Housing pilot a progressive success

It has been a great week for New Zealanders. Kiwibank today announced a pilot scheme for people to buy their own homes through a mortgage guaranteed by the Government. Some people will not need a deposit. This is an important first step toward re-establishing home ownership for people on modest incomes.

Kiwibank is giving the people of New Zealand significantly more banking options including lower fees through competition, lower interest rates, more branches and more choice to invest in a bank where the profits stay in New Zealand. That is why the anti-choice and anti-development Opposition parties are up in arms.

What Kiwibank is offering is a once in a lifetime opportunity for some low income New Zealanders to have the chance to own a home. But much more needs to be done by the coalition government to get more people still in homes and to seriously dent housing shortages in some regions. See Home loans a progressive step

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=361 National urged to cheer up

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=365 from Jim Anderton

Home ownership mortgage insurance programme http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.cfm?DocumentID=17448

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John Keys, National, looking at four weeks leave The Dominion Post today reports John Key (Nat MP) asking questions yesterday at select committee about a deal to have my four weeks annual leave bill passed by Parliament. Outside the committee, John Key said he believed a deal was "looming" - thanks for that, John. We know that four weeks has the support of the majority of parties in Parliament. We are now reaching the stage of looking at implementation. Four weeks has certainly come a long way in nine months. See the Dominion Post story (while available on Stuff) http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2589407a11,00.html

Rural workers need four weeks too http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=359

Holidays Upgrade Long Overdue http://www.union.org.nz/news/185.html

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Creating jobs key to nation building Continuing our programme of talking to communities about job creation and nation building, Jim Anderton and I met community groups and youth networkers in Porirua last night in a good meeting at Pataka. We talked about the pilot programme focusing on better job prospects for young people, and our commitment to them. Progressives know that New Zealand's most challenging goal is to push our country up into the first rank of nations. The more successful our economic development initiatives are, and the more young people that are placed in work or training instead of welfare, the better.

See Comments at Porirua Progressive Party meeting http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=367,

Porirua youth to get a better chance at jobs http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=158 _____________________

The Independent business weekly

Good to see that the leading business weekly reports Progressive thinking. Bob Edlin in The Independent wrote a full page think-piece on the Reserve Bank's interest rate cut and devoted most of the first three columns to the press release of Grant Gillon, Progressive Auckland spokesperson. By the way, Grant said the interest rate cut will be good for jobs.

See Rate Cut Right Decision For Job Creation

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=349 ( The Independent has some material at http://www.theindependent.co.nz but not, sadly, Bob Edlin.)

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Kiwibank answer to bank ownership concerns

A slightly cheeky press release to start the week, in response to the Reserve Bank's comments on the almost total foreign ownership of our banking system. "The best solution is to ensure a significant proportion of our banking system is New Zealand-owned. . . . This is another reason why all of New Zealand is benefiting from the success of Kiwibank," I said.

See Kiwibank is answer to Reserve Bank's fears about foreign-owned banks http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=353

RBNZ focusing on banking supervision in NZ http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/news/2003/0137333.html

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Tonga attacks democracy again

Tonga took another step backwards this week, passing the Media Operators law. Trying to shut down Taimi'o Tonga because the elite don't like what it prints is wrong.

See a fuller discussion at Tonga attacks democracy again http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=358 _____________________

Parliament narrowly rejects Death with Dignity

I wanted this very important if complex issue of voluntary euthanasia to be fully debated. People should have been allowed to make representations, for and against, to a select committee. The issue, promoted by MP Peter Brown of NZ First, won't go away. See euthanasia.net http://www.euthanasia.net/ for information. Lesley Martin, speaking for the campaign can be emailed at mailto:m-press@xtra.co.nz

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Sunday morning tea in Titirangi

Auckland supporters are invited to join me to promote the four weeks campaign, from 10am on Sunday 10 August, at the French Bay Sailing Club, Otitori Bay Rd, Titirangi. To book, ph. 817 8786 or 273 8150, or email matt.robson@parliament.govt.nz mailto:matt.robson@parliament.govt.nz. Cost $7pp for scones, muffins, cakes and hot drinks.

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