Rural Bulletin
Rural Women New Zealand - informing New Zealand each month
October 2010
www.ruralwomen.org.nz
Rural Bulletin is a free publication produced by Rural Women New Zealand.
It aims to build community capacity by circulating relevant information,
giving people in rural and other communities an opportunity to have their say
on issues and changes that may affect them.
Rural Bulletin may be copied in full, or individual items reproduced, providing
the source is acknowledged.
To be added to the mailing list contact:
Rural Women New Zealand
phone 04 473 5524
email [email protected]
For editorial enquiries contact the editors:
Craig Matthews/Paddy Twist
phone 04 473 5524
email [email protected]
Rural Women New Zealand aims to strengthen rural communities. For further
information and membership enquiries go to www.ruralwomen.org.nz.
Rural Bulletin is published by Rural Women New Zealand with the support of the NZ Lottery Grants Board, Telecom,
Totalspan and Versatile Buildings, Access, TaxRefunds.co.nz, Farmside, Rothbury and Landcorp.
Consultation
The Public’s Right to Know ....................................................3
Parliament’s Standing Orders: Review ..................................3
Amendments to the Building Code ........................................3
Providing Legal Aid: Bill .........................................................3
New Forestry Rules? .............................................................3
Airport Costs: Processing Travellers......................................4
Broiler Chickens Draft Welfare Code .....................................4
FSANZ: Seed Sprouts & Sweeteners ....................................4
Ministry of Fisheries Consultations ........................................4
Construction Sector Action Plan ............................................4
Kaka Captive Management Plan ...........................................4
IRD Consultations ..................................................................5
ERMA Consultations..............................................................5
ACC Levy Rates & “Experience Rating” ................................5
Taxi Driver Safety ..................................................................5
Insolvency Practitioners Bill ...................................................5
Border Management: Information Sharing .............................5
Arts Council Restructure Bill ..................................................6
Wool Levies: Views Sought ...................................................6
Separating Telecom’s Businesses.........................................6
Rural
Healthy Streams & Farming Practice .....................................6
Rural Women NZ in Canterbury/Otago ..................................6
Rural Property Market Stats...................................................7
Red Meat: Less, More Often..................................................7
China’s Meat Market; Report .................................................7
Pre-1990 Forest Landowners Choose…................................7
…& Post–1989 Forest Owners: Register ...............................7
Organic Alternatives to Treated Timber... ..............................7
Irrigation Workshops… ..........................................................7
… & Farmers: Employment Workshops.................................8
Programme Challenging Relationship Violence .................. 12
Health After-Hours Services: Report ................................... 12
Cervical Cancer Immunisation: Update............................... 12
Recognising Stroke Symptoms ........................................... 12
Managing Childhood Asthma: Website ............................... 13
Digital Mental Health Stories ............................................... 13
Access to HIV Services Improves ....................................... 13
Guide: Refugee and Migrant Therapies .............................. 13
Emergencies: “It’s Easy” Guide Wins.................................. 13
Fewer Ciggies Smoked ....................................................... 13
Living Well Project............................................................... 13
Drop in Global Child Mortality.............................................. 13
Education/Training
Most NZ Preschoolers Well-Adjusted.................................. 14
Vocab Suffers When You Read Less.................................. 14
Tertiary Education Providers’ Performance......................... 14
Report: Tertiary Institution Finances ................................... 14
Stronger Society: Deprogramming Bullies .......................... 14
Foundation Certificate in Injury Prevention ......................... 15
Dynamic Community Learning Awards ............................... 15
Employment
Employees Increasingly Disengaged…............................... 15
…so, Managers: Inspire Your Staff ..................................... 15
National Conversation about Work...................................... 16
Redundancy Tax Credit Extended ...................................... 16
Mainstream Placement Awards........................................... 16
Housing/Building
Residential Tenancies Act Changes ................................... 16
Housing Consents Down..................................................... 16
Retro-fitting House Foundations: Research ........................ 16
Housing Demand in Northland ............................................ 17
Environment
Energy
Management of Fresh Water: Report ....................................8
Mining Conservation Lands: PCE Report ..............................8
NZ’s Largest Off-Grid Solar System ......................................8
Rangitoto & Motutapu Restoration.........................................8
An Emerging Sustainability Divide? .......................................9
UN: Benefits of Green Economy............................................9
Status of Native NZ Fish ........................................................9
New Tawharanui Marine Reserve..........................................9
Southern Ocean Cycle Trail Underway..................................9
Bird of the Year Poll Opens ...................................................9
Collection of Unwanted Agrichemicals (Ak) ...........................9
Energy Update .................................................................... 17
Switching Electricity Companies Faster .............................. 17
Electricity Authority Establishment Date.............................. 17
The Good Oil on Maari........................................................ 17
Tourism
Lonely Planet on NZ ............................................................10
Record Chinese Visitor Numbers.........................................10
National Park Visits..............................................................10
Hotel Stays Lead July Increase ...........................................10
Peer Guide: Tourism Businesses ........................................10
Global Hotel Prices ..............................................................10
Health & Welfare
Earthquake Helplines...........................................................11
Response to Sexual Violence Taskforce .............................11
ACC & Sensitive Claims: Review.........................................11
Children In Care: OCC Report .............................................11
Confidence in Aged Residential Care… ..............................12
… & Residential Aged Care Services Review......................12
Alternative Welfare Issues Paper.........................................12
1 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Transport & Travel
New Give Way Rules Coming… ......................................... 17
…New Rules for Motorcycles … ......................................... 17
…& New Driving Laws Bill................................................... 18
Managing Highways: Report on NZTA................................ 18
Better Car Safety Info Coming ............................................ 18
August New Vehicle Sales Up............................................. 18
Top Stolen Cars .................................................................. 19
Waterview Connection Board of Inquiry .............................. 19
Justice/The Law
DNA Samples At Arrest Time.............................................. 19
Licensing Bouncers/Security Guards .................................. 19
Parliament
Electoral Commission Up & Running .................................. 19
2011: Re-Enrolling Online ................................................... 19
New Associate Education Minister ...................................... 19
Public Service/Local Authorities
A Smaller Public Service..................................................... 20
Crown Minerals Group Expands ......................................... 20
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Treasury Gets Advice….......................................................20
… & TPK Gets a Star...........................................................20
Council Spending: “Mythbusting” Report…..........................20
… & Local Authorities’ Investment Income ..........................20
EC: “Blank Pages” Decision.................................................20
What Councils Should Consider: Survey .............................21
N-F-P Sector
Code of Funding Practice Released ....................................21
Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising ..................................21
VSA Volunteers: Short Assignments, Too ...........................21
New Resources for Volunteer Managers .............................21
Blind Week 2010: 26 October to 1 November......................22
Business
Global Trade to Rise Faster.................................................22
NZ’s Global Competitiveness...............................................22
IP Rights: Global Demand ...................................................22
Business Income in 2009.....................................................22
Terms of Trade: Rise Continues ..........................................22
Modest GDP Growth............................................................23
NZ Tech Exports on the Rise...............................................23
Are You a Born Entrepreneur? ............................................23
High Angel Investing Levels.................................................23
Service Sector Activity Improving ........................................23
Doing Business in China......................................................23
Most Reputable NZ Organisations.......................................24
Best Global Brands ..............................................................24
Anti-Bribery and Corruption Guide.......................................24
Money Matters
Canterbury Quake: Economic Effects..................................24
New Foreign Investment Rules… ........................................25
… & Latest Foreign Investment Figures...............................25
Economic Outlook Positive (Just): NZIER............................25
New Financial Advisors’ Code…..........................................25
… &Banking Ombudsman Expands Role ............................25
Kiwis & Credit…...................................................................26
… Kiwis & Savings… ...........................................................26
… & Kiwis & Debt ................................................................26
Gambling in 2009.................................................................26
August Export Values Up.....................................................26
Super Govt Super Returns...................................................26
Housekeeper Tax Credits ....................................................26
Insurance/Mortgage Advisers’ Authorisation........................27
Auditing the Auditors: Bill .....................................................27
Financial Markets/Kiwisaver Bill...........................................27
Internet/ICT
UN: Internet Governance Forum..........................................27
Net Addicts – Even on Holiday! ...........................................27
Work/Play in The Cloud. ......................................................27
Free Online Community Directory: 2CU...............................28
Youth Privacy in the Facebook Age.....................................28
Broadband Rollout’s Short-short List ...................................28
Online Discussion On Diversity............................................28
NZ’s 111 Service: Agreement ..............................................28
A Wee Handful of Sites ....................................................28
Arts & Culture
Whitcoulls Top 100 Books................................................... 29
Translating NZ Literature: Grants........................................ 30
Diwali Festival ..................................................................... 30
NZ’s Cans Film Festival ...................................................... 30
Fish & Ships
Commercial Catch Limits Changes ..................................... 30
Kahawai Catch Limits: No Change...................................... 30
Charter Boats: Fish Catch Reports ..................................... 30
Science/Technology
IG Noble Awards: Improbable Science ............................... 31
Latest Animal Ethics Report ................................................ 31
Apple Genes Offer Surprises .............................................. 31
A Smaller Ozone Hole......................................................... 31
Weta’s Footprint Tells a Story ............................................. 32
General
A Mild La Nina Spring ......................................................... 32
SNZ Survey of Migrants ...................................................... 32
Taking Wills Seriously ......................................................... 32
United Nations Universal Children's Day............................. 33
Blind Week 2010 ................................................................. 33
International Volunteer Managers Day................................ 33
Some Conferences/Events ................................................. 33
ForestWood 2010 Conference......................................... 33
Involve 2010 Connect: Together We Are Stronger .......... 33
NZCOSS Conference 2010 ............................................. 33
Family Planning Conference 2010................................... 33
Australia NZ Third Sector Research Conference............. 33
Health Informatics NZ Annual Conference/Exhibition ...... 33
National Criminal Justice Conference.............................. 33
2010 Not-For-Profit Summit ............................................. 33
National Recreation Conference 2010............................. 34
Child Poverty NZ Summit ................................................ 34
DPA NZ National Assembly and Conference .................. 34
19th Hospice NZ Palliative Care Conference - Navigating
the Journey ...................................................................... 34
Tonic Conference 2010 ................................................... 34
Adolescent Health & Development Conference............... 34
Funding/Awards Opportunities ............................................ 34
NZer of the Year Awards ................................................. 34
Enterprising Rural Women Award.................................... 34
Marine Energy Deployment Fund .................................... 34
Solid Energy: Tertiary Scholarships................................. 34
Kiwi Asian Journalism Scholarship .................................. 34
Asia Internships for Young Journalists............................. 35
Smart Business Competition............................................ 35
PGP Innovation Proposals Sought .................................. 35
Fulbright Travel Awards................................................... 35
Nga Pea o tee Marinating Travel Awards ........................ 35
Fulbright Specialist Awards ............................................. 35
Singapore Scholarships................................................... 35
David Holbrook Memorial Scholarships ........................... 35
Travel Grants to Japan .................................................... 35
Appointments ...................................................................... 35
Treaty Matters
Marine & Coastal Area Bill ...................................................29
Ex-Gratia Payment: Unfair Rents.........................................29
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 2
Consultation
The Public’s Right to Know
The Law Commission’s latest issues paper “The Public’s
Right to Know – A Review of the Official Information Act 1982
and Parts 1-6 of the Local Government Official Information
and Meetings Act 1987” looks at areas of possible change
relating to NZ’s official information legislation, and asks for
comment on some preliminary proposals. Amongst these:
•
the Act should specifically require four functions to be
carried out: investigation of complaints, providing
guidance, promotion and education, and oversight;
•
the Ombudsman continue to hear complaints under the
law, and an agency such as the State Services
Commission be charged with being the Official
Information watchdog; and
•
the Parliamentary Counsel Office comes within the Act.
The Commission also queries why courts appear to be
exempt from the Official Information Act when tribunals are
exempt only in relation to their judicial activities.
Submissions close on 10 December 2010. Have your say on the Commission’s
“Talklaw” site at www.talklaw.co.nz, or send comments to Official Information
Legislation Review, Law Commission, PO Box 2590, Wellington 6140, email
[email protected]. More is at http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/
Parliament’s Standing Orders:
Review
The Standing Orders Committee has begun its regular review
of the way Parliament and select committees conduct their
business, and the public can have their say about how these
rules of Parliament could be improved.
Any changes made apply when Parliament meets after the
next general election.
The closing date for submissions is 28 October 2010. You can make your
submission online or send two copies to the Standing Orders Committee,
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160. More, including the online submission
form and a link to the Standing Orders, is at http://www.parliament.nz/enNZ/PB/SC/BusSum/3/4/9/00DBSCH_INQ_10324_1-Review-of-the-StandingOrders.htm
Amendments to the Building
Code
Your views are sought on proposed amendments to simplify
the Building Code and some other building regulations.
These deal with:
•
timber treatment;
•
fire protection and warning systems;
•
noise protection;
3 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
•
medium-density housing; and
•
signs.
The aim of the proposals is to simplify the rules to make it
easier to design good quality medium-density housing.
Submissions on the timber treatment proposals close 29 October 2010, and
submissions on all others close on 26 November 2010. Email submissions to
[email protected] (with the name of the particular consultation in the
subject line), or send them to Department of Building and Housing, PO Box 10729, Wellington 6142, attn: Building Standards team. The consultation papers
are at www.dbh.govt.nz/current-consultations
Providing Legal Aid: Bill
The Legal Services Bill would make big changes to the legal
aid system. Administration of publicly funded legal services
would transfer to the Ministry of Justice. The Legal Services
Agency would be replaced with a Legal Services
Commissioner responsible for granting legal aid. A quality
assurance and performance management system would be
set up for lawyers providing publicly funded legal services.
Processes for assessing applications for some low-cost
criminal cases would be streamlined. A new Legal Aid
Tribunal would replace the current Legal Aid Review Panel.
Submissions close on 8 October 2010. Two copies go to the Justice and
Electoral Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington or you can submit
online. More is at
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0189/latest/DLM3142703.ht
ml?search=ts_bill_legal+services_resel&p=1&sr=1
New Forestry Rules?
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is consulting on a
proposed National Environmental Standard for district and
regional councils managing plantation forestry. The standard:
•
applies to: afforestation, replanting, mechanical land
preparation, harvesting, pruning and thinning to waste,
earthworks, quarrying, and river crossings;
•
does not cover some forestry activities e.g., agrichemical
use, milling, and processing of timber;
•
would enable local authorities to retain control over how
local natural and physical resources are managed in
some circumstances;
•
proposes a system for classifying how prone the land is
to erosion; and
•
would require all local authorities to give effect to and
enforce its requirements.
Submissions close on 18 October 2010. An online discussion forum is at
http://nesdiscussion.mfe.govt.nz/, or you can submit to MfE, PO Box 10-362,
Wellington 6143, email [email protected]. More is at
http://www.mfe.govt.nz/laws/standards/forestry/index.html
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Airport Costs: Processing
Travellers
Ministry of Fisheries
Consultations
The Airports (Cost Recovery for Processing International
Travellers) Bill would enable the Ministry of Agriculture and
Forestry, the Aviation Security Service, and the NZ Customs
Service to recover the cost of providing passenger
processing services at new (and restarting) international
airports. Costs would be recovered from airport companies
for a fixed period of time, after which, funding systems in
place for established international airports would apply
(biosecurity and customs costs being Crown-funded, and
aviation security costs charged to airlines).
The Ministry of Fisheries (MFish) is consulting on
(submission closing dates are in brackets):
Submissions close on 7 October 2010. Two copies go to the Primary
Production Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, or submit online. Link
to more at http://www.parliament.nz/enNZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/e/d/8/00DBHOH_BILL10325_1-Airports-Cost-Recoveryfor-Processing-of-International.htm
Broiler Chickens Draft Welfare
Code
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC)
has drafted a new code for broiler (meat) chickens and your
views are sought. Amongst the changes is the addition of
standards for free range broiler chickens - reflecting the
increasing number of broilers produced with access to the
outdoors. The code will apply to all broiler chickens,
regardless of the housing system used.
Minimum standards in the draft code cover stockmanship;
food and water; housing and equipment; lighting; ventilation;
temperature; litter management; stocking densities;
behavioural needs; catching, loading and transport; humane
destruction; and hatchery management.
Submissions close on 8 November 2010. They go to
[email protected] or to NAWAC Secretary, MAF Biosecurity NZ, PO
Box 2526, Wellington 6140. The draft is at
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/biosec/consult
FSANZ: Seed Sprouts &
Sweeteners
Food Standards Australia NZ (FSANZ) invites your
comments on:
•
a draft national food standard (i.e., regulations) for the
seed sprouts industry; and
•
an application to approve Advantame (a food additive)
as a high-intensity sweetener.
FSANZ is also currently drafting standards for eggs and egg
products, meat and meat products, and raw milk products.
Submissions close on 18 October 2010.More is at
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/changingthecode/documentsfo
rpublicco868.cfm
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
•
impact of fishing on Hector’s and Maui’s Dolphins:
MFish is reviewing the options for lessening the impact
of fishing on Hector’s and Maui’s dolphins in certain
areas – the review follows a 2009 Court judgment (12
October 2010); and
•
research used in fisheries management: in February
2010: earlier, MFish reviewed its research strategy, and
one of the recommendations was that the Ministry
develop standards for fisheries management research (5
November 2010).
More on each consultation (including who submissions in each consultation go
to) is at http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Consultations/default.ht
Construction Sector Action
Plan
The Department of Labour (DoL) is seeking feedback on a
draft construction sector safety action plan. The plan is one of
a number (including manufacturing, forestry, and fishing).
Sector action plans:
•
identify the most significant causes of harm to people
working in the particular industry;
•
develop plans, actions and resources to reduce harm;
•
share information; and
•
promote the goal of “healthy people in safe and
productive workplaces”.
