Dear Prime Minister,
It puts a
smile on my face to write to you with the starter “Dear Prime Minister”. This
is the case because I know that this letter is going to be read and that you
are a leader open to consider the voice of your constituents. Having said that,
the aim of this letter is to commentate with relation to a number of potential
problems on the horizon with the aim of helping you in the task of being Prime
Minister. I don’t (and am certainly willing to start this letter by saying) that I don’t know everything.
Firstly,
the government has recently introduced a hike in student allowance payments which
are long overdue. However, one of the key pieces of advice given to the party
opposite regarding this issue was that an increase in contributions to students
would result in a hike of rents by landlords in accommodation ideal for
students. I think the government of the time needs to consider this with the
aim of putting money in the hands of students that cannot be handed on to
landlords. Perhaps, a food voucher might be welcomed by students who struggle
allocating money towards feeding themselves and already resort (in the case of Wellington)
to places like the Wellington Free Store to feed themselves. It might be a
little late now to put in place, but it might be worth mentioning and opening
up for public debate (including students).
Recently
the National Party has started advocating for their policies with relation to
road building to be considered further by your government. It is a political
move that your government has responded to by correctly pointing out that the
New Zealand Transport Authority should and does deserve the opportunity to make
its own decisions. Projects around rail are also driven with consultations of
the public and supported by local councils which entails that the government
doesn’t just get to decide what it wants to do. The need to respond here
further I think is apparent (at least to me) and doing so might best entail stating
what has been implied by current responses.
Finally, I
think that the government of the day has had a neat way of setting
relationships abroad on a positive foot whilst at the same time containing a
lot of anti-American and potentially xenophobic sentiment flouting around at
the moment. I love that the government of the time has chosen to do this
without stirring the pot and making things worse. It occurred to me that there
is an opportunity for New Zealand to demonstrate it is a peace maker within the
world. As the United States pulls back and loses focus, New Zealand should look
to step in where it can. That might include an envoy to North Korea at some
point. It might also include more discussion (and groundwork) around a common
area of movement and free trade between Australia, New Zealand and Canada. This
week once the United States drops the North American Free Trade Agreement, the
Canadians are going to be scrambling and the opportunity to catch a lucky break
with a focus on just them might be practical.
I have to
admit I am very excited. A little concerned hearing that the government wanted
to see the certain ministries cut five percent from their current budget,
and a little more concerned seeing that those who have already gone through the
tertiary system are not being offered anything whilst new students get a first
year free ride (on perhaps, I’ll admit, a slightly selfish note). Focus on
health, education that is primary and secondary, and police. These are three
areas where the Labour Party stole the conversation during the election and
need to continue to make their core. Failure to do so might entail that ground
gets stolen down the line by the opposition as they turn their own budget
cutting into your (appeared) miss management.
All the
best for the coming year
