Following a complaint to Parliamentary Services today, items which had been taken from NZ First MP Andrew Williams’ Wellington parliamentary office without his knowledge have been recovered and returned, according to a press statement this afternoon.

In the  statement, Mr Williams said, “I am greatly disappointed and disturbed to learn that some of the items were recovered from Deputy Leader Tracey Martin’s office.”

Mr Williams said what happened “amounts to theft and Tracey Martin and others involved should be taken to task for their actions.”

He added, “No MP has any right to enter another MP’s office and help themselves to valuable items. These items were assets for which I was responsible to Parliamentary Services during my term of Parliament.”

Mr Williams said that on a visit to the office three weeks ago, he found his flat screen TV and printer missing. He asked Parliamentary Service to investigate, and was told the items were going to be put back.

However, when he entered his parliamentary office in Wellington yesterday, he discovered a number of items missing.

“Feels like a burglary almost. To walk into what you think is your own secure Parliamentary office and find all sorts of valuable things taken is a real invasion of your personal space (flat screen TV/printer/private filing cabinet/meeting table).”

NZ First leader Mr Winston Peters said Mr Williams was wasting his time by complaining.

“It’s a futile complaint, and baseless. The reality is that these items don’t belong to the MPs. They belong to the taxpayer.

“It’s a humbug complaint without merit. I’ve never heard something so extraordinary.”

However, when it was confirmed that some of the missing items were found in Ms Martin’s office, Mr Williams stated, “This was not a ‘humbug complaint’ as New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters is quoted as saying today. Parliamentary Services have taken this matter very seriously, as has the NZ First Chief of Staff, as this unprincipled behaviour is unacceptable within the Parliamentary precinct.”

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• Dumped NZ First MP alleges items stolen from Parliamentary office

“New Zealanders should not be fooled by National’s attempts to embellish their efforts in the prison sector. The concept of ‘working prisons’ is not new. A full schedule of jobs has always been a part of prisoner rehabilitation,” says Spokesperson for Corrections Asenati Lole-Taylor.

Prisoners doing a full day’s work is nothing new, but National is pretending it’s had an innovative idea to get prisoners working, says New Zealand First.

“Inmates at Mt Eden Prison in Auckland have produced rubbish bags, which gave taxpayers, communities, victims and their families the benefit of purchasing the product more cheaply.

“Last year, a project started to move earthquake damaged homes to Rolleston Prison so inmates could repair them.

“In prisons like Paremoremo and Spring Hill Correctional Facility there is a full range of employment activities like kitchen, laundry and grounds maintenance duties.

“Paremoremo prison has a pre-cast concrete yard where prisoners can earn NZQA qualifications.

“Horticultural nurseries, trades and carpentry have been part of routine prison activities for many years, but the government has never taken the opportunity to fulfil the true intention and potential of these initiatives.

“The Government has no shame in pretending they have achieved something because it’s an election year.

“Working prisons are not a breakthrough innovation – it’s simply common sense,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

New Zealand First’s East Coast candidate, Mere Takoko, revealed her party’s internal polling shows Labour’s Moana Mackey is just 2 per cent away from winning the East Coast electorate seat from incumbent Anne Tolley.

The former business journalist says she believes Kim Dotcom’s revelations today regarding the GCSB will be a game-changer that will push the Labour coalition “over the line.”

“This is consistent with current polls that show National is losing its lead. The Labour coalition only requires less than a 3% swing to the left,” says Ms Takoko.

“National and their current partners are likely to fall short of 60 seats, leaving New Zealand First in the position of kingmaker.”

Ms Takoko says she is concerned by the results and will register her ballot “for farmers and small-medium businesses owners” on Tuesday at 12pm ahead of the September 20th election.

“Our farmers and small-medium businesses are sinking under a paper of bureaucracy and they can expect more taxes under a National or Labour led Government.

“We have always supported a lower dollar for exporters which is good news for farmers. We will also cut their tax rate from 28c to 20c,” says Ms Takoko.

New Zealand First believes Labour’s ill-timed and ill-informed capital gains tax of 15% will drive some investors to pass on costs to first homebuyers and rental tenants as well as put an unnecessary squeeze on small-medium business owners.

