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Sites which have special historic, environmental or cultural value to New Zealanders will get stronger protection under the changes the Government is making to the Overseas Investment Act.
The changes flow from a review ordered last year to better protect "iconic" sites while at the same time encouraging foreign investment where it can make a positive contribution to the New Zealand economy.
Foreigners wanting to buy sensitive sites will have to get government consent and will have to submit plans showing how they will manage the site - including, where relevant, how they will provide appropriate and reasonable access to the public.
These plans will be made conditions of consent and the overseas buyer will have to report regularly on how the terms are being complied with. Monitoring will continue until all obligations have been met and all undertakings honoured.
The level of foreign direct investment in New Zealand rose steadily during the 1990s, partly as a result of the former National government's aggressive asset sales programme, and peaked at 60 percent of GDP in 1998. Since then it has declined to around 40 percent of GDP.
This is not particularly unusual by the standards of equivalent economies and puts New Zealand slightly ahead of Australia but behind Ireland.
New Zealand's sparse population has meant that we have always had to rely upon foreign capital and that reliance is not likely to end any time soon given our very high levels of private sector indebtedness. This was last year equivalent to 92 percent of GDP.
That is why the package draws a distinction between land purchases and business investments.
To encourage business investment, and to reduce the compliance costs both for the government and for the potential investor, we will in future only require screening where the applicant is seeking to buy a quarter stake or larger in a business worth $100 million or more.
Currently the threshold is set at $50 million. No business application not involving land has been turned down in 20 years.
We value the benefits foreign investors can bring in terms of access to overseas markets and to new technology and ideas.
But we also need to ensure that we protect New Zealand's unique cultural and natural heritage. It is what defines us and sets us apart from other countries.
I am confident the changes we are making will achieve both those objectives.
Fisheries minister David Benson-Pope has reissued an invitation to recreational fishing groups to identify regulations for improvement, in the wake of claims that scallop-gathering regulations are dangerous.
This is of interest to those Wairarapa electorate residents who dive for scallops, particularly in the Marlborough Sounds.
Last year the courts interpreted Section 19 of the Amateur Fishing Regulations to mean that scallops must be measured at the point of taking, that is, in the case of divers on the seafloor.
Outdoor Recreation Party spokesperson Stephanie Railey has said new scallop regulations were putting diver's lives at risk - presumably referring to recent Ministry of Fisheries advice to divers to comply with the existing regulations and measure scallops as they collect them.
Previous Fisheries Minister Pete Hodgson issued an invitation to the Recreational Fishers Reference Group to identify their top priorities for regulations in need of review. No response was received and Mr Benson-Pope has twice repeated the invitation to recreational fishers since taking over the portfolio.
If regulations aren't working well then it is up to fishers to tell us which ones they are and how they might be improved. If we find a problem, we'll try and fix it but this offer has been made three times before without response.
A practical guide to help government services and community groups attack and solve intractable community problems through a team approach is now available.
The Circuit Breaker workbook has been developed by the State Services Commission and is a web-based practical guide to problem solving.
The idea is to take tough problems out of Wellington and hand them over to teams made up of frontline staff from different agencies. These teams then use their combined knowledge to propose new ways of working in order to address difficult problems.
The workbook is designed to enable people in the public service and others with web access, such as community groups, to find out about and apply the circuit breaker approach. It covers the theory and principles of circuit breaking, the practical "how to" aspects, a step-by-step guide, and a toolkit of useful items.
The circuit breaker approach has also attracted international interest with New Zealand officials recently being asked to share their knowledge and practical experiences with Australian organisations interested in adopting the circuit breaker approach.
The workbook can be found at:www.ssc.govt.nz/circuit-breaker-workbook
A final note to say that although media has reported that due to personal approaches individuals have made to me I am "tempted" to consider seeking re-election as Carterton's Mayor, I have to say it is very unlikely I will.
This is simply because I have a very serious commitment as the incumbent MP for Wairarapa until I stand down at the next general election.
However the suggestion that I would support amalgamation of Carterton and South Wairarapa districts is a matter I hope will be a local body election issue up for debate.
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