KEY POINTS:
KiwiSaver, the economy and crime will be high on the agenda for National's caucus retreat as the party seeks to keep up the momentum from leader John Key's state of the nation speech which took a harder line on youth justice policies.
Mr Key has promised to deliver
in at least two new policy areas at the retreat in Rotorua this week - but was tight-lipped about the content of them.
However, law and order will be firmly on the agenda as a key plank of Mr Key's election-year policies after promising last year that "I will never bow down to the scourge of crime".
Areas of focus are likely to be gangs, victims' rights, sentencing for very serious offenders, or policies for rehabilitating offenders. National has also prepared policy on streamlining the management of the court system.
Mr Key isolated these areas in a speech to the Police Association late last year, saying the National Party had policies ready for release over the coming months.
Mr Key has yet to state a position on the new KiwiSaver scheme, which requires employers to contribute to workers' savings.
Take-up of KiwiSaver has exceeded predictions and Mr Key has proved willing to neutralise unpopular policies in the past.
However, the economy and KiwiSaver will be central to discussions today, followed by welfare which, together with education, will be key parts of his proposal to help the "underclass".
Further education policies are also up for discussion to follow his announcement that all children aged under 18 would have access to free school-level education, including at polytechnics, private training organisations or wananga.
Mr Key scotched speculation yesterday that he would announce back-downs on the party's proposal to remove a cap on doctors' fee rises and consideration of partial sales of state assets, saying neither were on the agenda. National is instead expected to use the caucus to deliver more populist policies to maintain the traction from Mr Key's speech.
Mr Key indicated, however, that the party was refining its position on GPs' fee rises.
National controversially said it would remove the cap which restricts how far GPs, who get high levels of Government subsidies, can raise their fees by.
The cap was put in place by the Labour Government to ensure GPs passed the subsidies on to their patients through cheaper visits.
The position on GPs' fee rises was left out of a major health discussion document, and revealed after media questioned it.
At that time Mr Key said "the market" would ensure doctors' fees remained reasonable.
Yesterday Mr Key said the subject was not among policies to be announced at the caucus retreat, but indicated the party was refining its position.
"We are working through our policy development to see if we can find a slightly less bureaucratic system than at present, but one which ensures New Zealanders don't see their GP's fees rising unnecessarily."
