Finance Minister Bill English takes a chain saw to a huge tome that represents the 'NZ Government BUDGET May 2011'. Context - the Government says cutting budget spending is necessary because it is going to have to pay back money borrowed to rebuild Christchurch. The Government will face the biggest budget deficit in New Zealand's history at the end of the current financial year, Finance Minister Bill English says. (NZ Herald 31 March 2011) Quantity: 1 digital cartoon(s).
Questions to Ministers 1. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Minister of Finance: Does he agree with 57 percent of New Zealanders who, according to a recent UMR poll, support the introduction of a temporary earthquake levy to pay for the rebuilding of Christchurch? 2. Hon PHIL GOFF to the Prime Minister: What, according to the 2010 Investment Statement of the Government of New Zealand, was the average total shareholder return over the last five years from State-owned Enterprises and the average bond rate, and is that consistent with his statement that "it is the Government's intention to use the proceeds of those initial public offerings to actually invest in other assets that the Government would have to fund through the Government bond rate"? 3. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister for Infrastructure: What progress has the Government made on its infrastructure programme? 4. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his statement "this Government is not prepared to turn its back on our most vulnerable citizens when they most need our help"? 5. Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN to the Acting Minister of Energy and Resources: Is it government policy for New Zealand to become a "highly attractive global destination" for oil exploration, with expansion of the oil and coal sectors leading to a "step change" in the country's economic growth as set out in the document Developing Our Energy Potential; if not, why not? 6. Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is the Government considering extending the business assistance package for employers and employees beyond the 14-week period currently signalled; if not, why not? 7. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Police: What reports has she received on the latest trends in the level of crime in New Zealand? 8. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: Did he tell a meeting in Timaru last week "The entire time I've been Prime Minister I've had Treasury in my office week after week, month after month, telling me South Canterbury Finance was going bankrupt"? 9. CHRIS AUCHINVOLE to the Minister for the Environment: What advice has he received on major resource consents being considered under the Government's new national consenting policy? 10. Dr RUSSEL NORMAN to the Acting Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she agree that the joint scheme initiated by the Green Party and the Government, Warm Up New Zealand: Heat Smart, is the best initiative in the Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy because it is providing hundreds of thousands of New Zealand households with warm, dry, energy efficient homes, and creating thousands of clean green jobs? 11. Hon SHANE JONES to the Minister of Fisheries: Does he still have no major concerns about the way foreign boats were used by New Zealand companies as the Nelson Mail reports he said last year? 12. TIM MACINDOE to the Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made regarding the Government's Housing Innovation Fund?
More pressure on interested bidders in the Pike River mine to recover the bodies, from both the government and unions. The government's new plan to strengthen infrastructure after the Canterbury earthquakes, it's already criticised for not going far enough and the AA again attacks petrol companies for not cutting prices, despite falling oil prices.
The government has been told to rein in competition between Christchurch schools and create hubs where they can cooperate. The call comes in some of the 230 submissions the government has received to help it draw up a plan for the renewal of education in the city in the wake of February's devastating earthquake.
The damage from the Christchurch earthquakes is now being felt in the government's books.
How will the government pay its estimated $5 billion share of the rebuild of Christchurch?
Questions to Ministers 1. Hon ANNETTE KING to the Minister of Finance: When he said recently "where the Government does have some influence, we are working hard to keep prices low", which prices was he referring to? 2. DAVID BENNETT to the Minister of Finance: What are some of the likely impacts on the Government's finances of the Christchurch earthquake? 3. Hon DAVID PARKER to the Acting Minister for Economic Development: Does he stand by all his statements on economic development? 4. Dr JACKIE BLUE to the Minister for ACC: How many claims has ACC received since the tragic earthquake on 22 February and what steps has the Government taken to facilitate prompt compensation for those seriously injured? 5. Hon MARYAN STREET to the Minister of Civil Defence: What is the basis for according priority to entry of the red zone in the Christchurch central business district? 6. NIKKI KAYE to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What support is the Government giving to non-government organisations in Christchurch affected by the earthquake? 7. Hon TREVOR MALLARD to the Prime Minister: What role did he or his department play in the decision to shift the Rugby World Cup quarter finals, from AMI Stadium to Eden Park? 8. JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Corrections: What progress has been made toward the Government's commitment to encourage private sector investment in the New Zealand corrections system? 9. Hon DARREN HUGHES to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What specific policy changes has the Government made to increase the number of apprenticeships and other building-skills training programmes since the September Canterbury earthquake? 10. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Commerce: Will he use his powers under Part 4 of the Commerce Act 1986 to call for an investigation into the dairy wholesale and retail milk market, following the release of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's review of the domestic milk market in New Zealand; if not, why not? 11. CAROL BEAUMONT to the Minister of Women's Affairs: Does she support the retention of the stand-alone and independent Ministry of Women's Affairs? 12. JOHN HAYES to the Minister of Agriculture: What steps has the Government recently made to progress agricultural greenhouse gas research?
Piles of rubble on the site of the CTV Building. In the background, the elevator shaft can be seen.
A photograph of a woman making coffee in a temporary café in a house in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of a woman digging in the garden of a property with a damaged side fence. In the background, the house next door has its side wall missing.
A photograph of a hole in the footpath outside a residential property. Liquefaction has spilled out of the hole and settled on the pavement around it.
A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office ordering at a temporary café. The café was set up in a house in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of piles of bricks from earthquake-damaged buildings along the side of a road in Christchurch.
A photograph of a woman in a temporary café in a house in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of roadworks on a bridge in Christchurch.
A photograph of a side table and stool outside a temporary café in the Christchurch central city. The café was set up in a house after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of a volunteer from the Wellington Emergency Management Office ordering at a temporary café. The café was set up in a house in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of roadworks on a bridge in Christchurch.
People enjoying coffee outside the temporary location of the CIRA Coffee & Wares Café set up after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of a side table and stool outside a temporary café in the Christchurch central city. The café was set up in a house after the 22 February 2011 earthquake.
A photograph of a garage full of furniture and other belongings in Christchurch.
A photograph of liquefaction inside a building in the Christchurch central city.
A photograph of a pile of liquefaction on the side of a residential street in Christchurch.
A photograph of a map of the Christchurch central city. Greed, red, and yellow dots have been used to indicate the status of inspected buildings
A photograph taken inside an office in the Christchurch central city. Documents have fallen off many of the desks and are lying on the floor.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house in Christchurch. The house has fallen off its foundations and is on a severe lean.
A photograph of a woman digging in the garden of a property with a damaged side fence. In the background, the house next door has its side wall missing.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a residential street in Christchurch. Portaloos can be seen on both sides of the road.
A photograph of the earthquake damage to a house in the Christchurch central city. The bricks walls of the building have collapsed and the bricks have spilt into the garden.
A photograph of liquefaction on a street in the Christchurch central city.