Nikki Kaye

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) to the Minister of Transport: What progress has the Government made on progressing the Victoria Park road of national significance?

Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) : I am pleased to report that last week I turned the first sod on construction of the new, $400 million Victoria Park project, which is the first road of national significance project to get under way. This is also one of the first projects to benefit from the Government’s decision to increase State highway construction funding by $1 billion over the next 3 years. It provides further certainty in an important and vulnerable time for the construction industry. I am pleased to report that the project is expected to employ 450 people: 350 directly on-site, and a further 100 in downstream jobs.

Nikki Kaye: What long-term economic benefits will the Victoria Park project provide?

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NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I am delighted to speak in the first reading debate on the Borders (Customs, Excise, and Tariff) Processing Bill. I am particularly delighted that it will be going to the Government Administration Committee, and I look forward to deliberating with other members on that committee.

The purpose of the bill, as has been mentioned by many other speakers, is to improve security at our borders. I want to touch on a point that was incorrectly stated by a number of Labour members. » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I do not believe that anyone in this House is disputing the devastating effects that methamphetamine is having on so many New Zealanders. Some estimate the cost of this drug to New Zealand as being in the billions.

The cost is in what we pay out to help the victims of meth crime. The cost is in our health system, and the rehabilitation and treatment for meth addicts. The cost is in the prisons and in the police officers that we need to fight this drug. But the more difficult cost to measure by far is the personal cost to so many New Zealand families. How do we measure the personal cost to the father or mother who has spent months cleaning up the trail of destruction that their son or daughter has caused as a result of this drug? » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : Why is the Opposition so grumpy that it cannot acknowledge a bit of good news? Today we have seen a spark in the New Zealand economy. The boat, or perhaps the bike, as Opposition members might prefer to call it, is going slightly faster, with GDP data showing that the economy grew 0.1 percent in the June quarter. Although it is a positive sign, it is really important that we do not get ahead of ourselves. For many New Zealanders, particularly young New Zealanders, the measure of a good economy is having a job to turn up to on Monday or a regular pay check for their family. That is why young Kiwis are taking up our Job Ops package. Over 1,200 young people are being offered opportunities as a direct result of that scheme. Today’s result is positive. » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : Auckland is an incredibly gifted city, with a third of New Zealand’s population and a unique and diverse people and geography. Auckland has the stunning Hauraki Gulf, many bayside beaches, and New Zealand’s largest business district. How we better engage with people who are younger and of different ethnicities will be very important in the future. The reform of Auckland’s local government will help us put a structure in place that will help deliver this engagement. » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I want to pick up on the comments made by some of the previous speakers this morning. Ms Ardern made a number of comments about youth representation. It is true that there were some pretty impassioned speakers on the subject of youth representation at the Auckland Governance Legislation Committee. We held a number of public meetings on the issue and we received some great contributions from across Auckland on the issue. But as I said to Ms Ardern the other day, a number of issues will be dealt with in the third Auckland bill. The issues around youth representation, Pacific representation, and support for groups with disabilities have been flagged as issues that will be addressed in the next bill. » Continue Reading

[Second Reading]

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I rise to speak on the Resource Management (Simplifying and Streamlining) Amendment Bill. The Resource Management Act came into force in October 1991 and replaced or amended more than 50 other laws relating to town planning and environmental management. This complex statute is designed to help manage a wide range of issues including conflicting values, expectations, and rights with regard to the environment. In the 17 years since the Act became law there has been criticism of the legislation’s ability to effectively manage complex environmental issues, and complaints about slow and costly plan preparation and consenting processes. » Continue Reading

Designing Auckland for the Future

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I want to acknowledge the huge contribution that you have and will make to the future design of Auckland. » Continue Reading

NIKKI KAYE (National—Auckland Central) : I am delighted to support the Antarctica (Environmental Protection: Liability Annex) Amendment Bill. I start by acknowledging the strong and historic links our country has had over a long period of time with Antarctica. These links are extensive. They cover areas like exploration, research, and, of course, environmental protection. » Continue Reading