“KiwiBank must remain in public ownership - the bottom line for New Zealanders who don’t want to see KiwiBank end up in the hands of overseas owners like the other major trading banks, says Labour’s SOEs spokesperson David Parker.

“National has ignored the need for KiwiBank to access more capital it needs to expand and compete and constrain the dominant Australian banks.

Taxpayers are forking out millions more for Government spin than they were just three years ago, Labour’s State Services spokesman Kris Faafoi says.

“The bill for public relations and communications staff by Government departments has risen $6 million in the past four years.

The National Government has sullied New Zealand’s international reputation for openness and transparency, leaving us exposed to widespread criticism in a damning report released today, says Labour’s Open Government spokesperson Clare Curran.

“The Open Government Partnership report on New Zealand has found a lack of consultation and ambition in opening up the government, an action plan consisting of programmes already underway and not designed to improve government practice.

Getting the taxpayer to pay for his press secretary to attend a National Party fundraising dinner is the latest in a litany of rule breaking by Cabinet Minister Nick Smith, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Documents obtained by Labour show taxpayers paid $55 for Nick Smith’s press secretary to attend the National fundraising dinner in Ashburton last May.

The State Services Commissioner has given Housing Minister Nick Smith a serious ticking off for his office’s involvement in organising National Party roadshows, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Commissioner Iain Rennie undertook a review of the HomeStart roadshows and of OIA responses from Housing New Zealand following a complaint from me that these taxpayer-funded events were being used to promote National List MP Parmjeet Parmar.

My first full year in Parliament seems to have flown by, but there have been a number of memorable moments.  The status post on my Facebook page that received the most comments was "Saddest place I've ever been to. Auschwitz-Birkenau. We must never ever forget." I also pasted a number of photos, with this status. Most people took these words to mean exactly what  I meant them to be.  That I had found visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau to be a very sad place, one that we must never forget.  But a few people took the opportunity to try to minimise what had happened at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and to attack me because they thought that I was ignoring other atrocities that have happened around the world. This of course was utterly untrue, but I was none the less amazed that 13 words could cause so much bother.

Labour has serious concerns about the wide ranging and potentially chilling effect on the flow of government information following the release Beverley Wakem’s report, Labour’s Open Government spokesperson Clare Curran says.

“Today’s report by the Chief Ombudsman into the Official Information Act shows government departments are being encouraged by Minister’s offices to withhold material for political reasons. This is further delaying the release of information.

Housing New Zealand has confirmed Nick Smith’s office had a hand in covering up embarrassing information exposing National MPs rorting taxpayer-funding to campaign, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Kris Faafoi says.

“Housing New Zealand has confirmed the Minister’s office blanked out sections of an Official Information Act response which exposed National List MP Parmjeet Parmar using taxpayer money to ‘raise local profile’ in the event of a by-election in Mount Roskill.

National is still dragging its feet on applying GST to products bought from overseas and not giving small business a fair go, despite being in government for seven years, says Labour’s Revenue spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove.

“The best Todd McClay can come up with is releasing another discussion document on GST on overseas products in six months’ time. Small businesses in New Zealand deserve better than that.

The Government has been caught red-handed trying to hide the fact its MPs have been using taxpayer money for political campaigning, says Labour’s State Services spokesman Kris Faafoi.

Documents released to Labour under the Official Information Act reveal National List MP Parmjeet Parmar wanted to co-host a housing HomeStart Roadshow meeting because she was “keen to raise local profile in case of a by-election”.