Beehive Bulletin

$7 million to improve careers education

Education Minister Steve Maharey this week launched a new programme to encourage higher levels of student engagement and retention in the senior school by improving careers information and guidance. The Creating Pathways and Building Lives programme will give students world-class careers education to prepare them for lifelong learning. The government is investing $7.59 million over the next two years in career education to help ease the transition from school to employment.

"The programme will improve the provision of career information, advice and guidance within schools and will specifically address the needs of students at risk of leaving school with an early leaver's exemption. The Labour-led government believes all students need to be able to access careers information so that they can make an informed subject choice for further study, vocational training and work decisions." Mr Maharey said.

Currently 100 schools have been allocated funding to take part in the programme, which allows teachers to take part in professional development in order to help their school raise the profile of careers education.

NZ takes lead against cluster munitions

New Zealand was at the forefront of international discussions on dealing with the humanitarian impacts of cluster munitions at a conference in Norway this week. New Zealand's leadership in this area has been recognised with the invitation to co-chair the first two sessions. The meeting will seek agreement on a plan of action towards controlling cluster munitions.

"New Zealand has a proud record for the work it has done internationally in this area, and represents an important contribution towards helping people and communities rebuild their lives", Mr Goff said.

Science mission to build access to EU market

A mission of New Zealand scientists, business people and officials head to Europe this week to hold talks and develop formal agreements with EU countries and science institutions. Minister of Research, Science and Technology Steve Maharey is the only minister from a non-EU country to have been invited to launch the world's largest publicly funded research and development programme, the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development. This is the first time in at least 15 years that a New Zealand science minister has had this kind of access to key players in science in the EU.

"I will be meeting my European counterparts to discuss the framework, which has a budget of $100 billion over the next seven years, and to profile New Zealand research strengths. "This gives New Zealand a huge opportunity to get involved in research projects and sign memoranda and agreements with European countries for future collaborations." Steve Maharey said.

Options signaled to manage deforestation

The government is giving serious consideration to a tradeable permit scheme with the release of the Sustainable Land Management and Climate Change discussion document this week. The document looks at options for a tradeable permit regime to manage deforestation.

"Deforestation is a major issue, both internationally and for New Zealand. It accounts for around 20 per cent of the world's carbon dioxide emissions. As a country we have to work out a way of managing deforestation so that our overall levels of forest cover increase over time," Climate Change Minister David Parker.

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