RESPONSE TO EXPATRIATE PARTY

1. What positive steps your Party will take to address the ongoing diminishment of the
rights of New Zealanders overseas, particularly long term New Zealand residents of
Australia?
In November last year Labour leader David Cunliffe called for Kiwis living in Australia to be
given equal treatment and the same respect Australians living in New Zealand receive. It is
the New Zealand Governments job to advocate for our citizens who live outside our
borders.

Labour is committed to working with our Australian counterparts to make sure the ANZAC
tradition of equality and respect is strengthened and built upon for our mutual benefit. You
can read Davids full speech here: https://www.labour.org.nz/media/speech-australia-new-
zealand-leadership-forum
2. Whether your party supports gap funding support (out of NZ, in the form of student
loans) for New Zealanders in Australia of tertiary age who do not qualify for trade or higher
education funding via the Australian student loan system note at present no funding is
available but it is proposed that funding will be made available to New Zealanders who have
lived in Australia for a minimum period of ten years?
The differences in support available for New Zealanders studying in Australia, compared to
Australians studying here are a concern for us, and were particularly mentioned by David
Cunliffe in his speech. Australians studying in New Zealand can access New Zealands
student support payments after two years, while most New Zealanders studying in Australia
cannot access equivalent Commonwealth payments at all.
3. Whether your party supports the removal of geographic limits on lotteries board and
other funding and awards (e.g. Pride of New Zealand) for expatriate New Zealand causes
(e.g deserving New Zealand clubs and societies and cultural groups and charities based
outside of New Zealand)?
Labour will conduct a thorough review of gambling law, regulation, policy and provision, and
whether this would form part of that review is yet to be determined.
4. Whether your party supports the non-equal treatment of expatriate and domestic
resident New Zealanders as relates to student loans?
Labour is committed to closing loopholes that create unfairness in the system, and
establishing measures to make student loan repayment easier. We will keep interest free
student loans for all borrowers who remain in New Zealand, and for those students
continuing to study overseas, or who are working for New Zealand government agencies
overseas.



5. Whether your Party supports the full implementation of e-voting in time for the next New
Zealand General Election?
Labour recognises the benefits that online voting would bring, but a number of matters,
including security of information, would need to be adequately addressed before this was
introduced. We note that the Justice and Electoral Select Committee is supportive of
trialling online voting in the next local elections.
6. Whether your Party supports a return to 10 year passports?
Yes, a Labour government will introduce a 10-year system for renewing passports. This
change will make overseas travel cheaper and easier for everyday hardworking Kiwis.
7. What incentives your Party will offer to encourage Kiwi entrepreneurs overseas to
relocate or expand their businesses to New Zealand?
Labour will take steps to address two big issues, tax compliance and red tape, making it
easier to do business in New Zealand.

Overly burdensome tax compliance must be addressed. It is an avoidable drag on the
productivity of our small businesses. New Zealand is lagging behind other countries when it
comes to tax simplification which can be done on a revenue-neutral basis. Labour will
build on the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants proposal of no more than one
hour, one return and one payment each month for income tax and GST compliance. We will
also consider alternatives to the provisional tax regime and explore options around the
taxation of the smallest businesses, including the treatment of assets.

Well be getting rid of unnecessary red tape by reprioritising within MBIE so that more
resources are directed towards combing legislation for redundant and archaic requirements
and law with unintended consequences.

8. Whether your Party supports the repeal of the law (s80(1)(a) Electoral Act) which restricts
the right of New Zealand citizens to vote in the election where those citizens have not
returned to NZ in the last 3 years. As an aside, our own polling suggests that this policy
affects the New Zealand Maori community at much greater levels than non-Maori citizens?
We dont have plans to change this requirement.
9. Whether your party would consider or commit to nominating a candidate to its Party list
(in an electable position) who was based overseas?
We know there are many voters overseas, but our focus has been on standing candidates
who are living in New Zealand, whether standing on the list or in electorates, representing
people in those areas.


10. Whether your Party supports additional polling booths per capita in countries with high
expatriate New Zealand populations. For example Australia has 16 for the 600,000 New
Zealanders living there?
We would want there to be sufficient places available for New Zealanders overseas to vote
in. Whether the current arrangements are sufficient would be a matter for the Electoral
Commission to consider.
11. Whether your party supports the concept of an electorate or electorates in overseas
locations with high expatriate New Zealand populations, particularly within Australia, the
United Kingdom (especially London), areas of Asia and the USA?
No.