24 November 2024 represents the one year anniversary of this government. And leading into this special milestone was a fascinating week in politics. 

Hikoi, Car-koi, Carnival

The ‘hikoi’ landed at Parliament on Tuesday which prompted us to distribute our Leader’s response on Wednesday. Winston pointed out an obvious truth - that the hikoi wasn’t the grassroots activity it was made out to be, but a Māori Party astroturf. And for some reason the Labour Party is joining them in a race to the bottom. Listen to Winston’s debate here.

Shane also contributed to the discussion - see the excerpt below and hear his speech here. 

“Māoridom know, as my leader has just said, that the carnival is over; now it's back to the grindstone of life. Put your hands upon the plough. Look after ourselves. Stop all these false expectations that somehow through a hīkoi, somehow through endless debates about the Treaty that work will emerge, investment will flow, security will be widespread. That comes from the sweat of thy brow. I love sounding in this old-fashioned way, because that's what's missing from that particular narrative.”

Getting tough on gangs

The day after the hikoi our new anti-gang laws took effect after the stroke of midnight - resulting in a gang patch ban arrest three minutes later. Casey Costello is our Law and Order spokesperson and with a career in the police spanning 27 years and a stint as Deputy Chair of the Police Association - she knows a thing or two about crime. Casey gives her take on our efforts to stop gang life being a career choice - and highlighting it as the pathway to misery it really is. 

The new anti-gang laws include:

• A ban on gang insignia in public places
• Making gang membership an aggravating factor in criminal offending at sentencing.
• Non-consorting orders that will disperse public gatherings.

New Zealand First has always and always will be tough on crime, and organised criminal activities are squarely in our sights. Watch Casey’s take here.

Eye on puberty blockers

The Ministry of Health has announced new rules that restrict the prescribing and use of puberty blockers.

Those new restrictions come into effect immediately. 

The lack of any evidence about the safety and long term effects of puberty blockers on children has been gathering momentum around the world. 

The Government has also released a consultation document that proposes even further restrictions on puberty blockers under the Medicines Act. This consultation will be complete in January. 

During the election campaign New Zealand First actively and consistently spoke on restricting the use of puberty blockers on children and we are pleased to see the first step has been taken by the ministry to restrict their use - once that feedback and consultation period has been completed our party will continue to be the voice of reason and commonsense when the next steps are taken.

Share Facebook Winston’s message here

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