Submissions close on 22 October 2010. Email them to [email protected] or
post them to Consultation on Construction Sector Action Plan, Workplace
Health and Safety Policy, Department of Labour, PO Box 3705, Wellington
6011. More is at http://www.dol.govt.nz/consultation/construction-sectorplan/index.asp
Kaka Captive Management Plan
A draft South Island (SI) Kaka Captive Management Plan,
2010-2020, has been prepared for comment. Kaka, which are
listed as “nationally endangered”, were first brought into
captivity in the 1950s when trapped/orphaned in the wild, and
they have been bred successfully in captivity since then. The
goal of the captive management plan is to support SI
ecosystem restoration by providing captive-bred SI kaka for
release into the wild to establish self-sustaining populations.
Comments close on 18 October 2010. They go to B McKinlay, Lead TSO
Captive SI kaka, DOC, PO Box 5244, Dunedin, email [email protected].
More is at http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/consultations/current/draftsouth-island-kaka-captive-management-plan/
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 4
IRD Consultations
•
This month there are two:
ACC is also consulting on the including an experience rating
in the Work Account. Experience rating would see business
levies being partly based on the claims history of the
business.
•
•
elections for qualifying company status: this sets out
the Commissioner's position on who should sign
shareholders' elections for qualifying company (QC) and
loss attributing qualifying company (LAQC) status where
nominees or bare trustees are involved; and
deductibility of break fee paid by a landlord to exit
early from a fixed interest rate loan on sale of rental
property: this one considers the deductibility of a break
fee paid by a landlord to a lender to exit early from a
fixed interest rate loan used to purchase a rental
property, in order to sell the property.
Submissions on both drafts close on 8 October 2010. You can email your
comments to [email protected]. The draft can be viewed at:
http://www.ird.govt.nz/public-consultation/
ERMA Consultations
The Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) is
currently consulting on (submission dates are in brackets):
•
ERMA200599: Submissions sought on release of dung
beetles (4 November 2010);
•
ERMA200619: to import or manufacture Kinto Duo,
containing triticonazole and prochloraz, for use as a
fungicidal seed treatment for cereals (4 November
2010);
•
ERMA200593: to manufacture Permatek IM30
(containing imidacloprid) as a timber treatment for
protection against termite attack (20 October 2010);
•
ERMA200594: to import or manufacture NAX9888 as a
topical veterinary medicine for the treatment and
prevention of parasites in livestock (20 October 2010);
and
•
ERMA200510: to import Nitcal/K into NZ in order to mix
it into an oil based drilling fluid (13 October).
Submissions go to ERMA NZ, PO Box 131, Wellington 6140, email
[email protected]. More is at
http://www.erma.govt.nz/consultations/
ACC Levy Rates & “Experience
Rating”
ACC is seeking submissions on proposed ACC levy rates for
2011/12:
•
in the Work Account (paid by employers and selfemployed people) ACC is proposing no increase this
year in the average combined levy, although individual
industries may see small rises or falls;
•
for motor vehicles, an average 2.5% levy increase is
proposed; and
5 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
in the Earners’ Account (paid by all earners) the
proposed increase is 6.7% this year.
Consultations close on 29 October 2010. Relevant documents are at
www.acc.co.nz/consultation. For hard copies email [email protected]
or [email protected], or call 0800 222 7283
Taxi Driver Safety
The Land Transport Rule: Operator Licensing Amendment
(No 2) 2010 sets out what you have to do to obtain/renew a
licence to operate a passenger service. It also sets out rules
for transport service drivers and taxi organisations. The
proposed changes are intended to provide a deterrent to
anyone from committing crimes against taxi drivers, and, in
the unfortunate event of a driver being attacked, to enable
the driver to use the taxi’s communications system to get
urgent assistance.
Submissions close on 8 October 2010. Email them to [email protected] or post
them to Taxi safety amendment Rules Team, NZ Transport Agency, PO Box
5084, Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145. More is at
http://nzta.govt.nz/consultation/taxi-safety-amendment-2010/docs/q-and-a.pdf
Insolvency Practitioners Bill
The Insolvency Practitioners* Bill would give the Registrar of
Companies the power to restrict or prohibit certain people
from providing corporate insolvency services, and strengthen
the rules relating to the automatic disqualification of
insolvency practitioners.
*Insolvency practitioners carry out liquidations, voluntary
administrations, and receiverships. They deal with situations
where there is rarely enough money to pay all the creditors
everything they are owed; this requires clear rules about who
gets paid in these situations and in what order. People doing
this work need to use sound judgement and act with integrity.
Submissions close on 12 October 2010. Two copies go to the Commerce
Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. The Bill is at
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0141/latest/DLM2921209.ht
ml
Border Management:
Information Sharing
The Customs and Excise (Joint Border Management
Information Sharing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
would enable Customs Service and the Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry to have shared access to information in a new
joint border management system. Amongst other things it
would also:
•
increase some minimum and maximum penalties;
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
•
allow the use of reasonable force within certain areas to
detain people or compel unauthorised people to leave;
•
enable Customs to prevent goods from entering NZ if it’s
believe those goods would facilitate a crime of
dishonesty;
•
include a specific offence for injuring or killing a customs
dog; and
•
enable goods that must be imported in multiple
shipments to be managed as if they were a single
shipment.
Submissions close on 8 October 2010. Send two copies to the Justice and
Electoral Committee, Parliament Buildings Wellington, or make a submission
online. More is at http://www.parliament.nz/enNZ/PB/Debates/Debates/a/5/a/49HansD_20100915_00001064-Customs-andExcise-Joint-Border-Management.htm
Arts Council Restructure Bill
Reminder that the Arts Council of NZ Toi Aotearoa Bill would
replace the current structure of Creative NZ with a single
board. The board would have responsibility for determining
strategic direction, priorities, and a policy framework for the
whole organisation and for funding allocation decisions.
Submissions close on 8 October 2010. Two copies go to the Government
Administration Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, or submit online.
More is at
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2010/0167/4.0/versions.aspx
Wool Levies: Views Sought
Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) is proposing that the $2.8 million of
remaining wool levies be split three ways:
•
funding for four years for B+LNZ information and
analysis; market access; and farm related activities that
support the wool sector ($450,000 per annum and $1.8
million over four years);
•
funding for two years for shearing sports and Wool
Classers Association activities ($65,000 per annum,
$130,000 over two years); and
•
using the remaining $870,000 to establish a fund where
applications can be made for wool specific projects that
are co-funded and are able to demonstrate benefit for
farmers.
In the 2009 referendum, farmers decided not to support the
future payment of wool levies which took effect from April this
year when the old levy orders ran out.
Submissions close on 15 October 2010. Send an email with the subject line
“remaining wool levy funds” to [email protected] or writing to Beef +
Lamb NZ, PO Box 121, Wellington 6140
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Separating Telecom’s
Businesses
Telecom NZ recently announced that it is considering
structural separation of its network and retail businesses in
the context of the Government's Ultra-Fast Broadband (UFB)
Initiative. Industry and public views are sought about any
issues that could arise if Telecom was to do this.
Structural separation would affect the regulations for copper
services; Telecom's operational separation undertakings; and
the local service Telecommunications Service Obligations
(TSO).
Submissions close on 15 October 2010. Email them to [email protected]. A discussion paper is at
www.med.govt.nz/telecommunications/structural-separation.
Rural
Healthy Streams & Farming
Practice
A University of Otago study of the effects of three kinds of
farming on stream health has indicated that streams running
through sheep and beef farms managed using integrated
practices* are just as healthy as those on organic farmland.
Conventional farm streams demonstrated the strongest
negative responses in the study while, unexpectedly, the
conditions of organic and integrated farm streams were
similar to each other.
*Integrated farming practice aims to reduce or eliminate the
use of pesticides, increase beneficial pest predators, and
encourage environmentally responsible soil, water and
energy management.
Read the press release at http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/stream-healthintegrated-farming-good-organic-otago-research/5/64110
Rural Women NZ in
Canterbury/Otago
Rural Women NZ members are offering support to farming
families following recent snowstorms and atrocious weather
in Southland and Otago, and the major earthquake in
Canterbury. The organisation has received funding from the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to run adverse
events programmes and organise community meetings in the
region.
Up to $200 is available for each community event. To apply for the funding
contact Rural Women NZ’s Nation Office Executive Officer, N Holt on (04) 473
5524 or email [email protected]
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 6
Rural Property Market Stats
From a high of $4,650,000 in August 2008 the three month
average price for dairying properties is down by a third to
$3,100,000 according the latest REINZ Rural Market Report
statistics.
The national average farm sale price eased up from
$1,118,500 for the three months to July to $1,127,754 for the
three months to August 2010. Regionally, the largest number
of farm sales during the three months to August was 31 in
Canterbury, 24 of them grazing properties, and 27 in
Southland, 11 of them grazing properties.
The number of sales of lifestyle properties decreased from
1088 at the end of July to 1066 in the three months to the
end of August, and the national median selling price eased
from $447,500 at the end of July to $436,750 last month.
More is at https://www.reinz.co.nz/public/news/rural-market-news_home.cfm
Red Meat: Less, More Often
NZers are eating red meat more often than ever but in
smaller portions, a survey finds. On average the findings
suggest Kiwis eat red meat four or five times a week and in
amounts similar in size to a deck of cards. Shoppers listed
roasts, casseroles, and steaks as their favourite meals. The
study was done by Massey University and commissioned by
Beef and Lamb NZ.
China’s Meat Market; Report
A recent NZTE commissioned report includes information on
the comparative volumes of meat imported into the country,
distribution and value chains, and the importation process.
Application closing dates for the allocation and exemptions are: tree weed
exemption - 31 October 2010; less than 50 hectares exemption - 30 September
2011; and allocation of NZUs - 30 November 2011. More is at
http://www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/allocation/ *
…& Post–1989 Forest Owners:
Register
Owners of post-1989 forest land who want to apply to be
registered as an ETS participant and claim carbon credits for
the first Commitment Period 2008–2012 (CP1) are
encouraged to apply to be registered during 2010/2011. This
is so your registration application can be processed in
advance of the 31 December 2012 deadline.
If you have not actually been registered by 31 December 2012, you will lose the
entitlement to claim NZUs for CP1. More is at
http://www.maf.govt.nz/sustainable-forestry/ets/form_post1989-applyregistration.htm
Organic Alternatives to Treated
Timber...
Organics Aotearoa NZ (OANZ) is holding public field days
around NZ to present alternatives to Copper Chromium
Arsenate (CCA) treated timber, which can no longer be used
on properties exporting organic products to the USA. They
include posts made from alternative timbers, concrete, steel,
plastic composites and fibreglass, as well as a solution for
broken posts.
Field days will be in:
•
Tauranga - 4 November. (R Pentraith, 07 572 7600,
[email protected]; or A Wood, tel 07 543
1211,email [email protected]);
•
Hawke's Bay - 5 November (J Hamlet tel 021 316 289,
email [email protected]);
•
Marlborough - 8 November (R Reider, phone 027 359
4522, [email protected]);
•
Canterbury - 9 November (E Sweetman, phone 03 325
3684, [email protected]); and
Pre-1990 forest is land that was in forest (indigenous or
exotic) on 31 December 1989 that remained as a forest, and
was in mainly exotic (rather than native) forest on 31
December 2007. This land is subject to the deforestation
rules of the NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Owners of
it have a choice between:
•
Southland - 10 November (to be advised).
•
applying for an allocation of free NZ units (NZUs); or
Irrigation Workshops…
•
if eligible, applying for an exemption from the
deforestation obligations under the ETS.
Irrigation NZ (INZ) is on the road this month delivering
nationwide irrigation workshops. The focus is on reducing the
energy bill through understanding the importance of pump
efficiency. INZ is also launching the Farmers Guide: Irrigation
Decision Support Package, which farmers will be able to use
to decide on the best irrigation solutions for their farm.
The report is at http://www.nzte.govt.nz/features-commentary/InBrief/Pages/report-on-chinas-meat-marketreleased.aspx?WT.mc_id=ExportNews_080910
Pre-1990 Forest Landowners
Choose…
Each option has value and there are deadlines for applying
(but no application fees).
7 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
More is at http://www.oanz.org.nz/news/roadshow-helps-farmers-overfencepost
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Workshops still to come include Manawatu (7 October), Hawkes Bay (8
October), North Canterbury - Culverden (11 October), Gore (12 October),
Alexandra (13 October), Waitaki (14 October), Ashburton (28 October), and
Central Canterbury – Dunsandel (29 October). More information and the full
programme for each of the workshops is at www.irrigationnz.co.nz
… & Farmers: Employment
Workshops
Federated Farmers is running employment workshops
throughout October and November providing practical legal
advice and information about handling workplace issues.
Call 0800 327 646 to find out more/register
Environment
Management of Fresh Water:
Report
The 58-member Land and Water Forum recently released its
report on the management of freshwater in NZ. It says that
NZ needs a water strategy and that a non-statutory Land and
Water Commission should be established on a cogovernance basis, to advise Ministers about this. It also says
that for environmental and economic reasons we need:
•
to set standards, limits. and targets around contaminants
and flows;
•
national leadership and local partnership;
•
more consistent practices and ways of monitoring them;
and
•
better tools for allocating water permits and facilitating
their transfer to increase the efficiency of water use.
Major areas where change is needed include:
•
there should be standards, limits, and targets for water
quality and quantity that take into account the variety of
NZ’s geography, and the diversity of cultural, economic,
environmental, and social interests;
•
water allocation and the transfer of water permits;
•
irrigation, storage, and hydro projects;
•
governance arrangements and the knowledge required
for water management;
•
urban water services issues, and collaborative
processes for better communication with stakeholders and better outcomes.
The forum suggests that water storage may bring gains for
the environment as well as economic benefits.
advice from iwi leaders and officials, then decide how to
manage NZ’s freshwater.
The Land and Water Forum report is at
http://www.landandwater.org.nz/land_and_water_forum_report.pdf. A list of
forum members is at http://www.landandwater.org.nz/index_files/members.htm
Mining Conservation Lands:
PCE Report
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE)
has voiced concerns over mining’s special access rights to
Department of Conservation land in her latest report, “Making
difficult decisions: Mining the conservation estate.” The
Commissioner says the current law gives mining an access
advantage over other commercial uses, and makes it easier
for mining operations to gain access to conservation land
than it does for other commercial operations such as guided
tours.
The report recommends that decisions on access to are left
with the Conservation Minister and not shared with the
Minister of Energy and Resources. The report also
recommends more consistent rules for all commercial access
to conservation land, increased transparency, and the
inclusion of ecological areas into Schedule 4.
The report is available at http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/allpublications/making-difficult-decisions-mining-the-conservation-estate
NZ’s Largest Off-Grid Solar
System
Installation of NZ’s largest off-grid solar power system has
begun on the Department of Conservation-managed
Motutapu Island. The $768,000 solar system is part of DOC’s
ongoing sustainability programme, which aims to boost
DOC’s renewable energy use and halve its diesel fuel bills.
The Motutapu solar project is expected to generate at least
65,000kWh per year, providing up to 70% of the island’s
energy requirements. In the process, the completed system
is expected to save DoC in the order of $188,000 per year.
Rangitoto & Motutapu
Restoration
A two-year restoration of both Motutapu and adjacent
Rangitoto islands is underway. Eradication of the remaining
seven mammal pests on the islands is being carried out, and
bellbirds, pateke, and kakariki are on their way back to
Motutapu. It is hoped the islands will be declared pest-free by
mid-2011. Once they are, Motutapu Farm will become the
only pest-free farm in NZ.
The Land and Water Forum will shortly be holding workshops
around the country so people can have their say about the
report. After that, the Government will consider the report, get
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 8
An Emerging Sustainability
Divide?
According to a new University of Waikato survey on business
sustainability practices, the economic downturn has created a
growing sustainability divide, separating NZ businesses
which “get” sustainability from those which see it as “nice to
do”. The previous surveys, done in 2003 and 2006, showed
increasing uptake of sustainability practices, but the 2010
survey reveals a general decline - particularly among small
businesses that make up the overwhelming majority of NZ
firms.
However, a small but significant group of firms (many being
members of the Sustainable Business Network - SBN) have
actually increased their uptake of environmental sustainability
practices, such as recycling, reducing energy and water use,
and environmental awareness.
The concern is that NZ could risk losing its competitive edge
by being on the wrong side of the global sustainable divide.
NZ companies increasingly market their products and
services on a clean, green ticket, but the survey shows that
the majority of firms are actually taking up fewer sustainability
options.
The full report is available at www.management.ac.nz/sustainabilitydivide
UN: Benefits of Green Economy
The United Nations (UN) has published a new report called
“Brief for Policymakers on the Green Economy”. A green
economy is one that "not only improves human well-being
and lessens inequality but also reduces environmental risks
and ecological scarcities”.
The report says that the environmental goods and services
that support the global economy - and in particular the Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of the poor - are shrinking at a rapid
rate. Investing in clean energy and sustainable transport to
forests and environmentally-friendly forms of agriculture
could go a long way towards meeting internationally-agreed
poverty reduction goals.
The authors cite growing evidence that moving to a low
carbon, resource efficient, employment-generating economy
may not only be the key to meeting sustainability challenges
of the 21st century, but also provide a considerable
contribution to meeting other Millennium Development Goals
(MDG - the eight globally-agreed targets to slash poverty by
2015). Examples are offered of where green strategies are
paying multiple dividends and generating multiple
opportunities. For example, sustainable agriculture and the
provision of safe water are targets of the seventh MDG – and
meeting that objective would also help to curb poverty, lower
infant mortality rates, and enhance maternal health, each of
which are separate goals.
