The PM sets nine policy targets- and in case you missed the truancy one, Seymour has provided some details
Targets and travel were a theme in the latest flow of ministerial announcements.
The PM announced a raft of targets (“nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders”) along with plans to head for Singapore, Thailand, and Philippines.
His Deputy and Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, reminded us of his whereabouts (New York) by providing us with a copy of his speech to the United Nations General Assembly: 66th plenary meeting, 78th session.
This was followed by a media statement in which Peters pleads for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
That plea, of course, was earlier made in the speech.
Three rurally focussed ministers gave us a copy of their travel plans at the start of their national woolshed roadshow.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard and Associate Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson – kicking off their meetings in the Wairarapa yesterday – will pop up in Piopio on 22 April.
Other meetings are in Te Kuiti, Waimate, Fairlie, Eltham, Fordell, Mt Somers, Malvern, Blenheim, Turakina, Cheltenham, Gisborne, Tolaga Bay, Five Rivers, Hastings, Dannevirke, Dargaville, and (on 8 July) Kerikeri.
Andrew Hoggard said these meetings will be “a great opportunity to talk directly with farmers about issues affecting them the most. I understand the importance of listening and staying connected to rural communities, as it helps government determine the direction of travel.”
Mark Patterson said that under his delegation as Minister responsible for wool he is working with farmers to rebuild the wool industry into a stronger and more resilient industry.
The travel side of the Beehive news includes a statement from Transport Minister Simeon Brown, whose announcement – that a 110km/h limit is proposed for the Kāpiti Expressway – suggests travel times should be cut for motorists on that patch of the highway in the southern bit of the North Island.
Christopher Luxon’s nine Government Targets to be delivered by 2030 are:
This was followed by a media statement in which Peters pleads for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
That plea, of course, was earlier made in the speech.
Three rurally focussed ministers gave us a copy of their travel plans at the start of their national woolshed roadshow.
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard and Associate Agriculture and Rural Communities Minister Mark Patterson – kicking off their meetings in the Wairarapa yesterday – will pop up in Piopio on 22 April.
Other meetings are in Te Kuiti, Waimate, Fairlie, Eltham, Fordell, Mt Somers, Malvern, Blenheim, Turakina, Cheltenham, Gisborne, Tolaga Bay, Five Rivers, Hastings, Dannevirke, Dargaville, and (on 8 July) Kerikeri.
Andrew Hoggard said these meetings will be “a great opportunity to talk directly with farmers about issues affecting them the most. I understand the importance of listening and staying connected to rural communities, as it helps government determine the direction of travel.”
Mark Patterson said that under his delegation as Minister responsible for wool he is working with farmers to rebuild the wool industry into a stronger and more resilient industry.
The travel side of the Beehive news includes a statement from Transport Minister Simeon Brown, whose announcement – that a 110km/h limit is proposed for the Kāpiti Expressway – suggests travel times should be cut for motorists on that patch of the highway in the southern bit of the North Island.
Christopher Luxon’s nine Government Targets to be delivered by 2030 are:
- Shorter stays in emergency departments: 95 per cent of patients to be admitted, discharged, or transferred from an emergency department within six hours.
- Shorter wait times for (elective) treatment: 95 per cent of people wait less than four months for elective treatment.
- Reduced child and youth offending: 15 per cent reduction in the total number of children and young people with serious and persistent offending behaviour.
- Reduced violent crime: 20,000 fewer people who are victims of an assault, robbery, or sexual assault.
- Fewer people on the Jobseeker Support Benefit: 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support Benefit.
- Increased student attendance: 80 per cent of students are present for more than 90 per cent of the term.
- More students at expected curriculum levels: 80 per cent of Year 8 students at or above the expected curriculum level for their age in reading, writing and maths by December 2030.
- Fewer people in emergency housing: 75 per cent reduction of households in emergency housing.
- Reduced net greenhouse gas emissions: On track to meet New Zealand’s 2050 net zero climate change targets, with total net emissions of no more than 290 megatonnes from 2022 to 2025 and 305 megatonnes from 2026 to 2030.
And in keeping with the “target” side of today’s theme, Associate Education Minister David Seymour made sure he wasn’t overlooked: he spelled out his attendance action plan to lift student attendance rates.
He reminded us that New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards.
Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the time, has declined from 69.5 per cent in Term 2 2015 to 39.9 per cent in Term 2 2022. England’s attendance rates in 2022 were 75.1 per cent, the USA was 70.3 per cent, Australia was 49.9 per cent. Most recently (September 2023), New Zealand rates were only 45.9 per cent.
The government is already implementing changes as part of the attendance action plan, Seymour said, including:
He reminded us that New Zealand attendance rates are low by national and international standards.
Regular attendance, defined as being in school over 90 per cent of the time, has declined from 69.5 per cent in Term 2 2015 to 39.9 per cent in Term 2 2022. England’s attendance rates in 2022 were 75.1 per cent, the USA was 70.3 per cent, Australia was 49.9 per cent. Most recently (September 2023), New Zealand rates were only 45.9 per cent.
The government is already implementing changes as part of the attendance action plan, Seymour said, including:
- Starting publishing of attendance data weekly from the second week of Term 2, 2024
- Rolling out a communications campaign to improve awareness of the importance of students attending school from Term 2 2024
- Updating public health guidance to help schools and parents to decide if a student is well enough to attend school
- Clarifying expectations around attendance to school boards.
- Mandating daily reporting of attendance data by term 1 2025
- Developing a Traffic Light System to set out the requirements and expectations for parents, schools, and the Ministry at different stages of a student’s attendance, with clear obligations for when a student is not attending
- Making attendance a strategic priority for school boards so they have clear expectations to focus on minimising disruption to students
- Using improved data and analysis to distinguish the drivers of non-attendance and targeting interventions, particularly for the chronic non-attenders or students that are now not enrolled.
Latest from the Beehive
9 APRIL 2024
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h.
The Government is taking action to address the truancy crisis and raise attendance by delivering the attendance action plan, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York today that an immediate ceasefire is needed in Gaza to halt the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
Speech
New Zealand condemns Hamas for its heinous terrorist attacks on 7 October and since, including its barbaric violations of women and children.
8 APRIL 2024
Today the Government Agriculture Ministers started their national woolshed roadshow, kicking off in the Wairarapa.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will travel to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines this week (April 14-20), along with a senior business delegation, signalling the Government’s commitment to deepen New Zealand’s international engagement, especially our relationships in South East Asia.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced further steps to get New Zealand back on track, launching nine ambitious Government Targets to help improve the lives of New Zealanders.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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