What has the Government done for you so far?
A fairly comprehensive list of major policies of the New Zealand conservative Coalition government since taking office
List updated to 1 July 2024
Consumer and household (note: road and car costs are under infrastructure)
Cancelled half-price public transport fares for under-25s and free fares for under-13s funding, scrapping the Labour government-era subsidies. The change will not affect pre-existing discounts funded directly by councils.
Cut funding for free budgeting services. One third of the country's free budgeting services face closure during a cost of living crisis, after missing out on the latest round of government funding. Advocates have said: 'It's like watching a train derail'
Cut funding for food banks. In what has been labelled as a ‘disgrace,’ food banks have been forced to turn people away. Auckland City Mission received $75,000 despite $1.5million in operating costs. Some such as BBM have been left with no funding this year. The govt has defended the cuts, and Minister Upton said she is “monitoring the situation.”
Cancelled key elements of the Warmer Kiwi Homes program - including funding for hot water heating, low-cost energy efficiency measures, an LED lighting scheme, and community-focused outreach programme to target hard-to-reach households
Cancelled the Consumer Advocacy Council which was established by the previous government to lobby for the interests of consumers and small businesses in the electricity sector. The council has frequently voiced concerns over rising power bills and campaigned for electricity retailers to provide clearer information to customers.
Retained the ‘app tax’. National’s economic plan in 2023 pledged to “axe the ‘app tax’ – an unprincipled tax grab that will make your Uber, Airbnb, and food delivery more expensive." Luxon told Newstalk ZB that the app tax would not be reversed in November 2023.
Will not commit to keeping the living wage for public sector workers
Health / Medical
Repealed under urgency NZ's smoke free legislation despite pleas by medical professionals, who said it was “immoral” and “not evidence based.” The govt argued not repealing it "would increase the tobacco black market, and escalate ram raids." This contradicted official government advice given to the Prime Minister and Ministers. Minister Casey Costello also omitted $46bn of smoke-free economic and health benefits for Cabinet. Concerns compounded as it was discovered that Ministers' papers and narratives mirrored tobacco industry talking points.The Coalition blatantly ignored urgent calls for the Govt to declare its links to tobacco. Complaints against a Minister were also sidestepped.
Repealed free prescriptions programs for New Zealanders. PM Luxon had said, for "people who can afford it, there's no point giving subsidised $5 prescription fees". The National Govt had promised the revenue from prescription fees would be used to fund 13 cancer drugs. However that promise was broken. After a backlash, the Govt reversed course, committing to fund 59 drugs from borrowings. Prescription fees return on 1 July, 2024. Community services card holders and Gold card holders will be exempt from the fee.
Deferred Whangarei hospital re-build. Health Minister Reti previously slammed Labour for “only” funding ~$800mn towards Whangarei hospital’s rebuild, saying the work was urgent. In October 2023 as incoming Minister, Reti indicated he would try to “push” for progress and warned it could take two terms of govt. The paper reported, “(his) comments have been taken by hospital staff to indicate the $795 million Labour committed to stage one of the project could disappear into tax cuts.” Doctors have warned delays would affect patient care and access.
Deferred Nelson hospital plans. Previously approved plans are now unclear with ongoing concerns for patient care. It also comes after Te Whatu Ora asked hospitals to save more than $105 million by July with $3m to be saved in Nelson, as part of a nationwide cost-cutting drive.
Deferred Dunedin hospital plans. In 2023, the National Party promised they would restore funding, and put an extra 23 inpatient beds, two operating theatres and a PET scanner in the new build. But concern over that commitment spiked after Health Minister Dr Shane Reti told a health select committee that it could be six to 10 years before it would be known if the hospital would be built as planned. Funding is also unclear.
Did not fund mental health doctors. The Govt had previously promised they would boost training and add 13 psychiatric registrar placements and twice the number of clinical psychologists trained each year. That promise was broken. The New Zealand chair of the Royal Australia New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Dr Hiran Thabrew, said despite Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey having previously acknowledged growing workforce vacancies and skyrocketing rates of mental distress across New Zealand, “his words had not been backed by action.. Every day, people experiencing serious mental health or addiction issues are falling through the cracks. From an economic perspective, it’s short-sighted.”
Funded 25 new medical registrars but failed to fund the full 50 medical doctors that was promised.
