New Zealand National Party

On Monday John Key announced National's policy to improve the literacy and numeracy skills of New Zealand's children.

577 views

National Party Police spokesman Chester Borrows welcomes the Police Association's law and order policy document.

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More than 80,000 people voted with their feet in the past 12 months, says National's Immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith.

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National's Energy spokesman, Gerry Brownlee, says he hopes Labour's belated admission that there is a power crisis has not come too late.

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Labour's fatally flawed dual mandate for Television New Zealand has been laid bare by figures that show a decrease in the level of local content on state-owned television, contrary to what the charter was designed to achieve, says National's Broadcasting spokesman, Jonathan Coleman.

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National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Energy Minister David Parker should be thinking seriously about ordering a public power saving campaign for winter.

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National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says with reports of overcrowding and squalor, Labour is still failing to adequately manage the spare capacity in the state housing stock.

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"Labour Ministers claiming to be in the dark about corruption allegations at the Immigration Service have previously answered 43 questions about it," says National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith.

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The public will see right through Education Minister Chris Carter's announcement today of an extra $171.6 million in operational funding to schools, says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

536 views

The number of people leaving New Zealand over a 12-month period has reached a 29-year high, says National's Immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith.

643 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith is continuing to question Immigration Ministers over what they knew about claims of corruption bribery and fraud within the Immigration Service.

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The National Party's Shadow Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, says the announcement from Phil Goff about the Government's re-election chances and his leadership aspirations "is a sign warfare is breaking out within Labour."

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A recent review of sexually transmitted diseases in 2007* should jolt Labour out of its complacency and into action, says National's Associate Health spokeswoman, Jackie Blue, and the party's Youth Affairs spokeswoman, Nicky Wagner.

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National Party State Services spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Helen Clark's claim that she was never told about issues relating to Mary Anne Thompson's CV is difficult to accept.

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National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says he does not buy the claims of senior Labour Minsters that they knew nothing of the trouble at the Pacific branch of the Immigration Service.

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Environment Minister Trevor Mallard has been forced to admit his beleaguered Ministry has bungled again by cancelling public workshops to enable a staff member to take a jaunt to Australia, says National's Associate Environment spokeswoman, Jacqui Dean.

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National Party Ethnic Affairs spokeswoman Pansy Wong is urging the Government to send earthquake experts to China as the devastating effects of the Sichuan earthquake become clear.

757 views

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says Labour's pre-Budget 'shared equity' announcement is a "recycled policy reheated" for election year.

507 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith is confident that Ministers in the Labour Government will try to wash their hands of more serious questions levelled at the Pacific branch of the Immigration Service.

581 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says Labour's claim that the inquiry into unlawful decisions at the Immigration Service was just an employment matter has been shot to bits.

604 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says the Government must release the terms of reference for the probes that have been conducted and are currently being conducted into the Immigration Service.

602 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith wants to know why Clayton Cosgrove knew all about a secret report into allegations levelled at Mary-Anne Thompson but the man who preceded him as Immigration Minister did not.

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National Party Health spokesman Tony Ryall is demanding a full investigation into why overseas visitors have been receiving subsidised medicines which they are not entitled to.

495 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says senior Labour Ministers have known about serious claims levelled at a top manager of the Immigration Service for more than a year.

657 views

The new police Code of Conduct does not address the issue of officers' sexual relationships with members of the public, as recommended by the Bazley report, says National's Police spokesman, Chester Borrows.

678 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says the resignation of Immigration Service boss Mary-Anne Thompson does not signal 'closure', as the department says.

590 views

"Trevor Mallard needs to tell New Zealanders when Labour's policy changed on golden handshakes," says National's State Services spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

762 views

MARTINBOROUGH — Wairarapa MP John Hayes has established a taskforce to investigate the viability of establishing a cuisine school in Martinborough, independent of involvement with UCOL.

1,727 views

Labour's trumpeting of a survey that apparently has nine out of ten women saying they were pleased with their maternity care is pure political spin to hide a worsening workforce crisis, says National Party MP Katrina Shanks.

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TAURANGA — National Party MP Bob Clarkson today announced he will not now be standing as a candidate for the Tauranga seat in the 2008 general election.

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COROMANDEL — Annette King's blind refusal to address safety concerns surrounding the Kopu Bridge is a slap in the face for the people of Thames-Coromandel, says National's Transport spokesman, Maurice Williamson.

297 views

Waiting times for criminal trials and the number of outstanding cases in the High Court continue to increase at an alarming rate, says National's Associate Justice spokeswoman, Kate Wilkinson.

205 views

Today's announcement that Labour is finally adopting random sampling of NCEA marking is not only an admission of failure but comes at least seven years too late says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

236 views

Michael Cullen has left a huge vacuum of unanswered questions over his decision to squander $665 million of taxpayer money on a new train set, says National's Transport spokesman, Maurice Williamson.

255 views

WELLINGTON — The Government must explain how UCOL is able to establish a branch of Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Wellington, contrary to its anti-regionalisation policy, says National's Tertiary Education spokesman, Paul Hutchison.

