22 May 2012

Ticking the box

16/11/2011 9:57:00 a.m.

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(Clockwise) Grant Robertson, Paul Foster-Bell, Stephen Whittington and James Shaw.

(Clockwise) Grant Robertson, Paul Foster-Bell, Stephen Whittington and James Shaw.

CAPITAL TIMES continues its look at the election campaign and in particular the fight for Wellington Central. This week we ask four Wellington Central Candidates about the most pressing issues for government, Wellywood and what really grinds their gears.
How to stop the Government borrowing over $300 million a week. Every dollar borrowed will need to be paid back with interest. Every dollar borrowed is holding back our economic recovery.

  Grant Robertson, Labour
Paul Foster-Bell, National
James Shaw, Green
Stephen Whittington, Act
 What really grinds your gears? Selfishness.  The way previous centre-left governments have failed to make the most of our potential. Their plan to sabotage the Wellington film industry, jeopardise The Hobbit and bend over backwards to Australian unions was a classic example. I’m excited about the possibilities the future holds and I believe that New Zealand can show the world what it takes to have a strong, smart, sustainable economy.  People supporting policies that sound nice, but have harmful effects. The minimum wage prices some people out of a job. Working for Families creates effective marginal tax rates which disincentivise people from working hard. 
 What’s the most pressing issue for government?  The economy. It needs to work for all New Zealanders. That’s why we need to keep our assets, create a fairer tax system, and have long term policies to drive savings and make superannuation sustainable.  Getting the economy back on track by getting the government accounts back in the black. Only greater economic growth will provide the revenue to deliver the first class public services we want.  We should wean ourselves off imported oil, move to renewable energy production, securing local food production and shifting from a debt-and-consumption to a savings-and-production economy.  How to stop the Government borrowing over $300 million a week. Every dollar borrowed will need to be paid back with interest. Every dollar borrowed is holding back our economic recovery.
 What’s the best thing government can do to create jobs?  Two things- More apprenticeships, through Labour’s policy of converting dole for 18 and 19 year olds to subsidy for apprenticeship, and to support more  research and development.  Foster an environment for economic development and prosperity. Sensible employment laws, a focus on innovation, less red tape and fewer costs on business are key.
 The global renewable energy technology market is forecast to grow to $590-800 billion a year. With our publicly-owned energy companies partnering with our innovators and entrepreneurs we can build a new $6-8 billion export industry.  Reduce taxes. The vast majority of people are employed in the private sector. To get people to expand their business we need to increase their return. For youth, we need to reintroduce a youth minimum wage.
 What’s the best thing that can be done to help low income families?  Focus on supporting job creation, and an immediate lift to the minimum wage to $15 per hour and making first $5000 tax free.  Economic growth will help low income families get a hand up in life, with more jobs and higher incomes. Our active investment approach in welfare will also help break the cycle of dependency.  In Australia the first $19,000 income is tax-free, paid for by putting a real price on carbon and taxing the big polluters. Here taxpayers subsidise polluting industries. Let’s give everyone a tax-break and make the first $10,000 tax-free.  Make the taxes that parents pay to fund public education follow the child to a school of their choice. That would make schooling in all integrated schools free, and lower private school fees.  Education is a ticket out of poverty.
 What’s the most important issue facing Wellington Central?  Jobs and economic development opportunities. We need to see a whole of region approach to lifting the economic performance.  Environmental issues. I’m proud National has consented only renewable new power generation – and worked with the Greens to insulate 15,000 Wellington houses. Efficient travel around - and into - our city will be important. That’s why I back greater airport internationalisation.  Wellington has needed to diversify its economy for a couple of decades, but along with the current economic malaise public service cuts disproportionately affect Wellington.  How to keep young people in this city. Part of that issue is housing affordability – house prices have doubled in the last seven years, The other part is central government policy – including National’s failure to increase the age of eligibility for superannuation.

