Earlier this month First Union published “A Ministry of Green Works for Aotearoa New Zealand: An Ambitious Approach to Housing, Infrastructure, and Climate Change” by Max Harris and Jacqueline Paul. The current system for building and delivering housing and infrastructure is not serving the needs of communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The standard approach for government is to contract-out construction and related services to the private sector. The private sector is at capacity, the approach has drained know-how from the public service, and there is a skills shortage, a lack of innovation, and insufficient coordination to tackle climate change. A new approach is needed. FIRST Union’s Ed Miller will speak to why they commissioned the proposal for public discussion. FIRST Union’s “A Future that Works” campaign has been calling for the re-establishment of the MOW since early 2020 as part of pathway to full employment, including a just transition for workers in climate-stressed industries and expanding/improving our housing stock.
Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the Pae Ora health reforms with you.
Since I was sacked by the Health Minister I have taken time to reflect on the experience and to make a considered assessment of what I learned in the process. My intention tonight is to share that with you, making the assumption that we share common ground in wanting to have an effective, efficient, excellent and equitable public health service.
If anyone does not want that, I don’t really have anything useful to share with you.