Improved access to radiology services. Co-payments will be removed for X-rays, CT scans and diagnostic ultrasound, and can be referred directly by GPs instead of going through a hospital specialist through a $30m funding boost.
Funded 54 new drugs under Pharmac (26 cancer and 28 other.) Last year, Prime Minister Luxon and Health Minister Reti pledged that they would fund 13 named cancer drugs from the prescription fee reinstatement. The party suffered strong backlash when it broke that promise, and did a dramatic u-turn using borrowings.
Increased alcohol fuel tax excise by 4.1%
Reinstating pseudoephedrine. It will be back on shelves from 2025
Repealing Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) - Consumer NZ calls this a "big loss for consumers" and it "must stay" for the benefit of Kiwis. As one example, Consumer notes it has been campaigning for sunscreens to be regulated as a therapeutic product for many years – a call backed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society and the Cancer Society. This repeal will also affect medical devices and natural health products, amongst other things. The bill got its first reading in June 2024, and is expected to pass.
Housing and property
Initiated Kāinga Ora review that has since come under scrutiny. Bill English and his team were paid from a a $500,000 emergency housing fund. It emerged that Housing Minister Chris Bishop arranged this over casual text messages where English set the terms. Chris Bishop clarified English would “not” need to involve Kāinga Ora in the review. Kainga Ora's board confirmed this, citing “errors, omissions unverified hearsay“ when the draft was released. Their feedback was only revealed through OIA. Despite the govt's communications that Kainga Ora was not “viable,” an independent finance commentator said Kāinga Ora could be seen as a “stonking financial success"
Put on hold Kainga Ora projects. Kāinga Ora is the biggest home builder in New Zealand and currently has work underway on 5299 homes, 3001 of those consented homes. Kāinga Ora’s asset-to-debt ratio is 0.25 - “success” for a social housing provider some say. New Zealand’s stock of public housing increased by a net 13,977 between October 2017 and October 2023 - Kāinga Ora built 10,116 of those. The construction industry is feeling the pressure of the long pause, and has urged the Govt to restart work as soon as possible. Note: the govt also stripped ~$1.5bn from KO in its 2024 budget.
Cancelled the First Home Buyers’ Grant. After news media leaked the plans and Ministers denied it, the FHBG was abruptly cancelled the next business day. Minister Chris Bishop acknowledged that would “cause some pain.”
Reduce access to emergency housing with a public sector target of 75%. by 2030. The govt has appealed to private landlords for assistance. It has also allocated $140mn from the 2024 budget for 1500 social housing places.
Promised 1500 new social housing places in the 2024 budget as the govt actively works to reduce the number of people that can access emergency housing. The 1500 new homes would be allocated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development from July 2025 onwards.
Announced changes to the building industry’s products. The govt said they would make it easier and cheaper for builders to use overseas building products by loosening rules.
Reviewing changes to allow no-conset granny flats. The move would mean law changes to make it easier to build structures of up to 60 square metres. Those dwellings could then be built in rural and residential zones without a building or resource consent, so long as they meet certain criteria.
Tenancy and landlords
Accelerated $2.9bn in landlord tax cuts. This was based on the pre-election promise ACT’ Seymour and National’s Chris Bishop made with Property Investors Associations.
Reduced the property 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. Effective 1 July 2024.
Implement no cause eviction. This means landlords can evict tenants without a reason and will not have to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to do so. Landlords currently only have the right to end a periodic tenancy if they wish to move into the home, if it will be sold or renovated, or if the tenant hasn’t been paying rent. This will take effect in 2025.
Implement changes around notice periods (also effective 2025). Periodic and fixed tenancy periods will be reduced under different conditions.
Implement a tenancy pet bond. The government has announced a two-week pet bond and obligations for tenants to pay for damage their animals cause in a bid to make renting with an animal easier. Landlords will still be able to choose whether they are comfortable to rent to tenants who have pets.
Law and order
Implemented a "gang patch ban" labelled by some as a political gimmick as questions swirled over its legality and practicality. The Govt expects to have banned gang patches in all public places by the end of this year.
Reinstated military style bootcamps for youth offenders. New Zealand has experimented with boot camps for over 50 years at a high cost The previous National government introduced boot camps for young criminals in 2008, however an analysis found that 85-87% of those in the programme went on to reoffend within two years. It was also proven there are cheaper ways to achieve a better result. PM Luxon has insisted his Govt must try it. The first program will kick off in July 2024 at a cost of $5m for 10 youth offenders.