The report is at
http://www.unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/30/docs/policymakers_brief_GEI&
MDG.pdf, the United Nations Environment Programme is at
http://www.unep.org/, and the Millennium Development Goals are at
http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/
9 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Status of Native NZ Fish
In a recent article published in the NZ Journal of Marine and
Freshwater Research, scientists have ranked the
conservation status of 51 native fish to determine how
threatened they are. More than two-thirds are classed as
threatened or at risk. They say that reasons for them being
categorized this way include declining water quality, the
effects of water abstraction for irrigation, and loss of habitat
from changing land use. The two most-affected areas are
Otago and Canterbury, where intensification and irrigation
has been particularly rapid in recent years.
New Tawharanui Marine
Reserve
A new 400 hectare marine reserve is to be established in the
Rodney district after a successful application by the Auckland
Regional Council. Tawharanui will become NZ’s 34th marine
reserve. The reserve of roughly will replace the Tawharanui
Marine Park. The boundaries will be slightly different, with the
new reserve to be about 18ha larger than the existing park.
Southern Ocean Cycle Trail
Underway
A contract for the new Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail was recently
signed. One of a series of 18 projected Great Rides, it will
start at Aoraki/Mt Cook. The 314km trail descends 780
metres through the McKenzie Basin to Oamaru, and along
the way cyclists will pass Lakes Pukaki, Ruataniwha, Ohau,
Benmore, Waitaki, and Aviemore and the towns of Twizel,
Omarama, Otematata, Kurow, Duntroon, Ngapara, and
Tokorahi. From Aoraki/Mt Cook to Duntroon (258 km) the trail
uses existing tracks and quiet country roads. The next 17km
will follow the Fossil Trail and the final 39km section uses a
disused railway line and country lanes.
More is at www.tourism.govt.nz/cycleway
Bird of the Year Poll Opens
Forest & Bird‘s Bird of the Year Poll is now open. Last year,
kiwi was top bird. Other winners have included fantail,
kakapo, tui, and grey warbler.
The poll closes on 13 October. Vote on-line at
http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/poll
Collection of Unwanted
Agrichemicals (Ak)
The Agrecovery Rural Recycling programme will shortly be
holding collections for unwanted or expired agrichemicals in
the Auckland region.
Bookings are required by 8 October 2010. Go online to book disposal at
www.agrecovery.co.nz or contact Agrecovery on freephone 0800 247 326
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Tourism
Lonely Planet on NZ
Lonely Planet's latest NZ edition focuses on the welcoming
warmth of NZ's people in the face of economic and sporting
challenges. It concedes, though, that not "everyone wanders
around with Prozac grins, hugging trees”.
Its comment on next years’ Rugby World Cup: "In 2011, NZ
will play host to the Rugby World Cup (RWC) and chances
are, whether you travel before, during or after the
tournament, you'll be thoroughly sick of hearing about rugby
by the end of your stay."
The guide features a section on 14 prominent Kiwis Murray
Ball, Zoe Bell, Jane Campion, Rhys Darby Peter Gordon, Sir
Richard Hadlee, Peter Hillary, Keri Hulme, Sam Hunt, Phil
Keoghan, Anika Moa, Dr Farah Rangikoepa Palmer, Tana
Umaga, and Hayley Westenra.
While it says Auckland "can justifiably respond to its
detractors, 'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful'", it also
points out that "while geography has been kind, city planning
has been less so. Unbridled and ill-conceived development
has left the centre of the city with some architectural
embarrassments."
Christchurch is recognised for "embracing the increasingly
multicultural nature of urban NZ society", while Wellington is
hailed as "the city that'll blow the cobwebs away", despite
being "infamous for its weather... And negotiating the innercity one-way system is like the Krypton Factor on acid."
Lonely Planet has also produced a new NZ North Island 1st
edition, a South Island edition, a Discover NZ publication,
Cycling NZ, Tramping in NZ, and an Auckland City Guide for
iPhone.
Record Chinese Visitor
Numbers
Visitor arrivals numbered 168,100 in August 2010, up 4%
from August 2009 to reach the highest number of visitors
ever recorded for an August month. The increase was mostly
due to a large increase in visitors from China. Visitors from
China more than doubled from 4,600 in August 2009 to 9,700
in August 2010, and also exceeded the previous August high
of 9,000 visitors from China in 2007. But, the 8,800 visitors
from the United Kingdom in August 2010 were the lowest for
an August month since 1999 (7,900).
Permanent and long-term migration (arrivals minus
departures) was 800 in August 2010. Migration in the August
2010 year was 14,500, with gains from the United Kingdom
(6,500), India (5,800), and China (3,600). The gain from the
United Kingdom was down from 9,200 in the August 2009
year. Some 17,300 migrants went to Australia in the August
2010 year, well down from 24,800 in the August 2009 year
and 33,300 in the August 2008 year.
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/IntTravelAndMi
gration_MRAug10.aspx
National Park Visits
A new survey from the Department of Conservation (DOC)
reveals:
•
one in three (32%) South Island residents visited a
national park last year compared to one in six (17%)
North Island residents; and
•
one in three (29%) Christchurch residents visited a
national park last year compared to one in ten (11%)
Aucklanders and one in six (17%) Wellingtonians.
The figures may be a reflection of there being only four of
NZ’s 14 National Parks north of Cook Strait.
Hotel Stays Lead July Increase
Overnight stays in hotels were up 4% in July 2010 compared
with the previous July. In fact, hotels were the only
accommodation type to record an increase; guest nights
were down 2% in motels, backpackers, and holiday parks.
International guest nights were up 2% in July 2010 compared
with July 2009, while domestic guest nights were down 1%.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/accommodation/Ac
commodation-Survey_MRJul10.aspx
Peer Guide: Tourism
Businesses
A new guide for tourism businesses offers suggestions for
ways of saving energy and money (sometimes tens of
thousands of dollars annually) using tips from their peers.
The guide features short case studies from operators around
the country (from small backpackers, holiday parks, and
hotels to an art gallery, a water theme park and one of NZ’s
largest tourism operators). Some of the tips are incredibly
simple, for example turning off its computers at night will save
one holiday park $700 annually.
The guide also includes information about reducing fuel
consumption and renewable energy sources and tips on how
to get started when it comes to improving energy efficiency.
The guide is available at www.tianz.org.nz
Global Hotel Prices
There was an average rise of 2% for the price of a hotel room
around the world in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010
compared to the same period a year earlier. This is according
to the latest Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®) from Hotels.com®
(http://www.hotels.com). This was the first time that hotel
prices rose year-on-year after seven consecutive quarters of
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 10
price falls since the end of 2007. However, the average price
of a hotel room was still lower than it was in 2004.
Some parts of the world performed better than others. The
Asia Pacific region proved to be the most buoyant region for
hotel prices, with large business and convention hubs like
Singapore and Hong Kong having seen rates go up
substantially (27% and 21%, respectively). Hotel prices in
Auckland rose 15% in Q2 2010 compared to the same period
a year earlier. Sydney hotel prices rose by 18% and
Melbourne by 10%.
Health & Welfare
Earthquake Helplines
ACC & Sensitive Claims:
Review
A report from the independent panel reviewing ACC’s
sensitive claims process proposals covers the question of
how ACC should make sure it operates within the law while
still making certain that survivors can get ready access to
high quality support and treatment that meet their individual
needs. It also makes a number of recommendations aimed at
improving how ACC involves stakeholders and
communicates with clients and with treatment providers. It
also recommends that attention is paid to quality at all levels:
including the practitioners who deliver treatment and
assessment services, the appropriateness of the type and
length of treatments, and the timeliness and responsiveness
of ACC’s own systems.
The government has set up a 24-hour earthquake helpline for
people who want advice on: what to do about damage to their
homes; to ask if it's safe to travel; and to get information
about income support, housing options, health issues,
community assistance, clean-up and how to contact other
services people may need.
More, including a link to the report, is at
http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/NewsItem.aspx?id=339
Anyone requiring emergency financial assistance can phone
the Work and Income contact centre.
A report from the office of the Children's Commissioner
investigates the quality of services provided to the 5200 or so
children in the care of Child, Youth and Family. The purpose
of the report - Children in Care - was to examine whether
these children are having their needs met and getting the
opportunity to reach their potential.
For advice call the Earthquake Helpline on 0800 779997. For emergency
financial assistance tel 0800 559009
Response to Sexual Violence
Taskforce
The Government response to the Report of the Taskforce for
Action on Sexual Violence includes:
•
$1 million of funding over two years for sexual violence
prevention education programmes;
•
providing funds to sexual violence service providers
through the Community Response;
•
a cross-agency examination of government spending on
sexual violence services;
•
exploring alternative approaches to pre-trial and trial
processes for victims of sexual violence;
•
funding for 18 specialist court victim advisers, a
discretionary grant to assist with expenses incurred as a
result of sexual violence, new information resources, and
increased financial assistance for travel,
accommodation, and childcare;
•
funding a Survivor Advocate for the next three years;
•
Police introducing new Adult Sexual Assault Guidelines;
•
funding for Te Ohaakii a Hine - National Network Ending
Sexual Violence Together (TOAH-NNEST) to enable it to
continue its role as co-ordinator of sexual violence
groups; and
•
a commitment to continued engagement with the sexual
violence sector.
11 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Children In Care: OCC Report
The report indicates that children are mostly happy and
positive about the people or organisation looking after them,
and there is evidence of some great practice by many
caregivers, social workers and family/whanau, with some
doing an amazing and skilful job of raising them.
However, it suggests that many of the children - some of the
most vulnerable in the country, with high emotional, physical,
and educational needs - are not receiving the quality of
services they deserve and that considerable effort is required
to turn this around.
To quote: “Too often we set the bar too low. Placements are
sometimes haphazard and planning for the child or young
person's time in care sometimes does not give enough
attention to the full range of their needs. The exception to this
is the children who receive Health and Education
Assessments in four pilot sites around the country. These
comprehensive assessments appear to be working in
meeting children's needs.”
The report makes a number of recommendations, including
that the assessments be applied to children throughout the
country as a matter of priority.
Read the report at www.occ.org.nz
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Confidence in Aged Residential
Care…
Programme Challenging
Relationship Violence
A survey recently undertaken for the Association for Aged
Care (the industry organisation for the aged residential care
sector) indicates the NZ public has a good level of confidence
in residential care for the aged. The Colmar Brunton survey
found that:
Men who hold traditional views about gender roles and the
“place” of women are more likely to be violent international
research shows. And, it’s these traditional views that are
being challenged by a new programme from Family Planning
which focuses on young men, their parents, and their
teachers.
•
71% of NZers with direct experience of aged residential
care facilities have had a good or very good experience;
•
9% of the public regards the services provided by Aged
Care organisations in NZ as poor;
•
of the few with no direct experience of aged residential
care who said that services have worsened in the last
five years, 80% indicated that the news media was a
significant influence on their attitude; and
•
positive opinion about aged residential care arises
through word of mouth or direct experience.
At any given time across the country over 32,000 elderly are
being cared for by 30,000 staff in just over 700 aged care
facilities that provide rest home, hospital and dementia level
care.
Survey results are at www.nzaca.org.nz
… & Residential Aged Care
Services Review
The Ministry of Health, residential care organisations, and
district health boards have carried out a review of aged
residential care services, looking at the cost, and the ability of
aged care organisations to deliver services to the increasing
number of elderly NZers likely to require them in the future.
The review report provides a stock-take of the current range
and location of aged care facilities for all types of
dependency, and considers what is required if rest home,
dementia, and hospital care facilities and services are to
meet the projected demand for these facilities.
More is at http://www.dhbnz.org.nz/Site/Current-Issues/ARC-Review.aspx
Alternative Welfare Issues
Paper
The Welfare Justice alternative welfare working group have
released an alternative issues paper written by one of its
members. The paper is a personal reflection produced with
the aim of adding other views to the public debate about
possible welfare changes being proposed by the government
appointed Welfare Working Group.
The paper is available at
http://alternativewelfareworkinggroup.org.nz/dox/Welfare%20Reform%20Issues
%20Paper.pdf
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
A big part of the “It’s About Mana” programme encourages
young men to question traditional male values – ideas such
as that real men are always in control, have uncontrollable
sex drives, deserve a certain entitlement or respect, and that
women are objects. Questioning like this - holding these
outmoded ideas up to the light - will help protect against
relationship violence.
More is at http://www.familyplanning.org.nz/ResourceShop.aspx
Health After-Hours Services:
Report
The Auditor-General's report – “District health boards:
availability and accessibility of after-hours services” says that
all DHBs have after-hours services available for 95% of the
population within 60 minutes' travel time. That said, most
DHBs' plans could better consider affordability and transport
barriers, and the risks to those after-hours services
continuing.
The report is at http://www.oag.govt.nz/2010/after-hours-services/
Cervical Cancer Immunisation:
Update
Latest Ministry of Health figures show 70% of all young
Pacific women born between 1992 and 1996 have started
receiving the free HPV vaccine - compared to 52% of all girls
in that age group. Maori also have higher-than-average
uptake - with 57% of those born between 1992 and 1996
having started on the vaccine. And 62% of young Maori
women born in 1997 have started on the vaccine, well ahead
of the overall average of 49%. *HPVs are common viruses
which lead to most cervical cancers and genital warts.
Researchers at the Auckland Sexual Health Clinic report a
63% drop in the number of young women presenting with
genital warts at Auckland clinics since the introduction of the
publicly funded HPV vaccine two years ago.
Recognising Stroke Symptoms
Recent research for the Stroke Foundation showed that only
27% of Kiwis could recognise even one symptom of a stroke,
and over a third couldn't identify any symptoms. This inability
to recognise the signs of a stroke means that many patients
don't get to hospital quickly enough. Time is of the essence:
there is a treatment (called tPA) which can be very helpful in
certain sorts of strokes, but it can only be given to people
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 12
who are admitted to hospital and assessed within four and a
half hours of the start of their stroke. The main signs of a
stroke are:
and working with interpreters. There are also reviews of a
range of therapies and approaches.
•
a drooping face;
Download the Guide from http://www.tepou.co.nz/page/120-publications
•
one arm being suddenly weaker than the other; and
•
speech being slurred or jumbled.
If you have any of these symptoms, call 111 immediately.
For more information on stroke see www.stroke.org.nz
Managing Childhood Asthma:
Website
PHARMAC and the Asthma Foundation have launched a
new website designed to help parents and carers and health
professionals better manage children’s asthma. The Space to
Breathe website includes information about what asthma is,
identifying and understanding individual triggers and signs of
asthma, what to do during emergencies, understanding
asthma medications and how to use them effectively, and
where to get support.
The website is at http://www.spacetobreathe.co.nz/
Digital Mental Health Stories
"Rainbow Touchstones", a series of online video stories
looking at mental health experiences from within NZ's
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
communities was launched recently.
The digital stories are on http://www.pridenz.com/ and linked to from the Mental
Health Foundation website
Access to HIV Services
Improves
A new United Nations report shows good progress in
improving access to HIV/AIDS services in 37 developing
countries. A total of 5.25 million people had access to HIV
treatment in low- and middle-income countries last year,
accounting for 36% of those in need – an increase of more
than 1.2 million people over 2008.
More is at http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/2010progressreport/en/
Guide: Refugee and Migrant
Therapies
Te Pou, the National Centre for Mental Health Workforce
Development, has just released “Therapies for Refugees,
Migrants and Asylum Seekers: Best and Promising Practice
Guide”. Topics in this include how to be culturally competent,
13 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Emergencies: “It’s Easy” Guide
Wins
A guide outlining easy step-by-step instructions for how to
prepare for an emergency, published by the Wellington
Region Emergency Management Group, has won the
International Association of Emergency Managers 2010
Global Public Awareness Award. The “It’s Easy” booklet was
published in June 2010.
Copies of the booklet are online at www.getprepared.co.nz. They are also
available from Council offices in the greater Wellington region
Fewer Ciggies Smoked
Kiwis are smoking 1.3 billion fewer cigarettes a year than ten
years ago, according to data produced by Statistics NZ for
the Smokefree Coalition. In the last quarter, since tobacco’s
tax rise in April 2010, NZers consumed 280 million
manufactured tobacco products, and 243 tonnes of loose
tobacco. That’s 351.5 million fewer cigarettes consumed than
the same quarter last year.
Living Well Project
The Living Well Project is a study aiming to explore ways
people living with a disability or a disabling health condition
stay or become healthy. The project is particularly looking at
the best ways for people experiencing disability to be
physically active and to eat healthily.
This study is being conducted by Auckland University of
Technology (AUT), co-funded by the Health Research
Council and the Ministry of Health.
For more information go to http://livingwellstudy.aut.ac.nz
Drop in Global Child Mortality
Fewer children are dying before they reach their fifth
birthdays, with the total number of under-five deaths falling by
one third in the past two decades, according to fresh
estimates by the United Nations Children’s Fund. Between
1990 and 2009, the number of children below the age of five
who died each year fell from 12.4 million to 8.1 million. The
global under-five mortality rate dipped from 89 deaths per
1,000 live births to 60 during that period. Those figures
equate to 12,000 fewer children dying each day, globally,
compared to 1990.
More information can be found at
http://www.unicef.org/media/media_56045.html
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Education/Training
Tertiary Education Providers’
Performance
Most NZ Preschoolers WellAdjusted
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has published
information about the performance of tertiary education
providers. It includes details on how universities,
polytechnics, wananga, private training establishments, and
other tertiary education providers are performing against four
measures of educational performance: successful course
completion; completion of qualifications; student progression
to higher level study; and students retained in study.
Information from the Ministry of Health’s Strengths and
Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) shows most NZ
preschoolers are well-adjusted, and few have difficulties with
their emotions, behaviour, or concentration, or in getting
along with others The SDQ is an internationally respected
measure designed to get a picture of a child’s strengths and
difficulties in the emotional and behavioural area. It is being
used as part of the B4 School Check*: one version of the
questionnaire is filled out by parents and another by teachers
in order to get two views of a child’s social and emotional
development.
