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The Government’s plan to seize greater control of polytechnic governing councils has become even worse with the decision to remove dedicated positions for student or staff representatives, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan ... More >>
The boundaries proposed by the hamstrung Local Government Commission smack of a gerrymander and will have to be revisited, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. More >>
The Labour Party has welcomed today's announcement that funding for the Warm-Up New Zealand Heat Smart home insulation scheme has been changed, but questions whether other changes are needed, Labour's Associate Energy spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. More >>
The Transport and Industrial Relations select committee was today warned that changes to ACC would result in a return to the right to sue employers, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. The committee today heard the first tranche of submissions ... More >>
Speech to PASSING GO: Promoting Social Wellbeing in Auckland Council conference, North Harbour Stadium, North Shore City Good morning. Much of the debate since the Royal Commission released its report eight months ago has focused on the structures ... More >>
The Minister of Health’s failure to plan for ACC cutbacks and resulting shambolic introduction of physiotherapy part-charges is just the tip of the iceberg, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “The Ministry of Health this week told parliament’s ... More >>
While Minister for Social Development Paula Bennett continues to trumpet her Community Max scheme as making a positive difference for young people, she is forgetting about young mums that she has barred from accessing the scheme, Labour Associate Social ... More >>
Lower income Maori households will be amongst the hardest hit by the ETS deal, as they are forced to pay more taxes to subsidise big polluters while much- needed social spending is slashed, says Labour MPs Charles Chauvel and Mita Ririnui. The MPs today ... More >>
Thousands of patients will fail to get treatment under a massive regime of current and impending health sector cutbacks, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “DHBs around the country are already preparing to turn thousands of patients away ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff has expressed his condolences to the families and friends of military personnel killed or injured in today’s explosion at Waiouru Army Base. “As a former Minister of Defence, I am well aware of the dangers that our military ... More >>
The wide range of scientific excellence recognised by the Royal Society’s annual Science Honours awards demonstrates the outstanding contribution scientists are making and can continue to make to New Zealand, says Labour Research, Science and Technology ... More >>
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. Back in September, the Labour Party had the pleasure of inviting Lachlan McKenzie to our annual conference to give Federated Farmers’ perspective on economic issues. It was the first time Fed Farmers ... More >>
A new resource produced by Plunket and Barnardos and written by Rev Nove Vailaau, "A Theology of Children" which provides guidance to Pacific parents within a biblical context, is a fantastic resource and deserves to be read widely, Labour’s Pacific ... More >>
A significant step has been taken in improving business opportunities between New Zealand and Asia, says Labour’s Associate Ethnic Affairs Spokesperson Raymond Huo. The Business Education Partnership, launched this week by the Asia New Zealand Foundation, ... More >>
Labour’s Transport Safety spokesperson Darien Fenton says that Transport Minister Steven Joyce is misleading the country about road safety. “Today in Parliament the Minister denied that community safety programme funding will be cut, but his ... More >>
Our hardworking public servants are to be congratulated for being making New Zealand top of the global list as the least corrupt country in the world, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today. Last year New Zealand shared first ... More >>
The inquiries underway into two Palmerston North rest homes further highlight the need for a proper parliamentary inquiry into the state of aged care in New Zealand, says Labour’s Aged Care spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban. "With the approaching ... More >>
There will be more pressure on hospital services and more user-pays for patients because of National’s ACC cutbacks, but the Minister of Health Tony Ryall has failed to prepare the health sector, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “It is ... More >>
Television New Zealand has finally admitted that it got it wrong in creating the Bill English promo for its TVNZ7 series on the economy, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. David Cunliffe said that TVNZ Head of Corporate Affairs Peter Parussini ... More >>
ACC Minister Nick Smith has once again been caught out trying to mislead the public with his dodgy use of figures – this time around motorcycle crashes, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. “Nick Smith today claimed there has been a significant ... More >>
National MPs have still not explained why they refused to hear submissions about pay equity for school support staff and social workers, Labour’s Women’s Affairs spokesperson Sue Moroney said. “On the eve of Work for Free Day, the 15,808 people ... More >>
Rodney Hide today said the Cabinet decision to allow the new Auckland Council to privatise the city’s water assets after 2015 still stood, despite earlier suggestions to the contrary, says Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. “Either ... More >>
John Key’s defence of his embattled Minister Nick Smith and the Government's subsequent attack on Treasury’s findings that National’s ETS will create a $110 billion debt for taxpayers is a continuation of the Government’s shambolic ETS process ... More >>