339 views

MARTINBOROUGH — Wairarapa residents will be devastated to learn that UCOL has let them down and now plans to locate the Cordon Bleu catering school outside Wairarapa, says Wairarapa MP John Hayes.

1,338 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says Government Ministers should reveal whether they knew about the Immigration Service cover up of serious allegations against one of its top officials.

332 views

The power plant that the Energy Minister described as 'a last cab off the rank' in terms of emergency generation is now in regular use.

390 views

National will ditch the need for early childhood education centres to obtain a second licence if they cater for more than 50 children says National's Associate Education (Early Childhood) spokeswoman, Paula Bennett.

219 views

Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove must ensure that the State Services Commission inquiry into allegations of conflict of interest at the Immigration Service thoroughly investigates all the disturbing allegations revealed today, says National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith.

478 views

New Zealand taxpayers have paid the Electricity Commission $230 million over the past four years but have next to nothing to show for it, says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

467 views

The boating public could be being put at risk by the Tertiary Education Commission's abrupt dropping of funding for New Zealand's only marine search and rescue training certificate without providing a replacement, says National's Tertiary Education spokesman, Paul Hutchison.

204 views

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says Labour's total failure to future proof our energy infrastructure is about to be laid out in front of New Zealand households.

275 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says Immigration Minister Clayton Cosgrove has kept serious claims levelled at a top official secret for months, and his predecessor probably knew too.

230 views

Stays of prosecution are running at the highest level since Labour was elected in 1999, says National's Associate Justice spokeswoman, Kate Wilkinson.

208 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says the about-face from Clayton Cosgrove on serious claims levelled at the Immigration Service puts State Services boss Mark Prebble in a conflicted position.

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National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says the previously secret report into claims levelled at a top official at the Immigration Service makes for alarming reading.

288 views

National Party Immigration spokesman Lockwood Smith says State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble will have to explain why he should conduct a new inquiry into claims swirling around a senior Immigration Service official.

315 views

WEST COAST — "Mums-to-be are paying an increasingly high price for the workforce crisis in maternity services," says National Party MP Katrina Shanks.

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John questions Helen Clark about actions her Government has taken to improve the economy.

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National Party Education spokeswoman Anne Tolley says public schools, as the main provider of education to Kiwi kids, have much to gain from National's commitment to provide education entitlements to all children.

200 views

Labour's record on deporting immigrants who have committed criminal offences is appalling, says National's Immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith.

258 views

The National Science Panel's report issued today is a damning indictment on Labour's record over science policy, says National's Research, Science & Technology spokesman, Dr Paul Hutchison.

270 views

Housing New Zealand is promising to house opposing gangs in neighbouring state houses ‘sensitively’, while desperate families live in “squalid” boarding houses just down the road, says National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley.

207 views

National's push for National Standards for literacy will puncture Labour's complacency over a generation of children who have missed out on sound teaching, says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

200 views

Apprentice plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers are failing to gain registration in appalling numbers because of atrocious literacy and numeracy skills, says National's Associate Education (Trade Training) spokesman, Colin King.

445 views

National's Biosecurity spokesman, Shane Ardern, says MAF Biosecurity's error over its equine influenza testing regime is unacceptable.

189 views

New Zealand will be left without adequate frigate protection with the deployment of Te Mana to the Persian Gulf, says National's Defence spokesman, Wayne Mapp.

264 views

National's Civil Defence spokesman John Carter is surprised the Ministry of Civil Defence and Management does not have a policy on consultation.

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Labour's hypocrisy knows no bounds as was shown in Parliament last week, says National's Local Government spokesman, John Carter.

177 views

National's Education spokeswoman Anne Tolley has issued a 'please explain' to Education Minister Chris Carter over the row involving union and non-unionised teachers.

391 views

MANUKAU CITY — National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley is challenging Maryan Street to say she is certain that Housing New Zealand is not referring vulnerable New Zealanders to 'squalid' South Auckland accommodation.

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Labour's claims about its much-trumpeted innovation fund have been exposed as a façade bereft of critical structural substance, say National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter and the party's Research, Science & Technology spokesman, Paul Hutchison.

201 views

Labour's draconian school food rules are to blame for an Auckland school becoming the 'Birthday Grinch', says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

624 views

AUCKLAND — National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says Maryan Street appears to be out on her own in denying that her department is referring vulnerable New Zealanders to 'squalid' South Auckland accommodation.

767 views

Labour's move to take $35 million from the Maori Trustee to build a Maori economic development agency is getting even murkier, says National's Maori Affairs spokesman, Tau Henare.

317 views

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee says David Parker needs to explain why he is allowing a state-owned energy generator to proceed with plans for a new gas-fired power station in light of his much-hyped thermal ban.

488 views

Police Minister Annette King should tell the public the real story behind the size of increase in police on the front line, says National Party Police spokesman, Chester Borrows.

189 views

District health boards are failing to account for $300 million spent on non-government mental health providers across the country each year, says Jonathan Coleman, National Party Associate Health (mental health) spokesman.

189 views

National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says Helen Clark's promise while in Opposition to 'ensure' couples and those on low incomes can afford to buy their own homes has been laid bare as empty rhetoric.

