Closer to Chile
Facilitating stronger ties with Chile were on the agenda this week when the country's President Michelle Bachelet visited New Zealand. A new agreement on business links and a new initiative on science co-operation were signed during her visit. Prime Minister Helen Clark also announced an extension of its Working Holiday Scheme for Chile. Helen Clark said the relationship between the two nations is growing in significance. The New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the Chilean Economic Development Agency signed a 'Strategic Alliance' Arrangement, which seeks more New Zealand business involvement in Chile through investment, joint ventures, and licensing agreements, and facilitating commercial partnerships. The New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Industrial Research Ltd, and Chile's National Commission for Scientific and Technical Research, jointly signalled an intent to organise a science and business colloquium, to develop proposals for specific research projects and commercialisation opportunities. Helen Clark says the immensely popular Working Holiday Scheme is increasing to 1000 places for Chile nationals. The original allocation of 200 places in 2001, increased to 400 in 2004, and 500 this year and all 500 places for the coming year were snapped up in three weeks.

Covert filming law
Parliament has approved a change to the Crimes Act targeting the increasing incidence of voyeuristic covert filming. Justice Minister Mark Burton says the Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment creates offences covering the making, possessing, publishing, importing, exporting or selling of voyeuristic recordings. It outlaws the surreptitious filming of people in intimate situations involving nudity, or sexual intimacy without their knowledge or consent. Previously there was no law specifically prohibiting this type of behaviour. Intimate covert filming is a growing problem made worse by relatively new technology such as cell phone cameras, which with the Internet, make wide distribution of recorded images relatively easy. The new law sets a three-year maximum jail term for making or publishing, importing, exporting or selling an intimate visual recording while simple possession carries a jail term of up to a year. The law is in keeping with similar legislation overseas.

Switching on sunshine
The government is investing $15.5 million in a Green Party initiative to increase the use of solar water heating in New Zealand. Government spokesperson on Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Jeanette Fitzsimons says with climate change accelerating and energy prices rising, solar heated water makes sense. The programme runs for five and half years from now, with funding for the first three and half years, and funding for the last two years subject to a 2009 review. The programme includes: independent information to help consumers decide on solar heating; promotion; improving quality and cost effectiveness by working with industry including setting standards and encouraging training opportunities; providing financial assistance to home owners; putting more solar water heating systems into government buildings; and an Innovation Fund. Energy Minister David Parker said other initiatives will be part of the Energy Strategy and draft National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy. Government assistance for buying solar water heating systems will increase from $300 to $500 in February 2007, paid as a contribution to the interest on a loan. Systems would need to meet energy performance and cost effectiveness criteria. New homebuilders will also get assistance from May 2007.

Safeguarding rights
A Bill aimed at safeguarding the rights of disabled and older New Zealanders entering into enduring power of attorney agreements has been introduced to Parliament. Senior Citizens Minister Ruth Dyson said the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Amendment Bill aims to ensure that vulnerable older and disabled people have greater protections under the law when setting up an enduring power of attorney. The changes will safeguard the donor's rights and wishes. Enduring power of attorney is an important in providing for advanced old age, when people may not be able to make personal and financial decisions. However, such arrangements can be misused, Ruth Dyson said. The major amendments will provide better protections including a legislative presumption of the donor's competence, explicit requirements that attorneys (those with powers of attorney do not have to be lawyers) act in the donor's best interests, and a purpose statement describing the role of the attorney. The Bill strengthens witnessing requirements for all new agreements and provides easier access to allow concerns about an attorney's acts to be before a court.

Support for Tongan reform
New Zealand police and defence force personnel are in Tonga to help authorities maintain law and order so the reform process can proceed peacefully, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said this week. He rejected suggestions that New Zealand had effectively sided with the government by deploying personnel to Tonga. New Zealand's presence is not about taking sides, as New Zealand has been fully supportive of peaceful democratic reform in Tonga, he said. The Tongan government is intent on pursuing reform and this was demonstrated last week with its announcement on the direct election of parliamentarians in 2008 he said. New Zealand stands ready to provide continued support for that reform process if requested.