Dear John --
Health
My colleagues and I are continuing to focus on the problems that Kiwi voters told us needed fixing last year. Health, Education and Law and Order require big changes after six years of costly systems reviews rather than delivery of real and tangible solutions.
I know that supporting people to good health is very important. I am pleased therefore to report on the practical solutions that Dr Shane Reti is working on to improve the health outcomes for thousands of New Zealand families.
One of the most difficult illnesses that we face is cancer and Dr Reti recently announced two new cancer treatments will be added to the 13 life-extending cancer drugs already promised, due to a further $604million boost in funding.
One such drug, Keytruda, will be funded for eligible people in respect of five different types of cancer including advanced triple-negative breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Pharmac also announced that Opdivo, which treats kidney cancer, will be funded from 1 November and with Keytruda it will be accessible to 600 patients in the first year rising to 2,300 over five years.
A target has been set for 90 per cent of patients to receive cancer management within 31 days of the decision to treat and an extra $18 million a year is to be provided to help people who need to travel for treatment.
Pharmac will be funded for 11 new treatments for other (non-cancer) conditions over four years like diabetes.
Another part of supporting the Health sector is increasing its skilled workforce which already numbers around 85,000 people. Scholarships from Health NZ, managed by Rural Women New Zealand, have recently been awarded to 27 health care students to boost the future rural health workforce.
Support for the training of 500 mental health workers is also under way.
Law and Order continues to be in the spotlight as we continue to work on supporting victims not offenders. The passing of the Gang Legislation Amendment last week represents a big part of the recent work.
As a Coalition Government, we’re backing our Police with additional powers and resources to disrupt and control organised crime groups. We have enabled the establishment of local Gang Disruption Units and National Gang Units that will identify, target, and catch priority offenders and put a stop to the misery they cause in our communities.
The Coalition Government welcomes Police’s announcement to deploy an additional 70 police to Community Beat Teams (63 for Auckland) and 72 more to the Gang Disruption Units in specific areas (14 for Auckland).
Crime rates are dropping and the statistics show Child and Youth Offending are down 15 per cent after rising measurably since 2021 and violent offending is down with the number of victims reduced by 20,000 as at April this year.
Education
It is good to see the first statistics out around Education show there has been a 2 per cent improvement in students’ school attendance figures for the year to the end of term one 2024. Not a bad result for a target so recently implemented.
The Prime Minister and Minister of Education have announced the Government’s new Maths Action Plan ‘Make it Count’, and implementation of Structured Literacy in schools. To facilitate these, improved teacher training is occurring so teachers are well prepared to support new learners and struggling readers beginning with Years 0-6 in 2025.
Government unlocking potential of AI
Science, Innovation and Technology is a great portfolio because it supports the sector that is the future of New Zealand’s technological and scientific growth and central to exploring the potential for New Zealand to become a centre of excellence for discoveries and developments.
As an example, it is predicted that by 2038 AI (Artificial Intelligence) will contribute $76 billion to New Zealand’s GDP. The newly announced AI Activator will become a way to unlock these greater returns and productivity for New Zealand businesses and organisations through access to AI research experts, technical assistance, AI tools and resources as well as options for funding and grants.
Announcements from the Aerospace Summit in Christchurch
Just this week Minister of Transport Simeon Browne and I announced the Government’s light-touch regulatory approach to advanced aviation.
Drones and uncrewed aircraft have been around for a few years now but these ‘novel aviation technologies” have the potential to revolutionize aviation and significantly impact global aviation, communications and emergency management as well as advancing science.
By having minimal regulations that allow flexibility and innovations without high compliance costs and administration, we will encourage foreign aerospace-related businesses to come here to New Zealand to take advantage of that plus our natural advantages of clear skies, isolated geography and a talented science-related workforce.
Our Government wants to establish the ‘sandbox’ or a special restricted airspace where tests for advanced aviation can be carried out safely in clearly defined separation from other aviation activities.
I was proud to announce the New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy, which outlines the ambitions for these interlinked sectors, and the actions that will realise them.
The New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy is available on the MBIE website: New Zealand Space and Advanced Aviation Strategy 2024-2030 | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (mbie.govt.nz) <[link removed]>
The Government’s focus is on creating the right environment to unlock the significant economic growth offered by the high-tech, high-productivity aerospace sector – this is the bright future for New Zealand that I am very pleased to support and promote.
The Government is focussed on rebuilding the country and our economy. Already interest rates and inflation are down and my colleagues and I are backing New Zealand and New Zealanders as we focus on our goal which is getting New Zealand back on track.
Best wishes,
Judith
Hon Judith Collins KC
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NZ National Party - 41 Pipitea St, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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