The Labour Party is today mourning the passing of Her Excellency Ms Annelies Boogaerdt, Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to New Zealand. Mrs Boogaerdt died suddenly in Wellington Hospital last night. Labour’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson ... More >>
Labour MP Darien Fenton is sponsoring a petition from the Migrant Action Trust and 2,626 others which will be tabled in Parliament today. The petition calls on the House of Representatives to urge the Government to provide for a range of relief ... More >>
National is in total denial with its rejection today of Treasury’s estimate that the government’s ETS scheme will cost the Kiwi taxpayer a staggering $110 billion dollars, Labour says. "Climate Change Minister Nick Smith’s dismissal today that ... More >>
The shambolic process around the Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme has been exposed by a $50 billion blunder by National, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today. “The Select Committee report on National’s amended ETS released today ... More >>
ACC cut backs will place an increasing strain on health services which is why Labour will seek a select committee inquiry into this issue, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “So far National has cut back ACC funded elective surgery resulting ... More >>
The All Whites deserve our heartfelt congratulations for their dramatic win yesterday which has left New Zealanders extremely proud of their historic victory, says Labour Leader Phil Goff. “I had the privilege to be at the Wellington stadium to watch ... More >>
New Real Estate Agents Authority will give consumers a better deal More >>
The Australian Government's decision to exclude agriculture from its emissions trading scheme is further evidence of the folly of National's headlong rush to harmonise with Australia in this area, Labour's Climate Change spokesperson Charles Chauvel ... More >>
The sudden death of respected diplomat Tia Barrett has saddened politicians across Parliament and he will be sorely missed, says Labour’s Maori Affairs spokesperson Parekura Horomia. “Tia was New Zealand’s High Commissioner in the Cook Islands, ... More >>
Excitement is building as the All Whites prepare to do the country proud in the winner take all World Cup qualifier tomorrow in Wellington, Labour Leader Phil Goff and Sport and Recreation spokesperson Chris Hipkins said today. More >>
Amongst the harshest ACC cuts of all are those which affect people with disabilities, says Lynne Pillay MP Labour Spokesperson for Disability Issues. “The sleepover allowance for spouses who care for their husbands and wives at home is to be axed ... More >>
Whale Watch Kaikoura’s latest international award is well-deserved and will help bolster New Zealand’s reputation as a top-class tourist destination, says Labour’s Tourism spokesperson Kelvin Davis. “Whale Watch Kaikoura has been named overall ... More >>
The strong thumbs-up for the New Zealand Super Fund in a review carried out by global investment consultant Mercer underlines just how foolish Finance Minister Bill English has been to defer contributions to the Fund for a decade, says Labour Finance spokesperson ... More >>
Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson says New Zealanders should be worried about the quality of public services they receive as a result of National’s indiscriminate public sector cuts. “The stock take report of staffing in the public ... More >>
Today’s Reserve Bank Financial Stability Report reinforces findings in the Parliamentary Banking Inquiry, particularly relating to margins charged by banks and to the need for more policy work in terms of banking, monetary and taxation policies, says Labour ... More >>
Heather Roy’s pathetic shoulder-shrugging over the news Kiwi families are facing faster-rising grocery prices than almost every other OECD country is not good enough, says Labour’s Consumer Affairs Spokesperson Carol Beaumont. “An Australian study ... More >>
The multi-party Parliamentary Banking Inquiry has confirmed that banks did not pass on the full effect of reductions in the Official Cash Rate to hard-working Kiwis struggling to make ends meet, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
Families should be worried by moves by the National Government that could see costs of early childhood education shifted on to parents, Labour’s Early Childhood Education spokesperson Sue Moroney says. “National has deliberately dropped the word 'free' ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff has welcomed work beginning on the first cycleway project but questions why Prime Minister John Key is no longer proud of how many jobs the cycle routes will create. “In February John Key trumpeted that 3700 jobs would ... More >>
Labour’s Customs Spokesperson Su’a William Sio says that while the NZ Customs Service and the NZ Police are to be congratulated following another successful interception of six kilograms of the Class C drug BZP, these organizations need long term support ... More >>
New Zealanders have one last day to have their say on government plans to hike ACC levies that will see Kiwis paying more but getting less, says Labour Leader Phil Goff. “The Government, in full scaremonger mode, continues to paint ACC as being ... More >>
The Government’s plan to cut mileage payments for ACC carers is another short-sighted move which will hit already low-paid workers hard and could end up costing the taxpayer more, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. “The decision will particularly ... More >>
Another chapter has been written in Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s obsession for motorways in major centres, but the real story is what is happening to regional rail and roads as a result, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said ... More >>
The National-ACT Government has decided to repeal the requirement on councils to consult the public before they privatise assets or contract out services, says Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. Mr Twyford, whose member's bill to protect ... More >>
John Key must explain whether the Cabinet stands by its decision to allow the new Auckland Council to privatise the city’s water assets, says Labour's Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. “On October19 Cabinet agreed to allow Auckland City ... More >>
