In Focus with Jo Goodhew: 23 March 2016

Hon Jo Goodhew
MP for Rangitata

National Community Awards Inspiring

Last weekend I was privileged to join the independent judging panel for the 2015 Trustpower National Community Awards, held in Dunedin.

What an inspiring event! The judging panel spent Saturday hearing presentations from last year’s district award winners including the Ashburton District Combined Rural Fire Force Units and the South Canterbury Roller Skating Club.

As Community and Voluntary Sector Minister it was incredibly heartening to find out so much about the amazing projects being carried out throughout New Zealand, projects which strengthen and enrich our communities.

After difficult deliberations, the supreme award went to the West Otago Health Trust from the Clutha District who took primary healthcare into their own hands to provide for their community. The runner-up was Youth in Emergency Service (YES) from Rotorua Lakes, a brand new idea engaging youth in volunteering.

A new and special was also announced. TheTe Whetu Mataiata Award went to the Murupara Youth Leadership Projects Team from the Whakatane District for their mahi engaging youth into a better path.

It’s great to see a corporate like Trustpower celebrating and encouraging the amazing community-based groups and volunteers in such a positive and public way.

Court appearances continue to fall

The number of young people, aged 10 to 16 appearing before the courts has fallen to a 20 year low.

In addition, the total number of adults charged and convicted in New Zealand courts has also fallen to its lowest level since 1980, reflecting the government’s focus on reducing crime and reoffending rates.

Adult Conviction and Sentencing Statistics and Child and Youth Prosecution Statistics show that since 2010, 36 per cent fewer adults and 52 per cent fewer children and young people appeared in court last year.

It is promising to see the government’s efforts to curb crime rates reflected in these statistics.

Court statistics for the year ending December 2015 show there were 5,400 fewer adults charged compared to 2014, and 200 fewer young people appeared in court.

The decreasing trend of youth appearances in court can be attributed to support from various bodies like Youth Aid officers, Family Group Conferences and others, who work with our young people and their family and whānau. It’s vital we continue to support our young people through measures to avoid further offending.

While the number of youth and adults appearing in New Zealand courts has once again decreased, the Government remains committed to ensuring this trend continues, supporting victims, and keeping New Zealanders safe in their homes and communities.

International Day of Forests celebrated

As Associate Minister for Primary Industries, I welcomed the International Day of Forests 2016 this week as a chance to highlight the vital role that New Zealand’s forests play in both protecting the environment and contributing to economic growth and prosperity.

Our forests contribute to a number of important environmental and climate outcomes, by absorbing carbon, increasing biodiversity, and reducing erosion.

The government is supporting these outcomes through initiatives such as the Afforestation Grant Scheme, which aims to plant an additional 15,000 hectares of new forests, and the East Coast Erosion scheme, supporting planting on marginal land.

We are also working to complete the National Environmental Standard for Plantation Forestry. This initiative will streamline processes and increase efficiencies by providing forest growers with a consistent set of planning rules. It will also align with the goals outlined in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.

Forests make a significant contribution to regional communities and the economy; with exports earning us around $5 billion every year, while employing roughly 20,000 people.

Forestry is already New Zealand’s third largest primary industry export earner, and is set to increase returns further in coming years. The government is working with the sector as it refines its priorities for increasing the value of forestry exports, through more processing in New Zealand.

One million South Island electronic health referrals

One million electronic referrals to specialists have been successfully processed in the South Island through the South Island Electronic Request Management System which allows general practice teams to submit requests for specialist advice direct to a secure database of over 700 specialists.

First launched in Canterbury DHB in 2009, the eReferrals system enables a faster, smoother and more accurate transfer of patient information. Replacing hand-written referrals with eReferrals has also reduced inaccuracies and has saved time for clinicians.

There are over 200 different types of referral to over 800 public and private health services South Island wide. The most common referral types are to radiology, acute demand services and orthopaedics.

The system is being developed further to enable clinicians to track the progress of their referrals. In future, clinicians will also be able to make eReferrals not just externally but within DHBs – for example, between hospital departments.

Majority of transactions with government now digital

For the first time, a majority of New Zealanders' 10 most frequent transactions with government are digital.

Kiwis have become used to information, services, and products being available online, on demand, anywhere, any time. It's reasonable for them to expect the same service from the public sector.

The December 2015 quarter shows 52.9 per cent of people who dealt with the government for something, did so online.

This latest figure is up from 46.3 per cent in same quarter in 2014, and well above the baseline of 29.9 per cent in June 2012.

This progress puts the Government on track to meet the Better Public Services target that by 2017, an average of 70 per cent of New Zealanders’ most common transactions with government will happen online.

Upcoming events

24 March – constituency work, Timaru
24 March – open new classroom, Oceanview Heights School
29 - 31 March – Parliament sitting
2 & 3 April – Wheat & Wheels Rally, Ashburton
4 April – constituency work, Ashburton
5 – 7 April – Parliament sitting

ends

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