Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Murphy to host Minister at Practical Driver Training Day

Motorsport legend Greg Murphy and Associate Minister of Transport Julie Anne Genter are set to meet again next week when the road safety advocate will host her at a practical driver training day.

Murphy said it was a big step forward to have a Government Minister willing to engage and see for herself the benefits of practical training in a controlled environment as part of preparing people to be better skilled and aware drivers.

The pair first meet in Parliament, two months ago after Murphy, who believes the New Zealand drivers licensing system is broken, called on the Minister to include practical training as part of the Government’s Road to Zero Strategy.

This time, Murphy will host Minister Genter, in Taupo (Tuesday October 1) where she will meet with learner and restricted drivers taking part in a practical skills and safety training day.

“My message is simple, we must improve how New Zealanders are driving or more people will keep dying on our roads,” Murphy said.

“When the Minister and I first met I raised serious concerns about my experience with the New Zealand Drivers Licensing system which I believe needs far more resource to provide drivers with a much better “toolbox” of skills including some specific practical training.”

Along with meeting driving instructors and the developers of the Holden Street Smart Programme, Minister Genter will have the opportunity of meeting with the young drivers going through some of practical training stations including driver distraction, emergency braking and reaction times.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Murphy said he hoped that the Minister would come away with an even greater understanding about why practical training in a controlled environment was critical to helping save lives and reduce accidents on New Zealand roads.

“Investing in safer roads and pushing for safer vehicles alone is not going to reduce the road toll or car crashes.

“At this practical training day we will have young drivers turning up in the cars they are learning to drive. The reality is few young drivers can afford a new vehicle with all the latest safety features, so we have to make sure that they are aware, prepared and know how to drive to the conditions, in their own.”

Media Statement

Ngāti Ruanui legal team under QC Richard Fowler concluded with compelling performances from lawyers Horiana Irwin-Easthorpe and Natalie Coates. Irwin-Easthorpe referred to Judge Joe Williams writings and took the court through the provisions of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Act that include kaitiakitanga as an active interest stating the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Decision Making Committee (DMC) carried out a lip service exercise towards Māori and Iwi interests. Lawyer Natalie Coates argued that the Iwi interests are encapsulated by the Treaty Settlements and giving affect to the Tiriti were ignored along with fishing rights in the EEZ. They argued that you cannot separate the connections between Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Tikanga and the role of Kaitiaki, which must be considered together.

The Court of Appeal Judges Panel noted the legal team arguments and how the link to the EEZ Act purpose was a powerful one.

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said, “A full range of issues have been set out over the last two days about adaptive management prohibition and what went wrong with the decision made by the EPA including not having enough information to even allow the Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) application to proceed to a decision. The Court of Appeal will need to consider many different arguments but Ngāti Ruanui is optimistic that based on the legal errors the appeal will be successful in rejecting the application as a whole”.


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.