Unemployment down, two million now in work
There's been a further drop in unemployment - fuelled by New Zealand's growing labour market which has just seen total numbers in employment pass two million workers for the first time. The Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) for the June 2004 quarter puts New Zealand's official unemployment rate at 4.0 per cent (down 0.3 on the previous quarter), and a figure last seen in 1987. Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey says since the government came to office 211,000 new jobs have been created. The statistics confirm the strength of regional economies and indicate that job gains are being shared around, with Māori and Pacific people's unemployment dropping again this quarter.

Parliament condemns anti-Semitism
Parliament has unanimously adopted a motion condemning anti-Semitism and deploring the recent attacks on Jewish graves in Wellington. Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter says the motion was an important gesture for New Zealand's leaders to make in light of the shocking attacks on Jewish cemeteries in Wellington this month. The text of the motion was: "That this House deplores recent attacks on Jewish graves and a Jewish chapel in Wellington; recalls the terrible history of anti-Semitism stretching over many centuries, culminating in the holocaust under Nazi rule; and expresses its unequivocal condemnation of anti-Semitism, violence directed against Jews and Jewish religious and cultural institutions and all forms of racial and ethnic hatred, persecution, and discrimination."

Government supports new power plant
The government has facilitated the development of a 385 MW combined cycle gas turbine plant, to be built at Huntly by Genesis Energy. Finance Minister Michael Cullen says the new plant will support economic growth and bring significant new generation on stream to meet medium term demand. The government's limited amount of risk with Genesis will smooth the transition to a post-Maui gas field environment. This year's introduction of gas exploration incentives and Genesis Energy's long term contracts for gas from Kupe and other fields mean only a slim chance of sufficient gas not being available, says Energy Minister Pete Hodgson. Michael Cullen says supporting Genesis reflects the government's foremost responsibility to ensure new generation is built in a timely way.

Contract for seven new ships underway
A ceremony took place this week to recognise the signing of the contract between the New Zealand government and Tenix to build seven new ships to be operated by the navy. Defence Minister Mark Burton says the $NZ500 million Project Protector plans to have the Multi Role Vessel (MRV), two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and four Inshore Patrol Vessels (IPVs) entering service over the next 3 years. The ships will fulfill a broad range of requirements including personnel and cargo sealift, emergency response, fisheries and customs patrols and at sea training for the Royal New Zealand Navy. The ships represent a significant increase in the government's capability to meet military and civilian responsibilities throughout New Zealand's extensive Exclusive Economic Zone, in the South Pacific and Southern Ocean, says Mark Burton.

New building legislation is endorsed
Parliament has this week endorsed the changes set out in the Building Bill. Associate Commerce Minister John Tamihere says the new Act aims to make New Zealand feel safe about the houses and buildings in which they live and work. It introduces a range of measures to make sure buildings are built right from the start, and puts in place better checks and balances on the building industry. Although the legislation first arose because of the weathertightness issue, it is part of a wider set of measures brought in by the government over the last few years to improve accountability and certainty in the construction industry, says John Tamihere.

Review of targeted policies underway
The first phase of the government's review of targeted policies and programmes has been released. Co-ordinating Minister, Race Relations Trevor Mallard says reviews at several ministries, including Education and Health, aim to give ministers and the public an assurance that policies and programmes are targeted on the basis of need, not race. Trevor Mallard says the government is absolutely committed to a fair go for everyone and to lifting Māori and Pacific Island educational achievement, health and welfare. It will continue to use targeted programmes and policies that are effective for these groups, just as it does for others with specific needs such as the elderly or rural communities. The reviews will address whether ethnicity, when used as a basis for targeting, is appropriate and the best strategy to achieve the outcome sought by government.

Recreational fishers do well in kawahi quota
An overall 15 per cent reduction in the amount of kawahi that can be caught has been announced by Fisheries Minister David Benson-Pope but he's given recreational fishers the lion's-share of the catch. Kawahi, dubbed "the people's fish", has until now been managed under a permit system. From October, it'll be brought into the Quota Management System (QMS). A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) will apply in each of the six geographic quota regions around New Zealand. David Benson-Pope says he has taken a deliberately cautious approach in setting the TAC because of uncertainty about the status of kawahi stocks and a desire to maintain and hopefully improve the available stock. In total, recreational and customary users' share of the catch is to be set at a level 45 per cent greater than the catch of commercial users.