Policy

Being the more open minded and liberal wing of the party, Young Nats have always played an important role in the policy formation process within the party. Past examples where the Young Nats have lead the debate and challenged party opinion has been in such areas as the nuclear ships debate, economic reform, and anti-discrimination laws.

In recent years, we have campaigned to keep the purchase age for alcohol at 18, and to oppose legislation banning the use of BZP. See below for a list of campaigns the Young Nats are undertaking and our position on current issues.

Voluntary Student Membership
The Young Nats have resolved to support legislation that would move tertiary Students’ Associations to a system of voluntary membership. Currently, Student Union membership is compulsory in New Zealand for most university students. Students are the only group in society still forced to join a union. We believe students deserve the same choices as all other New Zealanders.

We strongly support student associations at our tertiary institutions and encourage student involvement on our campuses. But being forced to pay a union membership or join a union in order to enrol as a student is not only inconsistent with the National Party’s constitutional principles of personal freedom, choice, and equality of opportunity, but with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and with the way every other sector of society works. It is unfair, undemocratic, and unacceptable.
Media Statements:
Submission:

Alcohol Reform:
We support the current purchase age for alcohol at 18, as raising the purchase age will not provide the silver bullet to solve the many problems associated with alcohol abuse. The two biggest problems with the current law are the lack of emphasis on individual responsibility, and the ineffective attempts to enforce “moderate drinking”.

We wish to emphasise that the problems and harms associated with alcohol are not caused by all young people, or even by a small minority of young people, but by a small minority of people of all ages. Alcohol abuse and the problematic behaviour associated with it may be clearly linked to a broader culture of irresponsibility. Until the issue of individual responsibility is addressed at a much broader level, we are unlikely to see improvements in New Zealand’s drinking culture.
Submission:
Links:

Minimum Youth Wage:
We believe that setting the minimum wage for youth should be set lower than the general minimum wage. This reflects the lower skill level and lack of experience that young people have when looking for their first jobs.

It is vital that young people are able to get a foot on the employment ladder, and the current minimum wage for young people is preventing this. Taking away the opportunity to become employed by pricing young people out of the job market is disadvantaging the unskilled and preventing them from gaining experience.

We do not think that the youth minimum wage should be reduced, but it should remain static while the general minimum wage increases. This ensures certainty of wage for employees and employers, while over time bringing the minimum wage back into line with what employers are willing to pay, while allowing a rate for more skilled youth to be negotiated with their employer.

Mining on Conservation Land:
We support the Government’s proposal to review opening up conservation land to mining. While the high environmental and aesthetic value of conservation land is important for all New Zealanders, the current economic situation requires this to be carefully balanced with the potential benefit of mining. Each location should be reviewed, to ensure minimum ecological disruption for maximum economic benefit. It is important that the boost in jobs and GDP that mining can bring to New Zealand should not be written off, especially at a time when so many are without employment. To offset negative effects of mining, we support a portion of the Crown royalties being set aside to promote conservation initiatives around New Zealand.

Driving Age:
We do not support increasing the driving age. We believe that it unjustly impacts on young people, without dealing with the real causes of poor driver skill levels.

Increasing driver training requirements as well as tougher testing will raise the levels of driver competence across all age brackets. Raising the driving age does nothing to reduce the lack of driver skills. Learner drivers are not those who pose the greatest risk. Greater enforcement of restricted licence conditions, and general road rules including around drinking and speed are more effective measures to cut the road toll.

Increasing the driving age also penalises young people who do not have access to public transport. Some young people require the ability to drive to work, social activities or school. This is especially important in rural areas. For the learner licence period to begin at the school leaving age means that some young people will still be unable to drive alone after they have left school.