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Cover Story

Best of Wellington 2011

Briefs

  • A question of nutrition

    Controversial Washington-based nutritionist Sally Fallon-Morell is to speak in Wellington on March 29.
    Fallon-Morell is the co-founder of the American food lobby group the Weston A. Price Foundation and the author of Nourishing Traditions. She advocates for the consumption of nutritionally dense foods such as lacto-fermented vegetables, stocks and broths, and whole raw dairy products.
    Fallon-Morell will speak at St Patrick’s College Hall on March 29.

  • Relay for cancer

    Organisers say Sunday’s Relay for Life is full to capacity with hundreds of Wellingtonians registered for the event.
    A total of 88 teams, made up of 10 to 500 members, plan to take part with a further 25 teams on the waiting list.
    The 24 hour relay, the Cancer Society’s biggest fundraising event of the year, takes place at Frank Kitts Park from 4pm on March 31.

  • Osteoarthritis awareness

    Arthritis New Zealand has launched a nationwide campaign raise awareness about osteoarthritis. 
    Arthritis is New Zealand’s leading cause of disability, affecting 305,000 adults, and osteoarthritis is its most common form.
    The campaign features television commercials and an interactive website.


  • Wild walk

    Take part in the Big Walk at Zealandia on March 31.
    Walkers can choose a two, five or 10 kilometre walk catering to all fitness levels.
    Money raised will go to the Foundation for Youth Development.

  • School pool

    The opening of the new Khandallah School pool this week means hundreds of children will be able to continue their swimming lessons.
    The pool was the first to receive a grant from Wellington City Council’s Schools Pools Partnership Fund, a fund set up in 2010 to help schools improve their pool facilities.
    Grants from the fund have also been made for pools at Wellington East Girls’ College, Barhampore School and Tawa School.

  • Easter bikers

    Motorcyclists are invited to get on their bikes and collect Easter eggs for families support from the Wellington City Mission.
    The charity run on April 1 is organised by motorcycle lobby group BONZ.
    Eggs can be donated at Red Baron Motorcylces in Alicetown. The registration fee for bikers is $10, plus the cost of Easter eggs.

  • Crafty

    Made on Marion opens on the site of the former Golding Handicrafts site in Marion St, from April 1.  They will continue to supply craft materials.

  • Ze upgrade

    Taranaki Street fuel users will notice that the Z Energy’s former Shell Service Station is closed.  Z are doing a “total revamp”.
    The job will take four weeks.

  • Newlands Moves

    Developer Ayal Aharoni has agreed to build only 90 instead of 220 houses on his six and a half hectares above Ngauranga Gorge in Newlands.  Only low density occupation will be allowed on the remaining 8.4 hectares.


  • Baring Head

    There's a new  draft plan out for what should happen at Baring Head.  It outlines how the Greater Wellington Regional council would like to manage the newest addition to its regional parks network. Grazing animals will go, motorised vehicles will be prohibited, predators will be controlled, and the lighthouse will be preserved. Submissions are invited.


  • It’s a wonder

    A new childcare centre in Newtown says it is dedicated to helping kids grow up healthy in mind, body and spirit. Little Wonders Childcare on Rintoul Street is an independent early childhood education and learning centre, the sixth centre to be opened by its Auckland-based owner. It caters to 100 children aged between three months and five years old and has been open for a little more than seven weeks.

  • Festival treats

    CHILDREN have not been forgotten by organisers of the New Zealand International Arts Festival.
    For a perfect first theatrical experience White tells the story of friends Cotton and Winkle who live in a world where there is no colour and everything is startlingly white. That is until a brightly coloured egg tumbles out of the sky and changes their world for ever.
    White plays at Capital E from March 7-11.
    The tale of Peter and the World also promises to be a magical night for all ages. Sergei Prokofiev’s classic children’s tale is told through film and live music from the NZ Symphony Orchestra at the Michael Fowler Centre on March 9.
    March 11 is Young Writers and Readers Day and readings from children’s writers and illustrators Lynley Dodd and Gavin Bishop.

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