Candidates Answers to Policy Questions

2008 General Election Pakuranga Candidates answers to the Questions put to them by the St Marks / Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Justice and Peace Group

Here are the responses we received from the parties and candidates contesting the Pakuranga election.
They are listed in the order of receipt. Not every candidate chose to answer the questions and some choose not to answer every question.
The questions put to each candidate were :-

* What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin?
* Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?
* What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars ? Who ought our allies be ?
* How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?
* What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?
* What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?
* How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?
* What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?
* What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?
* Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

The Kiwi Party response to Bishop’s Guide for Voting in this year’s election

The Kiwi Party chose to send a copy of their response to the statement of the NZ Catholic Bishops “Mindful of the Common Good – Thinking about Election 2008” which is online at www.catholic.org.nz/statements/0808_elections.php

Life itself
The Kiwi Party agrees with everything the bishops have said. We believe that unborn children should be protected from the moment of conception. We also believe that we should support pregnant and single mothers and ensure that all children are welcomed and supported. We support stem-cell research but we oppose creating embryos for that purpose. We are against euthanasia and assisted suicide but strongly support the hospice movement and adequate palliative care for those who are terminally ill.

Family life and the rights of children
The strengthening of family life is a central plank for the Kiwi Party. We want to invest in marriage preparation, marriage and relationship enrichment, and parenting courses provided through faith based charities, iwi, and other third sector organisations. We want to stop the criminalisation of good parents by repealing the anti-smacking law but, at the same time, appoint a Royal Commission to understand and address the wider causes of family breakdown, family violence, and child abuse.

Economic policies
We want to address systemic poverty in our society by raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour with an offsetting tax credit to employers. We will introduce income splitting for tax purposes for married couples with dependent children. This will, especially for single-parent families, boost family income considerably. We will look to raise benefit levels for the most needy in our society to ensure that they are increased to cover the rising cost of food and other basic living expenses. We will retain Easter Sunday as a shopping-free day and look to extend that further to other Sundays of the year to ensure that families have adequate time together.

Refugees and Asylum seekers
We are deeply concerned at the unjust and inhumane treatment which fails so many refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants. We will work to ensure that these practices are brought to an end.

International aid and development
We will progressively increase aid to 0.7% of GNI by 2015 to fulfil the millennium goal.

Cultural Diversity
The Kiwi Party recognises the Treaty of Waitangi as a covenant which must be honoured by its partners. We see every New Zealander as a beneficiary of the Treaty which has opened the way for us all to have equal citizenship. Our vision is for New Zealand to become a unique society, built upon the mutual respect and equality of all those who have chosen to make New Zealand their home, regardless of race, language, or creed.

Crime and punishment
The Kiwi Party proposes to achieve the objective of a just and safe society by means of four strategic priorities. Namely, victim restoration, deterrence of crime, containment of dangerous offenders and rehabilitation. We will raise the drinking age back to 20 and assist faith based detox and rehabilitation centres for those struggling with drug and alcohol addictions; a key factor in the lives of most criminals.

Environmental justice
All New Zealanders have a responsibility of guardianship to our beautiful, natural environment. This includes the stewardship of resources and protection of flora and fauna. We believe that New Zealand should become a place of refuge for the people of the Pacific, should they become displaced by environmental or climatic changes.


Andrew Jollands, ACT Party

* What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin?

- This is a conscience issue for ACT. The best thing we can do to protect unborn children is
education. This is a very personal question for me due to choices my wife and I had to make. Whilst I am pro life, I am also pro choice. Choice is a core belief of the ACT party. Human life begins at the time of the quickening - the time when supposedly the soul enters the unborn child.

Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?

- Again this is a conscience issue for ACT. Whether I support euthanasia is not the issue, and a
sweeping generalisation is not the answer. Choice is the issue for me. Palliative care is a part of the health system that seems to be working the best as it has the most private provider choice. Our goal for the health system as a whole is to provide more choice in all areas to improve services and outcomes.

What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars ? Who ought our allies be ?

- The best way to promote peace is to walk and talk quietly but to carry a big stick. Our allies should be those that share our values and interests. Our traditional allies are those that we identify the most with.

How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?

- The best way to improve the life of the poorest members of our society is to grow the economy so there is more to share as a whole. The poorest members of our society are those trapped in welfare dependancy. The best way out of poverty is hard work. ACT's policy is to assist those trapped in welfare dependancy to obtain skills and knowledge to obtain work. We have been a wealthy country but poor in human spirit.

