Latest Politics Headlines
Na Rongowhakaata Raihania announced as candidate
Saturday, 18 May 2013, 5:26 pm | The Maori Party
Mâori Party announces Na Rongowhakaata Raihania as Candidate for Ikaroa Râwhiti by-election More >>
Finance Minister Brushing Off Criticism Over Deficit
Saturday, 18 May 2013, 12:43 pm | The Nation
Finance Minister Bill English is brushing off criticism that his Budget doesn’t deal with the country’s growing current account deficit. More >>
Transcript of Bill English interview on 'The Nation'
Saturday, 18 May 2013, 12:38 pm | The Nation
Rachel Welcome to The Nation and our Budget special. The man in charge of the country's purse strings eased them just a fraction in this year's budget. It was a mean 900 million dollars' worth of new spending, and that keeps Bill English on track towards ... More >>
Students say Govt tinkering ‘missed opportunity’
Saturday, 18 May 2013, 11:21 am | VUWSA
Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) President Rory McCourt said he was disappointed that the Government's Budget was a ‘missed opportunity’ to grow the knowledge economy and reduce inequalities through education. More >>
Not for profits suspicious of decision to pay family carers
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:22 pm | NZ Carers' Alliance
The Government's decision to allocate $23 million a year to family carers of adult children with disability needs seems positive, but it does not bear scrutiny, says the New Zealand Carers Alliance. More >>
Charity treachery sells out State Housing tenants
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:52 pm | Housing Lobby
17 May 2013 Press Release Sue Henry Spokesperson Housing Lobby: "Charity treachery sells out State Housing tenants." More >>
Students Say No to Bullies On Pink Shirt Day
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:51 pm | Auckland University Students Association
Auckland University Students’ Association is celebrating Pink Shirt Day today to help stamp out bullying at the University of Auckland. More >>
Tax Evasion results in community service
Friday, 17 May 2013, 4:20 pm | Inland Revenue Department
A Hamilton man has been sentenced to 280 hours community service after admitting a charge of tax evasion. More >>
Auckland Council Seeks Local Board Feedback On Smoke-free
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:55 pm | Auckland Council
Auckland Council seeks further feedback from local boards and other groups before it presents the draft smoke-free policy for approval to the Regional Development and Operations Committee (RDOC) on 24 July. More >>
Priced Out: How New Zealand Lost Its Housing Affordability
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:51 pm | The New Zealand Initiative
Barely a week passes when housing in New Zealand is not in the news. Either because house prices are too high or impressive gains are being made. The New Zealand Initiative’s latest report, Priced Out: How New Zealand lost its housing affordability ... More >>
Priced Out: How New Zealand Lost Its Housing Affordability
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:45 pm | The New Zealand Initiative
Barely a week passes when housing in New Zealand is not in the news. Either because house prices are too high or impressive gains are being made. The New Zealand Initiative’s latest report, Priced Out: How New Zealand lost its housing affordability ... More >>
Tourist Jailed For Child Sexual Abuse Cartoons
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:24 pm | New Zealand Customs Service
A German tourist has been jailed for ten months for importing objectionable publications and images, after Customs found over 35,000 child sexual abuse images on his laptop. More >>
Take the time to plan homes and communities – Caritas
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:21 pm | Caritas Aotearoa
Rushing legislation to implement new housing policy could actually undermine promising new housing initiatives in the 2013 Budget, says Catholic social justice agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. More >>
Budget falls short on assistance to halt rural suicide rate
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:18 pm | NZ Rural General Practice Network
Budget 2013 should have included some extra provision to address the increasing and alarming rate of suicide in rural New Zealand, the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network says. More >>
Thames Police Facebook Campaign Disgusts
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:16 pm | Prevent Insane Chase Killing
Prevent Insane Chase Killing Group say Polices latest spin campaign to defend their reckless policy is distasteful and disrespectful in the wake of the deaths of 3 innocent passengers in a vehicle pursued by Police. The facebook poster seeking likes as a ... More >>
Living Wage = Higher Rates!
