NATIONAL – Christopher Luxon
Focusing on what matters
A National government will focus on the purposeful changes that are needed for economic stability and to make New Zealand a safer, more cohesive and more prosperous country where all New Zealanders can get ahead. We’ll competently manage the economy — for example, replacing wasteful spending with disciplined fiscal management that does not fuel inflation. National will be less about re-arranging the bureaucracy, and more about supporting the frontline to achieve results that make a meaningful difference to people, for example in health. The culture of excuses will be replaced with a call to responsibility.
World-class education
Nothing disturbs me more than the current abysmal attendance and low academic achievement rates at schools. A pilot of new literacy and numeracy standards for Year 10 saw Decile One kids — for whom an education is likely to be the best way to transform their lives — achieve just
2.2 per cent pass rates in writing ,
10.1 per cent in numeracy, and
24.1 per cent in reading. National will lead parents, schools and education ministries in a turnaround job. It can be done, with parents, schools and the Government working together.
Responsible economic management
All over the country, businesspeople tell me about the layers of central and local government compliance to be met before they can serve a single customer. National’s mindset will be how to help, not hold back, enterprise — because it is businesses and their workers that create more jobs and lift incomes, not bureaucrats in Wellington. New Zealanders work for an hour to earn what Australians do in 45 minutes. Investment is needed in more and better technology that allows businesses to produce more from the effort that’s already going in.
A well-managed economy means more jobs and higher wages. It means more money to invest in public services like health and education. And it means more ability to allow Kiwis to keep more of what they earn by reducing taxes.
Better public services through social investment
Public services need to work better
National will invest in social housing, health and education — prioritising frontline delivery. It’s not just about pouring more money in and thinking that’s the same as getting better results. It is not. National will set targets like reducing wait times in hospital emergency departments and will hold itself publicly accountable for achieving those targets.
National cares deeply about people and social investment will be a key
tool for breaking cycles of dysfunction that exist in our communities. It is about using data to effectively invest early to avert poor long-term social outcomes. That approach has eroded under Labour. National will bring it back.
Deepening international connections
Since shutting itself off during Covid, New Zealand has become more fearful and inward-looking. That mindset, on top of our physical isolation, means New Zealand needs to work hard to make our presence felt in the world. It’s about more than free trade agreements. New Zealand has much to gain, and to offer, by presenting a more confident, positive, ambitious and aspirational face to the world.
● TE PATI ¯ MAORI ¯ – The Herald asked the Te Pa¯ti Ma¯ori to submit their five ideas but did not receive them by the publication deadline.