✨ Government Policy Announcements
5114 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193 12 DECEMBER 2008
As signalled in its confidence and supply agreement with the ACT Party, the Government will undertake a review of the Emissions Trading Scheme.
My Government believes that New Zealand as a responsible international citizen, and as a country that values our clean, green environment, must act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to confront global climate change.
In this area, as in others, it will pursue an appropriate balance between meeting our environmental responsibilities and taking up our economic opportunities.
The purpose of the Emissions Trading Scheme review will therefore be to ensure the reduction of emissions in ways that result in the least cost to New Zealand’s society and economy.
My Government acknowledges that efforts to reduce emissions at home must be matched by efforts to reduce emissions abroad.
It will honour its Kyoto Protocol obligations and it will work to achieve further global alliances that build on the goals agreed to at Kyoto. In approaching future international climate change negotiations it will work with fellow countries on finding a pragmatic way to include large emitters like China, the United States, India and Brazil.
My Government will also advocate firmly in international negotiations for the appropriate recognition of New Zealand’s unique agricultural-emissions-profile. This push will be buttressed by increased public investment in research and development to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.
Honourable members. An unwavering focus on lifting education standards will be a critical aspect of the Government’s plans for strengthening New Zealand’s economy.
It will work to modernise New Zealand’s school system to ensure it responds to the varied needs of our young people and that it prepares them for the demands of tomorrow’s employers.
Of particular concern to my Government is the long tail of underachievement that it sees in our schools, with as many as one in five young New Zealanders leaving school without the skills and qualifications they need to succeed.
Steps will be taken across the board to confront this problem.
In early childhood education particular focus will be given to ensuring early childhood providers respond to the needs of New Zealand families and that children from less privileged homes are better engaged in pre-school education.
In primary schools, the introduction of National Standards in literacy and numeracy and the new requirement that every pupil’s progress be assessed against these standards will ensure that problems are identified early and confronted.
In addition, parents will be better informed about their children’s literacy and numeracy progress through a new requirement that National Standards results be reported in Plain English.
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NZ Gazette 2008, No 193
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Speech from the Throne at the State Opening of Parliament
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🏛️ Governance & Central AdministrationGovernor-General, Parliament, State Opening, Economic Growth, Government Formation, Emissions Trading Scheme, Climate Change, Education Standards, National Standards