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Anzac Day A Time To Recommit To Veterans

Anzac Day A Time To Recommit To Veterans

Scoop24-04-2025

This Anzac Day, Labour recognises veterans and the service they have given to our country.
'We back the people who have served our country, on deployment or supporting operations here at home,' Labour veterans' affairs spokesperson Greg O'Connor said.
'On this day we recognise the sacrifices they have made and acknowledge there is still work to do.
'Our current system still treats veterans differently based on when they served. The law says that those who served after 1974 aren't entitled to the same support as those who served before that date, creating a two-tiered system. Meanwhile, in Australia they have a much more consistent veterans' support system.
'Anzac Day is a reminder that our armed forces serve together, regardless of the decade or deployment. Let's make sure our support for them reflects that same spirit of unity.
'I know Minister for Veterans' Affairs Chris Penk shares the same commitment, and I want to reiterate Labour's willingness to work across the aisle to deliver better outcomes for those who have worn the uniform.
'I remain ready to support meaningful change that gives veterans the support and dignity they deserve,' Greg O'Connor said.
This Anzac Day, Greg O'Connor will attend the Dawn Service and the National Commemorative Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. He will also attend the Atatürk Memorial Service in the afternoon.

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Defence's Waiouru housing project fails to break ground after deal with Ngāti Rangi falls over, sources say
Defence's Waiouru housing project fails to break ground after deal with Ngāti Rangi falls over, sources say

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Defence's Waiouru housing project fails to break ground after deal with Ngāti Rangi falls over, sources say

Waiouru military training camp Photo: Google Maps The Defence Force's flagship project to fix up poor housing that is bad for soldiers' health has failed to break ground two years after it was funded, according to sources in Waiouru. None of the 50 houses promised for Waiouru have been started, according to feedback from the town, which the NZDF has not disputed. Budget 2023 earmarked the thick end of $75 million for the new houses. A Defence tender to find a builder went out a year ago. But on Wednesday the government said, "Discussions regarding Waiouru are ongoing and progressing well, as part of a wider Treaty Settlement." Asked what the talks were about, Associate Defence Minister Chris Penk's office said, "We don't have anything further to add outside of our existing statements currently." NZDF did not address what the new discussions were about either. It did not respond when asked what had happened to the project and any contract. 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Budget 2025 signalled the start of $9 billion in promised new defence spending by 2029, containing about $3 billion for 15 projects, mostly to do with weapons or IT systems. However, the Budget provided just a fraction over the next four years to address the billion-dollar backlog in maintenance and renewals that is outstanding; past Cabinet papers gave this figure, and NZDF confirmed on Tuesday that its spending on defence regeneration was half a billion dollars behind what the 2019 plan demanded. In August 2024, Penk expressed shock after seeing photos of black mould in Waiouru families' homes . "No family should have to live like that, let alone the families of those who sacrifice so much to serve their country," he said. The temperature low in Waiouru over the last 30 days has been under one degree on 17 days. 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Penk referred in that statement to projects in Devonport, Trentham and Manawatū, but not Waiouru, even though Waiouru had the lion's share of Budget 2023's tranche one funding for housing upgrades. "The Waiouru New Build Housing is one of the first projects implemented under the Homes for Families Programme," said its tender. Two months ago on Facebook, Penk posted - next to a headline '$12 billion for a stronger NZ' cheering the defence capability plan released in April - that: "This Government is rebuilding the Defence Force after decades of underfunding." "Defence housing, messing and dining spaces are going to benefit from fresh investment. "Our military personnel deserve healthy and modern spaces to live and rest in while they serve our country." The 50-house Waiouru deal was designed to signal the starter's gun on a half-billion-dollar upgrade of the army camp over the next 25 years, and of an overall $3 billion overhaul of 1600 defence houses countrywide. 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Asked how that was possible given what Cabinet had been told, NZDF told RNZ: "Healthy Homes compliance does not address the state of NZDF's barracks or working accommodation and does not necessarily address whether a home is aged, fit for purpose and or in an accelerated state of deterioration." Penk had said in August 2024 that funding was constrained but the government was looking at options for improving the housing. Earlier, Budget 2024 funded 35 leased homes at Devonport Naval Base. New initiatives in Budget 2025 funded just $4m of capital and $16m for housing over four years. More would be added "once the business case is approved by Cabinet", NZDF said. The business case related to a revision of its 2019 estate regeneration plan to fit a 2024-2040 timeline. This had to be revised, in part, to "address consequences of insufficient funding since the 2019 business case", official papers said. 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Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

PM Must Stop Changes Further Failing Children
PM Must Stop Changes Further Failing Children

Scoop

time16 hours ago

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PM Must Stop Changes Further Failing Children

Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Christopher Luxon must step in and cancel boot camps and restore funding to frontline community providers before its too late, Labour childrens spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said. Today's damning report on Oranga Tamariki shows Māori children are being left with little chance of success, or even survival, after their experiences in the state care system, and Minister for Children Karen Chhour is making it worse. 'This report is the first of its kind and reveals a disturbing and urgent problem which can no longer be ignored by the Prime Minister who has overseen dangerous changes to Oranga Tamariki during his term in government,' Labour children's spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime said. 'The Government has cut early intervention, continued with botched bootcamps that have never worked, and taken away funding from community-run services that help children and whānau. 'Christopher Luxon has allowed an ACT Minister to recklessly erode the services that have been built up to support children. 'As well as repealing Section 7AA, Karen Chhour has removed a key target for placement of children with whanau, and removed the target for investment for services provided by Iwi organisations. 'The Government has taken away actions specifically put in place to address the significant disparities for Māori children in care. 'Christopher Luxon must step in and cancel boot camps and restore funding to frontline community providers before it's too late,' Willow-Jean Prime said.

Raising speed limit next to beach 'doesn't make any sense'
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RNZ News

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Raising speed limit next to beach 'doesn't make any sense'

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