New Zealand First

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We are officially under Alert Level 1.

Today is the first day under Alert Level 1. This is a milestone in our COVID-19 fight, the sacrifices we all made as a team of five million made this moment possible.

New Zealand First welcomes this decision. We want to see workers return to their places of work, towns and CBDs returning to normal, and give all businesses, including the retail and hospitality sectors, the best chance of economic recovery following the effects of previous restrictions.

Our leader the Rt Hon Winston Peters has been vocal about returning to Alert Level 1 urgently. NZ First has been a constructive partner in every decision the coalition has made throughout the COVID-19 crisis and this decision was no different.

Our mission now is to help our local businesses recover. We united against COVID-19, now us Kiwis have to Unite for Recovery.

Many of our businesses are still feeling the pinch from the lockdown period under Alert Levels 3 & 4. While nearly all of them resumed operations under Level 2, we still see many New Zealanders becoming unemployed and Kiwi businesses shutting down.

As much as we can, let us support local. Patronize our local businesses, source our supplies from local suppliers and distributors, we all have a part to play to ensure our small and medium businesses get back on track after being blighted by COVID-19.

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Hon Shane Jones for Northland

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New Zealand First MP Hon Shane Jones has announced his candidacy for the electorate of Northland.

Speaking at a New Zealand First meeting in Kerikeri, Northland, Mr Jones said it was a privilege to be selected by the Party and pledged a bold and job-rich campaign reaching out to all Northlanders.

“I will deliver an exciting policy vision for Northland -- my home, with passion.

“I have a strong and determined team up here. We look forward to telling our story of continued Government investment into rail, water storage, roads, digital connectivity, tourism and health after nine years of neglect by the last National Government, said Mr Jones.

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What’s new

New Zealand First welcomes move to Alert Level 1

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New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters welcomes today’s announcement that New Zealand will be moving to Alert Level 1 at midnight tonight.

“There has been a lot of ill-informed speculation about the government parties being divided over Alert Level decisions,” said Mr Peters.

“Today’s decision should put to bed that speculation. New Zealand First has been a constructive partner in every decision the coalition has made throughout the COVID-19 crisis and today’s was no different.

NZ First announces its first tranche of candidates for Election 2020

New Zealand First is pleased to release the names of its first tranche of candidates for the 2020 election.

The includes all sitting New Zealand First Members of Parliament except Clayton Mitchell MP who earlier today announced he will not be seeking re-election.

In alphabetical order they are:

MP Darroch Ball
MP Hon Shane Jones
MP Jenny Marcroft
MP Hon Ron Mark
MP Hon Tracey Martin
MP Mark Patterson
MP Rt Hon Winston Peters
MP Under-Secretary Fletcher Tabuteau

Clayton Mitchell MP not seeking re-election

New Zealand First MP Clayton Mitchell has decided not to seek re-election in this year’s General Election.

“After serious consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to pursue other passions in my life and spend a lot more time with my family.

“It has been one of the best experiences of my life and I’m greatly enriched for having the privilege of serving my country and being a part of the New Zealand First Party for the past six years."

Mr Mitchell first stood for parliament in 2014 running in the seat of Tauranga and has been elected on the New Zealand First list for two terms.

Five Super Hercules aircraft to replace ageing fleet

The Coalition Government has confirmed five Super Hercules aircraft will be purchased to replace the existing fleet that were procured in the 1960's

Having the existing fleet of Hercules out-of-service was a semi-regular occurrence and breakdowns were common place which is one reason why the Minister of Defence and NZ First MP Hon Ron Mark said procurement of the new fleet, "has been my highest capability priority as Minister of Defence.”

New Zealand's Hercules fleet play a critical role in NZ society for example:

Support to DOC, Antarctica NZ, and other Government agencies
Support humanitarian aid and disaster relief (earthquakes, fires and cyclones)
Transporting government personnel
Global coalition support to operations and exercises

NZ First fought for changes to "poorly-targeted" rent dispute policy

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has described Labour's original COVID-19 commercial rent dispute proposal as "poorly targeted".

