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14 August 2009
Key Notes No.55

ENCOURAGING SPORT IN SCHOOLS

Often, politics can seem like a tug-of-war. And once in a while it actually is.

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ENCOURAGING SPORT IN SCHOOLS

Sport in schools - tug of warOften, politics can seem like a tug-of-war. And once in a while it actually is.

I had fun out on the sportsfield with the children from Bairds Mainfreight Primary School in Otara on Tuesday.

I was at the school to launch the Government’s Kiwisport initiative, with the help of some well-known sportspeople – such as Sir John Walker, Sir Peter Snell, and Conrad Smith (pictured behind me on the rope).

Kiwisport will invest $82 million in school sport and Regional Sports Trusts over the next four years to encourage more children to take part in sport at school, after school, and during the holidays.

Sport is hugely important. It teaches children about teamwork, leadership, fair play, and success and failure. And it encourages fitness and a love of outdoor activity. Find out more about Kiwisport here.

PLAYING OUR PART IN AFGHANISTAN

On Monday, after a review of New Zealand’s commitment to maintaining security and stability in Afghanistan, I announced three important decisions.

The Government will:
- Draw down the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Bamyan province over the next 3-to-5 years, and increase the civilian effort in agriculture, health, and education.
- Redeploy the SAS to Afghanistan for up to 18 months, and
- Appoint a senior diplomatic representative to the country.

The recent bombing in Jakarta shows that New Zealanders are not immune to terrorism. By making these decisions about our Afghanistan commitment, New Zealand is playing its part in international efforts to get rid of terrorism, promote peace, and encourage stability. Learn more here.

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

On Monday, I also announced that New Zealand’s 2020 emissions reduction target range will be 10% to 20% below 1990 levels.

This target is internationally credible, and seeks to balance our economic opportunities with our environmental responsibilities. It’s going to be a big ask for New Zealand to achieve these reductions, because our gross emissions are already 24 percent above our 1990 levels. But I think the target range carefully balances our environmental responsibilities with a realistic assessment of the economic costs.

Find out more about our emissions reduction target.

WORKING WITH THE PACIFIC

Last week I was in Cairns for the Pacific Islands Forum. Building a close relationship with my fellow South Pacific leaders is critical if we are to tackle together some of the challenges we face in our region.

We discussed climate change, how we can do a better job of co-ordinating aid, tackling the economic recession, encouraging regional trade, and Fiji. I also announced further improvements to New Zealand’s Recognised Seasonal Employment Scheme, and support for business mentoring in the Pacific.

While we were in Cairns, we learnt about the Tongan ferry disaster. I’m glad New Zealand has been able to lend a hand searching for the ferry and helping survivors. I sent commiserations via Prime Minister Sevele and my heart goes out to friends and family who lost loved ones.

I’m heading back to Australia next week for an official visit. Our Governments are working towards a single economic market. Prime Minister Rudd and I will be announcing measures for streamlining trans-Tasman travel. And several Ministers will join me in Sydney for the Australian-New Zealand Leadership Forum.

FROM THE DIARY

On Tuesday at Parliament, I met children from St Anne’s School and Harold the Giraffe from the Life Education Trust. Harold is going into space on a NASA space shuttle, and is encouraging children to join the Trust’s Wish-Upon-A-Star competition.

I had a cracker day in Gisborne on Wednesday. I met children at Awapuni School who are learning to read and write in an innovative literacy programme, where they report their own progress to their parents. I checked out Gisborne’s Vintage Railway. And I chatted to at-risk youth at the Te Ora Hou skate park classrooms about how every single one of us can achieve if we choose to. I also announced GST changes for tour operators at the Inbound Tour Operators Conference.

I was in the Manawatu yesterday to launch Food Innovation New Zealand – a collaborative venture between Massey University, Fonterra, and several food research organisations. Today I’m back in Wellington to attend the investiture of 72 honoured New Zealanders as knights and dames.

YOUR COMMENTS

Thanks for your comments. Please keep them coming. They help inform our thinking. You can comment on this newsletter here, on my Facebook page, or via Twitter. www.twitter.com/johnkeypm

Best wishes


John Key
Prime Minister


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#1 - Kathleen O'Neill 2009-08-14 15:29 - (Reply)

For your Immigration Minister: Beware of giving visas to people for bringing in large sums for investment. It happened in Australia - people from Hong Kong (& other places) were bringing in $10m for investment. Unknown to the Govt of the day, it was then sent back to Asia and another 'investor' brought the same amount in again. It took several years for this scam to be discovered.