What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?

- ACT would like to see the repeal of the Anti smacking law and reinforce parents responsibilty in raising their own children. The State should not be involved in deciding how a parent must raise their child.

What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?

- New Zealand's education system is a one size fits all big box approach that is clearly failing a large number of our children. Depending on which statistics you believe 20% to 25% of school leavers are unable to read after 10 years in the school system. We need to put the power of choice back in the hands of parents. Parents know what is best for their children - not faceless beureuacrats in the Ministry of Education. ACT's policy is to introduce a system like Sweden's education system. This has seen different types of schools flourish and education results improve out of sight.

How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?

- We currently meet our obligations to asylum seekers adequately. I would like to see more refugees that will fit in to New Zealand accepted than just the politically correct ones. As an example we would be far better off if we had accepted the Zimbabwean farmers who were persecuted and thrown of their farms.

What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?

- The important thing to do first is improve our economy otherwise if we continue our disastrous
slide down the OECD rankings we will be receiving aid rather than giving it.

What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?

- We would question the validity of the assumptions that ask this question. However in the first
instance we must not introduce the Emissions Trading Scheme that will significantly damage our
economy and impair our ability to reduce carbon emmissions if that is the will of the public.

Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

- This is also a conscience issue for ACT. Yes I am in favour of repealing the prostitution law reform bill, but only because the act has had unintended consequences that has reduced the safety of women who choose to undertake prostitution.



Hon Maurice Williamson MP, National Party

As advised, some of your questions cover very broad policy areas and would necessarily require very lengthy answers, so the Hon Maurice Williamson MP has asked me to let you know that as the NZ National Party Candidate for Pakuranga he supports National’s policy platform which can be viewed at www.national.org.nz .

I have attached below his reply to your questions on matters which are considered by Parliament to be conscience issues :

* What will you do to protect unborn children?

Over the years I have been the MP for Pakuranga, I have conducted two detailed surveys in the Electorate. On the abortion issue the results were reasonably clear and consistent. Approximately 40% thought our laws were too liberal, 40% thought they were too restrictive and should be further liberalised, and about 20% thought the status quo was about right. Therefore changing the law in either direction would be against the wishes of 60%. I will therefore not support any law change and indeed intend to ensure the status quo is maintained.

* When do you consider human life to begin?
See above.

* Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?

I would support legalising euthanasia but only if I could be absolutely satisfied there were sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse. I do believe a terminally ill person, who is in severe pain, has a right to terminate his or her life but there are all sorts of conditions that would have to be met before I voted for any such law change.

As far as adequate palliative care is concerned, John Key announced yesterday that National will boost funding for hospices by $15 million a year to expand care and services and meet current financial challenges. This investment will provide equitable funding across hospices and secure this vital health service for our communities. Again, the policy can be viewed at www.national.org.nz .

* Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?
No


RESPONSES FROM RICHARD LEWIS THE FAMILY PARTY
www.familyparty.org.nz

What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin?

A foundation principle in the Family Party constitution is to protect life, including that of the unborn child (The Family Party believes that life begins at conception). In addition, the Party has released 10 priorities if elected, which includes protecting the right to life and ensuring parental notification. To that end, the Family Party will demand an urgent and thorough review of the current practice and procedure around abortion to ensure they comply with Parliament’s original intent. In addition, we will require parents to be notified and duly consulted in the event of a child pregnancy. See www.familyparty.org.nz for more information.

Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?

The Family Party is opposed to euthanasia. The Party recognises our elderly as an integral part of the intergenerational family and will provide adequate support towards those organisations that deliver palliative care and support for our elderly.

What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars ? Who ought our allies be?

The Family Party believes the start-point to creating and maintaining peace begins first at home, by respecting and protecting New Zealand’s significant Christian heritage that is interwoven throughout our constitutional, political, and social arrangements. In this way, we promote a global message of peace from a position of strength and having our own back yard in order. Our allies ought to be those nations that share our values and aspirations for a free and just society and includes our traditional allies.

How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?