Mr Peters said Labour had proposed the solution for all existing lease arrangements, and claims his party is responsible for watering the policy down.

"This would've been poorly targeted policy and affected many landlords who've sensibly adapted to the changed circumstances brought by COVID-19," he said.

"Using a sledgehammer to smash a nut is not common-sense. We must remember the sanctity of contracts is a crucial dimension to settled law."

The NZ First leader said his party made sure it's only available for New Zealand-based businesses with 20 or fewer equivalent full time staff, and that it cannot be accessed by businesses that have already come to an agreement with their landlord.

Small-to-medium NZ-based businesses to receive support for rent disputes

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Kiwi based businesses with 20 or fewer equivalent full-time staff will receive a fair reduction in rent if suffered a loss due to COVID-19.

This new temporary clause in the Property Law Act is only applicable if the owner and landlord have not already come to an agreement for a rent abatement.

Businesses can also access Government support to help settle commercial rent disputes that may have occurred due to COVID-19

Any disputes under the new Clause are to be settled by arbitration, and that the Government will subsidise streamlined arbitrations at a rate of $6,000 per arbitration.

Forestry Minister Shane Jones: "Forestry scholarships are more important than ever in our COVID-19 recovery"

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Forestry Scholarships are more important than ever in our COVID-19 recovery. Hon Shane Jones believes investing in the future of forestry through skills, training, and diversification.

If you are a woman and/or Māori with an interest in studying Forestry Science and/or Engineering, applications are still open: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/…/nga-karahipi-uru-rakau-forestry-…/

Scholarship include:

$8,000 a year for 4 years (the length of your chosen degree) to help with your tuition fees and living costs
4 to 10 week paid internship each year with Te Uru Rākau or an appropriate forestry sector employer.

Roading projects underway in Northland

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The Hon Shane Jones will today turn the sod on the first regional transport projects of the New Zealand Upgrade Programme to get under way.

The Minister will attend events to mark the beginning of construction of roundabouts at Puketona and Kawakawa, two of the most significant intersections in Northland’s road network.

“I announced in February investment of $88.25 million on a major road investment plan with construction able to get underway on some projects by the end of August. Today’s events signal an early start to that construction," the Minister said.

PGF investing $19.95 million in Coromandel aquaculture infrastructure

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The aquaculture sector in Thames-Coromandel contributes $70 million to the district’s GDP and is responsible for 350 jobs.

Today Rt Hon Winston Peters announced a $19.95 million investment from the PGF to expand Sugarloaf Wharf and increase mussel farming capacity by almost 20,000 tonnes, bringing additional jobs to the region.

Coromandel produces around 26 per cent of New Zealand greenshell mussels and 24 per cent of Pacific oysters, but current wharf infrastructure will limit the ability to meet demand.

Production is expected to double over the next 10-15 years, creating 550 new jobs, so this investment will help the industry get match fit for those emerging opportunities.

In the House

We update you on developments on New Zealand First members' bills in the House.

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An amendment to the ‘Protection of First Responders Bill’ is being tabled which will see emergency department healthcare workers included in the legislation.

The ‘Protection for First Responders Bill’ will see a mandatory minimum prison sentence of six months for those who intentionally injure our emergency workers.

NZ First Members' Bills drawn from the ballot:

Mark Patterson MP - New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Fair Residency) Amendment Bill

Darroch Ball MP - Protection for First Responders and Prison Officers Bill

Darroch Ball MP - Oranga Tamariki (Youth Justice Demerit Points) Amendment Bill

Have your say

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For more resources on the COVID-19 pandemic and what Alert level 1 means for you, visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/

If you are feeling symptoms and seek medical advice, call Healthline free on 0800 611 116.

Authorised by Rt Hon Winston Peters, Parliament Buildings, Molesworth Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011

About Us.

New Zealand First is the third largest party in the New Zealand Parliament. The Party was formed in 1993 to represent those New Zealanders who were seeking pragmatic, common-sense representation in Parliament.

New Zealand First's policies emphasise accountable and transparent government, common-sense social and economic policy, and the placing of the interests of New Zealand, and New Zealanders, at the forefront of Government decision-making.

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