Labour Party
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Falling household incomes and the ever widening gap between rich and poor in New Zealand are an indictment on John Key’s Government, says David Shearer.
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A report which shows income inequality at its highest level ever and growing numbers of New Zealand children living in hardship is a scorecard of Government neglect, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Jacinda Ardern says.
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The Education Minister has effectively admitted that none of the significant recommendations designed to stop sex offenders working in schools will apply to charter schools, says Nanaia Mahuta, Labour’s Education Spokesperson.
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The Government’s "Vulnerable Children Result Action Plan" shows it is out of ideas and desperately trying to avoid the real issues facing parents and children.
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The Prime Minister and Minister of Defence appear to be at odds over extending operations of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction into the Baghlan province of Afghanistan, Labour’s Defence spokesperson Iain Lees-Galloway says.
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Housing Minister Phil Heatley has been caught out spinning nonsense about his corporation going high-tech when the reality is tenancy managers don’t even have laptops, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Annette King.
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National’s barrage of broken economic promises, including a pledge to invest 40 per cent the Super Fund in New Zealand, are laid out today in David Parker’s Economic Road Test of the Government.
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Research that shows parental responsibility and government support are both vital to the well-being of children should be the catalyst that changes Paula Bennett's thinking on child poverty, Labour's Social Development spokesperson and Spokesperson for Children Jacinda Ardern says.
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Ethnic New Zealanders continue to face enormous barriers in the job market and in gaining access to basic public services - a situation that must be addressed, says Labour’s Ethnic Affairs spokesperson Rajen Prasad.
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National’s ‘building innovation’ report hasn’t an innovative idea in it and is desperately lacking ambition, say Labour Leader David Shearer and Economic Development spokesperson David Cunliffe.
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David Parker | Tuesday, August 21, 2012 - 10:41 Good evening.
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Taxpayers have good reason to look askance at National’s latest state sector shuffle as figures reveal the organisations recently absorbed into National’s ‘mega ministry’ have spent $12 million on redundancy payments alone, says Labour’s State Services spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
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Massive redundancies at the IRD have taken a huge toll on frontline customer service and the economy will be suffering as a result, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Chris Hipkins says.
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Despite taking a hit to their bonuses, the base remuneration for CEOs and managing directors is still rising faster than Kiwis’ wages, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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Labour is offering its heartfelt sympathy to the families, friends and colleagues of the three New Zealand soldiers killed in Afghanistan when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device.
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Nearly $10-million of taxpayers’ money has been wasted on funding students who did not complete their training under the Government’s much vaunted Youth Guarantee scheme, says Grant Robertson, Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson.
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The Government’s goal of lifting exports is laudable, but glossy pamphlets and negative interviews won’t get us there, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson David Cunliffe.
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The Rena disaster clean-up will cost the taxpayer over $50 million, highlighting the Government’s folly of not passing legislation that would have seen the owners of the vessel picking up the tab, Labour’s Environment spokesperson Grant Robertson says.
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The Government’s efforts to track down staff who opposed the botched restructuring of Foreign Affairs is causing further damage, says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Phil Goff.
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The Education Minister Hekia Parata needs to explain exactly how her office came to know where teachers who wrote to her in a private capacity worked, says Chris Hipkins, Labour’s associate Education spokesperson.
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Despite assurances from the Government that biosecurity border control is hitting its targets the New Zealand bee industry remains rightly concerned about the threat from honey brought in to this country from Australia, Labour’s Biosecurity spokesperson Damien O’Connor says.
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The decision by the New Zealand Transport Agency to back a flyover beside the Basin Reserve is deeply flawed and continues the Government’s piecemeal approach to transport issues in Wellington city, Grant Robertson MP for Wellington Central and Annette King MP for Rongotai said today.
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Labour MP Darien Fenton says her member’s bill, drawn from the ballot today, will see ratepayer-owned ports subject to the Official Information Act.
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The news today that manufacturing is down, having “slipped into contraction in July” is further proof that substantial changes are needed to create opportunities for better jobs and higher wages in manufacturing, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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An 7500 additional operations performed in the last year is testament to the efforts of doctors, nurses and support staff in our hospitals up and down the country, Labour’s Health spokesperson Maryan Street says.
