Category: MIL-OSI

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“ACT has ensured Budget 2025 saves money to invest in essential services and support economic growth,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“ACT would support leaner spending still, but our influence has ensured this Budget grows government at less than half the rate of inflation. When the government’s share of spending reduces, there is more left for everyone else, and future generations aren’t irresponsibly saddled with debt.

“Above all, this is a Budget that understands wage growth doesn’t come from the bureaucracy or court cases – it comes from economic growth.

“The Regulatory Standards Bill is part of the Budget package. It will make government justify regulating the use and exchange of your property, or be called out. It means Kiwis spend less time on paperwork and are freed up to innovate, hire, and generate real wealth.

“A 20 percent capital expensing policy will let businesses immediately deduct 20 percent of the cost of new equipment, machinery, or tech in the year of purchase. This puts more cash back in the hands of firms and farms right away – to invest in growth, upgrade tech, and boost productivity. Whatever you’re trying to do, this policy will reduce the tax drag on investing to increase productivity and wages. Treasury forecasts that, by the time the youngest Kiwis today enter the workforce, wages will be 1.5 per cent higher thanks to this policy alone.

“Meanwhile, billions in savings have come from Brooke van Velden’s reforms to ensure pay equity claims are fair and evidence-based. There are not only fiscal savings from the pay equity changes, there is a proud declaration that we don’t get wealthier arguing with ourselves, we get wealthier from investment, innovation, and genuine hard work.

“Brooke van Velden’s work, along with smaller savings throughout the Budget, has made investment in basic services possible. A significant uplift in Defence capability, better attendance services, after-hours healthcare, faster courts, stronger youth justice facilities, and a shift from three-month to twelve-month prescriptions, have all been made possible.

“Of course there are many other savings. The reduction in RNZ funding should focus the organisation on high-quality news, the way its competitors are forced to do in challenging times for the industry.

“In cutting waste and prioritising spending to enable growth, Budget 2025 does not go as far as ACT would like – but it does go further than it would without ACT.”

Source:

The Haps

It’s all on. On Tuesday Parliament will see a lengthy debate on the Privilege Committee’s report into Te Pāti Māori’s haka hijinks, with the Committee recommending one and three-week suspensions for the offenders. Thursday will see the Coalition Government’s second Budget, pulling back spending so that the rest of the economy has more much-needed room to breathe. The week will also see the Regulatory Standards Bill debated. By making politicians justify incursions on your property rights, it will make New Zealand a wealthier, freer society.

An unexpected ACT Party Achievement

In opposition ACT was the only Party to consistently put out a fully-costed alternative Budget. Now the Greens have copycatted (except for the numbers). About 30 pages of policy propositions with numbers at the back, a nearly identical format. They’re even going on tour to promote it. We hope lots of people hear what they are saying.

Why is this an achievement? ACT’s transparent format shows the Greens’ full madness. If you’re reading Free Press you’re probably either a journalist, or someone who won’t be voting Green. If you are still considering it, please watch Chlöe Swarbrick’s interview with Jack Tame on her alternative Budget here.

If you haven’t clicked above and you’re still with us, here’s what you missed. Chlöe Swarbrick’s basic message is that New Zealand is a capitalist hellscape people are fleeing by the planeload. However, she says, another $22 billion a year of tax and spend would build the just society we all deserve.

They’ve already sold us this one. In 2017, the Government’s Budget was $76 billion. In 2023, when they left office, it was $138 billion. If an extra $52 billion didn’t solve poverty last time, $22 billion won’t fix it this time. Sure, there was inflation and population growth in that period. Yes a pandemic came and went. None of that comes close to explaining an extra $52 billion every year.

It’s more likely the Greens would simply waste the money like last time, but that’s not what their budget is about. It’s all about envy. Their basic message that your problems are cause by others’ success is toxic to the soul. It says you’re helpless unless Chlöe helps you. There’s even a tax on private jets, as if anyone with a private jet hasn’t already paid multiple times more tax than they’ll ever get back.