* The B4 School Check is a nationwide programme offering a
free health and development check for four year olds. It aims
to identify and address any health, behavioural, social, or
developmental concerns which could affect a child's ability to
get the most benefit from school, such as a hearing problem
or communication difficulty.
More about the B4 School Check is at http://www.moh.govt.nz/b4schoolcheck
Vocab Suffers When You Read
Less
Young people are reading less and failing to build vocabulary
amid a sea of text messaging and cyber chat, says a Massey
University researcher. The researcher says:
•
•
•
•
the vocabulary deficit is a worrying trend that threatens
learning, confidence, future job prospects, relationships,
and even the ability to understand jokes;
while vocabulary is critical to being successful at school,
in this increasingly technological world, there is not the
same opportunity to build vocabulary - and kids don't see
the need to build it;
teachers and parents need to actively combat by
encouraging young readers to consider the dictionary
and thesaurus as "their best friends”, because
possessing a good vocabulary enables and empowers
people of all ages to be understood in social, educational
and work situations; and
it would stop a lot of fights in the playground and in life if
people had the ability to express themselves with words
more competently.
Read the article at http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/aboutmassey/news/article.cfm?mnarticle=fewer-books-leading-to-vocabularydecline-20-09-2010
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
TEC says that the information should help both students and
employers make informed decisions.
Education performance by type of tertiary provider is at
http://www.tec.govt.nz/Learners-Organisations/Learners/performance-intertiary-education/performance-by-type-of-tertiary-provider/. Educational
performance at individual tertiary providers is at
http://www.tec.govt.nz/Learners-Organisations/Learners/performance-intertiary-education/performance-by-type-of-tertiary-provider/
Report: Tertiary Institution
Finances
The Tertiary Education Commission has released a report
comparing the financial information of tertiary institutions
between 2007 and 2009. The report shows, amongst other
things, that in 2009:
•
universities had a combined surplus of $98 million;
•
polytechnics had a combined surplus of $70.6 million;
and
•
wananga had a combined surplus of $14.2 million.
More is at http://www.tec.govt.nz/Tertiary-Sector/Performance-information/TEIfinancial-performance/2009-financial-information/
Stronger Society:
Deprogramming Bullies
We encounter bullies in all walks of life, and sometimes it
may seem that society is not good at dealing with them: can
positive qualities like empathy and kindness be taught? In the
last 10 years, the field of social neuroscience has taught us a
great deal about how our brains are wired to care, compete,
and cooperate. Programs such as Roots of Empathy work by
exposing preschoolers to a mother and baby interacting
normally. When the baby cries, the children are taught that it
is a baby with a problem, not a "bad baby", and they are
asked to provide possible solutions. This teaches the children
to try to put themselves in the baby's place, a key form of
empathy that builds the neural networks for their future. Since
the ROE programs began in 1996, nine independent studies
have reported a decrease in aggressive behaviour and an
increase in positive socialisation in schools that have run the
programme.
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 14
More on the Roots of Empathy programme is at http://www.rootsofempathy.org/
Foundation Certificate in Injury
Prevention
The Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa NZ (IPNANZ) is
taking enrolments for their next three-day Foundation
Certificate in Injury Prevention (FCIP) course being held on
27-29 October 2010 in Wellington. FCIP is the only short
course that is purposefully designed by the NZ Transport
Agency, Ministry of Health, ACC, and IPNANZ for the
nation’s community safety workforce.
An enrolment form is at
http://ipnanz.org.nz/resources/FC%20APP%20FORM%20FINAL%2020%2071%20AW.pdf Email [email protected] to register your interest.
Dynamic Community Learning
Awards
Winners of the 2010 awards are:
•
Circus Kumarani from Dargaville: recognised for
circus skills classes that help build confidence and break
down barriers to learning for disabled people; and
•
Flax Roots Whanau from Rawene in the Hokianga:
recognised for training they provide in low budget
documentary film making which has led to employment
opportunities and the creation of the annual Short Film
Festival in Rawene.
Employment
Employees Increasingly
Disengaged…
For the first time in ten years, global research by HR
consulting firm Hewitt Associates shows that the number of
organisations with decreasing employee engagement
exceeds those with increasing engagement (an "engaged
employee" is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their
work, and works in a way that is beneficial to their
organisation).
Employees are feeling disengaged because:
•
of how change has been managed during the downturn;
•
many feel the employment deal has been broken – the
experience doesn’t match the promise anymore;
•
more senior leaders and managers are now less
engaged, which flows on directly to the workforce;
•
changes in structure have led to changes in the nature of
work – many feel they are being asked to do more with
less; and
15 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
•
people are now less clear about internal career
opportunities – whilst becoming more aware and
confident about external opportunities.
The emerging themes impacting on performance are:
•
reluctance and resistance to change is increasing;
•
failure to drive or support change and/or strategic
alignment in the business at all levels;
•
many are in “wait and see” mode—having not bought
into strategy and change;
•
an “Us and Them” mindset is becoming more prevalent lack of trust in leadership; and
•
turnover of top talent is increasing.
Read more at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1009/S00499/employeeengagement-falls-even-further.htm
…so, Managers: Inspire Your
Staff
A recent Robert Half podcast looks at the many non-financial
incentives employers can put in place to inspire their people
and make sure that their business flourishes as the economy
improves, and employees feel more confident about their
career prospects. It suggests managers should: recognise
the achievements of the people around them; consider oneon-one coaching; and schedule refresher training sessions
led by the manager with help from specific employees with
specific skills. Managers should also
•
have a clear idea of where the organisation is going over
the long term;
•
be able to easily communicate the organisation's vision,
missions, and values to others;
•
be adaptable and flexible and easily move from one set
of circumstances to the next;
•
be decisive, able to wade through information,
understand what's relevant, make a decision, and take
action;
•
make the employees part of the solution – they need to
be involved in decision making;
•
offer non-monetary benefits: new training programmes,
career development, cross training, flexible work
schedules;
•
make sure employees are able to measure their own
performance against performance measures; and
•
set up recognition and rewards systems, so there is a
sense of teamwork and people’s efforts in difficult times
are acknowledged.
It's easier to do this than it is to replace a key member who
contributes in unseen and unrecognised ways each week.
More is at http://rhiwatch.viotv.com
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
National Conversation about
Work
The “National Conversation about Work” represents the
views of over 3000 employers and employees working in a
wide variety of industry sectors in cities, provinces, and rural
communities. The project was undertaken by the Human
Rights Commission to identify what constitutes good work
and what makes for decent workplaces in NZ and to identify
how work can be improved in terms of fairness. The
Commission has taken all of the material gathered in its
regional reports to produce a summary called “What next?
National Conversation about Work”.
•
fixed-term tenancies – fixed-term tenancies will revert
to periodic tenancies on the tenancy expiry date, unless
the tenant or landlord gives notice;
•
addresses for service – landlords and tenants will be
able to use an email address, PO Box, or fax number as
an alternate address for service;
•
agent for landlords overseas – if a landlord is going to
be overseas for more than 21 consecutive days, a NZ
based agent must be appointed;
•
body corporate rules – rules will be required to be
attached to tenancy agreements when a property is part
of a Unit Title complex;
•
notices to remedy – the “10 working days notice”
changes to a 14 consecutive days notice;
•
terminating a tenancy – new rules have been added for
termination of tenancy by notice, for example landlords
will be required to set out the reason(s) when giving less
than 90 days’ notice of termination;
•
unlawful acts – a number of unlawful acts have been
added, including interference with the supply of services
(for example electricity); and
•
abandoned goods – new rules have been added for
landlords dealing with abandoned goods.
The report is at: http://www.haveyoursayaboutwork.org.nz/
Redundancy Tax Credit
Extended
The redundancy tax credit, originally introduced to provide
some tax relief to people who have had a redundancy
payment and repealed in Budget 2010, will now be extended
to 31 March 2011. The extension will apply to all
redundancies received before 1 April 2011 and, once the
legislation has been amended, will be paid at the rate of 6
cents in the dollar.
The decision to extend the credit was in response to jobs lost
as a result of the Christchurch earthquake. Without the tax
credit, in some situations, people could be taxed too highly if
they had worked part of the year.
Mainstream Placement Awards
The Mainstream Placement Awards acknowledge the
contribution by State sector employers and placement
specialists in the community to helping disabled people into
employment. The awards will be held in Wellington in
November this year. The Ministry for Social Development will
be sending out invitations to people involved in the
Mainstream Employment Programme soon.
To find out more about the Programme and last year's awards:
www.mainstream.msd.govt.nz
Housing/Building
Residential Tenancies Act
Changes
Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, now in force,
include:
•
letting fees – all property managers can charge letting
fee;
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
More is at http://www.dbh.govt.nz/rta-review or tel 0800 TENANCY
Housing Consents Down
The (seasonally adjusted) number of new housing consents
authorised, excluding apartments, fell 8.9% in August 2010,
to the lowest number for more than a year. This follows a fall
of 6.0% the month before. When the apartment category is
included, the (seasonally adjusted) number of new housing
consents authorised fell 18%, following a 2.4% rise in July
2010.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/Construction/Buildin
gConsentsIssued_MRAug10.aspx
Retro-fitting House
Foundations: Research
Retrofitting house foundations to resist earthquakes could
save lives and reduce the amount of rebuilding required after
a large quake, according to Victoria University researchers. A
team is investigating cost-effective, practical systems of retrofitting houses, particularly for foundations with difficult
access.
Earlier research shows that more than half of domestic
dwellings randomly sampled in Wellington did not meet
current code requirements, and their ability to resist a major
earthquake was highly questionable. Houses moved on their
foundations during the Edgecumbe and recent Canterbury
earthquake, but the potential consequences are far more
severe for houses on sloping sites, such as in Wellington.
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 16
The project involves designing and building alternative
bracing and connections, with testing in the structures
laboratory at BRANZ.
Housing Demand in Northland
The Centre for Housing Research, Aotearoa NZ (CHRANZ)
has released a research report “Sub-regional Housing
Demand in the Northland Region.” The research considered:
•
the relationship between local labour markets and local
housing markets;
•
rural Maori housing and housing on multiple-owned
Maori land;
•
the social and economic costs of pressure on high
amenity land (e.g., coastal subdivisions); and
•
policies that could impact on the demand for housing.
Copies of the research report and CHRANZ Research Bulletin are available
from the CHRANZ website at www.chranz.co.nz
Energy
Energy Update
The latest NZ Energy Quarterly shows that:
company to tell the old company about the switch. The old
company then has 10 working days to provide information for
the switch, including a final reading. Companies previously
had up to 23 working days to complete a switch.
Electricity Authority
Establishment Date
The Electricity Authority is now to be established on 1
November 2010, rather than 1 October.
The Authority will be responsible for promoting competition,
reliable supply and efficient operation of the electricity market
for the long-term benefit of consumers. The Electricity
Industry (Enforcement) Regulations, the Electricity Industry
Code, and the authority's budget are currently being
developed.
The Good Oil on Maari
The Maari oilfield has produced its 10,000,000th barrel of oil,
8 months after the first oil was produced from the field (in
February 2009). It is expected that Maari's production life
from its five wells will be between 10 to15 years.
The nearby Manaia field should start production start-up and
testing in October.
The Maari and Manaia fields are operated by OMV NZ Ltd on
behalf of the Maari Joint Venture partners OMV NZ, Todd
Maari Ltd, Horizon Oil International, and Cue Taranaki Pty
Ltd.
•
geothermal made up over 13% of total generation in the
June quarter (and there are a number of new projects in
the pipeline);
•
renewable generation accounted for 73% of NZ's total
electricity generation for the quarter;
•
gas displaced coal for electricity generation;
New Give Way Rules Coming…
•
the most sub-bituminous coal on record was a produced;
Rules at NZ intersections are to change in early 2012.
•
petrol demand decreased 2% and diesel demand
decreased 5%, in line with normal seasonal variations;
•
the high level of geothermal electricity generation and a
preference for gas over coal in electricity generation saw
electricity emissions drop to their lowest level since
2000; and
Currently if you are turning left you have to give way to right
turning traffic coming towards you. The change would
reverse this so the left turning vehicle would have right of way
in this situation.
•
the residential gas price decreased 6% over six months
due to a big price cut from Genesis.
The NZ Energy Quarterly is free to download: go to
www.med.govt.nz/energy/nzeq. Up-to-date energy information is also at
www.med.govt.nz/energy/data.
Switching Electricity
Companies Faster
A rule change that came into force on 1 October will cut the
time it takes for electricity users to switch between suppliers,
with customers now able to expect a switch to be completed
within 12 working days. The first two days are for the new
17 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Transport & Travel
Changes are also planned to the rule for T-intersections. This
rule applies when there are conflicting right-turns at a Tintersection. Currently, the right-turning vehicle on the
terminating road (the base of the 'T') has priority over the
right-turning vehicle on the through road (the top of the 'T').
The change will require traffic from an uncontrolled
terminating road to give way to traffic on a through road.
More information is at www.saferjourneys.govt.nz
…New Rules for Motorcycles …
Recently announced moves to improve motorcycle and
moped safety include:
•
strengthening motorcycle licence tests and making them
more motorcycle specific;
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
•
removing the option for motorcyclists to complete an
approved driving course to reduce their time on a
restricted motorcycle licence, and introducing
motorcycle-specific training as an alternative to the
standard testing system;
•
requiring all novice motorcyclists, regardless of age, to
meet the same minimum time requirements at the
restricted licence stage;
•
requiring all moped riders to complete a moped-specific
basic handling skills test along with a motorcycle learner
theory test to obtain a new Class 6M licence (to be
phased in over three years);
•
introducing a power-to-weight restriction for novice riders
(there are now high-performance bikes that have low cc
ratings);
•
developing refresher training for returning riders; and
•
promoting the benefits of high-visibility and protective
clothing.
More is at: www.saferjourneys.govt.nz
…& New Driving Laws Bill
A recently-introduced Land Transport (Road Safety and other
Matters) Amendment Bill would (amongst other things):
•
raise the minimum driving age from 15 to 16;
•
provide for the NZ Transport Agency to strengthen the
restricted licence test;
•
allow police to take alcohol readings for research from all
drivers involved in fatal or serious injury crashes who
have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between.05
and.08*;
•
lower the youth drink drive limit for drivers under 20
years of age from BAC 0.03 to BAC zero;
•
impose a BAC zero limit on repeat drink drive offenders
for 3 years after they receive their licence back;
•
set up infringement offences and penalties for breaching
the zero drink drive limits;
•
allow Courts the option to require repeat or serious drink
drive offenders to use alcohol interlocks (these are fitted
to a car to prevent it starting if the driver has been
drinking);
•
increase penalties for dangerous driving causing death;
•
ban radar jammers; and
•
strengthen Police ability to investigate work time and
logbook breaches by commercial transport operators.
*50 milligrams and 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres
of blood, or 250 and 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of
breath.
Managing Highways: Report on
NZTA
The Auditor-General's latest report - “NZ Transport Agency:
Information and planning for maintaining and renewing the
state highway network” - says the NZ Transport Agency
(NZTA) had good information about the condition of roads on
the network and that it had a planning framework in place to
use this information for day-to-day maintenance and renewal
work. But, not all of NZTA’s information was complete or
accurate enough (particularly for structures such as bridges
and tunnels) to accurately plan and prioritise maintenance
and renewal work in the long term.
The report is available at http://www.oag.govt.nz/2010/nzta
Better Car Safety Info Coming
NZ motorists will be getting better safety information about
the cars they drive, following an announcement that the
Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) is to
change its vehicle safety ratings.
A five year “road-map” has been agreed to, and it includes
new crash test performance standards and safety assist
technology.
Changes include the raising of crash test performance
standards to incorporate pedestrian safety, and add whiplash
protection and roof strength into the overall star rating.
Minimum standards will be set for the life-saving safety assist
technology that will be progressively included in cars.
Examples are electronic stability control, daytime running
lights, emergency brake assist (when panic braking is
detected, this system automatically develops maximum brake
boost), collision avoidance, lane departure warnings, driver
fatigue systems, and intelligent speed assist (a GPS-tracking
system that automatically warns drivers when they exceed
their speed limit).
For a full list of ANCAP’s vehicle safety ratings, go to
http://www.aa.co.nz/motoring/owning/safety/crash-testresults/Pages/default.aspx. For more on vehicle safety features go to
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/choosing/features-prevent.html
August New Vehicle Sales Up
Recent registration information from the NZ Transport
Agency shows that sales of new vehicles in August were up
more than 7% compared to July, and a healthy 17% over the
same month last year. There were 4720 new passenger car
sales; 6% ahead of July and 7% ahead of August 2010.
There were 1717 commercial vehicle sales; 11% ahead of
July and 60% ahead of the same month last year.
For 2010 so far, there have been 14% more sales of new
passenger cars than in 2009, while commercial vehicle sales
are up 16% over the same period.
More is at www.transport.govt.nz
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 18
Top Stolen Cars
The ten cars stolen most frequently in NZ, based on
insurance theft claims received over the last four years are:
1. Nissan Silvia, 2. Honda Torneo, 3. Nissan Skyline, 4.
Subaru Impreza, 5. Subaru Forester, 6. Subaru Legacy, 7.
Nissan Presea, 8. Honda Prelude, 9. Honda Integra, 10.
Nissan Cefiro.
Car models where all or most of the vehicles are imported
second-hand make up the majority of those on the list, and
over 80 percent of the top stolen cars are more than 10 years
old (imported or older vehicles lack the latest security
features, such as electronic locking, alarms and
immobilisers).
Waterview Connection Board of
Inquiry
The NZ Transport Agency's proposal for the Waterview
Connection Project has been referred to an independent
Board of Inquiry under the new national consenting process.
