Posts by Holly Walker

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  Crackdown on overseas borrowers – a real life example - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  One of my pet bug-bears about the annual “crackdown” on student loan repayments that we’ve been experiencing for the past five years since National has been in Government is the implication that it’s lazy students that are being targeted. Student loan borrowers who are eligible to repay their loans are graduates – grown ups! – with complex responsibilities and situations. read more
  May 18, 2013 2:51 pm - 6 Comments
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  How do we create a real golden age in the arts in NZ? - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Christopher Finlayson found himself fighting a losing battle on twitter last night as he tried to defend his hyperbolic claim that New Zealand was currently experiencing a “golden age” in the arts under his watch. So what would create a real golden age for the arts in NZ? read more
  May 18, 2013 11:46 am - 8 Comments
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  A big week for students - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  This week marks graduation at Auckland and Victoria Universities, where thousands of students, along with their families, will get the chance to celebrate all they’ve achieved. This week is also Budget week, which has historically brought some pretty bad news for students. Last year’s Budget gifts from the Government included: removing access to student allowances [...] read more
  May 14, 2013 10:32 am - 3 Comments
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  Topics announced for Youth Parliament 2013 - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  It’s Youth Week, with events happening around the country celebrating all that it is to be young and encouraging young people to live like legends. As a part of Youth Week, Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kaye has today made an announcement on this year’s Youth Parliament, including releasing the issues that the Youth MPs will [...] read more
  May 9, 2013 3:43 pm - No Comments
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  New bill to reinstate postgraduate allowances - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Government’s decision in last year’s Budget to remove eligibility for student allowances from postgraduate students has to be one of its most short-sighted decisions ever. For that reason I’ve drafted a member’s bill that would reinstate eligibility for student allowances to postgraduate students. read more
  April 29, 2013 1:17 pm - 16 Comments
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  Nail in the coffin of state housing in Sandringham - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Last month I blogged about the sale of Housing New Zealand land in Haverstock Road, Sandringham, where – instead of redeveloping its land into a groundbreaking mixed housing development – Housing New Zealand was flogging off a huge parcel of land to the highest bidder. I visited the site on 25 March, and this is [...] read more
  April 17, 2013 1:53 pm - 3 Comments
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  Attention young creatives! - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  A new website was launched today – www.urs.net.nz – aimed at supporting young people in getting creative. Damian Christie, better known as host of Backbenches (which will be back on TV screens next Wednesday, by the way), has today launched his project – ‘URS’. URS is a website where young people, aged between 13-25 years [...] read more
  April 4, 2013 11:40 am - 3 Comments
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  April 1st student loan changes are no joke - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  As of Monday this week, the rate for repaying student loans has increased from 10% to 12%. This means that everyone with a student loan who earns more than the $19,084 threshold will now have to pay 12 cents of every dollar they earn over that threshold towards their student debt. This is a significant [...] read more
  April 3, 2013 10:19 am - 1 Comment
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  Handling of OIAs under investigation - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The NZ Herald reported yesterday that the Office of the Ombudsman is planning an investigation into the way that the public service is responding to requests under the Official Information Act (OIA). This came after the Ombudsman’s investigation into the Ministry of Education’s handling of OIA requests on the school closures in Canterbury, which highlighted [...] read more
  March 22, 2013 4:24 pm - 4 Comments
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  Govt outsourcing arts funding - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Pledgeme, a very cool crowdfunding platform for creative projects in New Zealand, is about to reach a pretty great milestone – raising a total of $1million for creative projects in New Zealand in just over a year. Crowdfunding is a collaborative way to fund something, and Pledgeme have set up a really successful website where [...] read more
  March 21, 2013 6:20 pm - 6 Comments
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  Māori Electoral Option starts next week - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Māori Electoral Option is the opportunity for those of Māori descent to choose which type of electoral roll to be on for voting in the next two General Elections – the Māori roll or the General roll. This chance doesn’t come around very often – the Option is only held after a Census, so [...] read more
  March 20, 2013 9:54 am - No Comments
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  Another state housing sell-off in Sandringham - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Just like it is all around the country, Housing New Zealand is busy demolishing state houses and selling off the land to private developers in Sandringham. It’s a tragedy, not only for those who have now lost their homes in the area, but also a tragic missed opportunity to invest in more of the affordable, [...] read more
  March 14, 2013 1:57 pm - 5 Comments
