171 posts | 0 images
List member, ACT New Zealand Current parliamentary roles Deputy Leader and Whip Member, Business Committee Member, Social Services Committee Spokesperson, National Security Spokesperson, Health Spokesperson, Social Services Spokesperson, Family
ACT Deputy Leader Heather Roy today welcomed news from Local Government New Zealand that Councils throughout the country are now trying to keep rate rises to a minimum and are reining in spending to the level of inflation.
103 views
WELLINGTON — Following on from the ACT Party Campaign Launch in Auckland, ACT Deputy Leader and Wellington Central Candidate Heather Roy today invited all media to attend the official launch of ACT New Zealand's Wellington campaign at the Holiday Inn this coming Wednesday evening.
174 views
The global credit crunch worsens; the Prime Minister commandeers an Air Force plane to fly to electioneering meetings; the National Party looses nerve over tax cuts.
182 views
ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy today pledged that, following the election, she would support a future National Health Minister in any moves undertaken to increase co-operation between the public and private health sectors.
167 views
The release of the 'Report on Patients Awaiting Cardiac Surgery: Capital and Coast District Health Board' confirms what ACT has known all along - that it is not health professionals, but the Government's mismanagement of Health that is costing lives, ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
131 views
Health Minister David Cunliffe's comments today - that he will spend an additional $50 million to increase the level of cardiac surgery being performed in New Zealand - show his complete mis-understanding of the real issues facing Health services in New Zealand, ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
96 views
WELLINGTON CITY — ACT Deputy Leader and Wellington Central Candidate today invited all media to attend ACT's 'ICONS Lunch' - a very special triennial pre-election event to be held in Wellington for the first time this weekend.
221 views
The move to outlaw gangs, their patches and tattoos is nothing more than a ploy to give the appearance of action - a ploy that will yield no results or benefit to New Zealand society in the long-term struggle to deal with the country's gang problem, ACT Deputy Leader and National Security Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
201 views
Parliament dissolves today, marking the end of the 48th Parliamentary term - and, in the minds of some, the start of the election campaign.
164 views
The Independent Practitioner Association Council (IPAC) is correct when it says that Government primary health care funding does not acknowledge or include after-hours services - in fact, primary health care funding was ignored when the funding formula was being developed, ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
104 views
ACT Deputy Leader Heather Roy today expressed disgust at revelations that the Maori Party was subjected to pressure from the Labour-led Government during the Privileges Committee process.
114 views
Speech to ACT Law & Order Policy Launch; Howick College, Sandspit Road, Howick; Sunday, September 21 2008.
141 views
Prime Minister Helen Clark's comparison of hypothetical body counts between a Labour and National Government's decision to deploy troops to Iraq represents an all-time low in politics, and in the personal standards of her worn-out and bitter remnant of a Party once proud to stand for ordinary decent Kiwis, ACT National Security Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
129 views
September 15 is the day on which Allied countries of WW2 commemorate the Battle of Britain; the day on which the Luftwaffe suffered its worst casualties in one day - 60 aircraft vs 26 of the RAF -resulting in Hitler's postponement and ultimate cancellation of the invasion of England, codenamed 'Operation Sea Lion'.
121 views
This week has seen reference to preferences about trenches - there's an old piece of army humour that says: "never share a trench with anyone braver than yourself." There are so many significant dates and issues around this time of the year that to address just one would be to deny appropriate coverage of others that are equally worthy.
167 views
The release of the NZ Defence Force 2008 Annual Report again highlights the failings of Labour's cavalier attitude to throwing taxpayer money at a problem with little regard for outcomes - and, in Defence, it is servicemen and women who daily bear the cost of that poor governance, ACT New Zealand National Security Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
233 views
National MP Maurice Williamson got it right on TVNZ's 'Agenda' programme, when he had the courage to advocate public-private partnerships in Health, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
125 views
On Wednesday this week, ACT New Zealand released its Party List for the upcoming General Election 2008, with a special press conference at Parliament attended by ACT's top candidates.
