Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
The government says it has achieved 37 out of 40 items on its quarterly action plan - and its next one has a few new goals and milestones that may surprise.
In its report card for the first three months of the year, three items were listed as incomplete:
- Take Cabinet decisions on the Regulatory Standards Bill
- Publish the Health Infrastructure Investment Plan
- Take Cabinet decisions on legislation to improve the regulation of medical devices
A statement from the prime minister said the first two had been partially completed, and the third - on the regulation of medical devices - was not completed but had been referred to a future Cabinet meeting to allow for further consultation with the industry.
On the Regulatory Standards Bill, a Cabinet paper had been completed and was expected to be considered "at an upcoming Cabinet meeting".
The Health Infrastructure Investment Plan has been considered by Cabinet "and will be published shortly".
Second-quarter action plan
The new plan for April to the end of June includes some key milestones for projects underway, including making decisions on moving all vehicles to Road User Charges (RUC) instead of petrol taxes.
The government already moved electric and hybrid cars into the RUC system, and previously suggested petrol cars could be added to the system as early as 2027, but noted this would require a "major upgrade" to the RUC system.
The government also aims to get the first of the Regional Deals - partnerships between central and local government - inked in a Memorandum of Understanding.
Several regions have been reported as interested, but they don't include Wellington, which did not apply in the first round - a move the prime minister said was "pretty lame-o".
The government's first AI strategy will also be released - perhaps building on the "guidance to accelerate the responsible use of AI in the public service to improve productivity and service delivery" delivered in the previous quarter.
It also intends to introduce legislation to enable the designation of herds of special interest. Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager last week began consultation on establishing sika deer in the Kaimanawa and Kaweka Forest Parks as the first Herd of Special Interest, which is currently enabled under the Game Animal Council Act 2013.
Another item is the broad and vaguely worded "Take Cabinet decisions to further strengthen consequences for crime by reforming the Crimes Act".
If you think that's about the proposals to modernise citizens' arrest laws, think again - there's another item listed just above it to "Take Cabinet decisions on proposals from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime to strengthen trespass laws".
The plan also includes other items - there are 38 in total - that have long been planned or set down, like delivering the Budget and progressing well-publicised legislation.
In his media release, Luxon highlighted economic actions including introducing legislation to encourage international investment and to ratify the United Arab Emirates trade deal.
"Both are hugely important to helping our businesses grow, creating more jobs, and lifting incomes," he said.
"We will also take action to boost tourism and international education and push ahead on our 30-year National Infrastructure Plan to attract investment and give our construction sector long-term certainty."
Luxon suggested several items were already complete.
"Growth doesn't just miraculously happen. That's why I make no excuse for keeping the public service focused on delivery with these quarterly action plans," he said.
"We're off to a fast start with several actions already ticked off in the first few days of April, including legislation that is expected to put up to 250,000 more building products on shelves, giving Kiwis more choice to fit their renovation budgets."
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