The project, the largest infrastructure proposal that has ever
been lodged for consent, would link State Highway 20 and
State Highway 16, completing Auckland's Western Ring
Motorway. It is. It involves 5 km of new state highway
including tunnelling and surface roads, and reclamation of
tidal saltmarsh and marine space involving the Hauraki Gulf
and Motu Manawa (Pollen Island) Marine Reserve.
April 2011. The Bill also increases penalties for noncompliance and changes the licensing cycle changes from an
annual process to every five years, which will reduce
unnecessary costs and regulation.
A Complaints, Investigation and Prosecution Unit is to be
established in the Department of Internal Affairs to
investigate complaints and prosecute offences against the
Act.
Parliament
Electoral Commission Up &
Running
The new Electoral Commission, which takes over the
responsibilities of the Chief Electoral Office and the previous
Electoral Commission, began operation on 1 October. The
independent Crown entity is intended to be a one-stop shop
for all parliamentary electoral matters, including services to
electors, voters, political parties, candidates, Parliament, the
media, overseas electoral agencies, and international
institutions. It replaces the previous system where electoral
administration was divided between the Chief Electoral
Officer, the Electoral Commission, and the Chief Registrar of
Electors through the Electoral Enrolment Centre.
2011: Re-Enrolling Online
Justice/The Law
DNA Samples At Arrest Time
Under the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples)
Amendment Act, Police can now take a DNA sample from
anyone they intend to charge with offences punishable by
more than seven years' imprisonment, and offences with a
relationship to more serious offending (e.g., peeping –
relating to more serious sexual offending). Previously it was
only after conviction that DNA could be taken.
From the middle of next year police will be able to take DNA
samples for all imprisonable offences.
The DNA databank holds about 110,000 DNA profiles, more
that 8,000 of which are unidentified profiles from crime
scenes.
Licensing Bouncers/Security
Guards
An Electoral (Administration) Amendment Bill No.2 would
allow voters to re-enrol and make changes to their details
online using the “igovt” government logon service, run by the
Department of Internal Affairs. The changes would also
ensure that all electoral enrolment offences include Internetbased acts. They would take effect from the middle of next
year when the legislation is expected to be passed.
Currently, voters have to complete and sign a written form
when enrolling and making changes to their details.
A programme for full online enrolment will be developed after
next year's election and introduced in separate legislation.
New Associate Education
Minister
New Associate Education Minister, Rodney Hide will have
responsibility for special education, independent schools and
possible Public Private Partnerships for building and
maintaining some new school property.
Under the recently-passed Private Security Personnel and
Private Investigators Bill, the licensing system for people
working in private security is extended to include crowd
controllers such as bouncers in pubs and personal guards,
who will require a licence or a certificate of approval from 1
19 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Public Service/Local
Authorities
A Smaller Public Service
Latest figures from the State Services Commission show the
number of full-time equivalent staff positions in the core
government administration, as at 30 June 2010, at 36,771.
This is around 2,100 fewer than when the cap on core
government administration was imposed soon after the
election. The cap was set at 38,859 full time equivalent staff
from December 2008.
Council Spending:
“Mythbusting” Report…
Councils are spending less, both as a percentage of GDP,
and as a percentage of total public spending, a report by
Local Government NZ says. “Mythbusters: examining
common assumptions about local government in NZ” shows
local government spending as a proportion of GDP has
remained at around 3.1%, since local government reforms in
1989. The report also demonstrates while local government
spending as proportion of total public spending has increased
slightly since 2003, it has dropped a lot in the last 20 years,
from almost 15 percent to around 9 percent in 2007.
For the latest capping data see http://www.ssc.govt.nz/capping-data-to30june10
Mythbusters also looks at councils’ spending on non-core
activities pushing rates up. On average, councils spend just
18% on community services, compared to 44% on transport
and 29% on the “three waters”: storm, potable, and waste.
Crown Minerals Group Expands
Mythbusters is at
http://www.lgnz.co.nz/news/media_releases/pr1284524434.pdf
The Crown Minerals Group within the Ministry of Economic
Development is to be expanded and an advisory board from
the private sector will also be established to oversee it. The
increase in its capacity will be drawn from other Ministry of
Economic Development functions.
… & Local Authorities’
Investment Income
The Government says there are significant commercial
opportunities for NZ in mining but there are also complex
issues that will need to be dealt with, such as managing
exploration permits and joint ventures.
The Crown received $450 million in royalties from petroleum
in the 2009/10 financial year, and $540 million in 2008/9.
Treasury Gets Advice…
Recently, three company directors were appointed to
Treasury's new governance board set up to advise on its
strategic direction.
… & TPK Gets a Star
A government review panel recently praised the work of
Government agency Te Puni Kokiri (TPK). The agency
advises on whole of government interests, the full range of
policy functions, and it has a network of regional offices and
satellite units. It is also works on inter-agency projects, and is
accountable to a number of Ministers - and to many
stakeholders.
It has been described as being like a mini-government,
because every issue arising in NZ impacts on Maori - from
social issues to the economy, the environment, national
development, and international relations.
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Local authority statistics for the June 2010 quarter compared
with the March 2010 quarter show:
•
local authorities recorded an operating deficit of $20
million;
•
operating income increased 5.8% to $1.8 billion, driven
by rises in investment income and rates; and
•
operating spending increased 0.9% to $1.8 billion, driven
by rises in employee costs and interest expenditure.
The actual (not seasonally adjusted) deficit is $26 million.
EC: “Blank Pages” Decision
The Environment Court has found Kaipara District Council
created a “deliberate hiatus” in its legislated planning
obligations by failing to confront a local farmers’ lobby group
which opposed the council’s attempts to protect outstanding
landscapes in the area. It “took matters beyond breaking
point” in terms of any scope for a “rolling” approach to the
review of district plans.
The council had decided in November 2008 it wasn’t worth
ratepayers’ expense trying to fight the group, and forwarded
its draft district plan with a blank chapter on the issue. The
Environmental Defence Society argued this was a breach of
the Resource Management Act.
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 20
What Councils Should
Consider: Survey
Seriously Good Guide to
Fundraising
A nationwide ShapeNZ* pre-local body election survey
(commissioned) on issues NZers think local councils should
consider, shows:
The Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising, now on CD, offers
advice about: getting started with fundraising; planning an
event, getting sponsorship; choosing a fundraising product,
marketing and promotion; and applying for grants. It also
includes contact details for funders, and for both local and
national media. There is also a list of useful websites, and
ideas for fundraising activities.
•
crime is the biggest concern (80%); and
•
inefficiencies in local government concern 77% of people
nationwide.
NZers also rank the following as having a negative impact on
the places where they live:
•
high volumes of waste going to landfill - 74%;
•
ageing infrastructure (like sewage, stormwater, roads,
bridges) - 68%;
•
finding long term capital funding needed to build
infrastructure 65%;
•
mobility for people (ease of travel) 62%;
•
traffic congestion concerns 59% - but highest at 76% of
Aucklanders;
•
social and other deprivation 59%;
•
air pollution 58%; and
•
coastline at risk from development 57%.
More is at http://www.exult.co.nz/index.php?page=seriously To order a copy,
email [email protected]
VSA Volunteers: Short
Assignments, Too
VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) is adding a new kind of
assignment to its volunteering options – short-term
volunteering. Traditionally VSA assignments last for two
years. This is because it takes time for volunteers to develop
good relationships, get a good understanding of the context
in which they are working, and work with partner
organisations to develop something that is sustainable.
However, VSA has recognised that in some cases partner
organisations do not need the support of a long-term
volunteer, but rather short-term technical assistance.
* The survey was commissioned by the NZ Business Council
for Sustainable Development.
More information is at http://www.nzbcsd.org.nz/story.asp?id=1226
N-F-P Sector
Code of Funding Practice
Released
A voluntary The Code of Funding Practice has been
developed for government agencies and community
organisations that use public funds to benefit communities. It
offers advice on ways of working together to address issues
(e.g., managing risk, negotiating, monitoring etc) in a way
that demonstrates respect, transparency, open
communication, an understanding of the cultural context,
flexibility, accountability, and integrity.
The code fits with the Treasury’s contracting guidelines, and
the Office of the Auditor-General's good practice guide for
funding arrangements.
New Resources for Volunteer
Managers
The US-based Council for Certification in Volunteer
Administration has released a book titled Volunteer
Administration: Professional Practice. This examines the
principles which define the role and practice of managers and
leaders in volunteer engagement. Its sections cover five
competencies: volunteer administration - ethics,
organisational management, human resources management,
accountability, and leadership and advocacy.
“Volunteer Management: A Resource Manual” was also
recently published by Volunteering South Australia. It
presents many of the global issues and challenges
influencing the volunteer sector, and suggests ways to
address them.
For more on the “Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice” resource/to
order, go to www.cvacert.org. For more on “Volunteer Management: A
Resource Manual”/to order, contact Volunteering SA at
[email protected]
It is available at www.goodpracticefunding.govt.nz
21 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Blind Week 2010: 26 October to
1 November
This year the Royal NZ Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) will
be celebrating Blind Week - which raises much needed
donations to support the full range of vital services that
RNZFB provide. You can help - shake a bucket! All it takes is
two hours. RNZFB need thousands of helpers around the
country to sign up as a volunteers for the Blind Week 2010
street appeal.
To find out more go to the RNZFB website at www.rnzfb.org.nz
Business
Global Trade to Rise Faster
Following faster than expected recovery in global trade flows
so far in 2010, WTO economists have revised their projection
for world trade growth in 2010 upwards to 13.5% (the WTO's
March forecast was a 10% expansion in trade volumes). If
this happens it would be the fastest year-on-year expansion
of trade ever recorded in a data series going back to 1950.
But such a large growth rate needs to be understood in the
context of a severely depressed level of trade in 2009, when
world exports plunged by 12.2%.
The next fastest year-on-year growth was 11.8% in 1976,
one year after the then unprecedented decline of 7.3% in
1975.
More is at http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres10_e/pr616_e.htm
NZ’s Global Competitiveness
NZ is ranked 23rd out of 139 in the World Economic Forum’s
annual Global Competitiveness Report, down from 20th last
year. The index is made up of features in three main areas:
the basics; efficiency; and business sophistication and
innovation.
NZ continues to perform strongly on the basics, ranking 14th
overall, with high world rankings in institutions; health and
primary education. However, the infrastructure ranking is low
at 37th, with electricity, road, rail, and mobile telephone
subscriptions being areas with relatively poor rankings.
Efficiency performance is not quite as strong, with NZ ranking
18th overall. While NZ’s market efficiencies (goods, financial
and labour markets) and higher education and training rank
in the top 13 economies, “technological readiness” is an area
of relative weakness. The “extent that foreign direct
investment brings new technology into the country” is an area
of particularly poor performance (59th).
Improving performance in innovation and business
sophistication remains the greatest challenge for NZ. NZ’s
ranks below 50th of 139 countries for the “value chain
breadth of exporting companies”, “state of cluster
development”, availability of scientists and engineers, the
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
“competitive advantage in international markets of more
unique products and processes”, Government purchase of
advanced technical products, and the quantity of local
suppliers.
More is at
http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/gcp/Global%20Competitiveness%20Repo
rt/index.htm
IP Rights: Global Demand
Innovative activity and demand for intellectual property (IP)
rights declined at the height of the global economic crisis, but
began to recover this year, the United Nations agency
charged with protecting inventions, trademarks, industrial
designs, and copyright said in a recent report. The report by
the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation also
discusses how the uncertainty associated with the crisis led
companies to readjust their innovation strategies.
More is at http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2010/article_0029.html
Business Income in 2009
According to Statistics NZ, total income for all NZ businesses
increased by 0.4%, to $569.2 billion in the 2009 financial year
(there was 7.3% rise in total income in 2008).
In 2009, income from sales of goods and services increased
by 1.4%, to $487.8 billion (compared with an 8.2% rise in
2008). By total income, the manufacturing industry showed
the largest increase, up by $4.6 billion (5.0%) to $95.8 billion
in 2009. The financial and insurance services industry
showed the largest decline in total income, decreasing $6.1
billion (7.5%) to $74.3 billion in 2009.
Total business surplus before income tax decreased to $36.1
billion in 2009, down $13.7 billion (27.5%) from the 2008
financial year. This was a result of total spending increasing
at a higher level than total sales in 2009.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/businesses/business_finance/Annual
-Enterprise-Survey_MR09.aspx
Terms of Trade: Rise Continues
The merchandise terms of trade rose 2.1% in the June 2010
quarter, due to export prices (up 3.8%) rising more than
import prices (up 1.7%). The latest quarterly rise compares
with increases of 6.1% in the March 2010 quarter and 5.8%
in the December 2009 quarter. The terms of trade are now
3.0% lower than when they reached a 34-year high in the
March 2008 quarter.
The latest rise in the terms of trade means that in the June
2010 quarter, 2.1% more merchandise imports could be
funded by a fixed quantity of merchandise exports than in the
March 2010 quarter.
In the year to the June 2010 quarter, the merchandise terms
of trade increased 12.7%, the largest annual increase since a
14.7% increase in the year to the June 1979 quarter. The
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 22
latest increase follows a 13.5% decrease in the year to the
June 2009 quarter.
Modest GDP Growth
Economic activity, as measured by gross domestic product
(GDP), increased 0.2% in the June 2010 quarter. A 4.0%
decrease in the manufacturing industry offset nearly all the
growth this quarter. By industry, the largest contributors to
the increase in economic activity in the June 2010 quarter
were:
•
construction, up 6.4%, the largest increase since the
September 2003 quarter; and
•
finance, insurance, and business services, up 0.5%, due
to real estate and business services.
The largest decline was in food, beverage, and tobacco
manufacturing.
GDP for the year ended June 2010 was up 0.7% when
compared to the year ended June 2009. This annual increase
in GDP is the first since the year ended September 2008.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/GDP/GrossDo
mesticProduct_MRJun10qtr.aspx
NZ Tech Exports on the Rise
NZ's technology exports could conceivably challenge the
dominance of the dairy sector, according to Technology
Investment Network (TIN) latest TIN100 report, a study of
NZ’s largest (by revenue) globally focused technology
companies. The tech sectors defined in the report include
high tech manufacturing, ICT, and biotechnology.
TIN100 companies had total revenues in 2010 of $6.7 billion
and $4.9 billion of exports. This compares to dairy exports of
$8.2 billion for the same period.
High Angel Investing Levels
According to the latest Young Company Finance Index, there
have been record high levels of angel investment* activity in
the first half of 2010, with $31.6 million invested by angel
investors into young companies. Of that 31.6 million, $13.4
million was into first round investments, with $18.2 million
going to follow-on investments. In the year to 30 June 2010,
$52.2 million was invested, eclipsing last year’s previous
record high for a June year of 42.7 million.
*An angel investor or angel (also known as a business angel
or informal investor) is a person who provides capital for a
business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or
ownership equity.
Service Sector Activity
Improving
Activity in the service industry improved slightly in August,
according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Services
Index (PSI). The PSI for August was 51.4, up 1.0 point from
July, and the second highest August result since the survey
began (although well off the peak of 58.4 in 2007). A PSI
reading above 50.0 indicates that the service sector is
generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining. The
average PSI value for 2008 was 49.1, while for 2009 it was
48.8. So far, the average score for 2010 is 53.6.
Doing Business in China
Gifts and gift-giving are an important part of creating and
building relationships in China and expressing friendship.
But, there are gifts to be avoided including:
•
For more information on the Technology Investment Network and the TIN100
go to www.tinetwork.co.nz
clocks - the pronunciation of the words “to give a clock”
sounds similar to a phrase that means “sending
someone to the grave”;
•
gifts in sets of four - the number four is considered
very unlucky, as the word is pronounced similarly to the
word for death;
Are You a Born Entrepreneur?
•
knives or scissors - symbolise conflict;
A successful entrepreneur has certain traits that contribute to
making him or her successful.
•
items such as straw sandals or handkerchiefs associated with funeral; and
He or she: focuses on solutions and not problems; takes
responsibility instead of blaming others; finds opportunities in
crisis and refrains from complaining; enjoys being in the
present and learns from the past; makes promises and keeps
them no matter what; focuses on achieving rather than
making excuses; listens well and does not try to talk at every
chance; faces fear accepts it and takes the plunge; is actionoriented; learns from failure; knows how to plan and set
goals; believes that personal development is a priority; is
humble; is a hard worker; always is ready and leaves nothing
to fate; is a leader and not a follower; believes in
himself/herself; has passion for what he/she is involved in;
and always gives more than he/she takes.
•
fans - the Chinese pronunciation of 'fan' can also mean
“to lose” and “death”.
23 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (MFAT) has pointers to business
etiquette in China at http://www.nzte.govt.nz/explore-export-markets/NorthAsia/Doing-business-in-China/culturelanguage/Pages/etiquette.aspx?WT.mc_id=ExportNews_220910
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Most Reputable NZ
Organisations
Anti-Bribery and Corruption
Guide
A recent survey conducted by Hay Group in association with
NZ Management magazine asked business leaders to rate
the reputation of companies, state owned enterprises,
government departments and not-for-profit organisations.
Rated most highly in each of these sectors were homegrown
organisations Air NZ, Kiwibank, NZ Police and the Salvation
Army, with Air NZ rated NZ's single most reputable
organisation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has
published a guide to help businesses combat bribery and
corruption in offshore markets. MFAT advises companies
planning to enter a new market, or which are reviewing
operating strategy in an existing market, to:
•
have a clear policy against bribery;
•
A good reputation takes time and genuine commitment, and
needs consistent effort to protect it. It is about building and
maintaining organisational trust and confidence. Results:
conduct due diligence* of possible or existing
partners/agents;
•
have procedures for dealing with corrupt situations that
encourage it being disclosed; and
•
NZ's Most Reputable Overall rating: 1 Air NZ; 2
Fonterra; 3 Fletcher Building; 4 Beca; and 5 Kiwibank;
•
carry out regular internal audits of procedures and how
they’re working.