1,582 views
ACT Deputy Leader and National Security Spokesman Heather Roy today called on Defence Minister Phil Goff to launch an independent inquiry into the series of lost sale opportunities and questionable decisions by his Government around the maintenance of the Skyhawks at Woodbourne Air Base.
561 views
Eight is an auspicious number to the Chinese, as it signifies wealth.
1,045 views
ACT Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy today demanded to know why the Labour-led Government could find $25 million to save endangered snails, but cannot provide drug-buying agency PHARMAC with the funds to give cancer sufferers a 12-month course of Herceptin treatment.
141 views
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Health Spokesman Heather Roy today congratulated Health Minister David Cunliffe for heeding ACT policy with his call for a greater collaboration between public and private health providers.
136 views
ACT Health Spokesman and Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today put her support behind doctors calling for the Government's review of maternity services to be extended into a wider inquiry, and said that Wellington is not the only region in crisis.
142 views
WELLINGTON — Speech to ACT Wellington Regional Conference; The Museum Hotel, Cable Street, Wellington; Sunday, July 6 2008.
685 views
It's been a frightening week in Health - a baby is dead after a midwife failed to detect a breech (feet first) presentation, the Health Ministry is proposing to make all those who 'go private' pay full cost for their prescriptions, and the Government is looking at introducing 'mega' hospitals and downsizing regional services.
156 views
WELLINGTON — ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman and Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today demanded to know why another baby had to die before Health Minister David Cunliffe stopped sitting on his hands and took action to address the Wellington Region's crisis in maternity services.
227 views
Having spent most of last week enjoying the sights of Taipei - a city of 2.6 million where I was impressed by both the locals' energy and helpfulness - my equilibrium was shaken when, returning to New Zealand, I learned that the Government has plans that can only be described as 'lunacy'.
887 views
We wait for it with anticipation and hype - and, well before it's even over, we've had enough.
521 views
On Thursday, I spoke to the NZEI – the Early Childhood and Primary Teachers' Union – about ACT's Education policy and went through, what can only be described as, one of those 'Daniel in the Lion's Den' experiences.
267 views
Health Minister David Cunliffe's announcement yesterday of a $35 million injection annually into elective surgery and services in an election year is the latest example of Labour's modus operandi of picking winners, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
156 views
The name 'Correspondence School' usually conjures romantic images of children working with their mother through a package of educational material in an isolated high country station while their father musters sheep on horseback.
200 views
Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen looked like an over-excited school boy as he was snapped playing with a model railway train carriage earlier this week.
147 views
ACT New Zealand Education Spokesman Heather Roy today demanded to know how Education Minister Chris Carter could sit by and allow Longbeach School pupils to be taught in a shipping container - especially given that it is his Ministry that has put the school in this position to begin with.
170 views
The economic news in New Zealand and abroad is both dramatic and difficult to understand.
185 views
WELLINGTON CITY — Speech to the Sensible Sentencing Trust 'Advancing Victims' Rights 2008 Conference; Mercure Hotel, Wellington; Saturday April 19 2008.
1,002 views
While the Labour-led Government and the National Party argue back and forth over what to do about the problems in the health sector, the reality is that no one is looking at the real problems - workforce issues and productivity, or lack thereof, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
169 views
As sure as night follows day, an election year means an attack on foreigners by New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters and his Party.
147 views
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy today called on Labour to free New Zealand from the millstone of student debt by cutting taxes and allowing people to repay their student loans more quickly.
161 views
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy was today scornful - but not surprised - of Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen's unwillingness to even speculate on when he might consider abolishing the top personal income tax rate of 39 percent.
162 views
ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy today accused Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen of making April Fools of hardworking Kiwi taxpayers through his series of so-called 'economic investments' that came into effect today.
149 views
While not generally an enthusiastic supporter of trade unions, I must admit that Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Ian Powell deserves credit this week.
