FamilyBoost Tweaks Too Little, Too Late For Families
'Today's attempt to fix the flagship FamilyBoost programme is a desperate attempt to cover up National's broken promises to lower the cost of living,' Labour acting finance spokesperson Megan Woods said.
'More than halfway through their term, the Government is only now scrambling to tweak a scheme that's barely reached a fraction of the families they promised to help.
'Even worse, families won't see a cent of this so-called relief until October.
'If Nicola Willis truly understood the cost-of-living crisis then she'd have acted a long time ago.
'Kiwis need relief now and they need leaders who are focused on delivering real results.
'Under National, life has gotten harder. They're cutting jobs, cutting women's pay, and driving up costs. Labour's number one priority will be to help people with the cost of living,' Megan Woods said
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Auckland Wins Intelligent Transport Conference
Press Release – Tataki Auckland Unlimited Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland will host the 21st Asia-Pacific Intelligent Transport Systems Forum (AP ITS) in 2027, a three-day event focused on advancing the future of intelligent transport solutions. The forum will take place from 5 to 7 May 2027 at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), bringing more than 1000 delegates and an estimated $1.27 million in economic benefit to the region. The bid was led by Intelligent Transport Systems New Zealand (ITSNZ) with support from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited's Auckland Convention Bureau and Tourism New Zealand Business Events. It received high-level endorsement from New Zealand Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon; Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown; and New Zealand Transport Agency Chair Simon Bridges. ITSNZ Chair and President Armin Guttke says: 'We are very pleased to secure the hosting rights for this important international forum in 2027. The forum will showcase how the right policy and technology can address New Zealand's transport challenges – making the system safer, more equitable, sustainable and productive. The forum will also create opportunities for local innovators, attract international investment and deliver significant economic benefits.' With the theme Navigating Tomorrow: Advancing Intelligent Transport Together, the event will spotlight key technology-enabled developments in Auckland's transport network – including AI-powered network optimisation for roads and public transport, the City Rail Link, new electric ferries and Australasia's largest all-electric bus depot. Technical tours and demonstrations will include the University of Auckland Transportation Research Centre, a leader in dynamic wireless inductive charging, and ERoad, developers of New Zealand's nationwide electronic Road User Charges System. Ken Pereira, Head of Business Events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the region's cultural agency which attracts business events to the region on behalf of Auckland Council, says: 'This win supports our vision of Auckland as a global innovation hub. It shows we are open to international expertise and investment to grow our transport future, while also showcasing our homegrown technology and talent.' The conference is expected to generate more than 3000 visitor nights in Auckland, supporting local hotels, retailers and the wider hospitality and tourism sector. Tourism New Zealand Global Manager Business Events Penelope Ryan says: 'Delegates will not only be able to enhance their learning experience outside the conference venue through the city's new innovation and infrastructure; they'll also be able to enjoy the amazing activities, dining and culture of Auckland.' NZICC General Manager Prue Daly says: 'Our team is excited to welcome global experts in intelligent transport to NZICC in 2027, and with key infrastructure like the City Rail Link at our doorstep, we are well positioned for delegates to easily experience this transformative transport project. We look forward to hosting this valuable knowledge exchange within NZICC, while also ensuring our international visitors enjoy our manaakitanga and an authentic Aotearoa New Zealand experience.' Note ITSNZ is a not-for-profit peak body that supports understanding, development and adoption of Intelligent Transport Systems and technology-enabled transport solutions in New Zealand, to support a sustainable, efficient, safe and environmentally friendly transportation system.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Cutting Red Tape So Young Kiwis Can Start Saving
Associate Minister of Justice Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee is making changes to the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act that will make it easier for parents to open bank accounts for their children. 'Opening a bank account for children should be a simple and positive step toward teaching them the value of saving. Unfortunately, regulations designed to prevent serious crimes can make the process unnecessarily difficult,' says Mrs McKee. 'The Government is cutting red tape that can make it harder for parents to do the easy thing and open a bank account for their children. 'According to the Act, a parent who wants to open an account for their eight-year-old child needs to gather and verify a long list of information, including their child's address, date of birth, name, and their own authority to act on their child's behalf. The Act also requires banks to obtain the nature and purpose of the business relationship, evaluate whether further due diligence is required, and monitoring the child's transactions on an ongoing basis. 'Under the Government's new reforms, banks will be allowed to apply a simplified processes when risk is low. This means that if a bank puts measures in place to make a child's bank account low-risk (e.g. by setting appropriate transaction limits) all that could be required is a birth certificate to confirm the child's name and date of birth, and prove the relationship to the parent. 'They could also skip the intrusive and unnecessary questions about the 'nature and purpose' of the account, and reduce or forego ongoing monitoring of a child's banking activity, until the account's settings are changed (e.g., removal of transaction limits when a child turns 18). The Government has also directed the future AML/CFT supervisor to issue clear guidance so that businesses like banks know exactly how to apply these simplified checks without fear of penalty. 'This is a common-sense reform. Parents shouldn't be asked to jump through bureaucratic hoops just to open a bank account for their kids. We're streamlining the system so that New Zealanders can spend less time on paperwork and more time teaching their children the value of money. 'These changes reflect the Government's wider commitment to smarter regulation, focusing on outcomes rather than ticking boxes, and trusting New Zealanders to make responsible decisions without being buried under red tape.'
