One-stop shop for flood package
Following this week's floods the government will, via Transfund, pay all the costs of repair to state highways and up to 85 per cent for local roads and bridges. Taskforce Green workers have set up a one-stop shop agency to help those affected. Civil Defence Minister George Hawkins says council costs incurred by home displaced people will be fully reimbursed. The government rescue package will add up to many millions of dollars and includes cash grants to Manawatu and Rangitikei Mayoral Relief Funds.
Budget Day: 27 May
Finance Minister Michael Cullen has announced Budget 2004 will be delivered on Thursday 27 May. It will feature a substantial assistance programme for low to middle income families to help them into long term work, measures to assist the export sector develop overseas markets and will expand the government's investment in health and education. Dr Cullen says that by leadership and partnership, growth and innovation, fairness and security, opportunity for all and strong public services, New Zealanders will continue to prosper.
Universities asked to check claims on lowered standards
Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey is condemning claims by National leader Don Brash that New Zealand universities have lowered their standards to enable Māori students to graduate. Steve Maharey says these latest disgraceful comments come on the heels of the completely inaccurate claim last week that Māori are entitled to tangi leave. He is contacting all New Zealand universities, asking for confirmation that they have not lowered their standards for graduation for Māori students. If it is confirmed that standards have not been lowered Steve Maharey says Dr Brash must apologise not only to New Zealand's universities, but also to all Māori graduates since his disgraceful comments may well hurt their chances of getting a job.
Fight against methamphetamine in your community
Fighting the war against P and other illicit drugs has become a little easier with 15 areas to have new community health action programmes. Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton says the war against drugs is multi faceted. The coalition government aims to reduce supply by toughing up penalties on peddlers of drugs and to increase treatment services to reduce the harm of drugs. The Community Action on Youth and Drugs (CAYAD) programmes are modelled on successful operations in Opotiki, Hokianga, Whangaruru, Nelson and Kaitaia. The CAYAD projects will be funded by the Ministry of Health and will involve families, youth, police, school teachers and other community leaders.
Fine defaulters will pay
Around 50,000 young men aged 20 to 30 owe about $150 million of overdue fines. Courts Minister Rick Barker is spearheading a campaign to keep the pressure on recidivist fine defaulters with a new ad campaign that promises their cars will be seized if they don't pay. He says cars are a status symbol to young men and he hopes to strike a nerve by threatening them with taking the asset they prize most. The ad campaign will run for 2 weeks displayed on buses and mobile billboards. This is then to be followed by an intensive collections campaign.
Progress in Skilled Migrant Category
This week the preliminary selection of the first group of prospective skilled migrants was made. A new points system established in December 2003 aims to select new migrants with skills and work experience in areas where there are jobs here. Another factor for the new Skilled Migrant Category is identifying that migrants easily settle into New Zealand life. Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel says she is pleased that over 2000 expressions of interest have been registered since December and that the calibre of applicant is high.