The Party is also concerned that National will increase GST, as they did from 12.5% to 15% in 2010, which will create less purchasing power.

“That’s obviously going to be bad for our local businesses. We will stop Labour from passing a capital gains tax onto New Zealanders and we will drop GST off food and rates to help low-income families who do not currently have any spending power,” says Ms Takoko.

“We will be the only party that can contain the belligerent tax policies of both the right and left with the goal of maximum employment, stable prices, lower interest rates and financial stability. Our bottom line is that we hit the 10% party vote threshold nationwide.

“I’m glad to see we are well above that threshold here on the East Coast at 15.6% for the electorate. We are looking forward to our best result ever,” says Ms Takoko.

New Zealand First’s East Coast electorate pole was conducted between September 8 to 10 among 732 voters from Opotiki, Whakatane, Gisborne, Tolaga Bay and Ruatoria.

732 valid votes cast: 28% Tolley, 26% Mackey, 15.56% NZ First, Greens 15%, Internet Mana 4.6%, Conservatives 2.0%, Undecided 8.8%. Margin of error +/-4% (based on 95% certainty by removing demographic bias as per standards of New Zealand Political Polling Code)

When Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesman Trevor Mallard said his party will restore 10 year passport term, he was called “inattentive” by Minister, Peter Dunne.

But now, both of them are called coat-tail hangers by NZ First’s Le’au Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“This is a NZ First policy. When we first brought this up with Labour, they didn’t want to touch it at all,” Le’au Asenati told Pacific Guardians.

“But having said that, I’m pleased that Labour has seen the light, and recognise that it is the right thing to do.”

Le’au who is the only sitting MP amongst candidates for the Manukau East seat says she has pushed for this matter to be given a fair go.

“Many Pasifika families have raised major concerns over this, because there are only two types of formal IDs, driver’s licence and passport.

“Unfortunately, in the past years – government has used passports as a way of collecting revenue, and creating major issues for those on low income, because the cost was ridiculously too high for less number of years passports are valid for.”

It is time to stop the manipulation of raising funds by disadvantaging local citizens, and do the right thing to serve the population of New Zealand.

“By returning it to 10 years, it will reduce the cost to low-income families with minimal risk given the fancy technology that is now available.”

The change from 10-year to five-year passports was made in 2005. The reasoning at the time according to the Deaprtment of Internal Affairs (DIA) was to bring New Zealand in line with more than 140 countries.

However United States, British, French, German and Australian passports all last 10 years. DIA in response to this was that New Zealand passports changed mainly for security and convenience. That ten years is a long time in technology evolution.

According to the DIA, five-year passports reduce the risk of identity fraud, and fees are higher with 10-year passports due to overhead costs being spread over much lower volume.An adult New Zealand passport costs $140 where as Australian passports cost $260, British passports $112 and US passports $188.

In light of these comparisons, the point put forward by Le’au that Kiwis are getting a raw deal is spot on.

 

The continuing sale of large New Zealand farms and land coupled with growing corporate partnerships with Chinese business interests are a major part of the Government’s strategy to grow the economy.

But it’s a move that “has warning bells all over it” according to NZ First leader Winston Peters. It first came into prominence with his warnings about Huka Lodge and featured by Pacific Guardians: Is Winston a Fool or is Huka Lodge under a Chinese Hammer?

A warning that Labour leader David Cunliffe agrees with saying if farm prices went too high on the back of international sales, New Zealand young farmers and sharemilkers would never be able to buy their own farm because they would be competing against “zero per cent credit from Shanghai, Vancouver or Belgium or wherever,” Mr Cunliffe said at the Leaders’ debate on TVNZ last night.

“That is not the kind of New Zealand that I want to see our young families growing up in.”

But John Key insists there are no risks by standing firm on the direction his government is heading. He confirmed this by saying, at the Leaders’ Debate, that New Zealand needed two-way trade to grow and build its prosperity.

“We don’t have enough capital to underpin our economy. If we say no to foreign capital, whether it’s ultimately going into businesses or a little bit into land, we have to say no to a stronger economy – and the things [that] delivers.”

