Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Further restrictions to dangerous laser pointers welcomed

Further restrictions to dangerous laser pointers welcomed

Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed a bill which will make possession of a high-power laser pointer in public, without a reasonable excuse, an offence.

The Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill yesterday passed its final reading in the House.

“High-power laser pointers can cause eye injuries – even blindness – and skin burns. ACC accepts around 10 claims a year for these injuries,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“They can also cause temporary flash blindness, which poses a serious risk if the person affected is a pilot or in charge of a vehicle or equipment. Last year the Civil Aviation Authority reported 119 laser strikes on aircraft in New Zealand. This was a record high, compared to fewer than ten laser strikes recorded on aircraft in 2006.

“This is why at the end of last year I announced new regulations limiting the importation of these dangerous devices and restricted use to authorised users.”

These tighter controls have been in place since 1 March, under the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and regulations under the Health Act 1956.

To date, the Ministry of Health has approved 23 applications to import, supply and/or acquire high power laser pointers, with two still being considered.

The Ministry has also completed two rounds of visits to retailers and wholesalers to ensure compliance with the regulations and is regularly monitoring online auction sites.

“I commend National MP Cam Calder on putting forward his Amendment which very usefully complements the customs and health regulations. The Bill uses the same definitions, targeting hand-held laser pointers which are over 1mW in power, and provides another useful tool to reduce the risk from these devices.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Indiscriminate use of high-power laser pointers has become a major problem worldwide. This legislation will bring New Zealand’s regulation of laser devices into line with other countries such as Sweden and Australia which operate formal regulatory regimes for these devices.”

More information on laser pointers, the controls and how to apply for authorisation are available on the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz.


ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.