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New Zealand Labour Party - Latest News [Page 551]
Minister in denial over R&D
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 4:03 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Wayne Mapp's claim that his government's axing of Labour's R&D tax credit has not put New Zealand at a competitive disadvantage compared to Australia shows how out of the touch the Government is, says Labour’s Spokesperson for Research & Development, ... More >>
PM’s cycleway peddling towards trouble
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 3:43 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Government has confirmed that it has no information on how many ‘great rides’ will be built for $50 million and that no money for promoting the cycleway is available, Labour’s Tourism Spokesperson Kelvin Davis says. “Associate Tourism Minister ... More >>
National shows lack of commitment to arts
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 3:42 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Labour spokesperson for arts, culture and heritage Steve Chadwick says cutting the ‘Artists in Schools’ funding in the budget is yet another example of the lack of commitment to the arts by this Government. “The small investment of $8000 for ... More >>
Gerry’s streams now looking like dry river beds
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 3:36 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Some of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee’s six workstreams from the Jobs Summit are looking more like dry river beds as work on them slows to a trickle, says Labour economic development spokesperson Shane Jones. “Clearly he will give ... More >>
Sign Language classes another casualty of ACE Cuts
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 1:24 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The slashing of Adult and Community Education (ACE) funding will have a devastating impact on the ability of people to learn Sign Language in community classes, says Lynne Pillay Labour Spokesperson for Disability Issues. “The majority of New Zealand ... More >>
Government slams door shut on polytech students
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 12:44 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Thousands of aspiring polytechnic students are set to be turned away after the Government confirmed the polytechs were likely to face financial penalties if they enrol them, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Maryan Street. “This is another ... More >>
Radio New Zealand charter marred by freeze
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 11:41 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The welcome introduction of a bill renewing Radio New Zealand’s charter is marred by a freeze on its funding, says Labour’s broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns. Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman last night introduced the Radio New Zealand ... More >>
Importance of vehicle patrols to community safety
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 11:23 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The charitable donation of a new “crime watch” vehicle in Papanui symbolises the vital role vehicle patrols play in enhancing community safety, say Labour Leader Phil Goff and Waimakariri MP and law and order spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove. Phil ... More >>
IRD needs to beef up staff to cope with problems
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 10:32 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The Inland Revenue Department needs to be beefing up staff numbers, not looking for voluntary redundancies, as it seeks to manage a growing tax debt problem, says Labour revenue spokesperson Stuart Nash. Stuart Nash says he shares the concern of the Auditor-General ... More >>
Proposed student loan threshold changes harsh
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 10:00 am | New Zealand Labour Party
Labour welcomes Revenue Minister Peter Dunne’s plans to simplify student loan repayments, but believes the proposed changes to thresholds would be harsh and punitive, says the party’s Tertiary Education Spokesperson Maryan Street. “Mr Dunne today released ... More >>
Garrett should apologise to Tongan community
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 9:58 am | New Zealand Labour Party
Labour List MP Carmel Sepuloni MP is repeating her call for Act MP David Garrett to apologise to the Tongan community for the inappropriate comments he made. Carmel Sepuloni, who is of Tongan descent, called on Mr Garrett to apologise two days ago ... More >>
Minister stalls on ACC levy cuts
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 9:55 am | New Zealand Labour Party
ACC Minister Nick Smith appears to have confirmed today that he is stalling changes which would reduce ACC levies so he that can mask cuts to entitlements in the same legislation, says its ACC spokesman David Parker. “Dr Smith has already confirmed ... More >>
Government must step up for the meat industry
Thursday, 25 June 2009, 9:51 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The MAF report on the New Zealand meat industry delivers no radical recommendations but reinforces the need for greater coordination and cooperation among the players at every level of the industry, said Labour’s Rural Affairs spokesperson Damien ... More >>
Nats leave vulnerable open to scams and rip-offs
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 5:15 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The National Party’s refusal to impose any form of regulation on the sale of franchise operations means desperate people have been left vulnerable to being ripped off and scammed, Labour’s Commerce Spokesperson Lianne Dalziel says. “People who have ... More >>
Selling off state housing stock not the answer
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 4:48 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
National’s plan to sell state houses to tenants creates risks to the long-term provision of social housing and could see new tenants pushed to city fringes, Labour’s housing spokesperson Moana Mackey. “Housing Minister Phil Heatley’s plan to allow ... More >>
Collins ducks responsibility for “additional risk”
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 3:29 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
Police say that the $21 million cut to resources forced on them by National creates “an additional risk” for New Zealanders, but Police Minister Judith Collins is fobbing responsibility off as an operational matter, Labour law and order spokesperson ... More >>
Third time lucky for 9 day fortnight?
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 2:35 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Government is scrambling to patch up its flagship 9 day fortnight scheme for the third time, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today. Documents obtained and released by Labour today reveal Social Development Minister Paula Bennett is having a third ... More >>
Dole Queues To Double As Government Does Nothing
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 2:09 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
The Government today confirmed unemployment numbers are projected to double to at least 90,000, at the same time as it is slashing training and employment initiatives, say Labour MPs Ruth Dyson and Maryan Street. More >>
Broadband delays starting to look like backsliding
Wednesday, 24 June 2009, 9:22 am | New Zealand Labour Party
The rollout of broadband to New Zealand homes was a central promise in National’s election campaign, but seven months after the election the Government is deferring further announcements for another two months, says Labour communications and IT spokesperson ... More >>
Key not doing enough to keep Kiwis in work
Tuesday, 23 June 2009, 3:35 pm | New Zealand Labour Party
John Key’s admission that unemployment numbers are worse than forecast is further evidence that his Government is not taking the urgent action needed to protect Kiwi jobs, Labour Leader Phil Goff said today. “The Prime Minister promised back in ... More >>
