We are being fed a daily dose of spin and propaganda from the Beehive about how things are getting better.

Out in the heartland though, there is a stream of job losses and endless cutbacks to public services.

This afternoon, a public meeting was held in Levin where I spoke more about the challenges facing New Zealanders and what New Zealand First would do to help. You can read my speech here.

Rt Hon Winston Peters
Leader of New Zealand First
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Last week, the Psychoactive Substances Bill was read in Parliament for the first time. We say “It’s about time!”

In one week, three young people were hospitalised due to severe kidney damage following the use of synthetic cannabis, as well as an aggravated robbery where more than $5000 of synthetic cannabis was stolen from a dairy. 

With reports of free lollies given out at point of sale, sales made to under aged school children, and sales made to inpatients of a mental health hospital, New Zealanders are right to worry about getting the legislation right this time around. The current measures are not strict enough, or managed properly.

Under the new Bill, manufacturers will have to prove the safety of the products they intend to sell, before they will be allowed to import in to New Zealand. There are harsh penalties for companies and individuals who do not adhere to the regulations.

New Zealand First does not agree with the purchase age of 18. We also believe possession of an unapproved substance should be a criminal offence. These issues we will be addressed when the Bill reaches Select Committee.

Barbara Stewart MP
Spokesperson for Health
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New Zealand is unique in many ways. One of them is how accessible our MPs are to the general public. 

Many a visiting politician is amazed that not only do New Zealand MPs allow themselves to mingle in a pub with the public but that they appear on television in such an unscripted situation.

Personally I think this keeps politicians real, with real topics in front of real people. I was thrilled to be asked to appear on the first episode of the new season of Back Benches last week – if you're in Wellington, the show is filmed live on Wednesdays at 6pm at the Back Bencher pub, and screens on Prime TV at 10.30pm the same night.

Tracey Martin MP
Spokesperson for Communications and IT
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National is flogging off state-owned assets to pay for remedial work created by its botched policies and decisions.

It is clear that state-owned Mighty River Power (MRP) is being sold urgently so the proceeds can be used by National to cover the leaky buildings crisis in state schools.

The Government has regularly told Parliament, privatisation of MRP will allow the Government to invest in the creation of 21st Century schools.

More than 300 schools are facing bills of about $1.5 billion to repair 800 leaky buildings.

National created the leaky buildings crisis in the 1990s when it changed the building code and laws which seriously undermined the building industry, and are now selling our assets to pay for this “National disaster”.

Our assets, owned by all New Zealanders, are being sold to the highest bidder because of National’s catastrophic blundering.

Andrew Williams MP
Spokesperson for Energy
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Talk about making things harder for people! The Legal Assistance (Sustainability)Bill had its second reading this week.

The Government has back-tracked over many of the worst provisions of the Bill, which would have reduced eligibility for legal aid, especially for family court matters and for representation for children.

The Justice and Electoral Select Committee amended the Bill and removed most of the worst proposals, showing just how badly conceived the Bill has been. But there are still some bad provisions left such as refusing aid for proceedings where an applicant has been unable to keep up repayments of legal aid for any previous proceeding. The Government also want to impose interest on legal aid grants.

For these reasons, New Zealand First opposed this Bill.

Denis O'Rourke MP
Spokesperson for Justice

GCSB Legislation Needed With Strict Controls

Overhaul Of Power Companies Needed For NZ's Future

State Assets Being Flogged Off To Cover Leaky Schools Crisis

Kiwi Workers Ignored In Favour Of Foreigners