Labour’s Transport Safety spokesperson, Darien Fenton says New Zealanders must be more aware of the need for driveway safety around children. “With the highest rate of driveway accidents in the OECD, It’s time we got serious,” says Ms Fenton. ... More >>
Today’s household labour force survey showing youth unemployment at record highs demonstrates this government is not doing enough to provide jobs for young Kiwis, Labour’s youth Affairs Spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says. There are now 62,700 young ... More >>
The rise in unemployment announced today shows the urgent need for guaranteed redundancy protections, says Labour’s associate labour spokesperson Darien Fenton. More >>
ACC Minister Nick Smith is continuing with the shambolic approach to counselling cut backs for sexual abuse victims, says Labour’s Victims Rights Spokesperson Lynne Pillay. “I am aware that when people have contacted ACC seeking information on ... More >>
Labour Deputy Leader Annette King has welcomed the decision by the Remuneration Authority today of a zero percent salary increase for MPs this year. “In a time of recession it is only right that when all New Zealanders are having to exercise restraint MPs ... More >>
A major new international study shows that Government proposals to delay the entry date of agriculture into the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) should not proceed, the Labour Party says. NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York has just ... More >>
Housing New Zealand’s admission that it has been directed not to promote the shared equity scheme is yet further evidence that this Government is doing nothing to help struggling Kiwi families into home ownership, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson ... More >>
Today’s Household Labour Force Survey statistics provide a damning indictment of the Government’s hands-off approach to helping hard-working New Zealanders keep their jobs, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. “The Government is ... More >>
Taxpayer money is being scandalously wasted on newspaper ads that don't tell the real story about the reasons behind huge ACC fee rises, Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker says. “The large display ads in major dailies today claims ‘motorcyclists ... More >>
Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson today paid tribute to the enormous talent and dedication of diabetes expert Sir Don Beaven who is assumed to have passed away tragically in a house fire. More >>
The release of Crown Accounts show ACC investment returns in the last three months are $700 million higher than forecast, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. “This is further proof of the Government’s manufactured ACC crisis. “Labour ... More >>
Tourism operators in central Otago should be very concerned at the possibility of the Crown Range Road being closed for long periods next winter because of the Government’s cuts to local road maintenance funding, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren ... More >>
Gerry Brownlee’s comments on the Meridian Energy-backed Mokihinui River hydro-generation application confirm that he is out of his depth in his portfolio, and that National does not understand how to plan for our country's future energy security, Labour's ... More >>
National has admitted it has committed the ultimate PR spin on difficult health issues, it simply will not monitor them, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. More >>
The Government’s $175 million operating deficit for the first three months of the financial year would be far worse if Super Fund and ACC investments had not made gains, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
Figures out today showing that jobs and hours continue to decrease means more hard times for workers facing redundancy, says Darien Fenton, Labour’s Associate Labour spokesperson. The Quarterly Employment Survey released by Statistics New Zealand ... More >>
Slapping huge increases on ACC levies for motorbikes is unjustified, unfair and divisive, Labour leader Phil Goff said today. More >>
Plans by the National Government to put Archives New Zealand under the control of another government department are a backward step, Labour State Services Spokesperson Grant Robertson said. The Government is undertaking a review of where Archives New ... More >>
The Maori Party should re-think its support for National's changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme in light of the overwhelming public opposition to those changes, including from Maori voters, says Labour's climate change issues spokesperson Charles Chauvel. ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff leaves Monday for a four-day visit to Samoa and Tonga. The visit will focus on recovery and rehabilitation needs in both countries following the tragic loss of life and major damage caused by the recent tsunami. "New Zealanders ... More >>
National has dismissed out of hand a call by nearly 16,000 Kiwis to reduce the pay gap for women, Labour’s Associate Spokesperson on labour issues Darien Fenton said today. The National Party-majority Transport and Industrial Relations Committee today ... More >>
The Government’s unprecedented attack on New Zealand’s world-leading accident compensation scheme will have serious impacts on older New Zealanders who are particularly vulnerable to injury, says Labour’s Senior Citizens spokesperson Ross Robertson. More >>
Anne Tolley's refusal to provide correspondence about night class cuts from National MPs to herself and John Key, on the grounds that it would take too much work to collate, suggests the pair have been deluged with correspondence from unhappy National backbenchers, ... More >>
The newly announced board of Crown Fibre Holdings seems balanced between a traditional Telco and a wider infrastructure-based approach to rolling out ultra fast broadband, but significant questions remained about the role of Telecom, Labour IT and Communications ... More >>
Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe has welcomed TVNZ’s back down over its biased promo featuring Bill English, and their decision to pull the promo off air by the end of the week. “This promo for a series of economic programmes was a thinly-disguised ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff joined in World Teachers Day at May Road Primary School in his Mt Roskill Electorate today. World Teachers Day celebrates the value of teaching and learning, with thousands of teachers, students, children and parents joining ... More >>
Minister of Education Anne Tolley is failing parents, children and teachers in the early childhood education sector, Labour Early Childhood Education spokesperson Sue Moroney says. More >>
The release of figures showing the number of work-related injuries is declining is further evidence that there is no justification for cutting ACC cover and moving to privatise it, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
Labour Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel is urging New Zealanders to take the “once-in-a-generation” chance to have their say about the sale, supply and marketing of alcohol. More >>
The proposed structure of the new Auckland council will corporatise the city and is a betrayal of Auckland's democracy, says Labour’s Auckland Issues spokesperson Phil Twyford. Labour has been leaked the details of the new structure which reveal ... More >>
The appointment by Tony Ryall of Dr Murray Horn as the Chair of the new National Health Board reeks of cronyism, and reflects a return to the hard right policies of the 1990s, Grant Robertson, Labour State Services Spokesperson and Ruth Dyson ... More >>
Labour welcomes the Auditor General’s report. “The Auditor General has confirmed that Mr English does have a pecuniary interest ‘when the arrangement was explicitly based on a view that he did not have an interest’,” Dunedin North MP Pete Hodgson ... More >>
Community opposition appears to have forced Rodney Hide to back down on most of his plans for local government reform, but a huge question mark remains over his privatisation agenda, says Labour’s Local Government spokesperson George Hawkins. More >>
Elderly New Zealanders deserve much better than the scrapping of the falls programme being made by the National Government, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “The National Government has dumped a programme that was supported by frontline ... More >>
Finance Minister Bill English seems almost incapable of understanding what constitutes a conflict of interest, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. “His response today to the blatantly self-promoting TVNZ ‘plain English’ promo has been that ... More >>
Labour Commerce spokesperson Lianne Dalziel, who will attend the second Japan New Zealand Partnership Forum in Tokyo on Friday, is confident the Forum will provide an excellent opportunity to build on our relationship with Japan. Lianne Dalziel ... More >>
It is ironic that police are getting back on their bikes in Canterbury, a police district that has lost 32 vehicles in the Government’s police budget cuts, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. “Cycle cops are a good option ... More >>
A Bill changing rest and meal break laws is set to deny vulnerable workers basic rights to minimum breaks during a working day and is yet another backwards step, says Labour Spokesperson Trevor Mallard. Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson claims the ... More >>
Labour MP for Mangere, Su’a William Sio says he wants the whole community to be vigilant and look out for each other while the police are investigating a series of possibly related sexual attacks on young children and young women in and around ... More >>
Television New Zealand's latest annual report confirms it no longer regards itself as a public broadcaster, says Labour's broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. More >>
Confirmation that there will be more than one million Kiwis aged 65 and over by the late 2020s underscores the foolish short-sightedness of National’s decade of deferrals to the Super Fund, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
The Government’s unprecedented attack on New Zealand’s world-leading accident compensation scheme continued today with the introduction of legislation which will reduce cover for injured New Zealanders, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
ACC Minister Nick Smith should admit he got it wrong on cutbacks to counselling for sexual abuse victims and scrap their implementation, says Labour’s Victims Rights Spokesperson Lynne Pillay. More >>
Finance Minister Bill English needs to come clean about the extent of his involvement as shareholding Minister in a TVNZ promo previewing a series of programmes on the economy, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
A petition signed by more than 4000 people opposed to cuts in counselling support for victims of sexual abuse will tomorrow be delivered to ACC Minister Nick Smith and Labour will be there to add its support for the petition, says Labour’s Victims ... More >>
Associate Labour Ethnic Affairs Spokesperson Raymond Huo has released a consultation paper on the proposed involvement of the Asian community in Auckland’s new Super City. Raymond Huo, speaking at the opening of the Botany Labour Party branch in Auckland ... More >>
Associate Labour Ethnic Affairs Spokesperson Raymond Huo has released a consultation paper on the proposed involvement of the Asian community in Auckland’s new Super City. Raymond Huo, speaking at the opening of the Botany Labour Party branch in Auckland ... More >>
Labour’s Trade Spokesperson Maryan Street will this weekend be accompanying Prime Minister John Key and Trade Minister Tim Groser to Malaysia to witness the signing of the Malaysia bilateral Free Trade Agreement in Kuala Lumpur. More >>
Labour Education spokesperson Trevor Mallard says care must be taken to ensure the risk of information gathered by the Government’s new National Standards are not used to stigmatise poorer schools. More >>
The attack on the Governments of three Pacific territories associated with New Zealand by a senior National MP is unprecedented and must be condemned by John Key, Labour’s Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Chris Carter said today. More >>