254 views

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC), the body responsible for driving Labour's so-called tertiary education reforms, is in chaos as shown by the 350% blowout in the cost of consultants in the same year as they churned over 25.5% of their staff, says National's Tertiary Education spokesman, Paul Hutchison.

216 views

National Party ACC spokeswoman Pansy Wong says in celebrating a new report on ACC, Minister Maryan Street continues to skirt around the serious issues raised in a Government review just a year ago.

206 views

National has a different view to NZ First on the value of Asian immigration to New Zealand, says National's Ethnic Affairs spokeswoman, Pansy Wong.

246 views

AUCKLAND — National Party Housing spokesman Phil Heatley says the Housing Minister's categorical denials that HNZ is sending tenants to live in squalid Auckland boarding houses needs to be explained.

415 views

Labour must commit to ensuring the safety of our troops in Afghanistan, says National Party Defence spokesman, Wayne Mapp.

277 views

It is no wonder that Labour will be remembered for nine years of failures when they release another piece of dictatorial policy only to slam the brakes on with a 'discussion document' just weeks later, says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

1,274 views

National Party Broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman says if Michael Cullen has problems with how TVNZ uses its charter money, he should talk to his boss.

202 views

During a robust exchange with Justice Minister Annette King over signage authorisation violations of the EFA on election advertising materials produced by Labour and the Green Party, Bill English manages to obtain the permission of the House to introduce an amendment removing the hazardous requirement that domestic dwelling addresses for authorising agents be included on all electioneering material.

178 views

Labour's failed record on housing affordability is a disgrace, says National's Housing spokesman, Phil Heatley.

230 views

Labour's latest bid to make housing more affordable is yet another example of the Government dumping on local government as it tries to cover up its record of failure, says National's Local Government spokesman, John Carter.

196 views

National's Shadow Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee says the National Party has had absolutely nothing to do with a new media ban imposed by retiring Labour MP and Speaker Margaret Wilson in Parliament.

174 views

CHRISTCHURCH — Worrying questions about patient safety at Christchurch's Hillmorton Hosptial need immediate investigation followed by swift action, says National's Associate Health spokesman, Dr Jonathan Coleman.

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The number of Kiwis heading across the ditch is becoming a national disgrace thanks to Labour, says National's Immigration spokesman, Lockwood Smith.

246 views

Charities Commission choked - snowball's chance of meeting deadline The Charities Commission is choked with applications from not-for-profit organisations to register as charities and is processing them so slowly that the June 30 deadline is an impossible dream, says National's Internal Affairs spokeswoman, Sandra Goudie.

201 views

 School principals are so fed up with increased compliance demands and bureaucratic bungling from the Ministry of Education that they say the core job of teaching is being affected, says National's Education spokeswoman, Anne Tolley.

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Revelations today that the turnover at the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) was a massive 25.5% in the 2006/07 year does not auger well for the implementation of Labour's tertiary reforms, says National's Tertiary Education spokesman, Dr Paul Hutchison.

200 views

The National Party is "alarmed and troubled" by reports of violence in Tibet.

513 views

In a fiery 10 minute speech on the Floor made in response to the Government's Budget Policy Statement, Bill makes forceful accusations of economic mismanagement by Labour.

169 views

Nathan talks about his new role as National Party Senior Whip.

208 views

Paula introduces her new "video column" and talks about the importance of stopping the growth of bureaucracy, as outlined in yesterday's speech by National Party Leader, John Key.

167 views

National's Associate Justice spokeswoman, Kate Wilkinson, says victims of domestic violence in many parts of New Zealand are failing to get access to justice because of problems in the legal aid system.

204 views

On the Floor of the House, John Key responds to the opening speech of the Prime Minister, Helen Clark, with a motion of no confidence.

217 views

Education Spokeswoman Katherine Rich rises in support of the National Party motion of no confidence in the Labour-led Government, paying particular attention to the efforts of the prior Labour Minister in attempting to formulate a speech attacking National.

190 views

The current rate of growth in Freeview uptake means that it will be years before the full switch to digital TV is achieved, says National Party Broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman.

298 views

National's Local Government spokesman, John Carter, is congratulating two Northland mayors for publicly slamming Labour's crippling compliance costs which are making home-ownership a pipe dream for ordinary Kiwis.

205 views

"Labour's review of digital broadcasting regulation sounds more like a plea for ideas than an agenda to manage the changes and growth in an increasingly important medium," says National Party Broadcasting spokesman Jonathan Coleman.

278 views

The Government needs to deal urgently with rapidly worsening waiting times for criminal trials, says National's Justice spokesman, Simon Power.

182 views

The Labour Government should hang its head in shame over New Zealand's position at the bottom of the latest international survey of home affordability, says National's Housing spokesman, Phil Heatley.

216 views

Chris Tremain, the elected National MP for Napier, talks about his challenge to Napier resident Dr Michael Cullen - a constituent - to run against him in the General Elections and the "deafening silence" that invitation was met with.

184 views

National Party Leader John Key says a National Government will scrap the draconian electoral finance legislation.

298 views