Jacinda Ardern made a promise to get 17 policies done or underway during her first 100 days. (Photo / Getty)

First 100 Days: Is the Govt sticking to their promises?

Author: Audrey Young, NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2017, 5:27AM

The Government's 100-day plan will gather pace this week with the introduction of laws setting out its families package and banning foreign speculators from buying existing houses.

A bill legalising medicinal cannabis is scheduled to be introduced next week and resumption of payments to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund is scheduled to take place within a fortnight.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the families package on Thursday would lift thousands of children out of poverty "through a boost to low and middle income earners that fulfils our 100-day plan pledge."

She said she would release the numbers of people affected by the families package on Thursday — after the half yearly opening of the books by Treasury and Grant Robertson's Budget Policy Statement.

Her own legislation requiring targets to be set on child poverty reduction is scheduled to be introduced when Parliament resumes in late January — just inside the end of the 100 days on February 3.

She has written to National leader Bill English seeking cross-party support for the principle of setting targets, but leaving it up to each Government to set their own target.

"I don't want there to be politics in the issue of child poverty." She believed everyone shared the same goal of improving child well-being.

"What I want to see is successive Governments commit to focusing on lifting children out of poverty."

During the election campaign, English had set a target of 50,000 but her targets were more ambitious. English said he would consider her request.

Progress report on the Government's 100-day plan

Priority promises to be implemented by February 3

Make the first year of tertiary education or training fees free from January 1, 2018.

Details announced on December 5. No legislation needed.

Increase student allowances and living cost loans by $50 a week from January 1, 2018.

Details announced on November 21. No legislation needed.

Pass the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, setting minimum standards for all rentals.

Passed in Parliament on November 30.

Ban overseas speculators from buying existing houses.

Bill to be introduced to Parliament this week.

Issue an instruction to Housing New Zealand to stop sell-off of state houses.

Likely to happen this year.

Begin work to establish the Affordable Housing Authority and begin the KiwiBuild programme.

Work started, more announcements planned by February 3.

Legislate to pass the Families Package, including the Winter Fuel Payment, Best Start and increases to Paid Parental Leave, to take effect from 1 July 2018.

Law extending Paid Parental Leave passed November 30, families package bill to be introduced this Thursday.

Set up a ministerial inquiry into mental health crisis.

Announcements on membership and terms of reference expected early in New Year.

Introduce legislation to make medicinal cannabis available for people with terminal illnesses or in chronic pain.

Scheduled to be introduced next week.

Resume contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund.

Approved by cabinet, first payment to be made before Christmas.

Introduce legislation to set a child poverty reduction target and to change the Public Finance Act so the Budget reports progress on reducing child poverty.

Bill to be introduced when Parliament resumes in late January.

Increase the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour, to take effect from 1 April 2018, and introduce legislation to improve fairness in the workplace.

Minimum wage increase approved by cabinet and announced, likely to be signed off by order in council this week; workplace legislation to be introduced when Parliament resumes in late January.