Latest News

HamiltonJet a victim of poor Government policy

May 06, 2022 Share

The news that HamiltonJet is considering moving some of its manufacturing offshore owing to its difficulty in finding skilled workers is an indictment of the Government’s lack of support for NZ manufacturers.

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Beware the changes to the Incorporated Societies Act

April 29, 2022 Share

The Incorporated Societies Act 2022 sets out a new modern framework for incorporated societies and those who run them. However, some of the new changes could have very negative effects.

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New lending law changes causing problems

March 04, 2022 Share

If you have recently tried to apply for a home loan or mortgage, you might have found your application being declined by your bank. You might have had the necessary income to cover the repayments, so the bank’s decision has probably left you scratching your head in disbelief.

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Are Fair Pay Agreements really fair on small businesses?

February 25, 2022 Share

Small businesses have really done it tough over the last 18 months, with numerous lockdowns and long periods of being unable to operate. When all the outgoings have been paid, only then can the business owner take what’s left for themselves.

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A tsunami of stress affecting construction workers

February 17, 2022 Share

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the mental health of construction workers, with a ‘perfect storm’ of supply chain issues, rapidly rising costs and a drastic shortage of skilled labour piling on the pressure – a good deal of which can be attributed to the Government’s failure to deliver.

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New Zealand has become a divided society

February 16, 2022 Share

Speech prepared for the debate on the Prime Minister’s Statement, 15 February 2022

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Confusion still remains around bright-line changes

January 20, 2022 Share

In March last year the Government announced an extension of the bright-line test to 10 years in an effort to curb speculative demand by property investors. But what they failed to do was explain how the changes would apply. Now here we are 10 months on and confusion still remains.

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New bill makes superannuation fairer for all

November 11, 2021 Share

On 10 November, the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income (Fair Residency) Amendment Bill passed its third reading in Parliament. Supported by Labour and ACT, the bill passed by 108 to 12 votes and is the second of my members' bills to be passed, which is a rarity for an MP in opposition.

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Will shovels in the ground lead to the road to recovery?

October 18, 2021 Share

It’s now been 18 months since the Infrastructure Reference Group was established to identify a list of shovel-ready projects for the Government – those that would be ready to start as soon as the construction industry could get back to normal after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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How slow can you go?

October 05, 2021 Share

Further reductions to the speed limits on rural roads around Franklin will only serve to frustrate the vast majority of road users. But will Auckland Transport listen?

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