•
Companies: 1 Air NZ; 2 Fonterra; 3 Beca; 4 Fletcher
Building; and 5 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare;
•
SOEs: 1 Kiwibank; 2 NZ Post; 3 Air NZ; 4 Meridian
Energy; and 5= Genesis Energy, and Solid Energy.
Government Departments: 1 NZ Police; 2 Department of
Conservation; 3 Treasury; 4 Inland Revenue
Department; and 5 NZ Customs Service; and
* Due diligence is the process of evaluating a prospective
business decision by getting information about the financial,
legal, and other material (important) aspects of the other
party. It is a way of making sure that someone is what they
say they are and can do what they claim (e.g., does the
product really work, do they really have customers, etc).
•
Not-for-profits: 1 Salvation Army; 2 Cancer Society of
NZ; 3 Plunket; 4 Southern Cross Healthcare Group; and
5=: Royal NZ Foundation for the Blind, National Heart
Foundation of NZ, and Royal NZ SPCA.
More information in the Combating Bribery and Corruption section of the MFAT
website at http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Trade-and-Economic-Relations/1-Marketaccess/0-bribery-and-corruption.php
Money Matters
Best Global Brands
Interbrand has released its 11th annual ranking of the 100
“Best Global Brands.” For the 11th year straight, Coca-Cola
retains its top spot as the number one ranked brand on the
list, a position the company has held since the ranking list
began in 1999. Google (at 4) sees a 36% increase in value
over last year, bringing the company closer than ever to rival
Microsoft (3), while Hewlett-Packard (HP) (10) enters the top
10 for the first time.
The top 10 international brands are: 1. Coca-Cola; 2. IBM; 3.
Microsoft; 4. Google; 5. GE; 6. McDonald's; 7. Intel; 8. Nokia;
9. Disney; 10. HP. There are three key aspects that
contribute to how each brand is rated: the financial
performance of the branded products or services, the role of
brand in the purchase decision process, and the strength of
the brand.
The 2010 Best Global Brands is available in full, along with expanded content
and methodology, on Interbrand.com at http://www.thebestglobalbrands.com
Canterbury Quake: Economic
Effects
According to recent information from Westpac, the latest
estimates put the cost of the earthquake at around $4 billion
or 2.1% of national GDP. The damage could be made up of:
•
$2 billion to residential land, property, and contents;
•
$1 billion for commercial and industrial property damage;
•
$1 billion for council and government infrastructure.
The economic impact on business will be diverse. Smaller
firms (particularly in retail and wholesale services, and real
estate and businesses services), and those that have no
immediate ability to relocate functions, will be particularly
hard hit. Large firms have reported fairly limited disruption to
their activities and export capacity doesn't appear to have
been affected too badly.
There will be a big lift in activity in the Canterbury region over
the next couple of years as the region works toward restoring
its capital stock. Regional GDP will be lifted as economic
activity recovers, and the stimulus from rebuilding and
replacement of contents continues.
More is at
http://www.westpac.co.nz/olcontent/olcontent.nsf/content/FM_Bulletin_2010092
2B/$FILE/Potential_financial_impacts_of_the_Canterbury_earthquakes.pdf
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 24
New Foreign Investment
Rules…
The Government has made two changes to Overseas
Investment Act regulations (but not to the Act itself) in a move
aimed at improving Ministerial ability to respond to economic
concerns about foreign investment (e.g., large-scale
ownership of farmland). They include:
•
a new "economic interests" test allowing Ministers to
check whether NZ's economic interests are adequately
safeguarded and promoted; and
•
a new "mitigating" test enabling Ministers to check
whether an overseas investment provides opportunities
for NZ oversight or involvement – e.g., by appointing NZ
directors or establishing a head office in this country.
As well, a Ministerial directive letter from the Finance Minister
to the Overseas Investment Office (OIO) will advise the OIO
about parts of the benefit test that are likely to be more (or
less) important in assessing particular types of investments.
The “strategic asset test” used to block the foreign purchase
of Auckland International Airport Ltd. in 2008 will be retained
on the grounds that removing it would reduce flexibility when
dealing with investment applications for sensitive land.
The changes are expected to take effect from December, and
they’ll apply to applications received after that.
… & Latest Foreign Investment
Figures
The combined value of foreign investment in NZ from Japan
and the United States was $9.4 billion lower at 31 March
2010 than a year earlier, Statistics NZ said recently. Along
with lower investment from Singapore, this contributed to a
1.8% fall in foreign investment in NZ in the March 2010 year,
down to $288.6 billion at 31 March 2010. Over the same
time, the value of NZ's investment abroad remained relatively
stable.
Australia remains NZ’s main investment partner. At 31 March
2010, the level of Australian investment in NZ reached
$100.0 billion for the first time, accounting for 34.6% of total
investment. Australia also accounts for 28.4% of NZ's
investment abroad.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/balance_of_pay
ments/BalanceOfPaymentsYearEnded_MRYe31Mar10.aspx
Economic Outlook Positive
(Just): NZIER
The NZIER Consensus Forecasts are an average of NZ
economic forecasts compiled from a survey of financial and
economic agencies. In the September consensus forecast
the growth outlook remains positive - no double-dip recession
- but the outlook is a little less optimistic than in June. Interest
rates will rise gradually over the next two years, but less
sharply than previously to support the economic recovery.
25 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Not all forecasters have incorporated the possible effects of
the Canterbury earthquake. Latest Treasury estimates
suggest around $4 billion of building and infrastructure
damage, but it is unclear how much and over what time
period the reconstruction will take place.
Economists on average expect positive economic growth in
2011 (2.8%, down from 3.2% in the June survey) and 2012
(3.1%, down from 3.3%). But the outlook for March 2013 is
soft at 2.6%. Revisions over the past quarter diverged
sharply, reflecting a shallow recovery and uncertainties
following the Canterbury earthquake.
Consumer price inflation will spike due to GST and other
policy changes, peaking at 4.7% in March 2011. Excluding
one-off effects the inflation rate will be 1.9% and 2.4% in
March 2011 and March 2012. Personal tax cuts will
compensate households for these one-off price increases,
but inflation pressures will erode 80%-90% of wage gains
over the next two years. The labour market outlook remains
soft, with the unemployment rate set to trend down from 6.2%
in the March 2011 year to 5.3% by March 2013.
Forecasters' views on the NZ dollar (NZD) range from hitting
new highs to easing back towards 2003 levels. On average
moderate exchange rate variations are expected before the
NZD dips in 2013. An appreciating exchange rate has
reduced the cost of imports, but also export incomes.
The NZIER consensus forecasts are at
http://www.nzier.org.nz/Site/Publications/Consensus_forecasts.aspx
New Financial Advisors’ Code…
A new Code of Professional Conduct for Authorised Financial
Advisers has been approved and the Commissioner for
Financial Advisers will now decide when the code can come
into effect.
The Financial Advisers Act and Financial Service Providers
Act, which will be fully in force by July next year, require all
financial service providers - including financial advisers - to
be on a public register and, if they provide retail services, to
belong to an approved dispute resolution scheme.
The Code of Professional Conduct establishes 18 standards
to ensure all authorised financial advisers meet the minimum
standards for ethical behaviour, client care, knowledge, skills
and competence, and continuing professional development.
The code its at http://www.financialadvisercode.govt.nz/
… &Banking Ombudsman
Expands Role
The Banking Ombudsman Scheme* has been approved as a
dispute resolution scheme. It will cater for all banks and their
subsidiaries, as well as non-bank deposit takers that: are
regulated by the Reserve Bank; have minimum credit ratings
of BB; and have high quality internal complaints resolution
standards and processes.
Approved disputes resolution schemes must be accessible,
independent, fair, accountable, efficient, and effective.
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
* The Banking Ombudsman provides an independent and
free dispute resolution service available to anyone who wants
to resolve a complaint about a bank and has not been able to
do so by contacting the bank.
For more information, visit www.bankomb.org.nz
mortgages, most of the debt is owed to government
departments, finance company loans, bank loans, and courts.
NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services member budget services cover all
of NZ and provide free, confidential, non-judgemental advice to anyone. If you
would like to visit a budget service, visit www.familybudgeting.org.nz, call 0508
BUDGETLINE (283 438) or look in your local white pages under budget advice
services
Kiwis & Credit…
Latest data from credit bureau Veda Advantage shows Kiwis
continuing to retreat from credit but they’re trying hard to pay
off debt. Other findings include:
•
as at the end of August 2010 credit inquiries were down
10.85% year on year;
•
there was a 14.94% increase in numbers defaulting in
August 2010 compared with the same month last year;
•
consumers continue to turn their backs on credit cards
(inquiries down 23.95% compared with August 2009);
•
customers instead are choosing to use debit cards;
•
August 2010 applications for hire purchase were down
6.69% on August 2009; and
•
consumers who have in the past used HP for purchases
now using personal loans with inquiries up 7.58% last
month compared with August 2009.
… Kiwis & Savings…
Gambling in 2009
Despite a modest fall in the amount Kiwis spent on gambling
in 2009 ($2.028 billion), demand for Salvation Army problem
gambling treatment services jumped 16% in that year. Casual
gamblers deciding gambling is a luxury they can’t afford may
explain the lower gambling spending. On the other hand, it’s
more likely problem gamblers facing the stresses of the
recession are looking to find an escape through gambling,
which may go some way in explaining the rising demand on
the Sallies’ services.
August Export Values Up
August 2010 export values were $405 million (15%) higher
than August 2009. The total value of goods exported for
August 2010 was $3.2 billion. As in recent months, dairy
products were again the main contributor to the increase in
export values, due to higher prices.
The latest RaboDirect savings and investment survey shows
46% of NZers are not saving – in contrast to Australia where
a similar survey indicated 9% are not saving. According to
the bank, people are paying off debt, spending, or they don’t
have any money left over at the end of the month – this is
apparently true for 30% of NZers.
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/imports_and_export
s/OverseasMerchandiseTrade_MRAug10.aspx
In addition, over the past four years RaboDirect has been
tracking Kiwi’s savings and investment priorities, looking at
the different aspects people think about when choosing
where to put their money. The first survey in 2007, done just
before the collapse of a major NZ finance company, showed
high interest was the number one priority for most people
(72%), with just 30% considering security when investing.
However, the 2010 survey shows a different set of priorities,
with security of money coming first (73%) and high interest
rate second (52%). Fees and charges ranked third (47%),
followed by access to money (46%) and the reputation of the
financial institution (39%).
Super Govt Super Returns
Read more at http://www.rabobank.co.nz/News-and-Events/MediaReleases/Pages/Media-Releases.aspx
Housekeeper Tax Credits
… & Kiwis & Debt
Information from the NZ Federation of Family Budgeting
Services indicates that in the July 2009 to June 2010 year the
average Kiwi seeking budget advice has a debt of $32,670,
up from $25,913 (around 26 percent) in the previous year. Of
that, nearly $5,000 (per client). is overdue. Aside from
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
The Government Superannuation Fund has returned an
after-tax surplus of $285 million for the year to 30 June 2010
- a 10.4% return on average net assets. The surplus beforetax was $383 million, or 14.3% on average net assets.
More about the figures is at http://www.gsfa.govt.nz/library/23bf2a79-097042f4-bdcf-0df2cad547a7.cmr
You can claim a housekeeper tax credit from Inland
Revenue, if you have receipts to show you paid for a
housekeeper, because you or your spouse/partner were
disabled or physically unable to look after the home. You can
claim the lesser of: 33% of the total payments you’ve made,
or $310 ($940 x33%), or 33% of your taxable income.
More is at http://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax-individual/tax-credits/dchtaxcredits/
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 26
Insurance/Mortgage Advisers’
Authorisation
Cabinet has agreed that regulations be developed to allow
insurance advisers and mortgage brokers to be voluntarily
authorised under legislation covering financial advisers.
A number of changes were recently made to the Financial
Advisers Act earlier this year to clarify that people providing
advice solely on insurance or credit products were not
required to be authorised. The changes meant insurance
advisers and mortgage brokers were not able to voluntarily
register.
Auditing the Auditors: Bill
An Auditor Regulation and External Reporting Bill recently
introduced to Parliament would require the Institute of
Chartered Accountants to regulate auditors as a specialist
profession, rather than as chartered accountants. Currently,
any chartered accountant holding a Certificate of Public
Practice can carry out audits as long as they think they are
competent to do so, and no audit-related restrictions have
been placed on them.
The Bill also provides for the proposed Financial Markets
Authority to be responsible for auditor oversight in monitoring
and reporting on the adequacy and effectiveness of the
institute's systems.
Financial Markets/Kiwisaver Bill
A Financial Markets (Regulators and KiwiSaver) Bill would
formally establish the Financial Markets Authority. It also
deals with governance and management of retail KiwiSaver
schemes.
The Kiwibank changes are aimed at making sure that fund
managers act in the best interests of investors. They would
make managers primarily responsible for the accuracy of
their prospectus, investment statement, and advertisements.
They would also require trustees to be responsible for
supervising managers and making sure they comply with
trust deeds and other responsibilities. KiwiSaver trustees
would come under the proposed Securities Trustees and
Statutory Supervisors Bill, which is before Parliament, and
they would need to be licensed by the Financial Markets
Authority.
At this stage, the changes will not apply to existing non-retail
KiwiSaver schemes - that is, employer-based and other
vocational-based schemes - or non-KiwiSaver
superannuation schemes.
Internet can help eradicate poverty, educate people, sustain
the environment, and create healthier populations.
Participants from governments, international organizations,
the private sector, civil society and the Internet community
explored ways Internet can benefit people, considering
issues of security, openness and privacy, access and
diversity, Internet governance for development and critical
Internet resources, the emerging issue of "cloud computing”.
The aim now is to identify the barriers that prevent
stakeholders from using the Internet for development and
suggest ways to remove them.
Some 1.8 billion people are now using the Internet, according
to the International Telecommunications Union with a sharp
increase in all regions over the past few years. There has
also been an increase in the use of mobile broadband in
developing countries, where around 60 percent of people
have cellular telephones.
The Millennium Development Goals are at http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/,
and more on the International Telecommunications Union is at
http://www.itu.int/en/pages/default.aspx
Net Addicts – Even on Holiday!
In a survey of over 500 NZers, Expedia.co.nz found that 13%
of Kiwis access the internet up to as much as five times a day
when on holiday, while 24% say they access the internet at
least daily. Those on an internet-free holiday are in the
minority, with only 18% refraining from using the internet at
all when on holiday.
The top five reasons for checking the internet when on
holidays, according to the survey are: to keep in touch with
family and friends; to check bank balance; to check the news;
as a travel guide for the destination; and for status updates
on Facebook and Twitter.
Another interesting finding is that 31% of Kiwi men say they
use the internet on holiday to manage and respond to work
emails compared to 20% NZ women.
More is on the new Expedia Press Centre at http://press.expedia.co.nz/
Work/Play in The Cloud.
Files now fly free. Up until recently documents have had to
be stored on our own computers, and to show them we’ve
needed to go there to retrieve them. The following services
are "in the cloud", and all of them make it much easier to
access your files over the Internet any time from wherever
you are:
•
if you upload photos to Flickr you can share them with
certain people or the whole world, and you can look at
them from any computer that's connected to the Internet;
•
if you make videos you could upload them to You Tube,
and share them or look at them however you like;
•
you could use Google Docs for word processing,
spreadsheets and presentations, or a service such as
Xero for accounts;
Internet/ICT
UN: Internet Governance Forum
The United Nations urged people at its recent Internet
Governance Forum to “harness the many ways in which the
Internet can help in attaining the Millennium Development
Goals” on poverty, hunger, disease and other ills. It says the
27 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
•
software such as Evernote not only runs as an
application on your Mac, Windows PC, Blackberry,
iPhone or other devices, but you can also access the
notes you create through a web page; and
•
the Dropbox service lets you setup a folder on your
computer whose files are automatically synchronised
with any other computer you choose. Those same files
are also available through a secure web page. Dropbox
also lets you go back to see older versions of our files.
That's very handy if you accidentally save changes you
didn't mean to make.
Most of these services are free.
(Adapted with thanks from a CommunityNet Aotearoa article)
Free Online Community
Directory: 2CU
The NZ Communities Web Enhancement Trust (CWET)
wants every service in any NZ community to be found on the
web, easily, and quickly. It is developing an easily searchable
online community directory of all services in each community
- from government, private foundation, charitable trust or
other non-profit organisation, to every commercially funded
activity (regardless of how those services are funded).
The CWET is a registered charity and does not believe that
anyone other than the provider of a service has any claim to
ownership of service data. It merely stores it for people so
that they only have to update the information in one place. It
then becomes available to everyone in the community.
Note that if you are a charity with limited funds, and need
web presence so your community knows how to find you, you
can use 2CU.
To find out more, visit: http://www.2cu.co.nz
Youth Privacy in the Facebook
Age
Concern about young people using Facebook and Twitter all
the time, and putting personal information online, has led to a
youth group (supported by the Privacy Commissioner) to
produce an educational kit about online privacy for other
students to use. Aimed at secondary schools, the kit includes
a short film, posters, brochures, guidance notes for
presenters, privacy stories, activities and a quiz.
More information is at www.privacy.org.nz/youth
Broadband Rollout’s Shortshort List
In the first stage of the roll-out of UFB (broadband) Crown
Fibre Holdings has shortlisted 14 parties and has selected
three of them for early negotiations. The three are: Alpine
Energy (Timaru); the Central North Island Fibre Consortium
(Hamilton - including Cambridge and Te Awamutu Tauranga, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Hawera and
Tokoroa); and Northpower (Whangarei).
