its new function. Its powers will be limited to: the consideration of only contemporary breaches of the Treaty as they relate to the maintenance of the status of all New Zealanders as equal citizens before the law; and,

monitoring legislation to ensure that any discrimination (positive or negative) in relation to the Treaty, and the relationship between Maori and non-Maori, be removed.

amend the Act to set a mandatory deadline of five years for all outstanding historical claims to be lodged with the Commission, with the Commission's reporting on all claims to be completed by 2014, and with the intention of all claims being resolved by 2020;

amend the Act to provide the new Commission with specificity and focus, to codify a new procedural modus for settling past grievances, to limit it to researching only those facts pertinent to resolving historical claims, to provide it with only recommendatory powers;

remove stipulation in the Act of the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court also assuming the role of the Chairman of the Tribunal. There is enough talent within Maoridom for two people to fill these roles.

ensure that the Office of Treaty Settlements (OTS) focuses on 'large natural groupings' when resolving claims, will be more closely aligned with the claims process undertaken by the Tribunal (Commission). The closer the symmetry between the two, the more swiftly the claims process can proceed;

adequately fund the OTS and establish more teams to assist claimant groups with mandating issues and provide a judicial process for mandating disputes;

provide the OTS with the necessary resources to aid claimant groups in establishing appropriate entities to receive settlement funds and provide investment plans;

speed up the settlement process from the pre-negotiating stage through to the passage of settlement legislation (by not allowing claims legislation to languish on the order paper, often for periods of more than two years);

amend the Crown Forests Assets Act 1989, clause 34, and the Trust Deed to better direct the functioning of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust (CFRT) and to ensure that the funding for claimants in relation to the preparation, presentation and negotiation of claims to Crown Forest Land, will be allocated more directly and expeditiously, thereby ensuring the rightful recipients of these assets and associated funds are not prejudiced by the allocation process;

ensure that the CFRT works more closely with the Commission and the OTS in resolving claims to Crown Forest Land, particularly given the Tribunal's (Commission's) unique powers in relation to forestry land;

require the social studies curriculum at both primary and secondary school levels to more accurately reflect historical events. (We note that progress has been made in this area, but further work needs to be done. This will include accurate portrayals of pre-colonial Maori history through to a detailed understanding of contemporary political institutions and how they function); and,

continue to promote the expression of Maori and other cultures through Kapa Haka and similar activities in schools and our communities and protect the Maori language. Maori language and culture are a vital part of our identity as a nation and must remain an option within our school system.

POLICIES

INTRODUCTION TO NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICIES

Our Top Ten Priorities to Protect and Save Your New Zealand

Security in Retirement

Safe Secure Communities

A Fair Go

ACC

BROADCASTING and COMMUNICATIONS

COMMUNICATIONS

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

DEFENCE AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS

DEFENCE FORCE STRUCTURE AND CAPABILITY

VETERANS' AFFAIRS

DIRECT DEMOCRACY

DISABILITY

ECONOMIC PLAN

MONETARY POLICY

TRADE POLICY

ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE

LABOUR MARKET

EDUCATION

EMPLOYMENT

ENERGY

ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION

FAMILY

FISHERIES

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

HEALTH

HOUSING

IMMIGRATION

JUSTICE

LAW AND ORDER

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

MĀORI AFFAIRS

RACING

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACT

RURAL

SENIOR CITIZENS

SUPERANNUATION

TAXATION

TOURISM

TRADE

TRANSPORT

TREATY OF WAITANGI

Our Top Ten Priorities to
Protect and Save Your
New Zealand