Do you know what the Coalition Government has done for you in its first 100 days? Here's a list I've compiled.
Do you know what the Coalition Government has done for you in its first 100 days? Here's a list I've compiled.
First published February 2024
I decided to finally write my “About Mountain Tui” page and found some of my old posts that I wanted to transfer here. This won’t be distributed by email, but will serve as a record of my writing.
Here is one of them:
Repealed under urgency No more Fair Pay Agreements, a repeal that officials advised would “disproportionately affects women, young people, Māori and Pasifika people.” Brooke Van Velden said repealing FPA would be “good at creating good business environment and therefore good long-term certainty for good employees.” Source: FPA repealed by Minister despite official advice
Repealed under urgency NZ’s planned smoke free laws. Source: 'People want these laws' - more calls to keep Smokefree amendments
Repealed under urgency the Taxation Principles Reporting Act. The Report had required Inland Revenue to report on the tax system's equity, efficiency and certainty. The report was finished but the government repealed it urgently in December 2023 before its release. Source: Government repeals under urgency the TPR At the time, Reddit said they would do an OIA request. However IRD published the draft
Repealed under urgency Reserve Bank Dual Mandate meaning the RBNZ will focus only on inflation. Note, Australia has a long standing dual mandate for its central bank to focus on employment and inflation, as of December 2023. Source: Reserve Bank dual mandate repeal passes through Parliament
Passing through urgent legislation to bring back 90 day trials for all employers. Previous research from Motu, commissioned by Treasury in 2016, found "no evidence that the ability to use trial periods significantly increases firms' overall hiring, did not appear to affect the likelihood of new hires remaining in the long term, or make workers less likely to move jobs" Source: Government passes legislation to fully reinstate 90-day trials
Reduced the bright line period from 10 years under Labour to 2 years as part of a raft of changes for landlords. This will help people who buy and sell homes after 2 years avoid brightline tax. Source: National's tax plan and how it will be funded revealed
Accelerate early landlord tax cuts to the tune of $3B paid retroactively. Govt also plans to implement no cause eviction. This means landlords can evict tenants without a reason and will not have to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal. Source: Landlords set for early tax refunds under coalition agreement, policy cost tipped to hit $3b and Government’s $3 billion landlord tax cut would be retrospective and trigger some refunds - IRD
In education, as “part of National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First, the curriculum will be refocused on "academic achievement and not ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines".” This includes removing teaching on sexual consent. Source: Government accused of 'conspiracy' thinking in changes to sex ed
Indicated it will review the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, or Treaty of Waitangi, which upholds Māori rights, including the right to autonomy. Also it has signaled plans to scrap the Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora, set up to reverse negative Māori health outcomes, and repeal legislation designed to prevent the removal of Māori children from their families. Source: ‘A massive unravelling’: fears for Māori rights as New Zealand government reviews treaty (Note - since writing this in the day, it has been revealed by evening the Govt has surprisingly fast-tracked the legislation to axe the Maori Health Authority, which would prevent the Waitangi Tribunal from its scheduled hearing on this bill)
Cancelled the Kiwirail Interislander program Sunk costs including $424M + an unconfirmed, unpaid penalty for cancellation despite Kiwirail advising of risks. If re-signed, it would cost 40% more today per Kiwirail's Chairman. Source: No plan ahoy for Cook Strait link and $424 million sunk in failed Interislander and terminal project
Cancelled Three Waters under urgency with sunk costs of $1.2bn from National coffers and leaving Councils with the problem. The 2017 National Party Cabinet memo outlining the significance of 3 Waters is included. Source: Parliament repeals Three Waters programme under urgency and National Govt 2017 Cabinet Memo on 3 Waters
Repeal free prescriptions for New Zealanders. Source: Pharmacists urge incoming govt to keep free prescriptions
Re-introduce pseudoephedrine back onto shelves. When questioned about risks, Seymour noted: "The reality is that the gangs have far more effective ways of obtaining pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine and we should tackle these head on instead." Source: Worried pharmacists contact David Seymour as pseudoephedrine bill goes before Parliament & Pseudoephedrine expected back in pharmacies next year - Seymour
Cancel Productivity Commission through a Repeal Bill under urgency i.e.to scrap the Productivity Commission and transfer the budget to David Seymour to set up his Ministry of Regulation. Source: Legislative year begins with ending Productivity Commission
Repeal gun registry Source: Strong public support for gun registry, but Act doubles down on repeal plans (This has been edited & noted that this one is not definitive.)