The Family Party believes in a compassionate system of welfare that works towards financial independence as opposed to creating cycles of state dependency. We believe that families should be able to build their own economies independent of, and without strings attached to the state. To that end, the party favours a lower and flatter tax structure (with tax and benefit levels being adjusted in line with inflation) that rewards hard work and encourages greater participation in our economy. In order to alleviate financial pressure on families we released a policy in May to remove GST off basic food groups and fuel. See www.familyparty.org.nz for more information.

What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?

The Family Party vision for New Zealand is inextricably linked to our vision for New Zealand families: where families are safe and grow from strength to strength from generation to generation. To that end, our policies aim to foster a strong marriage culture and encourage family life, to protect parental rights and responsibilities, and to have minimal state interference in the home. Policies include legally defining marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman voluntarily entered into for life, income slitting for marriage centred families and repealing the anti-smacking legislation. See www.familyparty.org.nz for more information.

What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?

Education is about producing children who are academically adept and socially and economically relevant. Too many children are leaving school without competence in the fundamentals of reading, writing and arithmetic: this needs urgent attention. Schools should reflect the values and aspirations of parents in a flexible system where funding follows the child. Bringing more male teachers into the system and responding to the learning needs of boys is also of utmost importance. See www.familyparty.org.nz for more information.

How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?

A compassionate response to refugees and asylum seekers is very important but should not create exclusive communities or expose New Zealanders to social, economic or security risks. The Family Party will ensure that refugees are treated with dignity and respect.

What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?

While increasing aid is a desirable goal, our ability to do so relies on our ability to give aid from a position of strength. Growing our economy, strengthening families and responsible Government spending will ensure this goal is met.

What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?

In line with our principle of responsible stewardship of life, land and resource, the Family Party is passionate about protecting our environment for future generations. However, we hold reservations (based on an increasing body of scientific evidence) about the legitimacy of global warming theory, which is the basis of huge unjustifiable costs being imposed on New Zealand families and businesses through the ETS. We will call for a Royal Commission of Enquiry to establish the facts and determine an appropriate response (if any) relative to New Zealand’s unique circumstances.

Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

Yes. Repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Act is one of the top 10 priorities of the Family Party if elected.



Pita Paraone, New Zealand First

What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin?

We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our society at all stages of life. An issue such as this clearly warrants a conscience vote and may not reflect the views of the Party itself. I personally do not support abortion but there may be cases where it is justified. It would still have to be legal, safe and infrequent.

New Zealand First recognises the importance of development of early years in children and we promote policies aimed at the optimum development of children.

Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?

Again, any view will be based on conscience and may not reflect Party views. When my colleague promoted a bill of this nature, I supported it in the first reading to allow it to be referred to Select Committee so that New Zealanders could have their say. However, I personally do not support euthanasia and believe adequate palliative care for the dying should be provided as a basic right.

New Zealand First will ensure that there is adequate funding and improved access to palliative care services. We have delivered $530 million for the eldercare sector and will continue to push for more. Our priority is to give New Zealanders access to a quality public health system. This is particularly important as our population continues to age and will impact on our health system. That’s why we will improve staffing ratios in resthomes and remove income and asset testing for people needing long-stay geriatric hospital care.

What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars? Who ought our allies be?

We have a responsibility to protect New Zealanders, our borders, our values and our sovereignty. New Zealand is obligated under our United Nations arrangement to maintain international law and peace and we have played an active and responsible part in maintaining that. New Zealand First believes peace and stability must be pursued through diplomacy, economic and technical aid, trade and via international forums such as the United Nations.

Our allies will be determined under our obligation to the United Nations. We supported the decision not to send a fighting force to Iraq.

How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?

All New Zealanders have been affected by the global economic turmoil in one way or another. New Zealand First offers sensible policies to help and protect those most vulnerable. We will introduce a tax-free threshold on the first $5200 of income, and will reduce GST to 10 percent across the board. We will offer tax relief for our exporters and introduce a power bills subsidy at the rate of $100 a month for three months in winter.

New Zealand First promised and delivered an increase in the minimum wage to $12.00 an hour, which means $80 a week more in the pocket for those on low wages. We want that increased to $15 an hour and will also introduce a universal student allowance.

And thanks to New Zealand First, superannuation is now paid at a base rate of 66 percent of the net average wage for a married couple and we will push for an increase to 68 percent, which will mean an extra $20 a week in the pocket.

We will expand on our successes with the SuperGold Card in offering seniors more entitlements such as cheaper doctor’s visits. New Zealand First gains include free off-peak travel on public transport and subsidies for hearing aids.