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  Give postgrads a chance - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Cutting student allowances to all postgraduates is short-sighted policy that pulls the rug out from under thousands of students. Many cannot work part-time due to course requirements to fill the deficit, meaning they will have to walk out of their courses. It will also add millions to student debt as students who relied on allowances [...] read more
  March 1, 2013 1:45 pm - 7 Comments
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  Ralph Hotere, making small holes in the silence - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Although I didn’t study law, I spent a bit of time in the law building at Otago University during my five years there, either for LAWS 101 lectures and tutorials in my first year, debates and fixtures for the Otago University Debating Society, or visiting lawyer friends in their offices there later on. Every time [...] read more
  February 25, 2013 10:22 am - No Comments
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  Give postgrads a chance - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Otago Daily Times is today reporting figures from the Ministry of Education that show that, as a result of the Government’s cuts to student allowances, an extra 5140 student will be forced to borrow money through the student loan scheme for living costs – or be more reliant on borrowing than before. On average, [...] read more
  February 21, 2013 10:57 am - 6 Comments
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  Win for transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  There was a win for transparency yesterday, after the Prime Minister and Cabinet approved the introduction of regular and proactive disclosure of the management of Ministerial conflicts of interests. This decision came as a result of an investigation by the Chief Ombudsman after the Cabinet Office refused a series of OIA requests for this type [...] read more
  February 1, 2013 12:32 pm - 1 Comment
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  We shouldn’t need to sponsor kids in NZ - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  It’s good that Variety, KidsCan, and others have stepped in to fill the yawning chasm of child poverty that too many of our kids are falling into. But let’s take this as a challenge and demand governments that will eradicate the need for such schemes by guaranteeing the essentials for all our kids. read more
  January 29, 2013 9:42 am - 22 Comments
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  Picnic for the Planet & campaign launch! - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Our annual Picnic for the Planet was a great success yesterday, with great food, perfect weather, summer tunes, and an inspiring speech from co-leader Metiria Turei. Though I’d never admit it, as a staunch Wellingtonian, on days like yesterday in the beautiful Tahaki Reserve at the base of Mt Eden, I can see why people [...] read more
  January 28, 2013 2:57 pm - No Comments
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  A tour of Auckland’s housing challenges - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Housing affordability has been a hot topic lately, especially in Auckland, so I spent yesterday touring various Auckland suburbs, looking at some great – and some not so great – examples of affordable, efficient housing and discussing potential solutions to the exploding crisis in housing cost and quality. read more
  January 23, 2013 4:12 pm - 2 Comments
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  Students – the numbers don’t lie… - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  It seems like we’ve been inundated with news and information relating to students and the tertiary sector over the last few days, so I thought I’d get it all down in one place… A week ago, two Victoria Uni students released the Keep Our Talent survey, which raised serious concerns about the future for postgraduate [...] read more
  December 11, 2012 2:27 pm - 3 Comments
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  Alcohol lobby again highlights need for greater transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  It seems almost every week there is a new example of why we need greater transparency about political lobbying. This time it’s the influence of the alcohol lobby on the Government’s decision not to tackle RTDs in the Alcohol Reform Bill. read more
  November 26, 2012 3:37 pm - 3 Comments
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  Waiting (forever) for official information… - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  I suspect the officials advised the Minister much the same, which is why he’s so reluctant to release the advice read more
  November 22, 2012 3:32 pm - 7 Comments
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  Keep our talent project launched - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Very cool to hear yesterday of the ‘Keep Our Talent’ survey – a project being led by a group of Victoria University students to find out about the expected impacts of the Government’s decision to cut student allowances from postgraduate students. read more
  November 21, 2012 11:04 am - 3 Comments
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  Student allowance cuts – making a bad policy even worse - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Postgrads, if you thought you were ok for student allowance next year because your course already started, think again… At the time of the Budget in May, Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce announced that postgraduate students would no longer be eligible for a student allowance. In itself, this policy is short-sighted, flies in the face [...] read more
  November 19, 2012 3:03 pm - 19 Comments
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  Another deal shows importance of transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  This week we’ve had another reminder of the importance of transparency about lobbying activity. On Wednesday in the House, Winston Peters forced Immigration Minister Nathan Guy to come clean about an agreement between the Government and a Chinese airline to allow frequent flyers to skip normal border checks when coming into NZ. It’s since come [...] read more
  November 16, 2012 3:36 pm - 8 Comments
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  MMP changes belong to the people, not parties - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The final report of the MMP review was released yesterday after a robust public consultation process. Parliament now needs to respect this process and implement recommendations that will strengthen our electoral system in the long term. read more