Amend sentencing laws - the Govt has announced it would implement measures requiring judges to hand down tougher sentences. The govt. estimated there would be more between 1480 and 1730 more people in prison each year over the next 10 years as a result of the changes. This was estimated to cost an extra $165m and $192m a year. Incarceration costs $193,000 per person annually
Repealed under urgency, Section 27 or pre-sentencing reports as part of legal aid. The bar association said removing funding for the cultural and background reports would mean it would only be available for people who could afford them - leaving out groups like working class or poor Māori, Pākehā, and Pasifika. And undermine rehabilitation.
Reinstated the controversial three strikes policy. Criminologists have said criminalisation doesn’t reduce crime or violence and evidence shows punishment doesn’t stop re-offending. However the Govt says the bill sends a much needed “strong message.”
Repeal Arms Act remains on the table and is being progressed by former gun lobbyist and ACT minister Nicole McKee. The Act-National agreement requires “immediate” repeal and replacement of Part 6 of the Arms Act 1983, which places obligations on clubs and ranges, followed by a “rewrite” of the act as a whole. ACT's firearms policy said the Labour-led government's gun laws had punished licensed firearms owners and burdened shooting clubs and ranges. On the cards is removing the gun registry, changing licesnsing requirements, and reinstating semi-automatics
Workplace
Repealed under urgency Fair Pay Agreements. The law allowed for minimum employment terms for all employees at an industry-wide level where the criteria was met. The govt said the repeal would increase wages and "lift productivity." However, a leaked Cabinet paper said scrapping it would "disproportionately hurt groups like disabled people, women, Māori, Pacific people, and young people". Treasury said FPAs in place boosted wages by up to $600 million a year.
Reinstated under urgency 90 day trials. 90-day trials allow for new hires to work before being permanently hired. Before repeal, it was in place for businesses with 19 or fewer employees. The govt. argued the repeal would give all employers "confidence" and "improve workplace flexibility". But Treasury research found "no evidence that the ability to use trial periods significantly increases firms' overall hiring, the likelihood of new hires remaining in the long term, or make workers less likely to move jobs". Employment lawyers confirmed the change would not bring any benefits to workers.
Continue workplace regulations including workplace safety, holiday pay and whether businesses could be protected from personal grievances of employees. Minister Van Veldt previously criticised Labour for "increases to minimum wage, doubling of sick leave and the new Matariki public holiday."
Reviewing proposal to prevent contractors from challenging their status. The Govt has been warned this could lead to ‘removing fundamental employee rights such as a minimum wage, annual leave, rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.’
Seeks changes to holiday pay through the Holiday Act. In a press release in June 2024, Brooke van Velden said changes to the way employee sick and annual leave was provided were being proposed.She said it would improve the Act. The Opposition has pointed out that employees already receive pro-rata’d holiday leave despite suggestions that some were benefiting from current rules.
Increased minimum wage of 2% i.e 45c an hour. Workplace Minister Van Velden had recommended a lower increase of 1.3% while the Ministry had recommended an increase of 4 percent to $23.60.
Cancelled Workforce Development Councils that set standards and qualifications for the trades.
Repealed under urgency the Business Payment Practices Act 2023. This would have made information about business-to-business payment practices of large entities available without charge. Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly acknowledged there was a problem with big businesses taking a long time to pay invoices, but said small businesses could use credit agencies to check instead.
Beneficiaries including disabled community
Repealed under urgency beneficiary legislation that had aligned benefits with wage growth, and not inflation. The govt said of its repeal, "These changes will protect the real incomes of benefit recipients and low-income working families for years to come." Officials had however warned the change would push 13,000 children into poverty. As of June 2024, disabled people and other beneficiaries were thousands of dollars worse off over the coming years, as a result of the change. e.g. Disability recipients will have incomes reduced by $2,300 by 2028.
Cancelled support for disabled workers with a wage supplement. This could see 900-plus workers - mostly with intellectual disabilities - continue to be paid as low as $2 an hour. The previous Govt. had planned to end the exemption but allocated $37.3m over four years to support the transition.