Prime Minister John Key has broken his party’s election promise on ACC privatisation, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today. “National promised New Zealanders last year it would investigate opening only the work account to competition, but John Key now ... More >>
Thank you for inviting me to address the conference today, for my first opportunity to speak to you formally as leader of the Labour Party. Can I start by placing on record my appreciation for the warm working relationship I have enjoyed with leaders ... More >>
Foreign Affairs Select Committee chair John Hayes is clearly acting as a “stalking horse” for National in wanting to administer Pacific nations like Tokelau and the Cook islands as local government organisations, Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs ... More >>
A government decision to provide a payment plan for radio stations wanting to renew their spectrum licences is a sensible response to current market realities, says Labour’s broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. Brendon Burns said he supported ... More >>
The Government’s decision to scrap the toi iho trademark for Maori artists is a sad, silly and backwards cost-cutting move and raises further questions about its understanding of the benefits of promoting the “Maori edge”, say Labour MPs Steve ... More >>
Investing in research funding to fight the devastating effects of Kauri dieback has to be at the top of the agenda for the Government’s conservation funding, say West Auckland MPs David Cunliffe and Lynne Pillay. More >>
The privatisation of ACC would result in higher levies and less cover for injured New Zealanders to pay for the profits of Australian insurance companies and lawyers, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
Manukau City ratepayers are facing a 3 percent rate rise to cover the shortfall left by the Government’s move to make major cuts to local road maintenance funding, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today. More >>
22 October 2009 Media Statement History made as new flag for Tokelau flies at Parliament Today marks a historic occasion. It is the first time the Tokelauan flag has flown at Parliament in Wellington. More >>
The role of community law centres should be expanded by formalising the pro bono relationship between the legal profession and the community sector, says Labour’s Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More >>
Tony Ryall has to give wider state sector workers a fair go and remove his pay freeze in light of the 2% pay increase agreed for non-sworn police staff, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today. More >>
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett’s self congratulatory tone in Parliament on youth unemployment doesn’t match with the reality that 3000 more young Kiwis have gone on the dole since she announced her Job Ops scheme, says Labour’s Youth ... More >>
Cutting entitlements to ACC and hiking levies will hurt Pacific Island families, many of whom have members working in high risk manual work jobs, Labour's Spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said today. More >>
Health Minister Tony Ryall needs to be up front about the loss of up to 500 jobs that will be part of the establishment of a new health bureaucracy, Labour’s Grant Robertson said today. More >>
The Government is facing near-universal opposition to the changes it wants to make to the Emissions Trading Scheme, Labour's Finance and Climate Change spokespeople said today. More >>
It’s hard to see how patients needing health treatment will see any benefits from the restructuring of health and the establishment of a new bureaucracy by the National Government of a new health body, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. More >>
Reports that some councils are being underfunded to supply travel to SuperGold cardholders should be a concern for over half a million Kiwis who hold one, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today. More >>
Labour’s Maori caucus says Tariana Turia must explain the complete u-turn she has done in just two days on privatising ACC. More >>
Parekura Horomia today paid tribute to Mate Kaiwai who was a truly inspirational advocate for the preservation of the Maori language through her life. Mate Kaiwai, of Ruatoria, was the daughter of the late great Sir Apirana Ngata and carried on ... More >>
Rodney Hide’s abuse of his ministerial position to fundraise for ACT is unacceptable and the Prime Minister should never have allowed it to happen under his watch, says Labour Leader Phil Goff. More >>
The Maori Party’s decision to pave the way for cuts to ACC entitlements will hit Maori families particularly hard and raises serious questions about their commitment to whanau ora, says Labour’s Maori Affairs spokesperson Parekura Horomia. More >>
National is continuing to mislead the public about its ACC legislation in an attempt to justify cuts to entitlements which will hurt hard-working Kiwi families, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
The Minister of Education Anne Tolley fell back on racial stereotypes of Maori today in an attempt to justify cuts to Adult Community Education, Labour Associate Education spokesperson Kelvin Davis says More >>
Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove has tabled an amendment to the Vehicle Confiscation and Seizure Bill making it compulsory to confiscate a vehicle permanently after two street racing offences within four years no matter who owns ... More >>
Over 53,000 people have signed petitions calling on the Government to reverse night class cuts which will be damaging to individuals, communities and the opportunities available to them, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street. More >>
The Labour Party supports holding a referendum on MMP at the 2011 election, Labour’s electoral reform spokesperson David Parker says. More >>
The road to Copenhagen is paved with potholes, and the Government seems intent on driving us into every one of them. Far from helping the world to cap emissions, and make a commitment to do our fair share as a developed country, the Government now ... More >>
