AMY ADAMS MP for Selwyn - News

Making housing affordable

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:38:23 +1200

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

Supporting low-income families

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 21 May 2013 09:37:24 +1200

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

Budget builds momentum to a brighter future

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 17 May 2013 07:21:10 +1200

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

Combating rheumatic fever

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 14 May 2013 08:24:15 +1200

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

Supporting parents and communities to lift educational achievement

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:11:28 +1200

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

Budgeting Services get extra funding

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:07:19 +1200

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

Strengthening animal welfare laws in New Zealand

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:04:09 +1200

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

Strong New Zealand demand for shares

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:03:34 +1200

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.

Supporting frontline conservation

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:21:25 +1200

National has allocated an extra $20 million over four years to the Department of Conservation (DOC) in Budget 2013 to provide additional frontline roles and upgrade recreational facilities.

One of National’s priorities this term is to build a more competitive and productive economy, and tourism opportunities on conservation land provide benefits to the environment, local communities, and the economy.

This funding announcement is early so it can be taken into account before DOC finalises its restructuring plans. $15 million will be used to increase DOC’s frontline workforce by about 60, with positions including visitor information, support staff, and rangers. And $5 million is for recreational facilities, such as the network of walks and new cycle trails.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40871

Better support for dementia care

nospam@example.com (admin) — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:20:36 +1200

National has made addressing dementia a priority as part of our drive to deliver better public services.

This week we announced aged care and dementia services will benefit from an extra $70 million over the next four years.

We’re supporting older New Zealanders to be healthier and independent in their own homes or in aged care. That’s why we’re putting extra money into funding better awareness, early detection, and care of dementia.

We’ve added nearly $32 million into dementia services in the past two budgets and we’ve increased the number of dementia care beds across the country by 24 per cent since 2008.

Further information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40876

Investment in science

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:15:27 +1200

As part of National’s internationally-focused growth package to help Kiwi companies compete more successfully internationally, we’ve announced $73.5 million to fund the National Science Challenges.

These challenges will help tackle the big science-based issues and opportunities facing New Zealand. Our science system is an important part of our economic and people-to-people linkages to the wider world.

The challenge research will provide New Zealand with opportunities for innovation and business development on the world stage. This will contribute to our priority this term of building a more competitive and productive economy.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40885

Investing in tourism for jobs and growth

nospam@example.com (admin) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:14:11 +1200

National will commit $158 million over four years to tourism in Budget 2013 as part of our commitment to building a more competitive and productive economy.

This new funding will boost our marketing of New Zealand to the world, encourage investment, bring more international events to our shores, simplify visa processes, and attract more high-value tourists.

In the year ended March 2012 tourism generated $9.6 billion of revenue and was responsible for 15.4 per cent of export earnings. It was 3.3 per cent of GDP and employed 6.2 per cent of the workforce.

The new funding includes $44.5 million to attract visitors from new markets like India, Indonesia, and Latin America; and $34 million for business events, to support proposed new convention centres in Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40809
http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40808
http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40807

$4.5 million for youth services

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:10:29 +1200

National will continue to put $4.5 million into 46 service providers so they can continue working with young New Zealanders. As part of National’s drive to deliver better public services, this funding is to support youth service providers to deliver services to improve the lives of young people. These services include entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, and supporting young people to achieve through leadership initiatives.

The Services for Young People fund is administered by the Ministry of Youth Development. It provides funding to a range of community based organisations to create opportunities for all 12-to 24-year-olds to engage with their communities, be part of that community’s success, and learn new skills.

For more information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=40862

New insight into regional economies

nospam@example.com (admin) — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:09:43 +1200

This week the Government released the first annual Regional Economic Activity Report, which outlines the economic performance of New Zealand’s 16 regions.

It also provides a breakdown at a regional level of some of the specific initiatives the Government has underway under its Business Growth Agenda.

Nothing creates jobs and boosts incomes better than business growth. For New Zealand to build a more competitive and productive economy, one of National’s main priorities, we need all our regions to achieve to their potential.

Each region needs to assess its performance and decide whether it is willing to take the opportunities that exist for jobs and economic growth.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40874

Read the report: www.mbie.govt.nz/regions

Youth crime down, and reoffending down

nospam@example.com (admin) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 07:29:11 +1200

National’s priority of delivering better public services is getting results. Reoffending has been cut by eight per cent since National’s Better Public Services June 2011 benchmark. This means there are 1,476 fewer repeat offenders, and more than 5,904 fewer victims of crime each year.

National has a target of a 25 per cent reduction in reoffending by 2017, which will result in 18,500 fewer victims each year.

Youth crime is also down 14 per cent since the June 2011 benchmark, thanks to the Government’s smarter approach to youth offending.

This decrease is well ahead of the Government’s target of a five per cent drop in youth crime by June 2017.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40781 and http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=40779