Removed flexibility for disability respite care and individualised funding. The news rules were suddenly announced on Facebook in March with no consultation - causing widespread distress and anxiety amongst the community.
Reduced wheelchair services due to costs
Tax cuts and public service cuts
Cut 6.5% - 7.5% across public service agencies to fund tax cuts. Despite claims it would not affect front line staff, it has been confirmed fire services, defence, police, justice, corrections, child protective services, and customs are impacted. The Police Association also noted the govt's promise of 500 new police is an "illusion” as Oranga Tamariki cuts raise concerns about child well-being. Prime Minister Luxon said that although front line roles going, it was ultimately not his responsibility as to how agencies implemented the budget cuts. Of note the rapid cuts are accelerating unemployment in NZ.
Issued tax cuts to New Zealanders from borrowings of $12bn. In 2023, New Zealand's deficit was $9.7 billion. With the 2024 budget, the government deficit is now projected to balloon to $13.4b in 2025. Net debt is forecast to peak in 2025 at 43.5 per cent of GDP and stay above the 40 per cent ceiling. Despite promises there would be no extra borrowing, Willis admitted on Q&A it was a choice to borrow for tax cuts. The tax cuts were funded primarily through public service cuts, borrowing, and freezes to beneficiary incomes.
Maori Affairs
Plans to review the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, or Treaty of Waitangi, which upholds Māori rights, including the right to autonomy. This is a significant development which past PMs have criticised as causing unnecessary division within New Zealand.
Repealed Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 which binds Oranga Tamariki to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in practical terms, as part of the Act-National deal. Section 7AA was previously supported by ACT's David Seymour but the repeal was seen by observers as part of a trend of changes introduced by the Govt that would continue to damage relationships between Oranga Tamariki and Māori.
Repealed under urgency the Maori Health Authority. Criticism was heightened as the Govt intentionally advanced its bill date to head off a hearing at the Waitangi Tribunal and amid calls it would worsen Maori Health outcomes.
Mandated referendums for Maori wards in local government dictating that councils that brought in Māori wards without polling residents will need to hold a referendum- or scrap the wards they had set up. Over 50 Mayors and chairs were critical of the Government’s changes, saying this posed costs on councils, and they are “bigger things” to deal with. “There's water. There's infrastructure. There's funding issues. This is such a distraction."
Climate, wildlife, science and nature
Reversing the oil and gas exploration ban. The fossil fuel and energy sector has been gearing up for these changes as the Coalition Govt promotes the idea that New Zealand needs to revert to fossil fuels, saying wind, solar and hydro were too inconsistent.
Cancelled Climate Emergency Response Fund This fund was set up to address climate spending, proportional to the proceeds of the Emissions Trading Scheme. Opposition parties slammed the cuts saying the Coalition Govt ‘s budget was gutting climate initiatives and progress in New Zealand.
Cuts to Callaghan Innovation contributing to a significant impact in scientific fuunding, research, staff and innovation. The New Zealand Association of Scientists said that Callaghan Innovation “is a unique hub and these cuts will cause them to fall below a tipping point where they cease to be viable.”
Cuts to NIWA leading to fears that the Crown-owned science company could affect New Zealand's top climate modellers and scientists. NIWA staff wrote an open letter, stating: "It is not clear to us there any forethought has been given to the future science direction of NIWA and the potential loss of capability when entire teams are proposed to be established."
Proposed urgent bill to grant all marine farm consents for 20 years. The Government has introduced a bill to Parliament under urgency which would extend consents on 1200 marine farms by up to two decades. Environmental Defence Society chief executive Gary Taylor said there was no need for the legislation as there are already existing pathways for reconsenting under the National Environmental Standards for Marine Aquaculture (NES-MA). A review of the rules last year found they had been “effective and met their objective”, recommending only a handful of smaller amendments. Coalition partner NZ First has a tight relationship with the fisheries industry, with significant donations in tow.
Removed all limits on killing sea lions by the fishing industry. This is despite the number of sea lion pups inexplicably plunging by almost a third last year. The New Zealand sea lion, or rapoka, is the world’s rarest sea lion and is on the critically endangered “red” list of endangered animals. The removal was made quietly on MPI’s website in April 2024.
