bulletin aotearoa may 2013
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013TRANSCRIPT
may 2013
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Mammary Memories
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Consultation
Review of Retirement Income Policy .............................. 3 How Frequent Should Vehicle Inspections Be? .............. 3 Lottery Community Application Process: Changes? ....... 4 The New Not-For-Profit Reporting Standards ................. 4 Creative NZ’s Music Funding Policy ............................... 5 Health & Disability Services Standards ........................... 5 Tax Information-Sharing Between Govt Agencies? ........ 5 … & Other IRD Consultations ......................................... 6 Comparing/Switching Electricity Retailers ...................... 6 MPI Consultation ............................................................. 6 Department of Conservation Consultations .................... 7 Food Safety Consultations .............................................. 7 EPA Consultation ............................................................ 7 IT Health Board Consultations ........................................ 7 Radio Frequency Use in Uncontrolled Air Space ............ 7 Rural
New Animal Welfare Strategy ......................................... 8 New Code of Welfare for Llamas and Alpacas ............... 8 Climate to Change Face of NZ Wine .............................. 8 Farm Employee Remuneration Survey 2013 .................. 9 New Vehicle Rules for Rural Sector ................................ 9 The Horticulture Industry: Key Facts ............................... 9 Sustainable Farming Projects Funded .......................... 10 Environment
Pre-Budget Budget 2013: Conservation ....................... 10 TV Takeback Scheme ................................................... 10 EEZ Law Comes into Force in June ............................. 11 Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment: Freshwater Eel Report .................................................. 11 Further Protection of Lake Taupo ................................. 12 Akaroa Marine Reserve Approved ................................ 12 Funding to Clean Up Hazardous Waste… .................... 12 … & Tui Mine Clean-up Complete ................................ 12 Carpet Tile Recycling Scheme ...................................... 12 Aucklanders Asked to Go Biosecurity Birdwatching ..... 13 Health & Welfare
Pre-Budget 2013: Aged Care & Dementia .................... 13 Pre-Budget 2013: Rheumatic Fever ............................. 13 Pre-Budget 2013: Youth Services ................................. 14 Pre-Budget 2013: Marae CBD and Community Hubs .. 14 NZers’ Health in 2011/12: Regional Information ........... 14 Who Are The Healthy Eaters? ...................................... 15 PHARMAC Guide to Funding Applications ................... 15 What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? ............................. 15 Hazards in Homes & Gardens a Major Injury Cost ....... 16
ACC safety tips for around the home: ........................ 16 Social Bonds Contracts with Govt: ANGOA Seminars Report ............................................................................ 16 Youth Organisations Get Funding ................................. 17 Over the Counter Medicines: Oz-NZ Joint Approach... 17 ... & Joint Management of Visa Applicants' Doctors’ Panel ............................................................................. 17 Support Services for Older People ............................... 18 Recent Health Publications ........................................... 18 Fewer Drinking; Young Drinking More Responsibly ..... 18 “Standard Drink”? – “Huh”? ........................................... 18
Education/Training
ERO Booklet for School Trustees ................................. 19 Kiwi Students Hold Their Own Census ......................... 19 Growing Up in NZ Study: More Funding ....................... 19 Employment
Workplace Health & Safety Taskforce Report .............. 20 Highly Skilled Jobs Most Common ............................... 20 Employers' Social Media Policy Influences Potential Employees .................................................................... 20 SMEs: More $$ When Workers Work from Home ........ 21 Attracting Women to the Electricity Supply Industry ..... 21 Housing/Building
Pre-Budget 2013: Kainga Whenua Infrastructure Grant ...................................................................................... 21 Earthquakes Royal Commission: Update... .................. 22 ... & New Christchurch Residential Advisory Service ... 22 NZ’s Ageing Population & the Property Market ............ 22 What Kiwis Think About Their Housing ........................ 23 March House Sales Up to 6-Year High... ...................... 23 ... But Consents Down .................................................. 23 Revised Concrete Masonry Buildings Standard ........... 23 Energy
Crown Minerals Bill Passes Into Law... ......................... 24 ... & Oil & Gas Exploration Tender Announced ............ 24 Cook Strait Cable Issues: No Quick Fix ........................ 24 New Energy Measurement & Rating Scheme .............. 24 Transport & Travel
AA Insurance’s Top 10 Driver Frustrations ................... 25 Kiwis Taking Fewer Day Trips ...................................... 25 Air NZ Wins Global Award ............................................ 25 Justice/The Law
Report into GCSB Released... ...................................... 26 ... GCSB; What’s Happening Next … ........................... 26 … GCSB: Changes to Telecommunications Security Law ................................................................................ 27 Court Legislation Overhaul ........................................... 27 New Jury Law Takes Affect .......................................... 27 Confidential Listening Service extended ....................... 28 Court User Survey 2012: Summary Report .................. 28 Corrections to Take Over Electronic Bail Monitoring .... 28 Defendants to Front up in Court Study ......................... 28 Law Commission to Review Law of Contempt ............. 29 Parliament
Changes to Parliament TV Access ............................... 29 Bills Into Acts: the Royal Assent ................................... 29 New National Member of Parliament ............................ 29 Public Service/Local Authorities
New Purchasing Rules for Government ....................... 30 What Makes A Great Government Agency? ................. 30 Councils' Cost-effectiveness: Report ............................ 30 More Defence Helicopters ............................................ 31
1 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Not-For-Profits
Additional Top-up Funding for Community Law Centres ...................................................................................... 31 How To Make Newsletters More Compelling ................ 31 National Council of Women a Charity Again ................. 31 InternetNZ’s Community Funding ................................. 32 Medibank Community Fund Awards ............................. 32 Business
Pre-Budget 2013: Tourism … ....................................... 32 … TNZ & STA Travel Sign Joint MOU .......................... 33 Exports to China Overtake Exports to Australia............ 33 Guide to Being A Good Director.................................... 33 Money Matters
New Insight into Regional Economies .......................... 34 Updating Consumer Law ............................................... 34 Consumers Very Cautious About Debt … .................... 34 … So, Start Budgeting for Christmas Now .................... 35 Pokie Takings Down ..................................................... 35 NZ Fast Becoming a Cashless Society... ...................... 35 … Taking to Online Shopping Like Ducks to Water… .. 35 … & Annual Online Banking Awards ............................ 36 The Cost of Household Appliances Back Then: Wow! . 36 Internet, ICT & Media
Chorus Signs UFB Contracts ........................................ 36 Writing the Perfect Tweet .............................................. 37 2013 Webby Award Winners ......................................... 37 Why Cellphone Calls Are So Distracting ....................... 38 Planning Your Digital Death .......................................... 38 Websites & Articles of Interest ...................................... 38 Treaty Matters
Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Rarua ...................... 39 Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Pukenga ................. 40 Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu 40 Arts & Culture
It’s NZ Music Month ...................................................... 40 Online Marae Map ......................................................... 40 Are You Into Memorials? ............................................... 41 Screen Industry Survey: 2011/12 .................................. 41 NZ Artists at Venice Biennale ....................................... 41 Taite Music Prize Winner .............................................. 41 Chinese Writer Wins Inaugural NZ Literary Award ....... 41 Fish & Ships
New Seabird Protection Plan ........................................ 42 Blue Cod Survey Brought Forward ............................... 42 Shipping Regulation Changes....................................... 42 Science & Technology
Pre-Budget 2013: National Science Challenges/ Funding ...................................................................................... 42 New Lincoln Hub Plans ................................................. 43 Kiwi Mates Call In Perfect Harmony ............................. 43 Maternal Carrying a Pick-Me-Up ................................... 43 Green Spaces Good for the Heart & Mind .................... 43 Handy Stats ................................................................... 44
General
Seasonal Climate Outlook: May - July 2013 … ............ 45 … NZ Weather History Project … ................................. 45 Young More Likely to Be Lonely Than Elderly .............. 46 ANZAC & Waitangi Days – Which Means More to People? ......................................................................... 46 China/NZ Deals ............................................................. 46 NZ Joins Equal Futures Partnership ............................. 47 Language Weeks 2013 ................................................. 47 Non-Alcoholic Drinks; Changing Habits ........................ 47 Active NZ Survey 2013 ................................................. 48 Sport & Recreation Awards ........................................... 48 Global Military Spending Falls in 2012 ......................... 48 Conferences & Events .................................................. 48 Awards & Opportunities ................................................ 49 Appointments ................................................................ 53
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 2
Consultation
Review of Retirement Income Policy Every three years the Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income reviews retirement income policies to check on their effectiveness, and, as part of this assessment, Kiwi views are sought on the things that affect their retirement income.
For this review the Commission will be looking at:
• how NZ’s retirement income policy affects different generations, the impact of increased life expectancy on the current retirement savings schemes, different retirement savings approaches, and the sustainability of NZ Superannuation;
• the role of private savings for retirement (covering trends in KiwiSaver, and how well the financial services sector helps make sure NZers have adequate retirement income);
• contributions made by other policies and programmes - such as in housing and health - to maintaining NZ’s retirement income; and
• women’s future retirement income prospects.
Submissions close on 31 May 2013. Post them to Commission for Financial Literacy and Retirement Income, PO Box 12-148, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, or email [email protected]. You can also complete a short online form at http://www.cflri.org.nz/retirement-income/policy-reviews/2013-review/short-response-form
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How Frequent Should Vehicle Inspections Be? The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has released a consultation paper proposing amendments to Rule - Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment (No 2) 2013. This outlines the following changes to the warrant of fitness (WoF) and certificate of fitness (CoF – for heavy and commercial vehicles) inspection requirements*:
• after initial inspection of a new vehicle, no further inspection until it is three years old;
• annual inspections for light vehicles three years and older, that were first registered anywhere, on or after 1 January 2000;
• six-monthly inspections for vehicles first registered anywhere before 1 January 2000;
• more information encouraging NZers to keep their vehicle roadworthy; and
• more Police enforcement on the roads.
The changes would apply to most vehicles from 1 April 2014. However, from 1 October 2013 vehicles first registered anywhere between 2004 to 2008 (inclusive) would receive a 12-month WoF following their next successful inspection.
A CoF can currently be done every three to nine months. Under the new rules that range would change to become three to 12 months.
The consultation paper also seeks opinions about the frequency of WoF inspections for vintage vehicles; and the frequency of CoF inspections for rental vehicles.
*These proposals were first announced in January this year.
Submissions close on 31 May 2013. Post your submission to Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment, Rules Team, NZ Transport Agency, Private Bag 6995, Wellington 6141. The consultation documents and more information can be found at http://www.nzta.govt.nz/consultation/vehicle-standards-compliance/amendment-2013/index.html
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3 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Lottery Community Application Process: Changes? The Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has released a consultation paper on changes it’s proposing to the way applications to Lottery Community committees are made. It says:
• aspects of the application process can be confusing for community organisations and DIA staff, when it comes to deciding whether they should be considered by LNCC (Lotteries National Committee) or by a RCC (Regional Community Committee);
• some funding agreements have not kept pace with changes to organisations (for example, national offices being disbanded, or a regional structure changing to a national structure);
• considering multi-regional funding applications (both LNCC and RCCs do this) can also create confusion between organisations and DIA staff; and
• the policy of community organisations receiving more than one grant per year from Lottery community committees needs clarifying.
Among other things DIA is proposing that collated funding arrangements* would no longer be considered by the LNCC; all multi-regional applications would be considered by the LNCC; and community organisations would be able to receive a maximum of one single year and one multi-year Lottery community committee grant per financial year.
For organisations that make a single application to one LNCC each year there will be no impact resulting from these proposals.
*Collated funding arrangements are made when a national office and all or some of its branches each make individual applications to Lottery National Community. Each of these applications is currently considered separately.
Submissions close on 4 June 2013. They go to Submissions on Lottery community committees, Operational Policy and Business Improvement Team, Community Operations, PO Box 805, Wellington 6140, or to [email protected]. You can also make your submission online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z3JS5R7. More is at http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Latest-updates#Proposed
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The New Not-For-Profit Reporting Standards The External Reporting Board (XRB) and the NZ Accounting Standards Board (NZASB) have published proposals for accounting standards for simple format reporting by not-for-profit groups. These would apply from 1 April 2015.
They are suggesting four different levels (called “tiers”) of reporting requirements, depending on the levels of the not-for-profit group’s expenses. Most not-for-profits in NZ are likely to fall within either tier three (those with expenses of less than $2 million - that choose to be in this tier) or four (not-for-profits allowed by law to use cash accounting - with operating payments less than $40,000 - that choose to be in this tier). Tiers one and two will need to meet much higher standards of reporting (called PBE Standards).
The proposals up for comment are:
• an amendment to Standard XRB A1 establishing the structure;
• a Simple Format Reporting Standard to be used by not-for profit entities in Tier 3;
• a Simple Format Reporting Standard for not-for profit entities in Tier 4; and
• optional templates and associated guidance notes for Tier 3 and Tier 4 not-for-profit organisations so they can prepare “performance reports” .
With each proposal comes an “Invitation to Comment.”
Submissions close on 28 June 2013. They go to Chief Executive, External Reporting Board, PO Box 11250, Manners Street Central, Wellington 6142, or to [email protected] is a backgrounder at http://www.socialdevelopment.org.nz/featured/how-will-new-reporting-standards-affect-you/ and the consultation is at http://www.xrb.govt.nz/Site/Accounting_Standards/Exposure_Drafts/Proposals_for_SFR_Stds_for_NFP_Entities.aspx
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 4
Creative NZ’s Music Funding Policy Creative NZ (CNZ) is seeking your views about the way it supports music and musicians in NZ to help it develop its funding policies for music for the next five years (2013-2017). A discussion paper summarises the activities and infrastructure* which make up NZ’s music sector, and the different kinds of support that are available to it. It also sets out Creative NZ’s contribution to the sector and explains the principles that guide its decision-making. The paper asks six key questions, including:
• How can Creative NZ encourage the creation of new NZ music that is more widely performed for NZ and international audiences?
• Are there other ways for Creative NZ to create or encourage opportunities (outside the school system) for young people to participate in music-making? If so, what are they?
• Excluding orchestras, are there other key areas within the music sector which Creative NZ should support? If so, what are they?
• Does Creative NZ need to achieve a different balance of activities across the entire music sector? If so, why?
*Creative NZ defines “infrastructure” as meaning all the elements that are necessary for groups and individuals to create, present, distribute, and participate in the arts.
Submissions close on 17 May 2013. Online written submissions can be made at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CNZ_Music_Review, or you can write to Music Review, Creative NZ Aotearoa, PO Box 3806, Wellington 6140. A discussion paper is at http://www.creativenz.govt.nz/en/about-creative-new-zealand/corporate-and-strategy-documents/music-discussion-paper-2013
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Health & Disability Services Standards The Ministry of Health certifies providers of health and disability services according to the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001, and people certified have to meet the standards set out in the Health and Disability Services Standards (NZS 8134:2008). These standards are currently being reviewed and you can comment on them by filling out an online survey.
The survey closes on 24 May 2013. To comment go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hdss. For more information email [email protected] or call (04) 816 2629
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Tax Information-Sharing Between Govt Agencies? Public feedback is invited on proposals for Inland Revenue (IRD) to share some of its information with other government agencies to help fight serious crime. It’s proposed that information can only be shared with other agencies when:
• the offence is committed by a person and is punishable by imprisonment of four years or more; or, if a similar offence is committed by an organisation which would be punishable by imprisonment of four years or more if it had been committed by a person;
• there are reasonable grounds for the agency to suspect that a serious offence has been, or is going to be, committed;
• there are reasonable grounds for IRD to suspect the information it has is relevant to the prevention, detection or investigation of, a serious offence; and
• Inland Revenue is satisfied that the information is readily available within its office, it is reasonable to communicate the information, and it is in the public interest to do so.
Submissions and an online forum close on 21 May 2013. You can post your submissions to Sharing Inland Revenue information to support law enforcement, C/- Deputy Commissioner, Policy and Strategy, IRD, PO Box 2198, Wellington 6140. The discussion paper is at http://taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/publications/2013-dd-targeting-serious-crime/overview, and the online forum is at http://targetingseriouscrime.ird.govt.nz
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5 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
… & Other IRD Consultations They are (submission closing dates are in brackets):
• Draft General Depreciation Determination: stabilised turf systems - would set a general depreciation rate for these systems by adding new asset classes to the "Leisure" industry category (15 May 2013);
• Income tax - standard project agreement for a public-private partnership - considers the income tax implications of the standard contract relating to public-private partnerships (24 May 2013);
• Income tax - retention money - this will replace an item published in March 1980 in Public Information Bulletin No 103 - but is not a change to IRD’s views on the tax treatment of retention money (7 June 2013);
• Income tax – a draft interpretation statement considers whether certain rights given by the Companies Act 1993 could give rise to a - "Shareholder decision-making right" (7 June 2013); and
• the Commissioner of Inland Revenue's search powers - this outlines how IRD will apply information gathering powers it has under sections 16, 16B and 16C of the Tax Administration Act 1994 and the Search and Surveillance Act 2012 (24 June 2013).
Submissions go to [email protected]. More is at http://www.ird.govt.nz/public-consultation/
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Comparing/Switching Electricity Retailers The Electricity Authority’s Retail Advisory Group (RAG) has released a consultation paper called “Review of options for promoting retail competition by increasing consumers' propensity to compare and switch retailers”.
The RAG believes more consumers would be likely to switch if there were awareness programs that:
• targeted consumers who are less likely to switch, highlighted the possible advantages of switching to older or lower-income consumers, or targeted people who might be quite open to new products such as metering options, time of use tariffs etc.;
• ran at the times of the year when it’s more likely that consumers would be thinking about switching electricity retailers (e.g., when price changes occur, or before winter starts); and
• targeted consumers in regions where there is less competition between electricity retailers (these are generally in regional areas).