If binding offers are concluded with these parties the roll-out
of UFB should begin before the end of the year. The
remaining shortlisted parties will continue in the partner
selection process.
Online Discussion On Diversity
The Victoria University of Wellington Centre for Applied
Cross-cultural Research (CACR) recently launched a website
devoted to promote discussion of diversity issues, particularly
the report they have produced for the Human Rights
Commission on discrimination against Asian Kiwis.
The website is at http://issues.co.nz/diversityissues/
NZ’s 111 Service: Agreement
The reliability of the 111 service is the main focus of a
recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between Telecom and the Crown. The MOU brings together
the main elements of Telecom's 111 roles into one
agreement, clarifies Telecom's responsibilities, and sets out
how it reports to Government.
The next step will be to decide on long-term arrangements for
the 111 service. These will be developed by the Crown in
consultation with emergency service providers,
telecommunications industry service providers, and Telecom.
The MOU is available on the Ministry of Economic Development’s website at
http://www.med.govt.nz/templates/ContentTopicSummary____44002.aspx
A Wee Handful of Sites
Everything you wanted to know about the local authority
elections (both council and DHB) – including the fact that you
only have until 9 October to vote in them – is at
http://www.elections2010.co.nz/. Just type in your address
and it will all come to you… but hurry
Haven’t we all wondered if we see the same exact shade of
colour? Here is one way to test your skills; X-Rite’s Colour IQ
Test – at
http://www.xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 28
The Five Books website gives book recommendations. Every
day an eminent writer, thinker, commentator, politician, or
academic chooses five books on their specialist subject. The
site is at http://fivebooks.com/
If you’re interested in connecting with independent service
providers and freelancers for services like web design,
software, writing, data entry, through to engineering and the
sciences, sales & marketing, and accounting & legal services
take a look at http://www.freelancer.co.nz. You post a project
and freelancers from around the world start bidding within
minutes. The average project is under $200, and starts at
$30. Recent completed projects include redesign of a website
and addition of a shopping cart (22 bids, $891 average),
writing of a business plan for a country club (20 bids, $288
average) and design of a drive train for a remote control car
(18 bids, $137 average).
ownership of taonga tuturu found in that space, and
ownership of non-Crown minerals.
The foreshore and seabed/marine and coastal area includes
the “wet"' part of the beach that is covered by the ebb and
flow of the tide as well as the seabed, but not the dry part of
the beach. It reaches to the outer limits of the territorial sea
(12 nautical miles from shore), and also includes the air
space and water space above the land, and the subsoil and
bedrock below it.
Ex-Gratia Payment: Unfair
Rents
A quick guide to “Networking 101” (plus 15 good freelance
networking strategies) - as well as some good comments
from readers - can be found at
http://freelancefolder.com/networking-101/
An ex-gratia payment has been made to the Ngati Rarua
Atiawa Iwi Trust for the management of the Whakarewa land
around Motueka. The land was formerly administered by the
Whakarewa School Board on an imposed perpetual leasing
system, which saw less than fair rentals being received by
the Maori owners.
The Police’s latest set of National, District and Area statistics
relating to crime and Police activity is at
http://www.police.govt.nz/service/monthly-statistics
The payment (which is not a Treaty settlement) is on the
basis of the Crown's recognition of the rental losses incurred
by the Ngati Rarua Atiawa Iwi Trust.
The US dairy industry has completed a life-cycle analysis for
a gallon of milk as part of a carbon-footprint study designed
to help producers shave 25% off emissions by 2020, and
you’ll find it at
http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/09/24/dairy-industry-and2-percentsolution?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_c
ampaign=Feed%3A+ClimateBiz+%28ClimateBiz.com%29
Treaty Matters
Marine & Coastal Area Bill
A Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Bill has been
introduced to Parliament. It would replace the Foreshore and
Seabed Act 2004, applies to the foreshore and seabed. The
Bill provides for:
•
a common space - the common marine and coastal
area;
•
guarantees free public access in this area;
•
does not affect private titles in the area;
•
guarantees existing rights for navigation, ports, fishing,
and aquaculture;
•
•
provides for the recognition of the customary rights of
Maori in the marine and coastal area to be recognised,
including the right to go to the High Court to seek
customary marine title for areas iwi and hapu have used
and occupied exclusively;
customary marine title would be subject to the right of
public access, would not be able to be sold; and gives
rights to permit activities requiring a resource consent,
some conservation activities, protection of wahi tapu,
29 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Arts & Culture
Whitcoulls Top 100 Books
Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy won this competition by
thousands of votes, displacing Tolkien's Lord of the Rings
trilogy (in the top four for 12 years). Stephanie Meyer's
Twilight saga, was second while Audrey Niffenegger's The
Time Traveller's Wife came third.
Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones is at No 10 and J K
Rowling's Harry Potter And The Deathly Hollows at No 11.
Rowling has five of her Harry Potter series featured in the
2010 Top 100. Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, is down to
No 14. Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, is still on the list at
No 56.
Several NZ authors are on the list: Alison Wong’s As the
Earth Turns Silver at 42, Nicky Pellegrino’s Recipe For Life –
at 62, Lloyd Jones' Mister Pip at 73”
The list includes classics such as Harper Lee's To Kill A
Mockingbird (No 9), Jung Chang's Wild Swans (No 58), J D
Salinger's Catcher In The Rye (No 59) and Sebastian Faulks'
Birdsong (No 68).
The Bible is down from No 15 to 23 while Jane Austen's
Pride And Prejudice is at 7, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights
at 53, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre at 72.
New arrivals include Jamie Oliver's Jamie Does... at No 13,
Justin Cronin's The Passage (No 15) and Andre Agassi's
autobiography Open at No 18.
Exiting the list after 10 years are the Edmonds Cookery
Book, The God Of Small Things, and The Shipping News.
The list is at www.whitcoulls.co.nz
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Translating NZ Literature:
Grants
•
the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for the orange roughy
fishery on the Chatham Rise will be reduced by 3,510
tonnes, from 8,350 to 4,840 tonnes (fish numbers have
continued to decrease);
A new translation grant scheme administered by the
Publishers Association of NZ (PANZ) will contribute up to 50
percent of the translation of NZ literature into other languages
(up to a maximum of $5000).
•
the commercial catch of hoki will move from 110,000 to
120,000 tonnes (the hoki stock will continue to grow
even with the 10,000 tonne increase);
•
catch for the stargazer (monkfish) on the South Island’s
west coast increased from 1,000 to 1,072 tonnes;
•
rubyfish catch around the Chatham Islands has
increased from 6 to 19 tonnes;
•
black cardinalfish catch off the North Island’s east and
south coast has been reduced from 1,780 to 1,120
tonnes;
•
the catch limit for the Coromandel scallop fishery has an
in-season increase from 48 tonnes to 154 tonnes, with
commercial catch limits increasing from 22 to 100
tonnes, and allocations for the recreational and Maori
customary non-commercial sectors increasing from 7.5
tonnes to 10 tonnes each;
•
two bladder kelp fisheries now under the Quota
Management System (QMS) have catch limits of 1,238
tonnes (South Island), and 274 tonnes (Chatham
Islands); and
•
Patagonian toothfish, also now part of the QMS, have a
catch limit of 50 tonnes.
The scheme was developed in response to 2009 research by
the NZ Book Council which found that the leading
international models for promoting a country's literature
focused on a translation grant scheme.
An online application process and the quarterly 2011 deadlines are on the
PANZ website at
http://bpanz.org.nz/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=193&I
temid=53
Diwali Festival
Diwali Festival of Lights gives the Indian communities here
the opportunity to share this much-loved cultural tradition with
the rest of NZ. Free Diwali celebrations take place in
Wellington on 24 October and in Auckland on 30-31 October.
To celebrate the festival a Diwali photo competition is calling
for entries - send us your best loved images of India for a
chance to see them included in the exhibition.
More is at http://www.asianz.org.nz/our-work/arts-andcommunity/festivals/diwali-festival-lights
NZ’s Cans Film Festival
On 10 November (from 5pm) Hoyts Cinemas, Event
Cinemas, Reading Cinemas and independent cinemas
across NZ will celebrate the Watties Cans Film Festival.
A can of food is the ticket to a night out at the movies on 10
November - to a family blockbuster, such as Despicable Me,
Karate Kid or Cats and Dogs 2. Watties will match each can
donated with one of its own, and all cans go to The Salvation
Army.
Details re at http://www.watties.co.nz/Promotions/Wattie-s-Cans-Film-Festival
For more go to http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/default.htm
Kahawai Catch Limits: No
Change
Catch limits have been set for NZ’s largest kahawai fishery
starting on 1 October 2010 (covering an area from North
Cape to near East Cape - known as KAH1). A technical
adjustment has been made to the total catch limit and to
recreational and customary Maori allowances. However,
nothing will change on the water: there will be no change to
recreational fishing rules, daily bag limits, or commercial
catch limits.
The final advice paper on this decision is available at www.fish.govt.nz
Fish & Ships
Commercial Catch Limits
Changes
The following changes have been made to commercial
fishing catch limits from 1 October:
•
the orange roughy fishery on the Challenger Plateau off
the north-west coast of the South Island will reopen with
a conservative catch limit of 500 tonnes (it’s been closed
for the last decade);
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Charter Boats: Fish Catch
Reports
Operators of amateur charter fishing boats will need to have
registered their boats with the Ministry of Fisheries (MFish)
by1 November 2010. After that they will be required to report
fishing activity and catches of certain high value fish species
such as kingfish and rock lobster, in various parts of the
country to MFish. MFish says the reporting will help improve
knowledge about NZ’s fisheries.
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 30
More is at http://www.fish.govt.nz/ennz/Recreational/Amateur+Charter+Vessel+Reporting/default.htm
The animals most commonly used were rodents, farm
animals, birds and fish.
Science/Technology
All research, testing or teaching involving live animals in NZ
must be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee (AEC).
When seeking approval for projects, researchers are required
to demonstrate how they will minimise effects on the animals.
IG Noble Awards: Improbable
Science
These awards are handed out by the Annals of Improbable
Research magazine for silly sounding scientific discoveries
that often have surprisingly practical applications. This year’s
award winners:
•
Physics: Dunedin doctors - who carried out a study
which showed wearing socks outside shoes reduced the
chances of slipping on ice;
•
Biology: researchers from China and the UK - who
examined how fruit bats prolong sex;
•
Transportation Planning: Japanese and UK
researchers - for using slime mould to determine the
optimal routes for railroad tracks;
•
Peace: British researchers - for confirming the widely
held belief that swearing relieves pain;
•
Public Health: US researchers - for determining by
experiment that microbes cling to bearded scientists;
•
Chemistry: to US scientists, and BP - for disproving the
old belief that oil and water don't mix;
Copies of NAEAC Annual Reports are available at
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/regs/animal-welfare/naeac/annual-reports or by
request from [email protected]
Apple Genes Offer Surprises
An international group of scientists (including Plant & Food
Research scientists) has sequenced (put into an ordered list)
the more than 600 million base pairs of DNA which make up
the apple genome. This opens the way to understanding
characteristics of importance to consumers, such as
crispness, juiciness and flavour, or to producers, such as
harvest time.
One thing the analysis of the complete DNA sequence of
apple did show was that a major step in evolution of the fruit
was caused by a catastrophic environmental event, possibly
the same one that killed the dinosaurs. This event forced the
apple to evolve in order to survive. Other successful plant
species, such as poplar, have been shown to have rapidly
evolved at around the same time too.
Read more at http://www.plantandfood.co.nz/page/news/story/sequence-ofapple-genome-reveals-unexpected-results/
•
Management: Italian researchers - for demonstrating
mathematically that organisations would become more
efficient if they promoted people at random.
•
Medicine: Dutch investigators - who discovered that
symptoms of asthma can be treated with a roller-coaster
ride;
A Smaller Ozone Hole
•
Engineering: British and Mexican scientists - who
developed a way to collect whale snot using a remotecontrol helicopter; and
In NZ the official ozone hole season starts in the second
week of September and runs through to November, and the
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
(NIWA) says the ozone hole appears to be smaller this year.
•
Economics: to executives and directors at Goldman
Sachs, AIG, Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns et al - for
their creative investment techniques that brought the
global economy to its knees.
More is at http://improbable.com/ig/2010/
Latest Animal Ethics Report
The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee’s (NAEAC)
which monitors the use of animals in research, testing and
teaching, recently released its annual report.
In 2009, 297,111 animals were used in research, testing and
teaching, a decrease of 13% on the 2008 year. They were
mainly used for veterinary research; basic biological
research; and testing the safety of animal health products.
31 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
The layer of life-protecting ozone found in the lower
stratosphere protects the Earth's surface, atmosphere, and
sea - everywhere that is inhabited by living things - from
excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation. There are variations in
size of the hole from year-to-year because there are a
number of contributing factors, e.g., the solar cycle varying
the heat of the sun.
NIWA scientists say that in the future we can expect ozone to
recover: we might have more ozone over NZ than we had
fifty years ago, and we might have less UV and fewer skin
cancers. We may have to wait until around 2060 to get back
to 1980s levels, though.
Images of the this year's ozone hole are at http://ftpmedia.niwa.co.nz/OZONE/.
A related report is at
www.atmosp.physics.utoronto.ca/SPARC/CCMVAL_FINAL/index.php
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Weta’s Footprint Tells a Story
Landcare researchers say a new monitoring technique footprint tracking tunnels – is helping provide information
about weta populations following mammal eradication
programmes. Previously, footprint tracking tunnels were only
used to estimate how many mammal pests (e.g., rats and
mice) there were.
The tunnels are set up where weta walk, and an inked piece
of paper or card inside the tunnel records their tracks. The
study, to be published in the NZ Journal of Ecology, found
that within two years after mammal eradication, there were
dramatic increases in weta pitfall* captures, weta tracking
rates, and also more weta footprints per tracking card suggesting that the population has increased significantly.
The number of weta per pitfall increased 12-fold after
mammal eradication for adult Auckland tree weta and 52-fold
for other weta species. *Pitfall systems trap small animals,
such as insects, amphibians, and reptiles.
•
Nelson, Marlborough, Buller: temperatures are likely to
be above average. Seasonal rainfall, soil moisture, and
stream flows are likely to be near normal;
•
West Coast, Alps and Foothills, Inland Otago,
Southland: seasonal temperatures are very likely to be
above average. Seasonal rainfall totals, soil moisture
and stream flows are equally likely to be in the near
normal or below normal range; and
•
coastal Canterbury, East Otago: temperatures are
likely to be in the above average range. Late spring
rainfall totals, soil moisture and stream flows are likely to
be near normal or below normal.
SNZ Survey of Migrants
Statistics NZ says the latest results from its survey of
immigrants (the Longitudinal Immigration Survey: NZ - LisNZ)
show that:
•
78.4% of new migrants wanted NZ citizenship three
years after being granted permanent residence, with
South Africans, Pacific people, and people from South
Asia more likely to apply than migrants from other
regions.
•
after 36 months, 75.7% of migrants were employed,
compared with 72.1% after six months, 69.8% worked in
a skilled job; and 84.9% of employed migrants were
either satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs, compared
with 80.8% at six months;
•
average hourly wages of employed migrants increased
from $20.35 after six months to $23.49 after 36 months;
•
70.6% of migrants had enough or more than enough
money to meet their everyday needs at both six months
and 36 months;
•
51.9% of migrants owned or partly owned their dwelling
after 36 months, compared with 30.6% at six months;
•
more than nine out of ten migrants were either satisfied
or very satisfied with life in NZ at all interview stages; but
•
when asked how safe or unsafe they felt 76.0% of
migrants felt either safe or very safe in NZ after 36
months, compared with 85.5% after six months.
General
A Mild La Nina Spring
NIWA’s National Climate Centre says that a moderate La
Nina is well-established in the tropical Pacific, and may
strengthen further through the rest of 2010, with La Nina
conditions likely to continue through the summer of 2010–11.
This means that spring temperatures are likely to be above
average across the whole country. However, short-term cold
snaps typical of spring will still occur from time to time.
Rainfall is likely to be near normal in most regions, averaged
over the three months of spring (September, October,
November). The north and east of the North Island is likely to
experience normal or below normal rainfalls, according to the
Centre’s latest seasonal outlook.
Soil moisture levels and stream flows are likely to be near
normal in all regions, on average through the spring.
For spring as a whole during Sep-Nov average sea level
pressures are likely to be above normal near NZ.
Regional predictions for the next three months are:
•
Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty:
temperatures are very likely to be in the above average
range. Near normal seasonal rainfall is likely, while soil
moisture levels and stream flows are likely to be near
normal or below normal;
•
central North Island, Taranaki, Whanganui,
Manawatu and Wellington: temperatures are very likely
to be above average for the late spring period. Seasonal
rainfall totals, soil moisture levels and stream flows are
likely to be near normal;
•
Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa: above average
seasonal temperatures are likely. Seasonal rainfall
totals, soil moisture levels and stream flows are likely to
be near normal or below normal;
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
More is at
http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/LISNZ_HOTPW
ave3-2009.aspx
Taking Wills Seriously
Recent research conduced by Public trust shows:
•
46% of NZers do not have a current or updated will;
•
82% of parents have not appointed their Enduring
Powers of Attorney’s (EPAs); and
•
14% have updated their will to reflect a new relationship.
The Public Trust notes that an up to date Will and EPAs are
essential steps in establishing a basic plan to help take care
of your family’s assets and lifestyle.
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 32
More is at www.publictrust.co.nz
Check out http://www.involve.org.nz/ for further information
United Nations Universal
Children's Day
NZCOSS Conference 2010
Universal Children’s Day, on 20 November, is a day of
activity devoted to promoting the welfare of the children of the
world, and a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding
between children.
