News Worthy
10 June 2005
No. 31
The leaky homes saga
This is the third occasion on which I have referred to this event. As the days go by we get more information as to the
scale of the problem.
The numbers are staggering:
· $5 billion - upper limits of estimated cost of repairing leaky homes
· 40,000 - estimated number of homes affected
· 100 - average number of new claims to the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service each month
· 12 - average number of cases resolved by the service each month
· $4.5 million – amount budgeted by the Government to fight liability claims this year
· $53.3 million – administration budget for the service until 2009
The Government seems paralysed and seemingly unable to deal with the issue. Here are two suggestions:
· a bonding system for builders should be considered to deal with the problem that some developers set up single-purpose
companies which they then collapse when the building project is completed.
· the Government could provide interest-free loans to those owners unable to meet the costs of remedial work . There
would need to be some conditions attached to those loans – for example that the money advanced was actually spent on the
remedial work.
MMP – why party votes matter
In 2000, 95 per cent of the party votes influenced the composition of Parliament. If National gets 40 per cent of the
party vote and no electorates, we get 48 seats in Parliament; if National gets 40 per cent of the party vote and 20
electorates, we still get 48 seats. That is why the party vote is so important.
Join National today
If you would like to join the National Party we would welcome you. The link to join is
https://secure.enlightenhosting.com/national/support.aspx
Statement from Transtasman newsletter
(2 June 2005 -reprinted without comment)
Hide’s Dose of Rejection Sickness
Rodney Hide is suffering rejection sickness. ACT polling puts his personal electorate rating with Epsom voters at about
8%. His demeanour may sour further if National goes ahead with plans for a billboard to read “A vote for ACT is a vote
for Labour”
National’s reasoning is if ACT doesn’t make the 5% threshold for list Parliamentary representation the votes will be
reassigned with Labour a significant beneficiary.
Australian versus New Zealand pay rates
Figures from Statistics NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that wage growth in Australia has easily
outstripped New Zealand’s.
In the last five years to last November, Australians’ average weekly earnings rose 27.5% from A$801.60 to A$1,021.90.
In New Zealand, average weekly incomes for the five years to last June went up 22.3% from $619 to $757.
National Party policy
National is campaigning on five policy issues - law and order, welfare dependency, the resolution of Treaty issues,
choice and excellence in education and narrowing the gap between our living standards and those in Australia. All of the
policies have been carefully costed.
National will ensure that all New Zealanders, regardless of race, are equal before the law by:
· accelerating the resolution of historical Treaty grievances, requiring all claims to be lodged by the end of 2006 and
resolved by the end of 2010
· abolishing separate Maori electorates, and race-based representation in local government, District Health Boards,
Primary Health Organisations, and other public bodies
· dealing with all New Zealanders on the basis of need, and not providing more funds to some New Zealanders than to
others simply on the basis of race, whether in healthcare, education, or social welfare
· removing references to “the principles of the Treaty”, and other inappropriate or divisive references to the Treaty,
from legislation and departmental publications
· legislating to ensure that the seabed and foreshore remain unambiguously in Crown ownership except where specific fee
simple title exists
· supporting choice and diversity in the provision of education, healthcare and social services, and enabling all New
Zealanders to develop and choose services appropriate to their needs
· recognising and supporting the Maori language, given its uniqueness to New Zealand and its special place in New
Zealand culture
Political Quote of the Week
"I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision."- Clement Atlee, British Prime
Minister, to Winston Churchill
ENDS
Upcoming Events
10 June
70th anniversary of Alcoholics Anonymous
Auckland Disability Provider Network political forum
Kings College Old Collegian Annual Reunion
11 June
Taiwanese Hwa Hsia - Year 2005 Dragon Boat Festival celebrations
Kings vs Grammar Annual rugby match
Lions vs NZ Maori - Hamilton
Don Brash dinner at SkyCity
Lions Club of Auckland Chinese Change of Officers and Induction ceremony
14 June
Launch of Auckland Regional Exit Breath Survey 2005
Richard participating in Wellington District Law Society Justice spokespeople forum
15 June
Lions vs Wellington - Wellington
Christian Life Centre Auckland Book Launch of "Marriage Works" at Parliament
13 June
Richard addressing Port Waikato electorate meeting
14 June
Richard participating in Wellington District Law Society justice forum
16 June
Opening of "The Spirit of Sculpture" Exhibition
17 June
President of Pakistan visiting NZ
18 June
Lions vs Otago - Dunedin
Mt Roskill Campaign Launch
Laura Ferguson 21st Annual Raceday
Order of St John's Annual Volunteers dinner
24 June
Official opening of AUT Art & Design building
Somervell Memorial Presbyterian Church Centennial
24-26 June
National Party Conference in Wellington
24 June 25 July
House in Adjournment
28 June
Richard to address Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland
Richard Worth
Visit my website for more information at: www.richardworth.co.nz