Submissions close on 4 June 2013. They go to Submissions, Electricity Authority, PO Box 10041, Wellington 6143. Email electronic submissions to [email protected] with "Consultation Paper -Options for increasing consumers propensity to compare and switch retailers" in the subject line. A discuss paper is at http://www.ea.govt.nz/our-work/consultations/advisory-group/options-for-increasing-consumers-propensity-to-compare-and-switch-retailers/
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MPI Consultation The Ministry for Primary Industries is proposing a number of changes to fisheries regulations in order to give effect to decisions relating to the Foreign Charter Vessel (FCV) review. Note: the submission closing date for this consultation has been extended.
Submissions close on 15 July 2013.They go to [email protected]. More is at http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Consultations/Foreign+Charter+Vessel+review/default.htm
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 6
Department of Conservation Consultations DOC is consulting on (closing dates for submissions and contacts are in brackets):
• Keereweer disposal notice, conservation land at Reefton: DOC also intends to dispose about 500m2 of conservation land at Reefton (22 May 2013 - [email protected]); and
• Canterbury Conservancy's draft guidelines for aircraft access: this is a proposal to zone public conservation land for different levels of aircraft access (an ongoing consultation with no closing date - [email protected]).
More is at http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/consultations/current/
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Food Safety Consultations There is one (submission closing date and contact are in brackets):
• Proposals to Amend the NZ (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards 2012 (5 June 2013 - [email protected]).
More is at http://www.foodsafety.govt.nz/consultation/
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EPA Consultation The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is calling for submissions on an application to import an insecticide (Bithor), used to eradicate ants in/around domestic, industrial, and commercial buildings and structures.
Submissions close on 13 June 2013. Post them to Private Bag 63002, Wellington 6140, or email [email protected]. More is at http://www.epa.govt.nz/consultations/hazardous-substances/Pages/Call-for-submissions-on-a-new-insecticide-.aspx
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IT Health Board Consultations There are currently two draft standards open for public comment:
• 10043 CDA (clinical document architecture) Common Templates (supporting material for CDA-based standards); and
• 10047 Comprehensive Clinical Assessments for Older People (CDA document types for interRAI assessments).
Submissions for both close on 22 May 2013. They can be emailed to [email protected]. More is at http://www.ithealthboard.health.nz/content/standards-open-public-comment
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Radio Frequency Use in Uncontrolled Air Space When a plane is flying in uncontrolled airspace, the position report and other information provided by the pilot’s radio call provide crucial information about their situation, and this is essential when it comes to avoiding collisions. The pilot therefore needs to use the appropriate radio frequency for the location they are flying within and for the area they are flying to.
A discussion paper reviews safety issues relating to use of the appropriate radio frequency in uncontrolled airspace, the use of the flight information service, and common frequency zones (CFZs). CFZs were introduced into this country to provide a common radio frequency at locations where several frequency areas overlap. While it’s not compulsory, pilots are expected to use the advised frequency and to comply with local radio procedures. As a minimum, pilots are expected to broadcast their position and intentions on entry and exit from a CFZ.
Massey University has proposed a solution to the safety issues that involves using a nation-wide network of CFZs, and the CAA has proposed an alternative solution using the flight information service with improved coverage.
7 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Submissions close on 24 May 2013. They go to Group Executive Officer, Aviation Infrastructure and Personnel, CAA, PO Box 3555, Wellington 6140, email [email protected] - Reference - Radio Frequency Use Review. More is at http://www.caa.govt.nz/airspace/airspace_review.htm
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Rural
New Animal Welfare Strategy A new animal welfare strategy reinforces that:
• animal welfare has both domestic and international dimensions – even isolated cases of poor animal welfare could damage our reputation;
• not complying with minimum animal welfare standards is unacceptable;
• professional and industry groups should take an active, leading role, particularly in educating their members; and
• good care of animals and animal husbandry are fundamental, and there are opportunities for better planning, practices and technologies.
The plan lists four main ways to improve animal welfare:
• better planning to prevent animal welfare problems;
• better animal husbandry, science and technology;
• clear expectations and sanctions, with help for people to comply; and
• more monitoring of animal welfare performance.
It also says that using animals for activities like farming and racing is acceptable as long as it is humane.
New legislation will be introduced shortly updating the Animal Welfare Act.
The NZ Animal Welfare Strategy is available at: http://www.mpi.govt.nz/biosecurity-animal-welfare/animal-welfare/new-zealand-animal-welfare-strategy
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New Code of Welfare for Llamas and Alpacas The Animal Welfare (Llamas and Alpacas) Code of Welfare 2013 addresses the welfare of camelids (llamas, alpacas, guanaco, and crossbreds of these). It applies to every South American camelid kept for any purpose in NZ, and encourages everyone responsible for them to use best practices of husbandry, care, and handling.
The minimum standards in the code relate to all aspects of llama and alpaca ownership and care, including food, water, shelter, behaviour, and socialising. The code also provides recommendations for best practice in camelid husbandry and handling.
Copies of the code and an explanatory report are at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/animal-welfare/codes/llamas-and-alpacas
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Climate to Change Face of NZ Wine A warming planet might not be bad news for NZ wine growers, according to a new study which predicts suitable grape growing land could more than double here in the next 40 years. Research from Chilean and Californian scientists, found that the area of land suitable for growing grapes would change substantially around the world under predicted climate shifts in the next four decades.
According to the study, classic wine-producing regions such as California and the Mediterranean will experience substantial losses of vine-friendly land, whereas NZ, western North America, and Northern Europe will show substantial increases in suitable areas. The author estimates that NZ’s potential wine growing area could increase by 168%,
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 8
especially in a much larger part of the Canterbury and Marlborough coastal areas, inland of Wanganui, and west from Martinborough to Masterton.
Find out much more at http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2013/04/10/in-the-news-climate-change-impact-on-vineyards/?utm_source=HEADS-UP+12-18+APR+2013&utm_campaign=SMC+Heads-Up&utm_medium=email
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Farm Employee Remuneration Survey 2013 The Federated Farmers/Rabobank Farm Employee Remuneration Survey 2013 shows that salaries and wages for most pastoral farm positions have continued to increase. The average farm worker is now earning $5,500 more than the NZ average annual wage and salary worker. Farm workers earned an average salary of $46,246, increasing to $49,159 when the value of non-wage benefits is taken into account.
Other findings from the 2013 survey include:
• the average weekly hours worked for the Industry Groups covered were Dairy (44 hours), Sheep & Beef (31.2 hours) and Grain & Seed (38.5 hours);
• 36.9% of employees have been employed for less than one year;
• 86.5% of employees are NZ citizens;
• 83.5% of permanent employees have written contracts, up on the 2012 survey’s 75.4%;
• accommodation is provided to 78.2% of employees, up on the 2012 survey’s 75.1%; and
• 32.9% of employers reported it as being “not at all easy” or “not very easy” to find employees, compared to 34.5% who reported it as being “very easy” or “extremely easy” (dairy positions were generally perceived as harder to fill).
More is at http://fedfarm.org.nz/publications/media-releases/article.asp?id=659
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New Vehicle Rules for Rural Sector Changes to the Land Transport (Driver Licensing) Rule 1999 and seven other Land Transport Rules include:
• a two-tier system for agricultural vehicles will be established based on a 40km/h operating speed (vehicles operating below this speed will be exempt from warrant of fitness and work time requirements);
• agricultural vehicles registered from when the law takes effect are required to use a flashing amber beacon when used on-road to alert other road users to the presence of agricultural vehicles;
• a new licence endorsement will allow a bigger range of agricultural vehicles to be driven by the holder of a Class 1 (car) licence once they prove they have the skills to do so; and
• other changes simplifying the rules on pilot vehicles, work time variation schemes, hazard identification, and vehicle visibility.
More is at www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/rules/driver-licensing-1999-index.html
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The Horticulture Industry: Key Facts The Plant & Food CRI (Crown Research Institute) has released a snapshot of NZ’s horticulture industry (this includes the wine industry). Some major findings are:
• total horticulture merchandise exports in 2012 were more than $3.6 billion, up 5.5% ($190.5m) over 2011 (horticulture now makes up 7.8% of NZ’s total merchandise exports);
• wine exports continue to increase and at $1.17 billion made up 40.2% of NZ’s fresh and processed fruit exports in 2012;
• fresh fruit exports increased by 7.1% over 2011 with most of the increase being kiwifruit $83.1m (+8.6%) and avocado $45.6m (+88.9%);
9 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
• total value of fresh vegetables exports was $213.3m, a decrease of $56.9m (-21.1%) compared to 2011;
• frozen vegetable exports increased $27.9m (13.0%) over 2011 to $242.2m, including frozen potatoes ($86.9m), frozen peas ($57.7m), and frozen mixed vegetables ($47.5m); and
• natural honey exports of $121.1m, increased by $19.5m (19.2%) on 2011, double the 2008, and close to three times the 2005 export value.
More is at http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=1b46d14e528ad30bae8b3663c&id=fe5dc59c1a
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Sustainable Farming Projects Funded A total of $8.8 million has been awarded to 42 projects around the country after the latest round of the Sustainable Farming Fund*. Projects include (amongst others) improving nutrient management, promoting pasture persistence, biological controls for pests, developing aquaculture, improving deer farm environmental management, and planning for collaborative water management. The funding includes 14 projects that have received funding from a special round for Māori agribusiness late last year.
The projects approved in the main funding round will start on 1 July 2013 and run for one to three years. Most of the Māori agribusiness projects have already started, with the remaining three to start on 1 July 2013.
*The Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) was set up in 2000 to fund projects that contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of NZ’s primary industries. SFF funding is matched by cash and in-kind contributions from industry, community groups and individuals.
A full list of successful projects is available at http://www.mpi.govt.nz/environment-natural-resources/funding-programmes/sustainable-farming-fund
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Environment
Pre-Budget Budget 2013: Conservation Budget Day this year is Thursday 16 May, and a series of budget announcements have already been made. Amongst them: an additional $20 million over 4 years ($5 million per year) is to go to the Department of Conservation (DoC).
Some $15 million of this funding, or around $3.8 million a year, will be used to increase DOC’s frontline workforce by around 60 (these positions will include visitor information and support staff along with rangers involved in work on huts, tracks and protecting threatened species). The other $5 million of the funding, or around $1.2 million a year, is for recreational facilities (this will help DOC respond to the increase in use of popular and high profile facilities, with the funding focused on the network of walks and new cycle trails).
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-support-frontline-conservation-work
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TV Takeback Scheme As the country goes digital, many hundreds of thousands of TVs in NZ are nearing the end of their lives. TVs need to be recycled responsibly; they contain materials like lead that can be hazardous to our health and the environment. TVs also contain many materials that can be re-used in other products if they are recycled.
The TV TakeBack programme enables you to recycle your old TV so it wont go into landfill. The Government (through the Ministry for the Environment) has partnered with a range of recyclers, retailers, producers and councils to provide a nationwide network to collect and recycle these TVs. Recycling drop off points are being offered through local councils, participating retailers, and e-waste recyclers.
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 10
The programme is already complete in Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast, is underway in the rest of South Island, and will be rolled out over the rest of the North Island during 2013.
For a limited time* a Government subsidy will enable you to recycle your TV for no more than $5.
*TV recycling subsidies are capped and divided across the country, so every region can have fair access to them. Once the subsidy is used up in each region, charges to recycle TVs will be greater.
Visit www.tvtakeback.govt.nz to find your nearest drop off point and learn about TV recycling
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EEZ Law Comes into Force in June A new law (the EEZ Act) covering environmental management of activities in NZ’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) will come into force in June. New Zealand has one of the biggest exclusive economic zones in the world. Together with our continental shelf, it is an area of ocean that is 20 times the size of our land mass, and up until now, there has been a lack of environmental protection for it.
Regulations will permit lower impact activities, under certain conditions relating to their likely environmental impact. They will classify the following activities as permitted: seismic surveying; marine scientific research; submarine cabling; prospecting for petroleum and minerals; and exploration for minerals.
Production mining activities for petroleum and minerals will remain discretionary (up to the regulator). There are no proposals for prohibited activities.
The Government will shortly be consulting on whether discharge and dumping and petroleum exploration drilling will be classified within the new category. If this is confirmed, it is anticipated that the regulations classifying these activities will be in place in October this year.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/next-steps-new-law-protect-environment
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Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment: Freshwater Eel Report A report calling into question the science behind longfin eel fisheries management was launched recently by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment (PCE).
Commercial fishing of native freshwater eels is currently permitted under the quota management system, although there are concerns that that the longfin eel may be headed for extinction. Fisheries scientists have highlighted the complexities involved in dealing with a fish that lives for nearly a century and breeds only at the end of its life.
The eel fishery is managed by the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI), while the Department of Conservation (DoC), Ministry for the Environment (MfE), and local councils all have responsibilities for protecting eels in different ways.
The PCE's report calls for:
• suspension of the commercial catch of longfin eels until stocks are shown to have recovered;
• increased protection for longfin eels and other threatened migratory fish; and
• a fully-independent expert peer review panel to reassess the science, using the full range of information available on longfin eel populations.
A copy of the report, “On a pathway to extinction? An investigation into the status and management of the longfin eel,” is available at http://www.pce.parliament.nz/publications/all-publications/on-a-pathway-to-extinction-an-investigation-into-the-status-and-management-of-the-longfin-eel/
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11 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Further Protection of Lake Taupo Another $3 million is being spent to ensure the long-term protection of Lake Taupo’s water quality. The extra funding will be used to reduce nitrogen in the lake by 20% (high nitrogen levels in lakes and rivers can harm tiny organisms and cause algal blooms). The Government has now committed $35.5 million towards protection of Lake Taupo’s water quality, and with Environment Waikato and Taupo District Council funding contributions, there is now a total of $75.4 million available for protection of the lake waters.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt-invests-further-3-million-protect-lake-taupo
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Akaroa Marine Reserve Approved After nearly two decades of debate, a new marine reserve in Akaroa Harbour, centred around Dan Rogers Bluff, has been approved. The northern boundary has now been adjusted by 55ha, reducing the reserve to 475ha, to accommodate concerns raised by from customary and recreational fishers.
More (including links to related documents) can be found at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/akaroa-marine-reserve-approved
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Funding to Clean Up Hazardous Waste… The Waste Minimisation Fund has awarded Transpacific Technical Services $550,000 to collect and dispose of hazardous material found mainly in old electrical equipment. Known as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), the material was previously used in products such as electrical transformers, ballasts and heat transfer capacitors.
Transpacific, which will collect 12 tonnes of PCBs over the next two years, will launch a publicity campaign advertising the free collection and disposal service. The campaign will target the electrical industry (electricians often encounter PCBs during lighting upgrades), and rural landowners (to discourage on-farm dumping). The waste collected will be sent to a hazardous waste facility in France, as there are currently no suitable facilities in NZ.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-allocates-550000-clean-hazardous-waste
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… & Tui Mine Clean-up Complete A $22.5 million 5-year project to clean up NZ’s worst contaminated site (the Tui Mine at Te Aroha) is now complete. The mine opened in 1967 to extract metals, including copper, lead and zinc, but it was abandoned in 1975. Left behind were waste rock and ore dumps, tailings and the ruins of the mine workings. These leached heavy metals and acid into the Tui and Tunakohoia Streams. In addition, there was a risk the tailings mass would liquefy in an earthquake or fail in an extreme weather event and flow down the mountain.
Since the clean-up began, the tailings dam has been stabilised and 110,000 cubic metres of old mine tailings have been treated and stabilised. The water quality of the Tunakohoia stream has improved and there is no longer a threat to human health. The site itself will initially be covered in grass, and then shrubs, and left to naturally regenerate.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/225-million-tui-mine-clean-complete
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Carpet Tile Recycling Scheme Under a new government-accredited product stewardship* scheme for the reuse and recycling of carpet tiles, used tiles will be collected from carpet installers and customers at depots in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Tiles that can be reused will be stored ready to be supplied to future customers, or donated to community groups such as the Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity. PVC-backed carpet tiles beyond their usable life will be sent back to the original manufacturer in the United States where they will be stripped and remanufactured into new carpet tiles.
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 12
Eight product stewardship schemes are now accredited around NZ for industries including paint, plastics, refrigerants and waste oil. *Product stewardship encourages (and in certain circumstances requires) people and organisations involved in the life of a product to share responsibility for: ensuring effective reduction, reuse, recycling or recovery of products; and managing environmental harm arising from the product when it becomes waste.
More information on product stewardship is available at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/waste/product-stewardship/index.html
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Aucklanders Asked to Go Biosecurity Birdwatching The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is asking Aucklanders to keep an eye out for an unwanted bird species thought to be in the wider city area that could harm our native birdlife and damage fruit and vegetable crops.
The red-vented bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer) is aggressive to other birds, and is one of the world’s most invasive bird species. It’s been reported that some of these birds are present in the greater Auckland area.
Although the red-vented bulbuls may appear cute, they’re anything but, and urgent action is required to locate and capture them before they establish. They have been found in Auckland before - in the 1950s and more recently in 2006. In both instances they were eradicated.
