Beehive Bulletin For Week Ending Friday 6 Dec
Friday 06 December 2002
Also Available
On-Line
www.labour.org.nz
New Zealand Transport
Strategy Released
=======================================
Transport
Minister Paul Swain released this week the New Zealand
Transport Strategy, which will guide government
decision-making on transport. It has five main objectives;
to assist economic development; to assist safety and
personal security; to improve access and mobility; to
protect and promote public health and to ensure
environmental sustainability. The NZTS represents a
fundamental change in the way we deal with transport in New
Zealand, said Paul Swain. This is the first time all the
modes of transport - road, rail, sea and air - will be
looked at in an integrated and long-term way. Paul Swain
also tabled the Land Transport Management Bill in
Parliament. It proposes the biggest overhaul of land
transport funding since the late 1980s. Transit NZ and
Transfund NZ will focus on land transport as a whole, not
just roads. The bill allows for Public Private Partnerships
(PPPs), which give the private sector the opportunity to
finance transport projects in partnership with the public
sector. Paul Swain said the aim is to secure funding for
projects, which might otherwise proceed. For an online copy
of the New Zealand Transport Strategy go to
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/nzts
State house
tenants much better off
===================================
Nearly 53,200
low-income state house tenants are now paying an income
related rent, saving on average about $35 every week.
Marking the second anniversary of the introduction of the
policy this week, Housing Minister Mark Gosche said income
related rents were putting extra money into the hands of
those most in need. On average state tenants have an extra
$35 every week as a result of the policy and in some areas
of Auckland that figure is between $50-$60. The government's
purchase of the Auckland City Council housing stock means
about 1700 more tenants will be eligible to apply for an
income related rent, said Mr Gosche. The allocation system
introduced is ensuring that state houses go to those most in
need. Another major benefit of income related rents is
that turnover in state houses has nearly halved, from 32% in
June 2000 to less than 17% now. People no longer have to
move on because they can't afford the rent, said Mark
Gosche. The government has acquired about 1600 state houses
in the last three years, and there are plans to add another
3000 in the next four years.
Extra places for more
than one thousand children
================================================
Education Minister Trevor Mallard announced this week
that 89 early childhood education centres across New Zealand
will receive $8.8 million to extend, upgrade or develop
their buildings. This money will create an extra 1343 new
places for children in licensed and chartered centres over
the next year. Funding is from the early childhood
education discretionary grants scheme, which provides
capital assistance to community-based not-for- profit early
childhood services. The funding is focused on increasing
participation for Maori, Pasifika and low socio-economic
status children in quality early childhood services. The
purpose of the scheme is to assist groups to reach licensing
standards or help others to maintain standards by removing
health and safety hazards. It is also designed to increase
the number of new places available in existing centres.
Strategy essential to tackle cancer
===================================
Health Minister
Annette King says a strategy to reduce the crippling burden
of cancer is essential in tackling this country's second
leading cause of death. Ms King has launched a public
discussion document: Towards a Cancer Control Strategy for
New Zealand, outlining goals to reduce the incidence and
impact of cancer in New Zealand. She also launched a Health
Ministry report forecasting cancer risks and burdens over
the next decade, which will provide a stronger evidence base
for the Cancer Control Strategy. Ms King said reducing the
impact of cancer is one of the Government's top 13 health
priorities. Most New Zealanders' lives have been affected
personally in some way by cancer. The document, developed by
the Ministry and the NZ Cancer Control Trust, encompasses
cancer prevention, screening, early detection, treatment,
rehabilitation, support and palliative care.
Measures to
bolster Auckland police
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Auckland has
some police staffing issues, but the Government has strong
measures in place to address them, said Police Minister
George Hawkins. The Government recognised policing was a
skilled, demanding job requiring great personal commitment.
Auckland had not missed out, with a number of initiatives
specifically designed for policing New Zealand's largest and
fastest growing city. This included a second radio band,
creating 60 more non-sworn positions to free up sworn
officers for frontline duties, introducing a modern cadet
recruitment scheme with graduates targeted for Auckland,
and bringing in 60 to 80 experienced United Kingdom
officers. These measures acknowledge Auckland has staffing
issues that needed to be fixed, said George Hawkins.
Auckland resignations and transfers numbered 772 in 2001/02,
slightly down from the previous year, he said. National
retention rates at 4.9 per cent and 4.6 per cent in Auckland
would delight any employer. George Hawkins said there is
movement of staff in Auckland, but often this involves
transfers within the three Auckland police districts.
Goff to Afghanistan and Iran
============================
Foreign Minister Phil
Goff is making the first New Zealand Ministerial visit to
Afghanistan. Mr Goff is visiting Afghanistan and Iran from
December 7 to 12. He is the first New Zealand Foreign
Minister to visit Iran in ten years. Since September 11,
Afghanistan has been the focus of international efforts
against terrorism. With the rest of the world, New Zealand
has a vested interest in efforts to establish a stable and
democratic government there. The visit to Iran has both
political and trade objectives. Iran is a major market for
New Zealand wool and butter and has the potential to grow
significantly. Two-way trade represents $134 million a year.
The visit to the region is important in security and
political terms as well as economic. It offers the
opportunity to meet with key figures and to develop further
New Zealand's political security, humanitarian assistance
and trade relationship with the two countries.
Anderton announces latest funding to boost regions
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The Minister for Regional and Industry Development, Jim
Anderton, has announced a new round of Industry New Zealand
funding for regional initiatives. The Industry New
Zealand's Regional Partnership Programme provides guidance
and funding to assist regions identify and develop
sustainable economic growth strategies and put these into
action. The Auckland Regional Partnership gained $500,000 to
implement its economic development strategy.
Kapiti/Horowhenua gets $21,882 to research tourism
opportunities and $33,165 to conduct a scan of potential and
existing cluster industries. Eastern Bay of Plenty receives
$65,000 to assist in the establishment of a regional
economic development agency. Wairarapa is to get $11,250 to
help fund regional economic summit. Meanwhile, Mr Anderton
said the first companies, which received Industry New
Zealand Business Growth Grants, have doubled their staff
numbers and increased sales by 46 per cent in the year since
their grants were approved. Since 2001, Industry New Zealand
has signed off grants totalling $14.7 m to 231 small to
medium sized companies throughout New Zealand. Only one of
these has been known to go into receivership, said Jim
Anderton.