Called Coming of age - reaching sustainability this is being
held from 17-19 November at St. Margaret's College,
Dunedin. It will explore the ways and means to better sustain
NZ families and communities.
For more information/registration visit
http://www.nzcoss.org.nz/index.php?page=129
More is at http://www.un.org/en/events/childrenday/
Family Planning Conference 2010
Blind Week 2010
Blind week is 26 October - 1 November. This year the Royal
NZ Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) will be celebrating Blind
Week in conjunction with their 120th anniversary.
This is being held in Wellington on 15-17 October. It covers
the latest national and international thinking and innovation in
sexual and reproductive health.
For more visit http://www.familyplanning.org.nz/
More is at http://www.rnzfb.org.nz/support-us/blind-week
Australia NZ Third Sector Research Conference
International Volunteer
Managers Day
International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) is on 5
November. Universally, people recognise the contribution of
volunteers - in rural communities, sport, health, emergency
services, faith communities, and the environmental lobby.
Volunteers are involved in just about every aspect of service
delivery in all walks of life.
More is at http://www.volunteermanagersday.org/
Some Conferences/Events
Australia NZ Third Sector Research (ANZTSR) Conference is
being held at the University of Technology in Sydney,
Australia from 15- 6 November 2010.
More is at http://www.anztsr.org.au/
Health Informatics NZ Annual
Conference/Exhibition
The Health Informatics NZ (HINZ*) Annual Conference and
Exhibition, Enabling Clinical Transformation, will be held at
Wellington Town Hall on 2-4 November 2010. Preconference workshops will be run on 2 November. * HINZ
facilitates improvements in business processes and patient
care in the health sector.
ForestWood 2010 Conference
ForestWood 2010 is being jointly hosted on12 October by
Forest Owners Association, Wood Processors Association,
Pine Manufacturers Association, Forest Industry Contractors
Association, and supported by Woodco, NZ Farm Forestry
Association and Frame & Truss Manufacturers Association.
The venue is Te Papa in Wellington at. Amongst the topics:
what the soaring Chinese demand for logs and lumber in the
next 5-10 years may mean for NZ log and lumber export
opportunities.
For more go to www.hinz.org.nz/page/conference.
National Criminal Justice Conference
This is Prison Fellowship NZ conference is being held at the
Silverstream Retreat Reynolds Bach Drive, Lower Hutt from
7-10 October 2010. The theme is "Breaking Down the
Barriers to get Prison Numbers Down - Alternatives That
Work".
More is at http://www.forestwood.orgnz/programme
More is at http://www.pfnz.org.nz/conference_2010.htm
Involve 2010 Connect: Together We Are
Stronger
2010 Not-For-Profit Summit
This three day event organised by NZ Aotearoa Adolescent
Health and Development is being held from 17-19 November
in Auckland. It will focus on ways to empower young people.
33 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
The venue for this is the Wellington Town Hall. Wellington.
Dates are 13-14 October. As the Charities Commission
extends its role to include the monitoring and investigations
of Not-For-Profit (NFP) organisations, issues surrounding
governance, funding and financial management are
becoming more apparent.
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
More is at http://www.conferenz-brightstar.com/conferences/nfp-summit
Funding/Awards Opportunities
National Recreation Conference 2010
NZer of the Year Awards
NZ Recreation Association (NZRA) is holding its conference
at Victoria University's Rutherford House on the Pipitea
Campus., Wellington, on 18-20 October. This year's theme is
“Connect the Dots”.
The aim of these Awards is to honour the achievements of
people, organisations and community groups. There are five
award categories: the Kiwibank NZer of the Year; the
Countdown Senior NZer of the Year; the Coca-Cola Amatol
Young NZer of the Year; the Mitre 10 Community of the Year;
and the Kiwibank Local Heroes Awards.
More is at http://www.nzraevents.org.nz.
Child Poverty NZ Summit
This is being held in the Wellington Town Hall on 28-29
October 2010. It aims to provide a roadmap to better policies
relating to children.
More is at http://www.conferenz.co.nz/conferences/child-poverty-nz-summit
DPA NZ National Assembly and Conference
Disabled Persons Assembly (DPA) NZ 28th Annual
Assembly and Conference is at Ascot Park Hotel, cnr Tay St
and Racecourse Rd, Invercargill, from 5-7 November.
Theme: “Implementing the Disability Convention - Making the
Difference”.
More is at http://www.dpa.org.nz/events.html
19th Hospice NZ Palliative Care Conference Navigating the Journey
Hospice NZ’s conference is at the Museum of NZ,
Wellington, on 9-11 November 2010. It will showcase the
ways members of the healthcare community work in
partnership with patients and their families.
More is at http://www.hospice.org.nz/cms_display.php?sn=118&st=&pg=2988
Tonic Conference 2010
Nominations close on 22 October 2010. Nomination forms are available from
Kiwibank, Countdown Supermarkets, and Mitre 10 branches or by free phone
0508 692 927. You can also nominate online at www.nzawards.org.nz or text
'nominate' to 244 for more information
Enterprising Rural Women Award
Entries are now open for the Enterprising Rural Women
Award 2011, open to all women running small rural-based
businesses. Prize money includes $1000 for North & South
Island winners, and further $1000 for the Supreme Winner.
Entries close Friday 18 March 2011. More, including details on how to apply
are at http://www.ruralwomen.org.nz/, or tel 04 473 5524
Marine Energy Deployment Fund
Applicants should demonstrate the capability to install wave
and tidal stream energy equipment in NZ. A total amount of
$880,000 is available.
Applications close on 29 November 2010. More is at:
www.eeca.govt.nz/marine-energy-fund
Solid Energy: Tertiary Scholarships
Solid Energy is offering scholarships to students in its local
mining communities as part of its community support
programme. Four are being offered in the West Coast and
Buller, three in Southland, and two in the Waikato. Each is
worth $2000 a year, for up to four years of tertiary study.
This one will include workshops on raising money, managing
teams and strategic planning for community groups. It’s being
held in Tauranga from 12-13 November.
Applications close on 22 October 2010. More is at www.coalnz.com under the
Careers section
More is at http://www.exult.co.nz
Kiwi Asian Journalism Scholarship
Adolescent Health & Development Conference
NZ Aotearoa Adolescent Health and Development (NZAAHD)
conference “Involve 2010 Connect: Together We Are
Stronger” is being held in Auckland on 17-19 November.
More is at http://www.involve.org.nz/
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
This scholarship is a way of attracting more Asian Kiwis into
journalism. It is worth $5000 (to be paid on completion of the
successful candidate’s course of journalism study), and will
apply to the 2011 year.
Applications close on 30 November 2010. More is at
http://www.asianz.org.nz/newsroom/media-releases/kiwi-asian-journalismscholarship-release
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 34
Asia Internships for Young Journalists
Fulbright Specialist Awards
The Asians Foundation is offering three 2- to- 3-month
unpaid journalism internships at Asia-based news media
organisations in 2011. It will provide $NZ5000 to cover return
flights with the balance to go to accommodation and other
expenses.
These awards, valued at up to NZ$8,400 plus travel
expenses, are for NZ academic institutions to host US
academics, artists or professionals for two to six week
programmes of lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences
or symposiums.
Applications close on 1 November 2010. More is at
http://www.asianz.org.nz/opportunities/media/mediainternships
Find out more at http://www.fulbright.org.nz/awards/nzinstit-senspecialists.html
Smart Business Competition
The NZ Information and Communication Technologies Group
(NZICT) is running a competition to encourage small to
medium businesses make smarter use of technology and fast
broadband. To enter businesses need to answer a few
questions about how technology can assist with their
business. NZICT will match the winner’s contribution dollarfor-dollar up to maximum of $10,000 with ICT goods and
services and provide consultant advice.
Singapore Scholarships
NZ students can further their studies at the National
University of Singapore, all expenses paid.
Applications close on 19 November 2010. More is at
http://www.asianz.org.nz/opportunities/educating-asia/opportunities-schoolsand-students/singapore-scholarships
David Holbrook Memorial Scholarships
The competition closes on 30 October, 2010. More is at
http://www.ict.org.nz/index.php/20072010_calling-for-registrations-for-a-smallbusiness-technology-makeover/
These scholarships are for undergraduate study at NZ
tertiary institutions. Their aim is to enhance NZers’
understanding of Korea.
PGP Innovation Proposals Sought
Applications close on 12 November 2010. More is at
http://www.asianz.org.nz/opportunities/educating-asia/opportunities-schoolsand-students/david-holborow-memorial-scholarships
MAF is accepting proposals for Round Four of the Primary
Growth Partnership (PGP). The PGP is a governmentindustry scheme that invests in large programmes of
research and innovation. The programmes come from the
forestry, wool, arable, and now the dairy and red meat
sectors.
Proposals close on 14 October 2010. You can download the latest PGP
Guidelines and Application Form from http://www.maf.govt.nz/pgp/index.htm
Fulbright Travel Awards
Fulbright NZ Travel Awards, valued at up to NZ$5,000, are
for NZ academics, artists or professionals to visit the US for
12 to 90 days in order to present their work to American
audiences.
Applications close on 1 November 2010. Find out more at
http://www.fulbright.org.nz/awards/nz-travel.html
Nga Pea o tee Marinating Travel Awards
These awards, valued at up to NZ$5,000, are for NZ
academics, artists or professionals to visit the US for 12 to 90
days in order to present their work on a theme of indigenous
development to American audiences.
Applications close on 1 November 2010. Find out more at
http://www.fulbright.org.nz/awards/nz-npotmtravel.html
35 – Rural Bulletin October 2010
Travel Grants to Japan
Undergraduate students in NZ tertiary institutions accepted
for exchange programmes to Japan can apply for assistance
funding through Asian’s Travel Grants to Japan programme.
Applications close on 25 October 2010. More is at
http://www.asianz.org.nz/opportunities/educating-asia/opportunities-schoolsand-students/japan-travel-grants
Appointments
NZ's next High Commissioner to Niue will be businessman
and former MP Mark Blumsky. Sarah Reeves and Judge
Heemi Taumaunu have been appointed as Judges of the
Maori Land Court. Sarah Lindsay has been appointed a
District Court Judge with a Family Court warrant. The Rt.Hon.
Helen Clark, ONZ is Toi Whakaari: NZ Drama School's new
Patron.
Kevin Woods is the new Chief Executive and DirectorGeneral of Health, Ministry of Health. Hanneke Bouchier has
been appointed as Legal Complaints Review Officer and
Owen Vaughan has been appointed as her deputy. Waid
Crockett has been appointed chief executive for South
Waikato iwi, Ngati Raukawa. Rex Maidment has been reappointed as the Principal Tenancy Adjudicator. Miranda
Burdon has been appointed to the Board of the Lotteries
Commission. The Board of ANZ National Bank has appointed
David Hisco as chief executive officer. Jana Rangooni has
been appointed Group Programme Director for RadioLIVE
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
and LiveSPORT. Chris Hampson and Cameron Harland have
been appointed to the board of the NZ Film Commission.
Virginia Shaw, Graham Taylor, Martin Treadwell, and
Veronique Vervoort.
Allan Baird has been appointed as the rural recovery
coordinator to oversee recovery efforts on quake-damaged
farm properties in Canterbury. He will work with the newlyestablished Regional Rural Recovery Group which is led by
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and involves
representatives of representatives of Fonterra, Dairy NZ,
Beef & Lamb NZ, Irrigation NZ, the Insurance Council, banks
and several other rural sector organisations, including Rural
Women NZ and Federated Farmers.
Neil Walter has been appointed to investigate the NZ
Security Intelligence Service's processes for granting a
security clearance to a former NZDF employee. Dr Chris
Battershill is the inaugural chair in Coastal Science for the
Bay of Plenty (the new Chair is part of the INTERCOAST
programme, set up by Waikato University and Bremen
University in Germany.
Seven regional field advisors have been appointed by the NZ
Walking Access Commission: John Gardiner, Whangarei;
John Wauchop, Gisborne; Nicola Henderson, Waikpukurau;
Rod McGregor, Ahu Ahu Valley (Whanganui); Chris Tonkin,
Nelson; Geoff Holgate, Christchurch; and Noel Beggs,
Winton. Agriculture Emissions Trading Scheme Advisory
Committee members include Katherine Rich (chair), Keith
Cooper, Mark Leslie, Harry Clark, Simon Tucker, Edward
Ellison, Roger Pikia, and Stuart Wright.
Three company directors have been appointed to Treasury's
new governance board set up to advise on its strategic
direction: Paul Baines, Susan Macken, and Joan Withers.
The Board of Inquiry assessing the NZ Transport Agency’s
proposal for the Waterview Connection will be chaired by
Judge Laurie Newhook, with board members including Ross
Dunlop, Susan Jackson, Alan Dormer, and Gerry Te Kapa
Coates. Peter Jackson, Bill Irvine, Sue Ineson, John Simmis,
Graham Hardie, and Alan Bickers have been appointed to
the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers’ Board. James
Fruean has also been reappointed to the Board.
Thirteen new members have been appointed to five Lottery
distribution committees: George Sue, Janie Annear and Bill
Plunkett have been appointed as members of the Lottery
Community Facilities Distribution Committee, and Mary
Bourke appointed as Presiding Member; Kevin Prime has
been appointed to the Lottery Marae Heritage and Facilities
Distribution Committee, and Brian Joyce has been appointed
as Presiding Member; Bruce Hamilton and John Nankervis
have been appointed to the Lottery Environment and
Heritage Distribution Committee as members, with Dr Sue
Bennett promoted to the Presiding Member role; Dr Chris
Cunningham and Dr Shelley Frost have been appointed as
members of the Lottery Health Research Distribution
Committee. Dr Bruce Scoggins has been reappointed for a
further term and Dr Andrew Connolly has been appointed as
the Presiding Member; and Jenny Mahoney and Moana
Mitchell have been appointed to the Lottery National
Community Distribution Committee and Lottery Outdoor
Safety Committee, with current member Duncan Taylor
promoted to Presiding Member. The 16 members of the new
Immigration and Protection Tribunal are: Sharelle Aitchison,
Bruce Burson, Annabel Clayton, Bridget Dingle, Jeanne
Donald, Peter Fuiava, Denese Henare, Allan Mackey, Louise
Moor, Sharon Pearson, David Plunkett, Melissa Poole,
Rural Women New Zealand, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Rural Bulletin October 2010 - 36
Long-term Condition Management
Here at Access, we offer a full range of homebased healthcare services to help New Zealanders
maintain their independence in their homes and
communities. One of the services we offer is Long-term Condition Management.
With over 80 years of healthcare experience behind us, we have a good
understanding of the challenges that come with living with a long-term
condition. That’s why, rather than offering the same level of support to
everyone, we collaborate with other health and social professionals (as
required) to determine the best way to help you manage your condition and
maintain your independence.
From assisting you around the house to helping you get to work on time,
we give you the support you need to get on with life. Long-term condition
management may include nursing, allied health services, personal care,
household assistance, and more. Our qualified nursing team can also support
you by providing information, advice and assistance on, for example, symptom
monitoring and management to help you best manage your own condition.
We can also give you and your primary carer a much-needed break by providing
temporary in-home respite care and support.
For more information on Long-term Condition Management, or to find out which
other services we offer, please call us on 0800 AT HOME (0800 284 663) or visit
our website at www.access.org.nz.
Rural Broadband + Phone Line + Free National Minutes
Farmside have just launched Rural NZ’s Ultimate Bundle
of communications for ultimate savings.
Call the team to find out more on 0800 Farmside (32 76 74)
or view at www.farmside.co.nz/ultimate-bundles.html
ultimate
bu n dle
Telecom gives Back to Communities
Following the XT outages earlier this year, Telecom announced
a Community Donation package of $250,000 to the South Island
communities most affected by the outages to acknowledge
the impact the outages had on the wider communities, not just
individual customers affected
Over the past few months Telecoms Community Relations
team, has been travelling the South Island working with local
communities to discuss the best ways to use the money. “We
were guided by community leaders as to which projects they felt
would give the greatest benefits to their communities,” says Paul
Leslie, Telecoms Head of Community Relations. “We wanted the
communities to decide for themselves what was important.”
So far, the donations we have made include:
•
$75,000 to fund native tree planting in Dunedin and neighbouring rural communities;
•
$35,000 to assist the extension of Invercargill’s city walking and cycle track;
•
$35,000 towards the Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre project in Timaru;
•
$35,000 to assist Queenstown Lakes District Council build permanent staging equipment
for the many community groups organising events across the district;
•
$30,000 to assist the six rural colleges in Southland district to purchase technology equipment
for their classrooms;
•
$8,000 towards the development of a walking and cycling track around Lake Wainono in the
Waimate District;
•
$7,000 to support upgrades to the Fairlie and Twizel Medical Centres, and the bid for Night
World Heritage status for the skies above Mt John near Lake Tekapo;
•
$5,000 to support Clutha District Council’s youth development programme;
•
$5,000 to Gore, used to purchase several electronic scoreboards for their new indoor sports
centre;
•
$5,000 to purchase and install smoke alarms, given free to Ashburton’s senior citizens;
•
$5,000 to the popular Heritage festival in Oamaru.
““Through this process, we’ve been able to build some great relationships with the various
communities, and help enable them to deliver some great things for their local community. What
has been especially great is to see our own people getting involved in a number of projects too,”
says Paul
“It’s fantastic that we have been able to turn what was a pretty dark time for Telecom in to something
quite special.”
Entrie
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Showcase your business and be a winner!
Open to women running small rural-based businesses
Entries close 18 March 2011
Entry forms and full information available on
www.ruralwomen.org.nz
“Winning the South
Island prize in the RWNZ
Enterprising Rural Women
Award last year has
had a positive spin-off,
especially increasing my
local sales - I’m definitely
busier because of it.”
Tracey Robinson - Cosy Toes Ltd
orted by
proudly supp