#1.1 - Craig Stuart 2009-08-14 23:22 - (Reply)

I think the amount supposedly spent on online gambling is really money being repatriated from such scams and drug deals. Immigration money has become a big racket for organised crime. Your note of caution is seconded by me!

#2 - Jim O'Neill 2009-08-14 15:38 - (Reply)

Dear John, I refer to the idea of increasing GST rates mooted during the past week, and support it for the following reasons: It will shift taxation burden from personal income to personal expenditure. It will encourage saving and discourage consumption It will empower people to decide to save more. It will make imports more expensive without breaching World Trade rules; it will make hooner noise polluting equipment more expensive! It will however increase the risk of tax evasion. No doublt IRD will redeploy resources to counter this. It will also be necessary for close cooperation between IRD and Customs to obviate the risk of "phoenix" importing companies. Best regards, Jim O'Neill

#3 - Tania Blakemore & Duane Noy 2009-08-14 15:52 - (Reply)

Hi John, I would like to comment on the decison regarding funding cuts to adult literacy next year. You may not recall but we had a discussion with you at Settlers Lodge on the night you made your final speech before the election regarding this very topic. You said that Adult Literacy was something that you were concerned about and that it was a topic to discuss post election and that you would love to discuss this further with Duane as an adult in your electorate with these issues. We are very surprised that the funding has been cut that will affect 1000's of people, that cannot access Workplace learning as their employers cannot afford the programs for their staff, who are really trying to improve their lot by learning to read and write. I would love to hear your views, and we would be grateful for an opportunity to hear your views. Duane has called your electorate office a couple of times now but has not yet heard back. Many thanks........ Tania Blakemore Ph: 09 4122266

#4 - Richard Lawty 2009-08-14 15:52 - (Reply)

Regarding Emissions reduction. Why are domestic road users penalised with road user taxes on diesel. It makes a mockery of any attempt you make to cut emissions. That diesel cars using a fraction of the fuel used by petrol vehicles should be penalised in this way is quite counterproductive. Remove these charges and see a huge change in domestic fuel usage.

#5 - Chris French 2009-08-14 16:00 - (Reply)

As an 'easy one' to encourage small businesses to spend and make same year tax deductions easier, can you look at raising the current $499 purchaes (ex GST) so that it is deductible within that tax year instead of depreciated. When they raised this from $50 a few years ago, this made a huge impact and certainly encourages spending. Going to, say, $1500, would be great!

#6 - CAT said:
2009-08-14 16:11 - (Reply)

Dear Mr Key Once again Please play some close attention to the Telecom Visionstream/Chorus Contract that is going to hit the wall. What are you and your government going to do to stop perhaps another 700 hitting the dole cue? The guys a sitting tough on this one and we don't blame them. We are mega stressed out as a family. Not usually union supporters, but are in the case. We are all National voters at the moment, please do something to stop the dictatorship from Telecom and Visionstream.

#7 - Piet said:
2009-08-14 16:28 - (Reply)

Hi John, Can cabinet give it a thought to subcidise to a certain extend the NZ-dairy farmers. Its not normal policy but we slowly start to see now the crisis happening in all the industries related to the dairy industry, so the worst still has to come. Or another idea, can the government have a think about talking to Fonterra to lent (cheap)money from overseas and pay the farmer a dollar extra to keep the cashflow going, at the moment there is no cashflow at all and when the price for commodities rises enough hold a little bit back, its for a company as Fonterra far easier to get money then for the individual farmer and at least the cash flow keeps going. Have a think John !!!!!! Regards, Piet

#8 - Beulah Heaven 2009-08-14 16:57 - (Reply)

I am really pleased to see the knights and dames back. It means that ordinary kiwis like me can recognize, and so acknowledge those fellow kiwis who have excelled in their field. just don't let's hand out too many of them - maintain their value.