Healthcare and education would be top of that list.

Policies that back up John Key’s statements include the announcement earlier this week of a $10million investment by the Ministry of Education to support Asian languages with Chinese language, Mandarin, the top priority.

“We need to provide young New Zealanders with opportunities to learn the languages of countries that we have strong trade relationships with,” according to Education spokesperson, Mrs Hekia Parata.

An example of the government’s push in this area was announced just two days ago with Fonterra securing a big deal in China.

The wholly NZ-owned co-op had decided to invest $655million in a Chinese business partnership, using capital flows. With Fonterra also spending just over $500million on developing two plants in New Zealand.

John Key said they support the partnership because New Zealand does not have enough money to grow the New Zealand economy. He said that money can be provided from overseas by selling land to business that will then provide and grow jobs for Kiwis.

“If you go and look at the very tiny amount of land that’s sold offshore, you have to ask yourself … are we better off for a bit of capital coming in? I have always said as prime minister, I will not support foreign investment in New Zealand unless it creates jobs for our children.”

However, the narrow-focus on the Chinese market and business to get the cash into New Zealand could be blinding the government to a take-over by Chinese businesses, the majority of them, controlled by the Chinese government.

This is one of the concerns raised by Winston Peters at a meeting at the North Harbour Rotary earlier today.

Fonterra’s new deal with Chinese infant food maker Beingmate “has warning bells all over it,” said Mr Peters.

The deal allows two large Chinese state companies Mengniu-Yili and Yashili to build processing plants at Glenavy in South Canterbury and Pokeno.

“Why are we allowing Chinese companies to enter New Zealand, mix/blend imported milk powder from their Chinese operations with New Zealand dairy powders and trade off Brand New Zealand back in China, claiming it’s made in New Zealand and is a product of New Zealand?

“Why are they using transfer pricing, and inter-company trading to undercut New Zealand-owned companies who are trying to trade and use the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement to our advantage, and opening the doors for Chinese companies to set up in New Zealand and use the FTA to China’s advantage.”

According to Mr Peters, the deal will mean that in a few year’s time New Zealand dairy will not be in control of its own destiny.

“We will be developing raw-based material, sell it as a commodity at the lowest end of its value and be letting Chinese owned and controlled companies add value and earn valuable export earnings, which New Zealand companies should be earning.”

What is worse he added, “is the issue of sovereignty and market Brand New Zealand being determined by Chinese officials as to which industrial dairy plants they will recognise.”

In the economic scenario painted by Mr Peters, plus the government $10million language move for more Kiwi kids to speak Chinese in schools, this country could end up known as a Chinese village exporting dairy products as part of the Chinese economy?

“Universal Homes – a long established Auckland company that builds houses and develops land … in reality is 100 per cent owned by the Chinese government.” Winston Peters.

National’s limp housing policy simply means more money for foreign owners according to New Zealand First.

“Foreign-owned building and land development companies will profit from National throwing money at home buyers,” leader Winston Peters told an audience in Katikati today.

“Take, for example, Universal Homes – it’s a long established Auckland company that builds houses and develops land but is 100% owned by Chinese interests, despite having a shelf company in New Zealand linked to a similar company in Hong Kong. In reality, 100 per cent owned by the Chinese government.

“So, will China be one of the serious beneficiaries of National’s limp plans to deal with the housing crisis?

“Foreign companies have been major buyers of land around Auckland and land banking it for future subdivisions. Aucklanders know it and many are concerned.

“Government policies to assist foreign companies to feed off a housing crisis in New Zealand are no solution.

“New Zealand First’s policy to stop land, housing and business sales to foreigners will give Kiwi companies the chance to develop land and houses, it will reduce demand and stop New Zealand money flooding offshore.

“New Zealand is committed to putting the brakes on the sell off.

“We will also pass a law for a register of all foreign land and house ownership.

“We’re going to know, finally, who owns what and where. And we’ll catch land and houses using the trust ownership veil as well.

“The rubber-stamp that is the Overseas Investment Office is going in the bin.

“Foreign buy-ups will only be approved if of significant benefit, and that will be carefully monitored. Where are all the benefits to show from foreign ownership now?”

