More than 150 jobs a day created
There have been an average of 152 more New Zealanders getting jobs every day since the Labour-led government has been in office. Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey says the latest Household Labour Force Survey shows employment increased by 87,000 last year, taking the total increase since the Labour-led government took office to 264,000. New Zealanders can also be proud that we now have the lowest unemployment rate in the developed world. Steve Maharey says reaching a world-leading 3.6 per cent unemployment rate is proof of the economic and social strength of 21st century New Zealand. The government will continue to provide opportunities for those New Zealanders still needing to join the workforce, maintain its focus on addressing industry skills shortages and improving workplace productivity so profits and wages continue to grow along with employment, says Steve Maharey.

Minister acts to secure future of scholarships process
The shape of this year's and future New Zealand Scholarship exams will be determined by a group of education practitioners and experts being assembled by Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope. The group will include school principals, teachers and a university representative. In addition, the State Services Commission will review the performance of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). David Benson-Pope wants to ensure there is no repeat of the significant variability that became apparent in the 2004 results. As a result, the Government was forced to act in the interests of fairness, introducing a new "distinction award" to mitigate the effects of the inconsistency in the 2004 results. The focus must now shift to students sitting the New Zealand Scholarship this year and beyond, says David Benson-Pope, with the expert group having two weeks to prepare a report, including recommended options he will take to Cabinet.

Good progress in single economic market talks
Solid progress toward the Single Economic Market agenda embraced last year by Australia and New Zealand was achieved at this week's annual bilateral meeting of Australian Treasurer Peter Costello and New Zealand Finance Minister Michael Cullen. Specific decisions include a commitment to establish a joint Trans-Tasman Council on Banking Supervision and endorsement of the work programme laid out in the Australian Productivity Commission's report to achieve closer co-ordination between the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission and the New Zealand Commerce Commission. Ministers also decided to investigate the possibility of adding an investment component to the Closer Economic Relations agreement. Ministers confirmed the decision at the CER Ministerial Forum last year to extend Australia's wine equalisation tax rebate to New Zealand wine producers for their sales in Australia.

New era in climate change action
The Kyoto Protocol came into force this week, marking the start of a new era in global efforts to limit climate change. Convenor of the Ministerial Group on Climate Change, Pete Hodgson, says the protocol has been ratified by 141 nations to date and sets binding emissions reductions targets for all of the world's developed nations except the US, Australia and Monaco. Peter Hodgson says New Zealanders have always done their bit to preserve the environment for the good of future generations. Now we were rising to the challenge posed by climate change, arguably the most important environmental issue the world has ever faced. The Kyoto Protocol is structured to enable economic growth at the same time as providing incentives to reduce emissions across both developed and developing nations.

Young men won't get far without their car
People owing fines are being advised by Courts Minister Rick Barker to make a payment now, or risk having their car confiscated. The Ministry of Justice has begun its annual collections campaign called the 'Confiscated Car Club', targeting young men who are thumbing their nose at the law. Around 60,000 of them owe more than $100 million to the courts, a third of all overdue fines. Rick Barker says 160,000 letters have been sent to fine defaulters to alert them to the campaign and encourage them to make a payment within the next two weeks to avoid their car being taken and sold to pay the fine. Last year's campaign generated $10.18 million and seizure of 324 cars.

Changes to Building Levy announced
Changes to the Building Levy ready for the implementation of the new Building Act on March 31 were announced this week. Building Issues Minister Chris Carter says the levy funds building-related services that help protect people constructing, renovating or buying homes or other buildings. These services have been significantly enhanced in the new Building Act after problems emerged with leaky buildings. From 1 April, the new building levy will be set at $1.97 per $1,000 of building work, for which there is a building consent, but it will only be collected on building works valued at $20,000 or more. Chris Carter says the new levy will allow the new Department of Building and Housing to take a stronger, more robust approach to ensuring buildings are built right first time.

Large numbers sign up for RMA training
The government is putting on extra workshops to cope with strong demand for a new training programme to improve RMA decision-making. Environment Minister Marian Hobbs says there's been a very positive response to the RMA training and certification programme 'Making Good Decisions'. A total of 570 people have registered to attend the 21 workshops in February/March. Four additional workshops are being added in main centres to cope with demand. The programme is designed to help councillors, commissioners and community board members make better resource management decisions. The programme is funded by Ministry for the Environment - see www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/resource/action/training.html