#9 - Annette Worrow 2009-08-14 17:24 - (Reply)

Dear Mr Keys I am writing in respect of the outrageous amounts of money that MPs are spending.What I don't understand is if MPs need to go somewhere on parliamentary business that is quite acceptable, but to take partners wives along at the tax payers expense it not on.Also why are we paying 90% for some holidays over seas,and I don't expect that would be economy it will be first class. this I find t be absolutely aborient to most tax payers. I feel it is this kind of thing that should have a stop put to it, if you want a holiday dame well pay for it yourselves, I have to.

#9.1 - Manogi Sweet 2010-08-09 09:54 - (Reply)

Hi Annette, I totally agree with you as to these MP's paying their own way. We have all paid our dues and taxes and we do it to upkeep our communities and education and roads etc. Yet does the government give us a free holiday. In real terms this is blantant stealing and most of us would be charged and sentenced, how come these offender's get away scot free? Is there a set of different rules for certain conatituent's? because if so I would like to be an honary MP.

#10 - Steve Southall 2009-08-14 21:11 - (Reply)

Hi John - the greenhouse gas reduction targets you've set are anaemic and reflect badly on your government and New Zealand's international reputation. Listen to the scientists - we have a serious problem here and New Zealand must be seen to pull its weight. Right now you're jeopardising New Zealand's "clean green image" in the eyes of the world, and we'll end up being a laughing stock at Copenhagen. Please show some leadership by strengthening our targets, leading informed public debate, and turning this crisis into an opportunity for New Zealand.

#10.1 - Craig Stuart 2009-08-14 23:51 - (Reply)

Green house gasses are not good science. The zealots for the CO2 theories may make the most noise and get paid all the research money but like Y2K their house of cards may soon crumble. The UN is pushing this big time and I don't know why Greenpeace have abandoned the whales and gone for the CO2 bandwagon but as an environmentalist who has supported Greenpeace I think they've been taken over by people who care more about political power games than real environmental damage. National would do well to concentrate on reducing air and water pollution by other chemicals and hold fire on the CO2 until the real results are shown. At the moment its all computer models and falsified hockey stick graphs. The loss of data accuracy due to the worldwide reduction in the number of rural weather stations has skewed temperature averages upwards as urban centres are producers of heat. Any warming trends can be clearly demonstrated to be regional not global if the data is analysed critically.

#11 - Cathryn 2009-08-14 22:00 - (Reply)

Dear Mr Key I am one of the fortunate parents not to have a special needs child. Even so, I am DELIGHTED by the Education Ministry's change of mind to keep the existing therapy given to special needs children. If anything, this should be extended to other special needs schools. What a relief to these parents to have continued access to these services at school. What a relief not to have to schedule therapy into an already busy and stressed existence for those parents. Well done on listening AND RESPONDING to public views. What a relief to have a government that is open-minded and not afraid to change a decision if it appears that there is a better way of doing things. This type of thing makes me really proud to be a Kiwi. Good on you and your team!

#12 - I.Walter Netto 2009-08-15 00:19 - (Reply)

Dear Mr.Key, I may not be a person good with numbers but surely know when the economy takes a downturn and fixed deposit returns makes it hard for those who invest for the future there is opportunity for the government to be in a position to buy into profitable business hit by these recession and keep the stake holding in the country using GLC(Government Linked Corporations. These funds can be generated by Special UNIT Trust that can be issued and purchased by all citizens and the working class. So long as the government can guarantee the base unit any dividends payable by investing these funds will be accepted. Malaysia recently launched their 8th or 9th unit trust valued at more than 5 Billion and it was snapped up in three days with queues starting long before banking hours.When the unit trust does well the government can use some of the profits by issuing a 100 units to every graduate who complete their 1st year and this will motivate them to save for the future and to be prudent in their saving habit and not run after fly by night finance companies that has ripped of people by offering high returns.

#13 - Carolyn 2009-08-15 11:43 - (Reply)

(1)Re greenhouse emissions : we try to uphold the clean green NZ that is so often quoted, but find it hard to equate it with the fact that we throw 90% of the worlds 1080 use around in our environment. This is hypocrisy and needs urgent attention. (as does the use of methyl bromide). (2) While the so called King of Tonga is swanning around Scotland, there should be no more funding of anything to do with their sunken ferry, which he apparently approved the purchase of. Fiji must have laughed all the way to the bank with the fat cheque they received from Tonga for the purchase of this bucket. (3) Your MPs (all parties) need to be reined in on their spending and their so-called perks after leaving parliament should be stopped. List MPs should live in Wellington as they don't even have a specified electorate. And on the income they receive let them pay their own damned accommodation costs.