“This increase is related 67,984 work visas (up 3100) and nearly 90,000 student visas (up 4800) making the plight of Kiwi job seekers even worse. When the National government gave foreign students work rights they increased job competition and allowed ‘study” to be used as a means to permanent residency.” Mr Peters.

Latest immigration figures show a record number, 196,900 visitors arriving in New Zealand last month. It is a net gain of 4,540 arrivals setting a new decade high and not far off the record 4,730 monthly pace seen in March 2003.

NZ First leader Winston Peters says New Zealand cannot deal with almost 800 people settling here every week – it is just not common sense.

“The government should hang its head in shame over today’s immigration figures with 140,000 Kiwis out of work and a housing crisis in Auckland,” says Mr Peters.

“The pressure on housing, jobs, our hospitals, schools and our welfare system from a near record 41,000 people settling here in the past year is unbearable and will squeeze these services for hardworking New Zealanders.

“This increase is related 67,984 work visas  (up 3100) and nearly 90,000 student visas (up 4800) making the plight of Kiwi job seekers even worse.

“When the National government gave foreign students work rights they increased job competition and allowed ‘study” to be used as a means to permanent residency.

“Where is the export education policy now when it is our economy that is paying for foreign students to work here?

“The government is not monitoring immigration at all – it has an open door policy and its contributing to the fastest rate of population growth for over a decade.

“This is all about the economy trying to progress on the basis of consumerism and production.

“All the hype about a rock star economy was largely about the consumptive growth that goes with an increasing population “There has been no real expansion in  health, education and infrastructure to match this rapid population increase  – belatedly the government has talked about building new schools just as the election campaign begins.

“No thought or planning has been given to the potential social and cultural consequences of this massive influx “National’s irresponsible, unfocused  immigration policy has taken no account of either the quantity or quality of immigrants – and New Zealanders, old and new, will pay a heavy price for this,” Mr Peters says.

 

New Zealand First announced it wants all newborn babies in New Zealand to have a KiwiSaver account. Announced at its 2014 election campaign launch yesterday, the proposed scheme comes with a $1000 Government kick-start and flexibility to use it for tertiary education fees.

Leader Winston Peters said the scheme would cost $60million which would be “less than the numerous Cook Strait ferry botchups have cost already”.

And about as much as the government’s “Novopay disaster has cost us already,” he added.

“That’s $60 million reinvested back into our economy, our businesses and our people, not heading offshore to reward a bunch of incompetent Aussies on Novopay.”

The concept and application is the same that “thousands of young New Zealanders have used KiwiSaver to help them save to buy their first homes, it’s common sense that it helps to pay for their tertiary education too” said Mr Peters.

The account would grow with after-school and holiday jobs worked as a teenager. And would spare the Government from having to loan as much money to tertiary education students for their fees.

Since the funds can only be accessed for youngsters going onto further studies, those who do not will have “the money stay in their account to go towards their first home and retirement,” reasoned Mr Peters.

“By these means can we directly help so many of our young whilst at the same time further build the funds to free ourselves from the dependence on foreign money and foreign savings.”

New Zealand First is concerned more children  are being dropped-off at school because parents believe children are no longer safe walking or cycling to school.

“Many parents believe their suburbs aren’t as safe as they used to be,” says Spokesperson for Social Policy/Welfare Le’au Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“The Ministry of Transport’s latest household travel survey reveals children spend half as much time walking and cycling as they did 15 years ago, which has also contributed to New Zealand’s child obesity problem.

“Traffic and weather were factored into the survey, but the resounding message from members of the public is that the street simply is no longer a safe place to be.

“This is despite National’s ramblings about streets and communities being safer. Their artificial crime rates fail to accurately reflect the social problems facing our communities, and this data needs to be questioned.

“We must ensure the researchers and statisticians are asking the right questions. They need to be involved at a grassroots level if they want to know what is going on because there is already too much out-of-touch commentary coming from the National government.

“How can streets be safer when more than 1000 crimes are recorded every day in New Zealand? It just doesn’t make sense,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga has defended recent criticisms aimed at staff, nepotism and organizational changes at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA).

