Bill English needs to release in full all details around the contracting of his private purchase advisors, Labours Internal Affairs Spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read the rest of this entry »

The announcement today by Gerry Brownlee that he wants to kick start the New Zealand biodiesel industry is laughable, Labour Energy Spokespersons Charles Chauvel and Chris Hipkins say. Read the rest of this entry »

Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins joined the fight against the National/ACT government’s Auckland Super City legislation last week, speaking several times during the 40 hour parliamentary filibuster to delay the legislation. Mr Hipkins said he was very concerned that the way the legislation had been rushed through parliament set a dangerous precedent for local government reform in other parts of the country, including here in the Hutt Valley.

“Fundamentally I objected to the Super City legislation being pushed through parliament under Urgency because the people of Auckland haven’t had their chance to have a say on it. I think any reform as significant and extensive as the Auckland Super City proposal needs to be endorsed by a referendum,” Chris Hipkins said. Read the rest of this entry »

Hutt Valley MPs Trevor Mallard and Chris Hipkins have congratulated the Hutt Valley DHB for the progress they are making on the redevelopment of their accident and emergency department and the construction of new operating theatres. The preliminary design stage has now been signed off. Read the rest of this entry »

Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth is continuing to thumb his nose at public accountability, Labour Immigration spokesperson Pete Hodgson and Internal Affairs Spokesperson Chris Hipkins say. Read the rest of this entry »

Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesperson Chris Hipkins has welcomed the commitment made by Prime Minister John Key on Breakfast TV this morning to investigate the refusal by one of his Ministers to answer written parliamentary questions or Official Information Act requests. Read the rest of this entry »

What is Internal Affairs Minister Richard Worth trying to hide with his refusal to answer standard Parliamentary questions, Labour’s Internal Affairs spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read the rest of this entry »

Late last year the new National government rushed a number of pieces of legislation through parliament under Urgency. Because they were rushed through all stages of the legislative process, none of these new laws were subject to scrutiny by a Select Committee and the public never got a change to have their say on them.

The legislation introducing national standards into our primary schools probably received the least publicity, but it has the potential to have a very significant impact on the way our young people are taught and what they learn. Read the rest of this entry »

Government Ministers need to front up and come clean about how much their special advisors are being paid, Labour Internal Affairs spokesperson Chris Hipkins says. Read the rest of this entry »