#14 - Graeme Hall 2009-08-15 12:27 - (Reply)

While I congratulate you on the example you personally set, I am concerned about the way many MPs, some Cabinet ministers, and the Speaker appear to believe that the public purse is there for the taking. If parliamentarians can earn a better living elsewhere then I urge them to go & do so asap but my impression is that most would walk over broken glass to get where they are now. I am disappointed in the Speaker's attempt to defend these practices. He and Bill English's pronouncements on this topic do more to condemn them than defend them. As our previous PM said of an MP, also accused of double dipping on expenses "when you are in a hole - stop digging". An MP's job is a voluntary one in many respects and there are plenty of competent people that could replace any one of them. I feel it should not & ought not entitle them to make up the rules that enrich themselves in an underhand manner at the general publics expense. An enquiry with limited terms of reference on this issue is not a good look. It looks & smells at best like a stalling tactic. We now have a Minister of Finance talking of raising taxes in an effort to tax our way to recovery and yet shortly before that talking about needing to have the public pay for both his mortgage on a $1.3m house and household expenses, otherwise he would struggle to keep his family together on a $243,000 base salary. This is clearly humbug and demonstrates that he, the speaker and many other MPs have lost touch. He has worked in Wellington not Dipton for many years and I doubt whether the Treasury paid Bill's household expenses over and above his salary before he ran for parliament.

#15 - Jeannette Cavanagh 2009-08-15 16:20 - (Reply)

I just want to remind you of our conversation at the Fieldays in Hamilton regarding the shocking state of battery pig farming in NZ. You assured me that something was being done to alleviate the plight of pigs and I just wondered exactly what is being done. This is a tragic situation causing huge suffering to animals in our care and we need to stop it immediately.

#15.1 - Ann Kingsbury 2009-08-19 15:32 - (Reply)

Would not our clean green image be enhanced if we grew more trees,( good against air pollution) and went back to putting our fresh fruit and veg, and bulk foodstuffs into paper bags again, and set greater world standards to putting plastic bags out of business, saving wildlife from suffication in our rivers, lakes and seas. I do agree with Jeanette Cavanagh, regarding the vile treatment of pigs, and sheep shipments and the suffering that occures, its not about allowing people to make money regardless of how, but of an overal stewardship as a nation of taking care of what we have and having pride in how we care. Even at the expense of strong legislation. Why do the newscasters tell us all that is negative, and not all the good things that are being put in place in in NZ for the good of all its people, as well as what still needs to be done, should be a law against the negative. Its everyman pulling his weight for the good of the nation and not self.

#16 - Vic Wieland said:
2009-08-17 08:38 - (Reply)

Why would you allow the exporters of NZ to die to stop house prices rising ?? The collapse of manufacturing during Labour's term is largely exchange rate driven . The exchange rate is high and volatile because we have such high interest rates, attracting the carry trade. We have high interest rates to curb our enthuisiasm for borrowing to buy houses. Surely a "Mortage Surcharge" instantly applicable, would A) be more effective than a Resrve Bank rise as you won't have to wait years for Fixed Loans to come into play. B) the money stays in NZ and C) the carry trade (Exchange rate) in not affected . For the Home Owner whether you pay higher interest rates or a "Surcharge" cost the same . I can't see a down side - so I must be stupid as it seems such a no brainer.

#17 - Tony Braybrook 2009-08-25 07:43 - (Reply)

Good on you not having special maori seats on the Auckland supercity council. We are all equal New Zealanders and have equal opportunities to run for council

#18 - Raymond I Barker 2009-08-25 17:52 - (Reply)

how to you expect the youth of today to have respect for you our your party let along parliament after the comments on t.v.news by your parteners they looked more like school kids than people who are in the highest court in the land

#19 - Suzanne T 2009-11-02 18:37 - (Reply)