What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?

New Zealand First has always believed in protecting our social fabric and traditional family values and believe liberal policies of social engineering by recent governments have threatened the place of the family. We will develop a comprehensive package of parent support and guidance programmes and develop Parents as First Teacher (PAFT) programmes. We will continue to focus on family health by expanding programmes such as ‘Family Start’ and homes based support. And we will consider expanding the Families Commission role into issues more relevant to families, rather than just policy development.

What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?

New Zealand First believes education is a critical social and economic investment. We will introduce a non-repayable universal student allowance and establish an early childhood education framework that will increase participation rates, particularly Maori children, and ensure that kindergartens, playcentres and Kohanga Reo can participate in the 20 hours free early childhood education policy.

We will undertake a review of teachers’ workload and minimise bureaucratic requirements and develop a new, non-adversarial system for establishing pay and conditions of teachers. We will also strengthen and improve education provisions in all rural sectors and explore options for a bonding system for those with student loans including doctors and nurses.

New Zealand First will continue to deliver policies that develop an education system fit for the 21st century that enables each and every New Zealander to achieve his or her greatest potential.

How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?

New Zealand First believes immigrating to New Zealand is a privilege that must not be abused. Clear obligations and responsibilities must be placed upon new migrants before they are able to gain New Zealand citizenship, including proficiency in English and a clear understanding of our culture. Whilst we acknowledge that many genuine refugees and asylum seekers have suffered and faced real persecution and pain in their home countries, New Zealand must not be seen to be a soft target for bogus claimants.

New Zealand First is a compassionate party and we are proud of what New Zealand has done and are doing to help those in need overseas. We will implement high quality settlement programmes for refugees and modify the refugee programme to ensure all refugee claims are considered on a case-by-case basis and that refugee numbers are not solely dictated by overseas jurisdictions.

We are obligated under the UN to be a good international citizen but our first and foremost obligation is to protect New Zealanders.

What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?

New Zealand First remains committed to overseas aid, in particular the South Pacific region, and will review the level of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) to ensure that it is focussed on priority projects such as fighting poverty.

Our Party supported the large increase in ODA secured by the Foreign Minister (and Leader of New Zealand First) in Budget ’07.

What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?

New Zealand First is a party of sensible environmentalists. We accept that New Zealand has a number of serious environmental problems which contradicts its international status as clean, green and attractive. There must be agreement between government, industry and community groups on appropriate policy to address these problems.

New Zealand First supported the Emissions Trading Scheme with provisions to help Kiwis on low incomes and those on New Zealand superannuation.

We will develop a coherent plan and appropriate targets, alongside other nations, that gives effect to the Kyoto protocol to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

It must first be subject to a referendum.

Zachary Dorner, Green Party

What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin?

The Green Party has no official stance on abortion – like many Parties we treat it as a conscience issue. However, we believe that all women should have access to culturally appropriate information regarding family planning so that they can make informed decisions and are well-supported in doing so. We believe that the question should never be in a woman's mind about whether or not they can afford to care for their children – we have always pushed for every family to have a liveable income. My personal feeling is that women have the right to make their own decision on this issue and should have sound medical facilities to go to if they choose to have an abortion. Women who are faced with this decision do not make it lightly.

Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying?

Euthanasia is another conscience issue for the Greens. However, the Green Party wants to see a national discussion and debate stimulated by a Commission of Inquiry into issues of improved palliative care and end of life services, which will include investigating voluntary euthanasia. I personally would support a move towards allowing it, and six out of seven MPs voted for Peter Browne's Voluntary Euthanasia Bill at it's second reading. It would need to be carefully considered and monitored to ensure it was doing what we intended.

We have been concerned for a long time at the poor standard of care many older New Zealanders are receiving in residential care and in home care. We want to ensure that there are minimum staff to resident ratios and that those staff are quality. Paying them just above minimum wage is unacceptable. The only way to get quality staff is by paying them well enough to attract quality and a low turnover, and to institute a nationwide training program for these staff.

What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars ? Who ought our allies be ?

The Green Party wants to work to eliminate the conditions which breed terrorism by working to eliminate global poverty. We will promote and support fair trade over free trade and support the strengthening of the UN. We should use our position as a respected and independent nation to promote nuclear disarmament among other things. We want to strengthen our global peacekeeping forces and utilise them only for UN approved missions. Violence should always be an absolute last resort. We want to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with our traditional allies, but not at the expense of human rights and peace and our ability to speak out in favour of these principles.