The Maori Party is putting a brave face on the three-way bid for Rugby World Cup free-to-air broadcasting rights, but the Maori Television Service’s dream of a major coup has gone, says Labour broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns. More >>
New Zealanders today began their fight back against uncaring cutbacks to counselling services for victims of sexual abuse Labour’s Victims Rights Spokesperson Lynne Pillay said. More >>
Health Minister Tony Ryall has confirmed that cases of water-borne disease reported in New Zealand are only a fraction of the actual total, says Labour water quality spokesman Brendon Burns. More >>
National has again shown its strategy on innovation is more about profit than productivity by forcing Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) to provide a 9% dividend, Labour’s Research, Science and Technology spokesperson David Shearer said today. More >>
Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples’ funding of secret meetings with gang leaders flies in the face of the Government’s so-called hard line on methamphetamine, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More >>
The privatisation of ACC would result in higher levies, large profits for private insurers and less cover for injured New Zealander, says Labour Leader Phil Goff. More >>
The shambles of free-to-air coverage of the Rugby World Cup continues with Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia admitting she is unaware a decision may have been made that Maori Television will lose out on exclusive coverage of the opening ceremony ... More >>
Transport Minister Steven Joyce is being mischievous and is just plain wrong to suggest that local roading funding has increased, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Darren Hughes said today. More >>
The so-called Sentencing (Offender Levy) Bill provides nothing more than lip service to victims, and represents gross government hypocrisy given its cutbacks to ACC entitlements, says Labour justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More >>
Firstly, thank you for your invitation to join you at your Annual Conference this morning. In my former roles as Minister of Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Corrections, I enjoyed and appreciated my relationship with you and, as an MP over many years, ... More >>
Opposition Leader Phil Goff reasserted Labour’s commitment to fighting organised crime gangs by urging the Government to support the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry into organised crime. More >>
The 2009 Chinese Film Festival will be an excellent showcase of China’s creative talent and could open the door to collaborations between the film industries here and in China, says Labour Associate Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Raymond Huo. “With ... More >>
Hard working public servants who are being told there is no money for wage increases are understandably frustrated by news of big rises for public service bosses, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today. “I can understand that ... More >>
The traditional hospitality of the Far North is being damaged by the actions of thugs who are targeting and attacking tourists, Labour’s Tourism spokesman Kelvin Davis said today. “We have to do more to look after visitors to the Far North. We need ... More >>
Most bikers will see the Government’s plans to hike up motorcycle levies as irrefutable proof of the prejudice in the system against motorcyclists, says Labour MP Rick Barker. “The decision, announced by ACC Minister Nick Smith yesterday, is arbitrary on ... More >>
Energy Minister Gerry Brownlee urgently needs to get on top of his portfolio and clarify whether the standards approved providers, must meet, under the Warm-Up New Zealand scheme have been lowered or not, Labour’s Associate Energy spokesperson ... More >>
The Government’s failure to secure political support for legislation which will cut ACC entitlements and burden Kiwi families is further evidence of Nick Smith’s shambolic handling of the ACC portfolio, says ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
The higher than expected jump in living costs in the September quarter highlights the problems faced by hard-working New Zealand families battling to make ends meet, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
The tragic case of two young boys from Taranaki who were brutally sodomised and abused but who have been denied sexual abuse counselling by ACC is horrifying, says Labour’s Victims Rights Spokesperson Lynne Pillay. More >>
John Key’s criticism of ministers over the RWC free-to-air television fiasco is particularly aimed at Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman, who is floundering in his portfolio, says Labour broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns. “The Prime ... More >>
The Government needs to stop talking the economy down and to show it has a real plan to help hard-working Kiwi families battling to make ends meet, says Labour Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. More >>
While ACC levy increases will be hard on people’s pockets, they won’t be nearly as steep as those the Government tried to frighten the public with last week, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
Labour MPs joined security officers, library staff, reception workers, building maintenance staff, messengers and other administrative staff at a lunchtime rally at Parliament today to show support for their protest against a pay freeze and cuts ... More >>
Kiwi peace activist Alyn Ware has been recognised internationally for his work to rid the world of nuclear weapons, says Phil Twyford MP chair of the cross-party parliamentarians group on nuclear disarmament. More >>
Labour Associate Health Spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says the decision by the UK Parliament to support a ban on tobacco displays is embarrassing for the New Zealand Government that can't even decide whether or not it is in favour of similar action ... More >>