Report suspect finds immediately to MPI’s Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline - 0800 80 99 66. Full information, including pictures and an audio track of their unique call is at http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/pests/red-vented-bulbul%20
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Health & Welfare
Pre-Budget 2013: Aged Care & Dementia A pre-Budget announcement signals that an extra $70 million will be spent on aged care and dementia. There will be:
• $20 million, over 4 years, for home support services to help more older NZers to stay in their homes longer;
• $1.2 million, over 3 years, for dementia-related training for health care workers;
• $2 million, over 3 years, to support dementia awareness programmes and assistance for clinical teams in early detection of dementia;
• $12 million increase in funding for dementia bed subsidies, over 4 years, to encourage further investment in dementia beds; and
• $1.5 million contribution to costs for training aged care staff in the use of the interRAI* assessment tool being rolled out to aged care facilities.
District health boards have also been funded to invest an additional $33.2 million on aged residential care subsidies (over 4 years). *interRAI is an international collaborative that works to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people through the use of a comprehensive assessment system.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-70-million-extra-aged-care-and-dementia
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Pre-Budget 2013: Rheumatic Fever Funding for fighting NZ’s high rate of rheumatic fever gets a boost of $21.3 million over 4 years. Budget funding (over 4 years) includes:
• $11.25 million for sore throat drop-in clinics - this nurse-led service will reach high-risk families (in parts of greater Auckland and Porirua) whose children don’t attend schools with throat swabbing services or when it’s out of school term;
13 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
• $4.72 million for an awareness campaign, including home visits and information resources, to help vulnerable families understand how to protect their children from this disease;
• $1.6 million into research on a rheumatic fever vaccine; and
• $3.75 million towards an Auckland wide healthy homes referral and advice service (poor quality housing and household over-crowding are contributors to this disease, particularly in Auckland).
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-additional-213m-fight-rheumatic-fever
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Pre-Budget 2013: Youth Services Funding of $4.5 million for 46 service providers working with young NZers (through the Services for Young People Fund) is to be continued. The Fund is administered by the Ministry of Youth Development. It provides funding to community-based organisations to create opportunities for 12-to-24 year olds to connect with their communities, be part of the community’s successes, and learn new skills. Services offer entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, and support to young people to achieve through leadership schemes.
More will be available at: www.contractmapping.govt.nz from 1 July 2013 once contracts are in place with provider organisations
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Pre-Budget 2013: Marae CBD and Community Hubs Budget 2013 sets aside $1.2 million for the development of Community Hubs and Marae CBD that will deliver social services to communities.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-development-marae-cbd-and-community-hubs
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NZers’ Health in 2011/12: Regional Information Information from the 2011/12 NZ Health Survey - which provides information from large district health boards – was released recently. Amongst the statistics from different parts of the country:
Upper North Island • Smoking was less common among adults living in Auckland DHB (14%) and Waitemata DHB (16%) than the national
average (18%);
• about 8% of adults living in Counties Manukau DHB report having been diagnosed with diabetes (higher than the national average of 5%); and
• the adult obesity rate was higher in Waikato DHB (35%) than the national average (29%).
Lower North Island • In the past 12 months, one in five adults (21%) and children (20%) living in the lower North Island was unable to get
an appointment at their usual medical centre within 24 hours of wanting one; these rates were higher than the national rates (15% and 14%, respectively).
South Island • People living in the South Island were much more likely to be physically active (73%) than the national average (54%),
and more likely to eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables (83%) and fruit (63%) than the national averages (68% and 58%);
• children living in the South Island were less likely to watch two or more hours of TV each day (46%) than the national average (53%), and they also had a lower obesity rate (7%) than the national child rate (11%); and
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 14
• adults and children living in the South Island were more likely to have had a dental visit in the past 12 months (55% and 84%, respectively) than the national average (49% and 79%).
More is at http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/regional-results-2011-12-new-zealand-health-survey
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Who Are The Healthy Eaters? If we are what we eat, then NZ’s older generations are a nutritious combination of salads, soups and sandwiches, according to the latest findings from Roy Morgan Research. Like their Australian counterparts, Pre-Boomers and Baby Boomers in NZ list these three healthy foods as their favourites.
However, whereas Baby Boomers are Australia’s healthiest-eating generation, it’s the Pre-Boomers who clinch the title in NZ. Alongside their enjoyment of salads (73%), soups (70%), and sandwiches (69%), this generation also lists seafood (58%) in its Top Five. Baby Boomers, on the other hand, round out their list with fries/hot chips (56%).
Generations X, Y, and Z still enjoy their salad (indeed, it tops the list for Gen X at 75%) and sandwiches, but have not yet reached the age where eating healthily determines their food choices quite as much as the Boomer generations.
Pre-Boomers (64%) and Baby Boomers (65%) prefer to eat healthy snacks, and generally tend to agree with statements about eating healthily. Gens Y and Z, on the other hand, believe that taste is more important than ingredients.
More is at http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2013/2061/
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PHARMAC Guide to Funding Applications PHARMAC has released a new guide for health professionals, consumers, and clinicians to make it easier for them to apply for pharmaceuticals to be funded.
Most funding applications come from pharmaceutical companies, although it has always been possible for anyone to make an application. However, health professionals and consumers don’t always have access to the level of detailed clinical data that PHARMAC usually requires for a funding application.
The guide includes a form outlining the sort of information that should be provided with an application, as well as contacts at PHARMAC.
You can download the form from http://www.pharmac.health.nz/news/item/pharmac-releases-easy-guide-to-funding-applications
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What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the name for a group of conditions where a person has a delay or difficulty in three developmental areas (Communication, Social interaction, and Thinking or behaviour). Many children have some delay in one of these areas, but a child or adult with ASD has difficulty in all three areas.
A new quick reference resource from the Ministry of Health sets the three areas out for people who might come across adults/children who might have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It also includes information on how to identify signs that may indicate ASD, and gives advice on what to do if ASD is signalled.
The resource is at http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/what-does-asd-look-quickcard-english
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15 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Hazards in Homes & Gardens a Major Injury Cost A big proportion of injuries in the home, costing millions of dollars a year, are related to how a house is built and maintained, according to new research from the University of Otago. The study in home injury prevention investigated 1328 home injuries reported to ACC involving 1612 people between 2006 and 2009. It also looked at commonly occurring potential injury hazards in the home that could be repaired at modest cost.
The research found that structural hazards inside the house and out in the garden - such as incompletely fenced driveways and poor lighting - contributed to 38% of the injuries. Particularly vulnerable groups for home injury are the very young (under 5) and people over the age of 80.
Potential injury hazards in many homes include the lack of working smoke detectors (65%), incompletely fenced driveways (55%), hot water temperatures at over 60 degrees (49%), and poorly lit access to the house (34%). But, the researchers also found that important structural hazards can be fixed relatively cheaply at an average of about $600 per household.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1304/S00055/hazards-in-homes-and-gardens-a-major-injury-cost.htm
ACC safety tips for around the home: • wipe up puddles and spills on the floor immediately, to prevent slipping over;
• clear away clutter and toys from the floor, especially in walkways;
• make sure there’s easy access to light switches from the bed, so you won’t be in the dark if you need to get up at night;
• clean moss from garden paths; and
• install outdoor lighting if possible, to make it safer to come and go from the home at night.
For more information, visit www.homessafety.co.nz
Key statistics:
• over 7000 people were injured falling on a mossy path, step or driveway at home last year;
• over 350 people were injured tripping over power cords at home in 2011;
• almost 5000 people were injured tripping over rugs and mats at home in 2011;
• over 7,500 people in 2011 were injured after falling while climbing on a chair at home to reach a high object;
• over 18,000 people were injured slipping on a wet floor at home in 2011; and
• last year, several thousand people were injured on paths and driveways.
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Social Bonds Contracts with Govt: ANGOA Seminars Report This is the final report from the Association of Non-Governmental Organisations of Aotearoa (ANGOA) to Treasury and the Ministry of Health on the series of social bonds seminars they organised in February and March 2013. A social bond is a contract between the government and a service provider, or third party arranger, to make a payment for achievement of agreed outcomes. The contract needs to define what success will look like, the target population and the amount that will be returned to the investor if success is achieved.
Some of the conclusions from the ANGOA report are:
• social bonds are a very new concept in the international arena and not much is known about them;
• there are NZ organisations very keen to pilot a social bond (if this can improve their opportunity to improve social outcomes);
• adequate resources must be provided to support these “trailblazers;”
• performance measures, careful monitoring, and evaluation will need to take place; and
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• social bonds are unlikely to be a generally-used contracting approach to achieving social outcomes, but may serve the needs of particular groups.
More is at http://www.angoa.org.nz/angoa_docs/2013-03-29-ANGOA-Report-Social-Bonds-Seminars.pdf
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Youth Organisations Get Funding Six organisations with projects ranging from helping disadvantaged youth to giving cultural opportunities to young people in rural communities, have received funding from the Ministry of Youth Development’s Services for Young People fund:
• YES Disability Resource Centre ($5000) - provides information and support for people living with disabilities and their families;
• Phoenix NZYP ($5000) - a performing arts group that provides opportunities for all young people in West Auckland to participate in the performing arts;
• Young Enterprise Trust ($14,000) - works alongside schools throughout NZ to develop enterprising students;
• Stage Challenge Foundation ($15,000) - works with young people, schools, community organisations, government, and business to increase awareness of issues affecting young people and address problems that lead to anti-social behaviour through drama performance;
• Youth Mentoring Network ($10,000) - provides free tools and resources to assist mentors working with young people; and
• Youth Quest Trust ($10,000) - offers workshops and a youth mentoring programme for young people and their families within their communities.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/youth-organisations-given-funding
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Over the Counter Medicines: Oz-NZ Joint Approach... A simpler process for assessing medicines common to NZ and Australia that are sold over the counter (OTC) took affect last month. This is part of a move towards establishing a single Australian and NZ Therapeutic Products Agency for therapeutic products. Other progress includes:
• establishing a “Joint Adverse Events Notification System” for medicines (JAENS-Medicines), to give people in both countries access online to adverse events (undesirable experiences associated with the use of medicines);
• plans for a Trans-Tasman early warning system to alert health professionals and consumers to safety concerns identified with medicines and medical devices (this is scheduled to be launched later this year); and
• a recall system advising consumers and health professionals about recalls of therapeutic products.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-approach-evaluation-over-counter-medicines-australia-and-new-zealand
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... & Joint Management of Visa Applicants' Doctors’ Panel New Zealand and Australia are to jointly manage an offshore network of panel physicians. Panel physicians are doctors and radiologists who undertake immigration health examinations for visa applicants. Joint management will be done through Immigration NZ (INZ) and the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). The network is expected to be up and running by July 2014.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00084/nz-australia-jointly-manage-overseas-immigration-physicians.htm
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17 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Support Services for Older People This information for older people is about the range of support services that are available to enable them to maintain independence and quality of life; stay in their own home for as long as possible; and participate in their community. Support services may include:
• personal care (e.g., getting out of bed, showering, dressing, medication management);
• household support (e.g., cleaning, meal preparation);
• carer support; and
• equipment to help with safety at home.
More is at http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/services-older-people/support-services-older-people
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Recent Health Publications Recent Ministry of Health publications include:
• The Health of Māori Adults and Children - this paper presents key findings about the health and wellbeing of Māori adults and children in 2011/12 (the results come from the NZ Health Survey);
• The Health of Pacific Adults and Children - this paper presents key findings about the health and wellbeing of Pacific adults and children in 2011/12 (the results also come from the NZ Health Survey); and
• Electric and Magnetic Fields and Your Health - this publication explains the electric and magnetic fields around power lines, electrical wiring, and appliances, and discusses the health effects of these fields.
These (and other health publications) are at http://www.health.govt.nz/publications
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Fewer Drinking; Young Drinking More Responsibly A Ministry of Health survey, undertaken in 2011/12, shows 80% of the population report consuming alcohol, down from 84% in the 2006/07 health survey. All age groups reported falls in the numbers drinking in the past year, but it was particularly notable in under-age drinkers from 15 to 17 years old.
Of those drinking, one in five reported a hazardous drinking pattern, which is defined as a pattern that carries a risk of physical or mental harm, or having harmful social effects to the drinker or others. Hazardous drinking rates for males have fallen from 30% to 26%, but were virtually unchanged for women at 13%, compared to 12% in 2006/07. Rates of hazardous drinking among people aged 18–24 years dropped to 38%, from 49% in the previous survey.
The survey can be found at www.health.govt.nz/publication/hazardous-drinking-2011-12-findings-new-zealand-health-survey
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“Standard Drink”? – “Huh”? Recent research shows that 61% of research participants did not know why a standard drink is an important measure, and, as a group, they could not correctly identify a standard drink from a range of options 38% of the time. Adult binge drinkers and parents of teenagers achieved the worst results, while women under 30 fared the best.
The standard drink mark is carried on all alcohol packaging and is designed to inform consumers about how many standard drinks are contained in the vessel. A standard drink contains 10g of pure alcohol, which is the amount of alcohol the average person can process in one hour.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE1304/S00072/two-thirds-of-kiwis-dont-understand-the-standard-drink.htm
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Education/Training
ERO Booklet for School Trustees The Education Review Office (ERO) has published “School Trustees – Helping you ask the right questions” for boards of trustees. The booklet focuses on questions and information about student achievement and student welfare. This is the second booklet in a series ERO is producing for parents. The questions are to do with, among other things:
• getting student achievement information;
• setting targets for student achievement;
• partnerships with parents, whanau, iwi, and aiga;
• teacher development and principal appraisal; and
• student welfare at school.
A reminder that school board of trustees elections are being held around the country around 30 May. This is your chance to have a real say in how your school is governed.
Both ERO booklets can be viewed at http://www.ero.govt.nz/Review-Process/For-Parents/ERO-Guides-for-Parents/Asking-the-right-questions-at-school and copies can be requested [email protected]
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Kiwi Students Hold Their Own Census What are Kiwi kids’ most common food allergies? What time do they go to sleep at night? How long can they stand on their left leg with their eyes closed? Thousands of students aged between 10 and 18 (Year 5 to Year 13) started to answer these questions – and a host of others about their lives – when the online CensusAtSchool 2013 began on 6 May, the first day of the new term.
Hundreds of schools are taking part. Teachers will administer the census in class until 14 June 2013. The 32-question survey, available in English and Māori, aims to raise students’ interest in statistics and provide a fascinating picture of what they are thinking, feeling and doing.
A list of participating schools is at http://new.censusatschool.org.nz/take-part/participating-schools. More about the census questions is at http://new.censusatschool.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/CensusAtSchool-New-Zealand-2013.pdf
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Growing Up in NZ Study: More Funding A total of $5.6 million over two years (from Vote Social Development) is being spent on the Growing Up in NZ longitudinal study (these studies typically follow large groups of people over long periods of time), led by the University of Auckland. Around 7,000 children born in Auckland and the Waikato in 2009 and 2010 and their families are taking part. The study aims to provide NZ specific information on factors which influence children’s outcomes. The information will be used to help guide social policy.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/growing-nz-study-receives-more-funding
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19 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Employment
Workplace Health & Safety Taskforce Report New Zealand’s workplace health and safety system has some weaknesses and needs a number of major changes to save lives, says the Independent Taskforce on Workplace Health and Safety in its recent report. The Taskforce’s view is that there is no single factor that can account for NZ’s high rate of serious injuries and fatalities suffered at work, it’s the system itself that needs fixing.
The Taskforce’s specific recommendations centre on the need for:
• a new stand-alone, well-resourced health and safety agency to regulate health and safety - this Crown Agent should have the main responsibility for workplace harm prevention;
• modern legislation - the current system of legislation is complex, confusing and outdated, with big gaps in it (the Taskforce says any new law should be based on the Australian Model Law);
• “tripartism” operating at all levels – that is, the Government, employer and worker representative bodies need to jointly oversee the system; workers and employers need to participate in developing regulations, codes of practice and safety guides; and, in workplaces, workers should actively manage health and safety; and
• leadership & culture change – NZers need to have a much lower tolerance of risky, unsafe and unhealthy work; a national public awareness campaign is needed to shift attitudes; and more people need to show leadership on workplace health and safety.
The report is at www.hstaskforce.govt.nz
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Highly Skilled Jobs Most Common More NZ workers are employed in highly skilled jobs than in any other type of work, Statistics NZ says. Its Household Labour Force Survey information shows that over one-third of workers in the December 2012 quarter were in jobs in the top of five skill groupings. That compares to one in six people in the lowest skilled grouping.
The information also shows that the number of people in highly skilled jobs has increased by about 60,000 since 2009, mainly due to growth in the number of jobs in the health, professional, and agricultural industries. The number of people employed in highly skilled jobs differs by age and ethnicity, but men and women work equally in both the most highly skilled jobs.
As well:
• full-time work is much more likely to be skilled than part-time work;
• the jobs done by employed teenagers move from lower skilled to highly skilled as they become young adults;
• there are roughly the same proportions of men and women in the most highly-skilled and lower-skilled groupings, but there is a significant difference in the middle range of skills such as technicians, trades, receptionists, and clerks; and
• Canterbury jobs show signs of rebuild, with more skilled workers, but fewer lower-skilled workers.
More is at http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/newsletters/economic-news/may-13.aspx, and more about skill levels of NZ jobs is at http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/newsletters/economic-news/may-13.aspx
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Employers' Social Media Policy Influences Potential Employees Recruiting experts Hays’ “Tomorrow’s Workforce” paper (based on a recent survey) looks at four key issues affecting the future of NZ’s workforce: the advancement in technology, globalisation of the jobs market, diversity, and the Christchurch rebuild.
It indicates that an employers’ attitude to social media access at work is now having an effect on whether or not a candidate will take a job. Latest figures show one in four candidates (25.7%) would turn down a job if they did not have reasonable access to sites such as Facebook at work.