1News
2 hours ago
- 1News
Changes to make it easier to open a bank account for kids
The Government has revealed "common sense" changes to anti-money laundering laws to slash paperwork for small businesses and to make it easier for children to open bank accounts, the Acting Prime Minister says. David Seymour said the changes to anti-money laundering laws would "remove a lot of the insanity so that ordinary people, including parents who want their children to bank, can actually have a bit of relief". "We want young people to learn about the benefits of saving and investing and planning for the future," he said to Breakfast this morning. The ACT leader said families were being discouraged from opening accounts for young people because the paperwork was too cumbersome, calling it "the most un-Kiwi thing" that needed fixing. Under current anti-money laundering rules introduced in 2011, parents must provide documentation including photo IDs, birth certificates, proof of address, and evidence of their financial relationship with their child when opening accounts. ADVERTISEMENT In a statement this afternoon, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee said under the Government's new reforms, banks would be allowed to apply a simplified process when the risk is low. Associate justice Minister Nicole McKee. (Source: 'This means that if a bank puts measures in place to make a child's bank account low-risk (e.g.) by setting appropriate transaction limits) all that could be required is a birth certificate to confirm the child's name and date of birth, and prove the relationship to the parents.' McKee said they could also skip the 'intrusive and unnecessary questions' about the 'nature and purpose' of the account – and reduce or forego ongoing monitoring of a child's banking activity until they turn 18 or the account settings are changed. The Government has also directed the future Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism supervisor to issue clear guidance, so businesses like banks know exactly how to apply the simplified checks without fear of penalty. The ACT party had previously campaigned on reducing business compliance costs with anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws. At the last election, ACT said small businesses needed a more "risk-based approach" that was "less punitive." McKee announced reform of the laws last October. ADVERTISEMENT Seymour also said this morning upcoming AML/CFT changes would include "a whole lot for business". "If you're, for example, engaged in property transactions, or you're a lawyer, or whatever. We're going to be simplifying the amount of customer due diligence there. We're going to be moving to just a single supervisor," he said. GST was very effective as a tool for the government to readily raise a large amount of money. (Source: "We have to show that we're doing our bit to fight money laundering and terrorism. We've got our own problems with organised crime in New Zealand — we have to keep on them. "But we also need to remove a lot of the insanity so that ordinary people … can actually have a bit of relief." Seymour said the reforms would help benefit small businesses and professional services, allowing New Zealanders to spend "less time dealing with red tape". "It's going to be small business. It's going to be people in the professional services who have to do a lot of this stuff, because they manage transactions, lawyers, accountants and so on." ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including deadly Texas floods, Australian woman attacked by a lion, and Elon Musk's new political party. (Source: 1News) McKee said in her announcement last year that the changes would make complying with the law more "user-friendly for small businesses". "I have heard from countless New Zealanders that the current regulations are unnecessarily risk-averse, resulting in complicated, repetitive processes. Simple tasks shouldn't be made confusing and difficult to complete," she said. "I'm taking a pragmatic approach to this work, by prioritising changes that will deliver significant regulatory relief to businesses while also reducing the harm caused by money laundering in our communities. "In fact, these reforms will deliver the most significant regulatory relief since the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act came into force in 2013."
