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Latest PHO rollout most successful to date
The extension of affordable primary health care to the 45-64 age group was the most successful phase of the Primary Health Care Strategy rollout to date with nearly 100 per cent of general practices on board by 1 July, Health Minister Pete Hodgson announced this week.
The quick success means that over 690,000 New Zealanders in the age group will now have significantly lower fees the next time they see their family doctor or practice nurse. For the vast majority, the reduction will be $27 - the full amount of the government subsidy.
"The Labour-led government has invested heavily in making affordable health care a reality for all New Zealand families," Pete Hodgson said. "The rollout of affordable doctors visits and prescription medicines to the 45-64 age group was not an easy process as it was important for everyone involved to make sure we got it right.
"To see 750 practices come on board so quickly is testament to their commitment to the patients they serve and to the Primary Health Care Strategy."
Hon Jim Sutton to retire
Long-serving Minister Jim Sutton this week announced his retirement from politics from 1 August. On his retirement, Mr Sutton will take up the formal position of a Trade Ambassador for New Zealand and of Chair of Landcorp.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said Mr Sutton has been a valued and significant figure in the Labour caucus for eighteen-and-a-half years, and has held a range of ministerial portfolios reflecting his background as a farmer and businessman since he first became a Minister in 1990, and then again when Labour returned to government in 1999.
"Currently Jim is Minister of State and Associate Minister for Trade Negotiations. He has held the Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Affairs, Biosecurity, and Trade Negotiations portfolios.
"Jim is one of Parliament's most respected figures. His contribution has been significant and the government is keen to see it continue at senior levels. His appointment to chair the board of Landcorp will draw on his farming, business, and government experience." Helen Clark said.
"In the roving role as Ambassador for Trade, Jim will support the government in bilateral and regional trade negotiations. With the respect in which he is held internationally, he will be able to assist to advance New Zealand's trade and economic interests.
Further Government Action in Snow-hit Canterbury
Cabinet this week approved an urgent Government Assistance Package of $870,000 targeted at meeting rural welfare needs, farmer information and support requirements in snow hit Canterbury. This is on top of the $760,000 already committed to relief measures in Canterbury's farming region.
"The additional $870,000 will be spent on a range of things that will help Canterbury's rural communities through the hard times they are undergoing," said Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton.
"The snow event has created an extreme set of pressures on the continuity of feed. Further snow will place added pressure on feed reserves, increase the risk of stock losing condition, and increase the risk of significant animal welfare issues or stock deaths. It is critical that affected farmers undertake feed planning to ensure their stock can be adequately fed through to the spring.
"Contingency planning is paramount both at the farm, industry and government levels. In the event of further snow events, MAF is currently discussing contingencies with the relevant organisations so the situation and response can be assessed quickly."
"On of the key impacts of a feed shortage is the impact on animal welfare. Insufficient quantity and quality of feed may impact on the critical animal health period prior to and following calving and lambing. The government is monitoring the situation on daily basis," Jim Anderton said.
Business champion for Export Year 07 appointed
New Zealand entrepreneur and leading exporter Ken Stevens has been appointed the Business Champion for Export Year 07, Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard and Trade Minister Phil Goff has announced.
Ken Stevens is the founder, owner and executive chair of Auckland company Glidepath, a world leader in airport baggage handling and sorting systems.
"Export Year 2007 is aimed at improving New Zealand's long-term export performance as the Labour-led government works to grow more firms that are competitive in international markets. This is part of our agenda to continue to transform New Zealand into an export-led, innovative and high wage economy," Trevor Mallard said.
"Mr Stevens has extensive and widely recognised exporting experience and expertise and we are confident he will provide crucial private sector leadership as our government works with business in the development of initiatives for Export Year 2007."
"We want Export Year to have a material impact on exporters and those wanting to get into exporting," Phil Goff said.
"Key to achieving that is close consultation with private sector at the earliest stages. Mr Stevens' role, along with a newly formed private sector reference group, is to help us engage with the business and exporting community on developing and implementing a detailed programme aimed at lifting our export performance," he said.
New Zealand attracts strong film industry interest
Ongoing government support for large budget films continues to draw international film productions to New Zealand, says Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard.
"This winter has been one of the busiest for the New Zealand film industry since the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy," Trevor Mallard said.
"The Warner Bros. Film, 10,000 BC completed a six week shoot in the Wanaka region last month, the family movie, The Water Horse, was filmed in Queenstown last month and is now completing the production in Wellington. Thirty Days of Night will commence shooting at the end of this month in Auckland and later in Central Otago.
"The New Zealand screen industry is in great shape, and its reputation overseas continues to grow. The government's large budget screen production grant is an important part of the package that makes New Zealand an attractive place to make both feature films and television. Two other key elements of the package are our magnificent and diverse locations and highly skilled production crews."
The grant provides a 12.5 per cent rebate on production expenditure of more than $15 million within New Zealand as long as total expenditure in New Zealand here is greater than 70 per cent of the total production budget or more than $50 million.
"I am thrilled that the New Zealand film industry continues to thrive, and I look forward to more productions coming here in the near future,"Trevor Mallard said.
Bridge replacement found
Civil Defence Minister Rick Barker this week announced that a temporary replacement for the Ngaturi Bridge, destroyed by floodwaters last week, has been found.
"This week I visited Mangamahu and saw first hand the issues facing the community following severe flooding and the subsequent loss of the Ngaturi Bridge," said Rick Barker.
"Within a day Transit New Zealand had informed me that they have a bailey bridge available which they can design, engineer and construct on the Ngaturi Bridge site. National Land Transport Programme funding has been secured to meet these costs.
"I assured Mangamahu locals that the government would work as fast as we could to restore access.
Work will continue on erecting a permanent replacement for the Ngaturi Bridge.
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