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 20
The researchers found that two thirds of employees access social media at work for personal reasons. Of these, 23.7% said they access it daily, while 42.1% access it occasionally.
As for employers, 38.1% believe that allowing employees to access social media at work will improve their retention levels. Already 32.8% of employers surveyed allow their employees to access social media at work, while a further 46.9% allow limited access, and 20.3% allow no access at work.
The results suggest employees now and in the future will expect to be allowed a reasonable level of access to social media at work for personal use.
For more information about the white paper, please go to http://www.hays.net.nz/media-centre/index.htm and select “Tomorrow’s Workforce” on the top left hand side
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SMEs: More $$ When Workers Work from Home MYOB says almost half the country’s small and medium businesses (SMEs) now have employees who work from home or away from the office (18% said their employees worked “mainly away from the office”, 28% said they worked “partly from home and from the office” and the remainder did not have remote workers).
SMEs whose employees worked mostly from a location other than business premises were 43% more likely to have seen a revenue rise in the past year than those without remote workers, and were 21% less likely to see a revenue fall.
SME operators most likely to use this teleworking include those in:
• medium- to large-sized businesses (76% versus 48% in micro businesses, which were the least likely);
• business, professional and property services, and construction and trades sectors (57% versus 24% in agribusiness, forestry and fishing);
• start-up businesses (55% versus 43% of established businesses);
• metropolitan based businesses (52% versus 29% of their rural counterparts); and
• Auckland (53% versus 46% in Christchurch).
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1304/S00789/almost-half-of-nz-smes-have-remote-workers-within-business.htm
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Attracting Women to the Electricity Supply Industry New research from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) looks at how to attract and retain more women in their industry. ESITO says that having a group of women, and encouraging good workplace culture and practices, are vital to retaining women in male-dominated trades.
The research report will soon be available at http://ultimit.co.nz
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Housing/Building
Pre-Budget 2013: Kainga Whenua Infrastructure Grant The Kainga Whenua infrastructure grant - aimed at helping Māori Land Trusts and other collectives to develop housing on ancestral Māori land - is to receive $12 million over the next four years. The money will be used to assist with the infrastructure work (e.g., water reticulation, power, roading, curbs etc.) required for new greenfields development on their ancestral land.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-k%C4%81inga-whenua-infrastructure-grant
21 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Earthquakes Royal Commission: Update... By Mid-April 2013, the Government had accepted 170 of the total 189 recommendations in the Royal Commission’s report, either in full or in principle. Of the outstanding 19 recommendations, 13 are still being dealt with in the review of earthquake-prone buildings policy, and six have been noted.
The Government says it has taken a staged approach to dealing with the recommendations because many require changes in the law or how professional bodies operate, and in some instances a lot of research. What’s in the pipeline includes:
• a new policy for dealing with earthquake-prone buildings to be announced later this year;
• work to revise the Building Code rules about the structural performance of buildings;
• work to get a better understanding of land and natural hazards and the impacts for design and construction; and
• plans to upgrade standards for concrete and steel structures, and more information about the assessment and remediation (fixing faults) of buildings of all types.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt-responds-earthquakes-royal-commission
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... & New Christchurch Residential Advisory Service A free advisory service for residential property owners facing difficult issues with earthquake rebuilds or repairs (including insurance problems) begins this month.
The independent service aims to help people who are facing complex issues, are confused over conflicting advice, or are in disagreement with other parties. It will work by identifying potential solutions, and preventing unnecessary disputes arising.
More info will soon be available. In the meantime a press release is at http://www.rebuildchristchurch.co.nz/blog/2013/4/residential-advisory-service-to-be-launched
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NZ’s Ageing Population & the Property Market Statistics NZ (SNZ) says that, like many other developed countries, NZ’s population is ageing. An ageing population will dampen population growth, but there will be more households with fewer people in each household, and more one-person and couple-only households. SNZ predicts that:
• despite more children currently staying at home for longer (because of economic reasons), the average size of households will slowly decline between 2006 and 2031, from 2.6 to 2.4 people per household;
• one-person households will grow particularly fast (with almost three-quarters housing people aged 55 years and over);
• household growth is likely to continue outstripping population growth because of the trend towards smaller households; and the demand for second homes (e.g., holiday homes) in some parts of the country;
• there will be a big increase in the number of people living in more communal, non-private dwellings (including retirement homes), because of our ageing population;
• emphasis on “ageing in place” – living in the community, with some level of independence, rather than in residential care – is likely to continue;
• having fewer people per household will not necessarily mean one- and two-bedroom homes will be the norm because older people often want an extra bedroom to cater for family and caregivers; and
• there will be big regional differences (with a higher proportion of older people living in parts of the country like Kapiti Coast, Thames-Coromandel, Horowhenua, Waitaki, and Waimate).
More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/estimates_and_projections/ageing-population-property-market.aspx
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 22
What Kiwis Think About Their Housing The findings from the 2010 NZ General Social Survey (NZGSS – conducted by Statistics NZ) show that 15% of NZers feel they live in cold houses, 10% believe their house is damp, and 11% find their house too small. However, overall just under two-thirds of people reported no major problems at all with their homes.
Other housing findings from the NZGSS are:
• renters are more than twice as likely as owner-occupiers to say they live in cold, damp, or small houses;
• families with children - particularly sole parents - are more likely than other family types to report living in cold, damp, or small houses; and
• a higher-than-average proportion of Māori and Pacific people say they live in cold, damp, or small houses.
The report: “Perceptions of housing quality in 2010/11” is at http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/housing/perceptions-housing-quality-nzgss-2010-11.aspx. More on housing problems, housing satisfaction and occupancy by age group and family type, 2010 is at http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7901; and more on housing problems, housing satisfaction and occupancy by ethnicity, 2010 is at http://nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz/wbos/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=TABLECODE7901. Stats NZ has also published an infographic showing the percentage of people from two different family types who said their houses were too cold. It’s at http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/media-centre/additional-releases/families-in-cold-houses-infographic-18-apr-2013.aspx
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March House Sales Up to 6-Year High... The number of NZ house sales in March (8,128, up 23% from February and 11% from the same month a year earlier) was a six-year high. The national average price rose an annual 8.1% to $400,000. About 90 percent of the increase in the median (middle) price has come from Auckland and Canterbury over the past year. The number of days to sell fell to 31 days in March from 39 in February.
More is at https://www.reinz.co.nz/reinz/index.cfm?1CB561D5-18FE-7E88-42FB-507342EF7F81&obj_uuid=A52E712D-CCA9-03AC-E20B-629A2DE907A5
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... But Consents Down New Zealand new dwelling consents dropped in March 2013, reflecting the lowest monthly number of apartment approvals in more than three years. However, new housing consents continued to rise in Canterbury, reaching 444 in March (a 6-year high).
More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/Construction/BuildingConsentsIssued_MRMar13.aspx
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Revised Concrete Masonry Buildings Standard NZS 4229:2013 “Concrete masonry buildings not requiring specific engineering design” sets a minimum standard for the design and construction of reinforced concrete masonry buildings. The Standard has been revised to ensure it is consistent with the loadings values and requirements given under the AS/NZS 1170 loadings Standards (a lot of these changes have to do with earthquakes).
You can order NZS 4229:2013 or NZS 1170.5:2004 from www.standards.co.nz, or call 0800 782 632 during business hours, or email [email protected]. A backgrounder can be found at http://www.standards.co.nz/touchstone/Issue+48/Building/Revised+Standard+published+for+concrete+masonry+buildings+NZS+4229.htm?print=true
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23 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Energy
Crown Minerals Bill Passes Into Law... The Crown Minerals (Permitting and Crown Land) Act, which will be in force at the end of this month, aims to:
• encourage Crown-owned minerals resource development so that it contributes more to NZ’s economic growth;
• speed up the permit process where appropriate; and
• make sure there is better coordination between agencies when it comes to health and safety and environmental standards during exploration, production and decommissioning of mines and wells.
As well, amendments are proposed to the minerals programmes and regulations that regulate the permitting system.
A release is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/crown-minerals-bill-passes-law. More on the Crown Minerals Act is at http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/natural-resources/oil-and-gas/review-of-the-crown-minerals-act-regime
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... & Oil & Gas Exploration Tender Announced The Government’s second round to attract competing bids for oil and gas exploration permits (Block Offer 2013) has been announced. Block Offer 2013 includes 189,000 square kilometres of offshore and over 1,500 square kilometres of onshore area. The following areas will be open for bidding on 24 May:
• three defined onshore blocks in Taranaki;
• two defined onshore blocks on the East Coast of the North Island; and
• three offshore release areas in the Reinga-Northland Basins, Taranaki Basin and Great South-Canterbury Basins.
Permits awarded from Block Offer 2013 will be governed by the new Crown Minerals Act which comes into force on 24 May (see above item).
Information on Block Offer 2013 is at http://www.nzpam.govt.nz/cms/petroleum/block-offers
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Cook Strait Cable Issues: No Quick Fix Plans to have the Cook Strait cable fully up and running with a new connection in time for this winter have been put on hold because of low water inflows into the country's hydro-electricity catchments. Ageing connections between the North and South Islands have been a problem for the electricity industry over the last five years, leading to sharply differing prices paid for wholesale electricity in both islands.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1305/S00025/cook-strait-cable-constraints-to-remain-for-another-winter.htm
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New Energy Measurement & Rating Scheme Development of an energy measuring scheme for energy performance in NZ office buildings is well underway. NABERSNZ™ will measure and rate the energy performance of NZ office buildings, helping to reduce energy costs for tenants and enhance building value for owners.
Based on the successful National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), the scheme will be introduced in NZ by EECA BUSINESS and delivered by the NZ Green Building Council (NZGBC) in mid-2013.
More is at http://www.eeca.govt.nz/news/office-building-energy-rating-scheme-add-value-tenants-and-owners
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 24
Transport & Travel
AA Insurance’s Top 10 Driver Frustrations They are caused by the drivers:
• who damage your parked car and don’t leave a note with their contact details;
• who “steal” a car park you were clearly waiting for;
• who tailgate;
• with children who aren’t wearing seatbelts or properly restrained;
• who don’t indicate;
• who don’t dip their lights for oncoming traffic at night;
• who exhibit signs of aggressive behaviour;
• who do not park properly; and
• who use disabled spaces in a car park but shouldn’t.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1305/S00008/top-10-driver-frustrations.htm
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Kiwis Taking Fewer Day Trips Kiwis are taking fewer day trips than they used to, latest Roy Morgan research shows. In the three months to January 2013, 44% of Kiwis 14+ (1.6 million) took at least one day trip in a car – down from 52% a decade ago. The 8% point decrease mirrors a rise over the period in the proportion of NZers who have recently cut down on spending: from 57% in early 2003 to 65% now. Aside from increasing budget-consciousness, the decreasing numbers of day trips is also probably due to overall trends toward indoor leisure, personal rather than group entertainment, and computer-based gaming and socialising.
Across the Tasman, the proportion of Australians taking day trips in the car is also at a decade low: 37%, down from 44% in 2003, with 67% reporting recent cuts to personal spending.
More is at http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2013/2049/
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Air NZ Wins Global Award Air NZ has taken top honours at the 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, recognising sustainable tourism global best practice. The airline was named the winner in the Global Tourism Business category at the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) annual Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
More on the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards at www.wttc.org
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25 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Justice/The Law
Report into GCSB Released... The report by Rebecca Kitteridge into compliance at the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is part of a review that was started last year as the result of events relating to Kim Dotcom. The investigation was undertaken to ensure that all the GCSB’s activities are lawful, and as well as reviewing the agency’s compliance framework.
At a high level the review found long-standing, systemic problems with the GCSB’s compliance systems and aspects of its organisation and culture.
In addition, the report has found that the Act governing the GCSB is not fit for purpose and probably never has been. The GCSB Act has been in place for 10 years. Over that time, GCSB has been providing assistance to other agencies, including the NZ Police, NZ Defence Force, and the NZ Security Intelligence Service SIS). It has done so in the belief that it was acting within the law on all occasions. But, difficulties interpreting the legislation means there is a risk some longstanding practices of providing assistance to other agencies would not be found to be lawful.
There are 88 cases identified as having a question mark over them since 2003. The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security has been asked to look into these cases. Each case will be looked at to determine whether or not the GCSB has acted in compliance with the law, and to determine whether any people have been adversely affected and, if so, to recommend appropriate action. The review report will be publicly available.
Download the Kitteridge report from http://www.gcsb.govt.nz/newsroom/reports-publications.html
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... GCSB; What’s Happening Next … Under proposed changes to remedy the inadequacies of the Government Communications Security Bureau Act 2003 (see item above) and to strengthen oversight of NZ’s intelligence community, GCSB would retain its three main functions. These are: information assurance and cyber security; foreign intelligence; and cooperation assistance to other agencies. However, these functions will be clarified and updated so that:
• information assurance and cyber security will include cooperation, advice, and help to both public and private sector organisations;
• foreign intelligence will remain broadly as is; and
• cooperation to assist other bodies like the NZ Security Intelligence Service (SIS), NZ Defence Force, and Police will be clarified to include help in the performance of their lawful duties (that means removing the ban on spying on NZers in cases where the GCSB is helping domestic agencies or protecting cyber security for both public and private organisations).
There are five main changes proposed to strengthen oversight of the GCSB:
• the pool of candidates who are able to perform the role of Inspector General will be widened;
• the Inspector General’s office will be made more hands-on (the current role is review-focused);
• the Inspector General’s active review programme will be expanded to include a much broader range of the agencies’ activities;
• the Inspector General’s office will get more resourcing and staffing;
• legislation will expand the Inspector General’s work programme, and GCSB’s own quarterly reporting processes will be tightened up); and
• the Inspector General’s reports - and views - will become more available to the public.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-announces-next-steps-response-gcsb-report. Note: the final draft of this Bill was released ion 6 May 2013. After its first reading, it’s anticipated that it will go to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee for submissions. More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/draft-intelligence-community-legislation-released
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 26
… GCSB: Changes to Telecommunications Security Law The law governing interception of telecommunications by and behalf of intelligence agencies and the police is to be changed. The proposed changes will mean network operators will have to deal with the government through the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) on network security*, where it might affect NZ’s national security and economic well-being.
Privacy requirements imposed on telecommunications companies will remain unchanged, as will rules of conduct involving police, intelligence, and security agency interceptions.
* Network security involves making sure that telecommunications networks do not contain unauthorised ability to copy or divert data, are safe from unauthorised access, and do not allow others to carry out espionage or disrupt services.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/telecommunications-security-legislation-be-modernised. Note: a final draft of this Bill was released on 6 May. More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/final-draft-telco-security-legislation-released
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Court Legislation Overhaul The Government has released proposals response to recommendations made by the Law Commission in its recent report “Review of the Judicature Act 1908: Towards a new Courts Act”. Proposed changes include:
• replacing the Judicature Act and Supreme Court Act with a Senior Courts Act;
• repealing the current District Courts Act and re-enacting it as a modernised District Court Act;
• taking steps to improve and clarify rights to access court record information, for example, statistical information about court cases and financial matters;
• making the processes for appointing judges more transparent by requiring the judicial selection and recommendations to be published by the Attorney-General;
• enabling specialist panels of judges to be assigned to hear particular types of cases in the High Court;
• improving the court’s ability to limit vexatious proceedings; and
• extending the District Court’s jurisdiction to allow it to deal with civil cases where the amount in dispute is up to $350,000, rather than the current threshold of $200,000.
It’s planned to introduce a new Courts Bill later this year.
The initial press release can be read at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/100-year-old-court-legislation-overhaul and a FAQ document can be found at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/all/files/FAQs_Judicature_Act_Review.pdf
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New Jury Law Takes Affect The Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Act took affect recently. This Act tightens access to jurors’ information and introduces ways to make the jury process more efficient. Jurors’ address information can now only be viewed by eligible people – for example Police prosecutors, lawyers for the Crown, or lawyers appointed by the court to inspect the information on behalf of defendants who are representing themselves.
The Act also streamlines the jury system. Instead of requesting to be excused from jury duty each time they are summoned, people may now apply to be permanently excused from service due to disability or for health reasons. People aged over 65 who so request must also be permanently excused.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-law-protects-jurors-improves-jury-system
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27 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Confidential Listening Service extended The Confidential Listening and Assistance Service is continue operating until June 2015. Since mid-2009 the service has been providing a confidential environment enabling people in state care before 1992 to voice their concerns about abuse, neglect, or how they were treated. This includes people who spent time in psychiatric hospital, health camps, child welfare homes, foster care, and special education homes. More than 700 people have shared their experiences with the Confidential Listening and Assistance Service since 2009 and demand for the Service remains strong.
People can find out more about the service via the website at www.listening.govt.nz or by phoning 0800 356 567
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Court User Survey 2012: Summary Report This paper summarises the results of the 2012 court user survey. The survey measured user experience of, and satisfaction with, frontline services and facilities provided by the Ministry of Justice at court sites. Main findings include:
• overall satisfaction with services and facilities is higher in 2012 than in 2010;
• for most service-related questions, around eight in ten court users were positive about their experience of using the court. There were high ratings (almost nine in ten) for staff helpfulness, staff competence, staff doing what they said they would, and perceptions of being treated fairly by staff;
• ratings for court facilities were also positive, but were generally lower (around seven in ten were positive);
• most respondents felt safe at court; and
• less than one in ten court users encountered difficulties obtaining information or assistance in court.
