New Zealand is a great place to raise a family. We have a good lifestyle. We’re ranked first in the world for social progress. More Kiwis are coming home. But National knows we can make New Zealand even better.
We’re working from a solid base.New Zealand is doing well compared to other developed economies.Our economy is growing. There are 80,000 more people employed than a year ago. And wages are rising faster than inflation.
Households and businesses are benefitting from low inflation and a long period of stable, low interest rates.We’re improving public services in areas like welfare, health, education and law and order. The Government is working to get the books back to surplus and start repaying debt.
We’re supporting growth of new industries like ICT and high-tech manufacturing, and strengthening existing ones like the food industry, tourism and international education.
Our focus now is on managing the growing economy so we can lock in the sustainable growth needed to support more jobs and higher incomes.
This is important to help families get ahead. To help mums and dads. To give children a better start. To provide more opportunities for young people. To make sure that your children and your grandchildren can build their futures here – and that they want to.
National is ensuring that gains from our growing economy are flowing through to families. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in a number of measures that came into force on 1 April.
Paid Parental Leave, the parental tax credit, the minimum wage and Superannuation all increased on 1 April, while average ACC levies fell, and more people are being helped in to home ownership. Our new HomeStart scheme will help around 90,000 Kiwis into their first home over the next five years.
Looking ahead, there are more policies designed to help families. From 1 Julychildren under13 willhave access to free GP visits and free prescriptions, and the average ACC levy for a private motor vehicle will fall by around $135 a year.
These measures are building on the policies National has implemented over the past seven years to help New Zealanders get ahead.
They are only possible by having a strong, growing economy, supported by responsible and predictable government policy.