Friday, 17 May 2013, 3:03 pm | Affordable Wellington
“It would be highly irresponsible for Wellington City Council to bow to pressure from Living Wage Aotearoa by giving pay rises of up to 33% to all Council employees,” says Northern Ward Affordable Wellington candidate Reagan Cutting. “The money to ... More >>
Oil Companies Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:56 pm | Greenpeace New Zealand
Prime Minister John Key has misled the nation about oil industry safety standards, Greenpeace said today, as an amendment to the controversial Crown Minerals Bill is set to allow companies with no previous experience of drilling to get the relevant ... More >>
Budget 2013: Lean Pickings for Those Most in Need
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:41 pm | NZ Council of Christian Social Services
The background to the 2013 Budget is the fact that social service agencies throughout the country are facing record demand for their support services. Our networks of social workers, counsellors, nurses and care workers, budget advisors, community ... More >>
Mayor Allan Sanson’s Message – May 2013
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:36 pm | Waikato District Mayor
It’s been a busy time here at council, as we move to finalise the Long Term Plan (LTP) Year Two 2013-14, that was formally known as the Annual Plan. Council staff and myself have been out and around the district over the past few weeks, discussing ... More >>
Food In Schools For Our Future
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:22 pm | Auckland Bioengineering Institute
An animation to raise awareness about the issue of child poverty in NZ, and the need for food in schools programmes, has just been released by an educational research project at The University of Auckland. More >>
Budget ‘a small step in the right direction’ – JustSpeak
Friday, 17 May 2013, 2:09 pm | JustSpeak
JustSpeak welcomes the increase in funding to restorative justice services and support for prisoners leaving prison as a small step in the right direction. “We support restorative justice as a more meaningful and less polarised way of addressing the ... More >>
Budget Increases Do Not Go Far Enough to Help Older People
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:40 pm | Age Concern
Government spending increases for some services for older people will help, but do not go far enough, according to Age Concern New Zealand. More >>
INZ Uncovers Immigration Adviser Scam
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:37 pm | Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has declined more than 50 applications from India for permanent residence after discovering that they were submitted through an unlicensed immigration adviser. More >>
Hutt Valley Councils Combine to Consult On Future Local Govt
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:34 pm | Upper Hutt City Council
Hutt Valley’s two city councils will ask residents for their views on the future of regional governance in a combined consultation beginning on Tuesday 28 May. More >>
This week on Q+A
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:27 pm | TV One
This Sunday, we review the mid-term Budget with Finance Minister Bill English and ask what’s in it for middle New Zealand and whether the Government’s meeting its own goals of re-balancing the economy in favour of investment in jobs in the ... More >>
Mayor Len Brown’s Week Ahead
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:26 pm | Office of the Mayor of Auckland
5pm Auckland Conversation with Geoff Lawler, Director of Infrastructure and Planning, City of Melbourne Location: Q Theatre, Queen St More >>
No second chance for mature students
Friday, 17 May 2013, 12:07 pm | AUSA
The budget released on Thursday 16th May is another attempt to restrict access to tertiary education for students, says Auckland University Students' Association (AUSA) More >>
Some questions for the NZ Police
Friday, 17 May 2013, 11:43 am | Unite Union
Below is a letter from Unite sent to the Commissioner of Police asking for answers to the following questions: 1. Is it allowed for police staff to accept discounted food from McDonald's? 2. Have the police ever asked McDonald's to stop this practice ... More >>
Government needs Goal to Reduce Imprisonment
Friday, 17 May 2013, 11:37 am | Rethinking Crime and Punishment
The Government should have a goal not only to reduce reoffending, but to reduce imprisonment, says Kim Workman, Spokesperson for Rethinking Crime and Punishment, in a keynote address to the Restorative Justice Aotearoa Conference, held in Auckland. More >>
Budget A Mixed Bag for Schools say Principals
Friday, 17 May 2013, 10:42 am | New Zealand Principals' Federation
‘The Education budget announced this afternoon is a mixed bag peppered with a lot of contradictions,’ said Paul Drummond, Immediate Past President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF). More >>
Teacher Registered? They Must be Safe
Friday, 17 May 2013, 10:36 am | Libertarianz Party
Libertarianz leader Richard McGrath today voiced his support for the prospect of charter schools competing with their state counterparts, and said concerns by Labour MP Chris Hipkins about registration of teachers deserve to be explored further in ... More >>
March to Stop Monsanto
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:47 am | March Against Montsanto
Protesting for The Right to Eat Clean, GMO Free Food! Rotorua joins the International ‘March Against Monsanto’ May 25. ‘March Against Monsanto’ planned in over 40 countries. More >>
Tertiary education for older New Zealanders written off
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:28 am | NZUSA
The Government’s obsession with putting a sinking lid on student support will hit the educational aspirations of all New Zealanders aged over 40 as a result of today’s Budget, says the NZ Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA). More >>
Focus on vulnerable welcomed
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:25 am | NZMA
The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) welcomes the increased spending in health announced in the Budget, particularly measures to support the most vulnerable in the community, such as the $92 million to pay family members who care for their disabled ... More >>
Anti poverty group to picket PM’s Budget business lunch
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:24 am | Auckland Action Against Poverty
AUCKLAND ACTION AGAINST POVERTY Media release – Friday 17 May Anti poverty group to picket PM’s Budget business lunch More >>
2013 Budget Tool - Introducing the Tax Tracker Web App
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:20 am | Maxim Institute
Did you know that your tax pays more towards subsidising tertiary education than for the Police and foreign aid combined? More >>
Education Increase Damages More Young Minds
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:19 am | Libertarianz Party
“The National government’s increase in the educational budget of $900million over four years will bring more misery and damage than we could ever imagine,” said Peter Osborne, a Libertarianz spokesman today. More >>
MMP Minister Urged To Change Stance
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:17 am | Campaign to Keep MMP