Review rollout of cameras on commercial fishing boats, after Shane Jones's top donor requests this. Marine scientists say it is crucial to protect our marine environment. Initial results from cameras on board were compelling: +700% more dolphin captures than reported, 1250% more undersized snapper & 950% kingfish discarded, +350% albatross bycatches & six endangered dolphins killed in 3 months. The previous government had committed $68 million to fit up to 300 inshore vessels with the cameras by next year.
Cut funding for the Climate Change Commission which means it will no longer deliver independent advice to the government on pricing farming gases, as it would have under the previous government.
Redirected $2.4 billion in previously ring-fenced climate spending into other spending - although several climate programmes have survived, under different funding streams.
Reduced funding for research and planting programme - Establishing Native Forests at Scale run by Ministry for Primary Industries
Cancelled Lake Onslow hydro energy project. Cancellation of the mega battery was criticised as short sighted.
Agreed seabed mining can be approved through “fast-track”, overturning relevant judicial decisions of the past and present. When asked if this was appropriate, Chris Bishop said: “We make no apologies. If people don’t like that, they can throw us out in 3 years.” In one case, Australian TTR wants to mine 50 million tonnes from the Taranaki seabed. After losing the battle in our courts for over 10 years, Bishop extended an invitation to TTR to apply through the Govt’s new “fast-track” process. TTR then withdrew its application from existing consent processes. [I write about the relationship to the Treaty of Waitangi here.]
Confirmed new mines will be allowed to open in DOC conservation areas. “Govt looking at mining on DOC lands” - Chris Bishop Environmentalists have called the new fast-track process an "unprecedented assault on nature and democracy" and say it risks New Zealand being seen as a "banana republic". Chris Bishop told Checkpoint he could not guarantee a ban on new mining projects on DOC land or new coal mining elsewhere. The new mining strategy aims for ten significant new mining operations by 2045 and a doubling of export value (to NZ$2 billion) but experts have pointed out, the Govt is unlikely to “hit paydirt”. Even with this target, NZ could reap 2% of royalties i.e. $40 million.
Cancelled agreement for NZ to implement deep sea trawling restrictions. The proposal, previously advanced by NZ, would have introduced trawling limits designed to protect biodiversity hotspots from bottom trawling in the South Pacific.
Axed agriculture from the Emissions Trading Scheme. This was welcomed by the sector. The govt was warned that failing to reduce agricultural climate pollution will mean the rest of the economy is left to pick up the slack – and the bill. Farm-related emissions made up 49% of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.
Reset and weaken New Zealand’s methane targets in a move that has been called “problematic” and will contribute to New Zealand not being able to achieve its climate goals, according to top scientists overseas. The Govt sidelined the Climate Commission. The Govt. appointed former Fonterra director and climate change commissioner Nicola Shadbolt to lead an “independent” review on the targets.
Cancelled new designations of Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) being declared in a supportive move to farmers but against environmentalist advice. In March, Andrew Haggard incorrectly told Councils they no longer had to comply with SNA provisions to protect rare and endangered wildlife
Reversing the live export ban. The Labour ban on live animal exports would be reversed, according to a provision in the NZ First-National agreement and an almost identical one in the Act-National agreement. $1m was spent by agricultural industry lobbyists to reverse the ban. The industry says the export industry is worth $200-300mn a year. However, advocates have said the conditions are cruel, beyond measure. The petition to stop it has reached over 60,000 signatories.
Cancelled the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary
Repealed under urgency Clean Car Discount that encouraged uptake of lower-emissions vehicles. Official advice found the repeal would lead to increases of 1.2 and 2.2 million tonnes of extra greenhouse pollution over the next three decades. And repealing the CCD cost twice what it saved. Post repeal, EV sales plummeted. As at May 2024, clean cars made up just 6% of auto vehicle sales for the period, well down from the 2023 averages of 20%. From 1 April 2024, the Govt increased RUC for EV cars to be on par with diesel vehicles, and higher than petrol cars. Hybrid vehicles were exempt from the higher RUC after the Coalition Govt accidentally adopted Labour’s proposal.
Repealed under urgency aspects of the Resource Management Act. removing Labour's environmental protection and pollution reduction reforms. The Coalition Government kept the fast-track consenting scheme but amended it to give Ministers unilateral decision making powers to approve any development project any where in NZ. The NZ Law Society issued a stark warning at the time. Since then, the Govt's fast-track bill has been heavily criticised for opening the country up to "abuse, authoritarian excess," and "conflicts of interest that lie at the heart of the fast-track process." The NZ Planning Institute and other bodies were concerned over choosing short term benefits over long term economic outcomes, and flood / environmental risks.