The National Government should invest in the safety of New Zealanders by purchasing tsunami warning buoys, Labour Civil Defence spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni. “The recent tsunami and spate of earthquakes in the Pacific show just how important investing ... More >>
Patients are suffering from cuts to frontline health services under National, with elderly missing out on home support and patients losing out on $60 million of elective surgery, Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson says. “While Health Minister Tony ... More >>
A government decision to back a competing bid against Maori Television to provide free-to-air coverage for the Rugby World Cup confirms its own shambolic policies, says Labour’s broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. Brendon Burns said: “Broadcasting ... More >>
The political situation in Afghanistan is in crisis following findings of electoral fraud, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told Labour leader Phil Goff in New York today. Phil Goff, who worked personally with Mr Ban when he was Korea’s foreign ... More >>
The irresponsible scaremongering being undertaken by the Government and the ACC board around expected ACC levy increases has got to stop, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. More >>
Environment Minister Nick Smith has continued his shonky practices in the latest attempt to conceal just how bad for hardworking Kiwi families National’s ETS deal with the Maori Party is, Labour says. Climate change spokesperson Charles Chauvel ... More >>
It is three and a half years since we were here in Washington for the first US/NZ Partnership Forum and we can celebrate the forward movement made in the relationship between our two countries over this period of time. More >>
The loss of thousands of hours of frontline community policing in the Canterbury district strips vital resources from police at a time when they are more concerned than ever about youth crime and alcohol abuse, says Labour law and order spokesperson ... More >>
Opposition to ACC plans to change sexual abuse counselling practices is mounting and damaging the credibility of the agency and a two week delay is not good enough - it must revisit the plans, says Labour's Victims Rights spokesperson Lynne Pillay. ... More >>
The bailing of a self-confessed arsonist back to the same block of council flats where he lit five separate fires proves what a farce the Government’s bail changes have been, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More >>
Reports that the debts of families seeking budgeting advice have risen by 25 per cent show the Government’s promises to help struggling families are nothing more than platitudes, says Social Development spokesperson Annette King. More >>
ACC needs to spell out exactly what changes are being introduced to reduce costs associated with caring for seriously injured New Zealanders, says Labour’s ACC spokesperson David Parker. ACC is reported today to be seeking to reduce the cost ... More >>
Three in every four schools providing adult and community education night classes will lose their funding next year following the Government’s savage Budget cuts, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street. “The true carnage ... More >>
Deputy Labour Leader Annette King made the following statement on the sentencing today of Taito Phillip Field. “This sentence demonstrates that all New Zealanders are equal under the law. “Taito Phillip Field has been judged by his peers. He ... More >>
The Labour Party has congratulated George Papandreou and his Socialist PASOK party following their decisive victory in Greece's general election. "Labour is delighted that the centre-left have won a sizeable mandate from the Greek people," says Foreign ... More >>
The government’s go-slow on passing updated food safety legislation is causing major headaches in the community, Labour’s Food Safety spokesperson Ashraf Choudhary said today. “For some reason National has delayed bringing in the updated laws ... More >>
Comments by Prime Minister John Key about the rights of Kiwis to see the Rugby World Cup on free-to-air television conveniently ignore the effects of his Government’s hands-off policies on these rights, says Labour Broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. ... More >>
The initial $1 million Government emergency natural disaster relief package for Indonesia, the Philippines, Viet Nam and Cambodia has been welcomed by Labour Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chris Carter and Associate Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Raymond Huo. More >>
The Government must take concrete steps to save the Centre for New Zealand Studies at the University of London Birkbeck, Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Chris Carter says. More >>
Television companies asking viewers to give donations to good causes should be transparent about how much actually ends up being spent on charity, says Labour’s broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. Information under the Official Information Act obtained ... More >>
Any decision to amalgamate or reorganise local government within the Wellington region must be made by all Wellingtonians, not dreamed up and imposed by the Wellington City Council, Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins and Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson ... More >>
John Key‘s government has been silent on its plan to cut police costs for more than two months, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More >>
Government Ministers are hiding how much they are spending on staff while expecting average New Zealanders to tighten their belts, Labour Internal Affairs spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. More >>
Farmers should keep a close eye on the Government’s review of the National Pest Management Strategy for bovine TB, lest it’s used to cut funding for the programme, says Labour’s Rural Affairs spokesperson Damien O’Connor. “The Government this ... More >>
Labour Leader Phil Goff leaves for the US tonight for talks with senior members of the US Administration, Congressmen and the United Nations. He will also be meeting with think tanks and international financial institutions. He will be accompanied ... More >>
