Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Education
13 March 2013

Debt Collection Groundhog Day Fears for Teachers

New Zealand First says teachers are facing another nightmare as the Government sends in debt collectors to deal with Novopay overpayments.

Education spokesperson Tracey Martin warned a month ago that school staff overpaid through the botched Novopay system would be hunted down by debt collectors.

“Sadly, our fears have come true.

“It’s astounding that the Government is taking such a heavy-handed approach and dragging the financial reputations of innocent people through the mud.”

Ms Martin says the worry now is that Novopay will be unable to keep accurate records of any money repaid.

“It could mean that school staff will face a debt collection Groundhog Day. Minister Steven Joyce must for once put his hand on his heart and promise that won’t happen.

"All resources should be used to make sure teachers are paid correctly. The Government should not be stressing them out more by having debt collectors come to their homes, or visit their schools.

“Mr Joyce is looking more like the Repo Man than Mr Fix it with this bully-boy tactic,” says Ms Martin.

ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>