Unions have come out in force against Government workplace policies, with protests happening today across the entire country. 

The nation-wide event - Fight Back Together - was designed to respond to the scrapping of fair pay agreements, the return of 90-day trials and similar contentious policies.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's hypocritical for the opposition to accuse the Government of being anti-worker - following some policy decisions during Covid-19.

LISTEN ABOVE

Unions have come out in force against Government workplace policies, with protests happening today across the entire country.&nbsp;
The nation-wide event - Fight Back Together - was designed to respond to the scrapping of fair pay agreements, the return of 90-day trials and similar contentious policies.
ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's hypocritical for the opposition to accuse the Government of being anti-worker - following some policy decisions during Covid-19.
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Barry Soper: ZB senior political correspondent on the workers protesting Government policies

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1d29db71-9d27-48f5-8d1a-b21200695c69/transcript

The ACT Party is looking to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal if elected, and leader David Seymour has claimed its original purpose has gone.

The party intends to limit the Tribunal to claims lodged before September 2008, and then it would be dis-established for good once those are sorted.

Seymour explained that he's looking to remove the Tribunal's jurisdiction over 'contemporary claims', where activists critique the Government. 

"That ends straight away, and then we leave them on a sort of skeletal basis until they finish these remaining claims, bearing in mind there's no new claims, because they all had to be in by 2008."

LISTEN ABOVE

The ACT Party is looking to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal if elected, and leader David Seymour has claimed its original purpose has gone.
The party intends to limit the Tribunal to claims lodged before September 2008, and then it would be dis-established for good once those are sorted.
Seymour explained that he's looking to remove the Tribunal's jurisdiction over 'contemporary claims', where activists critique the Government.&nbsp;
"That ends straight away, and then we leave them on a sort of skeletal basis until they finish these remaining claims, bearing in mind there's no new claims, because they all had to be in by 2008."
LISTEN ABOVE

David Seymour: ACT Party leader on the party's bid to scrap the Waitangi Tribunal if elected

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0c3895dc-0b9b-4d5b-89ee-b4c100631353/transcript

A double-pronged mistake meant more more than 30,000 benefit payments were incorrectly suspended.

A review has found superannuitants were wrongly made to confirm their circumstances to get the Winter Energy Payment in legislation passed under urgency.

The high number of confirmations meant processing delays, and people’s benefits didn't continue when they should have.

The Ministry of Social Development's paid more than $2.5 million dollars in arrears, and is apologising to the thousands impacted.

Chief executive Debbie Power says people questioning it from April were told it was no mistake, and it wasn't raised with the Minister until August.

"The policy intent was never to impact these clients in this way, we got it wrong."

LISTEN ABOVE

A double-pronged mistake meant more more than 30,000 benefit payments were incorrectly suspended.
A review has found superannuitants were wrongly made to confirm their circumstances to get the Winter Energy Payment in legislation passed under urgency.
The high number of confirmations meant processing delays, and people’s benefits didn't continue when they should have.
The Ministry of Social Development's paid more than $2.5 million dollars in arrears, and is apologising to the thousands impacted.
Chief executive Debbie Power says people questioning it from April were told it was no mistake, and it wasn't raised with the Minister until August.
"The policy intent was never to impact these clients in this way, we got it wrong."
LISTEN ABOVE

Debbie Power: MSD chief executive on the review into the Ministry's thousands of payment errors

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/70e18aac-2ad6-471c-8a67-b4c1005d9d9a/transcript

The Ministry of Social Development wrongly cut financial assistance in over 30,000 cases, according to new reports.

A recent review has found several Winter Energy Payments, main benefits, and supplementary assistance were mistakenly paused - and the Ministry has since issued an apology. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour's Chris Hipkins has been quick to condemn this and says the MSD shouldn't take the blame for the Government's mistakes. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Ministry of Social Development wrongly cut financial assistance in over 30,000 cases, according to new reports.
A recent review has found several Winter Energy Payments, main benefits, and supplementary assistance were mistakenly paused - and the Ministry has since issued an apology.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour's Chris Hipkins has been quick to condemn this and says the MSD shouldn't take the blame for the Government's mistakes.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the report into the MSD payment errors

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/cafa2469-7e15-46cf-b327-b4c10059ec23/transcript

Barry Soper: ZB senior political correspondent on the workers protesting Government policies

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