  November 6, 2012 8:55 pm - 5 Comments
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  Snapper example makes case for lobbying transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  New information on the National Government’s involvement in helping a company to get a contract in Auckland’s integrated ticketing shows why we need a transparent lobbying disclosure regime. read more
  November 5, 2012 10:56 am - 33 Comments
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  HNZ development plans miss half the equation - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Government is missing half the equation with its new model for the development of Housing New Zealand properites unveiled in Christchurch today. read more
  October 31, 2012 11:49 am - 1 Comment
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  This week on the lobbying bill - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Lobbying Disclosure Bill has been in the media again this week as submissions continued at select committee. One of the recurring questions raised by submitters was why New Zealand needs a disclosure regime, given that we already have a relatively transparent system. While this may be true in comparison to places like the UK [...] read more
  October 26, 2012 3:50 pm - 12 Comments
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  Sharpen up Business NZ - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Does Business New Zealand’s Paul Mackay really think that all the mums that take the first year of their child’s life off work come back less competent than their colleagues. Really? His comparison of mothers returning from parental leave being like rugby players trying to get back on the ‘top team’ straight away left me [...] read more
  October 25, 2012 10:39 am - 2 Comments
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  First day of lobbying submissions - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Submissions started today on the Lobbying Disclosure Bill, and the biggest news was Labour’s decision to withdraw the proposed exemption for unions and NGOs. read more
  October 17, 2012 7:51 pm - 6 Comments
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  Why we need lobbying transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Public hearings on my Lobbying Disclosure Bill will start tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to hearing directly from stakeholders and the public, and to working through the details of the bill with the committee. No doubt the public hearings will also reignite debate about whether lobbying transparency is needed in New Zealand. Mai Chen, public [...] read more
  October 16, 2012 10:53 am - 11 Comments
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  Govt praises Ombudsman, Ombudsman cries out for help - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Today Parliament marked the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Ombudsman. Ours was the first in an English-speaking country and was used as a model for the spread of the office throughout the world, which is a pretty cool thing. On the same day that we celebrated their work, the Office [...] read more
  September 27, 2012 4:22 pm - 1 Comment
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  Submitting on lobbying - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  This morning the tables were turned and I went from being a member of the select committee to the submitter. It was my chance, as the member in charge of the Lobbying Disclosure Bill, to give an opening submission to the Government Administration select committee, who is considering the bill. As I outlined in my [...] read more
  September 26, 2012 1:58 pm - 1 Comment
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  Lobbying for transparency - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Lawyer and lobbyist Jordan Williams, in his opinion piece on my Lobbying Disclosure Bill in the Dominion Post today, has taken a narrow view of the importance of transparency in our political system and is misguided in some of his concerns about the effects of the bill. The intent of this bill is to bring [...] read more
  September 21, 2012 1:08 pm - 6 Comments
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  A night on patrol - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  In which I spend a night on patrol with the Lower Hutt Police. LHBD Blues, if you will. read more
  September 4, 2012 3:29 pm - 24 Comments
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  Last chance to have your say on MMP - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  Public submissions on the MMP Review Proposal Paper close this Friday, so there are only a few days left to have your say on changes to our voting system. The proposal paper is the last stage of public consultation on MMP, before the Electoral Commission reports their findings to the Minister at the end of [...] read more
  September 3, 2012 3:32 pm - No Comments
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  Child Poverty: Still Waiting for Some Evidence Based Policy - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The evidence is in! A number of key reports have been released over the past week that provide us with some important pointers about what we need to be doing to address child poverty. Firstly the Government released their summary of submissions on the Green Paper process on vulnerable children. As the government acknowledged in [...] read more
  August 29, 2012 3:40 pm - 6 Comments
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  Bill English wrong about child payment discrimination - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  The Finance Minister was wrong to tell Parliament that the In-Work Tax Credit doesn’t discriminate against some of our poorest children. read more
  August 24, 2012 3:33 pm - 15 Comments
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  MMP report great chance to strengthen system - by Holly Walker

  
  
  
  This week, the Electoral Commission released their proposal paper on changes to MMP, following extensive public consultation on our voting system. The Electoral Commission have produced a great paper, which outlines their recommendations with detailed analysis of the public submissions they received and the implications of the potential changes to elections in New Zealand. The [...] read more
  August 16, 2012 5:58 pm - 1 Comment