204 views
HAWKE'S BAY — SACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today labelled the Review Panel's Report into Conflict of Interest Allegations at Hawkes Bay District Health Board as nothing more than the expected whitewash, and called on Health Minister David Cunliffe to refer the entire process over to the Auditor-General for a truly independent review.
327 views
AUCKLAND — There's an ancient piece of wisdom that, in essence, says: "Life is a series of crossroads.
225 views
HAWKE'S BAY — ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today called on Health Minister David Cunliffe to have the review investigating Conflict of Interest allegations at Hawkes Bay District Health Board handed over to the Auditor-General immediately to ensure that the truth is exposed.
274 views
Once again Health Minister David Cunliffe is religiously adhering to his mantra of 'saving face over saving lives' - this time by sacking the members of one of New Zealand's best-functioning District Health Boards, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
208 views
HAWKE'S BAY — ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy today accused Health Minister David Cunliffe of embarking on a deliberate campaign to discredit Hawkes Bay District Health Board - most recently by announcing that he is considering appointing a commissioner to run the Board's affairs.
276 views
ACT New Zealand National Security Spokesman Heather Roy today revealed that - just two months after being wheeled outside - the white latex coatings on the Air Combat Force Skyhawks are already weathered, torn, ripped or peeled.
306 views
WAIOURU — ACT New Zealand National Security Spokesman Heather Roy was today delighted to learn that Police have recovered the medals for bravery stolen from Waiouru Army Museum at the end of last year.
811 views
ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman and Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today released documents showing that, in October 2005, 90 patients - all who had been given certainty of treatment - had been waiting longer than six months to receive cardiothoracic surgery from Capital & Coast DHB.
165 views
The old adage that the political Party that holds the middle ground of public opinion will hold power continues to be true but, in the battle to stake out that turf, National and Labour risk becoming indistinguishable.
171 views
It is very ironic that Health Minister David Cunliffe has today launched a review into the problems with cardiothoracic services at Capital & Coast DHB, following patient deaths in Hawkes Bay brought to light by me at the beginning of December, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today.
149 views
Promises of a vision for New Zealand were noticeably absent from the speeches of both Prime Minister Helen Clark and Opposition Leader John Key in their State of the Nation addresses this week.
278 views
GREYMOUTH — "Sunday's dawn raid on the War Memorial pillars in Greymouth is bereft of both the courage and tactical skill demonstrated by those whose names were inscribed on the pillars they took", said ACT National Security spokesman Heather Roy.
580 views
Completely lost in the recent debate around the extension of the demerit points system - announced by Transport Minister Annette King before Christmas - is the issue of speed cameras, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy said today.
151 views
Everyone knows that people who have everything are the hardest ones to buy for come Christmas time.
196 views
In the spirit of festive goodwill, ACT New Zealand National Security Spokesman Heather Roy today offered Defence Minister Phil Goff an early Christmas present - a sensible plan for what to do with the Skyhawks.
372 views
Given the current serious situation at Capital & Coast DHB doctors, nurses and other health professionals at Wellington Hospital must be feeling as though they've been caught in a tornado.
334 views
WELLINGTON CITY — Speech to Anti-Terrorism Laws and Civil Liberties Forum; Victoria University of Wellington; 5:30pm, Wednesday October 10 2007.
767 views
New information obtained in response to my written Parliamentary Questions has revealed that hundreds of thousands of Kiwi taxpayers are being grossly over-taxed because of Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen's failure to adjust his self-imposed five percent threshold for the top tax rate of 39 percent, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Heather Roy said today.
236 views
Let me first begin by saying that I don't consider myself a Climate Change denier: since records began, and from scientific evidence gleaned before that, it is clear that the world's climate has experienced fluctuations - sometimes wildly - since Adam was a boy.
347 views
National Security issues were highlighted yesterday when SIS director Warren Tucker announced that Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui is no longer a security risk to New Zealand.
347 views
ACT New Zealand National Security Spokesman Heather Roy today demanded that the Government repay the more than $12 million the RNZAF has had to spend on housing and maintaining the still-unsold Skyhawk air combat wing.
364 views