Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has outlined a new set of quarterly objectives for the business of running New Zealand. But how did his coalition Government track last quarter?
The Government yesterday revealed its priorities for the next three months, with a 40-point plan focused on rebuilding the economy and easing the cost of living, restoring law and order, and delivering better public services.
It comes hot on the heels of a 36-point plan meant to guide the coalition’s work from April through to the end of June.
A flurry of activity at Parliament last week had the coalition checking off several of those tasks at the last minute. So, what exactly did it achieve last quarter?
The Budget
Number one on Luxon’s list last quarter was delivering a Budget “that [reduced] wasteful spending while investing in frontline services like health, education and police”.
Given the Government is legally obliged to release a Budget, this one was never in doubt. As for the spending promises, Nicola Willis’ first Budget as Finance Minister outlined $16.7 billion in new health funding over three years, a $1.48 billion shot in the arm for school and kura kaupapa property, and $226.1 million for training 500 extra police officers.
The Government was also able to tick another two items off its to-do list shortly after the Budget, by legislating for the promised tax cuts and the introduction of the FamilyBoost childcare tax credit.
Health priorities unveiled
Another biggie on the list was the country’s health priorities under the National-led coalition.
The promise to deliver a new Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Health just squeaked in before the quarterly deadline, with Health Minister Dr Shane Reti releasing details of that plan on the last day of June.
The GPS sets the direction for the health system for the next three years and includes five health targets and five mental health and addiction targets.
The five health targets are faster cancer treatment; improved immunisation for children; shorter stays in emergency departments; shorter wait times for first specialist assessment; and shorter wait times for elective treatment.
The mental health and addiction targets include faster access to services; shorter mental health and addiction-related stays in emergency departments; training more mental health professionals; and strengthening the focus on prevention and early intervention.
Decisions taken – and beyond
Much like the coalition’s new quarterly plan, a large chunk of the previous one involved “taking decisions” on certain policies.
Some over-achievers managed to get beyond the “taking decisions” stage and began legislating for various changes within that timeframe.
Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee not only took decisions to restore the controversial Three Strikes legislation, but also introduced a Bill to bring back the sentencing law last week. The Bill has now been referred to the Justice Committee.
A Bill to repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act also had its first reading in Parliament in May.
Meanwhile, Brooke van Velden took decisions on the two pieces of the quarterly plan that fell under her remits.
She revealed the Government’s “targeted consultation” plans on proposed changes to the Holidays Act in her role as Workplace Relations and Safety Minister. Those changes include moving annual leave to an accrual system instead of an entitlement system, and the more contentious proposal to move sick leave to a pro-rating system.
Van Velden also revealed decisions on the scope of the extension to the Covid-19 inquiry last week as part of her Internal Affairs remit. She said there would be a second phase to the Royal Commission which would focus on vaccine efficacy and safety, the extended lockdowns in Auckland and Northland, and the extent of disruption to people’s health, education and business.
This move led to the coalition’s first use of the “agree to disagree” provisions in its agreements, with Winston Peters saying New Zealand first did not agree with allowing the inquiry to continue in its current form.
Other decisions taken during the quarter include:
- Take decisions on the rollout of structured literacy for Year 1-3 students: Education Minister Erica Stanford announced structured literacy will be taught in schools from Term 1 next year.
- Take decisions on establishing a Youth Serious Offender Category and making Youth Military Academies a standalone sentencing option for the Youth Court: The Government has revealed plans for a pilot boot camp programme starting in Palmerston North this month.
- Take decisions on the removal of the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration: Minister for Resources Shane Jones confirmed last month that the Government will reverse the ban.
The Government said yesterday that the following decisions had also been made — although details have not been as forthcoming:
- Take decisions to tighten controls on youth vaping: The Government had already revealed a tough stance on youth vaping before including it in its quarterly plan. Further action on youth vaping has yet to be revealed.
- Take decisions to streamline the Medsafe approval process
- Take decisions on measures to increase investment in renewable electricity generation
- Take decisions to implement the Going for Housing Growth plan while making the MDRS optional for councils.
The coalition said decisions to disestablish Te Pūkenga and consult on a proposed replacement model were still forthcoming.
Quarterly KPIs met
Other action items ticked off the coalition’s list last quarter included launching a review of the firearms registry. Nicole McKee revealed the next phase in rewriting New Zealand’s gun laws, saying the Arms Act would be overhauled by 2026.
David Seymour was also busy across his various portfolios. His new Regulation Ministry announced the early childhood education (ECE) sector would be first in line for a “red tape review”, with promises of many other sector reviews to come.
Seymour also began the legislative process for reintroducing charter schools. The Education and Training Amendment Bill has had its first reading last week, with public submissions on the issue open until July 17.
Housing Minister Chris Bishop checked “responding to the independent review of Kāinga Ora” off the list, saying Cabinet had agreed to four of the seven major recommendations in that report.
The Government also moved to keep agriculture out of the ETS, and began its independent review of methane science and targets by appointing a panel chaired by Professor Nicola Shadbolt.
Meanwhile, a Regional Infrastructure Fund was established, with applications for that $1.2 billion pot of money opening yesterday.
Other quarterly items achieved include:
Finally, the quarterly plan promised to “raise the energy New Zealand brings to key relationships through international engagements, focusing on our traditional partners, the Pacific, and South East and South Asia”.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters certainly raised that energy with a flurry of overseas trips, particularly through April.
The Prime Minister also did his bit for international relations with trips overseas last quarter — despite the best efforts of the New Zealand Defence Force 757 plane to keep him on the ground.
