Press Releases Archive - Young Labour

Press Releases

Minister Buying a Cheaper Future with Class-Size Increases

17 May, 2012 by admin

Following Education Minister Hekia Parata’s pre-budget announcement yesterday, Young Labour is echoing calls from the education profession to abandon an ideological experiment with New Zealand’s kids.

Young Labour spokesperson Benjamin Ross argues the Minister’s goal of “improving quality teaching” is admirable, but should focus on expertise, skills and experience, not National Standards, performance pay and charter schools. “Hekia Parata has pledged to lift achievement for Maori and Pasifika children, but in blindly pushing through Treasury’s changes she’s shown exactly what she’s here to do. The Minister isn’t in search of a better education system for New Zealanders, she’s in search of a cheaper one.” (more…)

“Barack Obama has endorsed marriage equality, now it’s time for you to step up and do the same” Young Labour tells New Zealand’s leaders

10 May, 2012 by admin

Following United States President Barack Obama’s statement on ABC News endorsing the expansion of the right to marriage to gay and lesbian couples, Labour’s youth sector is calling on the leaders of New Zealand’s parliament to draw a line in the sand and adopt Young Labour’s stance in establishing marriage equality and amending the Adoption Act to include same sex couples.

“Obama’s strong and brave commitment to equality and fairness for LGBT rights is something New Zealand’s political leaders could learn from. Young Labour earlier this year decided that achieving marriage equality for all New Zealanders is our number one priority”, Young Labour’s Rainbow Representative Sam Thompson was quoted as saying this morning. “Our Prime Minister has stated that he will not ‘roll back’ any of the gains made for lesbian, gay, bi- and transsexual, queer and intersex couples. That’s not enough. Barack Obama has endorsed marriage equality, now it’s time for you to step up and do the same.” (more…)

Pasifika Representative challenges Government to address the ‘U’ word: Unemployment

4 May, 2012 by admin

Figures released today show that unemployment is on the rise nationwide with a particular concern revolving around Pasifika unemployment which is at an all-time record high at 16.0 percent.

Youth unemployment makes for grim reading too with 18.0 percent of youth (15-24 year olds) being unemployed. This places particular emphasis on the need to review the education curriculum and where the breakdown in transition is occurring for these young people.

Young Labour Pacific Island Representative, Kieran Meredith believes having Hekia Parata as both Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister could work in the favour of our Pacific Island community. (more…)

Young Labour renews commitment to Maori and Pasifika engagement after staggeringly low election turnout

2 May, 2012 by admin

With the election of a new executive, Young Labour has undertaken the job of using the next 12 months to actively connect with young Māori and Pasifika who have become disengaged from political involvement.

Young Labour Māori Vice-President, Morehu Rei emphasized the need to reconnect with these groups, “Looking back to November 26, it was no secret that our system has completely left groups like Māori and Pasifika behind. Just over 50% of eligible Māori voters didn’t vote in the last election.” (more…)

Brighter Future, but only if you can afford it

2 May, 2012 by admin

Young Labour is deeply concerned with the announcement that the National Government is likely to introduce further restrictions on access to student allowances, and calls on the Maori Party to oppose any such moves.

Young Labour’s Maori Vice President, Morehu Rei, said that “recent comments from Stephen Joyce about tightening the eligibility of student allowances in the upcoming budget begs the question: who on earth is National’s so called ‘brighter future’ for?” (more…)

Party of choice for Pacific people

30 Apr, 2012 by admin

With a newly-appointed executive, five priority policy remits and a fresh outlook on the next three years, Young Labour is getting down to business!

Amongst the new influx of elected members onto the Young Labour executive is Kieran Meredith who was elected to the role of Pacific Island Representative.

With Labour only gaining 27% of the nationwide vote at the 2011 General Election, Kieran Meredith is committed to the challenge of increasing the Labour vote especially with Labour seats that have a strong Pacific presence and the party vote in our Pacific communities. (more…)

DEAL OR NO DEAL?

30 Apr, 2012 by admin

Young Labour’s Pacific Island Representative, Kieran Meredith is calling for the Pacific community to make it known to their respective electorate MP’s, their opposition to the ‘pokies-for-convention-centre’ deal.

Kieran Meredith believes that “by building a new convention centre in exchange for 350-500 new pokie machines will without a doubt increase gambling problems not only for New Zealanders but also our Pacific community.”

“Pokie machines consumes the money of some our most vulnerable and our Pacific people. Pokie machines deny our Pacific communities opportunities in some cases to pay the rent, put food on the table and to provide our younger generations with the best possible education.” (more…)

Kiwis must stand up to prevent Arctic oil disaster New Zealand Young Labour

27 Feb, 2012 by kurt

Young Labour supports the actions of Greenpeace activists at Port Taranaki last Friday in their dramatic attempt to stop the Shell oil drillship, the Noble Discoverer, from departing port and heading to the pristine Arctic waters to begin a large scale oil exploration operation.

Young Labour President, Ella Hardy, called on Shell to listen to the protestors’ demands and end their oil exploration plans in the Arctic. (more…)

Maori voices against privatisation must be heard

2 Feb, 2012 by kurt

Young Labour today reiterated their call for an end to National’s planned sale of our state assets and encouraged young Maori all around the country to speak up against the selling off of our most important state assets.

Young Labour Maori Vice-President Morehu Rei said “The recent breakdown between the Maori Party and National is yet another sign of the deep unrest that this plan for state asset sales has generated”. (more…)

Young Labour congratulates new leadership team

13 Dec, 2011 by admin

“Young Labour welcomes the election of a new leadership team for our party today and congratulates David Shearer in his new role as party leader and Grant Robertson’s election to the deputy leadership role” said Young Labour President Ella Hardy.

“David and Grant are just what Labour needs to revitalise the party and we are confident that they will lead Labour to victory in the 2014 election. They will work well together and have complementing skills”. (more…)