Latest news with #Luxton
Scoop
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
Time Is Money, Speed Limit Reversal Reflects That
ACT Transport spokesperson Cameron Luxton is welcoming the reversal of speed limit reductions as part of the Government's July 1 changes. 'Whether you're a tradie, a parent, or a courier - time is money. From today, speed limits across the country will revert to previous levels, and on some roads built to handle it, limits will increase to 110 km/h,' says Mr Luxton 'Lowering speed limits caused immense frustration for motorists and reduced productivity. These changes respect people's time without compromising safety. "ACT campaigned vigorously against snail-pace speed limits. Our volunteers put up signs all over the country after listening to the frustrations of New Zealanders. Being made to drive at comical speeds was insulting. 'ACT made raising speed limits a condition of coalition. Now, Kiwi motorists can look forward to making up for lost time, while being treated like adults again.'
Scoop
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Climate Emergency Hypocrisy Makes Case For Ending Council Climate Activism
ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says today's revelations of councils spending over $1.3million on international flights since 2019 while declaring climate emergencies show exactly why ACT Local councillors are needed to stop local government climate activism. 'The hypocrisy of those councils declaring a climate emergency but then sending staff on junkets shows exactly why more common sense councillors are needed around the council table,' says Mr Luxton. 'ACT Local councillors will oppose attempts to reduce emissions at the local government level, and will move for much stricter policies for international travel. That means no international climate junkets, and all other travel must have clear benefits for ratepayers – in most instances this will mean no travel at all. 'The role of a council is to deliver core services and resilient infrastructure that can't be delivered privately – not to try to change the weather. ACT Local candidates' approach to climate change will mean: Stopping local emissions reduction plans Ending 'climate emergency' declarations Banning ratepayer-funded climate junkets Closing down emissions reduction slush funds Requiring consenting and land use decisions to disregard emissions Making spending decisions based on cost, not carbon Continued improvement of infrastructure like stormwater and stopbanks 'Emissions are already managed at central government level via the Emissions Trading Scheme - councils don't need to be involved,' says Mr Luxton. 'In Parliament, ACT is addressing local climate activism with Mark Cameron's member's bill to stop councils from considering emissions in their land use plans. ACT councillors would take this a step further, working to secure majorities around the council to take climate ideology out of councils entirely. 'ACT councillors will focus on delivering the basics well, with less waste and lower rates.'
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
ACT Councillors Will Oppose Local Government Climate Activism
ACT Local candidates, once elected, will oppose attempts to manage emissions at the local government level, ACT Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton has announced. 'ACT believes the proper role of a council is to deliver core services and resilient infrastructure – not to try to change the weather,' says Mr Luxton, who is at Fieldays today. 'Councils should focus on what they can control, not sign symbolic declarations, publish costly 'climate strategies', or employ teams of climate advisors at ratepayer expense. In practice, ACT Local's policy would mean: No local emissions reduction plans No 'climate emergency' declarations No ratepayer-funded climate junkets No emissions reduction slush funds Emissions disregarded in all consenting and land use decisions Spending based on value for money, not carbon Continued improvement of infrastructure like stormwater and stopbanks 'Emissions reduction is properly handled – and indeed, already is handled – at the central government level, such as through the Emissions Trading Scheme. 'Through the ETS, all New Zealanders, including council decision-makers, are already incentivised to reduce emissions in whatever way is most cost-effective for their circumstances. If a council wants to save on its energy costs by switching to LED street lights or electric buses, go for it. But additional grandstanding over climate action is just an expensive virtue signal. 'In Parliament, ACT is addressing local climate activism with Mark Cameron's member's bill to stop councils from considering emissions in their land use plans. ACT councillors would take this a step further, working to secure majorities around the council to take climate ideology out of councils entirely. 'Ratepayers expect potholes to be fixed, not platitudes about planetary salvation. ACT councillors will focus on delivering the basics well, with less waste and lower rates.' ACT has now completed candidate selection and in the coming days will begin to announce its candidates in territories across New Zealand. Examples: ACT spokespeople are available to offer commentary on any local council's climate plans. Cameron Luxton is at Fieldays, and ACT Climate Change spokesperson Simon Court will be in Auckland. Local climate plans typically have flow-on effects for consenting decisions, staffing, procurement policies, and council assets like vehicle fleets. Councils representing three-quarters of New Zealand's population have declared climate emergencies. Whangarei District Council has declared a climate emergency, with an Emission Reduction Plan which replicated national targets to produce net zero emissions by 2050. Auckland Council has a Climate Plan introduced in 2020 to halve emissions for the region by 2030 reach net zero emissions by 2050. Tauranga City Council has committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Hamilton City Council has an ' Our Climate Future ' strategy with goal to reduce the city's emissions by 82% by 2050, and a commitment to 'consider climate change in all we do'. Horowhenua District Council has a Climate Action Plan to 'limit future impacts of climate change by reducing future emissions'. Councils in Wellington, Wairarapa, and Horowhenua have signed up to a joint Regional Emissions Reduction Plan to 'help drive the system change that creates the environment for behaviour change'. Hutt City Council has set a goal of reducing emissions to net zero by no later than 2050. Wellington City Council has a ' First to Zero ' plan to become a net zero emission city by 2050, and has declared a State of Climate and Ecological Emergency. Christchurch City Council has a plan to half emissions by 2030, compared with 2016/2017. Dunedin City Council has a Zero Carbon Plan to become a carbon neutral city by 2030. All of these plans are redundant because emissions targets are set nationally by central government, and behaviour change is advanced via the Emissions Trading Scheme.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Hawke's Bay apprentice Fletcher Brown selected for Youth Parliament
A budding Hawke's Bay tradie will swap his overalls for a suit when he heads to Youth Parliament after being selected as the Youth MP of an Act MP. Cameron Luxton, Parliament's only licensed building practitioner, has selected Fletcher Brown, a 17-year-old heavy automotive engineering apprentice from Hawke's Bay, as his Youth MP. Luxton describes Brown as the kind of young Kiwi who gets up early, gets his hands dirty, and adds real value to his community. 'That kind of contribution deserves a voice in Parliament,' he said. Fletcher is currently training through MITO, an industry training organisation supporting on-the-job learning in various sectors, where he is training with a focus on agricultural and horticultural equipment, work Luxton said keeps the region's farms and orchards running smoothly.
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Students across the Mid West take part in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday
Primary school children across the Mid West took steps towards a healthy future by walking safely to school on Friday as part of the National Walk Safely to School Day. More than 150 students from Mt Tarcoola Primary School took part, walking or riding to school on Friday morning. Principal Paul Luxton gathered with 25 students at Paringa Park, walking together to school while another half dozen students and parents waiting in their front yards joined the group along the way. On arrival the students were treated to a healthy breakfast of fresh fruit and muffins. On the importance of the day Mr Luxton said: 'In today's world people don't think they're safe, so kids tend to not to walk to school like they used to. This shows it is easy, there's plenty of safe footpaths and crossing points all along the way. 'It's reassuring for parents to know that their child is walking to school with another child, the good thing is the kids link up and say, 'this is my place. I'm walking past here so I'll walk with them'.' The community event, now in its 26th year, aims to promote road safety, reduce impacts on the environment and champion the health benefits of regular walking. Those benefits are not just physical — walking to and from school can have a positive impact on a student's ability to focus in class and their academic performance. Pedestrian Council of Australia CEO Harold Scruby said: 'Until they are 10, children must always hold the hand of an adult when crossing the road. 'The best exercise for all Australians is walking regularly. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. We should encourage them to take a walk before school, during and at the end of their day.'
