At the State Opening of Parliament this morning, the Governor-General outlined the new Government's priorities, officially kicking off the next three years of the political cycle.
It comes after yesterday's swearing-in ceremony, which saw MPs, new and old, sworn into their roles.
Speaking from the Legislative Council Chamber - as by custom the Governor-General doesn't enter the debating chamber - Dame Cindy Kiro outlined the new Government's policies and legislative proposals for the next three years.
The speech is prepared by a process determined by the Prime Minister, who sends a copy to the Governor-General.
In her speech, Dame Cindy said: “The new Government is committed to delivering; to getting things done. It wants people to see demonstrable, measurable results that make their lives easier and help them to get ahead.”
She said that by working with businesses, community groups, and iwi, the government will aim to “improve outcomes for all New Zealanders while leading a unified and confident country”.
She then went over some of the key policies proposed by National, ACT and New Zealand First.
The economy and cost of living
The Governor-General talked about the Government's big economic policies, which aim to “lift New Zealand's productivity and growth”.
These include “restoring discipline to public spending” by reducing Core Crown expenditure on departments’ back-office operations, among other things.
She also talked about their plans to change the Reserve Bank’s mandate “so monetary policy is quickly returned to having a single focus on price stability”.
Plans to cut red tape with a new regulation department were also discussed — as well as plans to stop work on several infrastructure projects like the Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme and Auckland light rail.
Dame Cindy talked about National’s plans to cut taxes and reduce the cost of living.
“It will meet the Government’s objectives of encouraging people into employment and people enjoying more take-home pay in return for their effort.”
Law and order
Law and order was a major talking point during the election campaign — and the Governor-General discussed how the government plans to address what they see as an “explosion” in crime.
This includes banning gang patches in public, gang dispersal notices, and firearm prohibition orders.
National’s “three strikes” law got a mention, with Dame Cindy saying: “Too often, sentences do not reflect the gravity of offending, so the Sentencing Act will be amended to ensure appropriate consequences for offenders.”
She also talked about military boot camps for young offenders, youth crime demerit points and the Government's plans to train no fewer than 500 new police officers with the next two years.
Education
Dame Cindy talked about the Government's education plans, which include their new curriculum of one hour of reading, writing and maths each day.
“This Government will not stand by as cohorts of young people see their life horizons shrink because of a lack of schooling.
“To help teachers, the curriculum will be rewritten with clear requirements on what needs to be covered each school year in reading, writing, maths and science, and the curriculum will be focused on academic achievement, not ideology.”
Health
The Government's plans to fix a health system under “enormous pressure” got a big mention.
The Governor-General talked about how the coalition plans to support frontline workers.
This includes a new medical school in Waikato, the funding of new cancer medication, and a more streamlined approval system for new medicines.
She said the government will fund mental health charities like I Am Hope, better funding for Plunket and the return of pseudoephedrine.
She also said the Māori Health Authority would be disestablished as “there will be no co-governance of public services, and emphasis will shift to the frontline rather than the back office”.
“Services will be delivered on need, using a range of effective providers, including iwi and community groups who have the best reach into the communities they serve.”
Employment
For welfare and work, Dame Cindy said that “having 11 per cent, or one in nine New Zealanders of working age on a main benefit, means too many people are dependent on the effort of their fellow citizens instead of being self-supporting”.
“The Government will encourage those who are able to work to do so.”
She also talked about National’s plans to bring back 90-day trials and axe fair pay agreements.
She said the superannuation age will remain at 65 years old.
Housing and infrastructure
When it comes to housing, the new Government plans to introduce “appropriate consequences” for antisocial behaviour by Kāinga Ora tenants.
The housing objectives outlined by Dame Cindy also include requiring “councils in major towns and cities to zone for 30 years of housing demand because getting more houses built is essential to having a more affordable housing market”.
Dame Cindy said New Zealand has a “significant infrastructure deficit” and will be improving it with a number of different projects.
This includes a new national infrastructure agency to coordinate funding.
She discussed a “fast-track one-stop-shop” for consenting and permitting processes for regional and national projects.
She said the Government would “repeal the Three Waters legislation and restore council ownership and control with stronger central government oversight, and strict rules for water quality and ongoing investment”.
The transport section also mentioned new roads across the country.
The primary sector and emissions
For the primary sector and emissions, she said the government plans to “cut red tape” and “unleash the investment in renewable energy that is needed for the country to meet its emissions reduction targets”.
She said the Government plans to reduce the amount of paperwork farmers are doing to keep within emissions targets.
Other policies include the plan to reverse the ban on live animal exports and scrap the clean car discount.
“The Government is committed to New Zealand meeting its greenhouse gas emissions targets,” she said.
The Treaty of Waitangi
Dame Cindy discussed the Treaty Principles Bill, which will be supported to its first reading at a select committee “for the public to have their say”.
“Waitangi Tribunal legislation will be amended to refocus the scope, purpose and nature of the tribunal’s inquiries back to the original intent of that legislation.”
Foreign policy
For foreign policy, the Government plans to “be bold in defending New Zealand’s interests and vigilant in the protection of the values of democracy, freedom, and security”.
“The coalition Government is committed to getting offshore and raising our profile on the world stage.
“Its policy programme will be extensive and ambitious, reflecting the amount of change necessary to provide hope and opportunity for more New Zealanders and for this great nation to realise more of its potential,” Dame Cindy said.
She closed by praising how “smoothly” New Zealand is able to change governments after an election, saying the country could be “justifiably proud”.
“It has put the Government in a good position to start on its 100-day plan of action. The 100-day plan is a forerunner of three years of action because New Zealanders voted for change, and the Government will be tireless in executing it.
“It has started work and will hold itself accountable for delivering results that make a positive difference.”
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