The Government’s hapless interference in the Rugby World Cup broadcast rights bidding process smacks of a foreboding lack of co-ordination around the event, says Labour’s Rugby World Cup spokesperson Trevor Mallard. The Herald reports today that Maori ... More >>
Labour’s Climate Change Issues spokesperson Charles Chauvel says Ministers will privately be hoping that the doors are locked at the National Party’s Blue Greens conference in Wellington this weekend. “Recent developments in the United States, ... More >>
The Government’s mixed messages on liquor law reform underline the importance of engaging all political parties in the reform process emerging from the Law Commission review, says Labour Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel. More >>
The Government must confirm its commitment to quality state broadcasting in the future, says Labour Broadcasting spokesperson Brendon Burns. More >>
While Samoa has been worst hit by the tsunami, Tonga has also suffered devastation and loss of life - the second tragedy to hit Tonga in two months, says Labour’s Associate Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio. “On behalf of ... More >>
Labour’s Senior Citizens spokesperson Ross Robertson is urging New Zealanders to take a moment out of their day to acknowledge the contribution older persons make to our communities. “New Zealand is today celebrating the United Nations International ... More >>
New Zealanders should be worried that Government demands for cost cuts may be distracting police from doing their primary job of making our communities safer, says Labour law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. More >>
MPs shocked by devastation in Samoa Labour MPs Luamanuvao Winnie Laban and Chris Carter say they are shocked and distressed by the devastation in Samoa in the aftermath of yesterday’s earthquake and tsunami. More >>
Anne Tolley’s talk about lifting educational achievement for vulnerable groups flies in the face of her ACE decision, which is likely to see lower income communities suffer the most from the funding cuts, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley’s explanation today for her change of heart on making new entrant class sizes bigger does not add up, Labour’s education spokesperson Trevor Mallard said today. More >>
Today many Samoans in New Zealand, and around the world, have kept their ear close to the ground trying to reach family in Samoa and listening to any news reports for answers related to missing family and friends, says Labour MP for Mangere Su’a ... More >>
Labour’s Associate labour spokesperson Darien Fenton says the industrial action being taken tomorrow by parliamentary staff highlights the serious need for minimum redundancy protection in law, as proposed by her members’ bill. “Parliamentary ... More >>
Education Minister Anne Tolley’s apparent concerns about the sector’s under-performance for Maori students ring hollow in light of National’s attempts to block a Maori Affairs select committee inquiry into the matter, says Labour MP Kelvin Davis. More >>
Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson should pull her finger out and do her bit to get Open Country Cheese employers around the table to sort out the ongoing employment dispute, Labour spokesperson on labour issues Trevor Mallard said today. More >>
Labour leader Phil Goff is offering his condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Samoa today. “We are deeply concerned by the reports of loss of life and significant damage to some villages. New Zealand ... More >>
Labour has called for the Government to stop taking massive profits from Electricity State Owned Enterprises with immediate effect. "The Government could do this today with the instant result of lower electricity prices for hardworking Kiwi families ... More >>
The Government appears set to allow tertiary institutions more flexibility to raise student fees and is signalling less financial support for older students returning to study, says Labour Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street. More >>
Labour welcomes the government’s proposals on rural broadband and the reform of the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) but is not yet convinced it will truly deliver fast broadband and reliable, affordable local residential phone services ... More >>
Labour Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Luamanuvao Winnie Laban has paid tribute to the work of the Pacific Advisory Group (CEPAG) set up in 2002 as an initiative under the Corrections Department Pacific strategic plan. “CEPAG is now being formally ... More >>
Establishing a new ‘super bureaucracy’ in the form of a National Health Board won’t do anything to enhance frontline services, and may actually achieve the opposite, says Labour Health spokesperson Ruth Dyson. Ruth Dyson said that the responses the ... More >>
ACC Minister Nick Smith’s denial that he’s responsible for major delays processing claims for sexual abuse victims is contradicted by an ACC newsletter which puts the blame squarely on Government cost-cutting, says Labour’s Victim’s Rights spokesperson ... More >>
National’s true environmental colours are revealed again as it quietly axes the New Zealand Energy and Conservation Strategy, Labour’s energy spokesperson Charles Chauvel said today. “In the same week that Prime Minister John Key told the world ... More >>
The Government is happy to consult on aspects of electoral law reform that suits it, and won’t look at changes to the donations regime that might disadvantage National, says Labour Electoral Reform Spokesperson David Parker. More >>
Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has acted vindictively toward overseas aid agencies who criticised his changes to the direction of the aid programme earlier this year, Labour's Associate Foreign Affairs spokesperson Phil Twyford says. More >>
The Government’s plans to axe the KiwiRail subsidy will put provincial rail lines at risk and could hike up transport costs for farmers, says Labour’s Rural Affairs spokesperson Damien O’Connor. More >>
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