National has started to roll-out policy for the election
Two significant announcements from National
Dear John,
Hard to believe it's early March - it feels like it's much later in the year than it is! I've been busy around the Hutt, in Parliament and around the country in the last couple of weeks - and it's only going to get busier from here on in. How good was that test match win over England at the Basin! I managed to slip in an afternoon of watching. Incredible stuff.
It is, of course, an election year and National has started to roll-out policies that we'll be fighting for in September and October. On Sunday, Christopher Luxon gave a fantastic "State of the Nation" speech ([link removed]) and announced our "FamilyBoost" policy. ([link removed]) FamilyBoost is childcare tax rebate of up to $75 per week on the costs of childcare and will mean more than 130,000 lower and middle-income families could keep up to $3,900 more of what they earn every year. Families earning up to $180,000 will receive a 25 per cent rebate on their early childhood education expenses, up to a maximum of $75 per week paid directly into their bank account every fortnight.
FamilyBoost will be fully funded by reprioritising Labour’s wasteful spending on consultants and contractors in the public service. Labour promised to cut spending on contractors and consultants. Instead, this spending has exploded - and Chris Hipkins was the Minister in charge of it for five years! In 2017 the consultant spend was $1.2 billion - and it's now $1.7 billion. National will reduce spending on consultants and contractors, saving taxpayers $400 million a year across a range of government departments and Crown entities. Learn more about FamilyBoost here. ([link removed])
The other major announcement of the last couple of weeks has been our "Local Water Done Well ([link removed]) " policy, our alternative to Labour's divisive Three Waters plan. There is undoubtedly a problem with water infrastructure in New Zealand but Labour's approach of confiscating local assets and imposing divisive co-governance has been rejected by communities. National's approach ([link removed]) will be to repeal Labour’s Three Waters legislation and scrap the four mega-entities, with prescribed co-governance, that goes with them. We will then restore council ownership and control, but with stronger central government oversight because we’re not simply going back to the old way of doing things that hasn’t worked. We will set strict rules for water quality, and for investment in infrastructure, so
Kiwis don’t have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches, or having to boil their drinking water. And we will ensure water services are financially sustainable so that future generations don’t inherit outdated or failing infrastructure. We’ll require councils to ringfence money for water infrastructure, instead of spending it on other services.
While National announces policies, the government has been all at sea this week - it turns out the RNZ/TVNZ merger - which has been cancelled - is still costing taxpayers thousands a day ([link removed]) , ex-Labour MPs have got themselves in trouble for political comments ([link removed]) breaching public sector neutrality rules, the government announced and then backtracked on a transport system overhaul in under a day, ([link removed]) and the health system continues to fall apart. ([link removed]) Oh, and don't forget about the $100m "App Tax"
([link removed]) that will mean UberEats and Air BnB that goes up in price by 15%.
Housing Policy: Yesterday I was in Auckland at the Residential Housing Summit ([link removed]) where I gave an overview of our housing policy ([link removed]) for 2023, as well as a policy announcement about "Build to Rent" housing. Build to Rent developments are common overseas but rare in New Zealand. Typically they consist of multi-unit residential developments within walking distance to key transport links. The developments are professionally managed, with great amenities and offer residents a variety of lifestyle options as well as unique security of tenure to tenants. We need more "Build to Rent" developments in NZ and we'll make changes to the Overseas Investment Act and depreciation rules to kick-start the sector. I
understand from Property Council members that, conservatively, a minimum of 25,000 additional Build-to-Rent homes could be built in the next 10 years if the Government settings were right. That’s a lot of kiwis with warm, quality, professionally managed roofs over their heads. And it would make a substantive difference to solving our housing crisis.
Around the Hutt: It's school fair season in the Hutt at the moment - was great to support Epuni School and Boulcott School in the last couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to Kelson tonight. I'm on the barbie so come and say hello. And watch out for me and Emma Chatterton at the Riverbank markets in the coming weeks.
Have a great weekend and go the Black Caps!
Chris
P.S If you're keen to help in the election campaign in Hutt South, then click here! ([link removed])
The next National Government will support Kiwi families bearing the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis by delivering the FamilyBoost childcare tax rebate of up to $75 per week.
National’s FamilyBoost childcare tax rebate is expected to help 130,000 low-and middle-income families keep more of what they earn, with up to $75 more in their after-tax pay each week.
Families earning up to $180,000 will receive a 25 per cent rebate on their early childhood education expenses, to a maximum of $3,900 per year depending on their income.
FamilyBoost will be available to families using licenced early childhood education providers, including kindergartens, kōhanga reo, education and care centres, and licenced home-based care.
FamilyBoost will cost $249 million per year and will be fully funded from money saved reversing the blow-out in wasteful spending on public sector consultants overseen by Chris Hipkins as Public Services Minister.
Announcing new policy on Build to Rent
Read all the details here. ([link removed])
Riverbank Markets
At the Riverbank Markets with Emma Chatteron (our Remutaka candidate) on Saturday. We'll be there regularly for the year and I'll advertise on FB and in this newsletter. Swing by to say hello!
No accident I promise...
Saffie and Penelope from our local St John Youth visited me at Parliament a couple of weeks ago to practice putting a sling on someone quickly. They’ll be competing for the central region at the annual Youth Festival later in the year and their homework was to practice on someone ‘famous’. Not sure I qualify, but their skills are outstanding. Good luck!
** Our plan
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1. National will, in its first 100 days, repeal Labour’s Three Waters legislation and scrap the four mega-entities, with prescribed co-governance, that goes with them.
2. We will restore council ownership and control, but with stronger central government oversight because we’re not simply going back to the old way of doing things that hasn’t worked.
3. We will set strict rules for water quality, and for investment in infrastructure, so Kiwis don’t have to worry about sewage on their streets, un-swimmable beaches, or having to boil their drinking water.
4. We will ensure water services are financially sustainable so that future generations don’t inherit outdated or failing infrastructure. Financial sustainability means there’s enough money coming in, either from rates or from user-pays, to cover the maintenance and depreciation of infrastructure and investment in new assets. We’ll require councils to ringfence money for water infrastructure, instead of spending it on other services. New infrastructure is expensive but has a long life so it’s appropriate that it’s funded by debt, and paid back over time out of rates or user revenues.
Clubs Week at Vic
Up at Vic last week with the best party on campus - the NZ Young Nats!
Boulcott School Fair
At the Boulcott School Twilight Gala last Friday with Emma Chatterton, our Remutaka candidate. Great to see such a big crowd!
Collecting for the Heart Foundation
Collecting for the Heart Foundation at New World Hutt City last Friday. Thanks to those who donated!
Couldn't resist...
Had an hour free and couldn't resist...
Visit to Kowhai Ridge
With Tama Potaka, and the team from Fletchers in Auckland at their Kowhai Ridge development. 200 new houses, utilising spare Crown land. Partnerships with community housing for affordable rentals. A great project that started life under National’s ‘Land for Housing’ programme.
My two faves!
He's growing up so fast!
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