There’ll be an inheritance tax. If you passed a $5 million family farm to your kids you’d pay about $1.3 million inheritance tax. If you put it in trust you’d pay 1.5 per cent of the value, or $75,000 a year for that ‘crime.’ They claim only three per cent would pay more tax, as if it’s OK to pick on people if they’re small in number.

If you wonder why we’re spending so much time on Green madness this week, it’s because the Labour Party hasn’t said what it thinks of all this. Throw in the outright racism of Te Pāti Māori that would also be essential to any Labour coalition, and you can see why winning the next election is starting to occupy our mind.

Wake up. The nightmare is over. This week the Coalition Government will bring down a sensible budget with the Greens safely cauterised in opposition. The Budget will shrink Government spending as a share of the economy. It will increase spending by about one per cent while inflation runs at 2.5 and population growth runs at a per cent.

The Budget will use savings, such as from the Pay Equity changes, to invest in what matters. There will be policies that promote investment, jobs and growth for higher wages. The spirit is that we may be in a hole, but we’re not helpless. We’re capable of climbing out and all we need is for the Government to take less and use the resources we give it more efficiently.

That is the effect of the ACT Party on a Government. Crazy ideas left on the cutting room floor, big savings made possible. Smart investments in things like school attendance that have a pay off. Increasingly, the next 18 months will be about growing ACT’s influence at the next election so we can go faster instead of Venezuelan style lunacy promoted by the Greens.

Source:

Responding to the Health Minister’s announcement of a Budget boost to after-hours healthcare, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“This is what we can achieve when we prioritise spending. Kiwis will spend less time waiting at A&E because we’ve got a Government with the backbone to save money and reinvest in the front-line services we expect for our taxes.

“Expanding urgent and after-hours care means better access for patients, less pressure on emergency departments, and more choice – especially in rural and regional areas.

“It’s only possible because this Government, with ACT at the table, is doing the hard work of finding savings and stopping wasteful spending. We’re delivering more healthcare by running a more efficient government.

“New Zealanders are getting better services, not bigger bureaucracy – and that’s exactly what they voted for.”

Source: New Zealand Police

A 21-year-old man is facing serious injury and firearms-related charges after an incident in central Auckland early today.

At around 3.50am Police attended an incident on Karangahape Road where several shots were fired.

As a result two persons received injuries to their leg and foot which required medical attention.

A short time later, Police located the alleged offender and firearm. The 21-year-old man was arrested and will appear in Auckland District Court tomorrow, 26 May, on serious injury and firearms-related charges.

Police are interested to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident on Karangahape Road who has not yet spoken to us.

If you can help, please update us online now or call 105, quoting file number 250525/0369. 

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 

Source: NZ Music Month takes to the streets

A new 110km/h speed limit on State Highway 1 (SH1) for the Northern Gateway Toll Road, from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstone’s Hill Tunnels, will come into effect from 26 May, Transport Minister Chris Bishop announced today.

“Economic growth and productivity are a priority for the Government, and with around 11,000 vehicles per day travelling on the Northern Gateway, 9 per cent of that being heavy vehicles, the new higher speed limit of 110km/h will help ensure people and freight can get to where they need to go, quickly and safely,” Mr Bishop says.

“Late last year, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) consulted on the proposed speed limit increase to 110km/h. More than 7,900 submissions were received from across Northland and Auckland, with 93% in support of the increased speed limit and 91% strongly supporting it.

“This road has been designed and constructed with safety features such as two lanes in each direction providing safe passing opportunities, physical median separation between opposing lanes, and a mostly straight, wide alignment. Additional safety improvements are being considered over the next 12 to 18 months. 

“Kiwis have had their say and NZTA have assessed the Northern Gateway Toll Road as being safe to increase the speed limit to 110km/h. Now, we’re getting on and delivering it. Police will apply the same enforcement to 110km/h roads as any other part of the road network. Drivers can expect to see police patrols on New Zealand roads anywhere, at any time.

“The Northern Gateway Toll Road is a crucial corridor for road users and freight, and well as tourists, and forms an important part of the key strategic route between Auckland and Whangārei, and beyond into Northland. I look forward to the new 110km/h speed limit coming into effect later this month.

