National Party
Debating the future of New Zealand foreign policy
Gordan Copeland and Hon Jim Anderton
Members of the major and minor parties spoke on foreign policy and New Zealand’s opportunity to make a difference internationally at a debate that tackled defense, human rights and global warming.
Six parliamentarians and candidates came together to talk about the coming election, their parties’ vision and New Zealand’s place in the wider world at [...]
Jonathan Coleman adjusts to life in the limelight
Politics can be ruthless and first-term MPs must learn quickly how to keep out of trouble.
Dr Jonathan Coleman discovered the hard way that politicians are scrutinised by the public for their every action.
In 2006, the National MP for Northcote accepted an invitation to watch U2 from British American Tobacco’s corporate box at Auckland’s Mt Smart [...]
No policy provisions for climate change refugees
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Climate change may cause millions to lose their homes. However, New Zealand political parties did not have a policy on the subject when asked at the Oxfam Tackling Climate Poverty debate on Monday.
Labour Minister responsible for climate change issues David Parker, National spokesperson for climate change Nick Smith, Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimmons, Progressive’s deputy leader [...]
Editorial: The slogans, soundbites and serious stuff.
So this election is all about trust, or is it about a brighter future?
Party slogans are the new detailed policy. “Vote for me” – say the Greens, lest we cast our vote for someone over the age of eight who owns their own shoes. The Act Party is this election’s A-Team as it has “the [...]
National assures low-decile funding
The National Party has hit back at criticism from the Government that it will not spend enough on low-decile schools and has vowed to match the Labour Party’s spending plans.
Mt Roskill Labour MP and Associate Finance Minister Phil Goff attacked National last week over its funding plans for low-decile schools.
Goff accused National’s finance spokesman Bill [...]
Ethnic minority MPs given boost by party lists
Party lists have enhanced the diversity of Parliament in the face of prejudice against candidates from ethnic minorities, says New Zealand’s first Indian MP, Dr Ashraf Choudhary.
Choudhary, who was elected from the Labour list in 2002, says he believes in principle that candidates who are chosen for the party lists should be judged on the [...]
‘Bludging’ solo mum supports National’s DPB policy
The National Party’s plan to force solo parents on the domestic purposes benefit (DPB) into training or back to work when their youngest child turns six is winning some unlikely support.
For more than 16 years, Papakura resident Julie [not her real name] has been on the DPB.�
In that time she’s “never really heard from WINZ” other [...]
Drivers preparing to pay road toll
Whangaparaoa commuters are expecting a decision from the Government in the coming weeks about a toll road that could cost them $25 a week and cut their travelling time by 30 minutes a day.
Transport minister Annette King is considering a proposal for 58 per cent of the $200million Penlink toll road to be funded through [...]
Nat’s accused of deal with Act Party
Labour’s candidate for Epsom, Kate Sutton, says the National Party is giving away the Epsom seat to Rodney Hide of the Act Party.�
“Has there been a deal with National? I think that’s something John Key needs to be asked,” says first-time candidate Sutton.
She says former seat holder and National Party candidate Richard Worth is “not [...]
Kaye battling for Auckland Central seat
National’s youngest candidate, Nikki Kaye, has adopted some innovative ways to start her campaign trail in Auckland Central. When Chapel Bar in Ponsonby is mentioned as a starting point for door knocking, she laughs: “Have I been spotted?”
The 28-year-old candidate will go head-to-head with Judith Tizard come election day and has fought hard to be [...]
Te Waha Nui is written and edited by student journalists on the Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Bachelor of Communication Studies courses at AUT University. Views expressed are those of the editorial team and contributors and not of the University