KEY POINTS:
Labour would make establishing a free-to-air Pacific Islands television channel a priority if it wins re-election.
Announcing Labour's Pacific Island Affairs policy today, Minister in charge Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said the party would also continue to back the development and operation of the National Pacific Radio Network.
"We are committed to ensuring that Pacific voices and cultures are well represented on the airwaves," she said.
She said New Zealand was a proud Pacific nation, "with our Pacific identity part of what makes our nation so special".
Labour would support a highly educated and skilled Pacific population, and would continue to invest in their "enormous potential", Ms Laban said.
"Labour is committed to supporting and enhancing our Pacific communities,' she said.
"We are proud that many Pacific families have been strengthened through existing policies including 20 free hours ECE, working for families and cheaper doctor visits."
Labour would continue this commitment through initiatives that promoted and encouraged higher education and training.
Policy promises include:
* Continuing to work on improving health outcomes for Pacific people, including establishing a smoking cessation service in Auckland;
* Encouraging Pacific people to develop their work skills by introducing a new retraining allowance for those who have been in the workforce for at least five years and have been made redundant and those in the workforce for 10 years who want to upgrade their skills or retrain;
* Developing a Pacific Peoples housing strategy which would particularly address home ownership issues, overcrowding, Housing New Zealand waiting lists, housing supply, and healthy homes.
- NZPA