The new 110km/h speed limit on the Northern Gateway Toll Road comes into effect on Monday 26 May and will apply for 5.5km section of State Highway 1 (SH1) from north of Orewa to south of the Johnstones Hill Tunnels.

Note’s to editor:

• The speed limit on SH1 through the Johnstones Hill Tunnels will remain 80km/h. While the SH1 Johnstones Hill Tunnels are built to high safety standards, the enclosed environment within a tunnel creates a different safety risk to that of the surrounding motorway. There are no current plans to review or change the speed limit for this section.

Source: New Zealand Police

Emergency services are responding to a crash involving a vehicle and at least one pedestrian on Fitzgerald Avenue, near Hereford Street.

Police were called about 2.15pm.

Initial indications are there may have been serious injuries. 

The Serious Crash Unit has been notified, and traffic management is in place. 

Motorists should avoid the area if possible. 

ENDS 

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died after a truck collided with a power pole in Whangārei overnight.

The crash, at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Ewing Road, was reported to Police at 1.25am today.

The driver of the truck was the sole occupant.

Enquiries are under way into the circumstances of the crash.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre. 
 

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Kiwi scientists have discovered how daylight can boost the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

NZT 6am Saturday 24 May: A breakthrough study, led by scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, has uncovered how daylight can boost the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

The team focused on the most abundant immune cells in our bodies, called ‘neutrophils’, which are a type of white blood cell. These cells move quickly to the site of an infection and kill invading bacteria.

The researchers used zebrafish, a small freshwater fish, as a model organism, because its genetic make-up is similar to ours and they can be bred to have transparent bodies, making it easy to observe biological processes in real time.

“In earlier studies, we had observed that immune responses peaked in the morning, during the fish’s early active phase,” says lead researcher Associate Professor Christopher Hall, from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology.

“We think this represents an evolutionary response such that during daylight hours the host is more active so more likely to encounter bacterial infections,” says Hall.

However, the scientists wanted to find out how the immune response was being synchronised with daylight.

With this new study, published in Science Immunology, and led by two doctoral researchers, neutrophils were found to possess a circadian clock that alerted them to daytime, and boosted their ability to kill bacteria.

Most of our cells have circadian clocks to tell them what time of day it is in the outside world, in order to regulate the body’s activities. Light has the biggest influence on resetting these circadian clocks.

“Given that neutrophils are the first immune cells to be recruited to sites of inflammation, our discovery has very broad implications for therapeutic benefit in many inflammatory diseases,” Hall says.

“This finding paves the way for development of drugs that target the circadian clock in neutrophils to boost their ability to fight infections.”

The research was funded through the Royal Society of NZ’s Marsden Fund.

Current research is now focussed on understanding the specific mechanisms by which light influences the neutrophil circadian clock.

Find out about animal-based research at the University of Auckland: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/research/about-our-research/openness-in-animal-research.html

Source: New Zealand Police

One person has died following a crash in Tapanui this afternoon.

Just after 3:30pm, Police were called to a single vehicle crash on Station Road.

The vehicle collided with a garage before catching fire. The sole occupant of the vehicle died at the scene.

Police are making enquiries to determine the circumstances of the crash.

Station Road remains closed while enquiries continue.

ENDS

Issued by Police Media Centre

Source: New Zealand Police

A homicide investigation is continuing into the death of a 77-year-old man in Horeke.

The investigation has been underway after the man was found critically injured at a property on Waikerikeri Road in the early hours of 22 May.

He sadly died at the scene.

Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston, of Northland CIB, says a scene examination is ongoing at a property on Waikerikeri Road.

“A team of 15 investigators are working on the enquiry, with Northland receiving support from other Police districts and from ESR scientists,” he says.

“Police want to assure the community that no other persons are being sought in relation to this matter.”

A 73-year-old man, who arrived the Kaikohe Police station on Wednesday night, has been remanded in custody on a range of unrelated charges.

He will reappear in the Kaikohe District Court next month.

Enquiries will continue into the 77-year-old man’s death.

“A post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted on the victim tomorrow,” Detective Inspector Johnston says.

ENDS.

Nicole Bremner/NZ Police