More is at http://www.justice.govt.nz/publications/global-publications/c/court-user-survey-2012/publication
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Corrections to Take Over Electronic Bail Monitoring Most of the responsibilities for Electronically Monitored (EM) Bail are to be transferred from the NZ Police to the Department of Corrections. However, the Police will continue to respond to any non-compliance with any of the bail conditions imposed by the court and arrest and return the bailee to court if necessary. The transition starts 1 October 2013 and is to be finished by 1 February 2014. Police currently assess around 1600 bailees for electronic monitoring conditions and Corrections assess around 17,000 offenders for sentences and orders involving electronic monitoring every year.
More is at https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/34868.html
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Defendants to Front up in Court Study A new pilot scheme will place some defendants at the centre of criminal court proceedings to better involve them in the process. The two-year pilot will be held at the North Shore District Court and will explore how the defendant's level of understanding and engagement is affected by bringing them to centre of proceedings, rather than in a dock to the side of the courtroom.
The thought is that the current way of placing defendants in the dock - frequently towards the back of the courtroom - makes them a spectator in their own case. This new way of doing things will place them front and centre, standing with their lawyers, giving them no choice but to be part of the conversation. This is thought to be especially important at the sentencing, as this stage involves critical information about what the offender has done, how their actions have impacted on others, what is going to be done to the offender as punishment, and what the offender is going to have to do to make it right.
The pilot will cover any offence that would typically be heard in a Judges’ summary list, which covers all offences above the community magistrates’ jurisdiction and below the High Court jurisdiction. These offences include driving charges, excess breath alcohol, and theft. The trial will also include sentencing and status hearings. Anyone already in custody will remain in the dock, as well as anyone the Judge considers a security threat.
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 28
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/defendants-front-court-study
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Law Commission to Review Law of Contempt The Law Commission has begun what will be a wide-ranging review of the law of contempt of court. The Commission says the law is vague in scope, uses out-dated language and concepts, and is inaccessible to the NZ public. In part this is because the law around contempt was developed before the internet age and the enactment of the NZ Bill of Rights Act 1990. An issues paper seeking feedback from the public is expected to be published in early 2014.
More about the review at http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/project/review-contempt-court
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Parliament
Changes to Parliament TV Access Sky TV has reconfigured its channel number allocations to accommodate the introduction of new channels. Parliament TV on Sky has moved from channel 94 to 90. On Vodafone InHome TV, Parliament TV will move to channel 90 on 9 May. There are no changes for viewers using Freeview or Igloo.
Parliament TV is also streamed live via this website and is available at the video-on-demand site, www.inthehouse.co.nz, where clips are usually posted 15 to 30 minutes after live transmission
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Bills Into Acts: the Royal Assent A Bill is passed by the House of Representatives when it receives its third reading, but does not become an Act of Parliament until it receives the Royal assent.
The granting of the Royal assent signifies that the Bill has the approval of the Head of State. In NZ, the Royal assent is given by the Governor-General as the Sovereign’s representative, though when the Queen is here she assents to Bills personally. The granting of Royal assent for Acts is common to Parliaments in countries where the Queen is Head of State.
If the Governor-General is out of the country, the Administrator of the Government (the Chief Justice or most senior Supreme Court Judge present in NZ) may grant the Royal assent.
More is at http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/Features/1/f/e/00NZPHomeNews201304021-The-Royal-assent.htm
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New National Member of Parliament Paul Foster- Bell is to be the National Party’s newest parliamentarian. He will take the place of Paul Quinn, who recently advised he would decline the list place that was available to him. Back to top
29 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Public Service/Local Authorities
New Purchasing Rules for Government New rules about the way the Government makes purchases have been released. These new rules replace 44 different pieces of legislation, Cabinet directives, and guides released by many Government agencies over many years.
Under the new rules, suppliers will have more time to respond to tenders, and there will be more information about planned government procurement (purchasing) projects. Use of model tender documents and contracts will also be promoted. The aim of this move is to reduce the amount of time and cost suppliers spend responding to tenders (this should be helpful for small- and medium-sized enterprises).
In addition, the emphasis of procurement will shift from who can deliver the lowest upfront costs to who can deliver the best value for money and other direct financial benefits over the life of a contract. This could advantage small NZ companies who might lose out to foreign competitors on initial cost, but whose quotes work out cheaper in the long run because of factors such as location, lower freight, transaction, or environmental costs.
The procurement rules will be in place from 1 October 2013 and will apply to all Public Service departments, the NZ Police, and the Defence Force. Other State Sector agencies and the broader Public Service will also be encouraged to adopt them.
The rules are at www.business.govt.nz/procurement/news/newrules
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What Makes A Great Government Agency? The State Services Commissioner (SSC) has released a report identifying good practices and drawing practical lessons from 21 agency performance improvement reviews completed since 2009. It says successful government departments:
• are clear about their purpose, know how they can add most value to NZ now and in the future, and are also clear about their strategy for delivering that value;
• invest in talent by providing challenging, interesting and important work to do, while also managing poor performers to either improve or exit;
• demonstrate they value learning, innovation, and continuous improvement; and
• enlist the active support of all the people outside of the agency who are necessary to success.
“Getting to Great: Lead Reviewer insights from the Performance Improvement Framework” is at http://www.ssc.govt.nz/sites/all/files/pif-core-guide-3-apr13.PDF
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Councils' Cost-effectiveness: Report The Local Government Infrastructure Efficiency Expert Advisory Group (LGIEEAG) recently released a report on improving how councils could be more cost effective in the way they provide infrastructure.
Council infrastructure is all the land, buildings, structures and facilities that a council either owns or has an interest in (as the operator or as a partner). It includes: the assets that are required for water supply, drainage or sewerage systems and networks; structures for transport on land; land or structures required to avoid or lessen natural hazards (such as flooding); land; structures or facilities for loading and unloading of passengers or freight; and public amenities like reserves, halls, libraries, public toilets, cemeteries, crematoria, and sports venues.
The report makes recommendations, ranging from improving the coordination of policies generally, to improving the ways in which councils deliver infrastructure. There are also specific recommendations about funding, monitoring, and governance systems.
The report is available at http://www.dia.govt.nz/Better-Local-Government#g
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 30
More Defence Helicopters Eight Seasprite helicopters (plus two spare airframes) are to be purchased for the NZ Defence Force from the United States company Kaman Aerospace. The $242 million dollar deal includes a training simulator, missiles, and additional components. The first three aircraft are due here in late 2014. The fleet should all be in service by 2016.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/seasprite-helicopter-project-approved
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Not-For-Profits
Additional Top-up Funding for Community Law Centres The Government is to provide an additional $12.1 million in funding for community law centres (CLCs). This top-up, over the next two years, will bridge a large on-going funding shortfall. The shortfall is the result of the CLCs’ traditional source of funding - the Lawyers and Conveyancers' Special Fund - halving since 2008.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/additional-top-funding-community-law-centres
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How To Make Newsletters More Compelling With more non-profits choosing to communicate directly with their supporters through e-newsletters it’s important that that your news and updates are really connecting with your audience. Here are six ways to make your e-newsletters stand out from the rest:
• have your e-newsletter reflect your mission - in other words, start thinking about how your e-news can support the kind of social change your non-profit wants to make;
• offer compelling content that people really want to read - creating information that engages people can be one of the most difficult parts of writing any e-newsletter;
• personalise your e-newsletter - from including your supporters' name in the greeting to sending out individualised content to different types of supporters, even small changes can create a more engaging newsletter;
• use your e-newsletter for fundraising - make it a multi-tasker;
• you need substance and style - never underestimate the importance of details like frequency, day, time, and lay-out; and
• make sure your email gets your e-news to your supporters' inbox - just because you hit the "send" button doesn't mean your e-mail ever got there - you need to check that it has.
The source article for this comes from the March 2013 NZARCT newsletter. The article is at http://www.associations.org.nz/_blog/NZARC_Blog/post/How_do_you_make_your_e-newsletter_get_noticed/ (inside the article, there are also links to other useful information)
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National Council of Women a Charity Again After 32 months, the National Council of Women of NZ (NCWNZ) has regained its place on the charities register. The Board of the Charities Commission recently decided to reinstate NCWNZ as a registered charity, after deregistering it in August 2010.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1304/S00239/ncwnz-wins-back-charitable-status.htm
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31 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
InternetNZ’s Community Funding InternetNZ (Internet NZ Inc) has granted over $120,000 of community funding – the lion’s share of which comes from InternetNZ’s just-completed Community Investment Funding Round. Recipients are:
• Podscape Holdings: $12,850 for research in conjunction with the University of Auckland School of Psychological Medicine aimed at establishing global standards and best practices for kids' online communities;
• World Summit Awards (WSA) NZ: $10,000 for promoting NZ submissions in the eight WSA categories;
• Gather Workshops: $15,000 for, among other things, hosting high school workshops - teaching students skills including the basics of building a website, HTML, CSS, and how the internet works;
• SignDNA / Diversityworks Trust: $16,545 for a project dubbed SignDNA (this project aims to use internet resources possible via the internet to highlight the deaf culture and community);
• 2020 Far North ICT Trust: $20,000 for increased access to the internet for 18 families in the Umawera/Mangamuka communities, and development of a technical and business model for school-based satellite internet hubs that could potentially be set up in other remote rural communities;
• AWACS Communications: $20,000 for a technical project aimed at obtaining and testing through the TCF and Chorus test lab approval for a new LFC/RSP Bitstream service profile(s) to permit AnySource/SourceSpecific multicast on the CFH/LFC PON & AON;
• Wairarapa REAP: $20,000 for its “Diabetes Monitoring over the Internet” project; and
• Spacecraft: $6,000 for purchase of 3D printers and Raspberry Pi computers to allow teaching, development, and project creation.
More details about InternetNZ’s Community Investment Funding Round are available at www.internetnz.net.nz/content/Community-Investment-Funding-Round
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Medibank Community Fund Awards Six new community programmes aimed at improving the health of NZers are to get $65,580 in grants from the Medibank Community Fund. Recipients are: the IN2IT street games in Auckland (promoting unstructured, creative play for children and young people); the Waikato International Community Garden Project; Auckland Water Safety; Te Ara Hauora - The Path of Wellbeing in Greymouth; Nourish cookery programme at the New Brighton Community Gardens; and Garden to Table (shows primary school children how to grow, harvest, prepare, and share fresh, seasonal food).
Applications for the 2013/2014 grants open in August 2013, and community groups are urged to apply. Applications can be downloaded from the Medibank Community Fund website: www.medibankcf.co.nz
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Business
Pre-Budget 2013: Tourism … In the Budget is an additional $158 million over 4 years for tourism, to speed up work already underway to attract high value tourists, and support emerging and existing markets). It will go to:
• visitor facilitation - Immigration NZ gets $7 million, over 4 years ($5 million on ensuring that visa application information is available in languages other than English) through the new Immigration Global Management System (IGMS) – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-7m-improve-visitor-facilitation;
• co-funding with NZ’s tourism businesses - $28 million, over 4 years, for co-funding business innovation and growth projects (the Tourism Growth Partnership, to which the Government will contribute up to half for each project) – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-partnering-nz%E2%80%99s-tourism-businesses;
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 32
• business events and high-value tourists - $34 million, over 4 years, to target international business events, including conferences, conventions and exhibitions; and $20 million (over next 4 years) to target very high value visitors who use luxury accommodation, private transport, personalized activity providers, and high-end tours – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-business-events-and-high-value-tourists;
• new and existing markets - $44.5 million, over next 4 years, will be spent on attracting visitors from emerging growth markets (especially Latin America, Indonesia, and India) and $24.5 million will be used to boost tourism from existing markets (Australia, the USA, UK, Germany, Japan, and China) – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/budget-2013-investing-new-and-existing-markets
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… TNZ & STA Travel Sign Joint MOU Tourism NZ and STA Travel (STA – Student Travel Association) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) worth a combined NZ$1.2 million annually. The multi-year partnership is to target the long-haul youth travel sector in the UK, Continental Europe, and North America though marketing, online, trade, and PR activities.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1304/S00771/tnz-and-sta-join-forces-to-boost-youth-travel-with-12m-mou.htm
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Exports to China Overtake Exports to Australia China overtook Australia as our top export destination for the first time in the March 2013 quarter. Overseas merchandise trade figures for the quarter show goods exported to China were valued at $2.3 billion. Exports to Australia were valued at $2.2 billion.
More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/imports_and_exports/OverseasMerchandiseTrade_MRMar13.aspx
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Guide to Being A Good Director The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has published a guide to being an effective director. Things the guide covers includes:
• the essentials of being an effective director;
• what happens before you take up a directorship;
• how to work with other board members and management;
• best practice and legal requirements when making decisions;
• signing off financial statements;
• best practice and legal requirements around raising capital from the public; and
• best practice and legal requirements if your company becomes insolvent.
More is at https://www.fma.govt.nz/media/1625831/a-director-s-guide.pdf
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33 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Money Matters
New Insight into Regional Economies The Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) has released a report on the economic performance of NZ’s 16 regions. The report shows that household incomes in Northland, Gisborne, and Manawatu-Wanganui continue to trail the rest of NZ, while the West Coast has almost caught up with Wellington and Auckland. And when rent costs are taken into account, Coasters are the best off in the country, ahead of Wellington, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, and Southland. Northland comes off worst. Specific findings include:
• Auckland and Wellington at the top of the average, annual household-income ladder, on $89,700 and $88,900, respectively;
• the West Coast recorded $86,000, reflecting its mining and dairy industries, while strong oil and gas and dairy returns are credited for keeping Taranaki and Waikato above the $80,600 average;
• Northland recorded both the lowest average household-income, of $60,000, and employment rate, of 56% (and its unemployment rate is 9.5% compared with 6.9% nationally);
• Gisborne's income figure is a little better at $63,500, the employment rate is 63% and unemployment is 8.1%; and
• at less than half of one percent, Manawatu-Wanganui recorded the lowest growth in employment over 10 years (on income, it fared slightly better than Gisborne, at $66,000, but both its employment and unemployment rates were worse at 61% and 8.3%, respectively).
The report is available at: www.mbie.govt.nz/regions
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Updating Consumer Law A newly introduced Consumer Credit and Financial Services Law Reform Bill would bring about a wide range of changes to credit laws, including:
• lenders would have to take responsibility for the likely effect of the credit they provide;
• lenders would only be able to lend money when the loan meets the borrower’s requirements and objectives, and the payments required wouldn’t cause substantial hardship for the borrower;
• lenders could be banned from the industry if they did not lend responsibly;
• a new Code of Responsible Lending would be introduced;
• there would be better controls against misleading, deceptive, or confusing advertising;
• consumer goods could not be repossessed unless they were specifically identified in the credit contract; and
• there would be licensing of repossession agents and employees.
For more on the Consumer Law Reform Bill visit http://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2011/0287/latest/versions.aspx
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Consumers Very Cautious About Debt … Recent statistics show consumers have backed off a pre-Christmas demand for credit, returning to a far more cautious approach to managing their debt. For example:
• home owners are shopping around for the best interest rate and are not locking themselves into a fixed rate for long periods of time;
• personal loan applications have grown and credit card applications have decreased; and
• many people are consolidating their debt by drawing a number of different loans - including credit cards - together into one new loan which collectively has a lower interest rate than the independent loans.
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 34
While this is good for individual people, some concern is being expressed about its effect on the wider economy. This is that increased caution could bring about a slowdown in retail and commercial markets, which could slow down the pace of economic recovery.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1304/S00650/2013-fall-in-consumer-and-commercial-credit-demand.htm
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… So, Start Budgeting for Christmas Now The NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services (NZFFBS) suggests people start thinking about budgeting for this Christmas (now that last Christmas’s bills have been absorbed and paid, and the pain is relatively fresh in people’s minds).
They suggest that people make a plan, stick to it, and take advantage of specials throughout the year.
NZFFBS says people should be cautious of Christmas hampers, as the most cost-effective Christmas clubs are directly through the supermarkets, and payments can be made when you can afford it. They note, though, that if you can manage to put that money into a savings account instead, it gives you more flexibility and buying power at the end of the year.
Budgeting advice is offered free through the NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services, with over 150 locations throughout the country. You can find your nearest budgeting service by visiting www.familybudgeting.org.nz or calling 0508 BUDGETLINE (283 438)
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Pokie Takings Down Gaming machine spending in the country’s 1367 pubs and clubs in the first three months of 2013 dropped 10% on the takings for the last three months of 2012. Spending dropped from $214.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012 to $192.7 million in the first quarter of 2013. And for the 12 months ended March 2013 spending was down 4% from $865.4 million to $828.7 million.
Nationwide there were fewer licence holders, gambling venues, and gaming machines at the end of March compared with 12 months earlier. Licence holders fell from 359 to 353, venues declined from 1403 to 1367, and the number of gaming machines decreased from 18,001 to 17,542.
More is at http://www.dia.govt.nz/press.nsf/d77da9b523f12931cc256ac5000d19b6/c56c96af238af007cc257b5d0011f95e!OpenDocument
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NZ Fast Becoming a Cashless Society... Kiwis are continuing to move away from cash towards using debit and credit cards or internet banking, according to MasterCard’s Survey on consumer purchasing priorities. When asked about their top three types of payment, cash registers came last in 13 out of the 19 categories examined, while credit cards came in on top or followed in close second in all but three categories.
Debit cards were the most common choice for everyday expenses such as groceries (42%), dining out (41%), and personal care goods (38%) and services (33%). However, when it comes to retail shopping and the purchase of household goods, most Kiwis prefer to use their credit card, while internet banking is the preferred choice for mortgage/rent and utilities payments (e.g., phones and electricity).