Education and youth
In education, it has been signalled 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." The Government has been accused of 'conspiracy' thinking in changes to sex ed despite consent guidelines being about body awareness, relationships, understanding feelings and identifying coercion, as well as sexual activity. In April 2024, it was reported that contractors had been hired to review New Zealand’s education curriculum on behalf of the Govt.
Fund and implement a controversial, taxpayer funded charter school system at a cost of $153mn. In March 2024 David Seymour maintained Destiny Church was an example of an “excellent” charter school application. Principals have lamented the $153m funding as “tragic,” as the Coalition broke a promise for more learning support. Teachers have slammed the charter school legislation as “unpleasant,” aiming to “strong arm” some into moving to charter schools. Note: Charter schools will not be required to employ trained and registered teachers or teach the New Zealand Curriculum or provide a New Zealand qualification. 50 new charter schools are expected, with 35 state schools converted.
Reduced funding for the free school lunch program. In April 2024, Seymour indicated the program would be “halved” as he continued an attack on “wasteful” school lunches. After opposition from health experts and teachers, the Govt pared this back to a reduced program, cutting $107 million, which the Govt said would feed more people for less. The new budget worked out at $3 per meal as opposed to $8. Advocates argued it would be very difficult to factor in nutrition and dental health.
Cancelled Te Pūkenga centralisation. The government did not want a centralised organisation for vocational education but said it would take time to come up with a replacement plan. As at June 2024, the Minister in charge indicated 'more upheaval' would be required to restore autonomy as consultation continues.
Implemented a school phone ban
Cancelled Voting Age Bill to lower voting age to 16 for local councils.
Infrastructure incl. roads/ferries and associated fees
Cancelled Kiwirail Interislander project. The project required $1.47bn more funding but the govt cancelled it, incurring sunk costs of $435mn + $300mn = $735mn. It has emerged the ships would cost 40%+ more on the market today. Engine parts were built and tested when the Minister cancelled it. Kiwirail issued warnings about the need for safe infrastructure and risk of ongoing mechanical issues last year. The Govt's cancellation of ferries - that would have accommodated 40 rail wagons, 3000 lane metres for vehicles, and 1800 passengers - has exposed New Zealand to losing rail enabled ferries.
Repealed under urgency Affordable Water Scheme - Sunk costs of $1.2bn incurred for the repeal. Labour’s 3 Waters' governance was unpopular, and came under heavy attack including from the Atlas Network backed Taxpayers Union. In 2017, National's Govt of the day said centralised water management was urgently needed to secure lifeline infrastructure. Recently, John Campbell said it’s a "ticking time bomb." Labour said water rates would inevitably be higher under the new Govt model - financially, it’s "direct council control" or "balance sheet separation." This view is supported by Standard & Poors. The Coalition Govt previously assured voters rates would “not rise,” under its model, nor would it privatise govt assets. They are due to deliver the 'Local Water Done Well' program by mid 2025.
Cancelled cycling and walking initiatives - stopping dozens of council projects designed to encourage cycling, walking and use of public transport across the country. The $70bn GPS also explicitly forbids Councils from using the money for busways, cycle ways and traffic “calming” measures that promote safety.
Cancelled Auckland Light Rail. Auckland Light Rail's infrastructure would have cost $15 million per kilometre. In comparison, the Govt's acceleration of Auckland's East-West link (road) has been costed at a minimum of $327mn per kilometre (costings: 2016) as part of a $70bn road program. Economists have said New Zealand would be better without the EWL.
Cancelled Let's Get Wellington Moving. Let’s Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) was a $6.4 billion infrastructure programme to transform Wellington’s transport system to support projected growth, reduce congestion and make it safer, and easier to get around.
Cancelled the Wellington Science City project which provided capital investment to create a resilient and leading research, innovation and science system for Wellington.
Amend the Overseas Investment Act as the new Govt aims to free up foreign investment in ‘sensitive’ NZ land and assets. Ministers are usually required to consider national interest regarding sale of significant business assets, sensitive land or fishing quotas. The amendment will open the door to overseas investments in areas such as build to rent. Under the amended act, a ministerial directive letter will be issued to signal that New Zealand was open to foreign investment in such developments.