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A petition signed by more than 10,000 people to save the Gisborne to Napier rail line will not proceed any further because a Parliamentary committee chaired by National MP David Bennett claims it doesn’t need investigation, says Labour MP Moana Mackey.
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Jo Goodhew’s reluctance to advocate for New Zealand women was made plain in Parliament today as she dodged questions on the Government’s record, says Labour’s Women’s Affairs spokesperson Sue Moroney.
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The Government’s refusal to face up to the consequences of an ageing population is leaving tens-of-thousands of New Zealanders uncertain and fearful about retirement, says David Parker.
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Child poverty will never be resolved by a Government that refuses to acknowledge the scale of the problem, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson and Spokesperson for Children Jacinda Ardern says.
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John Key must move immediately to determine whether his Minister, Hekia Parata abused her position in accessing individual teachers records, says Labour's State Services spokesperson Chris Hipkins.
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National’s Exclusive Economic Zone legislation is deeply flawed and should be sent back to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee for further work, says Labour’s Environment Spokesperson Grant Robertson.
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Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson, Damien O’Connor, has lodged a private members Bill aimed at protecting Kiwi farmers by limiting outside and foreign investment in Fonterra.
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David Parker | Thursday, August 16, 2012 - 10:34 Venue - EPMU, Wellington Welcome and thanks for coming out this morning, and joining with me, David Cunliffe, and your former President Andrew Little. Your local MP, Annette King, sends her apologies.
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The blatant rip-off of migrant workers exposed on TVNZ’s One News must be investigated and Labour inspectors required to urgently crack-down on this kind of exploitation, often by other migrant-owned businesses, says Darien Fenton.
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Labour’s Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O’Connor has come out in support of a rural breast cancer fundraiser following ‘revelations’ that older farmers were loath to be associated with the colour pink.
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National’s plan to strip funding from local roading projects and to borrow billions to pay for marginal new motorways is hurting heartland New Zealand, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
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The Government’s plan to start borrowing for state highway projects is setting the country up for Think Big Mk 2, Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford says.
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The only new ideas in National’s much-hyped 'comprehensive exports plan’ are story-telling, branding and photo opportunities, says Labour’s Economic Development spokesperson David Cunliffe.
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Cyber-bullying must be addressed so that the internet can be a more enjoyable community for everyone to be involved in, says Labour’s Communications spokesperson Clare Curran.
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A new Massey University study which has found that as many as 48% of the 400-plus nurses surveyed experience ‘moral distress’ to the extent that they wanted to give up nursing, says Labour’s Health Spokesperson Maryan Street.
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News that Rape Crisis has had to downscale its services for women in the Wellington region reflects the Government’s lack of commitment to reducing violence against women says Labour’s spokesperson for Women’s Affairs Sue Moroney.
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Front-line police officers have been forced to sign up to a pay deal which will see them effectively take a pay cut because of Government budget cuts, says Labour’s Police Spokesperson Kris Faafoi.
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Time and time again Paula Bennett has promoted her Green Paper as a solution to how we care for our most vulnerable children, yet it ignores a raft of issues flagged by the thousands of submitters, Labour’s Spokesperson for Social Development and Children Jacinda Ardern says.
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Labour welcomes the proposals set out in the review of MMP by the Electoral Commission, says Labour’s Associate Justice spokesperson Lianne Dalziel.
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Judith Collins’ plans for an ACC employee of the month award is probably at odds with state sector rules about the relationship between ministers and department employees, and has all the rigour of an episode of Undercover Boss, Labour’s ACC spokesman Andrew Little says.
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The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold 50 cleaners’ rights to negotiate redundancy entitlements is a great victory after what has been an uphill battle says Labour’s spokesperson for Labour Issues Darien Fenton.
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Kiwirail is laying off 181 workers despite its freight business growing by 25 per cent in two years, showing how unrealistic the Government's Turn Around Plan for rail is, says Labour's transport spokesperson Phil Twyford.
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New Zealand has lost 20,000 manufacturing jobs under National, a serious blow for business and workers, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
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Cross-party support for the nuclear-free agenda shows that the time is right for New Zealand to support a nuclear weapons convention says Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Phil Goff and Labour’s Disarmament spokesperson, Maryan Street.