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1304/S00511/new-zealand-fast-becoming-a-cashless-society.htm
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… Taking to Online Shopping Like Ducks to Water… Latest research from Stats NZ shows that more than half the people in the country are doing personal shopping online, an increase of 11% since 2009. More than 1.8 million Kiwis made online purchases in 2012. When asked about their spending over the four weeks before being surveyed, 1.2 million people said that they had made an online purchase.
35 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Kiwis are also managing their money online through internet banking. Almost three-quarters of recent internet users have opted for the virtual banking experience. While the use of internet banking decreases with age, over one-third of those aged 75 years or older had used it in the 12 months before the survey.
Half of all users aged 25 to 44 years are doing their reading online, and 76% of 15 to 24-year-olds use the internet to listen to or download music. Social media remains popular, with two-thirds of the country engaging in social networking, up 20% from 2009. Although the young dominate the social networking scene, you’ll find 1 in 6 Internet users aged 75+ there too.
For more go to http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/information_technology_and_communications/HouseholdUseofICT_HOTP2012.aspx
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… & Annual Online Banking Awards For the second year running, CANSTAR (which collects and analyses information about NZ banks’ and institutions’ products and services) has ranked ASB as the best provider of online banking in NZ. Kiwibank ranked second. In coming up with this ranking, CANSTAR looked at online banking performance (including internet banking, websites, and mobile banking - and how easy they are to use) of each of NZ’s financial institutions. It also into account Kiwis’ use of smartphones and mobile banking.
More is at http://www.canstar.co.nz/online-banking/
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The Cost of Household Appliances Back Then: Wow! Statistics NZ has been tracking the cost of major home appliances in the consumers price index (CPI) since 1949. Back then items such as washing machines, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, and lawn mowers were included.
A washing machine was an expensive luxury in 1949, costing $4,170 in today’s terms. In 1956, over 40 percent of NZers didn’t have access to an electric washing machine; but this had reduced to 12% by 1966.
Vacuum cleaners were included in the CPI in 1949 when they averaged £29, or $2,040 in today’s terms. By 1966 nearly 90 percent of households owned a vacuum cleaner.
Fridges were added to the CPI in 1955 when the price of a single-cabinet refrigerator was £98, about $4,770 in today’s terms. Cost may have been a barrier to many owning a refrigerator, as according to the 1956 Census only 54% of NZ homes owned or had access to one.
For more information about the cost of major household appliances tracked in the CPI, read the April 2013 issue of the Price Index News at http://stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/newsletters/price-index-news/apr-13-article-chores.aspx
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Internet, ICT & Media
Chorus Signs UFB Contracts Chorus, the telecommunications network operator spun out of Telecom, has signed contracts with Visionstream and Downer for those firms to build the nation's ultrafast broadband (UFB) network. Each contract is worth $500 million over the next six years and includes extra amounts for Downer and Visionstream to deliver part of the rural broadband initiative (RBI). The contracts are effective immediately and apply to UFB deployment, which is timetabled for a July start.
Chorus is still negotiating with Transfield, which is responsible for about 10 percent of the UFB programme.
The company has completed construction work to take fibre past about 116,000 premises by the end of March, and it aims to raise the tally to 149,000 by July.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1304/S00546/chorus-signs-ufb-contracts-govt-to-change-security-laws.htm
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 36
Writing the Perfect Tweet A US writer has created a great infographic (a visual representation of information) called “how to build the perfect tweet”. It is business focussed but has useful information for all Twitter users. The writer advises:
• tell readers what you want them to do;
• use good punctuation including capital letters, no txt speak and avoid all caps!;
• shorten all URLs;
• make 90% of your tweets link to articles, blog posts, pictures or video that relate to your message;
• include 1-2 hashtags in each message to increase reach among non-followers;
• use your own voice in a professional way to add some personality;
• use a mix of headlines, questions, facts & figures to drive clicks and retweets (RT);
• use mentions and retweets to call out authors; and
• leave 20 characters for retweeters to add content.
More is at http://www.fuelingnewbusiness.com/2013/03/06/a-blueprint-for-writing-the-perfect-tweet/
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The Power of One False Tweet The nearly two million people who follow the Twitter feed of the Associated Press (AP) were treated to a nasty surprise on the afternoon of 23 April 2013 - a tweet (since deleted) claiming there had been an explosion at the White House that injured President Obama.
Everything about this message seemed suspicious: It wasn’t written in the AP’s style and as other journalists noted, the message appeared on Twitter before it was posted to the official AP wire. The AP quickly confirmed that its account was hacked.
Any news of an attack on the White House is a sign of imminent apocalypse, and the market reacted accordingly: From 1:08 pm to 1:10 pm, the Dow Jones Industrial average plunged more than 100 points, from 14697.15 to 14548.58. Just as quickly though, it rebounded. By 1:13 pm, it was back above 14690. During that 2 minutes, however, US$136 billion was wiped off the value of the S&P 500 Index.
More is at http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-23/a-fake-ap-tweet-sinks-the-dow-for-an-instant
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2013 Webby Award Winners The Webby Awards are the “Oscars” of the internet world. Each category in these awards includes both a Webby Award winner - selected by judges from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences - and a People's Voice Winner, voted in by fans. This year's People Voice winners received votes from more than 200 countries and territories, setting a new record.
Singer-songwriter Frank Ocean nabbed the 2013 Webby Person of the Year for using the internet as his megaphone to encourage acceptance and dispel stereotypes. Other winners who received multiple awards included “Dumb Ways to Die” (7), Dropbox (6), Google Maps for iPhone (5), Tumblr (5), HBO Go (4) and Pinterest (4).
Other big Webby Award winners include:
• Outstanding Comedic Performance - Jerry Seinfeld, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee;
• Best Practices Mobile & Apps - HBO Go;
• Best Viral Online Film & Video – “Dumb Ways to Die;”
37 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
• Best User Experience (All Devices) - Google Maps for iPhone;
• Best Community (General Website) - Tumblr; and
• Best User Experience Games - Angry Birds Star Wars.
The 2013 Webby Award winners are at http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013. The show itself will be available to view online 22 May 2013
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Why Cellphone Calls Are So Distracting It is not your imagination that one-sided cellphone calls are more intriguing and distracting that the old-fashioned face-to-face conversations that you might also overhear. Studies suggest that because we don’t know for sure what is being said when we overhear a cellphone conversation we use additional brain power to fill in the intriguing blanks.
As for cellphone conversations being more annoying and distracting, it’s suggested that bystanders who are exposed to cellphone conversations don’t have much control over the situation, which increases their levels of annoyance and frustration.
More is at http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/03/13/science-proves-that-cell-phones-are-annoying-and-distracting/
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Planning Your Digital Death Have you given any thought to your afterlife - the digital one? Google has. The company says that after you’re gone, it will act as electronic executor for the gigabytes of data left in Gmail and their other digital offerings, based on your instructions.
Find out more at http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=plan-your-digital-death-13-04-26&WT.mc_id=SA_sharetool_Twitter
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Websites & Articles of Interest A new fact sheet explains the purpose of Part 4 of the Commerce Act and how the Commerce Commission regulates markets where competition is limited. More is at http://www.comcom.govt.nz/part-4-of-the-commerce-act/
Standards NZ has published a 4-page brochure that provides a snapshot into the range of ISO (International Organization for Standardization) international standards for safety and the benefits they provide for business, government, and society. Go to http://www.standards.co.nz/NR/rdonlyres/311A8623-F3FF-412B-92D6-C5F4645D2ABE/0/iso_and_safety.pdf
NZ teams dominated the 2013 VEX Robotics World Championships for the 5th year running, with an alliance from Auckland’s Lynfield College and Tauranga’s Otumoetai College crowned world champions. More is at http://www.kiwibots.co.nz
NZ Trade & Enterprise has put together an infographic that gives an overview of NZ’s ICT sector. Go to http://www.nzte.govt.nz/features-commentary/Features/Going-global/Pages/Infographic-New-Zealands-ICT-sector.aspx
Time Magazine has released its annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Go to http://time100.time.com/...
... and the Foreign Policy Journal has released its inaugural list of the 500 most powerful people in the world (Helen Clark is the only Kiwi on the list). Go to http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/04/29/the_500_most_powerful_people_in_the_world?wp_login_redirect=0...
... and Forbes magazine has released its annual list of the 50 most power influencers in the social media sphere. Go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/haydnshaughnessy/2013/04/17/who-are-the-top-50-social-media-power-influencers-2013/
LinkedIn's flagship product is its Recruiter tool, yet most people have never heard of it or seen it. Recruiter is a bit like a two-way mirror where companies and recruiters can see all of your profile information, without you knowing they’re checking you out. The Recruiter homepage was recently revamped to improve usability. More is at http://www.wired.com/business/2013/04/the-real-reason-you-should-care-about-linkedin/
The winners of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards have been announced. Go to http://www.worldphoto.org/
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 38
When flappers ruled the Earth: how dance helped women's liberation. The wild women of 1920s dance didn't just get everyone doing the Charleston and the Grizzly Bear. Stars like Josephine Baker and Tallulah Bankhead also played a pivotal role in women's emancipation. Go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/apr/29/dance-womens-liberation-flappers-1920s?CMP=twt_gu
Meetings offer an advantage to people who can think on their feet and who are eager to jump into conversations, a blogger writes. People who require time to process their ideas before speaking are in danger of not being heard. Go to http://www.noexcuseshr.com/2013/04/i-win-every-meeting.html
It's a good time to be a British butler: The global demand for authentically English-accented domestics is at a 50-year high. Go to http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/united-kingdom/130411/butler-wealth-economy
Just like domestic cats, lions and tigers love to explore, sit in and wrestle with empty cardboard boxes. This video clip shows some of their playful antics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J11uu8L8FTY
Tips for keeping sane in an open plan office are at http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-15/five-ways-to-de-stress-in-an-open-office#r=hpf-s
Much attention has been paid of late to flexible work arrangements and phased retirement plans for older employees, but what these workers really want is the opportunity to collaborate with younger workers on challenging projects, a study by US-based Age Lessons says. Go to http://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2013/04/17/whatve-you-got-to-give-more-than-you-think/?mod=dist_smartbrief
Amazon maintains a list of most frequently reader-highlighted passages in famous business and management books. An article about these passages is at http://qz.com/71701/the-most-highlighted-passages-in-famous-business-books/
This video shows a line of 10,000 iPhones toppling like dominoes to promote an advertising agency. The phones use near-field-communications technology to allow them to pass images from phone to phone. Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj7al6MXu7U&feature=player_embedded
Margaret Thatcher: love her or hate her, she was one of the first global political leaders to raise the alarm on the world stage. Go to http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2013/04/10/margaret-thatcher-climate-leadership?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRons6rKZKXonjHpfsX56ukkX6S0lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4AS8ViI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSLHEMa5qw7gMXRQ%3D
Twitter the new resume? Some HR professionals are finding they get valuable insights about people from their twitter profile. Go to http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323820304578412741852687994.html?mod=dist_smartbrief
Rat-sized African land snails are invading Florida and causing damage thanks to their appetite for stucco and plaster. Go to http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/14/us-usa-florida-snails-idUSBRE93D05620130414 Back to top
Treaty Matters
Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Rarua The Crown signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty of Waitangi claims with Ngati Rarua. The actions of the Crown left Ngati Rarua without sufficient and suitable lands for their needs, which had serious consequences which are felt through to the present.
Ngati Rarua will receive financial redress of $11.76 million and have the opportunity to purchase Wairau and Motueka Crown forestry land near Nelson. The Deed of Settlement also recognises the strong association Ngati Rarua has with Wairau Bar and Lagoons, Kaka Point, and Te Tai Tapu.
More is at http://nz01.terabyte.co.nz/ots/DocumentLibrary/NgatiRaruaiDOS.pdf
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39 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Pukenga The Crown has signed a Deed of Settlement for historical Treaty claims with Ngati Pukenga. The Deed settles the comprehensive claims specific to Ngati Pukenga in the region. Ngati Pukenga is also negotiating redress relating to its shared and overlapping interests in the region as part of the Tauranga Moana Collective - along with Nga Hapu o Ngati Ranginui and Ngai Te Rangi.
Crown initiated military conflict in 1864 and subsequent actions, including confiscation, left Ngati Pukenga without sufficient land in Tauranga to meet their economic and cultural needs.
The settlement includes financial and commercial redress of $5 million; the return of culturally significant properties including Liens block, Pae ki Hauraki, Te Tihi o Hauturu and Otukopiri; $500,000 for cultural revitalisation; and $180,000 for marae revitalisation in Manaia.
More is at http://nz01.terabyte.co.nz/ots/DocumentLibrary/NgatiPukengaiDOS.pdf
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Deed of Settlement Signed: Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu The Crown has signed a Deed of Settlement for all outstanding historical Treaty of Waitangi claims with Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu. This settlement acknowledges and provides some redress for the breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi by the Crown. The actions of the Crown left Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu virtually landless, and have had devastating consequences for the iwi’s social and cultural wellbeing.
The Deed of Settlement sets out financial redress of $12.06 million, the opportunity to purchase Rai, Golden Downs and Motueka Crown forestry land near Nelson, and in particular recognises the strong association and connection Ngati Tama ki Te Tau Ihu has with Te Tai Tapu, Farewell Spit, and Te Waikoropupu Springs.
This is the final Deed of Settlement to be signed in the South Island.
More is at http://nz01.terabyte.co.nz/ots/DocumentLibrary/NgatiTamakiTeTauIhuSettlementSummary.pdf
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Arts & Culture
It’s NZ Music Month May 2013 is the 13th NZ Music Month. More than 350 events are planned across the country this month to promote and celebrate Kiwi artists.
More, including a complete list of events, is at http://www.nzmusicmonth.co.nz/
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Online Marae Map Find your way to the tribal marae of Aotearoa NZ – through maps, information, and photographs. This site contains information for all the principal ancestral marae across Aotearoa, numbering well over 700. Work is ongoing to add details of any marae that are not yet listed, and to deepen the information presented for each location.
More is at http://www.Māorimaps.com/
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 40
Are You Into Memorials? If you answered yes to this question, you will like a recently completed online map of 982 memorials throughout NZ. By clicking on the pins you can find links to memorial pages. You can zoom in to find exact locations using satellite, map, or street views. Memorials are also listed alphabetically below the map. And you can find links to regional memorial maps.
More is at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/map/memorials-register-map
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Screen Industry Survey: 2011/12 Revenue from filmmaking in NZ took off in 2012, powering the screen industry beyond $3 billion for the first time. The breakthrough has been aided by a surge in proceeds from feature films, which rose almost 50 percent in 2012 to more than $1 billion. Forty feature films were completed in this country in 2012, five more than in 2011.
When they are not making films, Kiwis love to watch them. Revenue in 2012 from film exhibitions, or the screening of films, matched the $162 million generated in 2011. At a typical price of $16 per ticket, that equates to over 10 million visits to the cinema.
More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/industry_sectors/film_and_television/ScreenIndustrySurvey_MR11-12.aspx
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NZ Artists at Venice Biennale Simon Denny has been selected for the international curated show, “The Encyclopaedic Palace”, at the Venice Biennale 2013. This is the first time a NZ artist has been invited to take part in this section of the Biennale. Two other NZ artists, painter Darryn George (Nga Puhi) and sculptor Scott Eady, will present work in a Biennale exhibition at Palazzo Bembo, and performance artist Mark Harvey has been invited to participate in the Maldives Pavilion.
NZ’s official representative for Venice Biennale is sculptor, photographer and installation artist Bill Culbert.
The 55th Venice Biennale opens on 1 June 2013. More is at http://www.nzatvenice.com/
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Taite Music Prize Winner The winner of the fourth annual Taite Music Prize 2013 is SJD for his album “Elastic Wasteland.” Named after the late Dylan Taite, the Prize's purpose is to recognise outstanding creativity for an entire collection of music contained on one album. SJD wins a cash prize of $10,000.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1304/S00334/the-taite-music-prize-announced.htm
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Chinese Writer Wins Inaugural NZ Literary Award A 23-year-old Chinese writer will take up the first Rewi Alley Writing Fellowship in NZ. Ms Huo Yan, a Ph.D student at Beijing Normal University, arrived late last month for a two-month writing project. She hopes to meet local Chinese writers and experience Māori culture.
The award is offered by the NZ China Friendship Association in partnership with the Michael King Writers’ Centre. It is the first regular and significant literary exchange between NZ and China, and will include a NZ writer going to China in alternate years.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1304/S00370/chinese-writer-wins-inaugural-new-zealand-literary-award.htm
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41 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Fish & Ships
New Seabird Protection Plan More seabirds breed in NZ than anywhere else in the world. The National Plan of Action (NPOA) for Seabirds 2013 is about protecting these seabirds from fishing incidents. The NPOA sets objectives for the next five years to prevent, monitor, and manage seabird contacts with fishing industry vessels. It includes plans to: reduce seabird capture rates; develop new research, observation, and monitoring techniques; and work with other countries whose vessels come into contact with seabirds, particularly those that breed in NZ.
The NPOA Seabirds 2013 is at http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Environmental/Seabirds/default.htm. More background information is at http://www.fish.govt.nz/en-nz/Environmental/Seabirds/FAQ.htm
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Blue Cod Survey Brought Forward The next planned survey of blue cod numbers in the Marlborough Sounds will be brought forward by 12 months, as it seems that numbers of blue cod have been increasing in the Marlborough Sounds. Blue cod populations are being carefully monitored after record lows saw the fishery closed completely from late 2008 to April 2011.