Stop blanket speed reductions Waka Kotahi directed by minister to stop blanket speed limit reductions
Cancelled Auckland Regional Fuel Tax. The tax was introduced in July, 2018, with $341 million yet to be allocated. Luxon said the remaining money would go to the completion of the City Rail Link, the Eastern Busway, and road improvements. Source: What cutting the fuel tax means for Auckland and Axing the Auckland fuel tax reveals the lack of a real transport plan for NZ’s biggest city
Bill to scrap funding of Section 27 or pre-sentencing reports as part of legal aidservices. The Govt was advised there were better options and that it would cost taxpayers more to scrap it, but persisted Source: Prison reforms: Government ditches cultural reports and Scrapped cultural reports won’t save taxpayer dollars
Initiate Kāinga Ora review headed by Bill English with the Govt signalling concern with its operating deficit. Source: Former PM Sir Bill English to head review of Kāinga Ora
Commence an "independent" Coalition Govt. inquiry into NZ's Covid response - a key demand of NZF, as Peters has promised to compensate people who lost their jobs due to the mandates or suffered vaccine injuries. However, there is a separate NZ Royal Commission being conducted which is presently soliciting feedback. Source: Coalition government inquiry into pandemic response could undermine Royal Commission and Royal Commission seeks feedback on NZ's Covid response
Ruled out and froze recommendations from the Independent Electoral Reviewincluding election donation transparency & fairness. The Independent Electoral Review was established in 2022 to consider how to make NZ's electoral system clearer, fairer, and more accessible. The Review reported back to the Minister of Justice on 30 November 2023 with its final recommendations. Source: Government rejects four voting changes as review lands & Electoral review sets up fight over political donations
Scrapped bill to lower voting age to 16 for local councils. Source: Scrapping of Voting Age Bill labelled 'discriminatory'
Cancelled plans for Te Pūkenga. The government did not want a centralised organisation for vocational education and training but it would take time to come up with a replacement plan, Source: Te Pūkenga: Leaked documents reveal horror financial position for polytechs, insiders spill beans on 's**tshow' meeting with minister & Dissolving of Te Pūkenga will allow separate polytechs be 'the masters of their own destiny'
Cancelled Lake Onslow project Source: Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme scrapped - Govt Press Release
Cancelled cycling and walking projects across the country Souce: Minister pulls brakes on cycling and walking initiatives
Cancelled the Auckland Light Rail program Source: National-led government officially cancels Auckland Light Rail plans
Cancelled Let’s Get Wellington Moving infrastructure program Source: Major Wellington infrastructure project scrapped
Repealed under urgency aspects of the Resource Management Act. While it rolled back Labour's resource management reforms, including measures to improve environmental protection and reduce pollution, the new Coalition Government kept the fast-track consenting scheme and the spatial planning boards introduced by Labour. Source: Bill to repeal Resource Management Act replacements passes
Shane Jones fast-tracks mining in New Zealand and assures investors their mining applications will be safe. Last year, he said that “We are going to extract the dividend from Mother Nature's legacy on the DOC estate in those areas previously called stewardship land,” in signalling, “mining is coming back.” He called NZ’s climate objetives “a dreamy fairytale.” Source: Shanes Jones declares war on nature
Repealed Clean Car Discount by 31 December. Source: A rush to repeal Today’s press shows that repealing the CCD will cost twice what it saves.