Reviewing proposal for a multi-billion dollar ‘mega-tunnel’ in Wellington. The "long tunnel" is being considered as an alternative approach to fix the heavily congested State Highway 1 in Wellington. The proposed 4km build has been described a a “colossal waste of money” and an “astonishing misunderstanding of transport priorities.”
Released its committed $70bn GPS to build roads of national significance. The Govt has committed $70bn to roads in its 10 year Government Policy Statement ("GPS"). Questions of the true cost remain. One example is the East-West link, costed at ~$330 million / kilometre in 2016 - making it the most expensive road in the world. The government has confirmed tolls will apply to all new roads. Registration costs, fuel taxes, and other revenue are also needed and incoming
Implement congestion charges in Auckland. Modelling shows peak hour charges would be $35 per week under the congestion charge and $9 per week under the scrapped Auckland regional fuel tax.
Implement a “controversial,” user pays infrastructure model. The govt has said it will change funding for all infrastructure. National’s Chris Bishop: "Projects will only be funded with public money if there is not a way to pay for it with private loans and charges on users"
Created and secured $1.2bn for a Regional Infrastructure Fund that National and ACT previously labelled as Shane Jones’s “slush fund.” The govt said the money will go towards resilient infrastructure to ‘improve regions’ ability to absorb, adapt and respond to stresses and shocks, and support growth.”
Increased costs for car registration and fuel taxes as National adds $50 to vehicle registration costs (over 2025 and 2026,) and hikes fuel taxes by 12c/litre in 2027, 18c/L in 2028, and rising to 22c/L in 2029.
Repealed under urgency the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax. The Prime Minister said the unallocated $341mn of revenue from the tax would go to other projects. New fuel taxes will be introduced in 2027, as per above i.e. rising to 22c per litre in 2029. The Government's Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport policy is costed at $70bn over 10 years.
Cancelled so-called blanket speed limit reductions. Road experts have said the last govt. never implemented "blanket" speed reductions, but targeted speed limits. Road safety experts have asked the Govt to reconsider the Govt’s blanket speed increases, including around school zones, as studies reveal that the majority of deaths and serious incidents occur outside of peak drop off and pick up times. Plus - in Auckland those lower speeds have been found to reduce serious injuries by 15% and deaths by ~50%.
Civics and other
Cancelled govt meetings with BusinessNZ and CTU
Created ACT’s Ministry of Regulation. Minister David Seymour hired ex Oranga Tamiriki CEO, and indicated his new Ministry would be three times the size of the Productivity Commission with ~60 FTE. The May budget confirmed $80mn in funding from taxpayers for the ACT leader's department.
Repealed under urgency the Productivity Commission. The PC was based on the Australian model. The $6m budget was cut to partly fund David Seymour's new Ministry of Regulation.
Effectively froze all but one of the Independent Electoral Review recommendations, ignoring key experts proposals for improving donor transparency to promote fairness and transparency in New Zealand’s elections.
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.
Repealed under urgency the Reserve Bank Dual Mandate. RBNZ says it always prioritised price stability over maximum sustainable employment. It shifted NZ away from Australia's longer standing dual mandate approach.
Implementing a voluntary code of conduct for lobbyists that experts say are effectively useless, and an “exercise in futility.”
Implement privacy measures for lobbyists to hide their identities from the public and press
Day by day, week by week they are destroying NZ. I only have contempt for this government of corruption and they lies they spout out. They are only in it for themselves and their rich mates. As Paul commented so many good people are now suffering and its the lower and middle income people, the poor, the vulnerable and those that can't stick up for themselves that they are picking on. They spout off that they are doing the job they were elected to do - NO they are not. They had to take on the other two crazy parties and all their stupid ideas to get into power. I only hope there are pieces of NZ left to rebuild when they are taken out of power at the next elections or before if there is some way of outing them.
Government? Corporate raiders? Villains. This is not a Government, these a bunch of despicable people hell bent on lining their pockets and mates. There is no soul or even intelligence in any of these policies. Whatever your political flavour is, surely you should be able to look at these policies and see they are going make a lot of people suffer. In the long run this will cost everyone more.
If this bunch thinks the covid protests were wild, they better prepare themselves.