National’s plan to build a stronger economy

National is committed to growing our economy so we can provide more jobs and higher wages to help raise the standard of living of New Zealanders. We are doing this by providing the right economic incentives, and regulating responsibly to maintain safety and protect the environment, but without strangling businesses in red tape.

National has set out its building blocks for a stronger New Zealand economy, in a 120-point economic development action plan.

The action plan complements National’s strong and responsible finance policy to get New Zealand back into surplus within three years and to start paying down debt. Our plan details National’s commitments to building modern productive infrastructure, improving regulation, developing a skilled workforce, and investing in innovation and trade.

It is crucial that we have all our export industries working positively if we are to turn New Zealand into a more competitive economy that provides better jobs and growth for all New Zealanders.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Economic_Development_Action_Plan.pdf

National to ramp up immunisation targets

National is working hard to protect and grow our public health service. We’re focused on delivering the healthcare Kiwi families need.

By the end of 2014, National will make sure we are immunising 95 per cent of eight-month-old babies with three scheduled vaccinations. We know children are more likely to complete all vaccinations if they begin early. All babies will be automatically enrolled with a GP and WellChild provider.

Early intervention can help families get a good start and set up youngsters for a happy and healthy childhood. We will bring local maternity professionals together to regularly review births, expand the number of midwives in our voluntary bonding scheme, and grow B4 school checks. We also announced $54 million in new mother and newborn baby services in Budget 2011.

Boosting immunisation and maternity services is part of National’s special focus on children. We want to give all Kiwi kids the opportunity to succeed.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37601

Building confidence in the welfare system

Our welfare system is one of the most generous in the world and, under National, that safety net will always be there to help New Zealanders in need. For most people, this is a temporary support while they get back on their feet.

However, a small number see welfare as a free ride on the taxpayer, and there are those who are facing a future of life-time welfare dependency.

National will invest in helping those at risk of long-term dependency find work. There will also be a stronger, more proactive stance against those who abuse and defraud the welfare system.

Jobseekers whose recreational drug use gets in the way of a job will face having their benefit cancelled. For those with genuine addiction problems, we will help them get support to deal with their drug or alcohol addiction.

Beneficiaries on the run from the Police will have their benefit cancelled if they continue to evade Police with arrest warrants. And National will make it easier to catch fraudsters sooner by data matching with other government agencies.

More information

http://www.national.org.nz/PDF_General/Welfare_Obligations_policy.pdf

http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37451

Safer roads under National

National is determined to keep reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. We will invest about $620 million a year from the National Land Transport Fund to improve road safety.

Since coming to office we have focused on tackling our road toll as we work to build a safer New Zealand. We are on track for a record low road toll this year but there is still work to be done.

National will continue to make changes that build on the solid progress we have made in the past three years. We will introduce legislation to stop drivers staying on their learners and restricted licenses for long periods so they learn to drive properly. We will also introduce a tougher restricted licence test and strengthen motorcycle licence testing.

A big focus in the road safety area is making major improvements to our high-use highways through the Roads of National Significance programme. We will be investing $12.2 billion on improving the highway system across New Zealand over the next 10 years.

More information: http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=37547

National to step up trade missions

National will lead at least 28 high-level trade missions to Asian countries over the next three years to expand trade and business links.

The party’s trade policy also says National will continue to pursue high-quality trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and bilateral free-trade agreements.

Enhancing and growing New Zealand’s international trade links is a key part of National’s plan to build a stronger economy and create more jobs with higher incomes.

National has made substantial progress in improving New Zealand’s access to other countries’ markets, and we aim to build on that progress.

More information: http://national.org.nz/files/2011/Trade_policy.pdf

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