Stop designation of any new Significant Natural Areas being declared in a supportive move to farmers but against environmentalist advice. Source: The new Coalition Government initiates moves to stop any new designations of private farmland as Significant Natural Areas (SNAs)
Introducing fast track consents in a move labeled as No Community Safe Under Government’s Proposed Fast-Track Consenting Bill The new scheme will allow new development and commercial projects to be approved anywhere in the country by Ministers with little to no oversight. Although there is a Govt nominated expert panel, it would have only “limited ability” to decline the consent. Source: Government defends new ‘fast track’ consents bill Labour slams as ‘Muldoonist’ and Fast-tracking consent bill backed by seabed mining company eyeing Taranaki
Abandoned proposal on deep-sea trawling. Shane Jones leads NZ to make an abrupt about-turn on a deep-sea conservation measures. Source: New Zealand backs away from deep-sea trawling restrictions
Fast track resource consents for the fisheries industry including the 2500-hectare Hananui open ocean salmon farm off Stewart Island, which was declined in August 2023, ocean finfish aquaculture trials in Tasman Bay, and the bid for more mussel spat farms in Marlborough Sound. Source: Seafood industry donors lobby Jones over wine and oysters
Preparation to reverse the fishing boat camera monitoring regime and remove cameras from fisheries after Shane Jones's biggest donor requests it. Source: Big donor’s ask: Minister reviews cameras on fishing boats
Slash public services across the board by 6.5% or 7.5%, to try to get $1.5bn to make up the deficit from tax cuts - leading to multiple agencies sounding alarm bells. These include NZDF who said this would reduce NZ's defence capabilities and ground aircraft, Police warning this might impact front line staff, Corrections pointing out ongoing staff shortages, Justice warning of significant risks to judicial,and Customs increasing the risk of gang drug importations. Source: The public service agencies asked to cut spending and Yes minister, the cupboard is bare
Additions to original post:
Intention to amend the Overseas Investment Act to reduce ministerial scrutiny of whether overseas investments are in New Zealand’s national interest. The act requires overseas investors to obtain consent from the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) before acquiring interests in significant business assets, sensitive land or fishing quota. As it stands, ministers are able to make such decisions in the national interest. But Seymour says this hampers wealthy investment from overseas and intends to change that. This was part of the ACT - National Coalition Agreement and has not been tabled. Source: Govt to free up foreign investment in ‘sensitive’ NZ land and assets
Stated intent to reverse the live farmed animal export ban. The SPCA is urging the Government to rethink its election promise to reverse the ban introduced by the previous government and bring back the export of live, farmed animals on ships. A nationwide protest will be held on the 25th of February, 2024. Source: SPCA urging govt to rethink reversing live export ban and Nationwide Rallies To Be Held To Protest Government's Live Export Plan
Repeal of the Business Payment Practices Act 2023 under urgency. This legislation was based on Australia's model. It would have made information about business-to-business payment practices of large entities available without charge - essentially key data such as time the business takes to make payments of invoices .Source: Government signals intention to repeal Business Payment Practices Act 2023 and Deloitte Paper: Accounts payable practices to be disclosed from 2024
Repeal of the Maori Health Authority under urgency. National signalled the abolition of the MHA, which was set up to provide better health outcomes for Maori. Criticism was heightened as the Govt intentionally advanced its bill date to head off a hearing at the Waitangi Tribunal.Source: Health Minister to reveal Māori Health Authority replacement details during debate and Campaigners blindsided by accelerated axing of Māori Health Authority
Repeal Smoke Free Legislation under urgency Labour's planned anti-smoking law changes was dead in the water as the Government repealed this legislation under urgency. This was despite widespread condemnation from health groups, Kiwis and tobacco watchdogs. NZ made headlines last year when the Coalition Govt stated its intention to repeal the ban. The links between the Coalition Govt and the tobacco industry have also been under scrutiny. Source:Smokefree laws: Govt to repeal legislation under urgency and Experts detail swathe of possible connections between Coalition Government politicians and tobacco industry and New Zealand scraps world-first smoking ‘generation ban’ to fund tax cuts
Implement a "gang patch ban" with the Government expecting to have banned gang patches in all public places by the end of this year. The policy expands on existing restrictions in schools, hospitals and courthouses. The legality and practicality of implementing it has been put into question at a time when police resources are already stretched. Source: Gang patch ban: Critics query legality, ability to enforce and 'Political gimmick': Law professor reacts to Govt anti-gang laws
Some interesting highlights:
ANTI-CLIMATE #25 - #35 all represent significant risks to conservation and climate goals
The Cabinet's deep and extensive ties with mining, oil, tobacco and property is unprecedented here. (Refer also #37)
List effective to early March 2024