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More jobs, higher wages for Māori
A significant drop in unemployment and high wage growth among Māori are both excellent news for social and economic development. The Department of Labour's Māori Labour Market Outcomes report shows Māori unemployment fell 5.7 percentage points between the end of June 2000 and the end of June 2006, from 14.2 per cent to 8.5 per cent. This was more than twice the fall of 2.2 percentage points in Pakeha unemployment. Over the same period, the number of Māori employed increased by an average of 3.1 per cent a year, while average hourly earnings rose by an average of 4 per cent a year. In the year ending June 2006, Māori labour force participation stood at 67.3 per cent.
Support for new Fiordland visitor centre
The government will provide $2 million towards the Discover Fiordland International Wilderness Centre, a world-class tourism attraction based in Te Anau. The centre will use leading edge, interactive technology to highlight Fiordland's wonderful environmental, wildlife, and historic attractions to encourage people to visit and stimulate further investment in the town, and will also help ensure that this part of New Zealand is managed in a sustainable way. The $12.3 million centre is a partnership between the Discover Fiordland Charitable Trust, tourism operator Real Journeys, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the Community Trust of Southland, and economic development agency Venture Southland.
Nursing scholarships to build skills and capacity
The government is again offering substantial scholarships to eligible New Zealand registered nurses to develop capacity and skills in rural areas and primary health care. Applications are invited for Nurse Practitioner (Rural), and Primary Health Care Nursing Post Graduate Scholarships. Overall funding for the scholarships totals $280,000, with individual scholarships worth up to $40,000, plus a contribution to travel and accommodation expenses.
Better protection for our cultural heritage
Stronger safeguards for New Zealand's unique and significant cultural heritage came into effect this week, reflecting the increasing value New Zealanders are placing on their unique and significant cultural heritage. Under the new law, penalties for all offences will be significantly increased - up to five years imprisonment or maximum penalty of up to $200,000, and improves the definitions around protected objects generally. Most importantly it preserves the delicate balance between the national interest and private property rights.
Improving utilities' access to road and rail corridors
Better coordination of roadworks and reduced compliance costs for infrastructure providers will be two of the main benefits arising from proposed changes to the regimes governing access to transport corridors. The proposed changes follow a government review around the use of road, motorway and rail corridors by utilities - such as electricity, gas and telecommunications companies, and how that access is managed. A key inefficiencies with the current regime is lack of coordination between utilities who need to access pipes and lines running underneath roads. The resulting traffic delays and damage to road surfaces cause ongoing frustration for motorists and road operators. By giving an explicit coordination role to road controlling authorities, we hope to reduce significantly the costs and inconvenience associated with poorly-planned access to road corridors.
Lake Taupo Protection Trust gets $81.5 million go-ahead
Cabinet has approved the Lake Taupo Protection Trust's administration of the $81.5 million fund to protect Lake Taupo's water quality. This is the largest environmental project in New Zealand, and a significant step in the government's contribution to the ongoing protection of a significant landmark for all New Zealanders and international visitors.
Graphic warnings on cigarette packets get green light
Graphic images illustrating the damage smoking can cause will cover cigarette packets from early 2008. The current text warnings on cigarette packets will be replaced by pictorial warnings, covering 30 per cent of the front of every cigarette packet and 90 per cent of the rear, the Government has announced. It is acknowledged that direct smoking and second-hand smoke contributes to 5000 deaths every year. Using powerful imagery to remind people of the real and horrific effects of smoking would act to deter smokers and discourage New Zealand's young from starting the habit in the first place.
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