How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?

The Green Party believes every man, woman and child has the right to the necessities of life. We want to remove the discrimination of the Working for Families package against beneficiaries, we want benefits to be raised to keep up with inflation and the minimum wage put up immediately to $15 an hour and set at two thirds the average wage.

Further to that we want to make sure that important things are affordable. For example, we want more locally grown and healthy food available so we are insulated from international price fluctuations. Also, we want to ensure there are affordable transport options for all, with greater funding for public transport, walking and cycling.

What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?

We want all families to be strong, regardless of their make-up. This means zero poverty, good education and healthcare, strong communities, and eliminating violence and drug abuse. Tackling violence needs a raft of measures, and we have done what we can from outside Government. This includes the repeal of Section 59 which means that children now have the same legal protection from violence as adults and animals do, while ensuring good parents are not arrested. A lot more still needs to be done. The main drug abused in New Zealand is alcohol, and we need to treat it more like the harmful drug it is. Therefore the Green Party is calling for alcohol advertising to be banned and greater restrictions on its sale.

What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?

Underfunding. We believe it is vitally important that education is free in New Zealand and is accessable to all, including those with special needs. That means funding schools enough so that they can run without donations from parents, and funding tertiary institutes so that students don't end up with crippling debt after getting their degree. We also want a Universal Student Allowance so that students don't have to borrow to live.

How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?

We take a human rights based approach and want to ensure international agreements, such as the 1951 Refugee Convention are upheld, including ensuring the Refugee Status Appeals Authority remains independent. We want to increase refugee quota gradually from 750 to 1000 per annum, and increase support resources accordingly.

What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?

Make a timetable to achieve this end if we are in a position to do so. Otherwise we will continue to pressure whoever forms the next Government to ensure this happens.

What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?

This is a priority for the Green Party. We want to see greatly increased investment in public transport and the removal of biases that mean roads get funding much more easily than public transport. Also, we want more locally grown and organic food accesible to ordinary New Zealanders, which will greatly reduce the effects the inevitable rise in oil prices will have on the price of food, as well as ensuring that it is more healthy. Furthermore, we want to continue to increase the proportion of New Zealand's electricity supply that is renewable and increase energy efficiency, especially in housing, commercial buildings and with electrical products.

Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

No. We supported the Bill and continue to support the Act. The emphasis should be on ensuring that no woman is forced into prostitution because they can't earn a living wage, and that men are caught and punished if they have sex with prostitutes under the age of 18.


Brian Kelly - Labour
Further policy information can be found at www.labour08.co.nz and www.briankelly.org.nz.

What will you do to protect unborn children? When do you consider human life to begin? I believe abortion should be safe, legal and rare. Our experience here and abroad tells us that denying women the right to choose has disastrous health effects on mothers and children. I believe there are too many abortions happening. We also have one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the western world. Education is part of the answer. We know that when our young people are educated, they have more self esteem, they have more opportunities, they are less likely to engage in risky unsafe behaviour and less likely to have children before they are ready.

Do you support euthanasia and what will you do to provide adequate palliative care to the dying? No. My family have been very active supporters of the hospice movement for many years. Under Labour we have seen substantial increases in funding for palliative care through our DHBs and local hospices.

What will you do to promote peace and should NZ participate in foreign wars? Who ought our allies be? My support for Labour recognises our active participation in UN peacekeeping throughout the world and particularly in the Pacific.
Labour believes that long-term local, regional and global security can best be achieved through working through the United Nations and with our friends and allies, jointly and in partnership. The NZDF will continue to be trained for both combat and peacekeeping roles ensuring the versatility of our defence forces.

Global Leadership: New Zealand leads the charge against the use of cluster munitions, culminating in the Dublin Treaty of May 2008; With other nations, New Zealand is working on a UN resolution seeking the abolition of the death penalty; New Zealand wins the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Award for our leadership in and commitment to the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Our independent stance on foreign policy is an example of what can be achieved. I am proud that NZ did not send combat troops into Iraq.
The chances of another world war diminish as we work to eliminate poverty, support good governance, and fair trading rules.