More is at http://www.voxy.co.nz/politics/marlborough-sounds-blue-cod-survey-brought-forward/5/153905
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Shipping Regulation Changes International shipping to and from NZ is to be regulated under the Commerce Act with the aim of to gaining better oversight of the industry. It is believed that the existing 25-year old shipping regulatory regime is outdated. The changes will be introduced through the Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, currently before the Commerce Select Committee.
More is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/exporters-benefit-shipping-regulation-changes
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Science & Technology
Pre-Budget 2013: National Science Challenges/ Funding More money has been set aside in this year’s Budget for the final 10 selected National Science Challenges. They get a $73.5 million boost over 4 years - in addition to the $60 million allocated to the Challenges in Budget 2012.
The research areas selected for the National Science Challenges are:
• aging well – harnessing science to sustain health and wellbeing into the later years of life;
• a better start – improving the potential of young NZers to have a healthy and successful life;
• healthier lives – research to reduce the burden of major NZ health problems;
• high value nutrition – developing high-value foods with confirmed health benefits;
• NZ’s biological heritage – protecting and managing our biodiversity, improving our biosecurity, and enhancing our resilience to harmful organisms;
• our land and water – research to enhance primary sector production and productivity while maintaining and improving our land and water quality for future generations;
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 42
• life in a changing ocean – understanding how we can exploit our marine resources within environmental and biological constraints;
• the deep south – understanding the role of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean in determining our climate and our future environment;
• science for technological innovation – enhancing the capacity of NZ to use physical and engineering sciences for economic growth; and
• resilience to nature’s challenges – research into enhancing our resilience to natural disasters.
It is anticipated that work on three to four of the Challenges will begin in 2013 with work on the rest starting in 2014.
More is at http://www.msi.govt.nz/update-me/major-projects/national-science-challenges
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New Lincoln Hub Plans Concept plans for a major agricultural research and education facility at Lincoln, near Christchurch were unveiled recently. The Hub is intended to be to be a place where world-class educators, research organisations, and businesses are physically located together. Being co-located makes it more likely that information and ideas can be easily exchanged. It’s hoped this will drive innovation and exports.
More, including a drawing of the proposed Hub, can be found at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-lincoln-hub-plans-unveiled
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Kiwi Mates Call In Perfect Harmony A group of researchers at Victoria University studying the little spotted kiwi are uncovering surprising results about our national bird’s behaviour. Their research has found that the kiwi, which live in pairs and are thought to mate for life, call in harmony with each other using a previously unknown form of vocal “cooperation.”
Male and female kiwi appear to call for different reasons, with male kiwi using their calls for long-range purposes, such as defending their territory from other kiwi. In contrast, female birds use calls for close-range purposes, like staying in contact with their partners. The researchers also discovered that male and female little spotted kiwi can synchronise their calls and have complementary call frequencies. This means that when they call together they are more effective at repelling intruders. This is the first time such cooperation in frequency and time has been reported in bird “duets”.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC1305/S00003/new-study-shows-kiwi-call-in-perfect-harmony.htm
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Maternal Carrying a Pick-Me-Up There is a very good reason mothers often carry their crying babies, pacing the floor, to help them calm down. New research shows that infants experience an automatic calming reaction upon being carried - whether they are mice or human babies.
More is at http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822%2813%2900343-6
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Green Spaces Good for the Heart & Mind Living in a neighbourhood with more green spaces (such as gardens and parks) is linked to better cardiovascular and mental health, according to NZ research. Although physical activity was higher in greener neighbourhoods (as you might expect) it did not fully explain the green space and health relationship.
More is at http://www.publichealthjrnl.com/article/S0033-3506(13)00005-X/abstract
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43 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Handy Stats Recent information from Statistics NZ and other organisations includes:
• annual wage growth eases - annual growth in salary and wage rates eased for the third consecutive quarter. In the year to the March 2013 quarter, salary and wage rates (including overtime) increased 1.7%. Private sector salary and ordinary time wage rates increased 1.8 % in the year to the March 2013 quarter. Public sector salary and ordinary time wage rates rose 1.5% in the same period. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/prices_indexes/LabourCostIndexSalaryandWageRates_MRMar13qtr.aspx
• ANZ NZ Commodity Price Index April 2013 – the Index rose 12.6%, the largest monthly rise in the history of the series, propelling the index to a new all-time high. Underpinning the latest monthly surge was a 26% rise in dairy prices (excluding that, the index would have increased only 0.2%). More is at http://www.anz.co.nz/resources/3/5/357014804f77bca598a8df5fd4649a8e/ANZ_CommodityPriceIndex_20130502.pdf
• record asking prices in Auckland and Central Lakes/Otago drive new national high - the average asking price of vendors for properties around NZ reached a new all-time high in April ($447,275), according to the latest NZ Property Report. The previous high was $446, 277 (November 2012). More is at http://unconditional.co.nz/blog/nz-property-report-april-2013/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+unconditionalconz+%28Unconditional.co.nz%29
• March visitors up - arrivals in March 2013 (270,700) were up 13% from March 2012 - boosted by an early Easter. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/IntTravelAndMigration_MRMar13.aspx
• highest net gain of migrants since January 2010 – NZ had a net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 1,200 migrants in March 2013 - mostly due to fewer Kiwi citizens departing to Australia. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/population/Migration/IntTravelAndMigration_MRMar13.aspx
• Consumers Price Index: March 2013 quarter - CPI rose 0.4% in the quarter. There were increases for cigarettes and tobacco, food, rents and newly built houses, petrol, and prescription medicines. These were countered by seasonally lower international travel prices, better-value telecommunication services, and widespread discounting for furniture, appliances, and audio-visual equipment. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/CPI_inflation/ConsumersPriceIndex_MRMar13qtr.aspx
• Industry Productivity Statistics (1978–2011) - labour productivity* in the agriculture industry was the main contributor to a productivity rise in the labour sector, Other industries contributing to the rise in productivity were finance and insurance services, and information media and telecommunications. *Labour productivity measures the quantity of goods and services (output) produced for each hour of labour. Increases in labour productivity show that more output is produced by an industry for each hour of labour worked. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/productivity/IndustryProductivityStatistics_MR78-11.aspx. Productivity estimates for the education and health industries are also available at http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/productivity/education-health-industry-productivity-1996-2011.aspx
• online job vacancies – these decreased in March following a fall in February. Skilled vacancies advertised online fell by 1.5% in March and all online job vacancies fell by 1.2%. More is at www.dol.govt.nz/publications/jol/index.asp
• narrowing gap between Māori and non-Māori life expectancy - the gap between Māori and non-Māori life expectancy at birth has narrowed to 7.3 years. Māori life expectancy at birth reached 72.8 years for males and 76.5 years for females in 2010–12. This compares with 80.2 years for non-Māori males and 83.7 years for non-Māori females. For the total NZ population, life expectancy at birth has reached 79.3 years for males and 83.0 years for females. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/health/life_expectancy/NZLifeTables_MR10-12.aspx
• food prices fell 1.3% in the March month – prices were down 0.4% on a year earlier. The fall in March 2013 follows a small fall in February, and a 1.9% rise in January, and compares with a 1.0% fall in March 2012. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/economic_indicators/prices_indexes/FoodPriceIndex_MRMar13.aspx
• electronic card transactions (March 2013) - during the month, shopping using debit and credit cards in decreased 0.5% after five months of increases. Note: part of this result is that, because Good Friday and Easter Sunday were in March this year (instead of April), there were two fewer trading days than during a typical March month. More is at http://stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/businesses/business_characteristics/ElectronicCardTransactions_MRMar13.aspx
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 44
• service sector expands in March – this was almost identical to the previous month, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index (PSI). More is at http://www.businessnz.org.nz/file/2445/March%202013%20PSI%20Release.pdf
• but, manufacturing drops a bit - the BNZ-BusinessNZ seasonally adjusted Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) for March stood at 53.4, 2.6 points down from February, but still a continuation of healthy expansion in the sector. More is at http://www.businessnz.org.nz/file/2441/PMI%20March%20Main%20Release.pdf
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General
Seasonal Climate Outlook: May - July 2013 … A mild early winter is on the cards. Rainfall totals over the May to July period as a whole are likely to be in the near normal range for all regions. Soil moisture levels and river flows are also likely to be in the near normal range. Temperatures are very likely to be above average across the entire country. Sea surface temperatures around NZ are also forecast to remain above normal over the coming 3 months.
Regional predictions over the next three months are:
• Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty - temperatures are very likely to be above average. Rainfall totals during this period are likely to be in the near normal range. Seasonal soil moisture levels and river flows are likely to be in the normal range;
• Central North Island, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Wellington - temperatures are very likely to be in the above average range. Seasonal rainfall totals are very likely to be in the near normal range, and seasonal soil moisture levels and river flows are likely to be in the near normal range;
• Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa - seasonal temperatures are very likely to be above average. Rainfall totals are likely to be near normal. Seasonal soil moisture levels and river flows are likely to be in the near normal range;
• Nelson, Marlborough, Buller - temperatures are very likely to be above average. Seasonal rainfall totals are likely to be in the normal range, and soil moisture levels and river flows are likely to be near normal;
• West Coast, Alps and foothills, inland Otago, Southland - temperatures are very likely to be above average. Seasonal rainfall totals are very likely to be in the near normal range. Early winter soil moisture and river flows are likely to be at near normal levels, for the season as a whole; and
• Coastal Canterbury, east Otago - temperatures are very likely to be above average. Seasonal rainfall totals, soil moisture levels, and river flows are all likely to be in the near normal range.
More is at http://www.niwa.co.nz/climate/sco/seasonal-climate-outlook-may-july-2013
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… NZ Weather History Project … In 2011 MetService celebrated 150 years of existence. To mark this milestone, it has launched the “iwonderweather” project - a chronicle of its own weather history, alongside the history of the service.
Iwonderweather is an ongoing collaboration between MetService and the public, communities, historical societies, and news media. Metservice welcomes contributions of ideas, stories, images, video, and audio that will help expand the history it already has of NZ’s weather and its effect on people and livelihoods.
More is at https://www.iwonderweather.co.nz/
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45 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Young More Likely to Be Lonely Than Elderly Each month, one in every three adult NZers feels lonely, according to research from Statistics NZ. Its report, “Loneliness in NZ”, shows that 1.02 million people felt lonely in the previous four weeks. Of these, 27,000 people felt lonely all of the time, 94,500 felt lonely most of the time, 374,000 some of the time, and 526,000 felt lonely a little of the time.
Analysis shows that older people aged 65 years and over are the least likely to feel lonely among NZ adults. The results also showed that 18% of young people aged under 30 years had felt lonely at least some of the time in the previous four weeks. This compared with 16% of people in midlife (30–64 years) and 11% of older people.
The research suggests that factors strongly associated with loneliness – such as mental health, having enough money, and living alone – differ by age group. One particular finding shows that not having enough money strongly influences older people feeling lonely, with older people living in hardship significantly more likely to feel lonely than younger people in the same situation.
More is at http://stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/media-centre/additional-releases/loneliness-in-nz-23-apr-2013.aspx
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ANZAC & Waitangi Days – Which Means More to People? Answers to questions in the UMR Online Omnibus Survey (which was conducted 28 March to 8 April 2013) showed that:
• 60% of NZers said that ANZAC Day meant more to them than Waitangi Day (8% said that Waitangi Day was the more important and 29% think that both are equally meaningful to them);
• Māori expressed very different views on this topic, with 29% saying ANZAC Day meant more to them, 14% that Waitangi Day meant more, and 56% that both days were equally meaningful;
• National voters (78%), those whose highest qualification is from high school (67%), and over 60-year-olds are particularly likely to say that ANZAC Day is the more meaningful for them;
• people with postgraduate qualifications (39%), Green voters (39%), Labour voters (34%); and under 30-year-olds (33%) are relatively likely to say that both days are equally important.
• Green voters (21%) and people with postgraduate qualifications (17%) are clearly the most likely to say that Waitangi Day means more to them than ANZAC Day.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1304/S00246/nzers-choose-anzac-day-over-waitangi-day.htm
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China/NZ Deals China/NZ collaboration now includes (the hyperlinks are to relevant press releases):
• a new type of business visa: Chinese business visitors can be issued with 3-year multiple entry visas enabling them to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 12-month period over 3 years; and both countries will issue multiple diplomatic visas to certain diplomats from both countries – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-business-visa-strengthen-links;
• an extended visa for Chinese tourists – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-extended-visitor-visas-chinese-tourists;
• establishment of a senior science and innovation representative in China – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-science-amp-innovation-counsellor-china;
• a high-level education partnership agreement between the two countries – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-and-china-strengthen-education-links;
• a new scientists exchange programme – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-scientist-exchange-programme-china;
• the two countries working more closely together to prevent the illegal production of methamphetamine – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-meets-new-chinese-premier-li-keqiang;
• increased fisheries cooperation, including monitoring, control and surveillance - more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-meets-new-chinese-premier-li-keqiang; and
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 46
• NZ government-owned AsureQuality, which offers food safety and biosecurity services, willwork with Mengniu, one of China’s largest dairy manufacturing companies, and COFCO Corporation on food safety - more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-meets-new-chinese-premier-li-keqiang; and
• Miraka, a Māori owned milk processing company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shanghai Pengxin, so the latter can assure the supply of milk from their NZ farms) – more is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/minister-congratulates-miraka-relationship-shanghai-pengxin.
And in a separate deal, a new plan to promote agricultural cooperation between NZ and China sets out areas where both countries can learn from each other, such as: animal welfare and science, increasing productivity, and building skills and knowledge. The agreement runs from 2013 – 2017 and can be updated at any time.
More on the agricultural deal is at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/new-zealand-china-agricultural-agreement-signed
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NZ Joins Equal Futures Partnership New Zealand has joined a United States-led Equal Futures Partnership initiated by Hilary Clinton. The partnership, which aims to improve women’s economic empowerment, political participation, and economic empowerment, targets public and private businesses and NGOs.
The 13 founding partnership members were the US, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Denmark, European Union, Finland, Indonesia, Jordan, the Netherlands, Peru, Senegal, and Tunisia.
More is at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/04/19/fact-sheet-equal-futures-partnership-promise-progress
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Language Weeks 2013 2013 is set to be a huge year for Language Weeks in NZ. Themes for each language week will be confirmed closer to the date. They are:
• NZ Sign Language Week 13-19 May;
• Samoa Language Week: 26 May-1 June 2013;
• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori /Māori Language Week 1-7 July;
• Cook Island Māori: 4-10 August 2013;
• Tonga: 1-7 September 2013;
• Inaugural Tuvalu: 30 Sept-6 October 2013;
• Inaugural Fiji: 7-13 October 2013;
• Niue: 13-19 October 2013; and
• Tokelau: 28 October – 3 November 2013.
More about the Pacific language weeks can be found at http://www.mpia.govt.nz/pacific-language-weeks-2013/
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Non-Alcoholic Drinks; Changing Habits In NZ over the past five years, consumption of soft drinks, fruit juices, and bottled spring water has declined - with fruit juices/drinks showing the biggest decline. In the 12 months to December 2012, 46% of Kiwis aged 14+ consumed fruit juices/drinks in an average seven-day period. In the year to December 2008, the figure was 52%.
Consumption of bottled spring water has dropped from 25% to 20% in the same period, while carbonated soft drinks (“fizzies”) went from 64% to 63%.
As in Australia, iced tea consumption has grown since 2008 (from 1% to 3%). Cordial was the only other drink to register a moderate increase in consumption.
47 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
More is at http://www.roymorgan.com/news/press-releases/2013/2052/
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Active NZ Survey 2013 What sports and active recreation do Kiwis do? How often do they do them? Do Kiwi adults belong to clubs to play, take part in events or play casually? Do they get coaching to improve their performance? Do Kiwis volunteer in sport and recreation? How much time is spent volunteering? Are more Kiwis participating and volunteering today than 15 years ago? These are some of the questions that Sport NZ's 2013/14 Active NZ Survey (ANZS) will answer.
The ANZS nationwide survey will explore sport and recreation participation and volunteering among 6,400 NZ adults (aged 16 years and over, selected from randomly chosen households from throughout NZ). It began in April 2013 and will finish in March 2014. Results will follow later in 2014. The survey was last done in 2007/08.
More is at http://www.sportnz.org.nz/activenzsurvey
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Sport & Recreation Awards Excellence and outstanding achievement in sport and recreation in were recognised at the recent annual Sport and Recreation Awards. The award winners are:
• Communications Excellence - Sport Tasman;
• Community Collaboration - Greater Auckland Aquatic Action Plan – GAAAP;
• Event Excellence - World Triathlon Championships;
• Innovation - London 2012 Project (boosting cycling success at the 2012 Olympics);
• Commercial Partnership – NZ Rugby – AIG; and
• C K Doig Leadership Award - Matthew Cooper.
More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1304/S00292/passion-dedication-and-innovation-showcased-in-awards.htm
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Global Military Spending Falls in 2012 According to figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), world military spending totalled $1.75 trillion in 2012, a fall of 0.5% in real terms since 2011. The fall - the first since 1998 - was driven by major spending cuts in the USA and Western and Central Europe, as well as in Australia, Canada, and Japan. However, the reductions were substantially offset by increased spending in Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. China, the second largest spender in 2012, increased its spending by 7.8% ($11.5 billion). Russia, the third largest spender, increased the amount it spent by 16% ($12.3 billion).
More is at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/04/14/world/europe/14reuters-arms-spending-global.html?_r=0
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Conferences & Events Indigenous Research Conference The University of Waikato’s Te Kotahi Research Institute will host its first indigenous research conference - He Manawa Whenua - at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton 30 June 30 to 3 July 2013. The conference has three themes: innovation, well-being, and inspiration. The conference will feature more than 150 individual presentations from international and local speakers involved in indigenous research.