Keep MMP Hawkes Bay convenors Maxine Boag and Liz Remmerswaal are urging the Justice Minister to reconsider her stance on not implementing changes to the MMP system. More >>
Budget good news for community focussed crime reduction
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:13 am | Rethinking Crime and Punishment
“Budget funding decisions in the crime and justice area could herald a new phase in the development of community-led crime reduction”, says Kim Workman, spokesperson for Rethinking Crime and Punishment. More >>
Dismal aid budget out of sync with Kiwi generosity
Friday, 17 May 2013, 9:12 am | P3 Foundation
New Zealand's official development assistance budget is dismal and is out of sync with the generosity of ordinary New Zealanders, says P3 Foundation, aNew Zealand-wide youth led development organisation committed to eradicating extreme poverty within ... More >>
Budget places Capital and Coast services at risk
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 8:48 pm | David Choat
“Health Minister Tony Ryall has again failed to invest adequately in our nation's health with a Budget that will see Capital and Coast District Health Board continue to struggle,” said David Choat, Capital and Coast DHB member. More >>
No relief for Police in 2013 Budget
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 6:49 pm | Police Association
Today’s Budget confirms funding for Police remains frozen, which means Police will face continued pressure to make savings to meet rising costs for the foreseeable future, Police Association Vice-President Stuart Mills said today. More >>
Extra $35m for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 6:37 pm | Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
In the Budget presented today the Government has allocated funding of $35 million over four years for extended family members caring for children, recognising the difficult job they do. More >>
Key Decisions from Today's Council Meeting
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:22 pm | Christchurch City Council
Christchurch City Council met today (Thursday 16 May), with the key decisions made outlined below: More >>
Police pursuit policy in need of urgent review
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:21 pm | JustSpeak
In the wake of a spate of police chases which have resulted in a needless loss of life, JustSpeak calls for the police pursuit policy to be revisited. More >>
Funding Boost Great News For Te Reo Māori
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:16 pm | Maori Language Commission
Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (TTWh) has welcomed the increased investment in Māori Language revitilisation announced today by Māori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples. More >>
Budget gets it wrong on ACC levies
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:06 pm | ACC Futures Coalition
The ACC Futures Coalition has described as “farcical” that the government is relying on likely cuts to ACC levies as one of the main contributions to “building a productive and competitive economy” in its 2013 budget. More >>
Budget fails to deliver for hungry children
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:05 pm | Campaign for Food in Schools
The ‘Community Campaign for Food in Schools’ says the Budget has failed to deliver much-needed additional investment in food programmes in low decile schools but welcomes the news that the government will respond fully to the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions ... More >>
Budget a missed opportunity for the nation's children
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:04 pm | Every Child Counts
The government Budget delivered today has missed the opportunity to significantly improve the living conditions of families in hardship and alleviate the impact of poverty on children, says Every Child Counts*. More >>
Lifemark: Funding Announcement Good, More Leadership Needed
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 5:00 pm | Lifemark
Lifetime Design Ltd today welcomed the Government announcement to set aside funding over the next 3 years for the promotion of adaptable and accessible housing design through the Lifemark. More >>
Budget announcements - whiteware
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:56 pm | Beneficiary Advocacy Federation
"For a significant period of time advocates have been arguing for new white ware to be purchased when people apply for and advance payment for white ware Thus we support the Ministry enabling access for low income earners and beneficiaries to ... More >>
Budget announcements on child poverty a good start
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:33 pm | Office of the Children's Commissioner
Today’s budget announcements on child poverty are good first steps for our most vulnerable children, says Dr Russell Wills, Children’s Commissioner. More >>
Another tunnel vision budget for public services
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:28 pm | Public Service Association
The government has produced another tunnel vision budget which continues to focus on squeezing the public sector to reach its arbitrary surplus target, according to the Public Service Association. More >>
Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:26 pm | Auckland Chamber of Commerce
The radical move by the central government to conditionally take over approving housing resource consents reinforces the Chamber’s recent calls for action to address Auckland’s housing shortage. More >>
Budget targets poor, not poverty
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 4:13 pm | Auckland Action Against Poverty
“In fact, today’s budget targets the poor, not poverty,” says Sarah Thompson, spokesperson for Auckland Action Against Poverty. More >>
A fiscally expected Budget, yet with some nice surprises
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 3:52 pm | PricewaterhouseCoopers
Minister of Finance of Bill English's fifth budget reconfirmed the Government's track to a surplus of $75m in 2015. More >>
Budget provides tax relief to certain R&D expenditure
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 3:33 pm | Deloitte
The Budget includes an announcement that “small, innovative businesses” will be able to cash up tax losses on R&D up to a certain limit, says Deloitte CEO Thomas Pippos. More >>
Budget provides relief to certain ‘black hole’ expenditure
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 3:19 pm | Deloitte
It is refreshing to see the Government move to deal with a number of categories of much-maligned “black hole expenditure,” says Deloitte CEO Thomas Pippos. More >>
Budget extends the ambit of the thin capitalisation rules
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 2:54 pm | Deloitte
Changes, but no real surprises, were announced in relation to New Zealand’s thin capitalisation rules in today’s Budget, says Deloitte CEO Thomas Pippos. More >>
Budget doesn’t do enough for growing social problems
Thursday, 16 May 2013, 2:51 pm | New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
CTU Media Release 16 May 2013 Budget doesn’t do enough for growing social problems "Today's Budget fails to address the huge social problems of a crisis in jobs, low wages, increasing poverty and inequality that New Zealand currently faces. These ... More >>
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