Latest news with #NewZealandLabourParty
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
National Caves To ACT To Ram Through Regulatory Standards Bill
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party The Prime Minister failed to show leadership on the Treaty Principles Bill and hes failing again. Christopher Luxon is clearly too weak to stand up to David Seymour. Once again National has caved to ACT by today agreeing to shorten the select committee process for the Regulatory Standards Bill. 'The Regulatory Standards Bill puts corporate interests ahead of our communities, environmental protections, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi,' Labour regulation spokesperson Duncan Webb said. 'The Prime Minister failed to show leadership on the Treaty Principles Bill – and he's failing again. Christopher Luxon is clearly too weak to stand up to David Seymour. 'For a Bill that claims to attempt to embed 'good law-making', it is staggering that National would agree to cut short the public's chance to have their say. 'Under the Regulatory Standards Bill, laws that would keep people healthy and safe, like requiring landlords to heat homes, or limiting the sale of vapes, would be at the whim of whether David Seymour thinks they're a good idea or not. 'It is unbelievable that the Government is cutting short the time the public will have to weigh in on such a consequential Bill. 'Today, the Government voted to shortcut the select committee process from six months to four months, all because David Seymour wants this wrapped up before the end of the year. They also cut short the public submission period from six weeks to four. 'Luxon needs to start standing up to the extreme voices in his Government, but instead he's bending over backwards to accommodate them,' Duncan Webb said.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Mental Health Cuts Lead To Overwhelmed EDs
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party The Governments plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. Its also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring … Workforce shortages that mental health Minister Matt Doocey tried to hide are now resulting in increasing pressure on our emergency departments as people needing help have nowhere else to go. 'Funding cuts to the community mental health and addiction services has left the system barely able to function, forcing those who need help into hospital emergency departments,' Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said. 'Today's report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission says that fewer people are accessing specialist mental health services because of workforce shortages. 'Despite repeated calls for investment and strategy, last week's Budget failed to address those mental health workforce gaps, or to support people to access specialist services. 'The Government's plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. It's also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring in and on the way to emergency departments. 'Frontline staff are having to cope with an escalating number of mental health scenarios in emergency departments and a significant number of those involve people grappling with addiction. 'Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey can't ignore the evidence in today's report, which shows longer wait times, declined referrals, and workforce shortages. 'The report makes clear what the sector has been saying for months: mental health and addiction are getting worse, not better, under this government,' Ingrid Leary said.
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
David Seymour's Bill Harms Our People And Environment
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Just like the Treaty Principles Bill, its another concession by Christopher Luxon to David Seymour soon to be Deputy Prime Minister thats out of touch with what Kiwis want and just takes New Zealand backwards. David Seymour's Regulatory Standards Bill would take New Zealand backwards by making it harder to protect our people and the environment. 'This Bill favours corporate interests ahead of our communities, environmental protections, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi,' Labour regulation spokesperson Duncan Webb said. 'Just like the Treaty Principles Bill, it's another concession by Christopher Luxon to David Seymour – soon to be Deputy Prime Minister – that's out of touch with what Kiwis want and just takes New Zealand backwards. 'Laws that keep people healthy and safe, like requiring landlords to heat homes, would be at the whims of whether David Seymour thinks they're a good idea or not. It would make it harder to keep our air and rivers clean and reduce climate emissions. 'It's ironic that the man who thinks that women's pay is wasteful spending also thinks that we should be spending $18 million a year administering his new scheme for evaluating regulations. 'But it's no surprise, given that the whole show would be overseen by a board appointed by, and answerable to, David Seymour, giving him sign-off power over every minister and department. 'This Bill is a dangerous power grab that is not in the interests of the majority of New Zealanders,' Duncan Webb said.
Scoop
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
David Seymour's Bill Harms Our People And Environment
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party Just like the Treaty Principles Bill, its another concession by Christopher Luxon to David Seymour soon to be Deputy Prime Minister thats out of touch with what Kiwis want and just takes New Zealand backwards. David Seymour's Regulatory Standards Bill would take New Zealand backwards by making it harder to protect our people and the environment. 'This Bill favours corporate interests ahead of our communities, environmental protections, and Te Tiriti o Waitangi,' Labour regulation spokesperson Duncan Webb said. 'Just like the Treaty Principles Bill, it's another concession by Christopher Luxon to David Seymour – soon to be Deputy Prime Minister – that's out of touch with what Kiwis want and just takes New Zealand backwards. 'Laws that keep people healthy and safe, like requiring landlords to heat homes, would be at the whims of whether David Seymour thinks they're a good idea or not. It would make it harder to keep our air and rivers clean and reduce climate emissions. 'It's ironic that the man who thinks that women's pay is wasteful spending also thinks that we should be spending $18 million a year administering his new scheme for evaluating regulations. 'But it's no surprise, given that the whole show would be overseen by a board appointed by, and answerable to, David Seymour, giving him sign-off power over every minister and department. 'This Bill is a dangerous power grab that is not in the interests of the majority of New Zealanders,' Duncan Webb said.
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Govt Helps Banks Dodge Repayment Claims For Kiwis
Press Release – New Zealand Labour Party As Kiwis continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living, this Government is choosing to deny tens of thousands of New Zealanders who may be owed money the right to make a claim in court, Labour commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson … The Government is moving to let two of the country's most profitable banks off the hook for money owed to their customers. 'As Kiwis continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living, this Government is choosing to deny tens of thousands of New Zealanders who may be owed money the right to make a claim in court,' Labour commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson Arena Williams said. 'ANZ and ASB, two of the most profitable banks in New Zealand, broke disclosure laws designed to protect mortgage holders. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders may be owed thousands of dollars in interest and fees that were wrongly charged. 'Instead of helping people get their claims dealt with, National is pushing through law changes so that the penalties banks owe are softened and will be backdated. 'Their choice to change the law on behalf of banks and at the expense of Kiwis is outrageous. True to character, Christopher Luxon fails to see how every dollar helps families pay for their rents, rates, or groceries. 'This is what being out of touch looks like. This is a government that finds time to help billion-dollar banks dodge accountability, but no time to help the people they may have overcharged. 'Next time you hear a National Minister talking tough on supermarkets or energy companies, remember that the real decisions don't happen in front of the cameras, they happen in Cabinet, quietly,' Arena Williams said.
