UnitedFuture leader, Peter Dunne, today welcomed the introduction of the Social Security Legislation Rewrite Bill. The Bill makes a number of changes to social security legislation and amongst them are some significant steps forward for supporting children and families “The recognition that parents with shared custody of their child or children effectively act as sole…
United Future leader Peter Dunne says the latest Panama Papers revelations raise serious questions. “I am especially concerned at the revelation that the numbers of foreign trusts established in New Zealand has gone up almost four-fold in the last decade. “That explosion inevitably raises perceptions that New Zealand is being used a tax haven, and…
Although UnitedFuture today voted in favour of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, allowing it to be sent to Select Committee. UnitedFuture leader, Peter Dunne, says a rethink is needed when it comes to the issue of ensuring healthy homes and healthy families. “It’s a basic good to have a warm and safe place to call…
This week I have been attending the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs (UNGASS), the first such meeting since 1998, and the first major international review of drug policy since 1998. A great deal has changed in that time. The advent of more than 600 new psychoactive substances alone is evidence of that.…
1978 was a most extraordinary year. It was the year when in just over a month there were three Popes. Also, it was the year the racist white regime in Rhodesia finally agreed to African majority rule in the new nation of Zimbabwe. Jim Jones gave new impetus to the dangers posed by religious cults…
I have had one or two fractious media interviews of late on aspects of New Zealand’s drug policy. I am not especially proud of that, because my normal demeanour is much more considered and self-disciplined. My plea in mitigation is that my contrariness has been a reflection of my frustration that, for various reasons, the…
Congratulations to Dame Patsy Reddy on her appointment as New Zealand’s next Governor-General. She is another outstanding selection in that now long line of impressive New Zealanders to hold the office, and I have no doubt she will do a superb job and quickly earn the respect of New Zealanders. However, she should be the…
The long awaited report of the first ever full and independent review of our security services has just come out. But despite the prudent calls last week from the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Judge Cheryl Gwyn, for as much openness and transparency as possible about the review, things did not get off to a…
United Future Party President, Damian Light is encouraging New Zealanders to vote for future generations in the upcoming referendum on New Zealand’s flag. “This is a change that will affect generations of New Zealanders who do not get a vote in this referendum. When we vote we need to take that into consideration.” New Zealanders…
Student loan debt has just hit $15 billion and is likely to increase further. Despite various efforts by successive government over the years to curb debt levels, and significant progress along the way in tracking down recalcitrant borrowers notwithstanding, the debt monster rampages on. The problem is what to do about it. There have been…