How will you address the economic hardship experienced by New Zealand’s poorest members, especially those on benefits and low wages?
Labour is committed to the elimination of poverty, building stronger communities and supporting the aspirations of kiwi families.
Growing the economy to lift living standards is essential. Labour is committed to improving the living standards of all New Zealanders whether they are working or not, abled or disabled. Some parties would argue that if the economy grows then the benefits automatically trickle down to everyone. This is simply not true.
Labour has increased the minimum age every year since it came to office in 1999. This contrasts markedly to the Oppositions record.

See the graph here

There will always be a need to provide assistance to the poorest members in our society. Ensuring an adequate supply of quality rental housing at affordable income related rents is a key ingredient, as are publically funded and run quality health and education systems. Significant financial assistance for families has been provided through Labours “Working for Families”.
Labour has restored income-related rents for state house tenants so that low-income tenants pay no more than 25% of their income in rent. Labour has also increased the state housing stock. This strongly contrasts with the National government who raised state house rents which resulted in many families forced into extreme poverty and often two and more families living in the same house during the 1990’s. During this oppressive period in our history, childhood diseases rose (for example tuberculosis), directly attributable to poverty and overcrowding.
Labour introduced the Rates Rebate Scheme for low income people. In Manukau, figures show that around $1,400,000 has already been paid out to since the expanded scheme came into effect on 1 July 2006. An estimated 10,513 households are eligible for a rates rebate of up to $500 this rating year, and up to 300,000 households have benefitted.

Budget 2008 ensured that the rebate income eligibility would be amended to reflect inflation levels. Labour has raised the income threshold from $7,400 to $21,180 per year to help more people with their rates bills.

For older New Zealanders, Labour has committed to increasing New Zealand Super to 66% of the Average Ordinary Time Weekly Wage as part of our confidence and supply agreement with New Zealand First. This means that since 2005 Labour has increased superannuation by $113 a fortnight for a married couple and more than $73 a fortnight for a single living alone.
Labour has cut taxes at the lowest rate so that Super annuitants will benefit directly by paying lower tax on superannuation income. These tax cuts give a married couple and extra $45 a fortnight and a single living alone an extra $23 a fortnight from 1 October 2008. Super annuitants will continue to benefit as Labour’s tax package is rolled out on 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2011.

Adequate benefits for the unemployed (with active mentoring to assist with obtaining jobs) and sickness beneficences can be further improved and I am committed to arguing for these to be lifted.
Labour has made education more accessible through a range of initiatives including the creation of 14,000 modern apprenticeships.

What will you do to strengthen the natural family, and the rights and responsibilities of parents?

I believe the family is the most important building block of our society. Labour will continue to support and strengthen families by:

* Maintaining Labour’s Working for Families programme that has given 300,000 kiwi families a tax break;
* Continuing and extending paid parental leave that allows parents to spend time at home with their children in those vital first few months of life;
* family-friendly policies like 20 hours free early childhood education that reduces the pressure on so many NZ families to make a choice between leaving their children in sub standard day care and taking on an extra job to put food on the table;
* 4 weeks holiday that gives Kiwis an extra week a year to spend with their families.
* Lowering doctors’ fees and prescription charges for all New Zealanders. Most visits have dropped by an average of $22. The prescription fee maximum has been lowered from $15 to $3.
* Introducing flexible working hours so that parents have the right to change their hours at work to spend time with their kids.

Worked hard to change attitudes towards family and sexual violence, through the It’s Not OK! campaign, closing the loophole for child abusers through Section 59 of the Crimes Act, and the trialling of a parenting hearing pilot programme to help resolve disputes in the Family Court. Changes to strengthen the Domestic Violence Act are on the way to better protect victims and enable police to crackdown on domestic crimes.
The Government can’t legislate to make our families loving, peaceful, loyal, hard working, tolerant…that’s up to us as private citizens. But the Government can make policies that reduce poverty, give us more time at home with our families, and offer better social services that look after our education, healthcare and care for the elderly.

Labour has also established the Families Commission in 2004 to advocate for families and encourage a better understanding of family issues amongst government agencies and the wider community. It has some excellent resources. www.nzfamilies.org.nz.
Labour has also provided funding certainty to the community and voluntary sector by creating a new funding model worth an additional $446 million over four years, which will see essential services funded for the full cost of delivery. E.g. parenting programmes, support for at risk youth, women’s refuge services, family violence programmes, and services for victims of crime will benefit. The type of services this will benefit include: Parenting programmes such as Barnardos and FamilyWorks, Women’s’ refuges and family violence prevention and crisis programmes, Budgeting advice services, Mentoring programmes for young people and community programmes to address youth offending, Victim support.

