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Elderly people in Wairarapa will have the option of driving under a new, limited licence in their own community from late next year.
Last week Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven announced the option as he launched a review of driver license policy for older motorists.
I have been told 651 of the 28,348 licensed drivers in Wairarapa are aged 80 or over, so many will welcome a limited licence.
There's a big retired community in Wairarapa and members of Grey Power and the RSA have voiced frustration with the current regime.
The system currently requires a driver aged 75 to undergo a medical test, and drivers aged 80 or over need to renew their licence every two years with a driving test and medical examination.
The Ministry of Transport will conduct the review of licences for older drivers with the involvement of groups like Grey Power and the RSA, doctors and transport organisations.
Medical examinations and driving tests can be very stressful for older drivers, especially when many feel they drive more carefully than younger road users.
A balance must be struck between ensuring road safety and older people's desire to retain the ability to drive, even for a limited distance.
I'm thrilled with the announcement that this government will provide fairness and security to older drivers. They'll have the option of a conditional licence that allows them to drive just within a 10km radius of their home.
Older drivers come to me devastated over losing their licence, not knowing how they'll cope without a car. A community-limited licence means they'll still be able to pick up the shopping, visit the doctor, and go see the grandkids, with little or no driving on busier, faster highways.
The Ministry of Transport review is due to report back to Mr Duynhoven next June and the limited licence option is expected to be in place later in 2005.
Also great news for the people who have contacted my offices over power charges and companies is the completion of the third reading of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill.
This government recognises the importance of a properly managed electricity market to the economy and consumers. The market was failing to govern itself and that is why this government created the Electricity Commission.
This Bill increases the scope of the Commission to include security of supply, consumer protection, competition, demand management, energy efficiency, conservation and the development of distributed generation as well as involving it in the planning of transmission upgrades.
While the Electricity Commission will have responsibility for much of the day to day and longer terms operation of the market, the Government remains responsible and accountable for setting its direction through government policy statements.
The government policy statement (GPS) on electricity governance has been published and is available on the Ministry of Economic Development's website http://www.med.govt.nz/ers/electric/governance-gps/
The Bill also allows for the establishment of a co-regulatory governance body for the gas industry and backstop powers for the establishment of an Energy Commission.
Students at three more Wairarapa schools will from the start of next year get a chance for hands-on workplace experience as part of their studies.
In Dannevirke Totara College of Accelerated Learning, plus Tararua and Chanel colleges are joining the Government's Gateway programme, which provides work-based skills training for students.
Around 37 more students will be able to test their suitability for trades and skilled jobs while still at school.
A $57 million package announced in the May budget provided funding for a substantial expansion of Gateway. Wairarapa's three new Gateway Schools are among more than 50 now taking up that funding.
In Wairarapa, the programme already includes around 100 students gaining work experience whilst studying at Dannevirke High School, Kuranui and Makoura colleges. By early next year, more than 180 secondary schools across the country will be opening doors into work with Gateway.
This is a real boost for Wairarapa, where the gap between available jobs and skills means a lot of lost opportunity for businesses to expand and for people to lift their incomes.
The chance for a secondary student to test themselves in a trade or skill often leads them into a good career path and it also gives employers the chance to spot talent at an early age. Around a quarter of Gateway students in 2003 moved on to full-time employment the following year.
The latest expansion to Gateway comes hot on the heels of announcements that see thousands more places funded nationally for Modern Apprenticeships and industry training -including a projected increase of 486 industry trainees in the Wellington region before the end of this financial year and 55 more Modern Apprentices.
We're leaving nothing to chance or to the whims of the market in pursuing our pledge as a government to have every 15-19 year old in education, training or work by 2007.
My apologies to the teachers, parents, caregivers and children of Holyoake Kindergarten in Pahiatua.
I am devastated I missed my appointment with you last week but was delayed due to road works and other appointments running over time.
However I will be back before the end of the year and am looking forward to singing Christmas carols and reading with the children in December.
Again my sincere apologies.
Finally my thanks to Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton for making another trip to the electorate. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to the forum but I have been told it was very successful.
Thanks also to all who helped organise this.
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