Culture:

National believes that New Zealand's cultural facilities are important for the growth of our society, especially those which encourage tourism and contribute to our regional economies. We've worked hard to cultivate a Pure New Zealand brand which has brought prosperity to our regions and massively increased the number of overseas visitors. That's why we've decided to boost the Regional Culture & Heritage Fund's budget by $10m, which invests in capital projects by cultural organisations outside of our major cities. We'll also expand the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme outside of Northland, and promote Māori whakapapa in other regions around the country. Our Tourism Infrastructure Fund will also get a $5m boost, and will ensure that tourist attractions and surrounding infrastructure are up to scratch. National also plans to boost Radio New Zealand's funding by $25m annually. This will ensure that high quality and nonpartisan news is available for all, something which is especially important in the age of digital media. Finally, National will open an Asian Heritage Museum in Auckland to pay tribute to the long history of Asian-New Zealanders and the many contributions they have made to our society.

The National Party will:

  • Boost Radio New Zealand's funding by $25m annually. High quality and nonpartisan public news media will improve New Zealanders’ awareness of current events without succumbing to the temptation of unnecessary editorialisation and excess partisanship.
  • Open an Asian Heritage Museum to celebrate and educate the public on the history and culture of New Zealand’s population of Asian descent, past and present.
  • Boost the Regional Culture & Heritage fund by $10m per year. We’ll invest in more capital projects by cultural organisations outside of New Zealand’s major urban areas.
  • Expand the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme to more regions. We’ll take the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme outside of Northland and promote Māori whakapapa in regions like the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato.
  • Expand the Tourism Infrastructure Fund by another $5m to invest in tourist infrastructure and attractions around NZ. This will ensure that New Zealand’s world class tourist attractions are serviced by quality infrastructure and public utilities.

Environment:

National has made big strides on conservation regulations in the past, and we were pleased to see some of the Key Government’s recommendations taken up by this one. However, we believe that under the control of the Greens, environmental policy simply becomes an ideological bludgeon against real, human needs. National will bring forth an innovative, balanced approach to environmental policy if elected. We will ensure that New Zealand continues moving towards zero-carbon over time through the promotion of greener transportation within the public sector. We will ensure that our Sustainable Farming Fund is structured more efficiently so as to carry out its mission better. Lastly, we’ll take a smart and evidence-based approach on waste. For too long, waste has piled up without regard to the future. With National at the helm, we will reduce both plastic and tyre waste in proven ways which respect personal freedom.

The National Party will:

  • Merge the Sustainable Farming Fund into the Regional Investment Corporation to increase efficiency in the delivery of these vital programmes. The Regional Investment Corporation’s independent administration of loans and grants to rural entrepreneurs acts as a better model to administer similar environmental subsidies.
  • Ensure that at least half of our public sector vehicles are hybrid or electric. National will have the public sector lead the charge in transitioning to electric vehicles, acting as a role model to encourage regular Kiwis to do the same.
  • Pass a bill which would allow an end-point monetary charge to be placed on single use and wasteful items, such as plastic bags, to discourage consumption and incentivise the development and proliferation of alternative products.
  • Create a tyre recycling scheme using the powers of the Waste Management Act, declaring them a priority product and using duties to fund it. This will get tyres out of our environment and keep them away from illegal dumping sites abroad.

Justice:

The National Party believes strongly in restorative justice, but also believes that with the carrot comes the stick. That's why we've historically stood up to the dangerous measures proposed by the left, such as our partial repeal of the Criminal Justice Reform Act 2018, an Act which increased the Youth Court age to 21. We also believe that there should be harsher sanctions on criminals who breach Extended Supervision Orders, imposed on those who commit serious sexual or violent offences. There is zero reason to be soft on murderers and rapists, and Extended Supervision Orders should be strongly enforced to ensure the safety of the general public. We'd also improve security in our only specialist maximum security unit at Auckland Prison, ensuring the safety of corrections officers and local communities.