What does your party see as the urgent issues in education in New Zealand?

Continuing the investment in public education from early childhood to tertiary. Labour believes that good education is essential to building a knowledge economy. It ensures that every Kiwi regardless of who they are, and where they come from, can achieve their full potential, and play their part in New Zealand’s society and economy.
(1) Labour will also help prepare young children for school with our new free “School Ready” check ups which are rolling out across the country. To succeed in the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, our children need to be able to see the board and hear their teacher. If they can’t, then we need to pick that up as early as possible so we can address it. These checks will help ensure that all New Zealand children have the opportunity to succeed, and our children arrive at school ready and able to learn.
(2) Reducing class sizes for new entrants to one teacher for every fifteen pupils beginning 2009. (We have already achieved 1:18). We have committed the funding for an additional 762 teachers, and for learning spaces, furniture and equipment, to make this happen.
(3) Schools Plus.
Labour will ensure that our kids are in school or some form of workplace training until they are 18. Schools under Schools Plus will be the base from where students begin youth apprenticeships, obtain work skills or continue with programmes of work that lead to university or tertiary education. This will continue to build strong partnerships between schools, employers, tertiary education organisations and communities.
(4) Professional development for teachers will also be available to ensure a high quality teaching workforce meets the varying needs of students in their schools.
(5) More teachers mean better quality education for all children
Labour will continue to invest in funding for extra teachers – especially in in-demand areas such as technology and Te Reo Māori. Since 1999 Labour has provided more than 6000 new teachers over and above those required for role growth.
(6) Labour is also committed to continuing investment in teachers’ pay and professional development. We will also maintain our commitment to increasing the range of opportunities available to new, existing, or aspiring principals.
An education system that achieves
NZ is in the top tier of OECD countries for reading, mathematics and science. Our system scores highly in the areas of special education, school improvement, and early childhood education.
(7) A brand new and future-proof curriculum
Labour will continue to roll out the new curriculum designed to support school students developing the values and competencies and gaining the knowledge they need for the 21st century.
As well as knowing facts and figures, the curriculum also focuses on how to use knowledge effectively and apply it outside the classroom. Consultation on this important document included input from 15,000 New Zealanders, 10,000 submissions on the final draft and comprehensive peer reviews from both the UK and Australia.
(8) From the beginning of 2009 Labour will make it easier for more students to receive a student allowance, by reducing the age at which parents’ incomes are considered for an allowance and further increasing the parental income threshold for student allowances

Labour has capped tuition fee rises for tertiary education through the Fees Maxima policy. (except in very special cases, universities cannot increase fees by more than 5 per cent per year.)
Labour has introduced the 20 Hours Free ECE policy. Over 85,000 3 and 4-year olds (83 per cent of those eligible) receive the best possible start to life through quality free early childhood education.
Labour has also:
Built 23 brand new schools, 310 new classrooms and 10 new school gyms across the country in Budgets 2007 and 2008 alone. Since 1999 we have provided the money to build 42 new schools and kura as well as upgrading existing facilities around the country.
Continued to invest in literacy and numeracy programmes. Consequently, the percentage of students leaving school with little or no attainment has dropped from 18 per cent of all leavers in 2002 to 11 per cent of school leavers in 2006.
Reduced suspension rates in schools by 17% since 2000, now at an eight year low. The overall Māori suspension rate has dropped by 25% since 2000, through the Suspension Reduction Initiative.
Provided 702 more Year 1 teachers to bring the teacher: pupil ratio down to 1:18 by 2008. Budget 2008 included funding to reduce class sizes to 1:15, which will fulfil our 2005 manifesto commitment.
Since 1999 we have provided over 6000 new teachers over and above the roll growth requirements.
Launched a new curriculum for a new century. It is designed to support school students developing the values and competencies and gaining the knowledge they need for the 21st century. It has been widely welcomed by schools, media and business.
Launched the Youth Apprentice pilot programme for secondary schools. It will offer trades training and work experience so students can earn credits towards an apprenticeship while still at school.

What Labour has delivered 1999–2005:
Ensured that all early childhood education teachers will be qualified and registered by 2012 through the 10-year plan for early childhood education.
Boosted ICT in schools. Every teacher in the country is now eligible for a laptop under the Laptops for Teachers scheme. Over 41,000 have already been delivered to teachers and principals.