Hi I would like to know what are going to do about parents who avoid paying child support payments by leaving NZ temporary or permanently? I know of one person who was paying $100pw for 3 children and was travelling the world and when he returned to NZ was renting a 2 bedroom appartment in Ponsonby for $500pw. This person also claimed in court that he earnt $45K as a General Manager driving the latest Mercedez Benz? Why is it the solo parent that gets all the flack from everyone. I mean they could of left NZ and left their children to be looked after in the fostering system, but they didn't. I believe if these parents paid their child support, NZ would not have as many long term solo parents on the benefit. Unfortunately, solo parents are raising their children without any support/contribution financially and no participation 24/7 from the other parent. It's time these absent parents took responsibility in the pressures of raising children and not leaving the government to footing their responsibilities. This is leaving a bad example for NZ's future adults. The government is modeling that it is okay to leave your children and their spouses because the government will support them. All the government is saying is their is no consequences if a parent chooses to leave their family for a better life.

#20 - Suzanne T 2009-11-02 18:46 - (Reply)

Would like to know why NZ does not have the same healthcare as Australia. Australia offers medicare, which I believe is a percentage of your wage pays towards this, similar to paying taxes. The benefits of medicare is that a person didn't have to pay to see a doctor when they are ill. You only paid for your subscriptions. Why can't NZ have the same system. Wouldn't this help in lowering the numbers of unhealthy NZ'ers & reduce health costs. If NZ's went to the doctors when they were first ill rathering than leaving it till they are very sick, because they can't afford to pay the doctor's bill, then the health costs would reduce.

#21 - Suzanne T 2009-11-02 19:01 - (Reply)

I also have another question. Why are private schools funded by the state? If a parent chooses to send their child/children to a private school they should pay for the full amount not the state. This money should be going to public schools not private schools. This money would help towards paying for more teachers in public schools and reducing the amount of students in a classroom, provide up to date technology and better facilities. Unfortunately this is not so and the money is going to private schools that provide the best in everything and are partially funded by the state to help ease the financial burden of students who come from very affluent backgrounds and whose parents earn a high income. Why wonder NZ has a high rate of students leavng school early in public schools. I would like to know what the rate of students leaving school early is in private schools are?

#21.1 - Kim H 2009-11-04 11:39 - (Reply)

People choose to send their children to these schools because they recognise that State education is failing. They do not get any rebate or tax refunds for not having their child in the state system even though they pay their taxes towards this. It costs $25,000.00 each year for a child to attend a state school. I have not receieved one cent of a refund for the three children I have put through private scholls. I have scrimped and saved and done without to give them the best start in life. The majority of parents who chose to send their children to these schools are not wealthy and struggle to pay fees which is their choice. Any money not used by children not attending state schools should be put towards vetting and training good teachers and paying good teachers appropriate wages.

#22 - Suzanne T 2009-11-02 19:22 - (Reply)

Why can't the NZ secondary schools be taught the same way as universities? By changing the system would this encourage our NZ teenagers to attend class. Universities can get 350 students to attend one lecture. In universities it is left up to the student to attend their lectures and tutorials if they want to pass. Why can't this happen in secondary schools. Don't we want our NZ teenagers to be more independent, as this is a time in their lives when they are trying to estabish their identity in society and are not a child anymore. By teaching 4 subjects per semester instead of teaching 7/8 subjects for the whole year can get boring for a teenager. By changing the system to the same as universities can prepare our NZ teenagers for the next step of their education in universities. Going from primary school or intermediate school, where you stay with the same children in your class and are taught the same subjects by the same teacher each year, can be a shock when they attend secondary school where a teenager has several teachers and moves to different classrooms for each subject with different students in each class.

#22.1 - Peggy Tutor said:
2010-08-05 03:01 - (Reply)

Your thoughts about changing the school system are so true. I want my children to have less struggles than I did, getting used to the big adjustment of University. Suzanne you did a great job explaining it. I agree.

#22.2 - Ian Mansell 2010-08-09 03:04 - (Reply)

Sorry, don't agree on this. Universities need to change to be more like the professional and real world, which incidentally High Schools are more closely correlated with. Universities currently are more like the old public sector and you only need to compare top flight professionals and university professors to see the glaring differential in competence. Once Universities were places of lateral and divergent thinking, now with the lowering of standards to push ever greater numbers of students in tertiary education that have rapidly become education factories that would work better under a processing environment. The old University concept is probably best left to Postgraduate and highly competitive courses.


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