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A consultation document on minimising the harm caused by gambling has recommended research contracts be slashed by almost half says Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesperson Ruth Dyson.
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Over half a million dollars was spent on the shortest-lived ministry of recent times for a flash fit-out and branding that included 180 punnets of promotional putty.
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National's transport and local government policies are deeply unpopular in the rural heartland, says Labour’s Transport spokesperson Phil Twyford, following a road trip to North Otago and Canterbury.
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Anton Oliver's endorsement of a campaign acknowledging the importance of protecting our wild and scenic rivers is another positive step towards achieving this goal, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.
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New job numbers out today will be cold comfort to a generation of young New Zealanders whose employment prospects grow bleaker by the day, Labour’s Youth Affairs spokesperson Megan Woods says.
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National’s hands-off approach to the economy isn’t working, as shown by another 2000 people losing their jobs this quarter, says Labour’s David Parker.
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Cuts of more than $30 million of funding for regional polytechnics is further evidence that the National Government is neglecting provincial New Zealand, says Grant Robertson Labour’s Tertiary Education, Skills and Training Spokesperson.
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Pharmac has embarked on a dangerous course in order to save $10 million, presumably at the instruction of the government, with its decision to contract a sole supplier to provide new meters to diabetics, Labour’s Health spokesperson Maryan Street says.
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John Key’s only plan to reduce the exchange rate and help our exporters is to ask currency traders to play nicely, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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Plans by the Government to publish league table based on John Key’s self-described ‘ropey’ figures will leave parents misinformed not better informed , Labour Leader David Shearer says.
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New Zealand needs tougher standards for foreign investors to buy productive land after the final appeal to keep the Crafar Farms under New Zealand ownership failed, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
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Budget shortfalls are hitting District Health Boards across the country, with overworked staff worried it is putting people’s health at risk, Labour's Health spokesperson Maryan Street says.
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John Key’s inattention to the tourism sector has left it flat lining says Labour’s Tourism spokesperson Rino Tirikatene.
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David Shearer | Wednesday, August 8, 2012 - 10:03 Speech to Pipfruit NZ - Nelson I’ve spent a lot of time over the last six months travelling around New Zealand’s regions and talking to people.
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Labour will work in a strong and active partnership with our regional cities and towns to unleash their potential so that their success benefits all New Zealanders, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
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David Shearer | Tuesday, August 7, 2012 - 18:24 Thank you Anne-Marie Coury for your welcome.
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Events celebrating Cook Islands Language Week highlight the importance of indigenous languages and Pacific bilingual education here in New Zealand, says Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson Su’a William Sio.
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Government support for undergrounding Buckle Street means a memorial park, a fitting tribute to New Zealanders who have served overseas and a wonderful public space for Wellingtonians, will finally see the light of day, Wellington Central Labour MP Grant Robertson says.
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The Labour leader David Shearer says the hearts of New Zealanders go out to the families of Lance Corporal Rory Malone and Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer.
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Amy Adams must show how the cost of ultra-fast broadband will come down now that the collapse of Pacific Fibre has ruled out international competition, says Labour’s Communications spokesperson Clare Curran.
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Just two months ago National was hell-bent on expanding class sizes to find the money to spend on raising teacher quality.
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Comments from Judith Collins about the Privacy Commissioner’s inquiry into the leaking of an email are totally out of line and she should think seriously about stepping aside as Justice Minister until the investigation is complete, Labour’s ACC spokesperson Andrew Little says.
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It is wrong for the Government to hand the bill for its central city blueprint to the Christchurch City Council, says Labour’s Earthquake Recovery spokesperson Lianne Dalziel.
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The Government has failed to get an estimate of the economic cost to New Zealand as the result of the collapse of the Pacific Fibre cable deal, says Labour’s Communications and IT Spokesperson Clare Curran.
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Phil Heatley’s admission this afternoon that ‘there are state houses today in a serious state of disrepair’ confirms that his inaction is compromising the health and safety of tenants, says Labour’s spokesperson for Housing Annette King.