Responding exclusively to Pacific Guardians the Minister says he is happy with the way the current Ministry restructure is being handled.

He said the changes are “not intended to achieve savings” but to improve “service delivery and policy advice” by putting in place a “new operating model”.

He emphasised, “The vision for organisational change at the Ministry is about achieving better outcomes for Pacific people, communities, and businesses through better policy engagement and outcomes.”

But accusations about CEO Pauline Winters $30,124.88 travel spend over the past 12 months, and controversial staff appointments of Private Secretary Luc Shorter, executive director Kevin Sua Thomsen and regional manager Paul Stowers, made by Winters last year without the roles being advertised, remain unanswered.

Opposition MPs have stepped up their call for Peseta to step in.

The staff appointments are serious say NZ First Pacific spokesperson Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor.

“Appointment of staff in senior positions without being advertised or going through the recruitment process can be a serious misconduct,” she told Pacific Guardians.

“The Minister ought to be asked if he can provide assurances that his Chief Executive is performing according to the guidelines of the State Services.”

Su’a William Sio, for Labour maintains the current situation at MPIA is a “shambles” and a reflection of Peseta’s lack of “leadership”.

“The Minister needs to front up and explain how his ‘leadership’ has resulted in the unfolding shambles at the ministry,” said Su’a in a statement.

“Pacific families are being hit with high unemployment, low incomes and unaffordable housing. Now the only ministry charged with advocating for better lives for our people is embroiled in internal staffing issues.”

He added, “The bulk of the extra money Mr Lotu-Iiga crowed about the Ministry getting in this year’s Budget appears to have been for redundancies.”

But Peseta is unperturbed and maintains his position, “It is inappropriate for me to comment on expenditure or staffing matters.  These are operational matters and you will need to contact the Ministry directly for comment.

“However, I have sought reassurances from the State Services Commissioner that the Chief Executive’s expenditure is legitimate.”

He also explained that the increase in the 2014/15 budget of $619,000 was “to support organisational change for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

“The organisational change is not intended to achieve savings; rather it is to improve service delivery and policy advice through implementation of a new operating model.  The Ministry is still undergoing organisational change and staff are in the appointment process and it would be inappropriate for me to comment as Minister on staffing matters.”

In the meantime, Ms Winters has refused media interviews instead preferring to communicate through written ministry statements.

In relation to travel expenditure, Ms Winters said, “My travel spending is appropriate and is entirely related to the core business of the ministry. My travel programme is planned against the ministry’s work programme to assist with keeping the costs as low as possible.”

She added the ministry was going through a “change process” and that a “process of business as usual and consultation” required regular travel between Auckland, where the majority of Pacific Islanders are based, and Wellington.

But the Taxpayers’ Union has called for Ms Winters to front up “or resign”.

Executive Officer, Mr Jordan Williams told media, “Taxpayers fork out $270,000 per year for this Chief Executive and she is refusing to take calls from the media. The Taxpayers’ Union call on Ms Winter to front up, or resign.”

Last week, Mr Williams went with Taxpayers’ Union mascot Porky to see Ms Winters at the MPIA offices.

“For Ms Winter’s gallant efforts to rip off New Zealand taxpayers with publicly funded weekend trips to the exotic capital of the South Pacific known as Auckland, Porky and I visited the Ministry’s offices to present her with the first of our ‘Troughing Awards’.

“Ms Winters was in the office but refused to front-up or speak to media.

“Despite Ms Winter’s expenses being more than $30,000 she chose to hide in her office and send a spin doctor to accept the award on her behalf.

“Ms Winter’s refusal to justify her expense bill is the epitome of arrogance. She should front up, justify her extravagance on the taxpayer purse, or resign.”

PAULINE WINTER SPEND

Spending between July 2013 and July 2014:

Taxis – $5987.24 (around 80 of which were listed as AIRPORT TRANSFERS)

AIRFARES – $17,059.53 (between Auckland and Wellington)

Car rental – $3103.82 (on 10 occasions, over six months, she used a HIRE CAR in Auckland over weekends. The bill came to $2273)

Total travel expenses: $30,124.88.