However, rehabilitation will always be necessary to ensure that prisons do not breed hardened criminals or reinforce a cycle of crime and poverty. That's why we passed the Corrections (Prisoner Rehabilitation Reform) Amendment Act 2018 in the last parliamentary term, which allows for non-violent prisoners to have time taken off their sentence following the completion of literacy, numeracy or trade qualification programmes. If re-elected, National would work to expand programmes to allow parents in prisons to have extended contact with their children. Having parents in prison not only adversely affects the parent, but it has a substantial impact on the development of their child. An expansion of this programme would aid not just the rehabilitation of the parent, but the mental health of the child also. In addition to this, we'd implement compulsory reporting to Oranga Tamaraki if children are found in a house which has been contaminated by methamphetamines - something even more damaging to the development and health of a child.

Additionally, National would work to protect judicial independence in New Zealand by establishing an independent commission to advise the Governor-General on judicial appointments. Currently, the Attorney-General instructs the Governor-General on who to appoint as judges, having received the advice of experts in the judiciary. While judicial appointments have remained impartial and well advised under this system, there is always a chance for this to change. It is therefore vitally important that we protect the way in which New Zealand's judiciary is appointed. We must also ensure that Parliament does not abuse its powers of judicial dismissal - currently, a Supreme Court Justice can be dismissed by a motion of Parliament due to incapacity or misconduct. Much like the current system of judicial appointments, this can be abused. National would revoke this power from Parliament entirely and instead have and amalgamated Judicial Commission perform this function.

The National Party will:

  • Protect judicial independence by passing our Judicial Commission Bill, which will take the power to appoint judges out of the hands of politicians and into the hands of independent experts. This will remove any real opportunity for judicial appointments to be tainted by those with political motives, and will protect the independence of our judiciary.
  • Expand programmes for parents in prison to have contact with their children. We recognise that prison sentences on parents can have a serious impact on their children - we’ll ensure that more parents are able to contact their children while serving their sentence, while not compromising the safety of local communities.
  • Ensure compulsory reporting to Oranga Tamariki if children are found to be in a house which has been contaminated with meth. We won’t let children go without support and supervision if they have been in contact with methamphetamines or are living in unsafe conditions.
  • Notify landlords if Police are called more than three times in any 12-month period to a rental property. This will make sure that landlords and property owners know whether their tenants are committing crimes or misdemeanours on their premises.
  • Impose tougher sanctions on criminals breaching Extended Supervision Orders. We’ll place harsher penalties on serious violent offenders and sexual offenders who breach the terms of their supervision, so that Kiwi communities aren’t placed at risk.
  • Rebuild Auckland Prison's maximum security wing to improve security and mental health services. As the only specialist maximum security unit in the country, it’s especially important that sufficient levels of safety are maintained for correctional officers.

Māori Affairs:

National recognises the importance of Te Tiriti in New Zealand culture and law, and supports the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi which are outlined in legislation. For this reason, we will stand against any move to abolish the Māori Electoral Option, which ensures that Māori have representation in Parliament. Historically, Māori have faced extreme prejudice and discrimination in the laws enacted by Parliament and the actions taken by the government. Māori seats ensure that Māori have a voice, and are able to take a public stand against any action which would harm the rights and well being of Māori. During the Key Government, nearly 50 Māori groups finalised a Deed of Settlement relating to Treaty of Waitangi claims - compared to just 11 under the previous Labour government. National is committed to resolving Treaty of Waitangi claims, and as such would expand the funding of the Office of Treaty Settlements by $10m annually. In addition to this, National remains a firm supporter of compulsory Te Reo Māori in primary schools - it's important that New Zealand works to preserve our native language through measures such as this. If elected, we'd also increase funding for Whanau Ora - an incredibly beneficial department which looks to improve the health of Māori communities. We'd also expand the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme, which spreads awareness of Māori whakapapa and will help cultivate our multicultural society.

The National Party will:

  • Invest more into the Office of Treaty Settlements to better process treaty claims. We’ll give the OTS a substantial $10m budgetary increase to ensure that iwi can have their claims processed faster.
  • Increase funding for Whanau Ora to improve the health of Māori communities, who disproportionately suffer from health and socioeconomic issues.
  • Expand the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme to more regions. We’ll take the Landmarks Whenua Tohunga programme outside of Northland and promote Māori whakapapa in regions like the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Waikato.