For more details, including the full line-up presentations and workshops, visit http://www.waikato.ac.nz/rangahau/hemanawawhenua
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 48
Massage NZ Conference 2013 This annual conference will be held 2-4 August 2013 at the Civic Centre in Wellington. Up to 200 practitioners will attend - making this NZ's largest therapeutic massage event in 2013.
More is at www.massagenewzealand.org.nz
Unpick the Productivity Paradox A Productivity Symposium will be held on 2 July 2013 at Te Papa in Wellington. This will seek to better understand reasons for NZ’s productivity performance (which is low compared to other countries), and find ways to improve it.
More is at http://www.productivity.govt.nz/event/unpicking-new-zealand%E2%80%99s-productivity-paradox-symposium
Health Promotion for Community Workers, Wairoa: Panui This free 2-day workshop is on 6-7 June, 2013, at the War Memorial Hall, Cnr Queen Street & Locke Street, Wairoa. It is an introduction to health promotion and will be of particular interest to health promoters new to the job and to people who have not yet had specific Health Promotion training.
For further details and information on how to register online go to www.hauora.co.nz/workshops.html
Māori Indigeneity, Whanau Ora, and the Determinants of Health This workshop will explore the link between Māori indigenous notions of health and wellbeing, the wider determinants of health and elements of whanau ora. It’s being held on 22-23 May 2013, in New Plymouth.
More is at http://www.hauora.co.nz/
HIV Women’s Seminar This seminar is on 14 June 2013 at Parnell’s, in the Rose Gardens, 85 Gladstone Road, Parnell, Auckland. It is open to all health professionals, health promoters, counselors, social workers, and other HIV related stakeholders as well as women in NZ living with HIV.
Please check for updates on the Positive Women Inc. Website at http://www.positivewomen.org.nz/2013-hiv-women-s-seminar/
Effective Ways of Engaging Men This seminar is being held on22 May 21013 at the Jet Park Airport Hotel & Conference Centre, Auckland. It’s a men’s health promotion training program focusing on how to more effectively communicate health and wellbeing messages to men. It will also cover the things agencies and organisations need to know about making their services, programs, and resources more men-friendly.
More is at http://www.menshealthservices.com.au/services.html
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Awards & Opportunities Australia & NZ Internet Awards The Australia and NZ Internet Awards (the ANZIAs) for 2013 are now open for registration. Now in its fifth year, the ANZIAs celebrate the achievements of organisations, businesses and individuals that have made significant contributions to the development and use of the Internet in Australia and NZ.
Entries are invited in five categories: Security and privacy, Internet access & digital skills, Innovation, Information, and Diversity.
Applications close on 28 June 2013. More is at http://www.internetawards.org.au/
49 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
World War One Centenary Funding The Lottery Grants Board has set aside $10 million for projects of national significance and $7 million for community projects and events for project commemorating the First World War. A first funding round granted close to $1.7 million of this to support sixteen community projects, and a second funding round is now open. Decisions from that round will be made in October.
Applications close on 29 May 2013. More, including a list of decisions from the first round will be published shortly. Go to http://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/Funding-and-grants---Lottery-grants---Lottery-Environment-and-Heritage
Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Awards These awards aim to recognise excellence in authorship for literature in the mind, body and spirit, or “new-age” genre. Two awards are offered. An award of $10,000 will be given to the winning author of the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript, and another award of $10,000 will be awarded to the winner of the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award.
Applications close on 31 May 2013. More is at http://www.authors.org.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=38553&idDetails=173
2013 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards These new awards aim to honour the contributions of individuals, organisations and community groups who inspire with their care, dedication, and hard work through volunteering within NZ's health and disability sector.
You can nominate an individual volunteer or team of volunteers. There are five categories: outstanding achievement by a Health Care Provider and Service; outstanding achievement by a Community or NGO Health Service; outstanding achievement by a volunteer in a Māori Health Service; outstanding achievement by a volunteer in a Pacific Health Service; and outstanding achievement by a Youth Health Volunteer.
Nominations are open from 3 April to 3 May 2013. More is at www.volunteerawards.health.govt.nz
NZ Society of Authors Manuscript Assessment Programme The NZSA (NZ Society of Authors) Manuscript Assessment Programme offers writers the opportunity to have their completed manuscript evaluated by an experienced assessor. An assessment provides a constructive, detailed report on the project’s strengths and weaknesses, offering suggestions on how the author might move the project forward.
Applications close on 31 May 2013. More is at http://www.authors.org.nz/wa.asp?idWebPage=37984&idDetails=166
Prime Minister’s Science Prizes Entries are open for the 2013 Prime Minister’s Science Prizes, which awards prize money of $1 million. The prizes aim are to: highlight how science is behind innovation; help build a more competitive and productive economy; and encourage more students into science and technology based careers. The prizes are the:
• Prime Minister’s Science Prize, $500,000 - to an individual or team which has made a transformative discovery or achievement in science that has had a significant impact on NZ or internationally;
• Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Emerging Scientist Prize, $200,000 - to an outstanding emerging scientist undertaking research for a PhD or within five years of the date of the award of a PhD;
• Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize, $150,000 - to a science teacher for outstanding achievement in teaching science;
• Prime Minister’s Science Media Communication Prize, $100,000 - to a practising scientist who is an effective communicator, to provide them with an opportunity to further develop their knowledge and capability in science media communication; and
• Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize, $50,000 - to a secondary school student for outstanding achievement in carrying out a practical and innovative research or technology project (Note: applications for this prize close on 4 October 2013).
Entries for four of the prizes (but not the Future Scientist Prize), close on 17 July 2013. More is at www.pmscienceprizes.org.nz
Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 50
Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships These scholarships are designed to build business capability and develop skills, particularly in management and international business leadership. They are for applicants who plan on studying at a world-class business school. Successful applicants will be reimbursed half their course costs and other study-related costs. They pay for the rest themselves, or via their employer/business.
Applications close on 27 May 2013. For more information visit: www.med.govt.nz/scholarships
Voluntary Bonding Open for New Grads & GP trainees The 2013 Voluntary Bonding Scheme’s fifth intake (2013) for doctors, nurses, midwives, radiation therapists, and medical physicists is now open. The scheme encourages doctors, nurses and midwives to start their careers in hard to staff communities and specialties by offering payments to student loans after a three to five year bonded period. Radiation Therapists and Medical Physicists need to work in NZ for three to five years upon completion of their qualifications.
Doctors now have two opportunities to enter the scheme – they can either enter upon graduation, or when they start training as a GP after completing their usual post graduate education.
The Registration of Interest period closes on 24 May 2013. The full list of hard to staff communities and specialties and terms and conditions of the scheme and the online Registration of Interest is available at: http://www.healthworkforce.govt.nz/our-work/voluntary-bonding-scheme
2013 Literature Research Grants The first of these grants (for either fiction or non-fiction) will be for a fellowship at the Stout Centre in Wellington. This grant of $3,500, also offers a residential fellowship at the Stout Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington for up to three months.
A $3,500 open research grant is also available. It is for either fiction or non-fiction, and will be awarded to a project-based application where the applicant is able to specify where the research is to take place.
Applications close on 26 June 2013. For an application form, criteria and guidelines please download from www.authors.org.nz or contact NZSA (NZ Society of Authors) National Office [email protected]
NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year 2013 Competition The fifth annual NZ Geographic Photographer of the Year competition is open to both amateurs and professionals, and has four entry categories: Wildlife, Landscape, Society & Culture, and Photo Story. Photographers can enter any or all of the four categories. All photos must have been taken within NZ territory after January 2012. $6000 in cash and an expedition voyage is up for grabs. Start snapping!
Entries close on 16 July 2013. More is at http://www.nzgeographic.co.nz/poty/photocomp
Local Government Youth Funding The Ministry of Youth Development is now accepting applications to the Youth Development Partnership Fund from city and district councils. There is a total of $889,000 for allocation with a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $70,000 per project. This fund supports councils working with young people to develop the skills, knowledge, and experience to participate confidently in their communities.
Applications close on 29 May 2013. More information at http://www.myd.govt.nz/funding/youth-development-partnership-fund.html
2013 National Contemporary Art Award Entries for this Award are now open. The winner (who gets $15,000) and merit award winners will be announced a on 16 August at Waikato Museum before the exhibition opens to the public from 17 August until 10 November.
Award entries close on 31 May 2013. More is at http://www.waikatomuseum.co.nz/page/pageid/2145875306/2013_National_Contemporary_Art_Award
51 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
Auckland Trash to Fashion Awards Organisers of the Auckland regions Schools Trash to Fashion Awards are calling for expressions of interest from young designers across the region. The event promotes recycling as students submit creative projects using recycled items to create high fashion and moveable art. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Individuality”. The awards are open to all primary, intermediate, and secondary pupils aged between 5 and 17, who can enter either through their school or as individuals.
Entries close on 24 June 2013. More is at http://www.st2f.co.nz/
Te Whai Ao Documentary Fund… The NZ Film commission (NZFC) has launched a new $250,000 fund. The aim is to support people who don’t already have a TV or theatrical documentary credit, or experimental projects that don’t fit with other funding avenues. It will support up to five projects. Grants can be used to develop a project to a stage where it is eligible to be considered for other funding.
The NZFC will release a request for proposals on 18 April 2013. Submission deadline is 18 June 2013. More is at http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1303/S00353/new-fund-for-emerging-and-experimental-documentary-makers.htm
James Dyson Award 2013 The James Dyson Award (run in eighteen countries) celebrates ingenuity, creativity and sustainable engineering. It aims to inspiring young people to think differently and invent. This year the international winner will receive $55,000 to develop their invention, and a further $18,000 will be provided to their educational institution.
Entrants have until August 2013 to enter by submitting prototypes along with stories detailing their design process and inspiration. To enter/for more information visit www.jamesdysonaward.org
Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship This advanced post-doctoral fellowship is intended to build NZ’s future capability to conduct world-class research. Up to three outstanding emerging researchers (4-8 years post-PhD) who are committed to a career in health research in NZ, or wish to repatriate to NZ, are supported. Up to $500,000 is available over four years.
Applications close 3 July 2013. More is at http://www.hrc.govt.nz/funding-opportunities/career-development#sir-charles-hercus-health-research-fellowship
Foxley Fellowship This fellowship provides a salary to enable a health sector professional to undertake a research sabbatical at a tertiary institution. The award aims to enhance links between HRC-funded research and health care delivery or health policy. The fellowship is available for up to one year full-time or two years part-time.
Submissions close 3 July 2013. More is at http://www.hrc.govt.nz/funding-opportunities/career-development#foxley-fellowship
Clinical Research Training Fellowships This fellowship provides an opportunity for medical, dental, and allied health professionals to undertake a PhD or equivalent qualification. A salary, university fees, and research expenses are available for up to three years full-time or four years part-time.
Submissions close 3 July 2013. More is at http://www.hrc.govt.nz/funding-opportunities/career-development#clinical-research-training-fellowships
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Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524 - 52
Appointments
Rebecca Needham is this country’s new Consul-General in Guangzhou, China.
Dr Jackie Blue is the new Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Commissioner.
Simon Allen has been reappointed as Chair of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).
Clare Ward is the new Chief Executive of the Families Commission.
Al Morrison has been appointed as a Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission.
Heather Hayden has been appointed as the new chief executive of Save the Children NZ.
Dallas Welch is the Acting Government Statistician and Chief Executive of Statistics NZ.
David Clark is to be the new chair of the Building Practitioners Board.
Jane von Dadelszen is the NZQA’s new Deputy Chief Executive – Quality Assurance.
Professor Stephen Munn is the new Convenor of the NZ Health Innovation Hub's Health Services and Clinical Advisory Group.
Jim Mather has been appointed chief executive of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Neale Faulkner has been appointed to the Cadastral Surveyors Licensing Board (who oversee the licensing and professional discipline of cadastral [land title] surveyors).
George Rutherford has been appointed to the NZ Meat Board.
Reappointed members of the Real Estate Agents Authority are: John Auld, Barrie Barnes, Denise Bovaird, Joan Harnett-Kindley, and David Russell; and a new appointee to the Authority is Aaron Bhatnagar.
Evan Gamby and Hekiara Puketapu have been reappointed to the Valuers Registration Board.
Cheers, Craig
To be added to the mailing list contact: For editorial enquiries contact the editor: Rural Women NZ Craig Matthews (Editor) tel 04 473 5524 tel 04 473 5524 email [email protected] email [email protected]
Consulting Editor: Paddy Twist
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53 –Bulletin Aotearoa May 2013 Rural Women NZ, [email protected], 04 473 5524
4G LTEDavid Walker has been Telecom’s Rural Market Manager for over ten years. David is a third generation Taranaki farmer who has spent a career juggling farming and business roles. Today David is kept busy with family businesses covering the transport, aquaculture and technology sectors as well as his role at Telecom, in which he helps rural communities understand and take advantage of the significant productivity gains available from new technologies. Here David talks about the rollout of 4G LTE, what it is and what it will mean to rural New Zealand
What is 4G LTE?LTE stands for Long Term Evolution, and it just means the next stage or the fourth generation of mobile technology. Essentially 4G LTE will increase both the data capacity and the speed available on Telecom’s mobile network.
The last few years have seen a huge increase in the use of mobile data, with mobile phones and other mobile devices now considered an integral form of communication for New Zealanders. A recent study showed there are over five million mobile phones in operation in this country, with more than half of us now owning smartphones, and it’s essential that Telecom meets the ever increasing demand for faster speeds and greater coverage.
You’re currently rolling out 4G LTE in Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington – when will we start to see a rollout in rural?We believe 4G LTE has the ability to transform how rural New Zealand connects with the rest of the country and the world, and it will enable technologies that will bring huge productivity gains. Telecom is already co-locating on all of the Government’s rural broadband initiative (RBI) sites where we don’t already have coverage, and our plan is to bring 4G LTE to rural communities. However, for us to do this we will need access to the 700MHz spectrum, which is being freed up with the shutdown of analogue television, and is going to be auctioned off by the Government. Being a lower frequency 700 MHz enables the signal to travel greater distances with better penetration to line of sight obstacles. It allows for more extensive coverage, and this makes it ideal for delivering 4G speeds across more of rural New Zealand.
How do you see rural communities and businesses benefitting from this 4G LTE technology4G LTE is a data technology, and at its simplest level it will give rural users access to high-speed downloading (e.g. of videos, music, files) and uploading (of photos, statistics and information from the farm etc).
The rollout of 4G LTE on the 700 MHz spectrum will extend the rural mobile coverage footprint and rural customers will see a noticeable improvement when accessing mobile data. We are seeing farmers and other rural businesses (such as suppliers or vets) using mobile data in a variety of ways, from remote health monitoring and monitoring of livestock to alert systems and milk vat monitoring, to meeting face-to-face with their bank manager in town without leaving the farm – they’d simply do it over video conferencing on their mobile device. 4G LTE will open up even more possibilities.
Telecom can see an exciting future where more of rural New Zealand is fully connected and rural businesses have the technology they need to thrive. We want to work with you to make that happen.
Matching Clientsto Carers
Ask any Access Homehealth client what they consider to be the most important things about their care, and it’s likely that these will be near the top of their list: having a good relationship with their sup-port worker, and receiving their care at the prescribed time. While it may sound easy, this is a complex task undertaken by our dedicated teams of care co-ordinators.The majority of Access clients have been assessed as being entitled to funded care through either the Ministry of Health, DHBs or ACC, although private care is also an option.As soon as Access is appointed to provide a new client with home-based care and support, one of our community nurses visits them to assess the levels of care required, and develops a support plan. This outlines the steps and assis-tance required to help clients maximise their independence.A key role for care co-ordinators is carefully going through the support plan and matching the client with a support worker who is most suited and skilled to meet their needs. Usually the support worker will live within a reasonable distance from the client’s home. And according to Wellington care co-ordinator team leader, Linda Dennis, no matter how much ongoing detailed rostering of support workers for clients is in place, they have to be flexible. “Unavoidable changes of circumstance for either the client or the support worker can create a bit of a ‘juggling act’ for the team,” she says. “Clients rightfully expect and rely on their support worker arriving on a specific day, at a certain time to provide care. So if a support worker is ill, a suitable re-placement must be found. Fortunately we have a reasonably large pool of sup-port workers to call on.” Linda says clients very often form strong bonds with their support workers. And it is not just the physical help they appreciate. Having someone to talk to and share things with can be very important. Sometimes, especially in rural areas, the support worker may be the only contact the client has for several days. “We just love hearing from our clients telling us how wonderful and cheerful their support worker is and how they go out of their way for them. This really makes our day.”
For more information or to learn more about the services we offer, phone Access on 0800 AT HOME (0800 284 663) or visit www.access.org.nz.
Rural WomenNew ZealandWater ForumThe Chateau on the Park 189 Dean’s Avenue Riccarton, Christchurch
Water Forum 9am to 12 noon, Thursday 23 May 2013
It’s the International Year of Water Co-operation and water’s a hot topic!
Come along to the Water Forum at the start of our National Conference to discuss drought preparedness, water storage, irrigation systems and more.
Our Panelists: Prof Jenny Webster-Brown from University of Canterbury’s Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management, David Caygill of Environment Canterbury, Green MP Eugenie Sage and National Board of Federated Farmers spokesman for water and the environment Ian Mackenzie.
Cost: $30 cheque, or online payments at www.ruralwomen.org.nz/shop To register contact Belinda at Rural Women NZ (04) 473 5524 or email [email protected]
All welcome.