Made teacher professional development a focus – including literacy and numeracy leadership programmes, professional development, principal’s leadership and management development, and re-training support for those returning to teaching, among many others.
Established NCEA as our national qualification, an essential centrepiece of our 21st century education system. It provides New Zealand with a unified qualification that values both academic and vocational learning and takes personalised learning to a new level.
Removed the inequitable bulk-funding scheme and made sure more money went to schools in low-income areas in need.
Introduced a literacy and numeracy benchmark so no student can get a senior school qualification without foundation skills.
Started rolling out high speed internet through Project Probe, to connect schools then communities with reliable high quality broadband – now completed.

How will you support our obligations to refugees and asylum seekers?

New Zealand accepts over 700 UN refugees each year but we could do more to assist integration into the community of both refugees and others from different cultures. More government funding for services in more communities would be a start. New Zealand can do better.
Labour has:
* Expanded Language Line to over 50 different government and related depts.
* Given ethnic New Zealanders a voice in government with the appointment of the first Minister of Ethnic Affairs.
* Established the Office of Ethnic Affairs in 2001 to provide a permanent policy and advocacy body for ethnic people.
* Expanded career support services for members of ethnic communities and provided funding for new web services, for example www.newkiwis.co.nz which links new migrants with potential employers.

What will you do to implement New Zealand’s commitment to increase aid to 0.7% of gross national income by 2015?

This Labour Government has lifted its commitment and funding on foreign aid and development. We have made significant progress towards this goal with increases in the aid budget over the last nine years. In 2008/09 the total Vote: ODA stood at $481.9 million (0.33% of GNI) double our ODA vote of six years ago.

Budget 2008 builds on the 20 per cent increase provided in Budget 2007 to New Zealand’s Overseas Development Aid. We are on track to fulfilling our election pledge to raise ODA to 0.35 per cent of gross national income by 2010.
Labour has reviewed New Zealand’s aid spending, culminating in the creation of the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) to manage New Zealand’s aid spending, getting it to where it’s needed most. Our priority aid focus is targeted in the South Pacific as this is the region where we can achieve the most.
I will keep advocating within my Party to increase the percentage each year until it hits 0.7%.

What steps do you propose to reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels?

First, recognise that it is a problem.
Labour has a comprehensive plan to move towards a carbon neutral and sustainable New Zealand. We’ve introduced clear renewable energy goals, an energy efficiency strategy to encourage more energy efficient infrastructure, and the Emissions Trading Scheme. The Emissions Trading Scheme is part of the plan to meet the climate change challenge.
We launched the new interactive website www.sustainability.govt.nz that gives New Zealanders practical advice about what can be done to make our country sustainable. Visit www.briankelly.org.nz for other practical ideas.

The Labour-led government is taking leadership in the world with our goal for a carbon-neutral, sustainable economy. Taking leadership is the right thing to do and gives NZ an economically competitive advantage in sustainability research. Meeting the challenges of climate change is both the economically smart thing and the ethical thing to do.
Labour has also:

* Ratified the Kyoto protocol.
* Implemented a biofuels sales obligation which will ensure biofuels will make up at least 2.5 per cent of fuel companies’ sales by the year 2012.
* Committed to a target of 90 per cent renewable electricity generation by 2025.
* Launched the EnergyWise Loans programme to provide an interest subsidy and grants for the installation of clean heating, insulation, and other energy efficiency measures to provide New Zealanders with warmer, drier homes. This complements the EnergyWise Home Grants programme which has already retrofitted 40,000 homes.
* Launched a cash grants scheme which provides $500 grants for the installation of solar water heating in homes.
* Set the bold target of halving transport emissions by 2040.
* Encouraged the planting of new forests on erosion prone land, and devolved carbon credits to forest owners through the Permanent Forestry Sink Initiative.
* Increased funding for research into sustainable and environmentally friendly energy supplies. These include wind, solar and marine generation.
* Provided leadership by committing 34 core public service departments to carbon neutrality by 2012.

Are you in favour of repealing the Prostitution Law Reform Bill?

No. However, in reading the Report of the Prostitution Law Reform Committee on the Operation of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 (Ministry of Justice May 2008), I would support their recommendation of a further review in 2018.