National also passed the Urban Development Act 2018, which shares half of all GST levied on construction with the city council it was raised in. These fund are being spent on the improvement of local infrastructure and public transport, and have also helped to speed up the bureaucratic process by providing an incentive to grant resource consent. However, National also has a bold $6.5bn plan to improve transport infrastructure across the country, in addition to the Urban Development Act. National will first construct 6 new Roads of National Significance in conjunction with the private sector, aiming for one third of funding to come from the private investors. In return, these roads would come with an affordable toll for a period of up to 20 years. National would also implement its new $266m Commuter Rail Plan in Auckland and Wellington. This plan would work to electrify Auckland's Southern Rail Line and would result in the construction of a Third Main Rail Line between Wiri and Westfield. In Wellington, it would see an upgrade of all bridges, slopes and 'Park and Ride' facilities; improved integration for rail and bus services; a double-tracked Hutt Valley Line between Upper Hutt and Trentham; a third platform at Porirua Station; and a turn back facility at Plimmerton.

Finally, National looks to contribute more to New Zealand's communications, including an additional investment in our Ultra-Fast Broadband rollout, the Mobile Black Spot Fund, and Radio New Zealand. Since 2008, National has ensured that 1.2 million households (70% of New Zealand) have access to Ultra-Fast Broadband. Now, National would spent $130m more to roll out UFB to 190 more towns and 60,000 more households. National would also put $75m more into the Mobile Black Spot Fund annually, to improve cellphone coverage across New Zealand, especially the regions. Radio New Zealand, our public radio broadcaster, would also see a substantial $50m increase in annual funding.

The National Party will:

• Pass the Resource Management (Reform) Amendment Bill.

• Build 6 new Roads of National Significance worth $6bn in conjunction with the private sector.

• Spend $260m to improve commuter rail in the Auckland and Wellington regions.

• Invest $130m more into the Ultra-Fast Broadband rollout to connect 190 more towns.

• Put $75m more into the Mobile Black Spot Fund to improve cellphone coverage across New Zealand.

• Boost Radio New Zealand's funding by $50m annually.

Health:

The National Party believes that New Zealand's public health system is the most important service our government provides to its citizens, but it is clear that more must be done to improve the efficiency and quality of service than simple funding increases. Therefore, our primary focus will be to reform the bureaucracy of the ACC and the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000. Firstly, we will complete our reforms of New Zealand's district health board system, by ending elections and reducing the size of the board. The National Party believes that public servants should not be elected, rather they should be chosen based on merit and experience. In conjunction with this, National would ensure that bulk funding increases for New Zealand's health system are included in the next budget. National would also look to redevelop Dunedin Hospital at a cost of $1.2bn to ensure that all of New Zealand's cities have access to quality healthcare facilities.

Last term, National also passed the Private Health Insurance (Rebate and Levy) Act 2018, which provides a means-tested rebate on the cost of private health insurance, and imposed an ACC levy of 1% on high-income earners who do not adopt a policy. This policy has taken strain off the public system, and has meant that more government expenditure goes towards those who can't afford to pay their own way: those using the public system. This election, National is proposing that the rates of rebates are increased to lower barriers to quality private healthcare. This $50m increase in funding would see the lowest bracket rise from a 50% to 60% rebate, the middle bracket from 40% to 50%, and the top bracket from 25% to 30%. With the Private Health Insurance Rebate, Kiwis now have more options with healthcare, and those who choose to spend more are able to get more.

The National Party will:

• Favour a meritocratic selection of District Health Board members.

• Increase the rate at which the cost of private health insurance is subsidised.

• Ensure that there are bulk funding increases for health in the next budget.

• Implement a $1.2bn redevelopment of Dunedin Hospital.

Education:

National has long been the champion of quality education in the New Zealand political system. During the course of our first term in government, National oversaw significant investment and reform of our education system. We reworked and reintroduced National Standards, ensuring that educational achievement remains high. For the first time in a decade, we published an entirely new school curriculum. We increased teacher salaries between $10,000 and $20,000 each, with every increase tied to living costs. We invested $750m in constructing more high quality classrooms across the country - helping to end the issue of oversized classes. The result of these reforms mean that the standard of education has never been better, with fully staffed schools and reasonably sized classes.

If re-elected, National will remain a staunch supporter of both National Standards, and our new school curriculum. National will also work to replace the decile system of school funding with a Risk of Not Achieving Index. Schools and services will be funded based on their estimated number of children at greater risk of educational underachievement using this new Risk Index. The Risk Index estimates the likelihood that a child or young person will not achieve NCEA Level 2 based on information about that child’s life. The Risk Index will more accurately estimate a child’s likelihood of underachievement than the decile or equity index of the school or service that child attends.

National will also expand the Aspire Scholarship programme by an additional $10m, and work to reform it so the money goes towards children who really need it. Aspire Scholarships will be more strictly means-tested, and will be heavily promoted prior to children entering primary or secondary education. Finally, National will spend $160m on expanding the compulsory Te Reo Māori programme in primary schools to include a compulsory second language option. This will offer students more choice at school, and will work to create a multi-lingual society that can better converse with each other, and the world.

The National Party will:

• Continue to support our National Standards and new school curriculum.

• Replace the decile system with a new 'Risk Index' to ensure schools receive the funding they need.

• Reform and expand the Aspire Scholarship programme by an additional $10m.

• Expand the compulsory Te Reo Māori programme in primary schools to include a compulsory second language option.

Welfare:

The National Party believes that the government should play an important role in protecting our most vulnerable citizens, but that role should be not be unlimited. Welfare should be a means for those going through hard times to get back on their feet, not to remain dependent on the money of the taxpayer. National is deeply sympathetic towards the issues faced by New Zealand's less fortunate, but doesn't believe in excessive welfare programmes which disincentivise work. If re-elected, National would work to update New Zealand's half a century old Social Security Act and in doing so would work to streamline our welfare system by merging different benefits where possible. National also believes that welfare should be directed to where it is needed, and shouldn't be taken advantage of by those who are well off. As such, National would work to expand the number of benefits which are means-tested to ensure that it goes towards Kiwis who are actually struggling. Finally, National would work to expand the Veteran's Pension to those who suffer a serious or permanent injury while enlisted - currently, only veterans who are deployed on Qualifying Operational Service are eligible.

The National Party will:

• Update New Zealand’s Social Security legislation.

• Merge different benefits to streamline NZ’s welfare system.

• Expand the number of benefits which are means-tested.

• Expand the Veteran’s Pension to those who suffer a serious injury while enlisted.