Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern

Prime Minister

MP for Mt Albert

12 December 2017 MEDIA STATEMENT

Progress accelerating on 100 Day Plan

This week marks the half way stage of the Government’s 100 Day Plan and will see further pleasing progress on delivering on our commitments, says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

“We promised we would be a different government, one that makes dealing with child poverty and reducing inequality a priority. We are delivering on that promise.

“On Thursday we will introduce legislation to give effect to the Families Package. Changes to Working for Families will boost the incomes of low and middle income earners and lift tens of thousands of children out of poverty.

“In addition, Best Start and the Winter Energy Payment will provide other much needed support to parents, superannuitants and beneficiaries.

“We also promised we would be a fiscally responsible government. By cancelling the National government’s tax cuts we can afford to deliver that support while still meeting the financial targets we have set ourselves.

“This week we will reach the half way stage of our 100 Day Plan and I’m pleased with the significant progress we have made to date.

“There’s much more to come as we continue to deliver on our plan, tackle National’s legacy of underfunding in health, housing and education and ensure the gains of economic growth are more fairly shared,” says Prime Minister Ardern.

Update on 100 Day Plan

1. Fees free for post-secondary school education or training for first year from 2018 - announced 5 December

2. Student allowances and living cost loans to increase by $50 from 1 January 2018 - announced 21 November

3. Extension of Paid Parental Leave - legislation passed 29 November

4. Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill setting minimum standards for rentals - legislation passed 29 November

5. Legislation to give effect to the Families Package - to be introduced this week

6. Ban on overseas speculators buying existing houses - legislation to be introduced this week

7. Issue directive to Housing New Zealand stopping the sell-off of state houses – to be delivered shortly

8. Begin work to establish the Affordable Housing Authority and KiwiBuild programme - underway

9. Tax Working Group – Terms of Reference announced and Chairman appointed 23 November, further appointments shortly

10. Restart contributions to the Super Fund - announced at the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update

11. Pike River Recovery Agency - establishment underway

12. Legislation to provide greater fairness in workplace - to be introduced when Parliament resumes late January

13. Minimum wage to rise to $16.50 to take effect from April 2018 - formal approval underway

14. Introduce legislation to set a child poverty reduction target and to change the Public Finance Act so the Budget reports progress on reducing child poverty - Child Poverty Reduction Bill to be introduced early next year when Parliament resumes

15. Legislation to make medicinal cannabis available for people with terminal illnesses or in chronic pain - to be introduced next week

16. Set up an inquiry into the abuse of children in state care - underway with chair and scope of inquiry to be announced in January

17. Set up a Ministerial Inquiry in order to fix our mental health crisis - underway, announcement early in New Year with inquiry members and terms of reference

18. Set zero carbon emissions goal and begin setting up independent Climate Commission - underway.

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