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A new fee of $897 to access the Family Dispute Resolution Service (FDR) – the entry step to most matters to be dealt with by the Family Court under reforms announced by National today – will be a huge barrier in obtaining justice for many families caught up in unhappy domestic situations, Labour’s Justice spokesperson Charles Chauvel says.
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Bill English’s ignorance of heartland Kiwis heading to Australia shows National are neglecting the regions, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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Fishing crew from scandal-hit foreign chartered fishing vessels that sparked a Ministerial Inquiry have still not been paid - more than a year after they brought their concerns to the Government says Darien Fenton, Labour’s spokesperson for labour and immigration issues.
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National should halt its assets sales plan until the Waitangi Tribunal has issued its definitive report instead of trying to pressure the Tribunal into fast-tracking the process and increasing the risk of costly court action, says Labour’s SOEs Spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.
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Kiwi children deserve the best teachers and the Government’s plan to allow unregistered teachers into the classrooms of charter schools is a disgrace, says Labour’s Education spokesperson, Nanaia Mahuta.
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KiwiRail’s discovery of 7000 rotting railway sleepers sourced from Peru raises questions about the organisation’s procurement practices, says Labour’s Transport Spokesperson Phil Twyford.
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The likelihood of ultrafast broadband delivering new services and opportunities to Kiwis anytime soon has become much less likely following today’s news that a second international fibre cable won’t proceed, says Labour’s Communications and IT Spokesperson Clare Curran.
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The Christchurch Central Recovery Plan should not be funded by selling revenue generating council assets, say Labour’s Christchurch MPs.
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The Government’s insistence that its KiwiRail turnaround plan won’t be affected by its disastrous Chinese locomotive and rail wagon procurement programme is laughable given the extent of their faults, says Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.
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Labour’s Christchurch East MP Lianne Dalziel has labelled John Key’s Christchurch poll as cynical and exploitative.
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New Zealand’s regional heartland has turned into a training centre for the Australian economy, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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The Government must take the bulk of the blame for job losses at the University of Canterbury, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Grant Robertson.
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A United Nation report calling for an action plan for New Zealand Women reads like déjà vu, says Labour’s Women’s Affairs spokesperson, Sue Moroney The high-ranking UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has criticised the Government for its lack of progress on initiatives that support New Zealand women.
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Action is needed now after new figures show a third of Kiwi families fear they will be unable to pay their debts in the next year, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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The Auckland Council’s Pacific and ethnic advisory panels should become a permanent fixture of the Super City says Labour’s spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs Su’a William Sio.
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National’s asset sales agenda was never in New Zealand’s best interests and the reasons why it should be abandoned are growing by the day, says Labour Leader David Shearer.
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The Government must introduce meaningful protections for consumers, or risk a messy second round of leaky building claims, says Labour’s Building and Construction spokesperson Raymond Huo.
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New Zealanders have a choice between a fair and decent society or a nation divided by inequality, after new figures show the income gap between races is increasing, says Labour’s Finance spokesperson David Parker.
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News that National is looking to limit the right of the public to have their say on "regionally significant" projects is against the spirit of the RMA, Labour’s Environment spokesperson Grant Robertson says.
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Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour will ensure hard-working kiwi families can put healthy food on the table says the sponsor of a members’ bill designed to achieve this, Labour's David Clark.
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Victims of a Tongan immigration scam need to be assured that they will not be shipped out on the next flight available if they come forward to assist the authorities with their investigations.
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Labour MP Louisa Wall says churches have nothing to fear from marriage equality and won’t be forced to make any changes to the way they administer the sacrament of marriage.
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Annette King | Friday, July 27, 2012 - 13:41 Speech to the Local Government New Zealand Conference Queenstown, 17 July 2012 Thank you for inviting me to speak to you all today.
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Labour Leader David Shearer has offered his congratulations to runner Nick Willis on his selection as New Zealand’s flagbearer for the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
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National’s latest ‘make it up as they go’ policy for local government is nothing more than a blatant broken promise, says Labour’s spokesperson for Local Government, Annette King.
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Fairness and equality for all New Zealand couples is at the heart of my Member’s Bill, says Labour MP Louisa Wall.
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