✨ Government Policy Announcement
12 DECEMBER 2008 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 193 5115
These steps will be critical parts of my Government’s intended crusade to improve literacy and numeracy standards throughout New Zealand’s school system.
In secondary schools, many students will get more out of their education as a result of my Government’s “Trades in Schools” policy. This will include the development of specialised Trades Academies, expanded opportunities for school-based apprenticeships and enhanced trades and technology-based learning opportunities.
At the senior end of secondary school the newly elected Government will introduce a Youth Guarantee. This will provide 16 and 17 year olds with an entitlement to free school-level education at a wider range of institutions including polytechnics, wananga and private training establishments.
In tertiary education, my Government will work to streamline the bureaucracy, ensure course quality, and to respond better to employers’ and students’ needs.
In recognition of chronic workforce shortages, it will introduce voluntary bonding schemes, based on student-loan write-offs, for graduates in hard-to-staff areas across a range of professions, including doctors, nurses, midwives, vets, and teachers.
Honourable members. I have outlined today a number of steps my Government will take to strengthen the New Zealand economy both for today and for the years ahead.
My Government has made it clear that its plans for the economy set the foundation for a wider set of aspirations. The new Government is committed to improving the lives of New Zealanders across a range of fronts, and its policies will reflect this.
In particular, it will address the frustrations shared by many New Zealanders who have conveyed to my Government their concerns at the high and climbing levels of violent crime throughout the country.
My Government has a number of policies and approaches for reducing violent crime and making our communities safer.
Criminal gangs and the “P” trade they support will not be tolerated.
Youth offenders will be targeted earlier and more effectively through a new and expanded range of interventions and Youth Court sentences, including “Fresh Start” programmes incorporating military-style training and intensive mentoring.
Sentencing, parole and bail laws will be strengthened to ensure that sentencing decisions reflect my Government’s view that public safety should be paramount and that parole is a privilege, not a right.
Additional police officers will be recruited and a greater proportion will be deployed to South Auckland.
Police will be given new and enhanced powers. These will include the ability to issue on-the-spot protection orders to protect victims of domestic violence and the ability to take DNA from offenders at time of arrest.
Victims of crime will be provided with enhanced rights, support and follow-up services from the Government.
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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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