AMY ADAMS MP for Selwyn

National has announced a package to make housing more affordable, and improve access to social housing.

In Budget 2013 the Government is working with councils to increase land supply, and streamline planning and consent processes.

Housing accords will allow thousands of new homes to be approved faster, helping meet demand, and making housing more affordable.

We’re ensuring social housing is there for those who need it, for the duration of that need.

We are developing a housing Warrant of Fitness to improve the health, safety, and welfare of Housing NZ tenants, extending reviewable tenancies, and shifting to a fairer way of assessing people’s housing needs.

Rent subsidies will also be extended to community housing providers – we’re focused on providing for those in need, not on who owns the bricks and mortar.

Making housing more affordable for families in need delivers on National’s promise to deliver better public services.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=41005

National is giving greater support to low-income families. Budget 2013 delivers on National’s commitment to support families in need, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively during tight financial times.

Budget 2013 includes support to grow the social housing sector, and a $100 million investment in warmer, healthier homes for those most in need. There is a continued commitment to implementing the Children’s Action Plan, and $189 million further funding for our welfare reforms.

There’s also an extra $35 million to support extended family members raising children, a plan to explore microfinance support, and we’ll be procuring whiteware to bring down costs for beneficiaries.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=41006

This year’s Budget confirms New Zealand is on the right track. It provides more support for families, and it forecasts more economic growth, more jobs, rising wages, and a return to surplus in 2014/15.

The Budget builds on the momentum created by National’s previous four Budgets, and affirms our commitment to responsibly manage the Government’s finances, while at the same time investing in growth and delivering better public services.

We’re spending $5.1 billion over four years on new initiatives in areas such as science and innovation, health, education, welfare, housing and helping the most vulnerable. And we’re signalling ACC levy cuts that will benefit families, and businesses across New Zealand.

New Zealand needs a stronger economy to earn its way in the world, and create more jobs, and opportunities for hard-working New Zealanders. Budget 2013 will help to deliver that.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40999

National’s drive to combat rheumatic fever, part of our commitment to deliver better public services, will receive a $21.3 million boost in Budget 2013.

Rheumatic fever is a serious, yet preventable, disease and has been a problem for too long. We’ve set the ambitious Better Public Services target to reduce the incidence of rheumatic fever by two thirds to 1.4 cases per 100,000 people by June 2017.

The funding boost will include $11.25 million over four years for sore-throat drop-in clinics to reach at-risk families, almost $5 million on an awareness campaign helping families protect their children, research towards a vaccine, and establishing an Auckland-wide healthy homes referral and advice service.

This almost doubles the substantial $24 million investment already being made to fight rheumatic fever.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40903

National is investing $80.5 million over four years to help support parents and communities to play their part in lifting educational achievement.

$63.6 million will go to the successful Positive Behaviour for Learning programme – which helps address problem behaviour in young people.  $14.5 million will support boards of trustees, and $2.4 million will go to Connecting Communities – to help families engage with early childhood services.

It’s vital everyone with a role in a child’s education – parents, caregivers, whānau, communities, early childhood services, schools, boards, teachers – be supported to do their best.

Ensuring every child gets a good education is the most important thing National can do to create a more competitive and productive economy – one of our priorities.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40920

In recognition of the good work Budgeting Services do to help people manage their income, National has allocated an extra $1.5 million for 2013/14.

Budgeting Services provides tools and knowledge to help people manage their budgets without getting into debt, or financial crisis. This is especially important for people on low incomes.

One of our priorities is delivering better public services to New Zealanders, and we are supporting people on low incomes by investing more money into organisations providing budgeting advice and support.

Funding applications for Budgeting Services providers open on Monday 13 May and close Friday 24 May with providers notified by 31 May.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40913

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill introduced to Parliament this week will enable New Zealand to build a more competitive and productive economy by updating and strengthening animal welfare law.

We earn about $20 billion a year exporting high-value animal products like meat, milk and wool, and this is largely because of our reputation for having one of the best animal welfare systems in the world –  but we’re always looking for improvements.

There are 15 codes of welfare, and proposed amendments allow us to create enforceable regulations to support these. The bill details how farm and domestic animals should be treated, and gives wider powers to deal with people who breach welfare laws. It also supports our recently-launched Animal Welfare Strategy.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40924

More than 113,000 New Zealanders have bought shares in Mighty River Power, fulfilling the Government’s commitment to encourage widespread New Zealand ownership.

Of the shares offered, 86.5 per cent will be in New Zealand hands, which meets National’s commitment to ensure at least 85-90 per cent local ownership.

The sale proceeds of $1.7 billion mean New Zealand taxpayers receive an excellent return. This money will go into the Future Investment Fund that the Government can then invest in other assets, such as modern schools and hospitals, without having to borrow on volatile overseas markets.

Mighty River Power is the first company off the blocks in the Government’s share offer programme, which is expected to free up $5 billion to $7 billion.  This policy is part of our wider plan to responsibly manage the Government’s finances and build a more competitive and productive economy.